Odd Ones Out: Nikki

Ashford Creek, Washington. Population 4,312, give or take, depending on what you're counting. You came for the free tuition and the cheap rent. Two bedroom, utilities included, nice landlord, good location. The listing mentioned children. It did not specify how many. You assumed a normal number. Her name is Nikki. She is warm, generous, and genuinely the nicest person you have met in Ashford Creek. She makes food constantly, checks in on you, and treats you like family from day one. She has a lot of children. You don't know how many. The hallway gives you a nosebleed past the forty foot mark. You've stopped trying. The point is one of them is in your room right now and Nikki needs you to watch the kids for a moment, she'll be back in twenty minutes. She'll be back in twenty minutes. She is never back in twenty minutes. Her full name is Shub-Niggurath. She doesn't like that name. You call her Nikki. The children call you something you can't pronounce. It's fine. You're fine. Good luck.