Drip Drip
"..."
GLURP GLURP
"...?"
GUG GUG
"...?!"
"Urgh, what's up with the weird noises?"
I opened my eyes, looking around in a state of confusion. Last thing I remember, I was attempting to catch Lily…
I look at my empty hands.
Well, that was unsuccessful. That still doesn't explain where I am–?!
SPLISH
I took a step forward. The ground feels strangely moist. In fact, the entire atmosphere feels way too moist.
Not to mention it also reeks of a rather unpleasant smell.
I take a closer look around me. The area is mostly reddish-pink and looks organic and fleshly. The ground is warm, moist, and it makes a "squishy" noise with every step I take. To the left and right of me, a wall made of some kind of large white stone. In the distance in front of me, a spherical, fleshy-looking bulb hangs from the ceiling.
I have never seen such a thing in Avarice before…
Wait.
"I'm an idiot, I am inside of a mouth!!!"
Was I eaten by a giant? No, it's more likely that I have shrunken somehow. Definitely the handiwork of a curse.
"Hey sir, are you going to check in yet?"
From the distance, I see a woman behind something resembling a reception desk. She has an uncanny appearance that is almost completely human, except not quite. Her physical body seems to be made of some organic, whitish gooey substance as if she were a slime-person.
I walk to the woman, doing my best to ignore how drenched my shoes are becoming due to the…tongue?
"Check-in? What does that even mean?"
"Well sir, all visitors from outside the country must check-in with immigration customs."
"But I am not a visitor; I live in Avarice."
"Avarice? Sir, I am afraid that you are mistaken. This is not Avarice, but the country of Endori."
"The country of Endori?...LADY Endori?!"
"Yes sir, though we simply go by the name Endori."
"So this means that right now, I am inside Endori's mouth?!"
"Yes sir, that would be correct. The country of Endori is the inside of Lady Endori's body."
Well, that explains the moisture issue. My cloak and shoes are drenched with her saliva…
I feel disgusted, but I have a feeling that if I want to make progress here and keep my sanity, I better not think about these things too hard…though it won't be easy.
"Sir, your face looks a little pale. Do you feel lost? Feel free to look at this comprehensive map of Endori."
The woman shows me a map. It looks like an anatomy map, but specifically catered to Endori's body. It's rather simple, but comprehensive.
"No no, I want to find a way out of here as soon as I can. I'm looking for someone; she's a little cat demi-human girl; you can't miss her."
The woman looks at me puzzled.
"Hmm, I have not seen or heard of her. Perhaps she's inside Endori somewhere but entered at another location. Legally, all visitors are supposed to take one of the official ports into the country, but this girl you speak of wouldn't be the first to not do so as of late, so it should be fine. Maybe you can ask some of my co-workers in the stomach; it's quite the tourist attraction."
"You have coworkers? What exactly are you people?"
"We are citizens and proud servants of Endori's body. Those who have white endoplasm, such as myself, are Endori's white cells."
"So is this place an actual living civilization inside of Endori? I've seen several strange things in my life, but I just can't fathom this."
"Don't worry sir, many of the others like you have expressed similar concerns. It is better for you to see for yourself. Please go to the back of the mouth, underneath the uvula. There's an elevator that will take you down the esophagus directly to the stomach. From there, you should be able to ask the cells around there for guidance."
Ding
The white cell woman pushed a button, causing an elevator box to ascend from Endori's throat.
"My coworker is waiting for you in the elevator. She will guide you as you travel down the throat into the stomach. Is there anything else that I can help you with?"
"Plenty, but I assume that you would just refer me to your coworkers again, so I'm good."
Besides, I don't know how much longer I could bear being in Endori's mouth.
"Okay sir. Please board onto the elevator and enjoy your stay!"
_____________________________________________________________________
GULP…
GUG…
Gug…
gug…
I can't believe that I'm thinking this, but this elevator ride down Endori's throat is rather smooth. The swallowing noise is bothersome, but it's not that bad. The view is nothing spectacular–just a bunch of throat tissue and saliva.
It's crazy to think that the "people" that live inside Endori view this as normal life just as we would in our world.
"Excuse me sir, I would like to inform you that we will soon arrive in the stomach. Please brace for impact."
The white cell attendant gave me a nonchalant warning as if I'm supposed to know what she means by that.
"Impact? What impact–?!!"
SPLASH!
SIZZLE
"Ack!"
The elevator pod abruptly landed and submerged in some sort of off-color liquid, causing me to bump my head.
"Sorry sir, but I did warn you."
"Gee, thanks."
The pod finally settles in the liquid–stomach acid, I should say–and gently floats along the waves.
When the white cell reception desk lady referred to the stomach as a popular tourist attraction, I did not think much of it.
Now I understand.
"Welcome to the stomach! Here, you can do activities such as enjoying a relaxing resort on the stomach lining, take a nice cruise on our finest ships, or brave the waves by surfing. Please be wary of Endori's food that is being digested and do not do anything to upset her stomach. Also, by checking into the country, you have agreed to be personally liable for your safety, so enjoy activities here at your own risk."
"So her stomach is like a beach resort, huh…"
I've never been to one myself, but I assume that they aren't nearly as dangerous.
"Okay sir, the pod has landed ashore. Please ensure that all of your belongings are with you, and you may exit."
"Wait, how am I supposed to get around this place? I still have several questions!"
"No worries sir. If you keep going straight from this port, there is a train station. There, you will be able to ask my coworkers any questions you may have."
"Well then, why can't you just answer them?"
"Quite frankly, it's time for my lunch break."
"Understood."
_________________________________________________________________________
It only took a few minutes, but I finally arrived at the train station. On the way here, I had to navigate through several civilians. Unlike the ones I've seen so far, most of them are clear-colored, with some being red and light yellowish. This train station is packed with even more of these people.
My impression so far is that the cell people look and behave like normal humans, even down to the clothes. If I could dye my skin, I would fit in almost perfectly.
"Sir, I would like to speak to you for a moment."
A white cell lady who looks similar to the others approached me. Unlike them, she is wearing what appears to be a military-style uniform.
"You don't look like you are from Endori. Are you a foreigner, by chance?"
"By your definition, I suppose I am."
"Oh, so we got a smart mouth over here. Lovely."
She smirks as she pulls out a baton and smacks her hand with it.
"I am officer Cilia. My patrol and I watch over Endori's body, looking for any troublemakers. Foreigners tend to be a source of trouble."
"So you are questioning me because I am a foreigner and a potential threat?"
"Ah, so you are quick to catch my drift! Then this should be easy–show it to me."
"Show what exactly?"
"Come on, don't play dumb! Show it already!"
"I told you already, I don't know what you want from me!"
"Show me proof of the country you came from!"
"What? I don't normally carry my country's insignia on me."
Never had a reason to since nobody cares. In fact, I don't even remember where I put it!
"Hmm, so you are a suspicious looking foreigner, you don't have evidence of where you came from, and Endori has been having some digestion problems recently."
"At best, only one of those three things is my fault. The rest are baseless assumptions!"
"Oh yeah, and you love to defy authority. As chief officer of the Endorsi protection force, I declare you under arrest! You are coming with me to our station in the brain. Any funny business, and I'll have you digested and used as Endori's nutrients."
"Tch!"
Looks like even the government inside of Endori is unbearable.
Yep, this country isn't very different from Avarice after all…