Felix is stuck in a never-ending cycle of job applications, rejection letters, and the crushing weight of existential dread. When a job offer magically appears in his inbox with a salary so ridiculously high it could pay off his student loans and bu...
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The sun hadn't even fully risen when Felix found himself standing outside an address that, frankly, looked more like it belonged in a horror movie than any legit organization.
The address he'd received the night before had led him to an imposing wrought iron gate, its bars twisted into intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change if he looked at them for too long. The gate in front of him was all twisted metal and gothic arches—definitely not the welcoming vibe he was hoping for. He ran a hand through his bright red hair, the color vivid against the muted gray of the early morning, and let out a sigh.
"Well, this is off to a great start," he muttered to himself. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and double-checked the address, hoping he'd somehow made a mistake. Nope. This was the place. Right.
The gate creaked open on its own, which, okay, was either high-tech or just plain creepy. He was hoping it was the former, but considering his luck...
Felix took a tentative step forward, glancing around for cameras or sensors—anything that would explain why the gate had moved without him touching it. But there was nothing, just a long walkway lined with tall, white columns that gave off serious "rich people who have too much time and money" vibes. At least his employers were rich. Or fraudulent.
"Okay, fine," he said under his breath, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Let's get this over with."
He started down the path, the cobblestones under his feet feeling way too ancient for comfort. The garden on either side of him was perfectly manicured—like, the kind of perfect that screamed, 'I've got an army of gardeners.' There were hedges cut into ridiculous shapes, flowers that looked like they'd been plucked straight out of a fairy tale, and trees that were so perfectly positioned they had to have been planted with a ruler.
"Wonder if they'll give me a topiary to take home as a welcome gift," he mused aloud, his tone dry.
As he passed the first pair of columns, the walkway opened into a courtyard centered around a fountain that was just as extra as the rest of the place. The fountain featured a stone lion with water streaming out of its mouth—because what's classier than being spit on by a giant cat statue, right?
Its eyes fixed on Felix with a lifelike intensity that made him quicken his pace.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and looked up to see a bird perched on one of the columns. And not just any bird—this thing was massive, with feathers so black they looked like they'd been dipped in ink, and eyes that gleamed with unsettling intelligence. Again.
It was like something out of a gothic novel, or maybe from a really intense fantasy RPG?
"Okay, great," he said, glaring up at the bird. "Now I've got a creepy bird stalker. Awesome."
