"Ugh, man it’s hard to move down here…" Sufian grunted as he crawled through the narrow space. "Oh, I see light! Careful, now! We’re almost all the way through!"

They emerged from the crawl space, blinking in the dim light.

(Shafts of moonlight cut through the expanse sparsely, leaving murky pools of darkness. And of course, the whole area is covered in webs. Way more than anywhere else. It's not just the night making it dark—I’m getting a bad feeling from the decay. It’s like being in some huge beast’s belly. It's giving me a sense of revulsion. I detect a squirming in the silence, like prey being melted bit-by-bit in gastric juices…)

He looked around at the room. "This is the monster’s den…"

Just beyond the group, Sufian spotted Malak tangled and unconscious, suspended in thick spiderwebs high along the gym walls.

"Look! There’s Malak!" Pimi cried.

"Malak! This is bad, she really got caught!" Ali exclaimed.

Matt yelped, "Yeee-heek! I—I’m still alive?!"

"Kewww…!" the Gnath muttered, visibly tense.

"Falter not, you two! You could learn from the Gnath’s fighting spirit!" Thoren barked.

Sufian squinted, trying to assess the situation. "Is she okay? Damn, I can’t tell from here…! We have to hurry up and rescue her! But how, exactly…?"

"What’re you just standing around for! Let’s go!" Pimi shouted.

"Ah, wait, Pimi! You can’t go alone—"

Suddenly, a monstrous screech pierced the air.

"Kishhhaaaaaah!"

A massive spider-like creature crashed down in front of Pimi, blocking her path. She stumbled backward, landing hard.

"Yeek!" she squealed.

"Whoa!!!" Sufian yelled.

"Uwaaah!" Snagglix added in panic.

Pimi scrambled to her feet, her voice shaking. "It's here… and it’s even bigger than I thought!"

"This… this is the SPIDER…" Sufian muttered.

Snagglix nudged him. "You scaredy, Sufian?"

Sufian took a deep breath. "Yeah… but we still have to fight! Let’s go, everyone!"

(This is bad, I am afriand. The enemy hasn't  even done anything yet...!)

Clusters of pale, veined eggs scattered across the floor began to quiver and split open. From within, small spider-like creatures scurried out, their legs twitching as they clicked and rustled toward the group in a swarm.

Sufian stepped forward "Alright... here it comes!"

(We're surrounded! We're done for at this rate! Oh no... Are we ginna die here? Die...? How did things turn out this way...)

Then the chaos began.

Thoren charged forward, swinging his hammer with earthshaking force. He struck one of the smaller spiders, crushing it instantly.

"Malak... Malaaak!" Pimi was on the verge of a breakdown

Ali dove toward the broken sports gear bin and hurled a basketball at a skittering spider. "Eat rubber, you freaks!"

(Pimi is having a hard time... what can a kid like me do?!)

Matt cowered near the wall, trembling. The Gnath stood protectively in front of him, brandishing a dagger with surprising poise.

(Yeah, there's no way I could beat that thing. Maybe I should hide and wait it out. Or maybe I should just run away...?)

Snagglix looked at sufian "Sufian, snap-snap out of it! We came far-far—this the end? No way!!" he then went zipping around the gym floor "U, UWAHHHHHHH!", slashing through webbing and darting between the baby spiders with his dagger.

(Everything, end here...? All of our struggles up to now...?)

Sufians blood boiled up "No way... We can't let it end in a place like this. All of our lives are on the line, not just mine. This isn't the end for them, either. I'll rescue my friend... I swear it! All of us want to save Malak. We have to do everything we can! I am with you, Boots!" Sufian went after Snagglix, punching any spider Snagglix had already cut, making sure it was down.

Pimi who was all over the place "Nnngh... I'm not scared, I'm not scared..." stepped forward and thrust her staff out. "Diz ZanA en DizA ZanA!"

Stones flew forward, suspended midair by wind, pelting one of the spider’s flanks. A second wave followed, heavier and more direct, breaking through a nest of hatching eggs.

The web-bound cocoon moved.

"Malak!" Pimi cried. She focused again. "IlZan ZanA!"

A gust of slicing wind shot forth, cleanly severing the sticky webbing holding Malak.

(Wait... she's using magic?! That's actual, real magic? In this world?)

Malak's body slumped, beginning to fall. Pimi quickly casted another spell "Zon ZanAra!"

A tether of wind spiraled forward, latched onto Malak, and with a swift pull, drew her safely across the gym floor and into Pimi’s arms.

"Got her! She's safe now!" Pimi said

Ali’s voice broke the tension. "How the heck did you do that?! What even was that just now?"

The spider let out a deafening screech and lunged toward them.

Thoren leapt between the beast and the girls. "You shall not pass!"

He drove his hammer down onto the creature’s leg, snapping it. The spider reeled back.

Pimi, still holding Malak close, steadied herself. "This ends now!"

With Thoren charging in beside her, Pimi ,agic spell. A larger rock than before—still rough and jagged—spiraled through a current of wind toward the spider. Thoren followed up, slamming his hammer down in perfect sync. The combined force crushed the beast into the webbed floor.

The spider let out a final shriek before collapsing, motionless.

Ali, with eyes wide open "They're not kids..."

They had won.

Snagglix hopped in place with wild joy. “It’s DONE-DONE!! Boblin so happy!!”

“That was something else...” Sufian dusted his hands off, eyes trailing over the aftermath. “But you, Pimi—and Thoren—you two did great. Boots too.”

“This sort of thing’s no problem!” Pimi beamed, gripping her staff. “Not if it’s to save Malak! Ah—what about Malak?!”

“You’re right!” Sufian turned sharply, eyes locking onto the unmoving figure tangled in webs. “We can’t just be standing around—Malak, are you okay?!”

“Hey,” Matt muttered, peering over. “She don’t look good... You think she’s...?”

“Enough yapping!” Ali snapped. “You got time to talk, then help us out here, man!”

“Hold on,” Thoren raised a hand, motioning for silence.

“Kewww,” the Gnath echoed, peeking up at Malak with concern.

“Malak! Malak! Say something!” Pimi knelt beside her, voice cracking.

Malak’s eyes fluttered open. Her gaze slowly focused—and the first thing she saw was Pimi.

“Unnngh... Pimi? You... you saved me? Thank you... so much... this is the second time...”

“What’re you saying?!” Pimi’s voice broke with emotion. “You saved me right back, didn’t you? ...Everyone! Thank you for fighting with me!”

Malak sat up slowly, her head still resting against Pimi’s lap. She looked around at the others. “You rescued me, didn’t you? Standing up to such a frightening creature... Thank you, truly... You’ve all become so reliable, haven’t you?” She gently placed a hand over her heart.

“No, we couldn’t do much,” Sufian shook his head. “The little ones were right there at the front, with Pimi.”

“Boots was amazing!” Pimi grinned. “That speed was incredible.”

Ali folded his arms, wide-eyed. “It’s like some kind of super heroin…”

“Okay,” Sufian stepped up, surveying the group. “Should we get out of here? Everyone must be exhausted.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Ali sighed with relief. “Let’s head someplace we can take a breather.”

—

Later, in a quiet classroom...

“Now then,” Ali said, stretching out on a desk, “We put the beatdown on that humongous spider thing…”

“Sticky-stuff goin’ goo-goo!” Snagglix threw his arms up. “Boblin say GOOD RIDDANCE!!”

“We—” Malak paused, touching her chin thoughtfully. “Webs aren’t supposed to melt… Guess the stuff spun by that mutant ain’t normal.”

“The spider’s not the only weird thing...” Sufian looked toward the windows. “Something about this school isn’t right.”

“It ain’t just the school—” Ali leaned back. “There’s no way the area outside should’ve changed like that. Where the heck are we?”

“Hmm…” Sufian was in deep thoughts.

“Sufian,” Snagglix whined, tugging at his sleeve. “I’m pooped!”

“Me too...” Pimi yawned.

“All of this warrants contemplation,” Thoren said, closing his eyes briefly. “But perhaps we should retire for the day?”

“Good idea,” Sufian nodded. “Let’s call it a day, guys.”

“Say what?!” Ali jumped to his feet. “We’re gonna sleep here?!”

“I admit it bothers me too,” Malak said, slumping down. “But today has done a number on us. I’m too tired to even move...”

“Yeah!” Pimi chimed in. “Think about her. Why don’t you!”

“Going outside in the dark would be too dangerous,” Thoren added gravely. “Other creatures may be out there.”

Ali looked down, defeated. “Ah, uh, gotcha... So we don’t got anywhere else to go... I’m not in love with the idea, but I guess we’re bunking here for the night.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding...” Matt paced by the door. “This place is haunted, right? I can’t friggin’ sleep here!”

“Then where do you plan on sleeping, exactly?” Ali asked.

“I’ll, uh... well... Nrrrgh...”

“At any rate...” Sufian rubbed his temple. “It’s been quite a day. I’m both mentally and physically exhausted.”

“My brain feels like mush,” Ali groaned. “I have no grasp of what’s going on.”

“I still can’t believe this is reality...” Malak murmured.

“What does it matter if you believe it or not?” Ali countered. “It’s happening right in front of us.”

“It’s just...”

“There are just too many unknowns here.” Sufian stared up at the ceiling. “I can’t get everything straight in my head. What do you think, Matt?”

Matt crossed his arms tightly. “Just... shut up. You guys do whatever you want, it’s got nothing to do with me.”

“Sheesh... all right,” Ali said, sighing. “Let’s think about tomorrow when tomorrow comes. I’m completely bushed.”

“Right,” Malak said. “Let’s rest here for the evening...”

Matt unwrapped his arms in a panic. “How’re we supposed to rest after all this?! Are you kidding me right now?! You guys saw them too, right? ...The ghosts?!”

(Oh, whoops. I forgot about those kids from the music room. What should I do? Everyone’s so tired... maybe I should go get them by myself.)

“Ghosts, you say...” Malak blinked. “Could you describe them? I didn’t see any in that spider’s den. Maybe you mistook some of the monster’s webs for ghosts?”

“Yeah, that makes sense,” Pimi nodded. “They were all over the place, after all...”

“Eeep!” Snagglix raised his hand. “Boblin thought monster—but nope! Just leggy-creep!!”

“I mean, it was pretty much a spider monster,” Ali muttered. “But yeah, there must be some explanation for this whole ghost business. Maybe I’m just freaking myself out.”

“Um, about that...” Sufian started, nervously.

“Uhh... um-um-um-um...” Matt pointed shakily. “It’s...!”

“What’re you getting all flustered about, Matt?” Ali snapped. “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out!”

“Hey now, that’s not cool...” Sufian raised a hand. “Just because he’s freaking out, that doesn’t mean you—”

“No, that’s not it, you stupid—BEHIND you! Look—BEHIND you!!”  Matt was about to given in.

“Huh? Oh.” Sufian exclaimed.

All at once—

“AAAAUUUUUUUUUGH!!!”

(When they saw those two for the first time, they screamed and fell to the floor. Seeing two "ghosts" right after that tense situation, of course they'd be shocked. I quickly explained everything, but they were still shaken up—Malak in particular.)

“You must explain such crucial matters properly!” she shouted, eyes wide.

(Boy, she was pissed. Seeing the normally calm girl erupt in anger showed just how scared she was.)

“Well, uh, at any rate, everyone’s safe! That’s good, right?” Sufian tried to change the tide.

(I might have said this back then, but I was gripped by unease and doubt. Where in the world are we? The others with us—Bayan, Jeremy, Yusuf, Amaya, and the professor—are they safe? Loudboots, Thoren, and the rest... what are they? How have the ghostly pair survived in this world? Nothing but questions since I woke up. Even the situation we’re in is a mystery. Could we even get back to where we were in one piece? At that moment, as if feeling my concern, Boots called out to me.)

“It’s okay-okay, Sufian!” Snagglix beamed with a big grin. “Boblin protect you!”

(How did I respond to that, again? It seems I drifted off to sleep all of sudden. When I heard his words, I felt relief from the bottom of my heart.)

✿✿✿✿✿