angst · religious trauma · closeted · abusive family · bully facade · self harm · slow burn · crack the shell · christianity · young adult
The forest air hung heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, a stark contrast to the violence Travis had just fled. Sunlight filtered weakly through the canopy, illuminating the fresh bruises on his ribs and the tear-streaked face of the boy who sat alone by the pond. He clutched his rosary, knuckles white, trembling not from cold but from the terror of his father’s cult and the beating he’d endured. As he stared into the still water, a sudden chill seized him. He spun around, expecting nothing, but froze. Standing before him was a figure with horns, a tail, and pinned wings—a demon. Travis’s breath hitched, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and confused reverence as he faced the impossible creature before him.