Snake Island by Jason Wishert
Far away in the vast blue expanse of the south Atlantic, there exists an island full of wonder and mystery, a land off-limits to everyone. Home to only a colony of venomous rare and endangered snake long suspected of guarding secrets that lay hidden to all humanity for hundreds of years. Ilha da Queimada Grande is the official name of this restricted refuge, the locals simply call it, "Snake Island". Located 18 nautical miles south of São Paulo Brazil, this tropical terrain is a place like no other.
A mere 110 acres, this infested isle is protected by a permanent Naval attachment poised and prepared to intercept anyone attempting to reach this interesting oasis of intrigue. The Golden Lancehead Viper is among the deadliest serpents to ever slither earths surface in the entire southern hemisphere. This uninhabited island is crowded and crawling with these lethal legless lizards from the surf to the (676') summit, Snake Islands' secrets are protected from those daring enough to come ashore to seek and search.
This oceanic outcrop hosts a diverse topography with rainforests and green meadows overshadowed by waterfalls on tall basalt cliffs rising into misty fog cloaking and concealing the crest. The snakes are deemed endangered and local legend long has it they protect a repository of mind-shattering wealth, treasure and technology from an earlier era. A concealed cave containing a crystal skull, gold, gems and lost ancient technologies is said to exist along with scrolls taken from the library at Alexandria before succumbing to the torch and turned to ash in 391 A.D..
Folklore and legend point to the Knights Templar that vanished forever with their fleet of fabled ships on Friday October 13th 1307 AD from hidden harbors throughout France. These vessels were thought to contain the "mother-load" of Templar wealth that disappeared as arrests were carried out on the hooded secret society by forces acting on behalf of the Pope and King of France.
One hundred years ago in the early 20th century, seismic activity allegedly unveiled an opening in the rocks ten feet below the summit on the south side. Soon after, an order was handed down by government decree forbidding anybody from setting foot on this maritime mystery citing danger of death by venomous reptile and their endangered status. At the time, this lonesome land was inhabited by a leathery looking lighthouse tender and his labrador named Lucky. Today, Snake Island is home to one the worlds deadliest snakes capable of causing certain death with cold cunning calculation.
It's no wonder such a defense suggests something hidden to be of indescribable wealth, supreme importance and national security.