The Wedding Party

Part 9: A Snake

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow upon Helena's face as she stirred awake. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself still dressed in her clothes from the previous night. The scent of yesterday's perfume lingered, mingling with a faint odor of sweat. She sat up, her head throbbing as memories of last night's events replayed in her mind.

"Damn," she muttered, rubbing her temples. Her gaze fell on the chair she had wedged under the doorknob – a precaution taken after hearing an unsettling creaking sound in the night. When she had mustered the courage to investigate, there was no one behind the door. Still, it left her uneasy.

With a deep breath, Helena decided to clear her head with a run through the woods, she changed and headed out to the trails. As she jogged along the path, her senses were heightened – the earthy scent of damp soil, the rustle of leaves beneath her feet, and the distant chirping of birds. She felt her tension dissolve until something in her path caught her eye.

"Is that...?" she whispered, staring at the long, sinuous snake before her. A mix of fear and curiosity overwhelmed her as she studied its intricate scales, patterned like an ancient mosaic.

-----

Meanwhile, at the docks, Olive confronted Gavyn, her voice firm but laced with frustration. "I've told you before, Gavyn, leave me alone."

"Come on, Olive, I just want to talk," he replied, his smooth voice attempting to disarm her defenses.

"Enough, Gavyn. It's over, please leave." She was almost begging him.

-----

At that moment, Helena's reverie was broken by the sudden pressure of Braeden's hand clasping over her mouth. She instinctively tried to scream, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Shh!" Braeden urged. "It's not just a water snake, it's a rattlesnake!"

"Are you serious?" she mumbled against his hand, her eyes wide with terror.

"Unfortunately," Zackary chimed in, stepping forward with a stick. Carefully, he maneuvered the snake away from Helena, who seized the opportunity to stomp on Braeden's foot in retaliation for startling her.

"Ouch!" he yelped, releasing her as Zackary inadvertently flung the snake into the woods due to the commotion.

"Helena, what the hell?" Braeden exclaimed, rubbing his injured foot.

"Maybe don't sneak up on someone and act like you are about to abduct them!" she shot back, catching her breath.

"Fine, I deserved that," Braeden conceded, "but I was just trying to keep you safe."

"Thanks, but next time, a simple heads-up will do," Helena grumbled, her heart rate steadily returning to normal.

As the trio regrouped, they were all acutely aware of the dangers lurking around them – both the slithering predators hidden in the underbrush.