Summer was creeping over the grounds around the castle; sky and lake alike turned periwinkle blue and flowers large as cabbages burst into bloom in the greenhouses. But with no Big visible from the castle windows, striding the grounds with Froggy at his heels, the scene didn't look right to Silver; no better, in fact, than the inside of the castle, where things were so horribly wrong. Silver and Razor had tried to visit Coral, but visitors were now barred from the hospital wing. Vanilla told them though the crack in the door "We're not taking any chances. No, I'm sorry, there's every chance the attacker might come back to finish these people off". With Locke gone fear had spread around the castle, there was barely a face that didn't look tense. Silver would constantly think over the words Locke said before leaving "Help will always be given at Soleanna to those to ask for it" but he didn't know what good they were. Who was he supposed to ask for help when everyone was just as confused and scared as he was. Big's advice about following the spiders was much easier to understand. The trouble was there didn't seem to be a single Mobani spider in the entire castle nowadays. Silver looked everywhere he went, helped (rather reluctantly) by Razor. They were hampered, of course, by the fact that they weren't allowed to wander off on their own but had to move around the castle in a pack with the other Shinobis. Most of their fellow students seemed glad that they were being shepherded from class to class by teachers, but Silver found it very irksome. One person who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere of fear and suspicion was Rutan. He was strutting around the school like he had just been appointed Head Boy. It was until a potions lesson about two weeks after Locke and Big left. Silver sat behind him and heard him bragging to Rough and Tumble "I always thought Father might be the one who got rid of Locke".

He wasn't trying very hard to keep his voice down ""I told you he thinks Locke's the worst headmaster the school's ever had. Maybe we'll get a decent headmaster now. Someone who won't want the Chamber of Secrets closed. Echo won't last long, she's only filling in…". Infinite was wandering around the class inspecting their work when Rutan said loudly "Sir, why don't you apply for the Headmaster's job" "Now, now, Rutan". Infinite couldn't resist a thin lipped smile "Professor Locke has only been suspended by the governors. I daresay he'll be back with us soon enough" "Yeah, right. I expect you'd have Father's vote, sir, if you wanted to apply for the job. I'll tell Father you're the best teacher here, sir". Larry pretended to vomit into his cauldron but Infinite thankfully didn't notice. Rutan continued bragging to Rough and Tumble "I suspect the Mudbloods will be packing their bags soon. The next one might die. Pity it wasn't the Betta". Luckily the bell rang because Razor had leapt to his feet but in the scramble it went unnoticed. Silver and Marcos had to hold him by the arms "Let me at him! I'm gonna kill him! I don't even need my gloves". It wasn't safe of them to release Razor until Infinite escorted them outside to the Herbology green houses. The Herbology class was very subdued, two members of the class were missing. Chrysan has them pruning Red fruit trees. Silver was in the middle of his when he found himself face to face with Void. Silver was expecting another accusation but instead Void took a deep breath and said "I just want to say, Silver, that I'm sorry I ever suspected you. I know you'd never attack Coral and I apologize for all the stuff I said. We're all in the same boat now, and, well…". He held out his hand and Silver happily shook it. Void and Bunnie Rabbot then joined Silver and Razor at their table. As Silver trimmed off one of the unhealthy branches from his plant h saw something, a little spider was on the branch. It's home disturbed it climbed down from the plant and scuttled off the table and to the window where a few other spiders were also leaving in a straight line.

Silver tried to hit Razor's arm to get his attention but he forgot he was still holding the pruning shears "Ouch! What're you…". Silver pointed to the window, Razor tried (And failed) to look pleased "Great. But we can't follow them right now". Silver agreed but walked towards the window and could see from the straight line the spiders were walking where they were going "Looks like they're heading into the Deep Wood" this didn't make Razor feel any better. After class Chrysan escorted them to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class. On the way Silver and Razor lagged behind so they could talk "We'll need to use the emerald again. We'll take Froggy as well. He's been in the Woods with Big before. He might be some help" "Right" Razor said twiddling his fingers nervously. As they sat down at the back of the class he also said "Aren't there supposed to be Zilla's in the woods?". Silver knew Razor hadn't been in the woods before so decided to not answer, instead saying "There are good things. Voxai and Sprites". He wasn't very convincing, he personally never wanted to go back into those woods after last year. Geoffrey strode into the class, everyone stared at him. Every other teacher had a grim aura about them but Geoffrey was ecstatic "Why the long faces?". The class shared exasperated looks but didn't answer. Geoffrey said very slowly as if he thought they were a bit dim "Don't you all realise that the danger has passed! The culprit has been taken away" "Says who?" Marcos said loudly. Geoffrey condescendingly rolled his eyes "My dear young man, the Minister of Magic wouldn't have taken Big if he hadn't been one hundred percent sure that he was guilty" he sounded like he was explaining one plus one equals two. Razor said even louder than Marcos "Yes they would" "I flatter myself I know a touch more about Big's arrest than you do, Mr Razor". Goeffrey's disgusting cheeriness nearly tempted Silver into throwing a book at his stupid face. He instead scribbled a message to Razor "We'll go tonight". Razor gulped but then glanced at the empty seat in front of them and then withf stony resolve he nodded.


The Shinobi common room was always very crowded these days, because from six o'clock onward the Shinobis had nowhere else to go. They also had plenty to talk about, with the result that the common room often didn't empty until past midnight. Silver went to get the Emerald out of his trunk right after dinner, and spent the evening sitting on it, waiting for the room to clear. Mighty and Ray challenged Silver and Razor to a few games of Exploding Snap, and Blaze sat watching them, very subdued in Coral's usual chair. Silver and Razor kept losing on purpose, trying to finish the games quickly, but even so, it was well past midnight when Mighty, Ray and Blaze finally went to bed. Silver and Razor waited for the distant sounds of two dormitory doors closing before seizing the Emerald, throwing it over themselves, and climbing through the portrait hole. It was another difficult journey through the castle, dodging all the teachers. At last they reached the entrance hall, slid back the lock on the oak front doors, squeezed between them, trying to stop any creaking, and stepped out into the moonlit grounds. As they got closer Razor gulped "Course we might get to the forest and find there's nothing to follow. Those spiders might not've been going there at all. I know it looked like they were moving in that sort of general direction, but…" his voice trailed away hopefully.

They reached Big's cabin and the moment they opened the door Froggy jumped on Silver's face and started licking it "Come on, Froggy. We're going for a walk" he put him on his shoulder. They left the emerald in the cabin, they won't need it in the pith black forest and anything they ran into would probably be able to smell them anyway. Silver half raised his hand and wet "Lumos" a small ball of light appeared in his hand allowing them to see. Razor, who now looked resigned to his fate at this point, would have done the same but his gloves might have exploded in the attempt. With the light they were able to see a large trail of spiders heading into the woods. They both walked along the path following the spiders for about twenty minutes until the little trail of them had started going off the path. At this point the trees were so thick they couldn't see the sky. Silver couldn't see where the spiders were going and he remembered what Big told him about not leaving the path "What do you think?" "We've come this far" Razor said bravery. So they went off the path, they couldn't move as quick now with all the tree roots and stumps but as they went on one thing got easier. There was no risk of losing the spiders now, more and more were gathering together all heading for the same place. There was so many that they could actually hear all their scuttling legs.

They walked for another half hour when Froggy suddenly tapped Silver's head with his leg "Rippit!" he pointed his head at a small clearing "What? Is something there?". It was pitch black that far ahead and they were worried to get close. Suddenly there was a flash of light "Silver! Silver, it's the car" "What?" "Come on". Silver lowered his hand and saw that Razor was right, Rob's Whirlwind car was sitting in the middle of the woods. It moved closer to Razor almost like it was a dog greeting it's owner. Razor patted it's front "It's been here this whole time? The forest has turned it wild". Silver didn't get to close, he could feel Froggy quivering "We've lost the trail. Come on". Razor didn't say anything, the moment he turned around he stared up in terror at something behind Silver. He didn't even have time to turn around, something grabbed him around the middle and lifted him off the ground. He heard Razor scream and then something lifted him too. They both desperately struggled but to no avail, they were being swept away into the dark trees. Silver managed to turn his body slightly and get a view of his kidnapper. He could have screamed but his voice seemed to have left him, he was being carried by a massive orange non-anthro spider. They were taken to a large hollow covered in webs. There was a horrifying noise coming from the trees above them, excited sounding clicking but he couldn't see what was making it. Finally the two were dropped down in the hollow and the spiders approached a small cave entrance. Razor at the sight of them got behind Silver. The lead spider then did something they weren't expecting, it spoke with it's pincers clicking with every word "Sython! Sython!". A deep voice replied from the cave entrance "Who is it?" "Mobians" "Big?" "Strangers?". There was a loud sigh of annoyance "Kill them. I was sleeping" "We're friends of Big" Silver blurted out". The two small spiders looked at one another and then with a loud cracking of branches an even bigger orange spider emerged from the cave. Razor was completely frozen in place. Siver's heart was now pounding in his throat "You're… You're Sython, aren't you?". Sython moved his head slightly in Silver's direction, he might be partially blind "Yes. Big has never sent others into our hollow before" "He's in trouble. That's why we've come" "In trouble?" Silver could hear concern in the old spider's voice.

Silver didn't notice the two smaller spiders had disappeared as Sython spoke "But why has he sent you?". Silver wanted to stand but he didn't think his legs could support him right now "Up at the school they think Big has been setting yo- Something on the students. They've taken him to Prison Island". There was a sound of fury which echoed around the tree line "But that was years ago. Years and years ago. I remember it well. That's why they made him leave the school. They believed that I was the monster that dwells in what they call the Chamber of Secrets. They thought that Big had opened the Chamber and set me free" "So… You're not the monster?". Sython clicked even louder at this accusation "I? "I was not born in the castle. I come from a distant land. A traveller gave me to Big when I was an egg. Big was only a boy, but he cared for me, hidden in a cupboard in the castle, feeding me on scraps from the table. Big is my good friend, and a good man. When I was discovered, and blamed for the death of a girl, he protected me. I have lived here in the forest ever since, where Big still visits me. He even found me a wife, Mosag, and you see how our family has grown, all through Big's goodness". Silver managed to muster what little courage he had left "So, you never attacked anyone?" "No. It would have been my instinct, but out of respect for Big, I never harmed anyone. The body of the girl who was killed was discovered in a bathroom. I never saw any part of the castle but the cupboard in which I grew up. Our kind like the dark and the quiet…". Razor tugged Silver's arm and with a high pitched voice said "Silver". Silver hit his hand away "Shush. So… Do you know what did kill the girl. Because it's back" "We do not speak of it! It is an ancient creature we spiders fear above all others. When I sensed the beast I begged Big to let me go but he said it was too dangerous" he started to sound like he was getting bored of talking. Razor again tugged Silver's arm "Silver" "What!?" "Uh". Razor pointed upwards, Silver raised his head and was met with the most horrifying sight he had ever seen. The two spiders that brought them here had returned and they brought friends. Hundreds of giant spiders were lowering from the webs of the trees towards them. Silver gulped and backed away "Well, thank you. We'll-We'll just go" "Go? I think not. My sons and daughters do not harm Big on my command. But I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wonders so willingly into our mist". He backed away into his cave "Goodbye, friends of Big". Razor watched the spiders surround them on all sides "Can we panic now".

One of the spiders leaped closer and Silver immediately kicked it back but the others were closing in. Silver and Razor went back to back with their gloved hands raised. Razor's hand was trembling "Know any spells?" "One. But it's not powerful enough for all of them" "Oh, where's Coral when you need her?". Just as the spiders were inches away from them a loud rumble could be heard. There was a bright light and the Whirlwind barged into the hollow. In the confusion the spiders all scattered and the Whirlwind opened it's doors. Razor ran to the driver's seat and just managed to close the door before one of the spiders could pounce on him. Silver threw Froggy into the car and saw one of the spiders charging towards him "Arania Exumai" he blasted the spider away and jumped into the car. The spiders started jumping on the car trying to get inside. Razor hit his foot on the pedal and the car reversed out at top speed out of the hollow and into a clearing where the car stopped. The one remaining spider on the front of the car was knocked off. Razor took a deep breath "Glad we're out of there". There was a crash, the spider wasn't dead, it shot it's legs through the side window and hooked around Razor's neck. Silver jumped and pushed himself as far from the sight as he could while still remaining in the car. Razor screamed and struggled against the spider trying to stop himself beind pulled out. Silver raised his hand "Arania Exumai" the blast shot past Razor's head and hit the spiders launching it away. Razor looked like he was about to be sick "Thanks for that" "Don't mention it". Silver took a deep breath but then they both heard a noise. They looked ahead, the other spiders apparently hadn't given up on their new prey as they were all climbing over the hill "Get-Get us out of here… NOW!".

Razor hit the reverse and the spiders chased after them "Come on! Move faster!". Razor turned the wheel quickly spinning the car around. They sped off but the spiders were just as fast. They were catching up, Silver looked in the mirror. There were so many crawling over each other he couldn't see the ground "Get us in the air!" "The flying gear's jammed". There were more spiders ahead of them. The car managed to crash through them but they couldn't see anything, it was only a matter of time before they hit a tree and then there'd be no where to escape. Silver and Razor both pulled on the gear shift and finally got it in the right place. The car took off and rose out above the forest. Niehter of them said anything, still in shock the car seemed to take it from here as it dropped them off back at Big's cabin. Silver ran inside to get his emerald, Froggy jump onto his bed and trembled under his blanket. Silver came back out and found Razor violently vomiting in the pumpkin patch. He wiped his face "Follow the spiders! Follow the spiders? If Big ever gets off Prison Island I'll kill him" "He probably thought Sython wouldn't hurt friends" "Well he was wrong about that! What was the point of even sending us in there. What did we found out?". Silver stared back into the forest "We know one thing. Big never opened the Chamber of Secrets. He was innocent". Razor scoffed, apparently keeping something like Sython in a cupboard wasn't his idea of innocent.


When they made it back to the warmth and safety of their dormitory Razor fell into bed and was immediately asleep. Silver sat in his bed wide awake, this monster, whatever it was reminded him of Finitevus, so scary that even other monsters wouldn't name it. He and Razor were now no closer to finding out who it was. Sam had caught the wrong person, the Heir of Raiju was still out there. Maybe it was them this time as well or maybe then sent their child to do it this time. Silver slowly nodded off when just before he fell asleep something Sython said repeated in his head "The girl was discovered in a bathroom". Silver shot upright "Razor. Razor". He woke up with a grumble "What?" "The girl that was killed. She was discovered in a bathroom. What if she never left?". Razor rubbed his eyes and slowly began to comprehend what he was getting at "Lah".