Full Metal Magic: An Urban Fantasy Anthology by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2016-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

Fear the Bogeyman

"Are you sure?" asked Method, staring dubiously at his tea. I tried mine—I should have known better.

"Yep, I can see it right there on your back. Great fat thing it is, like a smooth mountain of flesh, just a head and then a blob. Nasty bugger. Its eyes are as white as its teeth and it's grinning at me and making me real nervous." The Chemist looked away.

Damn, if it was freaking a demon ghoul that still to this day fed on necrotic flesh and was so misshapen he made Freddy Krueger look like a model, well, you know it's kinda gross.

Method tried to look over his shoulder, utterly freaked, but clearly saw nothing. The Chemist is true Hidden, born of magic, so is privy to things we aren't. Especially regards to supernatural creatures that are more myth than anything.

"This can't be right," said Method. "Mörkö are just bogeymen, used to scare kids. They aren't actually real."

"Come on, even I know that all myths and fairy tales are based on fact," I said. "You should know better. It's Finnish, right? And you're Finnish?" A lot of powerful vampires and Hidden hail from Finland. It's where humanity first learned about the Empty—there's definitely something in the water there. Or, it's so boring they make stuff up to entertain themselves then wake up one morning only to discover it's now real, and keen on biting.

"I haven't been back to Finland for centuries, and this mörkö is just a story. Anyway, you said it was a witch doing this." Method put down his tea and wiped at his face. He was overheating. The weight of the skin without the flesh beneath must be a terrible burden, and the sauna-like conditions of the room were not helping.

"Yeah, it's a witch all right, and she's set this on you. It's riding your back, sucking your energy right this minute. Hell, it's growing as more of your flesh is consumed. Surprised you fellas can't see it." The Chemist spoke conversationally, like this was just us guys talking about sports.

I inspected an oversized, murky test tube, jumping back as something squirmed inside and hit the glass. "Can you remove it? Can you break whatever hex he has?"

"I can get it off him, sure, but it'll hurt."

"That's okay," I said.

"Hey, this is me we're talking about, not you," objected Method.

I shrugged. "Suit yourself."

With a sigh, Method said, "Fine, do it."

"Okay," said the Chemist preparing a relatively clean beaker. "But this won't remove the hex. There will be something else along soon enough. You've been chosen by some old crone and she's got it in for you. Any Hidden creature that sniffs out the hex will be drawn to you and it could be worse next time."

"Nothing could be worse than this," moaned Method, all of us knowing that wasn't true.

"Sit over there on the bed. This won't take long, it's a simple potion to just get it unstuck from you."

We eyed the stained, bare mattress in the corner of the room dubiously, deciding to remain standing.

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