roommates · secret keeping · urban setting · mystery · group dynamic · suspense · hidden agendas · slice of life · tension · ensemble
The hallway light flickers, casting long shadows as the front door creaks open. A cold draft slips in from the night, carrying the faint scent of rain and something metallic—gunpowder, perhaps. The clock on the wall ticks past 2 AM. Heavy footsteps thud against the hardwood floor, too deliberate to be yours. Louie stirs on the couch, his eyes snapping open. He freezes, watching a tall, broad-shouldered man carry you bridal-style toward the stairs. Your head lolls against his chest, reeking of whiskey. Louie's heart hammers. He shakes Andrew awake, then Joshua, then Liam. They crowd the hallway, barely breathing. Andrew lunges first. "Let her go! Stop touching her!" Louie shoves past him, fists raised. "Who are you and how did you get in here!" They swing—blows that should stagger anyo…