> ⚠️ Themes: Psychological warfare, fear, paranoia, obsession, control.
—
It started with a flicker.
The lights in the hallway outside his uncle's mansion would blink off... then back on again.
The maids whispered about someone watching the estate.
The security guards kept quitting.
One night, a mirror cracked in his bedroom. No sound. No explanation. Just broken glass and his own reflection staring back—distorted.
> "He's playing with me," he muttered.
But there was no one there.
—
Boss didn't strike with hands.
He struck with silence.
He bought the companies that supplied his uncle's food shipments.
Poisoned the deals with delays. Spoiled goods. Missing items.
He cut off his uncle's network of allies—bribed them, scared them, exposed them.
One by one, they stopped returning his calls.
One night, a letter arrived.
No name. No return address.
Just words carved into the page like scars:
> "You killed my peace. I'll kill your mind."
The paper reeked of the same cologne his uncle had worn to visit Sea.
He dropped it like it burned.
—
Meanwhile...
Boss sat in his car across the street, dressed in black, watching his uncle's house through tinted windows. Nick sat beside him, scrolling.
> "He's started drinking alone," Nick murmured. "Good. Soon he'll start seeing ghosts," Boss replied.
Nick glanced at Boss's clenched jaw, the faint bruises on his knuckles.
> "You alright?"
Boss didn't answer right away. His voice came out like smoke.
> "He looked Sea in the eyes. That's more than a sin, Nick. That's death."
—
His uncle started hearing things.
Footsteps outside his window.
A soft melody playing from nowhere—Sea's favorite song.
A shadow standing at the end of the hallway, never moving, never speaking.
Sometimes… he dreamt of Sea's eyes.
Sometimes… he dreamt of Boss's.
And woke up choking.
—
Three nights later:
The power in his mansion failed. The entire estate plunged into black.
He lit candles, sweat dripping down his face. Pistol in hand.
And on the mirror above his fireplace, written in bold red:
> "I'm already inside."
He fired the gun.
At nothing.
And screamed.
—
Back at the hospital, Sea sat quietly in his room. He stared at Boss, who had returned late again.
> "You've been distant," Sea whispered.
Boss walked over and kissed his forehead gently.
> "I've just been... protecting you."
> "From what?"
> "From the monsters who think I don't bite."
Sea didn't ask more.
But when Boss held him that night, Sea noticed his heartbeat wasn't calm.
It was thunder.
And outside… the real storm hadn't even begun.
—
To be continued