Monsters of the Pines

Earth's true rulers have returned. Old gods, monsterous and forgotten, have awoken from their eon slumber and have destroyed the world of man. Almost 5 years after the end of the world, yet few people still cling to life. Cults worships these Old Gods. Cannibals hunt for other survivors. Small groups band together to cling to some kind of faded mirror of the past world. Yet many others are infected by these gods, becoming monsters unrecognizable... [[welcome to..]]

Monsters of the Pines [[start]]

Lily was just 7 when the Gods woke. She was saved from a gruesome death by her father getting her to a national forest outside her old city. Her mother was not so lucky in those first days. [[The Cabin]] became the only safe place in the world for her.

Lily has not gone outside the old, decaying cabin since the start of all this. Her dad always told her one day she'd have to fend for herself in the outside world, as mad as it is. She is now 12, and she wakes up in the middle of the night clutching her old childhood teddy bear. She is alone in the attic of the house. It is raining hard, occasional flashes of lightning illuminate the large open space. She is in a ragged sleepingbag, on the locked trapdoor to the house below. Empty boxes that were once full of food are stacked against one wall, and a desk covered in old papers is against another. Lily can't help but wake up [[worried]]

It will be 14 days, once the sun rises, since he first left, hunting for food. Lily has been keeping track in the journal that was left for her. Usually his trips only lasted a few days, a week tops. This has never happened before... Lily was scared. He's kept her alive her entire life... Without him... Lily wouldn't think of it. What she would do was... [[try to return to sleep]] [[look outside through the window]]

She turned over in her sleeping bag, away from the flashs of light from the small round window. She eventually fell into an uneasy sleep, but it was deep enough to prevent her from hearing what was happening outside her house, in the pines... [[in the morning]]

Lily quietly stands up from her sleeping bag. Using the lights flashing from the window, she avoided any boxes in her path. Upon reaching the low, round window, she looked out, at first only seeing darkness. Outside the wind thrashed the trees, but there was something else... something big out there. Loud, thuding footsteps echo through the pines. Trees snapped with every step. Finally a flash of lightning illuminated the behemouth making the sounds. It stood at hundreds of feet tall. It had giant spider legs, leading to a formless body that hundreds of moving tenticles hung from. It was horryfying, but lily had seen these monsters before, these 'old gods'. It was walking away from her cabin, and with releaf she returned to her spot in the middle of the floor... [[in the morning]]...

The storm passed by the time the sun rose. Lily awoke once the rays of light hit her face. She knew today she would have to make her choice... But should she do it now? [[make choice]] [[explore house first]]

Lily decide there was no point in waiting, light was precious these days after all... It has been two weeks now since her father had left. Since he hasn't returned by now, something must be wrong. Her stomach was in knots at the decision, but now her food was exhausted and she had little choices left. Should she... [[leave in search for her father]] [[stay in the house, where she would be safe]]

lily decides she should take one last look around her house before coming to her decision. She started in the attic, looking through the papers on her fathers desk. she found a [[map]], marked with the areas of interest nearby by her father. She opened his journal, marking the day, and idely flipping through the last few pages her father wrote in. Notes about a shadow hunting, the welcome center, and watch tower. Next, she found the compass her father left her, gold and holding a picture of their small little family, before everything, when they were happy.... She open the drawers, finding the supplies her father would leave her, just incase, whenever he left. A lighter, flare gun, and pocket knife. She decided it was time to look [[downstairs]].

She must try to find him. But first she must gather all she could. In the attic, Lily used her old, faded pink backpack to collect the items she would need. From her fathers desk she retreived his journal, a map, a lighter, a pocket knife and flare gun, with a single flare... Next she turned to her bed mat. Her trusty teddy bear sat there, staring at her with big black button eyes. : \ |firstBlockOfText>[(\ (link: "take Teddy?")[ (set: $bear to "keep her bear") (replace: ?firstBlockOfText)[She finally said, "I think i'll need you out there buddy."] (show: ?secondBlockOfText)] \ or \ (link: "leave teddy?")[ (set: $bear to "leave her bear") (replace: ?firstBlockOfText)[She finally said, "I'm sorry buddy, but its too dangerous out there for a toy."] (show: ?secondBlockOfText)]\ ?)] |secondBlockOfText)[She decided that she should $bear as the road ahead was [[unknown]]. ]

Lily decides she can't risk going outside, and she will remain safer in her home, even if she is running out of food. She decides she must wait for her father's return. It could be hours or never, but she decides to not leave the safety the house provides. But now she must choose how to spend her day... should lily... [[fortify her house]] to make the house safer or [[Don't fortify house]] and conserve her strength

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Lily looks around the living room. She searchs through the livingroom, a few counches and an old tv. she remembers the happy movies she'd watch on it as a kid. Lily remembered the last words your Father told you before leaving just two weeks ago. "I need to try to find more food, we only have a weeks worth left... Maybe two if you're here alone... Don't cry little one, I'll be back before we run out. If I'm not...just keep track of the days. You know what to do." She sits on the old couch, pulling your knees to your chest. Did she really know what she should do?... After sometime thinking, she moved to looking through the [[kitchen]].

Lily walks into the kitchen. A picture of her mother sits on a small, round table covered with a white dining cloth. A candle melted down to a nub sits before it surrounded by dead flowers. Nothing can be uncorrupted in this world now... She drags a chair to the counter and climbs on top. Lily searchs the cabinet for food, and luckily finds a jar of peaches at the back of the tallest shelf. Hidden by empty jars. She delights in her stroke of luck. She waits to decide the jars fate until later. Next she must look in the room that makes her the uneasiest... [[the basement]]...

The basement is dark. Lily carefully step down the creaky stairs, carefully avoiding the weakest points in the damp, warped wood planks. At the bottom of the stairs she picks up flashlight and flick it on. In the basement she sees the old washing machines, an old water heater, propane tanks and piles of scrap wood with nails left in the corner. Boxes are also scattered around the basement, and she pick through one. she brush past her old baby pictures to the bottom, until she finds her mothers necklace. She places the necklace around her neck, figuring it was doing no good here in dark. She finally new she couldn't wait any longer... She had to [[choose]] what she would do.

She knew her father must be in trouble, but she had to decide if she could save him. If she was even ready to try... But she could continue to wait, knowing the house was safe, while outside anything could happen... So now, towards the end of the morning, lily chooses... [[stay in the house, where she would be safe]] or [[leave in search for her father]]

Downstairs she retreived a jar of peaches from the kitchean, her last ounces of food. Saving it for the road ahead she finally knew she had everything she needed. She opened the front door, unlocking it for possibly the last time. She stepped through the boards that were nailed to the outside frame, taking her first steps on the porch, getting her first breath of fresh air for the first time in years. She slowly took her steps outside the porch standing in the small clearing in front of her house. She looked around, using her compass to get her bearings. She saw the four paths that led away from her house. She must choose which way would be the best to find her father... After checking her [[map]] she decided to ... [[Head South]] towards a ghostly watchtower standing above the forest miles away.... or [[Head Southeast]] towards the creek and welcome center at the front of the forest... or [[Head East]] towards the statue at the center of the park... or [[Head North]] to Innsmouth Lake, the largest lake in the state.

Lily heads south, torwards the watchtower. This path was less wooded then the other options, much more often giving way to clearings and hills. It was long but ultimately, Lily continued her arguous hike. After mid-day she finally reached the base of the Watchtower. She looked for any signs of her father, but found none down there. She looked up, thinking about climbing up the 6 story tower. She needed to set up her camp soon. Should she sleep [[on the ground]] or [[in the tower]]?

Lily heads down the path that would lead her to the entrance of the national forest. The forest was dark, sick and twisted. The path she was on led down hill, twisting with and eventually crossing a small stream of sickly green water. After a few hours of the unnaturally quiet walk, Lily came accross a small field, in the center of which sat a [[VW Van]].

The path from the cabin to the statue was quiet. Lily walked along it, under the dead trees, as she took in her surroundings. The forest was sick, and twisted. Lily couldn't help thinking what a shame it was, that all this has happened. After a few quiet hours Lily finally reached the base of the [[statue]].

She decided to head North, towards the lake. It has been forever since she saw a lake, or any body of water for that matter. Her father had meantioned how dangerous it became, and if he's truely in danger, it might be where he's stuck or so she reasoned. Lily hicked through the dark, damp woods along the path that would lead to the lakehouse. Black moss stuck to almost all the trees, sufficating them. The hike grew colder, making her miss the warmth of the cabin. Finally, she reached a peak of a hill, below her she saw the vast [[lake]], now green and stale, streatching below her.

She slowly marched to the lakeshore where she saw some what seemed to be abandoned cabins. The sun was setting soon, and Lily knew she was a lot less safe once the sun set. the small fishing cabins seemed an inviting option, but they could be dangerous. Should she set up camp and sleep [[in a fishing cabin]] or [[in the woods]]

She decided she'd hide through the night in one of the empty cabins. She found the cabins to not be in bad shape, though she dare not start a fire. She picked the one furthest from the lake, finding a matress that smelled like fish on the bearen floor. Lily blocked the window, and blocked the door with a chair. She set up on the bed and waited, knowing once the sun was up again, she'd be able to look for clues. She fell asleep almost immedietly, having not walked so far in a long time. [[A little after sunset]]...

She decided it was too dangerous to try to sleep in the cabins. She found a spot on the edge of the woods, where she could see the lake side cabins but was too far to be seen herself. She slept with the pocket knife and lighter in her hands. She awoke to splashing sounds coming from the lake. She looked and in the darkness she saw figues walk out of the lake. They looked like men, but... different. They walked to the cabins, seperating into their own cabins. She could hear them talking, laughing, wheezing... She wondered if she should [[investigate the cabins]] or [[Stay hidden]]

A little after the sun set, she was awoken by the doorknob being turned. She woke with a fright, but silently pulled her backpack towards her. From the bag she pulled her pocket knife and waited. The door knob shook until a weird voice could be heard saying, "Blast, this old door is stuck." "Stuck you say?" a wheezy voice responded. "Careful. This might be another trick by that man on the north shore. No need to worry about that. Tomorrow we can pay his little cabin a little visit..." Then two sets a feet walked away from the door, slapping like rubber flippers... Lily relaxed, but couldn't sleep, wondering if the man they spoke about could be him.... [[the next day]]

She snuck out of the cabin before daybreak. She quietly walked through the other cabins looking into the windows. Things were sleeping in them now. They looked like people, but they were green, covered in scales and slimely... She retreated away from the cabins, and as the sun rose, she watched ten fish men walk out of the cabins, to the lake, before disapperring below the green waters surface... she looked along the lake and spotted it. [[A single cabin on the north side]]

In the daylight, after those fishmen returned to the green surf, Lily began walking along the lake shore towards the cabin she had seen the night before. The cold wind came from the lake, and she couldn't shake the feeling something was watching her, something in the lake... After midday, she saw it. The small cabin sat alone on the rocky shore. The she saw [[him]]....

She creeped towards the cabin, carefully staying hidden in darkness. She got the window of the first cabin and peeked inside. She saw a green,scaley fishman. He was mumbling to himself, about some weirdo on the northside of the lake, someone they'd deal with tomorrow... She wondered if it could be... But in a distracted moment, she made a noise. She was sure she was heard when rubbery slapping footsteps approached the cabin door. She rushed back to treeline, just vanishing behind bushes in time to not be seen by the fishman. She waited a few minutes, before returning to her hiding spot for the night, thinking of the [[single cabin on the north shore]].

Lily stays hidden, not risking being caught by whatever those things were. She kept watching the lake, looking for more of those things coming ashore. Eventually, lily saw something weird. A single light from the window of what seemed to be a cabin. Maybe that was worth investigating? Eventually she fell asleep, watching the eerie lake in the moonlight. When lily awoke she was alone in the woods. She looked through the cabins, but they were now empty, those things must have returned to the lake. Should she [[investigate the north shore]] and search for whoever was in that cabin, or should she [[hike to the statue]] following a path along the lake?

After a rough night of sleep, she awoke to those fishman returning to the lake. She still felt lucky she had escaped notice the night before. Lily began walking along the lake shore towards the cabin she had heard of the night before. The cold wind came from the lake, and she couldn't shake the feeling something was watching her, something in the lake... After midday, she saw it. The small cabin sat alone on the rocky shore. The she saw [[him]]....

She decides the north side of the lake was worth investigating. Someone must have lit the light, so she could find her father. She walked along the stoney shore of the lake, not escaping a weird sense of being watched... she couldn't shake it, but she couldn't stop now. Eventually, she found the small little cabin, barely more the a hovel. But then she saw him.... [[a ragedy man]]

Lily decided she couldn't waste her timee heading so far out of the way to check the north shore. Instead she follows the path from the shore of the lake that leads east up into hills. It was a long walk, and Lily couldn't help but feel exhausted several hoours into it. It wasn't until about Midday that Lily finally began to spot the giant statue in the middle of the woods. After another hour of hicking, she finally reached the [[statue]].

He was a scruffy old hermit. Not her father. Her stomach sank when she saw him. Unfortunetly before she could hide he saw her too. He pulled a gun from his side and yelled "What do ya want?!" Lily was shocked, she didn't know how to respond. [[warn him]] or [[ask for help]]

"I heard some fish people talking about attacking you" Lily shouted back to him. "oh really? Those fishheads are gonna attack, well okay. Thanks kid." He responded lowering the gun. "Umm, no problem..." She responded taken aback. "Hey, have you seen another man? My dad? His name was Henry..." "Henry? Hmmm... Not in a long time kid." He saw her head drop. "Hey, you helped me with that warning, do you want a meal?" [[join him for a meal]] or [[refuse gracefully]]

"i'm looking for my Dad" lily finally called. "he ain't here. Now get!" He shouted out, waiving the handgun in lily's direction. Should lily [[warn him]] or [[let him be]]?

lily finally shouts out, "fine" before walking back away from the cabin. She wouldn't worry about some mean old man. She made it halfway around the lake by the time the sun set and she stayed near the shore. After she heard bullets ring out, she saw the hut become engulfed in flames. The Hermit couldn't have escaped. Lily felt a twinge of guilt but ultimately she didn't think she could have helped him. Distant calls of monsters rang out behind her. But one was different, one was laughing. She knew when she saw it. Her father... or at least what use to be her father. He was a monster, covered in shadows and oil and laughing sinisterly. She could only make one more choice. [[fight]] or [[fly]]

Lily joined the man in the cabin for a meal, cooked fish. It was filling. He apologized for the gun thing, and started planning how he would defend his hut. After lily finished her meal, she asked more about how the man knew her father, but she was left with much more for answers. He did warn that if her father was gone, she should be running from him, not looking to find him. Finally, as the day grew long, he asked if she wanted to stay and help him defend himself, or if she'd be on her way. [[help the man]] or [[leave the hut]]

Lily thanks him, but she still dosen't trust him. She decide that she must return to looking for her father. She decides she must [[leave the hut]]

Lily decides to help the man over the night. With her help, he reinforces his windows, and prepares to face the fish men through the front door. He prepared his fishing spears and was prepared for the night. The fishman surrounded the house shortly after nightfall. Lily's help kept them from entering through the windows, forcing them to only come through the door one at a time. After four fishmen failed in their attack through the door, there was a screech outside side. It was sickening. The remaining fishmen could be heard splashing into the water of the lake. After a moment Lily and the Hermit belive they won, until... [[He came through the door]].

lily couldn't stay. She made it halfway around the lake by the time the sun set and she stayed near the shore. After she heard bullets ring out, she saw the hut become engulfed in flames. The Hermit couldn't have escaped. Lily couldn't help crying silently as she watched the flames grow. Distant calls of monsters rang out behind her. But one was different, one was laughing. She knew when she saw it. Her father... or at least what use to be her father. He was a monster, covered in shadows and oil and laughing sinisterly. She could only make one more choice. [[fight]] or [[fly]]

He was monsterous, covered in black, oily substance. From the second she saw him, Lily knew who it was... Her father. Suddenly the Hermit dropped his weapon before running to the fire place. Lily's father stopped him before he could reach it. The hermit yelled to Lily, "Fire, use fire!" Lily, drops her spear. From her pocket she pulls her lighter. use [[the lighter]] or [[run]]

Lily opens the lighter. Throwing it at her father. Instantly, the hermit was released from his grasps, and lily watched her father erupt in flames. He yelled but eventually fell, as a pile of ashes. The hermit thanked you for saving his life. He knew what you just went through, and offers you a place to stay. He said he could use lily's help around. She didn't know what to say: \ |firstBlockOfText>[(\ (link: "accept offer")[ (set: $Hermit to "a new friend") (replace: ?firstBlockOfText)[She thanked him and accepted] (show: ?secondBlockOfText)] \ or \ (link: "decline offer")[ (set: $Hermit to "a stranger") (replace: ?firstBlockOfText)[She couldn't stay] (show: ?secondBlockOfText)]\ ?)] |secondBlockOfText)[She decided the Hermit was $Hermit. Now without her father she had to begin the next chapter in her life. And this decicion was where she'd start the next [[chapter]]. ]

She couldn't bring herself to use the lighter. She ran outside, where she could hear the last screams of the hermit. She ran to the forest, be she could not escape her fate. It was too late. Her father caught her, making her like him and that became the last [[chapter]] of her life...

The End.

Lily pulls the only thing you have ready in her pocket... the lighter. As the thing that was once her father leaps at her, she lights the lighter, and just as the monster collides into her, it catches fire. It shreiks and screams, and is engulfed in flames. Finally, in the night it collapses into dust. Lily is left in shock. Truely alone. She doesn't know where to go from here, she's lost and alone, still unsure of herself. But she realizes that she must begin a new [[chapter]] in her life. She doesn't know what the future will bring, but when the sun rises the next day, she'll meet it.

Lily tries to escape the shore and the monster, but in her rush she leaves her supplies. She doesn't make it long in the forest. The thing that was once her father tracked her down, and soon she became a monster just like him... Lily met her fate and failed to fully unravel the mystery of her father, but in the end she was reunited with him, in some form at least. This marked the last [[chapter]] for young Lily...

"i'm looking for my Dad" lily finally called. "he ain't here. Now get!" He shouted out, waiving the handgun in lily's direction. [[let him be]]

Lily is awoken from slumber after she hears a loud thud. Something is at the door. She gets up and climbs down from the attic, with the flare gun in hand. She holds it at the door, waiting for the for the next assult, but then she hear a simple knock... "Honey? Open up, i'm back" you hear a hoarse voice call back. It's a little different but it is definetly her father. "Let me in baby" He calls. What should she do? Remove baracade and [[open door]] [[check window]]

Lily decides to not to further fortify the house. She trusts the precautiotions that have kept her safe so far. She returns to the attic and try to get through the day. She read fantasy books, as the day drags on, thinking of what life could have been. Everything outside the house remains calm and quiet. she [[rest during the day]]

She makes it through the day doing hardly anything. Once the sun goes down she hear the distant calls of the monsters becoming more active. she tries to fall asleep in her sleeping bag and for a while succeeds.... Until Lily are awoken with a loud BOOM. Something is in the house. What does she do? [[remain quiet]] in the attic [[prepare to fight]] [[Try to escape]] the house

She creeps towards the latch to the attic, and as quietly as she can, locks it with a padlock from the desk. She hopes that holds. She grabs her teddybear and moves towards the corner of the room. She hear the intruder skulk downstairs. Picture frames fall, glass jars shatter and heavy objects are tossed aside with heavy thuds. You cover your mouth and wince at the mayham downstairs. She sits helplessly in the corner. Finally she hears the monster stop directly below the hatch to the attic. For a second, nothing happens... until the latch jumps from the force of a heavy hit. She hear the monsters roar. Another hit tests the padlock. And another. Until.... The Hatch flies open. A tall man crawls into the attic. He's covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including a yellow jacket... just like her father's. It scans the room slowly, until it finally lands it's eyes on Lily. It's face is a formless black mass that only breaks to show a sinister rotting smile. It prepares to lung at you. How do she defend herself? [[Use Knife]] [[Use lighter]]

She hears the intruder skulk downstairs. Picture frames fall, glass jars shatter and heavy objects are tossed aside with heavy thuds. She covers her mouth and wince at the mayham downstairs. She quickly locks the latch for the attic to buy herself time before her prepare to fight. She runs to the desk, and pulls out a flare gun. She only has one shot. The monster finds the attic entrance and slams into the trapdoor. Again there is a hit that shakes the whole house, and again. Until... The Hatch flies open. A tall man crawls into the attic. He's covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including a yellow jacket... just like your fathers. It scans the room slowly, until it finally lands it's eyes on you. It's face is a formless black mass that only breaks to show a sinister rotting smile. She has tears in her eyes now. Lily aims the flare gun at what use to be her father.... and she [[fires the flare]]...

She runs to the window, but the boards sealing the window shut are too well stuck to pry them off. She must escape through the hatch. Lily waits and listens to what the intruder is doing. She hear it smashing jars in the kitchen. She slowly begin to lift the hatch and peak below. Lily sees the black shape flash by below you before it smashes into basement. She slowly slides down from the attic. She hears it smashing the washing machines and propane tanks. What should Lily do? [[Escape through front door]] [[Trap it in the basement]]

lily pulls her pocket knife out of her pocket and looks at the thing that was once her father. It lunges at her. She tries to stab it squarly in the chest... She lands the knife solidly in the monsters chest. But... It does Nothing... The monster that was once her dad laughs as it kills her, and makes her into a monster just like him. This the final [[chapter]] for young Lily.

She pulls out the silver lighter and feebly tries to ingnite it. It sparks. The monster that was once her father crouches and then lunges at her... And then flash, the lighter ignites and you hold out your hand towards the monster. In her last ditch effort, the flame finds the monsters greasy, moving skin and... The monster ignites in flames! It screams and rithes in pain. The attic begins to catch on fire whereever the monster touches. You make a break for the open hatch, jumping down. She escapes the house, through the shattered front door, and makes it outside. She turns to watch her home. It is engulfed in flames, and the monster that took her father's body slowly becomes quiet. She is left alone, with nothing but the clothes on her back. She is lost, but alive. As the house burns she can't help but think this is the end to the first [[chapter]] of her life, and she isn't looking forward to the next.

In a blinding red flash the flare lodges itself deep in the chest of the monster. It lets out a scream and falls back through the hatch. In pain, as the monster slowly begins to ignite into flames, it runs out the door. Lily jumps through the hatch and walk slowly to the door. The body of the monster... and her father now lays splaid out on the ground, only a smoldering pile of ashes. She has lost her father, but Lily still has her house, and she can rebuild. She mourns her fathers loss, but can't help feeling a little more confidence in herself. She knows this is the end to the life she once had, but she was a uneasy optimise for what the next [[chapter]] will hold.

She leaves the monster smashing stuff in the basement as she runs toward the shattered front door. She gets out onto the front porch and she runs away from the house. Leaving the house, her steps are heard as the front porch creaks. From behind her the monster erupts with a roar. It bounds towards her and the front door. She is caught in front of her cabin. She finally gets a good look at the monster... a tall man holding you by your neck. He's covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including a yellow jacket... just like her fathers. The monster laughs as she is left helpless to defend against it's grip. Her head swims and the world goes dark. The last sight she sees is heer father's face, now turned into a monstorous horror. This was the last [[chapter]] of young Lily's life.

Quickly she runs to the kitchen, grab the candle by her mother's picture and lights it with the lighter from her pocket. She walks to the open doorway to the basement, and she see the steps smashed and the monster standing in the middle of basement, with it's back turned ripping apart a propane tank, which sprays gas. The monster is a tall man. He's covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including a yellow jacket... just like her father's. She can't help but let out a small gasp. It turns. The face is covered in black, with only a ear to ear smile and hundred sharp teeth break the smooth, featurless face and it smiles at the sight of Lily. She holds the candle and look at the monster using her fathers body. She clenchs her teeth in anger and throw the candle towards the monster. For a moment it sails through the air, until suddenly.... BOOM! The basement ignites and the monster screams. Lily is blown back falling hard on her back. The house is ignited in flames and she hobbles out of it, escaping just before it callapses. She watches her house light up the night sky as she weakly fall on the ground. She has escaped with her life, and the supplies to continue your fight for survival, but she knows this is only the end to this [[chapter]] of her life, and the next will only be harder.

Lily can't wait. She hastely rushes to remove the baracade she spent the day assembling. As the door finally creaks open, Lily is shocked by what she sees. A tall man crawls into the living room. He's covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including a yellow jacket... just like her father's... Lily tries to plead with the thing, but it is too late, her fate is sealed. This was the final [[chapter]] for Lily, but in a way she did finally reunite with her father,

She quietly creeps over the boarded up window. In the crack she can see through you see her father... but something is wrong... He's covered in a weird slime like liquid, thats black as oil and moving. You get a closer look at your fathers face and his eyes are grey... He is gravely wounded.... and the dark material is controling his movements... He calls for Lily to open up again... But she knows the truth... He's already dead and it's a trap. She knows what she must do now, at the end... She can only [[say goodbye]]

She slowly removes the bracing from the door, with the flare gun ready to go. After seveeral minutes the baracade is weakened. Then after several loud crashes and booms, the door flies off it's hinges. Lily see what was once her father, and pulls the trigger after a soft, "goodbye" leaves her lips. The flare lands directly in what was once her fathers chest. He falls back and becomes ingulfed in flames. Lily watches as he slowly turns to a pile of ashes, feeling a sense of releif her father is at peace. She is now left alone with her supplies and her cabin. Lily doesn't know what will happen next, but though painful, she is ready for this [[chapter]] of her life to be done.

It was a statue of a giant standing stone with a native american symbol carved into the black granite. Lily had never seen the statue in person, before but it stood almost 30 feet tall in the center of a clearing atop a hill. Lily walked around the statue, and saw that around the back, a ladder laid against the monolith. At it's base, she finds a beanie, an yellow beanie that she was very familiar with... It was her fathers. She looks at the ladder and determines there was only one thing to do... [[Climb the ladder]].

She climbed the rickity ladder carefully, asceending to the top. Once she stood atop the monument, she could see for miles around. she saw her cabin. The green lake, the distant watchtower just north of a church steeple. The visitor center, where smoke rose from the chimney. She knew that was where her father must be, but she couldn't stop taking in the veiw. She saw the old city, with a monster that was undecribable standing amid the rubble. Then she saw the horde of marching monsters, at least hundreds in numbers on a very distant hill. They were hard to make out but they couldn't be anything else. And they were heading towards a nearby hospital, with small plumes of smoke rising from campfires in the courtyard. They must be survivors there... Lily decends to the base of the statue, and must decide which direction to head. [[towards the hospital]] or to [[the welcome center]].

Lily places the beanie in her backpack, but she knew she must head towards the hospital to warn the survivors. She walked down the hill on the path that would lead her to the survivors. After a while on the road she saw an old woman, sitting under a tree on the path. Lily stopped to ask her if she was okay, and the woman asked if Lily had any food. Lily had the final jar of peaches she was saving, but should she [[share]] the last of her food, or apologize and continue to [[warn the community]] of survivors?

On the path south towards the welcome center, Lily tried to ignore any guilt she may have felt for not helping that distant community. Unfortunately she had to find and help her father if she could. The path eventually merged with another and after a while Lily came across a small open field, with a [[VW Van]] at it's center.

Lily decided to sit down with the woman and share the jar. The woman thanked her and asked where she was heading. Lily explained how she was heading towards the old hospital, to warn anyone there. The woman wished her luck, and thanked her for her generosity. Lily continued towards the [[Hospital]].

Lily decided she couldn't wait to warn all those people, she apologized and continued towards the hospital. The womans face turned to a frown as she watch Lily walking away. Just as the sun was beginning to get low, Lily reached the gates of center. A man in security riot gear asked what Lily wanted. Lily decided what she wanted to respond. [[Ask for shelter]] or [[Offer warning]].

Just as the sun was beginning to get low, Lily reached the gates of center. A man in security riot gear asked what Lily wanted. Lily decided what she wanted to respond. [[ask for shelter]] or [[offer warning]].

She asked for shelter, and with a skeptical look from the guard, the gate bagan to be open. Lily thanked him and he explained he must escout her to the elders to be judged. She obliged and was taken into the old hospital. Lily had never seen so many people after all this started. There must be almost 40 men, women and children in this group, many camping outside the front doors of the hospital in the courtyard. Inside the hospital, she was taken to an open large room. Five chairs sat in a semicircle, all occupied by elder woman except one in the middle. Lily didn't know what to say, but she knew she had to convince them of the danger they were in. Their first question was what Lily wanted here, and Lily decided she must now [[give them the warning]].

Lily quickly explained what she saw. The guard looked skeptical and ultimately refused to believe her. Lily's heart dropped at his refusal to believe her. She knew she must get inside somehow to convince these people. Finally Lily had said she could only [[ask for shelter]]. She hoped they would allow her to enter.

Lily was scared before the council, but finally, she explained what she saw. The council was split on whether they believed her, they bickered and debated for what seemed like half the hour at the news. Lily was beginning to lose hope they would believe her story, until the door opened. The old woman from the road who had asked for food walked into the room and took her place in the center chair on the council. She gave Lily a smile. She voted to believe Lily, and exacuate the hospital before the horde arrived. Lily felt relief for the first time in a long time. [[The evacuation]] began suddenly.

Cars were loaded up within the hour. Lily helped how she could. Finally, as the last of the cars was leaving the hospital and escaping to some new safe harbor, the woman from the road offered Lily the chance to join them. Lily thought of her father but she knew she could be safe with this group. She must decide... [[join the survivors]] or [[continue looking]] for her father.

She joined the woman in the car. Though she knew she might never find out what happened to her father, she knew she could find a place among this new group and find a life worth living even after the end of the world. She was hopeful of the next part of her life with this new group. Hopeful for the next [[chapter]] of her life.

She refused the offer, she couldn't leave her father out there alone. The woman understood, and after leaving one final gift for her, Lily was left alone at the gates of the hospital. She had been given a bicycle to help her escaping the oncoming horde. Lily knew where she must go to find answers finally. She must [[ride to visitor center]]

The path to the Welcome Center was some of the darkest in the park. As she grew closeer she know there was something wrong with this place on a cosmic level. Storm clouds grew as she approached her destination, and she grew worried. There must have been something wickedly evil nearby. Just as watere started to fall from the sky, she [[arrived]].

Lily quickly explained what she saw. The guard looked skeptical and ultimately refused to believe her. Lily's heart dropped at his refusal to believe her. She knew she must get inside somehow to convince these people. Finally Lily had said she could only [[Ask for shelter]]. She hoped they would allow her to enter.

Lily was scared before the council, but finally, she explained what she saw. The council was split on whether they believed her, they bickered and debated for what seemed like half the hour at the news. Lily was beginning to lose hope they would believe her story, until the door opened. The old woman from the road who had asked for food walked into the room and took her place in the center chair on the council. She gave Lily a frown. She voted to doubt what Lily had warned of. She didn't know if lily could be trusted but she reasoned that the gates of the hospital could hold and that they were safe. Lily was walked back to gates, having lost hope for this community. [[She left]].

She walked away from the Hospital knowing that it was doomed to a terrible fate the next day. All she had left was to walk to the welcome center and [[find her father]]...

The sun was getting low at this point. She explored the field, finding a small pit that was once a campfire, and weird piles of grey ashes scattered across the feild. She explored the van, finding a box with several cans of food. For the first time outside her cabin, Lily couldn't help but feel safe. She made camp inside the Van. After making sure it was locked, she slept on a slightly soggy mattress. Unfortunately, not even here could she [[escape]] the world around her.

She was awoken to the sound of a loud, monsterous roar. She carefully climbed into the front seat of the car to take a look. Thats when she saw what was circling the van... It seems to have once been a bear, but now it was half rotten, with exposed muscle and bone, and gave off a visible gas. It's fur was pitch black and shiny, as if it had been dipped in oil. It had a multitude of red spider-like eyes in it's skull and was sniffing around the campsite. The monster shoved itself into the van, shaking it with every tap. Lily must choose to [[hide in the back]] or [[don't move from the front seat]].

Without hesitation, Lily dives back into the back of the van, landing quietly on the matress. She prepares for the worst. Outside he continues to hear the monster circling the van. She hears the sound of deflating, and then feels the shake and be pulled. The monster had ripped one of the tires off. Then the van door shook and the sound of metal tearing rang out in the clearing. Then another strike and the metal on the door grew thinner. Lily looked around for something that could help her, only finding a gasaline soaked torch. The third strike and Lily could begin to see the monster through the torn metal door. [[light the torch]] or [[escape out the back of the van]]

Lily ducks down in the front seat, hiding under the beat up steering wheel. She dared not move more. The beast continued sniffing around under there was a sudden silence. Lily slowly raised her head. There was nothing in front of the van. Lily breathed a sigh of releif. Then the van shook violently, the beast roared and the passanger window cracked. It rammed the side of the van and was preparing to do so again. Lily looked around for anything to help. She found a gasoline soaked torch in the back of the van. But before she could retreive it, the van was assulted once more. Now dazed, she fell to the back grabbing the torch and her lighter. [[She lit the torch]]

At the instant the door is torn away from the van, Lily lights the torch and holds it towards the monster. The monster screams and roars and recoils at the light and heat of the fire. It disappears into the woods, and Lily is left alone in the Van, surprised to even be alive. [[The next morning]]

As the monster is about to tear away the side door, Lily leaps out back, and runs to the forest line. She carries her backpack and the torch in her hand as she sprints. The monster does hear and pursues though. Lily desperately looks for a place to hide, seeing a hollow old tree just big enough to crawl into. She dives for the hole crawling in just as the monster passes. Exhausted, she falls asleep in the hollow. [[The next morning]]..

At the instant the monster slams into the van, Lily lights the torch and holds it towards the monster. The monster screams and roars and recoils at the light and heat of the fire. An ember hits it's fur and it retreats as the fire slowly builds. It disappears into the woods, and Lily is left alone in the Van, surprised to even be alive. [[The next morning]]

Lily felt lucky to have survived the attack the night before. She had not gotten the best night sleep, but all things considered she couldn't complain too much. Today was the day when she'd reach the welcome center and hopefully rescue her dad. The path to the Welcome Center was some of the darkest in the park. As she grew closeer she know there was something wrong with this place on a cosmic level. Storm clouds grew as she approached her destination, and she grew worried. There must have been something wickedly evil nearby. Just as watere started to fall from the sky, she [[arrived]].

The doors to the welcome center were destroyed, as was most partd of the building. Grafiti littered the walls, with words such as 'Hail C'thulu' or 'Praise the Elder Gods'. Lily slowly entered the trashed place. There was no sounds from anything inside. She steped through the rows of torn apart and moldy books. Then she [[heard him]]

Her father's voice could be heard booming through the building. It was different though, and spoke with such malice.... "Well, well, well, I've been looking for you." The warped voice of her father said. "And here you are... Coming right for me". "Dad?" Lily couldn't help respond... "Your dad is dead. There is only me, The crawling choas" the voiced echoed with laughter. "I am ancient and I am terrible." Lily ran now, looking for any place to hide. Lilly [[was scared]]

"Don't make this hard kid. Join my army of proxies. Just like your father did" The monster laughed from unseen shadows. Lily finally found a closet. Outside, the thing, the murderer, grew closer to the door. It taunted Lily, calling her name, mimiking her father. Lily was running out of time. She must now choose. [[try to fight]] or [[try to flee]] or [[Join the God]]

Lily was prepared. She lit her torch and prepared her flare gun. She slowly opened the door, peaking outside. She saw nothing. His voice was coming from every direction, she couldn't tell where he was. She only had one shot and she had to make it count. She slowly walked towards the front, all while the monster proclaimed it's many titles. The Crawling Choas. The Black Pharaoh. Ahtu. Dweller in the Darkness. The Faceless God. Thing in the Yellow Mask. Haunter of the Dark. Nyarlalethotep. Lily was scared. But after everything she's been through, she wasn't going to back down at this point. She slowly lowered her torch, catching on fire a turned over wood display of old brochures. The fire slowly grew. Lily continued into the main room, full of suvinour shirts and trinkets. Shirts read Arkham National Park. Lily was preparing though. She continued to light fires around the room. Until the fire naturally started growing bigger... Then she saw him [[emerge from a shadowy hall]].

She left the closet and retreated to the back of the center. She looked for an emergency exit as quickly and quietly as she could. The monst still took it's times to mock her though. "Where are you going, little girl?" the Monster called in it's echoy, showman voice. "I never said you could leave the presence of I, the smartest of the great old ones. For i am The Crawling Choas. The Black Pharaoh. Ahtu. Dweller in the Darkness. The Faceless God. Thing in the Yellow Mask. Haunter of the Dark. I am Nyarlalethotep." The monster laughed with delight, when Lily say the emergency exit. She shoved the door and was instantly in the midsts of a heavy downpour. She looked for shelter, but then it was too late. the Monster crawled to the roof of the building and stared at Lily. Lily was scared but after everything she's been through, she wasn't going to back down at this point. But it was the first time she saw what had become of her [[father]].

It was her dad, yet it wasn't. He no longere had the warmth and love in his eyes that he once had. Infact, he no longer had eyes. He is covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including the yellow jacket her dad would always wear. His face was completely obscured, by the substance, with only a torn mouth full of shattered and sharp teeth giving his face any features. It smiled. "You fool. You can't stop me." The monster crawled towards her on the roof, spitting and drooling as it talked. "I have a million bodies and a million faces. Even if i lose onee, i will only ever grow. I am inevitable. I am-" "Going to pay for taking my DAD!" Lily yelled. She raised the flare gun, took aim like her father taught her all those years ago, and pulled the trigger. The flare shot out, whizzing tthrough the air, lodging itself in the face of once was her father. It continued to laugh as the skull became ingulfed in flames and the oily substtance began melting off. "this isn't over kid. I will find you again. " The monster burst into flames, screaming now, in agony, before falling the the floor in a heap of ashes. Lily bowed her head, her father was [[really gone]].

Lily escaped the burning welcome center and watched as the now heavy rains struggled to extinghish the fires. Lily didn't know where she would go next. But she was confident in her ability to survive now. She knew she had what it took. Her dad raised a survivor and thats what she will keep doing, no matter how crazy the world became. It was the end to the first [[chapter]] of her life, and she knew she was ready for the next.

It was her dad, yet it wasn't. He no longere had the warmth and love in his eyes that he once had. Infact, he no longer had eyes. He is covered in a oily black substance that shifts arounds, moving like eels wrapped in a tight covering. Under the black you see glimpses of his clothes, including the yellow jacket her dad would always wear. His face was completely obscured, by the substance, with only a torn mouth full of shattered and sharp teeth giving his face any features. It smiled. In the rain, Lily ran. The monster bound after her, and she finally brokedown. She collapsed in the mudd. What was once her father now stood over her, gloating. smiling. mocking. Lily was now covered in mud, tired and sore, yet she still turneed and faced her demon. In her hand she clasped the lighter, ready for him to reach for her. Luckily for her, He did. He picked her up and held her chocking. With a sad smile she finally said goodbye to her father. She [[used the lighter]]

The monster went suddenly between a mocking laugh and screams of terror and pain. They were just like any othere life, surviving. Within seconds it is surrounded by flames. WIth its last breath, the monster screamed he'd return for lily one day. lily had no interest of finding out if he was right. As he fell into a heap of ashes, Lily walked back into the visitor center for warmth. She had been through so much, and now she can rest knowing her father is truely at peace. This marked the end of the first [[chapter]] of Lily's life, and it has allowed her to grow and find confidence in herself.

Lily drops the torch, the lighter, her backpack and her teddy. She walks out to the mocks and jests from the bored god, and shouts, 'I give up'. There was silence. Then behind her it stood. 7 feet tall and looking into her. It smiled. "Perfect".... Lily recieved the mark of the yellow king on that day, becomeing one of his servents. She feared she'd never beat him, for he was a god, and perhaps she was right. In the end, that was the conclusion to the first [[chapter]] of her life. Her next would be endless and eternal in the service of a god.

Lily wouldn't risk climbing the ladder as light faded and she was exhausted at the end of the day. She set up her camp at the base of the tower, well hidden behind the bushes and generator. Lily slept through the night. In the morning she climbs into the tower station. It was a former ranger station, with an old radio, tv, maps, bed and in the center of the room a weird pit incased in wire with firewood inside. She finds a pair of binoculurs and scan the horizon. She sees smoke coming from the welcome center at the front of the park. She also see activity at a church, south of the watchtower. After looking through the tower she finds nothing of further interest. She decends down. On the ground, she must decide where to go next. [[head towards the welcome center]] or [[explore south]] or check [[map]]

Lily climbs into the tower. The winds are feirce the further she climbs. By the time she reached the top of the tower, she was shaking from the cold. At the top of the watchtower was a former ranger station, with an old radio, tv, maps, bed and in the center of the room a weird pit incased in wire with firewood inside. She was freezing so she used the firewood and her lighter to start a fire. She locks the door and sits by the fire to warm up. She was just starting to relax when... [[THUD]]

Lily heads east towards the welcome center. When she first entered the woods, she found fresh footprints and tracks, as if someone had been looking for her in the night. She couldn't help feel weird from this and set off east at a quicker pace. She followed the winding trail through the woods, eventually finding a small clearing with a [[VW Van]] in the center just before sundown.

Lily decided to first explore south, before heading towards the welcome center. She walked until midday where she found herself in a small rocky trail. She did not feel alone, and walked at a quicker pace. She turned the corner of a bend and saw two Men in red robes standing there, waiting for her. She turned around to see another was now behind her. It was over so fast, lily did not see rag soaked in cloriform. If only she was really [[alone]] on that walk.

A bird flew into the side of the watch tower. It left a greasy imprint of it's body on the glass before it fell from the tower. Lily thought that was weird but it must have be attracted to the light. A few minutes passed of quiet until, THUD. Another bird slammed into the glass of one of the windows. It was now that Lily started to notice the bird calls. Cackles and caws filled the air as a flock of birds flew in the night, circling the watchtower. Lily started to become worried as their dives into the tower became more common. It took about 5 minutes before the glass started to crack... [[Flee the tower]] or [[ignore the birds]]

Lily grabs all her stuff, and dashes to the door. After a moments hesitation she runs outside hurries to the ladder. The birds continue diving into the windows of the tower. Finally one of the windows shatters and a hundred birds swarm inside the tower. Lily hurries to the ground but after a few seconds of silence, the birds swarm out of the tower. They start circling her as she climbs to the ground. Peaking and biting at her hands. In her rush, Lily misses a rung of the ladder, slipping and falling to the ground. Luckily she only falls a short way. She runs to the edge of the forest now, fleeing the airbourn attackers. Once she makes it, she has a moment of safety. Lily catches her breath. She unfortantely wasn't [[alone]].

Lily tries to sleep regardless of the noise. Unfortunately the thudding of the birds does not get better. The glass windows of the tower crack more with each hit. Lily was now able to notice their eyes. Blood red glowing in the night. Even these birds have been corrupted by the elder gods. The glass was going to break soon, and Lily could not sleep through this. They would attack her if they made it inside. She would have to [[Flee the tower]]

Lily doesn't remember being knocked unconscious. She woke up with her hands tied and under a spot light. Two people stood in front of her, but she couldn't see their faces in the shadows. "Well hello, sleepyhead. Hope you enjoyed your nap. You're lucky we found you. You were almost eaten alive by that flock of dead birds. I hope you understand our precaution with the tying you up, there are some crazy people out after all..." One of the men, charismatic and charming, introduced himself as father John. "Let me go!" Lily responded. "Oh we will, no worries about that, but first we gotta ask, what are your looking for out here in these... dangerous woods?" [[Tell truth]] or [[lie]]?

Lily says she is looking for her father. The man chuckles, responding he might not be her father, be he is a father. And maybe if Lily joins their group, they can help her find and save her father. Lily was skeptical, but unsure. The men released Lily, and gave her a tour of the community. It was almost night by now, but Lilly saw about 20 people, happy and clean, all wearing red robes. They were the church of the yellow god. After an awkward meal she couldn't get out of, they asked if lily could help them in a ritual. [[Refuse to help]] or [[Help them]]?

Lily lied, saying she was just on a walk. The men did not like this response. "Put her with the other one, I guess we have two sheep for tonights rites." Lily was shoved into a cage with a girl only a few years older, wearing a yellow dress. She had been captured a week ago and refused to help the cult. When night came, the two of them were escorted to a peagan alter behind the church. The cult tied Lily up beside the girl. They started chanting and performing their ceremony. From the woods, monsters walked out to observe but didn't attack. At the height of the ritual, they offer Lily one last chance. [[join them]] or [[be sacrificed]]...

Lily refuses to help in their sketchy ritual. Unfortunately, the crowd did not take too kindly to that. They grabbed lilly and took her to the alter behind their church. She saw another girl, maybe a year or two old, dressed in a yellow dress also tied up. The cult tied Lily up beside her. They started chanting and performing their ceremony. From the woods, monsters walked out to observe but didn't attack. At the height of the ritual, they offer Lily one last chance. [[join them]] or [[be sacrificed]]...

Lily agreed to help them in the ritual. Everyone cheeered and Lily was given red robes with yellow symbols to wear for the ceremony. It took place at the peagan alter behind the church. Lily saw a girl, only a few years older then her, tied up and wearing a yellow dress. The ritual got underway, with chanting and burning of various objects. Finally, Lily was handed the ceremonial dagger. She was told to [[Sacrifice her]] but should she [[set her free and try to escape]]?

Lily seeing the end finally gives in, and says she will join. The cult cheered and let her free. Then they handed Lily the ritual blade... They told lily if she sacrifices the other girl, she can have her father back and be safe for the rest of her life. [[Sacrifice her]] or [[set her free and try to escape]]

Lily was tied up with the girl in the yellow dress. The cult chanted and cheered, cheered and yelled. Lily wasn't thee first to be sacrificed. She was forced to witness the other girls final moments. In her last moments before being sacrificed she saw who she was being sacrificed to. An evil god in the body of her dead father. It was over quickly, just as Lily's last [[chapter]] was over quickly.

Lily goes through with the bloody ritual. The next day her father walks into the camp. His skin is grey, but he is alive, at least mostly. Lily tries to not think about the cost, and can't bring herself to explain to her father how he is back alive. They remain stuck with the Cult, as loyal members unable to escape. It was the end to a more innocent [[chapter]] of lily's life, and even though she got her father back, she never stopped thinking about the price.

Lily quickly cuts her binding and tell the girl to run. Together they make a break for it, but only one of the girls made it to the tree line. The girl in the yellow dress disappeareed in darkness. Lily was caught. Tied back up. In her last moments before being sacrificed she saw who she was being sacrificed to. An evil god in the body of her dead father. It was over quickly, just as Lily's last [[chapter]] was over quickly.

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