Holiday Charity

'Brrr, tonight's another cold one,' you thought to yourself as you returned from some grocery shopping.  You quickly entered your parents' empty home and turned the heat up rid yourself of the chilly weather outside.  With your parents gone on the vacation that you had suggested, you had the home all to yourself for this winter break.  While you were glad they finally got a nice long break they deserved, you were a bit disappointed at how boring these recent days have been.  Most of your friends had yet to return since their semesters ran longer than yours.

Well, complaining won't do a damn thing so might as well kill some time.  You got yourself some warm blankets and made yourself a nice cup of cocoa before turning on the TV.  Some nostalgic Christmas specials were predictably playing and you reminisced about your childhood days where you would watch these with wonder.  Unfortunately, your remembrance was cut short as you heard some thuds coming from the basement.  What was that?  Some raccoons again?  A thief?

Quickly, you grabbed your trusty shotgun and made your way outside.  Apparently snow had been falling for some time, as the ground was covered by a good inch or two of it.  There were obvious numerous circular tracks leading to the entrance to the basement which had been forced open but not by any animal means.  Turning on the flashlight attached to the shotgun, you carefully made your way down the stairs.  "If anyone's there, this is a warning.  Please show yourself or I'll be forced to shoot."  No answer.

You carefully scanned the area with your heart pounding in your chest and mouth dry with fear.  Checking your corners, you entered the last room that would hold the intruder.  You could hear trembling and quiet, erratic breathing around the corner of the doorway.  You quickly passed through the door and shined the light on the culprit.  She quickly covered her six green eyes from the exposing and seemingly stinging glare of your tac light.  She was wearing extremely dirty and disheveled clothing... well at least on her human parts.  Everything below her hips was the abdomen and head of a black, chitinous spider.  Her arms, too, were covered in the black exoskeleton.  Her black hair was extremely greasy and messy and her face covered in dirty smudges.

"P-Please don't hurt me!  I'll leave, I'll leave!" she pleaded.
"Stay right where you are," you commanded.  What was an Arachne doing here?  It looked like she was homeless.  Probably broke into here to keep warm, you concluded.  What should you do?  Call the cops?  Just let her off?  As you looked up through the basement window, you saw that the snow was falling faster and would probably only get worse.  There's no way she'd make it long out there.  Pointing your gun away, you bid her to, "Get up, slowly."  She quickly complied.  You quickly ushered her out of the basement and into your home.

Fearing the worst situation, she collapsed in a heap on your living room floor, whimpering, "Please be gentle."  Giving her an insulted look, you quickly told her that you had not such intentions while handing her a cup of cocoa.  She stared warily at it before taking in small sips of the warm liquid.  You merely watched her in silence, rethinking if you were doing the right thing here.  Whatever, it's the holidays.  No one should be left out in the cold like that.

Minutes later, you bluntly told her to take a shower... well as best as she could manage in a human bathroom.  As she came back to you minutes later in the new clothes that you had set out, you cooked up a simple but filling dinner for her.  After she received an unnecessary nod of approval from you, she quickly cleaned her plate with her obvious and ravenous hunger.  Soon after the meal, you led her to a guest bedroom and advised her to get some rest.  You soon heard her snores as you yourself were going to bed.

You awoke early next morning to prepare breakfast for the both of you.  As you finished setting the food and plates out, you went to awaken your guest.  You were confused as you opened the since, while you could hear her snores, the bed was visibly empty.  Following the source of the sound, you finally realized she had spun a web covering the ceiling and was suspended from it and still sleeping.  You quickly plucked a few strands close to you, causing her to awake with a start and fall onto the bed.  Letting out a quick chuckle, you informed her that breakfast was ready.

Moments later she arrived at the table but didn't begin to eat.
"Not hungry?" you inquired.
A pause.  "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you... just take me in?"
"Well, I can't leave someone outside to freeze to death.  Especially when it's so close to Christmas."  She merely let out a small 'Oh' in response.  "Plus, with my parents gone I've been lonely, so I wanted at least some company."  This time she gave a timid but cute little smile.  "Don't be shy and eat up."  For the next few days, your guest warmed up to you as you two continued to be together.  You two even began to watch those Christmas special reruns, bundled together on the couch while sipping cocoa.

On Christmas Eve, you received a call from your parents.  Unfortunately, logistics had not been in their favor so they wouldn't be home for another 4 days.  You assured them that you were fine and also told them about your current guest situation.  Luckily, they gave no mind to your display of good will.

Close to midnight that evening while you two were enjoying each others company while watching TV, your arachne friend gave an awkward clear of her throat.
"I-I know it's a little bit early... but here," she said while nervously outstretching her arms to present a wrapped gift.  "It's not much, and it doesn't even come close to what you've already done for me... but I really hope you like it."
You gave her a heartfelt 'Thank you' and proceeded to excitedly open the wrappings.  Inside laid a perfectly stitched and tailored snow white sweater.  While you were no connoisseur of threaded goods, you could easily tell the beauty and craftsmanship of the cloth.  "Did you... make this?"  She nodded, face crimson and looking right at you.  "It's... beautiful," you said with a genuine smile.  As you quickly donned the unbelievably comfortable and smooth gift, you in turn produced a small envelope.  "Please, my gift to you."
She carefully took the slip and opened it.  From the inside she pulled out a key.  She only looked at it briefly before looking back at you, tears forming at each of her eyes.  "Don't lose it," you said, carefree, before she pulled you in and you kissed each other.