The truck soared through the air, metal groaning as gravity claimed it. Behind them, the collapsing bridge crumbled into a roaring abyss of dust, fire, and millions of screaming spiderlings.
Kenna clutched the cocooned baby and the silver hatchling tight to her chest.
Benjamin clung to the roof with one hand, the other arm gripping Cyrus's wrist as Cyrus dangled half-off the tailgate, eight eyes glowing in terror.
Big Jim's face was twisted in pure panic.
"OH GOD—OH GOD—OH GOD—"
Kenna yelled,
"JUST LAND IT, DAD!"
Jim screamed,
"HOW—?! THIS ISN'T A DAMN MOVIE, KENNA!"
Below them, pavement rushed up.
The truck slammed into the ground—
BOOOOM—!!
Metal bent.
Glass shattered.
Everyone jerked forward.
But the truck didn't flip.
It skidded violently, sparks flying behind them as tires exploded.
Cyrus's claws dug into the metal bed, keeping himself from being thrown out.
Benjamin held on, whole body shaking from the impact.
Kenna braced her wings, spreading them wide to buffer the slam.
The silver glow softened the blow for everyone pressed against the interior.
Big Jim panted hard.
"I think— I think we lived—"
CRACK—!!!
A black webbed hand slammed onto the rear bumper.
Everyone screamed.
Veira's manic voice echoed through the smoke:
"FOUND YOUUU—!!"
She crawled up the back of the truck like a demon on caffeine, golden eyes wide, hair whipping in the wind.
Cyrus roared, pulling himself upright.
"COME ON THEN!"
He slammed all four of his back limbs down—
THOOM—!!
The impact blasted Veira loose.
She tumbled across the asphalt, sliding into a burning taxi.
But the victory lasted exactly one second.
Because on the hill above the highway—
Four more silhouettes appeared.
Thara.
Narya.
Arachneon.
Nysessa.
All staring down at them with glowing eyes.
Thara lifted her hand.
A tidal wave of spiders surged toward the highway.
Benjamin swore.
"Oh shit. Oh shit—RUN, JIM! GO!"
Big Jim floored the gas pedal.
The truck sputtered, smoking, but lurched forward down the destroyed road.
The spider swarm poured onto the highway like a living black ocean.
Kenna tucked the cocoon closer.
The baby spider hissed, fur bristling silver, eyes glowing like tiny moons.
Kenna whispered,
"It's okay, baby… Mama's got you."
Cyrus's eight eyes scanned behind them.
"They're gaining—FAST."
Benjamin leaned over the smashed windshield.
"There's a split in the road up ahead! Jim—JUMP IT!"
Jim screamed,
"STOP TELLIN' ME TO JUMP THINGS—!!"
But he aimed for it anyway.
Behind them—
Thara screamed:
"BRING ME THE HATCHLING!"
The sisters all jumped—
leaping from vehicle to vehicle, skittering across the wreckage like death incarnate.
Kenna's heartbeat thundered.
Benjamin's weapon crackled.
Cyrus roared with lightning blazing over his fangs.
Big Jim screamed into the steering wheel.
The truck hit the gap in the highway—
And once again,
they flew.
The spider sisters leapt after them.
The hatchling shrieked and wrapped threads around the cocoon to protect the baby even tighter.
The ground rushed up.
Kenna and Cyrus both shouted:
"BRACE—!!"
CRAAAAAASH—!!
The truck slammed down on the next section of highway—
metal bending, tires bursting—
—but it held.
Jim wheezed,
"I'm gonna have a heart attack…"
Kenna looked behind them—
The spider sisters landed on the overturned cars in perfect formation.
Thara raised her hand again.
Narya whispered a prophecy.
Arachneon's lightning crackled pink.
Nysessa licked her lips.
Veira grinned, crawling toward them upside-down.
They were STILL coming.
Benjamin shouted over the chaos:
"KENNA—WHAT NOW!?"
Kenna narrowed her eyes.
Her silver wings glowed brighter.
The baby spider crawled up her arm and hissed loudly, as if answering for her.
Kenna whispered:
"We stand again."
And the truck raced toward the next nightmare.
The truck barreled down the cracked highway, engine screaming, spider screams echoing behind them.
Just as the Spider Sisters leapt from a crumbling billboard—
BOOOOM—!!
A massive burst of pink glitter smoke exploded between the truck and the sisters.
Thara screeched in confusion.
Arachneon shielded her eyes.
Narya hissed, blinded.
Veira giggled mid-attack then choked on glitter.
Nysessa inhaled and immediately got… dizzy.
Kenna blinked.
"…no way."
Benjamin groaned.
"Not her—"
And then she appeared —
Floating above them like a magical rockstar demon armed with glitter bombs.
She flipped her hair dramatically, sparkles cascading.
"There mine," she purred.
The Spider Sisters froze—
Eyes dilating.
Mouths half-open.
The glitter fog hit them like a drug.
Veira giggled mindlessly.
Nysessa licked her lips slowly.
Arachneon's lightning fizzled pink.
Narya lost her prophetic focus entirely.
Even Thara — the ancient Brood Mother — blinked slowly as if waking from a dream.
They were in lust,
awe,
pink fog confusion,
all at once.
Candy grinned like a wicked fairy.
"You girls fall way too easy."
She flew forward, hips swaying, glitter trailing—
Benjamin saw her and his jaw DROPPED.
"C—Candy…?"
His voice cracked.
She winked at him.
Benjamin's pupils blew wide.
His weapon slipped from his hand.
Kenna yelled, "BENJAMIN NO—!"
Too late.
Candy flicked her fingers.
FWOOOSH—!!
Pink fog hit Benjamin square in the face.
He gasped—
eyes glossing over in dreamy adoration.
"I… love you…"
Candy beamed.
"I know."
Kenna facepalmed so hard she nearly broke her nose.
Candy drifted toward the truck, eager to collect every man like a prize.
Cyrus climbed onto the tailgate, still half-spider, lightning crackling across his limbs.
Candy blew him a kiss.
"Ooooh, big boy~ Come to Cand—"
FWOOMP—!!
Cyrus punched her in the face.
A FIRE PUNCH.
Candy shot backward like a meteor, glitter exploding off her like confetti.
"OWWWW!! WHAT THE HELL—?!"
The pink fog blew away from his face in a swirl of heat.
Her smile dropped.
"You hit me!"
Cyrus swung his sledge axe, fire and lightning mixing.
"STAY AWAY FROM THEM."
He leapt from the truck—
Kenna screamed, "CYRUS—NO—!!"
But Cyrus was already in midair.
Candy caught herself mid-flight, wings fluttering.
She scowled.
"You male creatures never learn how to treat a lady."
Cyrus swung the axe at her—
SLASH—!!
The blade tore across Candy's chest, blood and glitter exploding out in a shocking burst.
Candy gasped, eyes wide.
"That—
hurt—"
Benjamin screamed in absolute heartbreak.
"NOOOOOOO—!!! MY LOVE!!!"
He launched himself off the truck like an arrow—
Straight at Cyrus.
The two collided midair—
CRASH—!!
They tumbled violently down a steep grassy hill, rolling through dirt, rocks, broken glass, and a mailbox someone really didn't need anymore.
Cyrus tried to pin Benjamin.
"BENJAMIN! LISTEN TO ME—CANDY'S CONTROLLING YOU!"
"DON'T.
HURT.
MY.
WIFE—!!!" Benjamin screamed, swinging wildly.
"She's NOT your wife—!"
"You don't know anything about LOVE!"
Cyrus groaned.
"I swear to GOD—"
Benjamin tackled him again.
Cyrus threw him.
Benjamin flipped.
They both rolled another 20 feet.
They slammed into a concrete divider.
Both groaned.
Benjamin scrambled up to swing again—
Cyrus grabbed the sledge axe.
"BENJAMIN STA—"
Benjamin vanished.
P O O F
He disappeared like a blink, no smoke, no sound.
Just gone.
Cyrus froze.
"…Benjamin?"
Wind blew.
Grass shifted.
Silence.
Kenna and Jim saw the flash from the highway.
Kenna's eyes widened in horror.
"CYRUS—WHERE IS HE?!"
Cyrus got to his feet, shaken, scanning the area with all eight eyes.
"I—I don't know.
He just… vanished."
Jim's voice broke.
"Oh, crap.
Ohhhh crap.
Where the hell did he go?"
The baby spider hissed.
The cocoon pulsed.
The ground quivered.
Something ancient—
dangerous—
and NOT a Spider Sister—
had taken Benjamin.
Candy wiped glittery blood from her chest in the distance, her smile returning slowly.
"Well…"
She smirked at Cyrus.
"This is getting interesting."