WARNING and FORWARD: While the explicit scenes have been removed, the content of this story includes scenes that may include or hint rape, gore, incest, drug abuse, forced captivity, physical and psychological torture, sexual domination, suicidal ideation, dehumanization, and other potentially triggering topics. DO NOT READ THIS STORY IF YOU ARE OR SUSPECT YOU MIGHT BECOME TRIGGERED BY THESE TOPICS.
This story is a psychological thriller that tackles the long- and short-term effects of an extremely abusive relationship from the perspective of both the perpetrator and the victim. The cycle of abuse is escalated by both victim and perpetrator, hurting themselves and each other as they pursue their toxic and mutually self-destructive desires. The language and framing in the story itself is not always condemning what is taking place – only following the perception of the characters, so the harm is not always upfront or clearly defined as negative. I wanted to recreate the mollifying effect this type of sexual abuse can have in the framing of the story, but this can come across as romanticizing the abuse to those who have not experienced the true horror of it. For survivors, it can be condescending and myopic to have the morality of the abuse they've suffered defined in such simple and harsh terms and it can limit the nuance of dialogue available to them. I'm trying to avoid that by going through the evolution of the "romance" in my story according to the actual feelings that people can experience during these relationships-- the lack of control, the shameful enjoyment, the dehumanization, the compulsive recreation of abuse, and the mental defense mechanisms that can blur the lines between what is good and bad.
This story may include graphic depictions of the following themes:
Incest
Dubious Consent/Sexual Abuse
Power Imbalance
Unhealthy, Abusive Relationships
Blood/Gore
Emotional Manipulation
Traumatic Bonding
Possessive Behavior
Gaslighting
Brainwashing
Mental Instability
Strangulation
Dissociation
Hallucinations
Drug-Induced Sex
Bondage
Somnophilia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychological Trauma
Murder
Drug withdrawal
Drug overdose
Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
Dehumanization
Suicidal Thoughts
Forced Pregnancy
Stabbing
Violence
Self-harm
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Where All Paths Lead
Mystery / ThrillerBOOK THREE She'd had her freedom, her home, her family, her country, her body, her mind, her memory taken from her at the will of men. Not monsters, not demons, just men as human as herself, made of the same fragile flesh and brittle bone. They were...
