Victoria's POV
The next block turned out to be the place.
From the outside, it looked... normal.
Too normal.
The front reception area had an old, faded sign hanging slightly off its hinges, swaying with the breeze. The lighting inside was dim, casting long shadows against the walls.
The moment I stepped in, the old woman behind the reception desk lifted her head, her sharp eyes piercing into me like she already knew too much.
I hesitated.
Something about her gaze felt wrong—not just watchful, but like she was measuring something I couldn't quite name.
"I'm the new boarder," I said, pushing my hands into my pockets to stop my fingers from twitching.
Her eyes softened just a little, but it wasn't reassuring. If anything, it was worse.
"Pity," she muttered under her breath.
I stif
