Reality began to sink its cold, unforgiving teeth into him, pushing away the shroud of disbelief he’d wrapped around himself. This was not a joke, not a misunderstanding. It was real, far more real than he could ever have imagined.
The snake was something far more complex and dangerous. As the dread began to unfurl within him, he realized this was the beginning of something far beyond his grasp, a storm that was ready to sweep him off his feet into a world of shadowy secrets and looming threats. The gravity of the situation began to dawn upon him, a stark contrast against the gentle hues of the setting sun. This was no ordinary day, and that was no ordinary snake.