Long time no see right? Haha! Sorry I've been away for so long; school has been the death of me. But I refuse to abandon this story! So I hope you will continue to stick around for the ride. Thank you to those who have reviewed/favorite/alerted! Thank you for your patience! I do all my own editing so it takes 5ever to update….

-SRG

WC:1455

My mother had been planning on having a party in celebration of my upcoming 17th birthday. I should be excited right? A party where I could invite all my friends and maybe even sneak some booze in?

"So have you given any thought to the theme?"

"I really have no clue." I had to plan the stealthiest theft ever committed (or could it be considered a kidnapping?) and my parents were throwing this on me. No matter. According to my ticket stub the last performance was scheduled for Thursday of this week leaving me with two days to form a plan and execute it.

"Let me think on it then, and I'll let you know what's happening. I really want to do something special for you this year, you're practically all grown up!" My mother seemed saddened by the idea. Sometimes I wonder if my mom purposefully makes things weird or if I'm just that lucky. But being the good child I am; I swallow down my annoyance and indulge her wish with a forced smile.

If I sneak in during the day, he will surely be asleep. Though I'm not entirely thrilled of the idea of scouring that disgusting old theatre for the most horrific, nightmarish beast I've ever seen. And I'm not just talking about that spider! I violently stabbed at the meat on my plate with my fork, juice oozing out of it unappealingly. I let out a quiet sigh and asked to be excused.

"Fine," My father said. "But don't think your skipping out on dish duty. And make sure to put that steak in the fridge before you go back upstairs to your lair." He teased lightly.

I offered up no response before doing as he asked and stalking up the stairs. I shut my door quietly and let out a shaky breath. I have felt so out of my element in the last couple of days. I couldn't snap out of this bad mood, my parents probably think it's just hormones or something but I'm not so sure. I just feel so annoyed, almost even angry, and I can't understand why. I mean, of course I'm still livid about the whole Steve situation, but this feeling is more deeply rooted than that.

ENOUGH! I yelled at myself internally. Dwelling on this is useless, you are probably making a bigger deal out of things like you usually do.

I stiffly sat down on my bed and stared at the wall; the lights were off and the only sound was the clink of the chain switch on my overhead fan as the blades made their endless cycle around and around and around.

I can't steal the spider after the show Thursday; they will probably leave right after. So my only option is to sneak in Thursday morning, take the spider, and pray the vampire doesn't find me.

There, now I had a plan. I would tell my mom I'm heading over to Jen's on Thursday and make my way to the old theater alone. I laid down on my neatly made bed and willed myself to relax. Eventually I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of spiders and vampires and little people.

The days went by in a shockingly slow precession; with the last of my final exams behind me a rewarding sense of accomplishment helped take the edge off the foul mood I'd been in since sneaking home from to the Cirque Du Freak.

Sunshine filtered in through the trees lining the street as I rode through the town Thursday morning. I donned a pair of brown braided sandals and a navy blue t-shirt stuffed into my distressed denim shorts; a simple, casual outfit suitable for a friendly visit. I couldn't leave the house dressed as a ninja now could I? This mission was dangerous and I couldn't risk doing something stupid and having other people get involved, like my mother would if she asked questions.

The thought that, if I went missing my parents wouldn't know where to uncover my dead body danced around my head, and there were a few times I actually turned my bike around and started home. I don't know how I managed to keep going forward; maybe it was bravery, but knowing me it was likely just my stupidity.

As soon as that decrepit building came into focus I began shaking. Despite the heat I felt a chill streak up my back, making my hair stand on end. I dismounted my bike behind a bush. I crouched down; the empty backpack I was carrying suddenly weighing a ton. Silently I eased my way into the building, which under these circumstances had taken on a different tone. I kept my weight balanced on the balls of my feet as I sneaked my way down the hallway.

The first place I checked was the theater, which was completely deserted of life. As I checked the other doors in the hallway I encountered a similar situation; except for a few instances were rodents ran out into the hall, I had the physically restrain myself from running and screaming out of the building. I soon began to fear that my window of opportunity had passed when I came upon the last door. Stairs led down to what I presumed was a cellar. The faint glow of candles emitted from below as I clutched a can of mace in my now sweaty hand.

This is it…I felt like crying, but I held it in. Slowly, I shifted my weight down the stairs one at a time. I was almost at the bottom when the boards let out the smallest of creaks. I froze for a second, and scanned the cellar room. The floor was dirt and a few candles had been placed around to give soft light to the place. I could clearly see a large coffin settled in a darker section of the cellar, next to it set on a crate; was the wooden cage of Madam Octa.

My feet were muted by the dirt as I edged over to the cage. Carefully, I unzipped my back pack and withdrew a piece of paper with a note written on it. Against my better instincts I peered into the cage to find the spider sitting perfectly still; almost like an ugly stuffed animal. Even so, the mere sight of her made me want to vomit. With my eyes never leaving the coffin; I grabbed the cage latch and settled the spider into my backpack, zipping it almost entirely closed but with just enough space for air to get in. My plan wouldn't work if she died.

I set my note onto the crate, remembering the hours I spent trying to spit out those few sentences.

I have taken Madame Octa for an indefinite amount of time. Do not attempt to find to find us, and rest assured she will be cared for accordingly.

With every bit of care I had when coming down the stairs; I made my way back up, feeling ecstatic when I reached the hallway and began to make my way out the building.

I did it! HOLY SHIT I did it! I grinned from ear to ear like a fool.

Like a dammed fool.

I sensed him before I felt his nails digging through my t-shirt. All those years of self-dense classes kicked in as I spun around and sprayed mace at what I presumed was his face. I heard an angry 'arghh' as I bolted out the door and leaped onto my bike. I tore down the street like the devil was at my heels.

That night, after storing that beast in deepest, darkest area of my closet; I didn't sleep. Nor did I sleep the following night. Every time I tried, I swear I could hear a gentle scratching at my window.

I'm finished with the next chapter already. Some very interesting events occur and I would love for you all to read it- but this can only happen if you leave me reviews. can we do three? I think that is fair. I'll be waiting!

With Love,Sammi