The Mystery of the Ophidians

Chapter 10

It was a cold and chilly day. Rachel jogged down the stairs to the reception. She pulled her jacket tighter as Alfonso Lytle entered the building, allowing a gush of cold air to enter the building. He didn't look at her as he walked into the elevator. She took a seat in the warm sofas in the reception. Betty looked up at her and smiled. Rachel returned the smile whole-heartedly. She was feeling extremely happy that day. Betty was going through the register when Rachel had an idea. "Hey, Betty?" Rachel asked. Betty looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "What's the name of the man whom we haven't met yet? The one who wears a trench coat?" Rachel asked. Betty sighed but flipped through the register to find the page. She frowned. "His name is smudged here. I can't read it. No one in the entire building has ever seen him. Strange, isn't it? Anyway, I have no information about him at all. Sorry." Betty said. "But remember the busy tourist family?They were touring somewhere north and they saw Alfonso in a car going into an alley.  Their driver told them the alley leads to a dead end but Alfonso went in. They said when they were returning yesterday they saw Alfonso go there again! But to be honest, I suggest you leave this whole snake business. Just enjoy your holidays." Betty said and returned to her work. 

Later that day, the weather had returned to normal. Rachel wanted to find out where Alfonso had gone. She asked Betty for the exact place where the busy Robertsons family had seen Alfonso. Betty had given her the address. Rachel got into a taxi and gave him the address. "Will you wait here? I'll be right back in five minutes," she asked the driver. The driver nodded. Rachel walked into the alley. There was a huge warehouse in front of her. There was a dusty nameplate on the wall. She wiped it and read the address- #419, Trent Warehouses, Blue Hills, Maine. Trent warehouses? Suddenly it clicked in her mind. When she had been kidnapped she had been in a warehouse. And the wall of the warehouse had- Trent warehouses written on it in old faded graffiti! She walked in. It was dimly lit. There were men in the back walking to and fro. There were crates or cages in neat groups all around. Rachel heard a weird noise. When she paid closer attention she realised it was the sound of these creatures hissing together forming one soft noise. It sent shivers down her spine. 

Her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting as she looked at the men. They were walking with sticks in their hands and speaking softly. The driver told her this warehouse had been abandoned years ago. Then what were these men doing there? Rachel slowly tip-toed in. She stepped closer and closer to hear what they were saying. But just as she got close enough, she accidentally knocked a crate over. The creature inside it let out an extremely loud and fearful hiss. The men looked her way. 

Rachel turned around to run. The men were already walking towards her. She burst into a jog, and then into a sprint as she went to the exit. In no time, she was running out of the alley. She slid into the taxi and asked the driver to move quickly.

Too late, the men had seen the car leaving. They piled into their jeep and began following her. Rachel's heart was pounding. And her brain was asking for answers. Who were those men? Why were they in that warehouse? Why was Alfonso going there? Just as she was lost in these thoughts, she heard a loud honk behind her. She turned around and she saw the jeep catching up to her. She panicked. She urged the driver to go faster and she began thinking of her death wish. 

A/N- Sorry for the short chapter guys... And I'm really sorry for not updating the story on time. I've been really busy this week and I couldn't find enough time to write. I'll make it up to you guys somehow. Also, the mystery of the Ophidians has over 100 views! I'll try to update as soon as I can.

~ nerdybookworm2004