Higher Ground

The sun’s starting to go down. In the muggy humidity, it feels about twenty degrees hotter than it should. On the horizon behind you, dark clouds gather like a wall. It’ll rain tonight. Underfoot, cracks crisscross the asphalt of the wide suburban street. The windows of the houses are all dark, the lawns overgrown. The only sounds are bugs and birdsong. It’s obvious no one’s lived here in a long time. Noah lags a step behind you, unsteady on his feet. As exhausted as he looks, you’re amazed he’s kept up this long. There’s a hollowness to his eyes lately, and it’s hard not to think about how much it scares you. As if on cue, the tranquility is broken by an outburst of coughing that makes it sound like his lungs are trying to tear free of his body. You turn around to see him half doubled over, covering his mouth and apparently trying not to keel over. {(link:"Reach out to steady him.")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"Reach Out Spring")]} {(link:"Wait for it to pass.")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"Wait Pass Spring")]}

In a second, you’re at his side, offering your arm. He stumbles closer and nearly falls against you, and you catch him, holding him around the shoulders as the coughing shakes his slight frame. Seeing him like this breaks your heart, but right now, all you can do is support him. After a moment, the fit subsides. Noah catches his breath and regains his feet. His breathing still sounds labored. He’s worse today. You struggle to remember the last time he had a decent meal, or a solid night’s sleep. It’s the worst thing possible, seeing your child sick and not being able to do even the simplest things to help. You need to keep moving. There’s not much time before it gets dark. {(link:"'You okay?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"OkaySpring")]} {(link:"'We'll stop soon. Just a little more, alright?'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"LittlemoreSpring")]} {(link:"'We need to keep moving.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"KeepMovingSpring")]}

You stop short, watching as the coughing shakes his slight frame. Seeing him like this breaks your heart, but right now, all you can do is wait. After a moment, the fit subsides. Noah catches his breath and regains his feet. His breathing still sounds labored. He’s worse today. You struggle to remember the last time he had a decent meal, or a solid night’s sleep. It’s the worst thing possible, seeing your child sick and not being able to do even the simplest things to help. You need to keep moving. There’s not much time before it gets dark. {(link:"'You okay?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"OkaySpring")]} {(link:"'We'll stop soon. Just a little more, alright?'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"LittlemoreSpring")]} {(link:"'We need to keep moving.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"KeepMovingSpring")]}

He nods, eyes downcast. 'I'm fine. Sorry.' He’s always been a trooper. Never once has he complained—never asked anything from you, never done any less than his best to keep pace. More than the sickness itself, you know it hurts him to feel like a burden on you. Even so, there’s only so much he can take. You can see it now: he hasn’t got much left. (link: "'Hey, you're doing great, okay? Don't push yourself too hard.'")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringMom4")] (link: "'I know it's hard, but we can't afford to slow down. I need you to hang in there.'")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringMom4")] (link: "'We're never gonna make it if you can't keep up.'")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(set: $Hope to $Hope -1)(goto:"SpringMom4")]

He nods, Standing up a little straighter. 'Yeah. Don't worry, I'm okay.' He’s always been a trooper. Never once has he complained—never asked anything from you, never done any less than his best to keep pace. More than the sickness itself, you know it hurts him to feel like a burden on you. Even so, there’s only so much he can take. You can see it now: he hasn’t got much left. (link: "'Hey, you're doing great, okay? Don't push yourself too hard.'")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringMom4")] (link: "'I know it's hard, but we can't afford to slow down. I need you to hang in there.'")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringMom4")] (link: "'We're never gonna make it if you can't keep up.'")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(set: $Hope to $Hope -1)(goto:"SpringMom4")]

His shoulders slump, and he stares down at his feet. 'Sorry.' He’s always been a trooper. Never once has he complained—never asked anything from you, never done any less than his best to keep pace. More than the sickness itself, you know it hurts him to feel like a burden on you. Even so, there’s only so much he can take. You can see it now: he hasn’t got much left. (link: "'Hey, you're doing great, okay? Don't push yourself too hard.'")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringMom4")] (link: "'I know it's hard, but we can't afford to slow down. I need you to hang in there.'")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringMom4")] (link: "'We're never gonna make it if you can't keep up.'")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(set: $Hope to $Hope -1)(goto:"SpringMom4")]

(link: "dude")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto: "bob")] (link: "man")[(set: $Hope to $Hope +1)(goto: "bob")]

Confidence: (print: $Confidence) Strength: (print: $Strength) Hope: (print: $Hope) Survival: (print: $Survival) Energy: (print: $Energy) Health: (print: $Health) GameOver: (print: $Gameover) Mom: (print: $Mom) Dad: (print: $Dad) SavePossible: (print: $SavePossible)

He looks you in the eye, and you can see that he understands. 'I know... (link:"...dad.'")[(set:$Dad to true)(goto:"SpringMom5")] (link:"...mom.'")[(set:$Mom to true)(goto:"SpringMom5")]

He follows as you turn around and keep walking. The light fades as you continue through this deserted town, the temperature dropping. As the sky turns orange with sunset, a breeze sets up from behind you, cutting the stifling air. Hiking in the dark is a stupid risk. And with those rainclouds on the way, it’s even more important than usual that you find somewhere to hole up for the night. After trying a couple houses, you find an unlocked front door. Putting a finger to your lips, you signal for Noah to be quiet. He flashes you the OK, even though he knows as well as you do that it’s an impossible promise with that cough. Thankfully, it doesn’t matter: a quick scan reveals that the house really is deserted. The ceiling doesn’t look leaky, either, so it should keep you safe from the rain. Dinner is the last of the canned food in your packs. Checking the house more thoroughly doesn’t reveal any fresh supplies—what few scraps of food are left in the pantry are long spoiled. It’s not the first time you’ve run out. You wonder when the last will be. As night falls, you settle into the master bedroom. Noah takes the bed, while you pull the mattress off the one in the guest room and lay it out on the floor for yourself. You never know what might happen; it’s better to be in the same room. Eventually, Noah lapses into an uneasy sleep. You lie awake, listening to his coughing... (link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom6")]

... (live:1s)[(replace:"...")[boob](stop:)] (live:5s)[(replace:"boob")[booooob](stop:)(stop:)]

Most of the nails were already in humanity’s coffin by the time he was born. Rising sea levels had sunk enough of the world’s landmass to put heavy population pressure on what remained. Increasing temperatures were threatening crops; species were dying at record rates. Society was primed to fall apart with one last push. The plagues were it. Modern medicine’s ability to keep pandemics under control was overcome in the course of a few years. Populations were decimated worldwide. Most of the survivors found their way into quarantines in major cities. Martial law dictated exile for anyone showing symptoms of anything contagious and incurable. Noah was always sick when he was younger. It was just a matter of time. You think back on the years you spent watching what looked like the end approach, and you remember how you felt... (link:"Scared. I feared for my life.")[(set: $Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"SpringMom7")] (link:"Scared. I feared for Noah, and the rest of my family and friends.")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringMom7")] (link:"Sad. I didn’t want to watch humanity go extinct.")[(set: $Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"SpringMom7")] (link:"Undaunted. I had faith in humanity’s ability to survive.")[(set: $Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"SpringMom7")] (link:"Happy. Humanity is a cancer on this planet. It’s time for us to die.")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence -1)(goto:"SpringMom7")] (link:"I didn't feel anything. It was all too much for me to process.")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringMom7")] (link:"I didn't feel anything. All I cared about was staying alive.")[(set: $Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"SpringMom7")]

The quarantine was always a temporary haven anyway. The ocean isn’t set to stop rising any time soon; it won’t be long before this whole region is underwater too. Everyone back in the city knew it, and talk was always turning to the next solution. There was a story they were always telling. They say further inland, there’s a place called Higher Ground. A safe haven, protected from flooding, with food, and cures for some of the big plagues—even some that don’t exist anywhere else. You have no idea if it’s even real, or how far it is, or if you can possibly get there. But you’ve got a son who might well be dying, and nowhere else to go. So you’re going to walk away from the ocean until you find Higher Ground, or until you can’t walk anymore. [[...->SpringMom8]]

The next morning, you’re woken up by the sunrise outside. The house is silent; Noah seems to be sleeping soundly. First time in a while. {(link:"Let him sleep.")[(set: $Health to $Health +1)(set: $Strength to $Strength -1)(goto:"SleepSpring")]} {(link:"Wake him up.")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"WakeSpring")]}

He needs his rest; you’re not about to disturb him. Kneeling at the side of the bed, you lay a hand on his forehead. He’s burning up. Now that you’re looking, you can see that he’s hardly sleeping peacefully—he’s shivering, and his breathing is ragged. You might have covered a lot of ground yesterday, but it took a lot out of him. It doesn’t look like you’ll be going any further today. He needs something to bring his fever down. And you both need food. [[...->SpringMom9]]

You give him a shake, but his eyes don’t open. He stirs fitfully, mumbling something that sounds like pain. Kneeling at the side of the bed, you lay a hand on his forehead. He’s burning up. Now that you’re looking, you can see that he’s hardly sleeping peacefully—he’s shivering, and his breathing is ragged. You might have covered a lot of ground yesterday, but it took a lot out of him. It doesn’t look like you’ll be going any further today. He needs something to bring his fever down. And you both need food. [[...->SpringMom9]]

Leaving him alone is a risk, but this house seems about as safe as anywhere, and it’s not like you really have a choice. Searching around what looks like a home office, you find a scrap of paper and a pencil—most people didn’t bother packing their stationery when they fled for the quarantines, and it’s not usually very tempting for scavengers, so there’s plenty left. Scribbling down a note, you place it by Noah’s pillow. If he wakes up before you get back, he’ll read... {(link:"Went to look for food, and hopefully some medicine for you. I’ll be back before dark. Rest up. I love you.")[(set: $Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringMom10")]} {(link:"Went to find supplies. Stay there until I get back. Don’t do anything stupid.")[(set: $Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringMom10")]}

Scavenging has quickly started to feel familiar. You find yourself half-consciously evaluating where in a town like this would be the best place to look. The houses aren’t very promising—everyone would have carried off all the essentials they could when they were first fleeing the plagues. What you want is a shopping center. Most have been looted pretty heavily over the years, but it’s still the best place to look for what you need. Finding one doesn’t take long. A grocery store presides over a parking lot flanked by rows of smaller, less fundamental businesses. There are still a few cars left, rusted and gutted. Blades of grass poke their heads up through cracks in the pavement. [[...->SpringMom11]]

As you approach, though, something makes you stop short. A flash of movement from around the corner of the supermarket draws your eye. Careful to keep quiet, you circle around to get a better view, and are treated to a grisly sight: a pack of dogs, their ribs visible through their coats, tearing into a carcass that looks like it could’ve been a deer. You’ve seen wild dogs like this before. It’s not a good idea to get near them. Even if they’re not carrying anything contagious, they’re often hungry enough to attack on-sight. You have to get into that store. Luckily, the pooches don’t appear to have noticed you, too busy with their own food. You have a chance to slip by, if you can stay quiet—and if they don’t smell you. {(link:"Step lightly and try to sneak past.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -2)(goto:"SneakSpring")]} {(link:"Find something to throw as a distraction.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -1)(goto:"ThrowSpring")]}

Your heart feels like it’ll beat its way out of your chest as you head for the entrance, half-crouched. The asphalt of the parking lot is mercifully free of any sticks or debris you could step on to alert the dogs, but even so, it’s stressful. Luckily, the sliding door of the grocery is already open when you reach it, saving you from having to force it and almost certainly draw attention. You heave a sigh of relief as you slip through, though you know you should still keep as quiet as possible. //Your health, strength, and mental wellness are measured by Energy points. Stressful or difficult feats, and getting hurt, will cost you Energy; to regain it, you’ll need food, rest, and safety. If you find yourself in danger and don’t have enough Energy to escape, you risk death, so keep your Energy up.// //Your remaining Energy is displayed below. This action has cost you 2 Energy.// (link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom12")] (set: $Stats to true)

A quick glance around the parking lot reveals half a broken beer bottle left at a curb nearby; that’ll do. Careful not to cut yourself on any jagged glass, you retrieve it, wind up, and give it a hard overhand into the clump of bushes off behind where the dogs are feeding. A satisfying sound of breaking glass rings out, and all but one of the dogs immediately stop laying into the carcass to turn their heads to the source and prick up their ears. Spotting your chance, you head for the door of the grocery, rolling your footfalls to stay silent. The distraction serves you well, and you slip through the already open door with no sign that the dogs have noticed you, though it takes a moment for the danger-fueled adrenaline to release you so you can catch your breath. //Your health, strength, and mental wellness are measured by Energy points. Stressful or difficult feats, as well as getting hurt, will cost you Energy; to regain it, you’ll need food, rest, and safety.// //Your remaining Energy is displayed below. This action has cost you 1 Energy.// (link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom12")] (set: $Stats to true)

{(set: $Confidence to 0) (set: $Strength to 0) (set: $Hope to 0) (set: $Survival to 0) (set: $Energy to 10) (set: $Health to 0) (set: $Mom to false) (set: $Dad to false) (set: $Stats to false) (set: $DogBitten to false) (set: $GameOver to true) (set: $SavePossible to false) (set: $LoadPossible to false) (set: $NewGameValue to true)}

Double-click this passage to edit it.

(if: (saved-games:) contains "SaveSlotA")[(load-game:"SaveSlotA")](else:)[<center>//You have no saved file.// (link:"Back")[(goto:"StartScreen")</center>]]

//You failed to reach the end of your journey. If you want, you can reload a previous save or start over from the beginning to try something different. Make sure to keep your Energy up— it’s what keeps you alive. Good luck!// {(set: $SavePossible to false) (set: $GameOver to false) (set: $LoadPossible to true) (set: $Stats to false) (link:"Continue")[(goto:"StartScreen")]}

Inside, the store is dark; shrugging off your pack, you retrieve your flashlight, revealing the way ahead. Deserted, the space feels huge and ominous. No sound reaches your ears but that of the dogs still at their food outside. Rows of shelves stretch into the shadows. They’re mostly empty, contents rotted away or picked clean over the years. Even from where you are, though, you spot a few cans, bottles, and boxes, most fallen to the floor and kicked to the corners—scraps forgotten by looters long ago. You sweep your flashlight beam ahead of you, tossing everything you can fit in your pack: bottled water, canned fruit, beans, a box of uncooked pasta. Enough to last the two of you a week, if you stretch it. You’re lucky to have found this place, and not have run into any of the desperate people in similar situations to yours who would fight to take it from you. [[...->SpringMom13]]

You fill up on food quickly, but keep heading further inside. You quickly find what you’re looking for: the pharmacy counter. As you approach, your heart sinks when you see that the shelves here look to be completely bare, but a second later, you catch sight of a glass-fronted cabinet by the back wall. Behind its doors lie rows of pill boxes and bottles—it looks untouched. The reason becomes apparent right away: it’s locked. Someone may have left the key behind. Turning around, you scan the back of the counter, checking for drawers to search...and spot two four-legged shapes moving across the light streaming in from the open entrance at the front of the store. The dogs advance with their noses to the ground, following your trail. You need to get out of here, but you also need medicine for Noah. You have to get into that cabinet before the dogs wander too close. {(link:"Keep looking for the key.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -1)(goto:"KeySpring")]} {(link:"Break the glass.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -3)(goto:"BreakSpring")]}

You start searching more quickly, hiding your flashlight beam behind your cupped hands, pulling drawers open carefully to keep them from squeaking. Off in the shadows between the shelves, you could swear you hear sniffing and the scratching of claws on the floor. //You lose 1 Energy.// Finally, on a shelf under the counter, your hand closes on a jagged shape—a key. Praying it’s the one you need, you shuffle over to the cabinet and put it to the lock. You’re in luck: it fits. The lock clicks as you turn it, and the glass doors swing open with just a faint whisper. You run your flashlight beam over the labels, skimming each one as fast as you can. Nothing in here will cure what Noah has, of course, but with luck, you can find something that will help with his symptoms. Your eye falls on the words 'for reduction of fever'. That’ll work. You grab both the bottles with that label, stuff them in your pockets, and turn to leave. [[...->SpringMom14]]

Forget finding the key—you don’t have that kind of time. Your flashlight is sturdy and reasonably heavy; it should be able to break through the glass. You’ll just have to hope the dogs don’t come running at the noise. Shifting your grip, you heft the flashlight, wind up, and take a swing at the door. The glass breaks easily—too easily, in fact, shattering impressively with an even louder noise than you’d expected. Worse, shards fly off, a big one dealing your hand a nasty gash. //You lose 3 Energy.// You bite your tongue against the slicing pain; no time to dawdle. Running your flashlight beam over labels, you skim each one as fast as you can. Nothing in here will cure what Noah has, of course, but with luck, you can find something that will help with his symptoms. Your eye falls on the words 'for reduction of fever'. That’ll work. You grab both the bottles with that label, stuff them in your pockets, and turn to leave. [[...->SpringMom14]]

There’s a dog standing right behind you. Crouched low, its hackles are raised, its teeth bared. It stares up at you through sunken eyes, its look equal parts hungry and fearful. As you face it, it starts up a low growl, shrinking back a little further, looking tensed to charge. It’s not foaming at the mouth, but that doesn’t mean you want it to take a chunk out of you. The image of that dead deer outside, torn and bloody, flashes through your mind. {(link:"'Nice doggy...easy, boy...'")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -2)(goto:"NiceDogSpring")]} {(link:"Try to dash past and make a break for it.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -4)(goto:"DashSpring")]} {(link:"Kick it in the nose, and bolt while it recovers.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -1)(goto:"KickSpring")]}

You try to relax your posture and let soothing vibes infuse your voice. For a moment, you almost think it’s worked—the dog stops growling, and stands up just a little straighter—but as soon as you stop talking, it returns to its threatening stance. You barely have time to throw yourself out of the way before it launches itself toward you. Its jaws snap at the space where your leg was a split second ago; you feel the air stir. Twisting to regain your balance, you take off, barreling past it and scrambling to vault over the counter. Fight-or-flight takes over as you sprint for the light of the exit, somehow managing to not crash into anything in the dimness. Behind you, you hear barking and scrabbling as the dogs pursue, more echoing them from outside as the commotion alerts the rest of the pack. No time to slow down; you burst out into the open air at full tilt, and don’t look back as you flee, lungs burning... //You lose 2 Energy.// {(link:"...")[(goto:"GoodRun")]}

You try to catch it unawares, but it’s ready. Its claws scrape the floor as it lunges forward, and you feel a searing pain as its teeth sink into your leg. Somehow, you manage to tear free before it can pull you to the ground; reflexively kicking out, you feel a crunch as your foot connects with its snout, and hear a whimper as it recoils. The space is enough. Endorphins drowning the pain, you throw yourself over the counter and take off through the store, sprinting headlong for the light streaming in from the entrance. Behind you, an explosion of barking sets up as the dogs pursue, more audible from outside as their packmates take notice. You don’t have time to slow down. The light burns your eyes as you clear the door, but you keep running, heart thudding as you struggle to put distance between yourself and the barking at your heels... //You lose 4 Energy.// {(link:"...")[(goto:"BadRun")]}

As it lunges forward, you’re ready for it. Your foot lashes out and connects with a satisfying crunch, followed by a whimper as the dog recoils. It’s all the opening you need. Flush with adrenaline, you vault the counter without thinking and charge toward the light of the exit, narrowly dodging around shelves. Behind you, angry barking and the scrabbling of claws signals that the dogs haven’t given up; outside, you hear their friends join in. You don’t slow down. The light burns your eyes as you burst out into the open, the barking closing in. You run like hell, not looking back as you head for your safe haven... {(link:"...")[(goto:"GoodRun")]}

Noah is still asleep, but his breathing has quieted a little, and he’s stopped shivering. A sheen of sweat covers his forehead. You feel his skin again; if his fever’s gone down at all, it’s still high enough to be distressing. At your touch, he stirs, his eyes opening. {(link:"'Morning, sleepyhead.'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringBranch1")]} {(link:"'How are you feeling?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringBranch2")]} {(link:"'Finally awake, huh?'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringBranch3")]}

Somehow, you manage to get away. As you blur past houses, the barking and snapping fades, and eventually disappears as the dogs give up pursuit. You’re left alone once again, one pack full of supplies richer. As the adrenaline wears off, the pain in your leg returns with a vengeance, hitting you in a dizzying wave and nearly making you keel over. Looking down, you’re treated to a bloody mess, the leg of your pants soaked through and ragged. All that running can’t have been good. Gritting your teeth, you press on, limping pronouncedly. The house appears quiet when you find your way back, the door still closed. You feel ready to fall over and sleep for three days as you enter and head upstairs. {(set:$DogBitten to true)[[...->SpringMom15]]}

Somehow, you manage to get away. As you blur past houses, the barking and snapping fades, and eventually disappears as the dogs give up pursuit. You’re left alone once again, one pack full of supplies richer. The house appears quiet when you find your way back, the door still closed. You feel ready to fall over and sleep for three days as you enter and head upstairs. [[...->SpringMom15]]

{(if:$Confidence is $Strength)[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)]}He groans and reaches up to rub his eyes. 'God, how long was I asleep?' He sounds hoarse; you get the sense it’s hurting him to talk. 'Half the day, maybe,' you tell him. 'You needed the rest.' (if: $Confidence > $Strength)[He gives you a weak smile. 'Thanks. Still kinda feel like crap, though.' (link:"...")[(goto:"PostSpringBranch")]](else: $Confidence < $Strength)[His eyes go wide, and he lifts his head like he wants to sit up; he doesn’t get very far, sinking back down with a pained grimace. 'You should've woken me up,' he says, looking worried. 'We're wasting time... (link:"'Don't worry about it. I don't want you running yourself ragged, okay?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringBranchStrength")] (link:"'Trust me, you weren't in any state to go anywhere.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringBranchStrength")]]

{(if:$Confidence is $Strength)[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)]}He heaves a rattling sigh, sinking back against the pillow. 'Not great. What time is it?' 'Noon, maybe,' you tell him. (if: $Confidence > $Strength)[He gives you a surprised look. 'You let me sleep?' (link:"'You needed the rest.'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringBranchConfidence")] (link:"'You were out cold. I couldn't wake you up.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringBranchConfidence2")]](else: $Confidence < $Strength)['What?' His eyes go wide, and he lifts his head like he wants to sit up; he doesn’t get very far, sinking back down with a pained grimace. 'You should’ve woken me up,' he says, looking worried. 'We’re wasting time...' (link:"'Don't wory about it. I don't want you running yourself ragged, okay?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringBranchStrength")] (link:"'Trust me, you weren't in any state to go anywhere.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringBranchStrength")]]

{(if:$Confidence is $Strength)[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)]}He gives a pained grimace. 'Crap...I’m sorry. Did we lose alot of time?' 'Half the day, maybe,' you tell him. 'You needed the rest.' (if: $Confidence > $Strength)[He manages a weak smile. 'Thanks. Still kinda feel like crap, though.' (link:"...")[(goto:"PostSpringBranch")]](else: $Confidence < $Strength)[His eyes go wide, and he lifts his head like he wants to sit up; he doesn’t get very far, sinking back down with a pained grimace. 'You should've woken me up,' he says, looking worried. 'We're wasting time... (link:"'Don't worry about it. I don't want you running yourself ragged, okay?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SpringBranchStrength")] (link:"'Trust me, you weren't in any state to go anywhere.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SpringBranchStrength")]]

He gives you a weak smile. 'Thanks. Still kinda feel like crap though.' [[...->PostSpringBranch]]

'I got you something,' you say, digging into your pack. He turns his head to look as you offer him one of the bottles of pills you found. 'They should help with your fever.' You can’t help but feel a little proud as he reaches up to accept it; it feels like the first time in a long time you’ve been able to do something right for him. (if:$DogBitten is true)[As he reaches for the bottle, his eyes fall to your bloody leg. 'Holy shit,' he gasps, eyes widening in shock. 'What happened? Are you okay?' (link:"'It's nothing. Don't worry.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"PostSpringBranchBitten")] (link:"'Wild dogs. It's not as bad as it looks.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"PostSpringBranchBitten")] (link:"'You should see the other guy.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"PostSpringBranchBitten")]](if:$DogBitten is false)[As he reads the label, a smile spreads across his face—the most sincere you’ve seen from him in a while. 'Oh, you are the best {(if:$Dad is true)[dad]}{(if:$Mom is true)[mom]} //ever//,' he grins as he twists the cap off and shakes two of the pills into his hand. You hand him one of the water bottles as he pops them into his mouth, visibly relieved. (link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom16")]]

Noah looks like he wants to protest, but after a moment, he deflates, his eyes falling closed again. 'If you say so.' [[...->PostSpringBranch]]

By evening, Noah seems much improved. Though his cough is back, it’s not as bad as before; his fever has gone down too, and he’s out of the bed and walking as you ready dinner. You survey your recent haul. If you eat about the same amount, there’s enough for both of you to live for a good few days. You could tighten your belt to make sure Noah gets extra, which would help him keep his strength up; on the other hand, you’re bigger than he is, and need more energy, especially since you’re the one who has to find food in the first place. {(link:"Divide the food evenly.")[(set:$Health to $Health +1)(set:$Energy to $Energy +2)(goto:"SpringMom171")]} {(if:$Confidence < $Strength)[(link:"Give Noah extra.")[(set:$Health to $Health +2)(set:$Energy to $Energy +1)(goto:"StrengthFoodSpring")]] (elseif: $Confidence is $Strength)[(link:"Give Noah extra.")[(set:$Health to $Health +2)(set:$Energy to $Energy +1)(goto:"SpringMom173")]] (else:($Confidence > $Strength))[(link:"Give Noah extra.")[(set:$Health to $Health +2)(set:$Energy to $Energy +1)(goto:"SpringMom173")]]} {(link:"Take the bigger portion for yourself.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy to +3)(goto:"SpringMom172")]}

He doesn’t look entirely reassured, but he takes the bottle without further protest. As he reads the label, a smile spreads across his face—the most sincere you’ve seen from him in a while. 'Oh, you are the best {(if:$Dad is true)[dad]}{(if:$Mom is true)[mom]} //ever//,' he grins as he twists the cap off and shakes two of the pills into his hand. You hand him one of the water bottles as he pops them into his mouth, visibly relieved. [[...->SpringMom16]]

{ (set: $Confidence to 0) (set: $Strength to 0) (set: $Hope to 10) (set: $Survival to 20) (set: $Energy to 10) (set: $Health to 0) (set: $Dog to 0) (set: $Mom to true) (set: $Dad to false) (set: $Stats to true) (set: $DogBitten to false) (set: $GameOver to true) (set: $SavePossible to true) (set: $LoadPossible to true) (set: $NewGameValue to true) }

You try to be subtle about giving Noah the bigger share, but he notices. '{(if:$Dad is true)[Dad]}{(if:$Mom is true)[Mom]}, no,' he argues, shaking his head. 'I’m okay. You need more than I do.' You hold up a silencing hand. 'Eat. You need your strength. I’ll be fine.' He looks like he wants to argue further, but one look at your face takes the words out of his mouth. With a guilty look, he digs into his food, eyes downcast. [[...->SpringMom173]]

You don’t realize how hungry you are until you start eating. With a full stomach, you already feel much better after all the exhaustion of the day. //You regain 2 Energy.// (if:$DogBitten is false)[(link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom18")]](if:$DogBitten is true)[As Noah eats, you find yourself examining the other bottle of pills you brought back. Reading the labels, you notice something you didn’t see before: in addition to reducing fever, they’re listed as being for pain. Your wounded leg still hurts like hell. These could help, but it’d mean less for Noah. (link:"Keep the pills.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy +3)(goto:"KeepPillSpring")] (link:"Leave the pills for Noah.")[(set:$Health to $Health +1)(goto:"LeavePillSpring")]]

You don’t realize how hungry you are until you start eating. With a full stomach, you already feel much better after all the exhaustion of the day. //You regain 3 Energy.// (if:$DogBitten is false)[(link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom18")]](if:$DogBitten is true)[As Noah eats, you find yourself examining the other bottle of pills you brought back. Reading the labels, you notice something you didn’t see before: in addition to reducing fever, they’re listed as being for pain. Your wounded leg still hurts like hell. These could help, but it’d mean less for Noah. (link:"Keep the pills.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy +3)(goto:"KeepPillSpring")] (link:"Leave the pills for Noah.")[(set:$Health to $Health +1)(goto:"LeavePillSpring")]]

You don’t realize how hungry you are until you start eating. With a full stomach, you already feel much better after all the exhaustion of the day. //You regain 1 Energy.// (if:$DogBitten is false)[(link:"...")[(goto:"SpringMom18")]](if:$DogBitten is true)[As Noah eats, you find yourself examining the other bottle of pills you brought back. Reading the labels, you notice something you didn’t see before: in addition to reducing fever, they’re listed as being for pain. Your wounded leg still hurts like hell. These could help, but it’d mean less for Noah. (link:"Keep the pills.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy +3)(goto:"KeepPillSpring")] (link:"Leave the pills for Noah.")[(set:$Health to $Health +1)(goto:"LeavePillSpring")]]

As you sit in the fading, sunset-golden light coming through the bedroom window, Noah turns to you over his can of beans. 'Hey...you really think this place is real? Higher Ground? I mean...' He trails off, filling the silence with another mouthful. 'It’s just, it sounds kinda...too good to be true, y’know?' he finally says. 'Like, the name and everything...it just kinda sounds like a fairytale, right?' {(link:"'We're just gonna have to hope. It's the only option we've got.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"HigherHopeSpring")]} {(link:"'It’s real. I know it is. And we’re gonna get there. I promise.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +2)(goto:"HigherRealHopeSpring")]} {(link:"'Well, we’ll find out sooner or later. And if it’s not, then we’ll think of something else.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"HigherSoonerSpring")]} {(link:"'It doesn’t matter if it’s real. We’ll find our way no matter what happens.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +2)(goto:"HigherNoMatterSpring")]}

You pop open the bottle and swallow a couple of the pills with your next drink of water, putting the rest of the bottle back in your pack. With any luck, they’ll start working soon. If Noah notices, he doesn’t say anything. //You regain 3 Energy// [[...->SpringMom18]]

'Here,' you say, leaning over and offering the second bottle. 'More, if you run out.' Noah accepts it, nodding. 'Thanks.' You watch him tuck the pills into his pack before returning to his food. [[...->SpringMom18]]

He looks you in the eye, unwavering. 'And what if we don’t find it? Then what? I mean, do we just...give up and die?' {(link:"'Don't think like that. As long as we keep going, there's always hope.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"SpringMom19")]} {(link:"'We’re not gonna die, okay? We’re not. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"SpringMom19")]}

'How, though?' he protests. 'I mean, we’ve barely made it this far. What about when the water comes, where the hell are we supposed to go then? If we can even stay alive //that// long, I mean?' {(link:"'We just have to take it one day at a time. That’s all anybody’s ever done.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"SpringMom19")]} {(link:"'We //have// made it this far. And we’re gonna keep going. I promise, okay? We’ll figure something out.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"SpringMom19")]}

He’s silent for a while, staring down at the floor, clearly far away. 'Is everybody just screwed?' he finally says. 'The whole world?' {(link:"'No. We’ll find a way. We always have.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"SpringMom20")]} {(link:"'Not as long as we keep fighting.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"SpringMom20")]} {(link:"'I don’t know.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope -1)(goto:"SpringMom20")]}

Noah just nods slowly, still staring at the floor. {(link:"Hug him.")[(goto:"HugSpring")]} {(link:"Leave him be.")[(goto:"NoHugSpring")]}

(if: (history:)'s length > 0)[(link: "back")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

<center><b>Higher Ground</b></center><hr>

<center>{(link:"New Journey")[(set:$Season to 2)(set:$NewGameValue to true)(goto:"SpringTitle")]} {(link:"Continue From Checkpoint")[(set:$Season to 0)(goto:"LoadGame")]}

<hr>{(align:"==><==")[(if: $LoadPossible is true)[(link:"Load Game")[(goto:"LoadGame")]]]}{(align:"<==")[(if: $Stats is true)[Your Energy: (print:$Energy) ]]}{(align:"==>")[(if: $SavePossible is true)[(link:"Save Slot A")[ (if:(save-game:"SaveSlotA"))[Game saved!]] (else:)[ [Sorry, I couldn't save your game.]]]} {(align:"==>")[(if: $SavePossible is true)[(link:"Save Slot B")[ (if:(save-game:"SaveSlotB"))[Game saved!]] (else:)[ [Sorry, I couldn't save your game.]]]} {(align:"==>")[(if: $SavePossible is true)[(link:"Save Slot C")[ (if:(save-game:"SaveSlotC"))[Game saved!]] (else:)[ [Sorry, I couldn't save your game.]]]} {(align:"==>")[(if: $SavePossible is true)[(link:"Save Slot D")[ (if:(save-game:"SaveSlotD"))[Game saved!]] (else:)[ [Sorry, I couldn't save your game.]]]} Confidence: (print: $Confidence) Strength: (print: $Strength) Hope: (print: $Hope) Survival: (print: $Survival) Energy: (print: $Energy) Health: (print: $Health) DogValue: (print:$Dog) DogBitten: (print: $DogBitten) Mom: (print: $Mom) Dad: (print: $Dad) GameOver: (print: $Gameover) SavePossible: (print: $SavePossible) Stats: (print: $Stats) LoadPossible: (print: $LoadPossible)

Double-click this passage to edit it.

Scooting over, you pull up next to him and lean in, wrapping him in an embrace and holding on. He doesn’t respond for a moment. Then he hugs you back. You stay like that for a while, content not to talk. Eventually, the sun sets, and you both turn in for the night. For the first time in weeks, Noah falls asleep without a single cough. {(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 3)(set:$DogBitten to false)(goto:"EndChapter1")]}

You leave him to his thoughts. He stays like that for quite a while, not saying anything else. Eventually, the sun sets, and you both turn in for the night. For the first time in weeks, Noah falls asleep without a single cough. {(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 3)(set:$DogBitten to false)(goto:"EndChapter1")]}

There’s something uniquely unsettling about a big city center with no people. In the silence, the towering offices and apartment complexes demand attention, looming like an unfriendly mob. Their height casts the street in shade, making everything just a little dimmer than it should feel. You’re lucky there’s no wind, or the walls would probably act like a tunnel and drive it straight into your face. The signs of old rioting, looting, and panic are everywhere. Storefront windows lie smashed; trash is scattered all around. Dead cars litter the road, in various states of rusty decay. When the quarantines were first set up, people flocked to cities like this; the flood of traffic forced most to abandon their vehicles. You wonder if you could get any of them to work, but discard the idea. Between people scavenging gas and parts, and breakdown from time and weather, you doubt any would still run. [[...->FallMom1]]

'You think anybody still lives here?' Noah says, scanning the scenery as he keeps pace beside you. {(if:$Health > 2)[The past couple of weeks have seen something you’d scarcely dared hope for: he seems to be doing better. He’s no longer tossing and turning with fever every night, and his coughing has stopped sounding quite so painful. He walks straight and tall, and the hollow look has left his eyes.](else: $Health < 3)[He’s still holding up after all this time, somehow, though you can tell it’s been hard on him. The medicine you found has been helping his fever enough to keep him going, but there’s not much left at this point. You try not to think about it.]} 'Maybe,' you answer him. Odds are there’s a quarantine somewhere in this city, assuming it hasn’t fallen apart. Not like it’d do you any good—even if they let you in the door, any doctor would be able to tell Noah’s sick. Equally likely, there are others here in the same position as you, exiles, or those unlucky enough to have never made it to safety at all. Best to hope you don’t run into them, though. Living out in the open produces desperation, which makes people dangerous. You find yourself thinking back to your time in the relative safety of the quarantine, before Noah got sick. The reminiscence makes you feel... {(link:"Nostalgic. Back then, at least you were safe.")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"FallMom2")]} {(link:"Relieved. Quarantine was hell—crowded, dirty, never enough food, soldiers always breathing down your neck.")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"FallMom2")]} {(link:"Scornful. All those people, just worried about saving their own skin for another day, while the planet dies around them.")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"FallMom2")]} {(link:"Angry. How can they send sick people out here to fend for themselves?")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"FallMom2")]}

You press on. The sun slips behind a cloud, dropping the temperature another few degrees; you pull your jacket close. Suddenly, Noah stops in his tracks. Leaning forward, he stares at something in the middle of the road ahead, actually doing a double-take. 'Is that what it looks like?' he says, incredulous. Confused, you follow his gaze. When you spot what he’s looking at, your jaw nearly drops. In the center of the road, in plain view, rests a car slightly less rusted than the others nearby. The door of the trunk stands open—and inside is what looks like enough food to feed the two of you for a month. [[...->FallMom3]]

Your stomach immediately twists as you remember your hunger, and you almost leap straight for it—but catch yourself. 'Stay back,' you warn Noah, stretching out a forestalling hand. 'It could be bait.' With no idea if anyone lives around here, there’s no telling who left it, or why. You have a hard time believing that anyone would leave that much food just lying out here in the open for anyone to see. Even so, your packs are uncomfortably light at the moment. You probably won’t ever get another chance like this... {(link:"Take the risk and approach the food.")[(goto:"RiskFoodFall")]} {(if:$Confidence is $Strength)[(link:"Search the area for anyone waiting to spring an ambush.")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(set:$Energy to $Energy -1)(goto:"WaitFoodFall")]](else:)[(link:"Search the area for anyone waiting to spring an ambush.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -1)(goto:"WaitFoodFall")]]}

'Be ready to run,' you say to Noah, giving him a serious look. He nods in understanding. Stepping lightly, you head for the car, glancing around for any sign of an ambush. None comes. [[...->FallMom4]]

{'Stay here,' you half-whisper to Noah. 'I’ll check it out.' (if:$Confidence > $Strength)[He nods in understanding.]} (else:)['Shouldn’t we stick together?' he says, frowning with concern. 'If you get attacked by yourself, you won’t—' He’s interrupted by a fit of coughing; when it passes, your look tells him all he needs to know. 'Alright, fine,' he grumbles, looking none too happy, but clearly understanding the liability he poses.] Scanning around, you consider where attackers could be hiding. There’s no shortage of cover in the street, with all the cars, or they could be inside, watching from windows. Circling around, you keep your distance from the potential bait, keeping as silent as possible. You sweep the ground floors of the nearby buildings; you climb the stairs in what looks to have once been an office complex to observe the scene from high up. No bandits jump out to attack you, and you don’t spot anyone in hiding, though the knowledge that someone might be hiding behind any corner makes your heart pound the entire time. But, after crawling around the block for perhaps half an hour, you’re forced to admit that you’ve accomplished nothing. Returning to where you left Noah, you find him sitting against a doorway, hugging his knees and looking around boredly. //You lose 1 Energy.// (link:"'Looks clear.'")[(goto:"RiskFoodClearFall")] (link:"'Guess I was worried about nothing.'")[(goto:"RiskFoodClearFall")]

He looks visibly relieved to see you return. 'Cool.' Regaining his feet and shouldering his pack, he follows you as you head for the car. [[...->FallMom4]]

Even if it’s not a trap, a haul like this being just left here seems unbelievable. Despite that, no one appears to be around; there’s nothing left in the front seats of the car, and it hasn’t been left idling. It’s just here, with all this food in the open trunk, apparently up for grabs. 'Weird,' Noah marvels, shaking his head. 'Who the hell would leave all this?' You can only shrug. He frowns at it uncertainly. 'Should we take it? I mean... what if somebody comes back for it?' The possibility has occurred to you. But you need the food, and you won’t get another chance like this. {(link:"'Even if they do, they won’t have any way of tracking us down.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"NoTrackFoodFall")]} {(link:"'No reason to think they will. They wouldn’t have left it here if they needed it that bad.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"NoReasonFoodFall")]}

He hesitates another moment, {(if:(history:) contains "NoTrackFoodFall")[glancing back at the food, ]}then shrugs. 'Yeah, I guess.' You quickly set to work. There really is a lot here; by the time both your packs are full to bursting, there are still a few cans and boxes left. Sadly, that can’t be helped. No one disturbs you, and in short order, you continue on down the road, now weighed down and looking forward to being well-fed for a good while. [[...->FallMom5]]

His frown turns to you. 'But, like... what if they really need it? I mean, this might be all somebody’s got...' {(link:"'I don't think so. If that were true, they wouldn't have just left it here.'")[(goto:"NoReasonFoodFall")]} {(link:"'They shouldn't have left it, then. Not our fault if they were that stupid.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"NoFaultFoodFall")]}

The days are getting shorter, and before long, dark is beginning to threaten. You set about looking for a place to shelter. An old apartment complex looks promising; heading inside, you find the door to the stairwell thankfully unlocked, along with the first apartment you try on the second floor. Inside, it’s sparsely furnished but spacious, everything layered with the dust of years of abandonment. After checking the place out, and doing a sweep of the rest of the floor, you decide it’ll do. Settling in, you throw down your packs and consider dinner. With your score today, you have easily enough to last you several weeks, if you keep to the rationing you’ve been doing this whole journey. However, you’ve never had this much food on hand at once, and looking at Noah, you find yourself distressed at how skinny he’s getting. Today’s good luck seems worth a little celebrating, but it’d mean your supplies wouldn’t stretch quite as far. {(link:"'I think we can afford a little extra tonight, right?'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(set:$Health to $Health +1)(set:$Energy to $Energy +2)(goto:"ExtraNightFoodFall")]} {(link:"'Don't eat too much. We need to make this last.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"LastNightFoodFall")]}

{(if:$Confidence is $Strength)[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)]}{ (if:$Confidence>$Strength)[He looks back at the food, his expression darkening. 'Seems kinda heartless,' he grumbles, not meeting your eyes.](else:)[He hesitates a moment, glancing back at the food, then shrugs.'I guess.']} You quickly set to work. There really is a lot here; by the time both your packs are full to bursting, there are still a few cans and boxes left. Sadly, that can’t be helped. No one disturbs you, and in short order, you continue on down the road, now weighed down and looking forward to being well-fed for a good while. [[...->FallMom5]]

The light fades as the sun sinks outside the window. Noah lies back on the couch and tries to nap, though he looks to be having trouble, the dust in the apartment making his coughing worse. You’re tempted to turn in early yourself. You feel tired, more tired than you should after a day like today, and sore all over. You glance over at your pack, still bulging with all the food you still have—no wonder. You carried that thing quite a ways. The big overstuffed armchair by the couch looks awfully tempting. You settle into it, feeling like you could pass out at any second...when suddenly, something snaps you awake. A noise from out in the hallway—a door swinging open and shut. Then voices, low, sounding angry. And footsteps, getting closer... [[...->FallMom7]]

Noah grins, his whole face lighting up. 'Sounds good to me.' You try not to think about how sad it is for him to be so happy about something as small as a little extra canned dinner as you dig into your own food. //You regain 2 Energy.// [[...->FallMom6]]

Noah deflates a little, looking disappointedly down at the portion in front of him, but doesn’t complain. You try to ignore the rumbling in your own stomach as you chew on your meager meal, hardly tasting it. [[...->FallMom6]]

Your heart jumps into your throat. You glance over at Noah, and see him sitting bolt upright, staring at the door. Slowly, his head turns to you. He looks every bit as scared as you feel. You strain to hear. Outside, the footsteps get closer. You hear a man’s deep voice, muffled and unintelligible through the wall, but clearly not happy. It’s answered by a woman’s, sounding similar. You’re unarmed and defenseless. If they’re a threat, your only hope is to not let them find you. You’re not about to take the risk of them not being a threat. Gesturing for silence, you beckon for Noah to follow you as you carefully leave your chair, praying a creak of the floor doesn’t give you away. Hiding spots flash through your mind, none of them ideal in a place this small...the linen closet in the bathroom. You should both be able to fit in there. Just as Noah slips out of the living room and down the hall behind you, you hear the footsteps stop, the doorknob turning. [[...->FallMom8]]

The voices reach you clearly as you steal toward the bathroom. 'Look,' says a different man’s voice than before, 'I already apologized, okay? Mistakes happen. Get over it.' 'I’ll get over it when you get me my share, dipshit,” the woman snaps. “Maybe make sure the trunk actually //stays// closed next time, huh? Or hey, here’s a thought—fucking //hide// the stuff instead of just leaving it in the middle of the road!' The bottom drops out of your stomach. 'The lock was working fine when I went out!” the first voice protests. “I know I should’ve checked, but you can’t—' Abruptly, the speaker cuts off. Then, in a low tone, you hear 'holy shit.' You’re just following Noah into the linen closet and closing the door behind you when you realize you’ve left your packs and the remains of your dinner in the living room. [[...->FallMom9]]

'What?' another man’s voice replies, this the same deeper one you heard out in the hallway. 'That’s the stuff,' says the first man, in a tone that makes you think he’s clutching his head in disbelief. 'That’s the stuff I found!' A pause. 'For real?' the woman says. 'Yes, for real!' the man spits. 'I inventoried every single fucking thing!' Another pause, longer this time. 'So,' the second man says, 'that means...' You can hear the grin in the woman’s voice. 'The fuckers who robbed us are here.' The voices fall silent. In the dark of the closet, Noah stares up at you, his eyes wide with panic. [[...->FallMom10]]

You strain your ears again, searching for any hint of a sound. Barely audible: soft, careful footsteps, creaking the floor in the short hallway that leads to you. They’re getting closer. You hold your breath, blood pounding in your ears. The footsteps enter the bathroom, stopping just outside the closet. Time seems to slow to a crawl as you consider your options... [[Wait and hope they don't find you.->WaitFindFall]] [[Leap out and ambush them.->AmbushFindFall]]

You hold as still as you can, trying to silence the sound of your own heartbeat. Seconds seem to stretch into hours as you stand there in the dark. //Go away,// you will the person outside. //Don’t open the door...// For a moment, you almost think it might have worked. Then Noah coughs. There’s a silence that feels deeper than any yet, as horror dawns on his face. Then the closet door is yanked open. ‘Gotcha!’ a deep voice cries. {(link:"...")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -2)(goto:"WaitCoughFall")]}

They know you’re here; they’ll find you sooner or later. Your only hope is to go through them. This is your best chance. Noah seems to sense what you’re thinking; he stares into your eyes with a look of silent pleading. You meet his gaze, and silently mouth 'trust me.' Fast as you can, you throw the door open and launch yourself at whoever's standing outside... {(link:"...")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -1)(goto:"AmbushTrustFall")]}

A man in a heavy jacket stands in the doorway. His right hand grips a semi-automatic pistol; his left darts toward Noah, grabbing at his throat. Reflex instantly takes over as you lunge for the stranger, trying to interpose yourself. You slam bodily into him, knocking him back and throwing off his grab; snarling, he recovers quickly, gun hand lashing out toward your face. The grip of the weapon slams into your jaw, and you’re stunned for a moment, your ears ringing with the impact... //You lose 2 Energy.// [[...->FallMom11]]

The stranger faces off with you, gun pointed at your head. In the second of stillness, you get your first good look at his face. He’s young—he can’t be more than a few years older than Noah. His eyes have that sunken, hollow look you’ve seen before. He bares his teeth. 'Thought you could fucking steal from us, yeah?' {(link:"'Please...you don’t have to do this.'")[(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall1")]} {(link:"Smack the gun aside and attack him.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -3)(goto:"FoodAttackFall1")]}

You have a glimpse of a tall man in a heavy jacket before you crash bodily into him, throwing him back against the bathroom wall. The noise of his impact is easily loud enough to be audible throughout the apartment. You hope for a second that you might have actually put him down, but no such luck—he recovers quickly, raising a hand that you now see carries a semi-automatic pistol... //You lose 1 Energy.// [[...->FallMom11]]

He laughs, though there’s no mirth in it. 'Keep telling yourself that.' He waves the gun between you and Noah. 'You’re gonna stay right the fuck there and let us take our food back, alright? Along with whatever else you’ve got.' {(link:"'You want to leave us with nothing? You might as well just shoot us.'")[(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall2")]} {(link:"Smack the gun aside and attack him.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -3)(goto:"FoodAttackFall1")]}

You try to hold still, like you don’t want to make any moves that might set him off. Then, as quick as you can, you bring your hand up swinging for the gun barrel, trying to push it aside before he can get off a shot. {(if: $Energy > 0)[Your surprise pays off. The stranger is caught off-guard, and you bat his gun out of the way. Before he can recover, you launch yourself through the opening, throwing all your weight against him and slamming him against the wall. His head hits with a painful-sounding crack...and he drops the gun.](else:)[But you’re not quite fast enough. A second after you throw off his aim, he recovers and brings the gun to bear again. You hear the shot ring out, deafening at such close range, and then you’re falling, but you don’t understand—you didn’t feel anything, he didn’t get you, so why is the floor getting closer?]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[You don’t have to think about what to do next. In the second he’s stunned, you swoop down and snatch the weapon off the floor.](else:)[Your ears ring with the gunshot, but as the ringing fades, sound doesn’t come back like it should. It sounds strange, sharper, yet distant. You hear Noah’s voice, screaming...a thump as you hit the tiled bathroom floor, though you don’t feel the impact against your body...you try to turn your head to see your attacker, but your muscles don’t seem to work...you struggle to rise, you need to protect Noah...]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[//You lose 3 Energy.//](else:)[Darkness claws at the edge of your vision. You feel heat and wetness spreading across your chest, soaking through your shirt. You have to get up, Noah needs you...but it’s so dark in here, you can’t even see where anything is...]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[Now you’re armed, and have a fighting chance. The guy in the jacket starts to shake off that blow to the head, his eyes focusing in on you again. With quick thinking born of adrenaline, you know you still have to contend with his buddies down the hall. What do you do?]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[[[Pistol-whip him unconscious.->AttackPistolFall]]](else:)[(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 7)(goto:"GameOver")]]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[[[Grab him to use as a shield.->AttackShieldFall]]]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[[[Shoot him in the head.->AttackShootFall]]]}

His grin broadens. 'Go ahead, then. Gimme an excuse.' {(link:"Smack the gun aside and attack him.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -3)(goto:"FoodAttackFall1")]} {(link:"Let them take your supplies.")[(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall3")]}

'That’s what I thought,' the stranger says, still grinning like he wants to tear out your throat. You stay where you are, gun trained on you, as you listen to the other two strangers rifle through your supplies in the living room. They shout back and forth to your attacker, confirming what you took from them and what little extra they’re carrying off that you already had. When you hear the woman mention Noah’s remaining medicine, your heart sinks even further. Finally, the other man calls that they have everything. The one with the gun flicks it to signal for you to move, and herds you and Noah to the front door. In the living room, a smaller man with raggedly cut hair lounges on the couch, while a blonde woman in a faded hoodie leans against the wall; both look just as young as your attacker. They glare unblinkingly at you. 'This is what happens when you take shit that isn’t yours,' the one with the gun says. 'Now get the fuck outta here, and be glad we’re being nice.' He gestures to the unlocked front door. With not much choice, you open it and exit into the hallway, leaving everything you had left behind. [[...->FoodSurrenderFall4]]

You don’t make it farther than the stairwell before Noah sinks down on the steps and starts crying. He holds his head in his hands, shoulders shaking with choked sobs that turn into coughing after a few seconds. {(link:"'Hey, it's okay... we're gonna be okay.'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +2)(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall5")]} {(link:"'Knock it off... we don't have time to cry.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +2)(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall5")]}

'H-how...how can you...' He struggles to speak. 'We d-d-...we don’t have anything left...' {(link:"'We’re alive. That’s what counts. We can find more food. We always do.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall6")]} {(link:"'We can’t give up just because it looks bad. If we give up, we’re dead for sure.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"FoodSurrenderFall6")]}

'Shut up!' he cries, looking up at you with sudden fury. 'This is //your// fault! //You// wanted to take that stuff! //You// let them just...' He trails off into further sobbing, hiding his face again. {(link:"'If I’d fought, he’d have killed us. There was nothing I could do.'")[(goto:"SurrenderFight1")]} {(link:"'You think this is //easy// for me? You think I wanted this to happen? I’m doing the best I can here, keeping the both of us alive! If you don’t like it, maybe you’d like to head off on your own, see how far you get!'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SurrenderFight2")]} {(link:"Keep quiet and let him calm down.")[(goto:"SurrenderFight3")]} {(link:"Hug Him.")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"SurrenderFight4")]}

For a long moment, he just sits there, head in his hands. Gradually, his sobbing quiets. He takes a slow, deep breath, and then another. Then he gets to his feet. His eyes are red and puffy, but he returns your gaze steadily. 'We need to find somewhere else to spend the night, don’t we?' he says, his voice trembling a little. You nod, and continue down the stairs. [[...->FallMom12]]

As soon as you raise your voice, Noah’s sobbing cuts off with a choking sound. With every word, he seems to fold in on himself, as though hoping to disappear. When you stop, there’s a long silence. Finally, in a very small voice, you hear him mumble 'I’m sorry...' {(link:"'No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"SurrenderChannelFall")]} {(link:"'It's okay.'")[(goto:"SurrenderChannelFall")]} {(link:"Say Nothing.")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"SurrenderChannelFall")]}

Climbing back up the steps, you sit down next to him and lean in. As soon as you’re in reach, he latches onto you, burying his face in your shoulder as he sobs. You sit there holding him for a long moment, not saying anything. Gradually, his sobbing quiets. He takes a slow, deep breath, and then another. Releasing you, he wipes the tears off his cheeks with his sleeve. His eyes are red and puffy, but he returns your gaze steadily. 'We need to find somewhere else to spend the night, don’t we?' he says, his voice trembling a little. You nod, and continue down the stairs. [[...->FallMom12]]

He doesn’t answer. For a long moment, he just sits there, head in his hands. Gradually, his sobbing quiets. He takes a slow, deep breath, and then another. Then he gets to his feet. His eyes are red and puffy, but he returns your gaze steadily. 'We need to find somewhere else to spend the night, don’t we?' he says, his voice trembling a little. You nod, and continue down the stairs. [[...->FallMom12]]

Fresh air hits you as you step out into the street, cooler now with the onset of dusk. You feel absolutely exhausted, sore down to the core of your bones. As you start down the sidewalk, you feel a rattling in your lungs when you breathe. You try to take a deep breath, and find yourself hit with a coughing fit that takes a while to let up... {(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 4)(goto:"EndChapter2")]}

He gets to his feet. His eyes are red and puffy, but he returns your gaze steadily. 'We need to find somewhere else to spend the night, don’t we?' he says, his voice trembling a little. You nod, and continue down the stairs. [[...->FallMom12]]

With a twisting wind-up, you draw the gun back and bring the butt of the grip crashing into his temple. Another //crack// rings out, and he goes sprawling, crashing limp to the floor against the wall. Some detached part of you realizes that maybe two seconds have passed. [[...->FoodAttackFall2]]

Time to turn the tables on this little hostage situation. Raising the gun to the stranger’s forehead, you reach out with your free hand and grab his shoulder, spinning him around. As soon as his back is turned, you step in close, gun to his temple, and move your grip to his wrist, twisting his arm around behind him. Now you have a gun //and// a hostage. [[...->NegShield1]]

Before he can move, you raise the gun to his forehead and pull the trigger. The shot shatters the air, deafening you and leaving a ringing in your ears. Blood sprays the wall behind the stranger’s head, and he crumples, sliding down to the floor. Some detached part of you realizes that maybe two seconds have passed. Behind you, Noah makes a strangled noise [[...->FoodAttackFall2]]

'//Fuck!//' you hear the woman scream from the living room. 'You’re gonna pay for this, assholes!' cries the other man. Right behind the words, a shot rings out, the bullet narrowly avoiding your head and finding the shower wall. You dart back around the corner, frantically gesturing for Noah to get down; he doesn’t need to be told twice, shrinking back into the closet with his hands over his ears. As you dive for cover, you get a glimpse down the hallway of the remaining strangers: a smaller man with raggedly-cut hair, and a blonde woman in a faded hoodie. You’re outnumbered two to one, with at least one of them also armed, and after what you just did to their friend, they don’t seem interested in negotiating. You could shoot back at them from here, but there’s plenty of furniture in the living room for them to use as cover. Alternatively, you could charge down the hallway and rush them, which might surprise them enough that they won’t ventilate you first...maybe. {(link:"Shoot at them from cover.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -3)(goto:"AttackCoverFall")]} {(link:"Charge out and close the gap.")[(set:$Energy to $Energy -4)(goto:"AttackChargeFall")]}

'//Jack!//' you hear the other man’s voice cry from down the hall. 'Let him go!' calls the woman’s. Jack goes stock-still, making no attempt to resist now that you have a gun to his head. 'H-hey...easy...' he stutters. 'C-come on...we can work this out...' Keeping your grip on his wrist, you turn him around to place him between you and the bathroom door, inclining your head to see forward around his. Down the hall, you see the other strangers, standing in the living room with guns of their own half-raised. The other man is smaller than Jack, with raggedly-cut hair; the woman is blonde, in a faded hoodie. Neither of them can be much older than their friend. They both look like they’re trying not to show how scared they are. {[['Let us take our stuff and walk out of here, or I shoot.'->NegWalkFall]]} {[['Look, we didn’t know the stuff in that car belonged to anyone. Maybe if you put your guns down, we can work something out.'->NegTalkFall]]}

You’re not about to take any chances. A couple more bullets slam into the wall behind you, shattering tiles; then there’s silence. You don’t hesitate. The second the opening presents itself, you lean around the corner, raise your gun, and empty the clip into the living room, hoping and praying that at least one shot will strike each of them. {(if: $Energy < 1)[You get off about three shots before the blonde woman leans out from behind the couch, raises her gun toward you, and pulls the trigger. You hear the shot ring out, and then you’re falling, but you don’t understand—you didn’t feel anything, it didn’t get you, so why is the floor getting closer?]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[As soon as the weapon clicks empty, you duck back, waiting for some sign that you might have missed. None comes. The apartment is silent.](else:)[Your ears ring with the gunfire, but as the ringing fades, sound doesn’t come back like it should. It sounds strange, sharper, yet distant. You hear Noah’s voice, screaming...a thump as you hit the floor, though you don’t feel the impact against your body...you try to turn your head to see your attacker, but your muscles don’t seem to work...you struggle to rise, you need to protect Noah...]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[After a minute that feels like an hour, you stick your hand out around the corner. It doesn’t get shot. Your head is next, peering down the hall. Nothing moves. There appear to be several bullet holes in the furniture.](else:)[Darkness claws at the edge of your vision. You feel heat and wetness spreading across your chest, soaking through your shirt. You have to get up, Noah needs you...but it’s so dark in here, you can’t even see where anything is...]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[Your legs shake as you make your slow way down the short hall, back into the living room.]} {(if: $Energy > 0)[//You lose 3 Energy.//]} {(if: $Energy < 1)[(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 7)(goto:"GameOver")]]}{(if: $Energy > 0)[[[...->FoodAttackFall3]]]}

You can’t count on getting them from here; you’ll need to get closer. And that means you’re going to have to brave their guns. Fully understanding how crazy what you’re about to do is, you take a deep breath, tighten your grip on your own weapon, and throw yourself around the corner, launching down the hallway towards the strangers with a wordless roar. {(if:$Energy < 1)[You make it about three steps before another shot rings out. You hear it, and then you’re falling, but you don’t understand—you didn’t feel anything, it didn’t get you, so why is the floor getting closer?](else:)[Somehow, it works. They’re either so stunned or so surprised that they don’t even lean out of cover. Your charge carries you into the living room, where you skid to a halt before hitting the wall; behind the couch, the strangers are scrambling to face you, hurriedly bringing their guns to bear.]} {(if:$Energy < 0)[Your ears ring with the gunfire, but as the ringing fades, sound doesn’t come back like it should. It sounds strange, sharper, yet distant. You hear Noah’s voice, screaming...a thump as you hit the carpet, though you don’t feel the impact against your body...you try to turn your head to see your attacker, but your muscles don’t seem to work...you struggle to rise, you need to protect Noah...](else:)[They’re not fast enough. Before they can lift their arms all the way, you empty your clip at the two of them. Only once your gun clicks dry do you stop, panting.]} {(if:$Energy < 0)[Darkness claws at the edge of your vision. You feel heat and wetness spreading across your chest, soaking through your shirt. You have to get up, Noah needs you...but it’s so dark in here, you can’t even see where anything is...](else:)[//You lose 4 Energy.//]} {(if:$Energy > 0)[[[...->FoodAttackFall3]]]}{(if:$Energy < 1)[(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 7)(goto:"GameOver")]]}

The ragged man and the blonde woman lie crumpled on the floor. Pools of dark blood spread across the off-white carpet around them. The man, you got in the neck; he appears to have passed out, but still twitches. The woman clutches at her stomach, her hand stained red. She takes slow, gasping breaths, the act obviously painful, and stares up at you with hate in her eyes. As you approach, she tries to raise her gun again, but it doesn’t look like she has the strength. [[Put her out of her misery.->AttackPutHerFall]] [[Leave her be.->AttackLeaveHerFall]]

You raise your gun again, but remember that it’s empty. Dropping it, you bend down and pick up the dead man’s instead. The woman doesn’t say anything as you put the barrel between her eyes—she just keeps giving you the same hateful glare. Neither of them can have been much older than their friend. Your packs are right where you left them. Shouldering yours, you retrieve Noah’s and return to the bathroom. He gets to his feet as you return, looking at you in a way you’ve never seen before. You hold out his pack. After a moment, he takes it. 'We need to find somewhere else to spend the night, don’t we?' he says in a weak voice. Neither of you look back as you leave the building behind. [[...->FallMom12]]

Your fingers slacken around the grip of your empty weapon, and you let it fall to the floor. Neither of them can have been much older than their friend. Your packs are right where you left them. Shouldering yours, you retrieve Noah’s and return to the bathroom. He gets to his feet as you return, looking at you in a way you’ve never seen before. You hold out his pack. After a moment, he takes it. 'We need to find somewhere else to spend the night, don’t we?' he says in a weak voice. Neither of you look back as you leave the building behind. [[...->FallMom12]]

The woman’s gaze hardens. 'Like hell! This shit’s ours! We need it more than you do!' {[['Well, we need supplies too. I’m prepared to leave some of it, but if you want your friend to live, I’m taking a share.'->NegShareFall]]} {[['I don’t care what you need. You care about your friend, you give us those packs and let us walk.'->NegCareFall]]}

The strangers look completely taken aback by that. They don’t lower their guns, but what anger was left in their faces drains away. 'Wait...seriously?' says the ragged man. 'You’d just give us all of it back?' {[['It's not ours. We don't take stuff from people who need it.'->NegNotOurs]]} {[['I didn't say that. You take half, we keep the rest.'->NegCareFall]]}

'Guys, come on!' Jack says pleadingly. 'Just fucking give {(if:$Dad is true)[him](else:)[her]} what {(if:$Dad is true)[he](else:)[she]} wants!' There’s a silence. The ragged man turns to his ally, his face grim, though he doesn’t quite lower his weapon. 'It’s not worth his //life//, Sandy.' Sandy’s jaw tightens. She shoots a death glare at you past Jack’s head. Then, with a sigh, she deflates. 'Fine.' While you keep your grip on Jack, Sandy and the other stranger dig into your packs and divide the supplies roughly in half. Probably to avoid risking their friend’s life any further, they leave you the larger portion, setting the rest aside. [[...->NegWalkFall2]]

Gun to Jack’s head, you maneuver him down the hall and into the living room. 'Noah,' you beckon. 'Get the packs.' After nervously uncurling from his hiding spot, he does so, hefting one on each shoulder and joining you by the door. Finally, you release your hostage, pushing him back into the middle of the room as you open the door behind you, gun still pointed at the strangers. You let Noah leave before you follow. [[...->NegShield2]]

As the realization sets in, the tension in the strangers’ stances relaxes. Finally, they lower their weapons. 'Shit,' the woman says, looking guiltily at her friend. 'Now I feel like an asshole.' 'Would you //please// hurry up and take the stuff?' cries Jack, starting to get twitchy in your grip. You don’t let up. While you keep your grip on Jack, Sandy and the other stranger dig into your packs and set about separating their supplies from yours. By the end of the process, you’re left back where you were at the start of the day. [[...->NegWalkFall2]]

Out in the hallway, you and Noah find yourselves in silence. You look down at the gun still in your hand; after a moment’s thought, you stow it in the waistband of your pants. You never know. Noah offers you your pack, shouldering his own. 'We’ll need to find somewhere else to spend the night, won’t we?' he says in a weak voice. Neither of you look back as you leave this building behind. [[...->FallMom12]]

Trees line the narrow country road, their branches bare. Overhead, the sky is blank white, a mirror to the snow that covers everything around. The road itself is only visible as an open path through the trees, the pavement buried under a featureless blanket that’s disturbed only by your footfalls. Cold bites through your jacket. It seems to burrow deep into your chest, leaving you shivering and chattering your teeth. The fever medicine ran out weeks ago. The past few days, you feel like you’ve been freezing or burning every other minute. Staying on your feet is getting harder and harder, with headaches that have gotten bad enough to make you dizzy and nauseous. {(if:$Health>3)[Noah trudges along through the snow a step ahead, visibly slowing his pace to let you keep up. It feels like a week since you’ve heard a cough from him, or had to stop to let him rest. Now, most of the stops are for you.](else:)[Noah shuffles along beside you, looking just as bad as you feel. Each day, now, you cover less distance. The hollow look in his eyes has returned.]} Every time he looks at you, you see fear in his face. [[...->WinterMom1]]

Ahead, the trees thin out, and in the distance, a clump of low buildings is visible—the remnants of some tiny town. Out here, good shelter’s been few and far between, and the sight comes as no small relief. From some deep reservoir, you find the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other, trying to focus on your goal. In the grip of winter, the eerie silence of every abandoned place you’ve passed through is more pronounced than ever. No bugs or birds are around to be heard, and the snow muffles the sounds of your steps. When you suck in a breath and have to stop for a coughing fit, you’re almost glad for the disturbance. {(if:$Health>3)[Concern is etched on Noah’s face as he watches you. 'We’ve gotta get inside,' he says. Along the street stand small, one-story houses, their painted walls peeling and chipped. He takes the lead, moving from one to another and trying doors until one opens. Holding it for you, he lets you stumble in before following.](else:)[Noah hugs his arms close to his body, shivering and chattering as hard as you. 'W-we need to g-get inside...' Along the street stand small, one-story houses, their painted walls peeling and chipped. As the coughing passes, you take the lead, moving from one to another and trying doors until one opens. He stumbles through, and you close it against the cold as you follow.]} [[...->WinterMom2]]

Inside, it’s a little warmer, though not by much. The entrance leads into a living room; the decor looks like it might have been cozy once, but now it’s as dusty as in every building, and the furniture looks like it might have been gnawed on by rats in a few places. A niggling fear says you should search around, but you don’t have the energy. Your head spins, and what little strength is left in your body drains away. You manage to position yourself over the couch in the center of the room before the floor tilts, and by the time you hit the cushions, you’re already unconscious... [[...->WinterMom3]]

Your dreams are the same as they’ve been for weeks, feverish, chaotic, and disturbing. You’re back in your tiny apartment in quarantine, standing over Noah’s bed as he lies there shivering and coughing, but there’s water sloshing around your ankles, slowly rising up your legs...your surroundings blur together, the air chokes you as you try to breathe it...you’re walking in a procession of figures in black robes, the light a poisonous green; the ground you walk on is the arm bone of a gigantic skeleton, whose whole body forms the finger of an even larger set of bones, bigger and bigger skeletons stretching off into this impossible space in every direction you look... {(if:$Health<3)[[[...->CEnd1]]](else:)[[[...->WinterMom4]]]}

When you wake up, it’s dark. You’re not sure how long you’ve been out, but it feels like a while. In the reclining chair next to the couch, you see Noah, sprawled out and staring up at the ceiling with a vacant look. You can hear his labored, rattling breaths. You try to breathe yourself, and find it just as difficult, like there’s a gorilla sitting on your chest. Your stomach twists with hunger. You try to lift your head, but pain stabs through it like a knife, your vision blurring. [['Noah? Can you get up?'->StayUpWinter]] [['I think we're gonna be here a while...'->StayWhileWinter]]

When you wake up, it’s dark. You’re not sure how long you’ve been out, but it feels like a while. In the reclining chair next to the couch, you see Noah. His head droops, his eyelids falling sleepily, but as soon as he notices that you’re awake, he bolts upright. 'Oh, thank God! I was scared you…' He cuts off, sucking in a breath. 'Are you okay? How do you feel?' You quickly take stock. You’re soaked with fevered sweat; breathing feels like there’s a gorilla sitting on your chest. You try to lift your head, but pain stabs through it like an icepick, your vision blurring. {(link:"'...Not great.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"WinterMom5")]} {(link:"'I’ll be fine. Just need to rest a little.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"WinterMom5")]}

Your throat hurts as you force the words out, your voice hoarse. Noah screws up his face and lifts his head an inch or two, then groans in pain and gives up. 'Don’t think so...' Unable to do anything else, you join him in staring up at the ceiling. After a time that’s impossible to judge, you lapse back into unconsciousness. [[...->CEnd2]]

Noah manages a mirthless chuckle, though it’s cut off by a coughing fit. 'I...I think you’re right,' he groans as it passes. Unable to do anything else, you join him in staring up at the ceiling. After a time that’s impossible to judge, you lapse back into unconsciousness. [[...->CEnd2]]

This time, you wake up to fresh daylight streaming through the window. Your mouth hurts from dryness; you feel like you could drink the Great Lakes. {(if:(History:) contains "FoodSurrenderFall3")[Noah’s eyes are once again open when you look over. You wonder if he’s slept at all.](else:)[Knives stab through your head again as you haul yourself off the couch and stagger dizzily toward your pack where it lies discarded in the corner—you must have dropped it at some point. You manage, digging out your last bottle of water and taking a cautious swallow, then chugging a few gulps once it stops burning your throat. You fall back on the couch no longer quite so dehydrated, for what that’s worth.]}. {(if:(History:) contains "FoodSurrenderFall3")['I’m sorry,' he rasps.](else:)[Noah’s eyes are once again open when you look over. You wonder if he’s slept at all.]} {(if:(History:) contains "FoodSurrenderFall3")[(link:"'For what?'")[(goto:"CEnd3")]](else:)['I’m sorry,' he rasps.]} {(if:(History:) contains "FoodSurrenderFall3")[(link:"'You don't have to apologize.'")[(goto:"CEnd3")]](else:)[(link:"'For what?'")[(goto:"CEnd3")]]} {(if:(History:) contains "FoodSurrenderFall3")[](else:)[(link:"'You don't have to apologize.'")]}

He gives a faint shake of his head. 'You caught this from me...this is my fault.' {[['Don’t say that. There’s nothing you could’ve done.'->CEnd4]]} {[['No more than mine. It’s my job to take care of you.'->CEnd4]]} {[['Well, no point feeling bad about it now.'->CEnd4]]}

For a long time, there’s silence. 'We’re not gonna make it, are we?' Noah finally says, barely above a whisper. His next breath triggers another bout of coughing. 'We’re not getting out of here...' {[['Sure we are...we just need to rest a little bit and then we’ll be ready to go.'->CEnd5a]]} {[['Not with that attitude, we’re not.'->CEnd5a]]} {[['No...I don’t think we are.'->CEnd5b]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd5b]]}

'Don’t', he groans. 'Just...just stop. Please.' Another silence stretches between you. 'I don't wanna die.' {[['No one does.'->CEnd6a]]} {[['Then don’t.'->CEnd6b]]} {[['I’m sorry.'->CEnd6c]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd6d]]}

Another silence stretches between you. 'I don't wanna die.' {[['No one does.'->CEnd6a]]} {[['Then don’t.'->CEnd6b]]} {[['I’m sorry.'->CEnd6c]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd6d]]}

'I’m not so sure about that,' he says flatly. His eyes fall closed. He almost looks at peace. {[[Hug him.->CEnd7a]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd7b]]}

'Wouldn’t that be nice?' he says flatly. His eyes fall closed. He almost looks at peace. {[[Hug him.->CEnd7a]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd7b]]}

He shakes his head again. 'It’s not your fault.' His eyes fall closed. He almost looks at peace. {[[Hug him.->CEnd7a]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd7b]]}

You search for something to say that might comfort him, but nothing feels right. {[[Hug him.->CEnd7a]]} {[[Say nothing.->CEnd7b]]}

It hurts to try and stand, but you grit your teeth. Hauling yourself to your feet, you stagger over to the recliner; he watches you curiously. You gesture for him to make room, and he squeezes against the armrest to open up a space. You fall into it, pulling him into your arms. After a moment, he embraces you back, his head falling onto your shoulder. As you lie there, struggling to breathe, you wonder about Higher Ground. Is it really out there, somewhere? Are there others like you, seeking it right now? You wonder what would have had to be different, for you to find out for yourself... Maybe some miracle will happen, you imagine, as sleep starts to pull you in again. Maybe someone will show up to help you, or you’ll wake up and realize that all this was just a terrible nightmare. Maybe you and Noah can still find Higher Ground after all. You never know... {(set: $Stats to false)(set: $SavePossible to false)(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 8)(goto:"End")]}

It hurts to look at him. But what can you do? You can’t even help yourself. As you lie there, struggling to breathe, you wonder about Higher Ground. Is it really out there, somewhere? Are there others like you, seeking it right now? You wonder what would have had to be different, for you to find out for yourself... Maybe some miracle will happen, you imagine, as sleep starts to pull you in again. Maybe someone will show up to help you, or you’ll wake up and realize that all this was just a terrible nightmare. Maybe you and Noah can still find Higher Ground after all. You never know... {(set: $Stats to false)(set: $SavePossible to false)(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 8)(goto:"End")]}

//Congratulations! This is one possible ending to the story, but there are others to be discovered. If you like, you can reload a previous save or start over from the beginning, and make different choices. We hope you’ve enjoyed your time with this game. Thanks for playing!// {(set: $LoadPossible to true)(set: $Stats to false)(set: $SavePossible to false)(align:"==>")[—//Created by Jeffrey Yeh and Abraham Clarke//]} (link:"Title Screen")[(goto:"StartScreen")]

He nods slowly. Then, abruptly, he lets out a choked sob, slumping forward as tears begin to run down his cheeks. 'I’m sorry,' he splutters. [['For what?'->WinterMom6]] [['You don't have to apologize.'->WinterMom6]]

He shakes his head, sniffling. 'Y-you caught this from me...it’s my fault…' {(link:"'Don’t say that. There’s nothing you could’ve done.'")[(set:$Confidence to $Confidence +1)(goto:"WinterMom7")]} {(link:"'Well, no point feeling bad about it now.'")[(set:$Strength to $Strength +1)(goto:"WinterMom7")]}

He doesn’t reply. After a moment, he takes a deep, steadying breath and reins in the crying, reaching up to wipe the tears from his face. 'You need to eat,' he says, his voice still trembling. 'I’ll get you something...' He leaves his chair and goes to check the few supplies you have left, but before he can return, you feel sleep start to pull at you again. You fight to stay awake, but you don’t have the strength, your eyes falling closed... [[...->WinterMom8]]

This time, you wake up to fresh daylight streaming through the window. Your mouth hurts from dryness; you feel like you could drink the Great Lakes. Noah is once again at your side, kneeling on the floor beside the couch. With one hand, he dabs a rag against your forehead, cold and damp—he must have soaked it in the snow. Your head feels a little cooler, but that’s about it. He withdraws the rag when he sees your eyes open. You see real fear in his eyes as he looks down at you. You know what he’s thinking. You know he’s right. [['I think...this might be the last stop for me.'->WinterMom9a]] [['You know what you have to do.'->WinterMom9b]]

His eyes well with tears again. 'Don’t say that,” he begs. 'You can’t...' His hand finds yours, and he holds on with a deathgrip. [['Noah, I’m sorry...I’ve got nothing left. But it’s not too late for you.'->WinterMom10]] [['You can't afford to be looking out for me. You have to go on alone, or we're both dead.'->WinterMom10]]

His eyes well with tears again. 'I...I can’t,' he protests, shaking his head. His hand finds yours, and he holds on with a deathgrip. [['Noah, I’m sorry...I’ve got nothing left. But it’s not too late for you.'->WinterMom10]] [['You can't afford to be looking out for me. You have to go on alone, or we're both dead.'->WinterMom10]]

'Where?' His lip trembles; it’s all he can do to hold it together. 'I don’t...I can’t...' {(if:$Hope is $Survival)[(link:"'You know where. Higher Ground is out there, somewhere. You have to find it.'")[(set:$Hope to $Hope +1)(goto:"WinterMom11")]](else:)[(link:"'You know where. Higher Ground is out there, somewhere. You have to find it.'")[(goto:"WinterMom11")]]} {(if:$Hope is $Survival)[(link:"'Listen to me... no matter what happens, you can’t give up. No matter what it takes, you have to keep living. If you stop...then you’re dead.'")[(set:$Survival to $Survival +1)(goto:"WinterMom11")]](else:)[(link:"'Listen to me... no matter what happens, you can’t give up. No matter what it takes, you have to keep living. If you stop...then you’re dead.'")[(goto:"WinterMom11")]]}

Talking is starting to get exhausting. It feels like your chest is rattling harder with every breath. Noah clutches your hand with both of his. 'I...I can’t do it,” he sobs. 'I’m useless...I can’t do it by myself...' {(link:"'You're not useless. You're strong enough, Noah. I know you are.'")[ (if: $Confidence is $Strength)[ (if:$Hope > $Survival)[(goto:"AEnd")](else:)[(goto:"BEnd")]] (if: $Confidence > $Strength)[ (if:$Hope > $Survival)[(goto:"AEnd")](else:)[(goto:"BEnd")]] (if: $Confidence < $Strength)[ (if:$Hope > $Survival)[(goto:"BEnd")](else:)[(goto:"AEnd")]]]} {(link:"'You're not useless. You're strong enough, Noah. I know you are.'")[ (if: $Confidence is $Strength)[ (if:$Hope < $Survival)[(goto:"AEnd")](else:)[(goto:"BEnd")]] (if: $Confidence > $Strength)[ (if:$Hope > $Survival)[(goto:"AEnd")](else:)[(goto:"BEnd")]] (if: $Confidence < $Strength)[ (if:$Hope > $Survival)[(goto:"BEnd")](else:)[(goto:"AEnd")]]]}

Tears run down Noah’s cheeks. His hands tighten on yours. It looks like he’s searching for words, but not finding any. Instead, he throws his arms around you and buries his face in your side, sobs muffled by your clothes. For a long while, he stays there. Gradually, his shoulders start to shake less. Finally, he releases you. Stepping back, he regains his feet. His eyes go toward your face, but before they meet yours, he averts his gaze. From the corner, he retrieves the last of the supplies. He doesn’t look back as he slips out the door. It swings shut behind him with a soft //click//. {[[...->AEnd2]](set: $Stats to false)(set: $SavePossible to false)}

Tears run down Noah’s cheeks. His hands tighten on yours. It looks like he’s searching for words, but not finding any. Instead, he throws his arms around you and buries his face in your side, sobs muffled by your clothes. You lie still, letting him do what he needs to do, but he doesn’t stop—the tears just keep coming, his whole body shaking as he clings to you. Your eyelids are starting to feel heavy. You’re not sure you have the strength to speak, even though you feel that you need to, to comfort him, to urge him to let go, to push forward. But he doesn’t budge. {[[...->BEnd2]](set: $Stats to false)(set: $SavePossible to false)}

In the silence, you lie still, staring up at the ceiling. As you struggle to breathe, you wonder about Higher Ground. Is it really out there, somewhere? Are there others like Noah, seeking it right now? Can he really find it? And if he does...then what? Sleep starts to pull you in again, and as it does, you find yourself feeling strangely calm. Somehow, you just can’t imagine Noah giving up. If there’s anything you can hope for, it’s that you’ve given him what he needs to keep pushing forward. It’s all you can really do. For now, you think to yourself as your eyelids grow heavy, it’ll have to be enough. {(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 5)(goto:"End")]}

Your eyes slide off him, and you find yourself staring up at the ceiling. He just needs time, you tell yourself. He’ll do what needs to be done. As you struggle to breathe, you wonder about Higher Ground. Is it really out there, somewhere? Are there others like you, seeking it right now? Can Noah really find it? And if he does...then what? Sleep starts to pull you in again, and as it does, terrible images flash through your mind. Noah, alone, cold, starving and afraid...hazy, threatening figures closing in around him, as he backs away, pleading... The idea of him going on alone terrifies you like nothing else imaginable—but you know you can’t let that fear overtake you. He’s alive; that’s what matters. As long as that’s true, there’s a chance. Really, you think to yourself as things start to fade, that’s all anyone can ever hope for. It’ll have to be enough. {(link:"...")[(set:$Season to 6)(goto:"End")]}

For a moment, he looks scared, but you see him quickly wipe the expression off. 'Oh, uh...okay.' [[...->PostSpringBranch]]

<center> SUMMER {(set: $Confidence to 0) (set: $Strength to 0) (set: $Hope to 0) (set: $Survival to 0) (set: $Energy to 10) (set: $Health to 0) (set: $Mom to false) (set: $Dad to false) (set: $Stats to false) (set: $DogBitten to false) (set: $GameOver to true) (set: $SavePossible to false) (set: $LoadPossible to false) (set: $NewGameValue to true) (link:"...")[(set:$LoadPossible to true)(goto:"Spring Start")]}</center>

<center> FALL (link:"...")[(goto:"FallStart")]</center>

<center> WINTER (link:"...")[(goto:"WinterStart")]</center>

<center>End of Chapter One. [[...->Chapter1Checkpoint]]</center>

{(link:"Save your progress.")[(if:(save-game:"SaveSlotA"))[(set:$Energy to $Energy +3)(goto:"Chapter1SaveSuccessful")](else:)[(set:$Energy to $Energy +3)(goto:"Chapter1SaveFailed")]}

//Progress saved.// //You regained 3 Energy.// [[...->FallTitle]]

//Your game could not be saved. This may be due to your browser being in private mode, or out of memory.// //You regained 3 Energy.// [[...->FallTitle]]

<hr><center>(if:$Stats is true)[<b>Energy:</b> (print:$Energy)] (if:$LoadPossible is true)[(link:"Title Screen")[(goto:"StartScreen")]]</center>

<center>End of Chapter Two. [[...->Chapter2Checkpoint]]</center>

{(link:"Save your progress.")[(if:(save-game:"SaveSlotA"))[(goto:"Chapter2SaveSuccessful")](else:)[(goto:"Chapter2SaveFailed")]}

//Progress saved.// [[...->WinterTitle]]

//Your game could not be saved. This may be due to your browser being in private mode, or out of memory.// [[...->WinterTitle]]

<center> END (link:"...")[(goto:"TrueEnd")]</center>