Spider

Ethan stood frozen just a few meters from his house, staring up at the massive spider that clung to the roof. Its red eyes glowed in the darkness, each one fixed intently on him. He could feel the weight of its gaze, the tension between them like a coiled spring ready to snap at any moment.

He could hear the groans of zombies behind him, closing in. If he didn't move now, he'd be overwhelmed, but the spider stood between him and the safety of his home.

"I don't have time for this," Ethan muttered through gritted teeth, gripping his stone axe tighter. The spider's eight legs twitched, its body shifting slightly as it prepared to strike.

Ethan's mind raced. He couldn't take on the spider head-on, especially not after running toward the house while avoiding skeleton and zombies. His stamina was running low, and his stone axe was already chipped and worn from the earlier battles. But there was no other option. If he didn't fight, he wouldn't make it through the night.

The spider hissed, its legs curling inward as it leaped from the roof, descending toward Ethan with terrifying speed. He barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as the spider landed where he had stood just moments before. Its sharp legs stabbed into the ground, tearing up chunks of dirt and grass.

Ethan rolled to his feet, his heart racing as he dodged another swipe from one of the spider's long legs. It was fast—faster than any of mobs he had faced so far. He swung his axe wildly, hoping to keep it at bay, but the spider dodged the blow with ease, skittering around him with frightening agility.

The sound of its legs scraping against the dirt sent a chill down his spine. He couldn't afford to let the fear take over. His eyes flicked back to his house. The door was just a few meters away. If he could just get past the spider and into the house, he might be able to barricade himself in.

But the spider had other plans.

With a swift, fluid movement, the spider lunged at him again, its fangs bared. Ethan barely managed to dodge the attack, swinging his axe desperately at its legs. The stone blade connected with a sickening crunch, chipping off one of its sharp appendages. The spider hissed in fury, rearing back and twitching in pain.

"Come on!" Ethan yelled, trying to psych himself up. The spider wasn't invincible. He just had to keep fighting.

The spider lunged again, and this time, Ethan was ready. He sidestepped the attack and swung his axe at its exposed underbelly, landing a solid hit. The creature screeched, stumbling back. For a brief moment, Ethan thought he had the upper hand. But just as quickly as it had retreated, the spider pounced again, this time catching him off guard.

Ethan felt a sharp sting in his arm as the spider's fangs grazed him, barely missing his skin but tearing through the fabric of his sleeve. Pain shot through his arm, and he staggered back, clutching the wound. His breathing was ragged, his strength waning.

The spider circled him, its movements slow and predatory now, as if it could sense that Ethan was tiring. He needed a new plan, and fast.

His eyes darted around, searching for anything that could give him an advantage. His house was still so close, and then his gaze locked on the furnace inside, still glowing faintly through the window. An idea sparked in his mind.

"Fire," he muttered under his breath. If he could lure the spider inside the house, he might be able to use the furnace's heat to his advantage.

But first, he had to get past it.

The spider hissed again, and Ethan took a deep breath. He ran toward the door, hoping to throw the spider off, and it worked—just barely. The creature lunged after him, its sharp legs clicking against the ground, but Ethan twisted at the last second, dodging its attack and sliding toward the door.

He flung it open and dashed inside, slamming it shut behind him. The spider screeched in fury, its legs banging against the wooden walls of the house. Ethan quickly close the door, trying to buy himself some time.

The spider didn't give up. Its legs pounded against the roof and walls, trying to tear its way in. Ethan hurried over to the furnace, stoking the fire and throwing in more coal. The heat intensified, filling the small space with warmth. He grabbed a stick from his inventory, holding it over the flames until it caught fire.

Armed with his makeshift torch, Ethan turned toward the door. The spider was relentless, its long legs now poking through cracks in the walls. He could hear the wood groaning under the pressure, and he knew it wouldn't hold much longer.

With a deep breath, Ethan yanked the door open.

The spider lunged, its body half inside the house now, legs flailing wildly. Ethan raised the burning stick and thrust it toward the creature. The flame caught on the spider's fur, and within seconds, it screeched in agony as its body ignited.

The creature thrashed, trying to escape, but the fire spread quickly across its body. Ethan backed away, watching in a mix of horror and relief as the spider writhed in the doorway, its glowing red eyes fading as the flames consumed it.

With a final, ear-piercing screech, the spider collapsed, its charred remains twitching before falling still.

Ethan stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, his hands shaking. The room was filled with the acrid smell of smoke and burned spider flesh. He dropped the smoldering stick to the ground and wiped the sweat from his brow.

The night was quiet again. The zombies outside groaned faintly in the distance, but for now, the immediate threat was gone.

Ethan looked down at the spider's remains, a sense of disbelief washing over him. He had actually done it. He had fought the spider and won.

But the victory felt hollow. He knew this was just the beginning. There would be more challenges—more dangers lurking in the dark. And he was still no closer to understanding why he was here or how he would survive in this world.

He slumped down against the wall, exhaustion finally catching up to him. His arm throbbed where the spider had grazed him, and his muscles ached from the fight.

He had survived another night.