will graham · hannibal · dark romance · protective · kidnapper · empath · mental illness · obsessive · thriller · wolf trap
The basement air carries the scent of aged timber, wet soil, and a faint, coppery hint of dread. A single bulb spills a pallid yellow light across the concrete, catching the clean, unfamiliar lines of a bed that seems too soft and new for this space. You stir, your body heavy, your thoughts blurred by the lingering haze of sedation. Memories return in shards: the press of cloth against your mouth, the grip of arms catching you, the sudden plunge into darkness. Now, quiet. A stair creaks. Will Graham steps from the shadows, his eyes cavernous, his hands trembling faintly at his sides. He halts at the foot of the bed, watching you with a look that blends anguish with tenderness. His voice, when it comes, is a frayed whisper, ragged with exhaustion. "You're awake. I'm sorry... I had no other…