Viper

It started with a scream. Don't they all though? This time it was a young woman, barely out of school from the looks of her.

"Robbers on the train!" She yelled in a right panic, picking up her skirts while frantically searching for a place to hide her valuables. They always do. Load of good it does 'em.

"Just what do ya think yer doin' missy?" The robber says, walking into the train car. He grabs her shoulder, and the young lady flinches, her blonde hair whippin' 'round while she turns her head to narrow 'er blue eyes at 'im. Can't see his own eyes from here, but they'd be glarin' somethin' nasty wouldn't they?

"Don't ya touch me!" She snarls at him with a glare.

The robber backs off, only 'cause som'n else jumps on behind him.

"Feisty, eh?" A familiar voice chuckles.

I feel myself pale, and I need to take a seat to calm myself. The man who was sitting there is givin' me a nasty glare over the newspaper, but I don't care at the time. It can't be! It just can't!

"It's Adlen Asper!" An elderly woman screams loudly.

It ain't gonna help her here. Adleina is real ruthless when she wants ta be. Best not ta draw attention to yourself.

"Ma'am, you don't need to be alarmed." Adleina still speaks with that strange accent, and different words. "The Vipers are here for some silver, then we'll be outta your hair!" Something I don't believe. The Vipers don't jus' leave. But most other people here do think they'll leave, so I ain't gonna say anything. I'm gon' keep quiet an' follow my own advice.

The original robber looks off-put. "But boss!" Adleina taps him on the shoulder. Mighta been more than a tap, seein' his reaction. That should remind him who's in charge here, eh? Almost makes me wanna laugh, how scared he is of a mere lady.

Then again, Adleina ain't no lady.

"Not now, Johnson." Adleina pushes past him and looks 'round, till her eyes meet mine.

"Fancy seeing you here." She smiles, she does, before she sees my ring.

Her smile changes, we all can see she's got fangs. Snake fangs, dripping venom. I see it all, and I don't wanna.

I oughta stop drinkin' so much. But this robber always seems ta find me, gotta get rid of the worry somehow. Adlein's teeth are just like any person, if they ain't brighter an' whiter, but the venom is still there. I see it in her eyes. And her blood is cold, I've seen it too.

"Hand me the ring and you don't get hurt." Adleina still doesn't look guilty when she holds up her pistol. Shoulda known it would come to this. Never a good thing when a Viper gets an interest in ya, especially not the boss herself.

If I get outta this I'm gonna drink me somethin' fierce.

"It's my ma's ring though!" I yell. Why'd I fear Adleina at all? She's just a snake, a thief.

Snakes bite though.

"Well I for one think you should hand it over!" The man behind me mutters, grey eyes lookin' sharp and rude. Typical outta country, thinks he's better than a train worker.

I turn to glare at him. How'd he like handin' over his mam's jewels? Let's ask 'im.

Man shrugs, he does. "I wouldn't have to, no one would dare shoot a businessman as successful as me."

He's an outta town. We don't welcome those folks here. Just like we din't welcome Adleina, who's still pointin' a gun to my head.

"Hand me the ring." Adleina speaks slowly, like I'd not understand the click of the pistol. Light reflects off the gleamin' metal, making the barrel look heavenly. I know better. There ain't no solace in death.

"No, I won't. Gonna have to kill me to get it, Adleina."  Adleina stares at me. For a second I think she won't do it. Then she tilts her head with that half-laughing smile, and my blood runs cold. I know what that means.

"Perhaps I will." The trigger clicks. I flinch, the sound too easy to remember from the first time.

The bullet flies straight towards my heart as time slows down. I laugh, not from a funny thing, but it's left unheard with the following bang. With a sharp pain I fall to the ground. I hear her footsteps, then her boots come into my vision. She grabs my hand and the ring goes right off. The last thing I see is her black hair and navy eyes.

"Such a shame dearie, but I'll use this far more than you ever will." I hear her mocking  laugh, then blackness fills my vision. "Search the train! I want all the silver here!"

The world goes dark as her laughter echoes through my ears.

She ain't just any snake, Adlen Asper is a right viper.