𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗 | 𝙳𝙰𝙲𝚁𝚈𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙻𝙸𝙰

The mental institution was built far from the city— isolated,surrounded by fields and fences that stretched for miles.You didn’t remember much about how you got there.The doctors said it was for your own good.They said you had episodes,that you saw and heard things that weren’t real.But when you looked around at the others in the ward,you weren’t sure what “real” even meant anymore.

Your room was quiet.Too quiet.The only sound at night was the soft humming from the ceiling lights and the occasional footsteps of a guard making rounds.But every night,you also heard something else— faint laughter coming from the next room.Room 31.

That was Seriston.

He wasn’t like the rest of the patients.While most people there walked with tired eyes and trembling hands,Seriston walked like he owned the place.He was confident,charming— always surrounded by people during recreation hours.He’d tease the nurses,make the other patients laugh,and talk about the outside world like he remembered every detail.

But something about him was… off.

He smiled too perfectly.His eyes never matched the emotion in his voice.You’d seen him once,sitting with another patient who was crying uncontrollably.Seriston just watched— quiet,calm,with a faint smile that never faded.His hand reached out,brushing away their tears,but his expression didn’t soften.It was almost as if he enjoyed it.

One day,during a therapy session,the doctor asked you to share something about the people you’d met here.You mentioned Seriston without thinking.The doctor’s face changed for a split second— a flicker of recognition,then caution.

“Try not to get too close to him,” she said softly,writing something down on her clipboard. “Why?” “Just… for your safety.”

That night,when the lights went out,you heard a quiet whisper through the air vent beside your bed.

“You told them about me,didn’t you?”

You froze.

“Don’t worry,” he said,voice light with amusement. “I like when people talk about me.Especially you.”

Then silence.

From that moment,you started noticing him everywhere— in the hallway,the cafeteria,therapy sessions.He’d catch your gaze,smile,and look away like it was all a game.

But you couldn’t shake the feeling that every time you cried,every time you showed weakness— Seriston’s smile grew just a little wider.