Chapter 11：Medusa's Blessing

It takes a minute to really process what she's seeing. The room is already dark with only the light coming from the machines. Even the moonlight seems to be dimmer than usual on this night.

Regardless, she has night vision so she can see clearly what just now spoke to her.

It's a snake.

A snake is talking to her.

What. What the hell?

A snake is talking to her!

Does she panic, panic, or panic?

Juno, of course, decides to panic.

She lets out a yelp, jumps out of bed and lands on the ground with a loud thump.

"Wh-what?!"

The snake gets closer to her face.

Unfortunately, saying that has the exact opposite effect, "H-how can I possibly sstay calm right now! Don't hurt me!"

//What is this? A curse?//

She shakily gets up from the ground and tries to put distance between them, which so happens to be by hiding in the bathroom. She locks the door for good measure. (As if somehow a snake, known for not having arms, could open the door.)

Almost at the exact same time she turns on the light does she hear the same deep voice say,

She jumps back in shock, "Ack!?"

Had she not been in a mini coma for two days then there is no doubt that she would have lost consciousness.

She should have paid closer attention.

How could she have not noticed!?

The snake is coming out of her head!

Of course, it doesn't work out. The snake moves out the way and she's grasping at empty air.

//This HAS to be one of those weird dreams I've been having. Right? There's no snake attached to my head! It's a dream! Of course!//

"Haha! Another dream! I'll wake up soon!!!"

That's the only reasonable explanation!

Unless she really has been cursed.

The snake, ignoring Juno's internal breakdown, says,

She absentmindedly tugs on her other strands of hair, double checking for any more snakes. "Haha. Okay sure little snake. Go ahead!"

"..."

A long pause before Juno laughs nervously and says, "You're so funny! But there's no way this is real."

The snake closes its eyes, almost as if tired.

Juno blinks, "Huh?"

The snake looks like it wants to roll its eyes but at the same time doesn't want to be rude,

"Um... Y-yes?"

She stares at it in silence.

This time the snake makes a hissing noise in frustration.

"B-but I already know this-"

"Wait a second…"

"Oh my gods."

"This has to be a dream! I mean like, why would I, a regular, mostly normal, insignificant person, be chosen for this. Haha I've lost it!"

"B-besides, it's imposssible! I'm pretty sure no one has seen this blessing or whatever for over a thousand years! So why now!? Why me!?"

"Dream or not, I'm sorry but I don't need you! Thank you but no thank you! So would you please kindly leave my head!!!"

"I don't care how it works! You will leave… h-hold on did you just say "we." As in, there's more of you?!"

Before Juno could react to that, there's a knock on the door that startles them both.

"Are you okay? Can you open the door, Juno?"

That voice, it's Eve?!

//What do I do! I can't answer the door looking like this//

//Y-you can hear my thoughts!//

//This fucking sucks.//

//Stop listening to my thoughts!//

"Juno, let me inside," her knocking becomes more persistent.

Juno stays quiet hoping she'll leave.

"I know you're inside. I know your predicament. Let me in, now." After a moment, "Please."

//What does she mean!?//

"Absolutely not. She can't see me like this. If she sees a snake coming out of my head then… Well, it probably wouldn't be the weirdest thing she's ever seen, since it's Eve, but I don't- I can't trust her." she whispers.

"I'm not listening to you." she angrily whispers.

Eve, still not giving up, finally admits, "I want to apologize to you. I have a confession of sorts… It all has to do with your little snake friend."