Closed Off

*ddduummmmmm* A ringing, heavy metallic noise vibrates through your bones, ripping you from your slumber. As your eyelids stretch awake, you begin to get a grasp of your surroundings. Stone brick, gothic, dark, not a lot is in this room. The small, fine candles lining the walls of the room light it up enough to see but not nearly enough give a form of comfort. A faint scent of rose teases your nose, you're not sure if it originates from the candles or some other place. There's a threshold ahead, into a dimly lit hallway. [[Go through door]] [[Look around a little more]]

You step into the hallway, which is similarly lit as the other room. There's no other windows to give you a better sense of where you are. You notice some kind of thick vine long the upper part of the wall... it doesn't look quite right but it is covered with beautiful red roses. The vine seems to be shifting a bit, like it's alive. You can tell the rose smell is stronger down the hall but another doorway is perpendicular to yours. [[Follow the rose smell]] [[Check out the perpendicular room]]

You search around the small, empty room. Behind you, you notice a tiny window the size of an envelope, letting in just a trickle of moonlight and nothing else. Not even a breeze. Below the window, a painting of a woman is shown. At least you assume it's a woman, the nun-esque garbs alude to that as the face isn't present. It has been burned off. There's nothing else in the room. [[Go through door]]

You follow the rose scent, walking down the hallway. The strange vine thickens and splits into multiple, encompassing the wall. Eventually light spills in and you find a small, open-air rose garden. Above is the bare sky, but it lacks any stars or clouds or even color, it is empty and quiet. In the center, a rectangle of fresh grass lays underneath the strange sky, decorated with rose bushes. The thick vines from before leave their wall to wrap into the bushes, before slithering back out again and into two other hallways on the oppsite side of the room. The scent comes from this garden, your nose fills with perfume of rose. *ddduuummmmmm* That bell rings out again, shattering the quiet you've become to grow accustomed to. You swear you hear a faint noise follow it, from the right hallway. [[Investigate rose garden]] [[Take the hallway left of the garden]] [[Take the hallway right of the garden]]

You cautiously step into the other room, and are greeted by... nothing. It's a room that mirrors yours in many ways. The candles however, are out, the smoke from their death lingering in the air. That single shred of moonlight gives you enough vision to make out another oil painting. This painting is unrecognizable, as 90% of it has been burned away. You notice a scuff on the stone brick ground and speckles of ash. There's nothing else in this room.

You step closer to the rose garden to investigate it. As you get closer, you realize that despite there being an open ceiling, there is no breeze. No wind, there's a chill but it does not originate from outside. It's as if the bricks gave it off themselves. As your feet touch the grass, you wince and pull them back. The grass looks perfect, a stunning example of lawn care. But on contact, the grass is hard and stiff, making it uncomfortable to walk on or even touch. Getting closer to the roses, the flowery aroma doesn't feel fresh anymore. It's almost sweet, a sickenly sweet, like a perfume bottle left to age, unopened, for a decade. Beneath that perfume, there's a hint of rottenness. Of decay. You find small yet barbarous thorns lining the stalk of the flowers. Further inspection reveals the one wall lining the garden, covered in twisting vines, actually hides a rusted gate. The vines are too thick to get through to it however. [[Take the hallway left of the garden]] [[Take the hallway right of the garden]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Pull the rose")'s length >= 1)[[Use the key on the gate]]

You edge around the rose garden, and begin to go through the left hallway. It regains its familiar stone walling, with a lack of windows. The candlelight continues to barely light the place up. The vines thicken, wrapping the cieling and opposite wall. Some of the thorns and petals scatter the stone ground, you make sure not to step on any. That perfume-like rose flows back unto you as you make your way down the hall. [[Continue down the left hallway]]

You edge around the rose garden, and begin to go through the right hallway. It regains its familiar stone walling, with a lack of windows. The candlelight continues to barely light the place up. You smell the faint burning of fabric and wood, replacing the rose scent. A faint glow leaks through the hallway. [[Continue down the right hallway]]

You follow the new scent and scource of light, and come across quite a sight. In what seems to be some kind of office, stands a lone figure. A woman, tall and elegant, covered in flames. She's beclothed in a wedding dress, worn by time yet not by the flames around her. The flames stick to her, moving as she does, and only reaching out to other objects, but never touching. She's looking at a mirror, and as you can see her eyes in the reflection, you can see it's not out of vanity. Her eyes are lost in some melancholic sadness, she seems locked in her own gaze. She does not notice your presence. [[Poke the bride]] Leave to [[Follow the rose smell]]

You gently walk up to her, she seems oblivious to your soft footsteps on the stone. Curious to her trance, you poke her in her side. Quickly you retract your hand as her flames reach out towards you. She lets out a sorrowed sigh, but pays no further attention to you. She seems far gone... Go back to [[Investigate rose garden]]

You insert the rusted rose-key through the barbed vines and into the rusted lock, and shift it. A loud ker-thunk rings through and you catch a whiff of smoke. Looking down, you see the vines begin to burn away, revealing the large door. With a second ker-thunk, it beings to swing open and revealing yet another dark hallway. *ddddduuummmmmmmm* As the vines finish burning and the door finishes its motion, that heavy bell is heard ringing again. You hear a slightly loud noise, almost one of pain, in the right hallway. [[Go down the new hallway]]

You step into a new room and your eyes flinch as bright colors and light meet them. The stone gives away to glass, a greenhouse room. Silver moonlight floods the location, a welcome change from the bleak candlelight. Colorful flowers of various specimen fill the place, ivy and leaves wrapping around the clear walls. The mixture of light and foilage makes it impossible for you to see outside, but it is a welcome change regardless. [[Look at the flowers]]

You approach the carnations, as pure and pale as possible. You reach your hand out to them. On contact with your hand however, the petals hiss and burn under your hand. In an flash, the flowers are gone, leaving only the twisted green foilage and some ash on the floor. Go back to [[Look at the flowers]]

You approach the tulips, blue as sapphire. You reach your hand out to them. On contact with your hand however,the petals hiss and burn under your hand. In an flash, the flowers are gone, leaving only the twisted green foilage and some ash on the floor. Go back to [[Look at the flowers]]

You approach the sunflowers, bright as day. You reach your hand out to them. On contact with your hand however,the petals hiss and burn under your hand. In an flash, the flowers are gone, leaving only the twisted green foilage and some ash on the floor. Go back to [[Look at the flowers]]

You approach the roses, red as blood. You reach your hand out to them, careful to avoid the thorns. The petals are as soft as velvet, but getting closer, you get a whiff of a rotting-meat like stench. It seems to be coming from behind the flowers. [[Pull the rose]] Go back to [[Look at the flowers]]

You approach the petunias, a soft lavender in color. You reach your hand out to them. On contact with your hand however,the petals hiss and burn under your hand. In an flash, the flowers are gone, leaving only the twisted green foilage and some ash on the floor. Go back to [[Look at the flowers]]

You approach the poppys, more orange than the fruit itself. You reach your hand out to them. On contact with your hand however,the petals hiss and burn under your hand. In an flash, the flowers are gone, leaving only the twisted green foilage and some ash on the floor. Go back to [[Look at the flowers]]

You try to wrap your hand carefully around the thorn-ridden stem. You pull hard and instead of snapping, the rose slides out of some compartment and with it, a wave of rotten stench hits your nostrils and begins filling the room. You look down at the flower and see it's as normal of a rose possible until you get to the later half of the stem. It twists and shifts from vibrant green to a rusted and dirty metal, eventually shaping into a keyhead. The flower hardens, losing its liveliness and vibrant color as it hardens to cold, rusty metal. As the rotten smell permeates and encompases the greenhouse, you begin to feel a bit woosey. Probably not a good idea to stay. Go back to [[Investigate rose garden]]

[[View white carnations]] [[View blue tulips]] [[View yellow sunflowers]] [[View red roses]] [[View purple petunias]] [[View orange poppys]]

You leave the rose garden, and enter the dim, stone hallway. It's not too disimilar from the other hallways, though it's quite wider and taller. No windows, just those small candles. Leaving the garden, the smell of perfume and decay fades away and is replaced by nothing. The silence grows somehow even heavier, your footsteps echoing down the halls. Finally you find a fork in the road, a three-way intersection. [[Intersection]]

To the left, you can hear a soft sound... a whimper in the dimly lit hallway. To the right, you get a faint whiff of cinder. Straight ahead, it's hard to make out what is there... (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor stumbles along with you.] [[Left of intersection]] [[Straight forward]] [[Right of intersection]]

(if:visits is 1)[You continue down the left pathway, once again greeted by stone. You begin to notice scuff marks along the brick, and a few of the candles are out. You hear soft sobbing and shaky breath ahead. [[Go towards the noise]]] (if:visits > 1)[You walk through this particular stone hallway again, where you found Connor... [[Continue onward]]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor stumbles along with you.]

You walk down the right hallway, dim and grey as ever. You see a doorway lining the outer wall, a brilliant light coming from it. After taking a peak, you can see it is some kind of holy altar, decorative and beautiful. Ash fills your nose, choking you a little. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor hangs back away from the altar, propped up against the wall. He seems to try to be gesturing you away from the altar but isn't saying a word.] [[Continue forth]] [[Go to the Altar]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 0)[A large bookcase stands in front of you, crashed across the floor. It seems to have been knocked over in a scuffle, book are everywhere. You can see the enterance to a well-lit room behind it, but you can't move the bookshelf by yourself.] (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[A large bookcase stands in front of you, crashed across the floor. You can see the enterance to a well-lit room behind it. Thanks to the Connor's help, you're able to to move it out of the way and see what appears to be a library. [[Library]]]

In the massive library, there sits a lone table in the middle. A scrapbook sits open on it, revealing a very different but clear picture of the bride you saw from earlier. She's smiling, happy and full of life. Next to her in the photo is a gentleman suited up and looking as dandy as can be. You can't tell based on his face, as it has been burned from the photo. The photo is labeled: Eron and -----'s 5th Anniversary. The name has been burned out too. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor looks increasingly uncomfortable, shuffling his feet back and forth and being unnaturally quiet.] Back to the [[Intersection]]

You slowly walk into the altar, and before you is the burning bride from before. She's facing the altar, and mumbling something to herself. You see a bouquet of roses, clearly rotten but somehow not burning, in her hands. Despite the decent size of this room and its many pews, she is the only one in here. You notice a small pillow sitting next to her on one of the pews, and on it rests a beautiful silver ring. [[Nab the ring]] [[Listen to what she's saying]]

You see a young man on the floor, weeping, curled up against the wall, his head in his hands. You notice dried blood coming from his ankle, at an ankle it shouldn't be in. His clothes are a little charred, and little whisps of smoke still curl off him. As you approach, he looks up to you, his eyes red from tears. "Please, please help me! She might come back at any moment... and I have a sprained ankle. I can't move a muscle and if she comes back...", the man whisper-shouts. His eyes begin to water once more as he finishes his thought. You're a little taken aback by his trust in you. He stifles his tears, regaining his words. "My name is Connor. Please, please, please help me, I beg you!" [[Take Connor with you]] [[Leave Connor]]

"Oh, thank you! Oh oh thank you so much!" Connor looks like he wants to jump up in joy but then remembers his broken ankle and sinks back down to his seat on the ground. You help prop him upand walk with him down the hall with his arm around your neck for balance. He wipes away his tears and offers you a smile, though probably one for his comfort and not your own. [[Continue onward]]

You don't like the way this looks, and decide to keep walking past the broken and scared man. "No PLEASE!! PLEASE HOW CAN YOU ABANDON ME LIKE THAT?! PLEASE Hel-" His shouting grows quieter as you leave him, until you're welcomed back into silence. You swear you could smell some smoke come from where you left. You hear a distant, short scream. [[Continue onward]]

The corner of the hallway, turning and following the wall. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor stumbles along.] [[Follow the wall]]

A massive set of twin, bronze doors sit before you, rusted and ancient, as if they've enver been opened. Despite its size, the tiniest keyhole sits in the center, about the size of a ring finger. It very clearly won't budge without its key. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)["There it is! That must be the exit!", Connor chimes in a little obviously.] Go back to the [[Intersection]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Nab the ring")'s length >= 1)[[Check out the lock]]

The corner of the hallway. The hallway turns and follows the wall. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor stumbles along with you.] [[Follow the wall]]

You quietly creep up behind her, carefully making sure her flames don't reach out to you as you get closer and closer. She pays you no attention somehow and you grab onto the ring. As you pull it out of the pillow, you realize it isn't a ring but a tiny silver key, the blade of the key hidden in the pillow. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor whisper shouts at you to retreat, which you do.] [[Right of intersection]]

"Till death do us.... Till death do us... Till death do us... Till death do us..." She can't seem to finish the last part of the phrase, and her breath shakes a little when she gets close to it.

You shift the tiny ring-key into the rusted door, and watch in amazement as the dilpidated doors swing open effortlessly. Outside is a dark forest, though you're not sure where it exactly leads. You finally get to leave the strange building. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)["We did it! We made it!", Connor excitedly exclaims and tries to run out, but falls flat on his face due to his ankle. You help him up and carry him out of the place.] [[Leave]]

//''Closed Off''// By Zackary Felix [[Start]]

The hope you feel is cut off be a ghastly shriek. Smoke begins to hit your nose and as you look back, you see a growing glow from the right hallway. You have to leave quickly, the burning smell intensifies. (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[Connor looks panicked and leaves your support, hobbling towards the door. "We're so close, we have to mkae it! Quick, before she gets here!", fear laces his voice.] [[Hurry]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "Leave Connor")'s length is 1)[You quickly pick up your pace, going from a cautious walk to a dead sprint in a split second. You pass thhrough the threshold and right before your feet touches the grass outside... Fire fills your thigh as you feel a soft but strong hand grab you. Your inertia throws you forward, and when you hit the ground, it's stone brick once more. You're being dragged back in, and you look up to see that burning bride. She's no longer schreeching and she looks away from you now, slowly leading you to the altar room. Her flames wrap tightly around your legs, slowly spreading across your body. As they do, you feel your strength sap away... and you fall gently into sleep. [[Start]]] Again (if:(history: where its name contains "Take Connor with you")'s length is 1)[You catch up with Connor, re-supporting him and helping him quicken his pace. You can hear the cries of the burning bride grow louder, but you don't dare look back. As you come up to the threshold of the gate, you hear a disturbing *crack*! With a welp, Connor's posture crumbles, his hands darting to hold his injured ankle, and his body collapsing to the stone ground. Looking up from him, you see the bride, her ghastly and bright form no longer rushing towards you. She walks slowly, like a tiger stalking their prey, ready to pounce. She's staring straight at Connor, her eyes still so devoid of emotion. What do you do? [[Stay and help him]] [[Book it]] ]

You quickly drop to your knees to help Connor and upon further investigation, you find his broken ankle has broken in a new way. There's absolutely no way he could stand, much less walk. He doesn't seem to notice much though, his gaze fixated on the slowly approaching apparition. After tearing a piece of your shirt to bandage, you can feel the shattered pieces of his ankle through the bloodied cloth. He's definetily not going anywhere, anytime soon. Your nostrils fill with cinder, your clothes suddenly much warmer. His whimpers alert you that the bride has drawn close and in a final desperation, you throw yourself over him, a final act of protection. [[Prepare yourself]]

You mumble some form of apology, before entering a dead sprint out the building and into the dark forest. You hear a fading "Wait-", cut short but a scream you can only assume is his. As the scream ends, the doors slam behind you and that familiar sound pulses through the air: *ddduummmmmm* As dark trees surround you, you stumble into a stand-still, sweat sticking your shirt to your back. As you catch your breath, you finally decide to look back. There sitting in the pale moonlight, is an abandoned, small and gothic church. It looks abandoned and now, perhaps it is. Eager to leave it behind, you turn your back to it and continue through the forest, eager to find a way home. //''The End''//

You wait, braced for impact, for fire, for blood. Nothing comes your way. [[Look up]]

After what feels like hours with the bride's warmth on your back, you finally look up to see her. And for the first time, you see an emotion on her ghostly face, tears are dweeling in her eyes. A soft, sad smile rests on her lips like an abandoned hammock. You could swear her flames aren't quite as hot, not as strong. Her eyes are fixated on your right hand, hooked around Connor protectively. *dduu- ding... ding...* That heavy bell begins once more but shifts into a lighter, pleasent bell. Like one that plays at the end of a wedding filling the air with a somber joy. Your eyes feel dry and sting, and so you blink for the first time in awhile. The bride is suddenly gone, not a trace of her left. No physical one at least, as you can still feel her warmth on you. The emptiness of the building loses its coldness, there's breath in the air for the first time since you woke up. You check on Connor, who seems to have passed out from either blood loss, shock or both. Making sure his bandage is secure, you hoist him up onto your back with some difficulty. You make your way through the gate's threshold, into the dark forest. You've finally made it! As you look behind you, the building is no longer there. Just woods. Despite hte darkness of the woods and coldness of the wind however, that warmth is still with you. It empowers you, pushing you to find your way home with Connor on your back. ''//The End//''