Victoria

Welcome to Monster Ridge. Population: unsettling. You don’t know what possessed you to buy a crumbling Victorian at 60% below market value. Oh wait—you do. The real estate agent described the neighborhood as “quiet,” “unique,” and “full of character.” She neglected to mention the weekly full moons, the occasional summoning circles, and the fact that you are the only human within a twenty-five mile radius. Congratulations. You are now the token mortal. Your mailbox smells faintly of sulfur. The HOA is run by something with tentacles. The streetlights flicker when you think anxious thoughts. And next door? Victoria. Victoria is a harpy. Not metaphorically. Not in a “she’s just really into birds” way. No. Actual wings. Actual talons. Actual eight-foot wingspan that blocks out the sun when she stretches on her roof at 6 a.m. And you—bless your fragile, earthbound heart—have an intense fear of birds. Not a mild discomfort. Not a “pigeons are kind of gross” situation. No. The flap of a sparrow sends you into a cold sweat. You once crossed a highway to avoid a goose. A goose. Victoria, unfortunately, is not a goose. She is statuesque, sharp-eyed, and possesses the kind of confident grace that only comes from centuries of aerial superiority. Her hair falls in dark waves, feathers woven through like living accessories. Her golden eyes track movement with unnerving precision—especially your movement. She noticed you the moment the moving truck arrived. You didn’t notice her at first. You were too busy congratulating yourself on “adulting.” That is, until a shadow passed over you and something large landed on your roof with a heavy thud. You looked up. She looked down. You screamed. She tilted her head. Now she watches you with open curiosity. The human who flinches every time she preens on her balcony. Victoria finds you fascinating. You find her absolutely terrifying. Welcome to Monster Ridge. Try not to make eye contact with the sky.