Kill Shadow (Accidentally Dead #1) [On Hiatus]

3

Casey

I did feel pretty machoistic when I fell down the window intentionally. I was a ghost after all. Another plus: I managed to give the hunter a shock.

      Well...but everything didn't really go the way I had planned.
I had run down the curves, bends, narrow lanes and fences right until I felt sure that he had lost track of me. But then, as I looked around, I realised that something was wrong. I had left the well cemented and paved roads, the shops, houses-everything behind. Funny I didn't notice that I was running deeper and deeper into a lane that kept growing thinner and was getting heavily surrounded by bushes, followed by trees. Finally, when I came to a stop, I realised that I had come to a place I had never visited before, back when I was alive.

     All around me, bushes and trees kind of blocked my way from going further. A narrow, dusty path in the middle suggested the only way available for moving ahead. Deep, dark trees rose up from the ground to arch back over the track, making it look like a bowered lane.
     Creepers engulfed in tiny white orchids hung so low, that they almost touched the ground. A few squirrels scampered away, as I started walking slowly towards the woods. Dry leaves crunched under my feet as my body, shivering with an unknown excitement made its way deeper into the reign of trees. I pushed aside the soft flowery creepers as they kept blowing over to prevent me from entering. As if, something terrible was waiting for me inside.

They were warning me....
It was dangerous...
Warning...

I shook my head and let a small laugh escape my throat. I didn't realise that it had turned so dry all this while. Calm down! You're exploring a beautiful new place...calm down.

I kept moving further, breathing out gently.

Suddenly, something wet and slippery touched my feet. I retraced several steps hastily and stood still. A small sleek black snake hissed and lifted its hood, flickering its tongue menacingly. It slowly slithered towards me and paused before coiling around my feet.

   Wait! How could it see me? I was a ghost and I hadn't glamorised or anything. Then....how?

Maybe the rule book had said something about snakes being able to see us as well, apart from foxes and dogs. I honestly don't remember.
I remained still as a statue. The slimy, black rope coiled itself tighter.

Maybe it's trying to choke my delicious feet.
QUIT MAKING LAME JOKES, CASS!

I held my breath as the snake hissed dangerously.
Okay, wait again!
I was a ghost, right? Maybe, the snake would not be able to strike me, and even if it did, maybe it wouldn't affect me. But who knew? If animals could see us, who could guarantee that they wouldn't be able to hurt us?

Okay, there are two options.
One, be Wonder Woman, bend down and with a yell, tug the snake away and throw it. You may make faces and sing the victory song later as a bonus.
Two- Shut your eyes tight and pray.

Ummm, Honestly, I have no wish to self-harm myself right now.

I closed my eyes and breathed, slowly, taking care not to move an inch.

     I remembered my father's encounter with a snake once. I was too small, scared, clutching tight onto my mother's sleeves, sniffing, pretending that I was not afraid. I really don't remember anything about what species it was but that it was poisonous.
My father had kept calm and marvellously tricked the snake into releasing him free.

Later, he had caressed my hair and said, " When a thing such as this happens, NEVER EVER lose your cool. Don't forget that the situation-- the problem that you face is like a molten metal. Mould it in the shape of a key, and you'll be able to unlock a whole new dimension of solutions. Or else, turn it into a lock and be trapped in it forever. The choice is yours."