Chapter Text
There are some things, during a sleepover at the old Finch House-That you may never want to hear.
And unfortunately for the Orcas gang- ‘OH MY GOD, SPIDER’ was one of them-which was how they ended up in this mess to begin with. But first-...you’re probably going to need context.
It had all started when the gang decided to spend a night during the summer having a sleepover-it was nothing new, a common practice among the Orcas Bunch. The kids had told their respective adult figures where they’d be-and that was that.
The trouble had started around midnight-when Nat Reynolds had spotted a massive fucking arachnid-about the size of a quarter, probably a giant house spider by the looks of it-scuttling across the ground.
You can imagine how this information was received.
”OH MY GOD, SPIDER-“
In-an almost world-record flash, sleeping bags and blankets were quickly abandoned as the screaming swarm of kids, teens, and young adults scrambled away. Nat found herself jumping onto the couch-Jake clambering onto the coffee table. Eliza had managed to leap not-so-gracefully onto another chair with her sister protectively held against her, while Orville quickly scrambled to herd Logan and Beckett behind himself which-would have been heroic, if it wasn’t a SPIDER.
“Where is it-do we have a visual-!?” Charlie questioned-currently from her position of hanging precariously off the bottom rungs of one of the many bookshelf ladders. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Andrew found himself pressed up against the side of the brick fireplace, peeking cautiously out from behind it as if ducking from cover. “Negative-I lost sights-!”
”CAN WE QUIT THE FUCKING RADIO JARGON AND JUST KILL THE THING!?” Logan groaned, peeking out from behind Orville-eyes frantically scanning the room for any signs of the eight legged monstrosity. To his side-Beckett let out a huff. “Hey-! He hasn’t done anything to you, leave him be! Just let him outside, he’s good for the environment!”
“YOU GO GET HIM THEN-!”
Judging by the awkward silence-it seemed Beckett had declined on that idea.
“Jake-“ Nat glanced towards the coffee table-as Jake sat there crouched like an awkward monkey. “You go get it-!”
”Wh-Uhm, no-FUCK THAT-!” Jake replied in-full honesty, scooting a little further back from the edge of the table in totally-not-fear.
“Oh come on, be a man-!”
”…Nat-“ Jake blinked-hoping to presumably take the subject off of his current arachnophobia problems. “You are-a TOTAL anti-sexist, a badass fighter against the patriarchy-…but your WHOLE worldview collapses the moment there’s a spider!? For shame, for SHAME-“
”You know that’s not what I meant, Ass.”
Taking the reins as always, before-hopefully-the situation could escalate any further-Orville finally spoke up. “Okay-Okay, everyone breathe-I have a plan-! We’re gonna get this thing out of here, but i’m going to need all of you to work as a team-If we band together, we WILL defeat this menace-!“
”Orv,” Eliza-from across the room-deadpanned. “First of all, it’s a SPIDER-second of all-we DONT even know where it WENT-“
”And if we did, it’d be a freezer pop by now!” Huffed her sister Scarlett-onboard with the idea of arachnid violence. “That thing can fuuuuuuuuck RIGHT off-!”
With a sigh, Orville shook his head. “Okay, fair point-we’re going to need to locate the beast first. Anyone in a good position-?”
”I am-!” Came the voice of Toby Reynolds, from his perch-SOMEHOW on top of one of the many bookshelves in the room.
”…Tobes-“ deadpanned Nat-who had been in the middle of precariously trying to parkour her way over to Jake’s coffee table. “How on EARTH did you get up there-!?”
”…Goo Goobie-?”
Right. Okay then. This was going to be a long night.
”Maybe we should call somebody…?” Scarlett suggested-now sitting cross legged, somewhat amused at all the chaos going on despite being caught in spider central. “Mr. Shore would probably come get it!”
”We are absolutely NOT waking up Mr. Shore in the middle of the night just to come get a spider!” Orville replied.
”…You do know he’s probably not even asleep right now right-?”
”Touché-but still! I’d suggest someone a bit closer to home…Isla-she’s sleeping upstairs isn’t she? Maybe if we shout loud enough-“
”Are You MENTAL-!?” Logan’s Eyes Shot Wide- “Orv, Big Man-She’d KILL US if she found out we were screamin’ our heads off down here to wake her up just for a spider!”
”Yeah, she can get really SCARY dude-“ deadpanned Toby from his perch-before his eyes narrowed, focusing on a patch of the floor-
“…GUYS I SEE IT-“
The ensuing screams could have probably been heard all the way over at Elysium State Park. In a mad dash-many of them nearly tripped over themselves or items on the floor trying to get away, watching as the thing scurried to another spot of the room-determined to not lose track of it again.
“I CAN HEAR ITS FEET CRAWLING, THAT IS NOT FUCKING OKAY-“ Scarlett screamed-an icy chill running through her fingers which admittedly caused Eliza to yelp from the sudden cold feeling as she gripped her sister’s hand.
”OKAY-OKAY-“ Orville tried to settle the group down-glancing around the room for something, anything they could use-until his eyes settled on a metallic object, glittering on the floor like a gemstone in a cave full of coal.
Except gemstones-usually didn’t reek to high heaven after spending likely years sealed in a can.
”…The salmon cans-Okay, I HAVE A PLAN-!”
Usually-hearing Orville say ‘I HAVE A PLAN’ meant either one of two things: either they’d have an incredible adventure they’d never forget-or chaos would inevitably ensue as said plan would be hurled unceremoniously out the window. But seeing as they had little choice right now-the group nodded along.
”Here’s what we do-Andrew-!”
”Yessir?”
“I need you to make a break for the Kitchen.”
”…Since when has ever trusting me in a kitchen EVER been a good idea? You know this, Orville.”
”We don’t need you to make another bloody cake, man-“ the ringleader of the bunch deadpanned. “I just need you to open one of the salmon cans, and empty it-!”
The masked young man’s eyes widened. “…Orv are you NUTS!? Those things are so old they’ll stink up the whole house for months-! Isla will DEFINITELY kill us-!”
”Just keep your facemask on-“ Orville retorted- “It’s a risk we’re Going to have to take. Now-We’re gonna need something long and stick shaped-…Y’know-“ he joked wryly-trying to lighten the mood at least a little. “Like a Stick.”
”I think-“ chimed in Beckett- “Lewlew might have had one in his room-I can go and get it!”
“AHA-!” Orv grinned-playfully ruffling the younger Krolik’s hair. “Good ol’ Lewis Finch, saving our skins from beyond the grave-! Now-We’re going to need tape. A LOT of tape-“
”I think there’s some in Sven’s old workbench down in the-“ Logan had been about to suggest-before shuddering at the realization of where he’d have to go. “…Basement. …Oh god why the basement!?”
“Listen, big man-“ Orville turned to the boy-placing a gentle hand on his shoulder-a reassuring smile across his features as he knelt a bit to meet his gaze. “The basement is safe. There is NOTHING to worry about.”
”It’s CREEPY down there! And there’s a MOLE MAN-“
”Logan, we both know that was just Walter. And I highly doubt your own family’s ghost would come out to scare you just for getting some duct tape. …Hey-you have uncle Nasty with you, right…?”
“Uh huh…” the boy nodded-glancing towards the bag he had brought. “Never go anywhere without him.”
“He’ll keep you safe, promise.” The older of the two nodded, before turning to the rest of the group. “Alright here’s the plan-we get the can, we get the bat-we tape the can to the end of the bat and use THAT to trap the spider from a distance! Once the beast is contained, someone needs to grab a plate and we’ll slip it underneath-I’ll volunteer, it will take a brave soul to get that close and I won’t let any of you take that risk. Now-You have all your duties! Godspeed, everyone-ON THREE! One-“
Logan quickly scrambled to his backpack-rummaging around to find the battered old doll. Beside him-Beckett readied himself to rush up the stairs, for the long trek to Lewis’ room through the mazelike path through the house.
”TWO!”
Andrew took a breath-glancing towards Charlie, who nodded encouragingly-a wordless promise to get through this together.
”…Ahem-“
And then there was Isla Finch, who had just come from upstairs-standing rather unamused in her pajamas in the entrance to the living room. “What on God’s green earth is going on-? …And why is Toby on top of our bookshelf?”
The whole group froze in their tracks-slowly turning to face the newcomer on this chaotic rollercoaster of a night. “…Ah-“ Orville sheepishly waved-his dramatic air leaving him almost like a deflating balloon. “..Hello Isla. Did-We Wake You…?”
What a stupid question.
”No, I happened to sleepwalk down here.” The older finch deadpanned. “What did you think was gonna happen with all of you screaming like banshees-!? I thought one of you fell off the roof or something trying to explore. ….So what was it this time?” Despite her tired of this shit expression-she sounded almost amused, more than anything-and admittedly, despite their dramatic plan-they were all quite the sight right about now.
”Spider.” The whole group seemed to speak in unison-one of them pointing towards the offending arachnid.
“…Ugh, the things I do for you idiots. Okay lil’ guy, C’mere-“ sighed Isla, who rather calmly picked the little thing up-and left for the garage to set it free through the doggie door.
The group stared for a moment, in-almost awe, before Logan piped up.
”…Are we cowards-?”
Nobody felt the need to answer.
Eventually, Isla had returned-tired, but amused. “See? Problem solved. Can I go back to bed now-?”
”How did you DO THAT-!?” Jake exclaimed-before looking sheepishly off to the side. “Not-not that i was scared or anything, I Just-wanted to expand my spider-battling repitoire.”
“Uh huh, suuuuure.” Isla snickered. “Well, it helps when you grow up with arachnophobic younger siblings-“ she glanced towards Eliza-who looked towards the ground in sheepish embarrassment. “-and they bring their arachnophobic best friend over a lot.”
”..Well-with that crisis resolved-“ Orville snickered a little-sauntering into the middle of the room. “Anyone up for a late night movie to calm the ol’ nerves-?”
”MEEE-!” Scarlett, of course, was quick to agree to the idea-and so was everyone else.
“Hey Isla-you sure you don’t wanna watch somethin with us? …Sorry for waking you up-“ The leader apologized-as in the background, the others were attempting to get Toby down from his perch somehow.
The older finch sibling thought for a moment-..before shrugging. “…Eh, sure why not. I’m up anyway-…And somebody needs to be on spider duty.”
”Hah, hah.”