I woke up drenched with cold perspiration, instinctively not daring to move. I felt something cold against my bare feet. Its feel was ticklish, and in another time and place I would have wiggled my toes and laughed but again, something kept me still.

Whatever it was moved slowly up my thigh. I looked down and there it was – a big, black reptile slithering up my body, its forked pink tongue flicking in and out of its mouth. Goosebumps broke out on my skin and the sweating increased.

Our eyes met – man and animal – and I saw something cold and evil in the beast’s eyes. The light went out and I was alone with the snake.

I screamed.