150 or Below

by KwirkyJ

You Think That's Cake You're Eating?

“Were you followed?”

Bon Bon deposited their usual of parfait, turnover, and tea. “Not this again.”

“But were you followed,” Lyra insisted.

“How should I know? No.” She sat. “What is it this time?”

Lyra surreptitiously glanced about, then pointed at the goodies. “How do you know this is real?”

“Like… fake food?”

“No, real real. That it exists.”

Bon Bon took a bite, chewed. “Seems real enough.”

“But that's it exactly. Exactly!” Lyra hissed. “What if we are prisoners of the mind?”

“If this is about changeling pods again—”

“This is way to self-consistent to be those. I've tested it.” She leaned over conspiratorially. “This can only be one thing.”

Normal speaking tone, expecting it: “Which is?”

“Humans.”

“I'm leaving.”

“You can't ignore this, Bons!” Lyra called after her.

“Enjoy your parfait.”

“With those hands of theirs, who knows what they're capable of!”

Author's Note:

Originally written for the Flashfiction September 2020 prompt "Atmosphere"