Return to Misty Cove

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<div style="text-align: center;"><h1><div id="game-title">Return to Misty Cove</div></h1> <div id="title-links"></div> <<link "New Game" "0.1">><</link>> | <<link "Load Save">><<run UI.saves()>><</link>> <<link "Settings">><<run UI.settings()>><</link>> | <<link "Credits">><<script>>Dialog.setup("Credits", "credits"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText()); Dialog.open();<</script>><</link>> </div> <hr> Welcome back to the lovely town of Misty Cove, where you spent most of your life, most notably your teenage years and early twenties, working freelance as (unlicensed) Private Investigators with your band of friends, figuring out mysteries and unmasking the unnecessarily convoluted schemes of people around the area, and eventually, across the west coast and southwest. That was until a case that you don't remember anymore.

<h3>Four Years Later...</h3> It's a sweltering hot day in July. You've slept in for as long as you possibly can, but it seems like you can't avoid getting up anymore, you're sweating undernesth the blankets, and $scoob is bound to get upset if you don't feed $scoob_himher soon, especially when you look up, and at the foot of your bed, $scoob is staring you directly in the eyes. A silent command, telling you to get up, whether it's your day off or not. You get out of bed, your pajamas sticking to your skin as you walk through your apartment. The day begins and you breathe deep, a smile corsses your face at the fact that you have nothing to do. You plan to stay homew and start binging b movies with $scoob . Maybe you'll finally watch The Velocipastor. The possibilities are endless. Your pet follows you dutifully as you start opening all the windows, and eventually make your way towards the kitchen with its sad beige linoleum floor. The birds are singing, the (very few) trees are gently billowing in the wind, the only thing that seems to combat the near unbearable heat. It’s a slow morning, your day off after a long week of hour long phone calls and staring at screens, going through filing cabinets while transferring them over to the office's new system that you have to use after being bought out by a larger company. the office you're working at was so thoroughly stuck in the 90's with computers that ran on Windows 95, no wonder they went belly up, with tech 2 decades out of date. You shake your head to remove your brain from work, you are not thinking about any of it today. As you stretch, trying to remove yourself from the thoughts of work, you get yourself a cup of <<cycle "$morningdrink" autoselect>> <<option "coffee">> <<option "tea">> <<option "juice">> <</cycle>> and feed $scoob before $scoob_heshe starts to yell about it. It’s looking to be a lovely day. As you look out your window, quietly sipping from your mug. You try to shake you head when the buzzing you are always at least a little bit aware of (you had gone to doctor and was told it was tinnitus and you would be fine, but to call if you noticed any actual hearing loss, which you haven't thankfully) then you realize the buzzing is your phone. You sigh, wishing you could finish your not-quite-breakfast in peace, but there’s no rest for the wicked it seems. You put the phone to your ear, when a very loud voice starts to speak and you pull back, “Hey, it's Dorothy!” your coworker and the closest thing you have to an actual work friend, she is far kinder to you than she ought to be, considering you're simply the 20-something that got hired purely because everybody else who applied had gotten far better work elsewhere. Dorothy is a woman in her 60's, with a prominent grey streak in her dark brown, almost black, hair. Her and her husband have been together for the past 30 years, and she recently had a grandson, Liam. She is also, far more of a morning person than you are. “I know it's your day off and I am so, so, so, sorry for calling. But, that one claim we got last week, the Wilson file, got lost in our online database, and I need to put it back there. I talked to Claire, the last she saw it, it was on your desk, so I was wondering if you had it with you?" You grimace as Claire is mentioned, if she knows that you took a file home, even if it was an accident she's going to be pissed. Your boss is a terrifying woman, so you better remember where the hell that file is. Dorothy could do her best to shield you from the wrath, but Claire pulls no punches. It takes a moment and a few 'ums' to Dorothy as you try to remember. She starts talking about how the morning has been otherwise, while you are wandering around your apartment. You vaguely remember putting a manilla folder into your bag as you left the office yesterday, meaning to put it back into the filing cabinets, but getting distracted by a conversation with Dorothy. "Yeah, I think I have that." You're still not entirely awake, and that's the only response you can manage. You start trying to rub the sleep out of your eyes. "Oh my goodness, you're a lifesaver!” [[Continue|pro 1.2]]

Manonamora settings template Chapel's Notify Macro Written by Z.S. Thorn find me on tumblr at Fluorescent-if

"$mcname $mcsurname you really are a lifesaver! If I could bear hug you through the phone I would!" you can practically see her smile nearly splitting her face in half. Dorothy was always very excitable, and always far kinder to you than you ever would have expected. You still aren't entirely sure how to feel about it, but you really do appreciate it. •<<link "Please don't do that" "pro 3.0">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You laugh and tell her that you'll be at the office in a few minutes" "pro 3.1">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You deadpan, and Dorothy simply laughs before making sure to tell you again to come into the office and help her find the file. to which you agree, and finally hang up. You wish you didn't have to go in, but it's hard to deny Dorothy when she asks you anything. Especially when it is a really simple task. [[Continue|pro 4]]

You figured nobody would care if it was missing, and you could just bring it in during your next shift. Nobody you know at the office really cares that much about this job. Apart from Claire and maybe Dorothy. This was by no means a dream job. Sure, occasionally you got to go out and look at damage claims that were interesting. Ones that remind you of the thrill of mystery solving. Four years later, you miss it, and your friends. But now it's the time to dwell on it. You need to get the stupid file back to the office and then do something you actually enjoy. Flipping through its surprisingly thick contents, an insurance claim that looks to be an old house that just got bought by your client, a private investor named Elias Wilson. •<<link "You look through its contents" "pro 5.0">><<set $mysteryinfo to "1">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious +=3, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You close the folder and put it in your bag" "pro 5.1">><<set $mysteryinfo to "0">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious -=3, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You feel the prickle of familiarity rising, as well as the buzzing in your head, and are really not interested in going down memory lane right now. it's easier to simply think of this as yet another claim, and go into your office and make things easier for yourself. You just hope to god nobody needs to actually get sent out, or at least that it isn't you. A prickle of familiarity rises up the back of your neck, and the buzzing in your head comes back as you look at the attached photos in the file, memories of your childhood. You quickly flip to the first page to find out where the place is located, and you see it. <i>Misty Cove, New Mexico</i> your breath hitches for a moment as the memories come back in full. This was one of the homes in your neighborhood when you were a child. You remember walking by the house every day walking home from school, even in the blistering heat. At the end of the school year, you remember walking with everybody else to Randy's and then going back to your house (mostly because it was the one most likely to be empty) and swim in the small pool that was in your backyard, that your parents had paid a small fortune to get installed. This house was by no means an integral part of your childhood, but feels like a cruel twist of fate that you would find it here and now. You remember a man named Owen Lytle had owned the property, before moving out around the same time as your parents. The home had, in all honesty, fallen into such disrepair that it was hard to sell, until they sold the land itself back to the city, and Mr. Lytle left for good. Apparently, the house had recently caught on fire, and because it had recently been sold to a new contractor, they filed an insurance claim because of it. There was a suspicion of arson, among other things listed here, but no criminal case associated with it. It all seems like a perfectly average house fire, minus that this could very well be an attempt at insurance fraud, you can't count the amount of times people have come up with schemes like this, you used to live for it. You chew on your cheek and think for a moment. •<<link "you need to investigate this" "pro 6.0">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "you need to get this whole thing away from you" "pro 6.1" <<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious -=5, 0, 100)>><</link>>

Your hands start to clam up and you taste ash in your mouth, as you quickly grab your bag and shove in the file as quickly as possible. You can't help but want to wash your hands as you step away from it. This case was being reviewed, and this was assigned to you and Dorothy to look over. You're going to have to tell Claire to re-assign you somewhere else. [[You grab the bag with the file and start to leave|pro 6.2]]

You almost want to look into this on your own. Not having to abide by company bylaws. You find yourself longing for this adventure again. Though thinking about exploring this place makes you miss your friends, makes your heart ache as you stare at the pictures that were paper clipped to the manila folder you hold in your hands. [[Dorothy is going to be worried if you don't get there soon.|pro 6.2]]

As you shove the folder into your bag and start to head out, you stop for a moment and survey yourself in the mirror, making sure that you don't look like you just rolled out of bed. When you look into the mirror you see... //Note: more options will be coming with a later update// •[[The face of a woman.|pro 6.4][$gender to "female", $person to "woman"]] •[[The face of a man.|pro 6.4][$gender to "male", $person to "man"]] •[[The face of a person.|pro 6.4][$gender to "nonbinary", $person to "person"]]

<h3>Before we begin...</h3>There are some items to go over.<span id="TW"> </span> <<link "Click here for trigger warnings that will spoil the games content">> <<replace "#TW">> This game contains •Gore •Violence •Death •Body horror •Parental neglect •Mental illness •Suffocation •Claustrophobia •Emetophobia •Possible character death including romantic interests and other important characters to the story. (no animal death) •Kidnapping •optional underage drug use (character choice) <</replace>> <</link>> This list will be updated as we get later into the game, as well as individual warning in each chapter. <h3>Other Items</h3>Failure is possible in this game dependant on your abilities and how you play the game. There will always be a way forward from these failures, though there are permanent consequences. Choices that are 'romantic' will be labeled with '♡' Choices that will prevent romantic options with a specific character in the future will be labelled with '⊗' The main characters sexuality can be decided, including an aromantic main character, however that will be implimented in the next update (I meant to add it before but I didn't want to delay the inital demo release) There are two of four romancable characters who are gender selectable. •[[Select their genders with no description|0.1.1]] •[[Select their genders with description|0.1.2]]

Cameron Morris <label><<radiobutton "$cam_gender" "male" checked>> Male</label> <label><<radiobutton "$cam_gender" "female">> Female</label> Rose/Rory Thompson <label><<radiobutton "$ro_gender" "male" checked>> Male</label> <label><<radiobutton "$ro_gender" "female">> Female</label> <<button [[Continue|0.2]]>> <</button>>

Cameron "Cam" Morris- The former 'handyman' and 'tech guy' of the group. Kind, awkward, and anxious. Cameron will do anything they think is right to avoid getting people hurt and to avoid an argument. <label><<radiobutton "$cam_gender" "male" checked>> Male</label> <label><<radiobutton "$cam_gender" "female">> Female</label> Rose or Rory Thompson- The 'tough one' of the group who will go to bat for their friends every time, loyal until the very <label><<radiobutton "$ro_gender" "male" checked>> Male</label> <label><<radiobutton "$ro_gender" "female">> Female</label> <<button [[Continue|0.2]]>> <</button>>

After Dorothy thanked you again you hang up the phone, and start getting ready for the day, unfortunately. [[Continue|pro 4]]

$scoob sits in front of your door, looking at you with betrayal in $scoob_hisher eyes. you know you've fed $scoob_himher already, but it seems like $scoob_heshe feels betrayed because you're leaving. The sadness is obvious as you look towards $scoob_himher. You can almost imagine them saying //"But $mcname, why are you leaving?"// You keep trying to get past $scoob_himher but $scoob_heshe keep moving to match where you go, and you would feel bad stepping over $scoob_himher. You still try to reassure $scoob_himher that you'll be back soon, you squat down and start petting $scoob_himher behind $scoob_hisher ears and talk to $scoob_himher for a moment. "I promise I'll be back soon, and then we can lay down on the couch and watch whatever movie you want." (When $scoob_heshe doesn't like a movie $scoob_heshe makes it very clear by smacking around the remote until you change it.) You know logically that $scoob doesn't understand much of what you're saying, but you would swear on your life that they start grinning when you mention let them pick a movie. before leaving with one last scritch behind the ear, and [[head out to your car.|pro 9.0]]

As you pull out of your parking space, you're still surprised your car starts up, even if whenever you take a turn too sharp it will make a "squanch" sound that can't mean anything good. It was an old beater that you had to get soon after your first car was broken, and you couldn't afford a mechanic at that point in time. You would have called your parents, if it weren't that you were too proud to even attempt to ask for help. You truthfully can't remember the last time you and your parents have talked, unless you count the postcard that they sent from Breckenridge that still smelled like your mother's overwhelming patchouli perfume. All it said was "Having a great time!"<<cycle "$parent" autoselect>> <<option "You were hurt, you used to have a somewhat close relationship with your parents. Despite their detachment." "okay">> <<option "You were hurt, but not surprised, considering how detached they had been all your life" "average">> <<option "You didn't care that much, they weren't your parents so much as roomates" "roomates">> <<option "Your were glad they finally left you alone. You were never on good terms with your parents" "bad">> <</cycle>> It takes 15 minutes for you to get to your office on a good day, but there seems to be extra traffic today. However, with it, you start remembering something that this reminded you of. As much as you try to not think about it, inevitably with nothing else to occupy you as you inch through the traffic, you start to remember. //[[seven years ago...|Flashback 1.0]]//

<h3>//7 Years Ago...//</h3> It was a day like any other in your junior year of high school, certainly not normal for anybody else though. You were all on spring break, and found a case that needed to be looked at. In a suburb near Albuquerque, there was a reported haunting in their local theater where they were supposed to be putting on a modernized production of 'Much Ado about Nothing'. You all were called in by the owner of the theater, to put a stop to strange occurrences, without having to cancel the show for investigation. You, Ollie, $roname , and Cameron, are all driving around, blasting the cd that everybody had worked on a few weeks ago. Cam was screaming along to the song, $cam_hisher singing voice was never very good, but it became endearing when $cam_heshe screeched along to everybody's favorite songs in the car. Every once in a while Ollie would join in as well, as well as yourself and $roname for a car wide sing-along, but this time was not one of them. They were studying for a physics exam in the very back of the car, having you quiz them on the flash cards. Of course they were getting every question right. You were pretty sure they had memorized the entire textbook at this point, with how much they poured over the pages whenever you four were out on a case. Which was made weirder by the fact that they hate physics, that was always Cameron's domain. "True or False: Since vectors always have positive-" "False. Can you give me one of the harder ones?" their voice is slowly trailing off the whole time. Their eyes are half-lidded, slowly dropping lower before they are fully asleep. You didn't even have the time to pull up another card. You're pretty sure they stayed up all night again, either forgetting to sleep or just being unable to. •<<link "Hey, Ollie, are you okay?" "flashback 1.1.0">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=10, 0, 100)>><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=3, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "'Ollie, wake up, we're almost there' you try." "flashback 1.1.1">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=5, 0, 100)>><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=3, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You lightly punch them in the shoulder to wake them up." "flashback 1.1.2">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind -=2, 0, 100)>><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=6, 0, 100)>><</link>>

They groan as they fully open their eyes again. "Yes, yes. I'm fine." they yawn and attempt to get more comfortable in their seat. "Sleep is for the weak, $mcname ." They seem annoyed just by you asking, but mostly because they always get fussy when you start to pry too much into their well being. Especially with the others around. They always like to present themselves as the invincible being, like they don't need anything but a thermos full of red bull and a dream. •<<link "'I'm just worried, you know.' " "flashback 1.2.2" <<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=10, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "'as much as I agree, you just fell asleep on one of the bumpiest roads I have ever been on, where normally you can't sleep in any car.' you point out to them." "flashback 1.2.3" <<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "'personally, I think sleep is one of the best things bestowed upon humanity' you shrug." "flashback 1.2.4" <<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>>

Ollie glowers at you for a moment before flipping you off. They bring their knees up to their chest and start to hide their face from the afternoon sun shining through the window. You don't know how they aren't overheating underneath their wool lined corduroy jacket, especially with the broken A/C that Cam has yet to fix. They mumble one last curse towards you before you simply laugh and let them fall back asleep for the next few minutes until you arrive at your destination. "Hey, $mcname let's grab your camera and go." [[We've got a mystery to solve.|flashback 1.3.0]]

They huff and mumble "you're fine." they wave their hand, dismissing any further comment, before they sigh and go to open up their textbook again, the flashcards are still in your hand, but you think they're not really in the mood for people right now, but are trying to not be annoyed by you. You simply start shuffling through them, you don't have AP physics, mainly because you try to avoid taking science classes from Mr. Glass anyways, he's a flat earther who thinks that physics was <i>invented</i> by Isaac Newton. Ollie has already almost gotten detention 5 separate times for fighting him on the subject. In your time thinking about the subject, Cameron has pulled into the parking lot. [[Time to solve a mystery.|flashback 1.3.0]]

Concern is laced in your voice. You know for a fact they've never slept well, and it worries you when they're tired going into a new case. You are never quite sure if they'll be okay. "I-" they have a confused look on their face. "I'm fine $mcname . I promise. I'll sleep on the way back" they dismiss your concerns with the wave of a hand. Their eyes still droop as your conversation stalls out, and it's clear they're just trying to fall asleep again. You sigh as the car keeps moving, you would talk to the others, but you're pretty sure that Cameron is too distracted singing along to the cd, and Ro is staring out the car window, lost in thought. You absently shuffle the notecards in your hands for the next 15 minutes as you start pulling into the theater parking lot. You lightly tap Ollie's shoulder a few times to wake them up, and you all begin to get out of the car. <<button [[Continue|flashback 1.3.0]]>> <</button>>

When you point this out they roll their eyes, annoyed that you're pointing out their own contradictions. "I know, I know. Will you stop bothering me about this if I promise to sleep on the way back?" You can tell they're entirely serious, they're voice is very monotone and they may sound sarcastic to most, but over the years it's become far easier to tell what Ollie is trying to say and the purpose behind it. •<<link "Yes" "flashback 1.2.3.1">><<set $o_friendship to Math.clamp($o_friendship +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=2, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "No" "flashback 1.2.3.1">><<set $o_friendship to Math.clamp($o_friendship +=5, 0, 100)>><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=2, 0, 100)>><</link>>

"And I'm so happy for you, $mcname. Will you let me enjoy it for the next fifteen minutes before we actually get there?" "Fine, fine." You say with a smile on your face, messing with Ollie is something that you enjoy on occasion, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to do so. The next fifteen minutes pass by without much happening, Ollie is asleep, $roname is singing along with Cameron to the new cd. Though Cam is off key so much of the time, which they know, and don't really seem to care. Pulling into the parking lot, they're both still singing along, now to Queen's "I Want to Break Free". You nudge Ollie to wake up as Cameron pulls into $cam_hisher parking spot, who then turns to face you two in the back. [["Get up Ollie, We've got a mystery to solve!"|flashback 1.3.0]]

They simply grunt and begin to curl up more, hiding their face behind the corduroy jacket they wear like armor (though it is getting threadbare in places). You try to say it again, a bit louder this time to wake them up. You can tell they hear you with the upset groan that leaves them, it sounds vaguely like them trying to form a sentence, but you can't seem to figure it out. You say it one final time before you know that Ollie has definitely woken up, as they flip you off and mumble under their breath "Just wake me up when we get there, I'm tired." before once again curling up in their seat. •<<link "You grant their request, letting them sleep" "flashback 1.2.5">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You try it a few more times." "flashback 1.2.6">><<<<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind -=2, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "I thought you said that sleep was for the weak, Ollie" "flashback 1.2.7">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=2, 0, 100)>><</link>>

Their eyes open and they start trying to say something, before realizing it was you. they scoff and roll their eyes before yelling up to the front, pointedly ignoring you, before they say something they might regret "Cameron, are we almost there?" "Yup! should be there in about 15 minutes." $cam_heshe gives a thumbs up and Ollie returns the gesture. they look back at you and sigh, rubbing their eyes before they finally speak to you directly, "Did you have to do that?" You know they aren't the biggest fan of touch, but they don't seem too annoyed about the contact itself, more so that you woke them up. Even if you do have them on record saying that 'sleep is for the weak', you know they haven't been sleeping well for a long while. •<<link "'No, but it was funny'" "flashback 1.2.0">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind -=5, 0, 100)>><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership -=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "'Sorry'" "flashback 1.2.1">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=5, 0, 100)>><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>>

They fall back asleep, and you start looking again at the flashcards. Shuffling through them and staring at the immaculate handwriting that you've seen Ollie cultivate over the years after a brief obsession with calligraphy. You go through all of them, then [[look out the window as you pull into the parking lot in front of the theater.|flashback 1.3.0]]

You decide to keep trying to wake up Ollie. Though it seems they have fully fallen asleep, so nothing is really working. "We only have like 10 minutes left in the drive." $roname turns around to look at you. $ro_hisher dark black hair has once more been styled to perfection, Though $ro_heshe has put a baseball cap over it to hide $ro_hisher dark roots. "I know, // hence // why I'm trying to wake them up. kinda hard to be alert if you're just waking up from a 10 minute nap after however many hours they stayed up yesterday." "Letting them sleep should be fine," $roname shrugs before turning back towards the road. Cam is too busy humming along to get involved. You roll your eyes at it all and spend the next ten minutes looking over all the flashcards that Ollie has made, admiring their penmanship, and chuckling as you remembered how they once wrote over 250 words on a single flashcard, even if it wasn't very legible. [[Then, you arrive.|flashback 1.3.0]]

"Well then call me weak, because right now I am still getting some sleep." "I hope you know that every time you refuse to fall asleep because 'sleep is for the weak' and you call me at 1 am on a school night, I'm bringing up this conversation." "You wouldn't dare." their scowl deepens. "Oh I absolutely would." The smile on your face widens, as Ollie sighs and decides to ignore your antics for the rest of the drive. Which isn't too long, because 15 minutes later, Cam calls out to the whole van. [["Alright gang, we're here!"|flashback 1.3.0]]

When you pull up to the spot and shake Ollie awake, you look up and out to the grand theater that is nothing like the one back in Misty Cove. Mainly because it isn't dilapidated and unused, unless you count the stoner kids (<<cycle "$stoner" autoselect>> <<option "including yourself and Ollie" "yes">> <<option "including Ollie" "no">> <</cycle>>) walking there after school to 'take advantage of the space'. After staring for a moment, you realize that almost everybody else has left the van already, and $roname is waiting for you in the passenger seat, trying to get your attention. As you step out of the car and join the rest of your friends, you make sure to take photos of the outside of the building with the school camera that you have been 'borrowing' for the past few months under the guise of photos for the yearbook. When really it's mostly to upload these photos to your group's blog. and to print out the best and/or most embarrassing of the bunch. You begin to admire the sheer might that this building conveys, it makes you jealous that you never got this back home, Though that thought doesn't stay long in your mind as you start to head inside with everybody else, as you see Cam start to inspect the structural integrity of the building (something $cam_heshe knows nothing about but likes to pretend $cam_heshe does) while $roname looks at the columns that support the large structure, though Ollie is too busy still yawning and stretching from the drive to take in the magnitude of the theater you all have found yourselves in. The marble columns and the red carpet, with the ticket booth's glass lined with brass, and the two sets of stairs on either side of it that leads to the balcony seats as well as the seats on ground level. As per usual, •<<link "Cam takes the lead, they know how to put their best foot forward when it comes to others" "flashback 1.4.0">><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership -=15, 0, 100)>><<set $pastleader to "no">><</link>> •<<link "You take the lead when it comes to talking with authority" "flashback 1.4.0">><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=15, 0, 100)>><<set $cunning to Math.clamp($cunning +=10, 0, 100)>><<set $pastleader to "yes">><</link>>

<h3><i>APPEARANCE</i></h3> You are $mcname $mcsurname You have $mceyecolor eyes and $mcskintone skin. With $mchairlength , $mchairtexture hair that is $mchaircolor . You are $mcheight in stature with a $mcbodytype body type. <h3><i>PERSONALITY</i></h3> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Kind</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $kind + '%;"><i>($kind%)</i></div>' >> <<= '<div class="sb-fill2" style="width: calc(100% - ' + $kind + '%);"><i>(<<print 100 - $kind>>%)</i></div>' >><b style="border-color:#2C2C54;">Harsh</b> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Leader</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $leadership + '%;"><i>($leadership%)</i></div>' >> <<= '<div class="sb-fill2" style="width: calc(100% - ' + $leadership + '%);"><i>(<<print 100 - $leadership>>%)</i></div>' >><b style="border-color:#2C2C54;">Support</b> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Curious</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $curious + '%;"><i>($curious%)</i></div>' >> <<= '<div class="sb-fill2" style="width: calc(100% - ' + $curious + '%);"><i>(<<print 100 - $curious>>%)</i></div>' >><b style="border-color:#2C2C54;">Anxious</b> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Expressive</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $expressive + '%;"><i>($expressive%)</i></div>' >> <<= '<div class="sb-fill2" style="width: calc(100% - ' + $expressive + '%);"><i>(<<print 100 - $expressive>>%)</i></div>' >><b style="border-color:#2C2C54;">Stoic</b> </div> <h3><i>ABILITIES</i></h3> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Agility</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $agility + '%;"><i>($agility%)</i></div>' >> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Smarts</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $int + '%;"><i>($int%)</i></div>' >> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Strength</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $strength + '%;"><i>($strength%)</i></div>' >> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Cunning</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $cunning + '%;"><i>($cunning%)</i></div>' >> </div> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Observation</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $observation + '%;"><i>($observation%)</i></div>' >> </div> <<return "Return to Game">>

You all head into the office of the man who owns the building, who called you four in to get the full debrief on this supposed "haunting" that has been plaguing the theater. The owner of the theater, John Ullman leads you all around the theater, to the sandbags that were cut in the middle of the climax of the production (apparently the show was updated for a modern audience, badly, from the clips you saw posted to promote the show) and the light that was detached and dropped into the pit, nearly crushing the second chair violinist. However, as he kept talking, and leading you and your friends around, he started mentioning a few people. People who Ollie would quickly write down in their notebook. Whenever the director of the show, Morgan Kaplan, was mentioned, Ullman had a sour name in his mouth, though it was very unlikely he would want to ruin his own production. Hailey Kline, a woman who auditioned for the lead role but was cast as the understudy, Leo Wells, the former conductor, before he was fired two months ago after too many complaints came in about his conduct with this band. Ullman is always insisting that this must be a ghost. That he must have his own phantom, a real ghost haunting his theater (Ollie tries to tell him that the Phantom in Phantom of The Opera was a real person, but $roname shakes $ro_hisher head and Ollie simply rolls their eyes.) and that he has seen this supposed ghost, with a volto mask, and a glittering black cape that he attributes to their ghostly aura. You're always hopeful that there are real ghosts or ghouls. But this whole thing seems, unfortunately, entirely human caused. Especially when Ro finds remnants of black glitter on the ground near the rigging, and on the catwalk where the light was attached. Eventually, Ullman says that he needs this solved by their show tonight. "We can't afford to lose any more shows, we've had to cancel the past two nights, and not only are our customers getting angry, but the sponsors for the show are as well." The four of you look at each other when he makes the statement. <<if $leadership lt 50>> Cam has effectively taken the lead on this one, so $cam_heshe is the one who says what you're all thinking. "but what about the actors?" "They all have agreed to do the show tonight. We just need you four to find whatever creature has been trying to hurt our performers. Even a haunting cannot stop this show." "I- I'll see what we can do, sir." $cam_heshe nods towards him and calls everybody into the house of the theater to discuss a plan. <<elseif $leadership gt 50>> You having taken the lead on this case feel some kind of outrage as he says this. "What about the actors and crew then?" you say, barely hidden anger in your voice. "They all have agreed to do the show tonight. We just need you four to find whatever creature has been trying to hurt our performers. Even a haunting cannot stop this show." "Fine." You say. You still don't like the idea, especially considering this guy is absolutely planning to attack during the performance, which means that everybody is in danger, but it seems like this is your only option, unless you can find the culprit beforehand, which seems unlikely. After Ullman is done talking, you and the rest of your friends gather to talk about what the plan is. <</if>> after you all have agreed on the path that needs to be taken, surveillance is accessed, and footage reviewed, (though you have convince Cameron that setting a trap within the the span of an hour before the show is not only impractical but also far too risky in the darkness of a theater when a show is already happening) you all think you know how to [[catch this ghost.|flashback 1.5.1]]

<<if $cam_gender is "male">> <<set $cam_person to "man"; $cam_heshe to "he"; $cam_himher to "him"; $cam_hisher to "his"; $cam_hishers to "his"; $cam_himself to "himself" $cam_mrms to "Mr.">><<elseif $cam_gender is "female">> <<set $a_person to "woman"; $cam_heshe to "she"; $cam_himher to "her"; $cam_hisher to "her"; $cam_hishers to "hers"; $cam_himself to "herself" $cam_mrms to "Ms.">> <</if>><<if $ro_gender is "male">> <<set $roname to "Rory"; $ro_person to "man"; $ro_heshe to "he"; $ro_himher to "him"; $ro_hisher to "his"; $ro_hishers to "his"; $ro_himself to "himself" $ro_HeShe to "He" $ro_possessive to "Rory's">><<elseif $ro_gender is "female">> <<set $roname to "Rose"; $ro_person to "woman"; $ro_heshe to "she"; $ro_himher to "her"; $ro_hisher to "her"; $ro_hishers to "hers"; $ro_himself to "herself" $ro_HeShe to "She" $ro_possessive to "Rose's">><</if>>Next, you can choose from the options below on what you want your pet to be. Cat or Dog <label><<radiobutton "$scoobspecies" "dog" autocheck>> Dog</label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobspecies" "cat" autocheck>>Cat</label> <<link "Next" "0.3">><</link>>

All of you end up in position 20 minutes before show time, Cam is standing near the back of the house, looking out for any signs of foul play in the guests as they enter, $roname in the left wing where the majority of the actors are for their entrance. •[[You in the pit, looking after the band, and Ollie in the right wing|flashback 1.6.1]] •[[You in the right wing, and Ollie down in the pit|flashback 1.6.2]]

As you sit in the pit, securing your earplugs, you make sure to keep your eyes out for anything unusual, radio in hand in case anything happens, though it can be hard to tell from your angle. It's about halfway through the production, which is so awful that you think you might actually understand why whoever is doing this is sabatoging the production. (though that's most likely a fault of whoever wrote this monstrosity of a rewrite, rather than anybody who has been hurt) when you notice something moving up above. Something glittery. [["Target spotted on the catwalk"|flashback 1.7.0.]]

Almost to intermission is when Ollie spots something off and goes on the radio. While it's hard to see the stage from the wings, you start booking it to the stairs that leads to the catwalk. It seems like Cam started doing the same, as you both reach it at roughly the same time. Cam has a bundle of rope on $cam_hisher shoulder, it looks like $cam_heshe is tying part of it into some kind of lasso. "Where the hell did you learn to tie lassos?" you ask $cam_himher, confused as hell. "Remember when my parents sent me to cowboy camp in fourth grade?" $cam_heshe says while still stumbling up the stairs. "Right, didn't you get sent home after stealing all the ropes to make a trap for some of the councelors as a prank?" Cameron simply stammers and turns away from you. The both of you arrive at the top of the stairs, you see the figure with the cape standing before you. You can't see their face, covered by their mask, and they start to run towards the entrance on the opposite side, before both you and Cam are sprinting towards them. They make it to the stairs just in time, and start sprinting down them, you and Cam following close behind, though you are a few steps ahead. •<<link "You tell Cam to try and lasso them [Intelligence]" "flashback 1.7.1">><<set $int to Math.clamp($int +=20, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You leap after them, attempting to grab their cape [agility]" "flashback 1.7.2">><<set $agility to Math.clamp($agility +=20, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You throw yourself at them, attempting to knock them to the ground as they reach the bottom of the stairs [strength]" "flashback 1.7.3">><<set $strength to Math.clamp($strength +=20, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You try to grab their cape by leaning foward [cunning]" "flashback 1.7.2">><<set $cunning to Math.clamp($cunning +=20, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You notice that the hand rail could be knocked loose [observation]" "flashback 1.7.3">><<set $observation to Math.clamp($observation +=20, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You start making sure the musicians are out of the way of whatever might be above, and after the people are safely out of the way, you look up to see Cameron and $roname are chasing them across the catwalk, Cameron has a lasso (which you have to ask about later) and you meet the three people right at the bottom of the stairs. The 'Phantom' is looking back and forth, trying to figure out where to go as Ro and Cam start running down the stairs close behind. They start to try and shoulder check you, and your instinctual response is, •<<link "Duck down to avoid them [Intelligence]" "flashback 1.7.4">><<set $int to Math.clamp($int +=30, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Step back fast enough to avoid the strike[Agility]" "flashback 1.7.4">><<set $agility to Math.clamp($agility +=30, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Take the hit and tough it out [Strength]" "flashback 1.7.4">><<set $strength to Math.clamp($strength +=30, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "look past them and look horrified in order to distract them[Cunning]" "flashback 1.7.4">><<set $cunning to Math.clamp($cunning +=30, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Notice that it's happening beforehand and duck[Observation]" "flashback 1.7.4">><<set $observation to Math.clamp($observation +=30, 0, 100)>><</link>>

Cam nods and smiles before twirling the lasso around their head, aiming, and then missing the culprit. They had moved too fast and Cam didn't give enough length to the rope. $cam_heshe has a disappointed look on $cam_hisher face that you can only barely see in the questionable light, as you both continue to rush down the stairs. •<<link "Hey! it's okay, but we gotta run!" "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=10, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You roll your eyes at the mistake before running" "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind -=5, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=10, 0, 100)>><</link>>

<<if $cunning gt 20>> You lean down to try and grasp at the cape, but as you grab hold of it, you lose your balance and have to drop the cape, before you start falling down the stairs.<</if>> As you go down the stairs, bracing yourself for impact, you manage to get ahold of their cape<<if $cunning gt 20>> again, if<</if>> only for a split second before they wrench it out of your fist. Cameron is close behind, and quickly checks to see if you're okay, pulling you up as $cam_heshe looks at you with worry. •<<link "'I'm fine, I swear' you say with a reassuring smile." "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "you simply nod and then take off, gesturing Cameron to follow." "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=10, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You shove them off and grumble 'I'm fine'" "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=12, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=5, 0, 100)>><</link>>

<<if $observation gt 20>>The railing is very loose, and you use the strength in your arms to try and pull this section off the wall, however, what you didn't notice is that the stairs are smaller than they should be. As you attempt to tear it off the wall, you lose your ground and start tumbling down the stairs<</if>> As you start going down, down, down, The ghost stumbles out of the way as you land and roll, to try and minimize the damage. Though you're pretty sure there's going to be a few nasty bruises. Cameron runs up to you as you thud onto the ground, $cam_heshe looks at you with wide eyes, trying to make sure that you're okay. •<<link "'i'm fine, I swear' you say with a reassuring smile." "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "you simply nod and then take off, gesturing Cameron to follow." "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You shove them off and grumble 'I'm fine'" "flashback 1.8.0">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=10, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=10, 0, 100)>><</link>>

They start running towards the light of the stage, though because of the darkness backstage the phantom ends up running into a few stage hands and actors, though they continue running, with you and your friends close behind. Cameron right behind you, now with Ollie and $roname close behind. You aren't able to stop them before they reach the stage. You hear the audience gasp as they enter, the person clad in a classical costume and glitter cape clearly isn't meant to be part of the production, and as you run out to the stage shortly after, the stage lights blinding, you hear them gasp again. •<<link "Stop foul villian, and meet thy demise!" "flashback 1.9.1">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=2, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Stop right there!" "flashback 1.9.1">><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You say nothing, and instead go to stop them from running again." "flashback 1.9.2">><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=5, 0, 100)>><<set $observation to Math.clamp($observation +=15, 0, 100)>><</link>>

They look back at you upon your remark and laugh. You can't see their face underneath the mask, but you can sense that their expression is something akin to a snarl. They stand still under one of the spotlights, and you can sense a monologue is about to begin. Damn theater kids. They stand taller and begin to face the audience. "You all are fools! eating up this heaving pile of trash set before on this stage! This place-" Well. It seems like they're too distracted now that they finally have their chance in the spotlight, you thought to yourself. You remember distinctly turning to your friends and shrugging, before deciding on how to capture this guy. •<<link "You decide to start heckling the guy as a distraction[Cunning]" "flashback 1.10.4">><<set $cunning to Math.clamp($cunning +=15, 0, 100)>><<set $heckle to "true">><</link>> •<<link "You see that he's blinded by the stage lights as well as his mask, and look at Cameron knowingly [Observation]" "flashback 1.10.1">><<set $observation to Math.clamp($observation +=15, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You look at Cam and nod, gesturing towards the lasso they hold [Intelligence]" "flashback 1.10.1">><<set $int to Math.clamp($int +=15, 0, 100)>><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You and $roname nod at each and start running [Agility]" "flashback 1.10.2">><<set $agility to Math.clamp($agility +=15, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You decide to take matters into your own hands [Strength]" "flashback 1.10.3">><<set $strength to Math.clamp($strength +=15, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You may have overestimated your own abilities, or your opponent has benefitted from the momentum going down the stairs, as they still end up knocking you to the ground, only slightly dazed, you try to get up quickly, as Cameron and $roname arrive at the bottom of the steps, both of them trying to check and see if you're okay, but you are more focused on catching this person, so the whole nightmare can be over with. You start running through backstage, following the still visible trail of glitter left in "Phantom of the shitty adaptation's" wake. Ollie joins you in the middle of the mad dash, and when you think you've found a dead end, you see the flash of a cape running towards the stage. [["Come on!" you yell at your friends|flashback 1.8.0]]

You run after the Phantom, who at this moment is attempting to taunt you. "What, do you and your gang of miscreants have nothing-" They get cut off as you and $roname have both run at them, you hitting them in the arm, and $roname forcing $ro_hisher shoulder into their sternum with enough force to knock them over. It's a rush as you go behind them to hold their hands behind their back, $roname making sure to hold their legs in place. "Cam! Now!" you yell across the stage, Cam's eyes light up as $cam_heshe starts to swing the lasso around $cam_hisher head. Time seems to go in slow motion as the lasso goes through the air, and lands around the torso of the person with the mask and the cape. [[In the lobby...|flashback 1.11.0]]

Cam's eye light up as $cam_heshe starts to swing the lasso around, everybody around you all seems to be frozen in place, the audience unsure of what to do, the actors even more so, so the villian has continued monologuing, before the rope flew through the air and is pulled taught around their torso. You and $roname turn towards each and nod, before getting a running start. "What the-" The masked figure is cut off when $roname makes contact, shoving them to the ground. The audience gasps as two nerdy teenagers slam them to the ground, and you hear one person start clapping as if its part of the show. "Consider this a second intermission!" $ronamesays with a devilish grin on $ro_hisher face. //[[In the lobby...|flashback 1.11.0]]//

$roname 's eyes light up as they start to run towards the culprit. You've seen them attempt this plenty of times before, in other cases, but this person seems to not be very strong, so it's far more likely to work this time. They slam into the person's shoulder, and you rush and slide in afterwards to hold the culprit down, before $roname yells to Cameron. "Now!" Cam's eyes light up as $cam_heshe starts to swing the lasso around $cam_hisher head. Time seems to go in slow motion as the lasso goes through the air, and lands around the torso of the person with the mask and the cape. "It finally worked!" They yell and turn to give Ollie a high five, who is already busy running across the stage to move the culprit. Cameron looks sheepish as they follow suit and begin to help everybody out. //[[in the lobby..|flashback 1.11.0]]//

As the person continues their speech, you look around to try and find a way to do this without putting the others in harms way. You would use something in the set, but you know the director, or the crew frankly, would kill you where you stand even if you did happen to catch the guy. You keep looking around, until your eyes locks onto the cape that the phantom is wearing. it seems to be very securely attached to the rest of their outfit, and as your brain is firing, you decide that if you can yank them to the ground, then manage to tie them up, possibly with the help of Cam's lasso. You start to sprint towards them, thankfully they've moved farther away so you can gain more momentum, and they turn their head to face you, before you slide onto your back and yoink them down along with you, dragging by their cape. In the chaos, the mask falls off, and as Cam takes their cue to tie them up. they try very hard hide their face, and scramble to put their mask back on, which they're still busy doing as they are brought out to the lobby. [[Continue|flashback 1.11.0]]

MC BASICS $mcname $mcsurname $morningdrink $mc.family $mcheight $mcbodytype $mcskintone $mceyecolor $mchairlength $mchairtexture $mchaircolor $mcvision MC PRONOUNS $gender $person $they $them $their $theirs $themself $plural $slash MC OTHERS $torc $touch $memory $pastleader $pastcurious $pastkind $pastcharisma $stoner $supernatural $cooking $reunite $closest MC STATS <<set $kind to 50>> <<set $leadership to 50>> <<set $curious to 50>> <<set $expressive to 50>> <<set $hiddenstat to 100>> <<set $mysteryinfo to "0">> <<set $agility to 15>> <<set $int to 15>> <<set $strength to 15>> <<set $cunning to 15>> <<set $observation to 20>> MISC $parents $mj $fond ITEMS $journal1 PET STATS $scoob $scoobspecies $scoobcolor $scoobbreed $scoob_gender $scoob_person $scoob_heshe $scoob_himher $scoob_hisher $scoob_hishers $scoob_himself $scoob_goodboy $scoob_possessive CAM $cam_gender <<set $cam_friendship to 40>> <<set $cam_romance to 0>> $cam_person $cam_heshe $cam_himher $cam_hisher $cam_hishers $cam_himself $cam_mrms $camcontact R $roname $rogender <<set $ro_friendship to 55>> <<set $r_rom to 0>> $ro_person $ro_heshe $ro_himher $ro_hisher $ro_hishers $ro_himself $ro_possessive $ro_HeShe Ollie <<set $o_friendship to 30>> <<set $o_romance to 0>> Terra <<set $t_friendship to 10>> <<set $t_romance to 0>> $t_past $dinerconvo PRO SPECIFIC $heckle $flashback1 CH 1 SPECIFIC $carconvo1 $camconvo $carconvo2 $location $journalinvest $rocall $olcall $beforero $bc1 $bc2 $bc3 $rcc $rcc2 $libraryroute $ocall1 $reveal

When you all reach the lobby, you place the person onto a chair and re-tie the rope around them, the director, and the owner join you all. Both of them fuming because of your interference with the show. Cam is pulling back and hiding in the corner, $roname isn't really paying attention and making sure $ro_hisher nail polish hasn't chipped. Ollie is simply nodding along as the owner starts yelling at the group and you, after checking the camera the hangs around your neck (miraculously, it has survived all the chaos of this night) can only bring yourself to one conclusion, You... •<<link "Aren't too bothered" "flashback 1.12">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious +=7, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Are ridiculously anxious" "flashback 1.13">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious -=7, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Think this is ridiculous" "flashback 1.14">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious +=6, 0, 100)>><<set $cunning to Math.clamp($cunning +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You can understand why they would be upset, the show is going to have a nigh impossible job, trying to get back on track after such an interuption, and it's likely that after this impromptu intermission, and the arrival of the police, that they're going to have to lose out on money, but that was not you or your friends problem. You were hired to do a job tonight, and you warned them that this wouldn't be good for their business. They didn't listen. As of right now though, you're too preoccupied checking the photos you had taken on the school camera, miraculously undamaged, you're glad you won't have to pay to replace it for the school. They can be as angry at you as they want, but the most important part should really be that you caught the person behind the mask. Speaking of. "I hate to interupt, but shouldn't we unmask this guy?" The director and the owner both turn to face you with fury in their faces. before actually processing what you said, and they seem to straighten out. "Fine then, why don't you kids unmask him." the director seems like he's being sarcastic, but you are too busy going over and taking off the mask anyways before anybody can stop you. All of you gather in wait. Mr. Ullman and the director have come over to join you all. <span id="REVEAL"></span> <<link "You step towards the chair and reach for the mask">> <<replace "#REVEAL">>The volto mask comes off, and the face underneath, is a face that makes both of the adults gasp and say in unison, "Leo Wells!" "The conductor!" "But, why?" The director asks. "Why. Why indeed, Morgan. Not only was I fired from my position, simply for trying to make my band better! But then, you all have the audacity, to create such a horrible show, that you disgrace the name of this theater! the script is so horrific that it sounds like a 5 year old wrote it, and the score is an insult to all musicians!" You can't help but agree on some of those things, You saw the first half of the play, and it did not sound good, but this? was ridiculous. "Wouldn't make more sense to leave a bad review?" He turns to face you. "Pah! you clearly have no flair for the dramatic." You raise your eyebrow, like you didn't just capture him, on stage, in the middle of a performance. <<if $heckle is "true">> As well as the heckling.<</if>> "Well then." you say, before turning to your friends. "Do you want to leave these two here to handle the rest of this and go take a picture outside?" Everybody nods and heads outside, leaving the argument between the three theater people behind them. You can still hear their voices as you start to head outside. <<link "Next" "PICTURE">><</link>> <</replace>> <</link>>

You are losing your mind over this. What if they call your parents? Oh god, what if they call $roname 's parents. They would never be allowed out of the house again, and one of your closest friends would dissapear from your life outside of school. Then it's just you and Cam and Ollie, and as much as you love them you can't afford to- "$mcname , are you okay?" you feel Cameron put $cam_hisher hand on your shoulder as they say this, pulling you out of your own head. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Wanna unmask this guy?" "Hell yeah." $cam_heshe smiles wide and grabs you, before calling over the others. All of you gather in wait. "Who wants to do the honors?" You ask. Cameron raises a hand and everybody nods in agreement. Mr. Ullman the director have come over to join you all. <span id="REVEAL"></span> <<link "Cameron steps towards the chair and reaches for the mask">> <<replace "#REVEAL">>The volto mask comes off, and the face underneath, is a face that makes both of the adults gasp and say in unison, "Leo Wells!" "The conductor!" "But, why?" The director asks. "Why. Why indeed, Morgan. Not only was I fired from my position, simply for trying to make my band better! But then, you all have the audacity, to create such a horrible show, that you disgrace the name of this theater! the script is so horrific that it sounds like a 5 year old wrote it, and the score is an insult to all musicians!" You can't help but agree on some of those things, You saw the first half of the play, and it did not sound good, but this? was ridiculous. "Wouldn't make more sense to leave a bad review?" He turns to face you. "Pah! you clearly have no flair for the dramatic." You raise your eyebrow, like you didn't just capture him, on stage, in the middle of a performance. "Well then." you say, before turning to your friends. "Do you want to leave these two here to handle the rest of this and go take a picture outside?" Everybody nods and heads outside, leaving the argument between the three theater people behind them. <<link "Next" "PICTURE">><</link>> <</replace>> <</link>>

I mean, you caught the guy. Sure, you interupted the performance, but frankly they should have expected this. They agreed to it after all and it seems entirely stupid to be upset about it now. You also think that was the far better alternative to more people getting hurt or causing more psychical damage to the theater. before they can continue to yell at you, you decide to take the final step in your usual routine among all of these investigations, taking off the mask of the guy who might have just given your no doubt insanely lucrative career as a linebacker. You call your friends over, and all of you gather in wait. "Who wants to do the honors?" You ask. Cameron raises a hand and everybody nods in agreement. Mr. Ullman the director have come over to join you all. <span id="REVEAL"></span> <<link "Cameron steps towards the chair and reaches for the mask">> <<replace "#REVEAL">>The volto mask comes off, and the face underneath, is a face that makes both of the adults gasp and say in unison, "Leo Wells!" "The conductor!" "But, why?" The director asks. "Why. Why indeed, Morgan. Not only was I fired from my position, simply for trying to make my band better! But then, you all have the audacity, to create such a horrible show, that you disgrace the name of this theater! the script is so horrific that it sounds like a 5 year old wrote it, and the score is an insult to all musicians!" You can't help but agree on some of those things, You saw the first half of the play, and it did not sound good, but this? was ridiculous. "Wouldn't make more sense to leave a bad review?" He turns to face you. "Pah! you clearly have no flair for the dramatic." You raise your eyebrow, like you didn't just capture him, on stage, in the middle of a performance. "Well then." you say, before turning to your friends. "Do you want to leave these two here to handle the rest of this and go take a picture outside?" Everybody nods and heads outside, leaving the argument between the three theater people behind them. <<link "Next" "PICTURE">><</link>> <</replace>> <</link>>

The four of you go out to the front of the theater, it's 7 pm, and because it's not quite summer yet the sun has already set, but you gather everybody underneath the marquee, and line them up to take a picture. You also like to take one with yourself in it, and if your lucky you can ask somebody to take a photo with the four of you, which is thankfully the case, as one of the audience members gladly takes your guy's photo underneath the title of the play, while you all are smiling after a job well done. You remember the marquee lighting your heads from above, and the warm lights of posters on the side of the building, and the faces of everybody. $roname and Cameron both smiling with a job well done, Ollie slyly doing the same in an attempt to try and seem cooler than they really were, and yourself throwing your arms around your friends and smiling the widest you could. //[[You are pulled out of your reverie.|pro 10.1]]//

You remember that day so clearly, the drives across the southwest and the laughter that you all shared. Cameron's megawatt smile, Ollie's sarcastic comments, and $roname 's impeccable delivery of the one liners that came so naturally to them. You have the photo taken by that woman outside the theater hanging in your hallway. You remember later, after you had all moved out of your parents homes, and started going on the road full time. You had gotten $scoob at the same time you all took the plunge and got an actual van to stay in while you were all on the road instead of Cam's well loved SUV. Everybody loved $scoob, the new addition to your group. You had almost forgotten how much you missed your friends, and the mysteries, and being out on the road. Even if that specific mystery had very light on the actual investigation work. It didn't really matter of course, but as you pull into the office parking lot, you shake your head of thoughts of your past, and unintentionally slam the door of your car, you flinch as it feels like the door is about to fall off of it's hinges. You turn to face the bland, squat office building in front of you, and sigh as you begin to march inside. <<button [[Continue|pro 11]]>> <</button>>

When you enter the building you're greeted simply by a flickering fluorescent lightbulb and Mike at the front desk. "Hey $mcname , I know you're just here to drop off a file, but I'm pretty sure Claire wants to talk to you." "Can it wait until I actually come back to work?" "I'm not sure. I can ask though." the grimace on his face otherwise. You sigh and rub your eyes for a moment. "no, no it's fine. i'll just stop by her office and ask if it's actually urgent or not." "Okay, good luck out there." "Thanks Mike." You walk past his desk into the back. An office with sad grey carpet, even sadder white walls, and a series of desks, occasionally with some plants that in all seriousness, should have died by now. First things first, you stop by Dorothy's office for a quick chat. "How has your morning been?" She says, her round face showing she's genuinely interested. "Pretty good, you know, just me and $scoob hanging out, I'm probably gonna head back home after this and fall right back asleep." "Well that sounds like a fantastic day to me. Here has been mostly alright, though I know Claire called you in. If she does anything out of line let me know, okay? You know I can knock some sense into her." You laugh and say there's no need, then tell her goodbye and set down the file on her desk and continue twisting and turning through the building to reach the office of your boss, Claire. You lightly knock on the door, and look down at the smiley faced poster on it with the words 'every day is a good day'. "Come in!" You hear Claire from behind the door. The door squaks as you open the door and step inside. Claire turns to face you, with her severe black bob and pristine pantsuit that almost feels too professional for such a small office. <<if $mcheight is "very short">>You are both the same height, and you still get a bit scared when she looks you directly in the eye. <<elseif $mcheight is "short">> She is still intimidating, though she's shorter than even you. <<elseif $mcheight is "average">> You have to look down every time you see her just to look her in the eyes, but you know for a fact that she could destroy you with a thought. <<elseif $mcheight is "somewhat tall" or "very tall">> You have to crane your neck down and hunch over just to look her in the eyes. It's almost comical how short she is, if she wasn't one of the most intimidating people you have ever met in your life.<</if>> "Well, if it isn't the $person of the hour! Come, sit down." You know that there is no escaping this conversation now, unfortunately. If this lasts long enough then you better get paid overtime. <<button [[Continue|pro 12]]>> <</button>>

<<if $o_friendship lte 32>> Ollie has a strange look on their face, like they weren't expecting you to actually agree. "Well, thanks I guess?" You can almost see the gears turning in their head trying to process, before they eventually choose to just look out the window to the buildings that you're passing by. <<elseif $o_friendship gte 35>> Ollie lets out a short huff that almost sounds like a laugh as they start to smile and roll their eyes. "Well, at least you're honest". <</if>> They lean forward from their seat to look over at $roname and ask "Hey, do you know how long until we're there?" $roname turns back towards them, "probably like fifteen minutes, shouldn't be too long now." "Sounds good." They sit back properly and turn to face you again. "I will sleep on the way back, I promise. But for now, can you keep quizzing me?" "I think you've just memorized all of these cards now," You say as you shuffle them in your hands. "I know, but just to be certain." You roll your eyes at them, and clear your throat to start quizzing them for the rest of the drive. Ollie keeps answering before you can finish the question, and Cameron continues to sing along to $roname 's cd. Then you arrive in the parking lot of the theater, and everybody else begins to file out of the car. [[We've got a mystery to solve.|flashback 1.3.0]]

"I'm so sorry to have asked you here on your day off. Unfortunately this was an urgent conversation. hopefully it should be quick." You nod and say to her, "It's okay." You would have complained about having to come in, but frankly you just want to get this over with. You're wondering if you're about to get fired over the file. It wouldn't be entirely out of character for Claire, and not entirely illegal in this state, as far as you know. "Well, this morning, I got a call from the man who owns that property in the file you just brought in, and he is insisting that someone be sent out to the property to investigate the damage and for evaluation. Normally we would send somebody who is closer, however, we are the closest office. So, knowing that this case is in your home town. I've decided that the best course of action is to send you there to investigate this claim and this property." •<<link "This is your chance." "pro 13">><<set $fond to "1">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "There is no way in hell you're going near that." "pro 14">><<set $fond to "0">> <</link>>

You aren't sure why you're so drawn to this. But there's something in yourself that won't allow you to move on. Like the buzz that sits in the back of your mind that you can't ignore. "I'll do it." she smiles in an unnerving way. "Fantastic," She pauses for effect " I'm glad you agreed. That makes the rest of this conversation much easier. You leave at the end of the week." You nod as a response and the buzzing in your head becomes harder to dismiss. Claire has been talking about the specifics of the scenario but you can't really focus. <<if $mysteryinfo is "0">> Though you try to force yourself to as you didn't look at the file earlier.<</if>>The most you catch is that you have roughly three weeks to get out there and do the damn thing. That normally you would meet the owner of the property but he isn't there so you'll be meeting with one of his subordinates to show you around the property, then you'll have the remaining time to finish your work and come back afterwards. You can't help but think about the last time you were in your hometown. The purple bruising on your skin that didn't go away for a month at least, your vision that got so bad so suddenly, after an entire life of near 20/20 vision. <<button [[Welcome Back.|ch 1]]>> <</button>>

"No. Absolutely not." you say without thinking. You left Misty Cove for a reason, not only are all the people you love no longer there, but the people that you know are there, don't particularly like you. Your gut instinct is to stay far the fuck away, and if anything that only gives you more of a reason to never go back there, and continue to live your life. Claire scowls at you before turning to face her monitor. "I thought you would be excited to return to your hometown?" "I'm sorry, but I'm really not. My parents don't live there anymore, I would have no place to stay unless I stay at the run down motel that's a lawsuit waiting to happen." "Well, it's a shame that I've already decided that you're going." She continues to not make eye contact with you, she scrolls down a spreadsheet. "You can't do that." You say with confidence, then she turns, and gives you a withering stare that makes you shiver and want to shrink back in your seat. //"Can you?"// you whisper, afraid of the answer. "I can." You resolve to check the labor laws later, but you're not sure you're going to get the chance. "When do I head out?" you haven't entirely resigned yourself to your fate, you might be able to get out of this, but that's going to have to be figured out later. "You're leaving next week." There's a sense of finality the way she says it, it makes your stomach churn. This feels like a punishment. What the hell did you ever do to be sent back to Misty Cove? The buzzing in your head becomes harder to dismiss. Claire has been talking about the specifics of the scenario but you can't really focus.<<if $mysteryinfo is "1">> Though you realize you know most of it already from looking at the file earlier.<</if>> The most you catch is that you have roughly three weeks to get out there and do the damn thing. That normally you would meet the owner of the property but he isn't there so you'll have to meet with some official or other and some neighbors to get witness statements, then you'll have the remaining time to finish your work. You don't want to return, despite the part of your mind that has been screaming out, trying to solve the mystery for four years. It looks like that part of yourself is getting what it wants, despite the rest of you wanting to get far, far away. <<button [[Welcome Back|ch 1]]>> <</button>>

<div style="text-align: center;"><h1><div id="Chapter One">Chapter One</div></h1></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h2><div id="Chapter Title">[[The Long Road Home]]</div></h2></div>

Over the next week, it's a constant back and forth panic over going back home. Even with Claire telling you that there was no way for you to get out of this. It's giving you so much anxiety. now that you think about it more. And now, as you are sitting in your car, mentally preparing yourself for the 6 hour drive across Arizona and New Mexico, it's going to be a very long drive. but of course, when you had asked, there was no way in hell you were getting a rental, as cheap as the company is, despite your concerns with your own car. The decision to bring $scoob was a necessity, there was no way in hell that you were leaving $scoob_himher alone for a week, and you didn't really trust anybody in your life currently to look after them. So, while you are filled with dread about returning to your hometown. <<if $fond is "1">> Even if you are still invested in doing this yourself.<</if>> Seeing how the people you haven't seen in years will react to you fills you with dread. <<if $torc is "trans">> You had transitioned before you left, yes. But some people were not kind about it then, and you highly doubt it will be better now. You saw how shitty people were towards Terra. Even if she was unruly and rude for no reason.<</if>> At least $scoob will be there. You turn to face $scoob_himher sitting contentedly in the back seat like $scoob_heshe always does. "Are you ready to go buddy?" they turn to your attention <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">> something you think only your cat would ever do <</if>> and you can see the excitement that $scoob_heshe have to be going on a road trip, to return to their old home. You wish you had that kind of enthusiasm. "That's a $scoob_goodboy $scoob " You lean back in your seat to pet and comfort $scoob_himher for a moment. "Let's go then." You pull out of your parking space and begin to get on the road. [[Continue|C1.1]]

The drive is nice, comfortable even, even though you keep glancing down at the check engine light that is still warning you, staring into your soul. Though, its not even the engine that finally gives out, because about five and a half hours into the six hour drive across two states, you feel one of the shocks snap going over a bridge. You feel your heart stop for a moment as the car starts bouncing, and you quickly turn on your hazards, before you have to keep driving. You hear $scoob start freaking out in the back, but before you can comfort them you need to get to Misty Cove and find the auto shop. Then see how much the repair is gonna set you back, if it's even repairable. This car is so old you doubt the parts are made anymore, and if there are still any in existence, they would cost an arm and a leg. "Fuck!" is all you can bring yourself to say, even though it's only $scoob that can hear you. You reach the other side of the bridge and pull over. You won’t be able to fix anything right now, but you turn around to face $scoob_himher for just a moment. "I'm so sorry buddy. It'll be okay, I promise, okay?" $scoob just continues to stare at you as if to express $scoob_hisher discomfort, and that $scoob_heshe is blaming you specifically. After twenty minutes of tensely, and slowly driving with your hazard lights on and going as slow as you legally can, you pull into 'Billington', a nearly dead roadside town that is technically a part of Misty Cove, but the people from both places insist that there is a difference, you included. You pull into the parking lot of the auto shop, and make sure to grab $scoob and put $scoob_himher on a harness and leash <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">>which always gets you odd looks, but you do not trust $scoob_possessive ability to behave and not run off to get into some nonsense.<</if>> You walk into the shop, tense and anxious, knowing how fucked your car is, and how badly you need to get to Misty Cove. [[Continue|C1.2]]

You walk to the front desk with $scoob, nobody is there, so you stand awkwardly waiting for someone to show up, which doesn't take too long. But when you hear the voice that comes from the person walking out from the door behind the desk, you have to make sure that you're hearing everything correctly. "Hi! So sorry that it took a moment, what can I do for you today?" Cameron's smile is still as bright as the god damn sun, if a bit strained, clearly a customer service smile if you've ever seen one. As $cam_heshe turns to face you fully you see $cam_hisher eyes go through a whole range of emotions before landing on surprise. "$mcname , I can't believe it!" <<if $mcheight is "very short">> $cam_heshe still towers over you, as they always did.<<elseif $mcheight is "short">> $cam_heshe still towers over you, as they always did. <<elseif $mcheight is "average">> You fall back into old routine and tip your head up to look them in the eyes. <<elseif $mcheight is "somewhat tall" or "very tall">> You look them dead in the eyes<</if>> before you look them up and down, though you know $cam_heshe has barely changed at all, still wearing a tank top that looks identical to the ones you have seen them wear many times whenever they had to work on $cam_hisher sedan, and later on, the van. <<if $cam_gender is "female">> her box braids are pulled back into a ponytail <<elseif $cam_gender is "male">> his short, curly hair looks a lot healthier now, less damaged than the last time you saw him, now that he is no longer bleaching his hair <</if>>. $cam_heshe looks so bright, almost exactly the same as the last time you saw $cam_himher . though you notice that their eyes are drooping, like sleep deprivation has taken hold of $cam_himher. You feel odd, realizing that you can still tell these things on Cameron. The small changes, even four years never seeing each other can't kill that, you guess. You realize that you haven't replied to them yet. •<<link "It's so good to see you!" "C1.3">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=3, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "It's good to see you. ♡" "C1.3">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_romance to Math.clamp($cam_romance +=1, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Cameron." "C1.3.1">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind -=2, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=3, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You can't find the words." "C1.3.2">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=2, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=1, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "You can't find the words. ♡" "C1.3.2">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive -=2, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_romance to Math.clamp($cam_romance +=1, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You feel yourself smile widely and match Cameron's expression. $cam_hisher kindness is contagious as always. You can't help but feel a small pang of hurt, remembering the last time you saw $cam_himher but you can't find it in you to care about that right now. Though you can see that now $cam_heshe seems unsure what to do. "it's really good to see you too." $cam_heshe is still showing $cam_hisher megawatt smile, walking out from behind the counter, you can see they're trying to read whether or not they should go in for a hug. •<<link "You playfully push them away [play as touch averse, physical touch can only be initiated by your character in the future.]" "C1.4">><<set $touch to "touch averse">><</link>> •<<link "You bring them in. [play as non-touch averse]" "C1.4">><<set $touch to "non touch averse">><</link>>

You say coldly, and Cameron's smile falls. "Yeah, I know, we didn't leave on, the best of terms." $cam_heshe doesn't look you in the eyes. Understatement of the damn century. “But I mean, I have missed you. I hope you know that.” You got that message pretty clear whenever they sent you postcards and pictures of $cam_hisher life out in California, working on $cam_hisher master’s degree. Though you still have the bad taste in your mouth of that last night. The memory of that night starts to creep in, but you shake your head out of it before it even begins then turn to face Cameron again. •<<link "That was four years ago. I’m over it now [lie]" "C1.4">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($expressive +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=2, 0, 100)>><<set $camupset to "true">><</link>> •<<link "Yeah, it was fucked up" "C1.4">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=1, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=1, 0, 100)>><<set $camupset to "false">><</link>> •<<link "I missed you too." "C1.4">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=3, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=3, 0, 100)>><<set $camupset to "false">><</link>>

<<if $camupset is "true">> Cameron loses $cam_hisher smile and $cam_hisher jaw seems to tighten, "Well anyways, what brings you in here today? I'm assuming car trouble."<<elseif $camupset is "false">> Cameron sighs and says "I know it was shitty, but I also know this probably isn't the best place to hash that out." You start to get annoyed that $cam_heshe is doing the eaxct same avoid the topic thing they always do. but they move on too quickly for you to call them out, when $cam_heshe comes out from behind the counter and looks outside to where you're parked. "So, what's up with your car that brings you here?" <</if>> <<if $touch is "touch averse">> "Right, sorry, forgot you weren't a fan of that" $cam_heshe grimaces for a moment in embarrasment before turning $cam_hisher attention to $scoob. "Hi dude!" $cam_heshe reaches out to let $scoob_himher sniff $cam_hisher hand, and $scoob looks very happy once Cameron starts petting $scoob_himher. Cameron is still petting $scoob_himher when they look up "So, what brings you here? The car troubles, I mean." <<elseif $touch is "non touch averse">> They wrap you in a hug, and you can still smell the same lavender scent that $cam_heshe has been using since junior year of high school. When $cam_heshe pulls away, $cam_heshe notices $scoob. $cam_hisher eyes light up as $cam_heshe leans down to look at $scoob at eye level "Hi dude!" $cam_heshe reaches out to let $scoob_himher sniff $cam_hisher hand, and $scoob looks very happy once they're being pet. Cameron is still petting $scoob_himher when they look up "So, what brings you here? The car troubles, I mean. I assume at least."<</if>> You explain that you think one of the shocks snapped, and if the look on Cameon's face is anything, then you highly doubt it's going to get fixed without it having a high price tag. "It's gonna be really bad isn't it?" you say with your brows furrowed and your lips pulled into a thin line. "I hate to say it, but yeah. My boss might be able to find the parts, but from what you told me about the rest of the car, it's not gonna be too long before it breaks down for a different reason. It would honestly be cheaper just to get a new car." "Well. Fuck." you sigh and drag your hands down your face. <<if ndef $touch>>"Want a hug or something?" Cameron shrugs and has an odd expression on $cam_hisher face. •<<link "You laugh awkwardly and decline [play as touch averse, physical touch can only be initiated by your character in the future.]" "C1.4.1">><<set $touch to "touch averse">><</link>> •<<link "You laugh awkwardly and decline [play as non touch averse]" "C1.4.1">><<set $touch to "non touch averse">><</link>> •<<link "You don't reply and instead just hug them. [play as non-touch averse]" "C1.4.1">><<set $touch to "non touch averse">><</link>> •<<link "You don't reply and instead just hug them. [play as touch averse]" "C1.4.1">><<set $touch to "touch averse">><</link>> <<elseif $touch is "touch averse" or "non touch averse">> "I just don't know what I'm going to do. I have to get to Misty Cove for work and I have no idea how I'm going to get there." <<link "'I mean, I have an idea, I don't know if you'd agree to it.'" "C1.5">><</link>><</if>>

You try to open your mouth and say something, but just end up staring awkwardly, opening and closing you mouth like a fish. <<if $cam_romance is 0>> You don't know how to respond after seeing Cameron after so long. You two used to be so close. <<elseif $cam_romance is 2>> You feel your face heat up, for some god forsaken reason, looking at Cameron is making you slightly flustered, even after not seeing them for four years. This reunion would already be hard enough without this.<</if>> "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out or anything." Cameron isn't entirely sure how to hand this situation either it seems. "You're- you're fine, I promise. I was just. Very surprised to see you here. I thought you moved out to California for your masters?" "I did, but, I stay back in Misty Cove during summers to help out my parents, plus the rent prices are killer, so." "Oh." You still aren't sure how to approach it. Cameron comes out from behind the counter. "I know this sounds weird, but it's been way too long. Can I give you a hug or something?" •<<link "You laugh awkwardly and decline [play as touch averse, physical touch can only be initiated by your character in the future.]" "C1.4">><<set $touch to "touch averse">><</link>> •<<link "You don't reply and instead just hug them. [play as non-touch averse]" "C1.4">><<set $touch to "non touch averse">><</link>>

“What?” “I could drive you up there once my shift is over, We have coffee and snacks in the lobby in the meantime, I might be able to get off early.” Cameron starts pulling at the bottom hem of $cam_hisher tank top. You're tring to debate your options. There aren't any busses that come out here, no taxi's or ubers, and you need to get to your motel. Unfortunately for you, this seems like your only choice, unless you want to risk driving your car, which seems like your worst option, even if you were being forced to accept Cameron's offer, "Well, sure." “Okay! Well, I get off at 8, and I’m not entirely sure what to do with your car, but we can probably figure that out later, you know?” “Yeah, yeah, for sure." You are so out of it, you can't believe this is what life has brought you to, "Maybe I can look at everything in the meantime before you get off.” “Sounds good! I can help you out later if you want, I’m not sure how long you’ll be in town but I mean, I can try to help, I already said that but you know what I mean.” Cameron's eyes are darting around and $cam_hisher hands are playing with the hem of $cam_hisher shirt. You chuckle, you had forgotten how flustered Cameron could get when they didn’t know how to talk to people, and how quickly their overconfidence falls away with people they know. “That would be great.” you say with a smile. [[Continue|C1.6]]

[[Stats]] [[Inventory]] [[Relationships]] [[Credits]]

Relationships Cameron <div class="status-bar"> <b>Friendship</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $cam_friendship + '%;"><i>($cam_friendship%)</i></div>' >> </div> <<if $cam_romance gt 0>> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Romance</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $cam_romance + '%;"><i>($cam_romance%)</i></div>' >> </div> <</if>> $roname <div class="status-bar"> <b>Friendship</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $ro_friendship + '%;"><i>($ro_friendship%)</i></div>' >> </div> <<if $r_rom gte 1>> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Romance</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $r_rom + '%;"><i>($r_rom%)</i></div>' >> </div> <</if>> Ollie <div class="status-bar"> <b>Friendship</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $o_friendship + '%;"><i>($o_friendship%)</i></div>' >> </div> <<if $o_romance gt 3>> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Romance</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $o_romance + '%;"><i>($o_romance%)</i></div>' >> </div> <</if>> Terra <div class="status-bar"> <b>Friendship</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $t_friendship + '%;"><i>($t_friendship%)</i></div>' >> </div> <<if $t_romance gt 3>> <div class="status-bar"> <b>Romance</b> <<= '<div class="sb-fill" style="width: ' + $t_romance + '%;"><i>($t_romance%)</i></div>' >> </div> <</if>> <<return "Return to Game">>

After a few hours of waiting in the lobby, scrolling through options for new cars and grimacing, then looking at all the parts you probably need to replace on your current car and feeling your expression twist into one of abject terror, before deciding to put away your phone and try to keep $scoob entertained. Eventually, Cameron and yourself move all of yours and $scoob 's items to $cam_hisher car, and get on the road. [[Continue|C1.7]]

“I'm sorry that your car broke down man,” Cameron says while tapping on the steering wheel on beat with the music. “Thanks for driving me into town.” You shrug and try to get comfortable in the passenger's seat. You don’t know how to feel, how to act, where are you even supposed to begin. The last time you ever saw Cameron was one of the worst nights of your life, even though you only remember flashes of it. <<link "Not for your lack of trying" "C1.8.0">><<set $memory to "yes">><</link>> <<link "Though admittedly, you're not sure you want to" "C1.8.0">><<set $memory to "no">><</link>>

<<if $carconvo1 is "idk">> "Yeah I get that. I live here three months out of the year and I still feel weird every time I come back." You sigh in agreement, and thankfully Cameron understands what you mean.<<elseif $carconvo1 is "boo">> "I'm sorry." $cam_heshe says, truly remorseful it seems. "There's no need to be," You shrug. and Cameron seems intent on moving the conversation forward.<<elseif $carconvo1 is "lie">> <<if $cunning gt 20>> Cameron doesn't seem to catch your lie, and they seem surprised by your lack of distain going home. <<elseif $cunning lt 20>> Cameron side eyes you but doesn't point out your very obvious lie, letting it slide this time. <</if>> <</if>> "Oh, before we get into town, I should probably let you know that." $cam_heshe mutters a name under $cam_hisher breath. "Lives in town now" "Who?" "Terra." "As in, Terra Clarke?" "Yeah." $cam_heshe draws in $cam_hisher lips into a thin line. "She runs Randy's now." Hearing that name you... •<<link "Remember how awful you were to her [This option harms your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "mutual">><</link>> •<<link "Hope that you both have grown since high school[This option harms your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "mutual">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=1,0,100)>><</link>> •<<link "Remember how awful she was to you and your friends [this option does not harm your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "one-sided">><</link>> •<<link "Hope she's grown up since high school [This option does not harm your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "one-sided">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=1,0,100)>><</link>>

<<if $carconvo1 is "idk">> "Yeah I get that. I mean, I live here a few months out of the year and I still feel weird every time I come back." You sigh in agreement, and thankfully Cameron understands what you mean. <<elseif $carconvo1 is undefined>> Cameron seems genuinely surprised that you're excited to go back to Misty Cove. You simply shrug and start to look out the window.<</if>> "Oh, before we get into town, I should probably let you know," $cam_heshe pauses and sighs. "Terra lives in town now." "As in, Clarke?" "Yeah." $cam_heshe draws in $cam_hisher lips into a thin line. "She runs Randy's now." Hearing that name you... •<<link "Remember how awful you were to her [This option harms your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "mutual">><</link>> •<<link "Hope that you both have grown since high school [This option harms your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "mutual">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=1,0,100)>><</link>> •<<link "Remember how awful she was to you and your friends [This option does not harm your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "one-sided">><</link>> •<<link "Hope she's grown up since high school [This option does not harm your past relationship with Terra]" "C1.9">><<set $t_past to "one-sided">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=1,0,100)>><</link>>

High School was an awful time for everybody, with very few exceptions. You remember Terra was always nasty towards you and your friends. She despised you. <<if $t_past is "mutual">> Something you returned in kind. You remember a particularly bloody fight during one of the summers she was there, hanging out in one of the public parks near your home. You had started that fight, taunting her, goading her into throwing the first punch so you could fight back without too much consequence, what could you say? You were nasty to her, just like her relentless mocking and resentment towards you and your friends, you wanted payback. It didn't stop you from feeling bad after you slammed her head into a table, knocking out two of her teeth. Both of you filled with rage and bitterness that at the time, both of you felt like nobody else would understand. It was gory, and no matter how much rage you had at the time, you thought it would never be enough, even when you saw the blood pouring out of her mouth, as she spat out her teeth onto the grass and looked at you with such contempt you almost started punching again, until it got broken up by her mother, who you didn't realize was there. Randy, her grandfather, was disappointed in the both of you for it, but it never stopped the rageful and bitter words and blows passing between you two every summer. The hatred was always there, boiling your blood, and you're sure hers as well. Even with how many years had passed, you would not be surprised if she still despised you. You think some part of you still hates her.<<elseif $t_past is "one-sided">> Something that you tried to never acknowledge. You never wanted to give her the satisfaction of getting under your skin, even if she did. You remember a particularly bad fight that had happened between her and $roname , and though Terra never had any real skills, especially compared to $roname , She and $roname had both bloodied each other, bad. Terra then seemed to avoid your group as whole when she could, even if her and $roname would still fight occasionally (thankfully verbally). But, after she graduated and stopped returning during the summers, it was much easier to forget it, let it slip away into your memory.<</if>> Looking back at Terra, and the way it all went down, there's always the regret that weighs heavy on you, one of my many regrets you hold about your life. Some days you can't help but look back through the memories and wonder what you could have changed, so that maybe you'll be able to sleep at night without the crushing wave of guilt. There isn't much longer left in the drive, and you don't want to go down memory lane with Cameron sitting right next to you. You shake yourself out of it and try to focus on the road ahead. [[Until you see something out of the corner of your eye.|C1.10]]

Your eyes dart to look out the window, and apparently, $scoob saw the same thing, as $scoob_heshe looks out the window as well, and makes an odd noise. Something keeps flashing past you, but you don't know if it's real. It's late, the sun has set, your brain must be playing tricks on you. There are only fifteen minutes left in the drive. You keep repeating it in your head, only 15 minutes, then 14, 13, 12. A few moments later, you look out the window again. It's still there. Still running alongside the car at the edge of the road A creature who almost reminds you of a roadrunner. It doesn't look quite right, though. Its lengs are too long, its head doesn't have the plume of feathers, but mostly, it's far too big, almost as large as a coyote, which you've seen eat roadrunners in only a few bites. (the cartoons aren't always right) You try to get a closer look, to see if its nothing, or, well you aren't sure what the alternative is. $scoob starts <<if $scoobspecies is "dog">>barking <<elseif $scoobspecies is "cat">>hissing<</if>> so loudly that it startles Cameron. "Is $scoob_heshe alright?" Cameron is worried, you can't pull your eyes away from the thing running alongside the road. "$mcname " $cam_heshe says, trying to not take $cam_hisher eyes off the road. $cam_heshe repeats it a few times before you can finally pull your eyes away. "Did you see that thing?" You look at Cameron, eyes wide and heart pounding. $scoob has stopped and has gone back to sleep. "No? What was it? You and $scoob both looked freaked out." •<<link "I don't know." "C1.11">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=2, 0, 100)>><</link>> <span style="color:#5a475E"> ==•Something wrong, that's what== ==•We need to leave== ==•We need to run==</span>

The rest of the ten minute drive into town is uneventful. Your skin is still prickly and you are filled with unease. "I haven't eaten anything, do you wanna stop by Randy's for dinner?" Cameron says more as a politeness, as you already recognize that $cam_heshe is going to Randy's already. "Sure." You haven't eaten either, and your stomach is grumbling. "Do you wanna stay out here or come inside?" You can't be alone right now. You know that. The buzzing in your head has returned. "I'll come inside." Cameron nods and keeps driving, before pulling into the parking lot of Randy's Diner at a spot right in front, since there are only 3 other people sitting inside. The neon red lights of the diner’s sign reflecting off the hood of the car, and you stare through the window for the first time in four years. You stare inside at the old leather booths, the greasy fries and burgers you would eat during finals week, looking at a woman with blonde hair put into a low bun scrubbing at the counter, Terra you assume. You turn around to face $scoob, rolling down the window back there ever so slightly, even though $scoob_heshe is asleep. "We'll be right back, okay buddy." you whisper to them and pet $scoob_himher behind the ears. [[Continue|C1.12]]

Walking inside is a very odd feeling. Even just stepping out of the car and looking around you can still see the copious amounts of yucca plants across the street through the darkness. It smells like home, and you aren’t sure if that’s a good thing as you walk towards the diner. The last time you came here was the last day you were in Misty Cove in any official capacity, you were fully moving out from your parents house, and they had decided to sell the home you grew up in, leaving New Mexico for good and moving to Rhode Island with some family members you had never heard of, for a "change of scenery". You picked up lunch from here that day, said goodbye to Mr. Clarke, and then left. That day, and even everything before that feels like a dream that has long since passed floating in the back of your mind. And yet, here you are. Standing on the checkered floor, surrounded by the old images of famous actresses on the off-white walls, right behind Cameron and staring at the letterboard menu in front of you. Terra hasn’t noticed you quite yet, but as she looks up from cleaning the counter she locks eyes with you and her own widen considerably. “$mcname ?” “Yes?” You almost cringe at the delivery, unsure of what to say. “I- What can I get for you two?” she slips into a customer service voice and you don’t feel ready to have this conversation. Any conversation really. You feel your joints lock in place and your stomach curl into even tighter knots, and you can see Terra decidedly avoids looking you in the eyes even as you place your orders. You both place your orders and end up waiting at a booth. The other two men sitting at other tables look at you trying to remember who both you and Cameron are, you feel eyes boring into the back of your head. Thankfully, there aren’t many people who seem to care too much about who you are, and your friends former jobs, sure, you were on the news a few times and many people were amazed by your detective skills, but most of the cases you all solved were incredibly low profile, low stakes, but with a high value for the people who are affected by them. Human cases. "Sorry this whole day has been really weird." Cameron pulls you out of your thoughts, you turn to face them, and it strikes you how their mouth is drawn, and $cam_heshe is scratching their arm raw, like $cam_heshe is trying to get at something underneath $cam_hisher skin. "It's fine." "Is it though? 'Cause I mean, I know you haven't seen me in actual years, and I don't want to make you feel awkward, even though that's probably unavoidable at this point." •<<link "'Really, you're fine.'" "C1.12.A">><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $camconvo to "fine">><</link>> •<<link "'Cameron, I promise you, it's fine' ♡" "C1.12.A">><<set $cam_romance to Math.clamp($cam_romance +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $camconvo to "flirt">><</link>> •<<link "'I appreciate the concern'" "C1.12.A">><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=1, 0, 100)>><<set $camconvo to "appreciate">><</link>> •<<link "You can't say that you aren't uncomfortable" "C1.12.A">><<set $camconvo to "uncomfortable">><</link>> •<<link "You can't ignore the elephant in the room anymore." "C1.12.A">><<set $camconvo to "elephant">><</link>>

You were out on a case, you don’t know what, <<if $memory is "yes">>despite how many times you’ve asked Cameron and $roname and no matter how many times Ollie has ignored your calls.<</if>> That night, you walked home alone, and knew it was done. <<if $memory is "no">>You try not to remember the specific details of it.<</if>> It still stings when you remember that night, time has not smoothed over this wound. It’s hard to forget. <<if $memory is "yes">> Even harder to to remember some days.<</if>> But you make yourself stop thinking about it for now. “So, how does it feel to go back?” Cameron says while tapping $cam_hisher fingers on the steering wheel. <<if $fond is "0">> •<<link "Not great but it’s not like I had any choice" "C1.8.not">><<set $carconvo1 to "boo">><</link>> •<<link "I don’t know" "C1.8.not">><<set $carconvo1 to "idk">><</link>> •<<link "Pretty good [lie]" "C1.8.not">><<set $carconvo1 to "lie">><</link>> <<elseif $fond is "1">> •<<link "Good actually. I might get answers." "C1.8.yes">><</link>> •<<link "I don't know." "C1.8.yes">><<set $carconvo1 to "idk">><</link>> <</if>>

What's your surname? <<textbox "$mcsurname" "">> <<link "Continue" "pro 2">><</link>>

"That sucks man." Cameron shrugs and has an expression on their face that says I don't know what to do and this is better than saying anything else they could have thought up. "I just don't know what I'm going to do. I have to go to Misty Cove for work and I have no idea how the fuck I'm going to get there." <<link "'I mean, I have an idea, I don't know if you'd agree to it.'" "C1.5">><</link>>

<<if $journal1 is "false">>Nothing of importance yet... <<elseif $journal1 is "true">> •[[Journal of D.A.]]<</if>> <<return "Return to Game">>

As the phantom continues his speech, you and $roname begin to look at each other knowingly and smile, all of those times poking fun at each other weren't for nothing, and you both are practiced at the art of making someone so frustrated they forgot what they were doing. "Man, when's the real evil plan gonna start?" $roname yawns for effect. The phantom whips his head around to face you, still half blinded by the lights, not noticing that Cameron has already snuck backstage. "You idiotic child! You both know nothing of the art of theater! and how disrespectful this production is-" $roname subtly gestures for you to take it from here, "I think you've said that enough time in the past 5 minutes of your rambling, we get it, the show is awful and you're mad about it. Come up with something original at least. What were you even planning to get out of this scheme?" It's something that has been bothering your whole team this whole night. The phantom scoffs, "I do not need to explain myself to two rude children." You look past him to see Cameron creeping out of the shadows, you only need to stall for a bit longer. "So, no reason and now you're scrambling? got it." "Would you two-" He is interupted by Cameron finally getting $cam_hisher lasso in the air and around his torso. He gets yanked to the floor by force, and there's a rush of tech crew trying to figure out how to remove him. "And that, Lovely people in the audience, Is how you catch a villian with delusions of granduer." You and $roname look at each other and bow, to the dead silence of the audience, you can hear some people whisper about if its supposed to be a part of the show. You would have hoped for at least some claps for capturing the villian, though to be fair this whole night has been one odd, stressful blur for you. [[Continue|flashback 1.11.0]]

<<if $t_past is "one-sided" and $dinerconvo is "apology">>“I’m sorry too” She laughs hollowly, “What do you have to be sorry for?” “I mean, I wasn’t, actively, a jerk to you, but I still feel bad about the whole thing.” "Oh my god, shut up will you? I'm trying to have a good apology and you're one upping me by- I mean, its fine, you're fine." Cameron snorts and looks down, smiling into their drink. Embarrassed to get caught paying attention. <<elseif $t_past is "one-sided" and $dinerconvo is "No apology">> "Well, is it at least a pleasant surprise?" she cringes and continues to curl in on herself. You can't deny that it's nice that she's grown up at least a little bit, being all of 27 years old, "Yeah, yeah I guess it is." "I mean, I agree." Cameron says it very softly, you think everyone is still unsure how to approach everything happening. <<elseif $t_past is "mutual" and $dinerconvo is "No apology">>"Well, I wasn't expecting it either, but I figured //one// of us has to say something." She glances up to your eyes for only a moment before going to look anywhere else on your face. You are slightly uncomfortable with the implications. You didn't apologize, nor do you want to. It's high school bullshit, what's the point. <<elseif $t_past is "mutual" and $dinerconvo is "apology">>"I'm sorry too" Terra has a tired smile on her face. "On the brightside when you knocked my teeth in I was finally able to get braces." she pauses to laugh at herself, before her tone changes and she looks at you, in the eyes this time, while messing with her clip-on earring, "But, I'm glad we both can admit we were fucked up kids." "You and me both." You turn and see that Cameron has been staring out the window the whole time. They never got involved when it came to Terra, in fact trying to avoid her like the plague. They have never been good at conflict, but now they seem to be content. Though in the reflection on the window, Cameron seems to be covering up a small smile by putting $cam_hisher hand on $cam_hisher mouth. <</if>> Terra rests her head on her chair and tilts her head to face you fully, "Well, either way, what brings you into town?"<<if $t_past is "mutual" and $dinerconvo is "No apology" and $observation gt "30">> her jaw ticks, but she readjusts.<</if>> "Work. Somebody bought a house close by and then it got burnt down, and I'm just here for insurance stuff." You shrug and feel odd about the look on Terra's face as her eyes widen in shock. "Wow. I never pictured you working in insurance." You snort, "yeah, me neither." Cameron now looks decidedly uncomfortable. You wonder exact what $cam_heshe is thinking. Does $cam_heshe feel guilty? Sorrowful? Just plain discomfort? Cameron is normally incredibly easy to read, $cam_heshe still has been all day, but this one moment seems to escape you. <<if $camconvo is "elephant">> You can't help but feel more upset.<</if>> "But yeah, I heard about that. I think the new mayor ended up negotiating and selling a bunch of old places to 'better the town.' Plus I live pretty close by, I saw the smoke." "Oh." "Yeah, the past few years have been interesting." She says it with a furrowed brow and a look past you and out into the parking lot. You notice that there are bags under her eyes and she's clenching her jaw. "Clearly." Terra has an alarm on her phone go off and she dismisses it. Back to her customer service mode, "Well, as much as I would love to stay and talk with you two, I need to get home, so I'm gonna have to kick you out." You simply nod and Cameron follows suit, gathering up your trash to toss out. "Would you say hi to Randy for us?" Cameron says as you both walk outside. "Of course." She says and smiles wearily, like just that one sentence has drained her of all the energy she had before, even if it had seemed strained at best. [[Continue|C1.14]]

You both get back to the car, the dark blue paint washed out by the bright red neon lights, and Cam turns to face you. "Oh, I forgot to ask, where are you staying?" "That one motel over by The White Ram." you can't remember the name of the motel itself, Cameron pulls a face. "Why?" "Because it's the only hotel here." You always hated that damn place, but it's not like you have another choice. "Do you want to stay at my place?" You're taken aback. It makes zero sense, <<if $camconvo is "elephant">> especially since you just got through yelling at $cam_himher<</if>>"Don't you stay with your parents to help them out?" "Well yeah, but-" "So my only option for staying there is either the couch or taking over your room? That's not fair to you, me, or $scoob ," you point your thumb at the backseat, where $scoob is sleeping. "Plus, my job already paid for me to stay there." "I mean, yeah, but I'm not gonna let my-" $cam_heshe pauses trying to find the right word. It feels like a punch to the gut. "I'm not gonna let you stay there, I would feel bad. I mean, obviously you don't have to stay at my place. I just know that every time we had to stake out at that hotel you complained, and it was all gross." •<<link "Fine, fine." "C1.15">><<set $carconvo2 to "fine">><<set $location to "cameron">><</link>> •<<link "Only if you're not just saying it to be nice ♡" "C1.15">><<set $cam_romance to Math.clamp($cam_romance +=1, 0, 100)>><<set $carconvo2 to "rom">><<set $location to "cameron">><</link>> •<<link "I'll be alright. I'll stay at the motel." "C1.motel1">><<set $carconvo2 to "motel">><<set $location to "motel">><</link>> •<<link "I'm just exhausted, and I don't want to be around people right now." "C1.15">><<set $carconvo2 to "people">><<set $location to "motel">><</link>> •<<link "I'm not staying with you." "C1.motel1">><<set $carconvo2 to "not">><<set $location to "motel">><</link>>

<<if $camconvo is "fine">>You know how Cameron can be some days, anxiety consuming them so fiercely in specific moments, and you always felt, and it seems continue to feel, the need to comfort them. You are hurt. Of course you're hurt, but it's hard not to slip back into the old routine, even with the doubt at the back of your mind. Even with the discomfort. "Thanks. I know I was rambling, but I really do care." Cameron looks painfully awkward at this moment but still has a smile on their face. "I know you do, trust me. I've known you for most of our lives, it would be hard not to know." What a dork.<<elseif $camconvo is "flirt">>You don't realize the undertones until after you say it, the warmth and affection that seeps into your tone, until it's too late. You are hurt. Of course you're hurt, but it's hard not to slip back into the old routine, to care for Cameron even with the doubt at the back of your mind. Even with the discomfort. It's still difficult to tell when Cameron blushes, but it's very easy to tell when $cam_heshe is flustered otherwise, and you almost laugh when they start clamming up. $cam_heshe very nearly started choking on $cam_hisher drink. "Um, thank- Thank you? I think?" Their eyes start darting around in an attempt to look anywhere but your face, mostly out of embarrassment. You simply laugh, and Cameron (very unsubtly) moves the topic of conversation along while you continue to eat.<<elseif $camconvo is "appreciate">> Cameron doesn't reply but instead smiles, before shifting $cam_hisher attention back to eating $cam_hisher burger. <<elseif $camconvo is "uncomfortable">> You aren't sure what to say, because you don't want to be a dick, especially because Cam already offered you a ride and bought dinner ($cam_heshe insisted) but this whole scenario is far too strange for you. You haven't forgotten that they have tried to move on like nothing has happened despite the fact that everything these past few years has changed so immensely, you can't say you really want to be here right now. "Um, I mean, I'm not really sure what to say." "No, it's fine, I get it. This whole thing is weird for me too." You can't help but think that that feels extremely hypocritical, as if $cam_heshe wasn't the one who wanted to push everything under the rug the first time, "Well you're a hell of a lot better at hiding it." "Really? I've been suffering through this whole day trying not to feel weird about the whole thing." "Well, it is really, really weird. We haven't seen each other in four years, and-" you pause, you don't want to talk about the last time you saw $cam_himher with the terror on their face, walking away with a quiet apology, and $roname yelling in the rain. "I mean, it's just really weird." "Yeah, it really is." Cameron quickly, and very obviously, tries to change the topic of conversation while you both finish eating your food. <<elseif $camconvo is "elephant">> "Then why don't we actually talk about it?" "What?" You can't tell if $cam_heshe is trying to play dumb or is genuinely confused. "That night in the desert, what happened. And why won't you tell me?"<<if $flashback1 is "help">> The little that you got out of Ollie has never satisfied you. 'You told them to leave' is not near enough to get you to stop thinking about everything surrounding that night. <</if>> Cameron stiffens and you can tell $cam_heshe is fidgeting again. "I don't-I don't know what you're talking about." "Bullshit!" You shout it louder than you meant to, but you can't find yourself to care. Cameron stares you dead in the eyes and says nothing. "What, so we're just never gonna talk about it? You're gonna pretend that everything is fine?" Cameron continues to stay quiet. $cam_heshe goes back to $cam_hisher food. You feel your face twist into an expression of disgust. Nothing is going to happen right now, so you roll your eyes and go back to your meal too, even if your blood is boiling. <</if>> After a few minutes, the other people in the diner leave before Terra finishes cleaning their tables and looks over to your booth. “Is it alright if I sit with you guys?” Before you get the chance to reply, Cameron says, “Sure.” Terra thankfully doesn’t pull into your booth, instead picking up a chair and bringing it over and setting the back against the table, sitting backwards on the chair. “Well, first things first, I wanted to say," she looks like she is about to vomit as she makes a face, her honey colored eyes squinting, "I’m sorry.” You’re taken aback at her candidness. You were expecting subtle, snide remarks at your expense, and if she did apologize... well you don't think that you ever considered it. Even if she still looks like she's about to hurl. You aren't sure if its because she is doing it despite her resentment, or if she is just wants to move past it and isn't sure how you're going to take it. “What?” She looks at you with her eyebrow raised, apparently you weren’t hiding your surprise as well as you should have. •<<link "I just wasn't expecting it" "C1.13">><<set $dinerconvo to "No apology">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($ +=3, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "I'm sorry too" "C1.13">><<set $dinerconvo to "apology">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($ -=3, 0, 100)>><</link>>

<<if $carconvo2 is "people">>"Right, I'm sorry." Cameron is clearly not happy, but they don't get the right to be angry about this. "Thank you." you sigh. You love Cameron's parents, they often acted more as your role models than your own parents, though you can't deny that still stings. [[Continue|C1.motel1]]<<elseif $carconvo2 is "rom">> Cameron smiles at you, before turning to face the dashboard, and not speaking. Not because you think $cam_heshe is uncomfortable, but simply because they are horrendously awkward. You are too, especially right now, so you have no room to judge. "I do mean it," $cam_heshe murmurs after a moment. "Well then I'll stay." "Good." $cam_heshe straightens up and decidedly refuses to acknowledge the undertones in your statment beyond this right now. "Plus, I know that $roname lives around there, and I doubt $ro_heshe would be happy to see me." Right. You forgot that $roname lived here. You're bound to run into them at one point or another, and you're not sure how you feel about it. [[Continue|C1.16]]<<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine">> "No need to sound so bitter about it" $cam_heshe snorts. You elbow $cam_himher playfully instead of actually responding. "Well hey, if you need even more reasoning, I know that $roname lives around there, and I doubt $ro_heshe would be very happy to see me at the very least. Right. You almost forgot that $roname lived here. You're bound to run into them at one point or another, and you're not sure how you feel about it. "Let's head back to your house then." [[Continue|C1.16]]<</if>>

When you wake up you can’t help but cough. It’s a violent fit that shakes your whole body, you have to force air through your lungs, you want to scream. It burns, it hurts to breathe, you almost feel like you're going to vomit. You’re lying on your back breathing deep, you can't bring yourself to move for a while. It's a struggle to get up off of the ground, looking around finally seeing where you are, surrounded by sand dunes. the grains stick to your skin. You finally look to notice that it's raining. You’re still in a daze, it’s still so hard to breathe, You're shaking and panicking, scrambling around trying to figure everything out. You have to force yourself to take a deep breath center yourself. and you keep having to rub at your eyes, everything around you is blurry and it won’t go away. Your heart is pounding, and you have to force yourself to breathe, though it is getting easier. You realize that you're alone. You know for a fact that you shouldn't be. It's more important to get up and get moving but now it’s the only thing you can think about. What the fuck happened after you blacked out? Where is everybody? How did you get here? And what the hell were those glowing eyes about? The questions are repeating over and over in your head, trying to go through you're normal deductive process, something that comes to you like breathing. It takes a while to break your brain out of that pattern, you know you can't answer those questions right now. It takes a minute to fully stand and start moving again. Your whole body hurts, noticing the discolored splotches of skin on your arms, and you have no doubt on the rest of your body. That and your face feels so stiff that even blinking is a chore. With a deep, staggering breath that you forcefully take, you begin walking up the dunes, and towards the lights of Misty Cove. It’s a long walk away, but one that you're going to have to make either way. [[Continue|pro 0.2]]

As you make your way down the streets of Misty Cove, looking around at the dying patches of grass, and in your attempt to avoid stepping on cactus you begin to start stumbling into the street, but you can’t find yourself to care. You need to keep moving, and even if you get hit by a car, it might as well be a mercy. Your head is spinning, your eyes still won’t focus, and something in the back of your head won’t stop humming. A few times as you walk you double over, leaning onto cars in an attempt to stabilize yourself. You shake your head and resolve to keep moving. wandering down the center of road, you don't feel anything at all, you have to keep all of your energy focused on walking, rather than falling down. You are in a complete daze as you walk down on the asphalt towards one place you know very well. Randy's diner. [[Continue|pro 0.3]]

The water is dripping down your face, it's not helping your still blurry vision. You look up to the red neon sign like your salvation, relief is flooding your body and you finally begin to relax, even if you know something is wrong. You aren't hungry, but you can’t bear the thought of walking back home to an empty house. You stop in front of the doors, can’t bring yourself to go inside, and you have to squint to recognize that your friends //are// inside, talking about something. Why weren’t they with you? You were on a case, right? You know that you were, but you can't bring yourself to trust your own brain with that black out. You always thought that nobody would have ever left each other behind but, it seems you were proven wrong. Why else would you have woken up, alone, in the desert, only a little ways out from Misty Cove? You are trying to think harder about what case you four were on. But the more you think about it, that humming starts to cloud over your thoughts again, starting in the back of your mind but as you keep trying to remember, keep trying to ask questions, it keeps growing so much louder, like it’s right by your ears. It’s so overwhelming and your head keeps spinning, bile is rising in your throat before you yell out, “Stop!” The buzzing is still there. Quiet now. You stagger over to the front steps as the rain washes over you, looking out on the yucca that surrounded the parking lot. Every car is lightly tinged red. You're feeling grimy, covered in sand. You can't think of much, sitting at Randy’s stoop. The thing that consumes your brain is how much your body hurts. Then you notice the shadows over you. You look up to face Ollie, Cameron, and $roname , all of them shrouded in darkness with a ring of light surrounding them. Ollie speaks first. “How did you get back here?” Their mouth is drawn into a thin line. Their leather jacket and pale skin is reflecting the red lights of the diner, squinting in the dark as if they truly can’t believe what they’re seeing. You mumbled a response, “Walking.” “I-I mean, how are you here? Right now.” You’re confused by the question, “You tell me.” “Fuck.” They mumble under their breath. They turn to face Cameron and start to speak “We have to-” “Ollie, we can’t.” $cam_heshe looks dead serious, and you can’t help but feel more confused. $cam_hisher large brown eyes look red around the edges, like they’ve been crying. “Can’t what?” it’s the loudest you can bring yourself to speak. “Do you remember anything that happened tonight?” Ollie tries to look you in the eyes, though you can't bring yourself to do the same. “No. I blacked out once those,” you hesitate, "people, looked at us. What happened" “Nothing.” Cameron says forcefully. //Enter your name below// <<textbox "$mcname" "">> [[Continue|pro 0.4]]

<<if $mchairlength is "bald">> or in this case, lack of hair. You do a once more of yourself, making sure that you look presentable enough to leave the house and begin to head out the door. Though you note how much you have changed over the years, <<listbox "$torc">> <<option "including your transistion" "trans">> <<option "though your gender expression and identity had not" "cis">> <</listbox>> [[Continue|pro 8.0]] <<elseif $mchairlength is "buzzed" or "ear length" or "chin length" or "shoulder length" or "back length" or "waist length">> you take car to make sure your hair looks proper, with it's <i>choose the color of your hair</i> <<listbox "$mchaircolor">> <<option "black">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "auburn">> <<option "red">> <<option "blond">> <<option "platinum blond">> <<option "grey">> <<option "white">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <<option "bright red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "orange">> <<option "pink">> <</listbox>> color, you begin to run your hands through <i>choose your hair texture/style</i> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairtexture" "straight" checked>>Straight</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairtexture" "wavy" checked>>Wavy</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairtexture" "curly" checked>>Curly</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairtexture" "coily" checked>>Coily</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairtexture" "braids" checked>>Braided</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairtexture" "locs" checked>>Locced</label> <</if>> Just to make sure you don't look like you've crawled straight out of bed.It's strange how muich you've changed over the years, <<listbox "$torc">> <<option "including your transistion" "trans">> <<option "though your gender expression and identity had not" "cis">> <</listbox>> You do a once more of yourself, making sure that you look presentable enough to leave the house and begin to head out the door. Though not before grabbing your <<listbox "$mcvision">> <<option "glasses">> <<option "contacts">> <</listbox>> [[Continue|pro 8.0]]

Walking up to the adobe house that you have a hard time remembering in the back of your mind right in front of you and in such a clear image, pulls you right back to your memories of staying here during sleepovers. Staying up late and watching horror movies with the others, Cameron being the biggest scaredy cat of the bunch. <<if $curious lte 50>> aside from yourself.<</if>> You grab your essentials bag and $soobname from the back seat, $scoob is tired, but seems happy to finally be back on solid ground, and in a place they recognize. $scoob_heshe leans against your legs while Cameron opens the door. "Wait, did you text your parents about this? I doubt they're okay with somebody staying in <i>their</i> house without them knowing." "$mcname I think I can honestly say my parents have missed you more than I have, it will be fine. With any luck they'll still be awake and we can ask them ourselves. But I am still not letting you stay at that motel." You can't help but feel like a child again, trying to convince a friend's parents to have a sleepover. Though this time you're far less sure about the answer, and feeling far too old to be put in this scenario again. Yourself, Cameron, and $scoob walk into the building and you catch the strong scent of food. You wish you hadn't eaten at Randy's, you would kill for some of the leftovers for dinner. you fall behind Cameron, and they walk past the foyer into the living room, where you hear voices. Faintly you can hear Cameron say something about 'not being mad' and the voice of Marissa, $cam_hisher mother asking why they would be mad. With Frank, $cam_hisher father grumbling along, clearly half asleep. Cameron peaks $cam_hisher head back out and gestures for you and $scoob_name to come into the room. You wave awkwardly as you enter, trying to make yourself small, before you hear a squeal from Marissa, and before you can process anything she is up and on you. <<if $touch is "touch averse">>not touching you, but looking over you intently before gesturing to see if she can take your hands. You can't help but feel an ache as you realize that she remembered. Frank is not far behind and does the same, looking at you with the same warmth in his face. It makes you realize how much you've missed them, and you almost start to cry. <<elseif $touch is "non touch averse">> she brings you into a tight hug, Frank not too far behind after rubbing his eyes, and putting on his glasses, making sure he's seeing things properly. They both smell like baked goods, and you realize you've missed them so much you almost want to cry.<</if>> Marissa and Frank Morris were basically a second set of parents to you and the rest of the gang. They loved everybody so unconditionally, and that trait was very clearly passed on to their child. They often felt more like parents to you than your own, and you are somehow still surprised when they start bombarding you with questions, How are you? How have you been? Why are you here? Do you need a place to stay? Is that why you're here? You quickly answer the questions, trying to not feel too overwhelmed, and somewhat succeeding. "Mom, Dad, $they just got done with a long road trip, maybe we calm down a little on the questions." Frank nods and backs away, hands in the air, "You're right, you're right." Marissa turns and faces Cameron, "Well, either way, have you two eaten dinner? we have leftover empanadas if you haven't." "It's alright Mrs. Morris, we stopped at Randy's on the way into town." You smile. "Well, then I suppose we should all be getting to bed, we can talk more tomorrow after we get off of work." You remember that both of the Morrises work an ungodly early shift at the general store they've both been working at for the past twenty-something years. "Sounds good to me." You say. [[Continue|C1.17]]

After some talk about where you were going to sleep <<if $carconvo2 is "rom">> Cameron getting flustered when they offered to share the bed.<</if>> an inflatable matress was found for you, while $scoob slept in the living room to avoid popping it, which you could tell $scoob_heshe was not very happy about, $scoob_heshe has gotten used to sleeping in your bed. Most of the time at the foot of it, but occasionally $scoob_heshe would demand that you give $scoob_himher pets and cuddle them by jumping onto your stomach in the middle of the night. You stare up at the ceiling. It's an odd, uncomfortable feeling to be back here, under circumstances you really did not want to be back here for. You almost wish you refused Cameron, not just for staying here but for the ride too, your car may be basically non-functioning, but that might have been better, even if it was your only way to get into town. Four years. Four years of barely talking, communicating only in the occasional postcards sent to you. You feel like you're stuck back in a dream, or maybe a nightmare. [[When you do get to sleep|C1.18]]

You find yourself in a confined space, surrounded by black. a crushing weight surrounding you, you feel like you're being compressed, closing in closer around you. You get the feeling that you're being buried alive. You try to scream, as the weight pressing on your chest increases, the air is pushed out of your lungs. The buzzing that you feel almost always now keeps pressing up against you, like it's about to break through your skull. You keep trying to thrash around, to move, do something, anything, escape this place you have found yourself in. It doesn't work. Yet you keep trying, keep fighting, even if you know that it's not going to work. You are trying to scream, but each time you try there's a burning that rips through your throat. Then, just for a second, it stops. you feel freed again. You can breathe. Then the buzzing returns, and becomes something like words. You know this isn't any human language, any human sound, but you understand it anyways. [[L̷̠̽̾͊eave while you still can..̵̻͉̈́̋|C1.19]]

You wake up with a start. You feel almost the same as you did, back out in the desert. You force the air back into your lungs. You look around, you're still in bed, Cameron doesn't seem to have woken up. Your eyes catch on something in the corner, you blink just to check, there's a figure standing in the corner. You blink again, and it's gone. You stare at the spot in the corner. You get the faint scent of patchouli, a smell that feels so out of place in this place, it makes you think of your mother. You shake that thought out of your head, and you go right back to the dream that you had. <<link "This can't be real" "C1.20">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=2, 0, 100)>><</link>> <<link "Fuck this." "C1.20">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=1, 0, 100)>><</link>> <<link "What's happening." "C1.20">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=4, 0, 100)>><</link>>

After waking up from your nightmare, you hear scratching at the door, and you go to open it and see $scoob, you think trying to open the door. You crouch down to look $scoob_himher in the eyes. "Hey buddy, I'm okay, I'm alright, I promise." You smile when $scoob starts to perk up again. You don't think you're getting back to sleep any time soon, so you carefully close the door behind you and go out into the living room, the whole house so cold, so when you get to the old dark beige couch you make sure to grab a blanket and wrap it around yourself. Looking out the windows you see that both of the other cars aside from Cameron's navy blue coupe. You try not to notice the bright red sedan that sits under a tarp. It's a relief on some level, you love Cameron’s parents and you've missed them a lot, but <<if $fond is "1">> you feel like you're imposing on them. <<elseif $fond is "0">>you don't want to upset them when you leave, but you know you can't stay here for long. Especially since you already feel like your imposing on them.<</if>> It's all messy and weird. You still aren't sure how to feel about Cameron, acting like everything is normal and the reason you haven't talked in 4 years is a simple case of growing apart. Not a mistake that cost you your livelihood. You didn't feel quite equipped to address it yesterday, but now that you're here, actually here, you can't help but feel strange. Your muscles are tense, especially with your dream, something feels wrong, and you're not sure if it's you, or if there's something worse. $scoob is still sitting on your lap, demanding your attention and you give it freely. You'd much rather talk to and spend time with $scoob than deal with an issue this big before you've even had breakfast. “How did you sleep?” You looked down at $scoob_himher tilting your head, as if waiting for answer. Of course $scoob couldn't answer, but you got the sense that it was at least alright, this couch is very comfortable. “I'm glad. I didn't sleep that great, you know, nightmares. I mean, I assume that's why you were pawing at the door earlier.” They once again can't answer, but when you speak with $scoob it tends to feel more like conversation, you two have always been able to read each other well. The morning goes on like this (you also go and grab leftovers for breakfast because your growling stomach is starting to annoy you) You get dressed, have a very slow morning and enjoy the moment with $scoob until you notice a loud yawn coming from Cameron's room. You freeze for a moment. The shuffling of Cameron waking up urges you to act, do something, anything. “Hey $scoob you wanna come with me to a house that burned down?” You can't deal with Cameron, right now at least. $scoob decidedly perks up at this. <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">>Sometimes you forget how strange your cat can be.<</if>> “Alright then, let's go take a walk." [[Continue|C1.21]]

<<if $flashback1 is "please">>Cameron looks at you and goes silent. “I don’t think you want to know.” “You don’t get to decide that,” You look $cam_himher in the eyes, “So, tell me.” “I won’t, I-” $cam_heshe tries to speak, but just sighs, and starts walking away. You try to stand, before you nearly double over, it's frustrating, you want to do something, anything, but you can’t. You used all of your energy just to get here, you're tempted to pass out right here on Randy's stoop. You stare at the ground and hear $roname stomp away. Sounds continue to make your head spin, and attempting to get up was not a good idea.<<elseif $flashback1 is "five">> “Because you don’t want to know this $mcname . We don’t know what it means and as far as we know, you don’t remember for a reason.” You can’t help but feel insulted, the implication that something horrendous happened that they know, but refuse to tell you. “Why do you get to decide that?” Cameron can’t look you in the eyes. Can’t look Ollie in the eyes either. $cam_heshe faces the ground and sighs, turning around “I-I- I’m so sorry.” They walk away, fast.<<elseif $flashback1 is "shutup">>Ollie and Cameron both turn to face you, shocked. You hear $roname attempt to say something before Cameron begins. “That’s a fantastic idea." Cameron turns to look at Ollie or $roname for any objections, $roname is about to say something but Cameron leaves before they can even attempt to say anything, though you do hear $ro_himher says under $ro_hisher breath 'oh no you don't'. <<elseif $flashback1 is "stop">> You're already exhausted, you feel sick and like you might keel over at any moment. Your head is still fucking buzzing, and spinning. You wanted to tell them to stop with more conviction, and most of the time, at least $roname would listen, and realize that they're out of line. Tonight is not going to be that night. Cameron walks away, quickly, quietly, before anyone speaks up. <<elseif $flashback1 is "help">> You can't help but feel your gut twist, and a shiver runs up your spine. Your voice is weak when you ask "Why didn't any of you help me?" You turn your head to finally face your friends and notice a few things that make you feel far, far worse. $ro_possessive makeup is running down $ro_hisher face, Cameron is backing away, trying not to be noticed by the other two. Ollie is the only one to look you in the eyes and say, "Because you told us not to." "Why did you listen?" You don't know why you would say that, ask them to go away, but you really, really want to. Ollie doesn't have an answer to your question, but then, $roname finally notices that Cameron has walked away. <</if>> “I knew it! You’re an asshole you know that?” $roname follows after. You hear the shouting, and the slamming of car doors. You hear $roname scream ‘fuck you!’ One last time before they walk back over to you and Ollie. You have never seen them so enraged. $roname snarls before sitting down on the curb, with $ro_hisher head in $ro_hisher hands. “So,” Ollie says, their voice is still even and monotone as ever. “Do you want me to tell them <<if $flashback1 is "help">> the rest of it<</if>>? Or should you?” $ro_heshe scoffs, “God, can you give me two fucking minutes?” “I’m sorry, I thought we were both on the same side.” Ollie gestures between them, and you have never wanted to know what’s happening more. But, of course, you're being ignored in favor petty bickering. “There aren’t any sides. Can’t you ever read the room instead of saying the first thing that comes into your head for two fucking minutes?” $ro_hisher voice is filled with venom. Ollie doesn’t reply, seconds feel like minutes as the rain continues to come down. You can see the gears turning in their mind as their hazel eyes stare down $roname “Block my number.” “What?” $roname finally looks up from the ground, and you can’t help but stare at one spot of the pavement, trying to focus while your head keeps spinning. “You heard me. I’m trying to help, Cameron has already left, and if you're just going to get angry at me, then I’m leaving,” $roname doesn't have anything to say to that. Ollie doesn't wait for $roname to gather $ro_hisher thoughts and starts to walk away, and the last you hear of them is the stomp of their boots along the cracked pavement. It’s just you and $roname left, and $ro_heshe is sitting next to you on the pavement, you manage to look up, and find $ro_himher staring after Ollie as they walk away. <<if $closest isnot "R">>“Are you okay?” It feels kind of funny, comforting $roname despite the fact that you’re the one getting completely fucked over. “I don’t know.” $ro_heshe still stares off into the distance, like $ro_heshe is trying to figure out where $ro_heshe went wrong. "I don't know either." you say it and rub your palms into your eyes, still trying to get rid of the nausea. You think about how blurry your eyes have gotten, and the cold that seems to be sticking with you despite the fact that the rain is warm.<<elseif $closest is "R">>They give you a look that has too much to decipher, and then turn to face the ground. “What do you remember?” “Not much.” They pause in thought. “Do you wanna know the rest?” You think about how blurry your eyes have gotten, and the cold that seems to be sticking with you despite the fact that the rain is warm and the air is even warmer. When $roname asks if you want to know, the buzzing in the back of your head is back in full force, and you say, as if gut instinct, not in response to $roname, but to the noises in your mind. “No.” <<if $flashback1 is "please" or "help">> Ro looks confused, you seemed so adamant before, and you were, you want to know, but you can’t deal with the noises in your head. You’re exhausted, you can barely breathe, and you just want to go home. At least, that's what you tell yourself.<</if>> “Okay.” You can't avoid the obvious now, “It’s over, isn’t it.” “It looks like it.” Ro has a simmering rage under their skin, you can tell in just the way they say it. “Is it my fault?” $ro_heshe looks at you, head on and almost shouts, “No! No.” “Are you gonna leave too?” You turn to face $ro_heshe as well, $ro_hisher hair has fallen limp around $ro_hisher face, and $ro_heshe pushes back the hair that hangs in front of $ro_hisher eyes to get a real look at your face, you can’t quite see $ro_hisher face in the low lighting, but you see $ro_hisher brows are furrowed. “Not right now” “Thank you.” You lean your head on $ro_hisher shoulder, you don’t know if they’ll mind, you’re not sure you care. Your head hurts, and you are so, so cold. After a while, you can see $ro_heshe is getting antsy, staring off into the distance. $roname shakes his head and you stay longer, until eventually,<</if>> “I’m gonna head home.” $roname says, finally turning to face you. "You're gonna be okay, right?" You don’t know what to say. You still feel sick, an omnipresent feeling that threatens to boil over every time you turn your head too fast. "I don't know." "I call you in the morning, okay?" You don’t get to say anything before $roname starts running off, you know that it’s the wrong way, $ro_heshe is going after Ollie. [[Continue|pro 0.6]]

“$mcname it’s nothing we should talk about right now, okay?” $cam_heshe says it in the same tone they get whenever $cam_heshe and Ollie get into an argument. They're stone-faced, and you can see $cam_hisher shoulders tense up. You want to say something, anything in response. You're taken aback. You feel like nothing more than a child caught in an argument between parents. The air between the other three is thick, and you have never felt more anxious, “What do you mean?” “It doesn’t matter right now. Can we all just get home, and sleep, and just talk about this tomorrow.” It's not phrased as a question, more as a demand that 'Cameron knows best'. Ollie scoffs. “Like you weren’t just talking in there a few minutes ago talking about pretending this is something we should just move on from like nothing happened.” "I don't want to have this conversation right now, okay?" $roname finally speaks up, “You’re a coward, you know that?” $ro_hisher voice is uneven, like they're threatning to explode with the rage simmering underneath. The unstoppable force meeting an immoveable object. $roname rolls $ro_hisher lips in disgust and you can see Cameron puff out $cam_hisher chest. You've seen them argue before, it never ends well, and now seems to be no different, though normally you're the one who diffuses the situation. But right now, as much as you're trying, forcing yourself to try and respond, each time you try you're bowled over by another wave of nausea. “That's not fair. Either of you.” Cameron drops $cam_hisher hands and starts messing with the hem of $cam_hisher t-shirt. Ollie looks disgusted, “Tell them then.” They point to you, and you look up, expectantly at Cameron while $cam_hisher brows are furrowed and $cam_hisher mouth is drawn into a thin line. Every time you have spoken you have only felt more sick, but you feel like you need to say something, anything. •<<link "Please just tell me." "pro 0.5">><<set $flashback1 to "please">><</link>> • <<link "Why are you all treating me like I'm a child" "pro 0.5">><<set $flashback1 to "five">><<set $journal1 to false>><</link>> •<<link "Would the three of you shut up?" "pro 0.5">><<set $flashback1 to "shutup">><<set $journal1 to false>><</link>> •<<link "Please stop fighting." "pro 0.5">><<set $flashback1 to "stop">><<set $journal1 to false>><</link>> •<<link "Why didn't you help me?" "pro 0.5">><<set $flashback1 to "help">><<set $journal1 to false>><</link>>

You’re not sure how long you stay there. You think you hear the voice of Randy Clarke come up behind you, asking if you're alright. You can only bring yourself to shake your head, and he decides to help you stand and brings you inside. Before you know it, while the lights outside are off, the lights above you are turned back on, and he asks if you want something to eat. You still, ever frustratingly can't bring yourself to say much, but when you look at him with wide eyes and a slight nod, he goes back to start heating up the grills, and before long, sitting in front of you is a cheeseburger and fries, just the way you like it. You could almost cry. The food settles your stomach, though you still feel rattled. But for the rest of your well being, Randy sits to talk with you until you start to feel like you can stand on your own. He offers you a ride home, a place to stay the night, anything you need, but you can't bring yourself to agree to any of it. You tell him that you'll be alright, and when he doesn't believe that, you insist that you need some time to yourself, to breathe, and sleep in your own bed. Only then does he reluctantly agree, but he tells you to stop by anytime to talk, or for food, anything really. You know he means it. It hurts, how you feel walking back home, soaking wet and still caked in grime as you arrive back to an empty house, your parents gone for the night. Not that you mind really, you live on the road most of the time. Kicking off your shoes out of habit, your footsteps echoing up the stairs as you walk to the bathroom. The aggressive scrubbing in the shower, peeling at your skin, the water scalding hot, burning you just to combat the sheer cold that you felt sitting in your chest. It hurts more when you brush over the red and purple splotches that have appeared on your body, though the red has started to fade. $scoob coming to sit on your lap as you couldn't sleep through the night, as you both put on an old horror movie to watch, petting $scoob_himher until $scoob_heshe can fall asleep. [[Continue|pro 1]]

Considering yourself, making sure you look somewhat presentable, you start looking down at your<<listbox "$mcbodytype">> <<option "thin">> <<option "lean">> <<option "average">> <<option "muscular">> <<option "broad">> <<option "stocky">> <<option "plump">><</listbox>>body, making sure to adjust your wrinkly shirt that had fallen off of its hanger that you picked up off the ground, with<<listbox "$mcskintone">> <<option "very pale">> <<option "fair">> <<option "tan">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "dark">><</listbox>>skin, you see that your hands are hardened with callouses from years of crawling around abandoned buildings, and running away from comically strange people in silly rubber masks. You keep taking yourself in, your <<listbox "$mcheight">> <<option "very short">> <<option "short">> <<option "average">> <<option "tall">> <<option "very tall">><</listbox>> stature. Then you turn your focus to your face, your <<listbox "$mceyecolor">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "hazel">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <<option "grey">> <<option "black">> <</listbox>> eyes with dark circles prominent underneath, you haven't been sleeping very well. You haven't been sleeping well for a very long time. You sigh as you continue to look at yourself, focusing in on your hair, focusing on your <i>choose the length of your hair</i> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "waist length" autocheck>>Waist length</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "back length" autocheck>>Back length</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "shoulder length" autocheck>>Shoulder length</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "chin length" autocheck>>Chin length</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "ear length" autocheck>>Ear length</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "short" autocheck>>Short</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "buzzed" autocheck>>Buzzed</label> <label><<radiobutton "$mchairlength" "bald" autocheck>> Bald</label> [[Next|pro 7.1]]

You are a $person What are your pronouns? •[[She/Her|pronoun check][$they to "she", $them to "her", $their to "her", $theirs to "hers", $themself to "herself", $plural to false, $slash to "She/Her"]] •[[He/Him|pronoun check][$they to "he", $them to "him", $their to "his", $theirs to "his", $themself to "himself", $plural to false, $slash to "He/Him"]] •[[They/Them (plural)|pronoun check][$they to "they", $them to "them", $their to "their", $theirs to "theirs", $themself to "themself", $plural to true, $slash to "They/Them"]] •[[They/Them (singular)|pronoun check][$they to "they", $them to "them", $their to "their", $theirs to "theirs", $themself to "themself", $plural to false, $slash to "They/Them"]] •[[Type my own|CustomisePronounsPassage]]

//(Please write your input in lowercase)// Please type in your pronouns for (he/she/they). <<textbox "$they" "">> Please type in your pronouns for (him/her/them). <<textbox "$them" "">> Please type in your pronouns for (his/her/their). <<textbox "$their" "">> Please type in your pronouns for (his/hers/theirs). <<textbox "$theirs" "">> Please type in your pronouns for (himself/herself/themself). <<textbox "$themself" "">> [[Pluralise verbs. Check your pronouns.|pronoun check][$plural to true]] [[Don't pluralise verbs. Check your pronouns.|pronoun check][$plural to false]]

You are a $person who uses these pronouns, for example: $mcname works as a insurance investigator, $they<<if $plural is true>> are<<elseif $plural is false>> is<</if>> a determined $person. Is this correct? •<<link "Yes" "pro 6.3">><</link>> •<<link "No (back to gender configuration)" "pro 6.2">><</link>> •<<link "No (back to pronoun configuration)" "pro 6.4">><</link>>

The walk to the remnants of the house is short, thankfully. <<if $location is "motel">> Though you tense up when you pass by Cameron's house.<</if>> Arriving at the old husk that used to be a house is an odd experience. You had gotten dressed in your “business casual” outfit, or at least as business casual you can get with a short-sleeved button up and rolled up cargo pants for practicality. It's already 90 degrees and only getting hotter, you wish you had left earlier, but there’s no changing that now. <<if $mchairlength is "chin length" or "shoulder length" or "back length" or "waist length">> your hair is sticking to your skin, and you're starting to get sweaty already.<<elseif $mchairlength is "ear length" or "buzzed" or "bald">> you already feel your head starting to get sweaty.<</if>><<if $mchaircolor is "green" or "blue" or "pink" or "purple" or "bright red" or "orange">> You're worried that your hair dye is gonna start dripping and staining your face when it gets too hot.<</if>> You remember walking past this house on your way home from school. with its high fence and architecture that felt out of place with the rest of the neighborhood. It was an old house, one of the few that survived since the first days that Misty Cove had been founded, though of course, much of it had still changed over the years, your mind drifts to the ship of theseus, but it's hard to say that this is anything like the original home when it's just a pile of ashes. This is severely out of the ordinary for you, there's nobody to meet at the property because the man who now owns it lives in Iowa, there were no tenants, nobody had lived in this house in four months, there's a single statement in the file from a neighbor, (though there's a list of people you also need to gather statements from if they're willing). it seems like something your company wouldn't bother with, and yet, here you are in the sweltering heat. You start to look for the origins of the fire, it's not technically your job, and you will probably have to deal with whoever is handling this case at the police station, but it's useful to try and determine where it started and try to find cause (you know you could do it better than most of the people down at the station anyways) to see if it's covered by the insurance policy. It's a simple task, at least for you, so you take some time to sift through some of the wreckage, when something catches your eye a hint of blue underneath a brick, you walk over to grab it, $scoob bounding after, intrigued. You pick up the blue object and find that it's a book, a journal, hard bound and embossed with the initials ‘D.A.' in gold, it looks mostly undamaged, shoved into the foundations of the building, well protected from the blaze. When you touch it, on some level you expect the feeling of //wrongness// that you feel sometimes to overtake you, that your stomach will start churning and your breath will cease to function. Yet, even as you tense up to open it, that feeling never comes. <<link "You flip through the journal" "Journal Passage">><<set $journal1 to "true">><</link>>

<<if $carconvo2 is "not">>This day has already been strange enough, and you are not staying with the asshole who you haven't talked to in four years, with the exceptions of $cam_hisher damn post cards. The stupid fucking postcards that while you may keep, does not mean shit about how you feel about today. "Alright, I'll drop you off." $cam_heshe clearly isn't happy, but you don't care. They don't get the right to be worried about you anymore. "Thank you." Your voice is tight, and you're happy to finally go. "Is it cool if I give you my number? Just in case." You still have $cam_hisher number saved in your phone, albeit blocked, but you don't want to say that.<<elseif $carconvo2 is "people" or "motel">> Cameron does not look happy, but there is no way in hell you're imposing on $cam_hisher family, let alone staying in the home of a person you haven't talked to in four years, when there is a perfectly, well, not good, but an option where you don't have to deal with that. "Alright, I'll drop you off over there. Is it cool if I give you my number? Just in case." You still have $cam_hisher number saved in your phone, albeit blocked, but you don't want to say that.<</if>> •<<link "Shake your head, you'll be fine" "C1.motel2">><<set $camcontact to "no">><</link>> •<<link "Shake your head, but unblock $cam_hisher number" "C1.motel2">><<set $camcontact to "yes sneaky">><</link>> •<<link "Let them type their number into your phone" "C1.motel2">><<set $camcontact to "yes">><</link>>

The rest of the drive is decidedly more awkward than before. You don't want to be so loud to wake up $scoob which limits your options to putting the jazz radio on low volume, and then changing to classical once the experimental jazz comes on. When you arrive at the motel, you have a brief, stiff, conversation with Cameron before heading in to check into your room. You notice that Cameron is still waiting outside, failing to hide that $cam_heshe continues to stare at you as you walk up the stairs outside to your room. You can't read $cam_hisher face well in the darkness, the sun long set, and the lights at the motel far too low and too far away to give you any clarity. You and $scoob both look out the window at Cameron, until they pull out of the parking lot. You finally feel yourself relax, and you bring yourself to look around at the olive green blanket and curtains, the carpet that made you feel incredibly wary to take off your shoes. You still feel a weight sitting on your chest, you assume it's just anxiety, but it starts to ease once you finish getting ready for bed, <<if $mcvision is "contacts">> finally taking out your contacts. The loss of your vision is almost welcome, everything feels too sharp. This rounds the edges.<<elseif $mcvision is "glasses">> getting to take off your glasses and rub your eyes and nose, the loss of your vision is almost welcome, everything feels too sharp. This rounds the edges.<</if>> $scoob has been sniffing around, before deciding to jump up on the bed and is staring you directly in the eyes, though you can't exactly meet them right now. $scoob_heshe is demanding you come to bed <i>now</i> and you are more than happy to. It's been a weird day at best, and downright awful at worst. Your car breaks, you are forced to accept kindness from Cameron of all people.<<if $cam_romance gt 0>>Something you are still conflicted about.<</if>> but you are prepared to deal with that later, for right you, you get to lay down with your $scoobspecies and fall asleep with a small smile on your face. [[Continue|C1.motel3]]

You find yourself in a confined space, surrounded by black. a crushing weight surrounding you, you feel like you're being compressed, closing in closer around you. You get the feeling that you're being buried alive. You try to scream, as the weight pressing on your chest increases, the air is pushed out of your lungs. The buzzing that you feel almost always now keeps pressing up against you, like it's about to break through your skull. You keep trying to thrash around, to move, do something, anything, escape this place you have found yourself in. It doesn't work. Yet you keep trying, keep fighting, even if you know that it's not going to work. You are trying to scream, but each time you try there's a burning that rips through your throat. Then, just for a second, it stops. you feel freed again. You can breath. Then the buzzing in your head returns, and becomes something like words. You know this isn't any human language, any human sound, but you understand it anyways. [[L̷̠̽̾͊eave, while you still can..̵̈́ |C1.motel4]]

You wake up with a start. You feel almost the same as you did, back out in the desert. You force the air back into your lungs. You look around, you're still in bed, $scoob is still asleep, thankfully. You have to take a few deep breaths to feel like you're alive again, before you notice it. You stare at a spot in the corner, hiding in the shadows next to the dresser, you swear you see a figure standing there. You get the faint scent of patchouli, a smell that feels so out of place in this place, it makes you think of your mother. You shake that thought out of your head, look back towards the dresser and find that there is nothing there. and your thoughts can only go right back to the dream that you had. <<link "This can't be real" "C1.20">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=2, 0, 100)>><</link>> <<link "What's happening." "C1.20">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=4, 0, 100)>><</link>> <<link "Fuck this." "C1.20">><<set $hiddenstat to Math.clamp($hiddenstat -=1, 0, 100)>><</link>>

You doubt you're going to get back to sleep, so you take time and care to not wake up $scoob while you get dressed and get yourself some $morningdrink <<if $morningdrink is "juice">> Though there is none to be found, you were hoping there would be some kind of juice left over from the previous people in the room. You can't say you're surprised, but it's disappointing.<</if>> You take the morning slowly, still trying to process everything from the day before, from your car breaking down, to Cameron being weird, even just being back home. You're happy when $scoob wakes up, it gives you an excuse to pull away from your thoughts, and find $scoob_himher some breakfast. Once you feel like you've spent enough time getting ready for the day, you look outside to see that the sun has only just risen, which is the perfect time to head out, $scoob can still walk on the pavement, and with any luck you'll be out of there before it gets hot enough to cook an egg. [[Continue|C1.21]]

<<if $scoob_gender is "male">> <<set $scoob_person to "man"; $scoob_heshe to "he"; $scoob_himher to "him"; $scoob_hisher to "his"; $scoob_hishers to "his"; $scoob_himself to "himself"; $scoob_goodboy to "good boy">> <<elseif $scoob_gender is "female">><<set $scoob_person to "woman"; $scoob_heshe to "she"; $scoob_himher to "her"; $scoob_hisher to "her"; $scoob_hishers to "hers"; $scoob_himself to "herself"; $scoob_goodboy to "good girl">><</if>>It's panning out to be a great night. Unregistered, likely stolen, vehicles traveling to and from the desert? Odd reports of objects being stolen from the local museum? It looks like tonight is gonna be fun. Or at least, that's what $roname thinks as $ro_heshe starts rambling in the car. “I mean, I can imagine the headlines in the paper tomorrow. Artifact smuggling operation put to an end by our local mystery solving team!” $ro_possessive hands are flying all around, $ro_hisher hair is much the same, at least for a moment until $ro_heshe realizes that it might get messed up, taking care to smooth it back down while not getting anything caught on $ro_hisher copious rings. You don't think you've seen $roname this excited in months. Cameron, with <<if $cam_gender is "male">> his brown eyes wide and sparkling, and his bleached and faded red curls falling just above his eyebrows <<elseif $cam_gender is "female">>her brown eyes wide and sparkling, her curls are tied back into a bun to keep it out of her eyes, <</if>> $cam_heshe smiles and leans over to give them a fist bump. A kind of quiet excitement. You aren't as excited. There's a pit that's been sitting in your stomach the entire drive out. Maybe it's the gas station food you ate earlier, but you've eaten there plenty of times before, almost every day in your junior year of high school, and you tend to have a strong stomach anyways, something that has miraculously stayed with you despite your, let's say odd, eating habits. When you left your parent’s home earlier that night, (where you stay whenever you come back from your weeks on the road), you left a note, though your parents car isn't in the driveway. The note was vague, saying that you would be back soon. But the feeling in your gut tells you that if you don't leave, then that won't be true. It feels like there's some part of your mind that wants you to go there, that needs you to go out there. It's an odd feeling. But the anxiety you have is stopping you. •<<link "Which is not normal for you." "START 2">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious +=7, 0, 100)>><<set $pastcurious to "confident">><</link>> •<<link "Though that isn't unusual" "START 2">><<set $curious to Math.clamp($curious -=7, 0, 100)>><<set $pastcurious to "anxious">><</link>>

Of course, when you told the group this, you were out voted. Ollie has a habit of not trusting other people's gut feelings, though of course you three are <i>supposed</i> to be the exceptions to that rule. Cameron was too busy planning to listen to your hesitancy, instead thinking that you had a bad feeling about the plan to stake out the location tonight before setting up a trap the next night, at that implication they almost started to cry, though you know they didn't want to, you felt bad anyways and dropped it. Then, you brought it up to $roname once you got in the car, and it was completely hopeless. $ro_heshe was already too excited at the prospect of some action movie shit, and stopping a smuggling ring was going to be fun to them. Of course none of them are listening to you. It's becoming a more and more frequent occurrence. •<<link "Which is even worse, knowing that all of them are your closest friends" "START 3">><<set $closest to "all">><<set $leadership to Math.clamp($leadership +=5, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Which is even worse, knowing that Ollie is your closest friend" "START 3">><<set $closest to "Ollie">><<set $o_friendship to Math.clamp($o_friendship +=7, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Which is even worse, knowing that $roname is your closest friend" "START 3">><<set $closest to "R">><<set $ro_friendship to Math.clamp($ro_friendship +=7, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Which is even worse, knowing that Cameron is your closest friend" "START 3">><<set $closest to "Cam">><<set $o_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=7, 0, 100)>><</link>>

<<notify 'inventory-update'>>Unknown Journal is now in your Inventory <</notify>> You flip through most of the pages, only to find them blank. <<if $int or $observation gt 20>>(You're going to have to check if that's true later.)<</if>> The only text that shows plainly is on the last page. Know that I write plainly in this entry to dissuade the people who find this from trying to read the rest of this. It will be the final time I write in this journal and the last time I will discuss the ghastly things that I have seen and done in my seventy years on this earth. I have travelled the earth, and I have killed, and I have fought. These were the actions of a foolish young man, and it is in this final entry that I attempt to make things right, by telling whoever may find this, however many years from now, to put the book back where you found it. The rest of this entry will continue not addressed to the future, but instead as I normally would. The rest of the page is blank.<<if $observation or $int gt 20>> though you can see the indents of a pen on the page and you assume there will be more throughout the rest of the pages.<</if>> When you finish reading the visible parts of the journal, you feel... •<<link "Intrigued" "C1.22">><<set $journalinvest to "intrigued">><</link>> •<<link "Anxious" "C1.22">><<set $journalinvest to "anxious">><</link>> •<<link "Compelled" "C1.22">><<set $journalinvest to "compelled">><</link>>

<h4>November 14th, 1897</h4> Know that I write plainly in this entry to disuade the people who find this from trying to read the rest of this. It will be the final time I write in this journal and the last time I will discuss the ghastly things that I have seen and done in my seventy years on this earth. I have travelled the earth, and I have killed, and I have fought. These were the actions of a foolish young man, and it is in this final entry that I attempt to make things right, by telling whoever many find this, however many years from now, to put the book back where you found it. The rest of this entry will continue not adressed to the future, but instead as I normally would.

<<if $journalinvest is "intrigued">> What you just read could very well mean something far, far worse is happening here. <<if $curious lt 45>> Normally you would feel your stomach turn to knots and follow the instructions of the journal. Perhaps going the extra step to burn it, and yet.<</if>> You can't help but feel drawn to the mystery and the possibilities this invites, what you could do with this journal. What the fuck does it mean? Who wrote it? What horrible atrocities were commited by this man and why did he hide the journal instead of burning it like a normal person? Endless questions that your brain is never going to let go until you do something about it. "Do you think this is a good idea, $scoob ?" While this still isn't a normal conversation, $scoob looks excited, more excited than in the past four years, <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">> $scoob_heshe is purring, facing scrunched up in content. <<elseif $scoobspecies is "dog">> $scoob_hisher tail is wagging, mouth open and tongue lolling out of it, dopey and happy.<</if>> Intrigue is not near enough to make you follow a case through to the end, but if $scoob is happy to follow you along, it would only harden your resolve. <<elseif $journalinvest is "anxious">> You feel your eyes widen and your muscles tense up. This should not be something you're reading. This should have stayed hidden just like, whoever the hell this D.A. guy said. You set the book down and start to take out your phone to call Claire, as to say, 'fuck this. I'm going home and there is nothing you can do about it.' Or at least, that's what you try to do. Until $scoob begins to stare you down, stepping on top of the debris and ash, you groan, you're going to have to wash off $scoob_hisher paws later. "Dude, I am not getting involved with whatever nonsense happened here." $scoob 's eye narrow, as if to call you a coward without saying a word. "Really? This is the hill you're dying on?" There is no response, except for $scoob continuing to stare at you. Daring you to do something about this. You sigh, you don't know when you got so weak to $scoob pushing you around (you are lying to yourself, you know exactly when, it was five year ago when you got $scoob_himher as a <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">>kitten<<elseif $scoobspecies is "dog">>puppy<</if>> and had become best friends ever since.) "Fine! but you better not make me regret this $scoob." <<elseif $journalinvest is "compelled">> Despite the warnings sitting directly in front of you, you feel your eyes widen and your mouth turn upward into a smile <<if $expressive lt 50>> Something you don't do all to often.<</if>><<if $curious lt 45>> despite the anxiety that is screaming in the back of your mind.<</if>> You haven't felt this excited about well, anything in a long while. Something new, something dangerous, something that could get you fired, but you can't find a care to give as you shut the book and start to turn it in your hands You look down at $scoob who has a similar excitement on $scoob_hisher face, even if you two can't really talk you're both in agreement. You //have// to dig into this. You haven't felt drawn to anything like this in four years, and now that you've found something, you won't let this go. <</if>> There is something, tugging at the back of your mind that this is something big, the ominous message is not warning you about the distant past, but instead a real, very present danger. You know that it would sound crazy to anybody else. But the image of blank eyes in the dark stays with you always. Something is wrong, very wrong, and you need to find out what. The only question is, are you going to do this on your own? [[Continue|C1.23]]

Of course, that's the question. As you walk back to <<if $location is "motel">> the motel<<elseif $location is "cameron">> Cameron's home<</if>>, trying to go fast before the pavement gets too hot for $scoob ‘s paws. <<if $location is "motel">> Eventually, you've made your way back to the motel room. You thank whatever is out there for at least making the A/C in your room functional. Otherwise you don't think you could survive the New Mexico heat. You flop down on your bed, with $scoob joining you shortly after. You debate on taking a cold shower, to wash off the sweat that has gathered in just the few hours you were outside. But the journal weighs on your mind more. More importantly, what you're going to do. Obviously you could go to an actual authority on this. That's what you //should// be doing in all technicalities, considering your job. But then again, what the fuck would they do? Especially here, where they are ‘underfunded’, understaffed, and just incompetent as a whole. There was a reason you and your friends had become P.I.s. The question keeps floating to the front of your mind. Should you call Cameron? Maybe you could try $roname ? Or Ollie? You don't know if either of the other two would answer, but contacting Cameron would be an actual nightmare. Mostly for your pride. <<if $camcontact is "no" or "yes sneaky">>Plus, it would be awkward to explain that you had their number the whole time<</if>><<if $camcontact is "no">>And having to unblock $cam_hisher number in the first place.<</if>><<elseif $location is "cameron">>Once you get back to Cameron's house, you and $scoob both go to sit down on the couch, questioning what to do next. You chew on your cheeks, staring at the wall, debating. You could always call Cameron, or maybe you could wait until $cam_heshe gets back to their house. Though, two, even crazier, and probably worse ideas pop into your head as well. What if you called $roname or Ollie?<</if>> //Note: Selecting Cameron will end the scene// <<link "Try calling $roname" "ro call">><<set $rocall to "yes">><</link>> <<link "Try calling Ollie" "ol call">><<set $olcall to "yes">><</link>> <<if $location is "motel">>[[Bite the bullet and call Cameron]]<</if>> <<if $location is "cameron">>[[Wait until Cameron gets home]]<</if>>

You go straight to voicemail, barely a ring. It feels like a knife is twisting when you hear their outgoing message. You haven't heard $ro_hisher voice in so long. //This is $roname Thompson. I'm probably either asleep, or my phone is dead, or I'm at a place with no service. Unless you're one of my exes, I'll probably call you back when I can. Or not.// $ro_heshe sounds congested, as per usual. Though first you snort at the mention of $ro_hisher exes. You saw how disastrous their relationships were most of the time, and it seems that pattern has still continued. Which is sadder than you want to think about right now. You try not to think about why you really went straight to voicemail. What next? <<if ndef $olcall>><<link "Try calling Ollie" "ol call">><<set $rocall to "yes">><</link>><</if>> <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">> [[Bite the bullet and call Cameron]]<</if>> <<if $carconvo is "fine" or "rom">>[[Wait until Cameron gets home]]<</if>>

This call you know is probably going to be fruitless. You tried calling them multiple times the first few months, you went to voicemail each time, to the point where you had memorized the message. You wonder if it's still the same. As expected, the phone rings for only a moment, before going straight to voicemail. //Hello, you have reached Professor Reyes, if you are a student, please be sure to email me unless it is urgent. If you are anybody else, I will call you back at my soonest convenience.// You can't say you expected them to pick up. You wouldn't be surprised if you're still blocked. Doesn't mean it doesn't sting. <<if $rocall is undefined>><<link "Try calling $roname" "ro call">><<set $rocall to "yes">><</link>><</if>> <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">> [[Bite the bullet and call Cameron]]<</if>> <<if $carconvo is "fine" or "rom">>[[Wait until Cameron gets home]]<</if>>

It's a stressful wait. You end up raiding Cameron's parents fridge (You know they won't mind too much, which is the only reason you don't feel guilty) and end up making quesadillas, one for yourself and a small portion of one for $scoob but mostly give them some shredded chicken. You decide to make one for Cameron too and keep it in the microwave to keep it warm. The rest of the time waiting is spent <<if $curious lt 50>>pacing<<elseif $curious gte 50>>standing at the counter, checking your email.<</if>> Then, you hear the door unlock. You sigh in relief, and $scoob goes bounding up to Cameron you follow not too far behind. $scoob_heshe is Leaning up against Cameron's legs to demand pets. The smile on Cam's face grows as $cam_heshe starts petting and cooing softly at $scoob. After a few moments, Cameron looks up and jumps back, almost falling over while they're crouching down forgetting you were there. "Hey! what's up?" Your face is drawn <<if $expressive lt 45>> somehow less expressive than usual<<elseif $expressive gt 45>> far different than your usual bright expressions.<</if>> "We need to talk." [[Continue|C1.whoops]]

A few hours later, Cameron comes to the door, stone-faced and ready to listen. You both sit at the table, and you explain the journal, your suspicions and the bad feeling that you have. Cameron leans back in $cam_hisher seat and exhales. $cam_heshe is staring at the notebook, sitting on the very small faux wood table in your room. $cam_hehshe looks up at you, eyebrows raised, seeing if they can touch it, try to examine it. You nod, and they start rifling through the pages, "Well, it seems like the rest of the journal, excpet that warning, is written in some kind of invisible or dissapearing ink." <<if $int or $observation gt 20>>"Yeah, that's what I was thinking, I'm gonna have to test it later."<<elseif $int or $observation lte 20>> "I didn't think of that, we should definitely check that later."<</if>> "For sure. Though I'm not sure with how old the paper is if the ink has lasted, or what kind of ink it is. Honestly I don't really know ink that well, this would probably be a better question for-" $cam_heshe stops dead in $cam_hisher tracks. $cam_hisher eyes dart up to you before clearing #cam_hisher throat. "Um, What's our next move, is what I'm saying. I'm not very good at the whole, 'finding leads' thing." Cameron was never one to look too far into the future, or look too deep into suspects and leads on cases, $cam_heshe preferred to just directly catch the culprit and be done with it, $cam_hisher time to shine was always came in the mechanincs of a trap, rather than the nitty gritty details. An idea pops into your head. You're not sure if it would work. "Should we bring in $roname and Ollie?" Cameron looks at you like you've grown 3 heads. "Why would we do that?" "Because-" Well, you're not really sure why. It could be because, •<<link "You miss them." "C1.24">><<set $reunite to "miss them">><</link>> •<<link "You need the help" "C1.24">><<set $reunite to "help">><</link>> •<<link "You want to right wrongs" "C1.24">><<set $reunite to "right">><</link>>

You know Cameron is at work at the moment, you aren’t sure if they can take a call. But at this point, it's the only option you have. <<if $camcontact is "yes">>You're kinda relieved that you let Cameron input $cam_hisher number. At least this phone call doesn't have to have that discomfort.<</if>> Then again, Cameron could think you're fucking crazy <<if $journalinvest is "anxious">>hell, you think this is fucking crazy<</if>> and hang up immediately. The phone rings once, twice, three times. Each time you feel more tense, you're hunching in on yourself and the knot in your stomach is tightening. $scoob looks confused, but doesn't do anything to interrupt as you hear a voice finally pick up on the other end. “Hello?” You can't tell if you're relieved or even more anxious that $cam_heshe picked up. “Hey.” “What's up? Why’d you call?” “I went out to the site of that house that burned down.” You pause for a moment, thinking of how to phrase the next part. <<if $curious gt 55>> “I found something, it's not bad, per say, but it's something I need to look into, and I don't have the resources to do this on my own.”<<elseif $curious lt 45>>“I found something. I don't know what it means, but it's just, I have a really bad feeling about it, and I can't do it on my own.”<</if>> Cameron doesn't speak. You hear sounds in the background, you can almost feel their eyes darting around through the phone. “I- I'll come by to your motel later. Let's talk then, alright.” “Are you in? Or are you gonna try and convince me that I have a heat stroke?” <<if $camconvo is "elephant" and $expressive gt 55>> You say it harsher than necessary. You're still a bit insulted after the conversation yesterday. <<if $camconvo is "elephant" and $expressive lt 45>> You resist the urge to sound harsher than usual, you know you can be very blunt, and you don't want to let your feelings from yesterday's conversation bleed into this when you need Cameron's help.<</if>> Quiet again. “I'm in. Just, I need more details. we'll talk later.” “Okay.” “Okay.” Cameron hangs up without a goodbye. You drop your phone, screen down onto the mattress and turn to face $scoob . “That went better than I thought it would.” <<elseif $camcontact is "yes sneaky" or "no">> The phone rings, once, twice, thrice. It's on the fourth ring that Cameron picks up, <<if $cam_friendship gt 40>> you sigh in relief.<<elseif $cam_friendship lt 35>> you grimace when you realize you're actual going to have to talk.<</if>> “Hello?” <<if $expressive gt 45>>"Heyyy, Cameron.” <<if $expressive lt 55>>“Cameron, it's $mcname “<</if>> “Oh! How did you get my number?” “I've had it the whole time, I just-” //didn't want to use it, ever//, “Doesn't matter right now, if you're willing, I need your help.” “Oh-kay then.” $cam_heshe pauses. “Well, what do you need my help with exactly?” “I went out to the site of that house that burned down.” You pause for a moment, thinking of how to phrase the next part. <<if $curious gt 55>> “I found something, it's not bad, per say, but it's something I need to look into, and I don't have the resources to do this on my own.”<<elseif $curious lt 45>> “I found something. I don't know what it means, but it's just, I have a really bad feeling about it, and I can't do it on my own.”<</if>> “Oh. I'll stop by your hotel after work, and we'll talk, alright? I mean, I'll do it, I just want to know what I'm getting myself into.” “Thank you, really.” “What are- of course.” They hang up pretty quickly after that. You groan inwardly, and turn to face $scoob “That was painful. <<if $journalinvest is "anxious">>Remind me why you want me to do this again?<</if>>" $scoob simply takes to licking $scoob_hisher paws. [[C1.motel6]]

<<if $reunite is "miss them">> Honestly, you miss them. You miss your friends every day. Even with everything having ended so, catstrophically, there's just some part of you that refuses to let go, that wants to hold on to a long dead past and try to bring it back. But you can't tell Cameron that. So you say, "We need all the help we can get."<<elseif $reunite is "help">> Its simple really, you need the numbers, and you need the expertise of Ollie and $roname it also happens that even if you did want to see them again, this would be a good excuse. "We need all the help we can get, Cameron."<<elseif $reunite is "right">> the way everything ended has always left a bad taste in your mouth. You never got anything close to a proper ending, and you feel the need to fix it, to do something, anything, to tie up the loose ends that got left behind. This seems like the perfect time. You don't say that, instead you tell Cameron, "We need all the help we can get."<</if>> You can tell than Cameron doesn't want to admit it, but $cam_heshe knows you're right. <<if $observation gt 30>> You can see the hesitation, $cam_hisher jaw is tight and $cam_heshe is still flipping the pages of the journal in $cam_hisher hands.<</if>> After a long sigh, $cam_heshe finally speaks, "Fine. Fine! Fuck it," you blink back in shock<<if $expressive lte 50>> (though Cameron doesn't notice)<</if>>, Cameron almost never curses in casual conversation. "$roname works at the bar. We'll go to the White Ram tonight and try to convince $roname to do this, but I can guarantee $ro_heshe won't be happy to see me." "Have you even talked to $ro_himher?" Cameron pulls $cam_hisher hand down $cam_hisher face and groans, "Only once, and it's why I don't go there anymore." "Well, sucks to suck." You smack the table as you stand up, "I'm gonna go find something to wear." [[Continue|C1.25]]

Getting ready proves to be a harder endeavor, it's not like you came with anything remotely appropriate for “going out”. For the most part you packed your work clothes, and two outfits with your usual look. You don't want to look too out of place, until you realize you are probably overthinking. Though you can't help it, the thought of seeing $roname for the first time in four years has you overthinking how you should wear your hair, your clothing, everything about yourself. It's not like Cameron is doing any better, you think <<if $location is "motel">> as you saw them drive away $cam_hisher eyes were narrowed, and $cam_hisher driving was more tense then you've ever seen $cam_himher behind the wheel.<<elseif $location is "motel">> you can still hear $cam_himher pacing in $cam_hisher room and muttering to $cam_himself , though you can't quite make out what $cam_heshe is saying.<</if>> Eventually, you manage to pull together an outfit that doesn't look like you're about to walk into and sit in a cubicle for the next eight hours. "This does look okay, right?" you ask $scoob and in reponse they <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">>meow<<elseif $scoobspecies is "dog">>'speak'<</if>> you hope in approval, but you can't be quite sure. "Alright then, I guess we wait." [[Continue|C1.26]]

When you look at The White Ram, so little of it has changed. It has the same wooden deck with fairy lights hung along the wooden posts holding up the cloth they use to beat the heat. Inside you can see the same old pool table through the window, and you aren't quite ready to look behind the bar yet. You and Cameron are almost two steps away from the door, you can sense Cameron hesitate, you turn around, •<<link "Are you ready?" "C1.27">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind +=4, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=5, 0, 100)>><<set $beforero to "ready">><</link>> •<<link "We have to do this." "C1.27">><<set $stoic to Math.clamp($stoic +=5, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $beforero to "have to">><</link>> •<<link "Do you want to stay back?" "C1.27">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind -=4, 0, 100)>><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=2, 0, 100)>><<set $beforero to "stay back">><</link>>

<<if $beforero is "ready">> You ask it genuinely, if Cameron isn't ready then, well, you're not sure what to do, but at least you'll know. Cameron shakes $cam_hisher head, "I'm fine." a smile spreads across $cam_hisher face, though you can see the strain behind it, and it doesn't quite reach $cam_hisher eyes. "Are you ready, though?" Cameron's smile drops, "No. But I can handle it." "Good, let's go." you face ahead, and gesture for Cameron to follow you forward, then open the door.<<elseif $beforero is "have to">> Cameron starts to say something, then opens and closes $cam_hisher mouth before furrowing $cam_hisher brows. "I get that. Let's go." You nod, reach out to take the door, and step inside.<<elseif $beforero is "stay back">> Cameron's jaw tightens, and $cam_hisher brows furrow. "No, I don't, lets go." $cam_heshe pushes past you, stumbling back you watch Cameron open the door, then tilt $cam_hisher head to tell you to get inside. You rush to follow. <</if>> You look around, at the neon signs with beer logos that cover the wall, the small group of people sitting at the bar top who are laughing and talking about something you don't quite catch, mostly because the music playing over the speakers is far too loud. There are more people who are starting to pull into the parking lot and entering behind you both, likely regulars. Then, you look behind the bar. $roname is there, wiping down glasses with a rag. Dark blue hair is falling down by $ro_hisher face. You can't quite see $ro_hisher face, but you see a splash of green along $ro_hisher eyelids that matches the shirt $ro_heshe is wearing. Always put together, always cohesive, coordinating outfits was something $roname thought was important. You start walking, and then, $ro_heshe looks up at you. $ro_hosher eyes widen, and then narrow as $ro_heshe begins to scowl. •<<link "You panic and shove Cameron in front of you" "C1.28">><<set $bc1 to "shove">><</link>> •<<link "You straighten, confident" "C1.28">><<set $bc1 to "lift">><</link>> •<<link "You feel your heart stop." "C1.28">><<set $bc1 to "heart stop">><</link>> •<<link "You feel your heart beat far too fast.♡" "C1.28">><<set $bc1 to "heart beat">><</link>>

<<if $bc1 is "shove">>Cameron looks back at you, startled, eyes wide and horrified. As if to say //'what the fuck, dude!'// without saying a word. <<if $expressive gte 50>> you shrug haplessly and grimace, you're sure that you look just as horrified as $cam_himher and both of you are frozen for a moment, like two deer in the headlights. Eventually, you simply shrug again and try not to look too afraid, and manage to start walking forward, still slightly hidden behind Cameron's frame.<<elseif $expressive lt 45>> You pull your mouth into a thin line and straighten out your posture, while Cameron pulls a face that says $cam_heshe would rather die than be here, especially being shoved in front. You feel bad, even if you don't let it show on your face, and Cameron grimaces as you striaghten yourself, when you both start to walk up to the bar.<</if>> <<elseif $bc1 is "lift">> you aren't sure why, but just seeing $roname glare at you has given you all the more reason to appear more confident then you actually are. <<if $beforero is "have to">> even if you were already set on this before coming here.<</if>> Your posture straightens, and you can see Cameron begin to shrink away and move behind you, hunched over and more anxious than usual. You glance over to $cam_himher, eyebrow rasied, another question on your tongue before $cam_heshe shakes $cam_hisher head then bobs $cam_hisher head toward the bar. <<elseif $bc1 is "heart stop">> You freeze, still looking at $roname, $ro_heshe turns away and goes back to cleaning, shaking $ro_hisher head. Cameron is looking back and forth, almost as frozen as you are, until you shake yourself out of it, and start walking to the bar top. <<elseif $bc1 is "heart beat">> You feel your throat bob, and you can't help but feel your heart beat far, far too fast. You have to force yourself out of it, shaking your head and looking towards the ground, draggin your hand down your face. Cameron looks at you with an eyebrow raised, about to say something before you start moving towards the bar top. You are not dealing with this right now, it is strictly business. <</if>> "Can I help you." $roname snarls, not a question but a provocation. $ro_heshe looks up at you both. $ro_hisher mouth is twisted in something akin to disgust, and $ro_hisher dark brown eyes are still narrowed in suspicion. •<<link "I need your help." "C1.29">><</link>> •<<link "We need your help." "C1.29">><<set $cam_friendship to Math.clamp($cam_friendship +=3, 0, 100)>><</link>>

$roname_possessive scowl deepens more, if that was possible. "You're at my job right now. We haven't spoken in four fucking years, and the first thing you do is ask for //my// help?" "You always appreciated people being direct." you try, though you know that it won't land, you can at least try. "You don't get to do that." $ro_heshe sets down the glass and leans away from you, Cameron is slowly backing away as well, "You don't get to say shit like that, now order something, or get out of my bar." You are struggling to think of something to say, before Cameron steps forward, and puts $cam_hisher hand down gingerly on the counter, "Wait, please, just, if you want, we can talk to you after your shift, I know it's gonna be late but $they <<is $plural is true>>need<<elseif $plural is false>>needs<</if>> your help. Genuinely." $cam_heshe gestures to you. <<if $cam_friendship lt 30>> You're surprised Cameron is standing up for you.<<elseif $cam_romance gt 5 and $expressive gt 60>> You try to ignore the heat rising to your face as $cam_heshe is defending you.<<elseif $cam_friendship gt 50>> You're glad that Cameron is standing up for you.<</if>> $roname steps back again, almost backing into the wall of liquor on shelves behind $ro_himher . They look at you, then to Cameron, and something about $ro_hisher expression softens. "I'll listen. But if it's something I don't like, I'm out." Cameron nods, and, just loud enough for you both to hear, even over the din of the music, and the people starting to fill up the crowd. "Thank you." [[Continue|C1.30]]

After talking with $roname, Cameron decides to head out to the car, normally a night out is something $cam_heshe enjoys, especially when you realize that its a karaoke night, which Cameron would usually destroy. Even with $cam_hisher singing voice that sounds like a dying cat, but would perform with such theatricality that people would enjoy anyways (after the mic got turned down.) Tonight is not that night, however. You feel stilteed and strange, you don't want to go back up to the bar, and even just being here in the bar, in this //town// you feel out of place, like you're trying to shove yourself into a space that doesn't exist for you anymore. You recognize some people from high school in here, some of them even come up to you and say hi <<if $expressive lt 45>> though you pretend to not hear them and walk away<</if>>. its not very enjoyable, and after a while, both you and Cameron agree to wait outside by the car. "I think that was my worst nightmare." You say once you're finally out of the room, trying to catch your breath and take in the cooling air, a welcome reprieve from the crowded bar, and the blistering heat during the day. "Normally, I would disagree." Cameron leans up against $cam_hisher car and presses $cam_hisher hands over $cam_hisher eyes with a sigh. "Do you really think $roname is gonna help?" You turn to face Cameron. $cam_hisher arms drop and drops their head, still staring at the fairy lights at the other end of the parking lot, "If it was for me? No, probably not." You're surprised, with the way $ro_heshe was acting you thought $ro_heshe hated you. "Really?" Cameron snorts, "Yeah, dude. I just think $ro_heshe is upset you went to me first." •<<link "That's fucking stupid." "C1.31">><<set $bc3 to "stupid">><<set $expressive to Math.clamp($cam_friendship -=10, 0, 100)>><</link>> •<<link "Oh." "C1.31">><<set $bc3 to "oh">><</link>> •<<link "Okay $cam_mrms 'I see all'" "C1.31">><<set $bc3 to "see all">><</link>>

<<if $bc3 is "stupid">>Cameron snorts, "Oh? Didn't realize you thought that caring about others was stupid." "No, I'm saying holding projecting how angry you are at somebody else is stupid. Plus, we don't know if you're actually correct." "No, we don't, but I have my theories, and most of the time, I'm right." "When did you get so smug?" "When I know that I'm right about something." "Shut up."<<if $mcheight is "very short" or "short">> You try your best to reach up and smack Cameron's head, but fail miserably, which only makes Cameron laugh. <<elseif $mcheight is "average" or "tall" or "very tall">> you lightly shove Cameron, which only serves to make $cam_himher laugh.<</if>> "Fine, fine, I'll stop being a jerk. I guess we'll just wait, in silence." $cam_heshe sighs dramatically, and while you roll your eyes, you both end up laughing.<</if>> <<if $bc3 is "oh">> "Oh? That's it?" "I just, don't really know what to say to that." "Well then, wanna go wait in the car and listen to the radio?" Cameron steps away from the car and starts reaching for the handle. "Sounds good to me."<<elseif $bc3 is "see all">>"What are you trying to imply, $mcname ?" "That you're being presumptuous." "And if it turns out I'm right?" Cameron smirks. "Then I'll owe you a pizza or something." You shrug. "I'm starting to fell like a creep just staring at the building." "Well then, wanna go wait in the car and listen to the radio?" Cameron steps away from the car and starts reaching for the handle. "Yeah, yeah."<</if>> Once you sit down you realize how tired you are. It's been a long two days. You know that you need to stay alert on some level at least, but your eyes start drooping, and the radio is playing just loud enough to cover up the sounds of yelling and singing from within the building, and before you know it, you're asleep. [[Continue|C1.32]]

You're suffocating. Back in the inky black, weight pressing down on you. The air being crushed out of your lungs. Whne you open your mouth on instinct, trying to breathe in something, anything, you feel sand begins to pour into your mouth. You have to will yourself to start moving again, your arms moving forward and trying to push away the grains that are surrounding you, until, eventually, you emerge from whereever you just came from. You can feel yourself open your eyes, and what awaits you is not darkness, like you would have expected. Instead, you are sitting somehwere you recognize. Across the street from your childhood home, the world around is blue, the sun is setting. You feel stuck in place as you stare at the building you know all too well. Not a home, just a house that you hope to never step foot in again. While you can't move, you can look around, your eyes glance over the dark sand that surrounds you, rather than the rest of your neighborhood, you feel the light of the moons <<if $observation gt 30>> //wait, moons?//<</if> look down on you, you know exactly where they from in your own mind, and you're almost afraid to look, but the moment you try, you feel yourself being dragged back down, slowly sinking back into the dark sand. [[You are shaken awake|C1.33]]

You breathe deeply, gasping and clawing at your throat. You can tell that you sound hoarse, that you're coughing and your eyes are bulging out. "Hey! Hey!" <<if $touch is "non touch averse">> $cam_heshe reaches out to hold your shoulder<</if>> You look over to see the fear in Cameron's eyes and is staring you down. "Breathe, right? You okay?" You nod, you can't speak, but you can breathe again. your eyes are darting wildly, reassessing where you are, the warm lights of the car, feeling the grey cloth seat beneath you, its grounding. You regain your composure after a minute, checking the clock on the dash, you know that it's 2 am. "Have you been awake this whole time?" "I slept for about an hour, I'm fine, I promise." Cameron =, again ubsubtly tries to push back to you, "That nightmare looked bad. Are you okay?" <if $expressive lt 45>> "Yes, I'm fine. It was just a nightmare." You hate that you lost composure like this, the way that Cameron was looking at you like you're about to die. <<if $expressive gt 55>> "Yeah, yeah. I'm good." Your eyes are still wide, you breathe deep, and when you turn to look at Cameron, you see the worry across $cam_hisher expression, frightened. You don't want $cam_himher to worry about you.<</if>> "$roname gets off soon, right?" You try to move on. "Yeah, yeah, last call was about thirty minutes ago and $roname is cleaning." You look out the window and try to see where $roname is at, until you see $ro_himher walk out from the side of the building, throwing the trash into the dumpster, and then looking out at the three cars that are still in the parking lot. Eyes squinted. "I think they're almost done" [[Continue|C1.34]]

Both you and Cameron get out of the car and start walking towards $roname, who has locked the back door behind $ro_himher . "Hey." Cameron says with an awkward wave and an even more awkward expression. $roname is not impressed. $ro_heshe ignores Cameron and turns to face you, "So, what the hell happened that you would ever need me." "You know the house that burned down?" You start. "Yeah, I saw it on the news." $ro_heshe looks sceptical, brow raised, mouth downturned, and arms crossed in front of $ro_hisher chest while $ro_heshe leans up against the wall of the building. "I went there, for work, and I found something, a journal. It had a weird message in it, and I want to know how to uncover it, and know what it means." You don't mention the weird dreams that you've been having, or the strange figures you've been seeing everywhere, you don't have any evidence they're connected, even if you have a gut feeling that they are. "What the fuck does that have to do with me, or Cameron?" "It- I don't know. But something is wrong, and I can't do this on my own."<<if $rocall is "yes">>you sigh, "You know, I called earlier." You notice Cameron spin $cam_hisher head to face you, but you keep looking straight on at $roname . $roname narrows $ro_hisher eyes, "I know. I hung up. I figured it was an accident. Didn't exactly expect you two to show up out of nowhere at my work and try to talk to me." "I thought you had me blocked." "It doesn't matter."<</if>> $roname sighs and pushes $ro_hisher hair back before letting it fall forward again, annoying perfect as always. "Well, your explanation was vague at best." $ro_heshe pops $ro_hisher tongue, "but I won't say no to joining up with you guys." <<if $expressive lt 45>> You nod your head and a small smile rises to your face, "Thank you."<<elseif $expressive gt 55>> A large smile rises to your face, and it feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. "Thank you, so much."<</if>> "Yeah, yeah. Just, let me know what you need me to do and I'll be there. I'll send over my address to you." You nod and bring out your phone. <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">> "I'm staying at the motel about a block away from here." $roname nods, simply taking out $ro_hisher phone and texting over $ro_hisher apartment address. <<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> "I'm staying at Cameron's place." $roname raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything as $ro_heshe texts you.<</if>> It doesn't escape you that $roname has barely acknowledged Cameron this whole time, and even then it was only with a stray glance before $ro_heshe focused back in on you. You can't say you're not worried about how those two are going to work together now. You need to remember to ask Cameron what happened the last time they talked later. "Well, good night. We'll figure out what to do tommorrow." "Alright, just, please don't text before 10, I need to sleep." "I don't think any of us are gonna be awake before then." Cameron snorts. $roname dfoesn't respond and instead starts walking away, throwing up a peace sign in leui of a goodbye. You only just now notice $ro_hisher navy blue <<if $roname is "Rose">> coffin acrylic nails.<<if $roname is "Rory">> natural nails.<</if>> It doesn't escape you that $roname has barely acknowledged Cameron this whole time, and even then it was only with a stray glance before $ro_heshe focused back in on you. You can't say you're not worried about how those two are going to work together now. You need to remember to ask Cameron what happened the last time they talked later. But for now, you need to go to bed. [[Continue|C1.35]]

After getting back, the first thing you do is update $scoob on what happened. "So, $roname agreed to help us, but we're going to have to figure out where to head tommorrow for more information, Plus I have to fill out some paperwork for well, my actual job, but I know I can get that done early on in the day-" You continue to ramble until you start to get tired again, $scoob sitting attentively until $scoob_heshe gets tired, and then <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">> meows <<elseif $scoobspecies is "dog">> 'speaks' <</if>> loudly, as if to remind you that both of you need to sleep. "Right. Right. We'll talk about this tomorrow. Good night, buddy." [[Continue|C1.36]]

It's roughly noon when you wake up. <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">> $scoob is still asleep at the foot of the bed, and you have to very gently try to get up out of bed without waking $scoob_himher up.<<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> Cameron is still here, they probably have the day off, but is still asleep, snoring loudly at that.<</if>> You spend the first hour of waking up getting ready, trying to think about the order of operations for investigations like this, trying to start spinnging the gears in your brain that used to do this investigation.<<if $int lt 25>> Though most of the time you were there for moral support, and the occasional comedic relief when the others were tense.<</if>> For a while its felt like you've set up barriers in your mind surrounding your time a mystery solver. Even despite your job, there is far much more official paperwork (mostly because for the first few years doing that you all were very much doing it illegally, its a miracle there isn't a warrant out for your arrest.) You start talking to $scoob again to try and work out what to do. "Well, most of the time we started with research, which probably means we go down to the library." $scoob looks notably sad at the idea, knowing that $scoob_heshe can't go with. "I know, buddy. I promise, soon we'll start looking into things that you can come with on, okay?" $scoob huffs and lays down with as much drama as $scoob_heshe can muster. Now the question is, do you text $roname so $ro_heshe can come with? •<<link "yes" "C1.library route 1">><<set $libraryroute to "1">><</link>> •<<link "no" "C1.library route 2">><<set $libraryroute to "2">><</link>>

You decide to text instead of calling $roname just out of courtesy, they still might not be awake. <<if $expressive gt 55>>"hey I'm heading to the library later to start researching, you wanna come? btw probably gonna be kinda late if you start heading over now because I don't have a car rn :(("<<elseif $expressive lt 45>> "Hi. I'm going to the library later to start researching, if you want to come. I'll probably be late, I don't have a car at the moment."<</if>> //"good mornsinf"// <<if $expressive gte 51>>Your chuckle, "it's noon?"<<elseif $expressive lte 50>>You snort,"It's noon. also, mornsinf?"<</if>> //"stfu. u wanna ride there? Also how did u get here without a car???"// <<if $expressive gte 51>>"it broke down on the way in, it's how I met up with cam"<<elseif $expressive lte 50>>"It broke down on the way in. I had to stop at Cameron's work to see if it could get fixed." <</if>> •<<link "Also, yes I would like a ride." "C1.library 1.2">><</link>> •<<link "Also, it's fine I'll meet you there." "C1.library 1.2.1">><</link>>

You figured, in all likelyhood that $roname is still asleep. You aren't very keen on waking $ro_himher up. The morning is still quiet, minus the occasional sounds of cars and crickets and whatever else outside, you leave quietly and try to get to the library as fast as possible. It's not too long of a walk, most places aren't, unless you count attempting to escape the endless rows of houses pulled up on google maps, (at least here they have character, people like to decorate their lawns and houses here, it makes you happy.) [[Continue|C1.library route 2.1]]

When you arrive at the library, you can't help but notice how much smaller it looks now. The red brick building used to look so imposing and grand when you were little. The magic has gone away, and you can't help but be a little dissapointed. You walk up to the wooden doors with severe weathering, the door creaking loudly and for a long while when you open it. Of course it's still a large building, being one of two libraries in town not connected to a school. [[Continue|C1.library route 2.2]]

You're happy that you've been ready for moment, because now you have some time to hang out with $scoob while $ro_heshe gets ready (with which any luck will only take 45 minutes, though that all depends on how long it's going to take for $roname to decide on an outfit, and find matching earrings, and everything else.) Surprisingly, it only takes 20. So by the time you glance out the window to see a new car out front, you and $scoob have only just started <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">> playing with the feather toy you have for $scoob_himher .<<elseif $scoobspecies is "dog">> playing around with the tricks you have taught them before, even in a limited space.<</if>> "I'll be back soon, alright?" [[Continue|C1.library 1.2.3]]

The morning is still quiet, minus the occasional sounds of cars and crickets and whatever else outside, you leave quietly and try to get to the library as fast as possible. It's not too long of a walk, most places aren't, unless you count attempting to escape the endless rows of houses pulled up on google maps, (at least here they have character, people like to decorate their lawns and houses here, it makes you happy.) [[Continue|C1.library route 1.3]]

<<if $rcc is "silence">>You don't quite feel like talking at the moment. It seems like $roname doesn't want to either, if $ro_hisher general refusal to look you in the eyes, and apathy about this whole thing is any indication. So, you start to stare out the window, at the rows of houses that pass you by, while Jane's Addiction plays softly through the speakers, another staple of $roname_possessive playlist that has stuck since high school. at least here the houses that you're driving past have character, people like to decorate their lawns and houses here, it makes you happy.<</if>> When you arrive at the library, you can't help but notice how much smaller it looks now. The building used to look so imposing and grand when you were little. The magic has gone away, and you can't help but be a little dissapointed. You walk up to the wooden doors with severe weathering, the door creaking loudly and for a long while when you open it. $roname following shortly behind. [[Continue|C1.library route 1.4]]

When you get in the car, the first thing you notice is the rearview mirror ornament, a necklace you remember $ro_name wearing nearly every day in your senior year of high school, after Ollie gifted it to $ro_himher for $ro_hisher birthday. $roname yawns, "Well, morning, let's go research your weird gut feeling." There are cat eyed sunglasses sitting on $ro_hisher nose, likely to conceal the dark circles underneath. Of course, they match the sage green shirt $ro_heshe is wearing, though $ro_hisher earring are a darker shade, you assume for contrast. <<link "you drive in silence" "C1.library route 1.3">><<set $rcc to "silence">><</link>> <<link "you try to catch up" "C1.library route 1.2.4" >><<set $rcc to "talking">><</link>>

"So, what have you been up to?" $roname blinks out of some kind of daze, which would worry you if it wasn't that you used to do the same driving down these roads hundred of times. "Well, I'm working at the bar now. I've kind of just been living here, trying to make ends meet, you know?" "Yeah, yeah I get that." "What about yourself?" <<if $fond is "1">>"I'm kind of excited to be back honestly. To do something I have an attachment to, you know?"<<elseif $fond is "0">> "I didn't really want to be here, I got sent for work and well, now I feel like I'm in too deep to stop now, even if I really, really want to."<</if>> "I see." Conversation has never felt so stilted with $roname . You aren't sure if it's you or them or just this whole situation. You still feel compelled to fill the silences, and you can see $roname start to speak a few times, but then clam up. •<<link "I missed you." "C1.library route 1.2.5" <<set $ro_friendship to Math.clamp($ro_friendship +=3, 0, 100)>><<set $rcc2 to "missed you">><</link>> •<<link "I missed you. A lot. ♡" "C1.library route 1.2.5" <<set $r_rom to Math.clamp($r_rom +=2, 0, 100)>><<set $rcc2 to "missed you">><</link>> •<<link "I wish you called" "C1.library route 1.2.5" <<set $ro_friendship to Math.clamp($ro_friendship +=1, 0, 100)>><<set $rcc2 to "called">><</link>> •<<link "Did you ever talk to Ollie that night?" "C1.library route 1.2.5" <<set $ro_friendship to Math.clamp($ro_friendship -=3, 0, 100)>><<set $rcc2 to "ollie">><</link>>

When you and $roname enter, the woman behind the desk barely looks up from her game of solitaire to give you the keys to the archives. "Well, looks like she cared just as much as she did when we were in high school." $roname says as you walk down the cracked concrete stairs, and into the basement archives. rows and rows of boxes on shelves, as well as small piles of unorganized newspapers that you're worried are going to disintigrate if you even look at them. "So, we should start in the 1890's since that's when the journal I found is from." You sound far more confident then you really are.<<if $int lte 20>> You aren't quite sure where to start now, you're rusty, and you weren't all that interested by the research parts of your cases in the first place.<</if>> $roname simply hums in response and starts walking to the shelves, and you walk into one on the opposite side. You've been looking through the newspapers, and eventually find a box labeled '1897'. [[Continue|C1.library route 1.5]]

<<if $rcc2 is "missed you">> $roname doesn't say anything, barely moves except to stay on the road. They finally speak after the uneasy silence becomes too much, "Missed you too. A shit ton. I'm sorry I never called." "When? The day after, the day after that? Or the next four years?" You don't mean to be that snarky. You really did miss $ro_himher .<<if $r_rom gte 1>> More than you should.<</if>> But you can't help but keep a little bit of that rage. The part of you that still hurts after being abandoned. "All of it." $roname is biting $ro_hisher cheek. "Well, we're here." You look out the window, you forgot exactly how short of a drive it was, Misty Cove is small, but you always forget how small. "Let's go then."<<elseif $rcc2 is "ollie">> The air goes cold. "What?" "I mean, did you ever catch up with them?" "I don't owe you shit, in case you haven't noticed." <<if $curious gte 51>>You don't want to start an argument, you really don't. But you need to know, to sasitaite that burning curiousity. You know just how to get the answer out of them, even if it makes this whole trip worse. "Says the guy who left me in a fucking parking lot to go after someone who clearly wanted to get left alone." "Fine!" $ro_heshe shouts. you cringe, it worked but at what cost. "Yeah, I did talk to them, are you happy? I begged and I cried like a fucking baby and I still couldn't get them to come back, and I went home." $ro_heshe jerks the car into park, you didn't notice that you had already arrived, "Get out, let's get the over with, okay?"<<elseif $curious lte 50>> You don't want to start an argument, you don't have the stomach for it. "I'm sorry. It was just a question." "'Just a question.'" $ro_heshe scoffs. They put the car into park, you hadn't noticed you had already arrived. "We're here. Let's just get in there and get this over with."<</if>><<elseif $rcc2 is "called">> "You could've called first." "You blocked me.<<if $expressive gte 51>>Asshole.<</if>> "Right, I did do that." $ro_heshe shrinks back, hands gripping the steering wheel tighter and avoiding eye contact. You can see a faint red rise to $ro_hisher face. You almost laugh, but bite it back to spare $ro_hisher feelings. The rest of the drive is silent, though at least it's short. When you get to the parking lot, $roname jerks the car into park and gestures toward the building. "Let's get this over with."<</if>> [[Continue|C1.library route 1.3]]

You start to read. Though the article doesn't reveal much, It starts talk about some of the members of the town council, and the building of the home that recently burnt down. You think you are about to find the name of the man who wrote the journal before you hear $roname call out your name. "What's wrong?" You look up to where $ro_heshe is. "Nothing?" $ro_heshe says. "I thought you said something." "Nope." $roname turns back to the paper $ro_heshe was focusing on. "Okay." You turn back down, only to find that there is no paper in your hands. You swear that you still had it. It doesn't appear to be on the ground, you look and check in the box, its not there either. When you look back up and drag your hand down your face in frustration, your eyes catch again on something in the corner. //$mcname// What? //Go home.// You start to walk away from the shelves, and into the back of archives, hidden from view of everything else being behind the stairs. There is something there. an odd shape standing there in the corner. You are walking, and walking, and walking, and yet you don't seem to be getting closer to the strange shadow in the corner. You stop, try to look around and can only question your sanity. The lights go out. There is something slowly crawling towards you now, the only thing you can see in the dark, a large, slightly glowing thing. Its shape was meant to be human, you assume. But as you stare, and start to back away, you can't help but know there is something intimately wrong with the thing crawling towards you, dragging itself as you hear nails scrape against the wooden floor, breathing out but never in as it keeps coming towards you, inching foward slowly but surely. You can't seem to back away fast enough. Eventually, you get a look into its eyes, and you can only scream. [[Continue|C1.library route 1.6]]

When you are back you're still screaming, on the floor and you are grasping at the floor, at the walls, anything. You only stop when you realize the lights are back on, and you find $roname is behind you. "Dude! are you okay?" $ro_HisHer eyes are wide and looking over you, seeing if your injuried, or if anything is visibly wrong. <<if $touch is "touch averse">> $ro_HeShe is knealing on the ground, holding $ro_hisher hands up in front of you, hesitating to touch you before pulling away, hands awkwardly in the air.<<elseif $touch is "non touch averse">>$ro_heshe is knealing next to you, hand resting gently on your shoulder. <</if>> "I don't know. I- did you see that?" "See what?" $ro_HeShe looks worried. "There was, I don't know, just, something back there." You point towards the dark part of the room. "I didn't see anything, I'm sorry." You feel like you're becoming more unravelled by the second, like coming back into town has started pulling on the loose threads of your mind. "It's fine." You make to stand but are still a bit shaky on your feet, $roname reaches out $ro_hisher hand and you take it. "$mcname we should leave." $ro_HeShe says. Staring a hole through the side of your head. "Yes. We should." You're still staring into the corner, trying to find any trace of the, thing, you suppose, that was speaking to you. You can't shake the feeling that this thing is still in your head. [[Continue|C1.library route 1.7]]

When you get out of the library, having found nothing of importance, you are so upset. All you can think is how much easier this would have been if Ollie were here. They were always the most enthusiastic and thorough when it comes to research, I mean, there's a reason they went into forensics. Of course, you think about the other thing too, but you can't bring yourself to think about it too deeply right now. <<if $libraryroute is "1">>"This would have been so much easier if Ollie were here." You say it without thinking, you're still rattled and have very little filter right now. At the mention of Ollie, $roname bristles. "Why don't you call them then, hm?" You know that $ro_heshe is joking, but you know that yourself and $roname won't be able to do this much, with $ro_hisher job. Cameron has a job, and responsibilties at $cam_hisher own house, $cam_heshe can't be around all the time. So, maybe Ollie is the only other option you have.<<elseif $libraryroute is "2">> You chew on that thought, it won't leave your brain, and before you can even think, you've pulled out your phone and put it to your ear.<</if>> C•<<link "Wait to call them once you get back." "C1.37">><</link>><</if>> •<<link "Call them in the parking lot" "C1.37.1">><</link>>

You wait to call Ollie for $roname_possessive sake, they bristled at even the smallest mention of Ollie, and you don't want to make $ro_himher uncomfortable. $ro_HeShe insists on driving you back, nervously glancing over at you in the passengers seat the whole time, turning up the music (now playing Magnificent Bastards, another staple for $ro_himher ) and trying to hide the fact that $ro_heshe is looking at you. When you get back to <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">> the motel, <<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> Cameron's house,<</if>> there is a genuine goodbye. "Please, just call me if anything happens, alright?" $ro_possessive eyes are wide still, like you're going to shatter if $ro_heshe looks at you wrong. "I'll be fine. I promise." $roname nods and goes back to their state of aloofness, taking the sunglasses off of $ro_hisher head and putting them back on. You head in the building and $ro_heshe drives away well over the speed limit. [[Continue|C1.homephone]]

When you walk inside, You walk right up to the tall wooden desk with an old woman, you only remember calling her Mrs. Adams. She barely even looks up from her computer (you think she's just playing solitaire) though her eyes widen as she hands you the keys to the basement to access the archives. When you walk down the stairs behind the warm wooden door, the secent of old newspaper hits you immediately. This area doesn't seem very well maintained, you almost wish you had gone to the museum instead, asked to see their newspaper archives instead, even if you would have to be surveyed like a hawk the whole time as you looked through everything. But, you can always do that later, this is just a first step. The room itself is cold and dark, though you do manage to find a few light switches that turn on the fluorescents. You figure the best place to start would be looking through the shleves with newspapers from around the same time your journal was written. Maybe try to find whoever wrote it, or learn about the history of the house [[Look through the shelfs on the left side of the room|C1. route 2.3.1]] [[Look through the shelfs on the right side of the room|C1. route 2.3.2]]

You can't find much, though there is an article about the town council from that time, if heavily redacted for reasons unknown to you. All the faces in the photo are covered, as are their names. The only thing you can gather is that shortly after the town was founded, but before it was incorporated, there was a large amount of rumors surrounding the town concil and the mayor. Some kind of shady dealings, and a lot of meetings behind closed doors, interesting, but you aren't sure if its connected or not, since you don't have any names. Even if you could make an educated guess, there's no way to back it up. You even try holding the paper up to the light to see what's written, but unfortunately the lights aren't strong enough for you to see anything. [[Look through the shelfs on the right side of the room|C1. route 2.3.2]]

You start to read. Though the article doesn't reveal much, It starts talk about some of the members of the town council, and the building of the home that recently burnt down, as well as the owner. You see a glimmer of hope, You think you are about to find the name of the man who wrote the journal before you hear someone call your name. "Hello?" No response. You turn back down, and the paper isn't in your hands anymore. It didn't fall onto the ground, or any of the shelves, you look and check in the box, its not there either. You start looking around, confused, before you catch something in the corner. //$mcname// It came from the corner. //Go home.// You start to walk away from the shelves, and into the back of archives, hidden from view of everything else being behind the stairs. There is something there. an odd shape standing there in the corner. You are walking, and walking, and walking, and yet you don't seem to be getting closer to the strange shadow in the corner. You stop, try to look around and can only question your sanity. The lights go out. There is something slowly crawling towards you now, the thing in the corner has started moving, the only thing you can see in the dark, a large, slightly glowing green thing. Its shape was meant to be human, you assume. But as you stare, and start to back away, you can't help but know there is something intimately wrong with the thing crawling towards you, dragging itself as you hear nails scrape against the wooden floor, breathing out but never in as it keeps coming towards you, inching foward slowly but surely. You can't seem to back away fast enough. Eventually, you get a look into its eyes, and you can only scream. [[Continue|C1 route 2.4]]

When you come back you're still screaming, on the floor and you are grasping at the shelves, at the walls, anything. You only stop when you realize the lights are back on, and you look around to find nothing and nobody there. You lean on the wall and pull yourself up, still breathing hard and eyes darting around the room wildly, even if you're mostly sure things are back to normal. This only brings one memory forth to your mind. the last case, waking up in the desert. You're questioning yourself, your sanity, and you know that you need to leave, now. [[Continue|C1.library route 1.7]]

You decide to sit down on the bench outside the library, and before you can think, you put your phone to your ear.<<if $libraryroute is "1">> with $roname questiong what the fuck you're doing.<</if>> It rings, and rings. and then goes to voicemail. You call again, it keeps ringing. And a third time. It finally picks up. //"Hello?"// They sound terse, more so than usual at least. probably because you just spam called them. "Ollie- um." You hadn't thought you would get this far. //"$mcname why are you calling."// "I'm on a job. I think I need your help." //"What? I'm sorry- what?"// You can hear them sigh, //"Four years. Four god damn years, and there isn't even a hello? Just 'I need your help'? Don't call me again."// "Wait! Please, if you have the time, just let me explain." Crickets,<<is "library route is "1">> $roname is staring at you with confusion and the hatred of a thousand suns.<</if>>until Ollie finally speaks up.//"You have 3 minutes."// [[Continue|C1.38.1]]

You explain the situation to Ollie, unsure whether to include your most recent, hallucination? vision? dream? whatever it is, at the library. <<link "You bring it up" "C1.39">><<set $ocall1 to "yes">><</link>> <<link "You don't bring it up" "C1.39">><<set $ocall1 to "no">><</link>>

<<if $ocall1 is "yes">>You briefly speak on whatever happened in the library, the strange figure that appeared, and, well there was something else, but trying to think about it brings back the ringing and a pain radiating in your skull, so you move on.<</if>> Ollie is quiet once you finish explaining. //"So, what exactly do you need me for?"// "Let's just say researching today didn't go great today with just <<if $libraryroute is "1">> $roname and I<<elseif $library route is "2">> me<</if>>. And I'm on a time crunch if I want to figure this out. You were always the best at researching, so I figured I'd try." //"I'm up in Albequerque right now. Give me a few hours, we can have dinner or something and I'll make my decision then, alright."// You're shocked that they even agreed to come this far. Driving down from Albequerque is a pain in the ass, a two hour drive that you all used to do constantly, and all for some glorified research project that could be nothing? You have never been more confused. First Cameron, then $roname and now Ollie. You're grateful, but you don't know why they would ever do this. Oh well. Time to go get ready for dinner. [[Continue|C1.40]]

$scoob greets you at the door, and you lean down to pet $scoob_himher before sighing and flopping into a chair. "I''l explain everything to you in a bit. First I gotta call Ollie." $scoob looks up expectantly, waiting at your feet as you put the phone to your ear. It rings, and rings. and then goes to voicemail. You call again, it keeps ringing. And a third time. It finally picks up. //"Hello?"// They sound terse, more so than usual at least. probably because you just spam called them. "Ollie- um." You hadn't thought you would get this far. //"$mcname why are you calling."// "I'm on a job. I think I need your help." //"What? I'm sorry- what?"// You can hear them sigh, //"Four years. Four god damn years, and there isn't even a hello? Just 'I need your help'? Don't call me again."// "Wait! Please, if you have the time, just let me explain." //"You have 3 minutes."// [[Continue|C1.38.1]]

You and Ollie text to plan where to meet up, and after a bit of a back and forth you decide on Randy's, because of course you do. You also decided to tell $roname and Cameron, at Ollie's request, and you're still waiting for a response from $roname on if they're gonna show. Cameron agreed the moment $cam_heshe got the text. It's been three hours, Ollie should be here in a few minutes, and you have once again been stuck pacing, before $scoob starts pawing at your feet to get you to chill the fuck out. "Right, right. Sorry dude." $scoob is content to lay in your lap while you wait. You sit on <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">> the bed of your motel room, <<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> the couch in Cameron's living room,<</if>>and wait. For what feels like an eternity, but when you check the time has only been about 15 minutes, when the knock on the door comes. <<if $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> Cameron comes into the living room, going to get the door, but not before turning to you with a questioning brow. You simply nod, and feel bad moving $scoob to grab your stuff, but you still have to. $scoob doesn't seem too bothered, simply going back to sleep on the couch. You watch from the corner of your eye as Cameron opens the door and see Ollie, standing stiff and looking up at $cam_himher .<</if>> You quickly rush over after grabbing your wallet and shoving it into your pocket. $scoob has gotten up and is walking behind you. <<if $scoobspecies is "cat">> $scoob_hisher tail swishing, apprehensive as you approach the door.<</if>> <<if $carconvo2 is "not" or "people" or "motel">>" $mcname are you ready to head out?" Ollie stands stiff when you open the door, gripping tightly onto their bag strap. You look at them, black ripped baggy jeans with a cut up band tee, and of course, their leather jacket, covered in spikes, patches and an assortment of pins. "Yeah, I'm ready."<<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> "Cameron. You look, well." Ollie's mouth is drawn into a thin line, and is staring up at Cameron while $cam_heshe is floundering. Ollie turns to face you, "Are we all ready to go?" You look at them, straight posture and a vice grip on their bag strap. And of course, their leather jacket covered in spikes, pins and patches, you wonder if they ever got around to adding a painted panel on the back, you suppose you'll see, but curiousity has a hold on you. "Yeah, yeah I'm ready."<</if>> $scoob starts trying to shove past your legs. Ollie looks down and a soft smile grows on their face. "Hey, $scoob have you been good?" "Of course." $scoob preens, "I hate having to leave $scoob_himher here. But, $scoob_heshe has free access to water and food so it should be alright." "Okay, let's go then." Ollie turns away from you, shoulders still as stiff as ever. <<elseif $carconvo2 is "fine" or "rom">> Cameron follows after, quietly walking to $cam_hisher car, while you head to Ollie's.<</if>> You get into the car and sigh as you look down at your phone, no response from $roname yet. [[Continue|C1.41]]

When you head into Randy's and the three of you file into a booth, Cameron sliding in with Ollie as you sit alone, all of you are staring at the menus as if you, especially you, don't know it by heart. The only sound is the other diners and the low hum of the b-52's in the background. Unfortunately for everybody at the table, Terra is your server. “What can I get you all tonight?” Everybody mumbles out their orders, and Terra simply nods. When she walks away, Ollie starts the questioning. <<if $olcall1 is "yes" and $libraryroute is "1">>"Alright, first things first, when did this start happening?" "Two days ago, I told you that, right?" "No not this specific, whatever the hell is going on with that house, we'll get to that later." Ollie leans forward in their seat and points at you, "I want to know when those hallucinations started." Cameron looks over at you with wide eyes. "I don't- today, okay. It started at the library with that weird paper, but I've been having dreams like it for a lot longer." "Got it." Cameron still looks a bit worried. "When did you go the library today?" "While you were sleeping. I went with $roname" Ollie narrows their eyes, "Why isn't $ro_heshe here then?" <<elseif $olcall1 is "no" and $libraryroute is "1">>"What happened, exactly, at the library today?" Your skin squirms. "I don't know, really. I saw something while $roname and I were in the archives." Cameron whips $cam_hisher head around from messing with $cam_hisher phone. "Why didn't you say anything?" "I didn't want to say anything until everybody got here." You huff. <<elseif $olcall1 is "yes" and $libraryroute is "2">>"Alright, first things first, when did this start happening?" "Two days ago, I told you that, right?" "No not this specific, whatever the hell is going on with that house, we'll get to that later." Ollie leans forward in their seat and points at you, "I want to know when those hallucinations started." Cameron looks over at you with wide eyes. "I don't- today, okay. It started at the library with that weird paper, but I've been having dreams like it for a lot longer." "Got it." Cameron still looks a bit worried. "When did you go the library today?" "While you were sleeping." Ollie narrows their eyes, "Well, either way, you said something in the car about $roname being here? Where is $ro_heshe ?" <<elseif $olcall1 is "no" and $libraryroute is "2">> "What happened, exactly, at the library today?" Your skin squirms. "I don't know, really. I saw something while I was in the archives." Cameron whips $cam_hisher head around from messing with $cam_hisher phone. "Why didn't you say anything?" "I didn't want to say anything until everybody got here." You huff. "Wait, everybody?" Ollie pauses and looks around, "$roname isn't here?" <</if>> You don't know if the universe hates you or if $roname has been watching the whole time and waited to get brought up, because it's that moment $ro_heshe walks in, eyes searching until $ro_heshe spots you. $ro_HeShe slides next to you in the booth. "Surprise?" is all $ro_heshe has to say. Ollie doesn't look very impressed. Cameron looks like $cam_heshe is about to hurl. [[Continue|C1.42]]

"Hi, $roname ." Ollie deadpans. The room is quiet, Cameron is about to slide under the table with how far slumped $cam_heshe is in the booth. Ollie stares $roname down, eyes darting around $ro_hisher face for anything underneath the smile that's plastered onto $ro_hisher face. Nobody says anything, so ollie turns their focus back to you, "Back to what I was asking about. If I'm gonna agree to this insane plan. What could you possibly think is important enough to get everyone here. Insurance fraud? A scheme by yet another real estate mogul dressed up as a ghost with some kind of halucinatory drug they put into the vents of the library? What is it." You feel yourself<<if $leadership lte 50>> shrink back in your seat.<<if $leadership gt 50>> straighten.<</if>> "This isn't like the other cases we've had, okay." You sigh. <<link "Try to explain this logically" "C1.43">><<set $reveal to "logic">><</link>> <<link "Try to explain that this is some real supernatural nonsense" "C1.43">><<set $reveal to "supernatural">><</link>>

<<if $reveal is "logic">> You have always been a skeptic, and it doesn't exactly explain what's going on, but you need to hold onto some sense of normalcy. "There is something happening here, I don't know who, I barely know what, but I have a gut feeling that this connected to what happened that night," You only say that because of those god damn eyes. Even if it isn't a real connection, you might as well look into it, "I just, I need help, and I figured you three are the best people I know who can help. I don't trust my own mind right now, but I know for a fucking fact that something is going on, and I want answers, real answers." Its not your best justification, but you hope that it's persuaded Ollie. <<if $reveal is "supernatural">> "There is something wrong happening. I've been having weird dreams, and finding that journal and whatever happened in the library, I know they're connected. I can't explain it in a way that makes sense, I just know. There's this, creeping sense that's been following me for the past four years that i can't shake, and I think this could help me get to the bottom of it. If it ends up being a wild goose chase, then so be it, but I can't let this chance go when I have so many questions that I need answers to. And you all are the best investigators and schemers that I know, and I don't trust myself to do this on my own."<</if>> You look around at the table, waiting for some kind of reaction, even a laugh would be better than the silence that's so thick you could cut it with a knife. Ollie nods, face pensive. Cameron once again has a vague look of horror and nausea. $roname looks like $ro_heshe is biting back a smile. "I'm waiting out in the parking lot until my order comes. It was nice seeing you all." Ollie pushes themelf out of their chair and goes up to talk to Terra at the counter. [[You Follow|C1.44.1]]

"Wait! Ollie, please just, hear me out I know this sounds fucking insane." "You're right, it does. So sorry Terra, if you wouldn't mind would you be okay with making my order to go?" Terra looks between you both and simply nods, "Yup. Can do," she smiles. "Thank you, truly." Ollie starts to walk outside, and you follow. "Ollie, please. We can't do this without you." They stop before they get into their car and turn to face you, "You all never needed me." "What?" You're confused. As far as you're concerned, Ollie was the entire reason you all had even started investigating real cases. After the incident with the dean of your high school, you were okay with it being a one-and-done event. $roname and Ollie were the ones who pushed you and Cameron to continue. "This whole thing is fucking insane, $mcname and you know it. 'weird feelings' are not a real case, even with the evidence you have found, that only gives me more reason to stay far, far, away from this whole thing. It's not like I would have helped anyways." <<if $expressive gte 50>> "Bullshit! who was the one who solved the mystery in Bishop's Castle? You. Who was the person who figured out the case of the ghost bride? You! You were always the smartest out of all of us, and, well, research was always your forte. I know this whole thing seems insane, trust me, I know. But I need your help."<<elseif $expressive lt 50>>You are speechless for a moment, "Why would you think that? You were the one who kept us sane, who researched and stayed up late following leads late at night even when you were tired. You solved the Bishop's castle case, and the ghost bride. We couldn't have done any of what we did without you. Believe me, I know this whole, thing, is insane, but I would like your help, truly."<</if>> You pause, "And, there's always the possibilty of finding a real ghost this time." Ollie narrows their eyes. "Playing on my hopes and dreams of finding a real ghost is cruel you know." It takes another moment, and an eyeroll, "Fuck it, let's go back inside and we can talk out the details." There is a ghost of a smile on their face. //[[End Chapter One]]//

<<if $closest is "all">> Of course you were all close. $roname and Cameron had always seemed a bit closer, Ollie kept to themselves more often, which only made it worse when you started getting pushed away more and more.<<elseif $closest is "Ollie">> There had always seemed to be two pairs. You of course were all great friends, at least once upon a time, but late night phone calls with ollie were always the highlights of your week. Those haven't happened much as of late, though the dark circles are still under their eyes.<<elseif $closest is "R">> The first friend you had made in middle school, and still your closest friend now within the group. Late nights spent watching $roname do makeup, occasionally trying it yourself with varying results, and watching scary movies. There has always been an unspoken closeness between you two. Though they've been pulling away, as had everybody else.<<elseif $closest is "Cam">> You and Cameron had always been especially close, hearing $cam_himher ramble about $cam_hisher latest idea for an invention, or helping $cam_himher clean up the section of their parents garage that had been taken over as $cam_hisher parents house, and watching cheesy romcoms that Cameron would without fail sob at every time. You miss those movie nights, its been harder and harder as $cam_heshe has pulled away.<</if>> As Cameron pulls up to park and the engine stops rumbling, the headlights are off, and the only thing you can see are the sand dunes, and the occasional cactus. The stars shine brightly overhead, but they don't offer much light at ground level, it is a new moon. All of those things are not what make the knot in your stomach tighten and your breathing become shallower. The bugs aren't chirping. there's no hint of any coyotes, or owls, or the few toads that make it out of the mountains and try to survive out in the desert. The only thing you can hear is the wind blowing across the dunes. It's unnerving, and you still can't shake that feeling that you're about to fuck up big time. “Let's go y'all!” $ro_possessive unending enthusiasm over this case has only served to make you more nervous. And as you all start walking towards the reported location, the drying brush and sand crunching underfoot, the dread threatens to rise up and make you puke. “Are you alright?” Cameron turns and asks you. They've always been annoyingly perceptive. “No. Not really.” You say it without thinking. Normally you wouldn't be so blunt, especially not to Cameron. but you are so distracted, the knot in your stomach has become a feeling that something is wrong. Like something is writhing underneath your skin. “Do you wanna turn back?” Cameron becomes very serious, seeing the look in your eyes and the panic behind them. “No, no. I'll be fine, and I don't want to leave you guys alone." "Are you sure?" "Yes." “If you're sure.” $cam_heshe whispers. Everybody continued to walk forward, and eventually, you saw a flame in the distance, and the silhouettes of people around it. Getting closer to it, the feeling that something is under your skin started growing more prominent. It keeps growing in intensity, you feel like something is going to burst out of it. Then, when the people around the campfire turn to face you and your friends, like they've sensed you were there, you freeze. The buzzing stops. everything stops. All you can see is their eyes, their blank, glowing eyes. [[Continue|pro 0.1]]

Thank you for playing the demo! I am so sorry it took so long to get this out, but we're here, and I know how twine works, so theoretically this whole thing should go much smoother. Please feel free to send any comments, typos, broken links, or any other errors to my ask box or messages at @fluorescent-if on tumblr.

Cameron leans back in $cam_hisher seat and exhales. $cam_heshe is staring at the notebook, sitting on their dining table, sharing the corner of the table so you both can look at it, $cam_hehshe looks up at you, eyebrows raised, seeing if they can touch it, try to examine it. You nod, and they start rifling through the pages, "Well, it seems like the rest of the journal, excpet that warning, is written in some kind of invisible or dissapearing ink." <<if $int or $observation gt 20>>"Yeah, that's what I was thinking, I'm gonna have to test it later."<<elseif $int or $observation lte 20>> "I didn't think of that, we should definitely check that later."<</if>> "For sure. Though I'm not sure with how old the paper is if the ink has lasted, or what kind of ink it is. Honestly I don't really know ink that well, this would probably be a better question for-" $cam_heshe stops dead in $cam_hisher tracks. $cam_hisher eyes dart up to you before clearing #cam_hisher throat. "Um, What's our next move, is what I'm saying. I'm not very good at the whole, 'finding leads' thing." Cameron was never one to look too far into the future, or look too deep into suspects and leads on cases, $cam_heshe preferred to just directly catch the culprit and be done with it, $cam_hisher time to shine was always came in the mechanincs of a trap, rather than the nitty gritty details. An idea pops into your head. You're not sure if it would work. "Should we bring in $roname and Ollie?" Cameron looks at you like you've grown 3 heads. "Why would we do that?" "Because-" Well, you're not really sure why. It could be because, •<<link "You miss them." "C1.24">><<set $reunite to "miss them">><</link>> •<<link "You need the help" "C1.24">><<set $reunite to "help">><</link>> •<<link "You want to right wrongs" "C1.24">><<set $reunite to "right">><</link>>

<<if $scoobspecies is "dog">> What breed? <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "great dane" autocheck>>Great Dane</label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "xolo" autocheck>>Xoloitzcuintli (Xolo)/Mexican Hairless dog</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "german shepard" autocheck>>German Shepard</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "lab" autocheck>>Labrador</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "bull dog" autocheck>>Bull Dog</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "dashchund" autocheck>>Dachshund</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobbreed" "mutt" autocheck>>Unknown Mutt</label> <<elseif $scoobspecies is "cat">> What coat color? <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "black" autocheck>>Black</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "blue" autocheck>>Blue/Grey</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "white" autocheck>>White</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "tortie" autocheck>>Tortoiseshell</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "calico" autocheck>>Calico</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "grey tabby" autocheck>>Grey tabby</label><label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "orange tabby" autocheck>>Orange tabby</label> <label><<radiobutton "$scoobcolor" "red spotted" autocheck>>Red spotted tabby</label><</if>> choose your pet's gender <<listbox "$scoob_gender">> <<option "male">> <<option "female">> <</listbox>> then, give em a name! <<textbox "$scoob" "">> <<button [[Begin Game...|START]]>><</button>>