Chapter 25: Betrayed by a snake
Unless this snake was a ghost or cursed, Lin Anning knew fully well this animal couldn’t respond to her.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to try... right?
The python remained curled at the far end of the dungeon for a few seconds, its black eyes never leaving her figure. The room went quiet once more and only the sound of Anning breathing could be heard.
Anning shifted her weight from one leg to another, trying her best to remain quiet.
"See? We can actually coexist in this prison peacefully." She muttered, sounding a bit glad that the snake seemed to have taken pity on her.
Was what she thought, when the snake suddenly lifted its head again and began moving toward her.
"Oh, hell no!" She yelled, every bit of calmness left Anning’s body instantly.
She bolted toward the large metal door a few feet away from her and started banging against it with her uninjured hand. The heavy metal shook under the force of her fist as panic enveloped her entire body.
"Hey! Open this damn door!" She screamed. "I refuse to die here. I will not die in here.
Her voice echoed harshly around the dungeon.
"This is attempted murder! You fucking bastards!"
But she didn’t get any response. Anning glanced back over her shoulder and saw the python still slowly slithering toward her. It wasn’t rushing but somehow that only made her feel more anxious.
She could feel tears gathering in her eyes as she turned back to the door and pounded harder against it. I mean, she made a freaking deal with this snake!
This was blatant betrayal.
But even with that in mind, she finally realized something. Most people here didn’t see her as a person.
To them, she was nothing but a slave. Something that they didn’t consider living.
Who would actually care whether she was alive or dead?
Her throat tightened painfully at the thought, but Anning stubbornly bit down on the inside of her cheek and refused to cry.
"No..." She whispered with a trembling voice. "I don’t want to die. Let me out of here!"
She continued banging on the door desperately until a voice finally came from the other side.
"You should try becoming friends with that snake."
The voice said softly but that made Anning freeze entirely, her fist pausing mid air.
"Because with the look of thing’s, you won’t be getting out of there anytime soon." The voice added, sounding very amused.
Anning threw her head back in disbelief, these people truly had no form of conscience.
She opened her mouth, ready to curse whoever stood outside that door but then another thought suddenly crossed her mind. Her expression turned grim instantly.
Absolutely not.
No freaking way.
She would rather eat mid than say something like that. But when she glanced behind her again.
The python was still approaching. Slowly, like it knew she had nowhere to run. Anning inhaled deeply before deliberately softening her voice.
She opened her mouth to speak but the words nearly got stuck in her throat. So, she had to literally force them out of her.
"Can you..." She paused briefly, already feeling humiliated. "Can you please get the young miss?"
Silence.
Anning’s fingers curled painfully against the handle of the metal door.
Then with great reluctance, she added quietly, "Tell her...I finally know my place, as her slave."
The moment those words left her mouth, she wanted to throw herself into the water rushing nearby and disappear forever.
Her pride had basically been shattered into pieces. If anyone from her old world heard her right now, they’d probably laugh themselves to tears.
The dungeon went silent again, the sound of the python hissing made goosebumps form on Anning’s skin.
A few moments later, the sound of jingling keys came from outside the door. Anning’s eyes widened instantly.
The heavy lock shifted and the large metal door creaked slightly. The only thing she felt at that moment was relief.
"Thank you God..." She whispered under her breath, leaning against the door.
Sure, Gu Wanqing was petty, cruel and emotionally constipated...but if pretending to submit could get her out of this nightmare, she’d do it. At least just for a while.
Then she looked behind her again and this time, the python was barely two feet away from her.
Anning took in a deep breath, spinning around before slamming both hands against the door.
"It’s getting close!!" She whisper-yelled. "Please! Hurry up"
The python slithered forward again just as the heavy dungeon door was suddenly swung open.
Since Anning had been leaning most of her weight against it, she instantly lost her balance.
"Shit." She said, a bit startled as she fell backward.
Her eyes squeezed shut instinctively while she braced herself for the painful impact that came with falling butt flat on a cold, stone floor.
But that pain never came.
Instead, she landed against something warm and definitely solid.
She felt someone’s arm wrap firmly around her waist. Anning bit on her lower lip for a second before slowly opening her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the guard from earlier standing inside the dungeon with the python wrapped loosely around his arm
That same snake that had nearly given her a heart attack now looked ridiculously calm. Relaxed even.
Its tongue flicked lazily from its mouth while it rested comfortably against the man’s armor. Anning stared blankly at the scene.
"You’ve got to be kidding me..." She said in disbelief.
So, the stupid snake was tame?! That bite and how it even looked like it was threatening her, was all for nothing?
Offended beyond words, she slowly turned her head to see who had caught her. The moment she recognized the scar-faced man standing behind her, her expression froze slightly.
The scar faced man looked down at her awkwardly, before forcing out a stiff smile.
"Can you please get off me?" He asked politely.
Anning immediately rolled her eyes before straightening slightly in his hold.
"For someone literally gripping my waist," she scoffed. "You sure talk a big game."
