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Crossing Over

The Ferryman's Mercy

By Sadie ColePublished about a year ago Updated about a year ago 4 min read
4

Jane Wallace gazed out of her bedroom window. The lush grass swayed in the breeze. The sun was a magnificent orb high in the sky. She desperately wanted to feel the grass between her toes, and the sun’s rays on her pale skin.

Jane had been locked in her bedroom for years. She had a chamber pot under her bed, water was brought to her in buckets, and her meals were delivered. She had grown accustomed to her situation over the years, but lately an ominous feeling had crept in, refusing to leave.

Jane’s parents died when she was three years old. They were murdered while staying in the city. She was sent to live with her grandfather, in a run-down mansion in the forest, far from other people.

Her grandfather was a strict man. After his daughter was murdered, he vowed to never let anything happen to his precious granddaughter. He decided that she would never leave the house.

Her grandfather felt bad about what he did. His only wish was to keep Jane safe from the outside world, but she seemed miserable.

He thought he was forgetting things lately. One week he was sure that he had fed her three meals a day, but she insisted that he only gave her one meal that week.

On the fifth of July, around midnight, Jane’s grandfather died on the rug in front of the fireplace. He had locked Jane’s bedroom door that night as he always did, and the key was still in his pocket. No one ever came to call, thinking old man Wallace a frightening oddball, and not a soul knew that Jane existed.

Time passed.

Jane tossed and turned on the mattress, her stomach rumbling with hunger. She was now three days without water. She had tried to save what was left in the pails, but it wasn’t much to begin with.

Something was wrong. Her grandfather had forgotten to bring her food before, but she had never waited longer than four days. It had been almost two weeks now and she hadn’t seen him. Tears ran down her face and she closed her eyes, trying to think of a plan. She was delirious, from lack of water and food. Her brain was foggy, her eyesight blurred. She believed that the walls of her room were pulsing, breathing in rhythm with her own breathing.

She couldn’t escape out of the window. It would be stupid to attempt to jump from such a height, she would die.

Jane startled into a sitting position when she heard a squeak. She cupped her hand around her ear, listening. Was someone in the house?

“Hi.” She heard it clearly this time. Someone had just said “hi” to her in a very small voice, but no one was there. She walked to the window to peer out into the darkness, looking for a source that could explain away the noise, but there was nothing.

She looked down at the windowsill and noticed a little brown spider. It seemed to be staring at her. One of its eight small legs lifted in what looked like a wave and she heard the squeak again. “Hi.”

Her hand flew to her chest, and she bent down to look at the spider. “Did you just say something?”

“Yes, I said hello. You seem sad and I was wondering if there was something I could do to help?”

The moonlight through the window was reflected in Jane’s bewildered eyes. “Spiders can talk?” she whispered.

“Yes. Of course.”

“Okay.” Jane smiled. “What is your name?”

“I am Charon.”

“Hello, Charon. I am Jane Amelia Wallace.”

Charon squeaked in delight. “Nice to meet you, Jane.”

“I have been stuck in this room for weeks now and I am very hungry. I desperately need to get out of here,” Jane pleaded.

“You can climb out of the window. That is how I got in. Up the wall and through the window!” Charon said excitedly.

“No, that won’t work. I can’t scurry down walls like you can.”

“I will call the rest of my family, and we will make a sturdy web that you will be able to climb down,” Charon said.

The little spider spoke to the spider behind him, and the message was passed all along the line.

Within minutes there were millions of spiders in a thick, undulating line on the side of the house.

Jane and Charon talked as the other spiders worked.

“I don’t know where I will live after this. No one knows that I exist,” Jane confided in Charon.

“You are welcome to live with us. We do not live as long as humans, but our children will also know you and love you. And their children after that. You will be safe and happy with us,” Charon said.

Jane had tears running down her cheeks. “I have never had anyone to love me. Thank you, Charon. I will go with you.”

Jane walked closer to the window, poking her head out to look at the side of the house. A thick, white web stuck firmly to the bricks and led all the way down to the grass. She felt something on her hand. It was Charon.

“You can leave this place now, Jane. I will stay here on your hand to guide you. There is a coin for you by the window. Hold it in your hand please, it is good luck,” Charon promised.

Jane picked up the coin and the vision of the web disappeared. She swung her legs out of the window and leaned forward. The warmth of the sunrise felt wonderful on her skin as she plummeted toward peace.

Short Story
4

About the Creator

Sadie Cole

"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality."

-Edgar Allan Poe

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

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Comments (3)

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  • Heather Glennabout a year ago

    Very well written. I especially loved the ending. Good Job!

  • Roy Stevensabout a year ago

    I liked that very much. I'm trying to decide if it's creepy or reassuring though. I think I have to let it cogitate and get back to you.

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