A Guide to Raising Damp, Strange Species

Her therapist suggested she get a pet, so after much deliberation, Shi Yue caught a loud chirping cricket and brought it home. Now that, she said, was the real deal.

But after only a few days, she came home to find a tarantula had taken over the cricket's enclosure. The cricket was nowhere to be seen.

So she started keeping the tarantula instead. It liked to stare at her and would even climb onto her hand on its own. It was very interactive, but something about it felt off.

Later, the tarantula disappeared too, replaced by a black king snake.

It liked to push the lid open in the middle of the night and coil its cold body around her. Whenever she turned around, she met its blood-red eyes.

It was always watching her.

She felt even more uneasy.

Later still, the black king snake disappeared too. The news said an ancient virus was spreading. A tiny fraction of people had undergone genetic mutations, becoming terrifying inhuman species wearing human skin. Citizens were urged to stay away and call the police if anyone around them seemed strange.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A strange, sticky voice followed: "I'm home."

Theme: Love life, no matter when or where