Last Bride Standing by Patricia Anne Phillips

Author:Patricia Anne Phillips [Phillips, Patricia A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2014-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

Coming out of a deep sleep, Orchid opened her eyes. She had almost forgotten where she was until she tried to move her right leg and the pain from her ankle pricked her memories. It took all the strength she had just to sit up straight without awakening Chiku. She looked around, but saw nothing. She knew it was her imagination but she had a feeling that someone was watching them. As she lay her head back against the dirt wall, she blinked, her eyes opened wide. Was something moving toward her? She could barely see it at first. Oh, God, she thought, whatever it was, it was long, ugly and moving fast.

A long, thin tongue flickered in rapid motions in and out of its mouth, slowly turning up at the tip, its eyes were shining, small, mean, and were looking at her. Orchid managed to keep her entire body from shaking or moving suddenly. She tried to think fast, but couldn’t seem to get her brain to adjust to what she was seeing. With fear paralyzing her, she was so shocked and afraid, she felt dizzy enough to pass out. The anticipation of what would happen next caused a wave of nausea to swim inside her stomach, and she held her breath to keep from retching.

The snake came closer, slithering fast on its stomach, its long green and black spotted body shining in the dark as though it was wet. As its flat eyes switched from Orchid to Chiku, it kept coming in Orchid’s direction.

The perspiration was rolling down her forehead and into her eyes, blinding her. The underarms of her dress were moist and warm. Orchid could feel the sweat rolling down her sides and back, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t speak, and got dizzier from the fast motion of the snake. She couldn’t call Chiku’s name because the snake might change its course and turn to Chiku. But once he finished with her, he might harm Chiku anyway. There was no way she could save Chiku if she couldn’t wake her up. Oh God, what should she do? Should she scream, cry out? What? What should she do, she wondered as the snake came closer, so close she couldn’t breathe.

Finally, Orchid opened her mouth, but no words emerged. She looked at Chiku’s face as she slowly stirred and opened her eyes.

Chiku looked up at Orchid. Her back was straight, up against the wall like a stiff piece of board. She was crying so softly that Chiku could barely hear her.

Orchid’s eyes were glistering with tears, her mouth dry, and her hands were flat on the ground on either side of her, holding her for support. Chiku was mystified; the expression on her face had changed from confusion to fear. She wondered what had happened while she was asleep. Moving closer to Orchid, Chiku followed her eyes down to the ground and saw the snake moving close, fast in Orchid’s direction.

“Nyoka,” she whispered to herself and moved aside slowly, her hands over her mouth.

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