Chapter 67: Giant Spider
Elmo felt himself getting more nervous as they continued on through the woods. The threads hanging down increased in number on either side of them, making it clear that trying to turn run to either side wouldn't be helpful. It also didn't help his peace of mind that the path they were on wasn't going straight. It twisted and turned like most paths he'd followed when he left the paved streets and roads when he was younger and taking shortcuts to and from school.
Which meant if they had to run, they couldn't go full speed, since they'd otherwise run into the hanging threads, which Elmo could only assume would catch and hold them for whatever created them. He was suspecting a giant spider, since some of the threads looked like they were connected to each other, but he couldn't be sure. After all, they could be the creatures from Half-life, but he couldn't be sure, given the leaves of the trees made it almost impossible to see where the threads went from this angle. Not that he was interested in walking over to see if he could confirm his fears.
"Are you okay?" Elmo heard Elin whisper to him.
"I'm fine," he whispered back.
"What do you think made those threads?" Elin asked.
"I'm hoping it's just a giant spider," Elmo answered, not wanting to wonder what else could have made them.
"Why?" Elin asked. "Why not hope it's just a mad seamstress?"
Elmo almost laughed at that. "Because I really don't think a seamstress would have so many threads hanging down on either side of us," Elmo answered. "To me, it looks like a trap, which spiders are known to make. Though, not quite this elaborate, I think."
Elin sighed. "I was hoping for just a quiet day," she lamented.