The Children of When (Complete)

Chapter 32: The Spider

Belle and Leah scrambled back from the edge of the pool and crawled towards Raff. A deathly silence hung in the air of the cavern, broken only by the sounds of the wracking sobs coming from the three children, as they sat clinging to each other. Finally, purged of all emotion, they helped each other up and headed for the next tunnel. Belle's legs were still shaking as they skirted the now placid pool, eager to reach the next tunnel and put this place behind them. She only wished it could be that easy to put the memories behind them as well.

They had been walking in silence for about ten minutes when Raff suggested they stop and have something to eat and drink. Belle stopped where she was, and dropped to the ground, crossing her legs and pulling her backpack into her lap. Raff and Leah dropped down around her and did the same.

"Okay, I know we're all thinking the same thing, so I'm just gonna say it," Belle said looking at her lap. "What am I going to have to do to prove I'm worthy, when my Gifts are only healing, and seeing images of Midnight's thoughts in my head?"

"Ummm, maybe it would help if you did something about this then?" Raff pulled the bottom of his trouser leg up to show three small round burns on his leg. "Guess I didn't move quick enough to avoid the green gunk spewing out of the tentacle thing."

It wasn't so much the burns that made Belle gasp, however, as the thin green lines leaking out and travelling further up his leg.

Leah looked at him in horror. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

Raff shrugged. "I knew we needed to get as far away from that place as fast as we could first. So now that we've done that, I'm telling you."

Belle frowned. "Raff, you idiot! Walking on that leg has made the poison spread quicker."

"Yeah, but I knew you could heal me so I wasn't worried. Although, I have to admit the pain is getting worse. I'm ready when you are." The grin he tried to produce looked more like a grimace.

Belle tried to wriggle closer to Raff's leg so she could start healing him, but her legs and backside wouldn't move. It was like she was stuck to the ground. And then she saw the shiny, thin, crisscrossed lines, just visible beneath the dirt, all around her. So how had Raff been able to move his leg? She looked again, and saw that the lines stopped just short of where he sat.

"What the...?" Leah had obviously discovered she couldn't move either. Her eyes widened, as she looked down at the ground around her, and then at Belle.

"Please tell me this isn't..."

"A spider's web," Belle finished the sentence for her.

They were interrupted by a groan, and turned to see Raff slump to the ground.

"Belle, you have to do something!" Leah cried, tears springing into her eyes at Raff's rapid breathing and deathly pallor.

"I can't reach him. Here, see if you can grab my arm and pull me towards you." Belle froze, shushing Leah as she heard a scuttling sound coming from further down the tunnel. If the size and stickiness of this web were anything to go by, she knew the spider that made it must be huge.

They looked at each other in terror. Raff wasn't going to be able to help them, and there was no wind, fire or water Leah could call on this far into the tunnel.

"Belle, remember what the Oracle said about Serena being able to communicate with any living creature? Maybe you could try to communicate with the spider?"

Belle's skin crawled, and she almost gagged at the thought. She'd always hated spiders. Back in Naissance, Griz had taken great pleasure in making her clear away any webs she found, especially the ones she knew had spiders in them.

The scuttling sound was getting closer. Belle tried desperately to control the panic rising into her throat. She closed her eyes, and tried to make her mind reach out to the spider. She recoiled in horror as a screeching sound slammed into her. She opened her eyes; the spider was still moving down the tunnel towards them. She had to do it; there was no other way! Taking a deep breath, she opened her mind again.

Please help us?

The spider stopped moving. How did you do that?

She battled to ignore the goose-bumps running across her skin, as the spider's horrible voice touched her mind. I have a Gift, which allows me to communicate with all living creatures.

I have not heard of this being possible before. Why should I help you? The spider's thoughts tapped against her mind in a staccato rhythm, emotionless and matter-of-fact.

My friend is dying. I need to get to him, so I can heal him. She sent an image of Raff killing the beast in the cavern, and then of his leg with the poison spreading.

This one killed the beast in the pool? The rhythm had become slower, and more precise.

He did. And he will die if I don't heal him.

By killing the beast in the pool, he has increased my hunting ground. For this, I will allow him to live. You may also live in order to heal him. But I have no reason to allow this other one to live. This one I will eat. It turned its bulbous head towards Leah.

Wait! She can increase your hunting ground ever further, if you allow her to live. Belle sent the spider an image of Leah parting the waterfall and the lake.

The spider's legs twitched at the sight of the world outside the tunnels. She did this?

Yes. And she will do it again, when we are ready to leave.

And when will that be?

After we find the vault that's somewhere in this cave. She sent an image of what she hoped looked like a door to a vault.

I know of this place. It is not far from here. I will show you the way. Then she will part the water so I can hunt outside this cave. Now, heal that one so we can go.

The spider skittered around on its multiple legs, and scuttled back the way it had come. She opened her eyes to see it hovering in the tunnel, waiting for them.

Belle groaned in relief as her mind was released from the contact. She shuddered, and turned towards where Leah sat frozen.

"Well, are we gonna try and pull ourselves out or what? I need to heal Raff!"

Leah's face was almost comical, as she spluttered to get questions out.

"I'll tell you everything when I've healed Raff," Belle said. "I don't want to have to say it all twice. Just grab my arm and pull, will you?"