The Caterpillarian

Chapter 12

My heart collapsed into my stomach. It hadn't even crossed my mind to even question what had happened to the kids that had failed the tasks. But it made sense—of course, they'd died. Amatoshi, the catfishes—whatever other kind of monster—had caught them and killed them. We'd survived but they hadn't. We were the lucky ones.

"They . . . died?" Alison said, looking to the floor.

"Yes. They failed. What did you think had happened to them?"

"I . . . I don't know. I didn't . . . really think about it."

"Me, either," I uttered, my heart panging with sadness. Innocent kids had died thanks to these trials. Were their families okay? Their friends?

They would've been devastated, of course.

"They died just for this?" Alison said, the volume of her voice beginning to rise. "What about their families? How is this fair?"

"Do not worry about the other children," the moth said. "The Great Caterpillarian takes care of them—or should I say . . . us."

"Us?" I repeated.

"We are the children that failed. And now we serve The Great Caterpillarian, so we can make amends for our failures."

"Hang on," I said, unsure if I'd heard right, "you . . . I mean, the moths are the kids who died?"

"That's right."

All of this time, those moths with messages written on the backs of their wings—the moth sitting right in front of me—were the children who had died during these trials. The moths that had gathered on my floor that I had chucked into my bin like rubbish? I felt sick. This wasn't right. Not at all. But why was he okay with it?

"It is what I deserve for failing the trials," he said, his tone the same as it always had been. "I was useless. No use to anyone."

"You can't think that!" Alison said, her voice loud and filled with anger. "These trials are really hard! We only passed because we were lucky!"

"You are strong and beautiful creatures, now," the moth said. "All thanks to The Great Caterpillarian!"

"This is stupid!" Jasper shouted. "We're just kids! You were just kids! What he's done is wrong! Why is he putting people through this? All we wanted to do was play a flippin' game!"

"I am bored of this now," the moth said, his mood darkening. "Destroy the piano, and thank The Great Caterpillarian for your evolution into better creatures."

"No!" Jasper shouted. "I really like that song! You better keep playing it, or I'll destroy you!"

The moth said nothing for a moment, but he did stop playing.

I was as angry as Jasper and Alison. Kids had died doing these stupid trials and were now serving the thing that had caused their deaths. And to think we were thanking that thing a few minutes earlier. Being able to swing a sword around, or fly, or pretend you're flipping Spiderman wasn't worth any of this.

Actually . . .

"You two are mad," I said, gaining their attention. "The Great Caterpillarian has given us these amazing powers. So why don't we use them? To defeat him!"

My friends smiled and nodded.

"You idiots!" The moth blurted, slamming his arms, or legs, or whatever onto the piano keys. "You stupid, hairless, purple freaks! Tall, ugly, fleshy, living, sword-wielding, mask-wearing, winged, hat heads!"

Was he just spouting randomness?

"What's wrong with you?" Jasper said. "You should want to make him pay for what he's done, too."

"Idiot!" It snapped. "Messy-haired freak! I am a loser! A failure! You had the chance to be something, but you've thrown it away! The Great Caterpillarian will kill you for this!" And then he flew through the window and towards the roof, disappearing from our view.

"Who's he calling a messy-haired freak?" Jasper said, straightening his hair.

We were in for it now. How did we stand a chance against The Caterpillarian? The creature had sealed us inside my house, summoned an army of terrifying creatures, and killed countless children before transforming them into moths. How would we even get to him? He was on the roof, for crying out loud. Maybe if I could actually get within stabbing distance, I might stand a chance.

Nah, I was still done for. We all were. At least Alison had had some experience flying because we'd be turned into moths soon.

"Now what?" Alison said, folding her arms.

"We just wait, I suppose," I said, sitting on my bed. "He'll have to come to us."

"Not really," Jasper snorted. "All he has to do is send some more monsters at us."

True.

My heart was thudding but I was used to it by now. Did we really stand a chance? I would give it my all.

When would my parents be home? It was 8 p.m. They'd be back about nine, but would I be here to greet them?

Yes. Yes, I would.

"I could fly up there," Alison suggested.

"What?" Jasper said, leaning against my computer desk. "And fight him on your own?"

"She could carry us with her," I joked.

"Yeah, I can just imagine that," she grinned.

So could I. I and Jasper hanging upside down with Alison's hand grasped around one of our legs. Jasper's long hair hanging while I struggled to keep my sword in its sheath. Alison grunting and cursing, her face turning the same shade as her hair.

And then the Caterpillarian would swallow us in one bite.

I laughed and my friends joined in. If this was the end, I was glad they were with me.

Our laughter ceased when the moth slipped through the window, landing on the sill. Surprisingly, he was smiling—and not in a smug way.

"The Great Caterpillarian is so pleased with you three!" He said, holding his stick arms up. "And so am I!"

"Huh?" Jasper said, a single eyebrow raised.

"You have proven that you really are the greatest warrior children he has ever known! Not only did you pass the trials, but you have also challenged The Great Caterpillarian, himself! Such bravery!"

"He's happy we want to kill him?" I said, struggling to comprehend his thought process.

"Of course! What better way to prove yourselves! If you can defeat The Great Caterpillarian, then you will prove you are greater than even he!"

"So it's just another trial," I said. "If we beat him, he wins. If we don't fight him at all, he wins."

"Argh! So what's the point?" Jasper shouted, gripping his fists in frustration.

"To stop him doing any of this ever again," Alison said. "No more kids will die and become his slaves. No more trials, no more monsters. Who cares if this is what he wants? It's better than leaving him to do any more harm."

She was right. The Caterpillarian was a strange, difficult-to-comprehend creature. But if we let him live, he would continue to take innocent kids' lives. We were the only ones who could stop him.

"Yeah," Jasper nodded. "I get what you mean."

I took a long, slow breath. Every trial, every battle had prepared us for this final encounter. I was ready to end it all.