Halfway down the hallway, my vision was obscured by a sudden assault of fabric wrapping around us. The attack was abrupt, causing me to stumble backward and clutch Roman firm to my chest. Hands pressed against my lower back, steadying me as I freed myself from the article of clothing. The faintest flutter shot through me.
James and I both shot a nasty look into room seven, where Cory was trapped within an undershirt. He twisted around, fighting to pull it over his head. His muffled cries were frantic. His arms fought wildly against the material before he threw the shirt onto the ground and stomped his feet over it.
“Audrey,” he said breathlessly as he finally noticed us.
“Cory.” I nodded in return. “Are you…okay?”
“Satan has found us! He’s sent his ruthless arachnids to devour us in our sleep!”
I should have been used to this from Cory, but it still took a moment for words to form.
“We’ve been living in terror for almost two years, and you’re afraid of spiders?” I eventually said.
“Naw, bruh, they’re the devil reincarnate!” Cory insisted.
As his chest heaved, I noticed how boney he had become, leaving his frame slightly sunken. He wasn’t the only one beginning to show the prominent effects of malnourishment.
“How have you survived this far?” I asked, playing along.
Cory gestured around the room before bringing his hands to the sides of his face and batting his eyelashes. “My golden-haired protector. He slays them for me every time.”
Another step forward brought Hector into view as he knelt beside the farthest bed with a shoe in hand. He peeled his eyes away from the ball of spider guts on the sole before casting an unamused look in my direction. His eyes were still swollen, but some color had returned to his skin. He looked more like himself again, but I knew better than to believe he was okay. We were all carrying pieces of that house with us. I could see them in the way he moved, in the way his shoulders remained tense even during something as simple as killing a spider.
“Golden-haired? Wouldn’t that be more like Mikey, considering Hector has the same amount of hair as a smooth rock?” James’ amused voice drifted from behind me.
“I have hair, thank you very much!” Hector called from the room. “I keep it short. Military grade, and always will!”
“Touchy, touchy,” James tsked.
I held my breath as James moved forward. The air around us shifted as he stood unbearably close. When I found the courage to look up, I realized his eyes weren’t on me. They were fixed on our son. He held his hands out, waiting for Roman to reach for him, which he did.
“Breakfast?” James asked. His voice softened when addressing the infant, but remained formidable to everyone else nearby.
Roman pushed against me and went to James without hesitation. Nothing more was said as he disappeared down the stairs with our son. Cory cast me a wary glance.
“Wanna trade places? I’d gladly take on a room full of spiders if you ever feel like parenting a child with that man,” I said.
Cory shook his head. “No thanks. I’ll take my chances with the devil.”
I sent the soldier a pointed look, nodding toward the stairs as though to imply James was the devil.
“Ha!” Cory snorted. “I meant the one with eight legs and toofies full of poison.”
I pursed my lips and shook my head. “I wonder what types of issues I’d have had in college.”
“Dickhead professors, roommates who steal your Ramen, and inconsiderate dorm mates on the floor above who always manage to plan a party the night before you have a big exam.” Cory shrugged before wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “But just remember that whatever version of life you would have found yourself in, spiders would have existed there too. There will always be spiders.”
I couldn’t fight the smile. Cory poked my nose as he grinned back.
“Let’s go get breakfast, Audreykins,” he sang. “Let’s go get some grub.”
He was right. It didn’t matter what scenario I encountered in life; there would always be spiders.