Sebastian quickly picked up the shield. Right now, Zain was frightened down to the soles of her boots. The sound was so loud, the serpent should have heard it. The reptile paused now. Zain's heart jumped.
At last, the serpent slithered past. Zain clenched her chest tight and began to take deep breaths. This was just a narrow escape.
"Phew, that was so close," muttered Zain.
Sebastian had faced the front already by now. His eyes and mouth were wide in disbelief, because of what he was seeing now. The large serpent was so long, it hadn't passed completely since then. Its scaly black skin was shimmering as it moved.
"Oh my god. What is this?" whispered Sebastian in terror.
The serpent had passed by completely by now. Sebastian was still frozen in trepidation. Zain quickly dragged him by the arm, towards the right tunnel, where the serpent had just skittered out.
