Charlie's Web

Charlie

I am awake and hungry for blood. Where am I? How did I get here?

Sensing nearby animals and somehow able to read their thoughts, I weave a web I know will entice them. They have but to touch my poisonous threads to become paralyzed. I sink my fangs into the larger one, an instant death blow. I feast, gorging until I have my fill. Unlike other arachnids I sense in this place, I also ate the flesh of my prey, leaving nothing but bones. The second creature, I wrap in a cocoon-like structure to save for later.

I feel myself grow. This is a good location.

Fern

There's something odd about that spider in the barn. It's much bigger and stranger looking than any I've seen before. That rat, Templeton, and his new girlfriend haven't been around. Next to the giant web, I see a rat-sized cocoon. Could a spider catch a rat? Would it? I am going to be watching this closely.

Charlie

That female seems suspicious of me. I'll wait until I'm bigger and stronger to deal with her. I do enjoy reading her thoughts. I discover from her that the next mammal I caught is called a cat. She is delightfully upset with me for leaving nothing but bones. I am nearly the size of that cat and growing rapidly. I think I’ll leave her a surprise tomorrow.

Fern

When I got to the barn this morning, there was a message in the web! It says, “Who is next?” Is this spider some kind of a mutant? I'm afraid to get close enough to kill it. No one will listen when I claim it's dangerous. Not my dad, aunt, uncle, or even Henry. At least Dad let me keep the runt pig instead of slaughtering it. I named him Wilbur and told him to stay away from the barn - as if he understands. I begged Dad to stay away. He said he'd only go in there if he needed a tool. Luckily the tools are near the door farthest away from the giant web and spider. I decide to keep the doors closed.

Charlie

That damned girl is meddling with my ability to have a steady food supply by shutting the barn doors. I am glad that farmer left the door cracked enough for that loud-mouthed goose to enter. I'll make him last, because now I can only catch birds and bats that fly in through the loft and mice who squeeze in through cracks. I need larger prey to continue my growth. I'll figure something out.

Fern

After a few quiet weeks, one of the sheep went missing last night. I searched to no avail. Could that spider be strong enough to open a door? No, that's insane. When I took Henry to peek in the barn, we couldn't see the spider or the sheep, but I didn't want to go all the way in, and I wouldn't let Henry, no matter how much he wanted to kill that spider.

Charlie

I was hoping Fern would come in to check out my new web. It's designed just for her, with some red threads to imitate that shirt she wears so much and a message for her. I'm strong enough and big enough to handle her now, but I need to wait for her to come alone. At least I was able clean up the barn after opening the door. I hid most of the bones from my pile in a ditch behind the barn. As a bonus, I was able to catch that pig, Wilbur. I will relish the anger Fern displays when she realizes her precious "friend" is gone. It won't be long now.

Fern

The web said, “Hello Fern.” That creepy thing knows my name! Plus, it took every ounce of self control to not touch the web. It’s like it was calling to me. I know that thing took Wilbur. Things are desperate. I'm worried for all of the animals and people on the farm. I'm working on a way to kill it. I'm going to take a big risk, but it will be worth it to save everyone else. It won't be long now.

Charlie

Fern opened the door and is coming in alone. She doesn't seem surprised that I am now bigger than her. She doesn't even seem that afraid. She’s walking right up to my web. Now, she is putting her hand right on it, paralyzing her. I’ve got her now! I hear her thoughts as I bit into her neck, "Jokes on you. I drank a bunch of poison to kill you."

I communicate directly back to her, "Jokes on you. That poison I sense in your system will not affect me. I am dying because of age, but my kind do not need a mate to propagate. My eggs have been secured and will hatch soon. They will feast on you and take over this entire community, then beyond. Farewell, human."

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Author's note: It was fun to rewrite the story of Charlotte's Web. Here's the link for Stephanie's unofficial challenge: