The Sphinx of Miller's Pond

Maya felt like a straight-up zombie after finals week. Three days of surviving on nothing but energy drinks and panic would turn anyone into the walking dead. But here she was, Friday night, dragged to Tyler's party because her best friend Riya insisted this was "prima social content" for their sophomore year.

The basement was already packed. Maya hovered near the snack table, clutching a red solo cup like it was her only lifeline. That's when she saw the cat—a sleek black cat that had somehow slipped in through the back door, weaving through legs like it owned the place.

"Uh, there's literally a cat here," Maya muttered to herself, following it toward the basement's back corner. The cat led her to Tyler's older sister's room, where the door was slightly ajar.

Inside, the walls were covered in posters and fairy lights, but what caught Maya's eye was the collection on the desk. Among the crystals and incense burners sat a small Egyptian sphinx figurine, its painted eyes seeming to stare right through her.

"Creepy stalker much?" a voice said behind her.

Maya jumped. Tyler's sister, Jordan, leaned against the doorframe, looking effortlessly cool in her ripped jeans and band tee. "You found my sphinx. My grandma brought it back from Egypt."

"It's... intense," Maya managed, feeling her face heat up.

Jordan laughed, sliding down to sit on the floor next to her. "You look like you need an escape from the chaos out there. Final got you feeling like the undead?"

"Straight-up zombie mode," Maya admitted, surprising herself. "I don't do parties. I don't know why Riya insisted I come."

"First time?" Jordan asked gently. When Maya nodded, she continued, "Look, everyone out there is just pretending to know what they're doing. Half those people are probably just as terrified as you are."

The black cat jumped onto Jordan's lap, purring like a motor.

"See? Even the cat knows this room is the VIP section," Jordan said. "You can hang here. No judgment."

For the first time all night, Maya's shoulders actually relaxed. Maybe the zombie could survive after all—especially with a sphinx watching her back and a cat that knew exactly where the safe spaces were.