17.1

Worm, Chapter 17.1 Summary

“Francis!” his mother admonished, finding him with luggage. He explained he planned to make money with friends, hinting at a lucrative sponsorship opportunity. His team: his alleged girlfriend Noelle, Ms. Newland’s daughter, Jess, Cody, and Luke. He wasn’t officially in the group yet, but they had “stuff to hash out.”

He rushed to a coffee shop to meet Noelle, struck by a sudden urge to hold her. He saluted her as “Captain Noelle,” and they discussed their “probationary” relationship. She expressed worry, but he reassured her, placing his hand over hers to warm it.

Marissa, Luke, and Jess arrived. They’d received Noelle’s emails about a team issue. The problem: whether to replace Cody with Krouse. Cody was reliable but lacked potential for international competition, while Krouse, though less experienced, had natural talent and a fan base.

Krouse argued Cody had plateaued, while he would improve with effort. Luke, torn between two friends, decided based on the team’s needs to support Krouse. They agreed to deliver the news to Cody at Luke’s apartment.

In the lobby, Jess revealed she’d figured out Krouse’s “tell”: overconfidence masked nervousness. Inside the apartment, they heard Cody’s angry outburst. He accused Krouse of manipulating the team and dating Noelle to secure his position.

Krouse apologized, admitting he was sorry but stated the decision was for everyone’s benefit. Cody, furious, wanted to punch him but chose to stay and watch Krouse potentially fail.

They prepared for the tournament, setting up computers in Luke’s rearranged apartment. Krouse gifted Noelle a refurbished computer, and they discussed strategy. Krouse planned to use an “illusion-subtlety-assassin hybrid” class.

Suddenly, the power cut out, and the room tilted. Krouse fell, hitting the table and chairs. Noelle, less fortunate, was struck by falling computer equipment. The apartment had turned on its side.

Krouse found Noelle injured and unconscious. He heard Marissa or Jess muttering in fear and a constant, high-pitched scream that seemed to be inside his head. Luke, strangely calm, informed him Chris was dead, his head crushed by a bookcase.

They used a knotted sheet to lift Krouse and Noelle to a ledge where the others were trapped. Jess was pinned, and Cody avoided looking at Chris’s body. They decided to escape through the window, using furniture as a makeshift ladder.

They climbed to the building’s exterior, finding the city in chaos. Buildings were toppled, and snow swirled in the air. They heard a high-pitched, opera-like scream that seemed to be inside their heads.

Three buildings floated in the distance, then were hurled through the air. A large, winged figure landed nearby: a fifteen-foot-tall, waif-thin woman with white hair and countless white wings. Her features were delicate, but her gray eyes were cold and inhuman.

The screaming in their heads intensified, shifting in pitch. Jess identified the figure as the Simurgh. Krouse urged them to run.