Page 75 of The Spider Queen
“How’s Connecticut?” I asked.
“Gorgeous,” Anita breathed. “A bit cold, though. Jonah and I are walking through the woods by his house right now.”
I heard Jonah say something in the background and then Anita replied, “Thanks.” To me she said, “Sorry, I almost stepped in a hole.”
“Are you wearing hiking boots?” I teased.
“Hell no! I’m wearing tennis shoes. Which is why Jonah is worried about me twisting my ankle. I should probably get off the phone, but I just wanted to call and see how you were.”
“You’re asking if I’ve been a shut in.”
“Maybe. Have you?”
“No. I’ve been going out.”
“At night?” she asked with hope.
“No. Not at night.” I glanced at Thane. “Hunter’s out of town. You’re out of town. Who would I go out with?”
“I don’t know. Other friends? Science geeks?”
“Good bye, Anita.”
She laughed. “Bye! See you in a few days.”
We hung up and then I cleaned up the tea spill. I was feeling antsy, like I wanted to move, wanted to do something, but I didn’t have the energy.
Would it be terrible if I took half a sleeping pill in the middle of the day and just tried to sleep?
Are you looking for permission or understanding?
I snorted.I’m an adult. And it’s Spring Break. If I want to sleep in the middle of the day, then I should be able to sleep in the middle of the day.
Without any further input or thought, I cut a sleeping pill in half and swallowed it.
Chapter 26
I sank into oblivion—and it wasn’t an exaggeration. People said that all the time for effect, but I really did. I went some place, some dark place, where there was nothing…just a void.
Blackness.
I felt weightless, my mind detached from my body.
There was…nothing.
Was this what dying felt like?
Were we all just here one moment and gone the next?
I heard a faint, musical buzzing. The sound drew closer. Something came into view…a golden blur. Mechanical golden wings chimed every time they flapped.
A golden, robotic wasp flew toward me and hovered right in front of my nose. It screeched and then was silent, except for the chiming of its beating wings.
A moment later, the pealing of wings turned into a cacophony as a golden wave of robotic wasps swirled out of the darkness.
The wave came at me.
Fear filled my stomach and I opened my lips to scream…
