Millenium Medusa

“Tiri, I did it this time.”

“It worked?” Through the headphones, Tiri’s wonderment sounded distant and synthetic.

“You don’t believe me?”

“Everyone’s experience with Tydol is different. You can believe it happened, but it could have been a dream.”

“It did! You should believe me.”

Silence.

“Listen. I can prove it.” Medusa took a sip from her chaos mug. Still Tiri didn’t say anything. Medusa glanced at the digital display. Seven forty-three. The mall didn’t close till nine. There was still time to prove her right. “Where are you?”

“Junction of Emery and Forty-Second, heading downtown.”

“You’re not far from the mall then.”

Tiri’s voice crackled over the headphones. “The mall?”

“Go and see for yourself.”

“What’s there to see?” Tiri’s voice carried her disbelief at what she must have decided was a fool’s errand.

“Proof, Tiri, of what happened.”

“Very well…but if you’re putting me on…” Medusa’s headphones buzzed. Cleared. “I’ll go check.”

“Do you want to talk as you go?”

“About what? How you’re evolving? We’ve been over this before.” She sounded irritated. The line went dead. Medusa waited. Tiri was probably scrolling her messages and didn’t want to talk.

Click.

“Well, I’m there.”

“Are you inside the mall, Tiri?”

“No. Outside. There’s a pile of cops here.”

“It’s inside. You need to go in.”

“Oh, sure. I just walk up to the cops and ask to go in.”

“You’ll find an excuse. Tell them Medusa sent you.”

“You’re having me on.” The connection went dead. Tiri must have muted her. Medusa drunk from her chaos cup and waited. She caught the stone pumpkin on the bookcase grinning at her. She grinned back in anticipation.

Medusa heard the connection activate. She listened.

“Hey, why can’t I go in.” Tiri’s voice.

Another, a man’s, replied, “Incident. We’ve sealed off the mall.”

Tiri again. “What happened?”

The man. “It’s weird. People have been turned to stone.”

“You’re kidding me?” Tiri’s voice sounded shocked.

Medusa smiled. “Told you the Tydol worked.”

“I don’t believe you, Medusa,” Tiri groused.

“You don’t? Here let me send you a picture.” Medusa took a selfie and sent it. “Do you like the snake hair?”

“What have y___” The connection went dead.