Killing Jar

Their sneakers shuffled on the aging wood. “You asked where I got ‘em,” said Elias, brandishing the mayonnaise jar. “They live in here. It’s where I’d live, if I was a spider.” He pointed to a crevice between the stairs. “There’s one in there. Go get her.”

Billy stepped forward. Elias’ smile was wide and thin-lipped. Billy swallowed and unscrewed his own jar.

“Be careful,” Elias said. “She’s poisonous.”

Billy thought he could see movement. Upstairs, there was a thump. Both boys looked up. Strands of web drifted down, rope-thick, and something bulky and angular dragged onto the landing overhead…