Tribute - Chapter 3

      The lack of tremors and booming of footsteps told me he wasn’t following. He was watching, waiting to see where I would try first, where he could corner me... I dared not turn around to look, but I could feel his eyes on me, and the smirk on his face...

      I ran for the recliner, flipping up the skirt and peering beneath. I couldn’t see any spiders or webs, but it was dark. Behind me, I could hear him moving to stand, and the first step sent a wave of panic through me, willing me to take the shelter the recliner would provide.

      He walked casually towards my hiding place which was only a few steps away from him. I shook with the floor under my feet, trying to move backwards, hopefully out of his reach. When he knelt down and his knees hit the floor, I could have sworn he tried to do it harder just to emphasize his power.

      A quick swipe of his hand and the skirt was out of the way, illuminating the underside of the recliner. His green eyes seemed to glow as they settled on my quivering form, taunting me to run if I could. I already knew I was vulnerable here and that he didn’t even need to speak it, but he wanted to show me anyway…

      His hand slowly crept under the recliner, invading my hopeless shelter. I had long since backed up as far as I could, my back to the wall as he stopped his approach just a few of my inches from me. I breathed in a sharp gasp and I heard him snicker to himself… He had me, and we both knew it…

      “Too easy…” He stretched a finger and brushed my leg, the touch making my body stiffen. He pinched my pants leg between his knuckles and his hand pulled back, dragging me with it. I thought for sure my chance was gone, but just as he brought me back into the open, he let go, leaving me to lie on my back as he sat up. His eyes spoke volumes to me in that instant, telling me I didn’t even try, that I wasn’t making it hard enough for him… That this was his game and I wasn’t playing up to standards.

      “Try again.” he grinned, making me shudder. He nudged me impatiently as I made it to my feet, nearly making me jump out of my skin. I glanced around again, my eyes falling on the couch. I quickly dismissed it and scanned the room a third time. The entertainment center, maybe? Should have plenty of places to hide...

      I made that my next target, but found myself unwilling to participate in his game of ‘cat and mouse’ now. The first failed attempt was frightening enough… Can my heart handle another scare like that?  I questioned.

      “Come on, Love.” his voice prodded me, sounding more malicious than encouraging to my ears. I felt another nudge at my back, forcing me to take a few steps forward, and I realized that I had no choice… At least, if I succeed in evading his reach, he said he’d leave me alone… That has to be good for something, right? At least it’s a chance.

      I took a few cautious steps towards the massive wooden structure, stopping to glance back at him. He was just sitting there, kneeling as he waited for me to slip under or behind something. I stared at him a second longer before turning and darting forward. Again I heard him shift into a standing position and he took a step after me, chuckling low as I nearly tripped.

      I took hold of notches in the wood, hoisting myself up in a hurry. A curious hum told me he hadn’t expected it, but was also intrigued by the idea. Never before had I been so thankful for intricate carving in simple things, and I wondered how many times more I might feel this way…

      The method hadn’t taken me far, but I was able to reach a low shelf. Running behind objects, I found wires leading higher, and I attempted to climb them as far as I could before my arms were too sore to pull myself any farther. By then, I was able to swing my weight onto the next shelf in view, keeping to the back as I lay down to rest.

      There was a short pause before I heard the sound of heavy boots on hardwood. This has to be high enough. PLEASE let it be high enough. I prayed, shutting my eyes a moment, and then turning to watch the opening of the shelf. I didn’t see him…

      Could I actually have succeeded? My breaths were long and deep and quiet. Should I look? I sat up, my arms immediately complaining from the action, and tried to see past the edge. It wasn’t a very deep shelf, but I felt it offered enough protection… IF I was right to assume so…

      “Clever girl…” he praised, the words giving me an uneasy sense of hope. Something was tugging at my mind, but I couldn’t figure out what. “That was quite the little display of athleticism.” Another hum from him shook me. “But…” Crap. Why must there always be a ‘but’?! Fingertips crept onto the edge of the shelf and I gasped. “You lack stamina.”

      He found me… He psyched me out, and he found me… His hand crawled slowly like a spider towards me, tapping the wood with every ‘step’. I knew I had run out of shelf when my back flattened against the back wall. Even so, I continued to push with my hands and feet in an effort to get away.

      His hand was just my arm’s reach away now, but didn’t stop like before. His fingers crawled up over me, tips brushing my arms and legs as they did. All I could see was his hand and I could feel the digits caging me in. One on my right shoulder curled and pulled me in towards his palm, and another curled behind my waist to do the same.

      I remembered a nightmare I’d had when I was five of being locked in a cage with a giant spider. The sensations were so vivid, coupled with the haunting dream in my mind of being surrounded by spiny legs and drawn in to be devoured by the terrible creature. I screamed and thrashed, my conscious mind lost to the state of hysteria that now took a firm grip on me. I was no longer being trapped by a hand at the back of a shelf, but in the throes of battle with a venomous spider intent on obtaining my blood.

      Nonsensical shrieks and cries erupted from deep within my chest. Though my eyes were open, I could only discern the sensation of pressure at my back, and heat that surrounded me at my front. I struggled to free myself of the creature that pinned my arms to my body, but my actions were met by something covering my mouth, silencing me. Frenzied still, I bit it, tasting salt and iron before what sounded like a heavy growl emitted above me, rattling my subconscious…