ARACHNOEXTINCTION

“Dr. Kale! Those walls are electrically charged!” I yelled.

Dave used his tusks and slammed through the walls without hesitation, never giving the electricity a chance to shock him. The wall crumpled beneath the power of Dave’s tusk, creating a wide enough hole for us to go through.

Dr. Kale gave a triumphant laugh. “Yeah, Woolly Mammoth don’t give a fuck!”

“Woo! Keep calm and woolly on!” I said and raised my hand in victory.

Dave slowed down to a walk when we were passed the walls, which was still really fast for to be considered walking, but I wasn’t complaining. The further away from that building we got the better.

Once we arrived at the beach, Dave laid down with his legs tucked under him, like a cat. We slid off him one at a time and rolled around in the sand. I took off my shoes and let the sand flow between my toes; add on the cool breeze flowing in from the ocean, it was the perfect feeling.

Dave whimpered and looked back at the building; the spiders were rushing out through the path Dave created. They weren’t coming anywhere near us, but they were hiding amongst the trees.

“Okay buddy,” Dr. Kale said and stroked his trunk a few times, “go have some fun”.

Dave gave an excited squeal and ran off to start crushing more spiders. The ground shook beneath the force of each giant mammoth step.

“I think I have a new favorite animal,” I said, laughing as Dave jumped from one spider to another.

“Helicopters!” Karen shouted, pointing out over the ocean. It was difficult to make out in the darkened night sky, but there were specks over the horizon that was moving toward us. They were close enough to tell they were indeed helicopters. Help was almost here.

“We are getting out of here!” I said. We celebrated with one awkward group hug, which ended with us standing around not looking at each other after.

“The helicopters are still going to take a while to arrive...” I said.

“The group hug was a bit premature I suppose,” Dr. Kale said, rubbing his neck.

“Anyone want to swim?” Justin asked.

“Man, I’ve been waiting for that since I got here!” I said. I took a small object from my pocket and slipped it into my shoes, then ran into the water with no hesitation.

The water was perfect, warm and clear. I could spend hours just letting my body drift in the ocean current. We all started splashing around, not caring that we would be soaked for a long helicopter ride home. The water felt amazing against my skin, the closest thing I had to a massage at the moment. Each passing wave washed away small amounts of the suffocating stress that had built up since noticing the first egg was missing. Things got out of hand fast after that stupid egg.

“Out! Out of the water!” Justin yelled, and we didn’t hesitate. We were out of the water before he even finished yelling. I think my reflexes have drastically improved from today’s events.

“What is it?” Dr. Kale asked.

Justin pointed out over the small waves where a shark fin was gliding along the top of the water.

I started laughing again.

“At this point I would rather swim with a shark then go back into that building,” I said, and everyone agreed with me, wholeheartedly.

Justin started telling a story about a time he wrestled with a shark, I took this opportunity to slip away while he talked to overly interested Dr. Kale.

“Karen. Come here,” I said so only she could hear. We walked away from the group. I grabbed my shoes on the way.

“What is it?” she asked when we were out of earshot. I glanced back at Dr. Kale and Justin; they were distracted with digging for sand crabs between the crashing waves.

“I’m as happy as anyone could be to make it out alive, but don’t you want to know what the hell happened and why?” I asked.

“I think it’s safe to say we can blame this on Darren. Either way, I’ll be happier blaming it all on Darren,” she said and crossed her arms. “He’s dead and we can all be happy knowing we won’t ever see that murderous bastard again.”

I turned my back so Dr. Kale and Justin couldn’t see what I was holding in front of me. I pulled out a small, black square out of my shoes and held it up at eye level for Karen.

“What is that?” she asked.

“This flash drive contains all the video surveillance from the facility. Like, ALL of it. With this, we can see exactly who did what. We can find out why one hundred people had to die in there, why we almost died. We can find out who is really to blame,” I said.

“Wow,” she said and just stared at my hands. “I--I don’t know what to say. Don’t tell or show anyone else. Keep this to yourself.”

“Of course. You’re the only person I trust enough to tell this to. Once we’re back in the country, and away from this evil island, we can watch this,” I said.

“How did you get all the video surveillance on there?” she asked.

“When we were watching Dave wreck shop, I took a chance and downloaded everything on here. Everyone was too distracted to notice what I was doing,” I said, somewhat proud of myself. “We’re going to find out who needs to pay for what has been done. If it is Darren as we suspect, then you did the right thing shooting him.”

“I did the right thing despite what that video shows. He was a danger to us all. Darren would have killed us and fed us to the sharks before the helicopters got here. Then be considered a hero for being the sole survivor,” she said.

“You’re probably right,” I muttered. “But I’m still going to find out--”

“Find out what?” Dr. Kale asked.

I jumped and slid the flash drive back into my shoe.

“Uhh find out...why gas prices are so sporadic?” I said.

Justin snorted. “You live a boring life, Dr. Gale. That’s not the first thing I’m going to do.”

“What will be the first thing you do when we get back?” I asked, thrilled to keep the subject off me. Dr. Kale eyed me, casting a suspicious glance between me and Karen.

“Drink until I can’t feel feelings anymore, and wake up in some chick’s bed,” he said. “Also, probably smoke a lot of whatever is available.”

“Yeah, game on!” Dr. Kale said and went for a high-five. Justin did not cooperate.

“They’re getting close,” I said, pointing into the darkened sky. “Let’s go get ready.”

There were three helicopters that came for us, two of them were filled with heavily arm soldiers, who upon landing, ran out to help Dave finish clearing out the spiders. The helicopters were black, with blades spinning so fast that they were invisible to the eye. There was a huge opening in the sides for people to climb in an out, and two men sat in each of the cockpits.

A short, wide, bulky man jumped out of the side of the third helicopter. He had gray hair, trimmed into a buzz cut and a big cigar burning in his mouth. He was in a military uniform, with his shoulder weighed down with several medals.

“Sir, the government certainly knows how to conform to the stereotypes!” I called over the roar of the helicopters. I had to hold my hand over my eyes to protect them from the flying sand and debris. “I didn’t think the boss man would make the trip.”

“Good to see you alive, Ivory. As well as the rest of you. Get in,” he ushered us all into the helicopter. More military men strapped us in and gave us oversized helmets.

“Normally the thought of flying in a helicopter would give me a heart attack, or panic attack at the very least. After all this, I think I only have one fear left in life,” I said as I collapsed into my seat.

“A sexually imposing woman?” Justin said.

“Okay so two fears,” I said.

Justin shook the hand of my boss as he climbed into the helicopter. “Good to see you again, Lou.”

“Your name is Lou?!” I asked him. He chewed violently on his cigar for a moment while his eyes ignited me into flames.

“How about you head back inside to clean the spider webs off the walls?” Lou said.

I shoved my helmet on my head and hid my eyes behind the visor.

“Hey, these things are pretty cool,” I said into my helmet. My voice was sent into the radio of everyone else in the helicopter.

“They’re not toys,” Lou said. “Good to see Mr. and Dr. Sweet made it out with you, and Dr. Kale.”

“I hate being called Dr.,” Karen mumbled, but the radio picked it up and sent us what she said.

“Your last name is Sweet? Really?” I asked her, unable to hold my grin at bay.

“Would you rather die from the fall out of the helicopter or the blades slicing you into dust?” she asked me and narrowed her eyes.

“Why is everyone getting so angry when I find out their names? You are not very nice people!” I said.

“Where is Darren?” Lou asked between puffs on his cigar.

The four of us sat in silence, not looking at each other.

“Okay, let me ask again, or it’s back into the building. Where is Darren?”

“He...didn’t make it sir. He died ensuring we had a chance to escape. He’s a hero,” I said.

Lou nodded and leaned back in his seat, a thoughtful look spread across his face. With a jolt, the helicopter began to rise from the ground.

“By the way sir, I quit,” I said and tried to present a smug expression. I probably failed, but it was worth a try.

“No, you don’t,” he said, not even looking at me.

“Well...I want a big freaking raise then,” I said.

“Fine. You’ve earned that,” he said.

“So what’s going to happen to the island now?” Karen asked him.

“Once our soldiers--“

“And Dave,” Dr. Kale chimed in.

Lou glared at him, chewing on the end of his cigar. Dr. Kale didn’t notice how close he was to plummeting face first into the water below.

“Once our soldiers…and Dave,” Lou said, grinding his teeth at Dr. Kale as he spoke, “Clear the area and evacuate. The facility and island will be blown off the face of the earth. The facility never existed, and we’re going to make it that way.”

“What about Dave?” Karen asked.

“Dave is a badass, he deserves to live out his life as a Mammoth King,” Justin said.

“We have a place ready for Dave. He’ll be safely escorted into his living area, where he’ll have plenty of attention to keep him happy.” Lou said. “Dr. Kale will also be overseeing Dave’s new home and treatment.”

“Just keep him away from any other extinct animals. Or insects,” I said. Dr. Kale pouted in his seat.

“What happened to the pilot that flew you here?” Lou asked in a nonchalant tone.

“I…I don’t really know,” I said with mild surprise. I completely forgot about him when we drove off. “I left him with the plane.”

“Meh, bastard spiders probably got him once they followed Dave out of the building. That’s a bummer,” Lou said with a shrug.

“Yeah, a bummer,” I said and gave Justin a weary glance who shrugged.

The helicopter was flying over the thrashing ocean, and it was a beautiful sight. The gleam of the ocean water in the moonlight, it let my mind wander. Exhaustion hit me harder than Dave hit those spiders. The cool wind, the amazing view, safety for the first time in several hours, it was enough to make me pass out right now.

“So Dr. Kale, you still think these spiders are fascinating or amazing?” I asked him.

“Are you kidding me? I haven’t not had a boner in hours!” he said.

“A fear boner or a boner for the spiders?” I asked horrified and disgusted. I didnn’t know why I asked, but I felt like someone had to.

“As soon as I figure out which you’ll be the first person I call,” he said and winked.

I shuddered. “For the love of all that is holy, absolutely do not do that.”

“Here,” my boss said to me, he tossed a cell phone across the helicopter to me. “Call your family. I gave them a small idea of what was happening, they’ll want to hear from you.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said and dialed our home number.

“Hello?” said a shaky, terrified voice on the other end of the phone.

“Hi, this is Dr. Gale. I had a slightly stressful day at work and was wondering if you had any working girls available tonight?” I said into the phone. “I am willing to blow of stress like a mammoth.”

“Ivory! Oh, thank God!” she said a broke down into tears. “I was so scared. We didn’t know what was happening. Your boss called and said you were in trouble some experiment went wrong. Then your phone was disconnected, and it was hours and I heard nothing. I thought the worst. I thought you would never come back!”

“Shhh, it’s okay,” I said in a soothing tone. “I’m a little beat up, but I’m okay.”

“Why didn’t you call?!” she yelled into the phone.

“Spiders cut the power, and I lost my phone when trying to fight them off and get the power back so we could escape the building,” I said. There was silence on the other end. “Did you hear me?”

“What the hell did you just say? Spiders cut the power?” she said, her tears turning into laughter.

“It’s a long, long story that I probably can’t tell you, but the government will deal with me giving you the gist of it,” I said, and Lou gave me a slight nod of his head. I took that as an okay. “I shot a gun!”

“You? You shot a gun?” she asked, her voice thick with disbelief.

“I shot several guns actually. Some of the bullets even hit what I was aiming at,” I said.

“Well, I am just so proud of you. I think,” she said, cracking up. “Look at you my big strong man.”

“Where Dylan? I would love to hear his voice,” I said and closed my eyes. Talking to my family was more relaxing than surveying the gorgeous nighttime ocean.

“Until I heard back about you, he was staying with one of his friends. I didn’t want him here seeing me worry...,” she said.

“You’ve been alone this entire time?” I asked.

“I couldn’t leave the phone...in case you called,” she said.

“You poor thing, I will be home soon!” I said.

“Just please be safe. The last thing I can handle is you being in a helicopter wreck right now,” she said.

“I promise I will be as safe as possible until I’m back home. I need to take my mind off what has happened, what did Dylan do to get in trouble earlier?” I asked her.

“Well, not so much in trouble...he brought home a new pet,” she said.

“Oh great. He’s always finding some sort of animal to take home. What kind of dog or cat did he find?” I asked.

“It’s not that kind of pet. It’s a tarantula,” she said.

My jaw fell into my lap and the phone slid off my face and onto the floor of the helicopter.

“What’s wrong?” Karen asked, seeing my expression.

“My son...h--he got a tarantula,” I announced to the helicopter.

They burst into laughter. Dr. Kale was laughing so hard that if he wasn’t strapped in, he would have fallen out of the helicopter.

One of the pilots yelled something back to my boss and brought the laughter to an end. My boss jumped out of his seat and leaned out of the side of the helicopter, scanning the water below. I scooped the phone off the floor.

“Hey, I’ll call you back,” I said to the phone and hung up before my wife could answer.

“What is it?” I asked him. Our entire group turned to look at him; he took the cigar from his mouth and shook his head. He looked up, but his eyes avoided making contact with any of our tortured stares.

“They can swim.”