Crap,what did he just say? She wondered silently when she noticed him stop talking.Just laugh and hope that's right. "Ha ha ha," she laughed girlishly.

Her date, Carl, smiled back at her, obviously pleased with himself for amusing her."Hey, you wanna get out of here?" he asked softly, leaning in slightly and placing his hand on her knee.

Dani's entire body tensed. She did want to get out of there, but not necessarily with him. Carl was a sweet guy, funny and charming, parenthetically cute as well,but she knew in her heart that she was in no place emotionally to "get out of here" with any guy. Not yet.

Dani quickly moved her knee, tucking both legs under the small table in front of her. "It's actually a little late for me, and I have to work tomorrow."

"But the night is young," Carl said playfully.

"Well I'm not. If I don't get my full 8 hours of sleep, I can't function the next day. It's a sign of getting old."

"Aren't you 26? Or was that part of your personal ad a little white lie?"

"NoI am 26, but a very old 26. I'm usually in bed every night by this time, with face cream on and curlers in my hair."

"Sexy!"Carl said with a smile.

Good banter she thought though. She certainly appreciated the verbal foreplay, but knew that it was time to leave. "That's me. Ms. Sexy," she stated sarcastically before grabbing her glass and downing the remaining bit of her mixed drink. "OK, Mr. Sexy. I really need to go now if I want to catch the Tram."

She glanced back at her date and saw him grinning sheepishly. "OK. At least let me drive you to the station. I'm parked right out front."

Dani contemplated denying his offer, but acquiesced when she thought of the bus to train to Tram travel she would have to endure otherwise. She stood to leave and felt oddly lightheaded. As she began to walk the floor of the bar felt as if it were made from stretched nylon on a trampoline. She struggled for amusing moment to gain her composure, surprised by how intently the two mixed drinks had affected her. She thought back and realized that she had not really had dinner, only a quick snack of shrimp crackers at home while she dressed for her date. The vodka on her empty stomach must have been a bit more than her petite frame could handle.

As she swayed slightly, she felt Carl's hands around her waist guiding her gently.  Her mind drifted a bit as she reveled in the sensation of a man's strong hands on her body once again. She didn't want to enjoy his touch as much as she did, but it had been a long time since she had touched, or had been touched, by any man. Carl was the first man she had gone out with on a date since A.J. and she had broken up, or more accurately, since she had broken up with A.J. It was the right decision to be made, as he was not ready for a relationship, but that didn't make it any easier for her to get over. She loved him with all her heart, and the fact that he wasn't ready to love her the someway made leaving him the most difficult thing she had ever done.

Through the haze of her vodka soaked mind's eye, Dani initially thought that the sight of A.J. standing a mere five feet in front of her, was only due to the fact that he she had just been thinking of him. As she took another step, guided by Carl was, she suddenly realized that A.J.'s countenance before her wasn't a trick of her mind, or wishful thinking, but a real-life, flesh and blood, fresh hell that she was slowly walking toward, while drunk and guided by a stranger. Her body once again tensed from head to toe, as she started to turn her back and guide Carl in another direction. Before she could make her move, A.J. looked up from the man to whom he was talking, and locked eyes with Dani.

Dani attempted to smile casually, but the alcohol in her system made her physically unable from controlling her features. Sending a conscious direction to her facial muscles, smile damn you! She thought as A.J. stepped away from his friend and took the 5 steps to be face to face with her.

"Funny running into you here," A.J. said playfully.

"Of all the bars in all the world."

A.J.smiled awkwardly. "I was just talking about you earlier tonight. We went and saw the new Mamet play, and I mentioned how much you used to love Mamet."

"I still do," Dani said, realizing that she was slightly slurring her words.Before she could attempt to say anything else a young lady sidled up next to A.J. and wrapped her arm around the small of his back and whispered something in his ear.

A.J.smiled and motioned his finger toward Dani. "Vickie, this is Dani. We dated a while back." Eight months ago! Dani thought  "She's the one I told you about." What have you been telling this whore of a skank about me?" This is my girlfriend, Vickie."

Dani extended her hand, realizing it felt amazingly heavy, as every fiber of her existence fought to keep from crying. Vickie took Dani's offered hand and shook it with one solid pump. Dani cringed feeling how bony and ice cold Vickie's hand was.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Dani said politely wanting to turn and run away.

A.J.'s face twisted into a confused expression. "What was that?" he asked

"I said it's a pleasure to meet you." Dani stated again, raising her voice,suddenly realizing that the words were not coming out at alas she intended.Instead of a calm, icy tone, her words were garbled and slurred. Before Dani could attempt to say another word, Carl stepped from behind her and supported her increasingly weak and heavy body with his by placing her arm around his back.

"Hi,I'm Carl, Dani's boyfriend." Dani smiled at her knight in shining armor as he came to her rescue, saving her from embarrassment.  "I'm afraid Dani and I have been celebrating tonight and I think she's had tee many martoonis. I'm going to take her home now, but it was a pleasure meeting both of you." Carl shook both A.J. and Vickie's hands before all but carrying Dani's offered out of the bar like so much luggage.

Her legs were like limp pasta and her head had become a boulder threatening to roll off and down the slopes of her body at any moment. She was not only weak from the drinks, but seeing A.J. again, with another woman, had drained her will to move and speak. She was shell, unable to be happy with anyone, even as someone as charming and chivalrous as Carl, while A.J. was out seeing Mamet plays with some new woman. Happily moving on with his life. Dani wanted to cry as she realized that it wasn't that A.J. was not ready for a relationship, rather he did not want a relationship with her. She had spent so much time convincing herself that A.J. may grow up and realize that Dani was the right woman for him, and he would realize the error of his ways before he came running back to Dani, in the rain, clutching a dozen red roses. She knew that the probability was low, but the chance had always existed. Seeing him, happy and whispery with his new girlfriend, Dani knew that she had been a dating foot note in the book of A.J.'s love life.

Dani snapped back to reality, realizing she had drifted off and lost track of her location. Carl was opening his car door and putting her in the back seat. She felt the cold leather seats against her skin and felt her skin burn as Carl pulled her roughly along the seat. Her head swam, darting in and out of consciousness from moment to moment. At one point Dani was alone in the darkened back seat of the car, lying on her side. The next she was sitting upright with Carl by her side. She attempted to speak and heard her voice trickle out in murmurs and slurs. She again lost time, as at one moment Carl was typing a text message on his phone, and a split second later she could feel both of his large, strong hands pushing up her skirt and tugging at her panties. Dani shook her head slowly and tried to raise her hands, but felt as if she had sand bags strapped to her wrists. Confused by his actions, Dani tried to rationalize. When there was no believable reason for his movements, Dani realized what was truly happening. She attempted to scream out no and rape but her words came out as low, guttural whimpers of fear. Carl had pulled her panties down slightly and she could feel his rough and calloused hands prying her legs apart. Dani's stomach began to churn as she felt his fingers inching up her inner thigh. Carl began whispering comforting words in Dani's ear in a soft tone, as if talking to a child or attempting to coax a frightened animal.

You are not going to let this happen, a voice in Dani's head demanded. This man is going to get nothing from you. Nothing. Now make it stop. Now!

Dani once again tried to raise her hands and her knees in defense but was frightened by her inability to control her own body. Dani knew there was no way two drinks had incapacitated her to such an extent, empty stomach or no. She once again tried to scream at him, or scream so anyone could hear, but the sound came out a garbled choke. Make it stop! the voice demanded again. Make it stop now! Dani began to attempt to speak once more, this time feeling the bile rise in her throat. Unable to move her arms or legs, she was, however able to lurch forward, her head falling across Carl's back. She felt her stomach lurch and immediately tasted vomit in her throat. Suddenly, without provocation, Dani's mouth flew open as the two drinks and partially digested salty snack spewed from her throat, spilling across Carl's neck and hair.

Dani's eyes opened to see Carl shoot up, his expression conveying shock and disgust at the warm vomit covering his head. Carl made angry noises as he wiped his head with the sleeve of his shirt. Dani felt her head slightly clear, relieved by expelling the contents in her stomach. Although her vision was still blurred and her head was swimming, Dani could suddenly once again feel her limbs. She forced her hand to rise to the handle of the car door and with all the force she could muster, she rolled out of the car, falling face first into the wet pavement.

"You stupid bitch!" she heard. Through the haze and glare of the streetlights, Dani could make out the faint outline of Carl's body rounding the car and coming toward her. Dani attempted to move, trying to rise to her feet to defend herself or run away, more likely the latter, if she had been able to move in time. Luckily she had to do neither as Carl simply stepped over her and sat in the front seat of the car. "You stupid, fucking bitch!" he screamed again before starting the car and driving off abruptly.

Dani waited for the tail lights to disappear before she pushed herself up. Shakily Dani rose to her feet and stood still, attempting to get used to the feeling of balancing her body upon her shaky legs. With trepidation she slowly took a small step and swelled with pride when she was able to stay upright. With one baby step at a time, Dani slowly began to walk, shielding her eyes from the painful glow of the streetlights above. She wasn't sure where she was, but began walking toward the sight and sound of traffic. Her body was shaking and her mind racing as she attempted to plan where she would go and what she would do.

Rounding the corner, Dani saw the illuminated sign for the Roosevelt Island Tram directly across the street. Her heart swelled as she felt her eyes well with tears. She had never been so happy to see the sign for the Tram in her life. Normally she despised the slow, dangling boxcar as a mode of transportation, but at that moment it was the most beautiful stroke of good luck she had ever seen.Dani Broke into a staggered, awkward run and crossed the street. She pushed through the door to the station and saw the Tram doors open, dutifully waiting for her. Dani pushed forward barely making her way through the entrance before the doors slid closed behind her.

Dani threw her body into the seat and laid her head against the back wall breathing deeply. She attempted to collect herself, willing her body to stop shaking as the Tram began to shake, departing from the station. The Tram slowly rose on the cables, carrying her across the East River and slowly toward home.

Home. Dani smiled with anticipation at the idea of being able to walk through her front door, see her dog, and curl under the Velux blanket on her sofa. The comforts of her small apartment had never seemed so inviting. She concentrated on images from her apartment to calm her causing her muscled to relax and stop shaking. Dani's eyes fluttered and closed as the chemicals coursing through her veins once again began to overtake her. Every bit of fear, tension, pain and anger started to dissipate from her heart as she fell into alight sleep.

They say that dreams only come during the R.E.M. state of a deep sleep, but Dani, despite her nearly wakened state, began to have a vivid dream. She was once again in the canopy bed she slept in as a child. The blankets smelled of fabric softener and a gentle breeze pushed through the open window bringing in what she had referred to as a child "fuzzies," the delicate tendrils of those puffball flowers that popped up everywhere in the summer. Outside the window her wind chime softly played a cacophonous, yet soothing melody. Although the scene was beautiful and comforting, Dani knew that there was something under her bed. She curled her body into a ball in the middle of the bed, tucking her feet under her nightgown, knowing that if she moved from the center of the bed that she would be taken away. Something was there waiting. Watching and waiting for her to move so that it could grab her and take her to its cave. How she knew that the thing lived in a cave was inexplicable, but she was irrefutably aware that if she moved, she would be drug off to a cave from which she wouldn't return.

Dani awoke with a start due to a noise. Shaking once again, Dani scanned the Tram for the source of the noise. For the first time she noticed that she was not alone in the carriage. An elderly man, obviously homeless by the state of his clothes and filthy appearance, was sleeping at the opposite end of the Tram. His arms hung limp at his sides, his mouth hanging open, as his head slowly lobbing from side to side in tune with the movement of the hanging carriage. On the floor next to the man was a briefcase. Dani noticed it primarily because it was like one she had only seen in movies. It was not a collapsible, rolling suitcase like the majority of people in the world owned, but a very old-fashioned, hard shell case with a handle. The kind on which a regular traveler would have once placed stickers of the destinations he had traveled.The case she saw bore no stickers; rather scuff marks and streaks of dirt. It lay open, standing on its side, the few contents inside strung on the floor. A pair of gabardine slacks and a white shirt was visible, along with a slue of shredded newspaper which spilled out into a trail more than three feet from the case.

Dani raised her hands to her eyes to rub them in an attempt to stay awake. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, Dani heard a succession of indefinable noises,immediately recognizing them as the sounds that had awoken her. It was a rapid click-clack like several screwdrivers being jabbed into sheet metal. Dani tensed, fearing there was something mechanically wrong with the Tram. She recalled a recent story in the news, before she had moved to Roosevelt Island, where the Tram had stalled in the middle of the cable, leaving passengers suspended above the river for hours. All Dani wanted was to be home, in her bed, safe and fast asleep. She wanted, no needed the Tram to arrive on the island safely, so she could walk the two blocks to her front door. She was so close to being home, but feared she was farther than she thought.

Dani heard the noise again and looked up, attempting to find the source. She wished she could see through to the wheels and cables above her to prove to herself that nothing was wrong. As Dani stared upward, the movement of a dark shape caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She quickly turned her head back toward the direction of the sleeping man but the fast movement of head caused her eyes to once again swim, making her have to concentrate to focus clearly. When her eyes finally rested on the man, all she could see at first was a dark shape near the man's calf. The shape moved slowly and began to ascend the man's leg. Dani forced herself to focus, fairly assured that her mind was processing the information incorrectly. Her breath began to come in ragged gasps as she finally made out the details of the moving item.

It resembled a crab, but slightly more narrow. It had eight legs like a spider,but each leg began thick and powerfully then tapered to a sharp point. Unlike a spider it had a definable head, and ragged, visible teeth. Not teeth so much as fangs. An entire mouthful, both top and bottom, which constantly snapped open and closed as it moved, chattering a terrifying syncope. Its body was covered in thick, course hair that stood up in most places and was matted down in coarse patches in others. Dani watched terrified as the thing made its way up the man's legs, clinging to both of his legs with the sharp points at the tip of each leg. Dani knew it was not clinging to his legs like a spider, rather piercing his skin as it pulled itself upward.

Dani began to shake, sitting motionless as she felt a piercing scream bubbling up in her throat. Instinctively her body was telling her to run, but logically she knew there was nowhere to go. She was trapped in the boxcar with less than twenty feet to move, helpless, and only able to watch as the thing crept up the man's legs. Her body vibrated with fear as the thing crawled over his lap. Its head lowered to the man's abdomen and extended its neck, pushing its face into the shirt. The things head extended farther than it looked like it could, like a turtle’s head emerging from its shell. Dani could hear the wet crunch as the thing's teeth tore through the fabric and immediately into the man's stomach.The spider's head began to bob up and down, making a sickening slurping sound as it feasted on the gore inside of the man's stomach.

Dani felt hot tears on her cheeks as she watched helplessly as the creature feasted on the helpless man. The man did not move an inch, making Dani believe that he was either completely incapacitated, somehow drugged or already dead when the creature had began its ascent up his body.

Forcing herself to quickly glance away from the creature, Dani could see the dim lights of Roosevelt Island slowly approaching. She factored that it was less than two minutes before the Tram docked and she would be able to flee, leaving the spider-like creature to feast on the man.

Dani looked back to the man and monster to see it had extended its neck even further, burrowing deep into the man's stomach. Viscous blood flowed around the thing's neck, staining the dead man's light-colored shirt. The slurping noise echoed in Dani's head like a jackhammer as she watched despite herself. She raised her hands to her ears and winced when she heard a harsh crunch.

Suddenly the animal withdrew its head from the man's stomach cavity, covered in blood it whipped its head to the side and rested its black eyes directly on Dani. Its teeth chattered as it hissed in her direction, before leaping from the man's legs and onto the Tram floor. The sound of the things sharp claws reverberated through the carriage as it quickly moved toward her. Click clack as it skittered rapidly toward her.

Dani leaped from her seat to run, although knowing there was nowhere to go. The sudden movement caused Dani's head to once again swirl as she attempted to take a step. Her legs went limp, bringing Dani crashing to the floor. The click-clack grew closer as Dani pushed herself up with her arms. She pulled her knee toward her chest beginning to right herself, when she felt sudden weight on her back, pushing her back to the floor. The side of her face planted against the cold linoleum as the beast weighed her down. Its heavy body resting on her back as Dani felt the tips of its claws digging into her back.

Dani screamed as she began to thrash about in an attempt to throw the monster from her body. She could feel hot blood trickling from the punctures in her skin, staining her shirt and leaking to the floor. Dani could hear the chattering teeth directly beside her ear as the thick hair on the things chin brushed against her neck. Dani suddenly felt intense heat on her back, as if it were stabbed with a red-hot knife. Dani's scream continued, changing pitch as the pain seared through her body. Without thinking and with the power of fear-driven adrenaline, Dani threw her body up and twisted in the air, bringing herself down onto her back.

A sudden yet slight rush of relief washed over Dani as the needles withdrew from her body. In a flash she pushed herself away, pulling herself backwards across the floor, keeping a watchful eye on the thing. Its legs flailed about momentarily before it used its weight to roll over completely, landing on the points at the ends of its legs. It stood motionless, its head pointed directly at Dani. The thing slowly bobbed up and down on its legs, its body tense and ready to spring into action at any sign of provocation. Weakened and limp, Dani clung to the vertical rail to her side and slowly pulled herself up, watching the spider-like creature, awaiting it to move. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she contemplated what she would do when and if it began to move.

She wanted to glance to her right to see how close she was to the Tram station but could not bring herself to take her eyes off of the monster. They both stood,rigid and motionless, awaiting the other to move. Dani's hand tightened around the rail, for balance should the creature comes toward her. Suddenly a rush of dizziness washed over Dani, making her head swim. Not now! Fight it, the voice in her head said as she attempted to regain control. Dani's legs began to weaken and her death grip on the railing loosened despite her conscious effort to the opposite. Fight! the voice in Dani's head boomed a moment before she felt her entire body go numb, causing her to crash to the ground. A slow wave washed over Dani pushing her into unconsciousness. Dani heard the click-clack of the creature's claws moving before darkness overtook her.

Dani was once again in her childhood bed. There were no familiar smells, no"fuzzies" drifting through the windows, no sound outside of the window. Only darkness. Shapes and shadows crept across the walls and floors.Everything was silent as Dani sat in the middle of her bed, knees pulled up to her chest, breathing deep and listening intently. The click-clack sound skittered across the floor beneath her bed. Dani knew that if she moved, even an inch, that the monster would be able to take her. She wanted to cry out for help, but she was alone. As a child, in that bed, she had rarely if ever been alone in the house, but she knew that now, as the creature crept beneath her bed, that she was indefatigably alone. No one would come save her. No shining knight would slay the demon for her, and if she could not find the ability to fight, she would surely die, alone.

Dani awoke to a blinding white light. She squinted her eyes and awaited her vision to adjust while listening for the sound of the thing's claws coming toward her.Within seconds she realized that she was no longer on the Tram, but enclosed within the thick curtains of an emergency room examination area. Dani raised her head and scanned the area. She listened intently and was determined that she was alone, save the muffled voices from the hall.

Dani pushed her legs to the side and whipped back the covers. She cautiously placed her feet on the floor and began to rise from the bed, when the curtain to her examination area was quickly pulled back. Dani jumped and withdrew, pulling the covers back over her before seeing A.J. moving toward her. He wrapped his arms around Dani without a word and held her tight, kissing the top of her head.

"God,Dani, are you O.K.?" 

Dani returned A.J.'s embrace and felt her body shiver as tears burst from her eyes.

Dani was released from the hospital later the same day after being treated for cuts and bruises across her body. A.J. had been the name written on the emergency contact card in Dani's purse when she had been found and he had rushed to the hospital immediately when told that Dani had been found. He had driven her home and walked her inside her apartment. He kissed her on the forehead and held her hand before stating that Vickie would be waiting for his return, but assured her that she could call anytime, day or night. According to the doctors, nurses and police, Dani had been drugged and attacked by her the man she had met on the Internet. She had officially fought off her attacker and staggered to the Tram, drugged and disoriented. Despite her attempts to clarify and explain that they were only privy to less than half the story, the officials insisted that anything beyond their story was merely the results of her drug induced stupor.

A kindly doctor with the face of a grandfather had spoken with her regarding her account of the events. "Have you ever heard of Ockhem's Razor?" he asked with a gentle smile.

"I sit some new kind of painless hair removal system?" she responded sarcastically with a slight smile.

The man's smile broadened as he placed his clipboard across his lap. "No, it's actually a scientific principle that states that all things being equal, the most logical explanation is probably the correct one." Dani smiled and nodded."Now when you think about it, which is more probable: that you were attacked by a malcontent from the Internet brandishing a knife or that you were attacked by some monstrous, giant spider creature?" His smile warmed her and made her feel somewhat foolish.

"But what about the homeless man?"

The doctor nodded kindly. "The police said that the man had been dead for hours before you boarded. He was obviously stabbed, although they have no idea by whom. Other passengers probably just thought that he was asleep all day." Dani lowered her head into her hands and visualized every image of her time on the Tram and tried to reconcile the two theories to determine the truth. She shook her head and began to cry. "Honey, I know the mind can play tricks, especially when under the influence of whatever drug he slipped you, but you have to think; is everything equal? Isn't the most logical possibility truly the most likely?" He placed his hand on her shoulder before Dani buried her face in the doctor's shoulder and wept gently.

Dani sat alone in her apartment staring blankly at the images on the television. She cuddled herself under the warm Velux blanket, reveling in the warmth and softness of the fabric. She had replayed the events of that night in her head over and over again, trying to determine how one theory could logically trump the other. Each answer led to more questions, until she eventually felt as if she would go insane if she thought about it any longer. Dani finally chose to believe what everyone had told her. It was true, that the most logical answer was definitely the correct one. Dani flipped the channel and stared at the images, comforted by the mindless company of late night television. Dani put the night out of her mind and focused on the mind numbing entertainment. Dani sat alone in her apartment, laugh tracks assuring her that everything was all right. Nothing was coming for her. There was no one, or nothing coming to take her away. Everything was equal.