Chapter 2 He licked her calves, but his eyes never left her...
When Catherine opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a huge cave surrounded by rocky cliffs.
She raised her eyelids and looked at the cave above her. Because there was no light, the top was shrouded in darkness, and she couldn't see what it looked like at all.
In fact, not only the top, but most of the cave interior, except for the area near the entrance, was dark. The cave she was in was enormous and incredibly tall; the sunlight filtering through the entrance was simply insufficient to illuminate the entire cave.
Catherine struggled to prop herself up; the numbness in her hands and feet inevitably distracted her.
She found that her movements were far less agile than when she was conscious, suggesting that her previous unconsciousness was most likely due to toxins she had ingested at some point. And now, it was clear that the toxins hadn't been completely metabolized, with some still remaining in her body.
After finally sitting up, Catherine took a breath. The air that entered her nostrils was exceptionally moist, carrying a fishy smell reminiscent of the seaside.
She looked back at the rock wall behind her and saw that the sharp rocks were covered with water droplets. Because sunlight couldn't penetrate, the entire cave was cold and damp.
The cold and damp environment is truly a perfect nest for spiders.
However, this is not a pleasant environment for humans. It is already early September, and the summer heat is slowly fading. If they stay in this nest for too long, it is only a matter of time before they lose too much body heat.
The alien spider probably anticipated this, which is why it placed two thick layers of animal fur beneath Catherine. Beneath the fur was a layer of hard, grayish-black shell.
Not only below, but a section of the rock beside her was also covered by a hard shell, just above her head.
Catherine had examined it closely; it was an extremely hard shell, with an uneven, rough surface, likely from some kind of large crustacean. The hard shell effectively kept out moisture underneath, allowing the fur to remain dry in such an environment.
It's hard to believe that all of this was set up by alien spiders.
A strange feeling welled up in Catherine's heart. This was not the kind of treatment a grain reserve should receive.
She struggled to move herself to the edge of the rock, trying to walk down and explore deeper into the cave. However, before she could successfully climb over the rock, she heard a slight noise outside.
Catherine was startled and immediately realized that the alien spider had returned. She quickly closed her eyes and lay back down.
Even in her initial state upon entering the Devil's Forest, she wasn't confident she could escape the clutches of that alien spider. Now, the remaining toxins in her body mean it would take her a considerable amount of time to even reach the cave entrance.
Catherine could only pretend to be asleep and observe the alien spider's next move. If it saw her as food...
She thought that perhaps she could only give up struggling and wait for death to come.
The rustling sound drew closer, accompanied by the dragging of a heavy object on the ground. Catherine realized that the alien spider had gone out hunting.
The prey must have been quite large. The moment it was brought into the cave, a strong stench of blood immediately filled the entire cave.
The smell was nauseating, but she endured it, afraid that the spider would discover that she was actually awake.
Her thoughts raced through her mind for a while, and when she came to her senses, she found that the cave had been quiet for quite some time.
The tiny rustling sounds of the spider moving had ceased sometime ago. The cave was so quiet that one could almost hear the viscous sound of the prey's blood slowly flowing from its body.
Although Catherine was reluctant to admit it, under intense emotional pressure, she could sense something lurking in the shadows, watching her. If nothing unexpected happened, it was the spider.
Before she realized it, everything seemed normal. But now, his gaze was so intense, and even though it was intangible, it made her feel her skin burning.
Catherine's breathing became uncontrollably rapid, and she couldn't help but wonder if he was considering which direction to start his kiss.
When she was a nun at the Vatican, she would occasionally experience this kind of "choice paralysis" when faced with delicious food.
"Ah...!" Catherine exclaimed in surprise. But no matter what, she never expected that she would suddenly be lifted into the air the next second.
Catherine felt her body rising rapidly, but her heart remained underground. The intense feeling of weightlessness brought uncontrollable terror and fear, causing her brain to spin and her heart to race.
Catherine finally couldn't help but open her eyes.
But the spider didn't spare her a single glance. Perhaps her clumsy "lie" had already been seen through while he was quietly watching her.
Catherine was placed on the carapace of the alien spider. He was looking down, his long, thick eyelashes obscuring his gaze, making it impossible for her to see where he was looking.
Putting aside the current context, this spider undoubtedly has a stunning face.
Unlike the people of Vilandel, who all possessed gentle, affectionate faces, he seemed more like a human from the other side of Skarinta.
His sharp features seemed sculpted by wind and frost, his long and narrow face exuding indifference and restraint. His thin nose was high and straight, and his thin lips below were as pale as a plaster statue.
Ironically, this face has a pair of red pupils, the color of blood left to stand in the air for a while, carrying the aggression and invasiveness of a wild beast.
Coldness and intensity, restraint and madness—extreme contradictions merge into a face that is unforgettable at first glance.
Catherine hesitated, trying to come up with a suitable opening line. But before she could think of one, the alien spider suddenly grabbed her calf and pulled her towards him.
He was so strong that he moved her forward.
Catherine's eyes widened, her hands frantically groping for something on her back armor beneath her, thinking she should grab onto something to hold herself in place. But before she could find anything, the dragging stopped abruptly.
Catherine watched as the alien spider lowered its head in front of her, its icy breath sending shivers down her spine.
A strange feeling rose in Catherine's heart, and she subconsciously tried to pull her leg away. However, not only did she fail to break free, the hand holding her calf tightened its grip even more.
The alien spider raised its eyelids and looked at itself, its red, beastly eyes filled with the aggression typical of wild animals.
He just stared at himself, then stuck out his tongue and licked her wound.
A bright red, snake-like tongue clung to Catherine's snow-white skin, creating a stimulating visual experience.
Even though the alien spider was licking its own calves, its eyes never left her face. Catherine had a fleeting feeling that the tongue was licking her own face.
A damp, itchy sensation spread across her legs, which was quite uncomfortable. But fearing that excessive struggling would arouse the spider's appetite, Catherine tried her best to restrain the urge to pull her legs back.
Catherine rolled her eyes, scanning the inside of the cave, trying to find something to distract herself and pass the time. Unfortunately, the cave was completely empty; there wasn't even a single creature to stare at.
She could only control her breathing and try to keep it calm.
Try to look on the bright side; at least her legs are still there. This alien spider seems to be only trying to lick her skin, not to eat—or, to be even more optimistic, perhaps it had already filled its stomach before returning.
This went on for an unknown amount of time, until the alien spider had licked every wound on her legs before it finally ended. For Catherine, this was nothing short of torture.
Catherine almost frantically pulled her leg back, the unbearable itch still lingering at the wound. She reached out to scratch it, but when she touched her skin, she discovered that the wound on her leg had already scabbed over.
She recalled the wounds she had sustained from the thorn bushes; they were not only large but also very deep.
Such wounds are very difficult to heal quickly without a healing spell—which, of course, Catherine doesn't know. Within the Papacy, only archbishops have the right to learn magic.
Could it be that this alien spider was healing her just now?
Catherine looked up at the alien spider in disbelief. But to her surprise, he hadn't looked away. When she looked up, she bumped right into the spider's eyes.
Her red, beastly eyes widened and narrowed instantly, and she seemed to see a transparent nictitating membrane slide across his eyes.
The alien spider suddenly lunged forward, instantly closing the distance between them. Catherine felt as if she were imprisoned in his arms, surrounded by his scent.
She quickly lowered her eyes, trying to calm her fear and put on a calm demeanor.
Catherine remembered that when she was a child, an older nun had told her that she should never make eye contact with wild animals in the wild, as it would put her in extreme danger.
But the nun didn't say what to do if they accidentally made eye contact.
Catherine was now stuck on the spider's carapace, caught in a dilemma, when she heard a sound coming from the empty cave.
Catherine clutched her stomach, her face flushing red. Even though the person opposite her wasn't her own kind, she still felt somewhat embarrassed.
But apart from the sumptuous "last supper" she ate before entering the Devil's Forest, she did not eat for at least a day afterward, not including the time she was unconscious.
The fact that her stomach only started to complain at this point shows how incredibly sensible she is.
The alien spider released her. Although he might not have meant it that way, Catherine felt there was a hint of mockery in the alien spider's gaze.
The alien spider placed Catherine back in her original spot and used its legs to push the bloody prey on the ground toward her.
"Is this for me?" Catherine asked, pointing to herself in confusion.
The spider didn't react for a moment before nodding. It seemed to be taking some time to understand what Catherine meant.
Catherine's eyes flickered. A thought flashed through her mind: it seemed he was communicative and not a completely unintelligent beast.
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