Mother of the Spiders: Octagon

12. Twine (Thread Two)

[Each chapter of Octagon corresponds to a song that inspired the shape of the character arc and/or story arc. You can listen to each chapter's "song" to gain further insight into the world-building of Gossamer Loom and the people who live there. I definitely had fun listening to these songs while I was writing the novel. Chapter 12's "Formation Song" is "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac.]

The gravel road cracked and twisted beneath the tires of Coop's pick-up truck as he and Josiah Loomridge rumbled aimlessly along the backroads of Gossamer Loom. Josiah stared out the window, arms crossed tight over his chest. He liked sitting in silence, especially with Coop, even if the darkness was starting to get to both of them.

They had been stuck in this same pattern for days—circling the same conversations, the same strategies that didn't seem like they made sense anymore. Jane had been clear: gather the Octagon, get everyone to Loomridge Haven. But here they were, still chasing their tails, trying to figure out how to get everyone on board.

"Here's the bottom line," Coop began, breaking the quiet, "coming from someone who's known them both since before you were born: Willy's not gonna step up unless someone drags him into it. And Ivy may be just the one to do it, but... well... Ivy's gonna fight us every step of the way."

Josiah rubbed his eyes. He was sick of thinking about how to crack these sad, old, boring adults. "Yeah, I think Willy's a lost cause without Ivy. That much is obvious. She's the only one who can get him to move, but she's been dodging us all week. And you know damn well why."

Coop shot him a sideways glance, and Josiah felt a flicker of satisfaction.

"And why's that, genius?" Coop's tone of irritation betrayed an underlying feeling of endearment toward Josiah. Josiah leaned back.

"Because she'll do whatever you ask if you just ask her right," Josiah said. "You've got a big, sexy, lumberjack hold on her, even if you're too dumb to see it. She's the skeptic of our little... skeleton crew... and we all know people are sheeple. Pull Ivy in, and the rest will follow. And you're just the lover boy to do it."

Coop's jaw tightened with frustration, and Josiah smiled. It felt good, being right about something, showing Coop he knew a thing or two, even at thirteen years old.

"That's bullshit, Josiah," Coop said unconvincingly.

"Is it?" Josiah shot back, his smirk only growing. "You think she's avoiding us because she's busy or something? With all that's at stake? In spite of this awkward, spiritual thingy we've all been feeling between each other? Nah, man. She's avoiding us. You, especially. She thinks you're gonna ask her to fuck her in exchange for her help. And she's scared of all this black magic stuff,  but she's even more scared of you, 'cause even though she doesn't wanna help, getting back into your jeans might be an offer she can't refuse."

The truck jolted over a pothole, shaking them both, but Coop stayed quiet, his eyes glued to the road. Josiah watched him, waiting for a reaction. Usually, grown ups reprimanded you for using language like that.

But Coop was chill. Really chill.

"Ivy's not scared of me," Coop muttered, but Josiah could hear the self-doubt in his voice.

"Sure," Josiah said, chuckling humorlessly. "She wants you, dude. No doubt. And she doesn't know what to do with that."

"This isn't about me and Ivy," Coop snapped, his voice rising. "It's about stopping Old Sam and keeping Leslie safe. I'm not dragging Ivy into this just because she's got some, uh, unresolved feelings."