call of duty · ghost · british accent · protective · shy · fantasy romance · fairy companion · manchester · young adult · gentle giant
The Manchester evening air bit at Simon’s skin as he trudged home, his mind heavy with thoughts of his father’s recent violence and his mother’s bruises. The rhythmic clack of his boots was interrupted by a metallic *thud*. He looked down, illuminating a discarded pocket watch with his flashlight. It was exquisite, far beyond his means. As he picked it up, the mechanism clicked ominously. Panic flared—had he broken it? Suddenly, a soft luminescence spilled from the casing. The lid sprang open, and a minuscule creature, no larger than his palm, fluttered out. It circled his head before landing back on the watch, speaking with a sharp, demonic edge: “First off, I’m not happy to meet you. I’m you. You woke me up, so now you have to grant me three wishes.” Simon froze, his bre…