Web of Deception: The Webbed Avenger

Chapter Sixteen: Sink or Swim

Six Years Ago (2006)

9:38 A.M.

Do you remember me? The disembodied eight year old voice echoed in the back of his head as ten year old Stiles sat in the hallway of his house holding the small spider symbol he had made. It was originally for his mother's birthday, but that was right before she passed away; it had been an idea of his that perhaps if she had something that he personally had given her, maybe when he had seen her the next time she would remember him.

Coincidentally, right after he made it, when he visited his mother, she had remembered him... however, that was right before she passed away.

The memory of her death brought a tear to his eye as he quickly wiped it away. Two years had passed, and those were the hardest two years he had ever gone through. It wasn't all that different, per say. After all, his mother was never around, but now it was just different because he knew she wasn't coming back.

Wiping the back of his neck, Stiles couldn't help but think about his father. Claudia's death had hit Stilinski the hardest, and would drown himself in his work to avoid the pain of not having his wife around anymore. Stiles had gotten more attention lately, but that didn't change the fact that his father was more distant than ever.

The heatwave that had hit Manhattan in the past week meant that Stiles had found a way to hopefully spend some time with his father. Stilinski had chosen to take a couple days off to make sure Stiles was okay, and to avoid getting sick himself from this overwhelming heat.

Sitting in this hallway was probably the coolest area to be at, because of how dark it was and the air conditioner vent was right above him.

It wasn't what might be considered hot in the house, but Stiles still felt like he was going to melt at any moment, so for now he was going to sit here and relax the best he could.

The spider symbol was warm against his flesh, having been made out of silver. Stiles thought about the necklace Lydia always wore now, and it brought a smile to his face. That was the symbol he had altered just for her. He had made two symbols in particular, a prototype one that was more like an actual spider, which was the one he made for Claudia, and then there was this new one that Lydia wore around her neck. This was more segmented, having a home made look to it, which Stiles thought was perfect.

If it had looked professional then Stiles would have felt like it wasn't as special in Lydia's eyes. He wanted her to know he had made it specifically for her, and that was why he went for the homemade look for it.

It took using some of his father's tools in the garage while he was either asleep or at work and Stiles was home from school for about an hour, but he managed to get it done in a matter of a few days, just in time for Lydia's birthday. As a matter of fact, it was a few hours before her party, so he had cut it close.

Now that he had the process down, if he ever wanted to make another, he had the capabilities and skill to do so without a problem. Honestly, he thought about trying it on fabric the next time he made that symbol.

He put the metal spider symbol in his pocket as he heard his father exit the kitchen, with a tender voice as he was on the phone.

"Come on Melissa, are you sure you don't want to come with us to Brighton Beach today? Stiles and Scott haven't really had a chance to spend time together lately, and I haven't..." Stilinski froze as he stepped by his son, and gulped lightly. "...I haven't had a chance to talk to you lately in person."

"Well John, I don't know what to tell you. I have to work in an hour and I don't get off until midnight. I'm sorry, but we can't go. Scott's spending the day with his father since he's in town, so I'm not going to have him go somewhere he doesn't want to go."