A Tale of Two Spiders [BEING REWRITTEN ELSEWHERE]

Part 14

"Woah, no no no, we are not dating." I shook my head vigorously.

Ganke smirked and leaned back in his chair. "He's still yet to ask out Gwen."

I shot him a glare, and he smiled back.

Screw you, Ganke.

Uncle Aaron threw his head back and laughed.
"Wait, he still hasn't?" He asked, still laughing.

"Ganke, really-wait, what do you mean he still hasn't?" I blinked.

"You're kind of obvious, Miles."

I shrunk into the chair, pulling my hood over my head.
"Do you think she knows?" I whispered, not daring to look in Uncle Aaron's or Ganke's eyes.

Ganke rolled his eyes. "Luckily for you, when it comes to these things, Gwen is almost as oblivious as you." He mumbled the last part.

"My advice, Miles?" Uncle Aaron sipped his beer.

I cut him off. "Yeah, no, the last time I got your advice, things did not go well."

Uncle Aaron laughed again and placed his hand on my shoulder. He stared into my eyes, and said, "hEy."

We all cracked up.

Uncle Aaron wiped tears from his eyes. "Okay, okay. But in all seriousness, what are you here for?"

"Oh, well, I wanted to ask you about that thing you told me last year."

"You're gonna have to be more specific, Miles, I told you a lot of things last year."

"You know...that supercollider thing."

Uncle Aaron probably thought I didn't notice, but I did. A certain emotion flashed across his eyes, and he slightly jostled his drink. He put it down and asked me, "What collider?" It was somewhat casual, but at the same time...

Menacing.

I felt the hairs at the back of my neck rise. I gripped my arm rests, unsettled.

I didn't need a sixth sense to know the mood in this room had changed – by a lot. I glanced over at Ganke, and he looked back. I nudged my head slightly, and his eyes widened. We had a silent argument.

You want me to leave again?

You have to. It's not safe here.

It's your uncle, Miles. And besides, even if it was dangerous, you can barely control your powers!

Go.

He stood up and left.

"Where are you going, Ganke?" Ganke stopped dead in his tracks.

"Just...this sounds like a family discussion, and I actually have a paper to get to, so- "

"Then you should've done it instead of coming here. Sit."

Ganke walked backwards, slowly, and sat down.

"Does anyone else know about this?" He asked us, his eyes boring into me.

"N-no," I responded nervously.

"Good." He stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"Stay there."

Hell no.

I nudged Ganke. "Yo, we need to get out now!" I said through the corner of my mouth.
"No duh we do, Captain Obvious. But how? He may not be looking, but sneaking out of a window isn't exactly quiet, either."

"Then you go. I'll turn invisible and find another way to get out."

"We've already established this, Miles. I'm not running – especially not without you." He gave me a serious stare.

"You don't have powers. I do. Just go, I'll find a way out."

"No- "

"Stop being so stubborn and go! We're running out of time, and he's not going to stay in the kitchen forever!" I hissed.

"Everything alright back there?" Uncle Aaron called. I heard a shing come from where he was.

"Yep, just peachy." I gritted my teeth as Ganke tiptoed toward the window and slid it open.

I watched him as he s l o w l y exited through the window...
One foot...

Two feet...

He slipped-

Fell-

And landed with a clang on the outside stairs.

"Didn't I tell you to stay where you were?"

No, no, NO!

My pulse raced, and I gasped for air. There was no getting away now; Uncle Aaron was steadily approaching, with whatever sharp object he had in hand.

Thump.

I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths.
Thump.

I imagined myself turning invisible; being out of sight.
Thump.
I pressed my lips together and focused like never before.

I opened one eye...

Two eyes...

I looked down at my hands, and I was...

Invisible! Yes!

And in the nick of time, too – Uncle Aaron walked back into the living room, with nothing in hand.

Huh.

I could've sworn...

I heard something.

His eyes scanned the area, looking through every corner and shadow in the room.

He walked closer...
And closer...

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Until he was right in front of me, staring into my eyes.

I looked back, hardly daring to breathe.

Then, as quickly as he had come, he withdrew. The expression on his face faded, and went back to normal.

He didn't even bother closing the window – he entered his room, TV still blaring, and shut the door.

I panted as I became visible again, sweat dripping down my neck. I thought I was a goner.

No time, Miles. Get out!

I ran to the window and jumped out, landing on my two feet. I sprinted down the stairs, onto the ground, and landed on the street.

I bent down and gripped my knees, still hyperventilating at what had just happened.

When I looked into his eyes...
They weren't kind, laughing, or loving – like the eyes I had grown used to seeing from him.

They were cold, calculating, and unnerving.

I've never seen one before, but it doesn't take a genius to know.

Those were the eyes of a killer.

Word Count: 1626