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The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1Morning sun filteredthrough shear curtains and across carpet to reflect off the mirror. The boy squinted his human eyes, while the six surrounding arachnid lenses gave little reaction. Detecting light wasn’t their strong suit. But the jointed appendages by his mouth (or pedipalps, as Mr. Drake, the science teacher, taught him) were sensitive enough to detect dust motes riding the September breeze through the cracked window. It sucks, having feelers, Jeff thought, and used his hands to fan away minute particles traveling through the air. Why can’t I be normal like Mom and Dad? He pulled blue jeans from a faux wooden dresser and stuck his finger through a hole in the knee he hadn’t noticed before. “Great.” He yanked a loose thread. “Haven’t even had these a month.” Thatasshole could have at least waited until I was off the gravel before pushing me down.Jeff combed through what little hair he had on his legs, checking for bruising and scratches in case they ne
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2First and secondperiod passed as usual. Jeff kept his head down while those around him whispered and passed notes back and forth. By third period, he’d deduced there were about eighteen thousand seconds left in the school day and was eagerly counting them down, until a curveball appeared in the form of a new student. “Class,” Mr. Drake put his hand on the newcomer’s shoulder. “I’d like you to meet Aarav Jain.” A boy, not much different from any other boy in the class (except Jeff for obvious reasons), stood at the front of the room. His open flannel shirt showcased a faded black tee underneath, and his Converse shoes squeaked as he shifted in place. The noise made a few students grimace, but Jeff’s unease came from the fact that the room’s only vacant seat was next to him.“Aarav just transferred here from ... ” Mr. Drake looked at him. “Apologies. Where did you say you moved from?”Aarav brushed a few strands of dark wavy hair across his forehead. “O
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3Jeff spent thenext period writing questions he wanted to ask Aarav over lunch. Where do you live?What do you like to do on weekends?Do you have any pets?He was busy thinking of a fourth question when the bell dismissed the students for lunch. After gathering his things, Jeff decided the whole questionnaire idea seemed forced, and he crumpled the piece of paper before tossing it in the garbage on the way out.“Aarav!” He spotted him at the head of the line.Aarav motioned for him to come join, but Preston’s arm shot out and blocked his path. “Don’t even think about cutting, freak.”The other students inched forward. Aarav finished paying for his lunch and glanced back at Jeff.“I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” Jeff called to him. “Save me a seat.” He retreated to the back.“Nice shirt, princess,” Preston said as Jeff walked away. “Did you steal it from your mom’s closet?”Jeff remembered what his dad had said to him earlier about fighting. No, he thought.
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4“Someone’s in agood mood.” Lori shook a sizzling pan full of potatoes and cauliflower over the gas burner as Jeff entered the kitchen, humming. “I don’t remember the last time I heard you sing.”“It’s called humming, Mom.” Jeff sat and rested his elbows on the table, knocking over a saltshaker.“Elbows off, please.” Lori gave him a disapproving look. “I raised you better than that. I hope you don’t do that in public.”Jeff rolled his eyes and obliged. “Of course not. Wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m a monster.”“Exactly!” Sarcasm never was her strong suit.He held back a retort.Lori turned back to the stove. “So, you had a good day then?”“It was okay.” Jeff brushed salt granules off the table, then threw some over his shoulder for luck. What could it hurt, right? “What’s for dinner?”“Aloo Gobi.” She added fresh chopped tomatoes, using her wooden spoon to burst them in the pan.Jeff craned his neck to see. “Come again?”She giggled. Jeff sometimes th
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5Half an hour later, Jeff found himself in front of Aarav’s house. The yard smelled of cut grass, which came as no surprise since Mr. Jain hedged it earlier. But aside from the kept lawn, the house differed vastly from any of those in Jeff’s neighborhood. It stood on its own with unique features—flaws, even. One gutter sank a little too low, and the eaves were weathered from the elements. Jeff appreciated the shortcomings. It adds character. Though the year was getting late, most of the flowers remained in bloom, providing a sense of vibrancy to the area even in twilight. Thanks to a nearby streetlamp, it was easy for Jeff to make his way toward the house, though what he’d do when he got there, he wasn’t sure.Why did I come here? He stopped in the yard. The bungalow had two stories and a sizeable patio. The top story had one room with a window looking out, which looked to Jeff to be the master bedroom. A painted porch swing creaked as the breeze picked up.I wonder where
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6Though he rarelyroamed the streets this late, Jeff couldn’t help but think the neighborhood was unusually quiet. He had no watch to check the time, but he doubted it could have been past ten. Mrs. Brannigan, Mr. Leery—hell, even mid-forties Mr. Cooper—he expected their houses to be dark; but the Loft’s should have been awake. They were recent college graduates, and it was Friday night. Maybe they’re at a friend’s.He crossed the walkway to his house.Climbing the lattice up to his bedroom proved impossible with his injury. His dad’s outburst at dinner replayed in his mind as he searched beneath the front-door welcome mat for the hide-a-key. A welcome mat—how ironic. I guess only if you’re not foreign. The key scraped the porch, and Jeff held still, not wanting to make another sound. They’ll ground me to graduation! The crunch of leaves made him flashback to his encounter with Mr. Jain, but when he spun around, he saw it was Pakora—not a middle-aged man—who’d
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7Though sleep waschallenging, Jeff managed to doze, but the dreams that followed seared his subconscious like a fire poker. In one, the dead fly in his vomit came to life and buzzed from the wastebasket, landing on his lips. He tried to blow it away, to spit it out when it crept down his throat, but the insect forced itself into his stomach where he could feel its vibrating hums as it laid batches of eggs. His gut grew heavy and bloated, swelling to twice its normal size as hundreds of maggots burst forth, eating their way out from the inside. He fought to scream, but larvae filled his lungs, suffocating him. Then he was upright in bed, disoriented, panicked. After blinking crust from his eyes, his surroundings became clear, and he was grateful he’d forgotten to turn off his alarm though it was the weekend. It was just a nightmare. Calm down, everything will be okay. He silenced the beeping and threw back the covers, disappointed to find yesterday’s transformation was
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8Jeff’s heart ratereturned to normal as they drove away from Preston. With the adrenaline gone from his body, the pain from the kicks and scrapes set in, but at least his leg no longer ached; though he suspected it might look different the next time he stood in front of a mirror.He felt around to try and gauge how much of it had changed.Don’t let it be the entire leg.Mr. Drake kept his eyes forward, his hands on the wheel at ten and two. His grip wobbled with each bump in the road, reminding Jeff of the exaggerated way actors in black and white movies pretended to drive while fake scenery flashed behind them. Nothing bad ever happens in those movies. Do happy endings really exist? He used to believe so. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Preston’s threat to tell Aarav about Pakora replayed in his mind. He’ll never speak to me again. Then an idea struck.What if I come clean? Tell Aarav the cat bit me, and how I didn’t know it was Pakora. It was an accide
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The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16The gas pedalwouldn’t press any further. Each speed bump the old man hit caused the truck to bottom out, sending loose items flying through the cab. Chapstick, pennies, an empty coffee cup. Everything rattled in chaos. He leaned from the window and hollered, praying she would hear. “Lily!” The wind whipped the top of his bald head and dried his eyes. But rather than slow for a response, he kept on the accelerator. His gut told him where she was.A photograph of his partner Craig, cradling Lily against his chest the day their son brought her home from the hospital, blew from between the console and passenger seat, then stuck to the dash before it could get sucked out the window. The man looked at his granddaughter’s innocent face and prayed she’d still be alive when he found her.***The day had been warm, but when the sun hid behind a cloud, the early fall air sent a shiver through Lily, reminding her it was toward the end of the year rather than the middle. Not
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15No one knows how long the massacre lasted since there were no survivors to recount the details. By the time outsiders made their way to the scene, Jeff was long gone, leaving the body count in the triple digits. As rumors of what happened that day spread, bordering neighborhoods, towns, and even cities speculated with care. Whether his son spared Kevin Pritchet’s life is up for debate. The police searched his house but never located a body. Some believe Jeff took him prisoner, stuck him in a web where he remained to rot. Others say they’ve seen him wandering the streets, his hands over his face to catch the tears shed over the tragedy.They buried Lori in the cemetery on the hill, though there was no funeral since no one she was close with survived to give her one.Aarav and his father left town, once again on the move. The school erected a statue of Alan Drake with the inscription forever in our heartswritten on the plaque below. Everyone assumed he was just anot
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14“Help!” The sting of the icy rain shocked Jeff’s body as he ran. “Help!” The mushy lawn sank beneath his feet as he darted across the yard and up Mr. Crawford’s porch. “Someone, help! Please.” Dammit. I can’t knock with these things. When the storm drowned out his scraping claws, he kicked the door. “Mr. Crawford open up! Please, my mother’s hurt.” Stupid old man. Why doesn’t he answer? He gave up and crossed the street as Mr. Drake stepped from the Pritchet’s house and into the yard. I’ve got to keep trying, Jeff thought, leaping up the steps to another home. “Mr. Brando! Mrs. Brando!” The door rattled from his kick. “My mom is hurt. Can you please help us?”Across the way, Mr. Crawford cracked his door and stuck his head out, watching Jeff run from place to place. He opened the door further and stood beneath the roof’s overhang.Please, please let her be home. The widow Leery’s house was the next closest. The doorframe splintered under the force of his foot, which he ho
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13He was aboutto press the bell again when the door eased open, and a nervous looking man stood before him. “Mr. Drake. What a surprise!” Though he bore no resemblance to his son for obvious reasons, Alan Drake recognized Kevin Pritchet from parent-teacher conferences. He was probably a few years older than Alan but looked younger. That’s the price you pay for being a teacher, he thought. He only has one kid to raise, whereas I have about sixty different ones each year. “Afternoon, Mr. Pritchet.” Alan hadn’t expected rain today and therefore left his umbrella at home. The short walk to the house from the curb where he’d parked his car saw him drenched, and he stood shivering on the doorstep. “I’m sorry to trouble you, but might I come in for a moment? I’m here on behalf of Jeff.” He folded his arms across his chest to fight the chill of September rain.Kevin stepped onto the porch. “Well, now isn’t a good time, I’m afraid. Besides, Jeff isn’t here right now.”Al
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12A web trapped Jeff, suspending him in darkness. His head throbbed, and every inch of his body hurt. A weighted sensation replaced his lower half, filling him with fear. Help! The words caught in his throat like bugs in a net. From the shadows, appeared a shimmer of light, growing, taking on the shape of a person. Hundreds of sparkling dots gave the form mass, and Jeff recognized who it was. Aarav! You’ve come to help! I knew you’d forgive me.It approached and extended a hand. Jeff tried to stretch his arm, but something kept it in place. “I can’t get to you! My dad ... my mom—they’ve gone crazy. Help me get loose.” The shape dropped his hand and turned away in sorrow. Aarav, please! Don’t leave me! Jeff wasn’t sure he’d spoken out loud. Aarav paused, looking like he could fade away any moment. Please!The entity spun around. It was no longer Aarav standing there, but Preston. The boy snarled, his face twisting as he did. His body showcased puncture wounds
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11“Mom!”Jeff burst through the door and stumbled into the foyer. “Mom!” He flicked the light switch over the credenza, dripping rain on the family photos it showcased. “Dad!” No light came on. The storm must have shorted the power. “Mom! Dad! Are you guys ... ” Seeing his mother at the kitchen table, he stopped short. Her head rested in her hands like she was sleeping. “Mom.” She didn’t move. “Mom, help! I’m changing. My arms!” He ran to her side. “I don’t know what to do. It started yesterday, and I wanted to tell you, but ... ” When she still didn’t respond, he aimed to nudge her, but stopped, afraid his claws would hurt her. “Mom?” His voice wavered. “Is everything okay?” He leaned forward to see her. “Mom?”At last, she raised her head. “Hi, honey,” she said, a smile plastered across her face. “I didn’t hear you come in. How are you?”Jeff’s face blanked. “Are you serious? I’ve been screaming at you. How could you not have heard me?”“So
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10Thunder growled onthe darkening horizon like an angry wolf. Things change so quickly, Jeff thought as raindrops pelted the top of his head. Any other day he might have kept beneath the trees to stay dry, but today he welcomed the rain. One second everything is clear and bright. The sun faded behind thickening clouds. Then it’s all dark. There was no residual pain in his leg from the recent transformation. He wondered if the lessening pain meant the transition was close to being complete. Still, he kept his pace slow, not wanting to beat the storm home. I deserve the rain. The look on Aarav’s face as his father drove away would remain forever etched in Jeff’s memory. It burned behind his eyes like embers from coals. ‘You’re a monster ... one sick freak.’ Aarav’s parting words rattled inside his head with no intention of fading. He thought of what Mr. Jain said. This entire time I thought he hated me because of my face. He imagined Aarav’s father and his
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9Students who, based on their expressions, would rather be anywhere else filled the classroom. Preston showed up a few minutes after Jeff and Mr. Drake and headed straight to the back. He cut his eyes at Jeff, but the teacher was explicit that any antics would only lead to another Saturday in captivity, so he kept his head down, working on the assignment. Jeff sat at the head of the class, checking quizzes against the answer sheet Mr. Drake provided. Grading papers isn’t so bad,he thought. Maybe I’ll be a teacher when I’m older. That is, if I’m still human enough.After helping grade twenty-nine quizzes, Jeff was about to start on another when the clock over the door drew his attention. “Mr. Drake,” he said, setting down his red pen, “it’s fifteen till noon. Do you mind if I head outside?”He checked the clock, surprised. “Of course. I guess time flies when someone’s helping you grade.” He arched an eyebrow. “Maybe you should help me more often.”Jeff smiled an
The Boy With the Spider Face Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8Jeff’s heart ratereturned to normal as they drove away from Preston. With the adrenaline gone from his body, the pain from the kicks and scrapes set in, but at least his leg no longer ached; though he suspected it might look different the next time he stood in front of a mirror.He felt around to try and gauge how much of it had changed.Don’t let it be the entire leg.Mr. Drake kept his eyes forward, his hands on the wheel at ten and two. His grip wobbled with each bump in the road, reminding Jeff of the exaggerated way actors in black and white movies pretended to drive while fake scenery flashed behind them. Nothing bad ever happens in those movies. Do happy endings really exist? He used to believe so. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Preston’s threat to tell Aarav about Pakora replayed in his mind. He’ll never speak to me again. Then an idea struck.What if I come clean? Tell Aarav the cat bit me, and how I didn’t know it was Pakora. It was an accide
