Prologue- Total Turmoil

Waking up to discover a colossal spider the size of a newborn puppy crawling on your covers isn't my ideal way to start the day. It squinted up at me with its disgustingly hairy legs flaring out to continue its travel closer to my arm. After the complete shock left my system, it was obvious what my next action was. Needless to mention, I screamed like the sixteen year old baby that I am, and attracted the attention of my entire family.

"What the fuck is that?" My brother, Chris, shrieked like the man he truly was. Directly behind him were my two parents, completing our typical American family. Unfortunately for me, they weren't anymore brave than Chris.

"Honey, stay calm. Don't move and-" My mother's warning came a full two seconds too late.

At that moment, my muscle movement reacted much too efficiently. I was so disoriented I failed to realize that flailing the arm with the spider on it would also cause the spider to move. In my defense, I was still half asleep.

The arachnid flew midair in slow motion before finally making its new place to rest on my upper chest, dangerously close to my bare neck.

The identical, utter looks of horror on my parents and brother's faces were enough for me to infer what was about to happen next, but honestly, I'm a little slow.

At that exact time, the spider's nasty image actually flashed through my mind. Scarlet red fangs, tan legs, and a bumblebee-colored abdomen… God help us all.

A camel spider was sitting on my neck. Instead of hyperventilating like any normal person, I chose that moment to lose any control that I once had of my body.

After being flung through the air, apparently the spider was angered. Understandable, considering I wouldn't like to be tossed up and onto someone's neck.

However, that gives that freaking monster no excuse for what it did next.

Dripping fangs suddenly plunged into my body, eliciting a scream that was quickly extinguished due to my sudden lack of consciousness.

I'm not sure if I passed out from the panic attack I most likely had, or if the deadly venom had circulated throughout my body and triggered my untimely death.

However, right then, a small voice at the back of my head told me that my life would never be the same again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Today was going to be a normal, uneventful day. I was going to drive over to Raina's house, pick her up, and just hang out at the mall like normal best friends do.

I arrived at her house early, knowing that she'd still be in bed but not being able to resist the lure of her mother's heavenly cooking. Parking my navy Honda Accord in her driveway, I never expected what was waiting for me on the other side of that seemingly innocent door.

Total turmoil is what I was met with.

As soon as I stepped through Raina's unlocked front door, I heard her immediately recognizable scream. Hell, I bet they heard that noise in Timbuktu.

Running up the stairs and into her bedroom at Olympic athlete speed, I was met with a sight that knocked the breath out of me.

Raina, her chest moving up and down fast while she tried to fight off an oncoming panic attack, had a absolutely revolting camel spider crawling all over her. I could tell just by looking at the thing that it was about to strike.

Unlike her family, I am not a wimp. This time, however, that characteristic of mine didn't work out to my favor.

I reached her bedside just as the spider sunk its fangs into her fair skin. Completely helpless and watching in horror, I saw her lose consciousness and acted on a sudden whim.

I launched at the spider, and successfully got myself bitten in the process. I flung my hand around, attempting to knock the sucker off with the force of gravity on my side, but it was that damn thing's lucky day. It latched onto my hand like a leech and slowly emptied its venom into my veins.

At the time, it seemed like the worst thing I could have done, as I slowly fell to the carpet and my head lolled to the side. At the time, I considered myself the biggest moron in all of Florida. And at the time, I had no clue what would happen to me.

But later on, I would look back at this event and thank the Lord for the best day of my life.

Hello darkness.