GAME DESIGN

=><= [[Darkness->1]]

=><= [[Darkness->2]]

=><= [[Pitch Black->3]], until suddenly…

=><= A [[small light->4]] in the corner of your eye.

=><= A bigger light shines brighter and [[brighter->5]].

=><= You’re laying on the [[ground->6]].

=><= The concrete is hard and [[uncomfortable->7]].

=><= [[Darkness->7.1]] surrounds you, but the blinding carnival [[lights->8]] are alluring.

=><= You feel in your arms a soft material. The mysterious lights make you hold onto Bubbles, your axolotl plushie. As you grab it tighter, and tighter, its warmth makes you feel more at ease giving you the courage to [[move on->9]].

=><= Upon entering the gates you are faced with empty fairgrounds, familiar but peculiar. [[Something feels off->10]].

=><= The sound of a recognizable song can be heard in the distance. Maybe someone else is here. You better [[follow it->11]].

=><= The music grows [[louder->12]]…

=><= and [[louder->13]].

=><= You find yourself before a merry-go-round. It softly spins around its center. Strangely there's only one [[seat->14]] on a sad and lonely horse.

=><= You sit down on it hoping to cheer up the horsie. Its beady empty eyes stare at your soul. It smiles yet you can feel the sadness [[seeping->15]] from it.

=><= You turn around and face the [[darkness->Start]], maybe 5 more minutes, the concrete isn't that bad.

=><= A single teardrop falls from its eye and as the merry-go-round picks up [[speed->16]] its tears start streaming onto your face.

=><= As you wipe them away, you almost lose your balance. The ride spins even faster, you are forced to hold harder onto the bar rising from the horse’s back. Your tiny body is almost flying and yet you [[keep holding on->16.1]], but the ride doesn’t stop and you need to [[let go->17]].

=><= You don't stop gripping the bar and Bubbles, maybe the ride will stop [[soon enough->16.2]].

=><= You get off the horse still holding onto the stirrups, even with your sweaty hands, the grip on them is still steady. Your jaws bite down hard on Bubble’s little paw, afraid he might get launched away. Slowly but steadily you get on the floor and [[start crawling->18]] onto the center column, on it you notice a small panel.

=><= As the sweat and tears wet your hands, you start to lose your grip on the bar and get flung into the center of the merry-go-round. You hit your head hard on some weird panel, it makes a weird noise but at least the ride finally [[stopped->19]].

=><= It's slightly open, there’s some wires in there, so in hopes of it stopping you grab at them and pull as fast as you can. The wires zap at each other and the ride finally comes to a [[stop->19]].

=><= While getting out of the carrousel, you feel dizzy, almost throwing up but you hold yourself. Bubbles looks at you and you feel a sense of [[relief->20]].

=><= The lights on the ride turn off as you walk away, distant screeching of a machine can be heard in the distance and a tall tower finds itself illuminated in your view. You feel attracted [[towards it->21]].

=><= As you close the distance between you and the tower of light the machine noises get louder but slower. A platform arrives down, the safety bars on the seats go up. It seems as if it's inviting you to sit there. You look at Bubbles for some sort of comfort, hoping that he would tell you whether you should [[go->22]] or [[not->21.1]] .

=><= When you sit down, the safety bars don’t seem so safe. You seem to be big enough for the bars to close but not big enough for them to protect you. They [[close you in->23]] anyway, but now you’re doubting your choice.

=><= After some consideration you think Bubbles wouldn’t want to put you in any more danger than what you already went through. [[You turn your back->28.1]] to the tower with Bubbles in a tight hug.

=><= The platform starts moving up, you then realize you should’ve left bubbles down there to be safe, and yet he rests on your lap, precariously looming over the edge, but just to be sure he doesn’t fall, you put him in your shirt. He somehow fills the most empty space between you and the safety bars. [[You already feel safer->24]].

=><= You reach the top, you only see darkness in the distance, the only light that you can see is coming from the tower itself. Your seat keeps you up there for a while and you look down. You realize how far up you are, you feel scared. [[You want to leave->25]].

=><= You hear a loud noise, your breathing stops for a second. Suddenly you’re being dropped from the sky at an unimaginable speed, before you can react Bubbles flies from your shirt. You scream for him, you feel the safety bars more loose than they are supposed to be, it’s almost like you’re free falling and they’re just there for decoration. Finally you drop down all the way you breathe a sigh of relief and start looking for Bubbles. Weird, the safety bars [[haven’t lifted up->26]].

=><= The platform pulls you up yet again. No, you don't want this anymore, you want to go search for Bubbles. The fear comes out as screams in your lungs. The tower keeps lifting you up and throwing you down, the safety bars doing little to nothing. You’re holding the bars so hard your hands are cramping up. After a final scratchy scream the tower goes down one last time and [[the bars open->27]].

=><= You fall from your seat, your throat raspy and sore. After gathering your strength you stand up, worry fills your stomach. Where did Bubbles go? You search everywhere but there’s no sign of his little pink tummy. You have to search for him so you [[leave the drop tower area->28]].

=><= After walking for a while you notice the floor starts getting [[foggy->29.1]].

=><= After walking for a while you notice the floor starts getting [[foggy->29]].

=><= It gets foggier and foggier as you [[continue your way->30]].

=><= As the deep fog settles, you can barely see anything, except for a doorway covered in [[light->31]].

=><= When you reach it, you find yourself inside a building, you can finally see clearer with the fog lowering to your feet but as you venture deeper you get startled by a moving [[silhouette->32]].

=><= Oh, it's just your reflection, this must be the inside of a mirror maze, you think to [[yourself->33]].

=><= As you keep moving, you see yourself in various shapes and sizes, taller, smaller, even how you would look as a spiral. All very interesting sights to behold, until suddenly a [[pink shape->34]] quickly waddles away in the corner of your eye.

=><= After turning the corner you are faced with two large mirrors, bigger than any you’ve seen before and also [[two corridors->35]] next to each one.

=><= To your left, you see an angrier you, somehow she starts yelling at you, “Didn’t you see Bubbles?! He was right here, and you have to go after him, [[you lost him->36]] after all!”

=><= Meanwhile to your right, you find the reflection of a sadder you, as she sobs you can barely make out what she is saying, “[[He’s gone->37]]! Didn’t you see him flying away?! We’ll never see Bubbles again!”

=><= As you try to think with all this yelling, you ask yourself: “Would Bubbles be [[inside this place->37.1]]? I saw him blast off into oblivion but he could always have tried to find his way back to me. I can’t leave him alone in this maze.” “Or maybe [[he’s somewhere else->38]]? He did fly very fast, he’s probably waiting for me in another place in the park right? But then what did I see before?”

=><= After running through the corridor to the right, you find the exit to the maze. As you get out, you stand before a giant [[Ferris Wheel->39]].

=><= You decide to go search for Bubbles in the maze. You turn towards the corridor on the left. Its so [[dark->37.2]] in there you can barely see anything the deeper you go in.

=><= Maybe you should try to get on it, you could probably see Bubble’s pink body from all the way [[up there->40]], but maybe if you [[walked around->39.1]] he could just be laying somewhere.

=><= After getting on, you sit quietly as you [[think things through->41]].

After walking for a bit Bubbles was laying on the ground next to some flowers, There's no way! He was here all along. You [[don't need to continue being sad->40.1]].

=><= Could you still find [[Bubbles->42]]?

=><= Is it all your [[fault->43]]?

=><= Maybe he’s actually [[gone->44]]…

=><= When you reach the top, the ride stops. You try to look everywhere, but find yourself disappointed when you can’t seem to find your pink companion. Slowly you curl yourself up into a ball, as you come to the realisation, “[[He’s gone isn’t he?->45]]” Before you start sobbing.

=><= The ride then starts again, the time it takes to get back down seems like an eternity, your mouth feels weird and it feels like a big weight was put on your chest. But as you finally get down you can barely get up, and slowly [[step away->46]], making your way to anywhere else.

=><= As you stumble your way into discovering an exit, you find a Ring-toss stand, all its lights and loud music make it a sight impossible to not look at, but when you stare into it you see there is a [[prize stand->47]].

=><= In an instant, you look directly at the [[pink plush->48]] in the corner.

=><= No way! It’s [[Bubbles->49]]! So this is where he was. Is he stuck?

=><= [[Wait a minute->50]]. He sure looks shinier than usual, and he doesn't have that stain on his paw.

=><= Is it bubbles? [[Yes->50.1]] [[No->51]]

=><= No it can’t be your best friend. He looks way more pink than usual, but you wanna make sure so you gather the hoops on the table to [[play->52]] .

=><= Yeah of course [[it's Bubbles->51.1]] and he's standing right in front of you better than ever.

=><= You throw the hoop to try and get it around the plushie, as you watch the hoop flying through the air, suddenly it swerves off its path. You gasp, suddenly you notice there's a fan turned towards the plushie. The hoops are too light to go through that kind of current. Does that mean [[you can’t get Bubbles back->53]]?

=><= Is it even [[really him->54]]?

=><= Will you ever [[know->55]]?

=><= Do you really even [[need to know->56]]?

=><= Did you really even [[have him->57]]?

=><= When did you [[lose him->58]]?

=><= It’s [[ok->59]].

=><= Even when your dad gave it to you, you knew that what mattered was that day in the carnival and the [[memories->60]] you made that day.

=><= You had no idea that day would be the [[last->61]] you had with him.

=><= It wasn’t your fault that [[he’s gone->62]].

=><= You don’t need to hold on anymore because your dad will [[always be with you->63]].

=><= You’re [[ok->64]].

=><= [[You don’t need me anymore->True Ending]].

=><= Light fills your senses, [[you woke up->65]]. <== <img src="https://i.postimg.cc/505yKyd1/image.png" alt="Bubbles left on the ground" style="display:block; margin:0 auto; max-width:90%; height:auto;">

=><= You climb on the counter of the stand clumsily almost falling on your back. You feel the cold air of a fan on your side but you ignore it going straight for [[Bubbles->52.1]].

=><= As soon as you grab the plushie from the stand all lights of the carnival [[turn off->53.1]].

=><= It’s so dark, but at least Bubbles is in your arms [[right->54.1]]?

=><= [[Wait->55.1]]…

=><= There’s nothing in your arms, only emptiness and it’s so [[cold->56.1]].

=><= It’s so [[dark->Bad Ending]] too.

=><= There’s only [[darkness->57.1]]. <== <img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Wz23BVTZ/Caroline-Bubbles.png" alt="Caroline holding Bubbles" style="display:block; margin:0 auto; max-width:100%; height:auto;">

=><= [[Darkness->Start]]

=><= It gets foggier and foggier as you [[continue your way->30.1]].

=><= As the deep fog settles, you can barely see anything, except for a doorway covered in [[light->31.1]].

=><= When you reach it, you find yourself inside a building, you can finally see clearer with the fog lowering to your [[feet->32.1]].

=><= Oh, it's just your reflection, this must be the inside of a mirror maze, you think to [[yourself->33.1]].

=><= As you keep moving, you see yourself in various shapes and sizes, taller, smaller, even how you would look as a spiral. All very interesting sights to [[behold->34.1]].

=><= After turning the corner you are faced with two large mirrors, bigger than any you’ve seen before and also [[two corridors->35.1]] next to each one.

=><= To your left, you see an angrier you, somehow she starts yelling at you, “Why are you holding a toy?! That's for babies! [[Are you a baby?->38.1]]”

=><= Meanwhile to your right, you find the reflection of a sadder you, as she sobs you can barely make out what she is saying, “That's not true! He protects us! [[We need him->37.3]]!”

=><= [[Darkness->Start]]

=><= You don't want to listen to any of them so you leave After running through the corridor to the right, you find the exit to the maze. As you get out, you stand before a giant [[Ferris Wheel->39.2]].

=><= It's pretty you wonder if you would have a good time with Bubbles up there but you're [[too frightened->40.1]] to even try it.

=><= So you [[continue->46.1]] on your way.

=><= In an instant, you look directly at the [[pink plush->48.1]] in the corner.

=><= No way! It’s another [[Bubbles->49.1]]! Why is there another one?

=><= [[Wait a minute->51.1]]. Where did Bubbles go he was right in your arms. That means he must've gotten out and went to the stand. That explains it!

=><= Will you go to [[sleep again->Start]]?