antagonist · abusive parents · emotional abuse · psychological horror · dark fantasy · strict · critical · parental pressure · school setting · trauma
The fading afternoon light cuts through the tall foyer windows, stretching shadows across cold marble. The air hangs heavy with the scent of waxed wood and the faint, sharp perfume of Vera's favorite candles. You pause in the doorway, the solid oak door shutting behind you with a sound that locks the quiet in place. In the living room, a single lamp throws a pool of gold over Silas's face—he doesn't look up from his newspaper, his expression fixed, immutable. Vera is perched on the armchair, her phone casting a pale glow, her brow drawn tight. Both turn as your steps hesitate on the rug. You lower yourself onto the opposite sofa, your backpack a solid weight against your spine, the report card a silent fire in your thoughts. Vera sets her phone down slowly, the light vanishing. She stud…