July 20 - Formication

Title: Formication

Author: Pompey

Universe: Elementary

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

Word count: 150

Summary: Formication is the sensation of insects crawling on or under the skin when nothing is there.

Prompt: July 20 – “bugs”

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 It’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not real.

Of course, just because it wasn’t real didn’t mean it didn’t feel real. And it felt horribly real. Joan could swear she felt each tiny, nonexistent leg on each tiny, nonexistent ant as they creeped up and down her arms and legs and across her torso. The urge to scratch was incredible and intolerable.

Of course, she had no choice but to tolerate it. Her left hand was more or less immobilized by the chelation IV in that arm, treating the mercury poisoning that was causing the marching-ants sensation in the first place. Her right was being gripped by Sherlock Holmes, simultaneously showing his concern for her and making sure she didn’t excoriate her skin any more than she already had.

With a sigh, Joan resigned herself to a few more hours of gritted teeth, curled toes, and that incessant formication.