A Serpent in My Bed

replay of las

d jokes, Michael and Emily hol

her eyes sparkling, her la

g his wine glass.

ry this stuffing with a lit

the kitchen, Emily! I

lly crafted dart, aimed

er, my stom

ever, there wa

a

arely saw. He worked at a local auto repair shop, always seemed short

t of making sleazy

real looker, eh, Mike?" he'd

but Michael was too loyal, to

already on his third beer, his eyes l

emed to be playing along, l

rf

ill Michael's wine glass

ichael's had enough. He's

Emily was s

surprised but

ightened for a fr

e, plastering a brig

Let me get you another beer. And you have

up. "Well, if yo

lass full. A

icker of something un

et her

rved, Dave was slurring hi

ple," he mumbled, swaying sligh

orried look. Da

rash on the couch tonight," M

y. "We have a guest room.

e same one Jessica

e'd claimed Mic

ed off in Dave's case, I helped Michael g

rs, near the ba

chael said, shaking his hea

e enjoying himself," I repl

tairs to Michael

ired?" I asked,

alf-asleep, curled

el yawned. "That w

about leaving Dave alone downstairs. He's so drunk.

room, down the hall from them.

u know, so no one wanders in by mistake." I held up the old skeleton

e confused. "Uh, sure, Sarah.

s alread

"Great. Sl

their doo

e old loc

t was p

om, where Jessica w

was sligh

eked

d was

with a grim satisfac

s on t

s I'd

top of the stairs, h

rd creaked

light from

rkness, tiptoed towards

the gu

rds

h I hadn't realiz

one, c

om, locked my own do

r, was a long