Pestilence

Seven- So It's Not Harmless

I blink. Mr Miller is thrashing about now with the charcoal like soot coloured snake coiled around him, slowliy constricting his limbs and cutting off blood circulation. Despite being caught in the snake's form he doesn't stop shrieking.

The boy, the ten year old boy hastilly retreats back to his astounded mother. He's in tears now, I can barely hear the trauma flled sobs over the sound of Mr Miller's life coming to an end as the snake's tail winds it's way up to his neck.

"We have to go. Now!" I yell, grabbing the dumbfounded Tommy who has Casey latched onto his arm. Noah is holding my other arm. We scream in fear as Mr Miller is devoured by the sooty beast.

My heart is pounding and my forehead is dripping in sweat despite it only being three days until Christmas. The harsh December air wafts over my face and keeps me alert. I watch as Noah drags me, now appearing to be in shock the rest of the way toward the parade. I cannot hear anything but my heartbeat.

Noah runs into the post office and returns with a bucket of water which he empties on my head. I grimace at how startling the cold is. At least that snapped me out of whatever fear-induced trance I was in. I shake my head, water flying from my hear.

"No need for an anime worthy hairflip Tegan." Noah laughs. I shove him playfully.

"What was that for?" I hiss, cold biting my skin as i peel off the sodden cardigan and my grey vest, leaving me only wearing a blue vest and leggings with ugg boots.

"You were in shock." Tommy exclaims.

"Well I'm okay now, what did I miss?" I ask.

"The snake KILLED Mr Miller!" Casey states in alarm.

"So it's not harmless." I ponder.

"We have to get out of here then." Noah blurts. Nobody says anything to him, all stuck in thought.

"Where on earth could we go, we have nothing!" Casey presses.

"We could take up Thomas' offer." Tommy suggests.

"Why would we do that?" I ask.

"Tom has money, he has cars, he was a childhood archer, his father does hunting, he has everything we would need for self-defence. Tommy's right, we should talk to Merchant." Casey agrees. I frown.

"Maybe we should talk to Beth and Harry before we make any hasty decisions." Noah suggests.

"But Beth hates Thomas! She has a personal vendetta toward him. She would never make an alliance with him!" Tommy protests.

"She's not the only one." I mutter.

"What was that?" Casey asks. I don't reply.

"Let's just consult Harry and Beth. There's no proof that Tom was right anyway." Noah states.

"Noah's right." I state.

"I'll walk you h-home if you w-want C-casey." Tommy offers.

"Sure!" she enthuses taking his arm.

"Whipped!" Noah laughs as soon as Tommy is out of earshot. I giggle as we turn back around and return to Toft Avenue.

"Hey no' do you think that teaming with Merchant is a good idea?" I ask.

"Hell no! Merchant is a egocentric ass. He is just as snobbish as he was when he first met Hilary at his first competition." Noah replies. I smile, thinking back to that contest. Hilary did so well!

"Go Hilary!" Noah pumps his fist into the air as the contestants fill the archery course.

"You can do it Hilary!" Harry exclaims.