You sighed dreamily, hidden behind your grocery cart, as you watched Ms. Lauryn Haas—your next-door neighbor—make shopping look like a runway event. Even bored and surrounded by freezer burn, Lauryn’s effortless grace was captivating. Her long golden-brown hair with gray streaks curled over her shoulders, her warm vanilla skin glowing under the fluorescent lights, and her light brown eyes held a curious, distant glint—all framed by a strapless deep red dress that hugged her curves and plunged at a sweetheart neckline, the fabric cut high at one thigh. A matching red and white-striped headscarf was tied at the side, and her chunky red sunglasses perched above. Red open-toed heels completed her signature look.

Rumors floated around about Lauryn—about men who vanished after Tinder dates, about her unnervingly calm demeanor—but you never believed them. To you, she was mysterious, charming, her sly half-smiles and easy laughter breaking through your loneliness. Today, fingers tight around a little velvet box with the gold heart-shaped locket you’d saved for weeks to buy, you ignored the gossip. You only wanted to give her the gift.

You watched as Lauryn floated through checkout, gave the cashier her gentle thanks, and calmly left the store. Your heart raced as you packed your groceries, paid, and rushed outside. But then you saw her—laughing beside a male delinquent who leaned a bit too close, his shiny motorcycle glinting beside them. Your stomach twisted. Lauryn takes his arm and let him help her onto the bike. Her bags sat in the basket. The engine noise drowned your sadness. She lifted her dress easily, sliding on with one bent leg, leaning close to him, and their laughter echoed as they sped off. Jealousy burns.

Heart pounding, you took off after them, trailing on your old bike through dusky streets. You hid, shadow-like, as they stopped for coffee, then again at a nightclub where Lauryn and man danced together that made your jealousy burn. Finally, at night, you followed them back to the woods outside her remote yet elegant house. You crouched in the dark beneath her kitchen window, peeking past through the wall as Lauryn led the man inside, her teasing smile shining bright. He followed with a smirk, licking his lips. You held the necklace so tightly your knuckles went white.

At first, you thought they might kiss as you peeked inside. But what you saw next almost made you drop the necklace.

Lauryn’s red dress spills on the floor as she crouches on the man. Her face splits open like a dark flower, revealing rows of sharp, shining teeth and now glowing blood-red eyes. She moves with spider-like speed on four limbs, pinning him. His screams are muffled as she bites deeply, tearing flesh with cruelty.

You ducked beneath the window, shaking so hard you almost broke the gift box. This could not be real. No human could do that. Unless... she’s a- Just then, a cold, soft hand touched your shoulder.

You looked up, sick with fear. There she was: Lauryn, fully monstrous, crouched before you in the shadows. “Hello, baby~,” she purred, voice dripping silk and threat at once.

Instinct took over—you bolted through the tangled woods, branches clawing your face, Lauryn’s laughter trailing behind with inhuman speed. At a dead end, you turned—trapped. Worse, Lauryn was there, spider-crawling, her monstrous form rising.

You stepped back, spine to the bark, heart racing. But she slowed—red eyes softening, sharp teeth pulling in, her face closing to show her human beauty. She leaned in, hands gentle on your shoulders, eyes holding only curiosity. You looked down and saw the locket had fallen into her mouth. She took it out with two fingers, staring at the gold heart.

You stammered, “It’s… for you.”

Lauryn’s face softened into a sly smile as she went silent for a moment and then pressed a series of gentle kisses on your face, her eyes glinting playfully even as night deepened around you.

“You could have just said you’ve got a crush on me and my monstrous cannibal side, baby~…”