The Snake In The Dark

Chapter 2

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Ch 1: Not Alone

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Ch 3: A Place To Stay

The Void

Blaring headlights, that was the last thing I saw.

And then it was gone.

Leaving me in pure darkness.

Something began to move.

A slow, deliberate drag.

I assumed it was just some last-second hallucination.

But then, something spoke.

“Scarlett Ernest.”

My name.

Right, that was my name.

The hushed sound continued.

ssrr…ssrr…

It dragged closer—closer—till it was right in front of me.

Only inches away.

A pale, slender face.

Its eyes burned with a bright heavenly light.

Like the headlights of that truck.

Its mouth contorted in strange ways. As if it was trying to speak.

And somehow, I knew what it meant.

“It's time for your judgement.”

It stood still. As if, it was waiting for an answer.

…

So I gave it one.

“I don't have time for this.”

It blinked—once—like it hadn't expected that.

“Huh?”

“Aren't you god or something? Just send me wherever I'm going.”

“Well yes—but still!”

“Still what?”

“The fate of your entire afterlife depends on me! And this is what you do?”

“I mean, I don't think anything I say would change where I'm going.”

Its face backed away from mine. “You don't know unless you try.”

“Does that mean I can change where I'm going?”

“Maybe.”

It moved towards a desk I hadn't even noticed was there.

I gasped. Didn’t even know I was holding my breath.

Eyes darted around,

A pitch black void. That's where I seemed to be.

…

Breath hitched.

I did not expect that thing to respond like that.

At all.

…

A page rustled.

My gaze shifted, falling on its body.

Human from the top—or close enough. From the waist down, it had a snake tail that faded into the darkness.

In its hands, it held a small brown notebook, flipping through the pages.

Its fingers stopped at one.

“Names with the initials S.E… Ah! Here you are.”

It tugged the book closer.

“Born in a family of 4. Parents. One older brother. Do you miss them?”

“Not really.”

“Strange. Anyway, it says you were murdered.”

My jaw clenched. Tight.

That's right.

The blaring headlights wasn't the only thing I saw.

The face of the person who put me there.

Smiling, as if mocking me.

“That's true.” Spat the words out like poison.

“Of course it is. This book never lies. It tells me everything you did. However, it does have its faults. It can't tell me what you think.”

“So, you're gonna interrogate me?”

“No. You've given me enough.”

Thud.

The notebook fell on the desk.

And I watched it fall.

…

“So, Scarlett Ernest. Do you want revenge?”

My heartbeat picked up.

“What?”

“Do you want revenge from the person who killed you?”

…

My mouth moved on its own.

Mind screamed flashes, how I’d make them suffer.

Into a smile…

An uncontrollable smile…

Them screaming, as I’d tear away everything they’ve ever lived for.

It just crept in.

Stripping them from everything, till there’s nothing left.

No matter how much I resisted, it wouldn't stop.

A shallow husk.

“And how would I?”

It didn't move for a second.

Only stared at my face.

“Pff—” It covered its mouth.

Then…

It broke into a fit of laughter. Tears forming on the corner of its eyes.

“My, you're an odd one!”

She managed to choke out between laughs.

Was this thing seriously laughing at me?

After a while, it finally calmed down.

Wiping the tears off its face.

“Earth isn't the only world I oversee.”

It faced its back towards me, snake tail stretching behind. “I'll let you live again. But first, there's a necklace I want from a certain world.”

“So you want me to do something for you first?”

“I could just send you back to earth as a newborn. Memories erased. And your killer will roam freely, never once facing repentance.”

It tilted its head, just enough to make me see that sly grin on its face.

I scoffed. “You’re basically forcing me.”

“Am I?”

“Accepted.”

…

“Really?”

“Did you expect me to say no?”

“No, it's just that you agreed so easily. And I wasn't even done with the offer.”

“There's more?”

“Of course, I won't just send you off to a foreign world with nothing but your clothes. Take this.”

It held out an apple in its hand.

“Just a bite.”

“What does it do?”

“You'll see.”

I took the apple in my palm.

“As for a clue to where the necklace is, somewhere under the sea.”

She started to trail further away.

“Get it, and I’ll drop you back on Earth.

Her lips curved into a smile.

“You can do whatever you want after that.”

-XXX-

Stern, again.

Her back pressed against the chair, leaning back just enough for the light to fall on her face.

A small smile tugged her lips.

“Guess I wasn’t the only one.”

My eyes widened.

And just as it did.

THRASH.

Beer bottles shattered, glass flying. The table split clean in half.

A woman lay between the wreckage, one arm draped over a broken plank.

She stood up, dusting off her coat. Adjusting her glasses before they slipped off her face.

“It’s rude to throw a lady.”

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR A THING FROM YOU, DAMN WITCH!”

A burly man stormed into view, brows twisted in blind rage.

The hell did this woman do?!

She waved a hand, dismissing both his words and his presence. “I’m sure we can reason, kind sir—”

CHRRSH—!

A bottle smashed against the floor, shards scattering.

She ducked just in time, tucking a purple strand behind her ear. Her eyes flicked toward us.

“Sorry. Men.”

A smirk tied her lips. “I’ll make him pay for it later.”

…What?

I turned to Laurel, who was watching the whole thing like it was a stage performance.

Around us, the tavern erupted—cheers, whistles, voices shouting:

“FIGHT! FIGHT!”

Even the staff stopped midway. And one of them was balancing a mountain full of plates and glasses on both arms, even on their damn head.

I am the sane one here… right?

Not in the mood to get involved in this. I pulled at the hem of Laurel's sleeve.

She tumbled backwards. “What was that for?”

“We're leaving.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?” I grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the tavern.

“Scarlett! We didn't even pay yet!”

“That lady already told us she'd do that for us.”

At least that mess was a good excuse to leave without paying. And I doubt this person could even afford to spend more coins.

“Then let's go back to thank her.”

“Yeah, no. You're just looking for an excuse to see them fight.”

“Well, it won't hurt to.”

“Forget about that. You told me you met someone before coming here.”

“Hmm? Yeah, I did. That snake girl.”

She really did.

“Laurel.”

“Mhm?”

“Do you have anywhere to go?”

“Not at all.”

Jeez. How’d you get by before?

-XXX-

It wasn’t long before the yelling of the tavern faded away.

And the sky had been dark for a good while now. We couldn’t afford to stay out any more.

Looking for a place to stay was the main goal now.

Now that I think about it…

I never actually spent a night in a proper inn.

It was always in that boat. Or a stranded island.

With her.

“Scarlett!”

“Hmm?”

“Can we stop by a place to eat?”

“After we find a place to stay—”

Grumble…

That was my stomach…

Laurel blinked. Staring at me.

“Maybe we should find a place to eat first…”

“Ooh! How about street food?”

-XXX-

Just at the mouth of Stern’s marketplace, an array of food stalls.

We turned a corner. Smell hit us first.

Seafood.

I don't eat that.

So I just watched her eat.

“You sure you don't want a bite?”

“No.”

“It's good!”

“I believe you. No.”

She pouted. Kept eating.

I sighed. “So, you met her.”

“Mmmh!”

“Finish your food first.”

She swallowed.

“Yummy—Oh right, she was pretty scary.”

Scary? Not even close.

“Did she give you something?”

“Mmmmh!”

“EAT YOUR DAMN FOOD FIRST!”

She swallowed, again.

“An apple.”

Like the one she gave me.

“Back there… when we were chasing that thief.”

Her eyes perked up. “Yeah?”

“You knew where he was.”

She didn't know the streets, but somehow knew where to go.

“Is your ability related to tracking?"

…

No response.

“Laurel?”

I turned around. She wasn't there anymore.

Where did she—

“Here!”

She tossed a fruit. It hit my palm.

“You should eat something too!”

An apple.

My eyes locked onto it for a solid second.

“Do you even know what that apple does?”

“Not sure. Gives us a cool power?”

Thought so.

“Then what's yours?”

“Well, I don't know how it exactly works but it lets me track things down.”

So I was correct.

“Scarlett, what's your power?”

“Mine? I guess I can respawn after death—”

“NO WAY! That's so much cooler than mine.”

She grabbed my shoulders, shaking me back and forth.

I freed myself from her grip. Jeez.

But her ability is more useful than mine.

I bit into the apple.

-XXX-

The streets were starting to get thinner as the night went on.

Lights grew brighter while the moon stood in the middle of the dark sky.

We were walking down the streets, busy looking for an inn.

Door creaked.

“Hello, madams.”

A guy sat at the reception.

“1 room—”

“Those ear piercings are cool as hell!” Laurel jumped in, no warning.

A smile formed on his face. “Thanks, I made them myself.”

I cleared my throat.

“1 room.”

“That’s 6 silver.”

The med student took out her wallet.

Coins hit on the desk.

-XXX-

It was on the third floor. Walls painted white.

Off to the side, the room opened into a balcony. A small one, but it had a nice view.

2 beds rested on both sides.

I threw myself on the closest one to the door.

“Eek! Bugs!”

“We could've gotten a better place to stay at. If you didn't buy all that food.”

“I hadn't eaten since morning, ok?”

“Shouldn’t have gotten your wallet stolen.”

Turned my head to face the wall.

I had no other plans to talk to her today.

Peaked through the corner of my eye.

She was already sleeping…

We just got here.

Whatever.

The other inns asked for 10 silver a room. This is the cheapest one.

Who cares if it has a few bugs? The others probably did too. No place is ever without any.

My eyelids began to drift.

We barely managed to afford one night.

If we had even a few coins less, we’d be on the streets.

Good thing we didn’t have to pay for those drinks.

I wonder if that lady actually ended up paying.

That lady… what the hell was she doing anyway?

Who the hell acts like that after being thrown onto a damn table?

The table was in worse shape than her.

And all she did was dust her coat or I don’t know, fix her glasses.

I groaned, pulling the blanket towards me.

Shut my eyelids.

Enough of today.

…

Shit.

Glasses…

They don’t exist here.