Awaken

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"Doctor, I think they're coming to." "Hmm, you're right. Leave us." <<timed 5s>> "Hello there." [[...|Hello]] <</timed>> <<silently>> <<set $suspLevel = 0>> <<set $paranoidLevel = 0>> <<set $lookCounter = 0>> <<set $ending = 0>> <<endsilently>> <<audio "ambience" loop play>> <<audio "beeps" loop play>>

<<cacheaudio "beeps" "audio/beeps.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "ambience" "audio/ambience.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "Summer" "audio/Summer.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "Windy" "audio/Windy.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "Storm" "audio/Storm.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "static" "audio/static.mp3">>

<html><center><h1>Awaken</h1><br/><h3>A piece in recursive horror</h3></html> [[About]] [[Begin|Start1]] <html></center></html>

Awaken is an interactive story that I made in 2013. Headphones are recommended //EDIT:// but kept on a low volume due to some louder noises in the middle. Alternatively, don't use headphones! It is also recommended that you play in full screen mode (F11 in most browsers (on Windows) and Command-Option-F on Mac OS X.) Also note that quite a bit of audio needs to load in so give it a minute or two before you start! There are times when it may seem that something has gone wrong. If you have to wait more that 15 seconds for something to appear, then something has gone wrong. All the sounds came from FreeSound and were edited in various ways by myself. The images came from OpenClipart and (once again) were edited in various ways by myself. Contact: *[[@lockebirdsey|http://twitter.com/lockebirdsey]] *[[TiltTheWindmill|http://tiltthewindmill.net]] <<back>>

"Now, I'm going to hold up a series of cards with very basic maths problems for you to solve. Since you can move your hands comfortably, I would like for you to answer these problems by holding up the appropriate number of fingers, okay?" "Here we go." <<timed 4s>> <html><img src="imgs/2p3.jpg"/></html> [[Hold up 5|Room_6a]]<</timed>>

"Good." <html><img src="imgs/8m1.jpg"/></html> [[Hold up 7|Room_6b]]

"Excellent." <html><img src="imgs/blur9m3.jpg"/></html> <<timed 3s>>[[Do nothing|Room_6c]]<</timed>>

"Hmmm, how about this one?" <html><img src="imgs/blur2p2.jpg"/></html> <<timed 4s>>[[Panic|Room_6d]]<</timed>>

"Okay, relax. Not quite up to it. Let's try something easier." The doctor shuffles around through his bag. <<timed 3.3s>> "Have a listen and see if you can tell me what you think the weather is outside." <html><img src="imgs/WeatherCards.png"/></html> [[Point to the stormy card|Storm]] [[Point to the sunny card|Sunny]] [[Point to the snowing card|Snow]] [[Point to the windy card|Wind]]<</timed>>

<<if $suspLevel eq 0>> //I wonder what happened to me. Who is this man in black?// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 1>> //I really can't remember much. Which hospital am I in?// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 2>> //The man in black? That's clearly got to be John. Maybe.// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 5>> //Okay, this seems normal.// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 99>> //What the hell?// <<endif>> <<if $paranoidLevel eq 0>> //This certainly seems like a hospital. The doctor is nice. I wish I could see more though.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 1>> //There's something not quite right with this doctor.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 2>> //Something's definitely wrong. What a weird way to check me.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 5>> //That nurse has pretty brown hair.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 99>> //Something's really wrong here.// <<else>> //Something isn't quite right.// <<endif>>

<<if $suspLevel eq 0>> //I wonder what happened to me. Who is this man in black?// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 1>> //I really can't remember much. Which hospital am I in?// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 2>> //The man in black? That's clearly got to be John. Maybe.// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 5>> //Okay, this seems normal.// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 99>> //What the hell?// <<elseif $suspLevel eq 101>> //Oh no. This is familiar.// <<endif>> <<if $paranoidLevel eq 0>> //This certainly seems like a hospital. The doctor is nice. I wish I could see more though.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 1>> //There's something not quite right with this doctor.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 2>> //Something's definitely wrong. What a weird way to check me.// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 5>> //Wait, has the nurse always been here?// <<elseif $paranoidLevel eq 99>> //Something's really wrong here.// <<else>> <<endif>>

//Why do I need to be guarded?//

You open your mouth but nothing comes out. You look around the room and see cream coloured stucco walls, a wide brilliant white curtain and a bearded man with a stethoscope. "I don't think you'll be able to speak yet but I have to ask you some questions, for concerned people you see. When I ask you a question, can you answer by blinking once for no or blinking twice for yes?" [[Blink Twice|Hello_a]]

“Yes, it's a bit rainy outside. Seems like it's going to be that way forever!” [[Continue|Room_7]] <<set $weather = "Storm">> <<audio $weather loop play>>

"Yes, it's quite nice outside. A lot of nature where we are." [[Continue|Room_7]] <<set $weather = "Summer">> <<audio $weather loop play>>

The doctor chuckles. "I wish! It's just a storm. Cold as heck though." [[Continue|Room_7]] <<set $weather = "Snow">>

"Oh yes. It's very windy out there. On my way in earlier a tree branch snapped off just in front of me!" [[Continue|Room_7]] <<set $weather = "Windy">> <<audio $weather loop play>>

"Excellent. Do you know where you are?" [[Blink once|Room_1]] [[Blink twice|Room_2]]

The doctor chuckles. "Excellent deductive powers there. Yes, you were brought here two days ago by a man. He was dressed entirely in black and vanished before we could get his name. Do you know why you are here?" [[Blink once|Room_3]] [[Blink twice|Room_4]]

“Okay, I'm just going out for a few minutes.” The doctor has a flip through your charts, mumbles to himself and proceeds to leave the room. [[Look Around|Room_8]]

The doctor walks back into the room. This time with a very tall brunette nurse. "Oh you don't want to be doing that quite yet. You should lie back down." <<replacelink "Lie Down">><<set $suspLevel = 99>><<set $paranoidLevel = 99>><html><span class="unblur">"So are you ready to try those tests again?"</span></html> [[Blink once|SitUp1]] [[Blink twice|SitUp2]] <<endreplacelink>> <<display "Thoughts">>

"Okay then, let's try something different." "Do you know your name?" <<set $suspLevel = 5>> [[Blink once|Room10a]] <<display "Thoughts">>

The doctor hums and writes down something in the file. <html><p class="unblur">"Do we have any records about her yet?" "Nothing I'm afraid."</p></html> The nurse and the doctor are conversing about something. <<set $paranoidLevel = 5>> <html><p class="unblur">"I'm not entirely sure that we can do much more. Could you please stay here and monitor her for a while, I've got other patients that need examining." "Okay Doctor."</p></html> [[WHAT|Room11a]] <<display "Thoughts">>

<html><p class="unblur">"Doctor wait! I think she's trying to speak."</p></html> "Just relax, you'll get your speech back in no time. You just need to rest some more." [[Struggle|Room12]] //Why is this so hard?//

"Doctor, shall I administer something?" "No it's fine. Just wait." <<timed 8s>>"She's okay now." <<timed 3s>> [[Rest|Rest1]] <</timed>><</timed>> //No. Stop it!//

//Vision’s still a little blurry.// [[Look around room|LookAround]] [[Peek around the curtain|PeekCurtain]] [[Look at hands|HandsLook]] <<if $lookCounter gte 3>> [[Attempt to sit up|SitUp]] <<endif>> <<silently>> <<if $machines eq "normal">> <<set $suspLevel = 0>> <<elseif $machines eq "odd">> <<set $susplevel = 1>> <<elseif $machines eq "scary">> <<set $suspLevel = 2>> <<else>> <<set $suspLevel = 0>> <<endif>> <<if $chair eq "normal">> <<set $paranoidLevel = 0>> <<elseif $chair eq "odd">> <<set $paranoidLevel = 1>> <<endif>> <<if $quiet eq "odd">> <<set $paranoidLevel = 2>> <<elseif $quiet eq "scary">> <<set $paranoidLevel = 3>> <<elseif $quiet eq "normal">> <<set $paranoidLevel = 0>> <<endif>> <<endsilently>> <<display "Thoughts">>

//There's are few machines above and next to me against the wall. Seems <<cycle "$machines" autoselect>> <<option "normal">> <<option "odd">> <<option "scary">> <</cycle>>.// //That chair the doctor was sitting looks as if it's about to fall apart. Seems <<cycle "$chair" autoselect>> <<option "normal">> <<option "odd">> <</cycle>>.// //It's very quiet here. Seems <<cycle "$quiet" autoselect>> <<option "normal">> <<option "odd">> <<option "scary">> <</cycle>>.// [[<< Back|Room_8]] <<set $lookCounter = $lookCounter + 1>>

"Start with your left hand this time." <<set $suspLevel = 5>> <<replacelink "Move fingers on left hand">> "Good" <<replacelink "Raise left hand">> "Keep going." <<replacelink "Move fingers on right hand">> "Almost there." <<replacelink "Raise right hand">> "Marvellous. Now let's try the cards again." <html><img src="imgs/blur9m3.jpg"/></html> <<replacelink "Hold up 6">> "That was easier wasn't it." [[Blink twice|Room10b]] <<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>> <<display "Thoughts">>

"Ah. You are currently in the intensive care unit. You were brought here two days ago by a man. He was dressed entirely in black and vanished before we could get his name. Do you know why you are here?" [[Blink once|Room_3]] [[Blink twice|Room_4]]

"It must hurt. I'll have to increase your meds. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if you had some degree of amnesia. We still haven't had the chance to send you downstairs for thorough testing but we X-rayed you upon arrival." <<timed 2s>>"Let's do some simple tests." [[Blink twice|Room_5]] <</timed>>

You attempt to sit up slightly. <<replacelink "Peek above">> //I think I can see the edge of a large window.//<<endreplacelink>> <<replacelink "Peek to the side">> //Only a door.//<<endreplacelink>> [[<< Back|Room_8]] <<set $lookCounter = $lookCounter + 1>>

//I can talk// "Why not?" "<<insertlink "You forgot your coat.">>" "Silly me. Thanks." [[Get in car|Rest3a]]<<endinsertlink>>

"Nurse, could you help restrain her?" "Of course." The nurse leans over you and forces your eyes open. "There" she says reassuringly, "this'll be over in no time." <<timed 4s>>"Thankyou nurse. Everything's okay <html><span class="unblur">here.</span></html>" //Is that my name?// <<timed 3s>> The nurse and doctor go back to talking. "She's booked in for a <html><span class="unblur">MRI, CAT &</span></html> X-ray today?" "Yes Doctor. I'm going to take her down to radiology in a moment." "Excellent." The Doctor looks at you. "I'll see you later." [[Thoughts|Room15]] <</timed>> <</timed>>

"You've suffered some pretty serious head trauma. I wouldn't be surprised if you had some degree of amnesia. We still haven't had the chance to send you downstairs for thorough testing but we X-rayed you upon arrival." <<timed 2s>>"Let's do some simple tests." [[Blink twice|Room_5]] <</timed>>

"Try to move your right index finger." <<replacelink "Move index finger">>"Excellent, now try the rest of your fingers on that hand." <<replacelink "Move fingers">>"Good! Now try raising your entire hand." <<replacelink "Lift Hand">>"Marvellous. Now, repeat those tasks with your left. Feel free to take your time." <<replacelink "Perform tasks with left hand">><<timed 4s>> "Fantastic!" The doctor pulls out some paper and a pen and starts writing what seem like large numbers. [["Now for some mental training."|Room_6]] <</timed>><<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>><<endreplacelink>>

//Hmm. My hands seem <<cycle "$hands" autoselect>> <<option "normal">> <<option "weird">> <<option "not right">><</cycle>>.// [[<< Back|Room_8]] <<set $lookCounter = $lookCounter + 1>>

<<silently>> <<audio "beeps" pause>> <<audio "ambience" pause>> <<audio $weather pause>> <<endsilently>> "Babe, hurry up. We're going to be late." <<replacelink "Apologise">>"Sorry, I'll be done in a second." [[Finish Getting Dressed|Rest2]]<<endreplacelink>> <<set $suspLevel = 101>> <<set $paranoidLevel = -1>> <<display "Thoughts1">>

"Car's ready to go, shall we head off?" [["Yes"|Rest3a]] [["Not yet"|Rest3b]]

"Hopefully there isn't too much traffic." [[Leave|Room13]]

<html><p class="unblur">"Doctor, she's coming around again. Do we have any records yet?" "Not yet. I need to check her pupils."</p></html> "Hold still for a second, I just have to check your eyes." [[Close eyes|Room14]] [[Keep eyes open|Room14a]] <<audio "ambience" loop play>> <<audio "beeps" loop play>> <<audio $weather loop play>>

"Thanks for making this easy." <<timed 4s>>"Everything seems to be in order with <html><span class="unblur">here.</span></html>" //Is that my name?// <<timed 3s>> The nurse and doctor go back to talking. "She's booked in for a <html><span class="unblur">MRI, CAT &</span></html> X-ray today?" "Yes Doctor. I'm going to take her down the radiology in a moment." "Excellent." The Doctor looks at you. "I'll see you later." [[Thoughts|Room15]] <</timed>> <</timed>>

//I finally get to leave this room.// <<timed 3s>>//Oh, she's unplugging my stuff.// <<timed 2s>>//We're moving!// [[Look at nurse|Room16]] <</timed>><</timed>>

You look up at the nurse. //Wasn't she a brunette before?// <<timed 2s>>The bed moves through the curtain and approaches the closed door. "God-damnit!" The nurse curses on her way to open the door. <<timed 2s>>The nurse pushes you through the doorway. [[Look around|Hall1]] <</timed>><</timed>>

<<silently>> <<audio "beeps" pause>> <<audio "ambience" pause>> <<audio $weather pause>> <<audio "static" loop play>> <<endsilently>> <<timed 6s>>//What the fuck?//<<timed 2s>> //It's completely empty. Where is everyone?// <<timed 3s>>//Wait, where is everything? I can't see any walls. Everything is white.// //White. Nothing.// <<timed 2s>> //Nothing//<<timed 1.5s>> //Nothing//<<timed 1s>> //Nothing//<<timed 0.75s>> //Nothing//<<timed 0.5s>> //Nothing//<<timed 0.5s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.5s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.5s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.5s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.5s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing//<<timed 0.2s>>//NothingNothing// [[Panic|Hall2]] <</timed>> <</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>><</timed>>

You start wriggling around only to realise that your limbs are now fastened to the bed. //AHHHHHHHHHH. What the fuck is going on?// "It's okay <html><span class="unblur">now</span></html>, we're almost at the MRI." //Was that my name again? What?// Things start going [[dark.|RestDrive1]]

Without any effort or struggle, you manage to say the word "yes". Stunned, you repeat yourself several more times. <<timed 4s>>"Excellent! You can talk. Can you state your full name and age?" <<timed 4s>> [["Marie Elizabeth Bernot. Aged 28"|OP4Y]] <</timed>><</timed>>

The doctor smiled. "Marvellous. Can you remember anything else?" <<insertlink "The man in black. His name is John">> "Good. Now, excuse me for a second." He leaves the room. <<timed 4s>> He returns with two men following him. "These men are here to guard you until such time you are fit. The nurse will attend to you when needed." //Why do I need to be guarded?// The doctor passes you a book. <<replacelink "Open the book">> The book contains lots of simple arithmetic and logic problems. "Filling this in should help get your brain back into gear." The doctor gives a slight smile and leaves. You hear the door close behind him. [[The men are rather large and imposing|POP1]] <<endreplacelink>> <</timed>> <<endinsertlink>>

<<silently>> <<audio "beeps" pause>> <<audio "ambience" pause>> <<audio $weather pause>> <<audio "static" stop>> <<endsilently>> "I think this is the place." //Oh not again.// The car comes to a halt and the man rushedly leaves to open your door. "Your hand, m'lady?" //It is John!// <<replacelink "Take John's hand">>You grab his hand and he pulls you up with great force. [["Watch out!"|RestDrive2]]<<endreplacelink>>

In front of you is a massive building. A hotel perhaps. //I remember this. It was last year.// "You ready for this?" [["I think so."|RestDrive3]]

You and John enter the hotel where a flock of men in cheap looking tuxedos rush at you. The sound they emit as a collective is uninterpretable. At times it sounds like they are saying //blood?// <<timed 5s>>John walks up onto a small stage. "Evening ladies and gentleman." His voice was smooth but resounding. He commanded everyone's attention. <<timed 3s>> "I present to you <html><span class="unblur"> here. She is a wonderous beauty, wouldn't you agree?</span></html>" //What?// "She has the answer's many of you have been waiting for!" <html><h1>Applause.</h1></html> <<timed 2s>>"Would you join me up here?" [[Join John|RestDrive4]] <</timed>><</timed>><</timed>>

You carefully get yourself onto the stage. <<replacelink "Approach the podium">>You walk towards the podium. The lights are glaring, distracting your vision enough to force you to look down. <<timed 3s>>//It's gone silent.// <<replacelink "Begin to speak">> [["Hello"|RestDrive5]] <<endreplacelink>> <</timed>> <<endreplacelink>>

<<timed 5s>>//What's happened?// You feel around, you can easily touch the wooden podium. <<replacelink "Call for John">>"John!" <<timed 2s>>No response. <<replacelink "Call for John">>"John! Where are you?" <<timed 2s>>Still no response. <<timed 3s>>You hear a sound coming from behind you. [[Turn around|OP1]] <</timed>><</timed>><<endreplacelink>><</timed>><<endreplacelink>><</timed>>

"Hello." <<timed 2s>>"Doctor, she's awake again." <<timed 2s>>[["Leave us."|OP2]] <</timed>> <</timed>> <<audio "ambience" loop play>> <<audio "beeps" loop play>> <<audio $weather loop play>>

"Do you remember your name?" [["Yes"|OP3Y]] [["No"|OP3N]]

Without any effort or struggle, you manage to say the word "no". Stunned, you repeat yourself several more times. <<timed 4s>>"Excellent! You can talk. Can you tell me anything you remember?" <<timed 4s>> [["I think I'm 28. The man in black, his name is John."|OP4N]] <</timed>><</timed>>

"Excellent." The doctor smiled. <<timed 5s>>"Your name is Marie Elizabeth Bernot." <<timed 2.2s>>"Excuse me for a second." He leaves the room. <<timed 4s>> He returns with two men following him. "These men are here to guard you until such time you are fit. The nurse will attend to you when needed." //Why do I need to be guarded?// The doctor passes you a book. <<replacelink "Open the book">> The book is filled with pictures and spaces to fill in descriptions. "Filling this in should help you." The doctor gives a slight smile and leaves. You hear the door close behind him. [[The men are rather large and imposing|POP1]] <<endreplacelink>> <</timed>><</timed>><</timed>>

One of the men, starts to talk. "Miss Bernot, do you know why you're here or why we're here?" "<<insertlink "No">>" "Okay. My colleague and I are employees of Mr McInley." //John!// "He appointed us to look after you if anything ever happened to him." "<<insertlink "What happened to him?">>" "Well" the colleague began to speak. "We're not one hundred percent certain but it happened the night of the convention." //No.// <<timed 5s>>"Miss Bernot!" the first man starts yelling. "Are you alright? James, get the nurse. Stay with us." [[Pass out|Con1]] <</timed>> <<endinsertlink>> <<endinsertlink>>

John's face was filled with delight as he hoisted you up onto stage. You could see the crowd, they were chanting your name. <html><h1>"Marie! Marie! Marie!"</h1></html> <<timed 4.2s>> You approach the podium. The lights are glaring but you manage to look past them to see an ocean of people all vying for your individual attention. <<replacelink "Speak">> "Hello. I'm here to announce our new [[product|Con2]] <<endreplacelink>> <</timed>> <<silently>> <<audio "beeps" stop>> <<audio "ambience" pause>> <<audio $weather pause>> <<endsilently>>

<<timed 3s>> //What's happened?// You feel yourself falling, the peoples' cries of joy have turned into cries of fear. You hear people calling for others to assist you. //What's happened?// <<timed 4s>> You still feel as if you're falling. Everything is silent now. <<replacelink "Call for John">> "John! Where are you? Can you please help?" No response. <<timed 5s>> <<goto "Con3">> <</timed>> <<endreplacelink>><</timed>><</timed>>

<html><h1>THUD!</h1></html> You hit the ground. It's pitch black and the ground feels like carpet. <<timed 2.6s>><<replacelink "Stand up">> You manage to stand up. Suprisingly, you are in no pain whatsoever. <<timed 2s>>[[Suddenly|Con4]]<</timed>> <<endreplacelink>><</timed>>

Everything is white. Nothing all around. <<timed 3s>>You start to hear a slow repetetive beeping noise. <<audio "beeps" loop play>> [[Scream|Room21]] <</timed>>

"Hello there." An unknown voice says calmly. <<replacelink "Scream again">> "I don't think you'll be able to speak yet but I have to ask you some questions, for concerned people you see. When I ask you a question, can you answer by blinking once for no or blinking twice for yes?" [[Blink twice|Room22]] <<endreplacelink>>

<html><center><h1>Awaken</h1><br/><h3>A story by Locke Birdsey</h3></html> [[About]] [[Begin|Start1]] <<set $finished = true>> <html></center></html>