Arachnophobia (Yandere Arachne x Reader)

Acrophobia

Trigger warning: Mild Body Horror and altercations

~Arachnophobia~

"Hey, you, woman...get up."

A light smack to the face caused Penelope to shoot up, her eyes crackling open to odd purple hues, the palette of a late evening sky. It was the most beautiful she'd ever seen, for the stars swam so iridescently within it. No light pollution hazed the sights before her revealing only the endless atmosphere that lay above. Leisurely, she turned her head, eyes fixated on the human face before her. Aching in all the wrong places, Penelope squinted, causing the man's patience to run thin as he studied her.

"Thank God, you're finally up...Tell me, do you remember how you got here? Anything after the wreck?" He questioned her urgently.

She held a hand against her head, a throbbing migraine already overtaking her as she tried to remember what had happened. A wreck...there'd been a wreck, a great one and now...now-

She groaned, her eyes watering as she searched for what to say. Much to her chagrin, Penelope couldn't remember a thing after that awful experience, for whatever horrid memories were trapped within her retreated back into the recesses of her mind. Thinking harder upon the tragedy, she suddenly grasped upon who stood before her.

"Doctor?"

The physician smiled if only for a brief second.

"Well, at least you recognize me. My name is Xavier Hawkstetter, and I'm a medical official. I healed you from your injuries before the ship crashed." He stated coolly, almost callously, Penelope noted.

Sena, right...she'd almost forgotten about that attack given everything else that had happened. Whatever had been wrong with the older woman, Penelope didn't even know if she wanted that answer; one monster was enough for a lifetime after all.

"Yes, thank you Xavier. I'm Penelope, though, just Penny is fine." The red head held her hand out, waiting for him to take it until it became apparent, he wouldn't. Shrugging, she put her hand back down.

The air had become thick between the two as they stared at one another, searching for answers that both knew the other didn't have. Paranoia became palpable, a tension so suffocating that it could be cut with a knife, though the anxiety that plagued Penelope was even worse. Taking his time to breathe, Xavier cleared his throat.

"You're the first person I've seen since the wreck. Penelope, I know it's a stretch, but do you know anything about this predicament we've found ourselves in?" He asked her, rubbing at his slightly stubbled chin with an index finger.

Gruffly, she brushed her hair back.

"If I did, I'd already told you. Last thing I remember is banging my head against the floor after some bastard pushed me over, you?"

Amber eyes faced forward, his gaze looking pass the woman and into the dark woods behind them. "I could say just about the same. I don't remember much other than..." Xavier took ahold of his chest, coughing repeatedly. A tightness held its boney grip within his chest, squeezing his lungs as he fell into the sand.

"Hey! Doctor? Doctor?!" Penelope took a firm hold of the man, patting his back as he continued his coughing fit, concern etched unto her features. Finally, as breathing became easier for Xavier, a placid smile came to his face as if to show her not to worry.