William's hand closed around the handle of the knife, and it burned him, dissolving into quicksilver and scalding like acid. He looked blindly up at the web, at Joe, and said, "It's the end."
He jerked upright in bed, sweat going instantly cold on his skin and leaving his skin clammy. It took him a second to figure out where he was, but the memory came back and he searched the room blindly for another occupant, still shaking from the remnants of the dream.
There was a body stretched out on the couch. William wet his lips enough to speak and asked shakily, "Joe?"