148 Spiders (1/2)

The hole went into was the entrance to a round corridor that ended in what could arguably be called a shaft leading up to an even darker emptiness than the chasm we just left behind.

\”I can't see anything up there,\” Pike said, voicing out what we were all thinking.

We could see nothing beyond the light of Aura's Hearthwood staff. Our own torches seemed to be withering away by the second.

\”Do we just climb up these stairs?\” Ty asked.

He was referring to the rough stone-cut steps that zigged and zagged upward along the shaft's four walls.

\”You sure this is the way?\” I asked Zephyra.

She nodded. \”It is the only way if you would like to avoid your pursuers.\”

If the main entrance down into Undercroft via the oasis was a massive round hole with a declining ramp that was easy to walk across, then this side entrance was the exact opposite.

A narrow shaft that I could liken to a chimney with a jagged wall and roughhewn steps that seemed just as perilous to walk on as the bridge we'd left behind.

\”Well, we expected this kind of scenario to happen, didn't we?\” I asked.

I walked over to Luca and pulled out the rope we'd stashed into his bag of holding. Then I showed it to the rest of my crew.

Ty took one look at what was arguably just a thin thread of silver yarn and said, \”I don't think that can hold my weight,\” he spared a glance at Shanks' direction, \”or anyone else's…\”

\”Relax,\” I said while unspooling the rope and passing its other end to Luca. \”This is elf-rope. It's strong, durable, long-lasting, and even mold resistant.\”

\”Plus, it's cheap,\” Varda added approvingly.

\”Luca will wrap this around his waist as he'll take lead. I'll go next as I'm coming after him,\” I instructed. \”Then Aura ties this on her waist. Then Enna, Ty in the center, then Varda, and then Shanks takes the rear.\”

I looked over to the other three remaining members of my party.

\”Zephyra, Qwipps, and Pike won't be roped so you guys can fly and catch us if we fall,\” I ordered, and after a glance at Ty and Shanks who were our biggest members, I added, \”Work together if you need to.\”

After we finished tying ropes on our bodies, we began to move in a single file, climbing up the steps as quickly as we could while not sacrificing our safety.

Yes, I did say we were climbing. This was due to how uneven some of the steps were, some no bigger than rough purchases our hands and feet could barely hold onto, which made the whole exercise kind of like rock climbing.

Up and up we went with barely any light to guide us as most of us had thrown our torches away because we needed both hands to find purchase. Even Aura had to strap her staff to her back so she could have her hands free.

\”Hey, Dean,\” Luca whispered. \”This climb reminds you of anything?\”

I wish he hadn't said that. Of course, it reminded me of something, several things, in fact. But most clear to my mind was a scene from one of our dad's favorite movies.

\”You're talking about the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, aren't you?\” I sighed. \”The one Frodo and Sam took to get into Mordor?\”

\”Uhuh,\” Luca glanced over his shoulder to look at me. \”You remember what was hiding at the end of it?\”

\”Luca,\” I growled. \”Can you not think about that at a time like this?\”

\”I'm just saying… there are an awful lot of spider webs the further up we go…\” he replied as he continued on his way up.

Luca was right. There were a lot of spider webs the higher up we climbed, some so dense that we had to cut them away with our shadowblades which, thankfully, didn't get tangled in the webs due to their charred edges.

Based on the evidence that we saw and our extensive knowledge of western cinema, I knew Luca's unspoken theory was going to be right. I just didn't want to admit it right away and feel even more unsafe. Sadly, fate was a cruel, cruel son of a b***h.

Only a few minutes after Luca's forewarning, we were suddenly beset by a sound that was similar to that of running water. It was coming from the walls both above and below us. As the noises came closer, the awful smell of something rotten assaulted our noses.

My mind quickly put two and two together, forcing me to speak out loud, \”Luca, I hate it when you foreshadow something bad happening!\”

\”What?\” Luca replied. \”You seriously blaming me for this?\”

Draw your weapons, guys,\” I ordered. \”We've got company!\”

\”What company?\” Ty asked. Then he added, \”And I don't have a weapon!\”

\”That's because you are the weapon, Tiberius,\” Qwipps remarked just as he notched an arrow to his bow.

\”He's not a weapon, Qwipps,\” I growled. \”Ty just stay back and follow our lead.\”

\”Enough talking!\” Enna scolded. \”They're here…\”

As the rotten stench began to overpower my sense of smell, the first of the creatures appeared within the boundaries of Aura's light above Luca.