For months, Cassandra was convinced she shared an unbreakable bond with her pet python, Reggie. In the quiet hours of the night, when the weight of loneliness pressed heavily against the walls of her small apartment, she would unlatch the glass enclosure and let him slither into her bed. As he coiled beside her, pressing his strong, muscular body against hers, she told herself it was affection—a unique form of comfort that only her beloved reptile could give.
But what Cassandra mistook for loyalty and love was, in truth, something far more sinister. A single trip to the veterinarian would shatter her assumptions and confront her with a chilling reality that left her shaken to her core.
Cassandra had bought Reggie as a juvenile, when he was only a few feet long and harmless in appearance. She raised him with meticulous care, ensuring his vivarium was warm under the glow of a heat lamp, feeding him regularly with thawed rabbits and chicken. She prided herself on being a dedicated owner, the kind who did her research and gave her pet everything it needed to thrive.
Over the years, however, Cassandra’s life grew lonelier. Friends became busy with marriages and families, and her once-bustling social world shrank. Nights felt especially empty, and gradually, Reggie filled that void. At first, it was simple curiosity—one night, she let him stretch across her bed, marveling at how calmly he settled beside her. Soon, it became a habit. Then, a dependency. Before long, she couldn’t sleep without his cool, scaled body coiled against hers, their breathing falling into rhythm as if they were one.
