The Man In The Chair
It was ironic that, to find a recluse, Shade would have to seek a recluse. As he left the mountainous retreat where a hidden base lay in secret, he hoped that this journey would bear fruit. However, he also hoped the visit would end with the first stop, apprehensive as to the second candidate who hid in the wild recesses of the torn landscape within Louisiana. Hopefully, the man he sought in Oklahoma would provide him with enough information that he would not have to travel any further south. This trip would not come without a price and he would rather keep the damage and the debt down to one instead of two.
During these extensive trips, Shade made a habit of stopping at the roadside diners to collect information, listening for anything peculiar or out of place, and also to make sure the route was safe. Down this way, he would often hear familiar rumors, such as a chupacabra was terrorizing the farmlands, sightings of UFOs and crop circles, cattle mutilations, abductions and home invasions. The southern, and remote, areas were always infested or visited due to the sparse resistance factors, as if all of these beings separately knew where to go and what to watch out for while they went about their work. The cities, urban areas, and metropolis’ were a whole different scenario, containing all other manner of dark dealings and figures. He preferred the outlands more than the inner cities and industrial complexes when it came to jobs, leaving him room to move, not to mention far less collateral damage involving civilians and bystanders.
Nearing the first destination, Shade stopped at a local diner to listen and inquire about the area. Each person he sought had wards, of a sort, always giving them a warning or foresight of visitors, victims, and villains. He was unsure which category he would fall into given the nature of these hermits so he played safe and smart, toning down the usual recklessness and rampage he was known for among the agents. SItting down for a cup of hot coffee, Shade leaned back in the booth that backed against a wall, giving him sight over the whole location without leaving his rear exposed. He heard nothing during the first cup so when the waitress returned to pour a refill he spoke. “Is that old farmhouse still sitting off the east road not far from here?” He asked, taking a drink of the burnt bean water, wanting it only for its caffeine content He said it just loud enough to be heard across the room, watching without looking to see if any reacted to the words. The place drew quiet and the woman serving him nearly dropped the pot of coffee but did not withdraw. “You mean that place infested with spiders?” She asked, not waiting for him to respond. “Yes, sir. It’s still there.” She said no more and walked away, disappearing into the kitchen with her coworkers on her heels. Shade left a generous tip, finished the coffee, and left the shaken diner.
Shade lit up a stim and inhaled deeply, preparing himself for the encounter ahead. Leaning against his black vehicle, he watched as a few men exited the building, approaching him with haste. “You ought not go to that place, mister,” The worn, bearded man said with an agitated tone, spitting some chaw on the ground near Shade. “They say the devil lives in that house. You a devil worshipper?” Shade took a long drag, exhaling the odd colored smoke towards the man in return for his vulgar ways. “No, sir,” Shade replied, smiling wryly and looking at the other men in tow, all seemingly flustered by his inquiry. “The devil does not like me. I’m just looking for someone, and they may have stopped at that house. Have any of you seen any strangers travel through here? Maybe stop at the diner? How about any wolves roaming the area?” His words seemed to only anger the men further, watching as they loaded into a large diesel truck that bellowed smoke as furious as the occupants. “Stay away from that place, mister,” The man warned, leaning out the window of the cab. “You go on and get.” They burned rubber leaving the diner, racing out on the interstate, heading the very direction Shade was about to travel. He shook his head and finished his stim before setting out to the house where the devil dwells.
Upon arriving, Shade saw two things that always made him cringe. The first was an angry mob with torches and pitchforks, as cliche as that was the farmers in these areas were typically poor or rich depending on how they dealt with the corporations that sought to own all of the farmlands. The second was spiders. He hated those wretched little monsters more than any creature, including the devil. He had no positive memories when it came to them, and this time would most likely only further that disgust. There was no driveway and the hill leading up was littered with old equipment and vehicles, the majority of those pieces the only remnants left from those that strayed too close. The trucks the locals drove were no exceptions but the seemed hesitant to advance any further, until they saw Shade making his way up the hill. “We ain’t putting up with this place any longer!” Yelled one of the men, holding a wood maul in one hand and some kind of homemade brew in the other. This man was the first to die. Within a few steps from where he uttered those words, he froze in place, ceasing his movements, all of them. No breathing, no blinking, nothing. When the man collapsed, a frenzied panic broke out, part of the mob rushing towards the house in fury while a few misguided others charged the agent. He knew the same fate would not befall the ones focused on him so he would have to take care of the matter on his own.
Dodging and striking, Shade dispatched the few that dare challenge him. Though they could not harm him even if one of their weapons were to land a blow, he did not want them to mess up his suit. Even though he was faster than a human he was still in awe at the amount of people felled by the power of the man within the house. Shade had beaten five attackers down while twenty were slain in the same amount of time. The danger level of this man was one of the highest and most rare types, and now it was Shade’s turn to face him in person. As he walked passed the petrified corpses that had stopped in their tracks and died standing, Shade could see the culprits behind their deaths. They were called Starstriders due to the markings on their bodies which were a glossy black, peppered with shimmering spots that glistened like stars. They were also named this because they were not from this world, having hailed from the celestial recesses of the void beyond. Shade gritted his teeth and moved on, making his way to the wraparound porch containing the front door, stepping lightly to avoid angering the arachnids abound.
He paused at the door, his eyes surveying the dilapidated home. All of the windows were crudely boarded over as well as the other doors the granted entry into the house, leaving the front door the only way a person could enter. The wood creaked and strained, dust shuttered from any movement, and any glass remaining visible was fogged or mildewed, obscuring any visibility. “Please, do come in,” A raspy voice said, prompting Shade to grab the door handle and enter. His movements were slow and deliberate, knowing this place to house little more than death for most. He closed the door behind him, scanning the entryway for any hostels or traps.Though aged and neglected, the interior of the home was quite normal. Picture frames, furniture, dishes, it was all there just dusty and old. While eyeing the room, Shade spotted a singular spider in the middle of the hall before him, waving its front legs back and forth. He watched momentarily before it turned and slowly scurried ahead of him toward what seemed to be the kitchen, pausing to turn at the threshold and turning back around, waving its legs again. Shade sighed at the idea of following this creature but begrudgingly did so, entering the kitchen as watching as it clicked onward to the next room. WIth his focus on the spider, Shade entered the next room, watching the star covered beast move across the floor, stopping at the feet of the man he came to see, the man in the chair.
The figure was covered in white bandages from head to toe, wearing only a rob to dress his body. Shade knew that these weren’t just bandages even though the appearance was thus. They were made from spider silk, unlike any from this world. It served multiple purposes however it also hindered the man within from moving often, leaving him in the same spot for long periods, being fed sustenance by the alien arachnids when necessary, him being both host and body for them. “Long time, Weber,” Shade said, looking around the room, running a finger down the nearby door frame, rubbing the dust between his fingers. “Welcome to my home, Shade,” The bandaged man called Weber said, his head turning toward Shade though no eyes could be seen behind the wraps over them. “I would ask why you are here but I overheard you at the diner speaking to the humans. It seems you have lost something...or someone rather.” Shade nodded, having wondered whether or not one of Weber’s watchers had been at the diner, keeping tabs on the locals and collecting information. “Gale has gone missing,” Shade said with a serious tone, jumping right to the subject that brought him here, eager to leave as quickly as he arrived. “He has been absent for some time, much longer than acceptable.” Weber chuckled slightly at Shade, leaning his head back in his chair, spiders scurrying from behind to avoid the weight. “I did not know the great Agent Shade was capable of feeling fear,” Weber said, amused by this situation. “Clever as ever,” Weber said, leaning forward and resting his head on his wrapped hands, gazing down at the floor where his little workers roamed occasionally. “My eyes and ears are far reaching, within places most would be noticed or not be able to reach. You know this which is why you are here, seeking my aid to find your dear friend, though we be enemies. Why should I do this thing for you? What can you give me in return for my services?” Shade listened to the wicked words and remained quiet, deep in thought about the decisions he would have to make, the sacrifices to be made. The room was stilled by this quandary, not even the spiders dared stir so long as the silence remained.
“We want IZ,” Weber said seriously, turning his head in the direction of Shade, awaiting the man's response. “Done,” Shade said, without hesitation, coldly staring at the silk garbed figure. “IF you find Gale that is…” The response both tickled and taunted Weber, prompting him to rise from his chair. He raised his arms and the room began to grow dark, all surfaces being covered by the black bodied servants that the inhuman man commanded. Shade did not move, barely shifting his eyesight to watch in horror as the ceiling, walls and floors, windows and doorways were blotted out by the horde of spiders responding to their master. That was when Shade saw something he had not fathomed, something only his nightmares would contain, unfolding before him. The spiders were not moving towards Weber but from him, crawling out from the silken wraps, from every gap they could emerge. He was not even a man but a collection of these horrors bound together within the walls of a man shaped cocoon. “We will find you when have the location of the one you call Gale,” A fractured voice echoed from around Shade, resonating from multiple points as the body of Weber scattered and scuttled away, leaving the room void of any life except for the agents. Shade grimaced at this agreement yet he steeled himself and made his way outside, passed the now cocooned bodies of the locals, to his car left untouched by the mayhem and madness. Shakily, he lit up a stim and inhaled hard, holding the burn within his chest until it nearly choked him, angrily expelling the smoke before sitting in the driver's seat. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, disgusted with the deal he had just made, sick with anticipation as to what Weber, or rather those things, would find. He needed answers however so far all he had was a deal with a monster, leaving him in waiting, forcing him to travel southbound, towards the rotting swamps, the place where he knew for certain he would find answers.
It was ironic that, to find a recluse, Shade would have to seek a recluse. As he left the mountainous retreat where a hidden base lay in secret, he hoped that this journey would bear fruit. However, he also hoped the visit would end with the first stop, apprehensive as to the second candidate who hid in the wild recesses of the torn landscape within Louisiana. Hopefully, the man he sought in Oklahoma would provide him with enough information that he would not have to travel any further south. This trip would not come without a price and he would rather keep the damage and the debt down to one instead of two.
During these extensive trips, Shade made a habit of stopping at the roadside diners to collect information, listening for anything peculiar or out of place, and also to make sure the route was safe. Down this way, he would often hear familiar rumors, such as a chupacabra was terrorizing the farmlands, sightings of UFOs and crop circles, cattle mutilations, abductions and home invasions. The southern, and remote, areas were always infested or visited due to the sparse resistance factors, as if all of these beings separately knew where to go and what to watch out for while they went about their work. The cities, urban areas, and metropolis’ were a whole different scenario, containing all other manner of dark dealings and figures. He preferred the outlands more than the inner cities and industrial complexes when it came to jobs, leaving him room to move, not to mention far less collateral damage involving civilians and bystanders.
Nearing the first destination, Shade stopped at a local diner to listen and inquire about the area. Each person he sought had wards, of a sort, always giving them a warning or foresight of visitors, victims, and villains. He was unsure which category he would fall into given the nature of these hermits so he played safe and smart, toning down the usual recklessness and rampage he was known for among the agents. SItting down for a cup of hot coffee, Shade leaned back in the booth that backed against a wall, giving him sight over the whole location without leaving his rear exposed. He heard nothing during the first cup so when the waitress returned to pour a refill he spoke. “Is that old farmhouse still sitting off the east road not far from here?” He asked, taking a drink of the burnt bean water, wanting it only for its caffeine content He said it just loud enough to be heard across the room, watching without looking to see if any reacted to the words. The place drew quiet and the woman serving him nearly dropped the pot of coffee but did not withdraw. “You mean that place infested with spiders?” She asked, not waiting for him to respond. “Yes, sir. It’s still there.” She said no more and walked away, disappearing into the kitchen with her coworkers on her heels. Shade left a generous tip, finished the coffee, and left the shaken diner.
Shade lit up a stim and inhaled deeply, preparing himself for the encounter ahead. Leaning against his black vehicle, he watched as a few men exited the building, approaching him with haste. “You ought not go to that place, mister,” The worn, bearded man said with an agitated tone, spitting some chaw on the ground near Shade. “They say the devil lives in that house. You a devil worshipper?” Shade took a long drag, exhaling the odd colored smoke towards the man in return for his vulgar ways. “No, sir,” Shade replied, smiling wryly and looking at the other men in tow, all seemingly flustered by his inquiry. “The devil does not like me. I’m just looking for someone, and they may have stopped at that house. Have any of you seen any strangers travel through here? Maybe stop at the diner? How about any wolves roaming the area?” His words seemed to only anger the men further, watching as they loaded into a large diesel truck that bellowed smoke as furious as the occupants. “Stay away from that place, mister,” The man warned, leaning out the window of the cab. “You go on and get.” They burned rubber leaving the diner, racing out on the interstate, heading the very direction Shade was about to travel. He shook his head and finished his stim before setting out to the house where the devil dwells.
Upon arriving, Shade saw two things that always made him cringe. The first was an angry mob with torches and pitchforks, as cliche as that was the farmers in these areas were typically poor or rich depending on how they dealt with the corporations that sought to own all of the farmlands. The second was spiders. He hated those wretched little monsters more than any creature, including the devil. He had no positive memories when it came to them, and this time would most likely only further that disgust. There was no driveway and the hill leading up was littered with old equipment and vehicles, the majority of those pieces the only remnants left from those that strayed too close. The trucks the locals drove were no exceptions but the seemed hesitant to advance any further, until they saw Shade making his way up the hill. “We ain’t putting up with this place any longer!” Yelled one of the men, holding a wood maul in one hand and some kind of homemade brew in the other. This man was the first to die. Within a few steps from where he uttered those words, he froze in place, ceasing his movements, all of them. No breathing, no blinking, nothing. When the man collapsed, a frenzied panic broke out, part of the mob rushing towards the house in fury while a few misguided others charged the agent. He knew the same fate would not befall the ones focused on him so he would have to take care of the matter on his own.
Dodging and striking, Shade dispatched the few that dare challenge him. Though they could not harm him even if one of their weapons were to land a blow, he did not want them to mess up his suit. Even though he was faster than a human he was still in awe at the amount of people felled by the power of the man within the house. Shade had beaten five attackers down while twenty were slain in the same amount of time. The danger level of this man was one of the highest and most rare types, and now it was Shade’s turn to face him in person. As he walked passed the petrified corpses that had stopped in their tracks and died standing, Shade could see the culprits behind their deaths. They were called Starstriders due to the markings on their bodies which were a glossy black, peppered with shimmering spots that glistened like stars. They were also named this because they were not from this world, having hailed from the celestial recesses of the void beyond. Shade gritted his teeth and moved on, making his way to the wraparound porch containing the front door, stepping lightly to avoid angering the arachnids abound.
He paused at the door, his eyes surveying the dilapidated home. All of the windows were crudely boarded over as well as the other doors the granted entry into the house, leaving the front door the only way a person could enter. The wood creaked and strained, dust shuttered from any movement, and any glass remaining visible was fogged or mildewed, obscuring any visibility. “Please, do come in,” A raspy voice said, prompting Shade to grab the door handle and enter. His movements were slow and deliberate, knowing this place to house little more than death for most. He closed the door behind him, scanning the entryway for any hostels or traps.Though aged and neglected, the interior of the home was quite normal. Picture frames, furniture, dishes, it was all there just dusty and old. While eyeing the room, Shade spotted a singular spider in the middle of the hall before him, waving its front legs back and forth. He watched momentarily before it turned and slowly scurried ahead of him toward what seemed to be the kitchen, pausing to turn at the threshold and turning back around, waving its legs again. Shade sighed at the idea of following this creature but begrudgingly did so, entering the kitchen as watching as it clicked onward to the next room. WIth his focus on the spider, Shade entered the next room, watching the star covered beast move across the floor, stopping at the feet of the man he came to see, the man in the chair.
The figure was covered in white bandages from head to toe, wearing only a rob to dress his body. Shade knew that these weren’t just bandages even though the appearance was thus. They were made from spider silk, unlike any from this world. It served multiple purposes however it also hindered the man within from moving often, leaving him in the same spot for long periods, being fed sustenance by the alien arachnids when necessary, him being both host and body for them. “Long time, Weber,” Shade said, looking around the room, running a finger down the nearby door frame, rubbing the dust between his fingers. “Welcome to my home, Shade,” The bandaged man called Weber said, his head turning toward Shade though no eyes could be seen behind the wraps over them. “I would ask why you are here but I overheard you at the diner speaking to the humans. It seems you have lost something...or someone rather.” Shade nodded, having wondered whether or not one of Weber’s watchers had been at the diner, keeping tabs on the locals and collecting information. “Gale has gone missing,” Shade said with a serious tone, jumping right to the subject that brought him here, eager to leave as quickly as he arrived. “He has been absent for some time, much longer than acceptable.” Weber chuckled slightly at Shade, leaning his head back in his chair, spiders scurrying from behind to avoid the weight. “I did not know the great Agent Shade was capable of feeling fear,” Weber said, amused by this situation. “Clever as ever,” Weber said, leaning forward and resting his head on his wrapped hands, gazing down at the floor where his little workers roamed occasionally. “My eyes and ears are far reaching, within places most would be noticed or not be able to reach. You know this which is why you are here, seeking my aid to find your dear friend, though we be enemies. Why should I do this thing for you? What can you give me in return for my services?” Shade listened to the wicked words and remained quiet, deep in thought about the decisions he would have to make, the sacrifices to be made. The room was stilled by this quandary, not even the spiders dared stir so long as the silence remained.
“We want IZ,” Weber said seriously, turning his head in the direction of Shade, awaiting the man's response. “Done,” Shade said, without hesitation, coldly staring at the silk garbed figure. “IF you find Gale that is…” The response both tickled and taunted Weber, prompting him to rise from his chair. He raised his arms and the room began to grow dark, all surfaces being covered by the black bodied servants that the inhuman man commanded. Shade did not move, barely shifting his eyesight to watch in horror as the ceiling, walls and floors, windows and doorways were blotted out by the horde of spiders responding to their master. That was when Shade saw something he had not fathomed, something only his nightmares would contain, unfolding before him. The spiders were not moving towards Weber but from him, crawling out from the silken wraps, from every gap they could emerge. He was not even a man but a collection of these horrors bound together within the walls of a man shaped cocoon. “We will find you when have the location of the one you call Gale,” A fractured voice echoed from around Shade, resonating from multiple points as the body of Weber scattered and scuttled away, leaving the room void of any life except for the agents. Shade grimaced at this agreement yet he steeled himself and made his way outside, passed the now cocooned bodies of the locals, to his car left untouched by the mayhem and madness. Shakily, he lit up a stim and inhaled hard, holding the burn within his chest until it nearly choked him, angrily expelling the smoke before sitting in the driver's seat. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, disgusted with the deal he had just made, sick with anticipation as to what Weber, or rather those things, would find. He needed answers however so far all he had was a deal with a monster, leaving him in waiting, forcing him to travel southbound, towards the rotting swamps, the place where he knew for certain he would find answers.