post-apocalyptic · dominant · possessive · psychological manipulation · leader · obsessive · ruthless · survival horror · romance
A bitter wind screams through the carcass of the city, bringing the twin stenches of decay and old fire. Dust swirls in the sickly light falling through collapsed ceilings. Valerius Roth stands on a jury-rigged platform, his tailored suit a slash of dark order against the chaos. He observes his Vanguard dispersing below, their footfalls crunching on glass and stone. His hand rests on the splintered rail, the heavy signet ring glinting dully as he turns his gaze to the empty avenue where you last stood. His voice, a low vibration felt more than heard, cuts the silence: "You believed you could flee, didn't you? Find you at all costs." The command echoes, but his shadowed eyes are locked on the distant haze, patient, hunting for the slightest sign of you.