“Your beer,” Liam handed Tom the bottle, “wait…you got a new tattoo?”

“Ah…yeah, maybe…” Tom instantly grew uncomfortable, and covered his wrist.

“Oh man, don’t tell me it’s your Ex’s name,” Liam sat down, and kept pulling at Tom’s arm to see the tattoo, “come on, let me see, you pussy!”

“Nah, bro, I don’t feel comfortable,” Tom protested.

“It is her name! Oh my god! You’re such a simp bro!”

“It’s…it’s not her name, it’s…it’s something else.”

“Yea right,” Liam pantamimed jerking off, “I’m sure it’s something bad ass and based right?”

Liam laughed, mocking his friend, which is how their interaction always went…merciless ribbing of each other. But Liam noticed his friend shifting in anxiety, as if really bothered by it.

“Oh snap…this is serious huh?”

Tom didn’t answer.

“Alright, it’s none of my business,” Liam patted his pal on the shoulder in reassurance, “I’m here for you if and when you’re ready to talk.”

“Thanks bro,” Tom cheered up, “I appreciate you.”

And so the boys night resumed, with more friends joining in, more liquor, and more playful mocking. Boys will be boys.

Sometime during their partying, Tom has lowered his guard, and that’s when Liam noticed his friends wrist tatto.

Liam kept drinking, and nodding along to the conversation the boys were having - a lively discussion on respective coworkers they’d indulge in a passionate carnal evening with. But Liam’s mind was occupied…

He could’ve sworn Tom’s tattoo morphed with every glance. Liam couldn’t make it out, and didn’t want to make Tom more uncomfortable by bringing it up. None of the other guys at the table noticed.

Liam kept sipping on his beer, his eyes squinting at Tom’s hands. His curiosity was piqued. Was that tatto depicting a strange gylph from some ancient civilization? Was it an animal? Or was Liam beginning to see things that weren’t there? The young man felt like he was going crazy.

Until the other boys noticed.

“Bro, the fuck you so quiet for?” Ben playfully hit Liam’s shoulder to get his attention, “You’ve been staring at Tom for the last hour, man? You got a crush or something?”

The table burst into laughter - well everyone except Liam and Tom.

Tom shifted uncomfortably, and covered up his wrist again.

“Sorry Tom, but I just got to know…” Liam reached over and pulled Tom’s arm despite his friends best efforts to fend the attack, “finally!”

They all saw it.

Tom turned ashen white, and ran away.

“What was that?” Kevin exclaimed, “We should go after him.”

“Maybe he wants to be alone,” Roy chimed in.

“Maybe? Have you seen his reaction?” Kevin protested, before running after their friend.

“I had a feeling something was off,” Liam muttered, “did you guys get a good glimpse of it?”

“I saw an eye blinking at me…like it was staring into my soul,” Ben shivered, “I’m creeped out…you all saw it blink too right?”

“You saw an eye?” Roy exclaimed, “I saw a slithering snake’s tail wind around his wrist…it looked so…so life like!”

“What the fuck is going on?” Liam got up and put down cash for their bar tab, “I saw letters shifting into stick figures…”

“Come on, let’s go after them,” Ben got up as well, “I got a bad feeling that Tom is in trouble.”

“I’ll close out the rest of the tab, boys,” Roy called over a waitress, “I’ll catch up to you. Go. Go!”

Liam and Ben left the bar, unsure of where to turn next.

“You calling Kevin?”

Ben nodded.

“Let me try Tom,” Liam dialed his friend - there was no answer.

“Well?” Roy came out of the bar, “Should we split up?”

A feeling of dread towered over all of them. Tom was in danger, and they needed to help.