Brendan stared dumbstruck at the softly breathing viper, then at the spray bottle in his hand. "Damn." He gasped, realizing despite being toked up. "Dad actually made some shit that works." He stared at the enlarged snake and to his horror saw it creeping towards him.
He remembered the day Rick had brought the tiny venomous animal into his "subject room." It had been dangerous then, now it was four times its usual length, much stronger, and apparently intelligent. It could kill him in a heartbeat. A bead of sweat ran down his face.
Vipress inched closer and coiled herself on the lab counter, smiling deviously at the corners of her serpentine lips and staring Brendan in the eyes. She flicked her tongue several times. "I can tassste your fear, young human." She smiled more as she realized her intelligence was directly proportional to her size. She was bigger, and smarter. Talking was no problem now, despite her lisp.
"I... I helped you." He said weakly, trembling. "Please... don't kill me."
"But I'm hungry..." Vipress hissed. "One ssstrike and I promissse you'll be dead in secondsss. Painlessss."
Brendan was in stark panic now. He was high, the big talking lady snake wanted to kill him. This was messed. "Please, no! I-I'm not food! I know you need this stuff... or... or... you shrink!" He jiggled the bottle of pink fluid for effect. "I can still help! You need me!"
"Hmmm." Vipress considered, pleased. "Yesss. Perhapsss it would be a wassste to eat you." She slithered closer, raised her head so that it was level to Brendan's. She flicked her tongue and her mavolent grin broadened. "I will not harm you if keep helping me."
Brendan gulped, slumping in semi-relief. "Promise?"
"I will honor thisss only if you agree to... care for me. I mussst have accesss to your father'sss lab, we mussst figure out how to make my current state more... permenant." She flicked her tongue across the bridge of his nose and Brendan shivered again. "Do not crosss me, or our deal isss forfeit. Yessss?"
Brendan nodded quickly. "No! I mean, yes." He gulped. "So... what do I need to do?"
The snake coiled back and relaxed, watching the young boy with neutral eyes. "You can sssstart by taking me to warmth."
"O-Okay..." He gulped. "I guess we can go to my room. It's warm up there."
"Carry me with you." Vipress smirked.
Brendan winced. "O-Okay." He leaned down, and cringed as the snake lept, wrapping herself around his shoulders and around his chest. Her face was now staring at his again.
"Bring the bottle..." She said calmly. "We'll need to experiment on me."
"Kay." Brendan said, going pale. And with that, he began climbing the stairs.