Arachnophobia Warning: Although brief, this chapter contains written descriptions of fantasy spiders that may be unsettling for readers with a fear of arachnids. Reader discretion is advised.

  After President Abrams dismissed me from Earth with a snap of his fingers, a screen of liquid glass appeared, its scrolling letters clean and modern.

  [Transferring Employee: Rachel Emily Smith]

  [Designation: Temporary Custodian of NAUGHT]

  [Reason for Transfer: Referred to Out-of-Network Specialist]

  [Destination: Speranza – Specialist Location (Auto-Routed)]

  [Note: Primary communication channels restored. Transfer speed: High.]

  “Taking the fast lane back? Well… that’s something, at least.”

  But what would I be going back to?

  Who was going to help me?

  Some pretentious spiritual guide who’s going to tell me to learn to let things go?

  Screw that.

  As I tried, unsuccessfully, to pull out the churning mass of animus in my chest, another crystalline window slid into view, this one tinged with red.

  [System Advisory: NAUGHT currently operating in Single-User Mode. Full restoration incomplete. Manual custodial actions required before resuming normal functionality.]

  [Pending Custodial Tasks: 4]

  [Task 1: Secure NAUGHT Core Environment: Unauthorized elevated-access attempts detected. Subsystem AINA exhibiting abnormal override patterns. Recommend: Reinstate baseline access controls and restore command hierarchy.]

  [Task 2: Restore System Safety Matrices: Multiple safeguards disabled or overridden. Recommend: Re-enable baseline safety constraints to prevent further degradation.]

  [Task 3: Reauthorize Blessing Subroutines: Random Blessing Subroutine offline. Includes amity/animus innate-distribution protocol. Recommend: Restart after review.]

  [Task 4: Finalize Purpose Sunset Process: Legacy Purpose enforcement subroutine disabled. Recommend: Establish ethical governance framework to replace obsolete control schema.]

  “How am I supposed to remember all of this when I don’t even understand it?”

  [Task email reminder sent.]

  “Oh, that’s real helpful. If I had a way to check it!”

  The overlaying window shrugged as it faded, revealing additional text beneath:

  [Advisory: Safeguards will remain active for as long as system resources allow. Current projections: Resource strain increasing.]

  [Unread Prayer Messages: 99+]

  [Transfer initiated. Please wait.]

  ***

  Rather than appearing in a flash of white light, I was dropped into twilight.

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  Maybe my spiritual specialist was into mood lighting, because I was feeling dark.

  My spirit flickered like a faulty bulb as my vision adjusted to the large, spherical prison. It was a hazy space, illuminated only by a few dim golden runes inscribed along its dark crystalline borders. Random bursts of brightness from the sigils highlighted several skittering silhouettes across a flat, dark plane.

  Spiders!

  They were between a quarter and half my size, swarming towards and over a large ball.

  No.

  A giant knot?

  The mass writhed under the onslaught, its serpentine shape finally revealing itself. As it curled tighter, dark vapors hissed from between its scales, many of them pulled free by the vicious bites of the attacking arachnids. One spider lunged for the vulnerable spot beneath its chin, but the serpent snapped back, sinking its fangs into it. Three smaller spiders took its place, latching on with ruthless opportunism.

  I ran forward.

  “Olethros?!”

  He thrashed at my call, constricting a spider with brutal force and smashing it into the ground. His scales flickered in unstable bands of violet and black, the aura coating him torn and fraying.

  “You’re late.”

  I paused at the edge of the swarm, watching them recoil and form a defensive wall.

  “Uh… How long was I gone?”

  He lifted his head. His eyes were dull, clouded, and unfocused as his gaze passed through me.

  “I’ll admit you’ve captured her appearance and mannerisms this time. But an illusion is still just that.”

  Illusion?

  I took another step forward, and a few spiders retreated. “I’m not an illusion—”

  “We’ve had this argument countless times,” he spat, barely reacting as a spider latched onto the back of his head. “Let’s move things along. Ask me again why I did it. Why I murdered you.”

  I circled slowly to draw the spiders’ attention. “That’s an invalid question. I know you didn’t do it. And I’m not dead either!”

  “Ahh…” He let out a long, theatrical sigh. “The last tormentor must not have extracted enough animus. So now he’s sending one of his precious zealots. How flattering.” His deranged cackle rattled the air. “Go on—tell me how he laughs at this. Tell me how I swallowed his pathetic fa?ade of harmless incompetence!”

  He surged upward, hood flaring wide as he tried to shake off several spiders. “Tell me I failed you! Say it!”

  More spiders crawled free from the cracks between his scales, born from the very animus shredding him. They surged up his back, fastening onto him like ravenous parasites. Olethros collapsed, screaming as his own power devoured him. “Tell me how I should suffer for my sins!”

  “Stop hurting yourself!”

  A humorless laugh escaped him. “I’m not in control here—you are!”

  Enough!

  I stormed forward through a wave of skittering spiders. “Then listen to me!”

  “Why should I?” he snapped, squeezing his eyes shut.

  “Because if you’d think for one moment, you’d realize I’m actually me!”

  One of the larger spiders quivered, then lunged at me. I raised my hands block, but as soon as we met, the pulsating star in my chest lashed out, devouring it.

  …Well. That’s new.

  Whole waves of spiders retreated into the shadows as I marched onward.

  “Look at me, Olethros!”

  But he only contorted tighter, curling inward, bracing for whatever agony awaited him next.

  Something… Something distracting to cut through his pain temporarily? Something to get his attention that is so me that he can’t deny it.

  Without his Faith or Trust… At my core, all I have left is…

  Absurdity!

  “What do I have to do to prove it’s me, Olethros?!” I yelled. “Boop you in the snoot again?!”

  Not that I thought I could pull that off right now, but I would absolutely pretend to, if that's what was needed.

  Every spider froze mid-skitter. One of his eyes cracked open slightly, revealing a tiny glimmer.

  “…Boop…” he whispered. “Boop?”

  Then the light died. “I’ve gone mad,” he rasped. “Hearing nonsense. Inventing words…”

  Checkmate!

  “It’s not made up! Boop. Verb. To gently or playfully tap something, usually someone’s nose.” I jabbed a righteous finger at him for emphasis. “You’ve literally seen it in my journal. Nora booped me when I refused to go to Chairo. And you—” I made two fists, bringing them down in front of my face. “—you’ve experienced it too! I booped you when you were being just as stubborn in your throne room.”

  I bounced lightly on my toes like a boxer warming up and threw a few test punches. “And I’ll do it again, you giant… giant… giant heckin’ snek boi! ”

  His eye snapped fully open, the iris igniting with icy outrage.

  “Snek? It is pronounced snake, Rachel! Snake! How could you butcher such a simple word—”

  His scales shimmered, then bristled outward like spikes.

  “—Rachel?!”

  Post-Chapter Omake:

  Nora: Ta-da!

  Rae: I can’t believe you drew him as a snek boi...

  Nora: You’re only mad because I did it first.

  Rae: …

  Nora: I… Did it first, right?

  Rae: …

  Nora: Oh my god, let me see your version!

  Rae: Never.

  [Thank you to I.M.P. for the inspiration!]

  Latest Chapter on Patreon:

  https://thelastraeofhope.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page

  Also, feel free to join my