it was already getting dark when you left the library.
(click-replace: "library.")[library.
you'd lost track of time as you juggled studying for midterms and looking for the pretty, brooding girl.]
(click-replace: "girl.")[girl.
you swear she's been following you around and you hope, //hope//, that she is going to work up the courage to ask you out.
of course, you are going to say yes when she does.]
[[//shit.//->shit]]> //shit.//
you hated walking on campus after dark. there was something unsettling about the way that the familiar buildings and paths felt...twisted. warped.
unfamiliar.
your phone buzzed as a message arrived.
[[*check it*->check]]
[[*ignore it*->ignore]]
> //check the message.//
it was your housemate group chat.
elle: hey! are you coming home soon?
[[*respond to it*->respond]]
[[*ignore it*->ignore_2]]
> //ignore the message.//
you didn't like to look at your phone when you were walking on campus at night. it felt like you were too distracted to notice if someone came up to you.
[[*walk home->walk]]> //respond to the message.//
you tried to type out a response quickly. it was cold and you were starting to feel scared.
[[*give an update->update]]
[[*ask for elle to meet you->meetup]]> //leave elle on read.//
you'd be home soon but you didn't want to look down at your phone; it would make you feel too vulnerable.
[[*walk home->walk]](set: $update to true)> //give an update.//
you: sorry!! got lost in my work. heading home now!!
[[*walk home->walk]](set: $meetup to true)> //ask for elle to meet you.//
you: sorry!! got lost in my work. could you actually meet me @ the lib? its rly dark and id prefer to walk with a friend.
elle: sure thing girl! ill run over rn. <3
[[*wait for elle->wait]]> //walk home.//
you started on your way home, feeling uncomfortably aware of every small sound. at least you lived on campus; you didn't know what you would do if you had to walk all the way off campus. or if you had a car, you'd still have to walk to the parking lot, which felt a lot sketchier than the campus pathways to the dorms.
(click-append: "parking lot")[—where someone could be hiding under a car or behind a row of vehicles waiting to grab you]
(click-append: "dorms")[—where the easiest place for someone to hide was behind a bush or tree, which was equally scary but felt less likely]
(click-append: "less likely.")[ *oh gods i'm spiraling*, you thought to yourself. *get a grip*.
[[*pick up the pace->powerwalk]]]> //wait for elle.//
you camp out front of the library. it looks so...//creepy// when it's closed. it's a little uncomfortable, especially with the recent news about the missing student. she disappeared on her way home from work last month. you try to not think about her, about the predators on campus that make girls like you and her feel like victims-in-waiting, like prey.
wait, what was that?
you listen, straining your ears. (text-style: "fade-in-out")[you hear footsteps.]
[[*run->run]]
[[*listen->pause]]{
(set: $update to false)
(set: $meetup to false)
}you try to run.
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(mouseover-replace: "run.")[
run.]
> //pick up the pace.//
you start to walk with purpose. that's what you like to call it, at least. struggling to not break into a run even though you're scared for your life feels almost humiliating. this is your school and you deserve to feel safe here, damnit.
but you need to focus. listen. stay alert. what's that behind you? (text-style: "fade-in-out")[you hear footsteps.]
[[*faster->run]]
[[*stop and listen->pause]]> //faster.//
you try to run.
(live: 10s)[you're not fast enough.
[[*it overtakes you.|caught]]]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]
(click-replace: "run.")[
run.]> //you listen.//
something is definitely approaching you.
(text-style: "fade-in-out")[it's getting closer.]
//fuckfuckfuck//.
you're frozen in place. terrified.
(text-style: "fade-in-out")[it's getting closer.]
//am i going to be the next missing girl?//
your body is ready to flee, but your legs feel bolted to the ground.
(text-style: "fade-in-out")[it keeps approaching at the same deliberate pace.]
//shitshitshit//.
(text-style: "fade-in-out")[it's almost on you.]
//is this how i die?//
(text-style: "shudder")[they stop.]
"hey, i was hoping i'd run into you." it's her voice. your heart is pounding against your ribs; you thought you were being chased—hunted. but it's okay now, it's just her.
(click-replace: "her.")[her.
the brooding girl from the library. she quirks a smile in your direction.
"my, you look delicious."
there's a tingle of desire deep inside you, fighting against the adrenaline your flight instinct is pumping into your blood.]
[[*say hi to her->hey]]> //it overtakes you.//
"hey, i was hoping i'd run into you." it's her voice. your heart is pounding against your ribs; you thought you were being chased—hunted. but it's okay now, it's just her.
(click-replace: "her.")[her.
the brooding girl from the library. she quirks a smile in your direction.
"my, you look delicious."
there's a tingle of desire deep inside you, fighting against the adrenaline your flight instinct is pumping into your blood.]
[[*say hi to her->hey]]> //say hi to her.//
"hey," you manage. "were you...chasing me?"
she looks you up and down. there's a glint of something in her look—is it thirst? desire? you're still waiting for her to explain herself and eventually she raises her eyes to meet yours. she shrugs. "i wanted to say hi and you bolted."
you laugh nervously. "hi."
she flashes a sharp smile. "hi back."
there's a pause and your body goes from terrified to excited. //this is her!! she's right here and she's talking to you! and she looks...hungry.//
"do you want to get out of here? come home with me?" she raises an eyebrow suggestively. "i'd love to...taste you." she licks her lips and your legs get weak.
(if: $meetup is true)["uh, my uh...friend is going to meet me in a few minutes."
she chuckles darkly. "and?"]
[[*"please"->accept]]
[[*"i've really got to get home"->reject]]> //"please."//
it's almost a moan at the word leaves your lips. she looks satisfied. smug, even.
"perfect," she purrs. her hand reaches out slowly and traces a line down your arm, her sharp nails scratching you just a little. "follow me."
you cannot imagine declining.
//the end.//> //"i've really got to get home."//
"that's a bummer, i was really hoping that we could have some fun." she's smiling, but something is wrong. it's too sharp. she moves closer to you and you're scared again. terrified, even.
"um, what are you doing?"
"im having dinner" she lunges at you and her teeth sink into your throat before you can scream.
//the end.//