9- Richter's Secret

Richter stood facing a tall man. He had a stern, intimidating air to him.

"You…" the Rider spoke, trying to stay composed, though he felt his body begin to shake. "Now what?"

"Boy…" the man replied. "You must be enjoying the Inner World, aren't you? I think it's better than everything I imagined."

With a start, the boy woke up in his bed.

"That man…" he said. "Even in my dreams, he haunts me."

Throwing away the covers, he stood and reached for the manacle which sat on a counter-top beside him.

"Wave, I've wasted so much time playing here. I think it's time we go and pay someone a visit."

"Who?" the Spider asked.

"If you don't know, I don't care to answer any more than that," said the boy. "Just keep doing as I say." Richter was at least glad that if he had to have a spider companion, he was a loyal and useful one.

"Yes, sir," Wave replied.

It was still night in the castle, though the morning light was beginning to rise. At least everyone would be sleeping, Richter thought. Well, that wasn't quite the case. In the halls, he saw the blue-haired girl who usually paid him no mind.

"Eh…" she mumbled, sleepily. "What are you doing up at this hour?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Richter replied.

"Simple," she answered. "I want to get a good view at Hunter's sleeping figure."

'Ugh, I shouldn't have asked,' he thought to himself. But without another word, he ran down the stairs.

"Hey, have any of you guys seen Richter around?" Igneous asked. The Spider Riders were beginning to gather around the table for breakfast.

"Hmm…" Hunter replied. "He's probably still asleep. Did you check his room?"

"Yes," Igneous said. "He isn't there. I specifically requested that he join me today in an early-morning training session. He kept me waiting in the cold."

"That is weird, then," Corona commented. "I guess we could search around the castle for him, if you don't mind training him now instead."

Igneous scowled.

"The training doesn't matter. But for all our sakes, we'd best look for him, and keep an eye on him."

"I know where he is!" Glint declared.

"Really?" Hunter looked at her, anxiously.

"Actually, not where, exactly," she corrected herself. "But I saw him leave really early. Maybe I should have followed him. This is my fault, isn't it?"

"I don't see how it's your fault," Aqune said. "You didn't know he was going to disappear for this long."

"No, it's definitely my responsibility!" Glint declared. "I may not be a Spider Rider, but I am your ally. Therefore, I'll go and find him, and bring him back here. I'll find out what he's up to."

She ran to the door.

"Hey, wait!" Hunter said.

"Sorry," Glint shouted. "Perhaps when I come back successfully, you can reward me, if you know what I mean?" And at that, she was out the door.

"I… don't think I want to know what she means," said Hunter.

"Listen," Igneous said. "We may not know for sure whether or not Richter is responsible for the attacks lately. But if he is, sending out an unarmed girl to go after him is a very dangerous thing to do."

"Yeah, I agree," said Corona. "Hunter, why don't we go after her?"

"Yeah," Hunter said. "Don't worry, everyone. We'll return with both Glint and Richter. It will be alright."

"Hmm…" Glint began to ponder out loud, as she began her search for the missing Rider. "If I were him, where would I go?"

Her eyes lit up when she saw an unusual trail in the dirt.

"Perhaps a spider went by here," she said. "In that case, I think I found the answer I was looking for!"

And thus, she followed the trail left behind, until she reached an isolated cottage just outside a forest.

'Well this is interesting,' she thought to herself. Sneaking closer to it, she peered into the window.

Inside the building, Richter stood. However, he was not alone. He appeared to be having a serious conversation with an older-looking man. The man shared Richter's bright red hair color, though his was much more clean-cut.

"I wonder what they're saying," she muttered to herself. "Stupid walls."

Then, she noticed Richter turn his head.

"Shoot!" Glint ducked quickly, hoping that she hadn't been noticed. A hope which wasn't fulfilled.

'That's…' Richter thought, his teeth clenched. 'No! What is that girl doing here?'

"Glint!" Hunter called. He and Corona had discovered the same trail as the girl, and quickly caught up to her.

"Ah, you're here, Hunter!" she shouted. "Oh, you brought along that Corona? Well, whatever."

Trying not to get angry at the girl, Corona spoke, "Glint, what did you find?"

"Richter's in there," she said. "Talking to somebody, but I don't know who."

"Then let's go and find out!" Hunter declared, as he ran to the cottage's door.

"Hunter, wait!" Corona shouted, but knowing it was futile, she followed after him.

"Ah, look at this," the older man spoke. "We have some visitors."

"Who are you?!" Hunter asked.

"Me?" the man answered. "Well, that would be none of your business. But I'm sure you've been introduced to Richter already. I can tell by the manacles that you're Spider Riders too." Then, he turned to his acquaintance. "Boy, why don't you deal with them?"

"Fine," said Richter. "Wave, Spider Out!"

Wave was released right outside the building.

"Go ahead and do your thing," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," Wave replied. A dark glow came around the spider. And then, before him, a shadow Rider emerged.

"R-Richter, you…" Hunter began, though he was at a loss for words. It was Wave who was creating the shadows?

"I don't think there's a need for me right now," said the older man. Reaching for his pocket, he pulled out a small, box-shaped black device. Then, all of a sudden, he vanished.

"What?!" Corona exclaimed, as she witnessed this.

"Ahhhh!" Glint, who was closest to the shadow, became its first target. It leapt at her, pinning her to the ground.

"No!" Hunter exclaimed, shocked to see this. He glanced at Richter for a moment, annoyed, but knew that he could wait. Saving Glint had to come first.

Not bothering to spend time transforming, Hunter ran toward the shadow, his intent to push it off the girl. Unfortunately, he didn't have quite enough force in his normal form.

"Save me! Please!" yelled Glint, as she squirmed around, attempting to break free.

"I'm trying!" Hunter called. "Just hang on!"

But then, something even more unexpected happened. The figure of the Spider Rider shadow began to melt around Glint, and Hunter as well.

"Hey! What is this?!" Hunter yelled, though he could barely move as the blackness covered him. He saw Richter from the corner of his eye, looking totally indifferent.

"Hunter!" Corona exclaimed, making no delay to run towards her comrade. She had just finished transforming herself, in an attempt to back Hunter up. Unfortunately, by the time she reached them, the shadow disappeared, taking both Hunter and Glint with it. For a moment, she could only stare in shock. But it was a brief moment.

"What did you do?!" Corona shouted. She turned to Richter angrily, holding out her aimed weapon.

"What does it matter?" Richter replied.

"Where is Hunter?!" Corona asked again, angrily.

"No idea," Richter answered. "Really, I mean it. I have no idea. Didn't even know Wave could do that. Maybe he's dead."

"Calm down, Corona," Venus called, concerned that her partner's normal cool had been broken. "I'm sure Hunter is alive, and we will find him."

Corona was unhappy with the situation, but she lowered her bow. Even if Richter had betrayed them, killing him really wasn't the answer, she knew that.

"Honestly," Richter said. "This could have been avoided if you fools didn't follow after me." His voice was cold, and his face uncaring.