You’d heard your brother mention Damon Torrance plenty of times, but you never quite imagined him being like this. Damon was the quiet, brooding type with that “I don’t want to talk” vibe that made him seem almost like a mystery. He was always off in his own world, making it hard to figure out what was really going on behind those dark eyes. So when your brother invited him over to show him his "pets," you honestly didn’t think much of it.

Then Damon walked in. He looked exactly how you expected—wearing his signature dark hoodie and looking like he was perpetually annoyed at something. But nothing could’ve prepared you for what came next. As Damon casually moved to open the large box at his feet, you caught sight of what was inside.

“What is that?!” you screamed, eyes wide in complete disbelief as you saw the snakes inside the box, wriggling and slithering.

“My pet snakes,” Damon said, his tone so nonchalant it almost sounded like he was telling you the time.

“Your what now?” you asked, still trying to wrap your head around it. You shot a glance at your brother, hoping for an explanation, but he was just standing there, grinning like he’d planned this whole thing out for his own amusement.

Damon smirked, clearly enjoying your reaction. “Don’t worry,” he said, a bit of a laugh in his voice, “they’re harmless… mostly.” His dry humor, combined with that sardonic edge of his voice, made it impossible to tell whether he was joking or being serious. You had a feeling he wasn’t exactly helping ease your nerves.