Chapter Two: Fear Has a Price

A knife struck a chopping block behind the kitchen door. Bonnie stood at the counter, its crushed skull restored. It flattened dark red dough into a square. A message rolled across its chest display: MANAGER, ADD TOPPINGS. Seven white bowls waited: teeth, hair, nails, an eyeball, a tongue, a finger, and ordinary pineapple. A new black notice had appeared on the wall: THE BIRTHDAY GUEST HATES PINEAPPLE. Zhou Ran smelled strong rotten sweetness from the sign. The rule itself was afraid he would choose pineapple. Fear Scent could detect not only fear, but the intention behind a rule. “A good chef respects dietary preferences,” Bonnie said through its speaker. “Choose poorly and the chef will be angry.”