Never Sleep Again. Another Nightmare On Elm Street.

"Samantha Just In Snake Form."

When we got down the stairs we were standing in front of a metal door. „Caution dangerous reptiles" I read quietly. Natalia knocked on the door and her dad opened the door.
He had weak smile on his face and he was wearing yellow gloves. „Dad? This is Ella. She is one of my friends and she wanted to see the snakes." Her dad nodded to me and let us both in. „Well, nice to meet you Ella. Welcome to our little family jungle."
I looked around the room. It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold. There were a few big terrariums on the left side and the smaller ones were on the right side. In the middle of the room was a desk with an office chair and some empty boxes. I looked to Natalia's dad.
„Pretty exotic hobby. If you don't mind asking Sir, since when do you do this?" He looked around the room, before looking at me with a little smile. „Just ask. It's okay! Snakes always fascinated me in some way. I wanted at least one snake when I was living with my parents, but they didn't allowed me this."
We were now walking besides the first big terrarium. There were many green plants in it and a big anaconda was laying in a corner. „Isn't it too dangerous having so many snakes in your house?" I gave Natalia's dad a questioning look. Natalia clung on to my shoulder. She was really scared.
Natalia's dad thought for a while before answering. „The thing with this is that even when you know how to handle them, something can happen. The trick is just not to try to piss them off." I kept on observing the Anaconda. „You know Ella, we're having these snakes for a while now, and I can proudly say that nothing too bad happened yet." Natalia sighed annoyed. „The keyword is YET. They're just waiting till they can attack us." Natalia's Dad started laughing. „Why and how should they attack us? They can't open terrariums by themself, and they can't open this metal door. Don't be so scared, Lia."
We made our way to the next terrarium. Many plants and a little bit of sand were in it. I don't know how this snake was called, but her features were scarier than the anaconda that's for sure. The snake had something evil in her eyes. Samantha just in snake form.
„What is this for a snake?" Natalia's dad took a little step forward. „Oh, this is a deserts horn viper. When it's daytime they're hiding in the sand, so don't expect much movements. This is also the only snake where I need my friend's help." I gave Natalia a questioning look.
„His friend has snakes too and when my dad has to clean the terrarium, he comes by and helps him to get the snake in a box. This is the most aggressive snake out of here."
Natalia's laughed a little. „She isn't that aggressive. The beginning isn't always that easy but she's better."
I turned around to get a look of the other side of the room. „How many snakes are in here?"
He looked around and thought for a while. „Must be around fifteen." Crazy. „Uhm, I'm gonna get something from the kitchen. I'll be right back." Natalia's dad left the 'family jungle'. I looked to Natalia and saw tears running down her cheeks. „I remember the first time Miranda was in here. She would give the snakes funny names and we would laugh about it. Being with her in here, I felt safe."
I comforted her. Natalia started crying harder. „Who would do something to her? I just want my best friend back, I miss her so much."
Just the thought of losing someone I love, made me get tears in my eyes. „Can I tell you something? But you have to promise me that you don't tell this to your dad, because I don't really know what it meant." We both looked at each other. „What? Tell me Lia! I promise I won't tell."
She sighed. „Before Miranda died, she was so scared that this stalker would come again that she didn't sleep much. She was afraid of sleeping." In the corner of my eye I saw the anaconda slowly moving, making their way to the ground of the terrarium. She didn't move the whole time, and now that Natalia is saying this she's suddenly waking up and starting to move. Is my mind making up this crazy shit? All I know is that we have to get out of here. Too scary too stay longer in here. „Natalia, can we go to your room maybe? It's really scary!" I laughed nervously. Natalia nodded. As we made our way out the door I looked back to the anaconda one last time, seeing that she was laying still again. Weird.