Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 197

"Danielle, why don't you let me lead the way?" Xavier suggested, concerned that there might be danger in the cave.

Danielle replied firmly, "Xavier, you take the rear with Mom and Dad in the middle. That's final." She entered the cave first.

It was pitch black inside. Danielle took out a flashlight from her bag, looked around, and walked forward cautiously.

"Why is it so cold here?" Vivian clutched Howard's arm, afraid of getting lost.

Danielle led the way. The further they went in, the colder it got. She reminded, "Mom, Dad, Xavier, be careful and stay close to each other. Something's off here."

Hiss.

"Danielle, did you hear something?" Howard looked around vigilantly and grabbed Vivian.

Danielle took out a dagger and cautiously watched her step. The sound resembled the hissing of a snake. She said, "There are most likely snakes nearby. Everyone, be careful. Take this powder. Throw it at the snakes if you come across them." She distributed some powder to the three of them.

"Snakes? Oh my god! There are snakes here?" exclaimed Xavier, who was walking last. His hair stood on end at the mention of snakes. They were his biggest fear. He really hoped Danielle was just joking with him.

"Xavier, calm down. I will protect you. Keep your voice down so that you'll not attract them here." Danielle was afraid that Xavier would burst out screaming.

"I wouldn't have brought you along if I knew you would be so useless. You are more of a burden than I am," Vivian said with a disgusted look.

Hiss. The hissing sound got closer and closer.

Danielle raised her hand to signal everyone to stop. The hissing sounded particularly eerie and terrifying in the dark cave.

A snake, more than 16 feet long, stood upright in front of Danielle and her family, its tongue flicking.

The legs of Howard, Vivian, and Xavier were trembling. This was the first time they had seen such a large snake appear before their very eyes.

Xavier gripped Vivian's arm tightly. He would have fainted from fear if not for his strong determination to push through.

He whispered, "It's a snake. A real one. What should we do?"

The snake remained motionless, and so did Danielle. She could easily get rid of this big snake alone, but she was uncertain of her next step now that her parents and Xavier were behind her.

The large snake stuck out its tongue and moved forward slightly, as if testing them. Danielle gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes fixed on the snake before her. She had to resolve this quickly. They couldn't afford to waste time here, as there might be more danger awaiting them ahead.

Danielle instructed, "Mom, Dad, Xavier, slowly move to the side and protect yourselves. I'll deal with this snake."

"Danielle, it's too dangerous." Howard was frustrated that he was a burden to Danielle. He vowed to learn martial arts when they got back so that he could protect his family.

Danielle urged, "We can't just remain here."

The large snake seemed to sense danger. It opened its mouth wide, and a large amount of saliva flowed out from its bloody mouth and wet the clothes of Danielle and her family.

Danielle glanced at her clothes with disgust. She thought, 'This damned snake is disgusting! The stench is unbearable.'

Just as they were looking at their clothes in disgust, the snake's tail swiftly swept towards them. They would most likely be seriously injured if they got hit by the snake's tail.

Danielle shouted, "Look out!"

She dodged the snake's attack with a leap and turned around, stabbing the tail hard with her dagger. The snake was enraged and swung its tail frantically.

Just as the tail was about to slam into Howard and Vivian, Xavier rushed forward and shielded them. The tail smashed heavily into Xavier's chest, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Xavier, are you okay? You silly child, why did you step forward?" Vivian panicked seeing Xavier vomiting blood after being hit by the giant serpent.

"Something feels off here. Stay close to me," Danielle said. She held the flashlight in her left hand and the dagger in her right, her beautiful eyes full of vigilance.

Xavier was walking at the back, clutching his chest and slowly following them. Just then, he felt someone pat him on the back.

Fear surged through him. He was the last one in line. There was no way any of his family members could have patted him on the back. Xavier kept convincing himself that he was just imagining things.

He moved another two steps forward before he felt someone patting him on the back again. This time, he could no longer convince himself he was imagining things.

Xavier shouted, "Oh lord! There's someone. Someone's patting me on the back. Help me."

Xavier rushed to the front while screaming, his face pale with fright.

"What's wrong, Xavier?" Danielle quickly shone her flashlight behind her.

"Danielle, someone just patted me on the back." Xavier was on the verge of crying due to fear.

Danielle looked around vigilantly, but found nothing. However, Xavier had no reason to lie. With the torchlight in her hand, Danielle approached Xavier and said, "It's okay. Calm down."

Vivian was also startled by Xavier's shouts. She thought, 'Only four of us came in. Who could have patted Xavier on the back?'

“Xavier, you walk in the middle. I'll take the back," Howard said, glancing at his son's pale face. He was clearly worried Xavier might lose his nerve.

“Forget it, Dad. I'll handle the rear," Xavier said, his voice wavering. His legs were shaking so bad he thought they might give out, but he wasn't about to let his dad take the risk. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to move back.

"Xavier," Danielle cut in, "if anything happens, use the powder I gave you. Just toss it, grab onto Dad's shirt, and seriously, don't wander off."

Her eyes darted between them, wishing she could shield them both at once.