G’lmesh is afoot

Outside I looked, into dark grey soot,

Until I was shook, by the ragged look,

Of a man that stepped to my door from the soot.

Oh how I remember the day, I remember the rain

I remember the day, that Gunter came.

He said, "Gunter's the name! Hunting’s the game

And I wish to stay, only one day.

I wish to wash away all the stains."

I said, "Of course, my friend,

As long as you need!

But what are you hunting on Merrigold Street?"

"We have no beasts," I told

"And hardly a deer in this cold.

So what do you hunt on Merrigold Street?"

"G'lmesh is afoot!" said the Hunter.

"I mustn't stay put!" said Gunter the Hunter.

"If I fail to find him your town is kaput!"

I said, "G'lmesh is not known to me,

Is that the name of bird or a flea?

Or maybe the name of a book or a tree?"

With a shake of his head

And a laugh Gunter said,

"G'lmesh is none of those.

He is a creature of old!

With skin like ash, that sheds in the wind,

He can only be seen by those with great sin,

As the mist grows, he will seek those within,

Flaying and slaying and stealing more skin."

"What horror!" I cried.

"Will any survive?"

"Yes, yes," he said.

"I have hunted much worse!"

"The Drorse of Concorse,

and the Curse of the Herse,

All the way off in the city of Converse!"

Gunter the Hunter laughed again and he said,

"There is little terror left for me in this world.

I see into the nightmares as the corners unfurl,

The link is weakening between or world and theirs.

Those who live in the other plane,

Wish only to hurt and wish only for pain.

Fear not my friend, for soon it'll be slain.

I promise that you, and your kind will never reign."

It was here that I saw, he had loaded his gun,

It was here that I snarled and started to run.

Though I was quick,

He was much quicker.

I felt the sting of silver, and down around I spun.

"G'lmesh is afoot, but it's simple you see,"

The voice of the Hunter was coming closer to me.

"The soot is a circle, centered on you,

I gave you a chance, it was the least I could do.

The seams on your skin, was the very clear clue.

I knew, this is G'lmesh when I was staring at you."

"You will regret this Gunter," I cried.

And the pain did subside.

His face melted away,

My flesh started to slide.

"You will regret this Hunter," I screamed.

The world disappeared,

Back to the darkness,

Where the light does not peer.