Someone: Get the kids!
Another voice: I’ll grab something to kill it.
Another: Throw a rock at it!

Alex whistled to call Morgan and turned to Ellie.
Alex: I’ll go help. You grab Morgan so he doesn’t do anything stupid.
Ellie: Be careful.

Alex moved closer and saw the creature. It was the biggest spider he’d ever seen by far. Brown with black spots, its long legs were covered in spikes. The central body alone was massive—the thorax the size of an orange, and the abdomen (back part) as big as a grapefruit. 

Someone threw a rock, but it missed. The spider hissed louder. Nikola was frantically searching for something to hit it with. A neighbor said he’d go to his apartment to look for a metal bat.

Alex spotted a plywood board covering a wall repair.
Alex: We could crush it.

Everyone looked at him. He pointed to the plywood panel.
Alex: Just throw that on top of it and step on it.

Neighbor: That could work. I’ll help you.

The man extended his hand.
Neighbor: I’m Javier, nice to meet you.
Alex: You too.

Javier stared at Alex, waiting for something. Alex blinked, unsure what he wanted.
Javier: Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.
Alex (blushing): Sorry, it’s Alex.
Javier: Well, Alex, let’s put that good idea of yours into practice.

The plywood was just leaning against the wall, so each grabbed one end. It was a large board, about 2 by 1.1 meters. They carried it toward the spider, which was ignoring people and skittering along the yard’s edge near the plants.

When Javier and Alex got closer, the spider turned to face them. It rose on its four hind legs, waving its front ones in a menacing display. Suddenly, it crouched.

Alex: I think it’s about to jump.

Javier’s wife screamed from the back. “Javier, for God’s sake, be careful! You have a daughter to care for!”

Javier turned to look at her, and in that moment, the spider leapt toward his leg. Alex instinctively pushed his end of the board, shoving Javier aside. Javier nearly fell, but the spider missed its target and backed off after the failed attempt. Javier’s eyes widened, like plates.

Javier: You saved me there, man. Thanks.

His wife was still screaming, and their youngest child started crying. Nikola’s wife hurried over to try and calm her.

Javier: Let’s get this done.

Yeah, so she finally shuts up, Alex thought, exasperated.

They repositioned themselves to drop the board on the spider, but the creature seemed to sense the danger. It began scuttling back toward the plants. Both men reacted at the same time, throwing the board. It landed over the spider, but to their surprise, it survived. The spider crawled a few centimeters under the board, and by the time Alex and Javier realized it was still alive, it was already halfway out.

Alex jumped onto the board, managing to trap part of the spider, but only a few centimeters of its body were pinned. The spider thrashed, trying to free itself. Suddenly, someone kicked it with full force, sending the spider’s front half flying and  letting the back part trapped below the plywood. The exposed back oozed a brownish goo.

A neighbor screamed, “Oh my God!”

After verifying the spider was 100% dead, Alex exhaled in relief. He glanced at Javier, and they both burst into laughter.

Javier: Man, that was crazy. That deserves a beer.

Javier’s wife and Ellie came over to check on them.
Rita: Are you guys OK?
Javier (playfully): We’re fine, woman. Now go get this hero a well-deserved beer. Make it two!
Rita: What did you say?

Javier leaned toward Alex with a mock-serious tone.
Javier: See, young Alex, this is a classic example of a female trap. She knows what I said, but she’s daring me to repeat it, implying there are consequences. This man… this man will not fall for such a cheap trick.

Rita rolled her eyes and looked at Ellie. “I can’t believe I married this idiot.”

Javier: I love you too, baby. And I heard you loud and clear—I’ll get those beers myself.
Rita: At least I trained him well.

They all laughed, the tension finally breaking.

Javier returned with two six-packs. Nikola and a few other neighbors joined them, and the group stayed together for a couple of hours, debating what was to come and how to handle it. The common sentiment was hopeful: the government would stabilize things, and society would adapt. Some changes would come, but the world wouldn’t change that much.

The leading theory was that God’s words were more of a warning for governments and the powerful to improve their systems.

Alex didn’t want to antagonize them with his more pessimistic expectations, so he simply listened to their opinions and theories.

When Alex and Ellie returned from the inner patio, they started filling the bathtub to save water, just in case. They turned on the news:

• All non-essential personnel were ordered to stay home on Monday.

• Stores and food delivery services were allowed to operate.

• Commercial flights were temporarily halted after two more planes crashed.

• Weapons were malfunctioning—some bullets were underpowered, while others were so strong they blew up gun barrels. Although rare, these cases caused concern.

• Big bugs, strange plants, and even a few unusual minerals were being discovered, though no reports of larger creatures had surfaced yet.

But the most concerning news came next: