As hours stretched on, an uneasy calm settled within the cave. The spiders, having fulfilled their protective role, remained a silent presence within Mary's consciousness.
Outside the cave, the drug men had regrouped, their determination fueled by frustration. Voices could be heard, their muttered discussions carried through the shadows as they strategized their next move. Mary's heightened senses picked up these fragments of conversation, the tension in the air palpable as both sides considered their options.
It was only when the drug men returned that the real threat became apparent. The distant sound of their approach grew louder, accompanied by a disturbing hiss that cut through the depths of the cave. As the drug men reemerged, a menacing silhouette emerged – a man wielding a flamethrower, flames dancing menacingly at its nozzle.
Mary's heart raced as she sensed the imminent danger, and the panic of thousands of spiders. In a swift and decisive motion, she recalled her arachnid minions, not willing to sacrifice them to the onslaught of fire. The former guardians retreated, leaving the entrance clear of their presence.
Making their way inside, the drug men advanced with their fiery weapon. The flamethrower's flame still danced hungrily, but the spiders were no longer there to be consumed.
Mary and Juan understood that their refuge was no longer safe. It was crucial to delve deeper into the labyrinthine passages, to put some distance between themselves and their dangerous followers.
Guided by their survival instincts, Mary pressed deeper into the heart of the cave. Blind in total darkness, Juan could just trust and follow Mary's guidance. Amidst the eerie silence, Mary's strategic mind went to work. She spotted a narrow corridor ahead, recognizing its potential for their advantage. Quickly, she stretched her silk cords into an intricate web-like blockade, stretching it across the entire corridor. They wasted no time in continuing their way.
As the drug men approached the narrow corridor and Mary's net, their machetes met with unexpected resistance. The threads were impressively robust. The sturdy silk cords barely yielded to their machetes, and even the devouring flames of the flamethrower struggled to defeat the tough threads.
Mary's calculated maneuver granted them a precious gift – time. Their optimism was soon tempered, as they found themselves in a large chamber with no exit. The ceiling was high, but the room revealed no visible exit. Juan's turned on his flashlight and exploring the room. But it looked like they were trapped.
The drug men's relentless determination finally yielded a breakthrough. With a triumphant surge, they overcame the tenacious threads that had granted Mary and Juan crucial moments of respite. Despite their valiant efforts, Mary and Juan found themselves increasingly cornered, their options dwindling as the drug men inexorably closed in.
As the taunts and footsteps grew louder and Juan could finally hear them clearly, the first men reached the entrance to the room. Without hesitation and a warning, he unleashed a torrent of gunfire. The deafening cracks reverberated off the cave's walls as the projectiles whizzed dangerously close to Mary and Juan, narrowly missing their mark. Juan's agonized cry pierced the air as pain seared through his leg, the impact of a bullet knocking him off balance. Mary quickly grabbed him before he went down. Her heart raced with a mixture of fear and anger, her protective instincts coming to life as she watched her companion suffer.
With a skillful movement, a white cord shot out from the palm of her free hand. With uncanny precision, its projectile slammed into the shooter's chest. The force of the impact was enough to send him flying backwards several feet, his weapon falling from his grasp as he hit the ground.
Once more Mary reached out and shot out a web, covering the entire entrance with thick white strings. Again she played for time to check on Juan and plan her next move.