Kleo lay next to Jack, unable to sleep. Rugr and Thespis had returned to the desert, taking with them what she yearned for most: a mother to love and hold her, brush her hair from her eyes, and whisper that everything would be all right.

  Bug Bug was also awake, crouched by the pool, its spindly legs bending delicately as it reached for the water. The flat surface of the pool held a strange allure, and she had stared into the shadowy water, her mind fixated on the image it reflected. She held it close—fearing that inside, she was no longer the person staring back at her. She had wished the pool could reveal what she truly was, the nature of what she was becoming. This thing she was turning into—would Jack be able to accept it, much less love it? How could she expect him to if she couldn't accept the change herself?

  Her mind drifted back to the spider as she imagined its perspective. The faint glow of its green eyes shimmering on the pool's surface, the reflection rippling as a single droplet fell from above. Though Kleo found the creature alien and otherworldly, its loyalty was undeniable. It had adopted her purpose as its own. While its mind remained a mystery to her, she knew with certainty that it would follow her into danger—even sacrifice its life to protect her.

  The orb's disorienting effect on Bug Bug had stirred something unexpected within her. Though her feelings toward Bug Bug were pragmatic, seeing the pain of its disorientation had struck an unsettling chord. She felt compassion for the creature, but her concern was more practical: using the orb to disrupt the nest would affect Bug Bug, too. They would lose its protection if their bond faltered or broke completely.

  The thought frightened her.

  Next to her, Jack slept soundly, sprawled on the cavern floor. Kleo had draped herself across him like a blanket, the steady rise and fall of his chest grounding her. The ground was hard and unforgiving, but Jack was warm — a comfortable, living shield against the rough surface. She told herself she missed the bed in their little Woog house, but the truth was simpler: she missed the small world they’d built together. Just the two of them, safe in each other’s arms.

  But today, safety was not an option.

  She would need Jack — for his strength, humor, and steady resolve that never seemed to waver. Her power surged within her like a rising tide, but it was those around her who gave her the courage to face what lay ahead. Jack, Rugr, Will, and Maya were her real strengths.

  Careful not to wake him, she unraveled herself from his arms and moved to Maya’s side. She knelt, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and giving a soft shake. Will stirred beside her, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. But when his eyes met Kleo’s, the tension eased.

  She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Jack would need Will today not only as a fighter but as a mentor and friend — someone who understood how to face fear without letting it consume him.

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  Finally, she turned back to Jack. Kneeling over him, she brushed a hand through his hair, then shook him awake. His eyes fluttered open, and a slow, sleepy smile spread across his face — the kind of smile that made the world feel right, even when it wasn’t.

  “Come on, sleepyhead,” she said, her voice light with teasing. “Time to kill a spider queen.”

  Bug Bug led them deeper into the winding passages, where the air grew stale and warmer with each step. The tunnels twisted through a maze of ups and downs, alternating between short upward slopes and long, descending paths. They moved in silence, lost in their thoughts as the oppressive walls pressed around them. Only a few whispered observations broke the quiet when they discovered signs etched into the stone.

  Bug Bug's urgent signal told Kleo they had reached their destination: Nest.

  It was a small cavern with a pit at its center. The hole was only wide enough to accommodate one person at a time. Its sheer walls, intimidating at first glance, were fitted with spaced handholds—evidence of deliberate craftsmanship. Warm, dry air rose from the depths, carrying faint, whispering echoes of something ancient, as if the well itself were alive.

  The shaft told a spiraling tale, the faint pictographs carved into the stone walls. The entrance told a fragmented story: figures gathered around the opening, some descending into its depths while others raised their hands skyward. At the center stood a more prominent figure adorned in ornate dress, leading the others in what appeared to be a ritual. As the pictographs descended into darkness, they grew more abstract—becoming tangled, chaotic shapes that suggested spiritual and physical journeys.

  Jack’s orb cast enough light to reveal the story’s beginning. Like the well’s secrets, the deeper walls were swallowed by shadow, leaving the rest a mystery.

  Nest.

  The word hummed in Kleo’s mind, carried across her connection with Bug Bug. The spider stood at the edge, its glowing green eyes fixed downward. They would need to descend; the only other exit from the chamber was where they had entered.

  Bug Bug moved first, spinning a silken line and lowering itself into the abyss, its legs vanishing into the dark.

  Will approached the edge and tested the first handhold with his foot. The metal was smooth and unblemished, with no sign of rust despite the damp air of the tunnels. It held firm beneath his weight.

  “I’ll go next,” Will said, his voice low. “Then Kleo, Maya, and Jack, you bring up the rear. Keep the light descending ahead of the person nearest to the bottom.”

  “Wouldn’t it be simpler if Maya used that night vision spell?” Jack asked.

  Maya shook her head. “That spell requires ambient light. It won’t work as well down here.”

  Jack nodded. He could light the way with his orb, leaving it at the bottom so the others could see as he descended last.

  Will's descent was slow and deliberate, each step cautious, testing the next lower rung. Kleo followed, and Jack watched as Maya paused her descent, studying the pictographs, her hand brushing the carved images with reverence.

  When Maya was halfway down, Jack prepared to start his descent, but a voice called his name from the shadows behind him. The word was drawn out, like the hiss of a snake--"Jack." His concentration broke, and the orb blinked out.

  This was the last thing he needed.

  Then he heard his name called again, this time rising from the depths of the well.

  He grimaced as he mentally prepared himself to face the Whispering Secret.

  He stepped away from the edge, the small room in total darkness. It might be better this way. He wouldn't have to stare at its many faces.

  “Give me a minute,” he called.