Short Stories From Fading Worlds

The Angel and the Spider: Chapter 1

It wasn't often that new cryptids came in to E-Ward. A through C were basically full by his understanding, since that was where the more 'common' cryptids that required less intensive containment strategies were held, and though the creatures contained within D-Ward were far more less likely to be compliant and far more likely to breach their cells, D-Ward remained relatively full.

E-Ward was different. E-Ward was where the things that didn't really fit the standard classification systems went; that was why he was here. He would probably have been in B-Ward if it wasn't for one thing, and that one thing happened to be the toxins the scientists could extract from his venom. When he was first interred in this place there were only half a dozen or so people like him in the entire block, and out of those six he could only remember Myndie. Myndie had been covered in what looked like copper-coloured scales and required constant heating of his cell because his blood ran cold, which Wander supposed that if he were the 'spider' then that made Myndie the 'snake'. He'd been nice, save his fangs which had scared him a little at the time since they were far larger than Wander's own chelicerae, and had been just about the only companion Wander had been allowed to have in his time here.

He hadn't seen Myndie in a long time. Myndie's venom had been used to make chemicals that could make the other cryptids contained here docile or even unconscious, which had made him valuable enough to the agency that he was kept away from most of the other cryptids and contained in E-Ward. He'd told Wander that, when he was first brought to the agency, there had been another cryptid who's venom or toxins or somesuch thing had been used for the same purpose as his own. Myndie said that she'd been a very colourful humanoid amphibian, but that when the tests were ran on his venom and it was found to be more stable than her own he never saw her again.

A month after that conversation and Wander's toxins were found by the men in white coats to be an almost direct upgrade from Myndie's venom. Wander hadn't seen them again.

Instead Myndie's cell had been redecorated and refurbished to resemble more a misty terrarium than a lizard's enclosure at a zoo, and Wander had been shunted from his concrete cube in B-Ward to his new pen as befitted his status as one of the most valuable creatures under the agency's control.

Not through his own merits of course, but for the toxins that coursed through his person and dripped from his chelicerae. He was the agency's main tool in the containment of rowdy and difficult to conceal creatures.

Which was probably why this new acquisition from the agency was sat at a desk opposite him.

He'd been in a situation like this a few times before, since the more dangerous creatures the agency acquired often needed an immediate dose of undiluted toxins to sedate, but he couldn't recall being in a situation exactly like this either. For one he was being told not to sedate the winged boy opposite, and for another he was being addressed by none other than the Administrator himself.

And no-one questioned a command from the Administrator.

"Designation E-005, known by name as Wander. It is a pleasure to meet you in person at last. I've heard a lot about you from our research specialists and technicians alike, all of it good. I have a job for you, Wander. It's important. You think you're up for the task."

Wander nodded silently, focusing intently on the Administrator with six of his eyes and only allowing the other two to focus on the small winged figure sat in the chair opposite. This wasn't a request, not when it came from the Administrator.

"Excellent. This fine cryptid opposite you is nothing less than a true angel, Wander. F-Ward will be receiving him soon, but until then he'd be on this floor with you."