,,,You can't sleep. The clock on your nightstand reads 03:33.
[[Get up.]]
[[Five more minutes.]]You throw back the covers. There is nothing at the foot of the bed.
[[You step out of your bedroom and onto the landing.]]You wait five minutes. The clock on your nightstand reads 03:33.
[[Get up.]]
[[Five minutes more.]]You watch the clock for another five minutes, counting seconds in your head. Still the display reads 03:33.
Your eyes itch. You hear the central heating click, as you often do when all is quiet.
This time, it sounds for all the world like a cough of impatience.
[[You get up.|Get up.]]Nothing follows at your heels.
There is a light on downstairs.
[[You descend into the hall.]]No footsteps pad along behind you.
The light is coming from the dining room.
[[You enter.]]Satan is sitting at your dining table.(click: "Satan")[ He has a thin moustache and is wearing a pinstripe suit with broad lapels.](click: "a thin moustache")[ (set: $disney to true)You can't get over just how much he looks like Walt Disney.]
He has made himself a cup of coffee(click: "coffee")[ in your nicest china], and helped himself to a biscuit(click: "biscuit")[ - one of the fancy sandwich ones].
"You're right on time," he says(if: (history:) contains "Five more minutes.")[ with a wry smile that acknowledges your delay].
The large wall clock indicates that it is just after half past three.
[[He gestures for you to sit.]][[You sit.|introduction]]
[[You remain standing.|introduction]]Satan drops a spoonful of sugar into his cup and stirs it neatly with a well manicured hand.
"Questions?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.
(display: "questions")Satan rolls his eyes. "You know who I am. I'm Satan.(if: "disney" is true)[ You think I look like Walt Disney for some reason.]"
(display: "questions")(unless: (history:) contains "Who are you?" and (history:) contains "What do you want?")["I think we should save that one for last, don't you?" Satan smiles. "More dramatic that way."
(display: "questions")](else:)[(display: "Why are you here?")]"I'm not after your soul, if that's what you're worried about." Satan removes his spoon from the cup, taps it elegantly against the saucer, then takes a sip of coffee. "I want to test you. That's what I do."
(display: "questions")"I don't actually know why I'm here. But of course, you do." He looks up from his coffee and catches your eye. "So what is it? There are only so many reasons people choose. Do you want money? Fame?" He smiles. "Should I teach you to play Blues guitar?"
[[I want money.|I want my dog back.]](mouseover-replace: "I want money.")[[[I want my dog back.]]]
[[I want fame.|I want my dog back.]](mouseover-replace: "I want fame.")[[[I want my dog back.]]]
[[I want to play Blues guitar.|I want my dog back.]](mouseover-replace: "I want to play Blues guitar.")[[[I want my dog back.]]](unless: (history:) contains "Who are you?" or (passage:)'s name is "Who are you?")[\
[[Who are you?]]
](unless: (history:) contains "Who are you?" and (history:) contains "What do you want?")[\
(unless: (passage:)'s name is "fake why")[[[Why are you here?|fake why]]
]](else:)[\
[[Why are you here?]]
](unless: (history:) contains "What do you want?" or (passage:)'s name is "What do you want?")[\
[[What do you want?]]]{
(set: $disney to false)
(set: $mirrorList to (a:))
(set: $garbage to (a:))
(set: $itemList to (a:))
(set: $itemPlacer to (shuffled: 2, 3, 4))
(set: $harness to $itemPlacer's last)(move: $itemPlacer's last into $garbage)
(set: $ball to $itemPlacer's last)(move: $itemPlacer's last into $garbage)
(set: $blanket to $itemPlacer's last)(move: $itemPlacer's last into $garbage)
(set: $enter to (display: "enter"))
}"Oh, it's one of //these//."
The devil sighs, picks up the biscuit from his saucer, and takes a bite. He chews thoughtfully, giving his moustache a quick brush with his fingers, though he has kept it immaculately free of crumbs.
"I urge you to reconsider," he says, eventually. "Your dog was never going to live forever. Even if you take my little challenge, and even if you succeed, how many more years do you think you'd get?"
[[1|It doesn't matter.]](mouseover-replace: "1")[[[It doesn't matter.]]]
[[2|It doesn't matter.]](mouseover-replace: "2")[[[It doesn't matter.]]]
[[3|It doesn't matter.]](mouseover-replace: "3")[[[It doesn't matter.]]]
[[4|It doesn't matter.]](mouseover-replace: "4")[[[It doesn't matter.]]]
[[5|It doesn't matter.]](mouseover-replace: "5")[[[It doesn't matter.]]]"You know Barbara Streisand just cloned hers. It's true that money can't buy happiness, but if you have enough of it that certainly helps. Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you wouldn't rather have a big stack of cash? Or you could still just walk away." He pulls back his sleeve to look at his watch. "It can be 3:44 any time you want."
[[Demand your dog back.]]
[[Ask for money instead.]]
[[Walk away.]]Satan drains the last of his coffee. "As you wish - though you'll very likely regret it."
(display: "explanation")Satan has a point. You're not badly off - you don't //need// the money - but it would make a difference. Getting your dog back won't let you give your boss the finger and move on to better things. Getting your dog back won't mean you never have to worry about the future. And like he said, getting your dog back won't mean you still have your dog ten years from now.
And yet, as you prepare to say the words "Actually, I want the money," it hits you that it really isn't true.
"You want your dog back." Satan sighs, then drains the last of his coffee.
(display: "explanation")You walk over to the door of the dining room and prepare to head back upstairs. In the morning, you're positive you will remember this as nothing but a dream.
You pause.
You turn.
"You're making a mistake." Satan drains the last of his coffee. "It might be worth it for a person. It isn't for a dog. But I see you won't be dissuaded."
(display: "explanation")He sets the cup back down on the saucer and pushes it to one side.
"I need three things from your dog's life. Doesn't matter what they are: a lead, a collar, an old raggy blanket... All that matters is that that they're connected to your dog somehow. The mankier and more chewed up the better."
[[Your heart drops.]]Not long after it happened, you got rid of all that stuff.(click: "all that stuff")[
You thought it would help you move on.](click: "move on")[
It didn't.](click: "It didn't.")[
And now there's nothing left.](click: "nothing left")[
[[You tell Satan.]]]The corners of Satan's mouth turn up in a cruel smile.(if: $disney is true)[ He suddenly looks a lot less like Walt Disney.]
"That is precisely why I need those things from you. I am not your fairy godmother: I am //the adversary//. I wouldn't offer this if it were easy."
Then...
[[How?]]Satan shrugs. "Look around. //Reflect// on what might be and what might have been. And if you can't find all you need, think //a little deeper//."
[[He will say nothing more.|dining room]]You (if: (history:)'s last is "How?")[are in](else:)[$enter] the dining room.
(if: $itemList's length < 1)[Satan is here, studiously ignoring you. He appears fixated on his Casio wristwatch, which reads 03:33.](elseif: $itemList's length < 3)[Satan is here, enjoying another cup of coffee.
"Keep at it," he says, without looking up from his little china cup. "Just don't stray too far."](else:)[(go-to: "ending")]
Through the door is the [[living room]].The living room is (unless: $mirrorList's length > 0)[a bit of a mess. Moreso than usual, though you're sure you'd have difficulty convincing your guest of that. There is a pizza box on the coffee table (click: "pizza box")[containing one last slice of pizza that you'll probably end up just throwing away] and a pair of socks on the sofa.](else:)[neat and tidy.]
The clock on the mantlepiece shows that it is just after half past three in the morning.(if: $mirrorList's length > 4)[ Next to the clock there is a photograph from (link-reveal: "your trip to Machu Picchu")[ - the trip you had to cancel due to a sudden bout of appendicitis].]
From here you can get to the [[hallway]], the [[kitchen]], and the [[dining room]].(either: "enter", "walk into", "step into")You (unless: (history:)'s last is "harness")[$enter](else:)[are in] the hallway.
Here there is an old hatstand with your several coats hanging on it. You only really wear the one that's currently (as ever) on top.(if: $mirrorList's length < 1)[ On the hatstand is also a 1930s-style fedora, which you can only assume is Satan's.
It somehow seems a little strange to think of him coming through the door like a normal person.]
On the wall by the hatstand hangs a full-length [[mirror|hallway mirror]].(if: $mirrorList's length >= $harness and $itemList does not contain "harness")[ Just beside it hangs a familiar [[harness]] with a lead attached.]
From here you can get to the [[living room]](unless: (history:) contains "front door")[, the [[front door]],] and the [[landing]] (via the stairs).You (if: (history:)'s last is "back garden" or (history:)'s last is "ball")[are in](else:)[$enter] the kitchen. It is long and narrow, (if: $mirrorList's length < 2)[with more food sitting out than you would have left while you still had a dog.](else:)[though despite its small size everything is (link-reveal: "packed neatly away")[ - out of reach of questing snouts].](if: $mirrorList's length >= $ball and $itemList does not contain "ball")[
On the counter by the back door there is a small [[ball]].]
From here you can get to the [[living room]], (if: (history:) contains "back garden")[and ]the [[bathroom]](unless: (history:) contains "back garden")[, and [[back garden]]].You $enter the bathroom.(unless: (history:) contains "bathroom")[ You gave it a good clean only yesterday, which you suppose Satan will appreciate if he has to use the facilities.
It occurs to you that you are not sure whether this is something Satan ever has to do.]
You can see a sink, a toilet, a [[mirror|bathroom mirror]] and a (unless: $mirrorList's length > 3)[shower - you do not actually have a bath.](else:)[bath.]
Through the door is the [[kitchen]].You stretch out a hand to unlock the back door.
"I wouldn't go out there if I were you," Satan calls from the dining room, though there's no way he can see what you're doing. "Not right now, anyway."
You don't question this - you just [[step away|kitchen]].(display: "mirror logic")Beyond the bathroom mirror there is another bathroom.
(unless: $mirrorList's length > 5)[\
[[You clamber through.|bathroom]]](else:)[\
[[You clamber through.|apocalypse bathroom]]](display: "mirror logic")Beyond the hallway mirror there is another hallway.
(unless: $mirrorList's length > 5)[\
[[You clamber through.|hallway]]](else:)[\
[[You clamber through.|apocalypse hallway]]]"Everything that you need is in this house," says Satan, who hasn't moved from the dining room. "And it's too late to walk away now."
The time is still 3:33.
You [[turn back|hallway]].You (if: (history:)'s last is "hallway")[go upstairs to](else:)[$enter] the landing.
From here you can get to [[your bedroom]] and the [[other bedroom]], or head downstairs to the [[hallway]]. There is also an airing cupboard, though you've got no reason to look in there.(if: $mirrorList's length > 4)[
There is a fishtank on a table between the two doors.(click: "fishtank")[ The long-finned goldfish within swim up to the surface as you approach, eager to be fed.]]You (unless: (history:)'s last is "blanket")[$enter](else:)[are in] your bedroom. The clock on the nightstand reads 03:33.(if: $mirrorList's length >= $blanket and $itemList does not contain "blanket")[ At the foot of the bed there lies a ratty old [[blanket]], covered in hair.]
There is a [[mirror|bedroom mirror]] on the wall. (if: $mirrorList's length > 2)[
There are shoes by the door that are not your shoes.]
From here you can get to the [[landing]].You $enter the spare bedroom.
(unless: $mirrorList's length > 1)[Your partner used to use this as an office, back when you were still together. You're still halfway through furnishing it to put on Airbnb. You've been halfway for a while.](elseif: $mirrorList's length is 2)[...except it's not a spare bedroom. It's totally empty.](else:)[...except it's not a spare bedroom - it's your partner's home office.]
(if: $mirrorList's length < 3)[There's nothing for you here. ]The only place to go is the [[landing]].(display: "mirror logic")Beyond the bedroom mirror there is another bedroom.
(unless: $mirrorList's length > 5)[\
[[You clamber through.|your bedroom]]](else:)[\
[[You clamber through.|apocalypse bedroom]]]{
(if: $mirrorList's length is 0)[(set: $mirrorList to it + (a: (passage:)'s name))]
(elseif: $mirrorList's last is (passage:)'s name)[(move: $mirrorList's last into $garbage)]
(else:)[(set: $mirrorList to it + (a: (passage:)'s name))]
}{
(if: $mirrorList's length > 5)[
(change: ?Passage's chars, via (text-style:(either: "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror")))]
(elseif: $mirrorList's length > 4)[
(change: ?Passage's chars, via (text-style:(either: "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror")))]
(elseif: $mirrorList's length > 3)[
(change: ?Passage's chars, via (text-style:(either: "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror")))]
(elseif: $mirrorList's length > 2)[
(change: ?Passage's chars, via (text-style:(either: "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "mirror", "mirror", "mirror")))]
(elseif: $mirrorList's length > 1)[
(change: ?Passage's chars, via (text-style:(either: "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "mirror", "mirror")))]
(elseif: $mirrorList's length > 0)[
(change: ?Passage's chars, via (text-style:(either: "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "none", "mirror")))]
}You find yourself in the ruins of a bathroom. Black bracket fungus has forced its way through the tiles above the bath.
There is a shattered mirror on the wall. Large shards of glass litter the floor below.
There is nowhere to go but the [[kitchen|apocalypse kitchen]].The wreckage of a full-length mirror rests against the wall, beside a toppled hatstand.
From here you can go to the [[living room|apocalypse living room]] or the [[front door|apocalypse front door]]. The stairs are gone.Shards of brooken mirror crunch beneath your feet.
The landing is gone: the floorboards have rotten and the stairs collapsed.
All you can do is lower yourself down into the [[hallway|apocalypse hallway]].The cupboards are open, the shelves ransacked.
From here you can reach the [[bathroom|apocalypse bathroom]] and the [[living room|apocalypse living room]]. The back door is jammed shut.
The sky outside seethes an unhealthy red.The clock on the mantlepiece is smashed. A dead deer decomposes by the coffee table.
From here you can reach the [[kitchen|apocalypse kitchen]], the [[dining room|apocalypse dining room]], and the [[hallway|apocalypse hallway]].A tree has fallen through the window. The room is unrecognisable.
From here you can reach the [[living room|apocalypse living room]].You shoulder open the front door - stiff with damage and neglect - and stare out into a changed world. The sky is red, the air sulphurous.
Across the street, a swift four-legged form raises its head to gaze at you, but it is not your dog.
Its six nostrils scent the air with interest.
[[You run.]][[It runs too.]](event: when time > 5s)[(restart:)]
=><=
THE END(set: $itemList to it + (a: "harness"))You pick up the harness and turn it over in your hands. It's just as you remember, right down to the frayed strap that your dog started gnawing through the one time you didn't hang it up quite high enough.
You turn back to the [[hallway]].(set: $itemList to it + (a: "ball"))You pick up the ball.
It isn't all that distinctive an object - there must be thousands like it scattered over lawns and under hedges all across the world - but still you know that this was your dog's. You recognise the way it's worn out, and the pattern of teeth marks in its skin.
You turn back to the [[kitchen]].(set: $itemList to it + (a: "blanket"))You pick up the blanket.
You threw this away even before your dog died. It was your partner who insisted on having it on the bed.
You turn back to [[your bedroom]].Satan stands as you enter the room.
"I see you've managed to find those three items." He takes them from you. "Thoroughly disgusting. Very well chewed. These are entirely suitable."
Following this brief inspection, he bundles the harness and ball up inside the blanket and chucks it on the dining table.
"Come on, then." He strides towards the hallway and beckons you to follow. "[[A deal's a deal.]]"You follow Satan to the front door, which he opens with a flourish.
A small bundle of fur flies forward to greet you.
(if: $mirrorList's length > 0)[Except...
[[You turn to Satan.]]](else:)[\
[[It is your dog.]]](save-game: "bad end")[[This isn't my dog.]]It is a lovely dog - (either: "a very affectionate", "a sweet little", "a playful") (either: "terrier", "Shih Tzu", "staffie", "Italian greyhound") - but it is certainly not yours.
"Of course it's not your dog." Satan reaches an arm through the hallway mirror and retrieves his hat from the hatstand on the other side. "This isn't your house."
Without another word, he steps neatly through the door and out into the night.
You watch him go, then turn back inside to [[touch the mirror]].[[You leave an oily handprint on the glass.]](event: when time > 5s)[(restart:)]
=><=
THE END"But of course it's your dog!" Satan smiles. "It was a foolish, trivial request, but you held up your end of the arrangement and so I've held up mine."
He takes his hat from the hatstand and places it on his head(if: (saved-games:) contains "bad end")[ before turning to **you**, the person reading this on screen right now.
"...even if you did restart the game to make it happen."](else:)[.
"Farewell for now."]
Without another word he steps neatly through the door and out [[into the night]].(event: when time > 5s)[(restart:)]
=><=
THE END