The Deadly Beauty
Chapter 1
The sun shined upon the hot Mojave desert. Four brown Mojave desert owls sat perched on a rock. These owls wore outfits that were similar to the three amigos. The four were playing Spanish instruments such as the Spanish guitar, violin, accordion, and a trumpet.
"Hola my amigos." the owl said playing the accordion, "My name is Senor Flan. You may have heard the tale of a certain green lizard but today I shall tell you a different tale. A tale about a creature that was so beautiful in some eyes of other creatures but she had a deadly nature. The tale known as The Deadly Beauty."
The owls turned toward an old town that had old buildings that looked like they were on the verge on collapse. Animals were running about everywhere, trying to complete airings.
"Our story begins ten years ago in a small town known as Saddleback." Senor Flan narrated.
A brown mojave kangaroo rat wearing a white button up shirt, black vest, and a dirty white apron with black gun powder spots all over it was quickly trying to fix a black shot gun.
"Still as busy as yer usually are Joseph." a female voice said.
Joseph the kangaroo rat turned around to see a large light tan Mojave rattlesnake smiling at him. Her underbelly was white and dark brown diamonds were on her back. She had emerald green eyes which were unnatural for a snake like her. On her tail she had a light golden rattle like any other rattle snake.
"Ah Janette so good to see ya this fine evenin. What brings ya here?" he greeted.
"Thought I would drop in fer a little visit befer going back home to help Pa with work." Janette answered.
The brown kangaroo rat laughed a bit at his rattlesnake friend. He knew this was a daily routine of her's. Everyday her mother would send her to pick up supplies that her father need so Janette would pick up these supplies, visit Joseph, and return home to help her father. The two were friends ever since they were kids so of course Janette would make sure she would visit him.
"Well I better be goin. Pa might start wonderin where I am." Janette said.
"Alright see ya Janette!" Joseph said before the female rattlesnake left the building.
"Though this poor beauty had no idea what would end up happening next." the owl said sadly.
Once she got home she saw the sheriff who was a brown male jackrabbit that wore a gold star badge, a black button up shirt, brown vest, a brown belt with a gun in the holster, and a black cowboy hat handcuffing three black lizards. Janette could see quite the gun fight had taken place since there was gun shot holes all over everything. She slithered up to the sheriff.
"Sheriff what happened and where is ma and pa?" she asked.
The jackrabbit clenched his fist and answered "I'm sorry Janette. These bank robbers were hiding out in yer house. Shortly after the gun fight started yer ma and pa were regrettably caught in the crossfire."
The female snake backed up in shock. She tried her best to fight back her tears since she hated anyone seeing her cry. She quickly took off so no one could see the tears that are now streaking down her face. She had been crying for hours in her room. She couldn't understand why something like this could happen to her. She lifted her head and just then dark thoughts entered her mind. She convinced herself that it was the sheriff's fault, that he could have tried to save her parents. She had her mind set about what she was going to do. She went into her parents room and took her mother's black neck chocker necklace with a blue gem off the dresser and slipped it around her neck. She went down stairs and saw her father's black coat that had no sleeves since it was made for a snake to wear and his black cowboy hat. She put on both the coat and the hat.
"One last thing to add." she said in a dark tone.
She quickly begin to make her way back to town. Later that day it was now night fall. Joseph was fixing to close up his shop until heard someone enter.
"I'm sorry but I'm cl..." he started to say but he stopped when he turned around to see the snake he saw earlier except much different.
"I need a gun." she said in a strict tone.
"Janette why are ya..." Joseph began to ask.
"I said I need a gun." she repeated except this time in a more harsh tone.
"Alright Janette I'll get ya one but I would like to point out that yer a snake and ya know snakes aren't able to hold guns." he replied.
She laid her tail on the kangaroo rat's work desk.
"Not unless it's a tail gun." she answered in a dark tone.
"Janette are ya insane? In order fer ya to have a tail gun I would have to..." Joseph tried to object.
"Just do it Joseph or I swear I'll beat the living daylights out of ya so much that ya'd wish yer were eaten by the hawks instead!" Janette hissed.
Joseph could tell that the snake before him was no longer the kind, loving girl that he knew as a kid. This was a completely different Janette. He could even tell that her green eyes were now mainly a red color that made you think of death. With a sigh he agreed to do the task. He handed Janette a rag for her to bite on when he starts the process. The rattlesnake opened her mouth and clamped it down on the rag. Joseph got out his knife, wishing that he wasn't the one that had to do the given task. When he started Janette was clenching her teeth down hard on the rag and a few muffled screams came from her mouth. It hurt more than anything but she had to do what was needed to be done.
A few hours later the task was finally done. Joseph wiped the blood off of his paws as he watched Janette examine her tail gun that has now taken her rattle's place. She shook it and was pleased that it still sounded similar to her old rattle. She also got a belt and a strap that had tons of bullets on them so she wouldn't run out of ammo for quite a while. With that she left Joseph's shop without a word.
As Joseph watched her leave he thought "Janette what have ya become."
The female rattlesnake had one matter left to take care of. She slowly slithered into the sheriff's office. Once inside a dark grin formed on her face when she saw the brown jackrabbit asleep at his desk. She pointed her gun at him. The sheriff's eyes snapped open when he heard the click from the gun being loaded. He saw the rattlesnake before him.
"Janette?" he exclaimed.
Instead of answer she shot him in the heart, killing him instantly. She turned toward the three bank robbers from earlier that were in their cells; staring in shock at what just happened.
"Who-Who are you?" one of them asked in a shaky voice.
Janette stared at them with her partly red and green eyes.
"The name's Gunshot Janette." she answered in a dark tone.
She quickly turned and dashed out of the sheriff's office, knowing soon there would be a bounty over her head. She was no longer the kind snake everyone knew. She was now an outlaw.
"So many years passed and the young girl was now a young woman. Twenty-six years of age and still an outlaw." Senor Flan stated, "And now we're at where our story is now in the present."
In the middle of the desert was a town called Dirt. The old town had more water than you can imagine. This town was ran by the Sheriff who was a green chameleon named Rango. He wore a light tan button up shirt, brown pants, brown boots, a brown vest, spears on his boots, a red scarf around his neck, a silver star badge, and a white hat. The town of Dirt had been prosperous ever since the mayor was killed. Rango had some things under control but sometimes he needed help from his wife Beans who is a light-tan iguana that had short, brown curly hair, blue eyes; she wore a blue dress and black boots.
The town rarely had any problems but today were they in for a surprise. A black female cactus mouse that had yellow eyes with her hair done in two long braids; wore a white shirt, black shoes, a black hat and a black skirt rushed into the sheriff's office. Her name was Priscilla.
"Sheriff!" she exclaimed.
"What is it little sister?" Rango asked.
"Sheriff there a rattlesnake out there that be demanding to see the sheriff of this town which is you." Priscilla answered.
"Rattlesnake Jake? I thought he was done causing trouble for this town." Rango said.
Rango walked out of his office and there was the rattlesnake before him.
"Rattlesnake Jake I thought you were done causing mischief here!" Rango demanded.
The snake laughed before replying "Sheriff unless ya have poor vision ya should be able to see I am not the fierce outlaw Rattlesnake Jake."
Rango froze when he heard a female voice come out of the rattlesnake's mouth. Now looking at the rattlesnake more clearly he could clearly see that this rattlesnake was a female.
"Alright ma'am then would ya like to tell us who you are?" Rango asked.
"Gladly sheriff." she smirked, "I am Gunshot Janette, wanted outlaw in fifty towns."
"Why have I never heard of ya?" the green chameleon asked.
"First time I been to this here parts. Now onto business. I running low on supplies and unless you don't give me what I want..." Janette started.
Her tail gun clicked as she got it ready to fire.
"Let's say it won't be a purty sight." she finished.
Rango was about to reach for his gun but then he thought about the town's people. He knew this snake could do some damage and she wasn't afraid to kill. The last thing he wanted was any of the town's people hurt because of this snake's wrathful nature. Finally he came up with a decision.
"Alright you can have yer demands." Rango answered.
"Rango what are yer doin? Are yer crazy?" his wife Beans exclaimed.
"If it'll get her out of town then I'll give her the supplies she wants." he answered.
"Did you think about what if she goes ahead and kills one of the town folk. Rango think these things through." Beans said in a strict tone.
Rango rubbed his arm, he knew his wife had a point. The female rattlesnake tossed out a bag that she wanted filled with supplies. The town's people gave her all sorts of supplies, from water all the way to ammo. Once the bag was filled she slung it on her back.
"Thank ya sheriff. I'm glad ya chose the easy way instead of the hard like the others did in my previous encounters." she said slyly.
It was true Rango was the only one that willing did what she said without a fight. All the others she had to start a gunfight with in order to get what she wanted. Most of the time she would win but other times the sheriff of the town would actually manage to chase her out of the town empty handed.
"Ya know sheriff one thing I'm famous fer is that I hardly show mercy. It's actually rare when I show mercy in my case." she said in a dark tone.
Nobody dared said a word; afraid what was going to happen next. Luckily to their relief she laid down her tail gun.
"Lucky fer y'all that's one of those rare times but I warn ya sheriff next time our paths cross that same mercy won't be shown." Janette stated.
She quickly slithered out of town. Once she was gone almost everyone took in a sigh in relief. That visit from the female outlaw caught them off guard but next time they would be prepared if she ever came back. Beans was scolding Rango for not listening to her and telling him how upset and heartbroken she would have been if Janette had decided to shoot. Rango had gotten quite use to scoldings from Beans but he still found it slightly annoying. Priscilla was staring where Janette had took off but then turned toward Rango.
"Sheriff if yer done gettin scolded I was wonderin how a rattlesnake like Gunshot Janette would be able to handle Rattlesnake Jake." Priscilla said.
"Ya know that is a interestin thought there little sister but only one could wonder." Rango answered.
"Now don't y'all be metionin that snake either I had enough with all this talk about those snakes after we had a hard time from both of em know shut yer trap or..." Beans yelled but then she froze solid stiff like she usually does when she gets angry.
Rango sighed and said "I try to tell her to control that temper of her's."
The owls were now standing next to the sheriff's office; playing away on their instruments.
"Gunshot Janette had left quite the impression on the town's people of Dirt but of course she had no idea that someone was going to end up leaving an impression on her." Senor Flan said with a smile.
Later that day a familiar dark brown rattlesnake was making his way across the desert. He wore a black hat on top of his head. Around his body he wore a belt and tons of straps that had bullets all over them. Instead of a rattle on the end of his tail he had a tail gun. His eyes were partly gold and red.
"Damn this long trip." he cursed to himself.
Before he could move he heard the click of a gun.
"Don't make a move or I'll blow yer guts out." a female voice said.
Out from behind a rock came Gunshot Janette with her tail gun pointed at Rattlesnake Jake. Once seeing this a smirk formed on Jake's face. He found the female rattlesnake that was currently pointing a gun at him ammusing rather than a threat.
"I wouldn't be smilin if I were ya since I have ya at gun point." Janette hissed.
Jake laughed before answering "Do you think I would be scared of a little girl with a gun?"
"Fer yer information I am a young woman at age twenty-six." she hissed.
"Well then I'm not afraid of a woman with a gun." Jake smirked.
Janette was starting to get extremely annoyed at this rattlesnake. No one that she ever had at gun point was ever happy about it and she wondered why this rattlesnake thought he was so tough that he didn't need to be afraid of such a thing.
"Ya know I would be damn quiet if I were ya." Janette said in a strict tone.
"And why would I do that?" Jake smirked, not scared by the female rattlesnake's threats one bit.
"Because I'm Gunshot Janette, an outlaw wanted in fifty-one towns now and I tend not to show any mercy." she answered with a hint of anger in her voice.
Jake's smirk never faded, not one of those words struck even the smallest bit of fear into his heart. Janette hissed in anger at this. She was about to lose her patience with this snake.
"Alright what makes you think yer almighty and shouldn't need to fear me?" Janette demanded.
"Because I'm the fierce outlaw Rattlesnake Jake." he answered in a dark tone.
Janette froze in shock. She couldn't believe that this was the fierce outlaw that she heard tales about. Seeing this Jake decided to take advantage of this. Before Janette could react Jake had pinned her to the ground. He made sure her trail was pinned to the ground too so she couldn't try to shoot him. She hissed at him in anger and struggled to knock him off her. She continued struggling until Jake had his tail gun pointed at her neck. Jake smiled a dark grin upon this. He loved seeing his opponents weak. He then forced her head toward his face, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"I love when my prey look into my eyes." he said in a sly tone.
Janette clenched her teeth and glared into his eyes. As she was being forced to stare into his red and golden eyes all of the sudden he found himself staring into her red and green eyes. By looking at her eyes he could tell her eyes gave off the same emotion his did. Nothing but death. Finally Janette managed to knock away his gun. She hissed at his face before turning her head away from his. With this Jake got off of Janette and knocked her to the side. A grin of satisfaction formed on his face seeing the dazed female snake trying to reload her tail gun.
"If that's all I'll be leavin. By the way I love women that are fierce. Makes my torturing of them more enjoyable." he said in the same sly tone.
Janette glared at him with her eyes full of anger. As he took off she tried to shot him but missed. Once he was gone Janette hissed in anger and she smashed her tail against a rock.
"Damn ya Rattlesnake Jake!" she screamed in anger.
Jake knew that the female rattlesnake would chase after him and try to get revenge. He was counting on that. He wasn't done with his fun yet. He slithered behind a rock and loaded his tail gun. He waited until he could hear the screams and cursing of Janette getting louder. He waited for the right moment to act and finally when he heard Janette was close enough he quickly came out from behind the rock with his gun pointed at Janette only to see that she had done the same.
"Figured ya'd might pull somethin like this." she hissed.
"What? Can't a snake have some fun?" he smirked.
Janette's glare never left her face. She continued to glare at Rattlesnake Jake. It felt like ages that they stood there with their guns pointed at one another. Finally without warning Janette shot her gun but luckily Jake managed to dodge it. He quickly wrapped his coils around her. Janette hissed in anger seeing that she couldn't get out of his iron grip. She glared at him to see a dark grin on his face. The female snake clenched her teeth as she flet his coils getting tighter. He wanted to see how weak she was. He wanted to see how defenseless she was. He forced her face toward his like before.
"What? Want me to look into yer eyes again?" she hissed.
"No I want to try something different." he said in a dark tone.
With that said he forced a hard kiss onto Janette. This made her more angry than ever. She started to struggle to get free of his coils. Finally she managed to get her tail loose and with it she slapped him as hard as she could breaking the kiss in the process. Because she hit him so hard this caused him to loose his grip on her. She slipped out of his coils and glared at him.
"Ya should be shot dead fer that damned stunt!" she hissed in anger.
"That's actually the nicest thin a woman said to me." Jake said slyly.
"Go to hell Rattlesnake Jake!" Janette hissed loudly before taking off.
Jake could see his fun with her was over since she obviously won't come back after that. With a smirk he slithered off. Later that day he made it back to his hideout which was a cave hidden by the shadows. He saw the sun was setting so he decided to make a small fire not only for heat but for light despite the fact he can see in the dark. One thing for sure Jake knew he had one interesting day. He thought back to when he encountered Janette. Even though he didn't say it or show it he was surprised when saw Janette had a tail gun. He knew there are some snakes that exchange their rattles for tail guns so they can protect themselves more but most of them don't want to do it at all because they don't like the idea of giving up something that is a part of them for something that isn't. Jake begin to wonder why Janette had one.
"I wonder if she got her's willingly or if she got her's like how I did." Jake thought as he looked at his own tail gun.
Jake sighed as the memories of why he has a tail gun came rushing into his mind. He hated those painful memories. He wished he could damn those memories to hell. Finally shaking off the thought he put out the fire and went to sleep. The owls were now standing in front of a cactus not too far away from Jake's hideout.
"Indeed our serpent hombre is quite puzzled by a few things but unknown to him our serpent mujer was thinking about him too. Except more about revenge rather than questions." Senor Flan said.
"If you ask me they one loco couple." Lupe said.
Senor Flan didn't comment on his friend's opinion. Janette slithered back and forth in her temporary hideout. She thought back to the events that had happened with Rattlesnake Jake. She couldn't believe that first he forces her to stare into his eyes and then after that he forced a kiss onto her. All of these thoughts made Janette get angrier and angrier by the minute. She had never been this angry at someone, not even her angry for the sheriff that she killed was this strong. She couldn't believe on snake could get on her nerves so much.
"The next time I see that dirt bag I will kill that damned rattlesnake!" she hissed in anger.
Janette felt sleep was beginning to overcome. She looked up at the night sky. She remembered when she was a kid that she and her father would look up at the stars before going to bed. Then she begin to remember the life and her friends she left behind. She heard a few weeks that after she fled her town that her childhood friend Joseph had hung himself due to learning what happened and the fact he was the one that gave her the tail gun. Someone would consider these memories painful but the only memories Janette considered painful was the one of her parent's death. As for the rest she only had two words for them.
She looked to the sky and said "No regrets."
Finally unable to fight off sleep anymore she curled up in the corner of her cave and fell asleep.