Ficlets

Zoe Climbs The Tree

You decide that Zoe, being the most athletic person should climb the tree. You hand her the machete from your pack and give her a leg up.

After a short while branches begin to fall and you and Joe begin picking them up and piling them around the rowboat. You also try and scuff your tracks. You don’t want to make it too easy for anyone following you.

“Ok, only one more branch and that should be enough” you call up to her, she nods at you and sets to work. After a few hefty chops from the machete a branch falls down, Joe gives a cry of alarm and something bounces up from the branch and hits you in the arm.

You knock the enormous spider to the ground and stamp on it, killing it instantly. Your attention turns to the spider bite, already turning red. You suck at the bite trying to draw out the poison but before you can spit it out your throat swells up. As you lay on the floor gasping for air you see Zoe fall out from the tree, and Joe fighting off more spiders. Your vision fades as you watch your friends die.

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