The Serpent's Shortcut

 

Snakes

"What is wrong with you?" Jones asked her friend Emma. The two of them were walking along the street. It was about 7 p.m., pitch black with no streetlights. They relied on their phone flashlights to guide them down the lonely stretch of road. The night was silent as the grave, surrounded on all sides by looming hills. Every shadow seemed like a monster lurking, ready to devour them.

"What do you mean?" Emma asked, flashing his light around. He thought he saw something skittering away on his right.

"You seem jumpy," Jones said.

"Why wouldn't I be? Walking in the dark on this dangerous road?"

"Man up and don't be a pussy," Jones admonished.

"Me, a pussy, eh?"

"Yeah, you're supposed to be the macho man."

"Don't be ridiculous, man. I'm no Superman."

"Funny you say that now."

"Don't move," Emma said suddenly, blocking Jones with an outstretched hand.

"Now what’s gotten into you?"

"Don't move, man. Just look down and stop complaining."

Jones looked down and shuddered at what surrounded them. She swallowed hard and started shaking. "This is bad," she murmured, her eyes going wild.

"Now who's the pussy?"

"What do we do?" Jones asked.

"How would I know? Aren't I in the same predicament?"

"Yeah, but how do we get out of this jam?"

"Just stay still and let them pass."

"Will they? What if one climbs me?"

"Then kick it hard and stomp on its head."

"And get bitten for my trouble?"

"They're just snakes. Nothing to it."

"Don't be like this, man," Jones said. "This isn't natural."

"Yeah, how are we surrounded by more than a thousand snakes, all blocking our way forward?"

"Maybe someone doesn't want us to pass."

"Who would dare that on a public road?"

"Yeah, but not at odd hours."

A voice echoed out of the darkness: "Both of you, turn back—or you'll have yourselves to blame."

"Why should we turn back on a public road?" Emma asked, flashing his light around to find the source.

"Because I have business here, and I want no disturbance."

"Well, this is the shortcut to my home, so I guess you'll have to excuse me while I pass," Emma replied.

"How dare you," the voice said.

"Please, don't antagonize him," Jones pleaded, her voice trembling.

"Now who's the pussy?"

"I agree—I'm the pussy," Jones said. "Let’s just go back."

"Listen to your friend and go back now."

"Only a coward hides behind shadows and his pet snakes, giving orders," Emma shot back.

"You called me a coward?"

"Maybe you're not hearing me well, and you're asking when it's obvious."

"Very well," the voice hissed. "Here I come."

A huge snake slithered out of the darkness. It was massive—Emma guessed its head was bigger than both of them combined. He smelled the sharp tang of piss from Jones and saw her trembling like a flag in the wind. The snake opened its mouth, a forked tongue flicking out between two enormous fangs protruding from either side.

Now Emma realized the voice had been in their heads. He'd been a fool, trying to bully his way past—and now he'd doomed them both.

He turned to look at Jones, shocked to find she'd already bolted back the way they'd come. He was alone with the huge snake, which had coiled around his leg, its mouth gaping wide, ready to swallow him whole.

What would you do, if you survive?