Page 30 of The Spider & the Storm

“Not great,” he replied honestly before shrugging. “But we can’t do anything about the hands we’re dealt, Chuck. All we can do is hobble our way through life and thank the man upstairs that things aren’t worse. Because they can always be worse, my friend.Always.”

For as long as I’d known him, Ivan’s attitude toward life had always been one of nonchalant realism and aggravating gratitude. He rolled with the punches and tolerated each and every one, and I guessed maybe that was another reason we got along. I might not have been as grateful, but I was skilled at simply tolerating life and trudging my way through, even when giving up entirely seemed like a far more comfortable option.

“I’ll come back soon,” Ivan promised, looking up into the truck’s cab. “I’ll bring a wedding invitation.”

The idea of attending a party of any size was enough to make the top three layers of my skin tingle with buzzing wasp-like nerves and red flags. But I forced a nod and wished my friend a good night. Then, he closed the door and limped away to his little sedan.

I waited as he got inside, making sure his hip didn’t suddenly give out on him, and offered a half-hearted wave as he drove away. Then, I lingered for a moment, looking out the gate toward the hotel across the street from the cemetery, reminding myself, as I did every now and then, that there was an entire bustling world outside of my forty acres of quiet seclusion.

A woman with long black hair came into view, her face tipped downward as she looked at her phone. She wore an outfit of all black—sweater, lug-soled boots, and the tightest jeans I’d ever seen. A black leather satchel was worn across her chest, the bag smacking rhythmically against her hip as she walked.

I couldn’t know for sure why I felt the need to watch her initially. Honestly, I felt a little like a voyeuristic creep, eyeing this beautiful woman as she walked alone just after sunset. But my gut felt the pull, felt the need to keep a watchful eye over her, and so I did. And that was when I spotted the tall, hooded man rapidly approaching her from behind.

My spine straightened as I narrowed my eyes at him, watching as he sped up. The woman quickly glanced over her shoulder, then hurried her pace, but she wasn’t fast enough. The guy grabbed her by the arm, forcibly pulled her along as she struggled, and disappeared through the row of towering rhododendrons against the hotel’s shadowed outer walls.

“Dammit,” I grumbled as my hands clenched the steering wheel, simultaneously angry that pieces of shit like this existed in the world and angry that I’d have to get out of my car because of it.

But I did without hesitation, leaving the key in the ignition as I ran through the open cemetery gate and across the street, already dialing 911 for the second time in my life and narrowly dodging an oncoming car as I spoke to the dispatcher. I gave her the address of the cemetery, told her the hotel was across the street, then hung up as I listened for the woman’s muffled pleas coming from behind the screen of bushes. I followed the sound of her voice as I slipped through the narrow crevice between the hotel’s entrance and the trees.

Then, as my eyes adjusted to the shadowy dark, I spotted them. The front of his body was pressed against the back of hers. He held one hand over her mouth while his other worked to undo his jeans—hers were already pulled halfway down her thighs. Only a sliver of pale skin was visible beneath the length of her sweater, but I prickled at the sight. Violent fury rushed through my bloodstream, hot and angry. I didn’t say a word as I made my quick approach, reached into my pocket, and pulled out the box cutter I kept on me. In one smooth, fluid motion, I released the blade and wrapped my arm around his throat, holding the box cutter’s sharpened tip just beneath his chin with my other hand.

“Holy shit!” he cried through a surprised gasp, as if he had any right to be afraid.

“Let her go,” I hissed into his ear. “Now.”

The woman screamed beneath his palm when she realized they were no longer alone, and whether that scream was out of relief or an escalation of fear, I couldn’t be sure. It didn’t matter. She’d know soon enough that I wasn’t someone to be afraid of.

Her assailant didn’t move a muscle though, apart from his pathetic, fear-induced quivering. “I don’t know what you want from me, man—”

“I want you tolet her go,” I repeated, enunciating every word as the tip of the blade pressed deeper and pierced his skin.

“Shit, shit, shit.” He panicked, his breathing escalating close to hyperventilation. “Okay, okay, man. I’ll let her go.”

He removed his hand from her mouth, and she gasped, hiccuping with a sob.

I stepped backward, taking him along with me. What her sweater and dropped jeans didn’t cover was now exposed to the elements and watchful eyes. With the blade still pressed to his chin, I turned us away, giving her privacy.

“We’re not looking. Get dressed,” I ordered, trying to tamp my anger down enough to speak gently.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she chanted in a quivering whisper, and I listened as she shakily pulled up her underwear and jeans.

Sirens sounded in the near distance.

“You hear that?” I said to the man I still held by the throat, my mouth moving against his ear. “They’re coming for you.”

“Ah, fuck, man,” he wailed, and I realized he was crying. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. “I’m on probation!”

“Then, I guess you should’ve been on your best behavior, but …” I sighed, feigning disappointment. “Oh well.”

The flashing lights approached and stopped, a cascade of red, white, and blue broken by the shadowing trees surrounding us, reminding me of one Halloween night I’d rather forget entirely while knowing I never ever would. The guy continued to cry and shiver as I held the blade to his flesh, and I listened to the sound of car doors opening.

“You gonna be a big boy and go out there yourself, or do I have to take you?”

“I-I-I'll go.”

“Well, okay. But just remember, if you run, the cops will catch you. And if they don't, then I will. I'm pretty fast.” I gave his chin a nudge with the blade, turning his head to pin his wide, frightened eyes with my glare. “Do you understand?”

His head jittered with a nod. “Y-yes.”

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