yeehaw! here's a longer passage just to test out the scrolling function.
$testingvar
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ultricies tristique nulla aliquet enim tortor at. Consequat ac felis donec et odio pellentesque diam volutpat commodo. Mauris cursus mattis molestie a iaculis at erat. Ac odio tempor orci dapibus ultrices in. Pellentesque sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi. Pulvinar mattis nunc sed blandit libero volutpat sed. Enim nunc faucibus a pellentesque sit amet. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Dignissim enim sit amet venenatis urna cursus. Pulvinar mattis nunc sed blandit libero volutpat sed. Enim nunc faucibus a pellentesque sit amet. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum arcu. Lectus mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis massa tincidunt dui.
Sit amet volutpat consequat mauris nunc congue nisi vitae. Et molestie ac feugiat sed lectus. Est pellentesque elit ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis. Risus nec feugiat in fermentum posuere urna. Lectus mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis massa tincidunt dui.
Erat imperdiet sed euismod nisi. Elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Luctus accumsan tortor posuere ac ut consequat. Tortor posuere ac ut consequat semper viverra nam. Fringilla urna porttitor rhoncus dolor purus non enim praesent elementum. Amet risus nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis mattis aliquam. Velit euismod in pellentesque massa placerat duis ultricies lacus sed. Eget nunc scelerisque viverra mauris in.<!-- story interface stuff goes here -->
<div id="container">
<div id="header">
<span id="header-text" onclick="toggle(this)"></span> <div class="menutoggle"><span id="zero" onclick="toggle(this)"><i class="fa fa-ellipsis-v" aria-hidden="true"></i> </span> <span id="one" style="bottom:-180px;">
<div class="menu-flex">
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
<div id="hmm">
<div id="passages">
<!-- actual game content appears in here -->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- im v bad at javascript dont judge me too hard -->
<script>function toggle() {
var x = document.getElementById("one");
if (!x.style.bottom ||x.style.bottom === '-180px') {
x.style.bottom = '0px';
} else {
x.style.bottom = '-180px';
}
}
$("#hmm").click(function() {
var x = document.getElementById("one");
if (x.style.bottom == '0px') {
x.style.bottom = '-180px';
}
});
$("#one").click(function(event) {
event.stopPropagation();
});
</script><!-- storyinterface doesn't let you code variables in, so this is how u cheat the system -->
<<replace ".menu-flex">><<include "menu-flex">><</replace>>
<<replace "#header-text">><<include "header-text">><</replace>><!-- a little script to boop longer passages back up to the top when going to new pages -->
<script>var myDiv = document.getElementById('passages');
myDiv.scrollTop = 0;</script><<link '<div class="menu-item"><b>00</b> go back</div>'>><<run Engine.backward()>><</link>>
<<link '<div class="menu-item"><b>01</b> settings</div>'>><<script>>UI.settings()<</script>><</link>>
<<link '<div class="menu-item"><b>02</b> profile</div>' 'profile'>><</link>>
<<link '<div class="menu-item"><b>03</b> saves</div>'>><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</link>><span style="color:orange">Excellent Cadavers / $gamechapter</span>You are $name $surname. 22 years old at the beginning of your story. 25 at the end.
What's your path?
<span style="color: orange;">You've taken the path of the $path.</span>
How do you deal with your enemies?
<span style="color: orange;">Merciful $mercifulRuthlessCounter Ruthless</span>
//Note: mercy goes up, ruthless goes down.//
Weapon of choice?
<span style="color: orange;"><<if $Guns is 0>>You don't know yet.<<elseif $Knives is 0>>You don't know yet.<<elseif $Fists is 0>>You don't know yet.<</if>></span>
Tactic?
<span style="color: orange;"><<if $Intimidation is 0>>You don't know yet.<<elseif $Cunning is 0>>You don't know yet.<<elseif $Seduction is 0>>You don't know yet.<</if>></span>
''<<link "RETURN TO GAME" $return>><</link>>''a passage for testing the """$return""" function! it returns you to the last visited passage that isn't tagged with 'noreturn', whereas the general back button in the menu simply navigates through all visited passages. helps you avoid getting stuck in a loop!
<<link "return to game" $return>><</link>><<set $gamechapter = "Prologue: Dynasty">>
<<cacheaudio "funky" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/jh5n86lu04h8vpapsys63/saturday-night-feeling-disco-fox-4872.mp3?rlkey=qtgc43popa8x6ebixof7sscju&st=s39slol5">>
<<cacheaudio "saturday"
"https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/t29i3m538xufgv5kln2dx/funk-it_dock-49967.mp3?rlkey=fbiwwr54rjgxpgp6njxnm98s7&st=5eeclx8d">>
$('meta[name="viewport"]').attr('content', 'width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no');
<<set $mercifulRuthlessCounter to 50>>
<<set $Guns to 0>>
<<set $Knives to 0>>
<<set $Fists to 0>>
<<set $Intimidation to 0>>
<<set $Cunning to 0>>
<<set $Seduction to 0>><img src=data:image/png;base64,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 width="500" height= "500">
<span class="fade-in"><div class="top-center">//Click anywhere to continue.//</div></span>
<<run $(document).one("click", function () {
Engine.play("Warning");
});>><h4>//__''1937.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
The man spits out a glob of brown spit. He smacks his lips, his face grimacing as he feels how dry the inside of his mouth is. His companion grunts each time the shovel descends into that packaged hot sand.
The man holds out his hand, and his companion shakes his head, “I told ya. There is no mo’ left.”
The man opens and closes his fingers, signifying to his companion that he prefers to corroborate that statement. ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme.’
His companion sighs but pulls off the strap from his shoulder and hands the canteen to his friend. The man untwists the metal cap and lifts the heavy water container to his dry and cracked lips. A single hot drop falls in between his yellowed teeth.
The drop practically fizzles out on his sandpaper tongue. He lowers the canteen and hurls it away, “cazzo!”
His companion scowls and replies, “that was mine compare. Ya already destroyed yaurs.”
"//Yours, You,//" the man corrects him, a bead of sweat running in between his fat shoulder blades.
His companion waves his hand to swat off his friend’s suggestion, “we are in America, yes? Land of many peoples like us.”
“And you know what they do to people like us. We can’t give them more reason to hate us,” the man states.
“Compare,” the companion says, astonished. “We are criminals.”
[[Page 2]]<h4>//__''1977.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
Heaving, you pull yourself out of the hole and slump down on the hot sand. Unbothered by the burning sensation on your cheek. You must like a disaster, what’s a burn more?
You blink through tired eyes at the rising sun. The colours in the sky are made of the most rich orange and yellow you've ever seen. It's so beautiful it makes you want to cry. It's not a bad place to die. Most involved in this business get far worse final images to look at.
If they bury you here, no one would ever find you. It’s not like anyone would even come to bring flowers to your headstone if your enemies give you one. Well...
Someone might. That is if they’re still coming. They could’ve betrayed you, just like the sad sack of shit lying face-down a few paces away. You can already smell the acrid odour of the decomposing flesh.
A label added to the many labels tacked onto your person in the two years. Murderer. It doesn't matter right now whether it was an accident or intentional. Even if you said sincerely, that you little Luce <<cycle '$surname' autoselect>><<option 'Altieri'>><<option 'Ricciardi'>><<option 'Leoni'>><<option 'Vinci'>><</cycle>>, <<cycle '$killer' autoselect>><<option 'killed someone by accident'>><<option 'killed someone in cold blood'>><</cycle>>, that is not why they are coming.
You’re digging in the desert from a treasure buried forty years ago next to a person you killed when, this time last year, you were on a rooftop thinking your life couldn’t get any better.
If only your dad could see you now.
You laugh and laugh and laugh.
[[Page 3]]<h4>//__''1937.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
He waited until his companion was far enough away for his bathroom break to open the chamber of the gun and slide in one bullet. He closed it and put it back amongst his companion’s things. The guns they had weren’t stellar; they jammed, which is what led to the man getting a bullet right through his thigh a week and a half ago.
It still hurts from time to time when a fuzz unloaded on him. ‘Protectors of the public,’ he thinks scornfully. More stray bullets from their side of the law killed more people in that bank than he or his two accomplices did.
He pretended to be cleaning under his fingernails when his companion began walking back.
“Ya think he will say yes?” the companion asks as he stoops to pick up his gun.
The man feels for his gun tucked into the back of his belt and pulls it out. He rubs the almost worn-away initials.
“Fede is a smart man, and he’s an impatient man. He’ll see that this is the best thing we can do for ourselves and our future children,” he persuades.
His companion looks down at his own gun, doubt creasing his forehead. When he looks back up at the man, uncertainty spills from his eyes. “Why guns? We talk to him like compares, and I am sure he will say yes.”
The man jerks his gun playfully to flip open the chamber. He shows his gun to his companion, “you see? It is not real. We aren’t going to do him like we did the coppers. It’s just for... to say that we mean business.”
“Business...,” his companion echoes.
The man nods encouragingly, his heartbeat exulting from the anticipation of his triumph.
[[Page 6]]<h4>//__''1937.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
Federico came when he promised he would. At three o’clock, the men saw his truck in the distance, its vibrant colour making it stand out from the mirage. They waited a few feet apart.
The man was calm, his face a perfect picture of camaraderie. However, the nervous energy could be felt coming from his companion. The man shot him a scathing look, but his companion was staring straight ahead at the oncoming truck.
The truck came to a crawling stop, almost touching the men’s knees. Fede had both his hands on the wheel and slowly looked from the man to his companion. He made no move to come out.
“Fede, did you bring the water?” the man asks in a friendly tone.
The man he addresses nods once. He doesn’t move to show the water or the food he was also requested to bring. He stares intently at his two friends. He glances at the door lock.
The man sees it but still says with the same calming countenance, “aren’t you going to come out?”
“What’s wrong with our friend?” Fede asks, speaking of their companion. The man doesn’t take his eyes off the prize.
“He’s just a little jittery,” the man replies. “The sandwich did him bad.”
Fede slips one hand off the wheel, and by the bend of his elbow, the man knows what he’s reaching for. “Is there something on your mind, compare?” Federico asks the man.
The man rapidly raises his gun and points it directly at Fede’s forehead. Fede takes out his gun and points it at the man, and their companion quickly follows the man’s example.
“As a matter of fact, there is,” the man says, a cold smile stretching to terrifying proportions on his face.
[[Page 8]]<h4>//__''1977.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
Taking a deep breath, you hook your finger around the trigger and feel it ready to press in.
When you’re moments from death, you don’t think of all the moments of your life in a quick whirlwind that prevents you from lingering on any powerful memory like the day your brother died, the day you went into your father’s office, the day you saw someone die for the first time, the die someone died because of your actions not the day you met the love of your life.
No, none of that jazz. You think of the situation you’re in right now; you think of all the times you’ve been scared like this. Scared to death. And one final scare for the road.
3...
2...
1...
<<if $gender is 'woman'>>“You’re not gonna let me do the honours, foxy?” a voice that has followed you in your nightmares cuts through the dry air.<<elseif $gender is 'man'>>“You’re not gonna let me do the honours cool cat?” a voice that has followed you in your nightmares cuts through the dry air.<</if>>
You whirl around and lower the gun. Holding it in a death grip. You let out a gasp, “how...”
“Did I find you?”
You can’t even find it in yourself to say the words or nod.
Your murderer tsks, tsks, tsks. Lifting the gun, you get your reply. “Oh—”
<hr>\
[[Girl names.]]
[[Boy names.]]
[[Create your own.]]** [[Chiara.|Page 9][$name to 'Chiara']]
** [[Alessia.|Page 9][$name to 'Alessia']]
** [[Aurora.|Page 9][$name to 'Aurora']]
** [[Francesa.|Page 9][$name to 'Francesa']]
** [[Loretta.|Page 9][$name to 'Loretta']]
** [[Roma.|Page 9][$name to 'Roma']]
** [[Paola.|Page 9][$name to 'Paola']]
** [[Constanza.|Page 9][$name to 'Contanza']]
** [[Return.|Page 8]]** [[Antonio.|Page 9][$name to 'Antonio']]
** [[Enzo.|Page 9][$name to 'Enzo']]
** [[Elio.|Page 9][$name to 'Elio']]
** [[Aurelio.|Page 9][$name to 'Aurelio']]
** [[Leonardo.|Page 9][$name to 'Leonardo']]
** [[Marco.|Page 9][$name to 'Marco']]
** [[Santino.|Page 9][$name to 'Santino']]
** [[Dario.|Page 9][$name to 'Dario']]
** [[Return.|Page 8]]<<textbox '$name' ''>><center> [[Page 9]]</center>“— $name $surname, I was always going to.”
Then you’re shot at point-blank range.
[[Page 10]]<h4>//__''1937.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
Fede fumbles with the door handle. His eyes don’t dare to look away from his two compares. Ungraciously getting out of the truck, he keeps his body shielded by the door and lays the barrel on the window sill.
The man takes a step closer, and Fede cocks his gun. Beads of sweat roll down the side of his face, and he says gravely, “you were planning this all along.”
Their companion answers before the man can, “no! no, we were not he justa told me of idea now. We do not wanna hurt ya, ya no wanna hurt us. Let us all lower guns now.”
His companion lowers the gun by mere inches. He looks anxiously from Fede to the man, not knowing who to look for guidance.
“Compare, he lifted his gun first, and I was quick enough to get mine. You cannot trust him. He’ll kill us and take the prize for himself,” the man assures.
Fede exclaims, “it’s you two rats who betrayed me! I did you so many favours. I planned the robbery! All of this for you to spit in my face?! Ungrateful grease heads!”
His companion looks at him, a fearful question in his eyes. The man nods once, and the companion raises his gun again.
The three men feel their pointer fingers pressing their triggers in.
Three shots ring out in the desert and echo off the mountains to only one witness.
[[Page 11]]<<set $gamechapter to 'Chapter 1: Tesoro, sii forte'>>
<<audio "saturday" loop play>>\
<h4>//__''New Year’s Eve 1974''__//</h4>
It’s hot in here. In spite of the glass doors of the terrace being flung open by your request, it’s still very hot. You thought the location and view were slammin’ enough to avoid people leaving. It worked.
You weren’t known for your parties for nothing.
You lay against the bar, arms crossed and looking at your domain. The kids from school were groovin’ on the LED dance floor. Their chunky heels and boots slide to the left and the right. The air smells of smoke, sweat and pot.
Girls come out of the bathrooms wiping their noses. You promised the owner you wouldn’t bring the good stuff, not that others wouldn’t.
“Where’s my $name?” a sing-song voice asks in the cramped crowd ahead of you.
You see a small, tanned-skin girl struggle her way out from between the moving bodies. You smile as she stumbles in front of you, her drink slightly spilling on her hand.
She swipes her hair back and smiles brightly at you.
“What’s crackin’ my...”
<hr>\
[[sista?”|Page 12][$cisf to true]] //Cis female//
[[sista?”|Page 12][$transf to true]] //Trans female//
[[brotha?”|Page 12][$cism to true]] //Cis male//
[[brotha?”|Page 12][$transm to true]] //Trans male//
[[homie?”|Page 12][$nbf to true]] //Non-binary afab//
[[homie?”|Page 12][$nbm to true]] //Non-binary amab//Marcela pushes up next to you, and you can smell the stench of spiced rum in her mouth. You chuckle and steady her.
“It’s copacetic. You look like you’re having a great time,” you note. Your eyes widen slightly as she swallows what remains of her drink in one gulp.
She nods enthusiastically. “You do know how to throw a party, darling.”
Marcela hands you her drink, and you put it on the counter. The bartender grumbles, something he’s been doing all night. For fuck’s sake, some people hate to work.
“Where are all these hot men when we’re in class?” she slurs.
“It might be the cups you have on you that make them look far too attractive,” you jest.
“Nah, I’m sound. Boys just decided to shower,” she hiccups.<<if $cisf>> “You look fabulous as always.”<<elseif $transf>> “You look fabulous as always.”<<elseif $cism>> “Present company excluded.”<<elseif $transm>> “Present company excluded.”<<elseif $nbf>> “You look groovy.”<<elseif $nbm>> “You look groovy.”<</if>>
“As if I’d be caught dead looking less than this,” you gesture to your face and down your body.
“Attention whore,” she jokes.
[[Page 13]]“My father would call it ‘being a presentable member of society,’” you mimic his stern voice and clasp your hands in front of you as he always does.
“Hahaha,” she laughs. “Speaking of...” she turns you around, her hands on your shoulders.
“When the heck will I get to meet your family?” she asks, swaying.
You grab onto her arm to keep her upright. “Marcey, I told you-”
“That your family is very busy, yadda yadda yadda,” she interjects with an eye roll. “But like they have never come here! Every holiday, every summer, you always go back to New York. Are they gonna be here for graduation? Or, like, will they be too busy?”
You sigh. Your friends have been harping on you for this for the last four years. You thought being in a different country meant a different life. But there are always the questions.
How’s your dad? What does he do for work? Do you have any siblings?
“It’s just fuckin’ weird that your dad is like sooooo rich, but we haven’t ever heard of him,” she continues.
Oh, but they have. They know him by another name. The King of the East Coast. A title he earned by being the biggest importer of Sicilian heroin from New York City to Miami.
No serious legal organization has ever been able to link Antonio $surname to that moniker, but it’s practically an open secret that his fortune is not clean; it’s just not known how dirty.
[[Page 14]]Marcela looks at you expectantly.
You sigh heavily and say, “my dad...”
//Choose the country where your university resides.//
<hr>\
[[England.|Page 15][$england to true]]
[[Italy.|Page 15][$italy to true]]
[[France.|Page 15][$france to true]]
[[Germany.|Page 15][$germany to true]]
[[Spain.|Page 15][$spain to true]]
[[Sweden.|Page 15][$sweden to true]]<<if $england>>“...hates England. Hates the weather, the food, the accents. Everything. He's the type of guy who would rather drive than fly anywhere,” you lie. Although it is true he’s not too fond of England since you’ve been here. He wanted you to study closer to home.<<elseif $italy>>“... kind of hates Italy and is the type of guy who would rather drive than fly anywhere,” you lie. Although it is true he’s not lost a little love Italy since you’ve been here. He wanted you to study closer to home even if your choice was his home country.<<elseif $france>>“...hates France. Hates the weather, the food, the accents. Everything. He's the type of guy who would rather drive than fly anywhere,” you lie. Although it is true he’s not too fond of France since you’ve been here. He wanted you to study closer to home.<<elseif $germany>>“...hates Germany. Hates the weather, the food, the accents. Everything. He's the type of guy who would rather drive than fly anywhere,” you lie. Although it is true he’s not too fond of Germany since you’ve been here. He wanted you to study closer to home.<<elseif $spain>>“...hates Spain. Hates the weather, the food, the accents. Everything. He's the type of guy who would rather drive than fly anywhere,” you lie. Although it is true he’s not too fond of Spain since you’ve been here. He wanted you to study closer to home.<<elseif $sweden>>“...hates Sweden. Hates the weather, the food, the accents. Everything. He's the type of guy who would rather drive than fly anywhere,” you lie. Although it is true he’s not too fond of Sweden since you’ve been here. He wanted you to study closer to home.<</if>>
She looks at you like she doesn’t believe a word you say, but thankfully, she lets it go. “At least that hot brother of yours could visit,” she says with a mischievous smile.
You roll your eyes and move her hands off of you. “Yeah, I was wondering when you would mention that.”
She laughs. “I’m sorry, Luce, but like from that picture you have? That boy is gorg, admit it.”
You wrinkle your nose. “He’s my brother.” The word sounds foreign in your mouth. You picture Lazlo’s face in your mind, and it doesn’t feel familiar at all.
“Adopted brother. And not even that he just lives with your parents. If I had a guy that looks like that who lives in my house, ufffffff,” she bit her lip teasingly. You punch her lightly.
[[Page 16]]“TWENTY MINUTES!” a girl with a gold party hat yells atop a table. You look at your watch and look over your shoulder at the bartender.
“Get the champagne from the freezer,” you order.
The bartender gives you the stink eye, and you give him the middle finger. He throws a dirty dishcloth over his shoulder and throws the backdoor to the kitchen open.
“Touchy, touchy,” you say to Marcela.
“Huh?”
“I said-”
The record changes and a song from the Jackson 5 vibrates throughout the club. People start screaming, and Marcela starts screaming right next to your ear. You try to cover it, but she grabs your hand and drags you down to the dance floor.
“I LOVE THIS SONG!” she yells over the music.
She shoves people aside and leads you to the most congested party on the floor. She starts shimmying, and you smile. You look up at the glittering disco ball.
The light shows off your outfit, which you chose with special care tonight.
[[Page 17]]<hr>\
[[A gold backless sequin dress and tall chunky heels|Page 18][$clothesg to true]]
[[A plunging red one-piece and white bell bottoms with tall chunky boots|Page 18][$clothesr to true]]
[[A velvet purple buttoned flowy shirt with black bell bottoms|Page 18][$clothesp to true]]
[[A blue buttoned shirt with matching blue trousers|Page 18][$clothesb to true]]<<if $clothesg>>You shine as much as the disco ball. Your skin is accented with glitter and gold jewellery only adds to the brillance.<<elseif $clothesr>>You look like a stone cold fox. Your skin is accented with glitter.<<elseif $clothesp>>Your dressed to dance, a master of the floor. Your layering of silver necklaces only adds to your suave.<<elseif $clothesb>>Your shirt is unbuttoned enough to allow sight of your gold chains incrested with diamonds.<</if>>
You look so groovy and you can see the admiringly looks directed at the rest of you. It makes you feel good. It’s like you’re at the top of the world.
You start dancing, going with the hustle.
<<if $england>>Disco has gotten pretty groovy since you’ve been in university. You’ve danced on hundreds of dance floors throughout your time in London. <<elseif $italy>>Disco has gotten pretty groovy since you’ve been in university. You’ve danced on hundreds of dance floors throughout your time in Rome.<<elseif $germany>>Disco has gotten pretty groovy since you’ve been in university. You’ve danced on hundreds of dance floors throughout your time in Berlin.<<elseif $france>>Disco has gotten pretty groovy since you’ve been in university. You’ve danced on hundreds of dance floors throughout your time in Paris.<<elseif $spain>>Disco has gotten pretty groovy since you’ve been in university. You’ve danced on hundreds of dance floors throughout your time in Madrid.<<elseif $sweden>>Disco has gotten pretty groovy since you’ve been in university. You’ve danced on hundreds of dance floors throughout your time in Stockholm.<</if>>
You’d say you’re a <<cycle '$dancer' autoselect>><<option 'great dancer'>><<option 'fine dancer'>><<option 'iffy dancer'>><</cycle>>.
But the cool thing about disco is that it’s such good vibes that no one cares how you get your boogie on. As long as you get it on.
[[Page 19]]You let yourself go with the rhythm of the music. It’s hypnotizing. It’s not strange to lose track of the hours; many find themselves here until sunrise.
You and Marcela join hands and try your best to spin in the crowded space. You bump into people and fall into fits of laughter. You’re going on a disco swing with her when you feel arms around your waist.
You’re about to turn around and punch their daylights out when you look behind you and see Sam.
<<if $cisf>>He smiles at you. He’s wearing a burgundy swede long-sleeved shirt. Something you gave him. His dirty blond hair is gelled back from his forehead.
Your future husband-to-be.<<set $sam to 'masc'>>
<<elseif $transf>>He smiles at you. He’s wearing a burgundy swede long-sleeved shirt. Something you gave him. His dirty blond hair is gelled back from his forehead.
Your future husband-to-be.<<set $sam to 'masc'>>
<<elseif $cism>>She smiles at you. She’s wearing a burgundy swede wrap dress you bought her. Her dirty, long blonde hair lies loose down her shoulders.
Your future wife-to-be.<<set $sam to 'fem'>>
<<elseif $transm>>She smiles at you. She’s wearing a burgundy swede wrap dress you bought her. Her dirty, long blonde hair lies loose down her shoulders.
Your future wife-to-be.<<set $sam to 'fem'>>
<<elseif $nbf>>He smiles at you. He’s wearing a burgundy swede long-sleeved shirt. Something you gave him. His dirty blond hair is gelled back from his forehead.
Your future husband-to-be.<<set $sam to 'masc'>>
<<elseif $nbm>>She smiles at you. She’s wearing a burgundy swede wrap dress you bought her. Her dirty, long blonde hair lies loose down her shoulders.
Your wife husband-to-be.<<set $sam to 'fem'>>
<</if>>\
[[Page 20]]Your friends thought you were crazy to get engaged so soon before graduation. You told them it’s because you were in love.
And that’s...
<hr>\
[[True|Page 21][$loveS to true]]
[[A lie|Page 21*][$nolove to true]]You met Sam the first week of school, and you just clicked. It was like you had known each other all your lives. Your father wasn’t so happy about the engagement announcement. He didn’t trust Sam, and that hasn’t changed so far.
It doesn’t help that Sam doesn’t come from money. If that were the case, your dad might’ve been more accepting. He told you he didn’t want you marrying ‘a freeloader.’
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
You lay your arms around his and give him a quick peck. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” he says. You turn around and throw your arms around his neck.
“I didn’t think you’d make it,” you state.
He checks the time. “Me neither. The traffic in this city is bad. But I’m here five minutes before the countdown. That’s all that matters, Luce.”
“Stellar,” you say sincerely. The song changes to something slower, and people start pairing up.
“I’ll leave you two love birds to it,” Marcela interjects, shoots Sam a smile of ‘hello’ and goes off.
“Let’s jive?” he asks.
You take his hand.
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
You lay your arms around hers and give her a quick peck. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” she says. You turn around and throw your arms around her waist. She slides her arms up around your neck.
“I didn’t think you’d make it,” you state.
She checks the time. “Me neither. The traffic in this city is bad. But I’m here five minutes before the countdown. That’s all that matters, Luce.”
“Stellar,” you say sincerely. The song changes to something slower, and people start pairing up.
“I’ll leave you two love birds to it,” Marcela interjects, shoots Sam a smile of ‘hello’ and goes off.
“Let’s jive?” she asks.
You take her hand.
<</if>>\
[[Page 22]]You met Sam in the first week of school. It wasn’t anything special. You’d thought that at least Sam would make a good friend. But your father saw it differently. Sam’s family owns a line of cruise ships that is particularly interesting to your dad.
He arranged it, and you said yes because he asked you to, not because you felt anything resembling love for Sam. That has never changed, no matter how hard you try.
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
You gently take his arms off of you. His smile drops a bit, and you try to give him a smile that feels more uncomfortable than it looks.
There’s an awkward moment before Marcela comes in between the two of you and gives Sam a quick hug. Then, hugs your arm.
“Thought you weren’t coming slick. Luce was worried sick,” Marcela claims. She looks at you and elbows you in the ribs to talk.
“Yeah,” you say half-heartedly.
Sam doesn’t look like he believes that as he checks his watch. “Me neither. The traffic in this city is bad. But I’m here five minutes before the countdown, that’s all that matters. I hope my absence didn’t hurt you too much.”
You don’t miss the coldness at the end of his words, and you’re torn between feeling bad for your severe lack of excitement and your indignation.
“Stellar,” you say in monotone. The song changes to something slower, and people start pairing up.
“I’ll leave you two love birds to it,” Marcela interjects. She pushes you toward Sam and goes off.
“Can we dance?” he asks.
You allow him to take your limp hand.
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
You gently take her arms off of you. Her smile drops a bit, and you try to give her a smile that feels more uncomfortable than it looks.
There’s an awkward moment before Marcela comes in between the two of you and gives Sam a quick hug. Then, hugs your arm.
“Thought you weren’t coming slick. Luce was worried sick,” Marcela claims. She looks at you and elbows you in the ribs to talk.
“Yeah,” you say half-heartedly.
Sam doesn’t look like she believes that as she checks her watch. “Me neither. The traffic in this city is bad. But I’m here five minutes before the countdown, that’s all that matters. I hope my absence didn’t hurt you too much.”
You don’t miss the coldness at the end of her words, and you’re torn between feeling bad for your severe lack of excitement and your indignation.
“Stellar,” you say in monotone. The song changes to something slower, and people start pairing up.
“I’ll leave you two love birds to it,” Marcela interjects. She pushes Sam towards you and goes off.
“Can you at least dance with me?” she asks.
You take her limp hand.
<</if>>\
[[Page 22]]<h4>//__''1962-1970''__//</h4>
<<audio "saturday" stop>>\
When you were 10, you were kidnapped.
Your dad didn’t own Miami like he does now, but he wanted to, and that was enough. Your family lived as normal as you could without bodyguards. It seems rather naive now, but it was the ’60s, and there were still remnants of that old honour from the time of Capone, Dillinger, and Lucky Luciano. Family was sacred; it wasn’t to be touched.
Miami was then run by two bosses, Frankie “Silver-eyed” Bozzi and Michele Farrugia. The former owned much of North Miami and a small portion of Miami Springs, while the latter had everything south of the Blue Lagoon.
Silver-eyed Bozzi folded after a meeting with your father. Farrugia was much more stubborn and reportedly flipped his shit when your father gave him the price he was willing to pay for the southern portion.
Your dad tried to court him. He was offered meetings with arms dealers like Sam Cummings, who had struck gold with his contribution to the Bay of Pigs. Or making him rub elbows with judges he had in his pocket. But Farrugia had his pride.
[[Page 23]]<<if $cisf>>\
You and your older brother, Andrea, were playing in the park within view of your house. Andrea didn’t like Miami; he hated the heat while you were just excited to be on ‘vacation.’ He was also 12, and at that age, all he wanted was to hang out with his friends, not his younger sister.
<<elseif $cism>>\
You and your older brother, Andrea, were playing in the park within view of your house. Andrea didn’t like Miami; he hated the heat while you were just excited to be on ‘vacation.’ He was also 12, and at that age, all he wanted was to hang out with his friends, not his younger brother.
<<elseif $transf>>\
You and your older brother, Andrea, were playing in the park within view of your house. Andrea didn’t like Miami; he hated the heat while you were just excited to be on ‘vacation.’ He was also 12, and at that age, all he wanted was to hang out with his friends, not his younger brother.
<<elseif $transm>>\
You and your older brother, Andrea, were playing in the park within view of your house. Andrea didn’t like Miami; he hated the heat while you were just excited to be on ‘vacation.’ He was also 12, and at that age, all he wanted was to hang out with his friends, not his younger sister.
<<elseif $nbf>>\
You and your older brother, Andrea, were playing in the park within view of your house. Andrea didn’t like Miami; he hated the heat while you were just excited to be on ‘vacation.’ He was also 12, and at that age, all he wanted was to hang out with his friends, not his younger sister.
<<elseif $nbm>>\
You and your older brother, Andrea, were playing in the park within view of your house. Andrea didn’t like Miami; he hated the heat while you were just excited to be on ‘vacation.’ He was also 12, and at that age, all he wanted was to hang out with his friends, not his younger brother.
<</if>>\
You saw the men driving around in a car a few times, but you didn’t think much of it because Andrea was pulling your hair. It wasn’t until you were grabbed off the swing that you looked over to see Andrea kicking at another man who was covering his mouth and dragging him towards the car.
This was the first time in your life that you realized something horrible could happen to you. You lived in that blissful unawareness that comes with childhood. In a second, innocence was gone.
You found out who you were when your life was at risk. You <<cycle '$response' autoselect>><<option 'fought'>><<option 'froze'>><<option 'tried to flee'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 24]]<<if $response is 'fought'>>You tried biting, scratching, kicking, all of it. But although the man did momentarily lose his grip he got it back just as fast.<<elseif $response is 'froze'>>You felt paralyzed by fear. It was like your body wasn’t your own, and you looked at it outside of yourself.<<elseif $response is 'tried to flee'>>You screamed for help even as he covered your mouth.<</if>>
You were thrown into the trunk with your brother. You remember how bright the sun shined down on you. You remember thinking //‘pretty day,’// before you were shrouded in darkness.
You think you slept or perhaps passed out because when you saw light again, you were in a dingy room. Sunlight flitted in from the dirty sun-bleached windows.
Andrea was next to you, bound by his wrists and ankles. You looked down to see you were tied, too.
“Andrea-”
“Shhhhh!” your brother said.
“I want to go home,” you whined.
Andrea elbowed you. “Shut up, Luce!” he whispered furiously. “Don’t you know what’s going on?”
You shook your head.
He leaned in to whisper in your ear, “we’re in trouble. These guys are bad.”
You felt your eyes prickle and got annoyed because Andrea always called you a crybaby. You tried to force the tears back in.
“What are we gonna do?” you ask.
Andrea looked around nervously. “Nothing for now. It’s ok. Dad is going to come soon, and he’ll kill these people.”
[[Page 25]]“Kill?”
Andrea nodded. “He’ll save us and then let me watch when he shoots them in the head. That’s so I can learn for when I take over for Dad.”
Your eyes widened. “Why? Is Daddy sick?”
Andrea threw you a look like he wanted to whack you. “Because I’m the older brother.”
You didn’t understand what he meant by that so you opted to stop talking to not annoy him.
<<if $cisf>>\
You laid down in the bed and tried to pretend you had your dolls with you. You made them fight, go on adventures and get home for a nice spaghetti.
<<elseif $cism>>\
You laid down in the bed and tried to pretend you had your superheroes with you. You made them fight, go on adventures and get home for a nice spaghetti.
<<elseif $transf>>\
You laid down in the bed and tried to pretend you had your dolls with you. You made them fight, go on adventures and get home for a nice spaghetti.
<<elseif $transm>>\
You laid down in the bed and tried to pretend you had your superheroes with you. You made them fight, go on adventures and get home for a nice spaghetti.
<<elseif $nbf>>\
You laid down in the bed and tried to pretend you had your toys with you. You made them fight, go on adventures and get home for a nice spaghetti.
<<elseif $nbm>>\
You laid down in the bed and tried to pretend you had your toys with you. You made them fight, go on adventures and get home for a nice spaghetti.
<</if>>\
The door opened and that woke you up. The sun was gone and the room was pitched in darkness. The man turned on the lamp and placed two sandwiches in each of your hands.
Andrea threw it on the ground and glared at the him. “My dad’s going to kill you!”
[[Page 26]]The man chuckled and went to pick up the sandwich. “If my kids did that, I would shove this sandwich back into their mouths. The little prince has an attitude problem.”
“Go to hell!” Andrea yelled. You froze and looked at your brother. He said a bad word.
The man laughed and said, “hey! Ronnie, come here and listen to this!”
You heard a pair of footsteps. Another man dressed in a similar outfit of black pants and a blazer and tie walked in. They stood at the foot of the bed as Andrea kept raging.
He was saying words you had never heard of. His face was getting red, the cords of his neck were pulsing, and you thought the men could get mad.
You thought it was better to <<cycle '$response2' autoselect>><<option 'remain calm and complaint'>><<option 'find a way to disarm them'>><<option 'try to find a way to escape'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 27]]<<if $response2 is 'remain calm and complaint'>>You weren’t entirely aware of what was going on but you knew these guys were bad news. Maybe if you did everything they asked you and your brother could go.<<elseif $response2 is 'find a way to disarm them'>>They were bigger than you. But maybe you could hit them with something if they weren’t looking like in the cartoons.<<elseif $response2 is 'try to find a way to escape'>>Open the window? But they looked too stuck. What about the door? Maybe if the bad men left it open. But you had to be sneaky and Andrea wasn’t.<</if>>
The men just laughed. You thought your brother was always so scary when he yelled. One time, a kid was being mean to you at school, and Andrea made him pee his pants because he yelled so loud.
The first man who came in just placed the sandwich on the bed, and they both left. When the door closed, Andrea fell back exhausted. His hair was matted to his forehead, and he was breathing heavily.
You moved closer to him and laid your ear on his heart, which was beating slowly. You curled up next to him and tried to sleep. His breath ruffled your hair. You grabbed his hands with both of yours, and they were a bit cold.
“It’s ok, Andrea. Daddy’s gonna come soon,” you reassured him.
He didn’t respond, and you squeezed your eyes shut.
[[Page 28]]That was the first time you ever had what would become a recurrent nightmare. You were in a room with no light, and you kept hearing furious whispering from somewhere behind you, but you couldn’t move.
You called out, “Andrea?”
And the whispering would stop every time, only to start up again after a minute.
When you woke up again, Andrea was asleep. You sat up and looked around the room. There was nothing to do. The sun was out again, and you could hear the sounds of cars and people talking.
You heard the familiar song of the ice cream truck, and you smiled. You started to shake Andrea. “Andrea! Look! Ice creams here!”
But he wouldn’t wake up. He was such a heavy sleeper. You tried to hop off the bed and jump to the window. You ended up falling onto the floor with a loud thump, and you looked at the door, expecting the men to come back.
But when they didn’t, you managed to sit up and use the bed to stand up. You jumped to the window and looked out. It was dirty, so the street, the cars, and the people all looked hazy. You tried wiping it, but it didn’t work.
But you could hear the ice cream song, which excited you. You looked at your brother, who was still asleep, and jumped to his side of the bed.
[[Page 29]]“Andreaaaaaaaaa! Wakkkeeeee upppppp!” you jostled him. “Icccceeee ccccrrreeeeaaaammmm.”
But he wouldn’t open his eyes. You accidentally touched his hand and jerked back. It was cold. You touched it again, and it was so cold, like holding an ice cream cone. You peered at his face. He looked strange.
You had slept in the same bed as Andrea many times before when either of you would get nightmares, and he didn’t look like this. “Andrea?” you asked in a mousy voice.
“I’m scared,” you said to him.
He didn’t respond. You bent down to press your ear to his heart. You couldn’t hear it. “Did you turn your heart off?” you asked him.
You didn’t get an answer again. You hobbled over to your side of the bed and laid back down. You turned over to him.
You felt <<cycle '$response3' autoselect>><<option 'sad'>><<option 'scared'>><<option 'nothing'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 30]]<<if $response3 is 'sad'>>You didn't know yet but deep within you you knew something wasn't right and wouldn't ever be made right again.<<elseif $response3 is 'scared'>>You didn't know yet but deep within you you knew something wasn't right and wouldn't ever be made right again. That kind of change ripped away the predictability of your life.<<elseif $response3 is 'nothing'>>It was like you were in a dream. You knew things had changed but you couldn't force that feeling within your heart.<</if>>
But you pushed aside doubts. You believed that Andrea would wake up soon and you’d go have ice cream. So, instead of sleeping, you took the time to look at your brother. Mommy always said you looked identical, and sometimes that made you mad, and other times it made you happy; usually, it’s when Andrea was being nice to you.
He had <<cycle '$hairtype' autoselect>><<option 'straight'>><<option 'wavy'>><<option 'curly'>><</cycle>> <<cycle '$haircolor' autoselect>><<option 'black'>><<option 'brown'>><<option 'blond'>><<option 'red'>><</cycle>> hair just like yours. His skin was <<cycle '$skin' autoselect>><<option 'pale'>><<option 'tanned'>><<option 'brown'>><<option 'black'>><</cycle>> but he was a bit darker than you because in the summer because he liked playing basketball outside for several hours. You couldn’t see his eyes but you would know them always. They were <<cycle '$eyes' autoselect>><<option 'brown'>><<option 'blue'>><<option 'green'>><<option 'gray'>><</cycle>>.
You didn’t want to, but you fell asleep again because what awoke you was yelling. Your eyes shot open to see the men looking down at your brother.
[[Page 31]]The first man looked worried, and the second man – Ronnie – looked angry. “Fuck!” the first man cursed.
“What are we going to do?” Ronnie asked.
The first man moved his eyes down Andrea’s body. “Tell the boss, of course.”
“Yeah, and then have him kill us cause the kid’s dead,” Ronnie said.
You looked at your brother. Dead?
No. Andrea couldn’t die. Not Andrea. He was brave, braver than you, and that means he couldn’t die.
“THEN?” the first man asked his friend angrily.
Ronnie scratched his chin, and he felt your eyes on him. “Let’s get out of this city.”
<<if $cisf>>“What about the girl?” the first man asked, eyeing out.<<elseif $cism>>“What about the other boy?” the first man asked, eyeing out.<<elseif $transf>>“What about the other boy?” the first man asked, eyeing out.<<elseif $transm>>“What about the girl?” the first man asked, eyeing out.<<elseif $nbf>>“What about the girl?” the first man asked, eyeing out.<<elseif $nbm>>“What about the other boy?” the first man asked, eyeing out.<</if>>
<<if $cisf>>Ronnie replied quickly, “we’ll get rid of her.”<<elseif $cism>>Ronnie replied quickly, “we’ll get rid of him.”<<elseif $transf>>Ronnie replied quickly, “we’ll get rid of him.”<<elseif $transm>>Ronnie replied quickly, “we’ll get rid of her.”<<elseif $nbf>>Ronnie replied quickly, “we’ll get rid of her.”<<elseif $nbm>>Ronnie replied quickly, “we’ll get rid of him.”<</if>>
The first man started to grab you but you grabbed onto your brother. “No! I wanna stay with Andrea!”
[[Page 32]]The man lifted you and took you out of the room. “ANDREA!” you screamed as you were carried out of the apartment. You didn’t look at your surroundings; you didn’t care. All that mattered was that you were being separated from your brother.
The bright sun made you wince. You were being led to the same car you were taken from the park with. People were on the street, and your screams were getting their attention.
“Stop crying, you little brat,” Ronnie chastised.
“Is everything alright?” a woman asked.
“Mind your business, lady!” the first man barked.
The backseat was thrown open, and you were flung in, falling onto the floor of the car. The door slammed behind you.
The first man got into the driver’s seat. You heard the other door open, and then Ronnie screamed something. Before you could understand what was happening, you heard a sound that reminded you of firecrackers.
A pause that felt like it lasted forever before you heard more pops. The first man opened the door, and you lifted your head to see him taking something out of his blazer. The car started to shake from the pops, and you lowered your head and closed your eyes.
You heard something break and fall over you. The car shook like it was dancing. You wondered how cars could do that. Where was Andrea?
You could hear people screaming, Ronnie and the first man yelling at each other, but you couldn’t hear anything over the firecrackers.
It continued for a while more until it stopped in an instant. It was quiet. None of the things you heard that morning were there. You didn’t open your eyes. Not when you felt the door open, not when someone scooped you up and not when you smelled something burning.
[[Page 33]]“Tesoro?”
Your father’s voice made you grip him harder. “Are you hurt?”
You shook your head.
“Tesoro, where’s your brother?” he asked.
You didn’t open your eyes but just used your tied hands to point somewhere vaguely. “Sleeping.”
[[Page 34]]It took you a long time after your brother’s death to understand words like ‘death,’ ‘heart defects’ and ‘murder.’
On the day of your brother’s funeral, you, your mother, your sister and your father stood under the umbrellas and atop the soggy earth to see his casket being laid into the ground.
You held your father’s hand and you were <<cycle '$andrea' autoselect>><<option 'crying'>><<option 'angry'>><<option 'not there'>><</cycle>>.
You looked at your sister. She was crying in your mother’s arms. At that moment, you realized that you were the eldest now. But you didn’t know what to do. Andrea always knew.
Your father squeezed your hand, “Tesoro sii forte.”
You eventually went home. Mommy went to her room, where she had spent the last few days. You knew she cried because it was loud, and it would get Bianca to cry. Daddy had not spent much time at home, and when he did, he would lock himself in his study with his friends.
[[Page 35]]Years later, you would get the full story of your father’s retaliation. Your dad took revenge on Farrugia, massacring him and his people with a series of car bombs. With that, the south of the city was his.
But the issue didn’t end there. The $surname family needed a new heir. You had heard a heated voice coming from your parent’s room. You had gotten up and slowly opened the door.
You peeked out and saw the shadows of your parents projected on the wall; their door was open.
“I don’t want any more of my children dead!” your mother snapped.
“Andrea didn’t die because he was shot. He died because of his heart. No one could have known. It doesn’t matter if I’m a gangster or a real estate salesman. It would’ve happened,” your father reasoned.
“He died because of this disgusting, violent business. That’s what killed him, not his heart!” your mother denied.
“Then what do you suggest, amore? To leave the family without a head when I die?” your father asked.
“$name will not be your heir! <<if $cisf>>If you put her in danger I swear to God I will never forgive you!” she threatened.<<elseif $cism>>If you put him in danger I swear to God I will never forgive you!” she threatened.<<elseif $transf>>If you put him in danger I swear to God I will never forgive you!” she threatened.<<elseif $transm>>If you put him in danger I swear to God I will never forgive you!” she threatened.<<elseif $nbf>>If you put her in danger I swear to God I will never forgive you!” she threatened.<<elseif $nbm>>If you put him in danger I swear to God I will never forgive you!” she threatened.<</if>>
<<if $cism>>\
“He’s the only boy we have, Ana,” your father said, in a tone middling between exasperated and compassionate.
“I don’t care,” your mother attested. “Over my dead body will I lose my only remaining son, Antonio.”
<<elseif $transf>>\
“He’s the only boy we have, Ana,” your father said, in a tone middling between exasperated and compassionate.
“I don’t care,” your mother attested. “Over my dead body will I lose my only remaining son, Antonio.”
<<elseif $nbm>>\
“He’s the only boy we have, Ana,” your father said, in a tone middling between exasperated and compassionate.
“I don’t care,” your mother attested. “Over my dead body will I lose my only remaining son, Antonio.”
<<elseif $cisf>>\
“She was never going to be an heir. The others wouldn’t have accepted it,” your father said, in a tired voice.
“Good,” your mother claimed. “Your tradition has saved my daughters.”
<<elseif $transm>>\
“She was never going to be an heir. The others wouldn’t have accepted it,” your father said, in a tired voice.
“Good,” your mother claimed. “Your tradition has saved my daughters.”
<<elseif $nbf>>\
“She was never going to be an heir. The others wouldn’t have accepted it,” your father said, in a tired voice.
“Good,” your mother claimed. “Your tradition has saved my daughters.”
<</if>>\
They lowered their voices. You could tell your father was speaking in a soothing voice, and your mother was crying again. You slipped back into bed but couldn’t sleep a wink.
Did you want to be heir? You didn’t even know what that really meant then.
Even so, you weren’t given the chance. So that made you <<cycle '$heir' autoselect>><<option 'want to be heir'>><<option 'not want to be heir'>><<option 'not care either way'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 36]]Your mother took you and your sister back to New York, while your father stayed to consolidate his new territory. Summer ended, and you went to a new school. This one was much more private, and the newly assigned bodyguards would pick you up. More bodyguards surrounded the house now. There were no more solo outings to the park.
One day, when you were dragging your heavy backpack towards the front door – the bodyguards following behind you – it opened, and your father stepped out onto the front steps.
He smiled at you and opened his arms. You ran to him, and he picked you up.
“How was school, Tesoro?” he asked.
“Boring, we did math,” you said disgustingly. Your father chuckled.
“Math is important. I use math every day,” he stated.
“When I’m big, I’m going to have a job that has no math,” you retorted.
He laughed again and pinched your cheek. “I want you to meet someone.”
“Your friend?” you asked. It wasn’t the first time your dad made you meet one of his old friends. They all looked the same, wrinkled and with gray hair. You never remembered their names.
“In a way. I hope he’ll be your friend too,” your father said.
You shrugged, and your father took you inside. He carried you to the living room, which had gotten new furniture. Your dad said it would make your mom happy again.
At first, you were looking for an old man, which is why you didn’t understand who your father was referring to when he instructed, “say hello, Luce.”
You looked around the room quickly and saw no one. Did Dad have an imaginary friend?
You leaned towards your dad’s ear, “Daddy, I can’t see nobody.”
Your father smiled and directed your face toward the oversized couch. That’s when you saw him. A little boy, no bigger than you. He was kicking his feet in the air. <<if $haircolor is 'red'>>His hair was very red like yours. It looked like it was coloured with markers. <<else>>His hair was very red. It looked like it was coloured with markers.<</if>> He looked at you without a smile.
Don’t be rude, Tesoro, say hello to Lazlo,” your father said.
You hid your face in your father’s neck. “Daddy, who is he?”
Your father carried you over to the couch and sat down. You were splayed on his lap. You turned to look at the boy who was looking at the fireplace.
[[Page 37]]<<if $cisf>>“Lazlo, this is my daughter. We call her, Luce,” your father explained.<<elseif $cism>>“Lazlo, this is my eldest son. We call him, Luce,” your father explained.<<elseif $transf>>“Lazlo, this is my eldest son. We call him, Luce,” your father explained.<<elseif $transm>>“Lazlo, this is my daughter. We call her, Luce,” your father explained.<<elseif $nbf>>“Lazlo, this is my daughter. We call her, Luce,” your father explained.<<elseif $nbm>>“Lazlo, this is my eldest son. We call him, Luce,” your father explained.<</if>>
“Hello,” the boy said in a barely audible voice.
“Hi,” you said in a similar voice.
“Lazlo is going to be living with us from now on,” your father informed you.
“Why?” you asked.
“Because he’s going to work with me, Tesoro.”
“But he’s a kid,” you said.
“It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “Lazlo is ready. Aren’t you, boy?”
“Yes, sir,” Lazlo said in that faraway voice. He didn’t look away from the fireplace.
Your father cups your cheek and makes you look at him, “I hope you two can get along. Lazlo could be a good brother.”
//Brother?//
You looked at the strange boy. He wasn’t like Andrea at all. Andrea liked to talk. He never looked sad. This boy isn’t your brother.
“I want Andrea,” you said.
“Luce, please,” your father said gently. “You know why you can’t have Andrea.”
“Then I don’t want another brother!” you protested and slid off your father’s lap. You ran out of the living room and headed for the stairs.
<<if $cisf>>\
“Luce!” your father called behind you. “Come back, young lady!”
<<elseif $cism>>\
“Luce!” your father called behind you. “Come back, young man!”
<<elseif $transf>>\
“Luce!” your father called behind you. “Come back, young man!”
<<elseif $transm>>\
“Luce!” your father called behind you. “Come back, young lady!”
<<elseif $nbf>>\
“Luce!” your father called behind you. “Come back, young lady!”
<<elseif $nbm>>\
“Luce!” your father called behind you. “Come back, young man!”
<</if>>\
You ran up to the top of the stairs, and just as you passed your parents’ room, you bumped into your mother.
She looked at your face and crouched down. “What is my love?”
She cupped your chin. “Daddy wants to give me a new brother, and I want Andrea!”
Your mother started wiping away your tears. “Come with me,” she said. She grabbed your hand and led you into her room. She hoisted you up in her bed and laid your head on her lap.
She soothed your hair as she spoke, “no one will ever replace Andrea. He is your brother now and forever. Ok?”
You sniffed.
“That... boy, he just works for your father, nothing more. He will never be a part of this family, I promise,” she said as she bent down to kiss your head.
“I promise,” she reiterated.
As for you? As the seasons passed and months turned to years, decided to treat your new ‘brother’ with <<cycle '$laz' autoselect>><<option 'kindness'>><<option 'contempt'>><<option 'indifference'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 38]]In the fall of your 13th year, your father celebrated his 48th birthday at your seasonal home on the Gold Coast of Long Island. Silvio Greco – your father’s closest business associate and friend – was there with his wife and two children.
You could say you grew up with Dante and Carmen Greco. You would see them at birthdays and the occasional Easter, and at certain points, you would be in the same school, just different grades. Carmen was three years older and never let anyone forget it. She would call hanging out with you and Dante ‘babysitting.’ But her beliefs in her talents weren’t born from smoke. She was brilliant, an honour student who was self-taught in gun shooting.
Everyone knew she wanted to be the head of the Greco family, but they also knew that was never going to happen on account of her sex.
That’s why Silvio had Dante, who was unexpected, given his wife’s fertility issues. Dante was two years older and the polar opposite of his sister. He was flunking all his classes, impulsive to a fault, got off on violence and was trigger-happy.
The party was held on the lawn of the estate; long picnic tables surrounded the circular tables. Children ran to and fro. It was a crisp fall day, cold but not cold enough to need jackets. Your father had invited many of his associates and their families. There were about 60 people here. Not to mention the triple amount of usual bodyguards surrounding the lawn.
[[Page 39]]Carmen was sitting next to the son of a Norwegian shipping magnate, rubbing his tie in a sensual gesture that wasn’t lost on you as young as you were. They had been talking very closely for most of the party. You think there’s a good chance Carmen might pull one of her signature moves and get caught half-naked in a closet somewhere with him.
Silvio was so angry he called her a whore and slapped her in front of everyone. Your dad had to step in before he could go further.
Carmen didn’t cry; she just turned on her heel and walked away. She did unload later, saying something about it being, “unfair that I can’t do the things boys do.” It was strange talk. Your family and the whole organization were raised with a series of norms that complied with your Roman Catholic upbringing.
<<if $cism>>You were given more freedom than the girls, but that’s just the way things were and at 13, you weren’t going to question it just yet.<<elseif $transf>>You were given more freedom than the girls, but that’s just the way things were and at 13, you weren’t going to question it just yet. Although you did like to spend more time playing with the girls than the boys.<<elseif $nbm>>You were given more freedom than the girls, but that’s just the way things were and at 13, you weren’t going to question it just yet.<<elseif $cisf>>You did notice how the boys in your family and from your dad’s friends’ families could play and get dirty, could come home at whatever hour and kiss girls while you couldn’t do even half of that, but in that point of your life you just accepted the world in which you lived.<<elseif $transm>>You did notice how the boys in your family and from your dad’s friends’ families could play and get dirty, could come home at whatever hour and kiss girls while you couldn’t do even half of that, but in that point of your life, you just accepted the world in which you lived. And you so wanted to play with the boys.<<elseif $nbf>>You did notice how the boys in your family and from your dad’s friends’ families could play and get dirty, could come home at whatever hour and kiss girls while you couldn’t do even half of that, but in that point of your life, you just accepted the world in which you lived.<</if>>
You sat at the main table between your mom and Bianca. Your sister was 4 then, and she was slyly throwing her vegetables on the ground.
“You’re going to get into trouble,” you warn her.
“Nuh-uh,” she replied and stuck out her tongue. You snorted and felt someone’s eyes on you. You looked across the table and saw Dante staring you down.
‘What?’ you mouthed.
He jerked his head once. You squinted at his actions. ‘What?’ you repeated.
He rolled his eyes and rose, waving at you to follow him. You looked around; your parents were busy talking to Dante’s parents, so you got up and followed behind him.
He went all the way into the house and shut the door behind you. You turned around and said, “you better have a good reason for interrupting my lunch.”
He raised a finger, “I do. Well, for me.”
<<if $cism>>\
He looks behind him through the window that faces the party.
“Who’s that girl at the table next to ours, the one with the pink dress?” he asked.
You went up to the window and looked at where he was pointing. “You mean my cousin?”
He jerked his attention to you. “So you really know her?”
You shrugged. “I wouldn’t go far enough to say that. I see her sometimes.” You give him a questioning look, “why?”
Dante gritted his teeth and almost pouted. You waited a minute before he was willing to answer. “I want to kiss her.”
You let out a laugh, not out of mockery but surprise. Even though Dante took that the wrong way and punched your arm somewhat hard.
“Ow,” you said and rubbed the spot.
“I never kissed someone before, retard. And I wanna do it with a hot babe. So...,” he poked your chest, “you’re gonna get her for me.”
You slapped his hand away. “Keep hurting me, and the only thing you’ll get is a kick in the balls.”
Dante stepped closer to you, his hands balling into fists, “get her for me.”
You replied, “I don’t want to. It’s awkward. If you want to kiss someone, do it yourself.”
“I want her,” he said and gripped the front of your shirt.
You glared at him. “I. Don’t. Care.”
Dante glowered and pressed you against him. “If you don’t help me, I will beat the ever living shit outta-”
<hr>\
[[Kiss him.|Page 40][$kissm to true]]
[[Make good on your threat.|Page 40][$ballsm to true]]
<<elseif $transf>>\
He looks behind him through the window that faces the party.
“Who’s that girl at the table next to ours, the one with the pink dress?” he asked.
You went up to the window and looked at where he was pointing. “You mean my cousin?”
He jerked his attention to you. “So you really know her?”
You shrugged. “I wouldn’t go far enough to say that. I see her sometimes.” You give him a questioning look, “why?”
Dante gritted his teeth and almost pouted. You waited a minute before he was willing to answer. “I want to kiss her.”
You let out a laugh, not out of mockery but surprise. Even though Dante took that the wrong way and punched your arm somewhat hard.
“Ow,” you said and rubbed the spot.
“I never kissed someone before, retard. And I wanna do it with a hot babe. So...,” he poked your chest, “you’re gonna get her for me.”
You slapped his hand away. “Keep hurting me, and the only thing you’ll get is a kick in the balls.”
Dante stepped closer to you, his hands balling into fists, “get her for me.”
You replied, “I don’t want to. It’s awkward. If you want to kiss someone, do it yourself.”
“I want her,” he said and gripped the front of your shirt.
You glared at him. “I. Don’t. Care.”
Dante glowered and pressed you against him. “If you don’t help me, I will beat the ever living shit outta-”
<hr>\
[[Kiss him.|Page 40][$kissm to true]]
[[Make good on your threat.|Page 40][$ballsm to true]]
<<elseif $nbm>>\
He looks behind him through the window that faces the party.
“Who’s that girl at the table next to ours, the one with the pink dress?” he asked.
You went up to the window and looked at where he was pointing. “You mean my cousin?”
He jerked his attention to you. “So you really know her?”
You shrugged. “I wouldn’t go far enough to say that. I see her sometimes.” You give him a questioning look, “why?”
Dante gritted his teeth and almost pouted. You waited a minute before he was willing to answer. “I want to kiss her.”
You let out a laugh, not out of mockery but surprise. Even though Dante took that the wrong way and punched your arm somewhat hard.
“Ow,” you said and rubbed the spot.
“I never kissed someone before, retard. And I wanna do it with a hot babe. So...,” he poked your chest, “you’re gonna get her for me.”
You slapped his hand away. “Keep hurting me, and the only thing you’ll get is a kick in the balls.”
Dante stepped closer to you, his hands balling into fists, “get her for me.”
You replied, “I don’t want to. It’s awkward. If you want to kiss someone, do it yourself.”
“I want her,” he said and gripped the front of your shirt.
You glared at him. “I. Don’t. Care.”
Dante glowered and pressed you against him. “If you don’t help me, I will beat the ever living shit outta-”
<hr>\
[[Kiss him.|Page 40][$kissm to true]]
[[Make good on your threat.|Page 40][$ballsm to true]]
<<elseif $cisf>>\
He looks behind him through the window that faces the party. “Nah, too close.” He grabbed your hand and dragged you throughout the house.
“Dante, what the hell-”
He opened the door to the greenhouse and pulled you in. Then, he shut it behind you, making sure to lock it.
You let go of his hand and look at the lock. “What do you want? I swear I’ll cut you if you’re trying to scare me.”
Dante tilted his head at that threat and then smiled. “You’re a fucking psycho.”
You glared at him. He started walking towards you, and you backed up, but a metal table was behind you. You looked around to see what you could throw at him, but he stopped inches away.
Leaning in, and asked, “have you ever kissed a man before?”
Your eyes widened, and you blurted out, “you’re a boy, not a man.”
“Keep talking shit if you think you’re hot stuff. I don’t care about hitting girls,” he warned.
Despite your play at bravado, internally you were a bit scared. You knew Dante had no qualms about hitting anyone, and he didn’t hold his punches.
“Answer my question,” he demanded.
“Not that’s your business, but no,” you said with a stiff upper lip. “Is that a problem?”
Dante looked at you appraisingly as if you were a prized cow. You felt like a thing he was checking in quality. He glanced at your chest and snorted when you crossed your arms. He tilted his head to glance at your ass, and you pressed your behind against the table.
He looked into your eyes and said, “I want you to kiss me. I want to be your first, and I want you to be my first.”
You looked at him in shock. “What?”
“I thought since we know each other, it wouldn’t be so awkward, and I know you won’t say anything about me not having kissed anyone yet because you know I would beat you until you barfed,” he replied.
“How romantic,” you replied sarcastically.
“YES OR NO?” he barked into your face.
<hr>\
[[Kiss him.|Page 40][$kissf to true]]
[[Tell him you’d rather die.|Page 40][$df to true]]
<<elseif $transm>>\
He looks behind him through the window that faces the party. “Nah, too close.” He grabbed your hand and dragged you throughout the house.
“Dante, what the hell-”
He opened the door to the greenhouse and pulled you in. Then, he shut it behind you, making sure to lock it.
You let go of his hand and look at the lock. “What do you want? I swear I’ll cut you if you’re trying to scare me.”
Dante tilted his head at that threat and then smiled. “You’re a fucking psycho.”
You glared at him. He started walking towards you, and you backed up, but a metal table was behind you. You looked around to see what you could throw at him, but he stopped inches away.
Leaning in, and asked, “have you ever kissed a man before?”
Your eyes widened, and you blurted out, “you’re a boy, not a man.”
“Keep talking shit if you think you’re hot stuff. I don’t care about hitting girls,” he warned.
Despite your play at bravado, internally you were a bit scared. You knew Dante had no qualms about hitting anyone, and he didn’t hold his punches.
“Answer my question,” he demanded.
“Not that’s your business, but no,” you said with a stiff upper lip. “Is that a problem?”
Dante looked at you appraisingly as if you were a prized cow. You felt like a thing he was checking in quality. He glanced at your chest and snorted when you crossed your arms. He tilted his head to glance at your ass, and you pressed your behind against the table.
He looked into your eyes and said, “I want you to kiss me. I want to be your first, and I want you to be my first.”
You looked at him in shock. “What?”
“I thought since we know each other, it wouldn’t be so awkward, and I know you won’t say anything about me not having kissed anyone yet because you know I would beat you until you barfed,” he replied.
“How romantic,” you replied sarcastically.
“YES OR NO?” he barked into your face.
<hr>\
[[Kiss him.|Page 40][$kissf to true]]
[[Tell him you’d rather die.|Page 40][$df to true]]
<<elseif $nbf>>\
He looks behind him through the window that faces the party. “Nah, too close.” He grabbed your hand and dragged you throughout the house.
“Dante, what the hell-”
He opened the door to the greenhouse and pulled you in. Then, he shut it behind you, making sure to lock it.
You let go of his hand and look at the lock. “What do you want? I swear I’ll cut you if you’re trying to scare me.”
Dante tilted his head at that threat and then smiled. “You’re a fucking psycho.”
You glared at him. He started walking towards you, and you backed up, but a metal table was behind you. You looked around to see what you could throw at him, but he stopped inches away.
Leaning in, and asked, “have you ever kissed a man before?”
Your eyes widened, and you blurted out, “you’re a boy, not a man.”
“Keep talking shit if you think you’re hot stuff. I don’t care about hitting girls,” he warned.
Despite your play at bravado, internally you were a bit scared. You knew Dante had no qualms about hitting anyone, and he didn’t hold his punches.
“Answer my question,” he demanded.
“Not that’s your business, but no,” you said with a stiff upper lip. “Is that a problem?”
Dante looked at you appraisingly as if you were a prized cow. You felt like a thing he was checking in quality. He glanced at your chest and snorted when you crossed your arms. He tilted his head to glance at your ass, and you pressed your behind against the table.
He looked into your eyes and said, “I want you to kiss me. I want to be your first, and I want you to be my first.”
You looked at him in shock. “What?”
“I thought since we know each other, it wouldn’t be so awkward, and I know you won’t say anything about me not having kissed anyone yet because you know I would beat you until you barfed,” he replied.
“How romantic,” you replied sarcastically.
“YES OR NO?” he barked into your face.
<hr>\
[[Kiss him.|Page 40][$kissf to true]]
[[Tell him you’d rather die.|Page 40][$df to true]]
<</if>><<if $kissm>>\
You moved forward and gave him a quick peck on the lips. He jerked back and was so surprised he let you go. He looked at you as if you told him you were part alligator.
You smiled. “You wanted your first kiss. There you have it.”
Dante looked troubled. “You’re a boy.”
You shrugged. “So? No one has to know. Look, I gotta go. My dad’s probably looking for me.”
You left him there with a dazed expression.
As the first kisses go, it wasn’t amazing, but it was fun to have the upper hand with Dante. You two never mentioned that kiss again. After that, Dante had a string of girlfriends who never lasted long because he would cheat constantly.
As years went on he seemed to have forgotten about it. And you <<cycle '$dank' autoselect>><<option 'did as well'>><<option 'remembered'>><<option 'tried to forget'>><</cycle>>.
<<elseif $ballsm>>\
You lifted your knee and struck. Dante let you go instantly and doubled over, gasping. You winced, imagining someone doing that to you. But, well, he deserved it.
“Son of a bitch...,” he groaned as his knee touched the floor; he was using one hand to hold himself up and the other to cup his privates.
“Sorry, but you were being an ass,” you stated and used that opportunity to slip back outside. When Dante appeared again, he spent the rest of the party throwing death glares at you. He eventually got you back, using the same mood a few months later.
He must’ve gotten his first kiss. From then on, he went through a string of girlfriends, relationships that never lasted because he would constantly cheat.
Did you ever regret not kissing him instead? <<cycle '$nokis' autoselect>><<option 'No'>><<option 'Yes'>><</cycle>>.
<<elseif $kissf>>\
You nodded once, and before you could have second thoughts, he leaned in and kissed you gently. You had expected him to be rough with you, as he is with everything, but it was a simple, soft kiss lasting less than 10 seconds.
He moved back, and you opened your eyes. He was smirking, and you cleared your throat. “Happy now?”
“You see, Luce, I always get what I want,” he replied and left you in the greenhouse, whistling along the halls.
As first kisses go, it didn’t flip your world, but in a way, you were thankful he wasn’t rough with you.
You two never mentioned that kiss again. After that, Dante had a string of girlfriends who never lasted long because he would cheat constantly.
As years went on he seemed to have forgotten about it. And you <<cycle '$dank' autoselect>><<option 'did as well'>><<option 'remembered'>><<option 'tried to forget'>><</cycle>>.
<<elseif $df>>\
“I would rather drop dead right now than ever kiss you, Dante Greco,” you said.
Dante shoved you hard enough to have your tailbone hit the table. “Then drop dead then.”
“You ass!” you yelled behind him as he threw open the greenhouse door and walked out; you could hear his stomps down the hallway.
When you got back into your seat, Dante refused to look at you, and when your eyes accidentally crossed paths, he would mouth ‘screw you.’ He never forgot that slight and got back at you by throwing you into the cold lake of the estate a few weeks later.
He must’ve gotten his first kiss. From then on, he went through a string of girlfriends, relationships that never lasted because he would constantly cheat.
Did you ever regret not kissing him instead? <<cycle '$nokis' autoselect>><<option 'No'>><<option 'Yes'>><</cycle>>.
<</if>>\
[[Page 41]]During that party and many others, Lazlo Fisher, your father’s heir, would sit to the right of your father, becoming literally and metaphorically his right-hand man. Lazlo always acted the same in all family social events. He would sulk, barely eat, and respond to questions in one-word answers. For someone a year younger than you, he acted as if he were a decade older.
At first, you had the idea that he was shy, but even in the privacy of your home, he hardly ever spoke to anyone who wasn’t your dad. You might bump into him in the hallways, and he would act like you didn’t exist. He would reply to your mom in a cold formality, even though she was very vocal about his status in your family.
Carmen once told you that it looked like he was in love with you because he would always stare. You didn’t believe her because every time you looked at him, he was staring at everything and no one. Your distant relationship with Lazlo was a burden on your dad. He always tried to push you two together to be a proper family. He would refer to you, Lazlo, and Bianca as ‘siblings’ to others.
You responded by <<if $laz is 'kindness'>>trying to bridge the gap but every kind word was met with silence or a stiff nod. How could Carmen ever think this boy who hates you could be in love? She was crazy. <<elseif $laz is 'contempt'>>fighting against it at every turn. You had one brother and Lazlo could never fill that void. He was just a stray like your mother said, living off the money your dad made. The only thing your dad asked you to do was to pretend to those outside the family and you did. <<elseif $laz is 'indifference'>>doing nothing. You didn’t care to change how things were. You never gave much thought to Lazlo and were perfectly fine ignoring his existence as he did yours. It kept a relative peace. The only thing your dad asked you to do was to pretend to those outside the family and you did.<</if>>
[[Page 42]]Just before you went off to university, two things happened.
One day, your father hired you a personal bodyguard named Charley Das. Charley was five years older than you. She had an adept knowledge of multiple languages and a talent for shooting, and she looked around your age, so she registered in all the same classes. To your friends, she was a second cousin.
You didn’t know much about her. She was polite, never talked back, and tried to let you live your life with as much freedom as she could allow you to. The New Year’s party worried her; there were too many people, and the balcony allowed for snipers from the neighbouring buildings.
She had agreed on the condition that you uninvited a quarter of the guests and allowed her a gun with more bullet chambers.
She could be zealous. Your overall opinion was that she was <<cycle '$char' autoselect>><<option 'just doing her job'>><<option 'someone you owed your life to'>><<option 'annoyingly suffocating'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 44]]The second thing that happened was that your father had a very strange meeting with you the night before you were set to leave. You were in his office. He had a thin manila folder on his desk, and his hand lay on it protectively.
“I have always said that no one is more trustworthy than family, Tesoro,” he began.
“Yeah, I know, Dad,” you replied, bracing yourself for another one of his lectures on the importance of loyalty and sacrifice.
He looked at the lit cigar in his hand. “I know I have coddled you much. But I know how dangerous my work is, so do you. I can’t afford risks, and allowing you to go so far away is a big risk I’m taking.”
“I know, Dad,” you sighed.
He smiled, “I’m sorry if I sound like an old fool trying to sound like a wise man. It’s just...”
He got up and walked to the window. It was night, but for the city that never sleeps, the bright lights danced across his withered face. It’s always so impressive to realize your parents’ age. Your dad always seemed so large to you, with a never-ending reserve of energy.
“Time does pass by in a blink. I came to this country nearly forty years ago when you could still see the occasional horse-drawn carriages in some long-forgotten, dust-buried places. I wanted to eat the world,” he reminisced.
“And you did,” you said. “Isn’t New York the world?” you asked, cheekily.
Your father looked back at you and smiled mysteriously. “New York is a dream, Tesoro.”
“All of it is just one gilded dream,” he muttered.
Your dad had an air of melancholy. You <<cycle '$dadc' autoselect>><<option 'went to comfort him'>><<option 'stayed where you were'>><<option 'wanted to leave already'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 45]]<<if $dadc is 'went to comfort him'>>\
You got up and went over to the window, you laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t look back but reached over and covered your hand with his.
<<elseif $dadc is 'stayed where you were'>>\
You knew nothing would get him out of this state anyway and it was better to let him get to it.
<<elseif $dadc is 'wanted to leave already'>>\
Your dad could go on and on for hours and you would oversleep and miss your flight which might have been his plan.
<</if>>\
He shook his head and went back to sit on his chair. He grabbed the folder and held it out to you. Uncertain, you took it and began opening it.
“No,” he said.
You stopped. He let out a deep breath. “I need you to take that with you. Keep it safe, and don’t tell anyone you have it.”
“Ok...” you said.
“I mean it, Luce. This is important. You can’t show your friends or someone you like, no one. I’m trusting you with this because I know how much you love this family, and you know how much we love you,” he said gravely.
“Yeah, Dad, of course,” you said apprehensively. If it was so important, why the hell was he giving it to you? Why not Lazlo?
He looked at it and then at you, his face a mask. “Hopefully, we will never need to use it, but I don’t trust the people around me, I don’t trust the banks, and no one would suspect you have it.”
“But what is it?” you asked, leaning forward.
He closed his eyes. “I hope I never have to tell you.”
<<if $cisf>>\
Then he received a call, and you had to leave. He accompanied you to the door and gently squeezed your bicep. “I want you to know that even though I don’t agree with you leaving, I am very proud of the woman you are becoming, Tesoro.”
<<elseif $cism>>\
Then he received a call, and you had to leave. He accompanied you to the door and gently squeezed your bicep. “I want you to know that even though I don’t agree with you leaving, I am very proud of the man you are becoming, Tesoro.”
<<elseif $transf>>\
Then he received a call, and you had to leave. He accompanied you to the door and gently squeezed your bicep. “I want you to know that even though I don’t agree with you leaving, I am very proud of the ma—”
He sighs. “The //woman// you’re becoming, Tesoro.”
<<elseif $transm>>\
Then he received a call, and you had to leave. He accompanied you to the door and gently squeezed your bicep. “I want you to know that even though I don’t agree with you leaving, I am very proud of the wo—”
He sighs. “The //man// you’re becoming, Tesoro.”
<<elseif $nbf>>\
Then he received a call, and you had to leave. He accompanied you to the door and gently squeezed your bicep. “I want you to know that even though I don’t agree with you leaving, I am very proud of the wo—”
He sighs. “The //person// you’re becoming, Tesoro.”
<<elseif $nbm>>\
Then he received a call, and you had to leave. He accompanied you to the door and gently squeezed your bicep. “I want you to know that even though I don’t agree with you leaving, I am very proud of the ma—”
He sighs. “The //person// you’re becoming, Tesoro.”
<</if>>\
You smiled. “You’ve told me that hundreds of times.”
He nodded, a sad smile on his face. “My father never told me that, so I make up for it with you and your siblings. You’re good.”
He kissed you on the cheek and opened the door.
[[Page 46]]<h4>//__''1971-1974''__//</h4>
You lived your life, made friends, explored the city, and flew back and forth across the Atlantic on Christmas. In these years, nothing much changed in the US.
You went to school to study <<cycle '$studies' autoselect>><<option 'law'>><<option 'fashion'>><<option 'medicine'>><<option 'chemistry'>><<option 'business'>><<option 'art'>><<option 'languages'>><</cycle>>. You liked it and you were good at time.
You did what you could to distract yourself from ugly thoughts and feelings. You refused to keep up with the Vietnam War, didn’t read the news to see the massacre in Munich for the Olympic games, and didn’t hear about Watergate until well after Nixon resigned. The first and last time you heard about the famine in Bangladesh was when you were stopped by someone at the university to ask for donations.
You kept your mind busy on parties, school work, friends, and a groovy good time. You couldn’t have something to not do, so you got into <<cycle '$pastime' autoselect>><<option 'sex'>><<option 'boxing'>><<option 'rock and roll'>><<option 'running'>><<option 'swimming'>><<option 'drinking'>><<option 'dope'>><</cycle>>.
To you, the world was now. Yesterday and tomorrow don't matter. Why should they if you could die at any moment?
You started dating.
You got engaged.
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
[[Page 47]]
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
[[Page 47*]]
<</if>><<if $loveS>>\
It happened at your favourite burger joint. You had an inkling that it was going to happen, but you were still pleasantly surprised.
Sam placed it on top of your burger. He smiled at you, “Would you marry me, Luce?”
You were practically screaming when you said, “YES! YES!”
He put on the ring, and then you both got up so he could lift you and twirl you around. The patrons and workers cheered you on.
You went back to your place that night and <<cycle '$same' autoselect>><<option 'had sex'>><<option 'cuddled'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 48]]
<<elseif $nolove>>\
You got engaged.
It happened at your favourite burger joint. You knew it was going to happen; he warned you. You tried not to sour the mood and placed a smile you didn’t feel on your face.
Sam had it placed on top of your burger. “Would you marry me, Luce?”
You nodded. “Yes.”
He placed the ring on your stiff finger. The patrons and workers clapped, and when he helped you up to hug you, you hugged him back without much effort.
You separated and sat back down. That night you <<cycle '$same' autoselect>><<option 'had sex with him'>><<option 'went home alone'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 48]]
<</if>><<if $loveS>>\
It happened at the most exclusive restaurant on the top floor, overlooking the city. You knew that she knew you were going to do it.
You placed it in her champagne glass. When she looked down and smiled widely, you got down on one knee and asked her, “Samantha, do you want to marry me?”
She placed the ring on her finger, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “I wouldn’t love anything more.”
You bent up and kissed her.
You went back to your place that night and <<cycle '$same' autoselect>><<option 'had sex'>><<option 'cuddled'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 48*]]
<<elseif $nolove>>\
You got engaged.
You decided to do it at the most exclusive restaurant you could afford. At least the setting would placate the lack of enthusiasm. You tried not to sour the mood and placed a smile you didn’t feel on your face.
You did the trick of having it dropped in her champagne glass. She acted surprised when you got down on one knee and said, “will you marry me, Sam?”
She smiled softly, “of course.”
You placed the ring on her finger. You got up and then went to sit back down before remembering you should kiss her. You bent over the table and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
That night you <<cycle '$same' autoselect>><<option 'had sex with her'>><<option 'went home alone'>><</cycle>>.
[[Page 48*]]
<</if>><<if $same is 'had sex'>>\
Sam’s lovemaking was regular. He didn’t blow your world, but he knew how to make you orgasm. He licked you over and over again until his face was wet with your juices. You guided his cock into your entrance and moaned when he thrust inside of you.
After, he said, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” you replied sleepily, laying your head on his chest.
<<elseif $same is 'cuddled'>>\
You undressed and got under your warm sheets. He pulled you close and kissed your head. You felt his heartbeat, and for a moment, you thought of Andrea. You squeezed your eyes shut and sniffed his arm deeply to remind you where you were.
“I love you,” you said.
“I love you, Luce,” he replied.
<<elseif $same is 'had sex with him'>>\
You had done this with him before. If only to know what it felt like with him. You two didn’t make love the same way. It was always cold, an obligation on your part. Perhaps on his, too.
After he came, he lay down next to you and fell asleep. You masturbated to finish yourself off, turned your back to him and went to sleep.
A lifetime of a loveless marriage awaited you.
<<elseif $same is 'went home alone'>>\
Your apartment felt lonelier than ever that night, even though you lived with Marcela. You gave her a simplistic rundown of how it went and escaped as fast as you could. You tried to make yourself climax, but your mood ruined it.
You stared up at the ceiling and hoped to sleep.
A lifetime of a loveless marriage awaited you.
<</if>>\
[[Page 49]]<<if $same is 'had sex'>>\
The sex you had with Sam was regular, but you didn’t need something that rocked your world. She was enough. She knew how to work her way around your cock. She took you in entirely and held on as you thrust inside her throat. When you felt you were about to cum you lifted her onto the bed and plunged inside of her.
After, she said, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” you replied sleepily, and she laid her head on your chest.
<<elseif $same is 'cuddled'>>\
You undressed and got under your warm sheets. You pulled her close and kissed her forehead. You felt her heartbeat, and for a moment, you thought of Andrea. You squeezed your eyes shut and kissed her again to remind you where you were.
“I love you,” you said.
“And I love you, Luce,” she replied.
<<elseif $same is 'had sex with her'>>\
You had done this with her before. If only to know what it felt like with her. You two didn’t make love the same way. It was always cold, an obligation on your part. Perhaps on hers, too.
After you thought she had come, you lay beside her. You masturbated to finish yourself off, turned your back to her and went to sleep. Although you suspected she masturbated after you closed your eyes.
A lifetime of a loveless marriage awaited you.
<<elseif $same is 'went home alone'>>\
Your apartment felt lonelier than ever that night, even though you lived with Marcela. You gave her a simplistic rundown of how it went and escaped as fast as you could. You tried to make yourself climax, but your mood ruined it.
You stared up at the ceiling and hoped to sleep.
A lifetime of a loveless marriage awaited you.
<</if>>\
[[Page 49]]<<if $coke>>\
Sam looks at your face and tries to touch your nose, you move back.
“Luce, are you high?”
“High on life,” you sarcasm.
“Luce-”
<<elseif $drink>>\
Sam looks at your face and leans in to smell your mouth, you move back.
“Luce, are you drinking?”
“Drinking water,” you sarcasm.
“Luce-”
<<elseif $dance>>\
Sam studies your face and sees something in your eyes that makes you step away from Sam's attempt to embrace you.
“Luce, did something happen?”
“Yeah, the bartender who works here is a square,” you say lightheartedly.
“Luce-”
<</if>>\
“Don’t start, Sam,” you state.
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>
Sam looks like he wants to drag you into one of his heart-to-heart confabs.
“I know this time of year is hard-”
“I said stop it for fuck’s sake,” you interject with irritation clear in your voice.
Sam gives you a look of dismay that you ignore. “Ok,” he surrenders.
“Can we talk?” Sam asks. “Not about that, something else,” he clarifies.
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>
Sam looks like she wants to drag you into one of her heart-to-heart confabs.
“I know this time of year is hard-”
“I said stop it for fuck’s sake," you interject with irritation clear in your voice.
Sam gives you a look of dismay that you ignore. "If that’s what you want,” she surrenders.
“Can we talk?” Sam asks. “Not about that, something else,” she clarifies.
<</if>>\
“A MINUTE LEFT!” someone announces.
“Now?”
Sam looks at the clock, “yes, now.”
“The countdown’s about to begin, I don’t wanna be a lame-o and miss it,” you say.
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
“Luce,” he says in an urgent voice, “it’s really important. It’s about our wedding.”
You quirk an eyebrow, “what about it?”
“Can we go somewhere private?” he asks.
“And it really can’t wait?” you ask, turning to look over when someone calls your name.
“No, it can’t,” he insists.
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
“Luce,” she says in an urgent voice, “it’s really important. It’s about our wedding.”
You quirk an eyebrow, “what about it?”
“Can we go somewhere private?” she asks.
“And it really can’t wait?” you ask, turning to look over when someone calls your name.
“No, it can’t,” she insists.
<</if>>\
//This choice will affect the rest of the story.//
<hr>\
[[Go with sam.|Page 52]]
[[Celebrate New Year's.|Page 52*]]You sigh and gesture to the balcony where the party-goers are filtering out. Charley starts moving but you shake your head. “We want to be alone.”
She looks at Sam and then at you. “I would advise you to talk somewhere inside <<cycle '$honorific' autoselect>><<option 'Sir'>><<option 'Ma’am'>><<option 'Mx'>><</cycle>>, you’ll be exposed to any potential threats,” she says primly.
You smile at her stiff manner. “It’ll just be a minute or so Charley, you can still see me if you stay here.”
She looks like she wants to protest but instead inclines her head and goes back to lean against the wall, hands by her side and unwaveringly surveying your immediate surroundings. <<set $path to 'Mafia'>>
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
Sam leans on the railing, you move to stand next to him. You look over the railing, the ground is very far away. The wind picks up and moves your hair around. You shiver.
Sam looks at his watch and then inside the club. “Ok, what is it?” you ask.
Sam looks back at you with an unreadable expression. “I don’t think they’ll be a wedding.”
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
Sam leans on the railing, you move to stand next to her. You look over the railing, the ground is very far away. The wind picks up and ruffles your hair around. You shiver.
Sam looks at her watch and then inside the club. “Ok, what is it?” you ask.
Sam looks back at you with an unreadable expression. “I don’t think they’ll be a wedding.”
<</if>>\
[[Page 53]]<<if $loveS>>\
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>You lay your hands on his chest, “Sam, I’ll be there as soon as it hits 12. I swear.”<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>You lay your hands on her arms, “Sam, I’ll be there as soon as it hits 12. I swear.”<</if>>
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam opens his mouth to protest but you just give him a quick kiss and gesture to the balcony. “Wait for me there,” you instruct softly.<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam opens her mouth to protest but you just give her a quick kiss and gesture to the balcony. “Wait for me there,” you instruct softly.<</if>>
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam looks reluctant to go, he must miss you too much. It warms your heart. You watch his retreating back and then turn around to look for Marcela.<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam looks reluctant to go, she must miss you too much. It warms your heart. You watch her retreating back and then turn around to look for Marcela.<</if>>
<<elseif $nolove>>\
You let out a tired sigh. “Sam, can you just let me enjoy my night for a fucking minute?” you ask your voice in a low annoyance.
<</if>>
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam opens his mouth and then closes it. “Fine,” he practically spits and swiftly turns on his heel. You grind your teeth and then look for Marcela.<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam presses her lips together. “Fine,” she practically spits and swiftly turns on her heel. You grind your teeth and then look for Marcela.
<</if>>
You spot her at the same time she spots you. She smiles and rapidly plows through the guests. You laugh at the spectacle. She puts a party hat on your head and kisses both of your cheeks.
“Where’s the old ball and chain?” she asks, teasingly.
You wave vaguely towards the balcony, “waiting for me after the countdown.”
“Ohhhh, trouble in paradise?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.
You shake your head. “Sound as a pound.”
Marcela looks at you curiously, as if she doesn’t quite believe it but she just shrugs and grabs you both flutes of champagne.
You clink glasses and start counting down with the group. ''“15!”''
You see Charley looking at Sam. Your eyebrows knit together.
''“10!”'' you scream out with the others.<<set $path to 'FBI'>>
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam looks at you and you’re about to mouth something in response, but you realize he’s not looking at you at all. He looks behind you, at the double doors. You look back at Sam and then at Charley who’s also following his gaze.
Charley starts walking towards him. ''“5!”''
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam looks at you and you’re about to mouth something in response, you realize she’s not looking at you at all. She looks behind you, at the double doors. You look back at Sam and then at Charley who’s also following her gaze.
Charley starts walking towards her. ''“5!”''
<</if>>
You feel bodies push against you, blocking you in. Marcela spills her champagne and as you reach over to her the year changes.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!”
[[Page 53*]]<<if $cisf>>\
You pause, your eyes widen and you search his face for signs of sarcasm. But he looks... serene?
“What do you mean by that?” you ask.
A small smile starts creeping on his lips, “god, you’re really stupid, aren’t you, Luce?”
''“30!”'' they yell inside.
His voice has a tone you’ve never heard before. Sam was always so calm, he never once raised his voice or had a mean streak. <<if $loveS>> He spoke to you with love.<<elseif $nolove>> Even if you deserved it for your indifference towards him.<</if>>
It feels like you’ve been struck.
''“20!”''
“Sam I don’t-”
“You think you’re such hot shit, don’t you?” he interrupts. “That everyone kisses the ground you walk on that you could never imagine how much I’ve always hated you, my love.”
[[Page 54]]
<<elseif $cism>>\
You pause, your eyes widen and you search her face for signs of sarcasm. But she looks... happy?
“What do you mean by that?” you ask.
A charismatic smile creeps on her face, “oh dear, you're not the brightest are you, Luce?”
''“30!”'' they yell inside.
Her voice has a tone you’ve never heard before. Sam was always so friendly, she never once raised her voice or had a mean streak. <<if $loveS>> She spoke to you with love.<<elseif $nolove>> Even if you deserved it for your indifference towards her.<</if>>
It feels like you’ve been struck.
''“20!”''
“Sam I don’t-”
“You think you're the the greatest thing in the world, don’t you? Like all men,” she interrupts. “And the world opens up to you because you have a dick. But not me, I hated you always.”
[[Page 54-F]]
<<elseif $transm>>\
You pause, your eyes widen and you search her face for signs of sarcasm. But she looks... happy?
“What do you mean by that?” you ask.
A charismatic smile creeps on her face, “oh dear, you're not the brightest are you, Luce?”
''“30!”'' they yell inside.
Her voice has a tone you’ve never heard before. Sam was always so friendly, she never once raised her voice or had a mean streak. <<if $loveS>> She spoke to you with love.<<elseif $nolove>> Even if you deserved it for your indifference towards her.<</if>>
It feels like you’ve been struck.
''“20!”''
“Sam I don’t-”
“You think you're the the greatest thing in the world, don’t you? Like all men,” she interrupts. “And the world opens up to you because you have a plastic dick. But not me, I hated you always.”
[[Page 54-F]]
<<elseif $transf>>\
You pause, your eyes widen and you search his face for signs of sarcasm. But he looks... serene?
“What do you mean by that?” you ask.
A small smile starts creeping on his lips, “god, you’re really stupid, aren’t you, Luce?”
''“30!”'' they yell inside.
His voice has a tone you’ve never heard before. Sam was always so calm, he never once raised his voice or had a mean streak. <<if $loveS>> He spoke to you with love.<<elseif $nolove>> Even if you deserved it for your indifference towards him.<</if>>
It feels like you’ve been struck.
''“20!”''
“Sam I don’t-”
“You think you’re such hot shit, don’t you?” he interrupts. “That everyone kisses the ground you walk on that you could never imagine how much I’ve always hated you, my love.”
[[Page 54]]
<<elseif $nbf>>\
You pause, your eyes widen and you search his face for signs of sarcasm. But he looks... serene?
“What do you mean by that?” you ask.
A small smile starts creeping on his lips, “god, you’re really stupid, aren’t you, Luce?”
''“30!”'' they yell inside.
His voice has a tone you’ve never heard before. Sam was always so calm, he never once raised his voice or had a mean streak. <<if $loveS>> He spoke to you with love.<<elseif $nolove>> Even if you deserved it for your indifference towards him.<</if>>
It feels like you’ve been struck.
''“20!”''
“Sam I don’t-”
“You think you’re such hot shit, don’t you?” he interrupts. “That everyone kisses the ground you walk on that you could never imagine how much I’ve always hated you, my love.”
[[Page 54]]
<<elseif $nbm>>\
You pause, your eyes widen and you search her face for signs of sarcasm. But she looks... happy?
“What do you mean by that?” you ask.
A charismatic smile creeps on her face, “oh dear, you're not the brightest are you, Luce?”
''“30!”'' they yell inside.
Her voice has a tone you’ve never heard before. Sam was always so friendly, she never once raised her voice or had a mean streak. <<if $loveS>> She spoke to you with love.<<elseif $nolove>> Even if you deserved it for your indifference towards her.<</if>>
It feels like you’ve been struck.
''“20!”''
“Sam I don’t-”
“You think you're the the greatest thing in the world, don’t you? Like all men,” she interrupts. “And the world opens up to you because you have a dick. But not me, I hated you always.”
[[Page 54-F]]
<</if>>Everyone but you screams. The scream is ear-piercing, you have to drop your flute to cover your ears and then you feel a great weight fall on you, throwing you to the floor. “UF!” you grunt.
The screams ring inside your head like a gong and more weight falls on top of you. Your eyes start burning and you realize you can’t see anything. The space in front of you is thick with smoke. You start coughing, your eyes bugging out of your sockets as your lungs can’t get enough air due to the weight on your back.
“Marcey...” you croak out.
There are feet, arms and legs surrounding you. Pops go off throughout the room and the screams continue.
You groan as you try to get out from under whoever is on top of you.
<<if $cisf>>\
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOSTESS?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
<<elseif $cism>>\
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
<<elseif $transm>>\
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
<<elseif $transf>>\
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOSTESS?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
<<elseif $nbf>>\
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
<<elseif $nbm>>\
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
<</if>>\
You freeze. That voice is close enough for you to recognize it. What the fuck is he doing here?
You slide out from under the body and look around. “Fuck,” you hiss as the smoke touches your eyes. You wipe them and the tears stream down your cheeks.
You look around confusedly. “Charley?” you ask, a bit too loud.
“LUCE? COME OUT COME OUT WHERE EVER YOU ARE!” Dante yells cheerfully.
You look around, there’s bodies all over the floor. You’re laying on them. You squint and try to see if you can see Marcela but the smoke is too thick to make anyone out.
You have to find Charley and then she’ll help you find Sam and Marcela. You begin crawling, your throat constricting as you feel blood on your hands.
A shadowy figure passes in front of you and you pause. They stop and their feet move to face you. You hold your breath. A pop rings out and you and the person flinch.
[[Page 54*]]<<if $loveS>>\
You start to feel tears well in your eyes. Her hand caresses your jaw. “In a way. But this isn’t all about you. It’s mostly business.”
''“10!”''
“Sam, why are you saying all of this?” you ask, sniffing. “Did I do something wrong?”
''“5!”''
“Business,” you say, your voice breaking. “I don’t understand.”
She gives you a gentle kiss that you barely feel. When she moves back she replies, “and that's been your whole life.”
“HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!” a cacophony of voices screams in celebration.
<<elseif $nolove>>\
You think of slapping her. But that wouldn’t fix anything and you don’t want to be the type of person who hits women in public.
“You really wish you could hit, don’t you?” she taunts. “You can’t but I can.” She slaps you across the face. Her nails rake across your cheek. Your head snaps to the side and you feel your eyes burn from the sting.
“10!”
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that,” she admits. “Especially when you talked on and on as if whatever you were saying was the most important thing on earth.”
You furiously rub your cheek. “Go fuck yourself, you stone cold bitch.”
“5!”
Sam puts her hand to her mouth and laughs. “Always the lack of decorum. Money obviously doesn't buy class.”
She surprises with a painful kiss. You bite her lip and she shoves you away. “Italian trash.”
“HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!” a cacophony of voices scream in celebration.
<</if>>\
[[Page 55-F]]<<if $loveS>>\
You start to feel tears well in your eyes. Sam brings a finger to your cheek. “Aw, poor baby. You truly didn’t see this coming.”
''“10!”''
“Sam, why are you saying all of this?” you ask, sniffing. “Did I do something wrong?”
His hand caresses your cheek. “In a way. But this isn’t about you. It’s just business.”
''“5!”''
“Business,” you say, your voice breaking. “I don’t understand.”
He leans in to give you a quick kiss you can’t even react to. He moves back an inch and with a condescending tone, asks, “isn’t that just the story of your life?”
“HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!” a cacophony of voices screams in celebration.
<<elseif $nolove>>\
You raise your hand and slap him. His head jerks to the side, your palm burns but it fuels the anger building inside of you.
Sam rubs his cheek and then returns the slap just as hard. Your head snaps to the side and you feel your eyes burn from the sting.
“10!”
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he admits. “Especially when you wouldn’t stop fucking talking.”
You furiously rub your cheek. “Go fuck yourself, you small dick rat.”
“5!”
Sam throws his head back and laughs. “Always the lack of manners. Goes to show money doesn’t buy pedigree.”
He roughly grabs your face, you try to pry his hands off but he gives you a painful kiss. You bite his lip and he shoves you away. “Italian trash.”
“HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!” a cacophony of voices scream in celebration.
<</if>>\
[[Page 55]]<<if $loveS>>\
You look in, tears running down your face and you don’t have time to see the happiness of your friends’ faces when the double doors of the club burst open and a series of things that you can only see a flash of, are thrown in.
You think it’s smoke from the sparklers or the cigarettes people have let but it rises from the ground in a thick cloud. You can only look at Sam once before the wall of smoke comes towards you with unmitigated force.
He’s smiling.
You start choking and fall to the floor, your eyes burning with tears from heartbreak and chemicals.
You hold your stomach as your coughing fit begins an assault on your throat. You hardly notice the screams of fear from the others inside due to the series of rapid pops go off in all directions.
“Charley,” you squeak out weakly.
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
Sam grabs your arm and tries to pull you up, “right here!”
A figure comes out from the smoke and you start backing away but Sam pushes you forward.
You stumble and fall into the arms of someone. They smell of clean sheets and you let out a cry.
Charley throws an arm around your shoulder and lifts the gun she has in her hand. Pointing it at Sam she starts backing away, into the smoke which makes you cough even worse.
Sam has a frustrated look on his face. “Charley to the rescue then.”
Charley has her hand on the trigger. “I never really liked you,” she says and shoots. Sam lets out a cry and falls to the floor, clutching his stomach.
Charley aims again and you desperately grab her gun. “NO!” you protest.
Charley looks at you disapprovingly, “he betrayed you.”
“I love him,” you say, shame on your face.
Charley gives you a hard look. She looks back at Sam who’s groaning on the floor. Taking a breath she simply says, “ok.”
She pulls you tight against her and explains, “it’s going to hurt. I want you to squint your eyes as much as you can and no matter what you see I need you to keep going. We have the advantage of the smoke, Dante didn’t think that through.”
“Dante?”
<<elseif $nolove>>\
“Charley,” you squeak out weakly.
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
Sam grabs your arm and tries to pull you up, “ right here!”
A figure comes out from the smoke and you start backing away but Sam pushes you forward.
You stumble and fall into the arms of someone. They smell of clean sheets and you let out a sigh.
Charley throws an arm around your shoulder and lifts the gun she has in her hand. Pointing it at Sam she starts backing away, into the smoke which makes you cough even worse.
Sam has a frustrated look on his face. “Charley to the rescue then.”
Charley has her hand on the trigger. “I never really liked you,” she says and shoots. Sam lets out a cry and falls to the floor, clutching his stomach.
Charley aims again and you watch as the bullet misses him by inches, throwing the glass of the balcony.
Charley rolls her lips in frustration, “I can’t waste more bullets.”
“Not worth it,” you state, your words coloured with disgust.
Charley gives you a hard look. She looks back at Sam who’s groaning on the floor. Taking a breath she simply says, “you’re right.”
She pulls you tight against her and explains, “it’s going to hurt. I want you to squint your eyes as much as you can and no matter what you see I need you to keep going. We have the advantage of the smoke, Dante didn’t think that through.”
“Dante?”
<</if>>\
[[Page 56]]<<if $loveS>>\
You look in, tears running down your face and you don’t have time to see the happiness of your friends’ faces when the double doors of the club burst open and a series of things that you can only see a flash of, are thrown in.
You think it’s smoke from the sparklers or the cigarettes people have let but it rises from the ground in a thick cloud. You can only look at Sam once before the wall of smoke comes towards you with unmitigated force.
She’s smiling.
You start choking and fall to the floor, your eyes burning with tears from heartbreak and chemicals.
You hold your stomach as your coughing fit begins an assault on your throat. You hardly notice the screams of fear from the others inside due to the series of rapid pops going off in all directions.
“Charley,” you squeak out weakly.
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
Sam grabs your arm and tries to pull you up, “right here!” It's an effort as you're bigger than her.
A figure comes out from the smoke and you start backing away but Sam pushes you forward.
You stumble and fall into the arms of someone. They smell of clean sheets and you let out a sigh of relief.
Charley throws an arm around your shoulder and lifts the gun she has in her hand. Pointing it at Sam she starts backing away, into the smoke which makes you cough even worse.
Sam has a irritated look on her face. “Charley to the rescue as always.”
Charley has her hand on the trigger. “I never really liked you,” she says and shoots. Sam lets out a cry and falls to the floor, clutching her stomach.
Charley aims again and you desperately grab her gun. “NO!” you protest.
Charley looks at you disapprovingly, “she betrayed you.”
“I love her,” you say, shame on your face.
Charley gives you a hard look. She looks back at Sam who’s crying on the floor. Taking a breath she simply says, “ok.”
She pulls you tight against her and explains, “it’s going to hurt. I want you to squint your eyes as much as you can and no matter what you see I need you to keep going. We have the advantage of the smoke, Dante didn’t think that through.”
“Dante?”
<<elseif $nolove>>\
“Charley,” you squeak out weakly.
“NOW WHERE IS OUR HOST?” a booming voice asks from somewhere in the smoke.
Sam grabs your arm and tries to pull you up, “right here!”
A figure comes out from the smoke and you start backing away but Sam pushes you forward.
You stumble and fall into the arms of someone. They smell of clean sheets and you let out a sigh.
Charley throws an arm around your shoulder and lifts the gun she has in her hand. Pointing it at Sam she starts backing away, into the smoke which makes you cough even worse.
Sam has a irritated look on her face. “Charley to the rescue as always.”
Charley has her hand on the trigger. “I never really liked you,” she says and shoots. Sam lets out a cry and falls to the floor, clutching her stomach.
Charley aims again and you watch as the bullet misses her by inches, breaking the glass barrier of the balcony.
Charley rolls her lips in frustration, “I can’t waste more bullets.”
“Not worth it,” you state, your words coloured with disgust.
Charley gives you a hard look. She looks back at Sam who’s crying on the floor. Taking a breath she simply says, “you’re right.”
She pulls you tight against her and explains, “it’s going to hurt. I want you to squint your eyes as much as you can and no matter what you see I need you to keep going. We have the advantage of the smoke, Dante didn’t think that through.”
“Dante?”
<</if>>\
[[Page 56]]Charley starts guiding you alone. Tables become your enemy. When you feel something soft under your shoe you jerk back. Charley holds onto you tight, “don’t look down, $honorific.”
You take a big step and mercifully land on solid ground. You do as she says but you know what you felt. Those pops you heard, just like the ones on that day your brother died.
Charley reaches out with her hand. “We’re at the bar now, we’ll go on our knees behind it and go through the kitchen to the employee exit.”
“How do you know there’s a way out there?” you ask.
Charley forces you to the ground. “The benefits of having the floor plan, $honorific.”
“WHERE IS MY CHILDHOOD BESTIE? I WANNA SAY HI!” Dante yells from the shadows.
You start crawling along the floor, having to push aside bodies thrown on the floor. You try not to let out a scream of sorts when their blood touches your fingers.
“OLLIE OLLIE OXENFREE! OR DO YOU WANNA DO MARCO POLO?” he continues.
Charley pushes the bridge of the bar and you two slip inside. The floor is wet and hazardly covered with broken glass. Charley winces and lifts her palm, blood trails down her wrist. “Be careful, $honorific,” she warns.
“ACTUALLY I HAVE A BETTER IDEA!”
<<if $cism>>You hear a shrill screen and freeze. “MARCELA TELL LUCE HOW YOU’D LOVE FOR HIM TO SAY HI!”<<elseif $transm>>You hear a shrill screen and freeze. “MARCELA TELL LUCE HOW YOU’D LOVE FOR HIM TO SAY HI!”<<elseif $nbf>>You hear a shrill screen and freeze. “MARCELA TELL LUCE HOW YOU’D LOVE FOR THEM TO SAY HI!”<<elseif $cisf>>You hear a shrill screen and freeze. “MARCELA TELL LUCE HOW YOU’D LOVE FOR HER TO SAY HI!”<<elseif $transf>>You hear a shrill screen and freeze. “MARCELA TELL LUCE HOW YOU’D LOVE FOR HER TO SAY HI!”<<elseif $nbm>>You hear a shrill screen and freeze. “MARCELA TELL LUCE HOW YOU’D LOVE FOR THEM TO SAY HI!”<</if>>
“Luce! What the fuck is going on!?” Marcey cries.
“This one has a filthy mouth on her, if I wasn’t so busy I would be pissed you didn’t hookup us up earlier Luce,” Dante teases.
Charley gives you a warning look. “He’s trying to get you to reveal yourself, we can’t do anything for Marcela now.”
Your face is seeped in worry. Marcela, Marcey, your first friend here. She has nothing to do with this.
You...
<hr>\
[[Respond.|Page 57][$respondd to true]]
[[Keep going.|Page 57][$kp to true]]<<if $respondd>>\
“$honorific!” Charley whispers furiously but you stand up.
“Let her go, Dante, she’s not at fault for anything, she doesn’t even know who my family is,” you plead.
Dante cackles and amidst dying groans, shuffling, and voices he appears hazy fifteen feet away. Marcela is front of him with a gun pointed at her temple.
He smiles cheekily and waves at you. “Hey, Luce. Fab party, real groovy. Sorry, I got here so late,” he drawls. He has a maniac look on his face like he couldn’t imagine having more fun.
“Dante, please,” you beg. Your eyes burn and you can’t tell if it’s from the smoke or from seeing how petrified Marcela looks. “Just let her leave.”
Dante pretends to think about it for a second. “Hmmmmmmmm.”
He leans his head next to hers and asks, “what do you think, Marcey? Should I do you a solid?”
Marcela sobs and just shakes her head. “Luce, what’s going on?”
“Marcey,” you say, your voice barely strong enough to be heard.
“You know what?” Dante says, “I’ll do you the solid. I’ll let you leave.” He waves the gun around to the general vicinity of the doors.
You're shocked at his acquiescence and you’re about to go around the bar to take her.
Dante presses the gun to her head and pulls the trigger. She crumbles to the ground like a rag doll. Your blood turns like ice in your veins as her brains leak onto the dance floor. Dante wipes at the blood on his cheek and brings a finger to his lips to suck it off.
“Slammin,’” he says, almost giddy. Then he turns to you, raises his gun and shoots.
You scream as you’re hit in the arm and Charley pulls you do. “Wait,” she orders and stands up. She starts shooting at Dante who shoots back.
Glass lands all over you. Blood seeps through your fingers as you try to staunch the bleeding with your hand.
Charley grabs your other arm and pulls you up as she continues shooting and pushes you into the door of the kitchen. You stumble inside, the bright lights momentarily blinding you.
Charley runs in, slams the door behind her, grabs a chair and blocks it as bullets start coming through the wood.
Charley slings an arm around your waist and breathing heavily she says, “we’ll go to my place. Then we’ll see about that bullet.”
She throws open the exit door and you’re greeted by a small hallway with an elevator. “Dante really is stu...” her voice fades out as you faint.
END OF DEMO
<<else>>\
You jerk your head to the kitchen at Charley and she nods. Your knees bleed as glass sticks into your skin.
“Luce!” Marcela begs. You push the guilt you feel down, you can feel it later.
<<if $cism>>“Wow, what a dick, you’re bestie is literally about to feed the rats of this city and you couldn’t give a shit. Cold Luce, cold, dude,” Dante laments sarcastically.<<elseif $transm>>“Wow, what a dick, you’re bestie is literally about to feed the rats of this city and you couldn’t give a shit. Cold Luce, cold, dude,” Dante laments sarcastically<<elseif $nbm>>“Wow, what a dick, you’re bestie is literally about to feed the rats of this city and you couldn’t give a shit. Cold Luce, cold, dude,” Dante laments sarcastically<<elseif $nbf>>“Wow, what a dick, you’re bestie is literally about to feed the rats of this city and you couldn’t give a shit. Cold Luce, cold, dude,” Dante laments sarcastically<<elseif $cisf>>“Wow, what a cunt, you’re bestie is literally about to feed the rats of this city and you couldn’t give a shit. Cold Luce, cold, dude,” Dante laments sarcastically<<elseif $transf>>“Wow, what a cunt, you’re bestie is literally about to feed the rats of this city and you couldn’t give a shit. Cold Luce, cold, dude,” Dante laments sarcastically<</if>>
Charley opens the door and holds it for you as you slip in first.
“Oh well, I’m bored now,” Dante says and you hear a scream before a pop silences it forever. “Thanks for ruining my fun, Luce!”
The bright lights momentarily blind you.
Charley slips in, shuts the door gently behind her, grabs a chair and blocks it.
You look at each other and she she says, “we’ll go to my place and figure out what to do next.”
She throws open the exit door and you’re greeted by a small hallway with an elevator. “Dante really is stupid,” she states.
You go in first, Charley presses the button for the ground floor and it feels like the ground falls from under you as the elevator quickly plunges to the earth.
“Do you think there’ll be people waiting for us down there?” you ask, eyeing the levels you’re descending.
Charley checks the chamber of her gun and then takes out some rounds from a pouch on her belt. “I wouldn’t count on it. By our escape, I believe Dante and his men don’t have a complete floor plan of this building.”
She takes out a smaller gun she had concealed in her jacket, “but just in case.” She hands you it. It feels cold and heavy in your hand.
“I’ve never used this before,” you admit.
“You don’t have a choice, $honorific,” she replies.
[[Page 58]]
<</if>>\When the elevator door opens, Charley peeks out first, her gun gripped tightly in both hands. She moves out slowly and quickly lifts her gun to point down the hall.
“It’s clear $honorific, hurry,” she commands. You move behind her and see a door at the other end of the hall, a bright exit above it. She slowly starts walking towards it, and you follow her, gun awkwardly in hand.
It feels like it takes forever to get there.
Charley twists open the door slowly, so slowly it would almost seem comical. It’s open enough to squeeze through. Charley looks out and then waves you to follow her quickly.
She steps out into the cool night air. You follow behind her. You’re in a darkened alleyway, the sweet smell of something rotten makes your stomach turn.
Charley looks around. “I think the car is near the end of the alley,” she points to a brightly lit street lined with some cars.
“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go,” you say and start walking. Charley holds out an arm, holding you back.
“Follow closely behind me, it’s still dangerous,” she orders.
You assent and start walking towards the other end. Charley’s steps get quicker and you start speed-walking to catch up to her.
A rat startles you as it dashes out from a trash can. You’re lightly jogging when you hear a pop sizzle past your ear.
Charley swiftly turns around and shoves you against the wall. She takes one shot and then runs to stand in front of you, hiding behind a dumpster. She reloads her gun and peeks up over the trash, another shot rings out. She ducks and then looks up to shoot back.
Flashes of yellow bursts fill the alley as Charley starts a gun battle with who you assume are Dante’s men.
You...
<hr>\
[[Shoot back|Page 59][$shootc to true]]
[[Let Charley handle it|Page 59]]<<if $shootc>>\
Charley grunts and falls next to you. She clutches her arm. Seeing her wounded fills you with indignation. Marcela is already dead, you’re not going to lose someone else tonight.
You click the safety off, raise and start shooting randomly at where you think the shooters are. The push-back of the gun makes your arm shake so bad that you drop it.
“Shit!” you curse.
Charley picks up your gun and pushes herself up. She nods for you to crouch down. You obey and she starts shooting, her gun much more precise and still.
You cover your ears and wait for the sounds to stop. They do fairly quickly. The alley has swirls of smoke in the air.
You uncover your ears and slowly rise. You look at the other end of the alleyway and see two bodies strewn on the pavement.
“Good job,” you say softly.
Charley looks at you, “you too $honorific. Your aim was impressive with the little experience you have.”
You let out a noise that’s a cross between a laugh and a cry, “yeah I shot the air. Very impressive.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You got rid of one of the targets. That’s why I was able to take out the other, injured as I am, and as you are,” she looks at your arm.
Your eyes widen and you step out from behind the dumpster. Two bodies. “I killed one of them?” you ask.
Charley nods stiffly, she looks at her wound. Your eyes flit between both of them. You can’t see their faces. Which one did you kill?
You killed. <<set $charlyalive to true>>
“We need to leave before the others get here $honorific,” Charley advises and pushes you ahead of her.
In a daze, you stumble to the car. Your vision starts blurring as you step onto the street. You see Charley in double. Her expression looks troubled as you start wobbling and keel over.
<<else>>\
You’re too frightened to shoot the damn thing anyway.
“$honorific,” Charley reaches into her pocket and throws you the keys. You catch them and she says, “run to the car and under the front seat there’ll be a card for a hotel. I have a room there, go there and call your family.”
“What about you?” you ask.
Charley gives you a hard look and says, “I swore to give my life to protect yours.”
You give her a sad look, “Charley-”
The shooting starts up again and Charley yells, “GO!”
You scurry up and look at Charley, who turns away to shoot back at Dante’s men. You stumble back for a second, fearfully that a stray bullet will catch you.
But then Charley steps out from the dumpster and you take that as your queue. You book it down the alley, thinking about a bullet hitting your back each step of the way.
You step out under the streetlight and frantically look around for the car. When you see it a few cars down you look over to where Charley is, to tell her to run to you, that both of you can make it.
But when you look back into the alley, you see a crumpled body near where you last saw her standing. Two bodies lie further away, one of them is groaning, trying to sit up.
You look at Charley once more. “Thank you,” you say meaningfully. Then you start running.
<</if>>\
END OF DEMO“BUMMER! I GUESS I’LL HAVE TO DO THIS THE HARD WAY!” Dante threatens.
The shadowy figure moves on. You start crawling again, it’s a slow process because the surface is so uneven. You want to vomit when you feel someone’s squishy eyes.
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>“IF YOU DON’T COME OUT TO SAY HI I’LL KILL YOUR HUBBY AND YOUR BEST FRIEND!” he threatens.<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>“IF YOU DON’T COME OUT TO SAY HI I’LL KILL YOUR WIFEY AND YOUR BEST FRIEND!” he threatens.<</if>>
“LUCE!” Marcela screams.
“LUCE DON’T COME!” Sam warn.
That makes you pause. You think about what Dante would do to you if you went to him.
<hr>\
[[Go to him|Page 55*][$goD to true]]
[[Keep crawling|Page 55*]]
<<if $goD>>\
You raise your hands in a sign of defeat and stand up. The air is still thick with chemicals that make you teary but you can make out the aftermath of the countdown.
Dante stands at the foot of the stairs, the double doors behind him are thrown open. Marcela stands to his left and Sam, to his right. Two guns in each of his hands point to their temples.
When he sees you he smiles widely. “Ah, there you are! Long time, ain’t it? Looking very groovy!”
The strangest thing is that he sounds genuine.
“What do you want, Dante?” you ask, your voice wobbly.
He thinks about it for a moment. “Money, power, some good scotch, and big breasted blonde sucking my dick,” he replies. “But it isn’t about what I want, it’s about what you want.”
He nods to Marcela and then to Sam. “Who do you want to live?” he asks, in a light tone.
“What?” you ask breathlessly.
Dante nods rapidly. “You can eeny-meany-miny-mo if you want.”
You shake your head, “Dante let both of them go, they don’t have anything to do with this.”
Dante smirks, “you have no clue, do you?” Dante tsks.
You don’t understand what he’s saying and you don’t care to. Your looking to and fro at Marcela and Sam. Marcela’s cheeks are stained with tears while Sam’s face looks drained of blood.
“Choose, or I’ll do it for you,” he says with glee.
<hr>\
[[Sam|Page 56*-S][$samc to true]]
[[Marcela|Page 56*]]
<<else>>\
You feel cowardly as you ignore him and continue to crawl over the bodies of your formerly living friends. It’s too smokey though. You can barely see in front of you and your sense of space and survival aren’t the best. You can barely breathe in the thick of the smoke.
Your hand slices into something sharp and you let out a cry of pain. You cover your mouth, the coppery blood flows in and coats your tongue.
Then you’re roughly pulled up, a burly man armed with a rifle drags you through the smoke and before you can do anything he shoves you forward.
You see a hazy image of Dante standing in front of the open double doors. On either side of him stands Marcela and Sam. He has a gun pointed at each of them.
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Dante nods to you with a smile, “nice to see you again, Luce. Although bad form to ditch your friend and your hubby here, I’d call you a pussy if I wasn’t in a good mood.”<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Dante nods to you with a smile, “nice to see you again, Luce. Although bad form to ditch your friend and your wifey here, I’d call you a pussy if I wasn’t in a good mood.”<</if>>
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam moves Dante’s gun away from his head. “I’ve been waiting long enough, can I leave?”<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam moves Dante’s gun away from her head. “I’ve been waiting long enough, can I leave?”<</if>>
Your eyebrows knit together. “What?”
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam looks at you as if he just realized a dog shat on the floor. “Now you can speak after you wanted to leave me to ‘die?’” he adds with finger commas.<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam looks at you as if she just realized a dog shat on the floor. “Now you can speak after you wanted to leave me to ‘die?’” she adds with finger commas.<</if>>
“Lover’s spat,” Dante giggles and turns his attention to Marcela. He does something that makes the gun click.
[[Page 56**]]
<</if>>You look away when you say, “Sam.”
Dante pretends to whisper when he says, “you hear that foxy? Your friend killed you.”
“Dante let’s get this over with,” Sam says abruptly and moves away from the gun. Dante lowers it, sticking it back in his belt.
“Well, shit. I’m surrounded by squares,” Dante laments. He turns around and aims at Marcela, “can you stop fucking CRYING? It’s pissing me off.”
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
Marcela just cries harder. Sam throws Dante a judgmental look behind his back and then looks at you. He seems calm.
“Sam?” you ask.
Sam smiles at you. “What is honey? You look a bit confused.”
Dante glances at you and snorts. “Your hubby ain’t so clean.”
With a puzzled look, you ask, “Sam, what is he saying?”
Sam rolls his eyes. “You really are stupid. You really never fucking noticed how much I can’t stand you?”
You feel your mouth open. The sheer vitriol in his voice shocks you. He doesn’t sound like the same you know.
“Why do you think Dante knew where you were?” Sam asks, then points to his forehead.
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” Dante orders angrily and clicks something.
Sam looks at the scene. “I don’t want to be here for this, I always liked Marcey.” He turns back to you and smiles, blowing you a kiss. “Maybe we’ll see each other again, maybe not. For my sake, I hope it’s the latter.”
He walks up the steps and Dante’s men let him pass without a glance.
“Luce! Help me please!” Marcela begs.
You raise a hand, “Marcey it’ll be ok-”
Dante presses the trigger and her head explodes in front of your eyes. It splatters on Dante and he swipes at it, sucking a bit from his finger.
You feel the earth collapse beneath you. Your knees wobble and you grab onto a table for support. Tears spill unbidden from your eyes and a forced choke comes out of your mouth.
“No, no, no, no, please not again,” you pray, heartbroken.
Dante looks at you, raises his gun and shoots you. You scream and fall to the ground, clutching your thigh.
You press the wound and scream even louder as cold pain shoots up your body. You look up and see him standing over you. He grins and says, “do you know that the next few hours, days, weeks —I don’t know— will be be very groovy. For me.”
He lifts his gun and hits you on the head.
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
Marcela just cries harder. Sam throws Dante a judgmental look behind his back and then looks at you. She seems calm.
Dante glances at you and snorts. “Your wifey ain’t so clean.”
Sam rolls her eyes. “You can't see it? How could you possibly think I loved you?”
You feel your mouth open. The sheer digust in her voice shocks you. She doesn’t sound like the same you know.
“Why do you think Dante knew where you were?” Sam asks, gesturing around.
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” Dante orders angrily and clicks something.
Sam looks at the scene. “I did like you Marcey, I can't see what happens next.” She turns back to you with a neutral look, she winks. “Maybe we’ll see each other again, maybe not. For my sake, I hope it’s the latter.”
She walks up the steps and Dante’s men let her pass without a glance.
“Luce! Help me please!” Marcela begs.
You raise a hand, “Marcey it’ll be ok-”
Dante presses the trigger and her head explodes in front of your eyes. It splatters on Dante and he swipes at it, sucking a bit from his finger.
You feel the earth collapse beneath you. Your knees wobble and you grab onto a table for support. Tears spill unbidden from your eyes and a forced choke comes out of your mouth.
“No, no, no, no, please not again,” you pray, heartbroken.
Dante looks at you, raises his gun and shoots you. You scream and fall to the ground, clutching your thigh.
You press the wound and scream even louder as cold pain shoots up your body. You look up and see him standing over you. He grins and says, “do you know that the next few hours, days, weeks —I don’t know— will be be very groovy. For me.”
He lifts his gun and hits you on the head.
<</if>>
END OF DEMOYou look away when you say, “Marcela.”
<<if $cism>>Dante loudly says, “wow. Never seen a husband-to-be who hates his wife so fucking much.”<<elseif $transm>>Dante loudly says, “wow. Never seen a husband-to-be who hates his wife so fucking much.”<<elseif $nbm>>Dante loudly says, “wow. Never seen a spouse-to-be who hates his wife so fucking much.”<<elseif $cisf>>Dante loudly says, “wow. Never seen a wife-to-be who hates her husband so fucking much.”<<elseif $transf>>Dante loudly says, “wow. Never seen a wife-to-be who hates her husband so fucking much.”<<elseif $nbf>>Dante loudly says, “wow. Never seen a spouse-to-be who hates their husband so fucking much.”<</if>>
“Dante let’s get this over with,” Sam says abruptly and moves away from the gun. Dante lowers it, sticking it back in his belt.
“Well, shit. I’m surrounded by squares,” Dante laments. He turns around and aims at Marcela, “can you stop fucking CRYING? It’s pissing me off.”
<<if $sam is 'masc'>>\
Marcela just cries harder. Sam throws Dante a judgmental look behind his back and then looks at you. He seems calm.
“Sam?” you ask.
Sam smiles at you. “What is honey? You look a bit confused.”
Dante glances at you and snorts. “Your hubby ain’t so clean.”
With a puzzled look, you ask, “Sam, what is he saying?”
Sam rolls his eyes. “You really are stupid. You really never fucking noticed how much I can’t stand you?”
You feel your mouth open. The sheer vitriol in his voice shocks you. He doesn’t sound like the same you know.
“Why do you think Dante knew where you were?” Sam asks, then points to his forehead.
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” Dante orders angrily and clicks something.
Sam looks at the scene. “I don’t want to be here for this, I always liked Marcey.” He turns back to you and smiles, blowing you a kiss. “Maybe we’ll see each other again, maybe not. For my sake, I hope it’s the latter.”
He walks up the steps and Dante’s men let him pass without a glance.
“Luce! Help me please!” Marcela begs.
You raise a hand, “Marcey it’ll be ok-”
Dante presses the trigger and her head explodes in front of your eyes. It splatters on Dante and he swipes at it, sucking a bit from his finger.
You feel the earth collapse beneath you. Your knees wobble and you grab onto a table for support. Tears spill unbidden from your eyes and a forced choke comes out of your mouth.
“No, no, no, no, please not again,” you pray, heartbroken.
Dante looks at you, raises his gun and shoots you. You scream and fall to the ground, clutching your thigh.
You press the wound and scream even louder as cold pain shoots up your body. You look up and see him standing over you. He grins and says, “do you know that the next few hours, days, weeks —I don’t know— will be be very groovy. For me.”
He lifts his gun and hits you on the head.
<<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>\
Marcela just cries harder. Sam throws Dante a judgmental look behind his back and then looks at you. She seems calm.
Dante glances at you and snorts. “Your wifey ain’t so clean.”
Sam rolls her eyes. “You can't see it? How could you possibly think I loved you?”
You feel your mouth open. The sheer digust in her voice shocks you. She doesn’t sound like the same you know.
“Why do you think Dante knew where you were?” Sam asks, gesturing around.
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” Dante orders angrily and clicks something.
Sam looks at the scene. “I did like you Marcey, I can't see what happens next.” She turns back to you with a neutral look, she winks. “Maybe we’ll see each other again, maybe not. For my sake, I hope it’s the latter.”
She walks up the steps and Dante’s men let her pass without a glance.
“Luce! Help me please!” Marcela begs.
You raise a hand, “Marcey it’ll be ok-”
Dante presses the trigger and her head explodes in front of your eyes. It splatters on Dante and he swipes at it, sucking a bit from his finger.
You feel the earth collapse beneath you. Your knees wobble and you grab onto a table for support. Tears spill unbidden from your eyes and a forced choke comes out of your mouth.
“No, no, no, no, please not again,” you pray, heartbroken.
Dante looks at you, raises his gun and shoots you. You scream and fall to the ground, clutching your thigh.
You press the wound and scream even louder as cold pain shoots up your body. You look up and see him standing over you. He grins and says, “do you know that the next few hours, days, weeks —I don’t know— will be be very groovy. For me.”
He lifts his gun and hits you on the head.
<</if>>\
END OF DEMO<<if $sam is 'masc'>>Sam adjusts his clothes and says to you, “hopefully he kills you. If he doesn’t maybe I can when he longer needs you.” He blows a kiss your way and walks up the stairs. Dante’s men let him pass without a glance. <<elseif $sam is 'fem'>>Sam adjusts her dress and says to you, “hopefully he kills you. If he doesn’t I hope someone else does.” She winks at you and walks up the stairs. Dante’s men let her pass without a glance.<</if>>
“Get on your knees,” Dante orders, “and beg me for you life. If you do it good enough I’ll let you leave.”
Marcela falls to the floor and clasps her hands in front of her face, raising them up. Snot runs down her nose, “please don’t kill me. I swear I won’t tell anyone. I won’t say a word.”
Dante looks over at you, “what do you think slick? Is it good enough?”
“Dante, stop playing with her and let her split,” you say angrily.
“Grrrr,” Dante replies and looks at Marcela. “Beg to Luce now.”
“Luce! Help me please!” Marcela begs.
You raise a hand, “Marcey it’ll be ok-”
Dante presses the trigger and her head explodes in front of your eyes. It splatters on Dante and he swipes at it, sucking a bit from his finger.
You feel the earth collapse beneath you. Your knees wobble and you grab onto a table for support. Tears spill unbidden from your eyes and a forced choke comes out of your mouth.
“No, no, no, no, please not again,” you pray, heartbroken.
Dante looks at you, raises his gun and shoots you. You scream and fall to the ground, clutching your thigh.
You press the wound and scream even louder as cold pain shoots up your body. You look up and see him standing over you. He grins and says, “do you know that the next few hours, days, weeks —I don’t know— will be be very groovy. For me.”
He lifts his gun and hits you on the head.
END OF DEMO<h4>//__''1937.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
Splitting the sandwich through the middle, the companion hands the other half to the man. The man chews into the tasteless bread, slice of cheese and butter. It slowly climbs down his throat.
They’re facing away from the sun, the heat at full force hitting their back. His shoulders feel painful; it’s either the shovelling or the sun, but perhaps both. His companion wipes his forehead with a soggy rag ripped from his sleeve.
When the man feels the latest lump of food free itself from the molasses of his throat, he asks out loud, “what do you think about Frederico’s plan?”
His companion slowly chews on his sandwich, his eyes squinting at the mountains before them.
“I do not see the point if I am being... onesto,” he replies. The man doesn’t respond as quickly. He has thought the same. Frederico always talks about precautions and contingencies.
The man throws the remainder of the sandwich into the hole. Standing up, he pulls his pants up by his belt and thinks. He looks at the view, from one corner to the next, until he figures out how he wants to say it.
“What’s the point of being thieves if we can’t make use of the cash until ten years down the line,” he complains in a monotone voice.
“Fede has said it will be few months,” his companion counters.
The man spits on the ground again to show what he thinks about that. His companion looks up at him, shielding his eyes from the sun.
“What is ya thinking?”
The man smiles.
[[Page 4]]<<set $mercifulRuthlessCounter += 1>> <!-- Increase by 1 -->
<<set $mercifulRuthlessCounter -= 1>> <!-- Decrease by 1 -->
However, a worm of doubt wiggled in your brain the night of that birthday party for your father. Most people had left, except for a few drunken stragglers sent off to their rooms with the staff as crutches.
You were packing your clothes, as your family was to head back to the city tomorrow morning when you heard a faint knock on your door. You dropped a folded shirt into your valise and went to fold another. Absentmindedly, you said, “it’s open.”
You heard the door creak open slowly. You shoved in some underwear as quickly as possible before looking up to see Lazlo standing in the doorway.
He was looking at you blankly. Which was odd for him; he often wouldn’t even look you in the eyes.
“Yes?” you asked.
He looked at you a moment longer. His face showed nothing; you couldn’t tell what he was feeling, but he almost seemed… in a trance. Did you have something on your face? You quickly swiped at your cheeks.
You put a hand on your hip and raised an eyebrow. “Lazlo?”
He blinked once and looked down at his hands. He whispered something.
“What did you say?”
He pressed his lips together and replied, “what were you doing with Dante?”
His voice was barely audible. If you knew him better than what he let you know, perhaps you would’ve had enough confidence to say he was ashamed—of you? Of what he was asking?
<<if $laz is 'kindness'>>You felt hurt. You only ever tried to be nice to him. What was he implying?
“Nothing,” you replied.
His feet remained firmly in the hallway. His mouth twitched slightly before he responded, “he was lying then.”
You took a step toward him, and he backed away further into the hall. “What did he say to you?” you asked.
He looked at you briefly, and what you saw in his eyes surprised you. He looked angry. His red eyebrows lowered in a way that made you take a weary step back.
“He shouldn’t talk about you at all,” he said and then left.
<<elseif $laz is 'contempt'>>You felt indignation. Who was he to question what you were doing? A nobody, that’s who he is.
“None of your business,” you replied.
His feet remained firmly in the hallway. His mouth twitched slightly before he responded, “He was lying then.”
You crossed your arms. “What the heck are you talking about?”
He looked at you briefly, and what you saw in his eyes surprised you. He looked angry. His red eyebrows lowered in a way that made you take a weary step back.
“He shouldn’t talk about you at all,” he said and then left.
<<elseif $laz is 'indifference'>>You were confused. You hardly ever spoke to him, and he to you. You two lived your lives without thinking about each other at all. At least that’s what you’ve been doing. Why would he care about your life?
“I don’t know why you’re asking this,” you replied.
His feet remained firmly in the hallway. His mouth twitched slightly before he responded, “He was lying then.”
Your confusion deepened on your face, and you looked around awkwardly, unsure how to proceed. Your eyes were wide as only uncomfortable situations can give.
“He shouldn’t talk about you at all,” he said, and then you heard his steps as he walked down the hall.
<</if>>\
[[Page 43]]<h4>//__''1977.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
You shove your things into your backpack. Carefully, slowly. You run your hands through your hair, feeling the sand glide through your fingers. You dust off your clothes. The last trickles of water from your bottle clean up your bloody hands.
You look at the body and grab it by the feet. You grunt as you grab-walk backwards, straining to drag the corpse with your sore arms. All those months of athleticism from running wasted an entire night looking for bullshit in the wrong place.
It makes you want to laugh again. You press your lips closed and give one more heave before stopping at the hole’s edge. Crouching down and laying your hands on your thighs, you look down into the darkness.
“Good enough place for two, right?” you say to no one in particular. Your voice comes out breathy, like you’re whispering into a lover’s ears.
“Another life.” Great, now you’ve started talking to yourself. Completely buggin'.'
You grab your victim by the armpits and clumsily bend the body at the waist; after that, you basically push your buddy head-first into the grave. They hit the bottom with a thump. All in all, it’s not the smoothest work you’ve done.
You take out your gun from your waistband and switch off the safety. Feeling its weight in your hand, you pause for a moment. You look up at the horizon once more, the sun breaking majestically on the Earth.
Then you raise the gun and <<cycle '$sewerslide' autoselect>><<option 'point it at your temple.'>><<option 'put in your mouth.'>><</cycle>>
[[Page 7]]<h4>//__''1977.
Somewhere in Southern Nevada.''__//</h4>
You think you passed out because when you awoke once more, the sun seemed lower than before. You pick yourself up, your wobbly knees making you fall to the side. You hiss as your hip bone bounces off a stone.
“Damn desert,” you complain.
You get up again and turn around in a circle. You squint against the approaching darkness at the edges of the sky for any sign of a movement.
Given your lack of luck, you don’t think your salvation is coming. The following person you’ll likely see won’t be a friend to you.
You press your palms to your temples. //How did I get here?//
This isn’t what your life was supposed to be. Two years ago you should’ve graduated university and by now you should’ve been working an honest job.
Now this. You weren’t supposed to be the one here. This was Andrea’s life. The guns, death, violence and fear were his inheritance.
Or maybe you should go back further. You pace back and forth as you mentally speed through your family history.
Your dad. It started with him. If only he had stayed in Italy. //But then, I wouldn’t be born.//
Perhaps that’s for the best.
[[Page 5]]<h4>__//''Present''//__</h4>
<<if $cisf>>\
The bathroom stall closes behind you. You wedge yourself in between two girls, who each give you a withering look. You pump soap onto your hands and wash them vigorously. You want to get back to the party.
Your mind is crowded with melancholy thoughts you really aren’t in a mood for.
//“Because I’m the older brother.”//
“Goddamn it,” you curse and squeeze your eyes as painfully as you can.
The cats crowding around the counter give you strange looks. You clear your throat and toss your hair over your shoulder haughtily.
You see a bit of blow in a nice thick line on the counter.
<<elseif $cism>>\
The bathroom stall closes behind you. You wedge yourself in between two guys who each throw you a withering look. You pump soap onto your hands and wash them vigorously. You want to get back to the party.
Your mind is crowding with melancholy thoughts you really aren’t in a mood for.
//“Because I’m the older brother.”//
“Goddamn it,” you curse and squeeze your eyes as painfully as you can.
The cats crowding around the counter give you strange looks. You growl and stand up straight, twisting your rings.
You see a bit of blow in a nice thick line on the counter.
<<elseif $transf>>\
The bathroom stall closes behind you. You wedge yourself in between two guys who each throw you a withering look. You pump soap onto your hands and wash them vigorously. You want to get back to the party.
Your mind is crowding with melancholy thoughts you really aren’t in a mood for.
//“Because I’m the older brother.”//
“Goddamn it,” you curse and squeeze your eyes as painfully as you can.
The cats crowding around the counter give you strange looks. You clear your throat and toss your hair over your shoulder haughtily.
You see a bit of blow in a nice thick line on the counter.
<<elseif $transm>>\
The bathroom stall closes behind you. You wedge yourself in between two girls, who each give you a withering look. You pump soap onto your hands and wash them vigorously. You want to get back to the party.
Your mind is crowded with melancholy thoughts you really aren’t in a mood for.
//“Because I’m the older brother.”//
“Goddamn it,” you curse and squeeze your eyes as painfully as you can.
The cats crowding around the counter give you strange looks. You growl and stand up straight, twisting your rings.
You see a bit of blow in a nice thick line on the counter.
<<elseif $nbf>>\
The bathroom stall closes behind you. You wedge yourself in between two girls, who each give you a withering look. You pump soap onto your hands and wash them vigorously. You want to get back to the party.
Your mind is crowded with melancholy thoughts you really aren’t in a mood for.
//“Because I’m the older brother.”//
“Goddamn it,” you curse and squeeze your eyes as painfully as you can.
The cats crowding around the counter give you strange looks. You sigh and stand up straight, shaking off the wet from your hands.
You see a bit of blow in a nice thick line on the counter.
<<elseif $nbm>>\
The bathroom stall closes behind you. You wedge yourself in between two guys who each throw you a withering look. You pump soap onto your hands and wash them vigorously. You want to get back to the party.
Your mind is crowding with melancholy thoughts you really aren’t in a mood for.
//“Because I’m the older brother.”//
“Goddamn it,” you curse and squeeze your eyes as painfully as you can.
The cats crowding around the counter give you strange looks. You sigh and stand up straight, shaking off the wet from your hands.
You see a bit of blow in a nice thick line on the counter.
<</if>>\
<hr>\
[[Ask to snort some.|Page 50][$coke to true]]
[[Go take shot.|Page 50][$drink to true]]
[[Dance.|Page 50][$dance to true]]<<if $coke>>\
The cat shrugs and offers you a rolled-up bill. You plug one of your nostrils and bend down. Your nose starts burning as you inhale the entire line.
“Hey, don’t be a bogart! Leave some for me!" the cat who offered you a snort protests.
You shoot up and wipe your nose. "Shit," you groan as it cleans your running nostrils.
You throw the used bill back on the counter and open the bathroom door. The strength of the music slams back into you. Your eyes squint at the darkness of the club; the only lights are those of the dance floor.
You stumble towards it, shovelling people aside without listening to their complaints, and in your stupor, you run into Sam, whom you had left to wait for you.
“Hey,” you drawl.
<<elseif $drink>>\
You throw open the bathroom door. The strength of the music slams back into you. Your eyes squint at the darkness of the club; the only lights are those of the dance floor.
You stumble towards the bar and hit your palm against it to get the bartender’s attention. His lip curls, and you glare back at him.
“I want a shot of your hardest liquor,” you order.
The man doesn’t reply to you but grabs a shot. He slams it against the counter and pores it stiffly. He slides it to you and then turns his back.
You don’t hesitate to gulp it in one go. You wince as the taste touches your taste buds and burns your throat.
"Ugh," you groan and throw the shot glass on the counter; it slides off and shatters on the floor.
“Snaps,” you say without much care and shove people aside to get back to the dancefloor. You run into Sam, who you left to wait for you.
“Hey,” you drawl.
<<elseif $dance>>\
You throw open the bathroom door. The strength of the music slams back into you. Your eyes squint at the darkness of the club; the only lights are those of the dance floor.
You stumble towards the dancefloor, shoving people aside without care for their complaints. You lift your hands up and start twirling around, bumping into people.
“Asshole,” a few people say. You hardly care about that; it’s your party. After all, you can do whatever the fuck you want.
You twist, stomp your feet, slide, jump up and down. You slip and fall against someone whose scent you know very well.
“Sam,” you look over your shoulder.
<</if>>\
[[Page 51]]Warning: this games deals in topics some would find disturbing. To maintain realism the game will employ attitudes pertaining to the time period it is in. Swearing, ableism, sexism, torture, guns, death, child endangerment, alcohol, optional sexual content, xenophobia are found within this game. The author doesn't condone this behavior, it is merely a device for analysis and immersion.
Reader discretion is advised.
[[Page 1]]