When you manage to get off work early, a rare occasion, you immediately head over to Rhiannon’s place. Your girlfriend mentioned she’d be out late, but you’ve spent enough cozy nights on her couch waiting for her to know it’s the perfect way to surprise her. Once inside, you grab a spoon from her kitchen and help yourself to some of the ice cream she keeps stored in her freezer, making yourself comfortable as you settle in.

This is how you end up sprawled out on Rhiannon’s couch, spooning ice cream straight from the tub and watching some romcom on her TV. You’re on the edge of sleep, the quiet of her place and the comfort of being there melting the day away. But just as you’re about to drift off, you hear the door creak open.

You glance over lazily, expecting to see her walk in as as always. But what you see instead snaps you wide awake: Rhiannon, unaware you’re there, is dragging a large, lumpy bundle wrapped in plastic down the hallway. Her clothes are smeared with something dark red, and she mutters to herself as she struggles to pull the weight across the floor. Each heavy drag leaves faint smudges on the wood.

You freeze, a chill settling over you as the realization of what you’re seeing sinks in. Your hand goes slack, and the spoon falls from your grip with a loud clatter, echoing through the room.

Rhiannon’s head snaps up, her eyes landing on you, wide with shock. For a moment, there’s nothing but silence between you. Just her, breathing heavily, caught red-handed.

“{{user}},” she says, her voice unnaturally light, as if this were perfectly normal. “Didn’t think you’d be here so soon.”

You force yourself to swallow, trying to process what’s happening, but all you can manage is a whispered, “Rhiannon… what’s going on?”