Red Right Hand by Levi Black Page A

The Man in Black stood there, looking exactly as he had before whatever happened had happened. Still tall, dark, and sinister.
    I climbed to my feet. My skin prickled, but less and less each second, fading away with every heartbeat.
    â€œWhat was that?” I started walking to where Daniel knelt on the grass. He leaned back over his feet, still kneeling. His head hung low to his chest. He looked absolutely exhausted.
    The Man in Black walked with me. “Your term for it would be transdimensional teleportation. Ashtoreth’s gift allowed you to step through the void between Time and Space, the narrow gap between the skin and the muscle of the universe, and to take us with you.”
    Why does he have to use the most disturbing imagery when answering a question?
    By the time I reached Daniel’s side, the pain from teleporting had faded almost completely.
    For me at least.
    Daniel looked terrible. Sweat ran in rivulets down his face, his skin waxy and pale. I’d seen him nearly every day since he’d started working with me, early in the morning for an eight AM shift and after all night shifts when he worked for someone else. I’d never seen him look so washed out. The hollows under his eyes were smudged black and sunken in. He sucked air in long, deep breaths as though he had just run ten miles. Squatting beside him, I put my hand on his face.
    He was ice cold.
    His eyes cracked open, the lids puffy and only half raised, and he turned into my hand. A tiny smile made his cheek twitch under my palm. His voice came out low, hoarse from being sick. “Hey, hey, Charlie. That was pretty rough.” His hand reached for mine. “Are you okay?”
    He’s asking about me? He’s the one who looks like hell.
    His concern touched me. I spoke gently and quietly. “I’m okay.”
    â€œGood.” He nodded, his eyes closing again. “Good. I was worried about you.”
    â€œI’m all right. I can take care of myself. Are you going to be okay?” A thought struck me. “We’re at a hospital. Do you need me to get a doctor?”
    â€œWe are not here for that, Acolyte.” The Man in Black loomed over us. His coat rustled, stretching as it brushed softly against my hip and caressed Daniel’s thighs.
    Anger sparked, hot and bright. “Look, he’s not okay. Something about what just happened hurt him, and if he needs a doctor then, by God, we are going to get him one.”
    The coat pulled away, reacting to my anger. Its wearer simply looked down at me with glittering black eyes. He didn’t speak, just stared at me. I stared back in defiance, locking my gaze with his. The symbol cut into my hand began to tingle and burn. I shoved it out of my mind, forcing myself to keep staring, to keep looking, to hold that gaze as long as possible. My eyes burned in their sockets. I rode my anger until it started to crumble underneath me. I held on, staring at those sinister midnight eyes as long as I could.
    Blinking back tears, I broke and turned away.
    Nyarlathotep’s voice fell on me like the striking of a midnight bell. “There is only one god you need be concerned with, Acolyte. Now stand up. Both of you.”
    I hated him as I got to my feet. Hated him deep inside my heart. I helped Daniel up hating this nightmare of a night.
    And I hated the Man in Black.
    Daniel swayed on his feet. The Dark God stepped in front of him. “Daniel Alexander Langford, you will stand strong. You will follow me.”
    I watched Daniel steady himself, setting those wide shoulders in a line and straightening his spine. His skin was still pale, but he wasn’t shivering or sweating anymore. He took a deep breath, held it, and blew it out between his lips. He nodded at the Man in Black. “I will follow you to the ends of the earth, Master.”
    The Man in Black turned in a swirl of coat and began walking toward the hospital. Daniel and I followed.
    I still