Level 33 - Infinity Mall (Every Purchase Costs Something Forgotten)

The lights buzz above the cereal aisle A cart rolls somewhere I can’t see The speakers say the store is open open… open Rows of canned peaches stacked to the ceiling Labels turned forward like they’re watching me Bread that never molds, milk that never warms The price tags never change I counted twelve freezers, then thirteen more The numbers slipped when I looked away Everything here can feed you Everything here refills But the checkout lanes are always empty always… empty You can eat, you can drink, you can fill your cart You can stack it high, push it past the mark But the doors behind the registers don’t lead outside outside… outside Shopping lists pinned near the produce bins Names I don’t recognize A sign that says STAFF ONLY past the bakery The air smells like plastic and oranges I saw someone turn into aisle nine but aisle nine wasn’t there anymore The shelves rearrange when you blink The ceiling hums like it’s thinking The freezer doors fog, then clear again again… again You can eat, you can drink, you can fill your cart Stack it high, push it past the mark The scanner beeps but prints no receipt The exit sign flickers but doesn’t complete complete… complete I tried the freezer at the back walk in, close it I stepped inside, it was another aisle Milk. Meat. Paper towels. The music skipped, then started again Like nothing moved at all You can eat, you can drink, you can fill your cart But the longer you shop, the less you recall Why you came here at all at all… at all The lights buzz above the cereal aisle A cart rolls somewhere I can’t see The speakers say the store is open open… open