Salmonella

Chapter 23

🫧Twenty-Three🫧

"You just finished your semester, right? How ya feeling?" chirps Gen as she walks me into the house. I wave at Anemone—today's guard—on my way in. So far, I've only met two out of the three guards Gen mentioned she has; I've still managed to make conversation with each of them. Gen tells me they like me a lot—more than most of her guests, apparently. I imagine most of said guests are snobby rich people.

I've been coming over every day, almost. Sometimes Krill is there making lunch. He used to ask me if I wanted some too, but now he always has a third plate ready when I get there. He makes good food, I'll admit. He's really not that bad. He's never seen us as rivals, unlike me, and he treats Gen really well. It's funny how these two went from untouchable rich people to my closest friends in such a short time. Well, coming over usually feels like hanging out with friends, but today's different.

Today Gen called me out of the blue, saying it was urgent and promising to finally explain the meaning behind all her lonlass-themed stuff. That got me diving over here instantly, never mind her waking me from my much needed power nap. Because I'm glad she feels she can trust me, but even moreso, it's because curiosity is just eating at me.

"Want some tea?" she asks when we settle in the living room. I shake my head slowly, wanting to just dive right into the real reason I'm here. I watch her settle in the armchair across from me, picking skittishly at her nails, her eyes darting all around like a ghost may pop out of the corners or something.

When she speaks her voice is low and grave. "I'm gonna tell you the truth now. But you have to promise not to repeat any of this to anyone."

I nod patiently, watching Gen pause as though trying to find the right words. "Okay. Have you heard of the Mirror Selves?" she begins.

"...No."

"It's an Abyssist story. It basically says that everyone was born not as not just one being, but two, and we can catch a glimpse of our 'mirror self' at the intersection where our world meets its opposite. In the story, they're obviously referring to heaven and hell, or good and evil, as the two worlds, but really it can be applied to anything. People have a lot of different selves, I think."

"Huh?" What does this have to do with lonlasses?

Instead of elaborating, Gen is suddenly out of her seat, pacing the perimeter of the room as though she's completely forgotten I'm here, chanting something to herself. It sounds like she's reciting verses from the Poppyrus, what Abyssists call their scriptures.

"Gen," I call futilely, not minding that she really does have this crazy conspiracy theorist side like everyone says — just hating how little of it I can fathom. What does the Poppyrus have to do with lonlasses? Sure, they are mythological creatures, so I'm sure there's at least one story mentioning them in there ... Or maybe they only mention ferries?*

"That's all I can say for now, I'm sorry," I hear and look up, realizing Gen has stopped pacing a while ago and floats there idly, watching me. "But I want you to think about it. What I said."

I don't know what any of her sphinxlike words or grave tone or intense stare mean. She seems to be telling me something with her eyes, all dark and inscrutable and fixed on me like I'm the only thing in the universe right now, like everything depends on me understanding what she's trying to say. Except it's me we're talking about: your local dumbass Ella, so naturally I'm at a loss.

"What? But that's not fair, just tell me! Gen, I got up and swam all the way here to hear this—"

I silence when I see her face change, all my words getting caught in my throat. Her eyes are still trained on me, but her hard gaze has dissolved into a wry one as she slowly inches closer, zeroing in on me until she has me pinned to the back of the couch, and over the noise in my head I can just barely hear her whisper in my ear, all soft and husky, "Hmm ... You're smart. You'll get it eventually."