The Mystery of the Ophidians

Chapter 1

Author's Note- 

Hey, guys! This is my first book which I've been courageous enough to publish. So, I appreciate any kind of feedback. Leave a comment below on whether I should continue or not. I hope you like this book and feel free to point out any mistakes.

Okay, bye now!

Rachel, a 28-year-old software engineer smiled at the friendly receptionist as she made her way to the elevator to her room on the third floor. The hotel was huge with its own café, swimming pool, parks, and other assets. Blue Hill, Maine was indeed the best place to relax from her stressful work life. She used her room keys to open her room door.

35-year-old Betty, the receptionist was disturbed from her work when a shrill scream resounded through the hotel. It was the kind of scream which made your blood run cold; a scream of pure terror. Betty rushed up the stairs to the third floor. She had a hunch who might be screaming. Rachel Smith was holding the doorknob to her room her face aghast and white. "It's the snakes again." She said.

15-20 minutes later......

              

Rachel guided the animal control men to her room. They stepped in with nets and walkie talkies. Twice in the past week, Rachel had found snakes in her hotel room. On both occasions, she had told Betty and called animal control. Rachel despised snakes. Other than the fact that she would readily sign a contract to eliminate all snakes in the world, she would also sponsor it. The animal control men ran out with a large cage. In the cage was a slimy creature. It was currently inactive. The snake was large with triangular patterns all over its scaly skin. It suddenly opened its eyes and frantically searched around. Its eyes were slits in the side of its face. Suddenly it trained its eyes onto Rachel. With a long leap, it banged against the cage trying to jump at Rachel. 

Rachel was terrified of snakes. She sat in the reception drinking a glass of water. From what the animal control men had told her so far, the snakes were pretty deadly. Rachel was frightened of harmless garden snakes and the thought of a snake, in her hotel room sent shivers down her spine. "Hey calm down. The men took it away, it's not here." Betty said in an assuring manner sitting down next to Rachel. "I know, but they keep coming. I didn't even know that there were snakes in Blue Hill!" Rachel said. 

"That's because there aren't." A voice said.

Rachel looked up. There was a man from animal control. Rachel noticed due to his uniform and the badge he wore. "I'm looking for Rachel. The lady whose room the snakes keep popping up." the man said. Rachel stood up. "I'm Rachel," she said. "Mr. Jones would like to see you," he said.    Mr. William Jones was the head of animal control in that area.  Rachel stood up and followed the man into the taxi waiting to take her to the animal control station.

Rachel stepped into the building. She was surprised. She thought there would be animals everywhere but it was a white reception room with a huge aquarium covering most of one wall. There were a variety of aquatic creatures in it. The receptionist looked up but didn't say anything as Rachel followed the man into the building. They walked up flights of stairs. Each one dealt with a different type of animal. Rachel walked into the room. A man was sitting at a large oak wood bench. There were stacks of paper all over his desk. He had black hair. He was reading a few documents and groaned as he ran his hands through his hair spiking it up in almost every direction. Rachel cleared her throat. "I'm Rachel," she said. He pointed to the seat across from him."I have some news for you." he said. Rachel nodded, curious to know. "The snakes we keep finding are Anthropoides," Rachel had no idea what that meant. "They are commonly known as Mexican Jumping Vipers and they can be very venomous." Rachel's fear grew inside of her. She had always been scared of snakes and to think that there had been a venomous snake in her room thrice sent a shiver down her spine. "Here comes the unusual part." He warned. He held a sheet of printed paper in his hand and read it. "Mexican Jumping Vipers or just Jumping Vipers are Found in the mountains of eastern Mexico southeastward on the Atlantic versant and lowlands through Central America to central Panama. They can be found in areas like southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica." He looked up at Rachel and with a raised eyebrow. Rachel didn't understand what was so peculiar. "So?" she said. 

He sighed. "We are currently in Blue Hill, Maine. Costa Rica is 450 miles away. This snake does not belong here." Rachel's mind processed everything. "Do you think somebody might have put the snakes intentionally?" Rachel asked. Mr.William leaned back against his chair and plopped his feet onto the desk. "Right now, I have no idea. But if you don't mind we'd like to take care of the snake for now. It's extremely unusual and unexpected for the snake to be here. The climate, area, nothing makes sense." "Thank you for the information." Rachel said as she exited the room. 

Her mind raced with possibilities. Snakes in her room. Three times. And they're from Costa Rica? 450 miles away. But one thing stood out to her. This snake does not belong here.

Then how did it get here in the first place?