Ill Use, Sorry by Valerie Vitale
It is dark. Gemini and Atlas wake up on a sidewalk of a dystopian New York City. It is 2035. There are no cars in sight. Several trash bags and wrappers float through an eerie breeze.
"Where are we?" Atlas rubs his eyes.
Gemini looks around the dim-lit street.
"I have no idea."
Atlas trembles and hugs his knees to his chest.
"Can't we call mommy?"
Gemini reaches into his pockets. He stands and frantically pulls his pockets inside out.
"I don't have my phone or wallet."
Atlas frowns, "But. . . how do we get home then?"
"I don't know, but I will figure it out. Don't worry."
Gemini tousles Atlas' hair.
A homeless man walks by. He has a long white beard and is in ripped jeans and an overly bleached t-shirt.
[[Ask for help.]]
[[Ignore them.]]
"That purple light off in the distance. Maybe it can help you."
[["What purple light?"]]
[["Alright. . ."]]
The homeless man continues walking. He turns and looks back at them knowingly and smiles. A soft breeze pushes an empty soda bottle across the pavement.
[[Gemini calls out, "wait!" to the homeless man.]]
[[Grab Atlas by his arm and walk down the sidewalk, deeper into the darkness of the city.]]"That light off in the distance. Maybe it can help you. You just have to figure out how to get there."
[["What purple light?"]]
[["Alright. . ."]]
The homeless man points to a vast glowing purple light in the distance. It beams above the skyline and into the night sky.
"That one."
"How is that going to help us get to mommy?" Atlas blurts out. Gemini gives him a scolding look.
The homeless man takes in a deep breath.
"You will know once you are there." He begins to pull something out of his back pocket.
"This may help."
Gemini stands on edge as the man smiles and hands Atlas a dried rose.
"How does a dead plant help us get back to mommy?" Atlas asks, holding the flower tightly in his hand.
The homeless man begins to smile.
[[Grab Atlas by his arm and walk down the sidewalk, deeper into the darkness of the city.->Grab Atlas by his arm and walk down the sidewalk, deeper into the darkness of the city.]]
[["That guy sounds crazy. Let’s find a store that's open. Maybe we can get help there."->Grab Atlas by his arm and walk down the sidewalk, deeper into the darkness of the city.]]
The artificial street lights flicker around them. The homeless man vanishes into the distance. Atlas looks around at the towering buildings, his eyes are wide.
"That guy sounds crazy. Let’s find a store that's open. Maybe we can get help there." Gemini says, practically out of breath from his fast pace.
Atlas looks up at Gemini.
"But what about the purple light? That seems real. . . What if he's not crazy?"
Gemini shrugs.
"We can worry about that later. This store looks kind of open."
The bodega has large windows and fluorescent light pours out onto the sidewalk. It rolls off the curb and onto the dark asphalt of the street. The other buildings on the street remain dark and vacant.
[[Go inside.]]
[[Look around the city more.]] The store is stocked with snacks and essentials. A scrawny clerk with dark hair stands behind the cashier.
Atlas tugs on Gemini's sleeve, "I don't like it in here."
"This is our only option right now Atlas."
[[Grab some snacks and essentials and run.]]
[[Ask the clerk if he has a phone to call home. ]]
"Maybe we should ask for help." Atlas tugs on Gemini's arm.
"I don't trust anyone here." Gemini frowns.
"Oh." Atlas looks away.
"But don't be scared, everything will be alright," Gemini reassures him.
"You've said that before with Dad, and you lied."
Gemini crouches down on the dirty floor to be level with Atlas.
"I know. I shouldn't have lied to you. I just didn't know how to tell you, Las. This is different. I will make sure we get home to mom."
Atlas kicks his feet against the floor.
"I don't believe you. I want mommy now!" Tears form in his eyes.
Gemini wraps his arms around him and lifts him. Atlas is sobbing.
"Shh, it will be alright."
Between the aisles of the rundown store they embrace.
[[You only grab a few things quickly.]]
[[Ask for help.]] "Are you lost?" He scratches his head.
[["Yes, please help us."]]
[["No, nevermind."]]
With Atlas still in his arms, Gemini shoves a few candy bars and chip bags under his shirt and in his pockets. He grabs a can of soup and stuffs it in the seam of Atlas' pants. Atlas sniffles.
[[Run out of the store, down the dark street, and stop after turning a corner.]][[Seek shelter.]]
[[Look around the city more.]]The fluorescent light flickers overhead. Bags seep under the cashier's eyes.
"I don't have a phone. Is there any other way I can help?"
[["Yes, please. We need help!"]]
[[Quickly leave the store.]][[Seek shelter.]]
[[Look around the city more.]]You see a park with some benches. It seems quiet. Atlas looks up with sleepy eyes.
"What do you think? How about here?"
Atlas nods.
You sit on the bench and let Atlas rest his head on your lap to try to fall asleep. He tosses and turns.
"I can't fall asleep Gem."
[[Look around the city more.]]
You turn a corner and see a group of men fighting. You quickly grab Atlas and pull him against the side of a building.
"Why are they fighting?" Atlas whispers.
"I don't know, but we have to be extra quiet."
"They sound scary."
"Try to think of something else. Remember the cookies mom made last night?"
"The peanut butter ones? Those were really good." Atlas smiles.
The commotion quiets down and it sounds like the men have left.
"I think the coast is clear, stay right here and let me check."
You look at where the men were standing and there is a knife on the sidewalk.
[[Take the knife.]]
[[Walk Away.]]
The cashier looks out the store windows and around the aisles as if he is expecting to see someone there. A shadowy figure lurks in the corner of the store and vanishes. Looking closer, they can see the cashier's eyes are bloodshot. His shirt is scattered with coffee stains. He flicks a pen around in front of the register.
"I've heard some things that might help you, but you're just kids." He looks at Gemini, struggling to continue supporting the weight of Atlas.
"Well, we are here now and need to figure out how to get out." Gemini stares into the clerk.
"Have you heard of Dryrose? It's a town outside of the city."
Atlas squirms and Gemini puts him down.
"No. I have no idea where we are." Gemini shakes his head.
A dark figure looms down the aisles, getting closer to Gemini and Atlas.
"You know what, we are closing. You better get out of here now." The clerk bites his lip, looking behind them at the creature.
"You can't help us?" Atlas sniffles.
The clerk shakes his head.
Gemini follows his gaze and sees the dark creature approaching. He stops himself from screaming and picks up Atlas.
[[Run out of the store]]
[[Face the creature]]"That was close." Gemini sighs.
"Why can't the police help us? I thought they were good?"
"They usually are Atlas. But I'm getting a bad feeling about this entire place. I'm not sure we should trust anyone."
Gemini looks at the purple light in the distance. Shadowy figures appear behind storefront windows.
"Oh." Atlas looks down.
"Let's keep moving."
[[Seek shelter.]]
[[Look around the city more.]] It is a bright blue pocket knife. You shove it into your pocket.
[[Walk Away.]] Gemini pulls Atlas along, deeper into the city. The purple light radiates in the distance.
[[Look up ]]
Gemini looks over the tops of skyscrapers and can see a sliver of a moon. It is overshadowed by the beaming purple light in the distance.
"What time is it?" Atlas asks.
"I have no idea."
"Doesn't the sun come out soon?"
"It seems like it."
"The moon goes away and the sun comes up." Atlas looks up.
"That's how it usually is," Gemini says pessimistically.
"What's that?" Atlas points at a staircase descending into the sidewalk. An orange light flickers within it.
"It looks like a subway or train station."
"Should we see where it goes?"
Gemini squints at the stairs.
[[Go into the train station]]
[[Look around the city more.]]
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"I think I hear something." Atlas looks down the track to their left. The ground rumbles.
"Yup, that's definitely a train. Stand back from the edge a bit further."
Atlas steps back and grabs Gemini's hand.
"I don't like it."
"Why?"
"It's loud and hurting my ears."
"It will be here any second. They travel super fast."
"Faster than cars?" Atlas asks.
"Yes," Gemini nods.
A train slows down and stops in front of them. Simultaneously, a train appears on the other tracks. On the top of the train on the left, it reads, "Purple Square" and the train on the right reads, "Dryrose Town". You have to get on one.
[[Go to Dryrose Town.]]
[[Go to Purple Square ]]
You step off of the train and back onto the street. This place looks familiar. There are a lot of lights flashing on the sides of buildings. Taxi cars are stopped alongside the road but they are abandoned. An occasional shadowy silhouette can be seen from time to time.
[[Continue Walking.]]
You stand with Atlas on the dark street.
"What do we do now?" He asks.
[[Go into the train station]]
[[Seek shelter.]]
[[Continue Walking.]]
"Hold my hand."
Atlas reaches and grabs Gemini's hand as they descend the stairs. They reach the bottom and there is a cement platform with two railway tracks on each side.
"Where do they go?" Atlas asks.
"I have no idea." Gemini looks left and right at both tracks.
"We're not going anywhere unless a train comes. It looks like we are alone down here."
A droplet of water drips from the ceiling.
"Do you think one will come soon?" Atlas looks around.
"I don't know any more than you do bud." Gemini sighs.
[[Keep waiting for the train]]
[[Look around the city more.]] A billboard flickers an arrow that points in the direction of the purple light. It is still dark and eerily quiet.
"Maybe that guy was right," Gemini says.
"What guy?" Atlas follows along.
"About the purple light."
"But you said he was crazy?"
"I'm not so sure anymore."
Atlas stops walking and Gemini turns to face him.
"Are we ever going to make it home?"
"Of course we are. I'm going to make sure of it."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"What should we do now?"
[[Go into the train station]]
[[Continue Walking.]] You ride the train the opposite way. And get off at [[Go to Purple Square ]] Fireflies zoom around, purple instead of yellow. The purple light seems closer. They walk up a hill and closer to the houses. There is a small bridge across a pond they have to walk across.
"Watch your step."
"Should we ask for help?" Atlas asks.
"I think we should give it a try." Gemini looks into one of the windows. A shadowy figure looks back at him.
"Maybe the next house."
"Why not this one?"
"Just follow me Atlas."
There is a large blue house with a fence around the yard.
[[Try to get to the door.]]
[[Go to another house.]]
"Do you see an opening or anything?" Gemini asks.
Atlas shakes his head.
"Why can't we climb over?" He asks.
"Do you see those pointy things on the top?" Gemini brushes his finger over the wire.
Atlas nods.
"That's barbed wire. It's meant to keep people from climbing over. You can get caught on it and cut up really bad."
"Oh." Atlas stares down at his sneakers, tinted with purple.
"I don't think we'll be able to get in here."
[[Go to another house.]]
[[Go back to the train station.]]
There's a yellow house on the right and a lavender house on the left.
"Which one should we try?" Gemini asks Atlas.
[[The lavender one.]]
[[The yellow one.]]"Maybe we can find more out in the city." Gemini suggests.
Atlas shrugs.
The train pulls in. It is only going to one destination.
[[Go to Purple Square ]] There are large windows and a white door. Upon walking closer, it appears there is a light on inside, emitting a warm orange glow.
"Just stand behind me." Gemini walks ahead of Atlas.
As they are approaching the door, it opens. An old man with a white beard and glasses stands in the doorway. He smiles.
"Hi." Atlas peers out from behind Gemini.
"Hello," the old man waves, "Would you like to come inside?"
Gemini hesitates.
[[Go inside]]
[[Go to another house.]] The lawn is unkempt and dark purple weeds spring out from the grass. A gust of wind blows as they step closer to the door. The house appears to be dark inside.
"Maybe no one is home," Atlas says.
"Maybe, but it's worth a knock."
As Gemini approaches the door, two farm dogs come sprinting from around the corner barking and growling.
"Run!" He yells to Atlas.
After running for what felt like miles they stand on the hill panting.
"Those dogs could have killed us!" Atlas cries.
"What do you want to try next?" Gemini asks.
[[Go back to the train station.]]
[[The lavender one.]] The inside of the house is filled with warm hues of orange and rich purples. A small orb-like ball sits on a table. It emits a purple light. The old man closes the door behind them.
"I have been waiting for you two." The old man gestures for them to sit down on the wooden chairs that surround the table.
"What do you mean?" Gemini is cautious as he sits and notions for Atlas to do the same.
"You want to get home, right?"
"Yes!" Atlas blurts out.
Gemini looks over at him disapprovingly.
"How can you help us?"
The old man looks into the purple orb.
"The purple light."
Suddenly his voice resonates.
"Wait. . . you're the homeless man we met in the city!" Gemini cries.
"Well, I don't see how when you are in my home." He smiles.
[[I'm sure of it!]]
[[Nevermind.]]The old man nods, "It's true," he says.
"What is the big deal about this purple light?" Gemini asks.
The old man pauses and strokes his beard.
"I cannot tell you why the purple light, but I can tell you how to get there."
"And then what? We're just magically teleported home?" Gemini growls.
The old man remains silent.
[[This is crazy, we're leaving.]]
[[How do we get there?]]Gemini waits a moment and thinks. It is definitely the man from earlier.
[[I'm sure of it!]]Gemini pulls Atlas through the house and back out the front door. They stand on the grass, surrounded by the glowing purple light.
"What if he could have helped us?" Atlas cries.
"Atlas, he isn't making sense."
"Where are we supposed to go now?"
[[The yellow one.]]
[[Go back to the train station.]] The purples orb reveals a map in the center.
"Woah," Atlas' eyes light up.
"Here is where we are," the old man points to the line at the bottom of the map.
"You have to go up the hill. You will see a tall stone and make a right, and then a large oak tree where you will make a right. That will lead you to the light."
Gemini scoffs, "Really, that's it?"
The old man nods.
"Why can't you tell us what to do when we get there?"
The map vanishes from the orb and it returns to a rich purple.
"You will know once you get there."
[[Exit the house and go to the purple light]]
[[Go back to the train station.]] The old man smiles and waves a comforting goodbye. They walk up the hill and the grass gets longer. Purple butterflies surround them. One lands on Atlas.
"Can we bring one home?" Atlas asks.
"I think this is where they belong. This is their home."
The butterfly flies off of Atlas and onto a large lilac flower.
They continue walking and reach a tall stone with a path going right and one going left.
[[Go right.]]
[[Go left.]]
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A variety of yellow and purple flowers fill the hillside. There is a large purple stone, sculpted into an obscured figure.
"What's that?" Atlas walks towards it.
"Some kind of monument," Gemini replies.
There is a path right, left, or straight.
[[Go right.]]
[[Go left.]]
[[Go straight.]]
You walk for a while and can't find the oak tree.
"Do you think it's further?" Atlas asks.
"I'm not sure. . . Maybe we should try the other path."
They backtrack to the turn.
[[Go right.]]A large oak tree shoots up from the ground. Its long branches sway gently in the wind. They are shimmering with purple. Purple and bluebirds sing in their branches.
"Mom would love those birds," Atlas says.
"She would." Gemini agrees.
"I wish she could see them."
"You can tell her all about them when we get home."
[[Turn right.]]
[[Go left.]]
The purple light is brighter than ever. It is almost blinding. Gemini and Atlas slowly approach it. It is larger than any of the buildings in the city. There is no bottom, only a vast dark hole.
Atlas shivers, "It's cold here," he says.
Gemini looks around and reaches his arm out to pull Atlas closer.
Atlas reaches his arm out to touch the light.
"Hey!" Gemini yells, "Don't touch that. We have no idea what is it."
Atlas retracts his arm.
"How is this supposed to help us get home?"
[[It isn't. Let's go."]]
[["Hand me a rock or something."]]"Why?" Atlas scans the ground for a rock and finds a smooth purple stone.
"I want to see something."
Atlas hands the stone to him and Gemini drops it down into the abyss beneath the purple light.
"Hey-" Atlas begins.
"Shh, listen." Gemini leans closer to the purple light.
"Did you hear it land?"
Atlas shakes his head.
"I know this is going to sound crazy. But I think we need to jump inside."
Atlas looks in terror at the hole.
[["There's no way I'm going in there!"]]
[["I just want to go home."]]Gemini looks at Atlas and back at the hole.
"Maybe you're right. I don't know. I'm exhausted."
"Can we go back to the train?" Atlas asks.
"Why?"
"There must be a way home in the city."
"We can try."
[[Go back to the train station.]] Gemini looks at the purple light and back to Atlas.
"I do too."
"But I'm scared Gem."
Gemini gets down on his knee to be eye-level with Atlas.
"Have I ever done anything that would hurt you?"
Atlas shakes his head.
"You're going to take my hand and we're going to count to three, alright?"
"I don't want to." Atlas has tears in his eyes.
"You're going to have to be brave, alright?"
Atlas looks at the purple light. A butterfly lands on his arm and flutters away.
"Are you ready?" Gemini reaches for Atlas' hand.
Atlas nods and takes it.
"On the count of three, alright?"
They step to the edge of the purple abyss.
"One. . . two. . ."
[[Three!]]
The purple light consumes them. Shadowy figures huddle in their peripheral vision but they are moving too fast to recognize anything. The force of falling slams Atlas into Gemini's chest.
"I've got you!" He yells and squeezes him.
The purple light begins to fade into complete darkness.
"I'm really scared, Gem." Atlas sniffles.
"It will be alright," Gemini reassures him.
"Close your eyes."
They continue to fall in darkness and land on something soft.
"Is this where daddy is?" Atlas asks.
"I don't think so, Las." Tears form in Gemini's eyes.
"Oh. Can I open my eyes now?"
[["yes."]]
[["not yet."]]Slowly, their eyes adjust to the darkness.
"I can smell Mom's cookies!" Atlas shouts.
Gemini pulls the cover off from over their heads. They are in their bedroom. Two beds pushed against each wall. Atlas' bed is a green racecar. The walls are light blue and toys are scattered across the floor.
"I told you I'd get us home," Gemini hugs Atlas.
"How about we go down and get some cookies?"
[["yes!"]]
[["Wait!"]]
Gemini waits a moment and pulls the blanket off from over their heads. They are in there bedroom. The walls are light blue and they have a bed on each side. Atlas has a green racecar bed.
"You can open your eyes now." Gemini smiles.
"We're home!" Atlas yells.
"I can smell mom's cookies!"
"How about we go down and get some?"
[["yes!"]]Gemini and Atlas go downstairs into their kitchen. Their mom is standing at the table talking sipping coffee and talking to a man.
"You had a long nap up there!" She smiles, "Come here, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
They step further into the kitchen and the old man turns around, his thick white beard spattered with dribbles of coffee.
"This is your uncle, Birch. He decided to surprise us with a visit! I was about to wake you up."
Gemini and Atlas look at each other and back to the old man. He warmly smiles.
The EndThe homeless man pauses and turns. He slowly walks back towards them on the dark sidewalk, his white hair faintly glowing from the purple light and the moon.
"Yes?" He asks.
Gemini looks around and back at him.
[["What purple light?"]] Outside the windows of the train, darkness turns into a luminous purple light. Lush trees are glistening with purple. It appears that the land is suspended in a form of twilight.
Atlas kicks the seat in front of them.
"Quit it Atlas." Gemini looks down at him.
"Why? We're the only ones here." Atlas continues to kick the seat.
Gemini looks over the seat towards the back of the train. Shadowy figures dart across the back. One sits, faceless, and watches them.
Gemini gulps and looks back at Atlas.
"What?" Atlas stops kicking the seat.
Gemini shakes his head, "nothing."
He looks out the corner of his eye and catches a glimpse of darkness scatter behind them.
Atlas begins to sit up to turn around. Gemini pushes him back into his seat.
"Hey!" Atlas protests
"You almost missed it." Gemini points out the window.
"Do you see the birds?"
A flock of purple birds flies off in the distance.
"Ooh." Atlas has his face pressed against the window.
Gemini looks back one more time. The shadows are gone. The train pulls into a station with lush greenery sprinkled with lavender hues. The door opens and they step onto the platform. The door remains open for a moment.
[[Get back on the train]]
[[Explore Dryrose]]
Atlas kicks and wiggles his way out of Gemini's grip once they are on the street.
"Why did you do that?" Atlas looks up at him.
"He couldn't help us, you heard him." Gemini looks back over his shoulder. The storefront is filled with obscure dark figures, pressed against the glass.
[[Walk Away.]] Gemini looks directly into where the eyes of the creature should be. All he can see is darkness and a shifting form of a human. Suddenly, its mouth appears. It takes up the majority of its face and is a deep red filled with elongated teeth that resemble a sand shark. Its arms are long and they are reaching for Atlas. Gemini squeezes Atlas close to his chest.
[[Run out of the store]] [[Go back to the train station.]] "What?" Gemini looks down at Atlas. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the rose the homeless man had given him.
"It's alive now!" Atlas shouts.
The rose is a deep purple and glistening in his palm.
"Wow," Gemini smiles.
"Why don't we put it on your nightstand and go get some cookies?"
Atlas looks down at the rose and touches its soft petals. He places it gently onto his nightstand.
[["yes!"]]