Murder by Medium

Chapter 8-A Spider's Web of Lies

—-——A Spider's Web of Lies—-——

The dimly lit room was filled with the scent of sandalwood and faint candle smoke, creating an atmosphere thick with anticipation. Phaedra sat cross-legged on the worn velvet cushion, her fingers fluttering over the crystal pendant dangling from her necklace. For a moment, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply, allowing the energy of the room to wash over her. This wasn't just another séance; there was something... sinister lurking in the shadows tonight.

The air felt electric, crackling with a force that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. "I sense a presence," she murmured "Someone who has not yet found peace."

"Is it... her?" whispered Maggie, her voice trembling. Maggie had contacted Phaedra after a series of disturbing dreams plagued her nights—dreams of her sister, Audrey, who had been missing for three weeks. "Do you think she's...?"

Phaedra did not respond immediately; instead, she leaned deeper into the energy, grappling with the whispers tugging at her consciousness. Suddenly, a chill swept through the room, snuffing out the small flame of the candle nearest to her. "Miffy" Phaedra heard and repeated. Maggie wept "that was how Audrey said my name when she was two- oh Audrey" A gust of wind rattled the window, and Phaedra opened her eyes, startled. The temperature had dropped, and the atmosphere thickened with foreboding.

"Audrey, if you're here, please show yourself," she called, her voice steady despite the rising dread within. "What happened to you?"

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to pause. Shivers ran down Phaedra's spine as a shadow flickered in the corner of her vision. She turned, heart pounding, but the room was empty—save for her clients, who appeared frozen in time.

Then she felt it—a sharp jab of pain in her chest, as if someone were clutching her heart from the other side. "Steatoda nobilis" A whisper, barely audible pierced through the tension, wrapping around her like a vice. The word echoed in her mind, urgent and tragic.

"What do you mean? What does Steatoda nobilis mean?!" Phaedra pressed, her voice straining to stay calm.

There was a sudden clash of chairs as Maggie surged forward, her eyes wide. "What did she say? What did she mean?"

But before Phaedra could answer, the room darkened further, plunging them into shadow. The sound of heavy breathing seeped into the air, deep and rhythmic, punctuated by the soft thud of something heavy hitting the floor.

"Miffy, Get out!" a voice shrieked, reverberating with fury.

Phaedra's heart raced as she tried to catch her breath, not knowing if the danger was from the spirit or something far more tangible lurking in the night. She knew she was on the brink of uncovering a truth far darker than she had anticipated—one that could entangle her in a web of murder.

The candles flickered back to life, and in that moment, Phaedra fainted

It took a while for Phaedra to come round and the second she did Maggie was on her shrieking through her sobs her apologies for 'pushing Phaedra to hard' "I must go to the police maybe  Steatoda nobilis will mean something to them here" she said pushing £60 into Phaedra's shaking palm, "But this is too much" Phaedra stuttered but Maggie was already out the door. Looking contrite Phaedra, still shaking, eased herself to a sitting position on the dilapidated recliner and stared at the cash she now possessed. 

She stopped shaking 

"Easy Money."