She was struggling not to hyperventilate, backing away from the entrance as quickly as possible. I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it.
I can't go in there.
Saphris started walking after her, but Dylan wasn't really paying attention to her—her eyes trained solely on the dark, open doorway. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. We just wanted to get food—wanted to find answers! Why are we thwarted at every fucking turn?
What the fuck are we supposed to do now?
Saphris grabbed her arm, keeping her from shuffling back any farther. Her friend glanced around before jerking her abruptly to the side, over to the courtyard door.
Dylan realized what she was doing and scrambled past her, ripping the door open before the thought of whether it was locked or not had even crossed her mind. She was huddled behind the massive tree in seconds, the pebbly gravel shifting noisily under her feet as she darted across.
She heard the door shut behind her and tensed, before remembering that it was likely Saphris—whom she left at the door.
So when footsteps started approaching, she cautiously peeked around the giant tree trunk and sighed with relief—as she'd thought, it was her best-friend.
"You'd seriously leave me behind?" Saphris called out quietly, voice shaky and skin pale. "What the hell, man?"
Dylan winced, "I'm sorry," she muttered, unable to meet her gaze. The image of that massive monstrosity of a web wouldn't leave her mind, and even with how guilty she felt—the fear of spiders burned stronger, hijacking her instincts.
It was an awful idea—absolutely fucking stupid idea, and I don't know what I might've disturbed—that light was so bright—and anything could've seen it—but not knowing that was above my head would've been far, far worse.
She shivered.
I really hope I got lucky.
"I'm sorry," she said again, scanning the windows behind her friend—she could just barely see into the cafeteria entrance; they would not be ambushed like last time. "I wasn't prepared—don't think I'll ever be prepared for a situation like this–"
"And you think I am?" Saphris cut in, incredulous.
"What? No!" Dylan denied, her eyes flashing to Saphris' face, taken aback. "I'm just trying to say that this?" She gestured at the cafeteria. "Is literally my worst nightmare come to life. I can't fucking handle this. I just can't."
"You want me to go in there alone." Saphris stated flatly.
"What? I thought you liked bugs?" Dylan countered snidely.
"Yeah. That's a different story and you damn well know it." Saphris retorted. "I'm not going alone."
"Well, it's either that—or we starve til we find a way out." Dylan answered, not budging. "The human body can go 3 weeks without food anyway."
"You were the one freaking out about food in the first place! And now you're okay starving?"
Dylan grimaced, imagining it. "No." She admitted reluctantly. "But I'd rather do that, than deal with whatever-the-fuck spiders might be hiding in that thing—because that–" she gagged, her body rejecting the thought.
"Tell me about it." Saphris muttered, shuddering. "We need to figure out what the hell we're supposed to do now…" she toed at the pebbled ground. "Everything went to shit; we haven't even been out here 15 minutes."
"No kidding. Our one clue ended with us standing at a locked door, and now more monsters have taken up residence in the cafeteria."
"If only we had the damn keys."
The keys… right, that'd solve that problem, wouldn't it? But keys are only with staff… did they all go to the back-office…?
Office…
She couldn't stop herself from face-palming. Saphris tilted her head, giving her a confused look. Oh my god, we're dumb.
How have we not thought of that?
"Dude. The front-office." She said, answering Saphris' unspoken question.
The realization lit up her face in an instant.
"Oh shit! You're right!" Her friend blurted excitedly. "They might have a set of keys lying around somewhere!"
"Exactly, and we might get lucky and find a master-key. We'd be set if that happened." Dylan added, feeling a bit steadier now that they had a new plan. She glanced at the wall of windows behind Saphris again, gaze scanning the hall and doorway—double checking.
"Do you think anything saw us?" Saphris asked, catching her off-guard. "You keep looking at the windows." She continued when Dylan gave her a startled look.
"I really hope not." She answered. "I'm sorry that I did that—but I couldn't handle not knowing. I just don't understand," she bit her lip, grimacing. "It hasn't even been a day—how is the web that established?"
"There has to be more than one, that much we can assume."
Dylan couldn't contain the spasm that wracked through her body at the words. The thought of a horde of spiders chasing after her made her want to die right then and there. She really hoped it was just one, despite everything, because at least one was one—right?
"Yeah, I'll drop dead before I set foot in there again." Dylan said again, unable to help herself.
"You know, most spiders are generally chill and won't go near you." Saphris offered lightly, as if Dylan would ever take comfort from a statement like that. No, spiders were always out to get her.
"Yeah, and has anything we've encountered so far been friendly enough to leave us alone? No." Dylan snapped back, anger fading before the feeling could really take hold.
"Well, I mean, it's not like this tree has hurt us…" Saphris pointed out, waving at the petrified wood.
"No, it'll just keep us from escaping."
Saphris' face twisted into a scowl at the reminder. "Point taken." She muttered.
"I'm just saying, we can't assume that these are anything like normal spiders." Dylan pushed, trying to get her to understand. "I mean seriously! You saw how thick that silk was! God knows how big those fuckers are!"
When Saphris didn't reply right away, she went back to scanning the windows—her gaze shifting from the stairs to the cafeteria doors and back. Nothing had changed since the last time she looked. Better safe than sorry.
She glanced at Saphris, the frizzy hair on her crown gleaming under the soft white light—the girl was looking down at her feet, thinking.
She was touching it.
She looked down at her hand, opening it and flexing her fingers, studying the various lines and grooves in her skin.
I touched it.
They knew we were there… unless the web was vacant.
But what's worse?
Knowing that we could randomly encounter a giant fucking spider in the halls? Or them knowing we exist at all…?
Saphris groaned suddenly, lifting her head and watching the leaves with a glare on her face. "I'm really gonna have to go in there alone, aren't I?"
"You don't have to…" Dylan started before trailing off uneasily.
"Right, but then the only other option is to starve—because you're certainly not going in there, right?"
"I'm sorry," she muttered again, sheepishly.
Saphris rolled her eyes, "it's fine. I'll figure it out. But that means you're investigating the front office while I'm getting food." She said, jabbing a finger into Dylan's shoulder.
She nodded vigorously, "yep! I can definitely do that—anything to get me farther away from that shit."
Saphris nodded, "okay, glad we got that covered… are we meeting up back here? Or in the—room?" She stuttered, tripping over the word. Her eyes darted around the courtyard, checking the exposed windows with a sudden unease.
Her brows furrowed, and she frowned—thrown off. Dylan opened her mouth, about to ask what happened when the same unease crept down her spine—causing goosebumps to crawl up her back and arms.
She closed her mouth and looked around, searching the windows, her gut churning.
There was nothing.
Then why does it feel like—?!
Scratcchhh.
Her gaze snapped to the windows in front of her.
Her instincts screamed.
Her body locked up, legs tensed to flee, but she couldn't move. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, silent and unobtrusive—trickling steadily down her cheeks.
She never felt fear so intense that even time came to a screeching halt. The moment hung, suspended by the utter horror of the sight.
It didn't feel real.
Was this what true fear felt like? A place in time rather than a feeling? Dragged so forcefully into the present moment that nothing else exists—details gaining a surreal razor sharp edge that had her questioning the realness of the situation despite her eyes never leaving her death's incarnate. Every millisecond experienced depended solely on her survival in the next few moments.
Never look away.
"Dylan…?" The voice was hushed, confused and afraid of the sudden shift in the atmosphere—dread lingered in the question.
She couldn't answer. Her lips quivered as her mouth slowly dropped open—tears streaming hot rivers down ghostly-pale skin.
That's real…
Oh god, that's actually real.
No.
No.
No no no.
She barely saw the top of Saphris' head shifting in her peripheral, turning to look at what Dylan refused to tear her eyes away from—freezing when she caught sight of it.
She didn't know how she wasn't screaming—it was all she could hear, echoing around her mind and ringing in her ears.
Its nail was still embedded in the glass, she could see the etched line it left behind—only a couple inches long.
Was this what was chasing me…?
A rake-thin monstrosity that towered over the glass door, with mangy hair so grimy that each strand was highlighted in the tree's light. Eight bloody eyes glittered menacingly, boring into her eyes and rooting her to the spot.
Its massive body shifted, bowed legs poised—ready for movement at any moment. She could almost see the hairs raised and bristling, its clawed feet seemed to gleam in the light—indicating just how sharp they were.
She felt faint, but her instincts kept her upright—watching the thing in front of her. Adrenaline coursed through her; she knew how fast spiders could move—she would not take her eyes off it. Really, this nightmare could not get any worse… what the fuck are we supposed to do?
The spider-like thing's mouth stretched open into a grin, and its pointed teeth parted. "Oh children, you look scared… are you lost?" The raspy feminine voice echoed around the courtyard clear as day despite the glass separating them, laughing cruelly.
Oh, you have got to be kidding me…
It fucking talks too?