Edging her way along the baseboard, the spider looked for a new place to nest. After having her previous home destroyed, she needed a safer location.
She began the ascent up the wall, finding no convenient holes in the corners of the room. Reaching the windowsill, she considered making the space underneath the window her den until she realized how little space she would have. However, before she could continue her search, a blast of winter air blew in through the window and knocked her off the edge of the sill and to what she thought was her death.
Immediately after the realization that she was still alive, she was overwhelmed by vibrations coming from what seemed to be every direction and she scrambled to find safety. Her legs shuffled over the cloth-like material beneath her until it reached a surface that gave way ever so slightly underneath her weight. Scrambling over ridge after ridge, she was nearly knocked away by something that swiped at the ground centimeters away. The world trembled beneath her and began to tilt. She was nearly tossed off if not for the grip the hairs on her legs had on the space beneath her.
After the world settled once again, she walked curiously about, exploring the terrain of her environment. The scent of onions and mint wafted towards her and, filled with curiosity, she walked towards what looked like a hole in the ground. Air moved in and out of it but the winds were gentle enough.
As she sat considering this opening, there was another quake and she sensed something coming towards her. Panicked, she attempted to scrabble away. However, yet again she was engulfed by a strong wind, this time pulling rather than pushing her. Before she knew it, blackness engulfed her and all light was shut out.
* * *
The boy sat up in bed. Rubbing his eyes, he felt a sudden tickle in his throat. Impulsively, he swallowed, yawned, and laid back down to sleep once again.
— Brittany Foley, BFR Editorial Staff
BERKELEY FICTION REVIEW 