The Only Thing We Have To Fear

Finally Titled Part 30

Mr. Fish slammed down his two hostages so they lay on the floor. He had seen Roman and his gang run up the stairs to the gym and he instinctively knew they were coming for him. He knew they'd want to see Bill, their fellow candidate, again, as well as the only person who was completely and utterly immune to the venom they used to sedate the students before infecting them. He also knew that any rational person would be freaked out by having to say goodbye to their classmates before watching them die. He retrieved them from the industrial freezer and brought them here in anticipation of the students left.

One of Mr. Fish's carefully cleaned and shined shoes lifted from the floor as he put his foot against where Natalie's face should have been and was under the several layers of spider silk wrappings.

"Roman, I've been waiting for you," he shouted.

"Turns out I wasn't the first to die," he cackled back.

Pierce and Tristan gripped their weapons and lingered behind Roman as he limped forward in a blind craze.

Mr. Fish bristled at the thought. "Those spiders knew she was mine," he growled.

"Oh, they didn't kill her," Roman spat back. "I did." He indicated the blood smeared down his arms and all across his shirt.

Mr. Fish swallowed harsh, unsure how to beat his opponent, but bared his teeth at him nonetheless.

A sudden anger surged through Pepper. She gripped the seam of her pants, hoping the feeling would pass.

Mr. Fish figured it was now or never. He reached down and his fingers sank right into the soft silk covering her face, not sticking to him, and he ripped a chunk of it off so her mousy brown hair and glasses were visible.

"I said you'd be first," he repeated, "but I never said I wouldn't torture these ones first."

His fingers sank into the soft fibers, ripping them apart. The outline of her arm became visible as he ran his hand down the side of the fibrous sack. Her arm peeled up as he pulled it, and she squeaked as he gripped her arm.

"Stop fighting it, and I won't have to break her arm. She could die a painless death, or she could die slowly and it would be all your doing," he threatened.

Roman limped forward. The weapon in his hands threatened to slip right out and his shaky hands couldn't hold it any tighter.

"I don't care," he lied. He hated screaming. Maybe it tugged at his heartstrings, or maybe it just sounded like nails on a chalkboard to him, but he couldn't stand it, and Natalie seemed like a screamer.

Mr. Fish's hand tightened on her arm, and she squeaked again.

"No, no, no, don't do it," she pleaded.

Bill extended an arm to her, but couldn't reach her from his place on the ground. He didn't dare move closer, though, for fear of Mr. Fish above him.

"You asked for it," Mr. Fish chided, snapping her arm like a twig, her face still pinned to the floor, using nothing but his hands.

Pained shrieks echoed down the hall. Roman stopped. He couldn't do that. He stood no chance against something that could do that. However, after just a moment's hesitation, he pressed on.

"That was... impressive," he shouted over Natalie's whimpering.

Mr. Fish crouched down over her, moving to pin her face with his knee.

"I know. You stand no chance. Give up now or I'll break her humorous next," he threatened, securing his hands on that part of her arm. Her forearm bent at a strange angle over his shoulder.