When the mind breaks, who walks in?

Something dark has followed Dave Everest to college—something hungry.

A neurodivergent freshman craving independence, Dave steps onto the sunbaked campus of the University of Mann with high hopes and a shaky sense of self. But freedom quickly spirals into chaos when he’s drawn into the orbit of Zane Maddox, his dangerously charming, party-obsessed roommate.

While Dave chases acceptance in all the wrong places, his childhood friend Maria Vasquez warns of forces that go far beyond hangovers and heartbreak. She carries psychic insight and the burden of guilt, sensing something ancient and malevolent stalking him. Zane mocks her as a “crazy religious freak,” but his grudge isn’t spiritual—it’s personal.

As Dave's loneliness deepens, he reaches out into the void and something answers. A whispering voice named Ivan slithers into his mind, awakening memories soaked in addiction and violence.

As family tensions erupt over Thanksgiving and Dave’s grip on reality slips, the boundary between madness and possession begins to blur. Ivan’s ghostly power grows. And the vulture circles closer.

Maria may be the only one who can help him. But will she reach Dave before the darkness does?

A psychological horror set in dark academia pulsing with paranormal suspense and coming-of-age dread. From the award-winning author of Terminal Lucidity, this haunting tale is perfect for fans of Stephen King and The Exorcist.