It’s not dying. I can’t kill it like this, Alex realized, dread gnawing at him.

He refocused and swung at its remaining left leg. The creature thrashed, its claws scraping the concrete as it fought to turn. Voices echoed faintly from the entrance, but Alex couldn’t spare a second to look. His strikes were wild but relentless, chipping away at the exoskeleton until—finally—the last left leg gave way with a crack.

The spider let out a horrific, otherworldly scream as it struggled to support itself, now helplessly tilting to its wounded side. Alex seized the opportunity. He launched into a flurry of strikes, his katana biting into the front of its body over and over. Each hack sent more goo splattering across the ground until the spider let out one final shriek and went still.

Silence.

Alex froze, gasping for breath, his katana trembling in his hands. Is it dead?

He waited, muscles coiled and ready to react. The spider’s hulking form remained motionless. Carefully, Alex circled around to its front, his chest heaving. With one last surge of resolve, he stabbed the blade deep into its head.

Nothing.

The creature didn’t move.

Alex sagged back, blood dripping from his wounds and sweat soaking his clothes. His body shook uncontrollably from the adrenaline crash.

One wrong move, and I’d be dead.

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the massive corpse. The smell of the greenish goo, a mix of rot and acid, filled the air. Alex staggered back, his vision blurring from exhaustion and blood loss.

But he was alive.

Alex walked to the door, still shaking, his katana hanging at his side. Ellie and Nikola were cutting through the webs. Two others were huddled farther back—one completely desperate, the other trying to console her.

Ellie’s eyes widened when she saw him, covered in sweat, blood, and walking with obvious pain.
Ellie: Oh my God! Are you OK? What happened?
Alex: It’s already dead… I’m gonna live, but I definitely need stitches.

From the back, the desperate woman’s voice rang. “Pleeease, help him! He is still alive, pleeaa-aa-aase!”

Alex got closer to the door, where the victim of the spider lay sprawled in an awkward position. He knelt down and turned him face-up. The man’s jaw was open, twisted unnaturally to one side, his face stiff and pale.

Alex: I don’t think—
Woman: NOOOO! He’s alive! He’s alive!

Her cries pierced Alex’s ears, but he sighed and checked for a pulse just in case. It was hard to concentrate with the pain starting to spread over his body but, he was sure, there was no pulse.

Alex: I think He’s gone.

The woman, now kneeling, sobbed uncontrollably. “Wake up, Miguel! Wake up, please!”

Alex didn’t know what to do, but he was sure he didn’t want to stay any longer than he should. He stood and helped Nikola cut the remaining web strings while quickly recounting what had happened. The thick strands resisted them, and after attempts with almost no progress, Alex stopped and looked at them.

Alex: Move back.

With all his strength, he slashed at one of the strings with his katana. It snapped cleanly, but the blade got stuck in the next one. Alex tugged hard to unstick it, wincing as a sharp spurt of blood seeped from his side. He repeated the process 2 more times, until there was enough space to pass.

Alex grabbed his tools, only a couple meters behind while Ellie and Nikola scrambled through the gap to reach Miguel. Once they were back at the stairs, they shut the door and Nikola gestured for Alex to sit.

Nikola: Take your shirt off.
Nikola turned to Ellie. Press the wound with it.
He glanced at his wife, Sandra, who was still consoling the sobbing woman. “Go get Jenny. Now.”

Alex: We should get out of here before another one of those things appears…

He pointed at the spider’s corpse. Ellie turned to look and froze, her face pale.

Nikola: Hoooooo-ly hell, Alex… You killed that? No wonder you’re in such a sorry state. That thing’s the size of a bear! Let’s hurry out of here. Can you walk?
Alex: Yeah, I can… Can you help carry.. Miguel?
Nikola: Yeah.

Alex leaned heavily against Ellie.

Alex: I think I need stitches at a hospital. I know it’s a lot to ask, but could you drive me?
Nikola: Going out isn’t a good idea. The army issued warnings—serious looting and violence out there. If Jenny can fix you up, that’s the safest option.

Ellie’s silent tears slid down her cheeks as she looked at him.

Alex: It’s OK. You’re not gonna get rid of me so easily.
Ellie: You could’ve died… What would I do if I lost you?
Alex: Celebrate?

Ellie let out a laugh-sob and punched him softly on the arm.

Alex: Ououououchhh, I’m barely alive here!
Ellie: Oops! Sorry!
Alex: Let’s go.
Ellie: Do you need my help?
Alex: Can you carry the camping box?
Ellie: Yeah, no problem.

They started climbing the stairs, meeting Sandra on the way.

Sandra: Jenny said you should go visit her. She couldn’t come—she’s with Wendy.
Ellie: Thanks!
Nikola: We’ll see you later.

When Jenny opened her door, she was speechless. Alex sat, stripped to the waist, his torso and arms a patchwork of cuts and blood.