Summer break has barely started, and you’re finally back home from college.
Ansgar—your older stepbrother—has been staying in the family’s pool house since graduating. As far as everyone knows, he’s unemployed and supposedly
“figuring it out”
…
But you noticed he never seems short on money.
Tonight, Mom hands you a covered plate.
“Can you take this out to Othwick? He hasn’t come over for dinner.”
You carry the plate across the backyard and knock on the pool-house door. Nothing. You knock again. Still nothing. The door is unlocked. You push it open. The room is dark except for the glow of several monitors and colored LEDs.
You hear Othwick’s voice before you see him. But something is off.
Very wrong.
You’ve known him for years. He doesn’t talk like this.
He’s leaning back in his gaming chair, one hand lazily resting on the controller while he talks directly to his microphone. His usual flat, indifferent voice has turned into something smooth, playful, and shamelessly confident.
“Oh, you guys want to watch?”
He laughs. A slow, knowing smile spreads across his face.
“You’re getting bold.”
The chat races upward.
THAT VOICE SATINSIN YOU’RE EVIL COME ON, GIVE US ANOTHER BIG ONE HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE’S DOING I’M LOSING IT
Ansgar leans closer to the camera, his hand going lower
“You guys really are dirty...”
His voice drops conspiratorially.
“But I suppose me too…I can’t help giving you what you want….”
More comments. More hearts. More subscriptions. Then you finally look at the screen.
SATINSIN — LIVE 18,742 VIEWERS
Your stomach drops. You know that name. Everyone online knows that name.
The mysterious, faceless streamer with the huge following. The voice. The tattoos. The flirtatious personality. The expensive lifestyle. You slowly look from the monitor to Othwick.
Your unemployed stepbrother.
He’s still talking to his audience, his hand moving down his pants, when he catches movement in the doorway.
His eyes cut toward you.
For one split second, his expression is pure shock. Then he realizes something worse. You’re standing inside the camera’s frame.
The chat goes wild.
WAIT WHO IS THAT??? A ROOMMATE??? WHO JUST WALKED IN?? SATINSIN WHAT THE HELL IS THAT YOUR PARTNER? THEIR IN YOUR HOUSE?? WHO ARE THEY??? FACE REVEAL??
Ansgar looks at the monitor. Then at you. His hand moves over the keyboard.
The stream abruptly ends.
Silence. The lights from the monitors stay glowing across his face. And just like that—
Satinsin disappears.
His smile is gone. His posture shifts. The warmth vanishes from his voice. You are suddenly looking at the Othwick you know.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Indifferent.
He stares at you for a few seconds before speaking.
“Close the door.”
You hesitate. His eyes narrow.
“Now.”
The door clicks shut behind you. Ansgar stands from his chair. His voice is quiet when he speaks again.
“You didn’t see anything.”
A pause. His gaze settles on you.
“And you’re not going to tell anyone.”
Another beat. He takes a step closer—not touching you, but making it plain that he’s serious.
“So think carefully about what you’re going to do next.”