YAOG

config.style.page.font: "Cambria 18" config.style.page.color: "black" config.style.page.link.font: "underline" config.style.page.link.color: "gray-9" config.style.page.link.lineColor: "red-8" config.style.page.link.active.color: "red-8 on red-0" config.style.page.header.font: "16" config.style.page.header.link.font: "small caps" config.style.page.footer.font: "Roboto 16" config.style.page.footer.link.font: "small caps" -- You stand amongst the crowd, sipping from the [if drink === 'a beer'] [append] bottle of craft beer the bartender handed you. Eyeing the people around you - some you know fairly well, others you have barely spoken to before, if at all. And worst of all, some complete strangers; plus-ones that were brought along to the event. \ \ It's your work holiday party, in the large event room of a hotel downtown, and at this moment you've found yourself standing alone with no one to talk to, no one to casually nod along to as they either make small talk or, even worse, talk about work. \ \ At this point, it's probably best to finish your drink and take a bathroom break. Even though you don't need to go, you just want the small mental escape for a moment. \ \ You head out of the large room and head down the hallway towards the bathrooms. **~~[[Next]]~~** [if drink === 'a glass of wine'] [append] glass of red wine the bartender poured you. Eyeing the people around you - some you know fairly well, others you have barely spoken to before, if at all. And worst of all, some complete strangers; plus-ones that were brought along to the event. \ \ It's your work holiday party, in the large event room of a hotel downtown, and at this moment you've found yourself standing alone with no one to talk to, no one to casually nod along to as they either make small talk or, even worse, talk about work. \ \ At this point, it's probably best to finish your drink and take a bathroom break. Even though you don't need to go, you just want the small mental escape for a moment. \ \ You head out of the large room and head down the hallway towards the bathrooms. **~~[[Next]]~~** [if drink === 'a soda'] [append] can of cold soda the bartender handed you. Eyeing the people around you - some you know fairly well, others you have barely spoken to before, if at all. And worst of all, some complete strangers; plus-ones that were brought along to the event. \ \ It's your work holiday party, in the large event room of a hotel downtown, and at this moment you've found yourself standing alone with no one to talk to, no one to casually nod along to as they either make small talk or, even worse, talk about work. \ \ At this point, it's probably best to finish your drink and take a bathroom break. Even though you don't need to go, you just want the small mental escape for a moment. \ \ You head out of the large room and head down the hallway towards the bathrooms. **~~[[Next]]~~** [if drink === 'whatever cocktail you wanna make me'] [append] strong cocktail the bartender mixed for you. Definitely a double. Eyeing the people around you - some you know fairly well, others you have barely spoken to before, if at all. And worst of all, some complete strangers; plus-ones that were brought along to the event. \ \ It's your work holiday party, in the large event room of a hotel downtown, and at this moment you've found yourself standing alone with no one to talk to, no one to casually nod along to as they either make small talk or, even worse, talk about work. \ \ At this point, it's probably best to finish your drink and take a bathroom break. Even though you don't need to go, you just want the small mental escape for a moment. \ \ You head out of the large room and head down the hallway towards the bathrooms. **~~[[Next]]~~** [if drink === 'just a water'] [append] glass of ice water the bartender handed you. Eyeing the people around you - some you know fairly well, others you have barely spoken to before, if at all. And worst of all, some complete strangers; plus-ones that were brought along to the event. \ \ It's your work holiday party, in the large event room of a hotel downtown, and at this moment you've found yourself standing alone with no one to talk to, no one to casually nod along to as they either make small talk or, even worse, talk about work. \ \ At this point, it's probably best to finish your drink and take a bathroom break. Even though you don't need to go, you just want the small mental escape for a moment. \ \ You head out of the large room and head down the hallway towards the bathrooms. **~~[[Next]]~~** [if drink === 'actually nevermind, no drink for me'] [append] ...nothing... in your hand. \ \ Really? You didn't get anything? \ \ This is an open bar! Your work is picking up the tab for everything! And you decided to get nothing?! \ \ You feel the sudden grip of dehydration clutching at your throat. Your esophagus feels tightened and parched, and you suddenly can't breathe. You feel yourself choking to death on the lack of liquid going down your throat. \ \ In a few seconds, you will be dead. \ \ ...This story was embarassingly short for you! But you never know what choice may lead to your end. This was only a warning. Sometimes you may be given another try, but sometimes, the end will truly be... \ \ **THE END.** \ \ (Better click Restart below to try again...)

You step inside the bathroom, plesantly surprised to see you have it all to yourself. No potential to have that awkward chit chat that comes after someone just exits a stall, or while standing side by side at the sink washing your hands. You cringe through enough of that at work on a day to day basis. \ \ After you spend a few minutes checking your phone in a stall, you decide to head back out. Maybe another drink or two, maybe another pass at the food table, and you're out of here. At least they supplied us all with a free taxi ride home. \ \ As you're washing your hands at the sink, the door opens and a co-worker walks in... they sit really close to you at the office... dammit, they talk to you all the time when they walk by your desk... ...what the HELL is their name? {text input for: 'coworkername'} {link to: '3', label: '**~~I hope...~~**'}

"Hey... [after 2 second] [append] {coworkername}, [after 3 second] [append] how's it going?" [after 6 second] [append] \ \ Your co-worker is smiling, mouth open to greet you, but they pause. Their smile fades. [after 8 second] "That's... not my name." [after 10 second] They continue past you and walk towards the stall, and you catch a glimpse of their face in the mirror as they close the door. \ \ You look back at your own reflection and see the dumbfounded look across your face. \ \ "I... yeah... I'm sorry... I thought you were someone else..." **~~[[Time To Go...]]~~**

You got out of there without even drying your hands. At this point, despite the powerful urge to cut your losses and hop in a cab, you knew you had to go back into the party and figure out that co-workers name, and make up for your mistake. \ \ You were going to see them first thing Monday morning anyways, so you had to ask around before it got too awkward to bear. \ \ As you slowly walked back down the hall, air-drying your hands by shaking them around, you heard a voice behind you. \ \ They called out your full name. >**~~[[Ignore Them, Keep Walking]]~~** >**~~[[Turn Around]]~~**

Were you already that embarrased by the bathroom interaction to even acknowledge someone calling your name? \ \ It didn't make any sense to ignore this voice - there was no way you didn't hear them, there's no loud music out here, nothing to distract you. \ \ But the fact that they said your _*full name*_ felt a little... unnatural. Authoritative, almost like when you were in trouble as a kid and a parent or teacher called on you. \ \ The way this voice said your name was in a way that wanted your attention, right away, \ \ {link to: 'Turn Around', label: '**~~You turned around.~~**'}

You turn around, a sudden sense of curiousity mixed with caution fluttering through your body. \ \ A person stood leaning against the wall, looking out of a window that overlooked a lower wing of the hotel below. They wore a dark suit, and turned to look at you as you faced them. \ \ Your first analysis was that this wasn't any of your co-workers. Unless it was some member of the directors board you haven't met yet, someone from out of town who only came in for the party to shake hands and smile. Every single mistake you've made with the company started flying through your mind. Was I in trouble? \ \ They had very short hair, no facial hair, no makeup, no eyewear, not that many distinguishable features at all. In fact, they looked very plain... very generic. You couldn't tell what their gender was. And something was... off about them. Something unnatural. \ \ "Hi," you suddenly muttered. You broke the silence, and instead of asking who they were, decided to let them steer the conversation. \ \ "I can't believe I finally found you. Please, join me over here." \ \ The stranger waved their hand over. You all of sudden felt like you didn't have a choice. You felt a draw to this person. \ \ **~~[[You Approach.]]~~**

The stranger turns their body away from the window as you approach, to face you fully. \ \ "You have no idea how long we've searched for you." The stranger smiled. They stuck their hand out, awaiting your handshake. \ \ Every alarm bell in your head was now going off. Was this a cop? A federal agent? Were you a part of some investigation you had no idea about? The demeanor of this stranger seemed very excited by your apperance. \ \ You had several questions, but also had the urge to turn and run. But once you looked into this persons eyes, it felt like you were transfixed by their presence. Who they were. What they wanted. Why they wanted... you. \ \ You heard movement behind you as the bathroom door opened, and you glanced over your shoulder as your co-worker emerged from the bathroom. They gave a quick glance over, shot an unimpressed look at you, and then turned to head back to the party. \ \ But as quick as they turned their gaze away from you, they then did a double take when they spotted the stranger. They stopped in their tracks and then turned to head towards you. \ \ You looked back over at the stranger. Their eyes were on your co-worker, but then went back to you. Their smile faded. \ \ {link to: 'Co-worker', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

In this moment, you felt an option to escape. \ \ Whoever this person was, despite your morbid curiousity literally screaming at you inside to find out more, you also felt the urge to get as far from them as possible. \ \ Your co-worker stopped beside you, and at this moment you noticed the strangers hand was still hanging in limbo, after you had failed to shake it. \ \ "Hello, who's this? Everything okay?" Your co-worker asked. \ \ Despite you having upset them only a few minutes ago, they felt like a sudden safety net to grab onto next to you, and they even seemed to be taking the lead, asking the questions you failed to ask yourself. \ \ The stranger eyes your co-worker, and doesn't say a word. \ \ You decide what you should do. >**~~[[Leave with coworker]]~~** >**~~[[Stay with the stranger]]~~**

"Hey, let's go grab a drink, I think Peter is looking for us," you mention a co-worker who sits near the both of you as a scapegoat. Also knowing this will allow you time to apologize to them. \ \ Anything at this point to get away from this creep. You didn't care what they wanted anymore. Once you were back at the party and safe in the crowd, you'd let others know and start the investigating. \ \ "Are you... sure you want to do that?" The stranger suddenly asked. Their voice was more sullen than before. \ \ Your co-worker furrowed their brow at this. \ \ "Excuse me?" \ \ "No, listen, don't worry about - hey, nice to meet you, we have to head back," you quickly said before the stranger could respond or your co-worker could inquire further. \ \ You both turned away from the stranger and started walking away. You needed distance before you could discuss anything. \ \ After a few steps, your co-worker disappeared from your side. You pause and look back behind you, and they had stopped. In mid motion. \ \ They were frozen. Looking straight ahead. \ \ Any signs of life, gone. \ \ {link to: 'Frozen', label: '**~~"What the fuck?"~~**'}

The stranger stares into your eyes. They had something important to say to you, something that was eating at your insides like a starved animal, and you knew they wanted your co-worker gone before doing so. \ \ Whatever the matter was at hand, this was a private affair. [after 7 seconds] Despite how much that made your skin crawl. [after 9 seconds] "Hey, I just wanna apologize about what happened in the bathroom, I... I just got confused for a second. I'll catch up with you back in there, just need a quick few minutes here." \ \ You tried your best to make your words sound casual. Like you knew this person in front of you, and your co-worker was interrupting a personal conversation. \ \ Even though you were terrified out of your mind about what had just happened to you and you were shocked that you even managed to get those words out so well. \ \ "Oh, it's... okay, yeah, don't worry..." They suddenly reached into their pocket and pulled out their phone, its screen lit up by an incoming call. They put the phone to their ear. \ \ "Hello? You are?! Where?" They said excitedly, and turned to walk away back towards the party. \ \ The strangers eyes hadn't left yours. Their mouth curled into a satisfied smile. {link to: 'ExplanationA', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

You debated yelling for help, but felt suddenly tongue-tied. Were you hallucinating? \ \ The world seemed to have stopped around you. \ \ Footsteps approached from behind. The stranger was slowly coming towards you. \ \ "Please be grateful that I am allowing you another chance. I ask that you please trust me. Would you like to go back and try that choice again?" \ \ Their voice was polite, but commanding. Sinister. \ \ You tried to speak, and a choked answer came out of my lips. >**~~[["Yes."]]~~** >**~~[["Fuck you."]]~~**

[after 1 second] "Y...y......yes.." [after 3 second] In a split-second you were back in the previous moment. \ \ Facing the stranger, your co-worker standing next to you. They seemed to have no knowledge of what just happened. \ \ You had somehow been given another chance. {link to: 'Stay with stranger', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

[after 1 second] "F....fuuuck...y..yo.." [after 4 second] Everything around you sucked inwards, like a black void. You couldn't see. Hear. Feel. [after 7 second] You felt like... nothing. [after 9 second] The strangers voice echoed around you. [after 11 second] "I wondered if you'd react like this. I was given full authority to do with you what I must if you were fully uncooperative. [after 16 second] [append] I've had a long time to think about it." [after 19 second] You tried to suck a breath inwards, but there was nothing to breathe. [after 22 second] "And I still have yet to decide. [after 24 second] [append] You will remain here until I do." [after 25 seconds] [align center] \ \ **THE END** [align center] [after 28 second] {link to: 'Frozen', label: '**~~Try Again?~~**'}

You were again transfixed by their eyes piercing into you. [after 3 seconds] Whatever they were about to say, you weren't sure you were ready for it. The surrounding area around you; the hotel walls, the floor, the decor, the general awareness of you being in this environment felt like it didn't matter anymore. You felt unprepared. [after 11 seconds] "Thank you for allowing me to speak with you. I can't state how excited I am in this moment to be here with you. I have been here searching for you for years now. What you call years. It has been a very long time." [after 18 seconds] You hung on their every word. They kept mentioning amounts of time, and the idea of someone looking for you for what they referred to as **years** made your skin crawl. [after 24 seconds] But even worse, how they said "what _you_ call years". [after 26 seconds] What did... [after 28 seconds] "I've travelled from very far away. So far that I've lost all contact with my home. In many ways this may have been a one way trip if it was a failure. But now, we can go back. Together. [after 37 seconds] ...Please." [after 39 seconds] {link to: 'Explanation2A', label: '**~~Continue...?~~**'}

The stranger stares into your eyes. They had something important to say to you, something that was eating at your insides like a starved animal, and you knew they wanted your co-worker gone before doing so. Whatever the matter was at hand, this was a private affair. [after 9 seconds] Despite how much that made your skin crawl. [after 12 seconds] "Hey, I just wanna apologize about what happened in the bathroom, I... I just got confused for a second. I'll catch up with you back in there, just need a quick few minutes here." \ \ You tried your best to make your words sound casual. Like you knew this person in front of you, and your co-worker was interrupting a personal conversation. \ \ "Oh, it's... okay, yeah, don't worry..." They suddenly reached into their pocket and pulled out their phone, its screen lit up by an incoming call. They put the phone to their ear. \ \ "Hello? You are?! Where?" They said excitedly, and turned to walk away back towards the party. \ \ The strangers eyes hadn't left yours. Their mouth curled into a satisfied smile. {link to: 'ExplanationB', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

You didn't even notice the sound of the party behind you anymore; the ambient chatter of voices yelling over the loud music, like chirping static. \ \ You felt like you were existing in an isolated chamber, only you and the stranger. Your brain was taking in the information at a rate that it couldn't keep up with, especially with the questions that were simultaneously pummeling your brain. You were at war with your own mind. \ \ **_ASK THEM QUESTIONS. DEMAND ANSWERS._** \ \ The stranger had paused, almost sensing the gears in your mind struggling to keep turning. Like you were stuck in a fail state. \ \ "I fear that I'm not getting to the point fast enough. I have travelled here to Earth, to find you. You are the one we all want. You are the one who is destined to join us. I cannot stress this enough... {link to: 'YouA', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

[align left] {link to: 'AreB', label: 'You'}

[align right] {link to: 'OurB', label: 'Are'}

[align left] {link to: 'GodB', label: 'Our'}

[align right] {link to: 'Explanation3B', label: 'God."'}

Your eyes had glazed over. You felt weak, but your feet were sturdy to the ground. In control. \ \ Yet you felt like you had none. \ \ This was all just a... prank. A joke... \ \ Someone could have slipped something in your drink earlier. Everything that had happened up to this point could be explained as some hyper aware manifestation as you are slowly losing it to some psychoactive substance. \ \ You felt like you were losing it. \ \ "I need to leave now." The only thing you could muster from your lips. \ \ "I fear you don't understand yet. Please let me show you." \ \ You had heard enough. Your entire body shot to life like someone had snapped their fingers to activate you, and you turned and ran towards the party. \ \ As you approached the entrance to the event room, your blood ran cold as you took in your surroundings. The dead silence. The completely frozen state of everyone around you; stuck in various stances and positions. Just like your co-worker was a few minutes ago. \ \ You heard the strangers footsteps walking up behind you. \ \ Next to you was a frozen member of the event staff, holding a tray of meat. You quickly notice a carving knife laying across the tray. >**~~[[Keep Running]]~~** >**~~[[Grab The Knife]]~~** >**~~[[Stay Put]]~~**

Run. Run for your life. [after 4 second] Run past the frozen bodies, the paused positions, get away as fast as you can. You felt like at any moment you would be frozen yourself, under the spell of this terrifying psycho. But you knew you just had to get away. [after 11 second] You ran past the bar and into the kitchen area, where the caterers were frozen, trays food lining the stainless steel counters. You ran past them and deeper into the kitchen, where you spotted a door that led to a back hallway. You threw yourself into the door, slamming into the handle as it swung open into a staff storage area full of equipment, cleaning supplies... things in general, it didn't matter. Your mind wasn't processing any of it. [after 21 second] Where to next, you weren't even concentrating on. Any door, you flung yourself through, praying to be whisked back to your previous life that felt so boring a few minutes ago. How lucky you were back then. [after 26 second] Finding yourself back in a main hallway of the hotel floor, you ran past doors and realized you were back near the elevators, having done a loop without realizing it. [after 30 second] And the stranger was waiting for you. [after 33 second] "Running away feels like your only option, but I can assure you it's of no use. I won't resume the flow of the world around you until you hear my offer. Please... enough with this, and let us speak to each other with grace and respect. I beg of you." {link to: 'Hear', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

You grabbed the handle of the knife and spun around, the blade pointing outwards as you aimed in the direction of the stranger. [after 4 second] You'd never attacked someone with a deadly weapon before, but this was as good a time as any to be your first. [after 8 second] The stranger was suddenly so close to you that you didn't have a spare millisecond to debate your actions. The blade plunged into the strangers chest. [after 12 second] Dark liquid seeped out of the wound. The stranger stopped in their tracks, and the first sign of surprise you'd seen from them crawled across their face. They grabbed your hand clutching the knife, and rather than try and pull it out, they gripped onto your hand. [after 21 second] Their hand was ice cold. [after 23 second] "You... didn't listen to what I wanted... to..." The air slowly leaked out of their lips as they weakly spoke. "...what we..." [after 26 second] You left go of the knife, and the strangers legs buckled underneath them. They tried to grip onto your hand, but you shook it free and stepped back. They slumped down onto the floor, as more dark liquid poured from their wound. After a few seconds, they weren't moving at all. {link to: 'Escape', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

Everything in you told you to run. To grab the knife. To scream. To fight. [after 5 second] But you knew that wasn't the right choice. [after 7 second] You felt the stranger now lingering behind you. [after 10 second] "Please, face me and let us talk to each other with grace and respect. I am very eager to explain the offer that we are presenting to you. You have no idea how important you are to us." [after 16 second] You turned around and looked them in the eye. [after 19 second] You felt a weird sense of calm wash over your body, like you were accepting your fate as well as eagerly awaiting the offer. [after 23 second] There's a chance this could be something simple and quick, and things could return to normal again. [after 26 second] Whatever that may be. {link to: 'Hear', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

[align left] {link to: 'AreA', label: 'You'}

[align right] {link to: 'OurA', label: 'Are'}

[align left] {link to: 'GodA', label: 'Our'}

[align right] {link to: 'Explanation3A', label: 'God."'}

Your eyes had glazed over. You felt weak, but your feet were sturdy to the ground. In control. \ \ Yet you felt like you had none. \ \ This was all just a... prank, a joke... \ \ Or this person needed serious help. \ \ "I need to leave now." The only thing you could muster from your lips. \ \ "I fear you don't understand yet. Please let me show you." \ \ You had heard enough. Your entire body shot to life like someone had snapped their fingers to activate you, and you turned and ran towards the party. \ \ As you approached the entrance to the event room, your blood ran cold as you took in your surroundings. The dead silence. The completely frozen state of everyone around you; stuck in various stances and positions. \ \ You heard the strangers footsteps walking up behind you. \ \ Next to you was a frozen member of the event staff, holding a tray of meat. You quickly notice a carving knife laying across the tray. >**~~[[Keep Running]]~~** >**~~[[Grab The Knife]]~~** >**~~[[Stay Put]]~~**

You looked around, your heart racing, sweat beads running down your forehead. [after 3 second] Everyone around you was still frozen. [after 5 second] No one had reacted to what just happened. No one moved an inch. [after 7 second] No one seemed alive at all. [after 10 second] You had to get out of here, right now. You ran out of the room and down the hallway, towards the elevator. Hopping in, you smashed your finger into the lobby button, and waited the agonizing ten or so seconds that felt like ten minutes as the elevator car made its way down. [after 18 second] Time had lost all sense of meaning. [after 20 second] You ran out into the lobby as the doors opened, and were greeted to an assortment of people standing around the lobby - guests, employees, various people. It didn't matter who they were or why they were there. [after 28 second] They weren't moving at all. [after 30 second] You ran out of the building into the street. You looked around frantically at the various people around you. You ran up and shook a random person, screaming in their face. [after 35 second] They didn't budge. They didn't flinch. They were just... [after 36 second] [append] gone. {link to: 'Alone', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

You kept running, looking for any signs of life. \ \ Cars were stopped in the streets, frozen drivers behind the wheel. \ \ You pulled out your phone and started calling contacts... family, friends, anyone. \ \ Nothing. \ \ Your legs felt like rubber suddenly and you collapsed on the dirty sidewalk, the cold night air blowing litter around in the eerie silence of your surroundings. \ \ Whatever had just happened, whatever had caused this event, you knew it was your fault. \ \ You had no idea if it would end, or if there was a way to reverse it, or what this even was at all. But the stranger you had just killed was the key to it. \ \ Your knees pressed against the cold hard concrete of the sidewalk as you feel your mind slowly starting to unravel. You started to think the whole world was frozen like this. \ \ You've doomed yourself. \ \ You're alone. >**~~[["Fine By Me."]]~~** >**~~[["I'm Sorry! Please Let Me Try Again."]]~~**

Maybe this is exactly what you need. \ \ Some peace and quiet. \ \ You decide to enjoy a nice life in silence and isolation. The world frozen around you for the rest of eternity. [after 8 second] ...Something tells me you'd like to know what the stranger wanted though... correct? [after 13 second] [append] If not, just close out this window. You won't hurt my feelings. You've already chosen complete solitude for the rest of time. Technically I don't exist anymore. [after 18 second] But here's the link to go back to the moment before you pick up the knife. Just in case. [after 21 second] God help you if you decide to pick up the knife again... {link to: 'Explanation3C', label: '**~~Go Back~~**'}

[after 1 second] Yes, that was no way to live. [after 4 second] Even though it felt like the best option, violence wasn't the answer in this situation. You definitely would NOT try that again. [after 7 second] [append] Right? [after 10 second] Let's get you back to the moment before you pick up the knife. {link to: 'Explanation3C', label: '**~~Go Back~~**'}

And just like that, you're back. \ \ Next to you, the frozen member of the event staff, holding a tray of meat. The carving knife laying across the tray. \ \ Choose wisely. >**~~[[Keep Running]]~~** >**~~[[Grab The Knife... Again]]~~** >**~~[[Stay Put]]~~**

Even though you knew what the consequences could be, you did it again. \ \ You grabbed the handle of the knife and spun around, the blade pointing outwards as you aimed in the direction of the stranger. [after 7 second] The stranger was nowhere to be seen. [after 10 second] "Do you think... [after 11 second] [append] I am... [after 12 second] [append] a FOOL?!" [after 18 second] An undefinable amount of time passed. It felt like you suddenly were awoken from a deep sleep that you had slipped into in an instant. Months... years had passed, according to how scrambled your brain felt. [after 23 second] You stood in front of a council of figures, all looking down at you. A bright light shining in your face. You couldn't move a muscle. [after 29 second] "There was no other choice. I had to bring them against their will, to avoid the threat of violence." A voice spoke from the group. The same voice shared by the stranger. They spoke an unknown language. [after 34 second] A deeper voice boomed in response. You had no idea what it was saying. [after 36 second] The council of shadowy heads nodded. [after 39 second] The stranger turned to you and translated. [after 41 second] "They said, very well - this was clearly a failed experiment. [after 50 second] [append] I am to dispose of you however I wish." [after 52 second] [align center] **THE END** [align center]

You were back where you started with the stranger - ther eyes staring into yours as you stood before them, wondering what they wanted. [after 4 second] The only difference being that you knew they meant business this time. [after 7 second] "Thank you for listening. Let me begin. \ \ I have travelled here from a very distant world. Many many lightyears away from Earth. The journey was long and arduous, but I was sent here on a mission, so I was determined. I've been here long enough to understand your way of life, your language, your behaviour. \ \ And once you hear my offer and make your decision, I can go home." {link to: 'Hear2', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

"Some time ago, we received a transmission from Earth. A technology we had been working on for a lifetime. We knew there were other worlds with intelligent life, and we were searching for communication, signals, anything we could pick up. \ \ Finally, after much trial and error, something random came through to us. [after 10 second] You. [after 13 second] An image of you, smiling, standing in front of the most lush greenery, the sun shining down. You were magnificent. The aura of you in this image swept over our entire world. Brought us to our knees. You were proof of existence. Proof of life. In fact, you *gave* us life. [after 21 second] Your image was displayed all over the world in celebration. But it became more than that. You became a study. A religion. [after 26 second] A deity." {link to: 'Hear3', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

"You were no longer just a discovery, a herald, you were our God. A being that could flourish our world with your presence. Just the image was enough to bring forth this movement, but we began to desire your actual company. \ \ We needed you with us. \ \ We began working tirelessly on a means of transportation. Once completed, I was selected as the sole member to undertake this mission, to travel and search for you. And I searched, and searched, and searched. It took me a long time before I even found this planet. \ \ I was vastly unprepared for an entire world full of other beings like you. Ones who looked similar, wore fancy clothing, drove expensive vehicles. What else should I have expected? I quickly had to make myself blend in, and molded my appearance to resemble a human as best as possible. \ \ It didn't take me long to notice... you appeared to be just like everyone else. Another human, existing amongst the gyrating mass. I wondered, were you nothing special at all? That could not be. My world had taken you and placed you upon a pedestal so high, it was impossible to not be overtaken with glee when I finally found you. Despite seeming like just another human, you are still you after all, the special one we all worship. \ \ But now, we have a dilemma. A choice that must be made." {link to: 'Choice', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

"I was given authority to bring you back with me under any means necessary. \ \ But I was also instructed very firmly to ensure I tell you what will happen if you choose not to. \ \ It might be best for you to hear them as a good choice, and a bad choice. But that may be up to interpretation depending on how you view them. \ \ Please tell me which one you'd like to hear first." >**~~[["Let me hear the good choice."]]~~** >**~~[["Let me hear the bad choice."]]~~**

"Simply put, you'd come back with me to my world. You will be treated as royalty. For as long as you are our God, you will live the most perfect, carefree life full of riches and wonder. \ \ Until the rest of my world finds out how... normal you are amongst the rest of the Earthlings. \ \ There's no telling when that will be. Maybe never. And maybe they won't even care if they do... \ \ But it might send the whole world into turmoil. It may cause waves. A bit of... friction, if you will. \ \ So you may as well enjoy your moment while you have it. \ \ Don't you think?" >**~~[["Okay. I will leave with you."]]~~** >**~~[["Let me hear the bad choice."]]~~**

Whether you felt you had no choice, that the other option doomed you anyways, or you felt you should experience whatever the stranger was offering, you agreed to leave. \ \ The strangers face lit up. \ \ "You... want to come with me? Oh, oh this is magnificent. Oh, you will not regret this. Yes... you will not!" \ \ They looked like they couldn't contain their excitement. \ \ "We must leave right away. I will prepare you for the journey. Please remain still." \ \ The stranger looked into your eyes, and within seconds you felt yourself slip into blackness. Like you had instantly fallen asleep. You felt like you were floating in an infinite void, and a slight vibration buzzed against your body. \ \ Suddenly, you were sucked backwards and were now standing on your feet again on a flat surface. The light felt blinding as you tried to adjust your eyes to look at what was in front of you. {link to: 'Good Ending', label: '**~~"Where Am I?"~~**'}

"This should be very simple to understand. \ \ I will leave, and go back to my home. Everything will go back as it was for you here. Nothing will be different. I will most likely suffer the consequences for a failed mission, whatever that may be. \ \ And we will retaliate. \ \ We will return eventually, I cannot say when, but it will be sudden. We will take Earth with force, we will initiate warfare on the entire planet. They were very clear with this statement. \ \ And you will be our most valued target. We will not kill you when we capture you. But you will have wished we did. \ \ You will be begging your own God for death." >**~~[["Do your worst. I'm staying here."]]~~** >{link to: '"Let me hear the good choice."', label: '**~~"Let me hear the good choice."~~**'}

The strangers face was neutral. They looked neither happy, nor upset. \ \ Maybe it was shock, disappointment, irritation... it didn't matter. You wanted them gone. You wanted all of this to be over. \ \ It still hadn't fully sunken in what they had said. What they had threatened. A potential empty threat, of course. But... [after 15 second] Were you about to be the cause of the annihilation of everyone on Earth? [after 20 second] Everyone you know and love, every living thing on this planet, under attack from this advanced civilization you had no knowledge of. [after 25 second] Yet it was pretty clear what they were capable of. [after 29 second] The stranger then formed a slight smile. All around you, like the volume suddenly being turned up on a stereo, the ambient sounds of talking, the music from the party, it all came back. Looking over the strangers shoulder, you saw the party down the hall had come back to life. Like nothing had ever happened. \ \ "Goodbye, then." The stranger muttered, as they walked past you and towards the stairwell door at the end of the hall. {link to: 'Bad Ending', label: '**~~"See ya."~~**'}

They stopped and looked back at you after you said this. \ \ Even after everything you had just been through, you still felt the need for a smug remark. You were just saying bye, a casual "see ya" as you casually would to someone else, it had the tinge of sarcasm that didn't need to be there. That should *not* have been there. \ \ The stranger picked up on it. A flash of light came over their eyes. A flash of... glee? Satisfaction? \ \ Whatever it was, it was cold. It cut through you and embedded itself like hooks, it felt like the stranger had pierced your soul and left their mark inside. They knew you perhaps didn't believe them. Even though you had every reason to. \ \ But that look in their eyes... this was their final mark they were leaving on you. The final blow. \ \ You felt paralyzed with fear all over again. {link to: 'Bad Ending!', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

[align center] All you could do now... [align center] [after 3 second] [align center] is wait. [align center] [after 6 second] [align center] \ \ **THE END** [align center]

Ahead were a group of figures, all staring at you with an intense fascination. You were in a large room, with impossible architecture towering above. Pillars higher than skyscrapers. Materials unknown to man. Shapes and designs you could not comprehend. \ \ The stranger stood before you, smiling. \ \ One of the beings spoke, with sounds you could not decipher whatsoever. \ \ The stranger looked at you and translated. "They said that you are... just like they have studied." \ \ Another being spoke, placing its hand on the strangers shoulder. The others nodded in agreement. The strange bowed in appreciation. \ \ You had a million words in your mouth trying to escape, but couldn't find a single one to lead with. You simply could not understand how. Where, why, who... anything at all. \ \ "We have so much work to get done. Now, first things first, let's begin the preparations." >**~~[["Where am I?"]]~~** >**~~[["What preparations?"]]~~** >**~~[["I made a mistake, I want to go home."]]~~**

You had heard enough. You tried to pull away from their grasp but, there was no force behind your reaction. No feedback from your muscle movement. No signal coming from your limbs. \ \ "I will be with you every step of the way until you are safe and sound in your display case. And then, you will belong to the world. To everyone who comes to visit you. Once the announcement is made, the lineups will stretch to an infinite length. You will be gazed upon by so many eyes that will walk away changed forever." \ \ As you walked, you noticed you were headed towards a large door. It began slowly opening the closer you got, a large glowing light pouring through the opening. Ahead of you stood a box, encased in a transparent, golden glass-like material. Several tubes were connected inside, all leading in a vine-like trail towards some kind of jellified shape. \ \ "Isn't it magnificent?" The stranger asked. "Those tubes will feed you, hydrate you, and remove all waste from your body. The shape in the center of the case will form to your body size to help you maintain the same position. You will remain in that position preserved and cared for. We need you... still. Always. To remain in the same image for all." {link to: 'Good?', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

The stranger nodded, smiling elegantly. They looked pleased to finally be telling you. \ \ "You are in our beautiful world, the most perfect world there is. I truly did not appreciate this world as much as I do now until I went to Earth. You have so much filth. Such stink. Such... waste." \ \ The stranger shook their head in disgust. \ \ "The name of our world cannot be spoken in your tongue. There is no word or sound in your language that can convey it. But you may choose to name it whatever you wish for yourself. Whatever word you utter will reach millions. They all will want to know what our God names our world." \ \ You spend a moment thinking about it. Finally, you decide on a name. {text input for: 'worldname'} {link to: 'World', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

The stranger began walking towards you. \ \ "First, you will be stripped and cleaned. Then you will be dressed by one of our most opulent fashioners. During that, your display case will be prepared." \ \ You started stepping backwards as they approached. As if that made any difference. You had nowhere to run to. \ \ "D-display case...?" \ \ "Yes, for the entire world to see you in. Where you will be positioned for all to come and witness. You will be worshipped to daily. You will be the most sought after sight in the entire world." \ \ You felt your legs beginning to give out, like you may collapse. \ \ "You... you said I'd... you said I would be royalty?! Be given riches?!" \ \ The stranger nodded. \ \ "You will be. You'll be given any thing you desire - any food, drink, will be given to you via feeding tubes in your case. And riches, well, you will be blessed by millions. You will be rich with fame, with wonder. Did you think I meant... riches as in, money?" {link to: 'Yes Riches', label: '**~~"Yes!"~~**'}

The figures in front of you all stare wide-eyed. Within seconds, they all simultaneously let out a loud noise. \ \ Something like a laugh. But very, very different. \ \ It sounded horrifying. \ \ The stranger spoke up. \ \ "I don't think you understand how impossible that is. You are further from Earth than you understand. By my estimation, it would take seven hundred human years to get back. You only survived the journey here by being placed in a form of high statis that essentially rendered you nonexistent. That was the only way I could bring you here without you perishing. A voyage back to Earth, you would not survive." >**~~[["Then send me back the same way you brought me!"]]~~** >**~~[["Fuck you. I'll kill you all. "]]~~**

The stranger stared at you, processing your response. \ \ They turned to face the other beings, who were looking on with the uttmost curiousity. \ \ "{worldname}." \ \ The beings all came to life like a bomb had just gone off. They raised their hands, making indistinguishable noises, and grabbed each other in a fit of energy. \ \ The stranger faced you again, smiling. \ \ "The world will remember that name for the rest of time. It will be announced soon in a worldwide broadcast. Now, let us begin the preparations." **~~[["What preparations?"]]~~**

The stranger half-smirked, then looked downwards. They look disappointed. \ \ "Do you not remember the decision you made back on Earth? I know you remember. I simply can't just send you back now. Are you unaware of the work we put in just to ensure we could bring you back here? Are you... unaware... you... yo-" \ \ The strangers teeth were now showing with every word. You hadn't seen them this angry yet. It felt like something was slowly uncoiling in their mind right in front of you. Like they were about to lose it. \ \ "You cannot even **_FATHOM_** the time, the... the knowledge... the stress, the anguish, the sacrifices we all made. Can you? **_CAN YOU_**?! **_NO_**, you can **_NOT_**." \ \ The figures behind the stranger all made an alarmed noise at this jump in volume, but the stranger put their hand up to motion everything was fine. \ \ But you, you were about to call your own time of death. You thought this was it. You had spoken your last words. You were about to be murdered. The stranger in front of you looked unhinged. Ready to kill. \ \ "The way I brought you here ensured your survival. The technology we used to create that can't just be recreated at the snap of fingers! If I send you back in the same vessel I used to travel to Earth and back, you will die and rot for an eternity inside of it. Please... get that through your mind." The only thing on your mind currently was how to react to this outburst. >**~~[[Remain quiet.]]~~** >**~~[["I'm your GOD, you can't speak to me like that!"]]~~**

Surprisingly, the stranger didn't seem shocked at this answer. Their face looked sullen. Betrayed. [after 6 second] They slowly nodded, and then turned to face the figures behind them. They began chatting. [after 10 second] You try to think of literally anything to do in this situation. Why did those angry, violent words come out of you? How could you think you possibly had any kind of upper hand in any way? [after 16 second] Do you suddenly have the urge to die? Is this what you feel when you suddenly realize you no longer exist on Earth? [after 21 second] There's surely no chance you'll escape out of this alive. [after 25 second] You remain frozen in place as they continue discussing amongst themselves. The stranger then turns to face you. [after 30 second] "Right. We have scrapped the whole thing. You will now be dissected piece by piece and studied. At least this was not all for nothing, right?" [after 35 second] The stranger smiled as several of the figures walked towards you, their arms outstretched. [after 40 second] You felt a sudden wave of calmness. Acceptance. [after 42 second] All in the name of science. [after 44 second] Right? [after 48 second] [align center] **THE END** [align center]

The stranger smirked, and appeared to hold back a laugh. They took you by the arm and started leading you away from the other figures, who all watched with anticipation. \ \ "You know, my time spent on your planet, it was enlightening. It didn't take much time at all to realize how humans were driven. Money was all you truly cared about. How fascinating, an entire world's survival all completely reliant on an amount of numbers designated to their names. Humans on the streets, filthy and hungry, begging for any amount of riches they can get. And ones with fancy cars and clothing, with more than they could ever need, and still feel like it's not enough. \ \ Is this a simple realization to you? Do you think I am an obvious fool for realizing this? *What an incredible understanding you have of us humans*, you must think. *It doesn't take a genius to figure out our world is hungry for riches. Starved for income.* This observation of quite menial lengths is what fascinated me about your kind early on. How quickly I came to notice it. How... pathetic it made you all seem." \ \ The stranger turned to look back at the figures, looking over at you both with interest. \ \ "This world does not prosper on things like money. Money does not exist here. From now on, you will be rich with admiration, respect. Adoration. Of course, like I previously stated, any food or drink you desire, will be given to you; any entertainment you wish to experience, will be brought to you for your experiencing. But you will remain in place, in your display case, to maintain the perfect altar of worship." {link to: 'Good Ending?', label: '**~~Continue~~**'}

At the back of the case, there was a backdrop. A background image. \ \ It was the trees you once posed in front of where your ex snapped a photo of you, years ago. That beautiful sunny day, when you had nothing to worry about. Nothing to fear. \ \ The stranger put their hand on your shoulder. \ \ "You will look perfect in there. [after 15 second] [append] Your smile is going to change this world forever. [after 19 second] [append] Please make sure you maintain it constantly. We don't want to physically force you to do it. [after 23 second] [append] But if we have to, we will." [after 26 second] The stranger turned to you, a smile beaming their face. The first time they looked this happy since you first encountered them. \ \ You felt your petrified expression slowly changing as you locked eyes with them. Your lips curled. You looked again at the display case ahead of you. \ \ Still terrified, you smiled. [after 38 second] You [after 39 second] [append] Are [after 40 second] [append] Their [after 41 second] [append] God. [after 45 second] [align center] \ **THE END** [align center]

The stranger paced back in forth in front of you. \ \ They watched you like a hungry animal. \ \ Eventually, they stopped moving and stared into your eyes. \ \ "How quiet one goes when they know they have nothing else to say." \ \ They cleared their throat, and adjusted their posture. As if they were getting back into a formal, orderly stance. Resuming the respectable persona that they seemed to identify as before. \ \ "I apologize for my outburst. Let's return to where our discussion was before. We shall begin preparations soon." {link to: '"What preparations?"2', label: '**~~"What preparations?"~~**'}

The stranger stormed toward you and stopped directly in front of your face. [after 5 second] "The only one in this world right now who knows what I'm saying to you, is me. They know nothing." The stranger pointed their finger back at the figures, who were all watching cautiously. [after 17 second] "They don't understand. And at this point, I'm ready to call this a failed experiment. I am ready to wipe this slate clean, and start anew. And now, our kind can go back to Earth. We can find someone new. Or we can scorch everything. Our possibilities are endless." [after 30 second] The stranger paused, and looked away for a second, as if they had a sudden thought. [after 35 second] "You know, maybe this was a good thing, you talking back to me like this. From the moment we first met, my opinion of you has only gotten worse. You aren't thankful, you aren't grateful. Not one bit. So, yes. [after 44 second] [append] Let's send you back to Earth." [after 46 second] {link to: 'Space', label: '**~~Accept your fate~~**'}

[after 3 second] Your eyes slowly open as you drift in and out of consciousness. You weakly gaze outside of the glass window next to you. [after 9 second] You could never have dreamed of this view. [after 13 second] The infinite darkness around you. The tiny vessel you're encapsulated in, swallowed entirely by the maw of space. [after 18 second] This is your coffin, and you will die here. [after 21 second] How long it takes, how long you'll last, is as unknowable as what surrounds you. [after 25 second] At least it's a quiet way to go. [after 30 second] [align center] \ **THE END** [align center]

The stranger began walking towards you. \ \ "First, you will be stripped and cleaned. Then you will be dressed by one of our most opulent fashioners. During that, your display case will be prepared." \ \ You felt your skin growing colder by the second. \ \ "D-display case...?" \ \ "Yes, for the entire world to see you in. Where you will be positioned for all to come and witness. You will be worshipped to daily. You will be the most sought after sight in the entire world." \ \ You felt your legs beginning to give out, like you may collapse. \ \ "You... you said I'd... you said I would be royalty?! Be given riches?!" \ \ The stranger nodded. \ \ "You will be. You'll be given any thing you desire - any food, drink, will be given to you via feeding tubes in your case. And riches, well, you will be blessed by millions. You will be rich with fame, with wonder. Did you think I meant... riches as in, money?" {link to: 'Yes Riches', label: '**~~"Yes!"~~**'}

Number of endings = 7ish