Day 18: Into the Web
Eli moved cautiously through the ruins, his breaths shallow as the oppressive heat finally started to ease. He could still feel the sweat clinging to his skin, his legs trembling from the exhausting run. The listener had left him alone, retreating into the distance, but Eli's mind was far from at ease. He was alone now, far from Cass and Luke, and he didn't know where they were—or how he was going to find them.
His heart raced as he pressed himself against the broken remains of a wall, scanning the empty street before him. The silence was unnerving, and the heat waves had faded, but something still felt wrong. His mind replayed the frantic chase with the creature, but now that the listener was gone, an entirely different fear crept into his chest.
'Why did it leave so suddenly?' Eli thought, his pulse quickening. 'I've been running, making noise… It shouldn't have lost interest that fast.'
He tried to shake off the dread that was creeping up his spine, but a faint feeling of unease lingered in the air. The streets were too quiet. No wind, no sounds—just a heavy stillness that made Eli's skin crawl.
Then, in the distance, he saw it: a faint flicker of movement along the edge of a building, barely noticeable at first. Eli squinted, his heart dropping as his worst fear was realized.
Something skittered across the ground—fast, too fast—and disappeared into the shadows.
Eli's stomach twisted as he recognized the shape. His mind flashed back to the nest they had narrowly escaped from days before. The spider creatures, with their many eyes and long, spindly legs.
'I'm back in their territory,' Eli realized, his heart pounding. 'That's why the listener left. I must've wandered right into it.'
The air felt colder now, despite the lingering heat, and Eli's hands trembled as he clutched his knife tightly. The spiders didn't hunt like the listener. They didn't wait in silence—they swarmed. And now he was alone, right in the middle of their hunting grounds.
Eli backed away slowly, his eyes darting between the shadows, trying to make out the faint shapes moving in the darkness. He had no idea how many there were, but he could feel them, their eyes watching him, their legs tapping quietly against the broken pavement.
'Run,' he thought, his body screaming to move. 'I have to get out of here.'
But running would make noise. And noise would draw them to him faster.
Eli's breath hitched as he took one slow, careful step backward, his eyes never leaving the shadows. He had to get out of this place, but if he ran, he'd be overwhelmed. He had seen what those things could do to a person, how fast they could swarm and tear someone apart.
His thoughts shifted briefly to Cass and Luke. They had no idea where he was, no way of knowing he had ended up back here. They were probably still hiding from the listener, or trying to find him. 'I have to find them,' he told himself, the urgency clawing at him. 'But I can't do that if these things catch me.'
He took another step back, and then another, keeping his movements slow and deliberate, but his heart was pounding so hard he thought it might give him away.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Eli saw one of the creatures dart toward him—fast and precise, its many eyes blinking in unison. Its legs clicked against the pavement as it lunged forward, and Eli's instincts took over.
"No!" Eli shouted, his voice breaking the silence as he swung his knife at the creature.
The blade caught the creature's leg, slicing through it with a sickening crunch. The spider let out a high-pitched screech, its legs flailing wildly as it collapsed, but the sound of its death cry echoed through the streets, louder than anything Eli had heard since entering this territory.
The effect was immediate. The air filled with the rapid clicking of legs against stone, the scuttling sound growing louder and closer with each passing second. Eli's heart raced as he realized what he had done—he had drawn them to him.
He spun around and ran.
His feet pounded against the cracked pavement, his chest burning with each desperate breath. The spiders were coming, their clicking echoing behind him as they poured out of the shadows, their many eyes blinking in unison as they chased him down.
Eli's mind raced as he sprinted through the ruins, weaving between broken walls and piles of rubble. His only thought was escape, but the creatures were fast, their legs scuttling with terrifying speed. Every step he took felt like they were gaining on him, the sound of their pursuit growing louder and more frenzied.
He darted around a corner, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he desperately searched for a way out. 'I need to find somewhere to hide,' he thought frantically, his muscles burning with exertion. 'I can't outrun them for long.'
The street ahead was narrow and filled with debris, but he could see an opening further down—a gap between two collapsed buildings that led into another alley. It wasn't much, but it was his only chance.
Eli bolted for the alley, his legs screaming in protest as he pushed himself harder. Behind him, the spiders were closing in, their screeches piercing the air as they hunted him down. His lungs burned, and every part of his body felt like it was going to give out, but he didn't stop.
He reached the alley just as one of the creatures lunged at him from behind. Eli threw himself into the narrow gap, barely avoiding the spider's claws as it crashed into the wall beside him. The creature screeched in frustration, its legs flailing as it tried to wriggle its way through the gap. Eli scrambled deeper into the alley, his heart pounding in his chest as he ducked under a broken beam and pressed himself against the far wall, gasping for breath. The air was thick with dust and the stench of decay, but the narrow passage had saved him—at least for now.
The spider creature outside continued to thrash against the wall, its claws scraping against the stone as it tried to force its way in. Its high-pitched screeches echoed off the alley's walls, sending chills down Eli's spine. He could see its long, spindly legs twitching in the gap, the many blinking eyes searching for him, but the creature was too large to squeeze through.
For a moment, Eli allowed himself to breathe, his chest heaving as he leaned against the cold stone wall. His muscles burned, and his hands shook from the adrenaline still surging through his body. He wiped sweat from his brow, glancing back toward the street where the rest of the spiders were surely still searching for him.
He couldn't stay here long.
'Where are they?' Eli thought, his mind racing as he remembered why he had run in the first place. Cass and Luke were still out there, somewhere in the ruins, probably hiding from the listener or worse. He had promised them he'd find them, but now he had drawn these spider creatures back into their path.
"I'll find you, I promise."
The words echoed in his mind, and his stomach twisted with guilt. He had to find them, but how could he, when the streets were crawling with these things? The only reason he wasn't already dead was because of this tight alleyway, but it wouldn't be long before the spiders found another way around.
The spider at the entrance let out another screech, its claws scraping against the ground as it finally gave up on forcing its way through. Eli's heart pounded as he heard the familiar skittering sounds growing fainter. It was moving away.
He stayed still for several minutes, listening to the distant clicking of legs against pavement, waiting for the right moment to make his move. When the sound had faded enough that he felt it was safe, Eli carefully pulled himself out from behind the beam and crawled toward the alley's entrance, peeking out into the street.
The coast seemed clear. The spider was gone, and the narrow alley had kept the others at bay, but he knew they weren't far.
'Time to move,' Eli thought, his body tense as he emerged from the alley, moving carefully but quickly along the edge of the ruined buildings. He couldn't afford to make any more noise.
As he navigated the broken streets, his thoughts kept drifting back to Cass. She had always known what to do in these situations, always saved them when things went wrong, but now he was alone. And without her guidance, every decision felt like a gamble. Every step he took felt like it could lead him deeper into danger.
He had to find them. Cass was injured, and Luke was strong, but not enough to face whatever was out there by himself. They needed him as much as he needed them.
Eli rounded another corner, scanning the ruins for any sign of his friends. The streets were eerily quiet now, but the tension in the air remained. He could still feel the weight of the spiders' presence, lurking just out of sight. Every shadow seemed to flicker with movement, every distant sound made his heart race.
"Cass… Luke…" he whispered under his breath, his voice hoarse with fear and exhaustion. "Where are you?"
Suddenly, in the distance, he heard it—a faint voice, carried on the wind. Eli's heart leapt in his chest.
It was Luke. He could hear him, faint but unmistakable.
Eli sprinted toward the sound, his legs burning with exhaustion but fueled by hope. The streets blurred as he moved, the debris and broken buildings flashing past him. He didn't care about the danger anymore—he had to reach them. He had to find them.
"Luke! Cass!" Eli shouted, his voice cracking as he ran. "I'm here! Where are you?"
There was a pause, then Luke's voice echoed again, louder this time. "Eli?! Over here!"
Eli pushed harder, his lungs screaming for air as he rounded another corner, and then he saw them. Cass and Luke were huddled near the remains of an old building, its roof caved in, providing some cover from the open street. Luke looked up, his face lighting up with relief when he saw Eli.
"Eli!" Luke called out, waving him over. "You made it!"
Eli rushed toward them, his body screaming for rest but his heart soaring with relief. He stumbled into the makeshift shelter, collapsing beside Luke, gasping for breath.
"Thank God," Luke muttered, his face slick with sweat, his eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. "I thought you were dead, man."
Eli shook his head, still panting. "Not… yet," he managed between breaths. "The listener… I had to… get it away from you."
Luke placed a hand on Eli's shoulder, squeezing tightly. "You saved us. We heard it go after you, and we thought—"
"Enough," Cass's voice cut through the conversation, low but sharp. She sat nearby, propped up against the collapsed wall, her leg still twisted in an awkward angle, her face pale but focused. "We're not safe yet."
Eli looked at her, his pulse quickening as he took in the sight of her. Despite her injuries, she was alert, her eyes scanning the surrounding ruins like a hawk watching for threats. But it wasn't her usual confidence he saw—it was something closer to desperation.
"We need to move," Cass continued, her voice strained. "You led the listener away, but we're not out of danger. You've crossed back into the spiders' territory, haven't you?"
Eli nodded, his heart sinking. "Yeah. I… I had to fight one of them. I think I've drawn them out."
Cass's jaw tightened. "That explains why the listener left. It knows what's in this area—it won't come back. But the spiders… they're worse in numbers."
Luke glanced nervously at Cass, then at Eli. "So what do we do? We can't stay here, not with them hunting us."
Cass winced as she adjusted her position, biting back the pain in her leg. "We move quietly. We avoid making noise. If they find us, we run. We have no choice."
Eli's stomach twisted. He knew Cass was right. The spiders would swarm them if they stayed too long in one place. But how could they move with Cass injured? Her leg was still in bad shape, and it was clear she was struggling just to sit upright.
"Can you walk?" Eli asked, his voice soft, concern written on his face.
Cass met his gaze, her expression hard. "I'll manage," she said, but Eli could hear the pain in her voice. She wasn't invincible, even if she pretended to be.
"We'll help you," Luke said, stepping toward Cass and offering his hand. "You don't have to do this alone."
Cass hesitated for a moment, her pride clearly fighting against her need for assistance, but eventually, she nodded. "Fine. But if I say run, you run. Don't look back."
Eli and Luke nodded, both knowing they didn't have time for an argument. They had to get out of there before the spiders found them.
Eli crouched down beside Cass, helping her to her feet. She grimaced as she stood, her weight leaning heavily on Eli and Luke. "We go west," she said, her voice strained. "There's a narrow passage near the edge of the territory. It should be safer there."
They moved slowly, their footsteps deliberate and quiet, every muscle tensed in anticipation of the spiders. The air felt thick with tension, the oppressive silence making every creak of rubble beneath their feet sound impossibly loud.
Eli's heart raced as they carefully navigated the ruins. His eyes flicked constantly toward the shadows, expecting at any moment to see those many blinking eyes, those spindly legs scuttling out from the darkness. He could feel the weight of the danger pressing down on them with every step.
Suddenly, Cass froze, her body tensing as her eyes darted to the left.
Eli followed her gaze and saw it—a single spider creature, crouched on the side of a broken wall, its legs twitching, its many eyes blinking rapidly. It hadn't noticed them yet, but it was close—too close.
Eli's heart skipped a beat, his grip tightening on Cass's arm. He felt Luke stiffen beside him, his breath catching in his throat.
Cass didn't speak, but the urgency in her eyes was clear: Move. Now.
They took a careful step back, their movements slow and deliberate, but just as they did, Eli's foot slipped on a loose rock, sending it tumbling down the side of the rubble. The sound echoed through the empty streets.
The spider's head snapped toward them, its eyes locking on their position.
"Run!" Cass hissed, her voice sharp and immediate.
Without hesitation, Eli and Luke bolted, dragging Cass along with them as fast as they could. The spider screeched, its legs skittering across the ground as it gave chase, its many eyes blinking in unison.
Eli's heart pounded in his chest as they ran, his mind racing with panic. The sound of the creature's legs clicking against the pavement grew louder, closer. They weren't fast enough—Cass was slowing them down, her injured leg making it impossible for them to outrun the spider.
"We need to find cover!" Luke shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "It's gaining on us!"
Cass's breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to keep up, her face pale from the pain. "There!" she gasped, pointing toward a narrow alley up ahead. "Get to the alley!"
Eli's legs burned as they sprinted toward the alley, the spider gaining on them with terrifying speed. Its screeches echoed through the streets, each one louder and more frantic than the last. It was right behind them.
They reached the alley just as the spider lunged. Eli felt the wind of its claws swiping past his back as they dove into the narrow passage, barely avoiding the creature's attack. The spider screeched in frustration, its body too large to fit through the narrow opening.
Eli collapsed against the wall, gasping for breath, his entire body trembling with exhaustion. Cass slumped beside him, her face slick with sweat, her breathing shallow. Luke leaned against the opposite wall, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
"We… we made it," Eli panted, his voice shaky with relief.
But Cass didn't look relieved. She stared out at the entrance of the alley, her eyes dark with fear. "We're not safe yet," she said quietly, her voice filled with grim certainty. "That was just one. The rest will be coming."
Eli's heart sank as he realized the truth in her words. The spider had been alone, but there were more out there. Many more.
And they weren't done hunting yet.