Precariously Placed

My wife and I decided to travel to Romania for vacation. We’ve been here for a few days, yet we already did everything we came to do. So today we decided to go for a nice hike in the mountains. Though, it wasn’t going according to plan.

“I told you we should have followed the trail” Emily said while getting hit in the face with a branch. I sighed, looking around at the endless trees. “I know, I’m sorry Em” I said, setting my pack on the ground. I could hear Emily muttering under her breath, throwing her pack a few feet away.

The sun was beginning to set and we were about 400 feet up the mountain. “So, what do you want to do Maverick? THIS wasn’t the plan” She snapped, her hands gesturing to the wilderness we are lost in. I checked my pack for water and saw we’re running low. “Well, I’m going to find water quick. I’ll make a path back here.” I spoke while beginning to get up.

“You can’t just leave. What if you get lost? You’re just going to leave me alone?” She snapped again, standing up then storming to me. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I think we just need to set up camp” I sighed, running my hands over my head. We have been hiking all day. I am exhausted.

I looked around, Emily and I were bickering so much I hadn’t paid attention to exactly where we are. The trees look... Weird. Almost like they were placed there recently. There was fresh dirt around the tree stumps as if they were dug up. I’m not too sure how to explain it, all I know is we cannot stay here. “Hey Em do we still have flashlights?” I asked, without taking my eyes off these strange trees...

Emily sighed, then she started rummaging through our things. I heard the click, then she handed me the light. The sun was just about to set; it was nearly dark out. “Hun, we have to keep moving. We shouldn’t stay here.” I urged, making sure to look at her this time.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Here we go... “YOU are the reason we got off course to begin with. We are FINALLY able to rest and now you want to continue WALKING?!” She screeched. Well, whatever was out there, definitely knows we’re here.

“Honey please, I’m sorry we got lost, okay? I promise I will make it up to you. But right now, please trust me. We need to keep moving.” I stated. She huffed, still not wanting to move. I continued packing up our things, thankfully there wasn’t much.

I was almost done when I felt the ground start to rumble. I instantly looked up to find Emily who was about 7 feet away from me. The ground began to shake, making me fall. I looked back up, pointing the flashlight in Emily’s direction.

In a blink of an eye the ground opened up, this giant black insect of grabbed Emily. A giant trapdoor spider. This thing was the size of an elephant, hidden beneath the dirt. Emily shrieked as she tried to run to be but was caught instantly. Her eyes went wide as the spider grabbed her.

The spider twirled her around once, then twice... It only took a few moments for Emily to be completely wrapped in a cocoon. I watched in horror; nearly falling backwards. Before I could even try to help, she was already gone. Her and the spider disappeared in the dirt.

I looked around in disbelief at what I just witnessed. “Em?” I quivered; my whole body was shaking. I heard something crunch behind me, making me freeze like a deer in headlights. My eyes darted in the direction we walked in from, how could I have missed this? There were spider webs everywhere.

How many more are there?

I looked around frantically for my pack, which was a few feet behind me. I inched closer to it, feeling like my heart was going to leap from my chest. I finally reached the pack and began rummaging through it. I grabbed a fruit cup which had some weight to it so, I threw it in the direction we walked in from.

The ground began to rumble, then the trees rocked back and forth. Within a fraction of a second, another giant spider erupted from the ground. I’m surrounded, what am I supposed to do? Emily... Her screams still echoing around my mind. I can’t even begin to imagine what she went through... Is she suffering? I leaned forward, starting to sob.

My head dropped into my hands as I cried. The fear is Emily’s eyes were seared into my retinas. I heard another branch snap close to me. My eyes snapped in the direction, preparing for the worst but it was a beautiful buck.

Seeing the deer made me feel at peace, I wasn’t alone anymore. Before I could feel relieved, yet another spider erupted from the ground. It spun the deer in its webbing, then disappeared just as fast as it appeared. Tears continued running down my face as I froze, unable to move. My eyes stuck in place, looking at where the deer was.

My eyes slowly looked around at the ground, my blood ran cold as I finally saw where all the traps were. There was at least a dozen within 20 feet of where I am... How did we even make it this far? My body felt numb as my eyes lowered a little further, in front of me. I could see the dirt was raised a few feet in front of me; spider webs spread out around me.

I was trapped... My legs started to wobble as my head swirled. There’s no way out... There was nothing I could do. So, I turned my flashlight off in a haze, but without realizing, it had slipped from my hand. I heard the flashlight hit the ground; but before I could react, the ground began to tremble beneath me...