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Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
The loud voice of a long-dead announcer declared that the commercial break was over and a new program was beginning. It was Heart-to-Heart, a daily interview with Tom Atkinson and Prime Minister Julia Tericheva.
"Hello, dear viewers! Hello, Prime Minister. Thank you so much for coming."
"Please, call me by my name. We, the government, are always happy to support free journalism, especially in such challenging times."
"Thank you again! Speaking of tough times, what's the situation on the front lines with our valiant defenders?"
"Times are indeed tough, Tom, but not on the front. It's not easy there, but the heaviest burden lies with the enemy. Another attempt by imperial soldiers to land on our shores has failed. I consulted with the General, and he informed me that our army is ready for a counteroffensive on the Lostdream naval base. The Empire is in for a rough time."
[[Turn off this crap->Day 1]]
<<set $theme to 2>>After watching TV, there’s a knock at your door. “Hey, neighbor. It’s me,” a familiar voice calls from the entrance. You really should replace that door with a glass one or at least get a peephole, but you don’t have the money to fix up your father’s old hotel. The tourism business in Kangshar is struggling: before the war, people came for work or leisure, but now it’s just business travelers. And recently, the Kangshar Medical Research Center cut ties with you.
“Hey, neighbor! You asleep or stuck in one of your brooding sessions? Open the door already!” You don’t even need a peephole to know who it is.
[[Open the door->Open the door1]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell them to leave1]]You open the door and see your neighbor. Not a next-door neighbor, but the guy from the house across the street—the only one who doesn’t mind your hotel. You consider him a decent acquaintance, maybe even a friend, since he’s helped with your endless repairs: unloading materials, recommending reliable builders (not that you can afford them).
“Hey, neighbor.”
“Hey, neighbor.”
“Can I come in?”
“You can come in.”
[[No wonder you’re just acquaintances. You never have real conversations.]]“Hey, neighbor, I can hear you breathing behind that door. Open up. It’s urgent.”
[[Open the door->Open the door1]]He steps into the reception area and plops onto the couch by the desk. You can tell from his face that something’s seriously bothering him—and it’s not the hotel’s run-down interior that looks like an abandoned building.
“Listen, I need to warn you. You know where I work, right?”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no? I’m the one who introduced you to my bosses, who sent those researchers to stay here.”
“Oh, right, sorry. Something happen at work?”
“I can’t say much, but… I’m telling everyone I know, including you. Pack your things, hit the store for two weeks’ worth of supplies, and get as far out of town as you can. It’s starting.”
“What’s starting?”
“Can’t say.”
“I can’t just leave.”
“Then here’s some advice: you may own this hotel, but now’s not the time to let just anyone in. At the same time, don’t stay alone. Tough times are coming to Kangshar, and we need to stick together.”
“[[Thanks, neighbor]]”Your neighbor leaves. You don’t fully believe him but lock the door just in case. Later, as you’re lounging at the reception desk watching TV, there’s another knock.
“Who’s there?”
“Anna Schmidt. I booked a room through Welcome to Republic. Man, this place is hard to find. I’d never have guessed this old brick two-story is a hotel.”
You’ve never heard of that platform.
“What do you mean?” She pauses for half a minute. “Damn it! Welcome to scams, huh? Thank the gods I only paid the booking fee, not the full amount. I hope you have a room available? I didn’t see any other hotels in Kangshar, and I’ve got nowhere else to go. If it’s just the expensive rooms left, I’ll pay whatever—anything to avoid sleeping on the street tonight.”
[[Open the door->Open the door2]]
[[Tell her to leave->Tell her to leave2]]“Thank you so much… Oh…” She looks around the interior. “The scammers lied about the decor too. Tell me, at least the amenities aren’t a lie? Is breakfast included?”
“[[Yes. I make eggs and sandwiches every morning. I’ll make some for you too.->Open Quick]]”
“[[No. But there’s a microwave, and the nearest store is a hundred meters away.->Open Quick]]”
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>“I’m so sorry… Thanks…”
[[Through the door, you hear muffled sobs fading into the distance.->Open Quick]]An hour after she checks in, there’s another knock. “Open the door, quick!” a voice yells. You approach and say, “What do you want?”
“They’re chasing me. I don’t want to go back to the cage. Please, save me from them!”
An escaped criminal? Maybe. Hiding him could go either way. With the conflict against the Empire, half the police force is at the front, so no one’s likely to search your hotel for a fugitive. On the other hand, if he’s trouble, he could cause problems, and the police won’t come if you call. Then again, if he’s a real criminal, he might pay double for a room. Or maybe he’s just some kid who tore down a Republic Democratic Party poster—those exist in republic jails too. You could save someone almost innocent from a fine or real jail time. Tough laws these days. But what if he’s a murderer with a shotgun? No, a murderer wouldn’t knock—he’d shoot the lock and take you hostage.
“Hey!” The voice snaps you out of your overthinking. “Are you still there?”
[[Open the door->Open the door3]]
[[Tell them to leave->Tell them to leave3]]You open the door and freeze. Standing before you is a massive, muscular, humanoid… ferret? (Otter? Badger? Dog? Raccoon?) in a medical gown. He rushes inside, locks the door, and tries to calm you, but the shock makes you faint.
You come to later. The creature is by the door, listening with its animal ears to the street. When you stir, he turns to you. “Hey, thanks for helping me. I’m sorry it turned out like this.”
What happened? He approaches, offering a clawed, furry paw to help you up. You hesitantly take it… with your own clawed, furry paw. You want to faint again. Dark fur covers your body. You clutch your head—a slightly elongated head with a flat nose. You stumble to a mirror. You look almost like him.
Later, Arthur, who feels forever indebted for turning you into a “freak” like him, explains you’re not a monster or a ferret, but a wolverine. A human-wolverine, forced to survive in this harsh world.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Open Quick">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>“I’m calling the police!” you bluff, and the guest shouts, “I won’t go back!” before running off.
Five minutes later, another knock. Another plea for help, this time from a woman.
“What’s wrong?”
“Please, open the door. Let me in. It’s not safe out there. There are weird creatures. Monsters! One dark, feathered demon bit me. They’re here to destroy the city!”
Crazy? Her story is terrifying yet pitiful. Maybe she’s mentally unwell. You could let her in and call for help. But what if she attacks you? You could help, but should you risk it?
[[Open the door->Open the door4]]
[[Tell her to leave->Tell her to leave4]]You open the door and see… she’s not crazy, but sick. Black feathers sprout across her body. You help her to the couch at reception, give her water, and call for an ambulance. Busy signal. No one’s coming. She says she’s in constant pain and fever since the bite. Soon, you feel it too, though nothing bit you. Tiny down appears on your skin, then feathers. Your face aches; your jaw feels like it’s reshaping. You feel unnatural growths on your back—top and bottom—that, after hours of pain, start to feel… normal.
A day of relentless agony later, you’re free. Truly free. You’re not chained to your chair, waiting for an ambulance that’ll never come. You can go anywhere, even fly. You take Lisa, who’s grateful for your attempt to help during her transformation, by the hand, head to the hotel roof, spread your crow wings, and soar.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Tell them to leave3">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>You stay silent. The knocking stops. Silence lasts until evening. Then another knock. “Open up, it’s the police!”
“How do I know it’s you?” you ask.
“Look through the peephole.”
“I don’t have a peephole.”
“Then check the nearest window.”
“There are no windows at reception. I thought about getting a glass door…”
“I don’t care about glass doors. Open up for the police. I need to warn you about a danger.”
[[Open the door->Open the door5]]
[[Tell them to leave->Tell them to leave5]]You open the door to a man in trousers and a blue shirt with a “Police” armband. He shows his badge: “Klement Krishtof, local officer. I tried calling you and others, but the phone lines are down. There’s civil unrest in the city—likely an Imperial sabotage. Stay inside for the next few days, don’t go out, and don’t open the door for anyone. You shouldn’t have even opened it for me; I could’ve been dangerous.”
“What kind of danger?”
“There’s unrest. I could’ve been an Imperial thug or provocateur. I could’ve attacked you, posing as an officer. Don’t open the door for anyone else, got it?”
“What if someone needs help?”
“If they need help, let them call emergency services. Police and ambulances are operating normally; we’ll handle everything.”
“Thanks…”
[[It’s been a wild day. Evening turns to night, and you head to your room to sleep, ready to start tomorrow with morning TV and more hotel repairs.]]"You're no cop! I'm not opening the door!"
"And how am I supposed to prove it's me? Ugh, damn it."
You heard grumbling from the other side. A badge started sliding through the crack under the door. You picked it up and realized it was a real police officer.
"Now, either you open the door and hear my warning, or I break it down to get my badge back."
[[Open the door->Open the door5]]"Try PEM. PEM – nobility, passion, euphoria, justice, love, learning. PEM – available in all supermarkets nationwide."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Hello, dear viewers! Hello, dear Prime Minister. Did you make it here without any traffic?"
"I walked to your studio on my own two feet. I, the government, and my party colleague, our President, are against excesses like official cars. Unlike the Emperor with his motorcade. By the way, Tom, have you heard? Fearless partisans have finally decided to take down the imperial family. The car of the Emperor’s uncle, the acting Minister of Social Policy—though what kind of social policy can there be in their hopeless poverty—was blown up. However, I urge all citizens to be cautious now. The imperial authorities are furious at their own impotence and may start committing crimes and sabotage against the Republic’s civilians."
"Like in Kangshar? Prime Minister, do you consider the unrest there to be imperial sabotage?"
"Kang… Tom, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Everything is calm in the thriving Kangshar. I’m unaware of any unrest, so there isn’t any. But such rumors could be imperial sabotage. It’s unprofessional to spread rumors, Tom."
"Sorry, Prime Minister. I made a mistake."
"Yes. And on live television, no less. It happens. You’re probably just overworked from your near-daily labor for the sake of your viewers, Tom."
[[Turn off this crap->Day 2]]You turned off the TV and stared thoughtfully at its black screen. So the local officer was right. Sabotage. Here. In Kangshar. The city was far from the front lines, but that didn’t mean Imperial saboteurs couldn’t sneak in by boat, plane, or road. You’d need to be more careful about choosing guests from now on, if anyone even shows up.
But then there’s a knock at the door. “Klement Krishtof, local officer,” a voice says from the other side, followed by a cough. “Don’t open the door!”
[[Open the door]]
[[Don't]]You open the door. A disappointed-looking police officer greets you. Wait, what’s that on his face? Cat whiskers?
“I told you not to open…”
Too late now. He explains it’s some kind of disease, airborne and highly contagious. He caught it just from talking to someone who looked like a giant cat.
“What do I do now?”
“I’d suggest going to the hospital, but it’s probably already overcrowded. You’ll just have to wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“Help, rescue, treatment. The Republic will come through. The whole government’s probably working on saving Kangshar from this disease—sent by Imperial saboteurs. I’ll wait for their help, and I suggest you do the same.”
And so you wait. Day one, day two. Your tail sways back and forth. No, waiting is too tense. You need to take action. You climb to your hotel roof, then up the fire escape to the neighboring building’s roof. From there, you survey nearby points of interest. A couple of half-destroyed shops—you’ll check them for protein-rich food, and if there’s none, you’ll hunt. Rats, for example. There are plenty in the city; you can smell them. Well, you’re not against playing “cat and mouse.”
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Day 2">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>“What happened, Klement?”
“It’s not just civil unrest. Imperial saboteurs used real biological weapons.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I really hope they catch them. The Republic will track down those spies quick and make them fix everything.”
“Fix what?”
“It’s… classified. Good thing you don’t have a peephole, or you’d be horrified. I was in contact with this biological weapon. It made me ugly.”
“[[Oh my God, Klement, I hope you’ll be okay.]]”You said goodbye to the officer and sank into thought. Imperial spies, huh? Biological weapons? You’d heard about the enemy’s atrocities on TV, but you never imagined the Empire would be bold enough to use illegal biological weapons against civilians.
A knock at the door snapped you out of your reflections. “Hey, neighbor! Open up!” It was that familiar voice. “I’m tired of knocking, been waiting three minutes already. Where are you?”
“Didn’t you say you were leaving town?”
“I was supposed to. The military stopped me at a checkpoint. Looks like the General was ready for every contingency…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. Listen, can my family stay with you? I’ll pay for the whole stay, even without a neighbor discount.”
“Why do you want to stay here?”
“It’s not safe at home after what happened yesterday…”
What happened yesterday. His fault? Is he a saboteur?!
“Neighbor, why’re you so quiet?”
“Tell me straight—are you a saboteur?! Did you use biological weapons against your neighbors, against Kangshar’s people?! You tried to skip town, and now that you can’t, you want to hide in my hotel?!”
“What? No! Biological weapons? No, it’s not a weapon—it’s worse. I can’t talk about it, it’s a state secret, and I’m still loyal to the Republic. But what we did… we didn’t mean for it to happen… and now it’s all gone wrong.”
“What went wrong?”
“I’ll tell you someday, I promise. Just let my family in.”
[[Open the door->Open the door6]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell them to leave6]]A neighbor’s a neighbor. You’re sure he couldn’t have done something like that. And if he did, you could always turn him in to the officer.
“Come in. Payment upfront. No discount, sorry.”
“Thanks, neighbor. Here’s the cash.”
“Alright, one week, two rooms. But who are you hiding from if you’re loyal to the Republic?”
“From the Republic…”
[[Got it…->Damsel]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>“Man, neighbor, if I were in your shoes, I’d help you out.”
You stayed silent and listened. He just left. No more pleas, no begging, no pounding on the door demanding you take in his wife and kids. They’ll manage.
[[He’s tough, they’ll figure it out. No need to burden me with their problems.->Damsel]]Evening fell. Another knock at the door. “Excuse me, is this a hotel? I’d like to stay here.”
“You from out of town?”
“No, I’m local. It’s just not safe at home right now. My husband’s sick.”
“Why didn’t you stay to help him?”
“I tried… but he lunged at me like a wolf, nearly bit my finger off. I… I just felt helpless. But it should pass soon.”
“Pass?”
“He’s sick… with alcoholism. Probably delirium tremens from drinking too much. Sure, weird stuff’s happening in the city, but that’s no excuse to drink like that.”
“You sure his behavior’s just from alcohol?”
“What else could it be? He turns into a wolf or a pig every weekend. Though this time, it’s like he’s become an actual monster.”
[[Open the door->Open the door7]]
[[Tell her to leave->Tell her to leave7]]You opened the door to a woman with nothing unusual about her—except for two wolf ears on her head. You might just be a humble hotel owner, but you promised to help her. It’s good she chose to escape her abusive alcoholic husband during this city chaos. You told her she could stay as long as she needed, and when she’s ready to confront him and demand he quit drinking, you’d be there. If he refuses, you’ll show him who’s the real alpha in this city, tear his throat out so he can never drink again, and save this beautiful she-wolf from his clutches. If he’s not worthy of starting a pack with Janet, you are.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Damsel">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>You remembered the officer’s warning: no strangers, no suspicious people, no one at all. You told her to seek help at the police station.
[[You hope they’ll help her there.]]Night approached. You were getting ready for bed when another knock came.
“Anyone in there?” an unfamiliar voice called. “It’s the police, open up.”
“Bikini police? That show just ended,” you mumbled, half-asleep.
“Bik… What the fuck? Hey, man, open the door before I kick it down.”
“Dude, you’re awfully rude. Republic police might have their flaws, but they don’t act like brainless thugs.”
“I’ve got a damn good reason to act this way. Emergency powers. Open this fucking door before I break it down!”
[[Open the door->Open the door8]]
[[Tell them to leave->Tell them to leave8]]You opened the door and were met with something surreal. It was a massive, humanoid squirrel holding a crowbar and pointing it at you.
"Up against the wall. And don’t move while I rummage through your cash register, or you’ll get a whack on the head," the bandit growled.
Who was he? You asked, and he replied that he was just an ordinary resident like you, trying to survive.
No, you’re not the same. Despite the injustice of a world that began turning you into a monstrous yet strangely beautiful creature, you refuse to steal from others as desperate as yourself. You hold your massive tail high, ears perked, nose to the wind.
One day, you’ll scale building walls—not to rob an apartment, but to retrieve a humanitarian aid package that landed on a rooftop due to a pilot’s error. Other hybrids couldn’t reach it, but you could, thanks to your newfound agility and grace. Carefully, you carried the supplies down, ensuring your street could eat for another day.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "You hope they’ll help her there.">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"If you break my door, I’ll grab my shotgun and unload a full clip into you," you bluffed, knowing you had no gun.
"Hey, man, chill, alright? I was kidding."
"Kidding, huh? I’ll have a laugh too next time I hear from you. Scram, asshole."
With a loud, almost rat-like squeak, the man scurried away.
[[Time to go to bed]]"Buy war bonds backed by mortgage loans. By purchasing war bonds, you’ll not only support the Republic’s army but also invest in a reliable asset and multiply your wealth. Frost Bank."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Good morning! I’m Jerry Blaimy, and this is the popular program Heart-to-Heart, where we’ll discuss all the pressing issues with the wonderful Julia Tericheva. Hello, Julia."
"Hello, Jerry. First, I’d like to talk about the situation on the front. Our troops are repelling desperate attempts by imperial soldiers to advance beyond the northern coast every minute. The General informed me of the successful consolidation of our forces in the south, which will allow us to lure the imperials into a trap. I believe their army will collapse any day now, as they’ll have to fight on two fronts. Our scouts report that rebels in the Empire’s occupied territories are ready to rise up, which will lead to a large-scale civil war."
"Let’s turn to domestic policy. You’ve officially declared martial law in Kangshar province. Is this a preventive measure, as I understand it?"
"Yes, exactly. Counterintelligence reported that imperial spies are hiding in the city, ready to harm civilians. So, the General made a radical but decisive decision. He imposed a blockade on the city to prevent the spies from escaping and cut off telephone communications to stop them from contacting their handlers. But to assist residents during the search for spies, the President signed a decree establishing a Civil Defense force. I also promise that the blockade will be lifted soon, and all spies will be caught."
[[Turn off this crap->Day 3]]Civil Defense force didn't "force" you waiting long.
"Open the door so we can identify you!"
"Identify me how?"
"Check if you're human or a hybrid?"
"Who? Check what?"
"There's a 90% chance you're human, but I need to confirm it for sure. Open the door so I can make sure."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll break the door down. We are Civil Defense, we have the authority to do that."
"I'll defend my property. I have a shotgun!"
"My partner has a rifle. I'm warning you, assaulting state officials is punishable."
[[Open the door->Open the door9]]
[[Tell them to leave->Tell them to leave9]]You opened the door. Three people in yellow biohazard suits entered the reception.
"Visually, you look healthy. These stupid instructions say to strip naked, but with those who've been in contact, it's already obvious from their faces."
"What's going on here? There are no spies in my hotel."
"There are no spies in Kangshar at all. Just hybrids and healthy people—we're looking for both."
"Who am I?"
"You're healthy, of course. You're entitled to an individual food ration for that. Here."
"Uh... thanks?! How much do I owe you for it?"
"Nothing. Just don't sell it for any price. Speculation during an emergency is punishable."
[[They left, leaving you with questions. And food]]In a minute, they knocked the door off its hinges. Civil Defense workers entered the hotel and found you hiding behind the reception desk. They looked at you and radioed, "Everything's fine, this is a healthy human." Still a healthy human. The broken door, your only barrier against the spreading chaos in Kangshar, will no longer protect you from the city's inhabitants and the threat they carry.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Day 3">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>Hybrids? What's happening on the streets?
You only now realized you hadn't stepped outside in the last two days. You decided to climb to the hotel roof to survey your street from a safe distance.
It was strange and terrifying. Humanoid creatures walked the street. Not quite people, but not beasts either. Anthropomorphic deer, raccoons, wolves, tigers, even eagles. Wait, eagles? Yes, one was flying high until a military helicopter appeared, forcing the creature to hurriedly descend toward the city.
[[Soon you noticed a female hedgehog watching you from the street. You got scared and quickly descended from the roof, locking the door with both the lock and bolt]]There was a knock at the door. "Excuse me, you're a healthy, right?"
"And who are you? Are you that hedgehog lady?"
"I'm human, but the disease disfigured me. I wanted to ask you for a favor. Civil Defense only feeds healthy people. Sorry, I wouldn't beg in normal times, but... I have no emergency food stash, the stores closed yesterday morning, and my kids are starving. Could you please give me something from your food ration? If you have crackers, please give those. We still have tea at home; at least the kids can drink it with something sweet."
Give some of your precious food to a stranger for her possibly imaginary kids? And even if you do give it, only through the door... Whatever she has, it's highly contagious—you need to avoid direct contact. So, leave it at the threshold, ask her to wait, open the door, step back to a safe distance, and let her take it?
[[Open the door->Open the door10]]
[[Tell her to leave->Tell her to leave10]]You did everything right and hid behind the reception desk. She took the crackers and a can of preserves from the threshold, tried to find you in the dim room, shouted "Thank you so much!" and left. You quickly, holding your breath and wearing rubber gloves, closed the door to keep anyone else out, then mopped the floor near the entrance with a swab to ensure no bacteria remained in the hotel.
[[It was dangerous, but justified. You helped a starving family->11 guest]]You lied to her, saying you'd eaten almost everything right away. She thanked you and apologized for bothering you. Listening to and analyzing her behavior, you realized the starving kids were real. But it was too late to offer the crackers.
[[Better to be a cautious and heartless person than a monster like them->11 guest]]Someone knocked on your door. Again. Some voice. Male, worried.
"Hello? Any healthy people here? I'd like to check in, if so."
"Who are you?"
"Gustav Byron, healthy human—they checked me today, those guys in suits. Are you healthy here?"
"Maybe. Tell me, why do you want to check into a hotel at such a difficult time?"
"Is that mandatory to ask? Though I guess you have those requirements under the new laws. Bandits took over my house, demanded I either leave or join them. I chose to remain a law-abiding citizen and just a human."
"That's awful..."
[[Open the door->Open the door11]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell him to leave11]]You opened the door and helped the man bring in his things. Gustav asked if you had discounts for long-term stays. Of course not—you have a very conservative pricing policy.
[[Today you'll give a 5% discount for a 30-day booking, and tomorrow what, start housing people for free for a year? No way!->12 guest]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>You got scared of the risk that he might be a hybrid pretending to be healthy. What if he came here to infect healthy people? You don't know what's going on in the minds of these sick ones.
"I'm very sorry about what happened to you, but..." and here you started lying, "Unfortunately, I've been infected, like all the hotel guests."
"So I'll have to go back home..."
[[You felt some pain in your heart. It seems you acted either too cautiously or slightly dishonorably->12 guest]]You continued your endless repairs, because even an epidemic couldn't pause the work or do it for you. Someone knocked on the door again. A familiar voice. It was your best friend Ksu.
"Bro, you there?" he knocked on the door, speaking his thoughts aloud. "I hope you managed to get out of this crazy city..."
[[Open the door->Open the door12]]
"[[Ksu, are you healthy?]]""Hi! I was down with a fever for a couple days, but now I'm recovered and came straight to you to see how you're doing."
"What do you mean 'recovered'?" you asked through the door.
"Nothing bothers me now except the big tail and hypothetical shedding."
"Ah, Ksu, you sure know how to laugh even in a tough situation."
"And how did you survive this epidemic?"
"I'm healthy. I’m still human."
"What? Wow, that's awesome! Damn, I could infect you with this crap."
"It doesn't spread through the door. Probably. Just don't breathe into the keyhole."
He laughed, discussed survival plans going forward, said goodbye, and promised to visit next time. Right now, he needed to hurry home to show up at the canning factory tomorrow morning and explain why he’d been gone so long without warning. If the factory was still running, the managers would probably understand due to the epidemic and the downed phone lines.
[[You needed to prepare for tomorrow too]]You met your friend, but he had changed a bit, acquiring a beautiful red tail, protruding black ears, and an elongated, frightened muzzle.
"Back!" he shouted, recoiling from you. "Sorry, I didn't mean to! I thought you already..."
Too late. Too close a distance, too contagious a disease. The virus entered your respiratory system when he yelled "Back." Silly Ksu, silly you. In the end, you're the perfect pair of silly friends.
Several days passed. You lazily got out of bed. There was a knock at the hotel door. It was Ksu. "So, bro, you survived?" He extended his dark furry hand; you extended yours in response. "Forgive me. As a tiny compensation, I suggest hitting the bars."
"Working bars? How? There's a food shortage in the city."
"One wolf pack set up an underground bar. Don't worry, the booze is real, from a warehouse. But the main thing — real girls."
"From a warehouse?"
"Ha-ha," Ksu laughed sarcastically. "They're both our kind, and one wants to meet you."
"Alright, I'll be your wingman for the evening."
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "12 quest">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"Pencils. Erasers. Pens. Self-service stationery stores are now within walking distance!"
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Good morning! I’m Jerry Blaimy, and this is Heart-to-Heart, where we’ll discuss the most pressing issues with dear Julia Tericheva. Hello, Julia."
"Hello, Jerry. Shall we start with the military update? Republican soldiers have begun an operation to liberate the city of Chatstok from imperial forces. The occupiers temporarily hold all naval bases and half of the land bases in the north of the island, forcing them to expend resources on additional territorial control. Meanwhile, in the occupied territories, free citizens have formed a partisan movement that’s conducting successful operations. For instance, the resistance leader with the alias 'John Doe' managed to liberate his village from imperial forces, personally killing over a hundred soldiers."
"Wow, a true hero!"
[[Turn off this crap->Day 4]]"Civil Defense, open the door!"
"Are you really Civil Defense?"
"Who else, the Military Attack?"
"Your jokes are just like those of any ordinary government service."
"And you think you joke better? Then open up, we'll joke together."
[[Open the door->Open the door13]]
[[Tell them to leave->TLtL13]]"Alright, one healthy joker. Have you been in contact with any of the infected?"
"Only through the door."
"And you think that piece of plywood protected you from the virus?"
"Well... As you can see, yes..." you asked a counter-question. "So what kind of virus is it? Where did it come from?"
"Imperial sabotage. Those bastards are ready to torment peaceful civilians."
"And I was told that this disease..." you stopped, realizing your mistake.
"Who said what?!" all three Civil Defense workers turned to you. You can't see their eyes, but you feel like they're burning holes through you with their gaze.
"A friend told me that's exactly how it is, like you said. That this disease came from imperial spies. I hope you catch them soon."
"Yes, very soon. The main thing is that civilians don't get in the way. Because of you, our workload just keeps growing. By the way, we won't come to you tomorrow. Take a food kit for today."
"And for tomorrow?"
"And tomorrow we won't come to you."
[[Well, at least something]]Someone knocked again.
"Kangshar Power Supply. You called us."
"Yes, a week ago. The electrical panel nearly killed me! When I finally opened the door in rubber gloves, everything inside was melted."
"Oh, that's a serious and urgent problem. We would've fixed it sooner, but a wave of sick leaves halted the entire company's operations."
"Sick leaves? Wait, are you sick? Are you beasts?"
"We're human, but yeah, we got over that weird crap. You didn't?"
"No."
"That's a problem. We don't have those hazmat suits like the big shots in Civil Defense, but we still need to get inside to you."
"I'll get sick from you."
"Then go to the second floor or the roof. We'll be in the basement, we'll yell when we're done."
What's the risk that they'll just take your stuff and infect you at the same time?
[[Open the door->Open the door14]]
[[Tell them to leave->Tell them to leave14]]You felt great relief when the repairmen finished their work and left the hotel. You'd have to clean everything from the entrance to the basement... Ah! Damn! Someone was knocking again.
"Open up, prey," a mad voice addressed you directly, pounding on the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges. "Obey the evil spawn that you yourself created."
"Y-you've gone completely insane? I'll scream! Civil Defense will come running!"
"Fool, idiot, blind man, weakling, traitor, villain, creature, animal—they won't come. Those traitors of our kind have more important things to do than save the city. They're destroying it. And they won't notice as one more human life is destroyed, altered, remade."
"What do you want?!"
"One life, one pure human. Doesn't matter who. Open up, and maybe I'll spare you if you have someone. Don't open—I’ll take everyone."
"I have a shotgun!"
"Liar, scoundrel, trickster, coward — I know you're bluffing. Open the door!"
<<if $guests is 0>><<click "Open the door">><<goto "Open the door15a">><</click>><<else>><<click "Open the door">><<goto "Open the door15b">><</click>><</if>>
[[Tell it to leave->Tell them to leave15]]"Eh, forget it, the electrical panel's fine," you said, and a second later the lights went out in the room. Something started burning. You asked the repairmen to wait, went down to the basement yourself, and found the reason why the entire block had to be evacuated before the firefighters arrived. You were the first to run out of the hotel, bumping into a deer who was the lead electrician. Unfortunately, his crew couldn't fix the electrical panel because of the fire that had already spread to the first floor.
Thank God, everyone survived, but the hotel is destroyed. You scratched your antlers for a very long time, wondering how to live from now on.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Well, at least something">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"Prey obediently opened the door, knowing what awaited. But once cursed, prey becomes hunter."
The massive monster, straight out of a werewolf horror movie, stared right into your eyes. They were filled with malice and rage. You felt that hatred, let it flow through you, and wanted to do something about it.
You scratched the monster's face; it growled back at you. People turned them all into monsters, but how is this monster any better than people, since this beast turned you into a beast too?
The answer was a whimper. Understanding on an instinctual level. A monster is a monster because it's no longer human. Clouding of consciousness. Not human, not animal. Shattered and stuffed with primal instincts.
You felt very sorry for the monster. And you felt sorry for yourself and your gradually clouding mind.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Open the door14">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"Mmm, that sweet taste of betrayal and weakness. You're prey. In the new Kangshar, prey won't outlive the hunter. Both will be defeated by people in camouflage and traitors in hazmat suits."
The monster took your tenant, forcing you to flee to the basement and pray. When the tenant's screams turned to whimpers and barks and finally faded, you climbed to the second floor to see the monster through the windows.
[[But you saw only darkness—and nothing more]]
<<set $guests to $guests - 1>>"No, I won't open. You won't harm anyone. Not with your claws and teeth, nor with your disease."
"Insolent, brave, kind one. Kill? No way! I can't! You're not prey, you're brave, you're human. You're like the one who wouldn't let them kill us all. But you're not like the one who made us go through this. You're not afraid. That's commendable. That's stupid."
Silence fell. You went to the second floor to see the monster through the windows.
[[But you saw only darkness—and nothing more]]Someone knocked on the door.
"Nooo, not this! Not again! I don't want to answer! I don't want problems!" your inner voice screamed while you had to stay silent. No one should know you're still open. It's late evening, you're tired, and only dark and shady characters could show up now.
Like this tall girl with a thin face, for example. Yeah, seems human.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?!" you looked behind her at the door. It was closed.
"I'm Sonya Carter, dream walker, graduate of the River University of the Republic, if you need that. I travel to various interesting cities, like your Kangshar, for example."
"You're extremely suspicious. I'd throw you out the door."
"Are you really ready to send a girl out to face the unknown horror waiting beyond this saving door?"
You notice something strange emerging from the door cracks. Tentacles?
"[[Stay, Miss Carter, as long as you like. Your gold coin will cover even a year's stay]]"
"[[Get out of my head! Out of my hotel! Out of my head! Out of my hotel! Out of my head! Out of my hotel! Out of my head! Out of my hotel! Out of my head! Out of my hotel!]]""There we go. Thank you so much for helping with the luggage!" she said, smiling. You looked at her, at the chair, at the reception desk, at the contract, at the stack of bills. It seems you were half-asleep. No dreamwalkers, no unknown horror beyond the door.
[[I need to sleep more and stress less]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>"What's wrong with you?" she asked. "I asked for your help, not your screaming. Yes, the situation in the city is insane, but that doesn't mean you need to go crazy too and attack guests out of nowhere. I'll report you to Civil Defense!"
Oops! It seems you were half-asleep. No dreamwalkers, no unknown horror beyond the door. You opened the door for her, and she left. Didn't dematerialize, didn't fly away—she walked out on her own two feet.
[[I need to sleep more and stress less]]"PEM. An elite product for affluent clients. Now with a seasonal 70% discount. Hurry, offer limited."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Greetings, viewers! I’m Jerry Blaimy. Today was supposed to be Heart-to-Heart with the Prime Minister, but Julia is absent. Instead, we have an equally incredible and charming guest. Meet Adam Pomrachev, head of the partisan movement under the alias 'John Doe.' We’ve decided not to hide the name or face of this elusive avenger, our hero, because imperial police will never find him, no matter their resources or desire. Tell us, Adam, how did you make it through the front lines to our studio?"
"It was easy. The Empire has plenty of gaps. That’s how I got here, taking out… uh… three hundred imperial soldiers along the way. In my appearance, I’d like to encourage people and declare that we’re all waiting for our dear President and Prime Minister to liberate us with our valiant Republican army. And that will happen any minute now."
"Adam, I have a gift for you. Julia wanted to present it herself, but it falls to me. This is the Star of Freedom, the highest military honor. Let me pin it on you…"
Adam saluted the journalist and said, "Alright, I guess I’ll head back to my village. I’ll keep fighting with twice the strength. In parting, I’ll just say: obey the authorities, and we will win."
[[Turn off this crap->Day 5]]Someone knocked on the door.
"Civil Defense, open up so we can check you and issue food," they said, overly politely.
[[Open the door->Open the door17]]
[[Tell them to leave->Tell them to leave17]]You forgot that the real Civil Defense wasn’t coming today. You opened the door to bandits. At first, you didn’t realize it. Three people in white coveralls and construction respirators walked in. You could see their faces through the glass—they were human, so you trusted them, thinking there just weren’t enough proper uniforms to go around.
You misjudged. With the words, "Healthy, which means you got rations," the fake Civil Defense workers headed to the kitchen and took all the food. Fortunately or unfortunately, you had nothing left. The lead bandit got angry, hit you, and demanded you open the cash register. You had no money either. The scammers left empty-handed.
[[Good thing you keep all your money in an envelope under the bed->18 guest]]You remembered that Civil Defense wasn’t coming today.
"Yeah, right, I believe you. Get lost, freaks!"
"Hey, scum, open the door right now!"
You used your superpower again—the shotgun bluff.
"I’ll shoot all you bandits right now! I know you’re not real Civil Defense!"
"Hey, calm down, calm down! Alright, we’re leaving."
[[Jerks->18 guest]]The day arrived. You were drinking tea without sugar. Well, not tea, just boiled water. Your thoughts were consumed with leaving the hotel, reaching the nearest store, and joining the collective cultural event—looting in search of a pack of sugar and some tea bags.
Dark thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Any normal people here?"
"Who’s asking?"
"A normal, healthy human, unlike those furry freaks. By the way, you sure you’re not one of those weirdos? Show yourself."
"You show yourself first. I’ll look at you from the roof."
You looked at each other, confirming your mutual health.
"It’s really good to meet a normal, healthy, sane person," he declared. "I really hope the General comes soon and wipes out these mutants, this disgrace to humanity. Or cures them, but until then, let them be locked up in cages in some zoo."
[[Open the door->Open the door18]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell him to leave18]]"Been a tough week, huh? You need a break, man."
"Yeah, I need to get some rest after what happened. My sister... she was fine until she caught this bug. Now she's growling and ignoring me. These creatures aren't human, they need to be isolated!"
The reason for the hatred was understandable, but it was unpleasant, utterly repulsive. The disease spares no one, turning even the healthy into monsters of a different kind — bitter and broken.
[[Evening was approaching]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>"Get the hell out of here. I’d rather fill this hotel with ten furry freaks than let in one hater."
"Man, have you completely lost your mind? Are those sick beasts dearer to you than people, so you’re ready to leave me alone on these streets? Screw you!"
[[Evening was approaching]]Someone knocked on the door.
"Is your hotel open?"
"Yes. Who's this?"
"Percival Haynes."
Haynes? The name sounds familiar. They’re the richest family in town. Percival was the head of the family, owner of the canning factory.
"An interesting meeting. You want to stay at the hotel? Why?"
"The city is in chaos and madness. My daughter, grandson, granddaughter, and I were abandoned by our guards, who decided to help their own families instead of doing their job. My family was left without protection, and crazy residents, hearing rumors about a virus in canned fish, decided to take revenge on me. Now the four of us are homeless, but I have cash. A large sum. I’d like to book two rooms for a month until we find a place to live."
"Alright, Percival. Just one question: are you healthy?"
"Unfortunately, no. Those lunatics left their mark on me. Are you healthy? I understand the risk of infection, but I’m willing to compensate for the risk with double payment. I need nothing but comfort and safety for my family."
[[Open the door->Open the door19]]
[[Tell them all to leave->Tell them to leave19]]You agreed with Percy that you wouldn’t have direct contact with him and that his family wouldn’t leave their rooms. You warned him that the hotel was out of food, so you couldn’t cook for them, to which Percy said he brought three backpacks full of canned goods. Along with his family’s backpacks.
Three backpacks? Is this old man really that strong? Strong as a bear. The guests didn’t follow the rules. Percy’s grandson and granddaughter frequently ran out of their rooms, and one day they ran into you.
Direct contact. Infection. You stormed into Percy’s room and demanded compensation for breaking the agreement.
A stack of banknotes fell onto your large, clumsy, clawed hand.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Evening was approaching">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"Sorry, but I can’t... I’m too afraid of getting infected."
"And you’d leave four people out on the street because of that? Ugh, we’ll have to spend the night at the factory."
"[[Sorry...]]"You were about to go to bed when a scream from the street jolted you. You rushed to the second floor to see what was happening. Deep evening had fallen, but you could make out two silhouettes. It looked like some goat-man was attacking a wolf-woman. She was slowly backing away as he yelled at her. He screamed that they had to give something back, that she would pay for all their actions. Judging by the goat’s crazed behavior, this could turn out very badly for the wolf-woman. Something had to be done.
[[To hell with the disease! If someone needs saving, I’ll stand up for her]]
[[I can’t risk it! But she needs saving. I’ll go to the roof and start shouting for Civil Defense]]"No, I’m not a coward," you thought, stepping out of the hotel.
"Hey, you horned bastard! Want a fight? You’ll get one! Leave her alone!" You approached closer while he ignored you, still ranting at the wolf-woman.
You came up from behind, grabbed his horns, and yanked him backward sharply. The goat fell from the surprise. You almost toppled after him but jerked back.
You thought you’d gone too far with the enemy—hitting his head on the concrete sidewalk could’ve been extremely painful or even fatal—but the goat quickly got up, stared at you in shock, and with the words "You don’t understand anything" and "They’re all guilty, and you’re helping them," charged at you with his horns.
It could’ve been fatal for you, but you instinctively lowered your head to meet the enemy. Two goats clashed, and the wolf-woman, seizing the moment, ran away. "Because of you, freak, I lost my son again," he punched you in the gut, making you double over.
"What son? That was her, a wolf-woman."
"Her father kidnapped my son."
"That’s no reason to harm others. A daughter isn’t responsible for her father."
The goat was about to hit you again, but suddenly he lay down and fell asleep. A second later, you felt pain and saw a dart in your leg. Tranquilizer? What the hell...?
You woke up in an office where the wolf-woman and a large wolf were sitting. He apologized for his subordinates’ actions: they thought you were the one trying to beat and kidnap his daughter. But you had saved her instead, and for that, as the leader of the Central Street gang, he offered to grant any wish you had. Within reason, of course—he couldn’t remove your horns, muzzle, hooves, or gray-black fur; he couldn’t give you back your human body. You thought about the offer: ask for canned goods, ask for the gang’s protection, ask to join the gang... It was all tempting and promised benefits, but you decided to do something else.
"Free that stubborn goat and his son. Let them go their own way and stay away from both of you," you said, pointing at him and then at her.
The wolf nodded, and you returned to your hotel.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Sorry...">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"No, I’m not a hero," you thought, heading upstairs. You started shouting into the street so people would notice and the nearest Civil Defense patrols or remaining law enforcement would come running. You really hoped those patrols existed and maintained order, not just checked people for symptoms.
At first, no one heard—only you and the wolf-woman were shouting and calling for help. Then lights started turning on in windows. Animal-like neighbors began yelling at you, threatening to come and beat you for hooliganism. But when they saw the reason for your shouts... One neighbor down the street, a horse, ran out of her house and grabbed the ram, saving the wolf-woman.
[[She saved her. But it wouldn’t have happened without your help. Everything ended well—that’s what matters. You went to sleep]]"Deceived depositors of Frost Bank! Lawyer Anatol Zherman is ready to include you in a collective claim to liquidate the bankrupt’s assets and recover part of your deposits. Sign up by phone and come to the capital to sign the application. All you need is your passport and your named bonds."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Jerry Blaimy, Julia Tericheva, Day 95 of the war. Julia, share the latest news with our viewers."
"You’d better do it."
"What? Uh, okay. Day 95 of the war. The Republic’s forces are… ahem, regrouping at the southern borders. Meanwhile, the General has extended martial law to half the country’s cities. The Kangshar blockade continues because the spies haven’t been caught… uh, not all spies have been caught. The Foreign Minister was lynched… died by people’s justice for attempting to negotiate a dirty peace with the Empire. Did I get that right?"
[[Turn off this crap->Day 6]]"Open the door, this is Civil Defense."
"Are you sure it’s real Civil Defense?"
"Why the qu— Oh, right. Have scammers already come by?"
You let the people in yellow biohazard suits inside.
"We’re here to give you a portable radio. We’ll warn you before we show up. But we didn’t just bring the radio and food—we’re also here to inform you that the General has ordered the temporary nationalization of your hotel. Of course… it’s temporary. And there’s good news: you’re appointed hotel administrator. A safe zone will be set up in your district where all healthy citizens will be housed. But they’ll go through quarantine via your hotel."
"Amazing news… So you’re both stripping me of my property and forcing me to interact with potentially infected people?"
"A clear order has been given, and you must comply."
"I don’t have to obey orders—I’m a civilian."
"We were civilians too."
"[[Fine, to hell with you. I’ll do what you say]]"
"[[Go to hell! Get out of MY hotel!]]""A sensible decision. And well-paid. You’re entitled to a double ration for serving Civil Defense."
"Will I get protective suits like yours?"
"Why would you need them? You’re not…" The Defense worker fell silent when the second one smacked him on the head.
"No suits until you’ve earned the loyalty of Civil Defense and the General personally. Do your job starting today and you’ll be rewarded. Healthy people with Civil Defense inspection certificates should arrive today. It’s a document. They’ll slide it under the door, and you’ll let them in. For that, you’ll get a double portion to survive any possible situations. Clear?"
"Not clear what ‘possible situations’ means."
"It’s obvious, starv…" The hazmat suit got smacked on the head again.
[[They left, saying on their way out that the General shouldn’t have picked this place for quarantine. Everything could collapse at any moment, burying all the healthy people. Everything needed repairs]]Big mistake.
You woke up beaten on one of Kangshar’s streets. Your body ached terribly. And it seemed not just from Civil Defense exceeding their authority. A wolf, just as battered, lay next to you. That meant direct contact, that meant infection, that meant the end of your old life…
But did you even need your old life? That weak body, that money-losing hotel. Wasn’t it time to strive for something new? And to what?
To building a new business of your own. It turned out your new acquaintance was a lieutenant in the East Street wolf gang. You agreed with him to open your own underground bar where everyone would be welcome. Your friend Ksu often dropped by, thrilled that you’d become a “canine brother.” You pour him drinks for free because he introduced you to a coyote girl. She, like the bar, became an inseparable part of your new life.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Day 6">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>The first client arrived after a while.
"Excuse me, is this a shelter for healthy people? Are you providing free food?" a male voice asked.
"Yes… Do you have proof of inspection?"
"Yes, they checked me today."
"Then pass the document through the gap under the door."
"Document? Through the gap? Better if I hand it to you directly."
[[Open the door->Open the door22]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell him to leave22]]You opened the door, but instead of a healthy guest, a gaunt tiger stared at you. He took advantage of your confusion and, spotting the food rations, snatched both with the words, "Sorry, but this is for my family."
Damn cat. He doomed you to painful changes and ruined the shelter idea just to grab some of your supplies and help his loved ones in a tough moment. You hate him for it. But you’d have done the same in his place.
You spent the day in a fever. When it broke, you decided to check your new condition. The fur that appeared was orange with black stripes. On your face-muzzle now sat a huge snout ending in a pink tip. Well, your nose was already big even before the disease—how much bigger could it get…
Civil Defense tried to evict you from the building, but when they realized force wouldn’t work, they switched to persuasion. They offered a deal: a new job, help for the army, guaranteed rations. You agreed.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "They left, saying on their way out that the General shouldn’t have picked this place for quarantine. Everything could collapse at any moment, burying all the healthy people. Everything needed repairs">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"Either slide the documents under, or I won’t open."
"Come on, man, this isn’t serious. Open the door and I’ll give them to you."
"You don’t have them because you’re definitely not healthy and just came for food. Get out of here."
"Yeah, you’re right. I lied because I’m starving. My family…"
"And for that, you’d risk another person’s health and life? Take food that’ll feed you for a day but doom a healthy person to your fate?"
"I’d even kill for my loved ones."
"Is that a threat?"
"I don’t even know myself. The situation in the city is getting more critical."
"Ah, screw it. I’ll pass you a pack of crackers. Wait here, I’ll go to the roof."
You looked down at the scammer from above. Who could he possibly kill? Pfft, sure he’s a tiger, but you have serious doubts. Maybe malnutrition does that? Hmm, interesting—does Civil Defense or anyone else feed the infected, or are they left on their own?
"Man, you taking long up there?" he interrupted your daily reflection session again. You tossed down the pack of crackers. The big orange cat deftly caught it with his tiger reflexes. Well, maybe he could kill someone after all. Thank God he and the others aren’t desperate enough yet to start robbing houses with people in them.
[[The tiger thanked you for the crackers]]Evening came. Another knock at the door.
"Is this a hotel? I didn’t know Kangshar had hotels. Or did you open it after the epidemic?" a woman’s voice asked.
"Good evening. Are you healthy?"
"Yes. All clear. They gave me confirmation," she slid it under the door. You started reading.
Angelika Nesmiyan. Inspected: today. Suspicion: none. Approved for accommodation.
"Can I come in now? I’m risking infection every second I linger on this street."
[[Open the door->Open the door23]]
[[Tell her to leave->Tell her to leave23]]"Thank you so much!" She extended her hand, and you shook it. She tried to give you money, and you really wanted to take it, but you explained that the hotel was now under army control and stays were free.
You escorted Angelika to her room and returned to the reception.
The Civil Defense radio crackled to life. Well, it was always on—90% white noise, 10% streets and codes.
[[You tuned in to the broadcast]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>"Confirmation says no."
"What?" A brief silence hung, then she continued, "How? I’m completely healthy!"
"Confirmation says no."
"Damn it… So I’m supposed to go back home, walking the streets, risking infection?"
"Confirmation says no. Ahem"
"Heartless idiot!"
The next day, Civil Defense noticed the guest never reached you. They checked her apartment, learned of your refusal, and kicked you out of your own hotel, firing you as administrator for absolute incompetence.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "The tiger thanked you for the crackers">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"One-Two-Zero-Seven. Fifteen, South Street."
"Copy. Third to Five-Six-Three. Fifteen, South Street."
"Attention, quarantine administrator: Civil Defense personnel will visit you tomorrow. How copy?"
"Uh, copy, thank you," you said.
"Keep the radio on. Contact us for any issues."
"What if someone tries to attack me?"
"Nearest unit will arrive in five to ten minutes."
"Copy, thanks."
"Dispatcher! Thirty-two ten here!"
"What? Street, what street?!"
"West!"
"All units! Thirty-two ten West Street! Repeat, thirty-two ten West Street! All units! Five-Six-Three! Five-Six-Three!"
[[You had no intention of finding out what “thirty-two ten” meant and went to bed]]"Due to a court ruling on a defamation lawsuit, we, the Consumer Union, must state that PEM is completely safe for humans, and the content of toxic substances in PEM is within permissible limits. PEM does not cause cancer, infertility, or chemical burns. It has not been proven that these health damages were caused by PEM consumption."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Julia?"
"Jerry?"
"Will you tell the people anything?"
"Maybe. That’s all I can do now. Endlessly report updates while the President and the General, with their commandants, have seized all executive power."
"Prime Minister, are you okay? If you want, we can take a commercial break."
[[Turn off this crap->Day 7]]A new day, new troubles.
“This is Civil Defense—open the damn door! You’ve got one minute before we kick it in!”
You opened the door, and three pissed-off hazmats stormed in. One held a bag of canned goods; the other two had rifles at the ready.
“Something wrong?” you asked, pointing at the guns.
“We’re looking for a person. He committed a crime.”
“So now you’re acting as police? I wanted to report vandalism. I went to the roof and saw some infected spraying paint on my hotel walls.”
“First, it’s not your hotel anymore. Second, we’re not cops.”
“Then why are you hunting a criminal? Did he do something to your people?”
“No comment.”
[[You took the supplies and continued your admin duties. Healthy arrivals were due today.]]An unexpected guest showed up.
“This is Civil Defense, please open,” a too-polite voice said behind the door.
“What Civil Defense? They were here hours ago. Get lost, scammer,” you replied—but a badge started sliding under the door.
“Look out your windows if you want. I’m clean.”
You did, then let the hazmat in.
“Thank you, administrator! I’d like to rent a room.”
“This hotel isn’t mine anymore—it’s basically a quarantine zone. I can’t just check people in.”
“I’ll pay cash and canned goods.”
“That sounds really weird,” you said, reaching for the radio at reception—when a gloved hand clamped yours. It hurt; you felt his nails even through the glove.
“Please don’t call my colleagues. I’ll explain everything.”
The Civil Defense worker told you he’d been hired two days ago as a driver, shuttling food from the blockade line to HQ. He rode with a Sergeant who, on day two, convinced him to stop the trucks and hand food to infected people who get nothing—then lie to command that wolf gangs stole it. But a patrol caught two hazmats unloading supplies. They’d report 4512—state theft—and both would face tribunal. So he decided to sacrifice only himself. He drew his pistol, pretended to hold the Sergeant at gunpoint, and forced her to keep unloading. That turned it into an assault on junior command, guaranteeing she’d stay in position and keep feeding the hungry. When the radio called 3210—attack on Civil Defense—he had to run.
Now he has nowhere to hide: relatives, friends, everyone will be watched. But he’ll live in your basement if you let him, and pay in cans.
"[[Alright, I’ll buy it. Stay.]]"
"[[You’d better leave. You’re not safe here.]]""Thank you so much!" He handed you a backpack stuffed with canned goods—a generous week’s advance. Such a gift wouldn’t let you stick him in the basement. You had to give him one of the free rooms on the second floor.
"Whoa, thanks, this is way better than the cots at HQ," you said, glad at least one guest liked the room quality.
"I’d like to ask you for one favor, administrator," he stopped you as you left his room. "Don’t open this door. I’ll come out myself if needed, but with my small stash of cans, I can stay in here the whole time. Don’t worry about me and don’t open this door. Thank you!"
You were puzzled by the strange request from the strange stranger.
[[You returned to the reception desk and waited for the next visitor.]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>You lied to this thief and deserter, telling him Civil Defense searches the entire hotel every day and they’d find him.
"I know that’s not true. The Sergeant told me her command never gave such orders. Though I get it—tomorrow or today they’ll come for me. Not because of orders, but because of you. Guess I’ll find a better hideout."
The hazmat left.
[[You returned to the reception desk and waited for the next visitor.]]"Hello… cough-cough," the stranger cleared his throat. "Civil Defense sent me. Please open up."
"Greetings. Slide your certificate under the door."
"Can’t you open the door and take it from my hand?" He waited for your negative reply and started grumbling. "My knees ache from all this bending and stretching… Here."
Curtis Brodic. Inspected: yesterday. Suspicion: present. Approved for accommodation.
"You taking long in there? Open up, please. It’s chilly out here, I’m shivering."
[[Open the door->Open the door27]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell him to leave27]]You opened the door. If the sight hadn’t shocked you, you’d have laughed: complain about the cold with that fur coat? You understood why this humanoid sable was feverish—for the same bitter reason you’d soon be feverish too.
"Shelter is closing due to lack of staff," you told the sick man, grabbed the radio, walked with him to the exit, and locked the door behind you.
Now you had to deliver the key to the nearest Civil Defense station and explain why they needed a new administrator. Damn it!
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "You returned to the reception desk and waited for the next visitor.">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>"I can’t let you in. The inspection sheet says there’s suspici—"
"So what? I just caught a cold! Still sick. The key is approval for… cough-cough …accommodation."
"Wait, I’ll at least check you visually. Stay by the entrance—I’ll look from the roof. No peephole here."
You looked down at the humanoid sable: "Sorry, we don’t take sick people."
"But I just have a cold!"
"No, this is the infection. Colds don’t grow fur or change body structure."
"I don’t have any of that! I’m a normal human. You must be delirious, right? Maybe you’re the one with a cold—or worse? No point staying if you’ll infect me. Good luck and health—I’m out."
"[[Get well soon!]]""Administrator!" the Dispatcher’s voice crackled over the radio.
"Uh, I’m here."
"A construction and repair crew is coming to your district. We’ll be building a safe zone around your shelter to house healthy citizens until quarantine ends."
"That’s great. Can I ask them to install a peephole on the door?"
"Civil Defense has no time or resources for such nonsense!"
"Alright. What happens to the infected residents in the district? Where are you relocating them?"
"To the vacant apartments of healthy citizens, of course."
"But won’t some people be left without housing?"
"Administrator, that’s not for you or me to decide. Everyone will be provided for. Drop the pointless chatter and stop clogging the airwaves. I’m only here to inform you that the repair crew arrives tomorrow, so you’re required to let them in and comply with any request. They’re part of Civil Defense too."
[[You wanted to say "Go to hell," but said "Copy that," set the radio down, and went to sleep.]]"Frost Bank 2.0 offers a new type of deposit. Now you can earn interest not only on money but also on food ration cards. No need to worry about your deposits or bonds—they’re insured by Frost Insurance."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Today on Heart-to-Heart, we have an unusual guest. It’s the General himself!"
"Hello, Jerry. I’m here for just one episode while the Prime Minister is at an important meeting with the President."
"General, what do you want to tell our viewers?"
"Nothing. War demands silence. A successful war demands total silence."
"Can you at least tell us what’s happening in Kangshar? Viewers are worried, sending letters. When will the blockade be lifted?"
"If no one pays attention to false rumors and interferes with the work of our brave boys, it’ll be soon."
"What rumors…?"
[[Turn off this crap->Day 8]]"This is Civil Defense—open the door!"
Two with rifles ready, one with canned goods. No, scratch that—no cans.
"Damn wolf gangs seized the city entrances. Food trucks can’t get through now. So we need to start building the safe zone as soon as possible."
"What about your HQ?"
"It’s gone. Central food warehouse too. Those bastards looted it and torched the building."
"Infected?"
"Yes."
"Why’d they do it?"
"Obvious. Hunger. Regular infected residents get no food. And for crimes against the Republic, none of them will."
[[It seems to you that even peaceful infected Kangshar residents wouldn’t get anything. But why? Does the epidemic strip them of civil rights, including the right to life?]]A few hours later, new hazmats arrived. "Repair crew. You here, administrator?" they asked, as if you had anywhere else to go.
You opened. Five people entered with toolboxes and metal sheets. "One wall blocking the street will be built 100 meters from your hotel. Thanks, administrator, for agreeing to help haul bricks and sandbags."
"What? Who? I didn’t agree."
"Our bosses said you volunteered. Sure you want to refuse? We’re short-staffed. Everyone else is busy evicting citizens from their apartments. Just us five to build the temporary fence. As our sixth man, you’d help a lot. It’s in everyone’s interest—all healthy citizens—that the safe zone goes up fast."
"[[I can help. But how do I go outside without risking my health?]]"
"[[Those Civil Defense idiots made me their administrator, but they won’t make me haul bricks. Sorry.]]"The repair crew handed you a protective kit. It was something like a raincoat or the plastic gowns medics wear when there’s a risk of infection. And a cloth mask. Fantastic protection…
You stepped out of the hotel and were briefly blinded by the sunlight. Damn. You’d spent way too much time inside. If you hadn’t gone to the roof, you’d probably have gone permanently blind from the contrast.
When your eyes adjusted again, you noticed a surreal situation: fifteen armed hazmats were guarding your group of six.
“That’s Civil Defense. They’re evacuating the infected and protecting us.”
“From what?”
“From the infected losing their minds. Many go insane from hunger and new instincts. My neighbor… No, let’s not talk about it.”
A truck pulled up. The driver, in a full hazmat with a holstered pistol, dropped pallets of bricks right onto the road. You also had to haul sandbags from the back of the truck.
“Alright, we’re short on time. Short on materials. Command didn’t even supply cement, so we’ll skip the foundation. That’ll make it faster. Hopefully, by the time this wall collapses, quarantine will be over.”
The workers marked lines, stacked sandbags outside them, and laid bricks inside. The wall was meant to be three meters high. You started helping.
[[Brick by brick, brick by brick, brick by brick…->31]]"Administrator!" the once-polite, now furious Dispatcher screamed over the radio. "What the ***? Why aren’t you helping the repair crew, why aren’t you doing your job?"
"My direct job is to watch this so-called shelter, this so-called quarantine—my hotel—and let in healthy citizens. That’s what I do. Everything else isn’t my problem."
"Don’t you want your healthy neighbors living with you?"
"I want my neighbors to recover. Instead of treating them, you evict them. People I’ve known for years."
"Look, administrator, I get it, but your position doesn’t give you slack. Next time you disobey one order, you’ll be evicted with the sick. Clear?"
"[[Copy.->31]]"Finally, someone came to your hotel who wasn’t in a hazmat suit.
"Excuse me, is this where Civil Defense provides housing?"
"Are you a healthy person?"
"Yes, all good."
"Then show your certificate."
The stranger was silent for a moment, then said, "I lost it. Some aggressive swan was chasing me from afar, so I bolted to get away from trouble and dropped the certificate along the way."
"Wait. I need to check something," you stepped away from the door, climbed to the roof, and looked down at the guest. Even though it was evening, you could tell he had no obvious animal-like features. Maybe he’s hiding something or doesn’t notice it himself?
"No signs of the disease?" you asked through the door, back on the first floor.
"None at all. Haven’t had contact with anyone all week except Civil Defense."
He seems healthy, but there’s no guarantee without the certificate. On the other hand, you used to let people in or turn them away without Civil Defense paperwork before.
[[Open the door->Open the door31]]
[[Tell him to leave->Tell him to leave31]]"Thank you so much!" When you opened the door, you were sure you’d made the right choice. Just a normal human. Thank God. "I don’t have any cash, though. Can I pay for the stay with a bank card?"
You laughed. He really had told the truth about not contacting anyone—he hadn’t left his place except to come here. Otherwise he’d know card payments vanished along with the network. You reassured him: "Don’t worry, the stay is free, courtesy of Civil Defense."
You escorted the guest to his room.
[[Night was falling. Distant screams echoed from the street. It could be anything. Calls for help? Fear for life when meeting wolf-gang bandits or crazed infected? Arguments with Civil Defense over eviction from apartments they’d lived in for decades so healthy people could take them? The reason could be anything. But screams in what used to be the calm and quiet Kangshar were growing more frequent every day.]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>"I can’t let you in without the certificate. Sorry."
"You’re telling me to go look for it on the street? Where the insane infected are still roaming?"
"No, you can go home and wait for the next Civil Defense inspection."
"They only came today! In this whole terrifying week. And now they’ve probably crossed my address off their list."
"Sorry, but… I can’t take the risk. I have no guarantee you’re 100% healthy."
"To hell with your 'sorry.'" The guest walked away.
[[Night was falling. Distant screams echoed from the street. It could be anything. Calls for help? Fear for life when meeting wolf-gang bandits or crazed infected? Arguments with Civil Defense over eviction from apartments they’d lived in for decades so healthy people could take them? The reason could be anything. But screams in what used to be the calm and quiet Kangshar were growing more frequent every day.]]Night fell. You hoped no more guests would come and, expecting a radio message about Civil Defense arriving tomorrow (none came all day and wouldn’t), you prepared for bed.
But a knock jolted you awake. A teenage voice: "Hey, anyone there? Open up to warm up."
"Who are you? You healthy?" you asked. He said he was now "healthy": recently got over some crap and turned into "a really weird monkey with some messed-up gray-red nose that sets me apart from the other freaks here." Civil Defense kicked him out of his apartment, but he didn’t leave the district—just ran from them.
"What about your parents?" Mom was out of town during the blockade; Dad serves in the republican army. The kid was on his own. But his school friend helped: her dad, missing a week before the blockade and back on day one of the epidemic from "some sketchy place," turned out to be a humanoid "mandarinill" or something, infected her when they met, and she infected the teen.
"Sad story, but I can’t let you in without risking you infecting me or any healthy person. I’ll give you a couple cans I have…"
"Wait, boom. I’m begging for help. Just one night. I’ll stay out of your way—sleep in a closet, storage room, anywhere. I’ll leave first thing in the morning to reach my friend. Kangshar’s not safe at night now."
"[[Alright, storage room it is. You okay sleeping on boxes?]]"
"[[Sorry, can’t let you in. But wait here a sec, okay? I’ll toss you some cans from the roof.]]""Thank you so much! I can even sleep on the floor. I just need a roof over my head and internet."
"What the hell internet? There’s no connection anywhere in the city."
"Damn, I thought at least your hotel had satellite connection."
"Hah! Even if I did, all those satellites belong to the Republican Internet Corporation, which cut off all wired internet."
"Whoa, you’re way too tech-savvy for a boom."
"Because I’m mil."
You told the mandrill how to get to the storage room: a few steps straight, right turn, ten more steps. You unlocked the main door, went upstairs, waited for the storage door knock, put on rubber gloves, and locked the front door again. Then you grabbed a mop and wiped the floor from entrance to storage. Damn, you’d have to clean again tomorrow.
[[Then you went to sleep.]]
<<set $guests to $guests + 1>>"Thanks, imsc! I’ll definitely wait for you."
Imsc? What’s that? While climbing to the roof, you tried to recall zoom slang. Short for "imperial scum"? What a cheeky brat! And I’m bringing him cans.
You looked down from the roof. No one on the street. You went down and found the door open. The mandrill had gotten inside! And apparently locked himself in your room. Damn!
"Hey, boom! Sorry, but you forced me to use a lockpick. Your storage room’s pretty cool, by the way!"
"That’s not the storage room! Alright, that’s it—I’m calling Civil Defense!"
"Calling reinforce because you can’t handle a teenager? Real boom move."
"Enough! You’re out of my hotel first thing tomorrow, or I will call Civil Defense!"
"Fine, boom. And… thanks, I guess, for not calling now. Sorry for the trouble, but I don’t want to sleep on the street. At first light, I will be gone."
[[He fell asleep, and you went to sleep in the storage room. Damn! Damn! Damn!->Then you went to sleep.]]"The curfew begins at 6pm. Please stay in your houses. Please tune in to local programming for curfew information."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"Julia, I can’t hide this anymore. Our newsroom has received letters. Everyone’s asking about the photos taken by the imperial air force. Is it true? Are there monsters living in Kangshar? What happened to Kangshar’s residents?"
"I don’t know."
"What do you know?"
"Nothing."
"At least speculate what it could be. Tell us how you can help and how our viewers can help their fellow citizens."
"You can’t help them."
"Who decided that?"
"Not me. I don’t decide anything anymore."
[[Turn off this crap->Day 9]]"Civil Defense, open the damn door, b@^№h!" an aggressive voice shouted, pounding on the door.
This definitely wasn’t Civil Defense. No radio confirmation. You went to the roof to see who was below. An armed beast-gang: hyena, bull, and snake. The snake spotted you, raised a pistol, and started shooting. Luckily, you’d stepped back from the edge at the sight of the gun—bullets missed. "What the hell, Jane?!" the bull asked. "He’s healthy. I hate healthy people," she replied.
You rushed to reception, grabbed the radio. The dispatcher was already transmitting a code and your street. "Help! Bandits trying to break into the hotel! They’re armed! They tried to kill me!" you reported—but they heard you through the door.
"Hey, you in there? That guy from the balcony? Sorry about my friend’s behavior. Open the door, we’ll talk calmly. Open it nicely, or I’ll break this damn door first, then gut you."
[[Obey the bandits]]
[[Hide on the second floor, lock all doors]]This wasn’t your dumbest life decision, but it wasn’t the smartest. It wasn’t your best—because it was the worst.
When you opened the door, Jane put a bullet straight through your head. Ouch.
You became a victim of cruelty. A victim of quarantine. Blockade. War. Violence. Long ago, in faraway times, brother first raised a hand against brother. Even earlier, one cell learned to kill another for nutrients. This stream of violence didn’t start with you and won’t end with you. People will keep killing people because that’s how the world’s laws are written. Or, rather, because that’s how the world’s errors are written?
This is probably a mistake, because despite the terrible wars and crime, the level of violence is decreasing, the world is being cleansed of this sin. After your death, you’ll see the world grow less cruel, more humane, more advanced. But you won’t compare it to the present, which will become your past—because you’ll remember nothing.
You won’t even recall the horrors of the blockade or the republic-wide epidemic chaos. You’ll be born long after, in a happy family with a wolf-mother and eagle-father, in North Shonton, a city of the New Republic.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Day 9">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>>This was the right call. You only obey an aggressor when they already have you at gunpoint. You had a chance to escape. If you hide well… If the door holds even a little…
Even from the second floor, you heard their shouts and door-bashing. It looked flimsy, but metal hinges and core might withstand hits—for a while.
"What are you messing with?! Let me!" snake-Jane asked one of the bandits, apparently trying to ram the door with their weight.
"Ow, &$%!" A gunshot. She grazed one of them.
"What the hell, Jane?"
"Bullet ricocheted!"
"Why did you shoot the door, not the lock, you dumb reptile?"
"Everything’s gone wrong! Screw you all!"
Two more shots. Then silence.
[[Five minutes later, sirens. Civil Defense arrived. They questioned you about the incident. Turns out, a hyena and bull were killed outside. No snake body—she must’ve fled. You described Jane as best you could from three seconds of viewing.]]You sat behind the reception desk, stunned by the bandit encounter. Five hazmats were inspecting the hotel like a real crime scene. It almost was—the snake killed her accomplices right at the door. One hazmat kept questioning you, but you’d already told everything, urging them to find this Jane ASAP.
Another hazmat approached: "Administrator, sorry. Captain Strong wants to speak with you."
"Strong captain? What?"
"Don’t say that to his face. He’s Kangshar’s commandant, head of Civil Defense. He wants to discuss the quarantine’s future."
"The only thing I want to discuss with your boss is ensuring safety for me and all future guests. You were supposed to build a safe zone here, but I’ve already witnessed two murders! It's not safe! It's not safe for life! It's not safe for work!"
"You’ll discuss all that, of course."
You agreed. The hazmat handed you a mask and protective suit.
[[Time for another stroll through Kangshar.]]You stepped outside just as Civil Defense soldiers were hosing down the spot where the bandits had apparently been killed (their bodies already carted off by other personnel—no one said where). It brought a strange calm to your soul, but logically it unsettled you, realizing how quickly this new service could operate—and erase traces of the infected.
"Administrator, this way," you were escorted by four Civil Defense personnel, three of them armed. For the first time, you felt an illusion of safety. If you were going to cooperate while dozens of people streamed through your hotel daily for quarantine, they’d better provide at least one armed guard. And a helper wouldn’t hurt.
You walked down one street, turned onto a second, crossed a third. Many streets had hastily erected walls blocking off the infected. Some still lacked barriers—likely how the infected bandits reached you. On the last street, you spotted old acquaintances—the repair crew. It could’ve been others; you couldn’t tell through the hazmats, but they recognized you and waved.
[[You entered the building of the former Kangshar Center for Biological Development Administration.]]The chaos in the city (looted stores and office centers with shattered windows you’d seen during your walk) had left this administrative building untouched. It must’ve been well-guarded from the epidemic’s start. Or no one thought to raid office buildings for food, which was also possible.
You entered the registration hall. Your escort group moved on, leaving you in the lobby behind the turnstiles. A hazmat-suited guard at the entrance asked you to wait. Soon, another hazmat appeared, opened the turnstile, and motioned for you to follow.
You walked up the stairs to the top floor, to a closed door. Your guide knocked; a voice inside barked, "Sergeant, what took so long? Back to your post—no delays! And you, administrator, come in."
[[Enter the commandant’s office]]You expected a stern officer in a hazmat, but it was a smiling middle-aged man in a business suit. Unexpected. Your appearance seemed unusual to him too.
"At last, someone not in this protective gear! Hello, administrator. Have a seat," the officer gestured to a wide conference table. "Something to drink? I have a bottle of whiskey. Don’t worry, it’s sealed. Infection couldn’t get in."
"Thank you, Captain Strong, but I don’t drink. Forgive the question: does this epidemic spread only through the air?"
"Yes. Our researchers say 47 to 53 virus strains spread not just via aerosol but also water and contact. The last is certain death, so to speak. Skin contact instantly triggers the transformation into those freaks. That’s why I made these idiots wear full hazmat suits, not just masks. You know Civil Defense—except me and you—wears this masquerade not to protect from the sick, but to protect healthy citizens from themselves?"
"[[Now I get it. Probably fewer healthy volunteers. Had to recruit recovered people.->Let]]"
"[[Obvious. Easier to fight the disease with recovered people who’ve already had it.->Let]]"
<<set $theme to 4>>"Let me correct you. No, they’re not recovered people—they’re diseased non-humans. Not just victims but a threat to Kangshar and the Republic. Because this infection could spread outside, the General had to send two thousand good men to the rear to hold the blockade. Plus, constant riots, looting, food theft, and violence show how these freaks—after physical and mental changes—have degraded and ceased to be part of human society."
"You consider your own subordinates that way?"
"Every group has exceptions. Just as 1–2% of Republic citizens are dissidents jailed for opposing the President and Tericheva or calling for shameful negotiations, some mutants retain patriotism and serve Kangshar and the Republic. Though most are no different from diseased savages and joined for rations."
"Maybe give rations to all non-humans, and there’d be less crime—more real patriots joining you?"
"Administrator, you’re clearly a civilian… uh… inexperienced in logistics. The Republic has no resources to feed these animals. And aggression spikes are due to the virus. Scientific fact."
"Scientific fact that if you don’t feed a person, they’ll do anything to survive…"
"Alright, nice debating a real human, but I didn’t invite you for that. I want to discuss your hotel’s future. And yes, your hotel—if you follow orders precisely, we’ll return the requisitioned property and compensate your work and time with money."
"[[I’m listening.]]""You realize one person a day in quarantine is laughable. You’ll run the hotel to house thirty at once. Patrol estimates say just over a thousand healthy people remain in the city. Luckily, we’re sure of a hundred. The other nine hundred will cycle through your quarantine."
"And then evacuation?"
"Unfortunately, that’s not a question of one or two months. The blockade isn’t just against diseased non-humans—it’s against healthy, decent citizens too. There’s a chance we’re all carriers. So until a lot of time passes and scientists outside confirm everyone in the safe zone is healthy and safe for others, we stay put."
"What happens to the ‘non-humans’ by then?"
"Ideally, scientists find a cure to reverse the process. Worst case, they’re shot or starved. Most effective—after our evacuation, keep the blockade and forget these degenerates like a bad dream. But that’s not for me or you to decide, Corporal. Yes, you’re now officially a Civil Defense corporal. You’ll even have two non-humans under you to help with quarantine. People should stick together in tough times, right?" The commandant extended his hand.
[[Shake his hand]]
[[Screw him!]]"Excellent. Tomorrow will be a great day, Corporal."
"Service to the Republic!" You tried to salute, but the captain laughed: "Not done without a hat. Though we’re not exactly military anymore."
He sent you to the first floor, where you met your subordinates. One would guard the quarantine building; the other handle chores—laundry, ironing, cooking, moving guests’ things. Perfect. With that help, you’d manage the influx of "clients."
[[Tomorrow will be tough, so you turned in early. You slept deeply and soundly.->End1]]"I won’t shake the hand of someone sicker than our suffering citizens. I won’t be part of this crap."
You did the impossible—you shocked this officer who never expected such a blow. After a five-second pause, he began: "Are all Kangsharans this stubborn and stupid, or are you somehow infected with the virus? No hotel return, no compensation, no Civil Defense post for you. I’ll find a replacement today and toss you out like a rag beyond the safe zone with the other animals tomorrow."
He called a squad that escorted you out at gunpoint and walked you to the hotel. They said tomorrow they’d march you out of the safe zone under rifle barrels before the first healthy arrivals moved in.
Evening fell. You wanted sleep, but stress, regret over losses, and fear of the unknown and inevitable—the infected districts—kept you awake. You thought about the day and the talk. Despite everything, you realized one thing.
[[You did everything right.->End1]]"The curfew begins at 6pm. Please stay in your houses. Please tune in to local programming for curfew information."
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"No, I’ll be honest, Jerry. Now I really don’t care anymore. Unlike all the other nonsense, Adam Pomrachev wasn’t made up, and his actions weren’t exaggerated. I’ll admit, we were even scared that such people exist. Scared of their… effectiveness and… uncontrollability."
"Prime Minister, since we’re having a moment of honesty, is the information spread by the Empire about Kangshar true? Did the General really abandon the city’s residents to their fate? Is it true that those monsters are former people? Is it true that an epidemic is raging in Kangshar? Is it true that you tried to hide this information from us?"
"Jerry, too many questions. That’s very rude and unworthy of you as a professional journalist. Your colleague Tom asked too many questions too. And where is he now?"
"You don’t have any power anymore, Julia."
"That’s true. So, there’s no responsibility either. I can tell the whole truth then. Yes, it’s true that biological experiments were conducted in Kangshar. Yes, it’s true that the General oversaw those experiments. Yes, it’s true that he’s responsible for this epidemic and the numerous victims."
"It’s not just his responsibility. I’m right in understanding that the Empire isn’t lying about who was the main initiator of the super-soldier program, are they?"
"Go to hell. You and your pathetic TV studio. We should’ve shut you down and aired dances, ballets, and other cultural events on TV. To hell with your channel. To hell with the President. To hell with the Gen…"
Public Television Channel of the Republic. Voice of Freedom. Voice of the Island.
"By the decision of the Republic’s Commandant’s Office, the Public Television Channel is temporarily ceasing operations. The curfew begins at 6pm. Please stay in your houses. Please tune in to local programming for curfew information."
[[Turn off this crap forever]]<<if $guests > 4>>You let in<<if $guests >5>> more than<</if>> 5 guests to the hotel. For that, you get bonus content. <a href="https://youtu.be/dTXf0l3lwas" target="_blank">This is the eleventh episode of "Heart-to-Heart" with Yulia Tericheva.</a> Alright, it never aired due to the TV station shutdown, but if it had, it would've had these vibes (big thanks to the Not for Broadcast developers for inspiration!).<</if>><<if $guests < 5>>You let in fewer than 5 guests to the hotel. You would've gotten bonus content, but now it's CENSORED. Because the jam theme demands it. You thought censorship in this game was about state propaganda, silencing and firing Tom, downplaying the Kangshar tragedy, and shutting down the TV station? No, this game is actually about how terrible developers (no doubt an industry-wide conspiracy) censor content for replayability. Why can't they show all endings regardless of player choices?<</if>>
Thank you so much for playing! If you enjoyed it and want more games like this, follow me—for that, double mega-ultra thanks!
<<set $theme to 5>>
War. War never changes. Since ancient times, every nation has tried using war as a radical solution to all its problems. Too many people—war. Too little space—war. Need resources—war. To succeed in war, every country sought the ultimate edge. They looked edge in swords and armor, but the enemy soon had them too. In machines and tanks, until the foe matched them. In nuclear weapons—yet until the 1950s, uranium, that ultra-rare substance, was mere myth. In thorium bombs, but the first reactors only appeared recently. Now, thanks to advances in genetics and virology, scientists worldwide seek the edge in biological weapons...
This has grown even more relevant amid the Continental War waged by the Empire. The Republic—an island nation—stands as the last bastion of independence from the Empire. In this country lies the splendid city of Kangshar, where the game's events unfold.
<<click "Start the game (medium difficulty - bad endings allow return to checkpoint)">><<set $dif to 1>><<goto "Beginning">><</click>>
<<click "Start the game (high difficulty - no checkpoint returns, only via load or restart)">><<goto "Beginning">><</click>>
<<set $guests to 0>>
<<set $theme to 1>>
<<set $music to 0>>
<<button "Save/Load game">>
<<script>>UISystem.saves()<</script>>
<</button>>
<<button "Restart game">>
<<script>>UISystem.restart()<</script>>
<</button>>
<a href="https://wyrm-games.itch.io/iamafurry" target="_blank">Exit game</a>
Invited guests: $guests
The music was created by a brilliant group Complex Numbers (Viktor Argonov's Project) and is distributed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 4.0).
<<if $theme is not 1 and $music is 1>><<audio $playlistBegin loop volume 0.15 stop>><</if>><<if $theme is not 2 and $music is 2>><<audio $playlistGame volume 0.10 stop>><</if>><<if $theme is not 3 and $music is 3>><<audio $playlistBadEnd volume 0.15 stop>><</if>><<if $theme is not 4 and $music is 4>><<audio $playlistGoodEnd volume 0.15 stop>>><</if>><<if $theme is 1 and $music is not 1>><<audio $playlistBegin loop volume 0.15 play>><<set $music to 1>><</if>><<if $theme is 2 and $music is not 2>><<audio $playlistGame loop volume 0.10 play>><<set $music to 2>><</if>><<if $theme is 3 and $music is not 3>><<audio $playlistBadEnd loop volume 0.15 play>><<set $music to 3>><</if>><<if $theme is 4 and $music is not 4>><<audio $playlistGoodEnd loop volume 0.15 play>><<set $music to 4>><</if>>In a minute, they knocked the door off its hinges. Civil Defense workers entered the hotel and found you hiding behind the reception desk. They looked at you and radioed, "Everything's fine, this is a healthy human." Still a healthy human. The broken door, your only barrier against the spreading chaos in Kangshar, will no longer protect you from the city's inhabitants and the threat they carry.
<<if $dif is 1>><<click "Return to checkpoint">><<goto "Day 4">><<set $theme to 2>><</click>><</if>>
<<set $theme to 3>><<cacheaudio "07-automation.mp3" "07-automation.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "19-the-dream.mp3" "19-the-dream.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "26-the-night.mp3" "26-the-night.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "29-the-last-battle.mp3" "29-the-last-battle.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "28-federal-highway.mp3" "28-federal-highway.mp3">>
<<set $playlistBegin to "07-automation.mp3">>
<<set $playlistGame to "26-the-night.mp3">>
<<set $playlistBadEnd to "29-the-last-battle.mp3">>
<<set $playlistGoodEnd to "28-federal-highway.mp3">>