Page 173 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

"Let her check," he mumbled.

"We've been sitting in the same emotional chapter for two days. Even I need plot progression."

Gerald frowned.

"You don't even know what plot progression is."

"I absolutely do."

"No, you don't."

"It means something finally happens."

"That's called narrative development."

Frank shrugged.

"I prefer my wording."

"You prefer being wrong."

"You two argue like an elderly married couple."

"We're not married," Gerald said immediately.

Frank sighed.

"Thank God."

Ignoring them both, I reached for my phone, the cool glass lighting my face with its familiar blue glow. There was only one notification.

One reply.

My heart gave an embarrassingly hopeful little flutter before I even opened it.

Looking for Psycho Friends (Female Preferred)

New Reply

I sat up a little straighter beneath the blankets.

Username: Persephone

Location: Hollow City

The message itself was painfully short.

You sound interesting.

Everyone around here is completely exhausting.

That was it. No awkward introduction. No "Hi, tell me about yourself." No questions about hobbies or careers or whether I enjoyed yoga retreats and hiking. Just two beautifully direct sentences.

I read them again. Then a third time. I liked her immediately. It was clean. Efficient. Parallel. Whoever Persephone was, she understood something most people didn't. Conversation didn't need padding.

"She's a lunatic,"

Gerald muttered, finally sitting upright.