Free House of Memories by Benjamin Hulme-Cross, Nelson Evergreen Page A

can’t help you. Edgar can’t help you either,” Arak called to Mary. “Don’t you think it’s time you came back inside?”
    Mary walked back into the house. Edgar sat frozen in his chair.
    It looked like Arak had gone. Mary looked round. She could not see her anywhere.
    But she saw something else.
    Mary’s blood ran cold, and she dropped the sack onto Edgar’s lap.
    Something huge was coming out of a dark corner.

Chapter 6
Spider
    The thing was very big. It had long, thin legs like broomsticks. Its body looked like a mass of black bristles. It had small red eyes and two long, curved, black fangs.
    It was a giant spider.

    The spider came towards Mary. Its hairy legs scraped on the floor as it moved.
    â€œI’m glad you came back, my dear!” The monster spoke with Arak’s voice. Arak was not a person – she was a spider demon!
    Mary couldn’t speak. Just like Edgar and Mr Blood, she was under Arak’s spell. They were all trapped like flies in the spider’s web.

    Arak the spider came to the table. Edgar’s eyes were wide with fear.
    The spider laughed. “Who shall I eat first?” she asked. Neither of the children could speak. “I think I will begin with Edgar.”
    Mary began to cry.
    Arak’s two front legs reached out until they scraped against the table. Her sharp fangs were very close to Edgar’s face.
    â€œYou two are mine!” Arak hissed.
    Something hissed back at her.
    Mr Blood’s sack was still on Edgar’s lap. Something shot out of it, like an arrow. It was a snake.
    Arak had no time to move away. The snake hit her in the head. It sunk its fangs between her eyes.

    She screamed. Her legs thrashed around, knocking Edgar over.
    The snake kept biting. Arak began to slow down. The snake’s bite was killing her.
    Arak’s spell broke as she died. Edgar and Mary could move again.

    The door opened. Mr Blood was outside. The spell on him was broken too.
    Edgar and Mary ran past him, out of the door and out into the night.

Chapter 7
Later
    Mary and Edgar waited in the wood for Mr Blood.
    Some time later, Mr Blood came out of the house. He went up to the children. For a long while they stood still, without saying anything.
    Mr Blood spoke first. “Arak lied to you. She wasn’t like a mother to you. She had a spell on you both. She wanted to make you her slaves. I broke the spell and took you away. She hated me for that.”
    â€œWhy did you bring us back here?” Edgar asked.
    â€œShe still had power over you both,” said Mr Blood. “Now you are free.”

    â€œI know this was hard for you,” Mr Blood told them. “But we all have to face our own demons one day. I thought you were ready to face Arak.”
    Edgar and Mary looked up at the Dark Hunter. He smiled at them.
    â€œAnd I was right,” he said.

Copyright © 2013 A & C Black
    This electronic edition published in April 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing
    Text copyright © 2013 Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Illustrations copyright © 2013 Nelson Evergreen
    First published 2013 by
A & C Black
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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