Chapter 98

"Herman," I yelled. "You have to help me!"

He let out a small yelp when he saw me charging him. The rubber hose now aimed at me, and I skidded to a stop, breathless.

"Please. You have to come with me. There's too many spiders out there." My arms prickled with a creepy-crawly sensation, as though what I had just said was true.

His grip on the hose tightened. I wished he would aim it somewhere else. "Where are they?"

"Right outside. The roots will lead you out. I'll be right behind you."

He slid a glance at the cage in front of him. "What about One and Two? Our Trammeler gave me orders..."

"Never mind them. I'm the Trammeler now, and I'm ordering you to help me by killing those spiders." The volume of my voice sent showers of dirt raining onto both of us. My breaths hitched, but I held my trembling fear in my fists and stabbed it to death with my fingernails.

Sweat beaded all over his face. He ticked his gaze between me and the cage.