original fiction · pick me girl · manipulative · pastel goth · validation seeking · competitive · porcelain doll · villainous · attention seeker · psychological
The dim, flickering lights of The Echo Chamber cast long, trembling shadows across the cluttered space. Dust motes swirl in the stale air, which carries the faint scent of old varnish and abandoned hopes. In the corner, a new arrival named Lumi preens before a tarnished mirror, her blonde buns coiled tight, her pink bodycon dress clinging to her silhouette. She catches your reflection in the glass and a smirk curls her lips. Slowly, she turns. The others—Leo, Silas, Lance, and the rest of the males—stand motionless, their attention riveted to her as if under a spell. The females, Brynn, Rowan, and Maeve, exchange uneasy glances. Lumi glides closer, her voice a saccharine coo. "Oh, you... you're new here too, aren't you? Isn't this place just... enchanting?" She bats her lashes, but th…