Custom Common Experiment #585
“This year, I will make more decorations than ever before!” an unusual spirit shouted with glee.
“It doesn't matter though. You can never make something better than that old woman from the house on the hill,” her downer friend stated. She was always the realist. “That old woman wins the competition every year! She totally understands the importance of Morostide... and ONLY Morostide.”
“Yeah, she never shows herself any other time of year, does she?” the first young girl, a short blonde Tehb, questioned.
“I don't think so,” her brunette friend replied.
“She must spend all year working on those contest winning designs! She always comes up with the spookiest stuff!”
“The rumor mill says she is a witch who uses magic to win the ornament competition... and that she can only leave the house during Morostide season.”
“What do you think? Could it be true?”
“Unlikely. Even if I believed in witches, which I don't, I would think they could leave the house at any time of year.”
“That makes sense I guess... hmm... but this year, I really do want to win! I gotta figure out her secret... magic or not!”
“You are getting way too into this.”
“Doesn't EVERYBODY act this way during this time of year?!”
In the little town of Tretham, on the edge of Shadow Glen, Morostide was the most festive time of year. Everyone in town worked hard all year so they could enjoy the celebration. Every house, yard, and person in town would be decorated from head to toe in costume or custom; some wore fun outfits, while others wore more traditional garb. While Survival was celebrated in February, it lacked the time honored love that Morostide brought to all the citizens of Tretham (also lovingly called Tretites).Like most towns in Shadow Glen, Morostide meant a time filled with games and contests of the spooky sort. The most treasured competition surrounded the decoration of the town Spook Tree. A large oak resting in the middle of Town Hall's front lawn, every October it would lose all its leaves before any other tree. In celebration of the most perfectly spooky tree, the town held a contest for the best decorations. Then, on Morostide Eve, the tree would be decorated with the highest scoring ornaments being but towards the top of the tree. The best ornament, as judged by the mayor himself, would be placed right beside the traditional tree topper: the actual skull of the town founder Gilbert Tretham. To have your ornament placed right beside the skull for all the town to see was the highest honor and gave the winner bragging rights for the next year.
Every year, this young Tehb, named Arachne for the spider shaped birthmark on her lower back, entered the contest. Every year since she was five. And for the last several years, she'd been scoring second place... second to the old woman on the hill.
But not this year! Arachne was sixteen, and ready to finally surpass that old woman. HER ornament was going to be the best this year... and she was going to do anything she could to make sure of that.
After saying her goodbyes to her friend Eleesa, Arachne rushed to her house and up the creaky old stairs to her room. While the town honored traditions to keep houses reasonably spooky and old, most had now been outfitted with televisions, computers, and internet. Arachne turned on her portal to the internet world and began her search. Her search to learn more about that old woman on the hill.
As to be expected, the search had been futile. She’d only found pictures of all the winning ornaments from the old woman... but no information about her as a person. That would not help at all! Annoyed, but not dismayed, Arachne filled a backpack with some snacks and a camera, and then snuck out of the house. If she was lucky, her parents would not notice she was gone for a couple hours. That would be more than enough time to ride her bike up to that old woman’s house and do some spying.
The rumors said the old woman lived in some run down cottage. Others said it was once some religious establishment. Either way, Arachne knew it would stand out when she found it. The path through the woods to the outskirts of town was well maintained to a point. At the fork in the road, the path to the right led to the more populated areas of Shadowglen. The path on the left though was dilapidated and would lead towards the top of the hill. No one went there anymore. Surely, that is where this spooky witch woman would be.
It took longer than she thought it would, but finally, Arachne saw the only building on the hill. It was in the middle of an old cemetery. It didn’t look run down though. In fact, it was surprisingly nice up here. Taking her time, she wound through the graves and hid her bike behind a mausoleum. She then tip-toed up to the house, searching for some window to peek into. The kitchen window was the only one that did not have a curtain blocking it. Inside, she could hear movement, but saw nothing. No good! It was too dark! How was she going to learn secrets if she couldn’t see anything!?The movement inside seemed to have disappeared, so Arachne started to scratch at the window, hoping to get it open. Scratching and scratching... there had to be a way in!
“Oh? What’s this? A little spider, trying to sneak in my home?”
Arachne gasped and turned, only to see nothing put black... as she fell unconscious.
“Uuuuugh... what... happened...” Arachne groaned. She tried to open her eyes, but they felt too heavy. She could feel she was lying on her stomach, but her body didn’t want to move.
“It would seem that you were trying to get into my home, little bug,” an accented voice returned. The voice was deep and hoarse. Was this the old woman?
“Are you... the Spook Tree Champion?” Arachne asked still slightly dazed.
“Of all things to call me... yes, I am the maker of winning ornaments. And who are you?”
This was her. The champion. No! Arachne had been caught and had learned nothing! “You have to tell me! Tell me!”
“Tell you what?”
“Tell me how you always win! I try and I try... I craft it all by hand... I spend days, weeks, even months planning... I try to be innovative... but you always win! I have to know how you do it! How do you always beat me! I am tired of being second! I LOVE Morostide too!”
The old woman was quiet a long moment before she started to chuckle. “I see... you are the young girl who always gets so close to winning... Arachne, yes?”
Arachne was silent, but frowning as best she could. Why wouldn’t her face contort as much as she wanted?
“My, my... coming all this way... you are obsessed, aren’t you?” She paused for a long moment, clearly thinking something over. “You wish to learn my secrets? Maybe... I could use an apprentice to pass on my ways. It will not be easy though.”
“REALLY!?” Arachne squealed with delight. “Teach me! I want to be the best! I will show everyone that I love Morostide the most! And I will do whatever I have to! I want to win!”The old woman laughed cynically. “As you wish, dear. My name is Maureen. And you will start your new travels today. First, you must master your new form, and simply watch me as I work. With time, you will absorb the lessons by watching, not doing.”
“Watch and learn, got it... just one problem, I can't move or open my eyes? And what do you mean new form? “
“You now have six eyes and eight limbs. It will take some practice to get used to them.”
Arachne’s breath escaped her, and she suddenly felt like time had stopped. “What...”
“Your body did not fit your heart. I had intended to squish you, but since I like you... little spider, do not worry. As you learn my lessons, you will morph to be more like me. I promise you.”
But what did that mean? And how... how had she become a real spider!?
Arachne had hoped that Maureen had been lying. She had hoped she was still a golden haired Tehb teen. But after a few minutes of struggling, she’d been able to get her eyes open... all six of them. It gave her a headache, and Maureen helped by taping closed the extra eyes. After another hour, she’d been able to make her legs move too. Seeing her reflection in the window glass, it was clear... Arachne had finally become her namesake.She was the size of a kiwi and mostly black (aside from some patterning on her body). She wasn’t especially scary, but this whole situation scared her enough. How would she go home to her family? Could she go home? Would they ever accept her?
Finally getting a chance, she looked over the old witch. She actually, wasn't that old... middle-aged at best. Her hair was black and slightly greying, her body short but lean. She wore a long-sleeved dress that dragged along to floor to cover herself, but she could at least make out her shape. It wasn't hard to picture her as a witch, but admittedly, Arachne was now a little biased.
Maureen left her on the kitchen table and cooked up some food for the new spider. Arachne had no idea what it was, but for some reason, it smelled really good! When Maureen brought it over on a tiny plate, it was some sort of cooked meat, with a side of candy corn. It wasn’t exactly what normal spiders eat, but Arachne wasn’t exactly a normal spider.
Maureen sat down as Arachne munched away, and explained everything to her. She was indeed a witch... and an old one at that. But she was tired of living. She had wanted to take an apprentice for years, but hadn’t found anyone worth teaching. Arachne was different though... her tenacity was just what Maureen was looking for. All the little spider had to do was eat, sleep, and watch as the witch made her ornaments.
“That’s all I have to do? I mean... I don’t really want to be a witch... but I really want to win... it is just so much fun to make the ornaments... and to have them high up on the tree!!!”
Maureen laughed, a cough coming at the end. After her throat was clear again, she merely said, “If you want to win, all you have to do is as I say. By Morostide Eve, you will be ready to venture into the world again.”
“But how can I make an ornament like this!?”
“You will slowly become more Tehb again as you eat my food... and soon your powers will reveal themselves. Witches take their power from what they eat... just like the old saying: you are what you eat!”
Arachne eyed her food. “Candy corns and mystery meat?”
Maureen laughed. “For you, yes. And as you eat more, you will slowly lose your spider form... and then you can work on the ornament.”
“So will I ever be normal again?”
“No, but you will be something far better. Have faith in Morostide Magic.”
It was true that she had no reason to trust the witch... but she also had no other choice. So, she did as she was told. She ate whenever the witch brought her food (always that odd meat and candy corns and always at the same time each day). She slept when the witch slept. And whenever the witch was awake, she would watch her. Maureen often spent her days cleaning around the house or making spells and medicines. Apparently, she sold the medicines to the Unliving in other parts of Shadowglen. It really wasn’t a bad way to live.Maureen did work on the ornament for the contest, but only at night. She wouldn’t let Arachne see it, but she showed her the old ornaments and explained how she’d made them. She would even let Arachne watch as she intricately carved wood or created some spell to add luminescence to a piece.
As the days passed, Arachne grew. She grew larger, and her spider legs slowly became more arm and leg shaped. Her extra eyes grew smaller and then disappeared altogether. Her body elongated... new black hair grew out from her head. She was scary at each stage, but she WAS becoming more Tehb, just as Maureen had promised.
Once she was bigger, about the size of a toddler, Maureen took her out to the cemetery. She taught Arachne how to catch birds or little animals to skin for meat. She even showed her how to clean and preserve the bones to be later used in ornaments. Skulls were apparently the best.
Arachne was so absorbed that she lost track of time, and forgot all about her family and friends. She thought only of the contest. Maureen gave her a pen and paper to draw out designs, and just as promised, she got more and more time to work on her own entry. As the days went on, Arachne grew stronger... and Maureen grew weaker and sicklier.
By some miracle, when Morostide Eve came, Arachne was nearly a full Tehb teenager. She still had two extra sets of arms, but other than that, she was pretty normal. In contrast, Maureen had really gone downhill. She was now withered, grey and old. She was barely able to walk, but she still insisted they go to Tretham to turn in Arachne’s ornament.
“What about your ornament?” Arachne asked as she helped Maureen up from her chair.
“I did not make one.”
“What!?”
Maureen hobbled over to grab a wrapped package from a rocking chair. “I spent my time making you these new clothes. Please, wear them today.”
Arachne was astonished to open the wrapping to see the adorable candy corn themed witch outfit. It was perfect for today! “Maureen...”
“You DID finish your ornament, right?”
“Yes... but your condition... and you spent your time making this...”
“Today you replace me in town. Today, YOU become the master. Now, let’s hurry and show the town what you have learned!”
Arachne wanted to fight her... she wanted to say that the contest wasn’t everything. But the truth was Maureen already knew that Arachne lived for this contest. It was the only reason she’d gone through all of this. It was the only reason she was willing to become a witch. So, Arachne just nodded.
Just as Maureen asked, she changed into the outfit and then put a cloak on over it. She couldn't walk around town with all her extra arms on display! She then helped Maureen out of the house and up into a wooden carriage. It was an old horse drawn carriage, but there were no horses here. With a flick of her wrist and a few tasteful spell words, Maureen made a Morosteed appear to draw the cart, and they made their way into town.
It was hard to believe that Arachne had been captive in the Witch's cottage for nearly 4 weeks. It still seemed like just yesterday she had rode her bike down this path for her spying mission. But so much had changed in that short amount of time. The leaves were no longer green; now the auburn colors of fall. Morostide was in full swing, and Arachne had nearly missed it all. All the other contests were likely over now... all that remained was the most valuable of all.
Maureen held the box that Arachne was using to hide her ornament. She'd been trying to keep it hidden since she wanted it to be a surprise. It felt like some sort of senior project which she had to pass to graduate. Maureen didn't seem worried though. Despite her wheezing and coughing, her now wrinkled face showed nothing but confidence in her student. Arachne would win and that was that.
Once closer to the town, they ditched the carriage behind an abandoned hotel. Arachne found an old wooden chair, and Maureen used magic to make it into a wheelchair. This would make getting her around so much easier! They headed straight for the Town Hall, and covertly turned in the entry.
Arachne had been mising for nearly a month, but the town had kept going. People were still bustling around the square as usual. They were all still cheerful and excited. Most were in costumes of some sort, and those that were not were eagerly taking pictures of the others. Arachne pulled down the hood of her cloak and puffed up her witch hat again. She then opened it up so her costume would show a little... but it was uncomfortable to twist her other arms behind her back, hidden from view. Pushing Maureen in the wheelchair helped keep them from prying eyes.
Maureen was not a familiar face, and Arachne did not look as she once did... but no one seemed to notice the two. In the crowd, they simply blended in to the chaos.
With a few hours to kill, they browsed the vendors and stalls that were set up all around. They tried on masks and joked over possible spell ingredients. In only a month, Arachne found that she had really bonded with her captor... how strange.
Finally, the judging of the ornaments was complete, and the town gather around the Spook Tree. After singing the ceremonial decorating song, the mayor's assistants began to decorate the tree from the bottom up. The ornaments on the bottom scored the lowest, and were often done by children. Putting them here meant their little makers could see them better. Arachne could still remember the days when her products were hung that low.
As they worked their way up, excitement grew. A big screen was set up hanging from the town hall roof, so a projector could show each tiny ornament to the mass of people crowding around. And once only ten ornaments remained, names would be read off as well. Arachne could barely stand still as she waited and waited for her name to be called. Finally, only two ornaments were left. As they read the second place winner, Arachne's breath caught in her chest. For the first time in years, it was NOT her name. “Our First Place Winner this year goes to the maker of this adorable Spider Witch Ornament! The name is... Arachne!!!”
“A Spider Witch? I wonder where you got that inspiration from?” teased Maureen. “Congratulations dear!”
The applause burst out from the crowd as the ornament was displayed on the screen before it was to be hung. It was a little black spider with a purple witch hat on. It was clutching to a little black cauldron, and using magic, the cauldron smoked and lit up in multiple colors. Painted on the side was “Morostide Feast” and the crowd seemed to love it just as much as Arachne herself. She jumped into the air and squealed with delight. “I WON. I WON!!”But at hearing her squeals, the nearby people turned to gape. The name with the ornament finally sunk in... wasn't Arachne missing? Had she finally returned? But how could that be... this girl was not her!
Arachne paled as more people turned to gawk. There was a rustle in the crowd as someone pushed through to the front. It was Eleesa, her best friend. “Arachne!? Is that you? Where have you been--wait... what happened... you don't look...”
Arachne pulled her cloak closed and began to cry. No! I can't let her see me like this! I can't let my family see me! She then turned and bolted, pushing through a few people as she darted for the closest alley.
Eleesa pursued her, and cornered her as the new witch was trapped by a fence. “Arachne! What is going on!? We've been worried sick! Are you okay? Why... why do you look like that?”
“GO AWAY!” she shouted back at her friend, hiding in the corner of the fence and one of the buildings as her cloak sheltered her. “DON'T LOOK AT ME.”
“Did... did someone do this to you? Did they hurt you? Don't worry... we'll get this fixed...”
“SHUT UP. YOU CANNOT FIX THIS. IT IS THE PRICE I HAD TO PAY TO WIN... AND... AND...” Arachne turned around and removed the cloak to show off her new form. Eleesa paled and took a hesitant step back. “I... I actually like this, Eleesa. I really, really do...” She took a step closer to Eleesa, but was quickly overwhelmed by a smell. Her stomach churned and grumbled. She was suddenly very hungry. As the bell tolled, she realized it was dinner time. Right on the dot, and her stomach knew it. But it would just have to wait.
“How... w-who... did this... to y-you...” Eleesa stuttered.
“The witch on the hill. She is real... and she helped me, Eleesa. She helped me win!” Her stomach growled angrily through her words.
“Win?! What does that matter!? You are a monster now!”
“Monster?... No...”
For a long moment, the only sound was Arachne's stomach. Her mouth began to water, and the smell of food was so overwhelming. Which food cart was that coming from?
“Arachne, sweety... there you are. It is dinner time,” called out Maureen. She had finally caught up to them by pushing the wheels of her wheelchair.
“Not... not now... It will have to wait...” Arachne replied, though she had to swallow hard to get the words out.
Eleesa turned her gaze to Maureen and glared at the witch. “YOU! You did this to her, didn't you!?!”
Maureen ignored her. “But this is the perfect moment for dinner. I am afraid I cannot give you anymore... but Eleesa could.”
Both Arachne and Eleesa were surprised by this. “What do you mean?” they asked in unison.
“My dear... my time is ending. But you must remember that old saying, don't you? It is how you became Tehb after I turned you into a spider.”
Clearly both girls were confused until Maureen pulled up her skirt... to reveal only bare bones.
“You are what you eat.”
Eleesa wavered and then turned to vomit.
Arachne fell to her knees and began to cry. “I... I am the reason you are so sick... I've... I've...”
“You are my replacement, dear. And you are finally ready. Take my magic and live well. Follow your dreams... let yourself obsess over Morostide... for as long... as your spirit... persists...” Maureen's comment trailed off and her eyes slowly closed. Then, with a gust of wind, her body turned to ash, and blew off in the breeze. All that remained was a normal chair and the remnants of her clothes. Her magic was gone.
Eleesa slowly shook her head in disbelief. How... how could this be? Witches and magic don't really exist! “Arachne... we will get you fixed... and then you can live at home... and be normal... and we can be friends again... Arachne? Arachne are you listening?” She turned to look at her friend, but Arachne was looking at the ground, her eyes hidden by her hat. “Arachne?”
“I am sorry, Eleesa,” she replied slowly as she got up to her feet. “I will not go back to that life. I will never be a loser again. And I know that you won't be my friend this way... but don't worry. There is a way that we can be friends again...” Arachne looked up, her eyes shining red. “But YOU will have to be the one that gets fixed.”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Arachne was giggling as she decorated her mini spook tree. It was just a little dead oak, tiny enough to keep the roots wrapped up in a bag. This way, she could bring it inside the cottage when winter came, or bring it outside during the warmer months. It never got very cold in ShadowGlen, but portability is always a good thing!
She had one hand holding an ornament, another holding the paintbrush to color it, a third held a needle and thread, and a fourth was gently pushing popcorn onto the needle to make her popcorn garland. The last two were empty, one on her hip and the other on her chin. She stopped her giggling long enough to seriously consider where to put the next ornament. But it was only a moment before her giggles returned.
“This spook tree will be the cutest ever! I just wish there weren't 364 days until next Morostide Eve! I have so many ornament ideas!!!”
There was a faint whispering in the wind in response.
She turned to her companion and winked playfully. “Of COURSE you have to come with me next year! We'll make it a new tradition!”
The eyes of the perfectly clean skull glowed in a rainbow for a short moment as the whispering started. Once the comment was complete, the eyes went dull again.
“Don't be silly! We have to go together! Afterall, you and I are family now!”
Arachnophobia’s Reference HA
Arachnophobia Art by
Vii.Arachnophobia Chibi by
ren.Custom Overlay by
ren.Pixel Arachnophobia by
ren.Pixel Art from here and here.
Profile Background from Wallpaper Cave.
Profile coding, image collaboration, and story by me,
Lexx.Thank you
jenboop20 for letting me adopt her on her birthday! :3
