SoI Episode 4

Episode 4 - Snaaaaaaaaaaaake!

Steve reached down and picked up all three flowers on the ground. He admired them for a moment and then held them up to his nose. His nostrils expected a sweet smell but were instead treated to an intense, burning sensation.

"Ahhhh!" Steve gasped, dropping the flowers. His eyes grew wide as the flowers began to change. As if possessed the flowers sprung tendrils and joined with one another. Soon they were no longer three flowers but a large one that continued to grow.

Then it began to change into something else. Green stalks became blue scales and eyes and fangs burst through the pistils. A gnashing sound caused Steve to shudder as the teeth ruptured their way through and the snake took shape.

Intelligent yellow eyes opened as the three-foot snake rose up on its body. It shot forth a long forked tongue, causing Steve to flinch. "Sssssselfish human."

Before Steve could react the snake lunged through the air headfirst and sunk its long teeth into his wrist. Steve screamed in pain and tried to fight the beast off, but the beast's grip was intense.

All around him, the peaceful forest glade began to change as well. The animals and trees burst into gulfing flames, producing an acrid smoke. Still, Steve was more concerned about the snake's hold on his arm than his surroundings at the moment.

He finally managed to get a good hold of the snake's head and as he pulled it off his body the snake crumbled into purple dust.

"Ugh..." Steve said weakly as blood dripped out of the two large fang marks. He fell to the floor and covered the wound with his other hand.

It was then that the heat of the fires became more noticable. Burning embers snapped and trees fell as the room became one giant blaze. Steve hopped back up and looked for a way out. A set of fallen branches and underbrush led to a narrow passageway above while a crack in the floor to his right also provided a possible option. He considered running back into the riddler's domain when he saw that the way behind him was now blocked by a growing stack of lumber. Steve:

1. Ran for the hole in the floor
2. Tried to climb the debris and reach the top passageway