17.6

Worm, Chapter 17.6 Summary

In a stranger’s kitchen, Krouse and Jess prepare food, the oddness of their situation hanging heavy. They’re not just in a different house; they’re in a different world, a fact they need to convey to their friends. “They’re going to be upset,” Jess says, cutting strawberries with a dull knife. Krouse agrees, “We’re stuck in a whole other world, and things are just different enough that we could fuck up and reveal ourselves as aliens.”

Jess explains the gravity of their situation, detailing the fear and prejudice against interdimensional travelers on this Earth, known as Earth Bet. The discovery of a gateway to another Earth, Earth Aleph, sparked fears of war and resource exploitation. This led to sanctions and a deep distrust of anyone or anything crossing over. “It’s bad, Krouse,” she says. “Even if we were willing to go home, with the Simurgh maybe planning something-” Krouse interrupts, “We can’t let that dictate our choices… We can minimize the damage, try to keep a low profile.”

Their conversation is cut short by the sound of someone coming downstairs. It’s Marissa, her hair wrapped in a towel. They offer her pancakes, and Krouse asks her to relieve Oliver, who’s watching Noelle. As Marissa heads to the living room, Krouse reiterates to Jess, “We have to tell them.”

Krouse carries Jess to the living room, where the TV is showing footage of the Simurgh. He turns off the volume, much to Cody’s annoyance. “You’re going to find out because I’m going to tell you,” Krouse says, revealing their interdimensional displacement. The revelation is met with disbelief and anger, particularly from Cody, who explodes, “Oh fuck you.”

Krouse explains that the building collapse was the Simurgh transporting them from Earth Aleph to Earth Bet. He admits to convincing Jess to keep quiet, believing it wasn’t crucial information at the time and not wanting to add to their stress. Cody, enraged, attacks Krouse, slamming him into a coffee table and punching him. Krouse, despite having the opportunity, doesn’t fight back, accepting the beating as deserved.

“We’re fucking stuck in a world with Endbringers like that psycho alien bird bitch!” Cody yells. “And we’ve got you playing head games with us on top of that!” Luke, while not condoning Krouse’s actions, points out that Krouse did it out of a misguided sense of protection.

They discuss the implications of their situation, realizing that going to the authorities is dangerous. The Simurgh’s influence makes them potential threats in the eyes of this world’s authorities. “They killed that superhero, because he might have been caught in her web,” Krouse says. “Odds are pretty fucking good that we’re caught in it… The people in charge? They won’t fail to notice.”

The TV news reveals that the Simurgh accessed a vault containing the equipment of a deceased supervillain, Professor Haywire, and created a large-scale replica, unleashing monsters and hazardous materials into the city. The city is under quarantine, with plans for permanent blockades and a processing center for those trapped inside.

They decide their priority is getting Noelle to a hospital, despite the risks. Finding a car proves difficult in the evacuated city. Krouse and Marissa team up to search, as do Oliver and Cody. During their search, Krouse asks Marissa about the visions the Simurgh showed her. She reluctantly shares a traumatic memory of freezing on stage during a dance performance, a moment of personal failure that shattered her newfound independence and pleased her controlling mother.

Krouse shares his theory that the Simurgh’s visions were meant to distract them, to sow discord and manipulate their actions. He believes her plans are more immediate than long-term. They eventually find keys at an abandoned hotel and manage to get two cars.

Returning to the house, they find Cody has discovered their deception regarding the vials. He’s furious that Krouse and Jess destroyed them, arguing that superpowers could be their way home. “Everything comes down to money,” Cody says. “Think about it. We get a few million bucks, pay one of those mad scientist types, and they get us home.”

Krouse, however, believes using the vials is playing into the Simurgh’s hands. He reveals that he believes the Simurgh manipulated them, amplifying their negative traits and pushing him to violence. He warns Cody that if he attacks, he might kill him, a line he believes the Simurgh wants him to cross.

They transport Noelle to the hospital, where they encounter a sterile, understaffed environment. An AI voice informs them of strict quarantine protocols: ten months of checkups, psychiatric evaluations, a mandatory tattoo, and lifelong restrictions. They also learn that without proper identification and financial information, they won’t be processed out of quarantine.

Krouse, realizing the impossibility of meeting these requirements and the severity of Noelle’s condition, makes a decision. He retrieves the destroyed vials, which he had actually hidden, not destroyed. He chooses one labeled “Jaunt,” a fitting name for a short trip, and drinks it, defying the Simurgh’s apparent plan.

He experiences a surge of pain and fragmented visions: crystalline entities, creatures existing across multiple dimensions, and a barren Earth-like planet. He discovers he now has the power to teleport objects, a power he tests by swapping objects around the room. He believes this power can save Noelle.

Cody confronts Krouse, accusing him of getting away with everything while he suffers. Krouse counters that he’s doing this for Noelle, out of love. He teleports Cody away and takes another vial intended for Noelle. He swaps cars to buy himself time and drives to the hospital.

He finds Noelle awake but in pain, facing another surgery with a high risk of death or permanent disability. She expresses regret for not having a more fulfilling relationship with him. Krouse, determined to save her, offers her half of the vial, arguing it’s a fair compromise. Despite her reservations and the warnings they discussed, she agrees.

Krouse’s actions are driven by a desperate hope, a belief that he can defy the Simurgh’s manipulations and forge a different path. He’s willing to be the villain, to bear the blame, if it means saving Noelle. The chapter ends with Noelle taking the vial, a gamble that could either save her or lead them all further into the Simurgh’s intricate web of cause and effect. The consequences of their choices, their defiance of destiny, remain uncertain, hanging heavy in the air like the falling snow outside.