The Book

The snake moved, and then it did it again. Despite having a relatively large body, somehow it had gotten lighter. The thing hated it and everything around it. This was a new emotion, not that it knew, but it just understood that it did not like it. The snake was not always like this. Up until a few days ago, it was content with living on a tree. The large animals that walked using two limbs were the strangest of animals, always laughing and staring at it through a see-through thing that no matter what the snake tried, it could never get out. Not that it cared anymore. The place had become a home for it without much need to hunt since small prey would turn up for it anyway.

Abruptly, one day, the large creatures that walked on two limbs had taken it while it slept, no less. But the snake did not fret much, they were going to return it anyway. It was not the first time this happened, yet this was different because they did not bring it back to its beloved tree. Instead, when it finally fully awoke, it felt strange in new surroundings. The snake could see the two-limbed creatures but could not get out. There seemed to be an invisible barrier around it, like the one back at its tree, but there was no tree in sight. Only the two-limbed creatures and perpetual darkness.

Then it had awoken in the woods. They finally let it out! Except the snake felt strange. It was not like it was before; for one, it was bigger than it was back at its tree. It was surrounded by other trees, not its own tree. The snake disliked this feeling. It disliked that it could understand more than it should have. It couldn't even climb the trees; they fell each time it tried, apparently unable to withstand its increased weight. But the hunger was the worst part. It slipped its tongue out then in, tasting the air, feeling its surroundings, looking for nourishment.

Hunger like it had never felt before. Small prey it found could not satisfy it. In fact, they were not the food it was looking for. A weak gust of wind brushed by it, and it slipped its tongue out then in, and again, as it usually did. A little distance away, farther than it normally could feel, it could taste the presence of prey, a large group of them, enough to satisfy its aching hunger. The snake slithered slowly, lest the prey notice its very hungry presence.

By the time Michael was in the house, everyone was still listening to Simon's speech. With the guests all distracted, passing by them was as easy as it could be, along with his small stature, which helped a lot. He decided to use the outside route and go around the house to avoid being seen, using the most shadowy parts along the manor's walls. Most of the guests were already inside, so the grassy field around the manor was empty, except for the occasional security guard. Michael used an entrance used by the staff, located on the right side facing the large artificial forest. Guards rarely passed, and the staff was busy supplying drinks and whatever to the guests, hence the hall was mainly empty. It was easier to find the large office library than he initially thought.

Pushing open the large double doors, Michael entered the giant room. The lights were off. The place was only lit by moonlight from large windows behind the large desk where his grandfather usually sat. Closing the door, silence bombarded him more than the noise from the party. It felt like he'd entered another dimension entirely. Even while in the hall, he could still hear the murmurs of guests. Yet, once in the library, everything was still and quiet as a result of soundproofing. "Where is it?" Michael looked around the shelves. It was all he could think about in the previous days, a book he saw when he was last here, and the only reason why he came to the party. To the side of the office, a small staircase went up. Hurriedly, Michael climbed them, skimming over several book titles, leather-bound, written intricately in gold lettering. "There you are!" Michael smiled, sliding a hard leather-bound black book off the third shelf from the floor. On its spine in large, capitalized words read the book's title:

  "Asahi, the Light of the East"

Carefully, he placed the slightly thick book into an inner jacket pocket, taking care to make it as unnoticeable as possible. "Hopefully, no one will hug me." He closed the door to the library, entering a lowly lit hall. "The music in the solarium has started again; going back might be harder." Even from that distance, he could hear the classical instruments from the party. The guests would be more prone to noticing him enter if his parents hadn't noticed his absence already. He touched the outlines of the book on his jacket; if he walked carefully, it was almost unnoticeable, though not buttoning up his coat just in case. He meandered through the house, stopping and hiding whenever anyone passed by dodging two security guards in pitch-black suits and earpieces before he found the service entrance leading to the right side of the manor where he came in. "Someone is coming." He pressed himself against a wall where the lights didn't reach. He was halfway there when he saw the shadow of an individual heading towards the path he was using, a tall blonde security guard in black pants and a black shirt tucked in walked briskly a few seconds later in the path, Michael pressed himself against the wall making sure not to make any sound a breath stuck in his throat the man continued walking showing no signs of noticing anything out of the ordinary his footsteps crunched against the grass. Michael kept still until the guard's back disappeared around the corner staying still minutes after just in case another comes that way. Releasing a heavy breath followed by peering over the wall the way the guard came from with no signs of anyone else he continued at a brisk pace "Liam would have discovered his absence or would probably be heading to the children's table." Michael thought hurriedly preferring the later a situation he could easily get out of with a bathroom excuse.

"Aaaaah" 

 A scream erupted in the clearing he stopped suddenly looking around the voice seemed to be coming from the direction of the woods "Aaah!" it echoed again weaker than before "this is a problem" Michael muttered he could hear music from the party "by the time they notice it will be too late" he tried to think of the time needed to run and alert them "What if I am too late by then?" biting his lips he turned reluctantly towards the dark woods of Bailon Forest hoping it wasn't too bad of a problem then again someone screaming didn't really bode well, went down the grassy field. A small shadow stood in front of the forest near the edge trembling the place was lowly lit away from the manor's light Michael moved closer steadying himself he did not want to get entrapped in whatever trouble it was wanting to observe first. He recognized the small shadow it was the girl who sat across from him back at the party "What are you doing here?" Michael whispered to himself, the shaking child he stood ten meters away on an elevated part of the hill from where the girl stood not easily seen from the trees.

She stood still her back to him staring at something in the trees from Michael's vantage point whatever it was remained hidden at least to him, "Hey" he decided to go to the girl as he couldn't get any closer and still be hidden "What's wrong?" he ran next to her yet she didn't move just raised her hand pointing to the dark shadowy forest "Ddd…d..don't yyyou see it" she stuttered Michael followed her hand looking closer that's when he noticed it moving, in fact if it weren't for its two apple sized yellow eyes that glowed slightly in the low light seeing it was almost impossible, its dark hard scales blended into the night's darkness almost perfectly. 'we need to run fast' though the girl seemed rooted to the ground 'If I carry her then maybe…' Michael's train of thought dispersed when he noticed that the yellow eyes seemed closer than they were a minute ago he doubted they could get very far with him carrying her nevertheless he couldn't leave her here to be devoured by a giant reptilian could he? 'How could she even see it, that thing was at least fifteen meters away hiding in the dark of the forest.' Michael decided that query would be better investigated later when they weren't in the belly of a snake.

"Hey we need to run" he clutched her arm pulling her away towards the manor "…have to get aw…." Michael shouted trying not to tremble he was not sure if he died he would come back this time, dying due to treachery was one thing but to be eaten alive 'Our absence from the manor has by now been noticed if run screaming maybe one of the guards will see us.' Michael thought of the blonde security guard he dragged the girl behind him striding. 

Then the snake pounced. 

A split second late it would have been too late Michael shoved the girl basically throwing her in the opposite direction himself pushed back narrowly escaping the snake's fangs.

Now in the light the snake's large structure became visible Michael almost choked at the mass of rock hard scales, the snake large yellow eyes loomed in the air focused toward the three foot tall Michael 

"Is this how I die again" tears foamed in his eyes.