I'm Not A Snake Monster!: Chapter 5
Added 2020-03-24 20:55:30 +0000 UTCSummary: Willow, an enormous snake-like monster with a heart of gold, has never seen anyone like her. She runs away from home in pursuit of the truth.
The Space and Time I Left Behind
CHAPTER 5
"Hrng... huh?"
Tara stirred awake inside of a strange, unfamiliar room, her eyes fluttering open. The room was white, sanitized, and fairly plain, aside from a painted picture of a lighthouse adorning the wall overlooking the foot of her bed. Light streamed in from between the blinds of a nearby window. There was a fan lazily spinning well above her messy hair.
She raised her hand to the side of her head, groaning as she rubbed her hand back and forth. There was a slight, dull pain that accompanied it... and moreover, she didn't feel her small, elegant hairpiece. Her eyes drifted to the table at her bedside, drawn to the vibrant red hue, and sighed.
In her sleep-addled daze, she tried to remember what had happened. Why she had woken up in an unfamiliar bed. She must've hit her head, obviously, but why?
Of course, her memory was fine. She didn't think she hit her head so hard she got a case of amnesia. She didn't feel a metal plate in her head either. What even happened then? Did she hallucinate what she saw?
...Her eyebrows furrowed with concentration. It couldn't have been a dream. She remembered what she saw, that enormous... monstrous thing. The image of it was burned into her mind.
It was... incredible. She stared off to the distance in a trance, holding her hands to her chest. She looked rather spaced out, almost as if in a trance.
Creeeeeak...
"!"
Tara gasped, instinctively pulled her white bedsheets up over her chest for privacy - an odd move, considering she was still fully-clothed and not up to anything particularly lewd. Her cheeks were bright red as her body jerked in the direction of the door.
It was a stocky older man garbed in a pristine white coat. His short, scraggy white beard underlined his sunken cheeks. He had a name tag labelled "Schrute".
"...Miss Pandey." He grunted, closing the door behind him with a sigh. "I trust you're doing better."
"...Doctor Schrute, I..." Tara looked around the room. She let out a breath of relief, thankful that she was with someone she recognized. Schrute was her family doctor, after all.
Tara paused, clenching the bedsheets slightly. "...How did I get here?"
"Excellent question. I've been wondering the same." Schrute pulled up a chair and sat across from Tara. He had a pencil trained at his clipboard, and took a deep breath.
"We found you in the lobby. It didn't appear anyone accompanied you. Particularly dangerous, considering you appeared to be quite unconscious." He flipped a page open nonchalantly "Doesn't appear you sustained any notable injuries, other than a few bumps here and there."
"Ohhh..." Tara hugged herself. "I-I don't remember fainting..."
"Of course you wouldn't, you lost consciousness." Schrute noted dully. "As your physician, I'm going to advise that you avoid overworking yourself. Your medical record is pretty clear about your noted fainting episodes..."
"No, no, that wasn't it! I had a day off today, and I was... I was just at the library, and I saw... I saw something!"
"...?" Schrute's pencil stopped, looking across from Tara. Her eyes were lit up, passion burning in her eyes as she leaned forward.
"It was the most incredible thing! I-it was a real live lamia! I-I think it was of the thermopylae athanos genus...!"
"...A what?" The doctor's eyes squinted curiously. "I never heard of such a thing."
"I-it was amazing! They must've been 25- no, 30 feet long, a giant snake... creature, a real monster! A-and their scales were like emeralds, and they had these snakes, sprouting all along her head, a-and the eyes, they were like amber!" Tara was so animated, her arms flailing over the place. "A-and fangs, they could pierce skin in a second, but they were smiling and it was... it was incredible!!"
She shivered, trembling with excitement, a big grin on her face. She had to raise a hand to keep her long hair from getting in her face.
"...And when did this happen?" Schrute was unmoved. He hadn't taken a single note.
"A-at the library! I-I remember it so clearly, it must've been today, before I... well, fainted!" Tara clutching her hands to her chest.
"...Okay then." Schrute lowered his eyes to his clipboard. "Peculiar. You didn't hit your head, so I might have to consider a different diagnosis."
"What? Hit my..." Tara deflated, tilting her head quizzically. "What, what on earth are you insinuating doctor?"
"We'll need to treat your hallucinations, obviously. Now, as I said, you need to adjust your working habits, or onset fatigue will make this sort of thing-"
"I know what I saw!" Tara exclaimed. "I-it wasn't a hallucination, it was real! I, I didn't up and dream it...!"
"...Okay. I believe you." Schrute put the pencil down.
"...Eh??" Tara blinked. "Just like that?"
"Enough to make a phone call. If you can walk, follow me to the nearest phone."
"...Ah..."
The doctor rose from his seat, heading out the front door. Tara was taken aback by the doctor's attitude, and scrambled to her feet. She wasted no time slipping into her shoes, resting just by her bed, and hurried behind, making sure to grab for her hairpiece. It hung, slightly ajar, as she tried to catch up to the doctor without tripping.
She turned to find the doctor at a nearby rotary phone, installed in the hallway against the wall.
"Hello, Ms, Periwinkle?" Schrute droned. "I was calling to ask if you've spotted a 30 foot snake monster in your library today."
A staticy "What??" blurted from the phone's headpiece loud enough for Tara to hear. She grimaced slightly as the doctor hung the phone up with a decisive click.
"So, here's what I recommend." The doctor reached for his clipboard once more, and began to scribble. "I'm going to give you a referral to see a psychiatrist, and they can talk you through these particular hallucinatory episodes." He flourished a sheet for Tara.
"...okay..." Tara sighed, taking the doctor's note without a fuss. She solemnly left the doctor behind.
"You remember the way out, correct?" Schrute called out from down the hall.
"Yes, Dr. Schrute..." Tara muttered, thoroughly disappointed.
---
"I-it's well past nightfall Sami, we need to stop and camp for the night-"
"We can't. We have to find her, before someone else does."
Out under cover of the dense forest, Minnie, Sami, and their trusty horse Weinstein, were all working together, trying their best to parse through the darkness and make it through to the other side. It was an exhausting trip, emotionally and physically, and it was having its toll on the couple.
"Night's when all the predators come out. Honestly, Sami, we need to set up a campfire."
"I'll scare the buggers off. We can't dawdle, not even for a moment." Sami retorted. "If we're quick, we can make it within three da-aaAYS!"
Whoomp! Sami's leg caught on a furled treelimb, dragging her down to the ground. Weinstein whinnied, giving Sami a wide berth as she sprawled along the ground.
"SAMI!" Minnie rushed to her aid, untangling her legs from the exposed root and shifting to help Sami back to her feet. "We can barely see where we're going! It's only going to get darker, we can't-"
"Then I'll... I'll keep a better eye out. I just need to- erghn...!"
"Oh, and look at this! You went and pulled a muscle!" Minnie fussed over Sami. "That tears it, we're setting up camp right here."
"NO!" Sami snapped. "Just put me on Weinstein! We can keep going!"
"He's carrying all our things, Sami! He needs a break, can't you see?"
"...But what if they find her, Minnie...?" Sami looked up, trying to roll over to meet the worried gaze of her partner.
"Th-they can't be..." Minnie shook her head. "It's been almost twenty years."
"They're persistent. If anything happened to Willow, it would..." Sami winced, trying to get back to her feet.
"Don't." Minnie took her hand. "We're not going a step further. I'm not going to watch you agonize walking on your leg. We all need to rest..."
"...You're too optimistic." Sami muttered, relenting to Minnie's cautionary insistence. "Willow doesn't know what's out there, and if they find her-"
"She can fend for herself, Sami. Relax." Minnie cupped her palm on Sami's cheek, trying to get her to calm down. "You can't work yourself up like this."
"...There's a snake monster headed into a small town, and you're not concerned what the locals will think of her? Of the kind of attention she's going to draw to herself?" Sami frowned.
"It's okay. We raised her not to talk to strangers~" Minnie grinned to herself. Sami could only roll her eyes in response, turning away.
"...She's going to find out one way or another..." Sami shook her head. "Even if we do get to her first... she's going to have questions."
"We'll figure that out when we get there. Until then, I'm gonna gather some supplies, and get a fire going." Minnie kissed Sami on the cheek, before rising to her feet. "Can you sort out what we're gonna eat tonight?"
"...We probably have canned tuna." Sami scoffed. She rubbed her foot, trying to massage it back to good health. "What's she thinking...? Is she upset we couldn't drop everything to take her on a cruise?"
"I wonder if she went ahead just to secure some tickets on her own..." Minnie sighed. "That would show us, wouldn't it?"
"This isn't a joking matter, Minnie. If they find her..."
"I know, Sami, I... I know." Minnie sighed. "I'm worried about her too. It just... it doesn't do any of us good if we're both worried."
"...You don't have to be strong for the both of us." Sami sighed, rubbing her shoulder. "I know what she means to you."
"I wouldn't have to try, if you didn't try to run off on your own to find her." Minnie commented, getting a small pile of firewood ready to go.
"...We've been running for years now, Minnie." Sami sighed. "This is hardly anything to worry about."
"But I do worry!" Minnie exclaimed, turning sharply to Sami. "You can't push yourself so hard to get her back! She can fend for herself, she... she doesn't want us to dote on her."
"There'll be catastrophic consequences if we don't get her back and out of the public eye." Sami growled, averting eye contact with Minnie. "I can handle a few scrapes and bruises for the greater good."
"Don't give me that!" Minnie snapped, clutching Sami's shoulders. "I'm not going to let you throw your life away for this, okay?"
Sami stared, eyes wide as she was shocked into silence. Her eyes wanted to look away, but Minnie's strong grip wouldn't let her. It appear Minnie was unrelenting, as if she wouldn't stop until Sami gave Minnie her absolute word.
"I always had a soft spot for you..." Sami sighed. "...I'll be fine. We'll camp, and then we'll push forward again."
"...I know you hate sitting still. I really do." Minnie smiled, patting Sami's shoulder. "But she's a good girl. She'll keep out of trouble."
"Unless trouble goes to find her..." Sami shook her head. "Just get the blasted fire going so we can warm up."
The two women would spend the night under the cover of the woods, as they had done for years now. In a lonely stretch of forest, they only had each other for company. Well, each other, plus Weinstein.
It was a rather uncomfortable, stressful night together. They had to distract each other from the reality of the situation. It felt like losing a member of the family.
Neither of them really wanted to sit around and wait, but they had to wait until morning. Until then, all they could do is enjoy the fire and wait out the night.
---
Tara was rather annoyed. The whole day felt like a waste.
She wanted to do some research at the library, and take notes to bring home for further review. But she ended up sleeping a large chunk of the day away at the doctor's, leaving her precious daylight to get any real work done.
And the worst part about the day was, she never even got that book. She hated that batty old librarian, who gave her judging looks whenever she went there.
Tara sighed, mentally recalling her entire day all along the way home. Before long, she had arrived at her own doorstep.
...Or, rather, the gateway to her doorstep. She stood before a fairly impressive estate; a veritable eden of carefully-maintained flora - exotic imports from overseas - were elegantly nestled along the lovingly-attended walkways and hedges. The place screamed high-class... but then again, this particular neighbourhood was lined with the estates of the wealthy and influential.
Tara simply made a beeline to a small speaker installed near one of the marble pillars flanking the gates. It buzzed with a crackle.
"State your name and business." A bored voice from the other side rattled.
"It's Tara. Let me in, Winston." Tara muttered.
"Oh, you're home early." The voice sounded mildly surprised. "Opening the gate."
With an unsteady creak, the gate slid open, and Tara wordlessly navigated the path up to the door without another word. Before she could reach for the doorknob, the front door opened for her.
The mansion looked even bigger on the inside than on the outside, opening up to an impressive, sprawling foyer. Artifacts dotted the marble expanse on columns, with plaques on hand. It was almost like Tara had walked in on a museum, rather than a private residence. The rays of the midday sun shone through towering windows.
"Welcome home, Ms. Pandey. Eventful day?"
A stoic voice dryly greeted her at the front - the same one that rattled from the speaker moments prior. His jet-black hair was slicked back in a neat combover. He had a stiff upper lip and a considerable frame that daunted the scrawny girl. He seemed to have a plate of small sandwiches at the ready, the crusts removed of course.
"Miserable." Tara sighed, brushing past him. "The library didn't have the book I needed."
"A Bestiary of Mythical Creatures, Spectres and Changelings, by Professor E.N. Silfverberg?" Winston noted with academic precision.
"...Yes, exactly. That one." Tara blinked.
"What a shame," Winston droned, closing the door behind her. "I will be sure to look into other possible sources for this book. Perhaps it can be imported from Klein University, with a fine leather-bound cover?"
"M-my father would hardly approve of an expense like that..." Tara shook her head stiffly, trying to make her way over to her study.
"Should I fetch some lavender-infused lemonade for you? Today is rather balmy, as it were." Winston queried with a stoic look.
"No, no, I'll... I'll be in my study, Winston, thank you."
"Very good, madam. I won't be far if you have need of me." Winston bowed stiffly.
"I probably won't, but, we'll see." Tara groaned. Figures that her parents would put the butler in charge of babysitting her. She quickened her pace and retreated to her study, over in the west wing of the mansion.
Compared to the impressive nature of the foyer, Tara's study was rather cramped. There were piles of books neatly arranged in all corners of the rooms, insufficient for the lines of bookshelves allotted to the cozy room. There was a fine mahogany desk towards the back, as well as several leather, cushy chairs from which a good book could be enjoyed. There were oil paintings to add some colour to the place.
The corner of Tara's mouth twitched. Something was off. She turned her head from side to side to get to the bottom of matters.
"...Ugh, again?"
Tara whined to herself. Winston had reorganized all her things again, when she already had everything just the way she wanted them. She pouted, heading to the center of the room so she could do an inventory check. Her parents had been bugging her to get rid of some of these books, but Tara had difficulties letting go. What if she needed them later?
She groaned. This was probably another stupid attempt at a power play. It'd take too long to figure out where she left off if she couldn't find the book on the migratory patterns of harpies. Already she was working herself into a tizzy...
"...It is far too stuffy in here..." Tara muttered, glancing towards a window off to the side. She hurried over, jerking the thing open with a single motion, before strolling over to her desk. She reached into the draw and pulled out a journal, along with a quill pen. She rather liked the classic aesthetics, the whipping of the feather back and forth in her hand. Plus, it meant she could put those calligraphy classes to use.
...The image of what she saw that day in the library remained in her head, tickling her imagination. She decided it would be best to try to make a note of it. Perhaps a sketch. Tara hardly called herself an artist, but she understood the important of archiving one's thoughts.
She leaned forward, hunching her shoulders as she tried to recreate what she saw. It was meant to be a modest sketch, but Tara seemed to focus on the specific details. The scales and how they shown in the light. The writhing snakes on top of the monster's head, as if sprouting on their own. The creature's fierce incisors...
Her pen stopped for a moment. She recalled the creature was... smiling. And they had a conversation, she could recall. She didn't remember the particular details of this conversation, but it was so... congenial. Friendly.
And they even introduced themselves. It was... Willow. She made a note of it in the corner of the page, transcribing it in flowery curves.
She found herself smiling to herself as she finished up the details of the head profile. She lifted the journal, twisting it back and forth.
"..."
She stared at it for a while, trying to replace the memories in her head. The longer she looked, the less the creature seemed to resemble anything from her books. Was her imagination really starting to run away from her?
...She frowned to herself, lowering the journal. Maybe she was going crazy. Her eyes drifted to a small phone on the table. Maybe if she met with a professional, she could get to the bottom of this. There was no way something like that would just show up, unannounced, in a library of all places.
Tara reached for the phone, mentally preparing to make a call...
Knock knock knock knock knock knock!
Tara's hand paused, hovering over the phone. What was that? She glanced up towards the door reflexively. That was strange... Winston usually knocked just twice. Deliberately, as if it were a melody.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
"Helloooooo!! Tara, it's me again!" A young woman's voice called out from an unexpected direction. Tara nearly jumped up from her chair, she was so surprised. The rasping was only getting worse.
Who would be calling from the window? And why was that voice so familiar? Tara hadn't the answer, but... something about it was terribly exciting. She slowly turned her head to the window.
"...What... what on earth!?"
Tara gasped, standing up straight from out of her chair. At her window was the same creature from the library! And she had followed her right up to her window! Waving frantically!
The details were exactly as she remembered! The coiling snakes from her head, the fine scales, the amber eyes, the toothy grin, the incisors... the book!
"I'm sooooo sorry, I forgot to give you your book back! So I came by to drop it off now, see?" Willow tried to feed the tome through the open window. "So here you go! Come, take it, I probably shouldn't drop it..."
Tara stood, frozen as she tried to confirm what she was seeing. Two sightings in one day couldn't be a coincidence. Her breathy shaky, her trembling fingers reached for her shoulders to pinch herself.
...She didn't wake up. This was real. This was happening!
"...Oh my goddess." Tara uttered. "This, this is incredible, I... you... you have to be... haaaaa!!"
A fluttery feeling came up to Tara's chest as her mind flipped through the possibilities. A real demihuman, right outside her house! This would be the discovery of the century! She had so many questions, her brain short-circuiting to try and narrow one down.
Her whole body started shaking with excitement, and then suddenly went limp. Tara began to teeter over...
"...Tara? Why are you smiling like that? ...O-oh no, wait, don't-"
Unfortunately, from her position, Willow could only watch as Tara went and fainted again, this time in the safety of her own house. Willow revered up to get a better look, lowering the book to her chest. She pouted, rolling her eyes.
"Ugh, you're really making me work for this one, aren't you..." Willow sighed. "Okayyy, let's try this again..."
Unbeknownst to Willow, Tara's expression upon fainting was one of utter bliss. Even in an unconscious state, she couldn't help but smile wider than she had in a long time.
---
Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong!
"Tch." Winston clicked his tongue. What was so urgent that they had to mash the damn button a hundred times? Making sure his apron was snugly fit, he hurried to the door, already in a grumpy mood.
"The Pandey residence isn't expecting any deliveries today, so you can take your package and... oh?"
"H-hey! Sir? Tara just fainted in her study! Again!" It was Willow at the door, and her tone was urgent. She kept bouncing up and down.
"...You're a snake." Winston noted quizzically.
"I'm not sure what that has to do with anything!" Willow blurted, trying to lean to the side to look past the big man. "Can you help her?"
"..." Winston leaned to the side to take a look at the grounds, quietly noting a Willow-sized hole in one of the hedges. He frowned to himself, mentally adding that to his checklist of things to do.
"I take it you're one of Ms. Pandey's pet projects then." Winston noted. "Do you have an appointment with the mistress?"
"Wh-what? No, I... what? I'm not a pet! I'm Willow!" Willow sputtered. "I just wanna see her, and get her this book..."
"...Hm." Winston noted, looking down. If he didn't know any better, that was the very same book Tara had been looking for.
"...Very well, then. Right this way."
