Madam Octa 2

The spider began moving when it saw and heard the goat. It crept to the edge of the table, where it stopped, as if awaiting an order. Mr. Crepsley produced a shiny tin whistle — he called it a flute — from his pants pocket and blew a few short notes. Madam Octa immediately leaped through the air and landed on the goat’s neck.

The goat gave a leap when the spider landed, and began bleating loudly. Madam Octa took no notice, hung on, and moved a few inches closer to the head. When she was ready, she bared her fangs and sunk them deep into the goat’s neck!

The goat froze and its eyes went wide. It stopped bleating and, a few seconds later, toppled over. I thought it was dead, but then realized it was still breathing.

***

“The goat is paralyzed,” he said. “I have trained Madam Octa not to kill outright with her first bite. The goat would die in the end, if we left it — there is no cure for Madam Octa’s bite — but we shall finish it quickly.” He blew on the flute and Madam Octa moved up the goat’s neck until she was standing on its ear. She bared her fangs again and bit. The goat shivered, then went totally still.

It was dead.

***

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare, Chapter 12