Page 70 of The Sea Witch's Son

Gus mimes an explosion with his hands, “Plot twist.”

I ignore him, “The sandbox was a popular playground activity, but there was one incident which scarred you from it forever. Do you remember what that was?”

Hao’s chest starts to heave, “Do not ask me questions I do not know the answer to. It is the same thing I told your stupid brawn.”

“Hey!”

“Qiang took it upon himself to bury you in the sandpit. He carved out your very own grave beneath the sand and left just enough room for your head to peek out the top. What he didn’t know was the location he buried you was right next to an anthill.”

Lifting the lid of the box, I study the creatures running around the bottom.

“Do you know what happens when an anthill gets disturbed, Hao? The ants swarm the invader, seeking refuge in dark crevices.”

I pause thoughtfully, “How did it feel? Having so many insects scurrying along your flesh as though it was their new nesting place?”

“Shut your mouth.” Hao writhes against the dark interior, his agitation growing with each panicked breath.

“Can you still feel them? The tiny little insects crawling along your skin. Disappearing inside the cavities of your body.”

“Stop it!”Hao screams, his composure unravelling faster than the clean state of my trunk. I reach inside the box and pull out one of the hairy beasts.

“What the fuck is that?” Gus stares at me in horror.

“This is the first step of exposure therapy. After all, it is the recommended treatment for entomophobia.”

Lifting the tarantula over the bed of my trunk, I let it fall on Hao’s chest.

And then I shut the trunk.

Piercing screams sound from the inside of my car. Thuds and thumps echo out as a desperate man tries to escape the large spider searching for a place to hide.

“Dude.” Gus gapes at me, “That was fucking savage.”

“Would you like me to place the second one under your pillow tonight?”

He quickly scurries back into the darkness. Smiling to myself, I walk over and pop the trunk. Hao is still screaming, thrashing around as if his life depends on it.

“Who are you selling the samples to?”

“Get it off me!”He’s almost crying.

My enjoyment is increasing by the second.

“I need a name and a drop-off location.” Peering into the darkness, I pretend to search for the spider, “Better make it quick. I think it’s heading for your pant leg.”

“C-C-Coordinates. I am given coordinates to drop off the samples.” He’s throwing his upper body against the frame, trying fruitlessly to move his broken legs, “I don’t know who it was for.”

“I don’t like that answer.”

Gesturing for Gus to come closer, I lift the second tarantula from the box.

“Open his mouth.”

“NO!”Anguished screams fill the night air, and I watch in satisfaction as the first tear hits his cheek.

The first sign of a broken warrior.

Gus looks like he’s about to be sick when he reaches inside and grabs Hao’s face. Prying his jaw open, I wait until he gives me a nod to move closer.

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