The Sherry in Shadow

Chapter 12: Eye Sees You

The cafeteria was a spacious expanse under a soaring ceiling, filled with long tables and benches, already humming with activity. At the far end, a slightly raised platform was visible. She saw a line of people queued for food, with others already seated, indulging in their meals. The tantalizing smell of food hit her, and her stomach responded with a rumble. She did eat some Tuna King at Epsilon's safehouse, but before that, she'd subsisted on the bandits' stale bread. Hunger clawed at her.

Nevertheless, she mentally jolted herself, needing to remain alert. None of the dishes served here seemed familiar. Having painstakingly studied every Mitsugoshi menu and its affiliated offerings, she was certain these foods were not listed. There was a possibility that these unknown meals could contain addictive substances, another tool in Shadow Garden's arsenal to deepen their brainwashing. The layers of manipulation in this organization seemed endless. She had to navigate this territory with extreme caution.

"You see, occasionally our lunch will be cuisines that Mitsugoshi hasn't yet released to the public," 718 explained.

"And you said we weren't guinea pigs..." Sherry's retort slipped out unintentionally, followed by a quick hand to her mouth.

"Ha! It's a privilege to try all the food first!" 718 said proudly. "It's a perk of being a Shadow Garden member."

"And it's always so delicious!" 719 said, her eyes sparkling. "How can one man be such a genius?!"

"Indeed...a genius. Speaking of not that, how did you two get acquainted?" Sherry hoped the change of topic would take her mind off the tantalizing food.

"What do you mean? We met right here," 718 replied. Sherry mentally chastised herself. Of course, where else would they have met?

"We are twins though, if that's what you're hinting at, but we were separated at birth," 719 said.

"A-ah, yes, that's precisely what I was implying. Um, but based on your Numbers, did you arrive here at the same time?" Sherry ventured. Their hair was similarly dark, and they did share some resemblance. Perhaps that's what prompted her question. Her apprehension eased a bit upon their affirmation.

"I was here first," 718 revealed. "But a few days later, 719 showed up, so you're not far off. Our demonic possession did happen at the same time after all."

Sherry blinked in surprise. The likelihood of both twins succumbing to demonic possession at the same time was too improbable to dismiss as coincidence. Could such a thing be hereditary? Demon possession was scarcely reported, mostly due to families opting for discretion. She wanted to probe further, but a different question surfaced.

"Wait, does that mean you, 718, had to create 719's slime suit? That must've been... an uncomfortable experience," Sherry queried.

"Not in the least," 718 dismissed. "Reuniting with my sister was the best feeling in the world, and knowing that I crafted her suit gives me the assurance that I can guard her forever even in my absence."

"Aw, sis!" 719 said, pulling 718 into a hug. "But you got one thing wrong. I'm the one who's going to protect you forever!" Their shared laughter filled the air.

"..."

The sudden display of affection made Sherry feel... jealous.

–––

It didn't take long for the three to get food and find a table. Sherry picked something called "cheesecake". It was a slice of cake with a yellowish color and a white cream on top. Sherry was still not sure if she should eat it though.

"You're aware they serve more than just desserts, aren't you?" 719 inquired, bemused.

"Oh, I had a substantial meal before arriving here," Sherry lied. "I'm not even sure I can manage this."

"Then why did you get it?" 718 asked, her brows furrowing.

"Merely to observe it," Sherry asserted, mouth-watering. Maybe if she could deduce the ingredients, she could determine if it was safe to eat...

"Sure...," 719 smiled. "But I think your drool is betraying you."

"Huh?!" Sherry wiped her mouth. "I'm not drooling! I'm just... sweating from the heat!"

"You're sweating from the heat in a room with air conditioning?" 718 queried skeptically.

"Air conditioning? What's that?" Sherry asked. She never heard of that term before, but it dawned on her that the room was indeed much cooler than the sweltering heat outside. She was too intoxicated by the smell of food to notice before.

"See that vent up there?" 718 pointed to a grate on the ceiling. "That's where the air conditioning comes from. Cool air comes out of it and keeps the room cool, courtesy of Shadow Wisdom."

Sherry looked up and saw the vent. She had never witnessed anything of the sort before. She had to wonder what kind of magic was used to pump air in.

"Well, I– I didn't know that..." Sherry stammered in a quiet voice as she pressed her index fingers together. They saw right through her lie.

718 and 719 exchanged a look before succumbing to a fit of laughter. Sherry found herself nonplussed. Had she made a humorous comment? They didn't appear suspicious of her, but rather... For a fleeting moment, it felt as though she was back at the academy. Sherry offered a tactical chuckle, attempting to join in their mirth.

"Just admit you have a sweet tooth, 720," 719 chuckled. "Here, give it a go."

"Ommph!" 719 shoved a spoonful of cheesecake straight into Sherry's mouth before she could react. It was sweet and creamy, and Sherry had to admit it was delicious. She had never tasted anything like it before.

"So good!" Sherry exclaimed, despite herself. She couldn't help but take another bite.

"See?!" 719 exclaimed, glee radiating from her. "You can distinctly taste that Shadow Wisdom, right?"

"Urk!"

Sherry choked. What does that even mean?! Caught off guard by the startling remark, she found herself strangled by this alleged "Shadow Wisdom."

"Easy there," 718 counseled, thumping Sherry on the back until her airways cleared.

Meanwhile, Lambda strutted into the cafeteria, radiating an air of confidence as she and a handful of other slime-suited members strutted down the aisle. She sported an eyepatch adorned with a golden λ symbol, complemented by her usual military attire. A ripple of whispers spread through the cafeteria as she passed, the words eluding Sherry's comprehension.

"Why is everyone whispering?" Sherry inquired, curious about the stir Lambda's entrance had caused.

"She's wearing an eyepatch," 718 said.

Sherry reckoned that meant this was unusual. Doesn't she have a bad eye? Why wouldn't she wear one if she wanted to? Sherry couldn't help but feel like something was off about the situation. Casting her gaze around the cafeteria, she noticed that several of the trainees were stealing glances in her direction while whispering amongst themselves.

"Isn't 720 the one that back-talked Lambda?" "Yeah, she did something to her eye..."

What? Sherry didn't do anything egregious! Or at least, she didn't know what she did... but- but Lambda had dismissed it as inconsequential, hadn't she? Sherry wished she could become one with her seat and vanish. Sherry went to find solace in her cheesecake. She just wanted to indulge in its sweetness and devoid her mind of any worries. At least let her properly attack Shadow Garden first before you start gossiping about her!

Upon reaching the cafeteria's end, Lambda mounted the stage. She cleared her throat and the room fell into an immediate silence.

"Attention, recruits," Lambda began her address. "I have an announcement to make. Our enemies have developed a new weapon: Antacids."

"Oh, right..." Sherry mumbled quietly.