The last thing Josh remembered was dying. It was painful, like glass shards under his skin, dragged along with every beat of his dying heart. Now it beat with new strength, thudding in his chest as he lurched up, gasping for air. 

 

Josh had been laid across a stone slab in—well wherever he was it was dark, illuminated only by a glowing phosphorus that seemed to come from all around. 

 

“Hello?” he called out. “Was I … was I dead?” 

 

“Yes,” a voice that was not made with sound reverberated about the chamber. It was as if he could hear it with all his senses, not just sound. A skittering carapace rose up from the shadows on the far side of the room. Many legs unfurled from the insectoid cephalopod. A single eye, pulsing of light, gazed down upon him. “I have returned you from death.” 

 

Josh’ mind raced as every fiber of his being screamed for him to run. He forced past his adrenaline and asked. “Why me? What do you want from me?” 

 

He braced himself for any answer except the one he got. “Hmmn, what?” the eldritch monster said after several seconds hesitation, pretending it hadn’t heard him. 

 

“Why did—” Josh paused. “You did have a reason for bringing me back, right?”  

 

“My reasons are as infinite as the stars, Josh Anderson.” 

 

“Then tell me one. Did you want eternal service? My soul? …. A favor?” 

 

“No—yes. All of the above.”

 

Josh lifted himself off the slab and hopped to the ground. The creature pulled its crab claw tentacles in close. Josh ran his hand through his hair, exasperated. “You have done this before, right?” 

 

“Of course I have,” it paused, “On butterflies. And a jelly fish … One time a tree.” 

 

Josh rubbed his eyes. “So that’s a no. Look, you seem like a real nice … eldritch monster but—okay, you obviously need help. I owe you that at the least. You got coffee around here?”