<h1 class = "first">Poveglia Island</h1>
<h4>Tuesday, June 10, 1348</h4>
You stand in a light puddle of water while you watch your friend, Caterina, slowly lowered into a mass grave filled with other victims the plague had claimed during the night. You close your eyes, bow your head, and mutter a prayer under your breath as your co-workers begin to shovel fresh dirt into the grave. As you open your eyes, you catch a glimpse of your reflection in the murky-brown puddle pooled around your boots.
Staring back at you is...
[[A fit young man with broad shoulders, a scruffy beard, and a look of sorrow etched on his face.|Male]]
[[A fit young woman with long, flowing brunette hair, piercing blue eyes, and a look of determination masking her sorrow.|Female]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/12220325/pexels-photo-12220325.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px">
<h1 class = "first">Male</h1>
Seeing your reflection startles you as you hardly recognize yourself. The plague has decimated your hometown, bringing more casualties everyday with no end in sight. Tired and sad, you grab your shovel and begin helping bury the dead, eager to get off the island.
After the last grave is filled, you and your co-workers board the gondola heading back to Venice.
[[Walk aboard the tiny boat and take your seat|Gondola]]<h1 class = "first">Female</h1>
Seeing your reflection startles you as you hardly recognize yourself. The plague has decimated your hometown, bringing more casualties everyday with no end in sight. Tired and sad, you grab your shovel and begin helping bury the dead, eager to get off the island.
After the last grave is filled, you and your co-workers board the gondola heading back to Venice.
[[Walk aboard the tiny boat and take your seat|Gondola]]<h1 class = "first">Aboard The Gondola</h1>
You sit on a cracked wooden seat, mesmerized by the choppy sea. You smile bitterly and your eyes begin to mist as you reminisce about the good times you and Caterina shared. She was like a younger sister to you and was the last person alive in the town that you viewed as family.
A subtle cough behind you to the right breaks your train of thought. You turn around and see your co-worker, Francesco, holding his head and shivering. He looks up and smiles weakly, locking eyes with you.
"I have a slight cold, probably from working these late, cold nights in the pouring rain," he offers quickly.
You return a faint smile and turn back around, facing the front of the gondola. Your mind begins to race knowing that Francesco is displaying signs of the plague.
[[You alert the other passengers, afraid that Francesco has the plague|Alerting The Passengers]]
[[You consider alerting the other passengers but decide to remain silent.|Staying Silent]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/14451468/pexels-photo-14451468.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Alert The Other Passengers</h1>
Fearing becoming infected, you swiftly stand up from your seat, turn behind you, and point at Francesco. "This man right here is showing symptoms of the plague," you state confidently while trying not to fall overboard into the dark abyss below.
"It-it's just a cold, I swear! The damp weather and long nights have-" Francesco stammers but is ultimately interrupted by an angry swarm of passengers pointing and hollering at him.
You join the other passengers as they begin to flood Francesco, screaming and pushing him towards the boat's edge. One second you're watching Francesco gripping the side of the boat and cowering in fear, the next second you watch as he is pushed overboard and falls in slow motion into the rough waters. The other passengers return to their seats as you stay standing, replaying the sequence of events in your mind.
[[Return to your seat before you too become a victim of the watery depths below.|Port Of Venice]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/15505736/pexels-photo-15505736/free-photo-of-dark-waves-rippling-water-surface.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Remain Silent</h1>
You weigh your options carefully but ultimately don't share your fears with your co-workers. You realize that by expressing your concerns, you would be handing Francesco a death sentence. He could be telling the truth and just have a cold, the weather as of late has been uncharacteristically rainy and damp you concede. Though you reason that he could have a simple cold, you quickly and quietly stand up and move towards an empy seat further away from Francesco.
[[Take a couple of deep breaths to clear your mind and go back to reminiscing about your family and friends.|Port Of Venice With Francesco]]<h1 class = "first">Port Venice</h1>
As you and the rest of your co-workers board the dock, a plague doctor dressed in a black leather hat and mask walks toward you.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/4311150/pexels-photo-4311150.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "500px">
"You seem to be a passenger short," he says sternly.
Your co-workers murmur behind you and glance at each other nervously.
[[Tell the plague doctor that you and your co-workers threw Francesco overboard.|Tell The Plague Doctor The Truth]]
[[Lie and say Francesco must have fallen overboard.|Lie To The Plague Doctor]]
<h1 class = "first">Port Venice</h1>
You and your co-workers board the dock quickly, eager to get off the gondola. A plague doctor dressed in a black hat and mask walks over to you and the other passengers and begins to inspect everyone individually for plague symptoms.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/4311150/pexels-photo-4311150.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "500px">
You're a few people behind Francesco in the inspection line. As he reaches the plague doctor, you hear Francesco cough and sneeze.
"You're sick with the plague, Francesco. I'm sending you to Lazzaretto Vecchio for quarantine," the plague doctor says grimly.
"But-but I just have a cold! Please don't send me to that island. I'll get infected with the plague and never see my wife and kids again," Francesco pleads in between sobs.
"I'm sorry but rules are rules. I can't risk you getting everyone back in Venice sick," the plague doctor explains. He turns and directs his bird-like mask towards you and the rest of the passengers and continues, "Since Francesco is sick, I am sending you all to Lazzaretto Nuovo to quarantine for 30 days."
You and the other passengers groan.
[[You hang your head and board the gondola.|Lazzarretto Nuovo]]
<h1 class = "first">You Tell The Truth</h1>
You clear your throat. The plague doctor turns his head and stares at you.
"Francesco was exhibiting plague symptoms. He was coughing, shivering, and holding his head in his hands because it hurt so bad. My co-workers and I feared being infected and began swarming him, eventually pushing him overboard to try and avoid contracting the disease," you explain calmly.
The plague doctor is silent for a moment. You look around at your co-workers and see them nodding at you in thanks for taking charge.
"What you guys did is called murder," the plague doctor said through gritted teeth. "I would report you all but let's be honest, I can't prove which one of you actually pushed Francesco overboard. Plus, our laws are not being enforced correctly due to this horriffic disease. It is my reccommendation that you all explain to his family what you've done after your quarantine so that they have some semblance of closure."
You and your co-workers quickly agreed and thanked the plague doctor for not reporting you.
[[Board the gondola heading to Lazzaretto Nuovo.|Lazzaretto Nuovo(Francesco Death Version)]]<h1 class = "first">You Lie</h1>
You clear your throat. The plague doctor turns his head and stares at you.
"Francesco was standing near the edge of the boat, looking out at the ocean. My co-workers and I tried to convince him to stay seated and away from the boat's edge since the water was so rough. He told us to mind our own business. A few seconds later a really big wave hit the side of the gondola and knocked Francesco overboard. We rushed to the boat's edge to try and help him back onto the gondola but lost sight of him," you say sadly.
The plague doctor stands there quietly for a few moments.
"I see. Such unfortunate news. I'll finish inspecting you guys to make sure no one is sick, then send you into the city, assuming you're all clear," the plague doctor says with finality.
You breathe a sigh of relief and thank the plague doctor.
[[Head into Venice.|Venice]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/586687/pexels-photo-586687.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "500px"><h1 class = "first">Lazzaretto Nuovo</h1>
You arrive at Lazzaretto Nuovo safely. Once on the island, you and your co-workers are shown your rooms and are left to unpack your belongings.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3714193/pexels-photo-3714193.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px">
After unpacking, you mingle with the other people on the island.
Ten days into quarantine, your head begins to hurt and you start to feel fatigued.
[[Wearily walk up to the plague doctor and explain your symptoms.|Explain Your Symptoms To The Plague Doctor]]
[[Try and keep your symptoms suppressed, hoping you only have a cold.|Hide Your Symptoms]]<h1 class = "first">Lazzaretto Nuovo</h1>
You settle onto the small island of Lazzaretto Nuovo fairly quickly. Within a couple of days, you fall into a comfortable routine of eating, exercising, and sleeping.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/28832594/pexels-photo-28832594/free-photo-of-dramatic-night-lightning-over-ocean.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px">
Twenty days into quarantine, your co-worker, Leonardo, approaches you while you are eating lunch in the cafeteria.
"We need to talk," he says hastily.
"Can it wait, I'm in the middle of finishing my Polenta," you respond between mouth fulls.
"You're not understanding me!" Leonardo's voice begins to rise in intense anger. "I can't eat, I can't sleep, hell I'm falling apart over here!"
You look around and notice that everyone in the cafeteria is staring at you and Leonardo.
"Look, I'm sorry to hear that, I am. But I don't see how that's my problem," you say icily.
You begin to rise up from your seat but Leonardo's big, sweaty hand forces you down.
"You're not going anywhere. If it wasn't for you pointing out Francesco's symptoms, he'd still be alive today."
[[Calmy, you explain your actions to the hulking figure of a man.|Explain Your Actions To Leonardo]]
[[Annoyed, you angrily point out that you didn't tell anyone to push Francesco overboard.|Blame Everyone]]
<h1 class = "first">Venice</h1>
As you walk along the rough dock in Venice, a young woman approaches you.
"Excuse me, have you seen my husband? He was aboard the ship you came off of," the lady inquires.
"What's your husband's name?"
"His name is Francesco. I was searching the group of workers who came off the ship but have yet to see him," she says, a hint of concern in her voice.
[[Tell her the truth.|Tell Her The Truth]]
[[Tell her a lie.|Lie To Her]]<h1 class = "first">You Tell The Plague Doctor Your Symptoms</h1>
Not wanting to infect the others, you locate one of the plague doctors on the island and rattle off your symptoms. The plague doctor listens intensely.
"Sounds like plague symptoms to me," the doctor says sourly. "I want you to pack your belongings then come straight back here so I can put you on a boat heading to Lazzaretto Vecchio to quarantine with the infected. Avoid talking to anyone else, we don't want to risk you spreading the plague to the others."
You nod sadly and head to your room to pack your things, coughing on the way there. After packing the few items you brought with you, you head back to the plague doctor and are led to a gondola set to go to Lazzaretto Vecchio.
On your way to the new island, you stare out at the ocean, realizing this may be the very last time you set eyes on it.
Upon arriving at Lazzaretto Vecchio, you are greeted by a couple of other infected Venetian citizens.
[[Ignore them.|Ignore The Two Infected]]
[[Introduce yourself to them.|Introduce Yourself To The Infected]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2105834/pexels-photo-2105834.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Hide Your Symptoms</h1>
You try to convince yourself that you have a simple cold, scared of the alternative. If you tell the plague doctor your symptoms, they will send you to Lazzaretto Vecchio with the other infected citizens, where you will surely die.
“Maybe my headache is from a lack of sleep,” you mutter to yourself.
You head to your room to get some rest, hoping that when you wake up your headache will be gone and you will feel much better.
Over the next few days, you witness multiple co-workers from the gondola you were on being sent to Lazzaretto Vecchio, showing signs of the plague. You notice your own symptoms have progressed. Your headache has intensified, you’ve developed a cough, and you woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. Somehow, you’ve managed to keep your symptoms hidden from the plague doctor and your co-workers. While lost in thought, your friend Leonardo observes that you are all alone and sits down next to you.
[[Confide in Leonardo.|Confide In Leonardo]]
[[Stay silent and let Leonardo sit next to you.|Let Leonardo Sit next To You]]<h1 class = "first">You Calmly Defend Your Actions</h1>
You take a deep breath before saying, "You're right. But if I kept my mouth shut, we all would be wasting away on Lazzaretto Vecchio, sick with the plague where we would surely die. Think about it, you would never see your wife or kids again."
Leonardo seems to calm down a bit after hearing you out. He shakes his head sadly and walks away, his head hanging low.
The rest of your twenty days in isolation go smoothly and without incident. On your final day, you say goodbye to some of the friends you made on the island and board the gondola heading back to Venice with your co-workers.
Once back in Venice you...
[[Go to the house where Francesco used to live.|Francesco's Widow's House]]
[[Go back to your house.|Your House]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/586687/pexels-photo-586687.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Blame Your Co-Workers</h1>
"I'm not the one who decided to push Francesco overboard. That's on you and everyone else. I only pointed out his symptoms, hoping to keep everyone safe from the plague," you spat.
You notice the rest of your co-workers gather around you from all sides, blocking any chance you had of escaping the confrontation.
"You guys have no idea what you're-" you stammer before Leonardo strikes you in the face. You fall backwards out of your chair as the rest of your co-workers claw at your face and kick at your ribs. You feel blood trickling down your face as you gasp for air, eventually losing consciousness.
When you wake up, a young blonde woman is kneeling over you, dabbing at your wounds with a damp cloth.
[[Sit up and refuse her assistance.|Refusing Assistance]]
[[Thank her.|Accepting Assistance]]<h1 class = "first">Francesco's Widow's House</h1>
You remember your promise to the plague doctor back at Venice's port and head to Francesco's house to talk to his widow.
You approach the stone house and knock softly on the cracked, wooden door. A couple minutes later, Francesco's wife, Stella, opens up. She stares at you for a few moments and you see her eyes suddenly light up in recognition.
"Please come in, it's great to see you," she says, smiling weakly at you.
You follow her into the living room and sit next to her on the couch.
Stella turns her head to look at you. You stare into her dark brown eyes and see that they are rimmed red from crying. Deciding to break the silence, she asks, "What happened to Francesco? The plague doctor refused to tell me exactly what happened, saying it's better if one of Francesco's co-workers swings by and explains the full story."
[[Tell her the truth.|Tell Stella The Truth]]
[[Lie to her.|Tell Stella A Lie]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/235986/pexels-photo-235986.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px"><h1 class = "first">Your House</h1>
Tired from the long boat ride, you decide to break the promise you made to the plague doctor and head home.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/16142773/pexels-photo-16142773/free-photo-of-garden-of-eden-villa-in-venice-italy.png?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px">
Once inside your small, stone house, you head to your kitchen to make dinner when you are startled by an older man sitting at your old, wooden table.
"Who-who are you?" You ask the stranger.
"I'm Francesco's father, Giovani, and I was told by the plague doctor that you would be able to tell me what happened to my dear son."
You study the old man and notice how strong he looks for his age. You walk up to an empty chair and take a seat, facing him.
[[Tell Giovani what happened to his son.|Tell Giovanni The Truth]]
[[Lie to Giovani.|Tell Giovani A Lie]]
<h1 class = "second">You Tell The Truth</h1>
"Stella, this is going to be hard to hear but I need you to just listen to me. Francesco was sick with the plague. He was shivering, tired, and holding his head. I went to warn the other passengers about his symptoms, but they got scared really fast and began to swarm him. In all of the chaos, he was pushed overboard," you say softly.
The room goes silent and Stella stares at you, mouth agape. You study her dark brown eyes and notice a flicker of rage within them. She excuses herself for a moment and marches into the kitchen. You feel sorry for her but are happy that you told the truth, she deserved to know what happened to her husband afterall.
Stella comes back into the room and walks up to you, holding her right arm behind her back.
"I can't believe you got my husband killed. We trusted you! You need to leave, NOW!!!" She screams suddenly.
You apologize profusely and go to stand up when you feel a searing pain envelope your chest. Your gaze drops and you see a kitchen knife sticking out of you. Your body grows cold as you fall backwards onto the couch, blood spilling everywhere, staining everything dark red. As your vision blurs, you see Stella lean into you so that her head is directly next to your left ear.
"He probably just had a cold, you heartless murderer. He should be here with me right now, not you," she whispers angrily.
Your sightline drops just in time to see Stella grasping the knife handle, plunging it further into your chest as your world turns black.
<h1 class = "third">You Lie To Stella</h1>
You feel bad for Stella but know that telling her the truth would paint you and your co-workers as heartless murderers.
You take a deep breath before saying, "We were on the boat heading back to Venice when I noticed Francesco standing really close to the gondola's edge. I tried to warn him to return to his seat because of how rough the stormy waters were. He shouted at me to mind my own business and went back to staring at the sea. I went to holler back at him but a huge wave crashed into the gondola and knocked him overboard. Our co-workers and I rushed out of our seats to try and pull him back onto the boat but ultimately lost sight of him." Your eyes mist as you finish your explanation.
Stella looks at you and smiles sadly.
"That sounds like Francesco. He always was a stubborn man, often too stubborn for his own good," Stella says.
You stay the night and have dinner with Stella, reminiscing and trading stories about Francesco.
<h1 class = "third">You Tell Giovani The Truth</h1>
Feeling sorry for the old man, you decide to tell Giovani the truth.
"Francesco was sick with the plague. He was shivering, tired, and holding his head. I went to warn the other passengers about his symptoms, but they got scared really fast and began to swarm him. In all of the chaos, he was pushed overboard. I am so sorry for your loss, sir," You say gently.
You notice tears trickle down Giovani's cheek.
"Thank you for telling me what happened to my son. While I don't forgive you, not even a little bit, I understand why you acted the way that you did." Giovani's voice cracked as he continued, "I'm sorry for breaking into your house, but I figured that this was the only way that I would get the truth."
You nod sympathetically as Giovani stands up from his seat and hobbles out of your house. You lean back and let out a sigh of relief, thankful Giovani didn't kill you or threaten to report you. Still hungry, you stand up and begin making your dinner.
<h1 class = "second">You Lie To Giovani</h1>
Feeling resentment at Giovani for being so bold as to break into your house, you spit out a lie.
"Your son was standing too close to the boat's edge and fell overboard when a huge wave crashed into us. There was no saving him," you seethed.
Giovani slams his fists down onto the hard, wooden surface of the table.
"LIAR!" he screams.
Prepared to get into a fight with him, you go to stand up from your seat when you feel a pair of heavy hands firmly grasp your shoulders, keeping you seated. You look over your shoulders to see who is holding you in place and see Francesco's two older brothers, Paolo and Nicolo, smiling menacingly. You turn your head to plead with Giovani when you feel a sharp pain strike your chest. You stare into Giovani's eyes as they flicker with rage. He pulls the knife out and strikes you eight more times in the chest. Finally, Paolo and Nicolo release your shoulders and you crash to the ground, going in and out of consciousness from severe blood loss.
As you fade in and out, you hear an object bounce off the floor then your front door slam shut. You turn your head weakly to the left and see the knife Giovani assaulted you with lying next to your head, stained with your blood. You turn your focus to the ceiling and mutter a prayer inwardly as you take your last breath. <h1 class = "first">You Refuse The Lady's Help</h1>
You hastily situp, yelling at the lady to leave you alone. Her face turns red from embarrassment as she drops her wet cloth on the floor next to you and rushes away.
Your head swoons as you slowly get to your feet. You slide your shirt up a little and see that your chest has turned black and blue.
"They must have broken my ribs," you mutter, struggling to breathe.
Though it's still the afternoon, you slowly hobble to your room, deciding to try and get some rest.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3714193/pexels-photo-3714193.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px">
Many hours later, you awake to heavy footsteps approaching your room. You sit up and try to scan the pitch black room but can see nothing.
[[Roll out of bed and arm yourself with a loose brick from the wall of your room.|Arm Yourself With A Brick]]
[[Pretend to be asleep.|Pretend To Sleep]]
<h1 class = "first">You Accept Assistance</h1>
Noticing that you're awake, she smiles sympathetically at you.
"Than-thank you," you croack hoarsely.
She gently nods and helps you sit up against the cold stone wall behind you.
"What did you do to piss those guys off?" she asks, dabbing at your head wounds.
You let out a heavy sigh, afraid that once this nice lady hears the truth, she too will want nothing to do with you. "Those guys that beat me up are my co-workers. We had just finished burying my friend Caterina and were on our way back from Poveglia Island when I noticed our one co-worker, Francesco, coughing and shivering."
She stops dabbing at your wounds and implores you to continue.
"I confronted Francesco about his symptoms, worried that he had the plague. He told me it must be a simple cold but I didn't believe him. I got the attention of everyone on board and let them know that he was sick and exhibiting plague symptoms. I didn't expect for my co-workers to swarm him and push him overboard into the stormy sea," you say, staring into the lady's honey brown eyes.
You both sit in silence for a few minutes. She eventually reaches out her left hand and rests it on your right arm. "You did nothing wrong. You were scared for your safety and the safety of your co-workers. Your actions probably saved them from getting sick." She said sympathetically.
You turn your head away from her as your eyes begin to tear up. You feel a lot lighter after confessing your actions to the nice lady. She places her hand under your chin and turns your head back towards her.
"I have a favor to ask of you," she says nervously while dabbing at your tears with a damp cloth. You nod your head, signaling her to continue.
"I know we just met and hardly know each other but I feel like I can trust you," she hesitates before continuing, "my husband, Antonio, was a great man when we first met. He was charming, kind, and funny," she says, shedding a small tear.
"He sounds like a great guy."
"He was a really good man, until we got married," she says grimly. "Now he's nothing but an abusive jerk. I can't stay one more day with him. I need you to sneak on board our ship tonight before it leaves for Venice tomorrow. Once at sea, you will get rid of my husband by any means necessary."
[[Go along with the lady's plan.|Execute The Lady's Husband]]
[[Refuse to help the lady.|Refuse To Execute The Lady's Husband]]<h1 class = "third">You Arm Yourself With A Brick</h1>
Scared one of your co-workers came to finish the job, you begrudgingly roll out of bed and arm yourself with a loose brick from the wall on your left. You stumble in the dark while positioning yourself to the right of your door, careful to stay out of view.
You hear the footsteps pause outside your room. The door creaks open and a large, bald man crosses the threshold. You recognize him as your co-worker, Andrea. He helped deliver your horrific beating earlier in the day.
Without hesitating, you swiftly raise the brick and send it crashing into the back of his head. He drops to the floor, groaning. Without wasting anymore time, you stumble out of your room and search for the guards station in the dark.
Once spotting the guards, you quickly explain what happened. You detail the beating you received in the cafeteria earlier and mention Andrea's intent of coming to your room in the middle of the night to finish the job.
The guards scurry out of the station and run in the direction of your room. Knowing that if you stay on the island one of your co-workers will kill you, you decide to use the mayhem to your advantage and methodically navigate to the bank of the island where the gondolas are docked.
At the dock, you untie the rope to one of the boats and climb aboard, setting sail to Constantinople.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1214012/pexels-photo-1214012.jpeg" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "second">You Pretend To Be Asleep</h1>
You close your eyes and pretend to be asleep, hoping the person outside your room will just go away.
The floor below the stranger creaks under their weight as they enter your room and approach your bed. You feel a dark figure loom over you. Before you can open your eyes, you feel two large hands grasp your throat, choking you until everything around you goes black.
You wake up kneeling on the sandy bank of the island, your hands tied firmly behind your back and a cloth rag stuffed inside your mouth. You scan the dark figures around you and realize the mysterious strangers are Leonardo and your co-workers.
"You thought the beating you receieved earlier was the end of our little fight?" Leonardo sneered.
Two of your other co-workers, Jacopo and Agostino, hoist you to your feet and carry you towards the sea. You try to protest but the cloth in your mouth prevents you from being heard.
Leonardo instructs Jacopo and Agostino to turn you around to face him. "You're about to find out how Francesco felt when you ratted him out to the rest of us. Boys, throw him in the water!"
Jacopo and Agostino drag you further into the sea. You thrash around to try and escape them but your efforts are futile. They release you once the waves are over your head. You struggle to breathe as the salty water burns your nose and throat. You thrash around for a couple minutes before your body goes still in the moon-lit water.
<img src = "https://images.pexels.com/photos/2280604/pexels-photo-2280604.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Agree To Help Her</h1>
You sit there, staring at the young lady in front of you. As you study her, you notice some light bruises on her arms.
"I'll help you. What does your husband look like?"
"Thank you so much! I was afraid you would say no. My husband is the big guy wearing the tattered orange shirt. He's the one wrestling some of your co-workers at the table over there," she says, subtly gesturing in his direction.
You spot her husband easily.
"Oh I almost forgot. My name is Lucia. What is yours?" Lucia asks.
"I think it's best if you don't know my name, just in case the police question you when we get back to Venice."
Lucia nods in understanding. She thanks you again before getting up and heading in the direction of her room.
You slowly rise to your feet, your body screaming in agony, and hobble to your room, using the walls in the hallway to keep yourself from falling over. You decide to pack up your belongings and get some rest so that you're fully energized come night fall.
[[Lay down and try and get some rest.|Sleep The Day Away]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3714193/pexels-photo-3714193.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "second">You Refuse To Help Her</h1>
"I can't help you kill your husband!" you hiss quiety, careful so no one overhears you.
"Why not? You had no problem getting an innocent man killed who may have only had a common cold," she fires back.
"That's different. Killing someone displaying plague symptoms is not the same as killing a man in cold blood!"
Furious, she throws the damp cloth at your feet and storms off. You grab the cloth and finish cleaning your wounds. You slowly stand up, your head spinning, and limp to your room.
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As you cross the threshold to your room, you feel a sharp pain in your lower back. You begin to cry out but a hand quickly covers your mouth, muffling your cries. You feel hot breath envelope your neck and a female voice say "I'm sorry but I couldn't risk you telling my husband that I wanted him dead. If only you agreed to help me..."
The lady removes her hand from your mouth and slowly pulls the knife out of your back, letting you fall face first to the ground. You hear a male gasp and scream for the guards as you slowly bleed out on the floor. <h1 class = "third">You Sleep The Day Away</h1>
You wake up to a dark room. You slowly roll out of bed, grab your packed belongings, and make your way to the bank of the island, careful to avoid the guards roaming the various hallways. Once you locate Lucia's boat, you carefully sneak aboard and search for a place to hide. You eventually decide to hide behind a few wooden crates and drift off to sleep.
You begin to stir at the sound of the ship's crew boarding the giant vessel. You hear the anchor slowly rise out of the water and feel the ship pitch forward as you leave Lazzaretto Nuovo behind. You decide to stay hidden behind the crates and make your move at night, the swaying of the boat slowly causing you to fall asleep.
When you awake next, you realize it's night time. The ship is eerily quiet as you leave your hiding spot and make your way to the captain's quarters where you know you'll find Antonio and Lucia.
Upon entering the dark room, you hear a man snoaring loudly. As you make your way to the side of the bed, you see Lucia stir. She opens her eyes and is startled at first upon seeing you.
"Hand me one of your pillows," you whisper quietly. She sits up slowly, careful not to wake up Antonio, and hands you one of her pillows. You take the pillow from Lucia and quickly place it down overtop of Antonio's face, putting all of your weight down on the pillow. Antonio wakes up and thrashes around, punching wildly at your arms to try and pry the pillow off of him. His struggle comes to an end and you hear him take his last breath. As you remove the pillow, you see his wide brown eyes staring back at you.
"Oh my God! I can't believe we just killed him," Lucia says in disbelief.
"Quickly, help me carry his body and throw it overboard," you say to Lucia.
Lucia helps you quietly carry Antonio's heavy body to the edge of the vessel. You hear a heavy splash as Antonio hits the water below. Lucia suddenly hugs you, sobbing into your shoulder. You stand there embracing her, looking out at the dark ocean and brightly lit stars as the ship continues its voyage to Venice.
<img src = "https://images.pexels.com/photos/2280604/pexels-photo-2280604.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Tell Her The Truth</h1>
Feeling guilty, you decide to tell the lady exactly what happened on the gondola.
"This is going to be hard to hear but I need you to just hear me out. Francesco was sick with the plague. He was shivering, tired, and holding his head. I went to warn the other passengers about his symptoms, but they got scared really fast and began to swarm him. In all of the chaos, he was pushed overboard," you say sadly.
"What-how could you? We we're planning on starting a family when he came back. You murdered my husband for no reason! He could have had a cold for all you know." The young lady sobs, pounding your chest. A hostile crowd begins to form and close around you.
Sensing the danger you are in, you slowly back away from her and sprint down the dock in the direction of your house. You glance over your shoulder and see the angry mob in pursuit, slowly closing the gap.
[[Take the alley on your left.|Alley]]
[[Run through the open market on your right.|Open Market]]
<h1 class = "first">You Lie To Her</h1>
You take a deep breath before saying, "We were on the boat heading back to Venice when I noticed Francesco standing really close to the edge. I tried to convince him to return to his seat because the waters were so rough from the storm. He told me to mind my own business and went back to staring at the sea. I went to holler back at him but a huge wave crashed into the gondola and knocked him overboard. Our co-workers and I rushed out of our seats to try and pull him back onto the boat but ultimately lost sight of him."
Francesco's wife broke into a sob, leaning into you for support.
"I can't believe he would act so stupid and stand near the edge of the boat, especially during a storm. It seems so unlike him," she says between sobs.
You pat her gently on the back, trying to console her.
"How about I walk you home, it's the least I can do for you," you say sympathetically.
She wipes the tears from her eyes and agrees to let you walk her home. Though the walk is short, you learn a lot about her. You discover that her name is Stella, she loves kids, and that her father is a famous Venetian general, among other things.
As you approach the front door of Stella's house, she turns to you and asks, "Would you like to stay for dinner? I really don't want to be all alone tonight."
[[Accept Stella's dinner invitation.|Accept Stella's Dinner Invitation]]
[[Politely decline Stella's dinner invitation.|Decline Stella's Dinner Invitation]]
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/235986/pexels-photo-235986.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Take The Alley On Your Left</h1>
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You quickly head left and sprint down the alley, shoving past nosy bystanders. You turn your head while running and see the hostile crowd right on your heels. You turn your head back to the alley in front of you a second too late and crash into an older man.
You mutter an apology and go to stand up when the mob successfully catches up to you. They surround you and deliver a harsh beating, kicking and punching every part of you they can see. You lose consciousness as the assault continues.
You wake up lying on the dirt floor. Confused, you scan your surroundings and realize that you are in a cell in the San Marco Prison.
"Ah, I see you are finally awake," a young male guard sneers. "You took quite a beating earlier. In case you didn't realize by now, you're being charged with the murder of Francesco Morosini. Believe it or not, you're really lucky. Under normal circumstances, a crime this severe is punishable by death."
[[Bribe the guard to release you.|Bribe The Guard]]
[[Reach through your cell and grab the guard.|Grab The Guard]]
<h1 class = "first">You Run Through The Open Market On Your Right</h1>
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You swing right and run through the open market, sprinting past vendors selling all kinds of items ranging from fruits and vegetables to pottery. As you make your way through the crowd, you realize you lost the angry mob that was chasing you. You let out a sigh of relief and stealthily exit the market.
[[Go home and pack your bags.|Go Home]]
[[Leave Venice.|Leave Venice]]<h1 class = "fourth">You Bribe The Guard</h1>
"I don't feel lucky," you groan.
The guard rolls his eyes and begins to walk away when you stop him.
"If you release me and look the other way, I promise to give you 200 ducats. I can make you a rich man!"
The guard shakes his head in disdain at your bribery attempt.
"I'm not a corrupt guard. You deserve what's coming to you and more!" He spat, turning his back on you and walking away.
A week later, a judge orders you to pay Francesco's widow 500 ducats and serve one year in prison.
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<h1 class = "third">You Grab The Guard</h1>
Noticing the guard is within reach outside your cell, you quickly reach past the metal bars and wrap both hands around his throat, choking him. The guard thrashes around in your grasp, trying to pry you off him.
The guard's fighting slowly dies down as he struggles for air. He falls to the ground, his back slumped against the cold, metal cell bars. You release the guard and retrieve the keys to the cell hanging around his waist. With the keys in your hands, you slip them into the lock on the cell door and turn. The lock clicks. You push the door open and sneak out of the prison.
Knowing you can't stay in Venice, you flee home, pack your belongings, and board a small gondola heading to Greece.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1649477/pexels-photo-1649477.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "second">You Go Home</h1>
Knowing you can't stay in Venice, you head home to gather some of your belongings.
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You pack a small bag containing a few spare clothes, a knife with a wooden handle your father gave you before he passed, and a loaf of bread.
As you approach your front door, it suddenly flies open and the angry mob from earlier storms inside. Before you can react, they tackle you to the ground, kicking at your chest and clawing at your face. You gasp for air, finding it difficult to breathe.
The mob finally dissipates, leaving you writhing in agony and gasping for air on the floor.
"God, please save-" you manage to say before the world around you grows still. <h1 class = "third">You Leave Venice</h1>
Knowing the mob knows where you live, you decide not to risk going back home. You stealthily make your way back to the dock, staying in the shadows to avoid recognition. You see various members from the hostile mob patroling the dock in search of you.
You swiftly make your way down the dock and approach a scraggly looking fishermen.
You clear your throat. "Excuse me sir, can you take me to the port of Sicily?"
The fisherman glares at you. "I'm not a ferry, beat it!"
"Please sir, if I stay here I will surely die," you plead.
"What's in it for me?" he asks begrudgingly.
"I can give you 50 ducrats and help you fish."
The fisherman stares at you, considering your offer. "100 ducrats and you wash the deck of my boat as well as help me fish."
"Deal."
The fisherman moves aside and lets you board his quaint ship. He raises the anchor and the boat pitches forward, away from Venice's port. You stand on the deck of the vessel and stare at the shimmering sea, looking forward to your new life in Sicily.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/189349/pexels-photo-189349.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Accept Stella's Dinner Invitation</h1>
"I would love to," you respond, not wanting to hurt her feelings.
You help Stella prepare Sarde in Saor, a local dish containing sardines, onions, pine nuts, and raisins. While Stella cooks the food, you both trade childhood stories and discuss your favorite cuisines.
Once dinner is ready, you both sit down at the table and continue to talk, this time reminiscing on the memories you made with Francesco. As you talk, you notice that she is drinking a lot of wine and that her eyes are tearing up. Figuring she's drinking to help ease her grief, you decide to say nothing and continue your conversation with her,
After finishing your meal, you notice Stella holding her head in her hands.
[[Ask her if she's okay.|Ask Stella If She's Okay]]
[[Thank Stella for dinner and excuse yourself.|Thank Stella For Dinner]]
<h1 class = "first">You Decline Stella's Dinner Invitation</h1>
"I wish I could but I already made plans to have my family over for dinner. Maybe another night?" you lie, feeling guilty about your hand in Francesco's demise.
Stella seems sad but says she understands. You wish her a goodnight and walk home.
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Once inside your house, you head to your kitchen and begin prepping your favorite meal, bigoli in salsa, which consists of pasta in an anchovy sauce. While stirring the pasta into the sauce, you hear a light knock on the door.
[[Open the door to see who's behind it.|Open The Door]]
[[Ignore the knock and continue cooking.|Ignore The Knock]]<h1 class = "third">You Check On Stella</h1>
"Are you okay, Stella?" you ask, concerned.
She slowly lifts her head up and you notice that her eyes are tear streaked.
"I'm okay, I just really miss my husband. We were planning on trying to start a family after he returned from Poveglia Island."
You reach over and hold her hand in yours. She tilts her head up and smiles weakly at you.
"It's not going to be easy, but you'll learn to live with the pain of missing him. Everyday you'll feel like a part of you is missing and wonder what life would have been like if he was still here. I wish I could tell you that pain eventually goes away, but it doesn't," you say to her.
Stella looks at you quizzically before asking, "You've lost a loved one to the plague?"
"I had to bury my dear friend, Caterina, on this past trip to Poveglia Island. She was like a little sister to me, always teasing me and being a real pain sometimes, but I wouldn't trade the moments we shared together for the world. Nothing is more painful than having to watch a loved one's flame slowly die out and not being able to help them or ease their suffering."
A tear slowly trails down your cheek. Stella tightens her grip on your hand as you both sit in silence, lost in your own thoughts.<h1 class = "second">You Thank Stella For Dinner</h1>
Nervous that she may be infected with the plague, you decide to end the night.
"It's getting pretty late and I have to get up early tomorrow morning. Thank you for dinner, it was amazing," you say, pushing back your chair from the dinner table.
Stella lifts her head up from her hands and smiles weakly at you. "Thank you for the company, it really means a lot to me."
You nod at her and exit her house.
A couple weeks later, you're aboard the gondola set to return to Poveglia Island when you overhear two of your co-workers, Giovanni and Carlo, talking quietly to each other.
"It's ashame what happened to Stella. First her husband is killed, then she dies last night from the plague," Giovanni says sadly.
You feel goosebumps on your neck and your face goes pale. A few nights after your dinner with Stella, you noticed you had a fever and were coughing a lot, though you assumed you had a simple cold. You vow to try and conceal your symptoms, not wanting to alert your co-workers and suffer a similar fate to Francesco.
You pass a few weeks later from the plague at your home in Venice, all alone.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/16142773/pexels-photo-16142773/free-photo-of-garden-of-eden-villa-in-venice-italy.png?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "fourth">You Open Your Front Door</h1>
Curious, you cautiously approach your door and open it to see your co-worker, Luca, sobbing and acting hysterical.
"What's wrong, Luca?" you ask, motioning him to come in.
Luca enters your home and sits down at your kitchen table.
"I'm really struggling. I can't get the image of Francesco's terrified face out of my head. When I close my eyes, all I can see is his body hitting the water." Luca sobs, holding his head in his hands.
"Look, I know you feel guilty but we did what we had to," you say calmly. "If we didn't push Francesco overboard, we all could have become infected. Think of your family Luca! You may have never gotten the chance to see your wife and kids again."
Luca slams his fists on the table and rises out of his chair, shouting, "IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED!"
Luca grabs a knife off your kitchen counter and steps toward you.
"Luca, don't do it-" you begin to say as Luca takes the knife and plunges it into their heart.
He falls to the floor, the knife sticking out of his chest. You race to the ground and hold him in your arms. Luca, struggling to breathe, tries to speak but you can't understand what he's saying. You lean closer to him, trying to decipher his words.
"Tell-tell my family I'm-I'm sorry," he stammers, taking his last breath.
You kneel beside Luca, holding his lifeless body in your arms, stunned.
"God, please forgive him," you plead, crying. <h1 class = "second">You Ignore The Knock</h1>
You ignore the knock and continue to prepare your bigoli in salsa. The knocking persists for a couple minutes, before suddenly ceasing.
"I wonder who could have been at my door at this hour," you say to yourself while continuing to cook.
Suddenly, your door is kicked in and Francesco's two older brothers, Paolo and Nicolo, rush in. Before you can grab the kitchen knife off the counter behind you, the two large siblings strike you and knock you unconcious with a nearby clay vase.
You awake to a piercing headache and blurry vision. You scan your surroundings, trying to make sense of where you are. You soon realize that you're in your bedroom, tied to the foot of your bed.
"Look who's finally awake," Paolo sneers.
You turn your head and look at the two hulking men standing to the right of you. Paolo, a little older and taller than Nicolo, is holding a strand of rope, presumably the same rope that was used to bind your hands to your bedframe. Nicolo is holding a lit torch, the fire reflecting in his sinister green eyes.
"Your co-worker, Leonardo, told us what you did to Francesco," Nicolo spat. "Though it took a little convincing to retrieve this information from him, he got it easy compared to what's about to happen to you."
Your skin goes pale as a result of Nicolo's cold words. You watch him throw the torch on the bed behind you, laughing maniacally before exiting your room with Paolo.
"HELP!" you scream as your lungs are slowly engulfed by smoke.
The fire from your bed quickly spreads around your room, enveloping everything in sight. You feel the intense heat starting to burn eyes as you cough from the heavy smoke. An ember from the air drops onto your shirt, lighting it ablaze. You thrash around as the fire consumes your body. You kick your feet a few times until your body goes still.
The fire makes quick work of your house, eventually burning everything inside to the ground.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1558916/pexels-photo-1558916.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Ignore The Two Infected</h1>
Not wanting to risk increasing the severity of your symptoms, you brisquely walk by the two friendly infected people. They yell crude words to your back as you head away from them and towards your room.
Once in your room, you unpack the few items you have, mainly a spare change of clothes and a journal you take everywhere, and sit down on your bed gingerly, taking in your new surroundings. This room is a lot smaller than your previous room at Lazzaretto Nuovo. The walls appear fragile, like they could fall down at any moment and crush you, and the air wreaks of feces.
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While observing the depressing environment around you, you hear a knock at your door.
[[Answer the door.|Answer The Door]]
[[Ignore the knock and lie down.|Ignore The Knock And Lie Down]]<h1 class = "first">You Introduce Yourself</h1>
Deciding its better to make friends than enemies, you introduce yourself to them. Pleased to have a new face on the island, they give you a lay of the land, showing you where your room is, where the cafeteria is, and other important locations. The pair and you quickly become friends.
While eating lunch at a secluded table in the cafeteria, the pair start speaking to you in a whisper.
"I don't know about you, but I don't want to die all alone on this island surrounded by sick people like me," the one you later learn is named Domenico says quiety.
"I agree, I would rather spend the rest of my days on a boat, drifting out into the ocean and looking up at the stars every night," the one named Bartolomeo says.
"I have an idea," Domenico declares. "Every Friday, a ship carrying newly infected people arrives at the island. While the small crew help the sick depart the ship, we can sneak on board, hiding behind some crates or something. The ship should arrive here tomorrow around noon. Are you with us?"
[[Tell them their plan is stupid.|Decline The Pair's Ambitious Plan]]
[[Tell them their plan is worth a try.|Accept The Pair's Ambitious Plan]]
<h1 class = "first">You Answer The Door</h1>
Curious, you slowly get up off your bed and open the door. A young man in his mid-thirties greets you. He's dressed in a yellow shirt and black, silk breeches. The stranger looks pale and coughs all over you.
"Sorry to bother you, but I noticed you are new here. My name is Pietro, what's your name?" he asks, thrusting his hand out for you to shake.
You reluctantly shake Pietro's hand. "Nice to meet you, I suppose. There's no need to share my name, within a few months we'll all be nothing but rotting bones," you say grimly.
"That's a pretty dark response stranger. What do you think awaits us when our time here on Earth ends?"
[[Indulge the man in conversation.|Talk To Pietro]]
[[Dismiss Pietro.|Dismiss Pietro]]<h1 class = "first">You Ignore The Knock And Lie Down</h1>
Annoyed, you decide to ignore the knock at your door and lie down on your bed, hoping the stranger will go away. You close your eyes as you hear the door creak open.
"Ahem," a deep, male voice says.
You open your eyes and stare at the short, bald man in front of you. You recognize him as one of the infected Venetian citizens that you ignored earlier. The man notices you're awake and walks up to the side of your bed.
"Why did you ignore me and my friend earlier? We just wanted to introduce ourselves and show you around the island. It's important to make friends here, they're the only people who will be here for you in the end," he says.
[[Continue to ignore the man.|Continue To Ignore The Man]]
[[Politely explain your rudeness.|Explain Your Actions]]<h1 class = "third">You Continue Talking To Pietro</h1>
"I believe in a heaven and hell. I think when all is said and done, we all will have to answer for how we chose to live our lives on this Earth," you say to Pietro.
He nods in agreement. Tired from standing up, you motion for him to come inside. He takes a seat at the foot of your bed while you sit at the head.
"So you're Catholic, I presume. So am I!" he exclaims enthusiastically.
"Yup. I was raised in Venice, attending Sunday mass every week with my mother and father. It was the only time I remember my father being around to be honest," you say sadly.
You and Pietro continue your conversation, talking about various subjects ranging from religion to art. You two quickly become friends, going on to spend the rest of your time on the island with each other.
You succumb to the plague a couple months later, dying in your sleep. Pietro passes a couple of weeks before you.
<h1 class = "second">You Dismiss Pietro</h1>
"Probably nothing, just a deep, dark abyss filled with emptiness," you say dismissively. "I better go get some rest, Pietro, I had a long day."
Before Pietro could utter another word, you slam the door in his face and hobble over to your bed. You hear Pietro curse at you from behind the door, clearly upset that you cut your conversation with him short. You lay down in your bed, close your eyes and welcome the feeling of sleep as it washes over you.
A few weeks later, you succumb to the plague, dying in your bed all alone, not having made any friends.
<h1 class = "second">You Continue To Ignore The Man</h1>
Refusing to aknowledge the man, you close your eyes and continue to ignore him.
"You should be more careful of the people you choose to ignore," the stranger says angrily. "You disrespected a very wealthy man by the name of Andrea Grimani earlier and he has put a bounty of 1,000 ducats on your head."
Startled by the news, you open your eyes and begin to sit up when you feel a sharp object puncture your chest. You drop your gaze to see that the stranger has stabbed you with a small knife, blood swiftly flowing from the wound, down your chest and onto your bed. You go to speak but no words come out. The man smiles wickedly at you while he watches you take your final breath. <h1 class = "third">You Explain Your Actions</h1>
"I'm sorry, I really wasn't trying to be rude. I don't really want to make any friends here. I just want to live my final days on this Earth, alone and in peace," you explain.
The man seems to consider your apology and nods his head in understanding.
"I get what you mean. This island is very depressing, all around you are sick people who you know will not beat this vicious disease. I just lost one of my friends that I made my first week here the other night, it was so painful even though we both knew his time was coming to an end," the stranger says.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. My name is Raphael by the way. If you ever change your mind, just ask around and I'll be happy to show you the island," he says before exiting your room.
You close your eyes and get some rest. Raphael passes away from the disease a few weeks later. You never take him up on his offer.
A couple months later, you pass away from the plague, sitting outside on the bank of the island staring out at the shimmering sea.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/18650170/pexels-photo-18650170/free-photo-of-seagull-on-beach.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "500px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Decline The Pair's Ambitious Plan</h1>
"That is the most ridiculous idea I ever heard," you scoff. "We would get caught so fast and punished for attempting to escape."
Domenico's face flushes. "Do you have a better idea?" he challenges.
"No, but anything is better than that plan."
Furious, Domenico reaches across the table and grabs you by your shirt collar. Stunned, you try to pull away but he slams your head onto the hard table top. You fall backwards out of your seat at the sudden assault. As you try to stand, Domenico and Bartolomeo pounce on top of you, slowly roughing you up and rendering you unconscious.
When you regain consciousness, you decide to...
[[Report your assault and the pair's plan to the guards.|Report The Pair]]
[[Keep quiet.|Keep Quiet]]<h1 class = "first">You Accept The Pair's Ambitious Plan</h1>
"I think the plan is worth a shot," you say to Domenico.
"Excellent," he replies cooly, going back to eating his lunch.
The three of you are hiding behind a medium sized rock on the bank of the island when the ship arrives the next day. You watch as the vessel's crew escorts the sick passengers off the boat and onto the island. Seeing the ship is empty, the three of you stealthily walk on board and search for a place to hide.
[[Hide behind a large group of wooden crates.|Hide Behind Wooden Crates]]
[[Hide under one of the beds in the crew's sleeping quarters.|Hide Under The Bed]]<h1 class = "third">You Report The Pair</h1>
Wanting revenge, you seek out a guard and report both your assault and the pair's plan. The guard thanks you for the information and promises to keep a close eye on the two of them when the next ship arrives at the island.
Once the ship arrives the next day, you see Domenico and Bartolomeo being escorted by a couple of guards away from the newly arrived vessel. While the guards are distracted, you decide to go along with their plan and sneak aboard the boat when no one is looking. Searching for a place to hide, your eyes settle on a group of wooden crates. You stay hidden behind the crates as the ship makes its way back to Venice.
You succumb to the plague a couple months later, dying alone in your house in Venice.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/16142773/pexels-photo-16142773/free-photo-of-garden-of-eden-villa-in-venice-italy.png?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "third">You Keep Quiet</h1>
Not wanting to make any more enemies, you carefully make your way back to your room, your body aching and your head spinning the whole way there. Upon entering your room, you lie down on your bed, close your eyes, and get some rest.
The next day, you hear a commotion outside. You look out your window to see the crew from a recently docked ship escorting Domenico and Bartolomeo back to the building.
"I told them their plan was stupid," you mutter as the scene in front of you unfolds. You smile as you take your last breath and succumb to the plague.<h1 class = "third">You Hide Behind A Wooden Crate</h1>
Hearing some of the ship’s crew return, you quickly scramble behind some wooden crates located below the deck of the ship. As the crewmates tend to their duty, you hear a splash as the anchor is raised and feel the vessel pitch forward, officially setting sail. The bobbing off the boat lulls you into a deep sleep.
“Psst. We’re here,” Domenico whispers , gently shaking you awake. “We have to get moving now, before the ship’s crew returns from inspection.”
“Do you know where we landed?” you ask, half asleep.
“I heard one of the crew say something about Greece. I’ve never been there before but I heard it’s a stunning place,” he responds, helping you to your feet.
You follow Domenico onto the deck of the ship and meet up with Bartolomeo. The three of you stealthily exit the ship and make your way into an unknown city in Greece. Bartolomeo, Domenico, and you stay there until you each succumb to the plague.
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<h1 class = "second">You Hide Under A Bed</h1>
Hearing some of the ship’s crew return, you quickly scramble under one of the beds in the crew’s sleeping quarters. As various crewmates pass by you, tending to their duties, you feel a cough building up in your chest. You take a deep breath and cover your mouth, trying to suppress the cough. Your attempt to stop your cough fails, escaping you just as one of the vessel’s crew walks past the bed you're hiding under.
“Huh?” he exclaims, before kneeling on the floor and looking under the bed.
He jumps back when he discovers you, startled. The crewmate drags you out from under the bed and off the ship, returning you to Lazzaretto Vecchio. While feeling the pale sand under your feet, you keep quiet and decide not to rat out your friends.
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After your escape attempt, the guards are on high alert and watch you closely. More guards are sent to the island when word gets out that two infected citizens escaped. You succumb to the plague a couple months later.
<h1 class = "first">You Confide In Leonardo</h1>
Feeling guilty and tired of hiding your illness, you decide to confide in Leonardo.
“Leonardo, you don’t want to sit next to me,” you caution.
“Sure I do, we’ve been friends for a couple of years now. Why wouldn’t I want to sit with you?” he asks.
You let out a long sigh before saying, “I haven’t been feeling too well. I’ve had a headache for days and now have a cough and a slight fever.”
Leonardo takes a step away from you, fearful of contracting the plague.
“Thanks for telling me. I’m sorry that you haven’t been feeling well and I don’t know how you’ve been able to hide your symptoms from the plague doctor, but you should tell him. It would be unfair to stay here, risking getting everyone else sick.”
Leonardo turns and walks away from you as you contemplate his advice. You decide to keep your symptoms a secret, ignoring Leonardo’s advice. Everytime you see him, he gives you a disgusted look.
A couple of days later, while eating lunch, a plague doctor comes up to you.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asks in a stern voice.
“Absolutely. Why do you ask?” you lie.
“You’re sweating and you look pale.”
“I told you already, I feel fine.”
“You’re clearly sick. I’m sending you to Lazzaretto Vecchio, you cannot stay here with the rest of us,” the plague doctor says, turning his back to you and beginning to walk away.
[[Attack the plague doctor.|Attack The Plague Doctor]]
[[Head to your room and pack your belongings.|Pack Your Belongings]]<h1 class = "first">You Let Leonardo Sit Next To You</h1>
Not wanting to be sent to Lazzaretto Vecchio, you stay silent and let your friend sit down next to you, knowing the chances that he will contract the plague are near one hundred percent.
"How are you doing?" Leonardo asks, stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth.
"Good," you lie.
"Quarantine is almost over. I can't wait to get off this island and head back to Venice to see my wife and kids. I'm lucky Francesco didn't get me sick while we were together. I can't believe he didn't speak up and tell anyone that he was sick," he says, a look of disgust painted on his face.
You nod in agreement but inside you feel guilty that you have most likely just infected your friend and that he will never see his wife and kids again.
"I told my wife this will be the last trip I do. The job is getting too dangerous and I can't stand burying these pour souls any longer," he says, continuing to eat his lunch.
You look at him in shock, feeling even more guilty now.
"Thanks for sitting with me but I'm going to head to my room, I didn't sleep that well last night," you say to him, standing up.
"Okay, get some rest. I'll see you either later or tomorrow," he says, looking at you sympathetically.
You exit the cafeteria and walk to your room, collapsing on your bed and letting a small cough escape you. A heavy knock at your door causes you to spin around, afraid someone heard your cough.
[[Open the door.|Open Your Bedroom Door]]
[[Ignore the knock.|Ignore The Knock On Your Bedroom Door]]
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<h1 class = "first">You Attack The Plague Doctor</h1>
Desperate, you tackle the plague doctor to the ground. While you claw at his mask, he delivers a blow to your side, knocking you off of him. Stunned, you take a moment to catch your breath. The plague doctor seizes this opportunity and delivers a heavy punch to your head, knocking you out.
When you regain consciousness, you are startled to see the blue sky above you, the clouds floating by airlessly. Confused, you look around and learn that you are on a boat with two other male passengers. Noticing you're awake, the two men walk up to you and introduce themselves.
"You don't want to go to Lazzaretto Vecchio and die alongside all the other plague victims, do you?" a short, balding man with red rimmed eyes asks you.
"Of course not. Hell, I threw a punch at the plague doctor, hoping to escape Lazzaretto Nuovo so I wouldn't have to come here," you say casually.
"What would you say if we told you that we have a way off of this boat?" the taller and more muscular passenger asks.
"What do you have in mind?"
The much shorter man speaks, keeping his voice low. "Currently, the only passengers on this ship are the captain, two crewmates, and us three. We could easily overpower the two crewmates and captain and sail away to Greece like nothing even happened."
You let out a whistle, impressed by the hail mary of a plan that the two men cooked up while you were unconscious.
[[Agree to help the two men.|Help The Two Men]]
[[Warn the ship's crew.|Warn The Ship's Crew]]
<h1 class = "first">You Pack Your Belongings</h1>
You decide it's best to listen to the plague doctor and not cause any disturbances. You walk to your room, pack the few clothes you brought and your journal, and meet back up with the plague doctor. You follow him and board a boat heading to Lazzaretto Vecchio with three other sick passengers: an older man with a scruffy beard, a younger man with bulging arms and short, blonde hair, and a young woman with piercing blue eyes and dark, flowing brunette hair. Noticing that you're sitting alone on the boat, the young woman walks over to you.
"So the plague dug its claws into you too?" she asks, light heartedly.
[[Engage her in conversation.|Talk To The Young Woman]]
[[Rudely dismiss her.|Dismiss The Young Woman]]
<h1 class = "third">You Help The Two Men</h1>
"Screw it, what do I have to lose?" you say, shrugging.
"I'll take the crewmate on the left," the shorter man says, pointing at his target.
"I got the man on the right. You take the captain," the taller man says to you.
You watch as the two men sneak behind the two unsuspecting crewmates and shove them overboard, hearing them cry for help as they crash into the water below.
"What's going on?" the captain hollers, striding towards the two men with a small knife in his hand.
Taking advantage of the distraction, you sneak behind the captain and deliver a swift blow to the back of his leg, knocking him down. When he looks up to see who attacked him, you strike him in the head with your fist, knocking him out.
"Nice one!" the taller man says, running over to help you throw the captain overboard.
You hear a splash as the captain's body hits the calm sea.
"Either of you two know how to operate a vessel like this?" you ask the two men.
"I do," the shorter man says, stepping forward. "I used to be a naval commander for Venice before I got infected."
You let the short man take control of the ship, eventually landing in Greece. You and the two men live in a small, unknown city for a month, before all three of you succumb to the plague.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1649477/pexels-photo-1649477.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "second">You Warn The Ship's Crew</h1>
"Are you two crazy?" you whisper. "We can't overtake the boat, we'll be seen as traitors."
"I'd rather be seen as a traitor and live my final days on Earth on my own terms than die on a small island alongside other plague victims," the taller man says, defiantly.
You shake your head, disgusted. Knowing the two men made up their mind, you tear away from them, hollering, trying to get one of the crewmates attention. The taller man grabs you before you can make it very far and wrestles you to the ground. While he has you pinned, he orders the shorter man to choke you.
"What if someone sees their dead body?" the shorter man asks, watching you thrash around.
"Then we tell them that the plague killed them. No one will ever know otherwise," the taller man responds.
Shrugging, the shorter man follows the taller man's orders, choking you to death.
<h1 class = "third">You Talk To The Young Woman</h1>
"Unfortunately," you sigh, smiling weakly at her.
"My name's Elena," she says, extending her hand towards you. You grasp her hand and shake it while telling her your name. She sits down next to you and stares into your eyes.
Flustered, you ask, "So how did you get the plague?"
"From my family back in Venice. I was living with them there before they passed," she says sadly. "I'm the last survivng member of my family."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
She smiles weakly at you, then lays her head on your shoulder.
"How'd you get infected?"
"I believe I got it from my co-worker, Francesco. I noticed he was sick on the way to the port in Venice, though he told me he had a common cold. I thought about alerting my other co-workers but I was afraid that they would overreact and kill him," you respond.
"That's a really tough decision, but in the end I think you made the right one," she says while intertwining her hand in yours. You nod your head, agreeing with her.
You both stay seated together the rest of the journey to Lazzaretto Vecchio, becoming really close friends. Once on the island, you constantly hang out together and are inseparable up until the day you both pass away from the plague.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2105834/pexels-photo-2105834.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "second">You Dismiss The Young Woman</h1>
Noticing that you're not impressed by her greeting, she extends her hand towards you and quickly adds, "My name is Elena, by the way."
"Leave me alone, I'm not in the mood to talk," you snap at her.
Hurt, she lets her hand fall down to her side and walks back towards the two men she was talking to earlier. All three of them talk in a low whisper, constantly looking over at you with a look of disdain painted on their faces. Annoyed, you stand up and walk to the side of the boat, staring out at the beautiful ocean. You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and breathe in the salt air from the sea, knowing this is the last time you'll be able to do so.
While taking in the salty air, you hear a creak behind you. Your eyes fly open as you spin around, but it's too late. The two men you saw earlier are on top of you smiling menacingly. With a quick shove, they send you overboard, spilling out into the water below. Not knowing how to swim, you sink below the surface, the salty water flooding your lungs and drowning you.
<img src = "https://images.pexels.com/photos/2280604/pexels-photo-2280604.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Ignore The Knock On Your Door</h1>
You stay seated on the edge of your bed, ignoring the knock. The door creaks open and you hear a man clear his throat.
"Ahem."
You turn around to see Leonardo standing in your room.
"I came to check on you. You really didn't look great earlier and still don't now. Are you sure you're feeling okay?" he asks, concerned.
Feeling guilty, you decide to come clean to him.
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I think I have the plague. My head constantly hurts, my fever gives me the chills at night, and I have the start of a small cough," you say, hanging your head in shame.
Leonardo stands there, staring at you in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he roars. "You let me sit next to you when you knew you were sick and highly contagious. I told you how bad I wanted to see my wife and kids and you said NOTHING! A true friend, a person with some sense of dignity wouldn't have done what you did." Leonardo turns his back, heading to the door.
"Where-where are you going?" you stammer.
"To do the right thing. I'm telling the plague doctor before you get anyone else sick," Leonardo spat.
[[Stop Leonardo.|Stop Leonardo]]
[[Let Leonardo leave.|Let Leonardo Leave]]
<h1 class = "third">You Help The Man</h1>
"I'll help you," you say, sighing.
The man smiles and tells you the plan.
Once dusk hits on the island, you take a couple of books that you found during the day and light them on fire in your room. Taking the bag you packed after talking to the man earlier, you scramble out of your room and keep to the shadows, watching as the guards run by you frantically.
When you reach the bank of the island, you see the man from earlier waiting for you in front of one of the docked gondolas.
"Hurry up," he hisses.
You run towards the boat and board it. The man unties the rope keeping the boat in place and takes position behind the wheel.
"Onward to Venice!" he shouts, a huge smile plastered on his round face.
You arrive at Venice an hour later and hide in the city, succumbing to the plague a couple of weeks later.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/586687/pexels-photo-586687.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "second">You Attack The Man</h1>
Furious that the man would go so far as to resort to blackmail, you tackle him to the ground. While you deliver a couple of heavy blows to his head, you don't see him reaching for a loose stone on the floor a few inches to his left. He grasps the rock and sends it crashing to the side of your head as you raise your fist to deliver a final blow. Stunned, you fall off him and land on your back, blood gushing from your temple. You try to keep your eyes focused on him but can't see through the stars. When your eyes finally adjust, you see him kneeling overtop of you, slamming the stone in his hand down into the center of your head.
Your world goes dark.<h1 class = "second">You Stop Leonardo From Leaving</h1>
In an act of desperation, you tackle Leonardo to the ground before he reaches your door. You both wrestle each other on the floor, trading blows.
"I-I can't let you send me to Lazzaretto Vecchio," you say through gritted teeth.
"You have no choice in the matter," Leonardo hisses back.
Your muscles begin to strain and exhaustion kicks in from your immune system battling the plague. Leonardo quickly gains the upper hand and strikes you in the head. The heavy blow causes you to release your grip on him. Enraged, Leonardo loses control of himself and keeps striking you, beating you to death.
Realizing you're dead, he stops himself, his hands caked in your blood.
"God...please forgive me," he says, looking up at the ceiling, tears pouring from his eyes. <h1 class = "fourth">You Let Leonardo Leave</h1>
Feeling guilty, you let Leonardo leave. You pack the few clothes you had with you and your journal and wait for the plague doctor to come to your room.
Five minutes later, the plague doctor knocks on your door and enters.
"Leonardo told me you're showing symptoms of the plague," the plague doctor says, looking you over. "How long have you not been feeling well?"
"A couple days," you lie.
"I've got no other choice but to send you to Lazzaretto Vecchio. We have a boat set to leave in a few minutes, follow me," he says, escorting you out of your room. On your way out of the building, you pass Leonardo and mutter an apology. He spits at your feet, his eyes burning a hole inside you.
You board the boat with a few other infected individuals. You make yourself as comfortable as you can and reach Lazzaretto Vecchio an hour later. You stay on the island until you succumb to the plague a couple of weeks later.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2105834/pexels-photo-2105834.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1" height = "400px" width = "400px"><h1 class = "first">You Open The Door</h1>
Nervous, you stand up and open your door. A middle aged man bursts in, shoving past you.
"Can I help you?" you ask.
"I need your help," the man says while scanning your room. "I've been experiencing plague symptoms the past couple days and need your help getting off the island."
You turn pale hearing him mention the plague. "Why would I agree to help you?"
"Because I know you are also infected. In fact, you may have passed the plague to me over the last few weeks we've been stuck on this island together. The fact that you didn't try and get rid of me as soon as I mentioned the word plague confirmed my suspicions," he says, smirking.
"What if I say no?" you ask, sitting down on your bed.
"Then I'll just tell the plague doctor that you're also experiencing symptoms of the plague and we'll both be heading to Lazzaretto Vecchio together."
You hang your head, your mind racing with thoughts of being sent to Lazzaretto Vecchio.
"Look, I don't want to do this but I have no other choice. I'm not willing to spend the rest of my days surrounded by a bunch of other dying people," the man says, exasperated.
[[Agree to help the man.|Help The Man]]
[[Attack the man.|Attack The Man]]