Girls for Spiders [COMPLETED]

Chapter 1

They began the worst night of their lives by losing their map. Skylar chased the map down the street but it gusted across the road into the strip mall parking lot. The sky threatened rain. Muck stank in the pond next to the library and sweet cola gummed the sidewalk. A barrage of breezes punched her in the face and Skylar paused on the side of the road. She held her hand up to her forehead and peered across the street.

A man stood beside a utility box, his arms folded. His bald head shone. The hem of his trench coat slapped his legs in sharp cracks. Vincent? His back was to her. Couldn't be. I don't want to go after that map. Not if that was actually Vincent. The map fluttered on the wind and plastered itself to the back of the man's heavy boots.

Skylar walked back to the car. Unfolded into mountain pose, breathed. Her sister Mia stuffed juice boxes and preschool artwork into the hamper next to Josh's car seat. The wind lifted Mia's blonde hair as she slammed the back seat door shut and climbed into the driver's seat.

The seats of Mia's 1984 Cadillac whispered of faded cigarette smoke. Once Josh had been born, Mia had stopped smoking in the car. Skylar spread her hands.

"Sorry, the map got away from me," she said. Boxes stuffed full of cleaning sprays and microfiber cloths swayed in the backseat. Next to Josh's car seat, stacks of garbage bags leaned next to piles of twist-ties. Mia grimaced, then pursed her lips.

"It's fine," she said. "I don't think we need a map."

Skylar chuckled and clambered onto the passenger seat. Her hands glided over the heater-warmed vinyl. "Dad would laugh if we needed one," she said. She plugged her phone into the cigarette lighter. "I'll just make sure that my cell has plenty of juice."

"Yes, like we'll have signal," Mia said. She patted the pockets of her jeans, then felt around the seat behind her. "Where are my keys? Sky-Sky, I always do this..." She groped in her purse and fished out the keys. She jingled them, triumphant, started the car, and pulled away.

The heater spread the smell of apple juice and playdough throughout the cab. Hot air spewed into Skylar's face. She adjusted the black plastic tabs of the vent and sent the air to warm her feet. "How's Josh?"

Mia flicked the windshield wipers once. "He's good, good. It turns out that he can write letters if you let him use finger paint. The pencils are a little thin for his fingers yet, though."

Skylar touched the photograph taped to the dash. "Oh, exciting." A picture of their dad. In this photo, didn't have burn scars on his face yet. The picture peeked out through a layer of yellow. He smiled, eyes crinkled, holding his trademark rake in one hand and his pink baseball cap in the other. "I can't believe he died of a spider bite." She felt a pang, squished it, and eyed the baseball cap. Better to stay calm for Mia. "Why pink, do you think?"

Mia slumped in her seat. "It's so sad that he didn't get help in time. And you tell me about the pink baseball hat. You're the older sister."

The beginnings of a caffeine headache throbbed in Skylar's head. "Maybe, but I'm pretty sure that you're the responsible one." Mia had a wife and their son Josh. Skylar lived by herself in a studio apartment. Mia maintained a family life. Skylar maintained a devitalizing case of depression.

Well, depression and a growing array of paintings. Each painting seemed more cliched than the last. The car splashed through a puddle as they turned left onto an off-road. They drove away from town toward the low, rounded hills. Iron Canyon lay within those hills. I never thought that I'd go back. A muscle car passed them on the right. It pounded a throbbing bass line into the overcast suburban air.

Mia winked one beautiful blue eye. "You're going to die from inhaling paint fumes, that's for sure. Don't worry. I'll take care of you when you have all of the cancer." She pulled up Skylar's sleeve. Skylar tensed, then relaxed into her gentle fingers.

Mia released her sleeve and swigged coffee. "Your burn scars are much smaller than they used to be. I think they're fading. You need to take vitamins. Especially calcium. I hear that calcium helps with scars."

Skylar shrugged. Mia still believed everything she read in her magazines. That coffee smells so good. I want some. "Give me that." Skylar took the cup. She slurped hot, bitter liquid. Perfect.

Mia glanced at her without turning her head. "I think we should get close again on this trip. Dad was always saying that I should invite you over for Christmas. You know, at the house."

Daisy. Mia's wife. Skylar pushed her butt further back in the seat. "That would make Daisy uncomfortable. She hates having her plans changed."

Mia paused. "True, but I'm half-convinced that Dad died just so we'd hang out again." Her hands tightened on the wheel. "I'm inclined to go along with it. I miss you."

They left the edge of town and turned southeast. The road narrowed, the houses dispersed, and they drove along green hills. Wildflowers and cows loitered on one side of the road, steep cliffs on the other. Just like every spring during my childhood.

Skylar rolled her neck and cracked her knuckles. "I miss you too." The smell of cow manure and skunk filtered into the car. "I'm just bad at keeping in touch." She sucked in a few long breaths and stretched her chest. Rain sprinkled the windshield.

Mia slowed the car. "Whoa." She swerved to the right, pulled to the edge of the cliff, and stopped the car. Mia pressed her face close to the window.

Skylar leaned over. "What is it?" Mia rolled down the car window and pointed. Misty air spat at Skylar's face.

Mia grinned. "Tarantula in the road. Isn't it huge?" The spider fluttered on furry legs. It was as big as Skylar's hand. She shuddered.

Mia took out her cellphone and snapped a photo. "Hey, remember the tarantula festival? They're having it again this summer. We should take Josh and Daisy." Daisy, with her slim legs and short shorts. Skylar closed her eyes and swallowed a surge of remorse. I'm sorry, Mia.

Coffee leaked back up into Skylar's throat. "That's a big spider." Don't mention Daisy. Better not to even bring her up.

Mia rolled the window back up. "Okay. No tarantula festival for us, then. Turn on the country station. We'll play it in Dad's honor."

Skylar scanned the stations until one hit. Dolly Parton. Jolene, Jolene. The guitar blasted a funky lick. The drums smacked a backbeat. Skylar and Mia sang along. They attempted harmony, failed. Laughed. They sang along to Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and The Judds. The car slowed, then sputtered to a stop.