Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 423

Hiss...

Hiss... hiss...

The sound was quiet, but it was unmistakably clear.

Janina glanced around, but she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Liam and Joy were sitting on their play mat, shaking their new toys.

Could it be the sound of the rattles?

Grace emerged from the kitchen holding two bottles, ready to mix formula for the babies. “Mom, are you hearing that?” Janina asked, turning to her.

Grace looked over at the happily playing twins and smiled. “Hearing what, dear? Just Liam and Joy having a good time.”

“No, not that. It’s a hissing sound, like…” Janina’s voice trailed off as she turned back, her eyes instinctively scanning the pile of gift boxes.

Just then, she saw it. Coiled right behind Joy, a thin snake was flicking its forked tongue in the air.

“Ah!”

A piercing scream tore from Janina’s throat. With lightning speed, she snatched Joy with one arm, scooped up Liam with the other, and scrambled toward the front door.

“Nina, what is it?” Grace cried out, startled by the scream.

“Oh my god, there’s… there’s another one!” Natalie shrieked, pointing to a corner of the room where a striped snake was now moving. It reared its head, its tongue flicking at them. Natalie’s hand was already on the doorknob, ready to bolt.

Ethan and West snapped their heads in that direction. A small, slender snake was coiled there, poised to strike.

Oh, God.

The relief Janina had felt for a fleeting moment vanished, replaced by a fresh wave of terror. She’d seen snakes in the countryside before, but that didn't stop her from being terrified of them. Snakes and rats were her two greatest fears.

Grace immediately stepped in front of Janina and Natalie, shielding them. “Ethan, West, be careful!” she yelled. “I think it might be venomous! Get back, we’ll call 911 for help!”

Grace’s words snapped Janina out of her panic. Right, call the professionals. They’d seen two snakes. What if there were more they hadn't found yet?