Standing in the hallway was the largest snake Josh had ever seen. Well, the largest snake woman.
The creature was covered from head to tail in deep red scales overlaid by a black diamond pattern. The snake had no legs, just a very long tail that trailed down the hallway and out of sight. But it had hands and arms just like a human. Well, if that human was covered in scales. He could definitely tell it was a woman by the narrow waist, wide hips and ample bosom covered by scales. Her head looked completely like a snake, lacking any hair or ears. A large hood ran from her shoulders up to her head. The tips of two long fangs dipped just below her upper lip.
Josh stood speechless staring at the monster in the doorway. He thought this had to be some kind of joke.
"Well? See something you like, asshole?" hissed the snake woman angrily.
Josh's mouth dropped. This was no joke. He could see the creature's mouth moved when it spoke. Inside its mouth were no teeth just two sharp white fangs and a very long forked tongue. The landlord had said his roommate was a little strange. Now he felt guilty for staring.
"I .... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... Well, it's just I have never seen..."
The snake woman held up her hand to stop him.
"Save it. Just get the hell out of my apartment. What were you doing in there anyway? Are you the new maintenance man or something? Because by law you are supposed to give me notice before you do any repair work," said the angry snake woman.
"Um, that's the thing. This is kinda my apartment, too. I am your new roommate," said Josh.
The snake's eyes suddenly went wide. Josh noticed she had very human eyes - very beautiful eyes, actually - with bright yellow iris around a slit pupil.
"Ah, I see. So you are...... Josh. Well, Josh nice to meet you. Now do you mind getting out the way? I don't want to spend all night in the hallway," said the snake.
"Oh, sorry, " said Josh as he moved out of the doorway.
The snake moved into the room with surprising speed and slammed the door shut with the tip of her tail. She didn't stop to talk, just continued to head straight to her room, pausing only briefly to look at the game. She opened the door to her bedroom and turned to look back over her shoulder at Josh.
"Listen, I know you didn't want a roommate. I sure as hell didn't. But we will have to make do, for the time being at least. Just leave me and my stuff alone and there won't be a problem. You won't even know I am here," said the snake.
"Wait!" said Josh, just before she entered her bedroom. "Don't you want to hang out a little? Maybe get a bite to eat and get to know each other? We could have a little welcoming party."
"Really? You want to 'hang out'? You aren't bothered by my appearance? Or do you just want to get a better look at the freak so you can brag about it to your friends? " asked the snake.
Josh shrugged.
"Nah, I've had stranger roommates. And meaner ones, too. You are a little rough around the edges, but you seem pretty cool. And as for the friends, well, I haven't really got any. I am new to town and I was hoping maybe you could show me around. But how about some food first? I was just about to order some pizza, my treat. You can even pick the toppings," said Josh.
The snake woman paused. Josh could almost swear she was blushing a little.
"I... I'm not really comfortable eating around other people. I have found it can be a little disturbing to them. Maybe some other time," said the snake as she started to enter her room, her tail trailing after her.
"Can you at least tell me your name?"
The tip of the tail hesitated before closing her bedroom door.
"It's Coral, " came a voice from the darkness of her room.
Then the door slammed shut.