The Serpent and the Crow

Book 4: Chapter Nine

Sweat poured down Edgar's face as the debris that collapsed on top of him pinned him down. Edgar had followed the lengthy corridor into the mines and was upended.

Edgar heard shrieks farther ahead that sounded like a mixture of human and beast. Uncertain what to make of it, being preoccupied with digging himself out of the rubble.

He crawled out, closing his one expert eye, and freed himself. He wiped his eye. His flamethrower was intact. He slung it over his broad shoulders and used the flame to light his path.

Screams echoed through the antechamber. A woman rushed past the tunnel. Edgar shuffled towards the opening. It was dark and the debris from the collapse left a plume of soot that irritated his view.

He remained in front of something he did not expect. The dust cleared, and he was standing toe to toe with the thing he looked at in the video back at the compound.

"HSSSssssSSSsssSSSsssssSSSSSSSssssSSSSSSssssSSSSSsssssSSSSS,"

Edgar glanced at the police officer that Wade was with. Something had cocooned her in a heavy wrap. It appeared to be shredded snakeskin. But Edgar's attention was on the colossal snake with twin heads staring back at him.

Edgar pulled the trigger, but it produced only a puff of smoke. His hand shook as he sought to collect his thoughts and adjust the nozzle on his canisters while monitoring the Giant Snake that approached. He stepped back slowly while adjusting. He yanked the trigger and nothing was happening. The Giant snake slithered closer, and both heads dropped their jaws. Edgar could tell it was about to strike and sink its fangs into him.

A burst of liquid fire doused one of the snake's heads as it screamed in agony. The other snake tried to tear itself away from its burning companion. Subdued by the flames, it retreated down another shaft. Edgar chased it down, firing quick bursts from his flame thrower. He watched the flames extinguish and the faint outline of the snake tearing at the head of the burnt snake.

Edgar dashed up to the Detective. She was unconscious. He tore at the thick cocoon that was lathered upon her. Edgar noticed how the thick slime had hardened. It was as if something trapped her in loose snakeskin. Once discarded, Edgar checked for a pulse. It was weak, but she was alive.

He made a choice. He shouldered Jador and ran in the opposite tunnel, unsure if it was the right way or not. He hoped to never saw what he glanced at again.

He fell down upon human remains and recognized his old friend Hank. It was hard to accept. He was dead. Torn apart. He glanced at his torso that was lying to the side like a discarded beer; lifeless and destroyed. At first, Edgar thought it was more seepage water from the rain he stood on, but upon closer inspection, he realised it was Hank's blood.

"Fucking hell, Hank. I hope it was quick."

Edgar did not stop for long. He knew whatever that thing was, he confronted; would want revenge. He kept running only with the slightest hope he would see daylight.