In the quiet suburbs, nestled behind neatly trimmed lawns and white picket fences, Jonathan Harper lived a life of mundane routine. He was just another man, working from home, passing the days with little excitement beyond the hum of his computer screen and the occasional neighborhood gossip. But all that changed when the crow arrived.

What began as an innocent encounter?a bird landing on his porch, dropping a shiny trinket at his feet?soon spiraled into something far more sinister. Jonathan had heard stories of crows bringing gifts in exchange for treats, but he could never have imagined how far this simple exchange would go. Day by day, the gifts grew more valuable, more personal, until they took a terrifying turn.