Chapter 2

Rachel laughed softly and turned to the others.

"My hometown's pretty poor, and I was the first one to make it to college. I thought I'd bring these snakes over so anyone who likes them can buy one. Our backcountry snakes are trained, they won't bite, they're loyal and protective of their owner, and they're useful in all kinds of ways."

"In summer they double as a cooling wrap, you can wear them as a bracelet or a necklace, and for the girls they even work as protection. They'll scare off anyone who means harm. If some creep tries to hurt you, these snakes will defend you."

At that, every one of them started to want one.

"Rachel, how much for one of these snakes?"

Rachel held up five fingers.

"Five ninety-nine each, and you can pick whatever kind you want. Every cent of it goes straight to the charity school back in my hometown."

In my past life, I recognized every one of these as deadly venomous. Snakes are cold-blooded by nature, impossible to tame, and far more likely to turn and strike a person.

So I went straight to the fire department, and they came and captured and disposed of all of them.

Rachel ran up to the rooftop and stood there crying, accusing me in front of everyone.

"Nancy, I know you don't like me, but these snakes are trained, there's no way they'd bite anyone. They were the only hope those kids in my village had for an education, and now you've destroyed everything. I can't even face them again."

While I was still trying to explain, Luke's hand cracked across my face.

"Rachel only ever wanted to help her hometown, and you got jealous and called the police just to ruin it for her. How can anyone be so vicious?"

The whole class pointed at me, screaming.

"The snakes are gentle once they've been tamed, they'd never bite anyone. You're just out to get Rachel. You can't stand to see anyone else do well, can you?"

"We're the ones who bought the snakes, and we're fine with it. Even if we got bitten, that's our choice. Who asked you to stick your nose in where it doesn't belong?"

In the end, the whole class dragged me off to the woods nearby, shoved me into a nest of venomous snakes, and left me to be bitten to death.

Remembering how I died last time, I couldn't help clenching my fists.

Just then Luke stood up, smug, and spoke.

"Rachel, you're so kind. You've got so little yourself and you're still thinking about helping your hometown. I'll take three hundred of these first, one for everyone in class and all my friends. Consider it my contribution to building that charity school."

I narrowed my eyes slightly. Luke's family didn't have money, so how could he suddenly come up with enough to buy that many snakes? Then I remembered how I used to watch him eat nothing but a single dinner roll in the mornings, and out of pity I'd set him up with a linked payment account, two hundred thousand a month.

I picked up my phone and shut the linked account off.

The others, hearing Luke buy so many, rushed to speak up too.

"I want two, one as a bracelet and one as a necklace. That would be so cool."

"Rachel, I'll take three, to give my girlfriends for protection."

Everyone scrambled to buy. Luke looked at me.

"Nancy, aren't you getting one?"

I refused, my voice cold.

"No. I'm afraid of snakes."

Rachel looked at me.

"Nancy, these snakes won't bite, and they'll protect you. Why not buy one and try it out?"

I shook my head.

"No thanks."

Luke gave a small scoff.

"Rachel, she doesn't want one but I do. Add another hundred for me."

Rachel's face lit up with excitement.

"Perfect. Everyone can pay a ten percent deposit first. I'll get in touch with our village elder, and the pet snakes will be sent out to all of you within three days."

Luke picked up his phone to pay. A few seconds later, up popped a message: insufficient balance.

He came over to me, his face hard, and questioned me under his breath.

"Nancy, what's going on? Why did you shut off the linked account?"

I answered like it was nothing.

"I felt like it, so I did."

His expression soured, and his voice went cold.

"Nancy, there are a lot of people watching. Turn it back on, now. Don't embarrass me."

I said it flat and cold.

"You're buying things. Why should you be spending my money?"

With that I turned to leave, but Luke yanked me back hard, and my waist slammed into the corner of the desk. The pain made me suck in a sharp breath.

"Nancy, don't be difficult. This money is for building the charity school out in the mountains. Those kids are waiting to go to school."

The others looked over, puzzled.

"Luke, what's going on?"

Luke let out a laugh.

"It's nothing. Nancy just got upset seeing me send money to another girl, so she's holding my money hostage. I'm working on smoothing things over with her."