ELLO EVERYBODY! How are you all? I hope you all are well.

First, I wanted to point out probably one of my favorite reviews I have ever gotten by someone named SauceKun who asked and I quote "Is it possible to have a crush on a work of fiction?" and all I have to say is that is flattering as fuck as well as a fucking MOOD.

Also, I wanted to thank everyone that has ever written comments on my stories. Even if your English isn't the best or it's short as hell, they mean the world to me. Especially on stories like this that aren't the most viewed or something along those lines.

ANYWAY! Enough of my bullshit lol I hope you all enjoy!

"Well that was eventful now wasn't it?" I smiled over toward Claire as we made our way toward the front of the school building together.

"With Miss Janeth nearly losing her mind with everyone? Oh most definitely. I haven't seen anyone on edge like that before."

"Welcome to directors. They always get like that the month of the performance. I'm guessing Coach doesn't get that way before a game?" I gave a small shrug as I buried my hands away in my jogger pockets.

"Not really. He might run us a little hard, but nothing more than that."

"Really?" She gave me a skeptical look that I couldn't help but smile at.

"Well, he might lose his mind a little if we're going against the academy, but nothing really beyond that."

"Now that makes a bit more sense." I chuckled as she nudged my arm with her fist. "Is it as crazy as Miss Janeth who has us redo a scene a million times?"

"More like has a run about six miles in a day before doing the same seven drills about a hundred times."

"Hyberbole or-."

"Definitely not." I laughed a little after that as a small giggle came from the girl beside me which only made my smile widen.

I enjoy having moments like this. Where I don't have to worry about trollhunting or soccer practice. Hell, I don't really even need to think when I have these moments with her. It was lovely, to say the least.

"So, what're your plans for the rest of your night?"

"Go home, do some homework, flop into bed, and just pass the hell out."

"Sounds lovely." I chuckled at that as we came to a stop at the top of the staircase.

"What about you?"

"Basically the same. Unless you're willing to let me annoy you later?"

"Annoy me later?"

"Yeah. You have my number. We can just text later or something?" She toyed with the cuffs of the hoodie sleeves as a bashful look took over her face. I felt a blush took over my face.

I've had Claire's number for a while, but the chat history we had was rather, dry. We never really spoke outside of school besides our tutor sessions. So thinking that she wanted to actually talk to me of all people within her free time was something that made me feel like I was on cloud nine within that moment.

I reached up and scratched the back of my neck.

Well, doesn't help that she's fucking adorable at this point. Like, how in the hell can someone be so confident and so bashful within the same breath? This should be illegal.

I gave her a lopsided smile before stuttering out a reply.

"Uh y-yeah. Totally. I would like that actually."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." We shared soft smiles as the sound of a car horn could be heard from the distance.

"I guess that's my parents."

"I guess so." My smile widened as I heard her giggle at my lame reply. I felt as if nothing could change my mood within this moment. That nothing could ruin the joy that the punk gave me.

That was until I spotted a spider-like creature in the distance.

What in the hell is that?

I looked over Claire's shoulder luckily as her attention turned toward where her parents were. It had what looked like a woman's torso. Long black hair covering her features that I doubt I would be able to make out due to the darkness as well as the distance. She slouched slightly as her long thin arms hung to her side. Long black spider legs came out from her lower half that reminded me somewhat of a black widow's. I have never seen such a thing before. Not even in Blinky's long-ass mythical creatures book, he was having me read.

What I do know though, is that it does not look friendly and it most definitely shouldn't be here.

"I can always just text my parents saying that I want to wait with you. It isn't right leaving you alone on your birthday like this."

"No!" I noted the shocked look on her face as I stuttered to cover my sudden reaction. "I mean, I actually I gotta-." I looked over Claire's shoulder to see the spider-like creature rounding the corner and heading off down toward where I knew the varsity locker room was. "G-Grab my varsity gear! Yeah. That's it. Just forgot that I need to grab my training uniform to give it a nice wash. I'll talk to you later, yeah?" I gave Claire a nervous smile as I started backing away from the conversation and making my way down the hallway.

"Um, yeah. I guess. I'll text you?"

"Wouldn't want anything else." I gave her a quick wave before turning tail and running toward where the spider creature had scramble toward.

Can't I have one normal day? I guess not with fucking Greek looking spider things running around.

As my feet trouted down the hallway though, I could barely hear Claire's reply that was soft in the distance.

"You really are special, aren't you Lake?"

I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one was near before pulling the amulet out of my sweatshirt pocket. I grabbed out my phone before slamming the amulet against my chest. A bright glow of blue and a sudden extra weight to my limbs told me enough that I had called upon the armor before speed dialing Toby.

"You've reached your local Toby Dom-."

"Spider thing. High school. Help. Now."

"Whoa whoa whoa. Calm down there, dude. The hell are you talking about?"

"There's a half-woman half-spider thing roaming around the high school and she doesn't seem friendly Tobes."

"Well luckily for you, I'm with Blink and AAARRRGGHH at the moment so I'll put you on speaker and you can describe it, alright?"

"I'll try my best." I kept my eyes on my target as she continued scurrying away from me. The creature now taking a sharp right down the main hallway of the school building. "Pale skin on her human half. Long black hair and long arms. The other half of her looks like one of those black widow spiders set for the fact that it's just completely black. She's a fast motherfucker though. I'm barely keeping about a ten-foot distance from her."

"Oh, that's quite easy. What you are witnessing, Master Jim, is an arachne."

"A what-a-what-a now?"

"And arachne. I believe your people had tales about them throughout history. But I believe your kind thought there was only one in existence. Unluckily, there are plenty within the world."

"Okay." I followed the creature still as she made her great escape from the school and started scurrying toward the forest not too far away from it. "How do I kill it?"

"Decapitation. Unlike a hydra, arachne's only weakness is having their heads cut off. It is the only way to slay the beast effectively."

"And how do I get to do that, Blinks?" I jumped over a log that she had leaped over with ease. She flipped her head over her shoulder as if to make sure I was still chasing her. A wicked grin taking over her face before redirecting her attention. "Oh fuck."

"What's wrong, Jimbo?"

"I think it wanted me to follow her out here."

"Jim, where are you? AAARRRGGHH and I can be there in a matter of minutes mattering on where exactly."

"Do you still have that find my phone thing hooked up with mine?"

"Of course."

"Follow whatever that tells you." I ducked under a few tree branches as I continued the chase with the arachne. "I wouldn't be able to tell you how far I've been running even if I tried."

"Got it."

"But, Master Jim?"

"Yeah, Blink?"

"Do not let it get too close to you. An arachne is known for its ability to eat a human whole. They are dangerous creatures. They'll trap you in their web or lead you to it, wrap you up to suffocate, and then swallow you like a crumb." I swallowed dryly at his words as I continued the chase after the spider.

"So I probably shouldn't be chasing after it?"

"Oh great Scott, you should. If it's out and about that means that they have prey in sight. I'm stating that you simply should not let it trap you." I nodded my head against the phone as I narrowed my eyes toward the creature.

"You got it Blink. I'll see you here soon, okay Tobes?"

"You got it! Stay alive, alright?" I smirked as I pulled the phone away from my ear.

"No promises." I clicked the end call button without a second thought before slipping it into the pocket within my armor. My eyes narrowing on my target once more as I pushed harder to catch up to her. "Alright, spider-lady." I pulled out my sword from my back as I watched her take a sharp turn into a thicker part of the forest. "Let's see what you're made of."

I jumped back as the arachne hissed at me. Her front legs trying to jab at me as I just leaped out of their reach once more.

Okay. Please stop showing me what you're made of.

I held up my sword as she swiped her left front leg at me once more. A loud swooshing sound could be heard as cut freshly by the sharp blade.

Yet not even a hiss came out of the creature.

I looked over the arachne with shocked eyes as it just narrowed it's glowing yellow ones right back at me. Not even a hint of pain within its face.

I guess that is what Blinky meant by your can't just kill it normally.

I watched as a new leg sprouted from the wound. A gross squishing sound accompanying it as I fought against the urge to vomit.

And that is why he compared it to a fucking hydra.

I felt my knees shake a little as I nearly dropped to the ground.

Oh, I'm gonna be sick.

The spider lunged forward and tackled me to the ground. I struggled against them as I lifted my sword to block the blows of her front set of legs. A sickening hiss coming from the spider as she reached out with her two human arms to pin down my own. I dropped my arms instinctively before bringing both of my feet up and kicking the creature right in the center. This caused her to lurch back off of me as I brought myself up into a handstand before pushing myself back onto my feet.

Now is not the time to be weak, Jim. You can vomit later.

I adjusted my grip on my sword as aimed the front of the blade toward the creature.

"You are rather green for a being wrapped in silver." The creature tilted her head as a large twisted smile took over her face. "Never thought you'd be a difficult dinner." I swallowed dryly as I kept my stance.

"Why did you bring me here? What are you after?"

"You ask questions you know the answer to." She took a step closer as I just took a step back in return. "You know it's true."

"Fucking mythical things talking in rhymes," I mumbled the words to myself as I tightened my grip on my sword. "What do you want?! Besides the whole eating me thing."

"I have been sent to deal with a problem. Especially since they can't trust a goblin." An eerie giggle came from the creature as she crept closer. I just took small steps back away from her as she continued. "Sent to snuff you out like a flame that flickers." A large toothy grin took over her face which only made the dark tone even more menacing to me. Her sharp teeth showing themselves as she continued. "I think you know him by the name of Strickler."

Oh fuck.

A smirk took over her face as she lunged forward once more. The distance between us is a lot less than I remembered.

OH FUCK!

I yelped as she pushed me back onto the ground. Her human hands pushing themselves down onto my chest as she gave me a sinister smile.

"Any last words human hunter? I'll even let you stutter." I groaned as she raised her front legs high above my head.

"Just two." I gave her a smirk as I knew I still able to move my right arm in this position. The one that still held my sword.

"Vibe check!" The creature tilted her head at me once more before I brought my arm up in a quick motion and gave a clean slice through her neck. Her head rolling off lifelessly before her body laid limp against me. A green liquid that I guess was the arachne's blood spilling out from her neck that laid itself onto my chest.

Oh, that's disgusting.

I dropped my arm to my side to abandon my sword before pushing the lifeless body off of me. The sudden urge to vomit taking over my system once more as I turned to my side and let out whatever I had within my stomach.

"I'm definitely-." I coughed heavily as I fell back onto my back. "-Not sleeping later."

"JIM!" I turned my head toward Toby's voice as I was greeted by the sight of him riding on AAARRRGGHH's back. "Are you okay?" He jumped down from the troll's back before rushing over toward me.

"Other than being covered in spider blood and knowing I'm not going to be sleeping for a while, I'm doing just fine." He chuckled at me as I tried my best to sit up. The urge to puke once again trying to take over me as I swallowed back the feeling. "I think I'm gonna be sick." Toby just laughed at me once more as he lent out a hand to me.

"How about we get you out of here, huh? I think we've had enough birthday adventures for a while." I smiled up at him before taking his hand.

"Oh definitely. The only gift I want right now is a shower. Or two."

"Speaking of gifts, I heard from a little birdy that you got something from a certain soccer hoodie-wearing punk today." I rolled my eyes at Toby as he helped me up to my feet.

"I'll tell you about it later. Right now, I just wanna go home."

"That we can do."

I ruffled my wet hair with a towel as I sat down on the side of the bed.

Well, that was rather eventful.

I sighed as I dropped the towel around my neck.

At least this time around I got home at a decent time. Even was able to get some homework done for once. Mainly because Blinky decided that killing an arachne was enough training for today.

I laid down on my bed as I let out another sigh into the darkness.

Too bad I can't get some sleep though. I think if I even try I'll be having nightmares.

A small ding pulled me out of my thoughts. I gave my phone a confused look before reaching over to grab it off the top of my desk. The bright screen allowing a simple message from Claire to glare up to me in the darkness.

C: Still up? I never got to annoy you yet.

I smiled at the message before opening it and shooting her a quick reply.

J: Yeah. Sorry, I was working on some stuff.

C: Hopefully some of Miss Janeth's math homework of torture.

J: I promise. I wouldn't let our tutor sessions go to waste. I wouldn't wanna waste your time.

C: You couldn't be a waste of my time even if you tried.

My smile widened as I laid back down onto my bed while typing back another reply to her. The soccer bracelet she gave me riding up my forearm as I held my phone above my face. The glare of the screen not even bothering me as we continued texting one another.

I don't think I'll be wanting to tonight anyway.