"Nate…" Sophie's voice was a quiet whimper on the other end of the line. He could practically feel the fear and pain in her voice.
"I'm on my way, Soph," Nate promised. He was driving through the streets of Portland like a mad-man. He had been grocery shopping when the grifter phoned. He cursed and spewed and nearly dropped all of the groceries in his hand when he answered. The damn grocery store had to be on the other side of town. "I promise you I'm on my way."
"Please, hurry," her breaths were already coming up short and heavy. She wasn't going to last much longer on the phone.
Nate pressed his foot harder on the gas pedal. "I'm hurrying, Soph." He wasn't going to make it.
"Nate…" Sophie's voice was quiet. A tiny sob escaped her lips and Nate felt his blood run cold. He wasn't going to make it. "There's something I have to tell you."
"Hold on, baby, I'm on my way!" Nate cringed at the sound. He could hear her tears falling now and he was almost there. He just needed to keep her on the line for a few more seconds. A few seconds and they would be home free.
"Nate…" Sophie's voice cracked with fear. Nate parked the car and raced out of it. He jumped over the hedges and raced towards the front door.
"Almost… there," Nate decreed. He had decided to take the stairs because they were faster. They only lived on the fifth floor of a five floor apartment complex. The elevator was always just as fast as walking. He took the stairs two at a time and listened to the grifter's frantic breathing. He felt her panic in his own chest.
"Nate, I…"
"I'm coming through!" Nate screamed into the phone. It was so she knew he was on their floor. The mastermind immediately raced towards their apartment and kicked the door in. He scrambled up the stairs to their bedroom and froze.
Sophie's chest was heaving and her eyes were wide with fright. Tears were streaming down her face but she looked frozen in terror. Nate immediately followed her line of sight and scowled. There was the culprit. Its red, brown and orange fur was reflecting in the sunlight pulsing through the blinds. It started moving towards the grifter and Nate quickly grabbed a shoe box. The eight-legged monster continued to head towards the brunette woman lying crumpled in the corner. The mastermind struck harder. He snapped up the evil creature and raced out of the room. He ran through the floor until he found the door he was looking for.
Nate pounded on the door and waited. The door opened to a smiling blonde.
"Hi Nate!" Parker waved towards him, "Have you seen Claude?"
Nate shoved the shoebox towards the thief and glared. He immediately turned around and marched back into his apartment and up the stairs to his bedroom.
Sophie was still curled up in a little ball in a corner. Her eyes were still wide and she looked completely mortified by the trauma. Her chocolate orbs connected with hers questioningly.
The mastermind smiled and gently walked towards her. He kept his eyes level with hers and sat down directly in front of her, Indian style. He nodded and then opened his arms wide. The grifter launched herself into his arms and broke into a series of wet sobs.
Nate sighed and immediately started comforting her. Leave it to Parker to proudly buy a tarantula as a team mascot, name it Claude, and then let it roam around the place full well knowing Sophie Devereaux is deathly afraid of spiders.
