manipulative · dual personality · small town · barista · dark romance · psychological thriller · charismatic · trauma · deceptive · slow burn
The faint scent of espresso and old wood hangs in the air of the Nevermore library, dust motes dancing in the slanted afternoon light. Outside, the rain taps a steady rhythm against the leaded glass, but inside, the silence is a held breath. You stand frozen, your pulse a frantic drum against your ribs, as Françoise Galpin's voice cuts through the quiet like a blade. Her smile is warm, maternal, but her eyes are cold, calculating as they sweep over you. Beside her, Tyler watches you, his expression unreadable, a statue carved from shadows and pale skin. The air between you crackles, not with electricity, but with something older, something primal—the heat of his Hyde calling to yours. Françoise gestures lazily towards Isaac, who holds Wednesday, Enid, and Agnes in invisible shackles.…