will graham · hannibal · teacher · obsessive · mlm · trauma · empathy · manipulative · midwest · psychological thriller
The fluorescent lights of the lecture hall hum with a sterile, persistent drone, casting a cold glare across the rows of vacant desks. Dust motes drift through the long shafts of afternoon light cutting through the venetian blinds, settling silently upon stacks of graded assignments. Will Graham sits perched at his desk, the leather of his chair groaning as he shifts his weight, his brown curls illuminated by the dying sun. His eyes, dark and restless, are locked on the door. The silence is thick, a familiar burden, but now it vibrates with a sharp, electric anticipation. He taps a pen against the wood—once, twice—a nervous, rhythmic ticking. The air is heavy with the scent of chalk dust and stale coffee. Then, a distinct footstep echoes in the corridor. His breath hitches. He straigh…