Night

You open your eyes. A dull pain rings through your skull before dissapearing. As your vision clears and you gain your bearings you are in an [[alley way]]. It is dark out but this darkness seems like nothing you have ever experienced before. Like it is alive.

You look around the alley way. Between the cracks of the cobblestone ground runs a black liquid. It smells of death. You look down the alley and see the flickering light of a [[gas lamp]].

You move down the alley way towards the light. You are on a street facing a [[river]]. You are able to see a little better as the moon becomes visible from behind the clouds casting a pale, sickly glow on your [[surroundings]].

You take a few steps and look down into the river. You retch at what you see. The water is as black as tar. There seems to be what look like bodies floating in the substance. The smell is horrendous. There is no way you will be able to swim [[across]].

You take a look around. You seem to be on a street facing a [[river]]. Large, gothic structures tower over you. You are reminded of your home town of Manchester, but instead of hearing the sound of the bustiling city streets and smelling the smoke of the factories you hear the screams of things unhuman and smell the putrid stench of death. In the distance, towering over the city, is what looks to be a massive [[tree]]. You get the feeling that you should move towards it deeper into the city.

You squint your eyes trying to make out the tree in the distance. It is massive in scale, perhaps taller than anything in the city. It looks dead and withered. Circling around the top is what look to be some sort of flying creature. You stuggle to make out exactly what it is as the fog moves in and obscures you vision. You turn your attention back towards getting [[across]] the river.

You look for a way to get across the river. To your left you see a [[bridge]]. To your right is a small [[boat]] floating in the black water.

You walk to the bridge. As you get closer you see that it has collapsed into the black river. There is no way that you will be able to jump across. The [[boat]] looks to be the better option.

You lower yourself slowly into to old wooden boat. The smell of the water is almost unbearable. You look around and notice there is a [[rope]] cast across the river to the opposite bank.

You grab the rope. Suddenly a slimey hand reaches out of the water and grabs your arm. You struggle to pull away from it. Finally its grip losens on your arm and it returns to the water. You try pulling on the rope [[again]].

You stretch out your hand cautiously and graab the rope again. You pull and the boat slowly makes its way across the murky water unitl the boat hits the oppoiste [[bank]] of the river.

You climb out of the boat, up the river bank and onto the street. To the left of you is an old burned out [[church]] and to the right is a [[cemetery]].

You walk up to the church. The smell of burnt ashes fills your nose. The wood embers are still glowing. Whoever, or whatever burnt down this church must have done it fairly [[recently]].

You walk through the old rusty gate into the cemetery. You hear the rhythmic sound of a shovel hitting dirt. You wonder whether or not you should [[investigate]] or keep [[walking]].

You walk in the church to investgate further. There is a heavy black mist that is obscuring your vision. You hear something [[deeper]] in the building screech then shuffle away. You make it to the opposite side of the building and find something written on the wall in what seems to be blood. It takes you a few seconds to make out what it says. SINNERS REPENT FOR THE DARKNESS IS THE NEW LIGHT

Next to the blood on the wall is a stained glass window black covered in soot and partially broken. You wonder if you should [[break the window]] and climb through it or head back towards the river [[bank]].

You follow the sound until you come across a person digging up a grave. His back is to you and he seems to be mumbling to himeslf. You are not sure if you should [[approach him]] or keep [[walking]].

You decide to walk around the edge of the cemetery staying close to the bushes so you are hidden. As you walk slowely you can hear someone mumbling to themself. You see a man digging a grave with his back to you. It looks as though he hasn't seen you. You wonder if you should [[approach him]] or [[keep walking]].

You walk closer to the gravedigger. "Um...Excuse me" you say. The man looks at you and then goes back to digging. "Can't stop digging sir, no sir I cannot. The mad king would not be pleased if I stopped no sir he would not. Too many bodies ya see, plague took them." The man begins mumbling to himself again. You wonder if you should [[keep walking]] or [[ask him something]].

You keep walking until you come up to a brick wall at the far side of the cemetery. There seems to be a small hole in the wall that you may be able to [[crawl through]].

You decide that if you keep asking questions maybe the gravedigger will answer one. "Where are we?" you ask. "Don't you know sir?" he asks. "Ravensworth sir. Got to keep digging." You've never heard of this city before. "How do I get out of here?" you ask. "Can't leave, can't talk, have to keep digging sir, speak with the king." He points towards the giant tree toweing over the city. The gravedigger mumbles to himself and will not talk to you any more. You decide to [[keep walking]] towards the tree.

You are just able to fit through the hole in the wall. You emerge on the other side to find yourself at the entrance of a large building. A rusty iron sign above the entrance says RAVENSWORTH ASYLUM You feel as though you should go [[inside]].

You struggle to push open the giant iron doors of the asylum. Finally they give way with a loud creak. You find yourself in a large atrium. You look up to see a large iron skylight letting in some moonlight. There is garbage sprawled across the floor and the walls are peeling. There are stairs leading down straight [[ahead]] of you and a hallway to the [[right]].

You find a piece of wood on the ground. You take it and smash the window. Suddenly you hear a ghastly scream as a creature darts at you from the darkness. You catch a small glimpse of the creature as you jump through the window. It looks to be an emaciated corpse with bright red eyes. You fall a few feet to the [[street]] below. You look up to see the creature in the window screaming "You get out of here!" and then mumbling unintelligibly.

You get up to find yourself in a narrow street. There is a house in front of you. You wonder if you should [[take a closer look]] at it or [[continue down the street]].

''NIGHT'' [[START->wake up]]

You walk up to the house. It seems to be boarded up tight. There is a small note pinned to the front door that reads PLAGUE HOUSE. DO NOT ENTER BY ORDER OF THE KING. You decide its best to listen to the sign and [[continue down the street]].

You continue walking down the street. You seem to be getting closer to the old tree towering over the city. You come up to a large building. There is an iron sign above the entraceway that reads RAVERNSWORTH ASYLUM Ravensworth. you've never heard of this city before. There is no time to think about it though as you fee you should go [[inside]] the asylum.

You head down the stairs and find youself ankle deep in black water. You are in a dark hallway. You look up to see a sign that reads SOLITARY You feel as if you must keep moving [[forward]].

You walk down the hall slowly. Each step you take echos throughout the building. You turn the corner to see a light at the end of the dark hall. The light starts moving towards you. You decide to [[hide]] in a room.

You duck into the room and hide up on the wall. You hear footsteps outside of the room. A strange voice breaks the silence "I know you are out here, I heard your footsteps. The king would not be so pleased if one of the prisoners were to escape." The figure passes. You take a peak out of door to see if the coast is clear. You are met with the face of a skeleton. It is wearing a trench coat and holding a lantern. "Ah there you are!" it says. You push the figure out of the way and [[run]] down the hall as fast as you can.

You sprint down the hallway. You can see the light flickering behind you. The figure taunts you. You can hear banging and screaming behind the doors of the prison cells. The floor begins to feel unstable under your feet. Suddenly it gives way and you [[fall through]].

You land in in putrid black water. You look up to see the figure staring down at you. "Don't worry, I'll find you." it says before turning around and walking away. You stand up and get your bearings. You turn the corner to find youself in a dark hallway. There is a sign on the wall that reads SOLITARY You feel as if you should continue moving [[forward]].

You move further down the hallway, water sloshing with every step. There are several large rusty iron doors on either side of the hallway. There is an eye slot on each. At first you think they are all empty but then you hear a [[voice]] coming from inside one of the cells.

You walk up to the door to find eyes staring at you through the slot. They look human and true. "Please sir you have to help us" the voice says. "Free us from this nightmare, you must. Burn the tree. Cleanse the city. Please..." "How do I get there from here?" You ask. "Follow this hall, it should lead to the sewers. From there you will be able to climb the tree and take a torch to it, please sir." "And why should I trust you?" you say. "What reason would you have not to? Before the mad king turned to darkness following the queen succumbing to the plague, I was high bishop of this city. Now I am stuck here with all the other degenerates and those who opposed the kings rule. I prayed to God every night that someone would come to save us, and it is you sir, you are the the savior the scripture fortold." You are overcome with the realization that you must confront the king and destroy the tree. You turn and head further down the [[hall]]. "Please sir... do not fail us..."

You continue down the hall splashing in the black water until you come to a [[hole]] in wall. You peak your head inside. It seems to be the sewer the high bishop was talking about.

You climb through the hole. You are now waist deep in black water. There are large roots pushing through the cracks of the sewer wall. You feel in your body that you are getting [[closer]].

As you wade through the sewer, the black water becomes thicker turning into a horrible sludge. The roots pushing through the sewer wall also become larger making it difficult to [[move]] forward.

The roots become so big that you cannot move any further down the sewer. However there is a hole in the ceiling with small dead vines hanging down. You may be able to [[climb]] up them.

You grab onto the vines and hoist yourself up. As you put your full weight on them you start to hear a cracking noise. Luckily you are able to fully pull yourself up. You find yourself inside the trunk of the tree. There is a large root system spiraling up the inside of the trunk like [[stairs]]. In the center of the tree is a large beating heart. Black blood drips down onto the floor. The only way to go is up.

You begin to climb the stairs. The higher you go the colder it seems to get. You look up to see dark shadowy figures floating around and whispering in a language foreign to you. They don't seem to be paying attention to you so you decide to keep moving [[upwards]].

Finally you come up to a landing. There is a massive black door in front of you marked with intricate engravings. In the middle of the door is a carving of a skull. Suddenly its eyes begin to glow red and it whispers in a low voice "Blood for blood." You notice to the left of the door is a small vessel with a dagger next to it. You pick up the dagger. As soon as you do the dark figures begin to float towards you. Their whispers turn into shrieks. You find it difficult to move. "Blood for blood." the skull demands again. The spectres are getting closer. You are finally able to put the dagger to your hand, slicing it. The warm blood flows down your hand into the vessel. The spectres turn into black mist before your eyes. The door begins to [[open]].

You walk through the door dagger in hand. You are in the kings chamber. There is a large, ornate bed in the middle of the room. In the far corner, concealed behind glass, is the skeleton of the queen dressed in an elaborate dress and wearing her crown. Next to her is the door to the balcony overlooking the city. In the bed lies the small sickly king. "I've been waiting your arrival." he says. "come closer." You walk up closer to the bed. In the flickering light of the oil lamps on the wall you see the kings sunken face. "Oh the prophecy hath come true. I trust you have spoken to the high bishop yes?" You nod your head. "That's right I've been watching you ever since you entered Ravenswoth. Of course you could burn down my tower but that will not save you. You'll surely perish in the blaze and this living hell might not even come to an end. You have no way of knowing this. No, but there is another way. Take that dagger and plunge it into my chest. Take my crown and rule over Ravensworth. I have caught the plague and soon I will be dead. I am giving you an opportunity to end my suffering as well as the suffering of countless others, will you accept? You look down at the [[dagger]] in your hand then at the [[lamp]] on the wall.

You take the dagger and stab the king through the heart. Cracks form in his skin with light peaking through. Blood soaks the sheets. The king lets out a distorted cry before burning up into a pile of ash. The only thing left is the [[crown]] sitting on the pillow.

As you look at the lamp on the wall you are overcome with the feeling that this is what needs to be done. You run over to the lamp and pry it off the wall. "NO YOU FOOL!" yells the king in a demonic voice as his eyes and veins change to a pitch black color. The dark spectres rise from floor chasing after you. You run out of the kings chamber out onto the landing. The spectres shriek as they come closer. You are level with the beating heart suspended in the middle of the tree. You take the oil lamp and throw it at the heart. The whole tower erupts into flames. There is a deafening scream as the ground shakes uncontrollably. You return to the kings chamber to see that the king is nothing but a pile of ash and his crown is a molten pile of metal. As the tower burns you look out onto the balcony to see the sun rising. As the flames begin to consume your body your vision is blurred and you see a white [[light]].

You pick up the crown slowly and bring it to your head. You are shaking. As you place the crown on your head you can feel a force overtake your body. It is cold. Suddenly your mind becomes clouded as the madness takes over. Your last lucid thought before the darkness takes you completely is how the king betrayed you. You scream and fall to your knees. You begin to laugh uncontrollably. The transition is complete. You get up and walk towards the balcony to gaze upon your new kingdom. THE END [[Restart->NIGHT]]

You wake up in a cold sweat. You look around to find yourself in a hospital room in your hometown of Manchester. A doctor walks through the door. "It looks as though your fever has broken. For a second I wasn't sure if you were gonna make it there." You take a sigh of relief as your nightmare is finally over. THE END [[Restart->NIGHT]]