Love in the Commune

**LOVE IN THE PARIS COMMUNE** Written and designed by Gabin JIRODET additional CSS editing by Charlotte ADAMOWICZ ***WARNING*** *This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.* [[START->Historical Introduction]]

After a disastrous war with Prussia, the Second Empire is no more and a temporary government agrees to make peace with the ennemy surounding Paris, the capital. Part of the deal was to disarm the city, but after a long winter of starvation and fighting, the parisians refused to give up the weapons they paid for with their own money and to be once again defenseless against an authoritarian government. The working class, the immigrants and the poors started to resist and protest which made the government try to trick them into stealing their weapons at night. Betrayed, civilians joined their forces and the National Assembly fled the city to Versailles. In 1871, Parisians then started their own government, the Commune. It would last 72 days. 72 days of people dreaming and trying to make a fairer world. It would all end in the Bloody Week. [[Play ->START]]

Alice closed the door of the café on the jokes of the few men in it. Most of the people here had been nothing but nice with her and Charlotte whom she hadn't see much these past few days. And those who were aggressive, well Charlotte and Louise made sure they would keep their opinion for themselves. They were strong these two, stronger than her for sure. Under a pale morning of May, it was time for her daily chores. In the backyard, she could not help but notice how everything looked empty now, apart from the screams in the distance though. It had roughly been six days since the fights begun. What would happen if the Republican troops won this civil war? She shook her head, trying not to think of it. It would be alright. It had to be. Every day, terrible things were reported, so many that Louise had to cancel the meetings in the café in an effort to keep people's spirits up. But rumours only need two persons to become an information. Murders, betrayals, spies, fires, executions... She wondered if half of them were true... This day, Alice had to fetch water and distribute rations to the ones holding the barricades, a small part to help those who were fighting for the Commune. Louise asked her if she would take a rifle and hold a barricade, but she couldn't. She couldn't bare the thought of aiming, shooting, killing someone. So, instead, she let others do it and had to agree to make a couple of Orsini bombs. A modern device which explodes when it touches something... It was a good thing her father wasn't there to witness that... he would have been ashamed. Alice went to take a wooden basket full of breads and dry meat and as she was about to leave the café's backyard, she saw Louise, the leader of this small neighbourhood. She was talking to a group of people, wishing them good luck. [[Go and talk to Louise->MeetLouise1]] [[Ignore Louise->Gointhestreet]]

The bunch of men left to the streets and Alice cleared her throat to signal her presence. People were always saying she was too quiet when she was walking and Charlotte jumped more than once because of that. Louise turned to face her; she looked tired but still fierce. "Ah", she said when she recognised her. "'Morning, you're on your way?" (set: $Meet to true) [["Yes, I'm ready to leave." -> ChitChat]] [["Yes, and them, what is their task today?"-> Not your business]]

Streets were a mess... Napoleon III and his man, Hausmann, had scarred the city to prevent civilians from blocking the streets or rioting and to avoid the poors being too close to the richest people. Nowadays though, most bourgeois had fled the city and every narrow street was barricaded nonetheless. Those who had cannons were making sure the soldiers wouldn't come too close to pass the wider streets. Going around several blockings, trying not to listen to the gun fights, she was almost there when she saw Michel sitting on a small barricade. He was an old man covered in blood, a leg twisted in a wrong way; he had a riffle in his hand. What was he doing here?? His barricade was further away, this was merely an obstacle for the troops, not a defense point! "Michel!" He was so focused on what was in front of him than he didn't hear her coming; when people are scared, the body and mind are taking over and Alice almost screamed when Michel aimed at her. The haunted gaze in his eyes faded. "Alice, oh I'm so sorry..." There was a soft sob in his voice. "What happened? Are you hurt?" Alice asked. He collected his memories: "They came at us at night, couldn't see them coming, I swear... I've been the only one to escape alive, but I couldn't go very far... They're in, the Butcher's troops have infiltrated the neighbourhood; they'll soon be patroling, trying to catch us unaware! But they won't pass through me, no more, no." God, no! No, no, no! [["What can I do to help?"->LIVE]] [["We must tell Louise!"->DOOM]]

She nodded. "And I thank you for keeping with your duties. We gained more rights in the past few months than ever before and with people like you, and Charlotte, at our side, we will prevail, you will see." In this troubled time, such a pep talk and a warm smile were enough to make you hope. Alice smiled at these words, a lot of what could have been impossible had become a reality here, they had done so many things in less than three months, and there were still a lot to do. "Go now, Michel and his fighters must be eager to see you, when you'll have finished your chores, come and find me to do your report." Alice made a sign and [[joined the street->Gointhestreet]]

Louise ignored the question: "People with their own duties, same as each and every one of us." Since the battles had begun a few days ago, everyone had to make themselves useful. Most Communards were caught unprepared and in a weird and twisted way, the other neighbourhoods falling to the Republican troops allowed them just enough time to organise the defense. Thankfully, the Butcher hadn't caught them yet... that single thought horrified her. However, the things she had heard about some of these men's duties weren't better... Do these people had missions like the one she heard of at night? Was it only her place to discuss Louise's orders? [["Will they do something terrible?" ->Deadpriests]] [["Sorry, I did not mean to be rude." ->NoProb]]

Her face darkened. "What do you mean?" "Burning buildings, killing priests..." "Those are just rumours, no one would authorise the execution of the hostages or such crimes." "But people say the archbishop was killed as a response to the troopses' movements." "Enough. Even if this was true, it sure would be for a good reason or desperate actions. Don't forget that they're the enemies. Never have they done anything for us! They just want to make sure we stay a step behind... And they would have made your life a nightmare if we had let them. Let those biggots worry about their churches and superstitions and stay focused on what is at stake here!" There was nothing more Alice could have said, touching lightly the wooden cross she inherited from the mother she never knew, she bowed her head as to excuse her behaviour [[and left. ->Gointhestreet]]

She smiled at her. "Don't torture yourself, Alice. You're a brave one, you know. You may not realise how much it means yet, but in your way, you are fighting alongside every others." Alice smiled at these words, a lot of what could have been impossible had become a reality here, they had done so many things in less than three months! In these troubled times, a warm smile was enough to make you hope. She made a sign and [[joined the street->Gointhestreet]]

Michel approved. "Yes, yes, I was hoping you'd come before them, that you could go and tell her! I'll stay here and make sure these bastards don't go any further! I'll buy y'all time..." His breathing was whistling. There was no time to lose, Alice turned back ready to go, but could she really abandon someone? Michel had explicitly told her to leave, but was there really no time to spare and help here? (set: $Doom to true) [[Run->Run]] [[Talk to him again->Tired]]

He stared at her, shaking his head. "You gotta live, child. Take your Charlotte and leave Paris at once, there'll be nothing but ashes soon... There's nothing to be done now, too late... If you stay, they'll murder you, if not worse. I have a boat near the docks, take it if you can reach it, you'll have a chance to escape on the Seine..." His breathing was whistling. There was no time to lose, Alice turned back ready to go, but could she really abandon someone? Michel had explicitly told her to leave, but was there really no time to spare and help here? (set: $Live to true) [[Run->Run]] [[Talk to him again->Tired]]

Her footsteps echoing on the paved street, she was runing back to the café, the local headquarter. There was no time to lose, their defense had started to fall! (if: $Doom is true)[ But Louise would know what to do!] (if: $Live is true)[She had to find Charlotte before was too late!] Le Cri du Peuple and other newspapers were strewn among the streets and the trashes, but no one was reading anymore. There was simply no time to witness, think, write, print, read. The few words Michel had said were tormenting her: was it really the end? Wasn't it possible to change things from the inside like they had done at first? She was so much in her head that she almsot didn't notice the voices coming from a nearby street. SOLDIERS! They had already entered the neighbourhood! She stopped running at once, took cover behind a cart and put a hand on her mouth to hide her heavy breathing. Shortly after, two soldiers arrived, their horses following by the reins. "There's no one there..." "Must be... I swear I heard something!" "Let's take a look then, perhaps we'll find someone to bring back to the captain before the assault." The Captain?! The **Butcher**!! What to do?? She was alone, unarmed, surely Charlotte would have fought against them, but she? She was defenseless! If they saw her, they would shoot and murder her! Or... She could try [[to sneak around to the HQ!->Sneak1]]

She faced Michel, she had to try and save him! She couldn't resolve to let him here alone, injured! But Michel had already found his determination back; he had made peace with what was coming to him. "Won't you come with me? she said." "No, child. I'd rather stay here." "But you will die if you do so!" "I know... and I know that I'm tired... I was there in 1830, in 48, and now; each time we try, we fail. At some point, there's no reason to keep believing it will be different... I kept believing my whole life that we could change things, make those in charge understand what we really wanted, needed... This time, I'll die here." Seeing Alice's eyes widened, he added: "And who knows, mayhap I'm wrong and my death will serve you just right. I'm old and you're not, if you live all won't be lost." "But..." "Enough, please. Respect my decision as I've always respected yours." It was true, Michel had showed nothing but respect to her since they first met. He never expressed any judgement, contrary to a lot of people who thought they had their words to say. Tears in her eyes, she hugged him and left, unable to utter a single word. (set: $Tired to true) [[Leave Michel->Run]]

She took more time than she would have liked, but she finally managed to pass through them. More than once, she thought herself doomed, her heart pounding hard in her chest; convinced they would hear the drumming, her movements, but no. A few times, she saw a shadow behind a window and she would have liked to scream and warn them that the safety of the neighbourhood was compromised; but doing so would have revealed her own position... The café was a recent place in the old capitale, it belonged to Louise's brother and when the Commune had been declared, she made it her fief. It was one of the few places where women's rights were openly discussed along with the rights of the working class. It was there that Louise had proclaimed that there was no point trying to divide people when unity would be their major strength. Of course, the opposition was doing the exact contrary; it was always their strategy, seeking for a black sheep to target while the wolves were waiting to see how it would turn out. The samll two storeys building had its windows blurred by dirt and now that it was late in the morning, it was almost empty. Neither Charlotte nor Louise were in sight from the outside. (if: $Doom is true)[[[Look for Louise->LookLouise.]]] (if: $Live is true)[[[Look for Charlotte.->LookCharlotte]]]

She tried the empty room, the backyard and the tiny kitchen, but she was nowhere to be seen, so Alice went upstairs to her office and there she was, looking at papers on a desk. She raised her eyes to meet hers; she saw the panick. (if: $Meet is true)["What happened since you left?"] (if: $Doom is false)["Alice, hi, is something wrong?"] Where to begin? [[Michel's hurt!->Michelsaid]] [[I saw soldiers!->Toolate]] [[An attack on us is happening soon!->Deadsoon]]

She tried the empty room, the backyard and the tiny kitchen, but Charlotte was nowhere to be seen. She was probably still doing her chores. She climbed the stairs to Louise's office. "Alice, you're back early!" (set: $Surprise to true) [["Where is Charlotte?" -> WhereCha]] [["Something happened." -> TroupsHere]]

She still could not chase the idea of him, injured and alone from her mind; nor the moment when he aimed at her... "It's-Michel-he-was-hurt-but-he-stayed-on-a-barricade-but-he-will-die-we-have-to-do-something-soldiers-are-near!" "Alright, take a breath." Louise stood up and put a hand on Alice's shoulder to help her relax/ "Now, tell me." "I came upon Michel, he had been injured in a fight during the night, he said to me he would stay on his barricade to kill as many soldiers as he could in order to buy us time before they outnumber us, but I already saw some of them on my way here! It was for nothing!" Louise shook her head, a solemn look on her. [["What sould we do?"->ThePlan]]

Yes, that was the point of all of this. "The Butcher is preparing an attack upon us; his forces are already patroling our streets, looking for us, but there's got to be more..." Louise shook her head, a solemn look on her face. "Alright... So, it's time to see if we can make it..." [["What sould we do?"->ThePlan]]

It was too late, their defenses had collapsed during the night and they didn't even know it. "I saw soldiers on my way here! The Republican soldiers have started to pour into our streets!!" Louise shook her head, a solemn look on her face. [["What sould we do?"->ThePlan]]

The more she spoke, the more Louise seemed to find her strenght back. She was good at making decisions. She inhaled some air and said: "If the troups are already on the southern streets, let's head north. I have a few things to do before I leave, but I'll be quick. I had a special plan if we had to come to this situation... Perhaps you'll be able to help if we meet again on your way; but more importantly Charlotte and you must leave. Take Michel's boat on the docks if you can. Do not stay here at any cost, understand?" (set: $Boom to true) [["Yes." -> Sneak2]] [["Where is Charlotte?" ->WhereisCha]]

Louise seemed unsure about how to phrase her answer. "Well... You know how she is... she is a true fighter this one, but I have no news of her since she left for her post with the others..." Of course, Charlotte was on a barricade, where else could she be?! Perhaps in an different situation, she would have been mad or scared to death, but today was not the day to be mad about this, today was not the perfect day to argue. She had to find her. [["Yes." -> Sneak2]]

Once again, Alice was in the streets, still quiet as a mouse in case more soldiers were around. She was no fighter, but she sure was good at being discreet. Unfortunately, she was very slow and could not go straight forward, especially when she could barely see what was in front of her. She was crossing a square, trying to be quick when a soldier arrived from a perpendicular street. She froze, had he seen her?? Of course, but he seemed as surprised as her. Then, he shout to his mates to come and pointed his rifle on her, but Alice was already running. Why had she waited? Was she expecting something else?! Behind her, the soldier shot. The bullet exploded on a wall near her head and the sound of the detonation filled the place with thunder and fury. Someone fired too. But unlike them, she knew the area, she grew up here. She could not say how, but she escaped them. She jumped over a fence and hid behind it, her muscles were shaking and she cried. Bitting her shirt to muffle the sound. At some point, if she had turned right, she could have gone home. But she would never get to go back again, wouldn't she? Her father had a small flat above his shop, a narrow but warm place. Since her mother died during delivery, only the both of them had lived there. He was a clockmaker, her father, and one day she was helping him, she met Charlotte who had come with her brother to ask for a pocket watch to be repaired. It was there that it had all begun. She learned about who she was. When her father passed away last winter, Charlotte moved to live with her, making the flat less empty. [[She needed a moment. ->ShortPause]]

There was no time to lose. "Well, probably on her barricade, I have no news yet of her. Why?" "The Butcher's troups have infiltrated the neighbourhood and are coming this way. I have to find Charlotte!" Louise rose upon her desk. "Yes, go to your girlfriend and find a way to escape as soon as possible! Do not stay, you hear me?" Alice nodded and thanked her. [[She left in a hurry -> Sneak2]]

Alright, she organised her thoughts and said: "On my way to do my duties, I met Michel. He told me the troups have infiltrated our neighbourhood and I saw soldiers with my own eyes. I need to find Charlotte!" "Yes... Yes, find her and leave at once! She must still be on her barricade north from here. Go!" Alice nodded and left in a hurry. [["Thank you!" -> Sneak2]]

Afraid that it might be a trap, she made sure no one was following her and went inside. At any moment, a door could open and a foe jump on her. Whenever it was possible, she went with her back on a wall. She took a glance in every room but before she could go upstairs, she saw someone leaning over a barrel. It was Louise! "Louise!?" She faced her. (if: $Boom is true)["Ah, perfect, you found me. I said I would need your help, remember?"] (if: $Surprise is true)["Ah, it's unexpected but I'm glad you're here! I need your help!"] "What are you doing?" "I told you I had a special plan in case we were about to loose the neighbourhood... Well, that's it: I'm going to blow it!" [[What?!->Blow]] [[WHAT?!->Blow]]

(if: $HelpLouise is true)[This was going too far! Everyone was going insane! Louise tried to hold her back, but she pushed her away and walked back to where she came from.] The streets were now crowded with soldiers and avoiding them became more and more complicated, forcing Alice to be even more careful. She was crouching, walking, sneaking, climbing, scratching, hidding, surviving. Walls, fences, carts, boxes, lampposts, Morris columns, even old vespasiennes if she had to, the environment was her ally in these places she knew. Her head was pulsing, so many soldiers... Charlotte's spot must have been cornered by now! She wasn't much of a believer, but she touched the small cross around her neck and prayed for her safety. If there was someone above, asking them for a little help would cost nothing and if they helped them escape alive, well then, she would have plenty of time to repay the debt. She left the cavalry behind and came upon the woman she loved. Her barricade was still standing, but it would soon be too late... (set: $Fire to false) [[Go to Charlotte->toCharlotte]]

Alice ran to her, as a weird silence was ramping around the barricade. A few armed people were shooting at each others. She screamed over the terrifying sounds and Charlotte saw her. She came to greet her, a rifle in her hand and a knife in her belt; bruises on her cheeks and blood on her arms: "What are you doing here? It's dangerous! We are holding off the ennemies right now! You can't stay!" "We need to go!" "What? No!" [["The Butcher is preparing a massive attack!"->Cornered]] [["You will soon be cornered!"->Inside]] [["I know a way to escape alive!"->Boat]] (if: $HelpLouise is true)[[["This place might blow up!"->SoonBURN]]]

Without an ounce of hesitation, Louise confirmed: "Yes, I have several barrels full of gunpowder or oil set around this place. It'll buy us enough time to leave and those stupid dogs will have something to remember!" Blowing off the entire area... was it so different from killing priests or burning iconic places? The rumours... they were true, weren't they? "Alice." Louise came closer to her, a feverish glow in her eyes. Her clothes were dirty. She wasn't the only who was having a very very bad week. "It is the only way to change things, to destroy and re build, otherwise, they'll crush us like flies on a wall. You will help me, right? You're not a fighter, but this you can do!" Alice was about to say something but Louise didn't let her enough time: "You father was a clockmaker, I know you helped him from time to time, I saw you repair things, you made bombs when I asked you; will you make a timer for me? Just a timer." She gestured at some tools on the ground. (set: $HelpLouise to true) [["I'll help." -> BOOM]] [["I won't do that." -> Sneak3]]

There was relief in her voice and she said: "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart." Alice picked the few tools and gears scattered on a tissue; it wouldn't be a good work, but she could make it work. Everyone had a purpose in the Commune, this week more than ever. Alice's was now to blow buildings. "Good, good. This one is the key to my plan, she said while gesturing at the barrel. I lit the others like the old fashion way, with a match and a an inflammable trail because I didn't care, but this one, for this one I need a timer..." She stopped talking. Alice's hands were shaking from the stress, it was tough to focus. Finally, she put down the tools. It was done. "If we can't have our haven, let them have their hell. Now come with me, there's a Catacomb entrance nearby, we'll go unnoticed underground." The Catacombs! She didn't even think of them! (set: $Fire to true) [[Follow Louise->Catacomb]]

They went to a stony entrance which bars had been stripped. The Church had it from the government to close the Catacombs as they were sacred grounds due to the many bones laying under there. Going down the stairs, Louise warned her not to wander too far alone and to always keep a hand on the left wall. Alice wasn't sure about all of this, it scared her to go blindly into the dark and a chill went down her spine. And a sound so loud that it must have been heard all around Paris, shook the earth. Their hands on their hears, they realised what it meant: soldiers from the Commune and soldiers from Versailles were fighting... Hand in hand, they turned back. Better being under the sun than trapped in the dark! Somewhere not too far an explosion thundered. Then a second. And an other. "That was the HQ area... said Louise. You know... I would blow this entire city if that could ensure us to build a better society..." She had guessed it already and did not say anything; what was there to say? Alice believed that violence wasn't an answer, that change had to come from within rather than being imposed... there were a lot of things she used to believe in a week ago, but to be true, now she just felt numb. "Alright, go and find Charlotte. I still have things to burn, so I'm going to continue alone. Remember, leave as soon as possible!" She squeezed her hand and left. Would she ever see her again? She couldn't say, she was near her destination now. [[Go to Charlotte->toCharlotte]]

Charlotte looked at her with wide eyes. "What do you mean?" "Didn't you hear or saw the explosion over there?!" Alice gestured at the smoke from where the HQ had been. "Louise will blow the whole place down!" "Wait, it was the café?!" "If we were to be caught by the troups, she was planning to put the entire neighbourhood ablaze!" (if: $Fire is true)["I even helped her, Charlotte. There's no time to loose!"] "But, no... She wouldn't..." "I swear it is true!(if: $Fire is true)[I helped her destroying our neighbourhood.]" (if: $Fire is true)["Why?! Why would you do something like this!"] Her hands were shaking now. But still, she did not seem to be resolved to leave. "Anyway, perhaps the fire won't come too close, perhaps I could keep fighting... I could still be of any help here!" No! She took her hands. (set: $CHarlooteBlow to true) [["Don't lose everything for that!" ->AlreadyLost]] [["We can still make a change if we stay alive!" ->MakeAChange]] [["I won't leave you."->WaitWhat?GO!]]

It was quite clear she did not understand. "Ugh, yes! That's why I'm here and we kept them away all night long!" "No, you don't get it! They are making sure you're busy in the front because soldiers have already infiltrated our place! While you're busy here, you won't even notice that the entire neighbourhood is falling apart and you with it! There's no way to win anything anymore here!" "I don't care if I win, I will fight for what I believe in!" "But you'll die!" "Yes, better that than living in their world!" NO! She took her hands. [["Don't lose everything for that!" ->AlreadyLost]] [["We can still make a change if we stay alive!" ->MakeAChange]] [["I won't leave you."->WaitWhat?GO!]]

She had a movement of incomprehension. Her eyes were open wide. "What do you mean?!" "Soldiers have already infiltrated our neighbourhood; I had to avoid them to reach you, I could've been killed!" "It's OK, you're with me now. We'll be safe here... It might be the last safe place of the Commune. "You don't understand, I told you they're coming, the place will be cornered in a minute!" "I don't care, I will fight for what I believe in!" "But you'll die!" "Yes, better that than living in their world!" No! She took her hands. [["Don't lose everything for that!" ->AlreadyLost]] [["We can still make a change if we stay alive!" ->MakeAChange]] [["I won't leave you."->WaitWhat?GO!]]

She looked at her as if she was saying some silly things. "What are you talking about?" "There's a boat we can take and we would leave without trouble!" "A boat? What boat? Why would I need a boat to fight?" "Not to fight, to live! It was Michel's! (if: $Tired is true)[He told me to use it, to save us both from Paris!] He's probably dead now..." "He's dead?!" "He was injured this night, but he still wanted to fight so we would live. Come on, there's no time to lose Charlotte!" "I'm sorry... I love you, but I won't come with you. My place is here, I too have strength to fight." No! She took her hands. [["Don't lose everything for that!" ->AlreadyLost]] [["We can still make a change if we stay alive!" ->MakeAChange]] [["I won't leave you."->WaitWhat?GO!]]

Charlotte sighed, her heart was broken. She took Alice in her arms. "I love you, she said." "I know." They told the other fighters of what was coming, but they were not hearing it. The two of them abandonned the barricade and the people behind. (set: $Abandoned to true) [[There was only one thing in Alice's minde now->BothFLee]]

Red came to her cheeks. "I have already lost everything!! My family lost its title, our wealth is long gone... my own family has nothing but disdain for me because I love you... Don't tell me what I can risk or not; I can't loose the Commune too. I can't loose the place where we lived together, where we could hold each other's hands in the daylight streets. I won't let go the dream of making a better place for us!" She pushed Alice back, softly but firmly. Her muscles were tensed and her face torned. Surely, there was something to say to make her change her mind! [["I know, it's hard to let go, but we would be together!"->LettheCommuneDie]] [["Forget about this, we can start anew somewhere else!" ->TheSpiritwillLIVE]]

Red came to her cheeks. "And for what? My family lost its title because things were supposed to change and you know what? Nothing changed! Emperors, kings, nobles, bourgeois... They'll never let go their power over the rest of us! They'll pretend they care, but they'll keep putting in charge a man who will mutilate us without an hesitation if needed while the rest of them applauds this so called protection! The only alternative they gave us, the only one, is for us to blow them all. (if: $Fire is true)[You know what, maybe Louise's right after all.] If we can turn their system upside down, then we'll have a chance to make a real new one! I won't let go the Commune this easily, I won't let go the possibility for us to have a shared future!" She pushed back Alice, softly but firmly. Her muscles were tensed and her face torned. Surely, there was something to say to make her change her mind! [["I know, it's hard to let go, but we would be together!"->LettheCommuneDie]] [["Forget about this, we can start anew somewhere else!" ->TheSpiritwillLIVE]]

Red come to her cheeks. "No!!" "Oh yes, I came here for you, I've been shot at and I passed through dozens of people, so believe me when I say that I won't leave you!" "I won't let you die!" "See? You know we're doomed if we stay! Please, come with me!" "And let them win? Leave what we built here? I can't, Alice! The place where we lived together, where we were holding hands and no one bothered us about what was happening under our bedsheets thanks to Louise's policy. I won't let go the dream of making a better place for us!" [["I know, it's hard to let go, but we would be together!"->LettheCommuneDie]] [["Forget about this, we can start anew somewhere else!" ->TheSpiritwillLIVE]]

She could say that, to Charlotte, it felt like a stab. "How do you do it? How can you say such things?" "It's not easier for me... I don't want to die, but I don't want to leave you either... I know how much you want to believe in what we did here, but... I'm sorry but it's over... We tried and failed. And we will both die if we stay here... Let's go somewhere else, in the countryside, let's try to live a peaceful life, who cares if we have to stay hidden? At least, we would be together!" "I... I..." [["Please, come with me." ->LeaveWithCharlotte]]

She could say that, to Charlotte, it felt like a punch. "Start again?" Yes. (if: $Tired is true)[Michel was wrong, it was worth it to keep believing.] "We're young, we're in love, what's the proverb "we can move mountains"? If we survive this together, then the Commune will live through us. We can move anywhere and fight again for our rights! People will always rise for their rights, we wouldn't be alone! And this time, we could succeed!" "I don't know... I..." [["Please, come with me." ->LeaveWithCharlotte]]

*Michel died on his barricade. He had seen too many attempts to build a fairer world to keep pushing on, but he could not surrender either.* (if: $Tired is true)[*Thanks to him, Alice and Charlotte were able to escape.*] (if: $Fire is true)[*Louise died trying to set afire another building. Her body was found a few days after the Bloody Week and used as a propaganda tool by the government against women. Calling her and other women 'pétroleuses'.*] (if: $Fire is false)[*Louise's fate remains unknown.*] (if: $Abandoned is true)[*The men and women at Charlotte's barricade were captured by the Butcher soon after they had left. The elders were killed without warnings because due to their age, it meant that they had seen the riot from 1848 as well as this one, making them guiltier to the Butcher's eyes. The others were sentenced to jail or hard labor.*] *No one knows what happened to Alice and Charlotte after they escaped from Paris. Some said they traveled through Europe for some time before settling somewhere. Some said it was in the countryside where they tried to be forgotten but others said they changed names and went to big cities to rally people to their cause. Did they break up? Did they stay in love? Did they live hidden? Did they fight for their rights? Nothing is for sure.* *Other Communes like Paris existed back then: Lyon, Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Narbonne, Toulouse, Perpignan, Le Creusot, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Nîmes, Limoges, Périgueux, Cuers, Foix, Rouen, Le Havre... They would all be crushed or ended by the government which made sure they would be forgotten and despised.* **THE END** [[Credits]]

*WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE MUST LEAVE WE* [[THEY HAD TO BE QUICK->TotheDoacks]]

Alice used her skills to make sure the path to the docks was clear, it wasn't really far but the tension and the gunpowder in the air made them reckless. Until someone saw them and Charlotte had to take him down; Alice would have retched if she had had the time to process. By now, people were at their windows, at their doors, alarmed by the screams and thunders. To them, they said it was too late, the Commune was over, they had to run. Some heard them, others did not. She would have liked to stop and help them all. What had she become? What had the Commune turned her into? She made Orsini bombs, had abandoned Michel, (if: $Fire is true)[made a timer to blow up a neighbourhood,] had left people dying on their barricade, witnessed a murder, had left people on the streets coping with the harsh reality of what was happening. But she would both survive... Perhaps, she could lock those memories somewhere deep in her heart, or use them as a fuel but never think of them, perhaps she could live with them... On the docks, the small wooden boat was waiting. It was a miracle! They detached it and layed still to prevent anyone to see them, letting the river lead them wherever she decided. Gunfights, screams, explosions, fires and the calm water were the only things they heard. As Paris was collapsing, their dreams were crumbling as well. But they were still alive. [[Conclusion]]

This interactive fiction is inspired by the canceled work made by a team of 9 for the Rainbow Jam 2019. Thanks to (listing those who agreed to be mentionned): Amélia Chavot, Carowouine, Gabin Jirodet, Léo Lefebvre, Quinten, Sacha Holsnyder, Today* Story outline by Quinten & Gabin Jirodet Written and designed by Gabin Jirodet. Additional CSS by Charlotte Adamowicz. The picture used is a view of Rue de Rivoli after the Parisian Commune.

She took a deep breath and made sure the way was clear before moving again. She was so tensed that she wondered if she was imagining things a few times. She avoided a group of men talking about a signal supposed to be sent soon. That was almost good news! They were probably talking about the main assault, which did not occured yet. The Butcher had sent soldiers here but not too much, they were probably making sure their victory would be total. If she was quick enough, she could save Charlotte and herself before the attack. She had covered most of the distance when she heard a faint noise on her left, coming from an abandonned building. Was it her name she heard or was it the adrenaline in her veins messing with her mind? [[Better check it on. -> LetsPutFire]] [[There was no time to lose. -> Sneak3]]