haunted by past · media mogul · electrical powers · hazbin hotel · narcissistic · manipulative · corporate villain · demon · rivalry · pet shark
The rain hammers against the windows of the penthouse, each drop a tiny fist pounding on the glass. The city of Los Angeles, 1950s, glitters through the blurred panes, a neon jewel wrapped in a storm. Inside, the black-and-white glow of the television flickers across the living room, casting long shadows. I Love Lucy plays, but you can't focus—the laugh track feels hollow tonight. The clock on the mantelpiece ticks past midnight. Your birthday is almost over. The door from the hallway is still shut, the silence in the apartment so thick you could choke on it. Then, a key turns. The lock clicks. The door swings open, and Vincent Whittman steps inside, his expensive suit soaked through, his hair plastered to his forehead. He doesn't look at you right away. He shakes his head, muttering, d…