The Curse of the Rusty Needle
A Horror Story
by Icarus
Whilst investigating the death of a local bounty hunter, an ornery torturer called Seymour Butts uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, rusty needle circulating throughout grain mill. As soon as anyone uses the needle, he or she has exactly 68 days left to live.

The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look blurred. A marked person feels like a sleepy cat to touch.

Seymour gets hold of the needle, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into his mind: a cold wolf balancing on a forlorn bounty hunter, an old newspaper headline about a gruesome accident, a hooded deer ranting about ears and a drinking well located in a decrepit place.

When Seymour notices his feet have cat-like properties, he realises that the curse of the rusty needle is true and calls in his priest, a executioner called Mike Hunt, to help.

Mike examines the needle and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. He finds the cold wolf balancing on a forlorn bounty hunter particularly chilling. He joins the queue for a supernatural death.

Seymour and Mike pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded deer. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?