Was it morning already? No, it couldn't have been. It's too dark.
I had opened my eyes to have found myself still in the barracks. I had just woken up. For no reason. What was strange was the feeling in the room. It felt cold. Colder than usual. The window was closed, but the front door was wide open.
Looking to the bed, Viper was nowhere in sight. Maybe she had gone to get a glass of water and had accidentally woken me up as she left? But even so, why was it so cold? Viper would have just gone to the kitchen to get some water wouldn't she? There wouldn't have been any need to have left the barracks.
Why is it so cold?
Perhaps she had just gone out to do some late night training? No, that was unlikely. Viper was never the type to do late night training. Tigress, yes, but not Viper. Something wasn't adding up. Just a feeling.
Why was it so damn cold?
I couldn't stand it anymore. I jumped from the bed and slithered out through the bedroom door and found the main entrance wide open. Though what was stranger was that there seemed to be some sort of watery trail leading outside. Instead I followed it the other way, into the kitchen and almost at once found the main source. The first chair, the seat of it, was covered in the stuff. It smelled disgusting. I had no idea what it was. Milk gone off? No, that can't be it. This stuff is clear like water. Kind of like what would happen to a pregnant woman when her water breaks if I were to guess..
Before I could make another move, a scream filled the air, startling me, making me jump back. What was worse is that it sounded like...
"VIPER"? I tried yelling, not caring if I woke the others! "VIPER"!?
I was starting to panic. Viper was in trouble! I had to do something! Get help, search the Jade palace, anything! Something was wrong! Something was very very wrong!
I turned round and tried to leave, but the kitchen doors had shut behind me, locking themselves as I tried to forcibly open them. They didn't even budge! No matter how hard I pounded on them, or how long I tried to break through them for, it was like trying to break through reinforced steel.
Finally, I stopped pounding the door. I was too tired. The energy I just had was gone. Taken from me through the attempts of breaking the door. Surely someone, anyone, should have heard my constant attacks and yelling. But no. No one came to my aid. It was as though I was the only one in the barracks. Exhausted and beaten, I rested my head on the door, picturing every scenario that Viper may have been in. Bandits attacking, homes on fire, demons, Everything was a possibility!
I was finally snapped out of my state when I heard something behind me. A small flicker. I turned around. A letter was on the table. I could have sworn that it wasn't there before. Nether the less, I kept my guard up, fearing the worst and read what it said in my mind.
Mike, Viper and the rest of us are at the Valley of Peace hospital. Come on down, celebrate with us. You do not want to miss out on the excitement.
That was all it said. A simple line and a half offering no proper explanation on what was going on. Had Viper been hurt? What was it they wanted to celebrate? I put the note back on the table. My head was bursting with hundreds of questions a second. And even more followed once I blinked.
As soon as I did, I was no longer standing in the kitchen barracks. But a long stone hallway. I recognized it as one of the hospital corridors. Part of me was silently begging that this was all just my imagination. Either way I turned, from the left and right sides of the corridors, I was met with darkness. Neither way looked to be trusting. I then heard another scream.
"VIPER"!
The scream came from all around. There was no time to make a decision. I shot down the left side as fast as I could! Viper was in trouble and I needed to get to her. NOW! But this damn corridor seemed endless!
Then, finally, I found someone. Or rather a whole group of someones. Po, Shifu and the five were all standing right there, looking through a door. All of them except Viper who was still nowhere in sight. For some reason, my mind ordered for me to go back and run. But, I felt like I couldn't. I ignored the screams of my head and approached the nearest warrior, Crane. Once close enough, I tapped his leg to get his attention.
"Crane, what's going on"? I asked.
I jumped as Crane turned around. His entire body just... turned at great speed. It was like someone had just spun him round for me. What was even more creepy was the large smile his beak made. He looked so hauntingly happy, that it was unnatural. No one is that happy under any circumstance. Ever. The others behind Crane turned round and had the exact same grin. Each and every one of them...
"Mike. You're here". Crane spoke. His disturbing smile never fading. "Viper's waiting for you".
"What do you mean? Crane, is she okay? Why was she screaming"? I spoke in what was almost a demand. But it went unanswered. Soon, everybody spoke out, speaking in sync.
"Viper's waiting for you Mike. Don't you keep her waiting"...
I felt somewhat a bit... afraid by the response. I didn't want to anger them, so I complied and walked in between them and through the door that they were originally looking through. Once I entered, a horrible smell hit my nostrils. It was familiar to the scent back at the barracks kitchen with the water. The room was dark. But there was one thing that I could see. A light from an unknown source was shining down on the one being that I wanted to see.
"VIPER"!
I didn't hesitate to slither as fast as I could until I was right next to her. I smiled. Though it only lasted for a second as I saw her stomach. It was large and swollen. And like everyone else, she wore that horrible smile.
Her tail gently grabbed mine and she lifted it up onto the table. I found my voice and spoke.
"Viper, sweety? Are you okay? What happened"? I spoke in a panic.
"It's fine Mike. In fact, you're just in time". She told me.
In time? For what?
I didn't have the time to answer as she grunted in pain. Her tail gripped mine. I looked back to the large bump in her stomach. I managed to put two and two together.
"Viper! Don't tell me you're"...
I couldn't even finish my sentence, so Viper finished it for me.
"Pregnant"? She spoke with a few tears running down her face. "Yes Mike. With your child".
Wha- how... But, that makes no sense! We didn't even... How is this even possible?!
My eyes remained glued on her stomach. Then, I saw something red right on the top of it. Something small. So small that I had to lean in, just to get a closer look. It looked like... a drop of blood?
The second I figured it out, the most horrifying thing I have ever witnessed took place. Viper's stomach literally began ripping itself open from the inside! A few scratches at first, but it quickly turned to large chunks of flesh being ripped from Vipers skin! Blood splashed onto the floor and my face! I tried to escape, run away but the grip Viper had on my tail was too tight! All the way through, she laughed. She laughed insanely at the excruciating pain she was witnessing. And there was nothing I could do about it! I couldn't even close my eyes as I cried in a frozen state as the girl I loved was being violently torn to pieces. Her crazed laughter finally stopped when she choked on her own blood...
I pulled my tail away the second I got over the horror I had just witnessed and slowly backed away. Then, the second I thought it was over, something rose from her stomach. It wasn't a baby...
I was looking at a monster. It was hideous. It looked at me with blood red eyes and had massive teeth that ranged from small to large. It looked like a giant deformed snake with twisted human limbs. Half of it was covered in blood while the part that wasn't was made up of both skin and scales. Some sort of hideous snake and human hybrid. It then spoke in a dark voice.
"This is your doing... You created this"...
That was the last thing it said as it lunged at me. It's scary red eyes being the last thing I could see...
...
I twisted and turned, screaming and yelling until I heard a voice.
"Mike? Mike, what's wrong"?
I had enough courage to open my eyes and saw Viper, lying down on the bed next to me. I didn't hesitate to look at her stomach. No bump.
Oh God... It was just a nightmare... that was all...
"Sweety, you're scaring me".
I snapped out of my trance and looked to Viper. Her eyes showed me that she was worried.
"Yeah... yeah, sorry about that Viper... Just a silly nightmare was all".
Viper looked at me for a second before she leaned forward and hugged me. Her face right next to mine. I felt much more at ease. The hammering of my heart died down, and I felt much much better.
"It's not your fault sweetheart". She spoke. "Would you like to talk about it"?
"Maybe tomorrow... I... sorry for waking you up". I sighed. Vipers tail stroked my face.
"Stop it now". She spoke in her usual motherly tone. "You have nothing to be sorry about. Just remember that I'm here for you".
She then gave me a gentle kiss on the lips, only for a few seconds before breaking it and smiling at me kindly. "Good night Mike". She closed her eyes and nuzzled her head under my chin. I smiled and tightened my grip slightly, not wanting to let go.
"Good night Viper. Sweet dreams"...
...
I wonder what could have caused such a terrible nightmare...
Oh well. I had a bit of fun trying out a horror type chapter anyway. Hope you enjoyed reading it.
P.S. Chapter updates might be a little slower now that I'm at uni. Maybe once a week until further notice. Sorry guys. Cheerio!