Wednesday, May 4, 2011

There's a Snake Hissing at the Door by Ashley Kulak


There’s a snake hissing at the back door.  You can hear him slither his way through, slipping his way into your house.  Denying his presence is the first step, you know. 


He starts to burrow his way into things, creating cracks in the drywall and smashing glass bottles to shards.  The wallpaper flakes away as time goes by.  Still you cannot see the damage he’s done. 

His venom starts to leak from his fangs, and his skin starts to slime across the ground, leaving the stench of urine and vomit along the green floor.  Your friends start to slip and fall.  The slime penetrates their skin and attacks their senses.  They cannot take the muck.  They cannot bear your house.  They cannot see you anymore.

He sits poised at the front door, waiting to spring at the first entry.  His tail rattles as footsteps approach.  He hisses at the sound of the knock.  You stagger to the door.  Your mother’s tender voice implores you.  You peek through the eye-hole and watch the tears stream down her face.  You tear the door down between you, unleashing the fury of the snake upon her.  She’s weak.  His constricting skin chokes all remorse she ever had for you.  She leaves.  She’s all you had left.

Your helpless body sits immobile at the couch.  The snake advances on you.  Your eyes roll in and out of consciousness.  The snake opens his mouth.  You let out roaring snores from the depths of your soul.  The snake drips with anticipation.  You let out groans of misery from the bottom of your tormented psyche.  The snake writhes up and strikes, penetrating just below the jaw.  Your neck collapses with the bite, letting the venom pool inside your body.  You will never wake up.  Death creeps up on you slowly until the breathing stops, and the bottle slips from your hand onto the floor.  The contents seep into the carpet, staining it red with the alcohol that became your blood.

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