The Puppeteer’s Flesh
The caravan rolled into the edge of the sleepy town of Elmbrook just after sunset, wheels groaning like dying animals. The townspeople gathered as they always did when travelers arrived—curious, cautious, hopeful for something new to break the monotony. At the head of the caravan stood a tall man with sunken eyes, a curled smile carved into a face that looked half-forgotten by time. He introduced himself simply: “I am Morrow, the Puppeteer. And tonight, your children will laugh, your elders will weep, and all will remember.” He bowed low with jerking grace, his limbs moving like something tugged by invisible strings. The people clapped, not knowing why their stomachs churned at the sight. Morrow’s stage was set at the center of the town square by nightfall. Velvet curtains framed a crude wooden theater, and painted backdrops shifted with the moonlight. The puppets themselves hung in place—six of them. They were disturbingly lifelike, each with glimmering glass eyes that did...