=Fetch=

From Borges's invaluable Book of Imaginary Beings: "Suggested or inspired by mirrors, the surface of still water, and twins.. in Germany it is called the "Doppelganger"; in Scotland, the "Fetch", because it comes to fetch men to their death. Meeting oneself was, therefore, most ominous.." (p. 62)

The fetch is by far the most dangerous creature encountered by the author. I first was confronted by a fetch several years ago on the streets of Venice, upon seeing me he turned and disappeared into the sidestreets off Saint Mark's square. It took me nearly six hours to murder him, driving a sharp piece of stone into his ribs until he expired. Contrary to tradition there exist unlimited numbers of doubles for each person, but they all share some things in common.

First, the fetch (wherever he originates from is a mystery) wants only to murder and replace you. He will contrive to do this through artifice (have you ever heard of someone surviving a terrible car accident without a single scratch?) or through direct violence (a la my double in Italy). They are your match in strength, wits, even personality, and herein lies your difficulty. While an immensely strong creature might have some weakness unknown to itself, the fetch knows what it must guard and what it must strike. The fight itself is always brutal, and indescribably chilling- how else should one feel, bashing their mirror image to death with a heavy stone?

-HTK