OCTale: Pacifist [Editing]

16) Arachnophobia

The lift stops and I walk out to face a building by the name of "Puffet's Tea Room". Interested, I decide to take a look inside.

The tea room has a similar layout to Grillby's, however cobwebs are scattered across the ceiling, suggesting the place hasn't been cleaned in a few months. I ring a bell on the counter, and a few seconds later a pink bipedal spider with a waiter's apron and a pink shirt and skirt walks out of the "Staff Only" door and behind the counter.

"Welcome to my parlour, dearie~. Could I interest you in some spider pastries? All made with real spiders!"

I sweat a little at how delirious the spider seems. Isn't that cannibalism?

"Oh, sorry. I'm Puffet, the owner of this shop. You sure you don't want anything?"

I nod nervously and slowly back out of the building. I then run off to the next area.

Another stingy customer, eh? I'll show them what I do with people who are stingy~~~

(Ring...)

"Hi! Sam again! To pass through this area, you must press all the switches within three seconds! I'll help you with the timing!"

(Click...)

I look over, and like Sam said, three switches lie across the wall. I press the first two simultaneously, and move over to press the third one.

(Ring...)

"Okay! Now press the third one!"

(Click...)

I give Sam an indirect death glare.

To my surprise, the lasers deactivate anyway. A boy made of fire stands next to the off switch, and points finger guns at me whilst winking.

I walk up and wave, giving him a look of thanks.

"Hey, no problem little buddy. As I always say, strangers are just friends you haven't met yet."

A small fire skeleton pokes her head out from behind the boy.

"Bro, I've never heard you say that before."

He winks again. "That's because I just made it up."

I raise an eyebrow and ask "What are your names, anyway?"

"Oh, sorry kiddo. My name's Flam, and this here is my little sis Harlow."

"Hi, my name's...uh...weird child?"

"Weird child. Huh. I'll remember it." Flam remarks, and lights a cigarette and takes a drag.

"My big brother is the best!" Harlow giggles.

"Well, it was nice meeting you. Bye!"

The elder flame shakes his head, and takes another drag of his cig as I walk off.

I come across a gap with a bridge made of spider webs reaching to the other side.

"The smell of baked cobwebs...it fills you with determination." Luke comments.

Ahuhuhu...

Did you hear what she just said?

She said a human wearing a striped hoodie will come through.

I heard that they hate spiders.

I heard that they like to tear their legs off.

I heard....

I stand in the centre of a cave, and webs circle around me and trap me.
I look up to see Puffet come out into the light, hanging from a thread and lowering herself down.