Chapter1: Viper Bite

I stroll through the forest. Then I suddenly stop. The treehouse in front of me is my “base,” where I hide all kinds of cool stuff: a telescope, a compass, a series of Harry Potter books, and most excitingly, night-vision goggles, all scattered around the cushions in the treehouse.

As I go through the book’s ending for about the millionth time, a glimmer of light blinds my view. I narrow my eyes and look toward the spot.

It’s Chloe, her ebony hair shining in the sunbeam, her cunning soft-coal eyes flashing playfully in the prank. She looks like a ninja—jet black from hair to feet. She’s from somewhere in Asia, but I can’t quite remember.

“Chloe!” I shouted, “you scared my hair off!”

“I won’t prank you with my mirror piece if you weren’t ignoring me the whole time, Hacker Eye. I’ve been here for decades! Well, never mind that; at least my ninja skills work: ‘Don’t get found unless you’ve been found.'”

Oh yeah. We’ve been in the Ninja Club at school. Chloe was—and is—the star of the club. She’s born for that: hiding, stalking, and scaring me to death.

“How is your aunt doing?” Chloe interrupts my thoughts in the dappled shade caused by the leaves.

“As bad as usual; she won’t let me out. I climbed out of the window while she was having those stupid dance lessons. Now she’s probably wriggling her butt out in that old dance studio!” I snorted.

We both giggled at this old joke I made years ago. But it’s more ridiculous this time because she probably will wriggle a tiny bit better.

“You climbed out of the window. That’s still an escape skill,” Chloe says.

I decided to visit Zoe. Zoe is another friend of mine, but unlike me and Chloe, Zoe is the teacher’s pet; she gets the highest score in literally everything: math, science, English, SPaG, drama, and every other subject you can think of except PE. She’s fit, though.

We travel quickly in silence. I have gotten used to walking in silence because Chloe recommended I, aka forced me, to practice ninja skills every single second of my life. Zoe’s house is situated close to the Vallybrook library, at the corner of the street.

No wonder why she’s so good at studying.

As we stalk through the deserted summer street, a cracking noise catches my attention. I turn my head but see nothing—the street cannot be more normal; but the atmosphere is just… weird. Maybe it’s because of the raging storm, which looks like a flat alien spaceship but a hundred times larger.

“Anything wrong?” Chloe asks me, then I realize that I was staring at a No Parking sign.

“I… I,” I hesitate for a moment, then decide to tell the truth. Chloe is my best friend, and I should tell her all my secrets. She will tell hers too; that’s what a friend is for. “I thought I heard something cracking in that bush.”

“Oh, your brain can be a bit tight when you’re nervous, probably because the street is too empty. People go on vacation. Poor you; your aunt is WAY too obsessed with her dance lessons,” Chloe says.

We cross the road and finally arrive at Zoe’s home. It is a pretty large family house. Her home is nice, cool, and orderly, unlike my house, which is cramped and sweltering hot because the air conditioning broke down. That’s why I like to spend more time outside.

Chloe knocks on Zoe’s door. Swiftly, the door opens, and Zoe’s mom stands in front of us.

“Oh, Kat and Chloe? Come on in. Are you here to visit Zoe?” she says.

I nod. “Yes, Mrs. Quinn,” I answer.

Mrs. Quinn grins: “You are more than welcome to take any food from the kitchen, girls. Zoe’s probably in her room. She is working on her cute little arts and crafts.” I swear that I caught a glimmer of concern in her gray eyes.

“Thanks.”

We walk to Zoe’s room. I knock on the door.

“Who is there?”

“It’s us, Chloe and Kat,” Chloe says.

“Oh, sorry, come on in.”

The door swings open quickly, and Zoe stands at the entrance. She stands tall, arms crossed, and watches me and Chloe with her usual gray, sharp gaze. Then her sharp gaze softens. “Hey, guys,” she says mildly, “what’s up?”

“We are just paying a visit, thank you very much,” Chloe snaps. When I introduced Chloe and Zoe, I didn’t expect them to fight so much. I know Zoe is fierce, but the two of them are just completely opposite.

“Wow, wow, wow,” I warn. “I smell the scent of WW3 upcoming.”

Zoe rolls her eyes.

“C’mon, you lot. Let me show you around.” Zoe dives toward the TV in her room to change the channel. But not before I see her watching an opera singing show.

Weird. From my perspective, all Zoe watches is David Attenborough.

“Zoe, what happened to your foot?” I say as I notice a bandage wrapped around Zoe’s left foot.

“Ignore it. I got bit by a snake.”

“You got BIT BY A SNAKE?!” Chloe screeches. It’s uncommon for Chloe to be scared; she’s the bravest person I’ve ever known.

“Have you been to the hospital yet?” I ask nervously.

“I’m fine. The doctor gave me some painkillers and some antibiotics.”

I sigh: “As long as you’re OK.”

Zoe smiles. “Kat, you are like my mom. Plus, your smell is like something.”

“What does she smell like?” Chloe asks.

“New books and sweat.”