Gemotions

Michael found himself pacing the hallway outside his sister’s art studio. He hadn’t felt this…on edge…since his college exam season. It was the drawings. His niece, Sarah, had begun filling her canvases with fantastical creatures, some of which had his blood running cold. Her latest: a creature with three eyes and impossibly long limbs, grinning at a small girl.

He tapped lightly on the door, then pushed it open without waiting for a response. Sarah looked up, her paintbrush poised. The studio, typically a haven of vibrant color, seemed muted today, washed in a strange grey light. “Hey, Uncle Mike!” she greeted.

He forced a smile, his jaw tight. "What’s this one?" he asked, gesturing toward the canvas. "A new friend?" His heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a need to understand the source of the feeling which had descended over him.

Sarah nodded. “He’s called Flicker. He’s very, very good at hide-and-seek." He ran his hand over the back of his neck, trying to dispel the prickling sensation there. He forced a laugh.