Chapter 2: Annabel

Snake sat in the back of the one room schoolhouse that belonged strictly to the orphanage. It was a pretty normal day for everyone. The teacher was at the front, teaching an English lesson, while the rest of the boys looked tired and disinterested. Snake had his notebook out as he took notes on the lesson. He was by far the most excellent and well behaved student in the entire class, and he honestly loved to learn.

He looked back up at the teacher who was writing the lesson on the blackboard. He wrote down the notes as the teacher did, wanting to remember everything, because he was most likely going to need it later. Although the rest of the boys in the room looked disinterested, none of them ever really acted out. That was because the punishment for doing so would result in a smack to the wrists with a ruler.

Snake, of course, had never received one, which he considered lucky, because when he watched some of the other boys get their wrists smacked, he could only imagine how bad it would hurt, so he strived to be a good student who never gets into trouble. It wasn't hard for him to become the best student in the class since none of the other boys strived to do any better.

"Now, can any of you tell me who wrote 'The Picture of Dorian Gray?'" The teacher asked.

She looked around the class, but none of the students had their hand raised. "Snake, do you know the answer?"

The boy looked up from his notebook, surprised to have been called on. "O-Oscar Wilde."

The teacher smiled. "Correct. Now, can anyone tell me the year in which Oscar Wilde was born?"

Snake hadn't been called on for the rest of that afternoon, which he found relieving. He already had a hard enough time making friends because he was half snake, so he didn't need to be known as a teacher's pet on top of it. The lesson soon ended and the boys were excused for the day. Snake could not wait to receive some piece and quiet, and be alone with his thoughts.

Recess had barely begun and Snake had already found his designated reading place near the trees. He opened his chosen book and began to read, planning to lose himself in the book until recess ended. The book was interesting enough to cause Snake to become completely oblivious to his surroundings. he failed to notice the activity stirring behind him.

A snake was crawling on the ground, hunting for prey, when it noticed Snake and suddenly felt drawn to the boy. The snake, which had a black back and a brown belly, quietly slithered over to him. The snake could see scales on his face and hands, causing the snake to wonder.

"Is he really half snake?" The snake asked in a feminine sounding voice.

Snake's thoughts were immediately snapped out of the book and he quickly turned to locate the source of the voice. It sounded so close, but in the end, he couldn't find who the voice might belong to. He figured it was just his imagination, so he turned back to his book, determined to get a significant amount of reading done before recess ended.

The snake kept its head low the entire time, so it wasn't spotted. The snake quietly slivered over to a nearby tree on Snake's right and started climbing. It slithered up the tree without stirring the slightest reaction in the boy below. The snake continued to eye Snake and it seemed that the snake in the tree couldn't believe what it was seeing. "Is it really possible?"

Snake was thrown out of the book once more as he turned to the tree in the direction from where the voice came. He could only see a snake looking down at him, but could not determine the source of the voice. Finally, the snake sighed. "I am the one who spoke and it is me you are looking for."

Snake's eyes widened in shock. "Y-Y-You can talk?"

The snake was worried that it was making Snake uncomfortable. "Please, child, I mean you no harm, and as for why I can talk, It's not necessarily me being able to speak to humans, It's that you are able to understand me."

Snake blinked in shock and confusion. "What?"

The snake slithered down the tree, and once it reached the ground, the snake lifted it's head, revealing it's hood. Snake's shocked eyes were suddenly filled with curiosity. "You're a Cobra? I've heard about them, but I've never seen one in person before."

The snake nodded. "Yes, I am an Egyptian Cobra. I came here on a ship from a British Trading Company."

A thought suddenly occurred to Snake. "Isn't it illegal to transport poisonous snakes?"

"Well, yes, but I was smuggled on bored when I was young. Although I was put with a human who cared for me greatly."

"Do you have a name?" Snake asked.

The snake nodded. "Yes. The one who previously cared for me called me Annabel. He said he chose the name from a poem called Annabel Lee."

Snake's eyes widened as he recognized the name of the poem. "Your caretaker must have read a lot of books. I like to read Edgar Allen Poe's poems too."

"Do you now?" Just then, a thought occurred to Annabel. "Oh, I apologize for not asking this earlier. What is your name, child?"

"Oh, my name is Snake."

"Snake." Annabel repeated. "Do your parent's know where you are?"

Snake frowned and lowered his head a little. "I-I don't have parents anymore."

Annabel's eyes widened and she lowered her head as well. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Snake got closer and started stroking the snake. "It's alright. You know, I like you. I think we could become good friends."

Annabel looked up at him and smiled. "I feel the same way."

All of a sudden, the bell that ended recess rang in the distance. As much as Snake wanted to continue talking to his newfound friend, he knew he had to go back. "Sorry Annabel, but I have to go now. Do you think that you might be able to meet me here tomorrow?"

She nodded. "Of course. We're friends after all."

Snake smiled wide for the first time in a long time. "Okay, bye Annabel. I'll see you tomorrow."

The snake smiled and chuckled. "I'll see you tomorrow as well."