Chapter one Florin

Diana has always known Florin. At least, that's what she thought. Since they were little kids they used to play together. Wherever was one, you were sure to find the other one nearby.

They always used to play pranks on one another and the childhood was a time full of fun and games.

She'd always been sort of a tomboy, loving slingshots, chewing gum loudly and watching horror movies on VHS tapes while her parents were not there. Her favorite movies were those with vampires. Especially the old Dracula movies with Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee and Frank Langela. And then, the next day she would discuss these movies with Florin, creating all sorts of scenarios of vampire threat. She would always be the fearless vampire hunter, of course. That always left Florin to play the vampire and he would always complain about the fact he would always be defeated.

But, they continued to be close to eachother. If she were to dislike something about Florin, Diana would have to admit that she didn't like his laziness. That and the fact that he would always manage to get himself into trouble. And because he was in trouble, she would have to find some ways to bail him out. That was true while at school or at home during vacation.

Once, during the summer vacation, while they were staying with her grandma, during the noon heat he managed to fall asleep on the ground outside while Diana and her grandma were eating their lunch.

Suddenly, a gurgled scream came from the place where Florin had laid himself down to sleep. Hearing this, both her and her grandma hurried over to see what happened there.

Florin was bent over dry heaving. When he saw them, he jumped up and down, panicked.

"Please! Please, just it out! It slipped inside my mouth and now I swallowed it!"

Both Diana and her grandma were at a loss, unknowing what to do, watching him crying his eyes out.

"What did you do now, Florin?"

"A snake! I swallowed a snake!"

"You did what? How did you manage to do that?"

Diana's laughter finally couldn't be suppressed anymore seeing his hurting face.

"Now, now, stop it Diana! It's not funny!"

"Not funny grandma? For me it is! Swallow a snake! Dumbass!"

"Watch it, young lady" her grandmother tried to maintain a stern attitude, but the trembling at the corners of her lips showed she was trying to stifle her own laughter."You shouldn't use such a language!..."

Then, watching the scene in front of her, turned towards Diana and said.

"Quick, run to the store and buy two liters of milk. And hurry back home!" and towards Florin "Let's go home! And next time when you sleep, keep your mouth shut!"

In half an hour, Diana had returned home with the milk and her grandma started boiling it. When it was seething hot, she took it and put it into a large bowl. Then, with a rope tied around the feet, Florin was hanged upside down above the scorching hot milk. All this time, he couldn't stop screaming in fright while his face stopped about thirty centimeters above the bowl. Diana was watching and while Florin was crying, she couldn't stop herself laughing seeing him squirm.

But apparently, the milk worked in luring out the snake. It took only five minutes for it to get out to see where the smell of milk was coming from. When it was out, it fell into the milk and drowned while being boiled in the scalding milk. Snake-au-lait anyone? No? Ok, just saying, jeez.