Chapter Text
Tim gritted his teeth in frustration.
"I hope Elias manages to get the Fire Suppressant system going." Tim chuckled slightly.
"Sasha. I know you’ll want this recorded and... hopefully you're alive to hear it. The worms are on the upper floor. Not as many as down in the Archive, but still.
I set the fire alarm off, so everyone’s out except me and Elias. I haven't been near a window in awhile, but I don't think the Fire Brigade is here yet. There was a… a wave of worms? I don't really know what else I'd call it. Whatever. I got cut off from Elias. Here's hoping he made it to the fire system, but who knows. Maybe everyone’s dead already. That would be my luck."
Tim looked at the recorder before glancing around.
"I’m in Artefact Storage. Yeah I know, you've told me about how you hate this place and honestly, I don't blame you. At least you're the Archivist now instead of that practical researcher job you told me about."
Tim frowned at the assortment of cursed and paranormal objects in the room.
"If it were up to me I would set this room on fire and burn all this crap down. Researching is one thing, but some of this... I'm ranting. I mean, do I really want what could be my last words about my job?" Tim sniggered.
"Sorry. I suppose you wouldn't find it funny. You would show all of this off to the public or something. It's honestly pretty cute how excited you get about learning and knowing all of this." Tim smiled a little.
"Oh hey! Here's that table from that statement. The pattern is still real... interesting. It's... quite-"
Tim froze as he heard something.
"Is something here? Fuck- hello? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be evacuated-"
Tim's eyes widened once he got a good look at the figure.
It was not a person.
It lunged for Tim.
"SHIT!-"
Tim dropped the recorder as he broke into a sprint. But long limbs grabbed at him- tearing into his sense of self-
"TIM!"
Suddenly the creature screamed and dropped Tim. Tim scampered backwards as he tried to understand what was going on.
The table. From the top of it was a web of some sort that had trapped and entangled the creature. It screamed and tried to reach for Tim.
Tim got up on his feet to step away from it.
The web slowly was pulling the thrashing creature into the table. Tim watched its elongated and uncanny features twist in a pained expression as it failed to escape.
And then the table was just a table again.
Next the table was someone covered in spiders.
"Shit shit shit SHIT!"
The person frantically brushed off the spiders and Tim realised who it was.
"Jon? What?-"
"Get them off Tim!" Jon pleaded.
"Right."
Tim quickly ran over to his friend and started batting away and crushing the spiders. Most scampered off into the dark corners of the room while a couple stayed on the table.
By the time all the spiders were off of Jon, they were both shaking. Tim because of the thing that almost killed him. And Tim knew that Jon had arachnophobia being covered in spiders would been awful.
"Christ. Jon why were there spiders all over you? And what was that thing?!" Tim asked as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Uh- I saw that you were in danger and thought the table might help. A-And it did."
Tim looked at the table. Now with spiders on it the pattern did look like web. It was almost obvious now. It was still a very eye-catching pattern though...
"Tim?"
Tim blinked as Jon's shaky hand was snapping in front of him.
"Y-Yeah?"
"I asked if that Not- if that thing hurt you?" Jon said as his eyes examined Tim for any injuries.
"Ah no? Not physically? It... it felt like it was tearing me apart though." Tim muttered as he saw no injuries on his skin.
"...Let's just call ourselves lucky then."
"Yeah." Tim agreed as he picked up the Tape Recorder.
"Jane Prentiss is still in the Archives. I got turned around in the tunnels and ended up split from Sasha and Martin when some worms attacked. I then ended up back in the Archives where... I very closely avoided getting killed by worms and ran out here where I heard you yelling." Jon said as he looked at the recorder instead of meeting Tim's gaze.
"Tunnels? What do you mean?" Tim asked with furrowed brows.
"Ah- I'll explain but first can we get out of here before that thing gets out of the table again? I do not want to relive that anytime soon." Jon said warily.
"Good idea."
Jon then froze.
"Jon?"
"...I think Sasha is in tr-"
And then the Fire Suppressant turned on.
Sasha managed to find Jon just as he was cleared from quarantine and dragged him down to the Archives.
"Sasha I don't need to give a statement. Besides, you're-"
"I am aware I'm full of holes Jon. All I need is whatever is not on either tapes. Then I can rest." Sasha frowned.
Sasha noticed Jon looking at her bandages with worry and guilt
"Right. When the worms attacked us in the tunnels I got turned around and ended up back at the hole you made into Martin's temporary bedroom. I..."
Jon frowned in confusion as he touched his throat.
"Are you alright?" Sasha asked.
"...I believe so. Anyways, I ran through the door and narrowly avoided Jane and her worms. I heard Tim screaming and then..." Jon trailed off. It looked like he was biting his tongue.
"I heard on the tapes about the spiders. How did you know how to save Tim with the table?" She asked.
"...I don't know. It just felt... I knew how in a way." Jon's hands shook again before he clenched them and stood up.
"Jon?"
"Get some rest Sasha." Jon said briskly as he walked out.
Sasha frowned. She knew that Jon was afraid of spiders so maybe it was hard to talk about it. But still...
She frowned in suspicion.
Jon was on the Tube as he texted Sasha.
Jon: Hey I need to talk about some... growing developments. Are you free?
Georgie: Is it a code purple?
Jon: I do not like calling it that silly name. But yes. It's gotten worse.
Georgie: K. I'll order us some pizza.
Jon: Thank you.
Jon covered his face with one hand as he groaned. Trying to resist Sasha's compelling to not tell the full story about the spiders gave him a headache. How was she already so powerful within months?
Then again, she's hasn't been dragging her feet and trying to prevent herself from becoming a monster like he has been for years now. She's not even aware of it.
What the hell was Elias's plan with Sasha? And why did Annabelle support it?
Jon sighed as he rubbed at his eyes.
There wasn't much Jon could do about it, even if he did know. The most he can do is just try to keep his friends alive.