The Bug Man -Buru’Enmeli The First- didn’t stop his retreat until he reached the safety of his makeshift shelter. The journey had taken him three miles from the ski resort, his inhuman strides carrying him swiftly across the uneven terrain. His refuge, a natural cave nestled in the lee of a tumble of rocks and gnarled trees, awaited him like a predator’s lair.
Inside the shelter, the oppressive darkness swallowed him whole. The cave smelled of damp earth and decaying leaves, tinged with the faint metallic tang of his previous victims. He paused, crouching as his chitinous membrane began to recede. His monstrous form shrank and shifted, the grotesque features of his insectoid nature melting away. His human camouflage reasserted itself, skin knitting together over gleaming exoskeleton. His clothing re-formed, tattered and filthy, suitable for a vagabond who might haunt the outskirts of civilization.
The transformation complete, Buru’Enmeli’s form resembled that of a wiry man in his late forties, though there was an unnatural sharpness to his features -a prominent jawline and wiry black hair that seemed to bristle with life. His eyes, however, betrayed his true nature, retaining the faint, otherworldly glow of an eternal hunger.
He moved deeper into the cave, his bare feet soundless on the rocky floor. At the rear of the shelter, hidden within a narrow crevice, he withdrew an object wrapped in oilcloth. Unwrapping it with care, he revealed a flat piece of crystalline obsidian slate, its surface polished to a mirror-like smoothness by time and repeated use.
Holding the slate before him, Buru’Enmeli inhaled deeply. His breath rattled in his chest like the dying gasp of a bellows. His clawed fingers hovered over the slate, twitching unnaturally as their barbed tips traced arcane patterns in the air. The surface of the slate shimmered faintly, a dull pulse of light rippling across it.
Living for countless millennia in a half human state had taken its toll. As had being forced to work under the direction of one such as The Faceless One, whom he, Buru’Enmeli The First calls, Master.
Alien characters flickered across the slate, forming intricate runes that burned briefly with a dull red glow before fading. Then, with a final pass of his talon-like fingers, the runes disappeared entirely, replaced by the shadowy visage of a hooded figure.
***
Unbeknownst to Buru’Enmeli, another pair of eyes had been watching him from the moment he entered his makeshift shelter. Hidden within the shadows of the rocks and twisted trees, Charlie crouched low, her sleek black fur blending seamlessly into the darkness. Her tail flicked ever so slightly, a calculated movement that betrayed her quiet amusement at the insectoid predator’s obliviousness.
Her luminous green eyes narrowed as she observed him, her curiosity piqued by the transformation she had witnessed earlier. The grotesque shift from his human guise to his chitinous true form had sent a shiver through her—not of fear, but of fascination. He was dangerous, yes, but Charlie had seen danger before. She thrived on it.
When Buru’Enmeli retrieved the obsidian slate, her ears twitched. The faint hum of its activation vibrated through the air, and her eyes widened as the runes began to glow. She shifted slightly, moving to a better vantage point as the shadowy figure of the Dark One appeared above the tablet. Charlie froze, her body tensed like a coiled spring, as the voice of the cloaked figure rumbled through the cave.
***
The figure hovered above the slate, projected in stark dimensional clarity. Its eyes, glowing smoldering embers, bored into Buru’Enmeli’s soul. When the figure spoke, its voice was a malevolent growl that resonated deep within the mind, conjuring dark, twisted imaginings.
“Tell me.”
The words clawed their way into Buru’Enmeli’s consciousness, forcing him to swallow the wave of revulsion and fear that threatened to overwhelm him. He dipped his head in deference before croaking out his report. His voice was raw and grating, a rasp that hinted at centuries of disuse.
“I found her,” he hissed. “The nascent one. She was alone, though she had... a familiar. A dog.”
“A familiar, you say?” The shadowy figure leaned forward, its jagged teeth gleaming as it smiled. “And yet here you are, unconsumed by her presence. Curious. Tell me everything. Leave nothing out.”
Buru’Enmeli hesitated, his hands twitching as he fought to maintain composure. He recounted the encounter, omitting key details -the moment of hesitation when he thought to take her for himself, and how the hound had thwarted his plans. Instead, he framed the tale in a way that portrayed his retreat as a tactical decision.
When he finished, the figure regarded him in silence, its glowing eyes narrowing. “Very good. I must arrange a visit for my faithful subject. Mustn’t I? It has been far too long.”
Buru’Enmeli’s breath hitched, but he forced himself to nod. “Yes, sire. That would be most fortuitous.”
The figure’s laughter was a chilling sound, echoing within Buru’Enmeli’s mind long after the projection faded. The slate’s surface dimmed, returning to its lifeless sheen. He wrapped it carefully and returned it to its hiding place.
“‘Fortuitous,’” Buru’Enmeli muttered, his tone laced with venom as he stepped out into the cool night air. “‘Yes, sire. No, sire. As you wish, Master.’ Bah!” He spat onto the ground, the acidic fluid sizzling as it touched the dirt. “For one such as Buru’Enmeli The First to grovel before that -thing- it is unthinkable.”
Yet he knew he had no choice. His existence was bound to The Faceless One, the pact unbreakable. Unless... unless he could find a way to seize control. The thought sent a shiver of dark delight through him. He would need the girl -Dom.
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“If not for that rabid mutt, I would have had that girl, budding nascent or no,” he growled. “But no matter. She will be mine. I will drain her, weaken her, and remake her in my image. She will serve me, as is my right.” For he was the First, was he not. And she would be a fitting prize as one of the arisen, in thrall to the Necromancer, Buru’Enmeli.
He smiled, the sharp edges of his teeth glinting in the moonlight. Perhaps she would even aid him in overthrowing the Master, securing his freedom at last.
Though… even alone she had proven far more dangerous than he would have guessed.
He deluded himself he knew, for there was no way the Master would allow it. But he also knew that if he were to have a chance of taking her before the Master claimed her for his own, he would have to act fast.
With that thought, he began his journey toward the city, the distant glow of lights beckoning like a predator’s lure.
***
The exchange between Buru’Enmeli and the Dark One intrigued her. She watched as the creature grovelled before the spectral figure, recounting his encounter. Her ears flattened briefly at the mention of "the nascent one." She recognized the description -Dom was the girl he described. Thankfully Peanut had been there to protect them, otherwise Charlie herself would have had to step in. But they each had their roles to play.
The shadowy figure’s laugh sent a ripple of unease through the cave, and Charlie’s sharp claws extended instinctively, digging into the dirt. The malice in the Dark One’s voice was palpable, even to her, a creature accustomed to the darker corners of the world.
When the slate dimmed and Buru’Enmeli began grumbling to himself, Charlie’s tail flicked again, this time in silent contempt. For all his bluster, he’s just a pawn, she thought, her green eyes narrowing.
As Buru’Enmeli stepped out into the night, muttering about prey and vengeance, Charlie followed. She moved with the silent grace of a shadow, her paws finding purchase on the rocky terrain without disturbing so much as a leaf. The rain was her ally now, masking her scent and sound as she trailed him to the edge of the forest.
Charlie paused at the tree line, her gaze fixed on Buru’Enmeli as he stared toward the distant glow of the city. His body twitched with barely restrained hunger, his claws flexing as though anticipating the taste of blood.
She tilted her head slightly, studying him. His kind were predictable, driven by primal needs and singular focus. It made them dangerous, yes, but also blind. He would never notice her unless she wanted him to. And tonight, she had no intention of being seen.
With a hiss of satisfaction, Buru’Enmeli shot forward, his insectoid legs propelling him toward the city with terrifying speed. Charlie’s keen eyes followed his retreating form until it vanished into the distance. She remained still for a moment longer, her mind processing what she had witnessed.
Charlie turned, slipping back into the forest with the same eerie silence that had kept her hidden all along. She moved quickly, her mind set on returning to Dom and Nile. Whatever danger this creature posed, it was clear that Dom was at the center of something far greater than a simple party in the woods.
As the storm raged above, Charlie’s sleek form disappeared into the night, her green eyes gleaming with determination.
***
The road called Foothill stretched below him, a ribbon of asphalt winding through the darkened landscape.
As he was a creature of opportunity, he chose to wait in the shadows, knowing that an opportunity would present itself sooner rather than later. He didn’t have to wait long before his predictions bore out.
From his vantage point, he smiled to himself as he watched a car come speeding down the dark and lonely road, its headlights piercing the gloom.
“Only in this age of fools,” he mused, “do mortals dare the threats of darkness, wrapped in the illusion of safety afforded them by their mechanical contrivances, oblivious to the dangers that have forever stalked the night during the Devil’s hour…”
He readied himself, crouching low, his glowing eyes fixed on the vehicle as it slowed at an empty traffic light. His body tensed, muscles coiling like a spring.
A dark grin spread across his face. His hunger flared, insatiable and consuming, as he prepared to strike.
***
The driver’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles pale in the dim glow of the dashboard lights. He flicked a glance at the clock on the console -it was later than he’d thought. Too late to be out on these quiet roads, especially with the storm threatening overhead.
The faint patter of rain on the windshield was an ominous prelude to the heavier downpour he knew was coming. His wife shifted beside him, her attention focused on her phone’s screen as she scrolled through what little signal the mountains allowed.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. “I told him to call when he got there, but of course, he didn’t.”
The driver sighed, a soft sound that blended with the hum of the car’s engine. “You know how he is,” he said, his tone affectionate despite the reprimand. “He probably forgot once he got caught up in the party. You know Nile.”
His wife smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She leaned back in her seat, staring out at the dark road ahead. “I just wish he’d let us know he’s safe. These roads make me nervous.”
The driver didn’t reply immediately. He understood her worry; the winding mountain roads were treacherous enough in good weather. Add in the encroaching storm and the eerie stillness of the night, and even he felt the edges of unease creeping into his thoughts.
“We’ll head home once we hit the main road,” he said finally. “If we don’t hear from him by then, we’ll call again.”
She nodded, her fingers curling tightly around the strap of her bag as if it were a lifeline.
The traffic light ahead blinked yellow, then red, though the road around them was empty. The driver slowed the car, easing it to a stop out of habit rather than necessity. The only sound was the rain, a rhythmic patter that softened the oppressive silence of the night.
Then came the first subtle cue that something was wrong.
The headlights seemed to falter, flickering ever so slightly as though the car had passed through a ripple in the fabric of reality. The driver frowned, his gaze snapping toward the dashboard. The engine hummed steadily; there were no signs of malfunction.
His wife shifted uneasily. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah.” He leaned forward, squinting at the road ahead. The headlights shone brightly into the darkness, illuminating nothing but rain-slick asphalt and the encroaching shadows of the forest. “Probably just the storm messing with the lights.”
Her eyes darted toward the passenger-side window. “Maybe.”
The rain intensified, streaking the windshield in chaotic patterns. He reached for the wipers, flicking them to a higher setting. The rhythmic sweep of the blades did little to calm the unease coiling in his chest.
***
Buru’Enmeli watched from the shadows, his body pressed low to the ground. His glowing eyes narrowed as he studied the vehicle, noting its occupants. His sharp, insectoid mind calculated every detail: the size of the car, the pace of its occupants’ movements, the relative isolation of the road. The man was strong, but unaware. The woman -her nervous fidgeting betrayed a vulnerability that excited his predatory instincts.
His hunger surged, clawing at his control. The glowing red orbs of his eyes dimmed briefly as he suppressed his anticipation. The hunt was a ritual, a sacred act that required patience.