Serpentine Embrace

Ray sighed as he parked his car into his normal parking space. He leaned back and rubbed his face with his hands before peering at the looming building in front of him. His nerves were still jittery and nothing he had tried had soothed them and now that he was back at work, his nerves had turned into Mexican jumping beans.

“Just breathe and calm yourself, Ray,” he told himself. He couldn’t keep doing this to himself. He couldn’t allow one little dream – no matter how real that dream may be – to unravel him completely. Ray draped himself over the steering wheel as he studied the building. It was already dark outside and the streetlights and lights inside the building had turned on, bathing the place in artificial light.

“Well, might as well get this over with,” Ray said as he turned off the car and got out. After locking the car he approached the building with long, determined strides. He slipped in through the employee entryway and made his way to the janitor base, which was the utility room.

He was just wondering if Eddie was already there when a figure appeared just ahead and came towards him.

“Oh, hey, George,” he greeted when he recognized the pudgy security guard.

“Evenin’, Ray,” George said as the two men stopped to converse. The old guard looked the taller man over before staring him right in the eye. “How are you holding up? Any monsters slither out from under your bed while you were sleeping?” he joked, his mustache twitching as he smiled.

“Har har,” Ray said with a forced smile, but he didn’t find it funny at all. “No, everything is right as rain and I’m really sorry for overreacting like I did last night. I guess things have just been a bit hellish lately and, well–”

“Awe, you don’t have to explain it to me, Ray old boy,” George said with a slap to Ray’s back. “Remember, you’re not the only man to ever get divorced,” he reassured with a knowing smile. “But, anyways, I was just heading out to go grab some Chinese food, did you want me to get you anything?”

Ray smiled. Usual, George. The man was like clockwork. He always went to go get Chinese food about the time Ray came in.

“Sure, just get my usual,” Ray replied.

“Number five with a side of potstickers?” George asked. Ray was also a creature of habit and as predictable as a traffic light.

“That’s right.”

“Okay, good, so I’ll be back in a few minutes,” George said with a last pat to Ray’s shoulder before heading for the exit. “Don’t let any monsters get you while I’m gone!”

Ray would have glared at the security guard, but he was already gone. The man’s broad shoulders slumped. George was never going to let him live his little “episode” down. That much was clear. Though, with George’s way of thinking, he probably thought he was helping, trying to make light of a terrifying situation so it wasn’t so hard on Ray…it wasn’t working.

An out of tune hum filled the air as Ray made his way to the utility room. He just had to get in, do his job, and, hopefully, his mind would be taken off of everything. The keys jingled as he unlocked the door and went inside.

“Home, sweet home,” he murmured and chortled at his own sarcasm. Ray was about to grab his jumpsuit to change into when he saw that the phone on the far desk was blinking. That meant that a message was saved waiting to be heard.

“…Oh no.”

Hurried footsteps went to the desk and Ray picked up the phone. He pressed the Message button and entered the access code. When the voice on the message began to speak Ray groaned.

“Hey, Bro, it’s me, your one and only man Eddie. Look, um, something’s come up. I forgot I told my pal Ben that I was going to help him move today sooo I’m going to be just a little late tonight. Sorry, I’ll make it up to you, I swear! Don’t be mad, I’ll come in as soon as I can. Till then, Bro. Keep out of trouble!”

Ray slammed down the phone with an aggravated growl.

“Damn it, Eddie! The one time I actually needed you here!” Ray steadied himself with one hand on the desk while he rubbed his face. He felt so tired and drained, and now Eddie did this to him. Who moves at night!? he thought bitterly.

All thoughts of Eddie and his lack of attendance were wiped out of his mind when the creaking of the door reached his ears followed by a click, meaning it had shut.

“Eddie?” Ray said, hope lacing his voice as he turned around. Maybe Eddie had only left that message to play a joke on him. All hope was dashed and Ray pressed himself back into the desk with a gasp.

A man Ray had never seen before was at the door – and currently blocking the only exit – and his eyes were trained directly on Ray.

“I-I’m sorry, Sir, b-but.” Ray stopped to clear his throat and tried to quell his thudding heart. “But you’re not allowed back here. Is a – did you need help with something?” he asked, and hoped the man would say no and leave. Something about him was causing uncomfortable goose bumps to break out all over Ray’s body.

He was taller than Ray, and much broader in every way. His shoulders, chest, everything had muscle and Ray could practically feel the power that lay underneath those muscles. Dark, chocolate hair framed a strong, handsome face and spilled across the man’s shoulders and matched the goatee that adorned his chin. But it was his eyes that unnerved Ray the most. They were the color of cold steel and seemed to pierce right into Ray’s soul. As if there was no secret Ray had that the man didn’t know.

“You can help me, Raymond Gallagher,” the man said, and his voice was deep and rumbled like thunder, “by being a good boy and coming with me.”

Ray’s eyes widened in alarm and he gripped the edge of the desk so hard his knuckles turned white. What was going on?

“W-What? How-How do you know my name and what do you want with me?” he asked, fear evident in his voice.

The man studied Ray with critical eyes as he took slow steps further into the room, towards the frightened man.

“Raymond, or, Ray, that’s what you like to be called…isn’t it?” he asked, and he seemed amused at the reaction he was drawing from Ray. “My name is Amos and, this may seem hard to believe, but you’re in danger and I’m here to put you under my protection.”

Ray now had a name to put to a face, but the man’s words had confused him more than the sudden appearance.

“Wait...what?”

“Believe me, I’m just as thrilled as you are,” Amos said in a droll tone as he swept some of his hair behind his shoulder. “But those are the facts, so if you’d please just come with –”

“Wait, why am I in danger? I don’t understand…”

Amos’ head fell back as he sighed irritably.

“Look, now is really not the time to talk. We need to leave. Now.”

Those few words were able to change the fear coursing through Ray’s veins to anger. He stood up to his full height and his usually kind eyes hardened into a glare.

“You look. You can’t just barge in here, tell me I’m in danger, then just demand I come with you. Do you expect me to trust you if that’s all that I’m given?” he asked. “Now tell me what I’m in danger of.”

Amos looked on in surprise and the he chuckled which quickly turned into a mocking laugh.

“My, so you do have a backbone. How surprising.” He took his time taking a few steps closer and watched Ray cower against the piece of furniture again. “Let’s just say that there are certain…people that want you dead and, as it stands, I’m the only one that can stop that from happening.” He watched with mild interest as the color drained from the man’s face with that bit of news.

“D-Dead? But…why? I’ve done nothing so horrible as to have someone want me dead…did Judy send you?” Ray abruptly asked as distrust swelled in his chest. It was just the sort of thing Judy would try to pull. Something overly dramatic and outlandish was her style. “Is she trying to get more money out of me or something? She has already taken most of what I have. What more could she possibly want from me?” he questioned vehemently, but the look he received from the other man quickly doused any suspicion he had.

“I assure you I have no idea who Judy is, nor do I care. No, the people who are after you are far more dangerous and money is the last thing they want.”

Ray swallowed hard. Did his family have some dealings with the mafia he didn’t know about? Was this man a cop? Nothing was making sense.

“But why do they want me dead? What did I do?”

“You’re just Mr. Twenty-Questions, aren’t you?” Amos asked as he raked his fingers through his hair.

Ray nearly jumped onto the desk when, in hardly a blink of an eye, Amos had closed the distance between them and now stood in front of the other.

“I’ll tell you this much. These people want you dead because you saw something last night that you weren’t supposed to,” Amos told him, his voice almost a whisper.

Ray’s heart stopped. No. It wasn’t possible. There was only one thing that happened out of the ordinary last night and it had all been part of Ray’s imagination. There was no way Amos was talking about…

It was then, with Amos so close, that Ray got a really good look at his face. His features were sharp and chiseled – it was a face any male model would spend thousands on a plastic surgeon for – but Ray’s attention was grabbed by a thick scar that trailed down Amos’ right cheek, ran down his neck and slipped under the collar of his shirt. It was strangely similar to a scar on the face of a certain creature in Ray’s delusion.

“No!” Ray cried out and, with all the force he could muster, pushed Amos away from him. “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I-I didn’t see anything last night! All that was out of place last night was an earthquake. That’s it!”

Ray cried out in pain as Amos grabbed his arm. It didn’t hurt just because the man was grabbing where one of Ray’s numerous wounds were, but because his grip was almost bone crushing.

“That’s enough of your ramblings. I have neither the time nor the patience for it,” Amos hissed, his features now full of anger and it made him look ten times more dangerous. “Now, this is going to be the last time I’m telling you this before I get really pissed. You are going to come with me if you want to live past this night. Do you understand me?”

The glare Ray threw Amos was one that could wither anyone else’s resolve, something surprising coming from a gentle man.

“Oh, I understand perfectly, Mr. Terminator,” Ray spat before smashing his free fist into Amos’ jaw and using his body weight to topple the man to the ground.

Before Amos could comprehend what had happened Ray fled the room, leaving the fallen man on the ground with egg on his face.

“Well, damn,” Amos muttered as he sat up. He wiped some blood off his mouth and rubbed his cheek. “He’s actually got a pretty good right hook.” Amos hefted himself to his feet and stared out the open door way. With a sigh he began to dig through his pockets and fished out a small, cylinder container. “I hate using these damn things,” he growled as he popped open the top and shook out a small tablet.

“But if he wants to play hardball, well then, batter up,” Amos said before he popped the tablet into his mouth and left the room in pursuit of his query.

“George! You have to help me!” Ray yelled as he burst into the security room. “There’s this…” he stopped when he found the room empty. That’s when it dawned on him that George had left to go get food. Great, now he was alone with a certified psychopath.

Ray slammed the door shut and locked it. He stared at it for a moment as if the man were about to burst through any second. With heaving breath and racing heart Ray looked frantically for the phone and nearly lunged at it when he spotted it next to one of the monitors. The receiver was snatched up and Ray hurriedly dialed 911.

“Come one. Come on,” Ray pleaded and continuously looked over his shoulder as the phone rang. He sighed in relief when the operator finally picked up.

“911 what is your emergency?” a woman asked.

“Hello, my name is Raymond Gallagher and I’m calling because –”

Ray never finished as something slammed into his back. The phone slipped from his grasp and he stumbled into the wall. He only had enough time to turn around before his body was pinned to the wall by another and his wrists were grabbed and held on either side of his head. His fear renewed as he was left staring into the cold eyes of a less than happy Amos.

“No, how did you –”

Ray was cut off and his eyes widened when Amos crushed their lips together. Ray’s mind reeled. Was this all some ploy so the man could rape him? In Ray’s shocked state Amos was able to invade the subdued man’s mouth with his tongue.

Ray tried to recoil as the slippery appendage entered, but the wall gave him no room to move back. It then took a second to realize Amos’ tongue wasn’t the only foreign object in his mouth. Something round had been placed on his own tongue, but before Ray could identify it, it dissolved.

Ray coughed and sputtered when Amos finally released his mouth. He took in gulps of air and he glowered at the man and was just about to head butt his attacker when things took a turn for the worst. A prickling numbness swept throughout Ray’s body and seeped into all of his limbs. His breathing became short and as he stared at Amos his vision began to dim.

“What…what did you…?” Ray’s weak voice trailed off as he lost all consciousness.

Amos huffed as he caught Ray’s limp body into his arms before bending down and hefting the man over his shoulder. As he straightened he glanced over at the receiver that was hanging from the desk by its cord. The operator’s voice was issuing from it in distress.

“Sir! Sir! Mr. Gallagher, are you all right!? Are you still there!?”

Amos calmly walked over and pulled a tissue from a tissue box. He then used it to pick up the receiver and gently placed it back on the hook. With that taken care of, and an unconscious Ray dangling from his shoulder, he made his exit.

“The things I do. I think I’m going to ask Rachel for a raise for all the grief I have to put up with.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Eddie whistled happily as he walked up to his work building. He was only an hour late and, for him, that meant he was pretty damn early. He hoped Ray wasn’t too pissed at him, but Eddie needed some down time in order to deal with the other man. Ray was most likely still wound up over his nightmare and Eddie needed all of his strength in order to deal with it.

“I need to talk to Ray about seeing a shrink or something. That guy needs to let out his problems and I really don’t think any amount of Eddie love is going to be enough,” he muttered to himself as he came up to the employee entrance and went inside.

What Eddie didn’t notice was that just a few feet away, hidden in the bushes, George was lying in the dirt, out cold with a wound weeping blood across his forehead.

Eddie hurried to the utility room to change and grabbed his cleaning supplies. When he was in the elevator he grabbed his radio.

“Yo, Ray, what’s up? Sorry I’m late. I hope you’re not made. What floor are you on?”
Eddie waited for a reply, but his only answer was static. “Ray? Oh, come on, Ray, don’t give me the silent treatment. I’m sorry! How can I make it up to you?” Still no answer.

“Fine, be that way,” Eddie murmured as he tried a different approach. “George, tell Ray to stop being a baby.” His black brows furrowed when the security guard didn’t reply. “Georgie? Ray? Hello?” What was going on?

The elevator dinged as it reached its destined floor and Eddie walked out as soon as the doors opened.

“Hmmm I wonder if they’re playing me,” he wondered aloud after trying once more, in vain, to get either man on the radio. Eddie sighed as he clipped it back on his belt. “Ray must have ditched me to get back at me for all the times I’ve been late. Damn.”

Eddie couldn’t say that he didn’t deserve it, so he sucked it up and began cleaning all by himself. As he went to work he noticed something odd. The floors were dirty, trash cans were full, nothing had been touched. Ray must have been really pissed at him.

“Ugh, is this what Ray goes through every time I don’t show up?” Eddie grumbled as he stopped mopping for a second to crack his back. “I need to remember to buy something nice for the guy. I didn’t appreciate how hard this is when you’re by yourself.”

As he slopped the water across the floor he was unaware to a soft noise above him. Ever so slowly the vent in the ceiling was pulled up and slid out of view and something between a hiss and a laugh sounded.

A happy hum came from Eddie as he moved a few steps further to get at a rather nasty spot on the floor. He stopped and a puzzled look appeared on his face when he heard a noise behind him that sounded as if something heavy had fallen to the floor.

“Huh?”

Eddie turned around curiously and the moment he did he wished he hadn’t. With wide eyes he watched as something that could only be called a monster squirmed and slithered in front of him.

It had a very long, thick serpent body, covered in blood red scales. It had no legs, but powerful arms sprouted from muscular shoulders. Terrible, bony wings arched from its back and fierce, yellow eyes peered at Eddie from a sinister, scaly head that had a mouth of razor teeth.

No sound could escape Eddie’s tightened throat as he watched the monster rear up on its long body and tower over the man like he was a tiny spec of a bug. As it bared its deadly teeth and saliva dripped down onto the floor Eddie found his voice.

“Oh…shit.”

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Hello, it’s been awhile hasn’t it? I’m terribly sorry about that, but I had some personal problems I had to deal with, so I had to hold off on the writing for a little bit, but things are resolved now so I have been able to come back to bring you a new chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it and, as you can see, things are not going well for any of the characters. Ray’s been kidnapped, George is lying face down in some bushes, and Eddie…*crys*

But on the brightside, you finally know mystery man’s name. Now the question is what’s going to happen to Ray now that he’s under Amos’ “Protection?” Well, before I let you go I have some wonderful reviews to answer that I have received.

Camui: Hehe I’m glad you found it too and that you’re enjoying it. Hopefully the turn of events will keep your heart pounding, it makes me smile knowing I can elicit those kinds of reactions from readers. And, hey! Now you know the name of Mr. Snake! Whoo! I hope you continue to love it, and thank you for the nice review.

Pizzaboyyy: Hehe right, and now we’ll be able to see just how that babysitting goes.

Aleks. Wow, thank you so much, you’re too kind. Please keep enjoying my writing, its why I do it after all. And thank you again for the flattering words.

NihonnoHanna: Thank you and I’m sorry that this…really wasn’t soon.

Shawdowgirlferrel: Thank you, thank you and forgive me for causing you so much stress. I hope this update as made up for that just a bit.

Thank you, everyone for your reviews, and to those that rated and also to those who stay in the shadows and simply read. Again I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and I wish all of you a happy New Year. Until we meet again!