Chapter 16

The basement was shrouded in darkness, with only a faint light flickering near the door. Malcolm's footsteps echoed down the staircase as Stella curled up in a corner, trembling uncontrollably. Then, the door creaked open. When she looked up, she met his bloodshot eyes and trembled even more violently. "What are you doing? What do you want from me?" Malcolm didn't answer. Instead, he stepped aside, letting the bodyguards behind him walk in. Each of them carried a bag. Soon, the quiet basement was filled with soft hissing sounds. The very next moment, the bodyguards released several bags full of snakes, which slithered straight toward Stella. Stella shrieked. "Stay away from me! Help!" Stella tried to run, but the basement was already crawling with snakes. They coiled around her arms and calves, winding their way upward until they wrapped around her entire body. The cold touch of their scales made her skin crawl, but there was nowhere left to hide. Her scream pierced the air,