Part 1The Venom of Mercy

The day before Ivy League admission decisions were released, every boy in our senior class decided to take a "ritual dip" in the town’s old Holy Spring. They wanted to pray for the "Prom Queen," Chloe.

I watched them as they started stripping off their clothes, ready to dive into the murky water.

I hesitated, then spoke up. "I heard locals have been releasing copperheads and rattlesnakes into the springs lately. Maybe don't jump in."

My boyfriend, Tyler, snapped at me instantly. "Maya, you already got your early admission to Harvard. Are you really that insecure that you have to sabotage our prayer for Chloe? This is pathetic. I should report you to the board; maybe they’ll revoke your admission for being such a toxic person."

Hearing that, I was ready to just walk away.

But then I saw Tyler pull out a mesh bag, ready to "release" some animals for extra luck. My heart stopped. "Those are Pit Vipers! They are extremely venomous and aggressive. Do not open that bag!"

Chloe stepped in, smiling sweetly, insisting they were just harmless water snakes she bought from a local "collector."

I called the Principal immediately. Luckily, a group of parents arrived just in time to stop them. They confirmed the snakes were deadly.

The guys in class actually thanked me then. "If it wasn't for you, Maya, Chloe would have gotten us all killed."

When the results came out, Chloe didn't get into a single university. She ended up at a bottom-tier community college.

She left a suicide note—which was actually a manifesto—blaming me for ruining her "blessing ritual," claiming that's why she failed. Then, she ran away from home.

That same night, my bedroom was crawling with Vipers.

As I was bitten to death, I heard Tyler’s voice from the hallway.

"If this bitch hadn't interfered, Chloe would be at Yale right now!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the spring. Back to the day they were all "praying" for Chloe.

This time, I’m going to stand back and watch them die.

* * *

"Maya, you’re already set for Harvard. Why are you trying to stop us from helping Chloe? Are you really that jealous?"

"I know your grandma got scammed by some 'spiritual healer' for fifty grand back in the day, but she was senile. We aren't."

Tyler’s gaze was filled with pure disgust.

Standing before the stagnant, muddy pond with the whole class, I realized I had been reborn.

The phantom pain of a thousand fangs filled my mind.

I forced a smile and stepped back. "I was just saying some springs have snakes. But since Chloe found this place herself, I’m sure it’s perfectly safe."

Tyler looked satisfied.

"It’s time. Let’s do the release first," Chloe said, pulling out a heavy crate.

The moment she pulled back the tarp, I saw dozens of cold, slit-pupil eyes staring back. My skin crawled.

In my past life, I stopped this. I saved them. And they repaid me by filling my house with venom.

My parents died in their sleep. My entire neighborhood became a death trap.

And Chloe? She went viral. She posted videos saying, "Maya stopped the ritual, so the snakes followed her home. Karma is real. Stay blessed."

She became a "spiritual influencer" on the back of my family's corpses.

"Maya, don't just stand there. Help us," Tyler barked.

I looked at them—my "boyfriend" and the snakes. I felt a surge of cold fury.

"I’m actually terrified of snakes," I said, backing away toward the road. "I’ll stay up here and record the 'miracle' for you guys. Good luck with the blessing."

Go ahead. Feed the vipers.