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<<set $chapter = "Prologue">> <<type 70ms>><center>Hello, you.</center> You are you. You are the player of this game, but you're also the "you" within the story. You can sort of be whoever you want to be. You can imagine yourself any way you like, but there are a couple of things that are set in stone, like your occupation and reason for being here. [[continue]] <</type>>

<div class="font-astloch"> A Conversation in a Dark Room </div>

Story & Game by Leigh Ferrier for <a href="https://ifcomp.org/"> The Interactive Fiction Competition 2025</a> <<link "Return">><<goto $return>><</link>>

<center>Notes</center> You're a journalist. You've always taken notes. It would be rude to pull out a pen and notepad in this situation, but you're doing your best to keep track of things in your head. <ul> <<for _note range $notes>> <li>_note</li> <</for>> </ul> <label>Add your own note:</label> <<textbox "$newNote" "Type your note here">> <<button "Enter">> <<if $newNote.trim() !== "">> <<set $notes.push($newNote.trim())>> <<set $newNote = "">>  <<goto "Notes">>  <</if>> <</button>> <<link "Return" $return>><</link>>

<<link "Notes" "Notes">><</link>> <<link "About" "About">><</link>> <<link "Credits" "Credits">><</link>>

<<script>> var passages = document.getElementById("passages"); passages.scrollTop = 0; <</script>> <<if tags().includes("title")>> <<elseif tags().includes("credits")>><h1>Credits</h1> <<elseif tags().includes("notes")>> <h1>Notes</h1> <<elseif tags().includes("About")>> <h1>About</h1> <<else>><h1>$chapter</h1> <</if>>

<<set $chapter to "Prologue">> <<set $empathy to 0>> <<set $suspicion to 0>> <<set $hatred to 0>> <<set $intrigue to 0>> <<set $notes = []>> <<set $newNote = "">>

<ul> <li>Made in SugarCube 2.37.3 <a href="https://twinery.org/">Twine</a></li> <li>Banner assets <a href="https://www.canva.com/">Canva</a></li> <li>Fonts <a href="https://fonts.google.com/">Google fonts</a></li> <li>Template by <a href="https://nyehilism.itch.io/sugarcube-template">nyeilism</a></li> <li>Notification Macro by <a href="https://twinelab.net/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2/#/notify-macro">Chapel's macros</a></li> </ul> <<link "Return" $return>><</link>>

ORANGE: Game info - character page, codex, credits. Populate these with what you like. GREEN: UI & game set-up elements. These can be edited to suit your needs. RED: Code. Everything in these passages should be labelled; things might break if you mess with them.

A short interactive novel.

<style> #ui-bar {display:none;} #passages {width:100vw;margin:0;background-image:var(--banner-top),var(--banner-bottom);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:50%;background-position:top center, bottom center;overflow:hidden;scrollbar-width:none;font-family:var(--header-font);transition:0s;padding:0;} ::-webkit-scrollbar {width:0px;} .passage {text-align:center;transition:0s;} #passages a:before {content: none;} #story {margin-left:0;} h1 {text-align:center;margin-top:25vh;} @media screen and (max-width: 800px) {#story {margin:0;}} </style> <h1>A Conversation in a Dark Room</h1> <<if Save.autosave.ok() and Save.autosave.has()>><<link "Resume Game">><<script>>Save.autosave.load()<</script>><</link>> | <</if>><<link "New Game" "1">><</link>> | <<link "Load Game">><<run UI.saves()>><</link>> | <<link "Settings">><<run UI.settings()>><</link>>

<<set $chapter = "Prologue">> There is an intentional air of mystery to this story, so I won't reveal everything to you, but I'll give you some hints so you can structure your play. There is one other person you'll be interacting with in this game, and you'll be given dialogue options or actions throughout the story. Each dialogue option or action may be assigned a 'trait' There are three 'traits' at play in the background, and each trait applies to you: <ul> <li>empathy</li> <li>hatred</li> <li>intrigue</li> </ul> You'll start out with each trait being set to 0, regardless of how your character is truly feeling at the beginning of this game. Depending on the choices you make, a trait may increase by 1 point. They do not decrease. A notification will appear when one of these traits has increased. You have to use your best judgment to determine which options may evoke which emotions. These traits can exist in combination with each other - you can have both empathy points and hatred points at the same time. You can have points in each category. Having points in certain categories will unlock different ending pathways. Having no points at all will also affect the game in some way. Sometimes it may be clear which choice may increase which trait, but sometimes it may not be. There are multiple ways to end this game and reveal unique interactions! It may not be clear which 'path' you want to take in the beginning and how it may affect the ending, but that's okay; there is no right way to play the story. On the left sidebar, you also have a notes section, where some choices will trigger notes. You can also add your own. You cannot undo a choice after you've made it, but you can have multiple saves, so what you do with that is up to you. Have fun ;) [[begin->Chapter 1]]

You’re sitting in a dark bar. It lives underground—just a little ways off of a street that you regularly travel. The street was familiar, of course, but the bar was not. You probably walked by it a million times without ever noticing. You’d never seen it, or even heard of it. There was no sign, nor no clear markers that distinguish it as a bar. It was one of those hip spots that only locals know about, like a speakeasy or underground club, the kind of spot that was off limits to outsiders. You linger on that thought. You were a local, why hadn’t you heard of it? It irked you a little bit that the man in front of you knew more about the goings on of your own city than you did, but you comfort yourself with the reminder that it was a seedy place, not the kind you’d want to be associated with, [[anyway.]]

It’s dark, and it feels damp. The flickering of a light in the corner makes you feel anxious. The dim lamplight above you does nothing to help with the moodiness of the scene. You look down at the table and try not to fixate on it. He asks you, “Have you ever done something like this before?” [[“No…No, I haven’t. Not like this. But…”]]

He sighs, then clasps his hands together on the table, not looking up. “Look, honestly, you don’t have to act tough around me. It’s fine, I get it. Even if you wanted to torture me a little bit, I wouldn’t judge you for it. ” He waits for a response, but you’re distracted by his voice. It was low and velvety smooth, and he enunciates every word like he was reciting lines from a play. You were beginning to make assumptions, but he sounded well-educated. You study him. Or, at least, you try to. His head was down, so you couldn’t make out the facial features too well, but you notice the luxuriousness of his dress and the way he smells. His suit is a dark green, almost black, and it caught the light in the way real silk often does. Clearly not synthetic. Interesting choice for a moment like this. For a second, you thought that he might have even looked familiar, but this place was [[too damn dark to tell]].

You watch as he picks up his glass and puts it to his lips. That was the first surprise. You didn’t expect him to drink alcohol, considering his situation, but there seemed to be no adverse effects. No regurgitating, burning, or reviling. It becomes apparent to you that some of the things you’d been told were probably bullshit. No surprise there. You look at his hands—smooth, well-manicured, nails cut short, another thing you didn’t expect. Odd. You start sweating a little bit—wondering if you’d made a mistake—how were you supposed to know this guy was who he said he was? You pull at your shirt collar to let a little air touch your burning skin, then you gulp down your nerves and spit out, “So, when do we…” He pauses before saying, “If you don’t mind, I don’t want to rush this. Death. [[It’s just one of those things, you know?”]]

Fuck it. Why not, right? "Sure," you say. "I'll have a — [[vodka soda]] [[diet Coke with a lime]] [[whiskey on the rocks]] [[pinot noir]]

You wave your hand, signaling that you are okay without a drink. But you wonder if that was the right move. You still can't see exactly what kind of face the man in front of you is making—it's too dim—but you hear him adjust himself slightly in his chair, and you sense irritation. Should you keep things civil and [[accept a drink->Indulge]]? Or should you continue to [[stand firm->declineii]]?

It's just one of those things... You felt his eyes on you, but he looked back down before you met his gaze. “I’m sure about doing it, don’t you worry about that, but we’ll get into the details in a moment. Have a drink, please, on me.” He waves to one of the bartenders to come to your table. “I want to get to know each other, just a bit, as strange as that sounds.” “Like a job interview,” you joke. “We both need to make sure we’re a fit for this...job, right?” “Sure,” he laughs. “What will you be having?“ You hesitate. You agreed to meet here, but you didn't even consider the possibility of having to drink or eat during the meeting. Should you indulge the man or decline the offer? He was, after all, going to be dead by the end of the night. [[Indulge]] [[Decline]]

"Vodka soda, okay. Pretty standard." You shrug. "It's never failed me." He puts the rest of his drink to his mouth, and you watch as a small drop falls from his lips. It looks thicker than wine, but he dabs it away before you can make any real assumptions. You accept this drink, but you know you have to be careful. You don't want to be impaired. You don't want him to be impaired either. You keep a careful eye on him to make sure he's pacing himself. Even if he doesn't, what would you say? You couldn't help but worry. How could you be sure that you weren't accidentally putting yourself in a [[dangerous situation]]. <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You ordered a vodka soda")>> <<set $alcohol = true>> <</if>>

"Not drinking?" "Oh, no, not right now." He puts the rest of his drink to his mouth, and you watch as a small drop falls from his lips. It looks thicker than wine, but he dabs it away before you can make any real assumptions. "Is that a usual thing, or, a just right now thing?" "A usual thing." The drink is placed in front of you. The ice crackles as you squeeze the lime. The man is looking at you as you do this, and you swear that you saw him lick his lips in your peripheral vision. You try to silence your nerves with a swig of your Coke. It's refreshing, but you still hoped that you weren't accidentally putting yourself in a [[dangerous situation]], even if you are sober. <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You ordered a diet coke with lime")>> <<set $alcohol = false>> <</if>>

"A man after my own heart...in more ways than one." You saw the glint of a smile as he toasted his wine glass to you. "It reminds me of my grandfather," you find yourself surprisingly admitting. You feel a little flush in your cheeks for being so vulnerable. He puts the rest of his drink to his mouth, and you watch as a small drop falls from his lips. It looks thicker than wine, but he dabs it away before you can make any real assumptions. "That's nice," you heard him sigh. [["I don't remember much of anything about mine."]] <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You ordered a pinot noir")>> <<set $alcohol = true>> <</if>>

"Whiskey," he almost sighs "A lover of mine used to be a whiskey drinker. I can almost still smell the salt on their breath." Lover? How long ago, you wondered... He puts the rest of his drink to his mouth, and you watch as a small drop falls from his lips. It looks thicker than wine, but he dabs it away before you can make any real assumptions. "This lover..." "If we sit here long enough, and you're truly interested, [[I can tell you more]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You ordered a whiskey on the rocks")>> <</if>> <<set $alcohol = true>>

You accept this drink, but you know you have to be careful. You don't want to be impaired. You don't want him to be impaired either. The drink is placed in front of you. You toast to the arrangement and take a generous sip, hoping that it cools your nerves. Doubt creeps in slowly. You want to be sure that you weren't accidentally putting yourself in a [[dangerous situation]], but how could you be sure about any of this?

You look around the bar. You couldn't tell if the stone walls were genuine stone or plaster. You want to touch them. The lights flicker. It feels damp. The lack of windows didn't help, either. This place was creepy, sure, but it was just an atmosphere thing. It makes you feel old. You can easily imagine a gaggle of hipsters crowding this place late on Saturday night, brooding about their young-person-problems or talking politics, but right now, only a few other people dot the dimly lit bar. There were a few other people directly around you, minding their own business. Their conversations were kept at such a quiet lull, it almost felt like they weren't there, but it at least gave you some comfort to know that you weren't [[alone.]]

That was interesting to you. "It's a shame," he continued. "To know nothing about where you've come from..." The drink is placed in front of you. You swallow your nerves and you toast to the arrangement. It was a strong wine. You could feel it burn your stomach as it went down. Doubt was gnawing at you. You want to be sure that you weren't accidentally putting yourself in a [[dangerous situation]], but how could you be sure about any of this?

"So what do you do, anyway?" His voice broke your trance. "Me?" "Yes, you. What do you do? You know, for work?" You squint your eyes at the man ever so slightly, just to try and make out his facial features. It was still dark, and your eyes were taking a long time to adjust. "I'm a journalist," you tell him. "Kind of a dying art, no?" "I write for an online publication." "Of course you do." You take this as an opportunity to ask a [[question of your own]].

He laughs. "I've done many things over many years." He taps his fingers on the table, thinking. "I suppose you could say I've been a businessman, or entrepreneur, for most of my life." "So you've owned a lot of businesses?" "Yes." "Okay...like what kind of businesses?" "Oh, well, I've owned a flower shop. There was the stone masonry business all those years ago. The restaurant supply store. The dance studio. For a couple of decades, I was even a leathersmith." He sighed. "A lost art. I wish I'd spent my time training someone else or picking it back up. Maybe I could have invested in that, or started a school..." "Why can't you now?" "It's too late now, you know that." You want to ask him a question, but you hesitate, not wanting to get too greedy. "Go ahead," [[he says.]]

"Online publication. That's the thing these days, isn't it?" "Well, sure. It is. It's not the way I want it to be, but that's how it is." "What do you write about, then?" "Politics, mostly. Sometimes pop culture. Sometimes food. I wish I could tell you I was a journalist with more integrity, but I've become a bit more pragmatic the older I get." "Will you write about this, then? Do you do that sort?" "I hadn't really thought about it, to be honest." "It would make a good story." "[[You're right, it probably would]]." <<set $intrigue += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

“We spoke about this online a bit…it was easier then, in person it feels like a difficult question.” You could see his face clearly for what felt like the first time. A strong, sharp nose sat in the center of his face above his lips, pursed into a look that said I’m waiting. Two thick, dark eyebrows hovered over those piercing brown eyes of his—you swear they were red for a moment, but then you weren't sure. You saw an old scar on his left cheek, the only imperfection that was apparent on his otherwise porcelain-looking skin. It was almost silent and you could hear your heart beating faster. You checked your peripheral to make sure there were still people around. “Well, if I’m being honest. The money would make a huge difference for me. I’ve been hit by some hard times lately and…” He tapped his fingers on his glass again and raised an eyebrow. “It’s more than that, though. Isn't it? If I were just anyone, would you still do it?” You had felt confident about it when you first replied to his inquiry online. Snooping around through random message boards and spaces in the dark web was not something uncommon for you. Sometimes you needed an obscure story, and you liked to do research that way: up close and personal. Well, you were up close and personal now, but this was no [[story->next]]. <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("Scar - left cheek, white skin, brown eyes")>> <</if>>

You hadn't come prepared with questions, which was unusual for you. You were a journalist, and you always came with questions. But this situation was different. You hadn't expected to sit down with the man. And you left your notepad at home. Online, you'd agreed to no names. You'd just assumed the proposed anonymity would have also meant no questions. But here you were now, with the opportunity to ask something, you had to [[take it]].

You could find out more about who he was: [[What do you do?]] You could ask more about the situation: [[Why are we really here?]] You could ask for clarification about his last remark: [[What do you mean?]]

"Why are we really here?" he repeated back to himself. You nod, waiting. "Well, let's just say I'm ready." "Ready..." "Yes, ready to die." You thought back to your initial conversation with the man in front of you. It had been online, and he'd said that then, too. That he was ready to die. "May I ask..." you stop yourself. Was this rude? It felt like he wanted you to ask. Why else would you be here? "May I ask why? Why now?" He sighs. "When you live a long time, you...experience a great array of things. You'd think the world would be full of endless opportunities and feelings and experiences, but the truth is, much of it is the same. And at the same time, some of it is impossible to replicate, and you'll spend your whole life chasing it." "Oh," you say. You think about your own life. There were still things you had left to accomplish, but for a second, you wondered what you'd do if you knew your clock was [[running out->ran out]].

Think carefully, you tell yourself. You could inquire about this passion of his: [[Tell me more about this leathersmithing?]] You could just straight up ask him about his wealth:[[So, how did you get rich?]] Or you could dig deeper, and see what comes up: [[What other interests do you have?]]

"You're interested in that, are you?" You hear a hint of excitement in his voice. "I think more people should be. It used to be bloody work, hard work. I know how to prepare a hide by hand, how to stitch leather, cure it, tan it, oil it. I might be a little rusty at this point in my life, but once, it made me a really nice living." "Oh yeah?" "Yes," he pauses. "I truly, genuinely loved it. And there was a freedom that we had back then that we don't have now. I woke up every day with a purpose. I went to work, and I got to craft something every single day. Sometimes one project would take weeks, and that's all I'd think about." You think of some of your own lengthy projects. Long articles. Weeks of research leading to dead ends. Painting your garage. "It's a gift. Making something that people use. A saddle. A jacket. A nice leather sheath for a knife. Real quality, made by real hands." "That sounds...nice." You felt yourself becoming genuinely interested in this man's story. You asked yourself why, but then you stop thinking and just [[listen->listened]] <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("He's passionate about using his hands (leathersmith)")>> <</if>>

"Why do you say interests like that? I'm just a regular guy." You see a little shine in his eye through the darkness. "I know, I know I'm not. Interests...let's see. I have plenty." "Well, go on..." you say, curious. "I'm an avid gardener. Before you say anything, no, I don't garden at night. That's actually rather difficult. I watch a lot of documentaries. I read a lot of books. I can tie an excellent knot. I can hunt, fish, and sew an entire garment. I'm also a collector of precious stones, rare books, and other curios. I have an assorted bone collection." You bite your lip. "None are human," he went on. "Unfortunately." You let out a laugh to hide the fact that you were holding your breath. "When you live a long time, you tend to pick up odd hobbies and strange interests. If you don't, you'll go insane." "[[Unfortunately," you repeat, "What do you mean unfortunately?]]" "[[I'd love to hear more.]]"

"Don't you want to interview me, then?" The man asked. "Don't you want to ask me something about myself while I'm here?" You froze, unsure what to say. Then you choked out a "[[yes]]."

"Are you hungry?" "Oh, um..." "I heard your stomach growl a little. Do you want something to eat? They have food here. I'm smelling the fresh bread and I think you may be too." Of course they do, you thought to yourself. Suddenly, it felt a little less like you were inside a dungeon, and a little more like you were in a bar that you were not hip enough to be inside of. "Oh, no. I don't want to..." "No, it's no problem. Mozzarella sticks? French fries? A loaf of bread?" "[[Do they have that, a loaf of bread->a loaf of bread]]?" "[[Can you eat?]]"

"Yes, actually. I hear it's quite good. Made in house." "I really couldn't..." "I insist." Before you could blink, one of the bartenders stopped by the table, and the man ordered two more drinks and the alleged loaf of bread. You had to admit you were curious. And [[hungry]]. <<set $intrigue += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

Think carefully, you tell yourself. You could dig deeper, and see what comes up: [[What other interests do you have?]] Or you could ask about your meeting spot: [[Why this place?]]

"During this period in my life, I was also in love. Deeply in love with a beautiful woman. Her name was Mercy. Wild red hair. Crazy smile. Tougher skin than anyone I've ever met. And she, believe it or not, worked right alongside me. We were both in business together." "Why wouldn't I believe that?" "Oh," he laughs. "Right. Well, it was the time. It was unusual. I forgot what year it was for a second." How long ago...you wonder. "Mercy was...well, she was one of the most incredible people I've ever met. Heart of gold—true to her name. She was so kind, so forgiving. I grieved for years after she died." "I'm so sorry." Your mouth forms the words before you even realize what you're saying. But it was the natural thing to do, and you felt genuine sadness for him, even if just for a [[moment]]. <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("A past lover: Mercy - fellow leathersmith")>> <</if>>

It felt intimate to know a lover's name. You both agreed to no names tonight, so you didn't know the name of the man in front of you, but you knew about Mercy. That felt significant and slightly uncomfortable. You hadn't anticipated this. You could probe a little deeper. But it's risky getting to know someone whom you've shown up to kill. What if you felt like changing your mind? That thought scares you. "[[Can you tell me more about Mercy?]]" [[Leave it be]]

One of the bartenders brings over a steaming loaf of sourdough bread. It sits on a silver platter, on some sort of parchment paper doilie. It doesn't come with any sides. No olive oil or balsamic for dipping. No butter for spreading. Just the loaf of bread. Another bartender swiftly replaces both of your drinks. You take a sip to quench your thirst. You dab at a small bead of sweat on your forehead with your sleeve. "Well," he says. "Go [[ahead->Chapter 2]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You have another drink")>> <</if>>

"So where does it come from, then? The wealth?" "That's a little private." "It's only private if there's something to hide." "I get it. You're a journalist. You can Google me once I'm dead. Then you'll know." Of course this man is involved in shady business, you thought to yourself. What's he hiding and why? "Why does it matter? If you tell me or not?" "I suppose it really doesn't. But I don't want too much talk of boring business to distract us from the nice time we're having." That was an odd way to frame it. "You really want to know the truth?" "Well, [[yes...]]" <<set $intrigue += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

You felt your stomach growl a bit as you tried to think of a different topic. You thought it might be rude to mention, so you keep it to yourself. But before you could think any further, the man chimed in: "Are you hungry?" "Oh, um..." "I heard your stomach growl a little. Do you want something to eat? They have food here." You blushed. Yikes. He heard that? Then you refocused: they have bread. Of course they do, you thought to yourself. Suddenly, it felt a little less like you were inside a dungeon, and a little more like you were in a bar that you were not hip enough to be inside of. "Oh, no. I don't want to..." "No, it's no problem. Mozzarella sticks? French fries? A loaf of bread?" "Do they have that, [[a loaf of bread]]?"

"The truth is so boring it's sad, really. I wish I could say I made a fortune through some incredible art dealing or maybe even discovering and owning a mine." "Well, what is it then?" "I inherited much of my wealth from a dead lover." "Dead, how?" You were surprised by your own rudeness, and so was he. "Natural causes. Old age." He gently snarled. "I had my own wealth before, many times over. But I met Charles when I was at a low point in my life, when I had nothing." [[Ask about Charles]] [[Accuse him of killing Charles]]

"They have food here." Of course they do, you thought to yourself. “Suddenly, it feels less like a dungeon and more like one of those bars you’re definitely not cool enough to get into. "Oh, no. I don't want to..." "No, it's no problem. Mozzarella sticks? French fries? A loaf of bread?" "Do they have that, [[a loaf of bread]]?"

"Let's have another drink." You nod. "And a little food, [[too->hungry]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You have another drink")>> <</if>>

"I know it's strange. I've never done anything like this before. I don't know about you." You shook your head. "I haven't." Strangely, you almost feel a moment of connection. It makes you question yourself, just for a second. You try to focus. "I imagine there aren't a lot of things that you haven't done." He laughs. It's a warm laugh—friendly, even—and again, it makes you lower your guard. "Yes, well, that's true. Do you want to know more about this life of mine? It may be the only opportunity you have to do something like this." "Yes, I would actually, if you don't mind talking about it. The opportunity—" You catch the glint of silver in his mouth, reflecting off the light on the ceiling, as he smiles. "[[You don't strike me as someone who has had many conversations with vampires.]]" <<set $intrigue += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"No," you stutter. "I've never...had the opportunity." "Or wanted it, I presume." You pause. "You may even have vampire coworkers, you know. It's as easy as you think to spot us these days." "I'd never really thought about that..." "Well, go ahead," he says. "Ask a few questions before the night slips away from us." [[What other interests do you have?]] [[Why this place?]]

"Oh no, I'm actually okay." Hostility tinged his reply: "What do you mean?" "I...I'd just prefer not to have anything. Thank you, though." "That's quite rude, actually." "Oh," You paused. You didn't anticipate this kind of reaction. His voice was stern. "I know this is an unusual meeting, and by the end of this night, well...you know. It's odd. I realize that. But you could at least humor me by having something to drink while we chat. Just for a moment." You don't want to press things. "Yeah, yeah. Okay." But you were irritated by his insistence. "So," the voice still had a touch of venom to it. "What will you have, then?" [[vodka soda]] [[pinot noir]] [[diet Coke with a lime]] [[whiskey on the rocks]] <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

You watched the man look around. Then you look around. "I like it here. It's quiet, mostly. Sometimes on the weekends it gets a little rowdy, but most people seem to understand that this is a quiet place." "I've never even heard of it." You couldn't see the man's eyes fully, except for little glints in the light here and there. Why weren't your eyes adjusting? Even though you couldn't see him entirely, you could feel him look you up and down. "No offense, my friend, but you don't look like the kind of person who'd end up in a place like this." [[Take offense]] [[Laugh it off]]

"I'm not your friend," you bark. "You're right," the man says calmly. That was rude. I was just jesting, but that was rude. I apologize." You tried to remind yourself why you were here. You were going to kill this man. That was already established. But how did you want this night to go? How much bullshitting were you willing to do with each other? You could keep playing friendly with him, considering his situation, or you could remind him once more that you're not here to play. "[[Apology accepted]]." "[[Apology not accepted]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<set $hatred += 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("He joked at your expense - you didn't like it")>> <</if>>

"I don't always dress like this," you say. "I didn't know what to wear." "Me either." "It's a special occassion?" "I guess. Would you call it that?" "I think...maybe." "Anyway, a special occassion deserves a special...treat, or a toast, or something delicious, no? How about a bite?" You gulped. "I heard they have a great loaf of bread here." "[[What->a loaf of bread]]?" you ask.

"Great, well. Like I've said, I know this is unusual but..." You spaced out for a second as he spoke. You felt your stomach growl a bit. You thought it might be rude to mention, so you keep it to yourself. But before you could think any further, the man chimed in: "Are you hungry?" "Oh, um..." "I heard your stomach growl a little. Do you want something to eat? They have food here." You blushed. Yikes. He heard that? Then you refocused: they have bread. Of course they do, you thought to yourself. Suddenly, it felt a little less like you were inside a dungeon, and a little more like you were in a bar that you were not hip enough to be inside of. "Oh, no. I don't want to..." "No, it's no problem. Mozzarella sticks? French fries? A loaf of bread?" "Do they have that, [[a loaf of bread]]?"

"Oh? Okay then." The man paused, you assumed he was unsure of what to say. You waited. "Maybe you're hungry." You still wait. Unsure of what he's trying to do. "Here, I'll order us [[something->hungry]]." <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

You rip a piece off with your fingers and stuff it into your mouth. You crunch down on the crisp outer crust and wrap your tongue around the soft inside before swallowing. You wash it down with your drink. Then, another piece. You eat half the loaf before stopping yourself and looking back at the man in front of you. "I know this probably brings up questions," he says. "But first, [[I have to ask you]] something."

"Really? I mean, sure, absolutely. I haven't talked about her in ages, but it feels good to hear her name again. I was just taken aback for a second...God, wow, where do I start?" You waited for him to continue. "We met when we were young. Then, years later, we met again. She was pretending to be a man, working as an apprentice leatherworker for a shop in my town. I recognized her at once, of course. The short hair, fake voice, and soot-covered face didn't fool me at all." You take a second to process that. "When we went into business together, for a while, until her hair grew back in, everyone still thought she was a man." He laughs. "Which never made sense to me because there wasn't a masculine thing about her. She was just really good at what she did." "[[May I ask, how did she die?]]" [[Stay silent, wait for him to change the subject->Leave it be]] <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"I didn't bring the mood down...at least not any further than with what we started." He laughed. "How about a bite?" You stop breathing for a moment, and fear grips you tightly. "Of food, I mean. I know, it's an unusual ask. I won't eat it, but that feels appropriate, [[no]]?"

"Yes...of course. It's an honor to bring her name back to life, even just for a moment. When I die, I fear her memory will too. But that's just how life works, isn't it?" "I'll remember her," you find yourself saying. "That's kind of you. She died of the plague. " "Oh, wow." You didn't expect that at all. Unsure of what to say, you sip your drink, but there's [[nothing left->Leave it be]]. <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("Mercy died of plague")>> <</if>>

<<type 70ms>><center>Why are you here?</center> [[>>>>->Why are you here?]] <</type>>

This was real. And now you were face-to-face with the man you'd spoken to online who wanted to die. You laugh to yourself as you realize you'd been calling him a "man" all night, when the truth was, he was a vampire. But he was in front of you now. He looked like a man. Sounded like one. He had the memories of a man. Multiple men. Multiple lifetimes. It was confusing. He was here now, and he wanted an answer, an answer that you [[owed him]].

"Well," he demanded, rather impatiently. "Why are you here?" Before he let you answer, he continued, "I mean, I have my own ideas, but I'd like to hear it from you." You needed to answer his question. Maybe you should just be honest. Would it matter? You feel the flutter of your heart, and you wonder if it's nervousness or the precursor to you doing something bold. Think carefully, you tell yourself. You want the rest of the night to go smoothly. [[Tell the truth]] [[Make up a lie]]

Fuck it. You want to be honest, so you think back to how this all started. It was late. You were browsing the dark web for something. Anything. You needed a story to submit. These anonymous pieces about the fringe communities and black markets that existed beyond the average internet user's grasp...well, they paid. People wanted to know what was going on out there, and honestly, so did you. When you found the advertisement, you hadn't been looking for it. You'd heard about this anonymous requests website. People went there to seek drugs, or perhaps an amputation, or maybe a hitman for hire. This ad—the one that brought you here right now—was a request. "Want to Die" was what it said. The request was to kill a vampire in exchange for two million US dollars. The vampire was, of course, the man in front of you. You couldn't believe it. You had to know if it was real. [[You hated vampires.]]

"It's for a story," you say. "I've been...researching the dark web. I've been testing the limits. You know, sort of gonzo journalism, really cutting edge." He sensed your bullshit. You questioned your answer. Maybe you should have practiced a lie before coming here. "Really?" he asks. "So this is for a story, after all?" [[Keep up the lie]] [[Tell the truth]]

But something about this situation was making you feel uncomfortable with that thought. You'd always felt that way, hadn't you? "I always wanted to kill a vampire," you reluctantly tell him. "Oh?" "Yeah. It's actually embarrassing to admit. It's like this vendetta I've wanted to fulfill since I was a kid." "I commend you for being honest. So, it's that simple?" "Yes...and the fact that I really could use the money." "Fair enough." You wait for him to say something else, but he doesn't, so you blurt out: "I just don't understand. What got you here, anyway? Why did you want this? What's wrong with [[being human->Untitled Passage]]?" <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"Yes..." you choke out. You have to commit. "Yes. I just didn't want to frame it that way. I didn't want to...offend you." "What are you going to call the article, then? 'I Killed a Vampire?' or maybe even, 'Depressed Vampire Begs for Mercy from its Depraved Life'?" "No, well...I hadn't really thought that far. I'm trying to be sensitive about the whole thing..." "So you're killing someone for a story, is that it?" "No, not at all," you fumble. "You wanted to die!" Suddenly, you're desperate to defend yourself. "That's what you wanted. I'm doing a service, really." "Look. I don't care if you hate my kind. I don't care if you want all vampires to die, but I just want you to give me the decency of the truth." [[Tell the truth->newtruth]] [[Keep lying]]

"I hate vampires," you say. "I hate vampires." "There we go." "People in my family have been harmed by vampires. I've had a revenge fantasy since I was a kid. I saw an opportunity, and...well, I don't know if this is a healthy way of dealing with this, probably not." "People in my family have been harmed by humans." You choke as you sip your drink. That was true, you were sure. The man had been alive much longer than you. You could [[ask more about it]] Or you [[could move on]]

"That is the truth. I'm sorry that you don't believe me." You feel satisfied with your lie. Why does he need to know the reason anyway? What good would it do to tell him that you hate vampires and that you've always fantasized about killing one? Maybe you should tell him. Maybe you should let him know. No, you tell yourself. He doesn't deserve the truth. He's not human. You ask yourself if you're being too harsh, but before you could think too long, you noticed a fresh drink placed in front of you. You turn your attention to it. [[When did that get there?]] <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You chose to lie")>> <</if>>

"But aren't you..." "What?" "Aren't you [[dead already]]?"

He laughed. “Dead. Yes, I’m dead, alright. I haven’t had a good meal, a real meal, in hundreds of years. Would you like to know something even more tragic? Sometimes I dream about it all. I'll dream of a roast chicken. Rosemary from the garden, carrots, potatoes—all in harmony, simmering in a juicy cohesion.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “I can almost feel the crisp skin in my mouth sometimes, those feelings are so vivid." "That's...actually tragic." You thought about that for a second. You pondered the dinner that you had the night before. The breakfast you had this morning. The bread in front of you. Could he not have any food at all? "No, I haven't had food in years." Your eyes shot up and looked at him. Had he heard your thoughts? "But even worse, maybe, is that I haven’t had a lover in decades. I’ve buried myself in work, instead. And even that has come to feel passionless. I’ve forgotten what touch feels like. Real human touch. Even my most treasured books fail to bring me joy anymore. So, yes. My heart still beats, but one could say that I am, in fact, already dead.” You gulped down the last of your drink. When you placed your glass back on the table, a new one was already waiting for you. [[When did that get there?]] <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("Dreams of food")>> <</if>>

<<if $alcohol>>Your head feels light. How many drinks have you had? You look at your glass, wondering if you should drink it. Then the man toasts his own drink to you, and without thinking twice, you toast back and take a big sip. Your head is fuzzy. You close your eyes and take another.<</if>> <<if !$alcohol>>You listen to the ice cubes crack in the glass. You lick your lips. Why were you so thirsty? You squeeze a fresh drop of lime into the glass and drink the whole thing in one sip. <</if>>"Thirsty?" he says. "I get it. Me too, [[all the time]]." <<if visited() === 1>><<notify>>New note added.<</notify>><<set $notes.push("You have another drink")>><</if>>

"My uncle was killed by a rogue feeder on a construction job. My father was murdered in the city...I know it was vampires. It's not confirmed, but I know it. I saw the bites." "I'm sorry," he said. "Then, my cousin. She was turned. But she left. We haven't seen her." "Well, if you did, would you welcome her with open arms?" "No," you say, ashamed of yourself. "But what about you? What harm have humans done to you?" You feel that it's only fair to ask. "Oh God," he says. "[[Where do I start?]]" <<set $intrigue+= 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>>

"So," you say. "I have to ask..." "Go ahead," he says. "You want to die, right? But aren't you...[[dead already]]?

"I've been chased with pitchforks and torches. Yes, just like in the movies. I've seen friends die in war with bows, arrows, and spears. They've killed plenty of people I've slept with and have been close to. And they killed one of my soulmates. Manuel. I called him Manny." You let him continue. "They hung him and stabbed him through the heart, just for good measure. Then, they burnt his corpse and scattered the ashes." "Oh," you say. "How long ago..." "A while now. It's been at least one hundred years. But I still miss him. We were together for decades, and when you've been alive for centuries, those wounds stay fresh for a long time." [[You feel yourself empathizing with him]] [[You find yourself feeling uncertain]]

"Have another drink with me," he says. You think. Is that a good idea? <<if $alcohol>> You try to count the drinks you'd already had. Oh well, you think to yourself. When in Rome? <</if>> <<if !$alcohol>> Then you remember, you're not even drinking alcohol. But why does your head feel fuzzy... It must just be nerves, you tell yourself. <</if>> He's been strangely kind to you, considering, so you agree to accept another drink, even if it doesn't reach your lips. [[You nod]]. <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

You feel yourself trying to understand him. But you stop. Vampires were bloodthirsty. What was there to understand beyond that? "What are you drinking, anyway?" "What do you think it is?" "I think it's obvious. It's blood, isn't it?" [[He laughs->He laughed]].

<<if $alcohol>> "No, thank you, I really shouldn't." "I insist." You were a little lightheaded. You weren't sure you should drink anymore. The whole situation was weird enough, you didn't want to be drunk on top of it.<</if>> <<if !$alcohol>>"Sure, why not?" You shrug. You weren't getting drunk. You did feel a little lightheaded though, but that was just the whole situation, right? You brush it off and welcome another cool, refreshing glass of Coke.<</if>> <<if $hatred >= 4>><<link "Refuse">><<goto "Refuse">><</link>><<else>><<link "Accept">><<goto "Accept">><</link>><</if>>

"No, thank you," you say. "Again, I'll have to insist." "No, really. I'm fine." "Just take it. Pretend to drink it for all I care. It's a man's last moments before his death. Drink with him. Or pretend, like I said." You pick up your drink and hold it, but the whole interaction irritates you. You don't like being [[manipulated]]. <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You have another drink")>> <</if>>

You take a small sip of this one. "Thank you," you say. "What are you drinking, anyway?" "It's red wine." "So you can drink alcohol?" "Yes. I can, in fact. It just affects me differently." "How so?" "It's hard to explain." "Try me." "There's something scientific behind it. I don't know. [[It's not as interesting as you'd think->manipulated]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("He's drinking wine")>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You have another drink")>> <</if>>

"No," he says. "Just wine." "Really?" "Really." "It doesn't...do anything to you?" "No, it does, it's just...different. Hard to explain." You become aware of the bread in front of you again. You shove a small piece in your mouth [[instead of talking->manipulated]]. <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("He's drinking wine")>>

A thought creeps into your brain. You've just been accepting drinks from this strange man you met online... You haven't seen the bartender make a single one. You've barely even seen the bartender's face. There might be multiple; you were unsure. They could be werewolves for all you knew. None of this was very smart, [[was it->manipulated]]?

"Well," he says. "Well," you say. You haven't been talking terribly long, you realize, but it feels like hours have passed. Maybe it's the darkness of this supposed bar. Maybe it's something else. "I have to use the bathroom," you say. "Where is it?" He points to a dark corner under a flickering "Exit" sign. "I believe over there." You get up. Your legs feel a little wobbly, but you blame it on nerves. You walk over to the dark corner that's supposed to be the [[bathroom]].

The bathroom is a single unisex room behind a dingy door in a dark hallway. The light, like the rest of the light in this place, is dim. The walls are covered in graffiti and stickers. Cell phone numbers drawn in lipstick cover the paper towel holder—which is empty—and the floor is wet. You pee and decide not to flush because you'd rather not touch the toilet. At least there's a mirror. You splash a little water on your face, then you regret it because the sink looks questionable. You look in the mirror. You take a deep breath. This is insane, you tell yourself. This is crazy. Why am I doing this? <<if $empathy >= 3 or $intrigue >= 3>>You feel a strange pull to leave. What if you did? What if you just left? <<link "Think about it">><<goto "Think about it">> <</link>> <<elseif $hatred >= 4>>Anger washes over you. You let it pass, then you take another deep breath. <<link "Return to the table">><<goto "Return to the table">><</link>><<else>>You linger in the bathroom, uncertain of what to do next. <<link "Linger">><<goto "Linger">><</link>><</if>>

You linger a little longer in the bathroom. You breathe deeply, then you regret it, because you get a whiff of whatever is growing in here. What should you do? Go back, keep up the conversation, and get on with the thing? I guess you had to, right? You were already here. There were still questions to ask. Details to find out. And really, you could always leave, [[couldn't you]]?

You return to the table. The man is still there, seated. You catch a different glimpse of his face on the way back - a side profile. He's handsome. You can tell. "How was it?" he asks. "Oh, yeah. Great in there." "You're funny. You know, I like you. I think in another life we may have been friends." You think about that for a moment. You're not sure if you can see it. "I know there are still some things you want to know. So let's get that cleared up, and we'll [[move things along]]."

Think, you tell yourself. What am I doing here? You remind yourself: You wanted to kill a vampire. You wanted to kill this vampire. And you wanted to cash his two-million-dollar check. It was like a dream offer. You get money, and you get to take your revenge on all vampire-kind. Up close and personal. But you'd never killed anyone before. Never ever dreamed of it. And now? You'd talked to the guy. Extensively. [[You hadn't expected that]].

"Charles, what did he do?" "He owned a substantial amount of real estate. He was one of those guys who worked hard his entire life, and it actually paid off. Like me, he'd held many jobs and had many passions. Luck had a lot to do with his wealth. And it had a lot to do with us finding each other." "I'm sorry for your loss," you find yourself saying. It was only a natural response to someone talking about a dead loved one. "I asked him...if he wanted to be turned. He said no. He wanted me to die with him, but he could never ask me for that." You let him continue. "I watched him die. Peacefully. Old age. It's a terrible and yet lovely way to go. He lived a full life." "And he left you his money." "He did. He had no family. No children. No living relatives." "[[Makes sense->it]]." <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("A past lover: Charles - rich, died of old age")>> <</if>>

"How do I know you didn't kill him? How do I know this isn't always how you get your money?" "You don't." You could feel tension building at the table. But how could he blame you? Who's to say he didn't kill this alleged lover? You paused, unsure what to say next. You don't know his true motives. He says, "Look, I know you probably have preconceived notions about who I am, but you can leave those at the door tonight." You suddenly felt like you weren't in control. You should feel in control; you were supposed to be the one with the power in this situation. But here you were, sitting, even drinking with this man. You were unsure how to feel about all of [[it]]. <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

Panic grips you. You're frozen. Should you really go through with this? You were hoping that this meeting would go over logistics. How was it going to be done? Where was it going to be done? Then, what after? You hadn't talked about any of that. You sit back onto the lid of the toilet. You couldn't be in here too much longer. [[You had to make a choice]].

[[Leave]] or [[Head back to the table->Return to the table]]

You are about to leave the bar, the conversation, and the whole plan behind. Are you sure? [[Yes]] [[Return->Return to the table]]

You walk out of the bathroom, close the door, and use the shadows to your advantage. You walk as quietly as possible along the wall, finally touching it, and confirming, to your surprise, that it's real stone. You walk up the stairs and back into the night. It's darker outside than it was when you first arrived. Again, your eyes have trouble adjusting. You look back, and when you see no one is there, you start walking. And you keep walking, and keep walking, and keep walking, until you don't know how long you've been walking and you're far enough away to [[catch your breath]].

Shit, you think. I didn't leave any money for the bar tab. I'm an asshole. Oh well. You shrug. He's rich, right? You look over your shoulder, and then you continue walking. Faster. Your head is swimming, and it's too crowded to try to unpack everything that just happened. You keep walking. You notice a diner ahead bustling with people. The open-air windows spill the sounds of talking, laughing, and arguing out into the streets, and it's intoxicating. Something about the bright orange lights and the warmth radiating from the place made you feel a little more at ease. As you approach, you look over your shoulder. Then, you wait, and do it again. You step inside. You don't want to be [[alone->nexthere]].

"You're a journalist. I'll give you the opportunity, if you want it, to keep asking questions. Add it to your story, or not. Or I can just explain to you how I imagine my death." You did have questions. You had a million more questions. But maybe it was better to know less. You're unsure, but you have to think fast. "[[I have more questions]]" "[[Let's just...get on with things]]"

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>

You wished you were sure about that, but you weren't. Would he let you leave, even if you wanted to? You felt like you weren't in control, and that scared you more than anything else. Was this your own idea? You doubted yourself now. Once, you were so sure that you could do this. The money aspect was appealing, sure. Two million dollars. That would be helpful. You remembered how you felt when you first imagined that money hitting your bank account. You thought of what you'd do first. But murder? You shuddered at the thought. You realized you'd never even thought in detail how it might happen. [[You'd never killed anyone before]].

"Ask away," the man motions at you. "[[What is it like—to be a vampire]]?" "[[Are you afraid of death]]?" "[[Do you have any regrets]]?"

"Very well." He sets his drink on the table. "I was hoping to learn more about you. I was hoping to find out that you're the right person for this." "You haven't even asked me any questions." "No, but I've been paying attention to what kinds of questions you ask, and what you say in response." "So, am I the right person?" "I think that, honestly, it may not matter. I'm tired. I'm ready. Let's talk logistics." "[[Okay]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<set $hatred += 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"What's it like?" the man taps his fingers on the table. "It's...not as bad as you'd think." "What do you mean?" "It's manageable." "I see." "One day you wake up, and everything feels impossible, but then, one day, it doesn't. Things become normal." "How can any of this be normal?" "It's not. But then, it just is. Anything can become normal if you do it enough." "[[How do you get your blood?]]" "[[It would never be normal for me]]."

"No. No I'm not. I think that at one point I was, but right now, I'm not." "I wish I could say the same," you found yourself saying. "It's not a scary thing, anymore. I'm not sure what you believe happens after death, but let me just tell you this one thing: it doesn't matter." "I take it you're not religious." "No," he laughs. "Not at all. You wouldn't be either if you'd lived as long as I have." "[[How old are you?]]" "[[Do you have any regrets]]?"

"Ah," he says, taking a sip of his drink, pausing. "I expected this question to come up. I don't feed on humans, if that's what you're asking." "I didn't...." "I have fed on humans, if that's also what you're asking. Of course I have. I've been alive for hundreds of years, and in the beginning, well, we didn't have the technology we do now." "So how do you..." You were unsure how to frame these questions, so you let him finish your thoughts instead. "How do I get the blood? That's what you want to know, right?" "[[Yes->yesblood]]." <<set $intrigue+= 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("Doesn't feed on humans")>> <</if>>

"That's what you think. I get it." "No, I know," you say. "I completely understand, really. It's so foreign. How could you ever imagine? It's impossible until it happens to you." [[Act understanding]] [[Act judgmental]]

The man thinks. After a few moments he says, "No. I don't think so." "That's good..." you say. You wished you could say the same. "I've lived many lives, I've loved many people, and I've had many things. It's hard to say that I regret anything when I'm so close to death." "[[You don't regret killing anyone?]]"

"I get that," you say. "Really, I do. I've been in situations that I'd never prepared for, and I've managed." "I'm sure this is a situation you never prepared yourself for." "No, it's not." "If I'm telling the truth, I know I said that bit about torture earlier...but I was hoping that was the case—that this wasn't something you did regularly." "Is that so?" "Yes. I don't fear death. But I'm trying to end my suffering, not prolong it. I would understand if you wanted to torture me, but I was also hoping that this conversation might deter you from [[that kind of thing]]." <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"I can't imagine it would ever happen to me because...well...it wouldn't." "I see," he says. "I see," you say back, unsure what to say next. You're not going to just pretend that vampirism is some normal thing. "Look, I know I said earlier that it was okay if you tortured me, but I'm not so sure about that anymore. I really don't want to prolon [[this whole thing->that kind of thing]]." <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"I...don't want to torture you," you say. You imagine for a second what that might look like. Would you see if he bleeds like you? Or would you maybe eletrocute him, or peel back his fingernails? Cut off a couple fingers? [[You shudder at the thought]].

It was hard not to imagine yourself in the same situation. Would you be as cool, calm, and collected as he was? But then again, you were no vampire. What if you were? Would you want to die? <<if $intrigue >= 5>> You couldn't help but imagine yourself, just for a moment, as a vampire. Suddenly you want to know a little bit more. <<link "Am I right for this life?">> <<goto "Am I right for this life?">> <</link>> <<else>> " <<link "Are you afraid of death?">> <<goto "Are you afraid of death">>? <</link>>" <</if>>

"So, do you know about vampire bats?" You nod. "But do you really know? Do you know that they make such tiny incisions in their blood sources that they can drink from a sleeping chicken, and the chicken will never know? They don't wake up, they don't feel it, they don't even have pain the next day." "Oh," you say. "I didn't realize that's how that worked." He nods. "There are a few small operations that raise animals for blood. And it's not as gruesome as you think. They make a small incision, like that of a vampire bat, and collect blood in small quantities throughout the day." "And that produces enough?" "It produces a good amount. Enough for us, but not too much that it hurts the animals." "That's...really [[interesting]]."

"I didn't ask for this." His eyes met yours. "I didn't ask to be turned. But I was. And for a while, I had to learn to survive, and it was hell." He sipped his drink. You sat silent, unsure what to say next. "And humans, by the way, have always had a terribly violent history. Incredible violence—humans killing humans in the name of a woman, or land, or God. Now I don't know how we vampires got here in the first place, but like me, many of us didn't ask for this." "Then why not do something like this sooner?" "What, kill myself? It's a little difficult. It's frowned upon in the vampire community, really. They'll go out of their way to stop you, and vampires won't kill vampires. So we have to get creative." "What about the whole sun thing?" "Unfortunately, I can't just walk out into the sun and die like in the movies." "I've actually heard that...but I didn't think..." "You've never seen any vampires turning to dust in the real world, have you? We can't. We're all mixed. Anyone who is one hundred percent vampire is extremely rare, and they don't often just [[hang out in the open]]." <<set $hatred += 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>>

What the fuck were you doing here? You shake your head. Reality was starting to sink in, like teeth at your throat, draining you dry. You were thirsty. Parched, actually. Taking another deep breath, you look in the mirror, and then turn around to leave. Your eyes readjust to the darkness of the bar after you re-emerge from the dark hallway and you [[return to the table->Return to the table]].

"I own a warehouse not far from here. Once we finish our drinks, we'll go there together. The warehouse is mostly cleared out. I set up a small space to try and make this whole thing a little less bleak for both of us. There are a couple of velvet couches, a rug, a record player, and a few records I enjoy. I also have a small amount of whiskey, or if you prefer, I also have ginger ale. I want to have one final drink, listen to one song, and then, you'll take the gun I provide for you, and shoot [[me in the head]]."

"What?" "There's only one bullet in the gun, so I hope you're a good shot. Or you're willing to bash my head in with a brick if that doesn't do the trick." "That will kill you?" "A gunshot to the head? Yes, absolutely. Aren't you relieved? That it's not a stake to the heart?" "Yes, actually..." "We still have brains, believe it or not. We have the exact same anatomy—it just works differently." The weight of the situation feels unbearably heavy all of a sudden. Your throat feels dry. You drink your drink, but there's nothing in it. "I have a suicide note prepared. You can leave my body there when you're done. The whole thing shouldn't take long. Are you ready to do this?" "[[I'm not ready. Can I ask more questions?]]" "[[Yes->yesdeath]]"

The man sounded slightly taken aback, but not irritated. "Okay, sure. Why not?" "There are just a few more things I [[want to know->I have more questions]]."

The man pays the bar tab. You look at the half-eaten bread on the table and your empty glass. "Follow me," he says. You follow him silently out of the bar and back into the night. You walk down a few blocks together and into his warehouse. It's set up just like he says. Lamplight illuminates a comfortable spot in an otherwise cold, standard warehouse. A few curtains and sheets were draped around some old coat racks to create a mock living room. Or a children's tent. The man lights a couple of candles, puts on an old jazz record, and pulls a gun out of the drawer of a small nightstand. "Here," he hands you a check. You take it. He wrote inheritance on it. You shrug. Hopefully, there will be no issues at the bank. [[Take the gun->Take it]] [[Stand still]]

"The vampire council is extremely strict about their farming regulations. Empathy is, believe it or not, at the forefront of every policy. It's important to many of us that these regulations are upheld." You were surprised. Shocked, even. Vampire bats? Empathetic farming models? Before today, you'd easily imagined a vampire sucking some poor little lamb dry, in some horrible, violent manner. "Then, there's synthetic blood. It's not great, but it's not bad. And it provides all of the essential nutrients." "I've heard of that." "I have them mix a little in my wine here. Like a fun little cocktail." So that's why it was so thick. He wasn't lying about the wine, but he also hadn't been telling the full truth earlier. "And," he says, then pauses. "There are [[blood donors]]." <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("Synthetic Blood & Animal Farms - No humans")>><<set $notes.push("There's (synthetic) blood in his wine")>> <</if>>

"Blood donors?" "Yes. And again, the council has very strict policies regarding human blood donations. Ideally, donors go through the correct avenue of donation and their samples are tested and kept in sterile conditions. But..." "But?" "But some people peruse the dark web. In the same sort of space we found each other, there are others, who set up these relationships. I've never done it. I've had some donated blood, but I've never had an illegal donor." "Why do they do it?" "Oh, you know. There's this old idea of 'familiars'—which is usually either a servant of a vampire or a human bound to a vampire by a taste for their blood. Sometimes, a familiar may be turned by their vampire master, and there are a lot of people who still seek to be turned." "[[Do they get their wish]]?" <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("Nevermind, human blood donors exist")>> <</if>>

"To be turned? No. Not usually. There are some pretty strict rules about that kind of stuff. We vampires don't really say this sort of thing outloud, but it goes unspoken throughout the entire community...we don't want more vampires in this world." "What, really?" "Yes. It's complicated. Sometimes there is an exception made for someone who feels like....the right fit. It's hard to explain to a human, but, someitmes someone is right for this life." "[[How can anyone be right for this life?]]" <<if $intrigue >= 3>> "<<link "Am I right for this life?">><<goto "Am I right for this life?">><</link>>"<</if>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>>

"It's difficult to explain," he says. "It's like...not understanding a culture until really immersing yourself in it." "Interesting," you say. "But I don't really get it. I'd like to, but I don't." "If we had more time, I could explain the ins and outs and vampirism to you, but our time is running out. I'd like to make the best of it though. How about [[one more drink?]]"

"That's an unexpected question," he says. "I'm not sure that I could answer that quite yet." "How would you know?" "I would just have to know you a little better. I have a good sense of you now, I think, but I'd really need more time to understand who you are." "Is it really that selective?" "The wrong person turned vampire could wreak absolute havoc, as I'm sure you could imagine. We tend to like to keep ourselves out of the headlines." <<if $intrigue >= 5>> "Can you...can you tell me more?" <<link "Tell me more">><<goto "Tell me more">><</link>> <<else>><<link "That makes sense">> <<goto "that makes sense">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<set $intrigue+= 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"I'm ready," he tells you. "Are you?" You nod. "Maybe I should have asked you first if you know how to use a gun. You do, right?" You nod. <<if $alcohol>>You were drunk. You hadn't eaten enough and you'd had too many drinks. You closed your eyes, then opened them again. Fuck, you think.<</if>> <<if !$alcohol>>You thanked God you weren't drunk. You don't think you could handle this if you were. You take a deep breath. Just do it, you tell yourself. He wants it.<</if>> You line up the gun. He closes his eyes. "Thank you," he says. "I appreciate it." [[You pull the trigger]]

"Take it," he says. [[Take it]] [[No->nogun]]

He sighs. "You have to understand. It's been a long time for me. We don't do that anymore, we have other ways." "Yeah, but not always," you sneer. "No, this hasn't always been the case. But trust me, if you'd been alive for over a hundred years, you'd have blood on your hands too, vampire or not." You thought about that for a second. You imagined yourself as a farmer, defending yourself from raiders, armed with a pitchfork and a small knife. [[Act understanding->understandingii]] [[Act judgmental->actjudgementalii]]

"Tell you more?" You nod. "What do you mean?" "I want to know more about...vampirism...about being a vampire...about the selection process." He looks at his watch. "How long do you have?" "All night," you say. "Well this certainly cuts into our plans. [[But I'm open to it]]."

"Yes," he says. "Believe it or not, we like to stay in the shadows not just because we love the dark, but because we want to stay...unproblematic." "Would I be problematic? A chaos vampire? How would you know?" "These people often have hatred in their hearts or some darkness before being turned. Some find their darkness after being turned, but that's a different demon. If you're given this kind of power when you're filled with feelings of vengeance or insecurity...well, it's not good." "I can imagine. What do you mean, though, by power? You really have powers?" "Oh, you know, the standard stuff. Heightened senses. Faster movement speeds. The ability to consume only blood for nutrients. Things like that." "What about the other stuff?" "Flying and all that?" He laughs. "I, myself, can't fly. But hey, how about [[one more drink?]]"

"People do change," you say. "I'm glad to know you did. And I get it, you're right. I would have blood on my hands. Violence was the old way for humans, too." "That's kind of you," he says. "Not everyone has the capacity to be so understanding." Your stomach tightened a little. What time was it? How close were you to ending this whole thing? "How about [[one more drink?]]" <<set $empathy += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"I can't say anything about what I would have done or wouldn't have done," you say. "But I know I would certainly regret it if I took anyone's life, justified or not." "I understand." "Yeah, sure you do. We don't really understand each other. We're not the same, that's all." "You're right," he says. "We're not." He glances at his watch. You look around for some sign of a clock on the walls, but there's none. You wait for him to tell you the time. "How about [[one more drink?]]" <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("He doesn't regret killing anyone")>> <</if>>

<<set $chapter to "Chapter 3">> <center> <div id="chapter1-title"> Chapter 3 </div> [[continue->one more drink2]] </center>

The man laughs. "Oh, God. I don't know anymore. At least three hundred. The year I was born is a blur anymore. I lost track." "You really don't know?" "There's only so much room in the human brain." "What about the vampire brain?" He laughs again. "The vampire brain is different, yes, but there are certain memories I've left behind. My age being unknown is okay with me. How old do I look?" "It's hard to say," you say. "I can hardly see you." He dips his head down a little, so he's more visible within the lamplight. "How's this?" he says. "I know it's weird. No names. Hidden faces. Oh well. How about one more question?" "Okay, sure," you say. Then you think for a second. "[[How does the whole blood drinking thing work?->yesblood]]" <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("He doesn't know how old he is")>> <</if>>

You both sit in silence as you sip your drinks. You listen to the light clanking of glassware and the nearly silent lull of other patrons chatting with each other. Somewhere, there was a clock ticking; you just couldn't see it. It was almost time. You wonder if there was still time to run away; maybe there was. You feel your heart pounding in your chest and your head, and you hope he can't hear it. "Well," he says, maybe for the last time. "Well," you say back. "[[Let me go over the plan->readytodo]]"

"I guess," you say. He nods and stands up. You stand up. You look at each other. Then he waits for you. <<if $empathy >= 6>> "<<link "You don't have to do this">> <<goto "Convincing ending">> <</link>>" <<elseif $empathy >= 3 && $empathy <= 5>> " <<link "Are you sure about this?">> <<goto "Medium empathy ending">> <</link>>" <<elseif $intrigue >= 4>> <<link "You tell him you're right behind him">> <<goto "Curiosity ending">> <</link>> <<elseif $hatred >= 4>> <<link "Follow him, eager">> <<goto "Hateful ending">> <</link>> <<else>> <<link "Follow him">> <<goto "Ending 6">> <</link>> <</if>>

"I'm sure." "Okay, then I want to help you do this." "The money will be—" "No, no. We can talk money later. If this is what you want, then I want to at least make sure it happens the way you want." "That's kind of you," he says. "I'm glad we're doing this. [[Follow me]]."

You follow him silently out of the bar, into the night, down the street a few blocks. You don't speak the entire time. You don't want to know anything else. He leads you to the warehouse. There's a rug, a couple of couches, a few lamps, and a record player, just like he described. He plays a record, then pours a drink. He offers you one and you decline. You reject any of his final attempts at connection. Fuck him, you think. He turns to face you, holding a gun. Then he [[hands it to you->hands to you ii]].

You follow the man. You take notice of his swagger—he takes each step with careful precision—which is impressive, considering how much he'd had to drink. You both step into the night and back into the bustle of normal life, but you're focused—on him. When you sat down with him tonight, you hated him. Now, you felt intrigued. You desperately wanted to talk longer. You had more questions. The journalist in you was burning for more and your mind was racing with the information you'd collected tonight. "[[I don't want this night to end]]" [[Keep following->You follow]]

"You don't have to do this," you say again. "What?" he says. "Don't be ridiculous. Follow me." "No, really," you say. "We can talk about this." He starts walking. You follow. "I didn't expect to feel this way. I really didn't, but I don't want you to do this. I don't want to do this." He stops and turns to face you. "I get it," he says. "But you agreed to do this." [[Nod and follow]] [[Continue to argue]]

You follow him silently out of the bar, into the night, down the street a few blocks, and to the warehouse. You don't speak the entire time. You don't know what to say. As he struggles to unlock the giant padlock on the door, you give him a pleading look, but he still doesn't look your way. He leads you to a mock living room. There's a rug, a couple of couches, a few lamps, and a record player, just as he described. "This is nice," you say. He plays a record, then pours a drink. He offers you a <<if$alcohol>>whiskey<<else>>ginger ale<</if>>, and [[you accept]].

"I'm serious. Let's talk about it. You don't really want to die, do you?" "Don't patronize me," the man sas sternly. "Who do you think you are all of the sudden? My guardian angel?" "I didn't mean it like that. Come on, let's just talk." "About what?" <<if $intrigue >= 5>><<link "About...me">><<goto "About...me">><</link>><</if>> [[About us]]

You follow the man out of the bar and into the night. The streets are busy. You have no idea what time it is. Suddenly, a thought consumes you. What if I just...turned around? What if I just ran away? <<if $alcohol>> You were drunk. You realized that now that you were standing up. Your eyes were fuzzy. You were nauseous. <</if>> <<if !$alcohol>>Luckily, you weren't drunk. That gave you an advantage if you wanted to run away...and he wanted to follow. <</if>> [[Run]]

You run and you don't look back. You swallow the urge to vomit, and you keep running. All you hear is your shoes hitting the pavement, and the massive heaves of breath coming out of your chest. Whatever this all was was a massive mistake. When you finally can't take it anymore, you stop at the corner of an unknown street, bend over, and throw up. You look back, and no one is following you. But then—what was that? A sound? You blink. Your vision is blurry. Your head is [[spinning]].

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>

"What are you talking about?" he says. "I want to keep talking. I want to keep getting to know you." "This is unexpected." "How? You've lived a thousand lives, like you said. I've barely scratched the surface." He stands still. "What are you proposing?" "I think we should keep talking. You know, keep the night going, see where it leads." "See where it leads? It was supposed [[to go one way]]."

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>

He stops and turns to face you. He pleads, "Look, please. I want this." [[Nod and follow]] [[Shake your head no]]

"What are you talking about?" "About you and me. Clearly we have something going on." "I don't follow." You bring your voice down to a whisper, "Let's go to the place. But let's just talk." "What place?" "The place where...I was going to kill you? Don't you have a place set up?" "What do you mean was?" "Come on," you touch his shoulder. He walks forward. [[You follow]].

"We're not done here," you demand. "You've got to be kidding me." "No," you say. "What's your problem?" "What's mine? What about yours? Why do you want to die so bad? Are you running from someone? Something?" "I told you that I was ready." "Yeah, but why?" "[[Please let me make my own decisions.]]"

You toast to the evening. Is it a good night? You're unsure. But you're looking to [[find out]].

"Just right in the forehead, if you would." You nod. "Maybe I should have asked you first if you know how to use a gun. You do, right?" You nod. <<if $alcohol>>You were drunk. You hadn't eaten enough and you'd had too many drinks. You closed your eyes, then opened them again. Fuck, you think. <</if>> <<if !$alcohol>>You thanked God you weren't drunk. You don't think you enjoy this as much if you were. You take a deep breath. Just do it, you tell yourself. He wants it.<</if>> You line up the gun. He closes his eyes. [[You smile]].

"Just right in the forehead, if you would." "Are you sure?" "Yes, absolutely. But maybe I should have asked you first if you know how to use a gun. You do, right?" You nod. <<if $alcohol>> You were drunk. You hadn't eaten enough and you'd had too many drinks. You closed your eyes, then opened them again. Fuck, you think. <</if>> <<if !$alcohol>> You thanked God you weren't drunk. You don't think you could handle this if you were. You take a deep breath. Just do it, you tell yourself. He wants it. <</if>> You line up the gun. He closes his eyes. "Thank you," he says. "I appreciate it." You feel a tear roll down your cheek. "You're welcome," you say. Your hands are shaking, but you steady yourself and try to clear your mind. [[You pull the trigger]]

<<type 70ms>><center>Someone is supposed to die tonight.</center> Soon, you'll find out [[who]]. <</type>>

But first, let's go over a few things... This is an interactive story. This means that your choices will affect what happens. This story has at least five possible endings. On the left, you'll see that you have the option to save your game. I recommend saving now, so you don't have to return to the introduction Other than that, you can save as often or as rarely as you'd like. Now, my friend, it's time for you to play. If you'd like to learn more before you dive in, [[go here to read more detailed instructions about the game dynamics]] If you'd prefer to just jump right in and see what happens [[click here to begin->Chapter 1]]

"There's something on your mind." "Yes," you admit. "Well what is it. Spit it out." "I think there's something between us." "Me and you?" "Yes, me and you." "What...what makes you say that?" "I don't know....I just...when I came here tonight, I thought I hated you. But you've opened up and you've shown me this vulnerable side. I just didn't think I would feel so close to you." "So, what are you saying?" "I think we should get to [[know each other better]]."

You follow him into a warehouse a couple of blocks away. You see the area he set up for the murder, and you sit down on a velvet couch while he plays a record. "I like what you've done with the place," you say. "Thanks," he says as he pours a drink. "I wanted it to be nice." He offers you a <<if $alcohol>>whiskey<<else>>ginger ale<</if>> and you take it. "So," he says. "So..." [[continue->bite]]

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>

You slip into a booth, order a coffee, and wipe the sweat from your brow. You're safe. You're alive. You're not killing anyone tonight. You sigh. You try to relax, but it's difficult. You're listening, watching, feeling for something...for him. A man with dark hair walks in and seats himself in a booth on the opposite end of the diner. That can't be him, is it? You sink further down into your seat. The waitress delivers the coffee, you take a sip, and you look around. You let out a small sigh when you don't notice anything unusual. Then, you think you hear a man's voice, coming from behind you, saying "[[Hello->ending 1]]."

"I..." the man paused, clearly unsure of what to say. "We can just talk for a little while longer. I'm relatively interesting, myself." "We don't even know each other's names." "We can start there," you say. "I don't know if that's where we should start. We're in too deep." "So what do you suggest, then?" "You're serious about this?" He touches your shoulder lightly. You lock eyes. Warmth courses through your entire body. You feel a little woozy. "Dead [[serious]]."

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>

He stops, then turns around. "Before we get there, here's the deal. This is what I wanted. You don't have to start feeling bad now. Okay?" "Okay," you reply. "I just want to have one drink, maybe listen to one song, and then be on my way." "Okay," you say. [[Continue->hereitis]]

The reality of it all is a little shocking. It was really happening. But you've been trusted with this. You have to go through with it now. You weren't his savior, you were technically a hired hitman...that he hired himself. Once he let you into the warehouse, you saw that it was exactly how he described. It was like a mock living room, and actually rather cozy. He put on a jazz record and poured himself some whiskey. You declined a drink. Your nerves were getting the best of you. But you did agree to a dance. He put on an old record. You have no idea what. It made those little crackling sounds. You danced for a couple of songs and then surprisingly, he gave you a [[hug]].

"Okay," you say. "Are you...are you sure?" "Just right in the forehead, if you would. Try to aim for the brain." You nod. "Maybe I should have asked you first if you know how to use a gun. You do, right?" You nod again. You take a deep breath. It's okay, you tell yourself. He wants it. This is okay. You line up the gun. He closes his eyes. "It was nice to meet you," [[you say]].

<<set $chapter to "Chapter 1">> <center> <div id="chapter1-title"> Chapter 1 </div> [[continue->start]] </center>

You nod. You were already this far, no sense in saying no now. Another drink is brought to the table. You take it. You drink it. You watch him drink his. Now what? [[You wonder]]. <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>New note added.<</notify>> <<set $notes.push("You have another drink")>> <</if>>

"Are you?" You try to hide the rush of butterflies in your stomach by quickly shutting up. "Sure. I'm not a terrible stickler for plans, anyway." He finished his drink and licked his lips, slowly. You watched intently. "Thirsty?" he says. "How about [[one more drink?]]

He seemed to find that humorous. "How do you know I'm rich?" "Because I can tell." "Why do you say that?" "Well, your offer. And your clothes. Those are obvious signs. But then there's the way you talk and present yourself. That's the dead giveaway to the journalist in me. I know your offer was only only two million, but, something tells me you have much, much more." The man laughed. You hadn't pushed any buttons yet, but should you? How bold were you willing to be? You look down at the table. You notice a scar on the man's hand illuminated under the dim lamplight. You look up at his face. You can see the outline, but it's still dim. [[Push the point]] [[Move on to something else]]

You immediately regret asking. "I'm sorry, that's probably rude. Forget it." "Oh, no, it's fine. I don't eat solid food anymore, but I do miss it. I can take small bites and sort of pretend, but I can't really taste anything, and it doesn't satiate my hunger. Eating too much runs the risk of making me sick." "Sick?" "Yes...unfortunately. My digestive tract doesn't work the same as yours, but technically it's still there. Sorry. That's not appropriate talk for the table. Do with that information [[what you will->hungry]]. <<if visited() === 1>> <<set $intrigue += 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

He laughs. "I had a friend once who had a collection of human bones. They were absolutely breathtaking. Just so fascinating. It's just a hard thing to come by, you know." "[[I'm sure you have plenty of victims to collect bones from]]." "[[Do you collect anything else?]]"

"That's true..." he says. "Some are interests, I suppose, but you're right. Let me think. What about you? What are yours?" <center> <<textbox "$interests" "...">> <<button "Continue">> <<set $answer = $textboxVariable>> <<goto "NextPassage">> <</button>> </center>

"Ah," he says. "$interests, that's interesting. You didn't strike me as that kind of person." "Oh, no?" "I'm just messing around. I didn't really know what kind of person you were at all. I'm enjoying finding out these things about you." You find yourself smiling. "Anyway, back to me...for a while, I was doing a lot of taxidermy. There was a time not so long ago when I was obsessed with death. I read many anatomy books and even audited a few medical courses." "Did you ever practice medicine?" "Me? Oh, no. But I've always found it fascinating. And for a time, I was really determined to find out more about who and what I am. It's rather on brand for a vampire, but I was really consumed by the darkness for a bit." "[[So you went through a goth phase, basically?]]" "[[What did the darkness show you?]]"

"I have no victims," he says. "I highly doubt that." "I hate to disappoint you, but I haven't drunk the blood of an unconsenting human in over two hundred years." "Unconsenting, huh? So there have been some consenting sickos, though?" "I don't like where this is going so I'd like to stop it right now. I know you have your reasons and I'm going to ask you about them momentarily, but for now, maybe let's lighten the mood a little." [[You say nothing->You loved the smell of bread in the oven]] <<set $hatred += 1>> <<if visited() === 1>> <<notify>>Your hatred has increased +1.<</notify>> <</if>>

"I've collected just about everything. Wooden spoons. Tiny spoons. Pressed flowers. Carnivorous plants. Rare books. Expensive wines. So much of it I've given away." "Wow, it must be nice to be able to do that." He shrugs. "It's all material possessions. Easy to acquire. But experiences—those are the things you want to collect." You consider that. It does have some merit, in your opinion, but there are still things that you want that are out of your reach. If I was one hundred,you think to yourself, I wonder if I'd finally own a home. "Like tonight," he says. "This is an experience you'll remember forever. Whether that's good or bad is up to you." You get caught up in a brief fantasy of wealth and immortality, broken only by the sound of your [[growling stomach->Move on to something else]].

You both laugh at that. Could you be feeling a bit of a...connection? "Yes," he says. "I absolutely did. And I'm not ashamed by it." "Good," you say. "I'm not ashamed by it either." You both laugh again. It feels strange, and you feel a little warm. You want to keep joking, but you're unsure how far you should push it. There's an unexpected fear growing inside you—what if you become attached in any way, even if he is a vampire? "Are you hungry?" he asks. "[[What?->You loved the smell of bread in the oven]]" <<set $empathy+= 1>> <<notify>>Your empathy has increased +1.<</notify>>

"It showed me not to be afraid of myself or anyone else. It showed me not to fear death or the unknown. It's also shown me that some things are meant to be just that—unknown." "That's quite wise." "I made some terrible mistakes and hung out with some really strange people in this phase of my life, too," he sips his drink. "There was this woman, she went by Sabre, and she claimed to be in contact with spirits. Anyway, long story short—and this isn't easy to admit—I was briefly in a cult." "A cult?" "Yes, a cult. This woman, Sabre, she told people she could commune with the dead. And as you can imagine, if you live long enough, you know a lot of dead people. Vampires were drawn to her, naturally, but she was no good." "When you say 'was,' do you mean—" "Yes, she's dead now. I had nothing to do with it, mind you. But all this is to say that in that darkness, I learned how important it was to be in touch with life just as much as [[death]]. <<set $intrigue+= 1>> <<notify>>Your intrigue has increased +1.<</notify>>

Before you say anything, he continues, "And yet, here we are. I know how strange that sounds." You nodded. You were still caught up on the idea of a woman communing with the dead. Not just that, you remind yourself, but an entire cult...of vampires? The journalist inside you was screaming. The man in front of you broke your train of thought. "Are you hungry?" he asks. "They have [[a loaf of bread]] here, if you're interested."

<<set $chapter to "Chapter 2">> <center> <div id="chapter1-title"> Chapter 2 </div> [[continue->ahead]] </center>

"We're already here. It's too late. Take the gun." You [[take it->Take it]].

"Shoot you in the head?" "Luckily, yes. Nice and mostly clean. Kind of." "That...kills you?" "Believe it or not, yes. And I really do suggest getting out there after this experience and learning more about vampires." You feel embarassed. "So, does this all sound [[acceptable]]?"

<<if $hatred >= 4>> " <<link "Yes, I'm ready.">> <<goto "Hateful ending">> <</link>>" <<else>> "<<link "Honestly? No...I don't think so.">> <<goto "nonotyet">> <</link>>" <</if>>

"No, I don't think I can do this." "Come on," he says."Finish your drink. It's going to be fine." You hold your drink and it shakes in your hand. You take a sip. He looks away, over at the wall somewhere. Contemplating his last moments, maybe? You try to look in his eyes, but you can't, he won't let you. It feels like hours go by. Maybe it's only been ten minutes. Silence. Then, he says, "[[Are you ready to do this?]]"

<center><<type 70ms>> Everything fades. <</type>> [[Darkness->not looking back]]</center>

You drink the drink. It quenches your thirst, but your mouth still feels dry. He bobs his head to the jazz playing from the record player, and you bob your head, too, and for a second, it feels like you're just hanging out with a friend. When the song ends he says, "Thank you for being here." He reaches into a drawer and pulls out a gun. "This means a lot to me," he says. Then he hands you [[the gun]].

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>

"The money is inside of that drawer right there. It's a check. I wasn't sure if that was the best option, but there it is. You can look at it if you want." "No, that's fine. I believe you." You were face to face for the first time all night. Looking into his eyes made you feel terribly vulnerable. "Just right in the forehead, if you would." You close your eyes. "Maybe I should have asked you first if you know how to use a gun. You do, right?" "Yes," you say. You take a deep breath. Just do it, you tell yourself. He wants it. Just get it over with. You line up the gun. He closes his eyes. "I'm sorry," you say. "Don't be," he says. "It was [[nice to meet you]]."

You drink the drink. It quenches your thirst, but your mouth still feels dry. "Are you sure?" he asks you. You both lock eyes. This is the first time you've been able to make full eye contact. His eyes are piercing. Everything is understood in an instant. You nod. Before you could blink, he was on you, his teeth sinking into your neck. Your glass clatters to the ground. "Thank you," you manage to get out. You feel yourself getting lightheaded, and you're unsure if it's from giddiness or blood loss. You close your eyes and imagine the new future that awaits you as the room goes [[black->awaits you]].

He thinks for a moment. "Follow me," he says. "Where are we going?" "Back to my place." "You're serious?" "You're in luck. I was going to get rid of it all, but I thought, I don't really want to be bothered with all that while I'm alive. So everything is in its natural place." "What were you going to do with it all?" "I have it all set up. Donation, mostly." You stood still for a second while he kept walking. This was crazy, right? "Are you coming?" he says. "[[It's not far]]."

"Another drink, then," he says. "You drink a lot." "I told you, didn't I? Alcohol and vampires, it's not the same." "I'm picking the bar this time. A place above ground. How about it?" He laughs, looks at his watch, then looks up at the moon. "Fine," he says. "I used to be spontaneous. A long, long time ago. Kind of fun to feel it again." You walk a couple of blocks and head into the first random pub you see that's crawling with people. You sit at the bar, order drinks, and grin at the thought of continuing your line of questioning. "[[Cheers]]."

"Woah, okay. It would be one thing if this was just your decision. But I got roped into this." "To be fair, you roped yourself into this. For money." "Okay, yes...but...I didn't think it was going to be like this. I'm an idiot, okay? But maybe it's destiny. Maybe I was the one who was supposed to answer the ad." He laughs at you and shakes his head. "This isn't how I imagined this to go." "Me either. So, [[what's next->woah]]?"

It was a warmer hug than you expected. You felt a little dizzy. Unsure. Confused. Scared. "This means a lot to me," he says. Then he hands you [[a gun]].

You line up the gun, take a deep breath, and he says, <<type 70ms>>"I'm ready."<</type>> [[You pull the trigger->the end]].

"Thank you," he says. "I appreciate it." [[You pull the trigger]]

"Thank you," he says. "It was nice to meet you, too. Really." You line up the gun, take a deep breath, and he says, "I'm ready." You hesitate, take a deep breath, and close your eyes. [[You pull the trigger->the end]]

You can barely contain yourself. What an unexpected surprise. You tell him, "Yes, I'm coming." You trail behind him, trying to walk in sync with [[your rapidly beating heart->home]].

<<type 70ms>><center>The end.</center><</type>>