Burger: The Mystery At Hand

The scent of sizzling beef used to be Maria’s favorite part of working the grill. Now, the smell made her nauseous. It wasn't just the grease; it was the *wrongness* of it all. It started subtly. Chef Antoine, a man who could debone a chicken blindfolded, sliced his finger clean off while prepping lettuce. Then young Timmy, bless his heart, slipped on a completely dry floor and broke his wrist, the hamburger patty he was carrying flying into the deep fryer. Maria hadn't connected the dots until yesterday. Old Man Fitzwilliam, the dishwasher, found him slumped over the sink, a half-eaten burger clutched in his hand, a look of utter terror frozen on his face. The coroner ruled it a heart attack, but Maria saw the burger. It was… glistening. Almost *alive*. “It’s the Butcher’s Bargain Burger,” whispered Janice, the prep cook, her eyes wide with fear. “They say the meat is… different. That old Mrs. Abernathy cursed it when they forced her out of her farm.” Maria scoffed. Curses? But th