Chapter 6
421words
While moving in, I noticed workers renovating the house across the street, carrying in furniture and decor.
"I should clarify—this is purely coincidental," Oro suddenly announced.
I blinked. "What's coincidental?"
"The new neighbor moving in across the street," he said, coiling elegantly on his new cushion. "Total coincidence."
I eyed him suspiciously. "Why would you even need to mention that?"
"No reason. Just setting the record straight."
Two evenings later, I was walking Oro through the neighborhood garden. As we passed the newly renovated house, the front door swung open.
And out stepped Dr. Ethan Grey.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Gone was the white coat, replaced by a casual khaki sweater and dark jeans. He looked more relaxed, but that reassuring smile remained the same.
"Ivy?" His eyebrows shot up. "You live around here?"
"Right across the street," I said, pointing to my place before giving Oro a meaningful look. "What a... coincidence."
Oro ducked his head innocently, playing the role of ordinary pet snake to perfection.
"That's fantastic," Dr. Grey said, his eyes lighting up. "If Oro needs anything, you won't have far to go."
From that day forward, Oro developed a curious habit—every evening at seven sharp, he would slither to the front door and stare up at me expectantly.
"Let me guess. You want to visit Dr. Grey?" I'd ask.
He'd nod.
"Why do you need to go every single day?"
He'd tilt his head, the picture of innocence.
So each evening, I'd find myself at my neighbor's door with increasingly flimsy excuses: "Oro misses your special treats" or "He seems restless at home." Dr. Grey always welcomed us warmly, assuming Oro was just a particularly finicky pet.
"He's remarkably intelligent," Dr. Grey would say, gently stroking Oro's head. "I've never seen a snake with such personality."
In Dr. Grey's hands, Oro was impossibly well-behaved, sometimes even nuzzling the doctor's fingers as if saying thank you.
After two weeks of this routine, as we were leaving Dr. Grey's house one evening, I finally confronted my scheming serpent.
"Fine, I admit it," I told Oro once we were alone. "Your plan worked. But what exactly are you up to?"
Oro coiled himself into a perfect circle, watching me silently with those knowing eyes.
