The Way Back Home's

Small Spiders

Remy went to uncle after preparing everything. Farrell followed him from behind while keeping a long distance. Christo was no longer with him. Remy passed through the portal door and returned to the front of Eden’s Lodge. Remy found uncle in the first floor of the big room. Apparently the five were there. Uncle, aunt, Denise, Jim and Joe. Jim and Joe stood guard at the open door. Farrell decided to stop at the end of the corridor.

Jim and Joe glanced at Remy as he approached but did not forbid him from entering. Remy himself did not dare to enter. He stood in front of the room with a tray in his hand. After taking a deep breath, Remy started talking. “Sorry, manager sir. Anyone would like to meet you in the back lobby.”

Uncle was sitting with aunt and Denise. They spontaneously cringed. Uncle waving, “Say I'm busy!”

“Ta— But he said there was an important affair.”

“Forget! Tell him to go home.”

“She said you would meet her if you saw this,” Remy said as she glanced at the tray she was carrying.

Uncle scolded. “If he brings gold bullion, I'll just meet him. What did he bring me, son? I can't see it because you're out there.”

“Da— Tea leaves and watches. A— Can I bring it in?” Remy looks hesitant now. He sees Farrell's mother, Natasha, sitting on the bed. His gaze led to an empty wall and his face was expressionless plain.

“Quick here!” pinta uncle.

Remy went into the room. Slowly, put the tray down to the table. Denise did not react when she saw the tea box and the watch, she even rolled her eyeballs. Uncle was bored. But auntie is not. His eyes were wide when he saw the watch.

“Who would like to see Mr Albert?” ask aunt.

“Ehm..

“What did he tell you?”

“Ti— None. Di— he said he wanted to see Mr. Albert, he said on business. That's it.”

Aunt squeezed uncle's hand. “You should meet him.”

Uncle shakes. “I'm not interested—”

“This hand clock!” sahut aunty. “Look carefully! This is the watch I bought for Farrell. He wore it yesterday. You forgot?”

Hearing Farrell's name being mentioned, Denise's reaction turned serious. Uncle glanced at the watch and watched it closely. Indeed his wife who bought the gift for his three nephews, so he did not really remember the shape. But, he remembered the brand his wife had bought. It's his favorite brand too. “You sure?” uncle whispers to aunt.

“Very sure. I chose that watch because the chain was black. At that time, there was only one. It must have belonged to Farrell.” Auntie took the watch and twirled it, paying attention to the details of each piece. “I'm sure once.”

“How can this watch be on men in tea shop?”

“That's what we have to find out!” Denise spoke while standing up from her chair.

“You want me to meet him?” ask uncle.

“Maybe he just found this watch,” said aunt.

“Yes, Melanie. You have to use your brain better than that. The watch is just a normal watch. Why did he bring her back here? Besides, how did he know you recognized the watch? It's because he knows who Farrell is. Maybe even our plan.”

Aunt can only gasp.

Uncle is standing now. “Alright, we'll meet him. Let Melanie take care of Natasha.”

“Hah!” Denise chuckles. “Indeed you think you can recognize Farrell in disguise? Nope, nope. Melanie's coming with us. I believe the sharpness of women's instincts.”

“Tapi—”

“Calm, Albert. Jim and Joe are out there. They could subvert anyone who tried to get close to here empty-handed. Especially with magic.” Denise chuckles. His voice shrieked high like the laughter of a magician. Remy shuddered in horror.

“Two bodyguards that can only magic when in the back, ‘kan?”

“Indeed, because on the front of the magic particles are less. Only experts can use magic here. Still, no one can fight Jim and Joe hand-to-hand. Their large body is not a display.”

Aunt Melanie stood up as well. “If you believe in female instincts, what do your instincts say about this, Denise? Because my instinct says this is bad news.”

“My instruction says that this guy from the tea shop is trying to blackmail us. And I agree with you, dear Melanie. He's bad news. So, I'll give her a little present.” Denise took a small bottle of black liquid from inside her handbag.

“Ramen mannequin again?” guess uncle.

Denise shakes. “Creating that mannequin herb takes a long time and special ingredients. I can't use it on people I've never met. This is a spider.”

“Spiders?” Uncle squinted, trying to look at what was inside the bottle. Something is moving in it. A creature with many legs. A tiny red circle that may be part of his eye. Then, there was also a green luster coming from his back. “I didn't know that spiders can live in water.”

“Info n't. This water is designed to tame it. These spiders are poisonous. The poison can paralyze the nerves. Not directly kill, but quite troublesome. The poison will weaken a person slowly. If he does not get a cure within twenty-four hours, then he will die.”

Remy didn't dare to make a sound. He held his breath with his mouth tightly clenched. The spider looks terrible compared to its tiny size. As Farrell had said before, Christo's position was indeed dangerous. He's undercover as an employee of Bliss.

“What if it turns out that Farrell is at the bottom?” Auntie bit her lips.

Denise smiled instead.  “Isn't that better? He will have no choice but to follow our will. If your three nieces have found the certificate, the transaction can be done. You'll get a huge amount of money from me and I'll get my favorite lodging.”

“Ta— But, afterwards you will give the antidote, ‘kan?”

Denise was still smiling, but her eyes were slightly different. It's colder and darker. “Didn't I tell you that no one will die because of this transaction. Don't worry about unimportant things.”