You extend your arm and touch Agneta's cheek. He turns to you with a tired smile. The chains that bind him have left welts on his skin and his back is curved. Despite that, he still has eyes only for you.
(text-colour:orange)["Are you well, my treasure?"]
[[That's not important right now!]]<center>**It's Not Your Fault**</1></center>
<center>A text adventure by Victoria Stephens</1></center>
<center>[[Start]]</1></center>Impossibly tall walls. Cold stone, and a cieling that gives way to the clouds beyond it. Plants that you've never seen before creep along the floor and escape through paneless windows.
In this place you had begun to consider home, you kneel. Before you stands (text-colour:#f03e3e)[Y'opa] the Goddess of creation. She towers over you, and the light of the heavens forms a halo above her head.
Next to you, your partner(text-colour:orange)[ Agneta] is bound.
What do you do?
[[Reach for him]]
You awake in a land much colder than the one you'd come from. Beneath your head is hard packed earth, and the only comfort provided is long dead reeds. They scratch at your skin and pull a grumble from your lips.
[[Sit up]]
[[Look to the sky]](text-style: "rumble")+(text-colour:cyan)["You, you fool!"]
Agneta makes to speak, but the chains binding him suddenly tighten. A pained grunt fills the air, and his back curls further. Blood trickles from the welts on his skin, and you envelope him in your arms.
Before you, the Goddess has had enough. Her face is twisted in displeasure.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["Was it not enough that I gave your kind life?"]
She regards you much like a lion would it's prey. Despite her ethereal beauty, her face twists in disgust.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)[
"You invade my home, seduce my child, and then kneel before me as if you've the right! Your kind are meant to live in the mud and return to the mud. Yet here you are!"]
All at once, blood coats your chest and the bones beneath Agneta's skin begin to crack and pop. You realize the blood is his and start to panic. The Goddess continues to speak but you can't hear her over the rush of blood in your ears, and the thumping of your heart.
Someone is screaming but you aren't sure who it is.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["Must you also seduce my children and invade my home?"]
(text-style: "rumble")+(text-colour:cyan)[["Please stop!"]]Agneta chuckles and rests his cheek in your palm. His eyes close, and for a moment he doesn't speak. You begin to think he's passed out-a small mercy, before his eyes crack open again.
(text-colour:orange)["What could be more important than you?"]
[["You, you fool!"]]You sit up, careful not to drop the stone in your hands. Looking around, you see that there's nothing here. No buildings, people, or wildlife. There are a few plants that are clinging to life, and a small pond across the way.
[[Head for the pond]]You force yourself to your feet and trudge toward the pond. Along the way, you gather the dried reeds you'd taken note of and some decently sized sticks. There is little here with which to make any sort of camp.
However, as you near the pond, you see that a large tree sits near it. Though it's long since died, like everything else here.
Despite that, you decide to use the carcass for your benefit.
<img src="Beta/Materials/Tree.jpg">
[[Hollow out the tree]]As you begin work on your shelter, you quickly realize that you'll need a tool of some kind to get past the near petrified outer shell of the tree.
You cast a look around and see what appear to be animals a few feet away. Perhaps there's usable material.
[[Head for the animals]]
You make your way toward the animals, and can tell before you reach them, that their carcasses are useless. Despite that, you kneel and look over the tattered hides and inspect the bones. These creatures were at some point, boars of some kind. The bones peaking through the dried flesh look sturdy enough.
(text-colour:orange)["***These could be useful, love***."]
(text-colour:cyan)[[Do you think so?]](text-colour:cyan)[Do you think so?"]
(text-colour:orange)["***Have I ever lied to you***?"]
You consider those words and decide that no, he never has.
Taking hold of the bones, you attempt to strip them from the rotted flesh. It's tricky work, but eventually they give way with a dull pop. You grimace slightly, but recover quick enough.
(text-colour:orange)["***These bones look sturdy enough to fashion into a weapon of some sort.***"]
That could be true, but you need something to carve the bones with. Casting a look about the area, you spot a few decently sized stones.
[[Pick up the sharper stone]]
<audio autoplay>
<source src="Beta/Materials/Splash.mp3"></audio>
Seeing no reason not to, you choose a rib bone and begin to rub the stone along the dulled point. It's not the cleanest work, but you persist.
As you work, you hear a faint splashing near the pond. It seems to be coming from beneath the water. Fish perhaps.
As this "carving" isn't going as well as you'd hoped, you decide to stop.
[[Gather the bones and walk back to the pond]]The surface of the pond is still and clear. You see no fish or any other signs of life beneath the water, though you're certain you heard splashing.
(text-colour:orange)["***The mind is tired, my love.***"]
That may be true. You've been through quite a lot these last few hours. Something about this pond makes you uneasy though. There's something there. Has to be.
(text-colour:orange)["***Sleep now. You'll find nothing while at the end of your rope.***"]
He was right. It's better to look at things from a fresh perspective. You place the bones at the base of the tree, then situate yourself against the trunk.
[[Close your eyes]]Sleep takes you quickly, but it's a restless one. This realm is the kind of quiet you're unaccustomed to, and the sound of water haunts your dreams. If there was nothing there, then why can you still hear it?
(text-colour:orange)["***You're just tired. There's nothing in the water.***"]
He sounds so sure, but how could he know? Nothing feels right here.
Dull thumping fills your ears, seeming in time with the beating of your heart.
[[Open your eyes]]
[[Ignore it and try to sleep]]You slip into rest to the sound of Agneta's voice. In that moment, the world is no longer cruel and you're next to him in gilded halls and lush fields.
As you fall further into darkness, you can *almost* hear the sound of trees dancing and wolves howling, as they frolic through the grass.
<img src="Beta/Materials/Mountain.jpg">
(text-style: "blurrier") ["I'll leave these here for you, friend."]
You startle awake at the sound of a voice. Looking around however, there's no one there. Infront of you, sits a pile of fish. They seem fresh, like they had only just jumped out of the water before you.
[[Inspect the fish]]The fish are indeed fresh. One of them is even still fighting to return to the water. You looks toward the pond, on edge.
Above you, there's a faint rustling.
[[Jump away from the tree]]
[[Turn to look]]There doesn't appear to be anyone there and you shake your head.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["***What's there, my love? Something come to feast on your bones?***"]
(text-colour: orange)["***Perhaps it's a bird or other some sort of creature?***"]
Pain lances up the back of your neck and you put a hand to your head. Such a sudden headache never bodes well.
[[Call out]]<audio autoplay>
<source src="Beta/Materials/Hello.wav"></audio>
No one answers, as expected.
You sigh and cast another look to the fish, before kicking them back into the water. You won't eat something that appeared out of thin air.
(text-colour: orange)["***You need to eat. Otherwise you won't survive long.***"]
Be that as it may, you've no desire to eat. Nothing's felt right since you awakened here.
(text-colour: #d9480f)+(text-style: "shadow")["Ungrateful wretch!]
[[Continue carving the bone]]You grab your project from the previous night and continue working on it. With just a stone, it's hard to manipulate the bone, but you persist.
After a while, you manage to shape it into enough of a point that you could defend yourself if need be.
(text-colour: orange)["***Great job darling.***"
]
[[Tuck the weapon away]]You tuck the bone into a loop on your pants,, and cast a look about the area. Whatever was in the tree had to be nearby. You'd be ready if it came calling.
With that finished, you glance back toward the pond. There looked to be a sort of...(text-style: "emboss")[glimmer] beneath the surface.
[[approach the pond]]Once again you find yourself peering into the pond. Below the surface, something moves and it's *far* too big to be a fish. You put a hand on the bone at your side and prepare yourself.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["Oh, perhaps something comes for you after all. The cat that catches the mouse!"]
[[Look closely]]All at once, the water stills completely.
Beneath the surface, pale eyes suddenly stare up at you. Was that what had been glimmering?
(text-colour: orange)["***Fear not what comes for you.***]
Despite his words in your head, you feel a chill run down your spine.
[[Step back]]Surprised, you take quick steps backward. Sweat slicks your palm and makes the bone hard to hold onto.
Despite that, you manage to pull it free of the loop, just as the top of someones head emerges from the water.
What features you could see consisted of pale eyes, turquoise hair and what seemed to be crystaline horns.
[[Pull the bone free]]
You hold the bone out, ready to attack if you needed to. To your dismay, the creature is now half way out of the water and is regarding you with what seems to be caution. It's face is familiar. Too familiar.
(text-colour: orange)["***Ah, who thought Vineris would be here?***"]
(text-colour: #d9480f)+(text-style: "shadow")["Come to try and take you again, has she? Rip her skin off!"]
(text-colour: cyan)+(text-style: "rumble")[[Why are you here, Vineris!?]](text-style: "rumble")+(text-colour: cyan)["Why are you here, Vineris!?"]
You demand to know why she's here. The creature shrinks back in the face of your anger and speaks in a quiet voice.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["My name is Safi. I'm...I'm not Vineris. I'm trapped here, just like you are."]
This creature, this...*Safi*, stands with it's shoulders slumped. An air of of defeat hangs about its shoulders.
(text-colour: cyan)["Don't lie to me! What.are.you.doing.here."]
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I'm really not here to hurt you or anything! I was banished here long before you, and have lived in this pond ever since."]
[[Lower your weapon]] You lower the bone and stare hard at Safi. It-he? Sounds sincere, but it doesn't make any sense. What reason would he have Vineri's face?
(text-colour: orange)["***An experiment perhaps? The Gods' are cruel in that regard***"]
That could be so. If that were true, then had Vineris planted this creature here? Was it another means to torment him?
With no answers, and more questions then you can count, you decide to give this *Safi* the benefit of the doubt.
[[Introduce yourself]](text-colour: cyan)["My name is Shamus. I suppose we're trapped here together then."]
Safi's face lights up and he approaches the edge of the pond. It looks like he intends to climb out. You're still uneasy, but surely if he meant to harm you, he'd have done so already.
[[Pull Safi up]]
[[Don't pull Safi up]]You help Safi out of the pond then set a polite distance between the two fo you.
Safi explains to you, that he's the one that caught the fish for and offers to help you secure more.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["It's the only edible thing here, sadly. So I hope you're ok with fish everyday."]
Fish were fine. You'd been a fisherman before all of this happened, so you'd acquired a taste for them. Though whether or not Safi was telling the truth was still undecided.
[[Accept his help]]
[[Decline]]
Shamus watches Safi climb out of the pond and puts a polite distance between them.
Safi explains that he's been watching Shamus for a while now and offers to help him secure a reliable food source.
Shamus gets upset when he realizes Safi was watching him.
[[Demand an explanation]]You accept his help, and he starts to move about in an excited dance of limbs. He grabs sticks, reeds, and dried grass, and starts to fashion them into what looks like a drying rack.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["This is the best way to prepare the fish, since we don't have access to fire! They're really tastey dried."]
He finishes the rack in record time, and moves back toward the pond. You try to offer help, but he's in his own world. The speed with which he moves, reminds you of the wind during a storm.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I'll bring a few up now so we can start drying them. Since you've got nothing to eat at the moment, I can share some of mine!"]
You nod, and watch as he calls a small group of fish to the surface. They dive onto the earth and swish their tails furiously.
Safi scoops them up, and strides over to the drying rack to situate them. After he's done that, he turn to you with a bow.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["And there we go! They'll take some time to dry, so in the mean time, I'll go grab something for you!"]
Safi bids you farewell, and dives back into the pond. Just like a whirlwind, he came and went. To no one, you say goodbye.
[[Bid him farewell]]You tell Safi you don't need his help and tell him to go back where he came from. Anyone that looks like Vineris is a curse and you want no part of it.
Safi is saddened to hear that and retreats back into the water.
Before he submerges completely, he promises to come visit again.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I'll bring some fish by next time, ok?"]
[[Say nothing]]Scared at Shamus' sudden anger, Safi explains that he meant no harm and was just curious about the newcomer to this hell he'd been living in. So that's why he was watching Shamus.
He promises he only wants to help, and hope that Shamus can find it in him to be merciful. He offers help again.
[[Accept his help]]
[[Decline]]After Safi's departure, you get to work carving the other bones and watching over the fish. Nothing's here to steal them, but you worry all the same.
Once you've got these bones carved, perhaps they could be used to make a fish trap or something. That way you wouldn't have to solely rely on Safi to procure your food.
(text-colour: "orange")["***What's troubling you, my love?***"]
[[Tell Agneta you don't trust Safi]]
[[What you do if you were here, Agneta?]]You wait until Safi is truly gone, and then return to the base of the tree. Now that you knows someone is watching you, you don't feel like exploring the area. Too many unknowns. Who else could be out there waiting to get the jump on you?
(text-colour: "orange")["***Who would harm you, my love?***]
Despite the very obvious answer of "everyone," you sigh and hold your tongue. What good would it do to argue with someone who was no longer here?
The stone you'd place beneath your shirt thumps in time with your heart.
[[Tell Agneta you don't trust Safi]](text-style: "blur")+(text-colour: "cyan")["I don't trust Safi."]
(text-colour: "orange")["***Do not be quick to throw this poor creature to the fire. Your heart is not so hardened.***"]
The stone pulses. With it, the unease in your chest ebbs. You hadn't even realized that you'd been so cold. Not until the warmth from the stone permeates your body.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Shamus?"]
You look up and see that Safi is knelt before you, and his brow is pinched in worry. Despite wearing Vineris's face, you don't sense any ill intent. The warmth in your chest settles and you tell him that you're ok.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Oh, good! You were so quiet, that I thought you'd passed on. I wouldn't have liked that."]
(text-colour: "orange")["***This creature has a kind soul but he is plagued with fear"***.]
Safi takes a seat next to you, carefully avoiding your doodles, and sighs. There's clearly something on his mind and he looks prepared to share.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I wanted to assuage your fears, but no matter how I say this, I don't think you'll like it. So I'm just going to say it, ok?"]
[[Nod for him to continue]]
As soon as the words leave his mouth, you're moving away from him. Every muscle in your body tenses so suddenly, that it makes you light headed.
Safi doesn't move. Seemingly oblivious to your turmoil.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I'm a reflection. She created me to watch over this place and to guard you should you ever find yourself here. I didn't want to, but I can't disobey her."]
Against your chest the stone clings to what warmth is possessed earlier. The pulsing is barely there and the voice you hear is cruel and mocking.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["And here I thought we had a friend! Such a cunning little thing, or maybe you're just stupid?"]
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I wanted to make up it up to you, and thought that maybe if I taught you how to survive here, I wouldn't need to come watch over you. But Vineris is so strong and I'm just a weak piece of her that she dumped in a dying realm. I have no power to go against her wishes."]
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)+(text-style: "shudder")["KILL IT."]
You groan and collapse to your knees. Only then, does Safi move. He reaches out, intending to steady you, but you push him away. He doesn't come close again and you're thankful it.
[[Tell Safi you need time alone]]
Safi steps back toward the pond, though he's hesistant about it. Ultimately, he casts a final worried glance in your direction, before diving beneath the water. Then you're alone, again.
Pain splits your skull and you curl in on yourself. Your forehead pressed to the ground. Your labored breathing sends specs of dust into the air. The stone feels fridgid against your chest.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["Vineris will find you like she always does, sweetest! The little pondling is proof of that!"]
You shake your head, reaching for the warmth that had been there a moment ago.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["With me out of the way, she can have you all to herself! Little Safi will bring you right to her-all wrapped up."]
(text-style: "rumble")+(text-colour: "cyan")[[Shut up!]](text-colour:orange)["***Shamus, do you remember when we met?
You were a fisherman on earth, a simple man of the sea with a heart of gold. When I first laid eyes upon you, I'll admit I fell quite quickly. I'd only wished back then, that I'd known how jealous my sister could be. If I had, I would've hidden you away.
She'd never told me she'd taken to watching over your little port town. Though being the Goddess of water, I suppose I should've guessed.
Do you remember, when she appeared before you in human skin and confessed her own feelings?
You were so loyal my love, and turned her down without a second thought.
I regret not being able to stop what she did to your home after that. Often, I wondered if you'd hated me for what she'd done. Other times I thought you'd have been happier if I'd let you perish in that flood with them. Oh...but I was so selfish my dear. I couldn't bear to be without you, so I hid you away in my home. I had hoped you would at last be safe there, where I could watch over you.
But Vineris was not one to give up easily, was she?
For she eventually discovered your whereabouts and confronted you, trying once again to win your affection. Looking back now, I'd been too fierce when it came to you. So I intervened and severed the arm the arm she touched you with.
Do you remember then, how angry she'd gotten?
In a blind rage, she ran to mother and reported that I'd been hiding you away in the realm of the Gods. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you, and I'm sorry that I'm not there now. But you are strong enough to stand on your own my love.***"]
[[Wake up]]When you wake up, you're curled into the fetal position next to Agneta's stone.
You'd had the longest dream, but you can't quite remember what it was about.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Shamus?"]
You turn your head and see that Safi is knelt behind you.
Without even thinking, you turn and punch Safi in the jaw. He stumbles and falls to the ground, his expression one of shock. You loom over him, a quiet anger simmering just beneath the surface.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Shamus, what's wrong?"]
Safi raises a hand, trying to ward you off, his eyes narrowed in concern.
[[Are you going to bring me to Vineris?]]
You pull the bone from the loop on your pants, and swiftly bury the pointed end in Safi's chest. The poor thing struggles, but doesn't put up much effort to get away.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["He looks like a stuck pig! How fun, how messy!"]
With a final look of fearm Safi collapses to the floor. As you stand over him, you begin to feel the weight of your actions. Your now empty hands clench and unclench at your sides.
Safi, no longer being able to retain his form, dissolves before you. Leaving behind a puddle that slowly saturates the ground.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["How kind of him to water the ground! It was looking a bit parched."]
The emptiness and darkness around you seem to swallow you whole. But then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot Agneta's stone lying on the ground. You approach it and scoop it into you palm. It's cold and the pulse you'd felt before has vanished. It seems little more then an ordinary rock now.
With a heavy heart, you raise it above you head and throw it to the ground. It shatters into pieces.
(text-style: "blurrier")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["So you were weakwilled after all. Just like that little fishie."]
[[Call out to Vineris]]You stare into Safi's eyes, wondering if you should reach for the bone at your hip. But as you reach for it, you remember Agneta's words and hesitate.
Safi wasn't trying to harm you; he was simply doing his best to fight against Vineris's control, just as you had been battling your own thoughts.
Realizing the mistake you were about to make, you release him and apologize. Safi, in turn, approaches Agneta's stone and picks it off the ground. Turning, he hands it to you.
As you take it, you notice that it's warmer then it's ever been and the pulsing is akin to a strong heartbeat.
(text-style:"blur")+(text-colour:"orange")["***Your heart had always been my strength. Now allow mine to be yours, love***."]
You bring the stone to your chest and feel your heart beating in time with it. Gone are the shadows that clung to you, and the chains that bound your flesh. He is you, and you are him. It's an incredible and overwhelming power that courses through you in that moment, and you feel fit to part the clouds.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["That light...how warm."]
[[Take Safi's hand]]
You whip around and prostrate yourself before the Goddess. Your heart is all but tearing itself from your chest, and the taste of blood coats your tongue.
This is the realm of the Gods, but you feel only the fires of hell.
(text-style: "rumble")+(text-colour:cyan)[["I'm to blame, punish me!"]](text-style: "rumble")+(text-colour:#1098ad)["I'm to blame, punish me!"]
You plead to her but keep your head firmly to the ground. Next to you, the cracks of bone haven't stopped. If anything, they have grown in intensity. You no longer hear Agneta's screams, but refuse to believe he might be dead.
You don't hear her move. Not until there is a finger beneath your chin. She raises your head to look at her, and you realize that she's much smaller then she was previously. Her head is tilted, examaning you like an insect.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["Of *course* you are at fault. Yet you ask to be punished in my childs' place?"]
A serene smile spreads across her face and she pulls you into her arms. Her hand cards gently through your hair, but you feel no real peace from it.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["You were always going to be punished, mortal. Thus you cannot take his place."]
[[Glance toward Agneta]]
[[Kiss the Goddess's feet]]
You turn slowly, not wanting to look upon the state of your partner. The Goddess takes hold of your chin and makes you look anyway.
Agneta's arms are twisted in unnatural angles. His head lays in a widening puddle of blood, and you're certain you can see the dull white of bone peaking through his back.
What haunts you the most, is that his eyes are trained on you and the Goddess.
(text-colour:#f76707)["This isn't his fault...mother."]
You wail and claw at the Goddess's hand. She holds firm to your chin and hums in a noncommital tone.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["My sweet misguided child."]
She whistles low and even. The sound seems to fill the entire space, and gives you the feeling of being on the side of a cliff face.
Then before you, Agneta turns into a pile of dirt.
[[Push away from the Goddess and crawl toward the dirt]]You kiss the Goddess's feet. In doing so, you hope that her ire will shift to you. However, you've learned that the Gods are unpredictable and you cannot hope that she will change her mind.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["Does it fill you with hope, when you throw yourself at me in such a way?"]
(text-colour:#1098ad)["I will accept any punishment Goddess. I only ask that you show Agneta mercy."]
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["Sweet little mortal. Am I not merciful *enough*?"]
She whistles low and even. The sound seems to fill the entire space, and gives you the feeling of being on the side of a cliff face.
You hear the cracking of stone and whip around. Agneta's arms are twisted in unnatural angles. His head lays in a widening puddle of blood, and you're certain you can see the dull white of bone peaking through his back.
What haunts you the most, is that his eyes are trained on you.
(text-colour:#f76707)["This isn't your fault, my treasure."]
Then before you, Agneta turns into a pile of dirt.
[[Push away from the Goddess and crawl toward the dirt]]You scramble toward the dirt that was once Agneta and desperately try to scoop it into your arms. Droplets of moisture start to turn parts of it into mud, and it's only then, that you realize you're crying. Deep, mournful sobs.
(text-colour:#1098ad)["My love, my love please..."]
Your nails catch on a medium sized stone buried in the dirt. You scoop it into your hands and press it closely to your chest. If you focus, you can still feel a faint warmth to it. The rest of your body is fridgid in comparison.
(text-colour:#f03e3e)["Shamus. For the crime of stepping into the realm of the Gods, and for seducing the God of the land, you are hereby exiled from all living realms. You will spend an eternity in the fugue plane, where you will repent for your sins."]
You feel the air around you change drastically, and your stomach swoops at the sudden weightlessness. With no regard to your personal safety, you curl your entire body around the stone in your hands.
Then, you whisper a prayer to a God that can no longer hear you.
(t8n-depart:"blur")+(t8n-arrive:"flicker")(click-goto:?page,"act 2")
The sky is a tapestry of colors. Pinks, purples, blues and blacks. The stars seem like they're right in front of you. All you need to do is reach out and touch them.
In your hands, the stone seems to burn. The stars above you blur and you barely register the tears that slip down your cheeks.
Ah...
<img src="Materials/Stars.jpg">
(text-colour:orange)["**It's not your fault, my treasure.**"]
(text-colour:cyan)[[If not mine, then who?]](text-colour:cyan)["If not mine, then who?"]
(text-colour:orange)["**I would never blame you.**"]
You squeeze your eyes shut and try to block out everything around you. There aren't any reeds, or dried soil. The sky above you is blue and full of clouds, not an all consuming void.
The stone in your hands pulses and it hurts. Your heart feels like it's clawing its way through your ribcage.
If you open your eyes, he'll be there and this pressure will leave your chest. You've just got to open your eyes.
(text-colour:orange)["**Open them**"]
(text-colour:cyan)[Open them.]
(text-colour:orange)["**Open them**"]
(text-colour:cyan)[Open them.]
(text-colour:red)[[Open them]]You open your eyes, force yourself to your feet and trudge toward the pond. Along the way, you gather the dried reeds you'd taken note of and some decently sized sticks. There is little here with which to make any sort of camp.
However, as you near the pond, you see that a large tree sits near it. Though it's long since died, like everything else here.
Despite that, you decide to use the carcass for your benefit.
[[Hollow out the tree]](text-colour:orange)["***Sleep. Nothing will harm you here.***"]
You allow his voice to calm you, and force your body to relax. The thumping continues, but it becomes more white noise than threat.
(text-colour:orange)["***Shall I sing you a lullaby, my dear?***"]
Would that help? He *had* been a good singer. You decide that it wouldn't hurt, and tell him to go ahead. Strangely, it feels like he's right there next to you.
(text-colour:orange)["***With pleasure.***"]
(t8n-depart:"blur")+(t8n-arrive:"flicker")(click-goto:?page,"Listen to Agneta sing")
<audio src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kbf-dgXcibGbezqHl3F0xB-fmo4wuWGV/view?usp=drive_link" autoplay>
There's meant to be a sound effect here, but like the image, I can't get it to work.
(t8n-depart:"blur")+(t8n-arrive:"flicker")(click-goto:?page,"Open your eyes")
You move quickly away from the base of the tree, and cast a glace up at the dead branches and blackened leaves. Nothing is moving, and you're certain of it.
However, you *know* you heard something.
[[Call out]](text-colour: "cyan")[What would you do if you were here, Agneta?]
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["I would tear the skin from that creatures face and hang it on the drying rack."]
You consider his words and find yourself nodding along. As helpful as Safi had been, that could very well be a ruse to get you to let your guard down. There had to be a way to make sure Safi wasn't a threat.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["Pull him from the water and make him confess. For every refusal, cut off a finger!]
Hmm...yes that could work. He wouldn't be able to lie if you threatened him. The poor thing seemed incredibly weak willed, after all.
[[Wait for Safi]]
Far too much time passes, before Safi comes to visit. You've spent the whole time leaning against the tree and drawing lazy shapes in the ground with one of the bones. You'd almost finished a family of circles, when the surface of the pond rippled.
From beneath, came those crystaline horns and pale eyes. In his hands are a few more fish.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I'm back, Shamus!"]
[[Smile at Safi]]
You greet him with a smile and motion to the shapes in the dirt. You're no artist, but you think they're decent. He looks at them, and tilts his head.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Is that what you've been doing this whole time?"]
There is slight concern in his tone, but you're not really worried about that. If Safi *was* sent-or created by-Vineris, then there was no reason to look into his actions. You just had to make him confess.
(text-style: "mirror")+(text-colour: "orange")["***What's happening to your heart, my love?***"]
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)["Just carve him up and throw him the pond! Do it.DO IT.!"]
You hang your head and breathe deep. It feels like a tempest inside your mind.
[[Tell Agneta you don't trust Safi]]
You motion for him to speak, and he takes a quick breath. Whatever he's about to say must be unpleasant.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["My face-you noticed it earlier, that I look like someone you know. Vineris."]
At the mention of her name, you still. She was a terrible Goddess, that Vineris. Just like her mother. You consider how Safi might be related to her, and can only assume that Agneta had been right. An...experiment, he had said.
When you make no effort to respond, he continues.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Vineris is...well, she's my master."]
(t8n-depart:"blur")+(t8n-arrive:"flicker")(click-goto:?page,"Call out to Agneta")(text-colour: "cyan")+(text-style: "rumble")["Shut up!"]
You reach beneath your shirt and pull the stone free. It burns your palm.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)+(text-style: "shudder")["For the rest of your days, you'll be chained to the bed of the one responsible for my death! And you'll like it!"]
Screaming, you throw the stone. It sails through the air and lands with a dull thud next to the pond. Agneta laughs low and cruel. It feels like a hand is closing around your heart.
(text-style: "shadow")+(text-colour:#d9480f)+(text-style: "shudder")["How fragile you are, sweeting. If only I hadn't given my heart to you!"]
Bile burns the back of your throat, as you empty the contents of your stomach. Tears prickle your eyes and blood rushes in your ears. How could he say that?
[[Look for Agneta]]
You desperately look around for a glimpse of Agneta. Anything would do. *Anything*. So why couldn't you see him?
(text-style: "blurrier")+(text-colour: "orange")["***You are so far away, my treasure***"]
This place is eating your alive and you're not certain what is what any longer. If you closed your eyes, would he be there?
Could you see him if you walked to the edge of the earth and shouted his name?
(text-style: "blurrier")+(text-colour: "orange")["***Do not allow your heart to falter. It is the strongest weapon you possess.***"]
It hurts.
(text-style: "blur")+(text-colour: "orange")["***Shamus.***"]
You're so tired.
(text-style: "expand")+(text-colour: "orange")["***Shamus!***"]
[[Pass out]]Safi shakes his head furiously.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["It's not like that, Shamus. I never wanted any of this. I'm just as trapped as you are."]
You reach forward and grab Safi by the collar of his shirt, your knuckles white.
Desperation flooded Safi's eyes as he struggled to break free, but your hold was iron-tight.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I never asked to be born, Shamus. Vineris never even asked me what *I* wanted!"]
(text-style: "blur")+(text-colour: "orange")["***This is not Safi's fault, you must see that***"]
You blink.
(text-style: "blur")+(text-colour: "orange")["***A reflection would never have the choice to disobey it's creator. Safi is an unfortunate soul, Shamus.***]
You think on those words. *An unfortunate soul?* The two of you had that in common.
Had Vineris put Safi thorugh hell as well?
[[Look to Agneta's stone]]
You turn your head and find the stone laying where you'd left it. Dozens of thoughts go through your mind, and all of them are what ifs, doubts, and regrets.
If you'd just pushed Agneta away in the first place and gone about living your pathetic little life-
(text-style: "rumble")+(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["It's not your fault!"]
Safi's voice tears you from your melancholic thoughts. You turn your gaze back to him and see a determined glint in his eyes.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I know what Vineris has done and how cruel her and her mother have been. But you are not to blame! All you did was fall in love."]
Your mouth opens and closes. There's so much you *want* to say, but none of it seems to matter in the face of his words. All you'd done was fall in love?
[[Let Safi go]]
[[Kill Safi]]
(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour: "cyan")["I will release you from your shackles, and allow you the freedom Vineris would never gift you."]
You pour your newfound power into Safi and feel his connection Vineris shatter. It's almost funny how simple it was.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["What-I...you freed me?"]
(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour: "cyan")["Despite my grief, you have only ever helped me. It would dishonor Agneta to turn my back on you."]
Safi stares at you in shcok for a few moments, before nodding. He's still unsure about this, based on how tense his shoulders are. You stare back.
(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour: "cyan")["I intend to use this power to escape this place. What will you do?"]
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["Ah, honestly? I think I'd like to travel on earth. To try and discover who I am outside of Vineris."]
(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour: "cyan")["That's a good enough reason to live. Will you be coming with me then?"]
Safi grips your hand tight and nods again.
(text-style: "smear")+(text-colour:#087f5b)["I'll go where you go. Until we have to part ways."]
You smile and look toward the sky. Already you can feel the world changing around you. In your chest, a steady thump guides the way.
<center>**FIN**</1></center>As you stand there, feeling like you have nothing left, you call out for Vineris.
She appears in a flourish of rain and the sound of roaring waves. Her eyes regard you cooly.
(text-colour:#1864ab)["Why have you called on me?"]
Tired, you reach out and take her hand. It's warm.
(text-colour: "cyan")["I want go home with you."]
Vineris smiles and pulls you in. Her arms wrap firmly around your neck and she hums in content. You wrap your arms around her, in return.
(text-colour:#1864ab)["My darling wants to go home? With me?"]
You nod and rest your head atop hers. She giggles and pulls back. She's smiling again but it doesn't reach her eyes.
(text-colour:#1864ab)["Then let's go home, my love."]
You nod again and feel the world start to shift around you. She covers your eyes with one of her hands and the world goes dark.
In that darkness you hear the faint sound of her voice.
(text-style: "blurrier")+(text-colour:#1864ab)["You will be mine for all time."]
<center>FIN</1></center>