Not A Small-Town Girl

"Danielle, why don’t you let me lead the way?" Xavier suggested, concerned that there might be danger in the cave.

Danielle replied firmly, "Xavier, you take the rear with Mom and Dad in the middle. That’s final." She entered the cave first.

It was pitch black inside. Danielle took out a flashlight from her bag, looked around, and walked forward cautiously.

"Why is it so cold here?" Vivian clutched Howard’s arm, afraid of getting lost.

Danielle led the way. The further they went in, the colder it got. She reminded, "Mom, Dad, Xavier, be careful and stay close to each other. Something’s off here."

Hiss.

"Danielle, did you hear something?" Howard looked around vigilantly and grabbed Vivian.

Danielle took out a dagger and cautiously watched her step. The sound resembled the hissing of a snake. She said, "There are most likely snakes nearby. Everyone, be careful. Take this powder. Throw it at the snakes if you come across them." She distributed some powder to the three of them.

"Snakes? Oh my god! There are snakes here?" exclaimed Xavier, who was walking last. His hair stood on end at the mention of snakes. They were his biggest fear. He really hoped Danielle was just joking with him.

"Xavier, calm down. I will protect you. Keep your voice down so that you’ll not attract them here." Danielle was afraid that Xavier would burst out screaming.

"I wouldn’t have brought you along if I knew you would be so useless. You are more of a burden than I am," Vivian said with a disgusted look.

Hiss. The hissing sound got closer and closer.

Danielle raised her hand to signal everyone to stop. The hissing sounded particularly eerie and terrifying in the dark cave.

A snake, more than 16 feet long, stood upright in front of Danielle and her family, its tongue flicking.

The legs of Howard, Vivian, and Xavier were trembling. This was the first time they had seen such a large snake appear before their very eyes.

Xavier gripped Vivian’s arm tightly. He would have fainted from fear if not for his strong determination to push through.

He whispered, "It’s a snake. A real one. What should we do?"

The snake remained motionless, and so did Danielle. She could easily get rid of this big snake alone, but she was uncertain of her next step now that her parents and Xavier were behind her.

The large snake stuck out its tongue and moved forward slightly, as if testing them. Danielle gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes fixed on the snake before her. She had to resolve this quickly. They couldn’t afford to waste time here, as there might be more danger awaiting them ahead.

Danielle instructed, "Mom, Dad, Xavier, slowly move to the side and protect yourselves. I’ll deal with this snake."

"Danielle, it’s too dangerous." Howard was frustrated that he was a burden to Danielle. He vowed to learn martial arts when they got back so that he could protect his family.

Danielle urged, "We can’t just remain here."

The large snake seemed to sense danger. It opened its mouth wide, and a large amount of saliva flowed out from its bloody mouth and wet the clothes of Danielle and her family.

Danielle glanced at her clothes with disgust. She thought, ’This damned snake is disgusting! The stench is unbearable.’

Just as they were looking at their clothes in disgust, the snake’s tail swiftly swept towards them. They would most likely be seriously injured if they got hit by the snake’s tail.

Danielle shouted, "Look out!"

She dodged the snake’s attack with a leap and turned around, stabbing the tail hard with her dagger. The snake was enraged and swung its tail frantically.

Just as the tail was about to slam into Howard and Vivian, Xavier rushed forward and shielded them. The tail smashed heavily into Xavier’s chest, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Xavier, are you okay? You silly child, why did you step forward?" Vivian panicked seeing Xavier vomiting blood after being hit by the giant serpent.