Short gland stories

The curse of the tiny pocket watch

Whilst investigating the death of a local, a Serious Businessman called Melin Bermingham uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, Tiny Pocketknife circulating throughout the Forest. As soon as anyone uses the Pocketknife, he or she has exactly 30 days left to live.The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during the day to day life, but when photographed, they look distorted. A marked person feels like an evil bear to touch.Melin gets hold of the Pocketknife, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flashes into his mind: a charming rabbit balancing on a Dirty Stump, an old newspaper headline about a Sausage accident, a hooded owl ranting about legs, and a drinking well located in a Dull place.When Melin notices his eyes have bear-like properties, he realizes that the curse of the Tiny Pocketknife is true and calls in one of his childhood friends, a Journalist called Mox Blacksmith, to help.Mox examines the Pocketknife and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. He finds the charming rabbit balancing on a Crazy stump particularly chilling. He joins the queue for a supernatural death.Melin and Mox pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded owl. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?