Trials of Horror NEW EDITION

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<<run UIBar.unstow(true);>><<run UIBar.show();>> Hello and welcome to A Trial of Horror, where your relatively __normal__ life has become a living nightmare. Bored from the monotony of life, one of your friends sends you an ad to an experimental game. The company is an up-coming developer and intends to release it to the masses. But first, they need to go through testing. With a cash incentive of 10,000, you figured this would be the easiet money you've made in a while! Well, aside from that stint in Magic City... You decide to sign up, and the next day the thing arrives. However, instead of getting a game, you're sent a small black orb. Omnious, right? You think it's a mistake, until you pick it up, and the small black orb teleports you to the front of a run down hospital. The objective is to survive, right? Well, that's easy enough, until you find out exactly whats going on, and that you cannot leave until you complete the objective. The game can't keep you there forever, so you'll just wait it out. However, you quickly run into one problem. If you die in the game, you die in real life. In this game various uncomfortable subjets will be broached. My goal is to handle those with as much tact and empathy as possible. Please, if the game makes you uncomfortable, let me know and immediately stop playing. Your mental health is more important than anything. If you wish to see the full Content Warnings please click [[Here]]. <<button [[Begin]]>><</button>>

<<if settings.achievements>><<notify 3s>>Achievements active!<</notify>><</if>>To began, please pick your prono <div class="choice">[[next - pronoun setting|3]]</div>

<<if settings.achievements>><<notify 3s>>Achievements active!<</notify>><</if>>Elementum nisi quis eleifend quam adipiscing vitae. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis. Dictum varius duis at consectetur lorem donec massa sapien. Eu scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo. Massa id neque aliquam vestibulum morbi blandit. Nec dui nunc mattis enim ut tellus. Rhoncus dolor purus non enim praesent elementum. Ante in nibh mauris cursus mattis. Nullam non nisi est sit amet facilisis. Orci sagittis eu volutpat odio facilisis mauris. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus integer. Ultrices neque ornare aenean euismod elementum nisi quis eleifend quam. <div class="choice">[[next - pronoun setting|3]]</div>

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A Trial of Horror

<<run UIBar.stow();>><<run UIBar.hide();>> <<set $gamechapter = " ">> <<if tags().includes("title")>> <<elseif tags().includes("credits")>> <<set $gamechapter to "Credits">> <<elseif tags().includes("character")>> <<set $gamechapter to "Characters">> <<elseif tags().includes("codex")>> <<set $gamechapter to "Codex">> <<elseif tags().includes("skills")>> <<set $gamechapter to "Skills">> <<elseif tags().includes("profile")>> <<set $gamechapter to "Profile">> <<elseif tags().includes("mission")>> <<set $gamechapter to "First Episode">> <<else>><<set $gamechapter to "Prelude">> <</if>> //background// $waterlogged $rawheadandbloodybones $drfaulicer $cursed_moon <<set $pronouns_plural to false>> $regret $inlove_Tama $cleaniness $drink_preference $begin_story $degree_options $Tama_stayed $homealone $triedtowatch $notexorcised $birth_season $Tama_disappeared $Yue_appears $met_Jin $met_Faizan $first_episode / *personality / $sarcastic $teamplayer $stubborn $emotional $anxiety $sanity $genuine $rude $brash //skills// $charisma $stealth $perception $luck $endurance $occult $intelligence / mental / $anxiety $sanity $humanity $aro $ace $demisexual $cishetero / *choices / / stats + skills / <<set $charisma to 10>> <<set $endurance to 10>> <<set $perception to 10>> <<set $occult to 10>> <<set $luck to 10>> <<set $intelligence to 10>> <<set $stealth to 10>> <<set $sanity to 100>> <<set $anxiety to 0>> <<set $humanity to 50>> <<set $sarcastic to 0>> <<set $emotional to 50>> <<set $teamplayer to 0>> //character relationship// $Adakai_approval $Faizan_approval $Khalid_approval $Yue_approval $Alvarez_approval $Magadalene_approval $met_Khalid $Adakai_lovepoints / choices/ // choices // $emotion $idol $artifact $sex_experience $your_hairstyle <<set $artifact to ' '>> <<set $idol to " ">> <<set $sex_experience to " ">> <<set $your_hairstyle to " ">> // character creator // $hairtype $gender $haircolor $skincolor $height $bodytype $hairstyle $your_name $your_lastname $distinguishing_features $distinguishing_features2 $eyecolor $fashion_style $chest_gender //Feeling alright Doc Variables// $receiptionist $fail $ghost $you_told <<set $regret to " ">> //inventory// new inventory '$PlayersBag' //character creator// <<set $hairtype to " ">> <<set $haircolor to " ">> <<set $skincolor to " ">> <<set $height to " ">> <<set $bodytype to " ">> <<set $hairstyle to " ">> <<set $your_name to " ">> <<set $your_lastname to " ">> <<set $distinguishing_features to " ">> <<set $distinguishing_features2 to " ">> <<set $eyecolor to " ">> <<set $eyesight to " ">> <<set $fashion_style to " ">> <<set $degree_options to " ">> <<set $gender to " ">> <<set $chest_gender to " ">> <<set $birth_season to ' '>> //Adakai stuff// <<set $Ahairstyle to " ">> <<set $Agender to ' '>> $Ahairstyle $Agender $Adakai_sanity <<set $Adakai_sanity to 80>> //Faizan stuff// $Fgender $F_name <<set $Fgender to " ">> <<set $F_name to " ">> $Faizan_sanity <<set $Faizan_sanity to 66>>  *PRONOUN STUFF* Alvarez Pronouns <<set $a_they to "">> <<set $a_them to "">> <<set $a_their to "">> <<set $a_theirs to "">> <<set $a_themself to "">> <<set $a_s to "">> <<set $a_is to "">> <<set $m_they to "">> <<set $m_them to "">> <<set $m_their to "">> <<set $m_theirs to "">> <<set $m_themself to "">> <<set $m_s to "">> <<set $m_is to "">> <<set $f_they to "">> <<set $f_them to "">> <<set $f_their to "">> <<set $f_theirs to "">> <<set $f_themself to "">> <<set $f_s to "">> <<set $f_is to "">>

<<widget "are">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>are<<case false>>is<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "were">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>were<<case false>>was<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "s">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "fair_minus">><<fair_plus $args[0] -$args[1]>><</widget>> <<widget "opposed_stat">><<nobr>> <div class="statBar"> <div style="float:right"> $args[1] <<= 100-$args[2]>>% </div> <<= '<div class="statLeftBg" style="width:'+$args[2]+'%"> </div>'>> <div> $args[0] $args[2]%</div> </div> <</nobr>><</widget>> <<widget "percent_stat">> <div class="percentBar"> <<= '<div class="percentLeftBg" style="width:'+$args[0]+'%"> </div>'>> <div class="percentBarText">$args[1] $args[0]%</div> </div> <</widget>> <<widget "opposed_stat">><<nobr>> <div class="statBar"><<set _args2 to Math.round($args[2])>> <div style="float:right"> $args[1] <<= 100 - _args2>>% </div> <div class="statLeftBg" @style="'width:' + _args2 + '%'"> </div> <div> $args[0] _args2%</div> </div> <</nobr>><</widget>> /* <<SetGender>> widget - Start */ <<widget "SetGender">><<nobr>> /* Usage... (defaults to male) */ /* for "he": <<SetGender>> or <<SetGender "m">> */ /* for "she": <<SetGender "f">> */ /* for "they": <<SetGender "b">> */ /* for "it": <<SetGender "n">> */ /* $pgen: 0 = male, 1 = female, 2 = gender neutral, 3 = no gender */ <<switch $args[0]>> <<case "f">> <<set $pgen = 1>> <<case "b">> <<set $pgen = 2>> <<case "n">> <<set $pgen = 3>> <<default>> <<set $pgen = 0>> <</switch>> <</nobr>><</widget>> /* <<SetGender>> widget - End */<<widget "SetPronouns">><<nobr>> /* Usage... (defaults to male) */ /* for "he": <<SetPronouns>> or <<SetPronouns "m">> */ /* for "she": <<SetPronouns "f">> */ /* for "they": <<SetPronouns "b">> */ /* for "it": <<SetPronouns "n">>*/ <<switch $args[0]>> <<case "f">> <<set $they = "she">> <<set $them = "her">> <<set $themself = "herself">> <<set $themselves = "themselves">> <<set $their = "her">> <<set $theirs = "hers">> <<set $theyre = "she's">> <<set $youngPerson = "girl">> <<set $youngPeople = "girls">> <<set $adultPerson = "woman">> <<set $adultPeople = "women">> <<set $generalPerson = "girl">> <<set $generalPeople = "girls">> <<set $pal = "chick">> <<set $pals = "chicks">> <<set $They = "She">> <<set $Them = "Her">> <<set $Themself = "Herself">> <<set $Themselves = "Themselves">> <<set $Their = "Her">> <<set $Theirs = "Hers">> <<set $Theyre = "She's">> <<set $YoungPerson = "Girl">> <<set $YoungPeople = "Girls">> <<set $AdultPerson = "Woman">> <<set $AdultPeople = "Women">> <<set $GeneralPerson = "Girl">> <<set $GeneralPeople = "Girls">> <<set $Pal = "Chick">> <<set $Pals = "Chicks">> <<case "b">> <<set $they = "they">> <<set $them = "them">> <<set $themself = "themself">> <<set $themselves = "themselves">> <<set $their = "their">> <<set $theirs = "theirs">> <<set $theyre = "they're">> <<set $youngPerson = "person">> <<set $youngPeople = "people">> <<set $adultPerson = "person">> <<set $adultPeople = "people">> <<set $generalPerson = "guy">> <<set $generalPeople = "guys">> <<set $pal = "pal">> <<set $pals = "pals">> <<set $They = "They">> <<set $Them = "Them">> <<set $Themself = "Themself">> <<set $Themselves = "Themselves">> <<set $Their = "Their">> <<set $Theirs = "Theirs">> <<set $Theyre = "They're">> <<set $YoungPerson = "Person">> <<set $YoungPeople = "People">> <<set $AdultPerson = "Person">> <<set $AdultPeople = "People">> <<set $GeneralPerson = "Guy">> <<set $GeneralPeople = "Guys">> <<set $Pal = "Pal">> <<set $Pals = "Pals">> <<case "n">> <<set $they = "it">> <<set $them = "it">> <<set $themself = "itself">> <<set $themselves = "themselves">> <<set $their = "its">> <<set $theirs = "its">> <<set $theyre = "it's">> <<set $youngPerson = "person">> <<set $youngPeople = "people">> <<set $adultPerson = "person">> <<set $adultPeople = "people">> <<set $generalPerson = "guy">> <<set $generalPeople = "guys">> <<set $pal = "pal">> <<set $pals = "pals">> <<set $They = "It">> <<set $Them = "It">> <<set $Themself = "Itself">> <<set $Themselves = "Themselves">> <<set $Their = "Its">> <<set $Theirs = "Its">> <<set $Theyre = "It's">> <<set $YoungPerson = "Person">> <<set $YoungPeople = "People">> <<set $AdultPerson = "Person">> <<set $AdultPeople = "People">> <<set $GeneralPerson = "Guy">> <<set $GeneralPeople = "Guys">> <<set $Pal = "Pal">> <<set $Pals = "Pals">> <<case "m">> <<set $they = "he">> <<set $them = "him">> <<set $themself = "himself">> <<set $themselves = "themselves">> <<set $their = "his">> <<set $theirs = "his">> <<set $theyre = "he's">> <<set $youngPerson = "boy">> <<set $youngPeople = "boys">> <<set $adultPerson = "man">> <<set $adultPeople = "men">> <<set $generalPerson = "guy">> <<set $generalPeople = "guys">> <<set $pal = "dude">> <<set $pals = "dudes">> <<set $They = "He">> <<set $Them = "Him">> <<set $Themself = "Himself">> <<set $Themselves = "Themselves">> <<set $Their = "His">> <<set $Theirs = "His">> <<set $Theyre = "He's">> <<set $YoungPerson = "Boy">> <<set $YoungPeople = "Boys">> <<set $AdultPerson = "Man">> <<set $AdultPeople = "Men">> <<set $GeneralPerson = "Guy">> <<set $GeneralPeople = "Guys">> <<set $Pal = "Dude">> <<set $Pals = "Dudes">> <</switch>> <</nobr>><</widget>>

select your pronouns: <div class="choice">[[plural - they/them|4][$plural to true,$they to "they"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[singular - he/him, she/her, xe/xem|4][$plural to false,$they to "she"]]</div>

<<liveblock>>$they <<are>> happy. $they <<were>> sad. $they run<<s>> down the road. <</liveblock>> <div class="choice"><<link "She/her Pronouns">><<set $they to "she">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link "He/him Pronouns">><<set $they to "he">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link "Xe/xem Pronouns">><<set $they to "xe">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link "They/them Pronouns">><<set $they to "they">><<set $plural to true>><<update>><</link>></div>

[[Sugarcube 2 Documentation|https://www.motoslave.net/sugarcube/2/docs]] [[OpenDyslexic Font by Abbie Gonzalez|https://opendyslexic.org]] [[Notify Macro by Chapel|https://github.com/ChapelR/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2]] [[Live Update Macro by Cycy|https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros]] The numerous people that have helped me with coding AND beta testing. I love you guys honest.

<h3>StoryInterface</h3> The StoryInterface special passage, used by creating a special passage titled StoryInterface, allows you to override the default UI layout of Sugarcube. At its most basic, it consists of a div with the id "passages" that displays the data from your passages on the screen, as shown in example 1. You can add more complex layouts by adding more elements to this passage, such as menu bars, splash screens, headers and footers, as shown in example 2. Defining these divs is as simple as adding the necessary HTML to the StoryInterface passage; however, note that if a div is assigned a "data-passage" property, you should not add content to it within the StoryInterface passage. This property assigns a passage to that div. In example 2, the div with the id "ui-bar" has the data-passage property "UIBar", meaning it pulls its content data from a passage with the same name. These designations are case-sensitive. If you're just starting out with Twine/Sugarcube, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the language and the UI before working with StoryInterface. ''Example 1'' {{{<div id="passages"></div>}}} ''Example 2'' {{{<div id="ui-bar" data-passage="UIBar"></div>}}} {{{<div id="passages"></div>}}} {{{<div id="footer" data-passage="Footer"></div>}}} This will create a layout with three basic elements: the UI bar, the passage, and the footer. Content for the UI bar is found in the UIBar passage; likewise with the Footer passage & div. <h3>Accessing the UI functions</h3> Using StoryInterface by nature removes the built-in UI bar and the links contained within (Saves, Settings, Restart etc); these can all be replaced using their relevant APIs. The most common & useful of these are listed below. These commands can be placed inside links or buttons. {{{UI.saves() - opens the save UI}}} {{{UI.settings() - opens the settings UI}}} {{{UI.restart() - restarts the game}}} {{{Engine.backward()/Engine.forward() - undoes the previous action and returns the player to the previous passage/moves the player forward one action}}} Similarly to the above, you can use {{{<<back>>}}} to create a button that automatically undoes the last action, or {{{<<return>>}}} to return to the previous passage without undoing any variable changes made. <h3>Dialog functions</h3> You can set up dialog options to pop up upon clicking a link or button, which allows you to share information with the player without adding a new passage to the player's history or changing the state of the game. In order to do this, you need to set up the Dialog box, tell it what passage contains the content you want to display, and optionally, add a title. {{{Dialog.setup("Dialog Box Title");}}} {{{Dialog.wiki(Story.get("PassageName").processText());}}} {{{Dialog.open();}}} Any of these commands can be used in the default layout as well as StoryInterface - if you want extra save buttons, back buttons etc. <<back "Return">> <<link "Settings">><<script>>UI.settings();<</script>><</link>> <<button "Saves">><<script>>UI.saves();<</script>><</button>>

<<if $begin_story is "true">> <h1><<print $your_name>> <<print $your_lastname>></h1> You are a young ?person, who, despite the odds, has survived a traumatic childhood, but you are not without scars. Something from back then haunts you, clinging like saran wrap to your very shadow; it is only a matter of time before it takes root in your soul and blooms like a noxious flower. You do not know what the future holds for you. But you know that you will fight to the bitter end, no matter what happens. ''Birth Season'': <<print $birth_season>> ''Curse'': <<if $cursed_moon is "true">>Something is wrong with you... <<elseif $cursed_moon is "discovered">>Lunarion Fever: The Moon has deemed you to be an interloper. It would be in your best interest to get this curse removed. Before it eats you alive.<<else>>Not yet discovered...<</if>> ''Gift'': <<if $first_episode is "true" and $rawheadandbloodybones is "true">>The All Seeing Eye: You are able to see mysteries. <<elseif $first_episode is "true" and $waterlogged is "true">> <<elseif $first_episode is "true" and $drfaulicer is "true">>Friendship Never Dies: <<else>>Not yet discovered...<</if>> You find yourself being <<if $sarcastic gte 30>>more <span style="color:purple">Sarcastic</span> than <span style="color:blue">Geniune</span> or <span style="color:red">Rude</span>.<<elseif $genuine gte 30>>more <span style="color:blue">Genuine</span> than <span style="color:purple">Sarcastic</span>or <span style="color:red">Rude</span>.<<elseif $sarcastic lte 29>>neither <span style="color:purple">Sarcastic</span>, <span style="color:red">Rude</span> or <span style="color:blue">Genuine</span>. You're just here.<<elseif ($rude gte 35) or ($brash gte 35)>>more <span style="color:red">Rude</span>than <span style="color:purple">Sarcastic</span> or <span style="color:blue">Geniune</span>. <</if>> You find yourself working better <<if $teamplayer gte 30>> in a <span style="color:green">Team</span than <span style="color:yellow">Solo</span>.<<elseif $teamplayer lte 29>> <span style="color:yellow">Solo</span> than in a <span style="color:green">Team</span>.<</if>> <<else>>> You are unknown, even to yourself. <</if>> <hr> <<set $sanity to 100>> <span class="sanity"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">sanity $sanity%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="sanity-stat"></div></div></div></span> Sanity: This bar measures how well you're keeping it together. The lower the stat, the more of a danger you are to yourself, and others. When in high stress situations, a low Sanity score can be your undoing. <span class="humanity"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">humanity $humanity%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="humanity-stat"></div></div></div></span> Humanity: Shows how much you care for your fellow man. A low humanity score doesn't make you a bad person necessairly. Just means that you're probably not the one to stand next to in an apocalypse. <<set $anxiety to 0>> <span class="anxiety"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">anxiety $anxiety%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="anxiety-stat"></div></div></div></span> Anxiety: What your stress level looks like. Similar to your Sanity, the higher your Anxiety, the more likely you are to fail skill checks. If you're in a dangerous situation and your anxiety level is high, there's a very high possibility you won't make it out of there alive. <<back "Return">>

<span class="Charisma"> <div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">Charisma $charisma%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="charisma-stat"></div></div></div></span> <span class="Stealth"> <div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">Stealth $stealth%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="stealth-stat"></div></div></div></span> <span class="Endurance"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">Endurance $endurance%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="endurance-stat"></div></div></div></span> <span class="intelligence"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">intelligence $intelligence%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="intelligence-stat"></div></div></div></span> <span class="perception"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">perception $perception%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="perception-stat"></div></div></div></span> <span class="occult"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">occult $occult%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="occult-stat"></div></div></div></span> <span class="luck"><div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">luck $luck%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="luck-stat"></div></div></div></span> <<back "Return">>

The moon was full on this cloudy night—an omen, just as inauspicious as the omniscient blood-red sky that hosted its eerie heavenly body. Multiple fires were raging throughout the small town. People scattered like ants; some tried to stop the vicious flames. How foolish were they? Those flames were hellfire and once ignited would never cease to burn. Others attempted to escape from the hellish fire, but their efforts did not get them far. The smoke was so thick that those who attempted to flee were stricken with it's venomous fumes. They gasped and wheezed for breath, clutching their throats while they stumbled like young doe. If only they knew that once they inhaled the smoke, their lungs would catch aflame and burn from the inside out. Perhaps they would have walked back into the flames, for death would be quicker there than the slow burn that awaited them. What great sin could this little town commit for such atrocities to occur? The desire to stop the burn was great; however, tragedies would never arise if wishes were easily cast. Behind the town were vast bushlands; tall pine, sycamore, and oak trees shielded the inside. The woods were the only place that the fire would not touch. Flames skirted around the edges of the trees, hissing and licking at the border; they turned back into the town only to continue to lay siege to the living occupants. Despite the forest’s protection from the flames, it could not stop the massacre that occured in its bushlands. Beyond the trees laid a gruesome scene. Blood filled the forest floor, trails and globs staining the once vibrant flora, causing the green plants to turn red with the thick ichor. Bodies, not all intact, were spread out throughout the grasslands. Limbs and organs painted the forest floor. A macabre mosaic caused the once serene town to turn into a nightmare. The visage was that of a great massacre; nothing was left alive, not even the forest critters that made their home in the dense shrubs. Their bodies were found mingled amoungst their human counterparts. There were no apparent signs of battle or even a struggle. It was as if something had just swept through the forest and laid siege to any living being it could find. A lone figure walked through the carnage, her feet bare as she stepped over dismembered limbs and disemboweled figures. She clutched her cloak, bringing it tighter around her body. Flies gathered around the dead, feasting on their flesh as if they attended a grand buffet. The great buzzing sounded like constant radio static, calling for help that would never come. She bought her billowy long-sleeve to cover her nose. The light fabric does little to stop the smell of carrion. She gags at the rotten scent that seemed to penetrate her pores. The sight of dead humans always left a bad taste in her mouth. One that stayed there like tar. “…Tsk.” She clicked her tongue. Her voice was barely heard over the babbling of the nearby creek. A large river intercedes her path. The once pure water was corrupted red with blood; if one were to dip their foot in the babbling waves, surely, it would come back dripping with the thick red liquid. <div class="choice">[[Hmm....]]</div>

Mentions of Suicide Gore Explicit Violence Major Character Death Cannibalism Mutilation Explicit Sexual Content Swearing Mentions of demonic entities Gaslighting Mentions of Domestic Abuse (following ''It Still Burns'' plotline) Will add more as they come up <<back "Intro">>

On the other side of the creek lay her destination—the cathedral of dreams. Although it could hardly be called that anymore. It was crumbling, lain strewn, and abandoned at the edge of the forest line. Smoke drifted up from its desecrated shell, a different type of fire burning within its forgotten walls. Moss had begun to crawl atop the broken stone; it was known that nature would soon claim that which was taken from it. However, the woman could not help but wonder if this was a sign. She turned her attention back to the river before her and scanned the waters carefully. Several stepping stones protruded out of the rushing waves, and the older woman frowned. Ichor clung to the smooth surface like slime. The older woman hopped from rock to stone, crossing the large gap carefully. The woman arrived on the other side, continuing her journey. She tried hard to ignore the wet squelch of her feet. The grass on this side grew tall. It reached the older woman's waist, the long blades of grass cutting the woman's feet and legs. The once clear path was overgrown with foliage. She bowed her head to enter the building and was met with the sight of more bodies. Some were positioned towards her, looking as if they were attempting to crawl away from whatever madness had occurred here. She stepped carefully, avoiding shattered glass and crumbling floor tiles. The walls had faded mosaics painted on every empty surface. Images depicting the events of the //Last Supper// and other religious motifs stared at the woman as she padded through their empty halls. In the middle of its once great hall, she found two figures. A woman, tall and voluptuous, draped in red, stood in the center of the great hall. Overturned pews stained with blood surrounded her, the desecrated statue of a once-famous effigy laid at her feet. Its once bronze skin was stained with blood. Its expression was accusatory, criticizing the woman for her compliant attitude towards its corruption. As the older woman got closer, her eyes narrowed into slits. The other woman appeared to be young, no older than 25, her appearance a far cry from the woman before her. She was a great beauty, the kind that could end dynasties and cause wars with just one sigh. The kind that would make men and women sell their souls if only to gain a smile from her. The young woman's back was turned, facing the fallen statue. She was singing, her voice elegiac and sweet as her hands moved in some form of archaic ritual. Her arms outstretched wide as if she were reaching for something far beyond her grasp. Slumped against the fallen statue was a mutilated figure, their face caved in by what looked like blunt hacks. Their back was against the once bronzed statue, their head in their chest with their palms turned upwards in their lap. <div class="choice">[[Is it fate or chance?]]</div>

“I see you’ve arrived before me.” The older woman's voice was soft, like a songbird, betraying no emotion as she schooled an apathetic look onto her face. The singing woman stopped, her hands dropping to her sides, as the last note of hers cascaded into the night sky. She turned to stare at her new guest. White hair fell into her face as she placed her hand upon her cheek, “It seems that I was just a tad quicker than you.” “Yes, it appears that you are always quicker than me.” An accusation laid bare within the older woman’s sentence. Her tone had been soft, motherly almost. However, her eyes betrayed her. The look of doubt and hate was not lost on the young woman. The woman in red snorted with amusement; she raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk crawling on her face. Her golden eyes grew bright, and those sleepy orbs grew vulpine in appearance. Like a predator sizing its prey, “Is there something you would like to say?” The night air was muggy and wamr due to the fire currently blazing on the other side of the plains. However, there was such a cold chill in the great hall that hair stood on end. There was no mistake that the drop in temperature came from the younger woman's gaze. A heavy pressure encompassed the older woman's body. It strained against her back, urging her to bend the knee before the young woman. The older woman planted her feet into the cobbled floor; she would not be bullied by this—abomination! The woman in red appeared to be a fresh-faced youth, but that visage was only what she allowed people to see. Underneath was a devious and coquettish creature, using the appearance before them to tempt and manipulate all those who encountered her. The air around them dense still—an even stifling pressure settled down on the older woman's body. The young woman had yet to say anything, that aggravating smirk still on her face. The older woman gritted her teeth, trying to keep herself standing, as she strained against the invisible force. Sweat rolled down the woman's forehead, her hands turning white as she let out a groan. Another wave of pressure flared out, and she finally caved. She fell to her knees, her forehead kissing the dirty tile that was once such a pretty alabaster. She dared not to look up, instead adddressing the woman's feet, silver bangles adorning her ankles. “I meant no disrespect—” <div class="choice">[[Did you now?]]</div>

“I know what you meant, Astrid.” The woman in red stopped her. Her eyes held palpable disdain as she gazed at the wrinkled form from the tip of her nose. “I would remind you that as long as we have this partnership, there is no reason for me to get into the way of your plans. For me, there are bigger concerns than your ilk. Rise.” “Yes, my lady. I apologize for my tone.” Astrid struggled to stand. The former's pressure lingered in the air still. She doubted if it would ever truly recede. Astrid paused, assessing the cathedral and its damage. The damage didn’t look like the young woman had caused it; it wasn’t her style. So, what possibly could have caused it? The older woman thought back to the bodies, her gaze once more assessing the young woman. She pursued her lips in thought. After a while, she merely sighed, and shook her head. Eyes fell to the slumped figure. Past the gore, and mutilation she could make out the form of a <<cycle "$gender">> <<option "young woman">> <<option "young man">> <<option "young person">> <</cycle>>. Another lost soul? No, more than a lost soul. Her eyes narrowed, “Is that…?” “It is.” The woman in red answered; she lifted her hand, rings adorning the slim fingers, and waved her sharp claws painted in gold to the slain figure. “They were like this when I arrived.” “I see…” Astrid’s face grew troubled as she let out a deep sigh. It would seem that her plans were foiled once more and that she would have to start over. Her blood boiled with the thought of groveling to the young woman, but she indeed was between a rock and a hard place. “I hate to ask you of this again—” “No, you don’t.” The young woman said matter of factly. She shifted her weight, the bangles on her ankles twinkling with her movement. “If you did, you would stop asking me. But I don’t mind. No, as long as you still possess some use.” Astrid rolled her lips, “Then you will do it?” “Yes. However,” The woman in red lifted one finger, the golden claw glistening in the moonlight. Her eyes grazed over Astrid’s form meticulously. “This is the last time. The others are starting to notice that something is wrong, that the ripples of fate and time are becoming skewered and distorted. If I were to do it again after this, I am sure that they will catch on, then you won’t be needing me anymore, would you?” The woman sent her a sharp smile, needle-like canines glittering. “You are correct, my lady.” Astrid bowed her head demurely, again holding her tongue. “Hmm, very good." The younger woman purred. "Then how far back would you like me to go?” Astrid paused, thinking for a while. Her eyes closed in deep concentration. Her eyes opened, a spark of finally spoke determination in her eyes. “To the beginning.” “Hmmm." The woman pursed her lips, arms finding their way around her body. //This could be very interesting...// The woman's mind swam with possibilities, all of which had different endings, each one far less predictable, and stable than the last. What a fickle thing fate was. Smiling curtly, she bowed. “Very well.” <div class="choice"><<link [[Shall we begin?]]>><<set $gender to " ">><</link>></div>

The young woman turned on her heels. In dramatic flair, she lifted both her arms slowly. Her hands snapped out in front of her as if she were stopping herself from falling forward. She parted her lips, and a melodic tone flowed from her lips. This time, Astrid refrained from interruption. The woman's voice weaved through the air, the very sky around the two changing from cloudy red to various shades of purple and pink before finally settling to a clear blue. If they were to look up. They would see that the cracked and damaged roof had pieced itself back together. Overgrown foliage that had trampled over the once-beaten path receded like creeping spiders. Fallen statues of faith were restored to their former glory, shining as if they were just newly polished. The once tainted creek cleared, returning to its pristine waters. Their surroundings changed with the woman’s singing; the bodies that once littered the halls of the cathedral slowly faded into nothing. The cathedral's foundation reshaped itself, the crumbling walls and floors fixing itself as if it were never broken at all. At the crescendo of the young woman's song, the mutilated body, which had been the only one left, slowly started to revert to its original state. Disjointed fingers reconnected themselves. The figure's features and injuries reversed to show a tired face of youth, dark circles deep below their eyes. Had the older woman looked closer, she would have seen tears roll slowly on the individual's face before they too disappeared. The young woman sang two more lines, and the cathedral came alive once more. Monks and friars filled the once desolate halls; candles of various sizes and shapes lining the brick walls, placed in nooks and open crannies. They rushed around the two figures, seemingly not noticing their presence, as they prepared for their daily rites. Finally, finished with her song, the woman’s arms fell to her sides. “It is done.” She stared at the figure brandished before her on a cross, a pensive look on her face. Finally, she turned back to Astrid. “You would do well to keep a better eye on your charge. As I have said, this is the last time. There will be no chances afterward. Regardless of this, ‘partnership.’” The young woman's voice was chilly and held no room for debate as she turned on her heel. The sun shone on the young woman's off-white hair as she shimmered in and out of existence before her form shrunk. In her place was an all-white fox, small and unassuming as it trotted out of the cathedral, ignoring the cooing of the briars. Astrid waited for a moment, staring at the spot where the woman once was. Believing her truly gone, Astrid let her expression shift. A sneer grew on her face as she bawled her hands into fists. “Moon whore.” She growled out. Astrid felt like screaming, tearing at her hair, destroying cities, but no. That would lead to nothing, nor would it help the current situation. It seemed that she would need to adapt to the changing circumstances if her previous plans did not work. She needed information; she needed better eyes. And above all else, she needed to adapt quickly. She turned her attention to the monks, a ponderous look on her face. Adapting... Her eyes grew large, and a smile spread across her lips. She would adapt, and she had a clear idea of how this time. She waved her hand through the air, and as if released from a spell, the monks finally took notice of Astrid's form. They stopped what they were doing, some gasping and proclaiming blasphemy. Others fell to their knees immediately, prostrating themselves before her might. The head monk bought himself before her. His head bowed as low as possible as if he feared angering the creature before him, “What are you?” Astrid gave the boy a motherly smile, “Tell me, young man. What do you know of gods?” Please pick your preferred pronouns before you proceed. <<link 'Configure your gender and pronouns.'>> <<pronouns>> <</link>> <div class="choice"><<link [[The Nightmare begins]]>><<set $begin_story to "true">><</link>></div>

When you opened your eyes, you found yourself to be unbearably cold. And uncomfortable. A lone stream of light glimmered through barred windows, carved high atop stone bricks. The window was too far up for you to peer outside, but the gleam of moonlight offered some form of comfort in your dazed state. You wanted to wrap your arms around yourself, to rub warmth into your chilled flesh, but you found your wrists securely bound by chains, which were conveniently cuffed to a stone table. Panic began to bubble in your chest the longer you stared at those rusted iron cuffs; you licked your lips, finding them to be surprisingly dry, and cracked. Where the hell were you? You tried to think back to what you were doing just moments before but found your mind drawing blanks. You seem not to even remember what you were doing at the beginning of the day. You looked around the room, a frown growing on your face as long as the thick iron bars that boxed you inside of your cell. Long yellow candles were scattered across the cell floor, burning long flames that licked at the air. There were so many of them, almost like a sea of flames. You stared at the candles with wax pooling like small lakes on the ground. The longer you stared, the more uneasy you felt. Why wasn't there any warmth? //By the gods, am I in jail?// You attempted to rack your brain for an answer, but again, came up with nothing. //Even if I did get arrested, I doubt I would be in prison, so… crusty.// And if that is to be accurate, and you aren't in county jail, then… You gulp, trying not to think of the alternative, as you look around more. A single cot lay in the left side of the room, a stack of hay sitting on it's thin and stiff mattresses. It looked more like a rat's nest, but who were you to judge? Especially considering that you didn't even know where you were. Your attempt at self-reassurance seemed only to make you more nervous. “Ahhh, and here you are," The voice was guttural and deep. Sounding as if they had a mouth full of rocks. Your eyes adjusted slowly, burning from the dust that filled the air as it shuffled closer to the bars. You could see an outline of… something standing outside of your cell door, close enough so that you could hear them, but far enough that even the moon could not touch it's wretched shape. From what you could see, the figure was tall, verging on the borderline of lanky. It's back hunched over like a bow as if a considerable weight burdened them. “I did not expect to see you so soon. Like a moth to a flame, you cannot stay away from ruin." The sound of chains jingled once more. “Tell me, what was your name again?" ''Please input First Name<<textbox "$your_name" "First Name">>and last name<<textbox "$your_lastname" "Last Name">>'' <div class="choice"><<link [[Where am I?]]>><<set $humanity to Math.clamp($humanity += 2, 0, 100)>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Let me go!]]>><<set $sarcastic to Math.clamp($sarcastic += 2, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

“Ah, yeeesss. <<print $your_name>> <<print $your_lastname>>." The figure strecthes out the syallbes testing them on its tongue. It lets out a brief snort, and in languid tone it states, “I had forgotten how wretched the name feels leaving my mouth." “You know I'm not one to kink shame, but uh," Gesture to your wrists, "handcuffs aren't really my thing. Now, blindfolds are the way to go! Who doesn't love a good sensory play, am I ri-" The figure let out a choked laugh, “And is that your biggest concern? Pleasure and comfort? You truly have not changed from so long ago." “Well, you know me, clearly," You roll your eyes. “I like to keep things status quo." “Even the chaos and ruin you cause?" The voice utters coyly. As if it knew something that you didn't. You always did hate shit like that, when someone acted like they knew or had an ace on you. You raise an eyebrow, and lean sideways on the stone stool, eyes leering into the dark, "And what ruin would that be? I've fogotten amoungst all my rebel rousing, and town destroying." “Oh, you are still playing that game, are you? I can remind you if you'd like a refresher?" No need, you know exactly what the figure is talking about. <div class="choice">[[Call me Sylvester Stallone|Wraith]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Now you See me...|Greed]]</div> <div class="choice">[[It still burns|Lust]]</div>

“Ah, yeeesss. <<print $your_name>> <<print $your_lastname>>." The figure strecthes out the syllables' testing them on its tongue. It let's out a brief snort, and in languid tone it states, "I had forgotten how wretched the name feels leaving my mouth." “Where am I?" You can barely hide the slight panic that is seeping from your tone. You pray that whoever, or whatever this person is that they aren't able to hear your fear. Of course, the gods never listen to you. “Don’t you remember me?" The figure laces hurt into their voice, sounding as if they truly cared. “Why, I'm hurt! And to think that all the time we have spent with each other. Did I mean so little to you, for you to have forgotten me so easily?" <div class="choice">[[“I'm sorry?”]]</div> <div class="choice">[[“How can I remember someone I've never met?”][$sarcastic to Math.clamp($sarcastic +5, 0, 100)]]</div>

You used to get into many fights when you were younger. Your therapist said it was your way of proving your worth; you say it's because people didn't know how to leave you alone. Never the one to back down from a fight, you grew a reputation for being a hot head and a delinquent. Teens, and children alike feared you, when your name was brought up an unnatural hush could fall over an entire classroom... Or maybe you're just being dramatic? Truthfully, people respected you, and feared you, often saying that you ran your small neighborhood. But you didn't care about that. The only thing you cared about was how terrible your reputation was. You hoped that the worst it became, the less likely people were to fuck with you. In reality, all it did was make more hostile kids, and even adults, approach you with the idea of becoming head honcho. The issue is; you never wanted to be the head of anything. One fight went bad, extremely bad. Some punk named Courtney had tried jumping you with a couple of their friends. But you didn't get your title as ''One Hit Stitch'' for nothing. You had fought them all on your own, beating them back, until Courtney had pulled a knife. You don't remember what happened, but one moment you two were scuffling, and then in the next Courtney was bleeding out from their neck, with the blade sticking cleanout. You would have gone to jail had there not been multiple witnesses to advocate for you. You turned your life around after this, went to anger management class, and everything; however, you still can't help but wonder what kind of person Courtney would have become. Is this your regret? <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->Pathetic]]>><<set $charisma -=8, $endurance +=15, $occult +=5, $perception +=10, $anxiety +=16, $stealth +=4, $sanity -=16, $regret to "Wraith">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[“I'm sorry?”]]>></div>

You were a thief. A petty one, but still one that was beginning to make a name for ?themself in the streets. By the age of 16, you had found yourself to have Your partner in crime was another youth named Courtney. You two were insereapble and found the thrill of theft to be your sole connection. You don't know when it happened, perhaps, you had been too self absorbed with yourself to see it. But your friend Courtney no longer found the small time pickpocketing, and minor snack thefts to be fun. They needed more stimulation. It started off small, you two began breaking into cars taking whatever valueables that you could find. Then it progressed into robbing homes when the owners weren't there. It wasn't long before you were pulling off more dangerous heists, doing armed stick-ups, which mostly revolved around you two using Courtney's fathers sawed off shotgun to steal from the thick-headed, and easily guillable. For if they had just snatched the gun from you two, they would have seen that it wasn't loaded. Their desire for chaos grew, and grew until one day they wanted to try and rob the liqour store. You were <<cycle "$emotion">> <<option "conflicted">> <<option "down for it">> <<option "not interested">> <<option "absolutly disgusted">> <</cycle>> but your friend was admant that this was going to be the heist of a lifetime. Too bad they were right. You and Courtney went to Dirt Cheep's, a liqour store that was known for being robbed almost every week. It should have been easy, get in, get out. But the owner was tired of being robbed by wannabe street punks like you and Courtney. It's really too bad you didn't know that the owner believed in the 3rd amendment; too bad Courtney believed in it too. When Courtney saw the owner lift up his revolver, they shot the man in cold blood. You hadn't even known Courtney had bullets on them, maybe if you did, you wouldn't have gone with them that day. But it didn't matter, the deed was done and they had threatened to kill you if you told anyone about what had transpired. You had stayed quiet for about four days, before you couldn't hold it anymore. You told your aunts, and they in turn, told you to go to the police. At that point, you were far too scared to disagree. You ratted Courtney out, and were let off due to your testimony. However, before they went to jail, they promised that they would kill you too. After this incident, you became the poster child for refinement and change. You became a straight-A student, got into a good college, and are now finishing your first semester of grad school. However, you are still plagued by what happened all those year ago. Is this your regret? <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->Pathetic]]>><<set $charisma +=5, $endurance +=5, $stealth +=14, $perception +=10, $anxiety +=16, $sanity -=10, $regret to "Greed">><</link>> </div> <div class="choice"><<return [[“I'm sorry?”]]>></div>

Courtney Morena was your <<listbox "$Courtney_Lustgender">> <<option 'ex-boyfriend'>> <<option 'ex-girlfriend'>> <<option 'ex-partner'>> <</listbox>> and your first ''serious'' relationship. You two had gotten together during your 3rd year of high school, and while it was wonderful in the beginning, it soon fizzled out slow like a candle. <div class="choice"> [[Continue|Courtney tunes]]</div>

“Shut up." You whispered hoarsely. You felt stinging in your eyes and knew that your body would betray you soon enough. A feeling of shame washed over you, your face heating up as the figure began to laugh. Such an ugly sound that noise was, coming from the figures gut, as if loosing the love of your life was so funny. “Shut up!" You strained against the handcuffs to lunge at them, wishing that you could wrap your hands around the throat of the figure if only to make them shut up. The metal begins to slice into your wrists as you try standing up. You ignore the throbbing pain, your mind only focused on your anger. Your shame. <div class="choice">[[Those pretty chains]]</div>

You roll your eyes, trying to ignore the way that your chest tightened. If you closed your eyes, you swear you could hear snickers, and laughter. "Would you kindly stuff a dick in your mouth?" "Hmm, sure. Why don't I just find Courtney? I'm sure $heshe would be willing to help." Another sharp pang hit you directly in your heart. You feel your eyes burn and you shifted on the stone. You refuse to cry, not for a person that had abandoned you so long ago. You're about to retort, and give them the blues, but the metal from the cuffs began to cut into your wrists with every movement. You let out a hiss. <div class="choice">[[Those pretty chains]]</div>

Despite the craziness that is your ex, you know whoever this person was, they weren't Courtney, but it made you feel a bit better thinking that this was just your crazy ex than a possible Satanic cult getting ready to sacrifice you. The figure let out another laugh; it moved forward, the distinct sounds of chains clinking, as you saw withered and grey fingers slowly grip the bars. Long and spindly, with almost talon-like nails, they stroked the bars lovingly. "Would that make you feel better? If you could go back to those times when you were poorly oblivious? Oh, the way you trusted $himher was so sweet and innocent. And then, $heshe broke you, tore you asunder from head to toe, slept with friends to relatives, from coworkers to classmates… The way that everyone laughed behind your back and ridiculed you still haunts you, doesn't it? Oh, you poor thing…." <div class="choice">[[Make it shut up][$brash to Math.clamp($brash +5, 0, 100)]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Ask it to shut up][$sarcastic to Math.clamp($sarcastic +5, 0, 100)]]</div>

“You think that because you were not charged that you are innocent." The figure groaned. “Wrong. You are just as guilty as Courtney, you enabled them. You egged them on. You were their catalyst" <div class="choice"><<link [[Make Excuses]]>><<set $humanity to Math.clamp($humsnity -= 6, 0, 100)>><</link>>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Own it]]>><<set $humanity to Math.clamp($humanity -= 7, 0, 100)>><</link>>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Contempt]]>><<set $humanity to Math.clamp($humanity -= 7, 0, 100)>><</link>>></div>

“Typically, I try not to remember psychopaths that keep me locked up in a cell." You muse dryly. “What is that old saying? //'Pot calling the kettle black?'//"The figure chuckled, its laugh loud and obnioxous. “Do you truly have room to talk? Have you forgetten what you've done? What ruin you've caused?" You freeze, and memories start to flood your brain, despite your desire to stuff them back to where they came from. <div class="choice">[[Call me Sylvester Stallone|Wraith2]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Now you See me...|Greed2]]</div> <div class="choice">[[It still burns|Lust2]]</div>

“I’m sure I’ve never met you. I’d like to think I'd remember people who have such,” You look around your cell. “uniques tastes in hospitality.” You say dryly The creature laughs, you doubt that it's really amused, but you'll take your props where you can get them. “Using sarcasm once again? You have yet to change <<print $your_name>>. You would think that you had enough of destruction and chaos." You jut your chin out, “And what destruction have I caused? Please do remind me. I get so frazzled trying to remember what large city I've destroyed now." “Have you truly forgotten what you have done?" The figure pauses. You can hear it's heavy breathing. The sound feeling as if it could reach out and grasp you by your neck hairs. “No. You are not that dumb." //You would be surprised.// But truthfully, you knew what the figure spoke of. Despite trying so hard to play it off. What is your biggest regret? <div class="choice">[[Call me Sylvester Stallone|Wraith]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Now you See me...|Greed]]</div> <div class="choice">[[It still burns|Lust]]</div>

<<if $Tama_disappeared is "true">>You've lost someone important. Will you be able to find them?<<elseif $Yue_appears is "true">>[[Yue Tu]]: You've found your friend. But he's different. ''VERY'' different. He's no longer that sweet or caring person you used to know. Instead violent, and crass, and seems to not care one lick about your well-being. His appearance has also changed. No longer human, he appears to be other-worldly. His hair is waist-length, and his eyes are as dark as space, and as emotionless as a shark.<<else>>Tama Shirosaki: 22 years old and of Afro-Asian descent. 190 cm with a lean build. He has coily white hair, that is shockingly natural, and obisidian eyes. One of your closet friends, Tama is probably one of the only people that you can confidently say, is on your side. He's easy to get along with as long as you don't piss him off.<</if>> <<if $Agender is 'female'>>[[Alexandria Adakai]]: 24 years old and of indigenous descent. Alexandria is 190 cm with a swimmers body. Very much so a realist, Alex seems to be a pretty simple person, from what you’ve seen. She know what she likes and what she doesn’t like and has no problem letting you know it. Passionate, warm, and supportative, you have the distinct impression that Alex would follow any of her friends into hell and back if they needed her. Whether that is good or not is the question. <<elseif $Agender is 'male'>>[[Alexander Adakai]]: 24 years old and of indigenous descent. Alexander is 194 cm with a swimmers body. Very much so a realist, Alex seems to be a pretty simple person, from what you’ve seen. He know what he likes and what he doesn’t like and has no problem letting you know it. Passionate, warm, and supportative, you have the distinct impression that Alex would follow any of his friends into hell and back if they needed him. Whether that is good or not is the question. <</if>> <<if $met_Khalid is "true">>Khalid ibn-al Bakir: 23 years old and of Jordanian descent. Khalid is about 190 cms, but will argue you down that he's 194 cms. He's built more stocky, with ear piercings and a tattoo on his left heel that hides an ugly scar. Alex's self-proclaimed best friend, he and Alex are joined at the hip; their dynamic reminds you a lot of your own relationship with Tama. As long as Alex thinks you're cool, then Khalid will find no problem. However, if you cross Alex, your may as well have crossed Khalid. <<else>><</if>> <<if $met_Jin is "true">>Jin Yeong: 21 years old and of Chinese/Korean descent. A wild card if you've ever seen one. Jin has to be the most abbrasive individual you've ever met. Extremely good-looking, he comes off as someone who has made his entire living off of fighting. He also gives you the impression that he is nonchalant and easy going, however underneath that is a man who is in equal measures calculative and manipulative. When talking to him, you can’t help but feel that everything he says has a double meaning. And that you REALLY can't trust him.<<elseif $Jin_approval gte 25>>A young man who is both misunderstand and mistreated. Raised by the streets, Jin has never known comfort, or even love. However, he tries to be a better man than any of the male figures in his life. But a certain fox seems to have gained his attention, and love.<</if>> <<if $F_gender is "male">>[[Nasir Faizan]]: A young man that seems to have a chip on his shoulder. There is something different about him, that you cannot place it. It makes your skin, and not in the good way. But you doubt that really matters. You get the impression that there is little in life that he cares about. Including your opinion. <<elseif $F_gender is "female">>[[Zahra Faizan]]: A young woman that seems to have a chip on her shoulder. There is something different about her, that you cannot place it. It makes your skin, and not in the good way. But you doubt that really matters. You get the impression that there is little in life that she cares about. Including your opinion. <</if>> <<back "Return">>

Your lips purse tightly like two clams shutting, you feel your heart begin to quicken, and your mind races with what to say next. You want to find some form of excuse and justification for your actions. But you can't. Everything that you wish to say only sounds worse in your head. So, you can only imagine what they'd sound like if spoken aloud. Your head drops. “Isn't it a bit too late to try and act remorseful?" The figure questions. “What do you want, hmm? A kiss on your cheek? A loving embrace? You continue to pitch yourself as pitiful, but you are not! You are just as evil as those that you claim bring calamity." You shake, your wrists shaking as the cuffs tighten against your skin. Cutting into the flesh as if you were merely a deli ham. <div class="choice">[[Those pretty chains]]</div>

“You have no right to judge me." Your voice is low, but pitches at the final syllable. You're trembling in your seat, eyes set with rage. "Do you think you’re perfect, huh? Do you think you're god!?” You rattle out. There's a lot of things that you'll let pass. But being judged by someone playing at vigilante is not one of them. The figure is silent for a moment. You can see its bony shoulders moving up and down. It is only until you hear a croaking noise that you realize that the figure is laughing at you. And is making no attempt to stop. “Hey!" You yell, but it only makes the creature laugh harder. You feel your face heat with shame, and you desperately reach out to wrap your hands around what you imagine is a bony neck. However, the metal cuffs soon begin to slice into your wrists like deli ham going through a slicer. <div class="choice">[[Those pretty chains]]</div>

“I don't see how that's any of your business." You droll. Your fingers tap against the stone table in a rhythmless show of dexterity. "You wanna judge me? Look at yourself first. You've taken an innocent person and locked them in a fucking cage. Do you really have any room to act as if you're the judge, jury and the executioner?” “Innocent?" The voice lets out an amused chuckle. “You're no blushing, wide eyed youth //putridum sanguine//." “Fuck you." The sound of chains jangled, signifying the movement of the figure. “Oh? You still have the nerve to be arrogant? You truly have yet to learn." You snorted at the figure and went to wave them off. However, the metal of the cuffs began to cut into your skin. You hiss and stare at the cuffs with gross fear. <div class="choice">[[Those pretty chains]]</div>

“Tsk tsk tsk. I wouldn't do that if I were you. The more you move, the tighter the cuffs will get until they sever your hands from your wrist. A devilish contraption, it is. Nothing but the best for our most putrid liar." “Fuck. You." You ground out. Tears brim up at your waterline as you try to stay still, the rising stress of the situation was getting to you, however. The cuffs continued to get tighter, the harsh metal feeling like a tanto knife. The figure cackled. You hear it's chains jangle as they're hands slammed onto the iron bars that seperated them from you. “Do you feel helpless? Lost? Do you wish someone would save you? Does it bring you back to the time when you were a child?” //Choose your Background.// <div class="choice">[[You shouldn't have seen that...]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Waterlogged fellows]]</div> <div class="choice">[[You've got friends on the other side]]</div>

You were a mischievous child growing up. Probably more mischievous than you should have been. You loved playing tricks on your siblings, and had no problem lying to get out of trouble. It had gotten so bad, that your siblings would hide when they saw you coming. Despite your bad behaviour, you were still the apple of your parents eye. Your grandmother, bless her soul, saw right through you. She had warned you of Raw Head and Bloody Bones, the ghoul that came and punished naughty children, would come and take you away. You paid no heed to her warning, believing it to be nothing but a mere folktale. In hindsight, you wish you had listened to her. But, you were a child who believed that you knew better than everyone. A week later, your grandmother's warning became a reality. Raw Head and Bloody Bones came for you. Rattling and shaking in it's old bones, he searched through the house for you. Instead what he found was your family. As you looked on from your old staircase cupboard, you watched as he went through them as if they were soggy paper in water. No one was safe, not even your baby sister as he skinned her alive and sucked the marrow from her bones. You hid in fear, what else could you do? You feared that he would find you. And unfortunately, he did. He stared at you from the key hole, blood-stained eye wide and chilling and he screeched, "You saw me, you saw me!" You grew up terrified and traumatized that he would come back for you. But above all else, you were scared that your family's ghosts would never forgive you. For your actions are the reason why the ghoul was able to find you. Is this your background? <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->What could you want?]]>><<set $stealth +=9, $perception +=10, $luck +=6, $occult +=10, $rawheadandbloodybones to true>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[Those pretty chains]]>></div>

<<if $drfaulicer is true>> “Ah, yes, now that’s a beautiful look.” The figure purred. The sound of chains jingled once again. “Does it hurt knowing that you left your friend alone? You left her to suffer and die at the hands of that man, and what did you do? You just sat there, willfully ignorant, as she suffered atrocity after atrocity. You may as well have killed her!" Your eyes water and you shake. “That's not true! How was I supposed to know, I was only 8!"<<else>> “Ah, yes, now that's a beautiful look!" The figures purred. The sound of chains jingled once again. "The despair, the shame that accompanies knowing that you are the one that should have died that night!" “I was just a kid!"<</if>> The figure lets out a bitter laugh. “Is that an excuse? You were warned, multiple times, but you refused to listen! Now look where you are. Cursed, thrown away, a stain will always remain on your soul. You will never be able to wash it off!" You feel violated as the figure recites your past to you. It's so methodological as if they were reading from a book. You wish you could wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself some form of comfort. Unfortunately, the only comfort to be found was the chill of the room. “What do you want?" You ask tiredly. “For you to be honest with yourself. For you to end a cycle that is so enduringly tiring. Do you think you are the only one exhausted? No, we are all enervated by your constant mistrials! Why does she continue to give YOU chances when so many have failed before you!" The figure slammed its hands on the bar, a loud clang filling the darkened room. “I ''want'' for your death, for your entire existence to be eradicated. For your soul to be scattered into the abyss of Nankin's shadow. You are unworthy." it hissed. <div class="choice">[[And I thought I was sick|Judge it]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Who is she?|Question it?]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Where is this?|Locate it]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Why am I Here?|The Nightmare Ends]]</div>

[[Yes|Pathetic]$regret to "Envy"] <<return [[Let me go!]]>>

Every summer, you and your family would go down to the old lake house that your grandmother owned near Lake Lanier. It was a family tradition, where scary stories were told at the crackling fireside and s'mores roasted in a warm oven. But what you enjoyed most was swimming in the lake. Despite your parent's hesitation. One day you and your cousins had went down to the lake, you weren’t supposed to go unless an adult was with you. But you were kids and listening wasn't a part of your algorithm. You and five of your cousins had waded out into the middle of the lake, ignoring your elder cousin's yelling, with bright pink floaties and blue noodles. You all had horsed around for a while, being obnoxious and loud. Until the littlest one, Michael, had gone under. You all thought that he had been joking until he hadn't come back up. Yolanda, scared witless, had tried to swim back to shore. Unfortunately, she didn't make it. Half-way back, she had sunk like a stone, splashing like a fish in a frying pan. Her yells were indiscernible, as she tried to stay afloat. The next to go was Jessica, but she fought hard, splashing, and flailing, screaming as if she were a cat being introduced to water. You and the rest of your cousins had begun to swim for shore, scared shitless of what was happening. Before you knew it, you had felt a waxy hand grab you tightly. You had gone under as well, bubbles of air escaping from your throat when you saw what had grabbed the others. You don't remember how you made it back to shore, but you know that paramedics and police had surrounded you. They didn't find your cousin's bodies until 4 days later. It wasn't until you were older that your parents had told you the state of their bodies. Dark bruises on their legs, contrusions on their necks, and the most distrubing thing of all? Half-consumed bodies. Is this your background? <div class="choice"><<link [[What could you want?->What could you want?]]>><<set $endurance +=5, $charisma +=4, $luck +=10, $occult +=10, $waterlogged to true>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[Those pretty chains]]>></div>

As a child you had trouble making friends, you weren't very outgoing, and were prone to being shy. Until you met Lily. She was an extreme tomboy, she climbed trees, tumbled in grass, and roughhoused just as good as your brothers. She understood you, and you understood her. Or so you thought. Lily often came to your home with bruises, scratches, you name it, and her mother was in no better shape. You were young, so you didn't quite understand what was going on and your parents refused to acknowledge it. You had never understood why she was so skittish, and flinched at the loudest noise. But you did know that she was extremely kind, and loved her daughter more than anything. One day, her mother stopped coming around, Lily had no clue where she had went, and had been sad about it for a while. At that time, she appeared with more bruises and seemed to withdraw into herself. It wasn't long before Lily had disappeared. She was gone for a week, and then she showed up again as if nothing had happened. But she was... Different. She was more temperamental and sad, but she was still Lily. You two played and played, but everytime you were around her you grew more tired. On one of your playdates, you had climbed a tree with her. You thought everything was fine, until you felt your energy being sapped away like a generator. You had fell from the tree like a stone, almost breaking your neck, but thankfully, your elder sister was there to catch you. That night your parents forbade you from seeing Lily again, something that you were very vocal about. Later that night, Lily had come to you. It wasn't too odd, she always snuck over into your room to spend the night. But this night, she felt different. She asked you if you would do her a favor and play hide and seek with her. She led you to the old rose garden that her mother had kept. She asked you if you wanted to dig up the old garden, something you were explicitly told NEVER to do but did because you had been compelled to. You had barely dug two inches until you found her and her mother's body. Her father had woken up in the middle of the night to find you screaming in his backyard. He would have killed you, in fact, you were sure that he had killed you, you remember his fat hands wrapping around your throat. But you had woken up craddled in your crying mother's arms, and the cops surrounding the old victorian house. The cops had gotten his body, he apparently had an heart attack, leaving him free from facing any true justice but with the discovery of Lily's body, she was set free. You had hoped the same would be said for her mother, but it was not to be. She seemed to stay behind, soul filled with anger, unable to move on. It still bothers you that you weren't able to protect her. Maybe you could have told someone, maybe you should have told someone. You can never rest, knowing that you had a part to play in her and her mothers death. <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->What could you want?]]>><<set $charisma +=10, $occult +=10, $stealth +=4, $endurance -=5, $luck +=10, $drfaulicer to true>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[Those pretty chains]]>></div>

You were a pretty smart kid growing up. But when you got to high school you wanted more. you wanted to belong. You gained the attention of resident rebel Courtney, and they turned your life upside down. You now had a social life, you went to parties, dates, and participated in some ''sketchy'' teen activities. Your family hated Courtney and their influence on you. But you didn't see the problem. Yet. It was a particularly rainy week, and Courtney wanted to go for a ride in his uncle's new yellow mustang. Unforunately, you had found out that his uncle didn't own a mustang. Courtney had hotwired the car from the street. The cops, somehow got a hold of your scent, and it was soon a <<return [[“I'm sorry?”]]>>

You used to get into many fights when you were younger. Your therapist said it was your way of proving your worth; you say it's because people didn't know how to leave you alone. Never the one to back down from a fight, you grew a reputation for being a hot head and a delinquent. Teens, and children alike feared you, when your name was brought up an unnatural hush could fall over an entire classroom... Or maybe you're just being dramatic? Truthfully, people respected you, and feared you, often saying that you ran your small neighborhood. But you didn't care about that. The only thing you cared about was how terrible your reputation was. You hoped that the worst it became, the less likely people were to fuck with you. In reality, all it did was make more hostile kids, and even adults, approach you with the idea of becoming head honcho. The issue is; you never wanted to be the head of anything. One fight went bad, extremely bad. Some punk named Courtney had tried jumping you with a couple of their friends. But you didn't get your title as ''One Hit Stitch'' for nothing. You had fought them all on your own, beating them back, until Courtney had pulled a knife. You don't remember what happened, but one moment you two were scuffling, and then in the next Courtney was bleeding out from their neck, with the blade sticking cleanout. You would have gone to jail had there not been multiple witnesses to advocate for you. You turned your life around after this, went to anger management class, and everything; however, you still can't help but wonder what kind of person Courtney would have become. Is this your regret? <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->Pathetic]]>><<set $charisma -=8, $endurance +=15, $occult +=5, $perception +=10, $stealth +=4, $anxiety +=16, $sanity -=16, $regret to "Wraith">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[“I'm sorry?”]]>></div>

You were a thief. A petty one, but still one that was beginning to make a name for ?themself in the streets. By the age of 16, you had found yourself to have Your partner in crime was another youth named Courtney. You two were insereapble and found the thrill of theft to be your sole connection. You don't know when it happened, perhaps, you had been too self absorbed with yourself to see it. But your friend Courtney no longer found the small time pickpocketing, and minor snack thefts to be fun. They needed more stimulation. It started off small, you two began breaking into cars taking whatever valueables that you could find. Then it progressed into robbing homes when the owners weren't there. It wasn't long before you were pulling off more dangerous heists, doing armed stick-ups, which mostly revolved around you two using Courtney's fathers sawed off shotgun to steal from the thick-headed, and easily guillable. For if they had just snatched the gun from you two, they would have seen that it wasn't loaded. Their desire for chaos grew, and grew until one day they wanted to try and rob the liqour store. You were <<cycle "$emotion">> <<option "conflicted">> <<option "down for it">> <<option "not interested">> <<option "absolutly disgusted">> <</cycle>> but your friend was admant that this was going to be the heist of a lifetime. Too bad they were right. You and Courtney went to Dirt Cheep's, a liqour store that was known for being robbed almost every week. It should have been easy, get in, get out. But the owner was tired of being robbed by wannabe street punks like you and Courtney. It's really too bad you didn't know that the owner believed in the 3rd amendment; too bad Courtney believed in it too. When Courtney saw the owner lift up his revolver, they shot the man in cold blood. You hadn't even known Courtney had bullets on them, maybe if you did, you wouldn't have gone with them that day. But it didn't matter, the deed was done and they had threatened to kill you if you told anyone about what had transpired. You had stayed quiet for about four days, before you couldn't hold it anymore. You told your aunts, and they in turn, told you to go to the police. At that point, you were far too scared to disagree. You ratted Courtney out, and were let off due to your testimony. However, before they went to jail, they promised that they would kill you too. After this incident, you became the poster child for refinement and change. You became a straight-A student, got into a good college, and are now finishing your first semester of grad school. However, you are still plagued by what happened all those year ago. Is this your regret? <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->Pathetic]]>><<set $charisma +=5, $endurance +=5, $stealth +=14, $perception +=10, $anxiety +=16, $sanity -=10, $regret to "Greed">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[“I'm sorry?”]]>></div>

The figure ignored your question, pacing back and forth, “There will be no other chances after this one. If you fail, then so be it. Continue to stumble and wander through in your self-made hell, for your fate has already been predetermined. And your destiny sealed." The figure leaned forward, the darkness of the prison warded away by the piercing moonlight, allowed you to finally see its true form. Harrowed and hollowed, with six sunken eyes too big for its skull. Its hair was thin and gray, a large widow’s peak was the only place that had a supple amount of hair, but you were being generous by saying that. and places that were thinning fast. Cuts covered their face. The flesh flayed with blood slowly oozed down as if the wound could never be cauterized, yellow pus oozed out trailing down the pale expanse of their skin. A strong aroma of sulfur wafted to your unguarded nose, and you choked. If you could back away, you would. “What are you?" You whispered. A too-large smile crossed its face, the corners of its lips splitting from ear to ear. Its teeth, gleamed yellow in the darkness, jagged and sharp. “Tell me, little one. What do you know of demons?” <div class="choice"><<link [[Awaken|Ring]]>><<set $anxiety to Math.clamp($anxiety += 20, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

Code to have options disappear after clicking it. @@#options; <<nobr>> <<link "And I thought I was sick">> <<replace "#options">> And I thought I was sick<br><br> "Oh, you are. You are SO delightfully rotten, so disgustingly twisted. When she finally realizes this, perhaps she will pick a new champion." The figure halted, and you hear it utter in a much lower voice. "Or maybe that is why she has chosen you?." <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <<link "Who is she">> <<replace "#options">> Who is she<br><br> "She is," The figure pauses for a long moment. The let out a serene sigh, and a purr reverberates through the small area. "Everything. She is the very life that has been given to you, the growl of a wave before it crashes, the cry of magpies before mating season. She is the one who can and will change everything." <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <<link "Where am I?">> <<replace "#options">> Where am I?<br><br> "If you cannot remember, then me simply telling you will do no good.". <</replace>> <</link>> <</nobr>>\ @@\

You woke up exhausted, wrists aching in places that you didn't know could even hurt. You feel that the only thing keeping your wrists attached to your hands was a weak string of sinewy muscle. You blink owlishly. Dreams that left as fast as they came were no stranger to you, and you found yourself struggling to remember what happened. You feel more discombobulated than you have in years. You sat up from your warm bed and rubbed your face. Your nose is stinging as if you had smelled something sweet and rotten. “Fucking hell..." You mutter. Your head hurts. Like you've been binge drinking all night, but you doubt thats the case. If only you could just //remember--// ''Crack!'' You jump. Your eyes snap towards your dresser and find that your <<cycle "$idol">> <<option "Daoist Beads">> <<option "Figurine of the Virgin Mary">> <<option "Cross">> <<option "Jade amulet from Tibet">> <<option "Evil Eye bracelet">> <<option "Hand of Hamsa">> <</cycle>> has broken… @@#options; <<nobr>> <<link "Not again">> <<replace "#options">> You feel your heart speed up as you stare at the broken item. Without it, the ghosts would swarm you. Like waves, during high tide, their energy would wash over you. Overwhelming you with their sheer number and their emotions. Their desire and need to be alive again, to have their last wishes fulfilled. God forbid if it's a poltergeist that finds your scent. You shiver. <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <<link "Be not afraid">> <<replace "#options">> You're not as worried as you thought you'd be. For an odd reason, you almost feel relieved that it broke. You had a sneaking suspicion that the idol was weaning in terms of its protection for the past days. At least now your suspensions were confirmed. You would be unprotected for a while, but you wouldn’t have to second guess what was coming next. <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <<link "Whelp, here comes the ghosties">> <<replace "#options">> You let out a long-aggrieved sigh. You KNEW the damned thing was going to break soon. You could feel it in your bones, but you hadn't expected it to break NOW. You rub your knuckles and chuckle at your terrible luck. You imagine a black void, filled with the trapped souls of many, just lingering at the line between the living and the dead, held at bay by your holy item. The serene peace was broken by the sound of your effigy breaking, and the disturbing smiles grew. You cover your face. You just knew that somwhere out there the ghosts felt your little idol break and would be upon you in mere moments <</replace>> <</link>> <</nobr>>\ @@\ You lift your hand and rub it through your <<cycle "$haircolor">> <<option "blonde">> <<option "burgundy">> <<option "platinum blonde">> <<option "jet black">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "chocolate brown">> <<option "auburn">> <<option "grey">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$hairtype">> <<option "wavy">> <<option "curly">> <<option "coily">> <<option "braided">> <<option "straight">> <</cycle>> hair, as you let out a deep sigh. Thinking of what the day would hold in store for you. You stare at your dresser, you would need to take your <<cycle "$medication">> <<option "hormone pills">> <<option "birth control pills">> <<option "multi-vitamins">> <<option "antidepressants">> <<option "anti-psychotic pills">> <</cycle>> before you get up. If you didn't keep to a schedule, you knew you would forget about them. <div class="choice">[[PING]]</div>

“Oh, you are. You are SO delightfully rotten, so disgustingly twisted. When she finally realizes this, perhaps she will pick a new champion." The figure halted, and you hear it utter in a much lower voice. “Or maybe that is why she has chosen you?" <<return [[What could you want?]]>>

“She is," The figure paused for a long moment let out a serene sigh. “Everything. She is the very life that has been given to you, the growl of a wave before it crashes, the cry of magpies before mating season. She is the one who can and will change everything." <<return [[What could you want?]]>>

“If you cannot remember, then me simply telling you will do no good." <<return [[What could you want?]]>>

//Hey buttercup, this is your aunt Miriam! Your aunt Belinda and I are sending you another bundle of sage and another <<print $idol>>. Belinda "saw" that it broke. It should be arriving some time tomorrow, so let us know when you get it, k? Love you!// You chew your lip and let out a slow exhale. Gotta love Aunt Miriam and Belinda. After your incident, they became your <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is "true">> guardians <<else>> mentors <</if>>. Belinda, your aunt's wife, was a soothsayer, she was able to see into the future, but only as far as the next week. The problem was that she couldn't control when her sight activated. So ofte times, her sight only came when you least expected it. Or needed it. You being a ghost magnet, did not go unnoticed by her. It was only when she had a vision of you being pushed off of your school roof by an angry spirit in middle school did she finally act. They took you to shamans, Buddhists, Catholic priests, and Daoist’s. But for whatever reason, the charms and trinkets they gave you would only last for at most a month before breaking or being polluted by the spirits negative energies. Thankfully, after your ''Blank Period'' you didn't have to worry about needing those charms anymore. Something had threw the fiends from your scent, but what that thing is? You have no clue. Unfortunately for you and your thinning sanity, the spirits' have started to become restless again. Their presence is becoming ever constant, and these 'charms' where the only thing that stood between you and them. Which wasn't a lot to put it nicely. Regardless, they did their best to protect you from your otherworldly assaulters, and you would always love them for that. //K, thanks, Aunty! Tell Belinda I said, hey and thank you!// <div class="choice"><<back "Awaken">></div>

Tama and your relationship was an eccentric one, you two were known to be conjoined at the hip amoungst your friend group. You two were so inseperable that you two even majored in the same degree program. You two both suffered through four years of undergrad and made it out alive only, to go back for your doctorates together. If there were ever a better friend than Tama, you'd love to meet them. Hmmm, what are you getting your doctorates in by the way? <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'Psychology'>><span style="color #008000"> ''Psychology''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'Finance'>><span style="color #008000"> ''Finance''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'English'>><span style="color #FFFF00;"> ''English''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'Biology'>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Biology''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'Nursing'>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Nursing''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'Anthropology'>><span style="color #008000"> ''Anthropology''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$degree_options" 'Criminal Justice'>><span style="color #008000"> ''Criminal Justice''</span>.</div> You open the thread between you two and notice that he's already sent you a series of text messages. //Hey <<print $your_name>>, Can I copy your homework for Fischer's class? He moved the deadline up, so it's due at the end of the day now. Are you coming to the lecture? It starts in about 10 minutes. This man is real life talking about his messy ass divorce... Who opens up class by talking about something that depressing??? You are missing peak sad boy hour… Look, even his wig piece is sad!// The text messages are broken up by a picture of something brown and fuzzy sitting on top of a clearly bald head. You snicker. Well, it does have a mean lean. //This guy is a freaking demon! He's passing out a pop quiz! Who passes out a pop quiz after midterms??? Satan, that's who! Seriously, where are you!// The last message was sent over 20 minutes ago. You looked at your phone and cursed when you realized that you were now more than an hour late to class. Luckily it was one of those 3-hour lecture halls. If you wanted to, could you still make it? <div class="choice"><<link [[Are you kidding me?]]>><<set $genuine -=5, $teamplayer +=2>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[That class can wait]]>><<set $teamplayer -=3>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Nappy Nap Nap]]>><<set $teamplayer -=6, $humanity -=3>><</link>></div>

//Hello <<print $your_name>> Sorry for the late notice, but we're going to need you to come in tonight to cover a shift. Sara called off. Again.// You already knew that Sara wasn't coming in today. She had asked Harvey for the day off, because of an upcoming surgery that she was having. He hadn't approved the leave, despite her having enough sick time, but Jessica, the store manager had. You purse your lips and think of not answering. //Maybe if you pretended not to see it, he would ask someone else?// But on the other hand, you did need the extra money. Rent was coming up soon, and you would barely have enough to cover it, not to mention that your fridge was looking bare bones. However, you couldn't ignore the main problem. You were tired, exhausted even. You had just worked a double yesterday, and today was supposed to be your off day. But it seemed that the universe had other plans for you today. You let out an exasperated sigh as you quickly type out your response. //'Wow, so inconsiderate of Sara to use the sick leave that you guys gave her! Even more inconsiderate of her to volunteer me to cover her shift when I've already done 40 hours this week! But yeah, you can count on me!'// You wonder if theres enough sarcasm in that? <div class="choice"><<back "Awaken">></div>

You shower in record time and stand in front of the mirror. The steam fogs up the bathroom, reminding you of a hazy dream. Your typically <<cycle "$skincolor">> <<option "umber">> <<option "tawny beige">> <<option "golden brown">> <<option "porcelain">> <<option "rich black">> <<option "terra cotta">> <<option "ivory">> <<option "rosy">> <</cycle>> skin looks drained of color. Pallid from the lack of a good nights sleep, you look like the ghostly spectors that haunt your waking moments. Your <<cycle "$eyecolor">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "deep brown">> <<option "black">> <<option "green">> <<option "hazel">> <<option "grey">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> eyes look dull and shallow as you drag your lower lid down. Red littered the white of your eye, like little jagged lightening bolts. //'Hmm, red again.'// You probably need to get more sleep. You snort as you begin to brush your teeth. //'Don't know when that's supposed to happen when I'm not even able to eat dinner properly.'// Making a tsking noise, you further assess yourself. You look <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$distinguishing_features" "freckles">><span style="color #008000"> ''.. at your face and notice your freckles.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$distinguishing_features" "tattoos">><span style="color #FFFF00;"> ''...at the multiple tattoos.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$distinguishing_features" "birthmarks">><span style="color #008000;"> ''...at the multiple birthmarks across your body.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$distinguishing_features" "scars">><span style="color #008000;"> ''...at your old scars.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$distinguishing_features" "moles">><span style="color #008000;"> ''...at the moles on your body.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$distinguishing_features" "piercings">><span style="color #008000;"> ''...at your piercings.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice">[[Continue|Features]]</div>

<<if $degree_options is 'Psychology'>><<set $charisma +=5, $occult -=3, $luck +=4, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Criminal Justice'>><<set $perception +=5, $luck +=4, $occult -=5, $endurance +=4, $stealth +=5>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Nursing'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma +=4, $luck +=3, $occult +=5, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Biology'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma -=4, $luck +=5, $occult +=2, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Finance'>><<set $perception +=5, $intelligence +=6, $luck -=3, $charisma +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Anthropology'>><<set $intelligence +=6, $charisma -=5, $luck +=4, $occult +=5, $endurance +=5>><</if>> You're barely passing that class as is! A pop quiz can easily make or break you—emphasis on break. You jump out of bed in a flurry of sheets and blankets. Rushing around your room to get your clothes ready after your shower, you quickly strip in a mad dash to the bathroom. <div class="choice">[[Get Ready]]</div>

<<if $degree_options is 'Psychology'>><<set $charisma +=5, $occult -=3, $luck +=4, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Criminal Justice'>><<set $perception +=5, $luck +=4, $occult -=5, $endurance +=4, $stealth +=5>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Nursing'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma +=4, $luck +=3, $occult +=5, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Biology'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma -=4, $luck +=5, $occult +=2, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Finance'>><<set $perception +=5, $intelligence +=6, $luck -=3, $charisma +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Anthropology'>><<set $intelligence +=6, $charisma -=5, $luck +=4, $occult +=5, $endurance +=5>><</if>> You never liked Fischer. He was scum of the earth if you were being honest. Missing half the class wasn't an issue, but you'd hate to leave Tama hanging if you choose not to show up. You sit for a while, contemplating whether it's worth rushing around like a chicken with your head cut off to make it to a class that you hate. You're halfway to sleep, when you imagine Tama's face, his puppy-like eyes shimmering with tears as Fischer ridicules him in unspeakable ways. You let out a long and loud groan. “Goddammit!" You throw the sheets off in annoyance and strip on your way to the bathroom. <div class="choice">[[Get Ready]]</div>

<<if $degree_options is 'Psychology'>><<set $charisma +=5, $occult -=3, $luck +=4, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Criminal Justice'>><<set $perception +=5, $luck +=4, $occult -=5, $endurance +=4, $stealth +=5>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Nursing'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma +=4, $luck +=3, $occult +=5, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Biology'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma -=4, $luck +=5, $occult +=2, $intelligence +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Finance'>><<set $perception +=5, $intelligence +=6, $luck -=3, $charisma +=6>><<elseif $degree_options is 'Anthropology'>><<set $intelligence +=6, $charisma -=5, $luck +=4, $occult +=5, $endurance +=5>><</if>> You take one look at the phone and then shut it off, stuffing yourself back into the covers. You didn't care about the pop quiz, nor did you care about leaving Tama hanging. You'd just catch him before you went to your part-time job and let him copy it then. You rest for almost a full two seconds before you find yourself staring at the cream popcorn ceiling. “Ugggghhhhhh!" You slowly get up, throwing the sheets and blankets from yourself. You get up like a turtle, shuffling to your bathroom in black fuzzy slippers. <div class="choice">[[Get Ready]]</div>

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You had made it onto to campus, finally after dealing with the lagging traffic. You were currently almost an hour late. The building was quiet as typical around this time, and everyone was either in class or in study hall. You speed walk to your designated classroom, waving hello to some stragglers that you catch loitering in the halls. Creeping up to 307, you slowly open the door, cringing when the door creaks loud; you quietly shut it behind you. The classroom was designed like your typical auditorium, so you knew that Fischer wouldn't be able to spot you through the many rows of seats. Or so you hoped. "<<print $your_name>> <<print $your_lastname>>. If you are going to be late to my class, at least have the decency to not slink in like a tattered alley cat." You cursed internally, //'Well, there goes that plan!'// There are a couple of ways that you could handle this, however…. <div class="choice"><<link [[You choose violence]]>><<set $sarcastic +=6, $rude +=5>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Man, you hate this guy]]>><<set $genuine +=3>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Cover your face]]>><<set $brash -=3, $genuine +=6>><</link>></div>

“Why, hello Dr. Fischer, that toupee you're wearing looks especially fresh today!" You yell out with fake enthusiasm. He had the right one if he wanted to go toe to toe. “Not at all, like the one you had on last week! By the way, how's Carole doing? Oh, wait…" You cover your mouth in fake apologies watching his eyes burn with hatred. His face changed colors like an chameleon on a fake houseplant, going from pale to red and then to an unsightly shade of purple. “Get to your seat." He hisses. You cheerfully make your way down to find Tama in you two's usual seats, putting an invisible line in your scoreboard. //'13 for the forces of good. One for the forces of evil'// <div class="choice">[[Continue]]</div>

“Hmm, funny how this tattered alley cat still has more hair on its head than you have on your entire body…." The few students that were close enough to hear your snide remark snickered as you made your way down the aisles. But you could still feel eyes burn into your figure. You grit your teeth and try your best not to let the snickers get to you as you make your way down the aisles. You feel like you’re doing the walk of shame from a wild night of parties. <div class="choice">[[Continue]] </div>

You grit your teeth and try your best not to let the snickers get to you as you make your way down the aisles. You feel like you’re doing the walk of shame from a wild night of parties and orgies. You doubt Fischer would have ever experienced anything like that with how far that stick is. <div class="choice">[[Continue]]</div>

You finally reach a young man with shining puppy-like eyes and fluffy hair. “<<print $your_name>>! I swear you weren't going to make it!" Settling down into the cushioned seat, you push your backpack between your legs and take out your notebook. You look at Tama, his fluffy white hair was put into its typical puff ball. Two braids adorned the side of his head. His black eyes held a look of reverence. @@#options; <<nobr>> <<link "play with his poof">> <<replace "#options">> <br><br> “And leave you to face Fischer, alone? I don't think so." You reach over to ruffle the ponytail lightly. He lets out a laugh, trying to shoo your hand away. “Yeah, but now you've got to face the wraith of the demon of Winchester University. He's probably gonna try to fail you on the next exam." You roll your eyes and prop your chin up in your palm, “He can try. But he's gonna have to catch me outside afterward." You say dryly. “Well, how about that?" You and Tama keep a straight face for less than a nanosecond before you two burst into giggles. “Please don't try and fight Fischer, I'm sure he's just waiting for a chance to report you to the Dean." You shrug, “Not like he hasn't reported me before." <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <<link "So did I">> <<replace "#options">> <br><br> “I thought about not coming. You know how I feel about Fischer." “Please, I think everyone knows how you feel about Fischer," Tama snorted and propped his chin upon his hand. “I'm surprised; he hasn't tried to report you to the dean yet." “Oh, he has." <</replace>> <</link>> <</nobr>>\ @@\ Professor Thomas Fischer was nothing but a bitter old, wrinkled man who had nothing better to do in life than harass you. Unfortunately, the faculty in your department was small, so many professors had to teach multiple classes, which meant that you and Fischer saw a LOT of each other. During your 2nd year of graduate school, you had a group project for Fischer's class. Once you had turned in the complete project, he had falsely accused you of plagiarism. The accusation shook you to your core, especially since you knew that it was his advisees that had committed the act. You had gotten into a lot of trouble at the time; however, the Dean found that Fischer had prematurely passed judgment on you once the matter was thoroughly examined. The Dean punished the correct student. Since then, it has been a constant animosity between you two, with Fischer making snide comments about your academic career and you loudly bringing up the fact that his wife left him for a man 20 years younger than him, with twice as much hair. “What?!" Tama yelped out, the students around us glanced up from their scribbling, and turned to stare at us. “Is there a problem, Mr. Shirosaki?" Dr. Fischer had turned away from his projector and was now preparing to come up the aisles to where we were. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Carry on]]</div>

“U-Uh, no problem here, sir !" Tama's face glowed red as his fingers balled into fists. Tama only seemed to stutter in Fischer's class; any other time, he was able to charm and smile his way out of anything. You could see Fischer turn his nose up, “Then I suggest you keep your outbursts to yourself." and then squaring his shoulders; he continued with his lesson. “Don't worry about him; he's just an old asshole." You patted Tama's back. His cheeks were puffed out slightly, and his skin was slowly returning to its tawny beige color. “He’s a demon.” He muttered. You hum in agreement; you would know one when you saw one. Or at least you'd like to think you would. <div class="choice">[[Continue|get it]]</div>

"I'm sorry, Mr. Fisch-!" "I don't want to hear any excuses from you. I feel that as an educator, it is my job to warn you that any more unexcused tardiness will result in an Incomplete for this class." <div class="choice">[[Are you serious?]]</div>

"You don't say! And here I thought that you didn't care" He narrowed his eyes and pushed his coke bottle frames further up his nose. "Your glib tongue will get you nowhere." //‘Neither will snotty attitudes and bad hygiene, but here you are.’// “Understood, sir. Is there anything else, ooorrr?” He sniffs, and smooths out his brown suit jacket. "I feel that as an educator, it is my job to warn you that any more unexcused tardiness will result in an Incomplete for this class." <div class="choice">[[Are you serious?]]</div>

You begin to panic if there's one thing Fischer hates more than you, its tardiness. “I had to work a double last night, so I -- " “I don't want to hear any excuses from you. I feel that as an educator, it is my job to warn you that any more unexcused tardiness will result in an Incomplete for this class." <div class="choice">[[Are you serious?]]</div>

In your anger, you hadn't been paying attention and ran into a solidly built torso. “Shit!" “Damn!" You both curse, obviously not expecting to run into each other quite so literally. You rub your injured nose, and the person quickly crouches down to pick up the books and numerous papers that they dropped. <div class="choice"><<link [[Assist them]]>><<set $Adakai_approval to Math.clamp($Adakai_approval += 6, 0, 100)>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Be Rude]]>><<set $Adakai_approval to Math.clamp($Adakai_approval -= 6, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

Your eyes bugged. An ''Incomplete?!'' While it was much better than getting an F, it meant that you would have to retake the class. And while the possibility of another professor teaching the course next semester was the ONLY thing you could look forward to; you just didn't have the energy to go through this all over again if Fischer were to be the lecturer. You try and take the high road. “Look, I know we've gotten off on the wrong foot, but understand that I am trying right now, ok." “This is trying?" His lips quirked up into a half-smile, and never in your life have you ever wanted to throw hands with a teacher more than right now, before in your life. “Yes, surprising how everyone's struggle doesn't all look the same, right?" “We have talked about this before, and I thought I told you then that I didn't want to hear any excuses from you. Everyone has their own issues that they're dealing with outside of this class, but do you want to know what they do?" He slung his brown saddlebag on his shoulder and straightened his back as he adjusted the strap. “They make it to class on time. Consider this your first and last warning." He leaves through the back door of the classroom, leaving you alone with your thoughts, which are more dangerous alone without company. You bound up the steps, feeling your blood boil as you thought of that stupid, pompous ja--- <div class="choice">[[CRASH!]]</div>

$They was good-looking, and not the kind of good-looking that was obstinately subjective. Tall, taller than your <<cycle "$height">><<option "very short">><<option "short">><<option "average">><<option "own tall">><</cycle>> height, you just knew that $they had to have modeled at some point in their life because those cheekbones were just criminal. $their eyes smoldered like melted caramel, with flecks of honey seeming to look right into your soul. As damaged as the immortal essence was.His hair was in a thick braid, the color reminding you of chestnut branches in the middle of fall, strands of auburn mixing with the deep brown shade. $They tilted $their head ever so lightly; the thick braid having shifted to fall over $their shoulder rests at $their hip comfortably. $They parted $their thick plush lips, revealing a soft pink tongue that slowly darted out to moisten $their bottom lip. Your eyes lingered there, trying to wrap your head around just how $their got them to look so damn soft. <<if $ace is "true">><<else>>You almost wonder how $their lips would feel on yo—<</if>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Eyes up here]]>><<set $Ahairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>

“Ahem!" <<if $ace is true>> $Their head was still tilted, but now $their eyes were slightly narrowed, $their lips quirking up like $they has been let in on the secret of the century. $They gestured to the papers that you held clasped in your hand (and that were embarrassingly crinkled from the strength of your grip). Your mom had always told you staring was rude. But the person had an aura that made you instantly want to befriend them. <<else>>$Their head was still tilted, but now $their eyes were slightly narrowed, $their lips quirking up like $they has been let in on the secret of the century. $They gestured to the papers that you held clasped in your hand (and that were embarrassingly crinkled from the strength of your grip). You weren't precisely secretive with your ogling, but that still doesn't mean you couldn't try and salvage the situation.<</if>> You… <div class=choice>[[just own it]]</div> <div class=choice>[[Abort, abort!]]</div> <div class=choice>[[Not interested.]]</div>

You merely jut your chin out as you hand over the paper. You already got caught staring; you may as well own it. The smirk on $their face grows now into a full-blown grin, and $they laugh as $they take the papers. You two are now standing up fully, $their eyes roam over your body slowly. Where $their eyes traced, you feel your skin burn, like molten fire. $They licks $their lips, shaking $their head with a laugh. "See ya around." $They lift $their hand to wave as $they continue on $their way, leaving behind the scent of cedarwood and juniper. <div class="choice">[[Continue->Onwards]]</div>

You feel your face heating up as you think of an excuse for your staring, but you can't come up with anything. So, you simply handed over their papers, trying not to shake like a leaf. <<if $ace is true>> $They smile gently, and take the paper from you. $Their eyes crinkle in the corners, like they are looking into the sun. "Thanks." $They lift $their hand to wave as $they continue on $their way, leaving behind the scent of cedarwood and juniper.<<else>> The smirk on $their face grows now into a full-blown grin, and $they laugh as $they take the papers. You two are now standing up, $their eyes roam over your body slowly. Where $their eyes trace, you feel your skin burn, like molten fire. $They licks $their lips, shaking $their head with a laugh. "See ya around." $They lift $their hand to wave as $they continue on $their way, leaving behind the scent of cedarwood and juniper. <</if>> You stand there frozen in place. You… <div class="choice">[[Onwards]]</div>

$They was good-looking, and not the kind of good-looking that was obstinately subjective. Tall, taller than your <<cycle "$height">><<option "very short">><<option "short">><<option "average">><<option "own tall">><</cycle>> height, you just knew that $they had to have modeled at some point in their life because those cheekbones were just criminal. $their eyes smoldered like melted caramel, with flecks of honey, seeming to look right into your soul. As damaged as the immortal essence was. Her hair was in a high ponytail, the color reminding you of chestnut branches in the middle of fall, strands of auburn mixing with the deep brown. $They tilted $their head ever so slightly; the long locs shifted to fall over $their shoulder and rests at her hips comfortably. $They parted $their thick plush lips, revealing a soft pink tongue that slowly darted out to moisten $their bottom lip. Your eyes lingered there, trying to wrap your head around just how $they got them to look so damn soft. <<if $ace is "true">><<else>>You almost wonder how $their lips would feel on yo—<</if>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Eyes up here]]>><<set $Ahairstyle to "high ponytail">><</link>></div>

You shake your head. You really need to leave. The crowd of students dwindled as the next period started, most already filling the once empty classrooms. Better to find Tama, then stay here and contemplate someone you would never see again… You spun around, preparing to leave until you found yourself face first in someone else’s chest. Again. //Goddammit!// A round of apologies bubbled up to your lips. But dies when you stared up at the person if you could call them a person <<if $drfaulicer is true>>A figure stands in front of you, their body stout and thick. A foul odor, like rotten compost, wafts from their entire person. You clutch your nose, eyes watering as you take several steps back. It's a woman, tall, pale, and what you think is blonde. It's hard to tell from the dirt that's caked in her hair. She sways; the tattered sundress that adorns her body sticks to her opaque flesh like a second skin. The baby blue color severely faded from age, along with the mysterious dark splotches littered along her stomach that seem to continue to grow. Her eyes are dead, like a shark looking at you from watery depths. A frown spreads across her decaying face, her lips are purple, almost border lining blue. She parts them and the smell of carrion and death wafts to your nose. <<elseif $waterlogged is true>> The person stood wrapped in a black trench coat, their skin ominously blue. They dripped water when there was no apparent source for it, and a cold frigidness emitted from their very pores. Their face looked waxy and bloated; their nose was smashed in. Exposing the cartilage that would have held the sinewy muscle together. A fishy smell emitted from them as the figure opened its mouth. However, no words could be formed as the figure was missing both its teeth and tongue. It began to gurgle, bubbles of spittle and what you hoped was water cascading out of its mouth. <<elseif $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You look up to see a woman. She’s tall with <<print $hairtype>> <<print $haircolor>> that drags down to her shoulders as if she had years of grime built upon her. Her face is splotchy, with long scratches from her temple to her chin. The flesh was flayed, with yellow-greenish pus oozing from the open wounds. Her black eyes are sunken to the point where you could see the bridge of her brow bone. Red tears rolled down her face sluggishly as she raised her arms. She opens her mouth wide, broken teeth, and a severed tongue greets you. "Gurh." The woman is trying to speak to you, but all she does is splatter blood all over you and your surroundings. You feel the spittle scatter against your skin, the droplets wet and smelling of rust.<</if>> You backed away, stumbling over your own feet in your attempt to getaway—a surprised cry dying on your lips. You stare at the phantom //Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!// Your heart stuttered the mantra-like it was your chant of light. You felt your chest tightening as the world slowed around you. “Oi, there you are!” You turned in what felt like slow motion to find Tama jogging over to you with a smile. You looked back to watch the figure. You were scared witless but more afraid for what it would do to Tama. You turn around, a silent plea bubbling upon your lips. Nothing is there but the smell of sulfur and stagnant air. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Insane]]>><<set $sanity -=15, $anxiety +=13>><</link>></div>

You turn back to face Tama, your lips trembling as you attempt to speak. “I just went to the bathroom- “ He stopped noticing the pallor in your skin. His eyes widened with understanding, and he grabbed your arm and started walking. You follow him, stumbling over your own feet as you attempt to keep up with him. Your surroundings are blurred, and you can hardly hear anything. All you hear is babbling, but you couldn’t make out the words for some reason. How strange. You’re out of the building and in the parking lot when he finally stops. He turns to face you, his hands coming up to rest onto your shoulders, and his face was the only thing clear in a world of meshed colors and blurred images. “Deep breaths.” His voice sounded disembodied, like it was in another dimensional plane than the one you were in. “Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe In. Breathe out. That’s it, just take your time; I’m not going anywhere.” You do as he commands, breathing steady, as you focus on the sound of his voice. Your hands grip his own as you tether yourself to his existence. Once you finally calm down, you look into his face and feel a strong emotion. <div class="choice">[[Gratitude]]</div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Annoyance]]>><<set $Yue_approval to Math.clamp($Yue_approval -= 6, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

It happened so fast. Too fast if you were, to be frank. One minute you were thinking how annoying this guy was, and in the next, you were falling for him. If you had to pinpoint it, you would say that it came from how he laughed at your corny jokes when no one else would. Or maybe it was how passionate he got about which Lion King was the better movie. Or, you could even trace it back to how hard he advocated for cleaning up water pollution. You remember that night he spent in jail after he punched out three security guards to get to a chair member of a big oil company. <<if $regret is "Wraith">> You can't lie; you found that to be incredibly sexy.<<else>> While it was probably the funniest thing you had ever witnessed; watching Tama get picked up as if he weighed nothing, which he probably didn't to those guards. Having to spend the night in city jail was the last thing that you wanted to do on a Sunday night.<</if>> Yeah, it’s a little weird how you fell for him so hard, and while you tried your hardest to not be some googly-eyed teenager,it was hard. You thought of telling him on more than one occaison. Have you ever tried to tell him? <div class="choice">[[You tried.]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Everytime I can!]]</div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Nope]]>><<set $shy_flirt +=5>><</link>></div>

You almost want to cry when you stare at Tama. He truly is heaven-sent. You think for a moment what your life would be like if it weren’t for Tama. ''Six years ago'' It was your first year of undergrad, and you had decided to go to an out-of-state school. It was hard making friends, and your dorm mate decided the best approach to you two's relationship was to pretend like you didn't exist. That wasn't a big issue for you honestly, <<if $regret is "Lust">> you were somewhat of a hermit and liked to be by yourself, especially after what happened with Courtney. It's sad to say, but you just found it hard to trust anyone right now, especially strangers.<<else>> you didn't want to get into any trouble and were doing your hardest to stay out of trouble. Realistically, you've changed from that kid you were four years ago that courted trouble. You'd like to keep that positive change going if you could.<</if>> Your biggest concern on campus wasn’t about finding comfort, it was the getting around part that would be your death. You stand in front of a large building, feeling lost as hell. You stare at your map and then the building in confusion, trying to make sense of how you ended up in the Agricultural department when heading for the English Department. “Oi, excuse me!” You see a sunny-faced youth with cloud-like white hair running towards you. He leans down when he reaches you, placing both palms on his bent knees. “G-g-give me a minute!” He was panting and gulping for breath as he attempted to catch his breath. You raise an eyebrow as you eye him. His complexion reminds you of wet sand, the color of warm toffee as a bead of sweat rolls from his hairline. He looks up; eyes scrunched up as he takes quick puffs of breath. A small mole lies in the corner of his sharp hooded eyes. “You sure do walk fast!” Standing up, he hands you a small black book. You peer at it curiously, staring at the cover. Your eyes widen as realization kicks in swiftly. You snatch it away, the blood in your body rushing up to your face in record speed. It's your journal. //No one is supposed to see this! No one, no on--// “You don’t have to worry; I didn’t open it. I was too busy chasing after you. Did I mention that you walk fast? Because your walking speed is like my running speed. Fucking insane!” You hesitate for a moment; a strange feeling bubbles in your chest as you watch the guy babble on. "And let me tell you, if I didn’t know this campus like the back of my hand, I would never have found you!” “Uh, I don’t want to be one of those people, but who even are you?” "My name is Tama. Tama Shirosaki,” The man smiled, "and we're going to become the best of friends, I can tell!" Oh, yeah. You know what that feeling was. <div class="choice">[[Admiration]]</div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Adoration]]>><<set $inlove_Tama to true>><</link>></div>

You didn’t want Tama to see you like this. Weak, needing his presence to tether yourself. You shrug his hands off of you and wrap yourself up in your embrace. You refused to meet his eyes, looking steadily at the ground. “Oop, sorry about that!” He let out a strained laugh and rubbed the back of his head. “I forgot I can be handsy sometimes!” At the sound of his laugh, you only feel more annoyed with yourself more than anything, but you think something else was there. Regret? Tama knew how you felt about being touched, but you couldn't help the crawling disgust that encompasses you whenever someone touches you. You think back to when you met Tama. ''Six years ago'' This was your first college party. Some slovenly wealthy frat house hosts the second party of the year, rumored to be one of the best parties of the year. And yet, here you are in a back room trying not to hyperventilate. You knew that most parties were crowded with people, but you were not prepared for the sheer number of people in that room with you. They bumped into you constantly, bare skin skimming across yours, hands grabbing and pulling at you for a dance. You couldn’t take it! You had rushed upstairs and left your group of associates, leaving them downstairs while you tried to find a space where you could calm down. You’re gasping for breath, struggling to breathe as you attempt to ground yourself, but it’s not working. You think that it’s getting worse. “Where did I put th--Wooo!” The loud boyish voice lets out a high-pitched shriek as the lights flicker on. You’d bet your bottom dollar that he didn’t expect to find you in the hallway closet, sitting in the dark as you held onto your knees for dear life. “Uh, you okay?” You see a tawny beige hand reach out to touch you, and you recoil instantly, “DON’T!” You yell. The hand retracts quickly as if it were burnt by fire, “Wow, chill! You’re good,” They begin. “You’re good, I’m good, we’re all good, yeah? But you’re having a panic attack.” You wanted to respond, be sarcastic, or tell him to get out. But words wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard you tried to push them past your lips. “Yeah, it’s getting worse. My mom has these pretty bad too, sometimes.” The voice gets closer, but they don’t try to touch you anymore. “Try putting your head between your legs, and breathe… Yeah, just like that. The key is to stay grounded. Try focusing on one thing and hold onto it for dear life.” You keep your eyes closed, focusing, on your breathing as you swim through the suffocating dark. After a few more breaths, you finally feel grounded and open your eyes to find a boy in front of you. He’s looking at you, sharp hooded eyes that look like coal, watching your every movement. He has coiled white hair thats been twisted out, the ringlets soft and bouncy remind you of a cloud. A small mole in the corner of his eye accented his already crazy good looks, making him look like one of those old Gustav Klimit paintings. He breaks into a huge smile when he notices that you’re tethered. “Welcome back!” He says cheerily. He’s crouched down to your level, a smile on his face. “Ugh, well that was embarrassing..." You mumble as you struggle to stand. "And why would having an anxiety attack be embarrassing?" The boy snorts leaning on the back of his heels, "Man, humans are so weird. You're bound to have moments where you show weakness. It's normal, and you are not lesser for having those moments." You stare at him in a new light. Is there an brain behind the good looks? "I know that much. Still doesn't stop me from feeling embarrassed about it though.” You shrug, trying to ignore the strange feeling in your chest. Was it shame? Nah, probably annoyance. “You know what,” He starts. A strange gling encompasses his eyes as he rocks on the balls of his feet. “I can tell we’re going to be good friends. My name’s Tama. Tama Shirosaki, you don’t have to shake my hand. I’ve got cooties.” Oh, yeah. You know what that feeling was. <div class="choice">[[Admiration]]</div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Adoration]]>><<set $inlove_Tama to "true">><</link>></div>

You remember when you had tried to tell him that you loved him, it had been your junior year when you had finally gathered the courage to tell him how you felt. However, it hadn’t gone the way that you thought it would. It had been spring, early April, flowers were in bloom, and love was proverbial in the air. It had taken you a while to determine how you were going to confess, but you were thoroughly prepared. That night you had daydreamed how your confession would be returned; you had slept that night with no nightmares and a smile on your face. The next day you had called for him to join you for a picnic at his favorite park, with all his favorite foods. “Hey Tama, you're late as usua--” “Oh, <<print $your_name>> there you are!” He had that large crescent moon smile on his face. He was dressed in jeans and a nice polo shirt. You grinned, thinking that it had all been for you until you saw his guest. Next to him was a woman, short and cute. She reminded you of a rabbit with large icy blue eyes and ash blonde hair. She fidgeted when your eyes met and blushed demurely. She shuffled behind him, hands knotting in his shirt. The smile on your face slowly fell. You felt a weight in the pit of your stomach as you stared at the two. Your mind is racing with possibilities, and not one of them was good. //‘Dear God, no. Please, not this. Let me just have something for once..’// She was Ursula Montana. A senior Agriculture student who loved dogs and hated chocolate. She loved rainy days because she loved to reanct the ‘Singin’ in the Rain scene,’ and… She was the girlfriend of the man you were in love with. You smiled weakly and congratulated them. You tried to ignore the stabbing feeling in your heart as you watched the two hug and hold hands. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and rubbed her knuckles with the softest smile that you’ve ever seen come from Tama. She blushed, lightly hitting him in the chest, but she rested her hand there. You attempted to stop yourself from imagining that you were in her position. That it was you holding his hands and that you were the one able to stand by his side. The pain came back, making your eyes sting as you blinked back tears. “Oh, yeah, what did you wanna talk about?” His eyes were sparkling, but you knew that it wasn’t because of you, and it would never be because of you. You shook your head, tightening your lips together as you tried to stop yourself from crying out. You shake your head and force a smile, your eyes glistening. “It’s good. I got my answer.” <div class="choice">[[Here and Now]]</div>

You tell him you love him almost every day it feels, but, for some odd reason, it always goes over his head. It also doesn’t help that he currently has a girlfriend named Ursula Montana. But you’re ninety-nine percent sure that’s not going to last, not if you had a say in it. You think back and remember the last time you told him that you loved him. It was Summer, a sweltering June, as temperatures in Wisconsin seemed to skyrocket to an abnormal 85. We can thank global warming and the inaction of politicians and big bad companies for that. You two both sat on the sandy beachfront of Lake Michigan. You two were both dressed in swimming clothes, despite both of your adamant decision not to get into the lake water. There was something about today that made Tama looked exceptionally good. Perhaps it was the glow from the sun, or maybe it was the way that his cheeks hollowed when his lips wrapped around the popsicle that he was devouring. Sweat rolled down Tama’s face, causing his curls to deflate significantly, and cling to his skin. They created a halo around his shoulders as a light flush stained his cheeks. You stared at the sweat drop, watching it roll down from his hairline to his chest and then down to his stomach before it seemed to disappear under his trunks. He catches your eye and sends you a dimpled smile. The innocence in his smile made your heart sing. “I love you.” You hadn’t meant for it to come out quite like that, but then again, you hardly cared for subtlety in this manner. He paused, and then quite quickly, he smiled at you, “I love you too!” and then continued to eat the icy treat. You pause, half in confusion. //He said it back, but why don't I feel happy?// You knew his love wasn’t the same as yours. You turned to him but stopped when you saw his face. He was looking out to the lake, a bittersweet expression on his face. His mono-lidded eyes crinkled in the corners, and his nose scrunched up. He catches your staring and quickly wipes the expression from his face. Changing it into a boyish grin, he pops the treat back into his mouth. You don't think you were supposed to see that. You stared down at your hands and felt an oiliness in your stomach. Regret soon swallowed you whole. <div class="choice">[[Here and Now]]</div>

“You ok? You looked like you saw a ghost back there.” You flinch and bite your lip, tasting iron as you try and form words. Tama eyed you critically, " ...Did you see a ghost?" Tama was the only person you willingly told of your ''condition''. Anyone who you tried to tell, aside from your aunts, distanced themselves from you quickly. Excuses falling from their lips, like leaky faucets. The only one who refused to judge you, and stayed by your side, was him. <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You rub your face and take a deep breath. Trying to get your heart to stop racing was a task. To go through another harrowing, with your own mother at that! Or perhaps it was a spirit that took her form?It was hard to tell, but you wouldn’t be surprised if it were her. She did always like to scare you when you were a child. But, you hoped that the spirit wasn’t her. You hated to think that she still suffered after what happened. //After what you did.//<<elseif $waterlogged is true>> This moment was challenging for you, considering that you knew that ghost. No, to say you knew the spirit was a bit of a stretch. You only knew it because it had grabbed you when you were 8, trying to drag you further into the lake. The spirit from Lake Lanier was a long way from home; that much was certain. But what is its obsession with you? You'll never fathom it. You gnaw at your lips to the point where you start to taste blood. Eyes unfocused as you imagine yourself in the middle of a large body of water. The spirit dragging you down, down into its depths.<</if>> You merely nod, and Tama lets out a low breath. "Damn, I wonder why they're so attracted to you?" <div class="choice">[[If only...]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Who ya gonna call]]</div>

“If only it were someone else..." “Huh?" “Oh, nothing!" You quickly say. Tama grew silent, a pensive look crossing his face, “Do you want me to come over tonight?" <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes]]>><<set $Tama_stayed to "true">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[No]]>><<set $Home_alone to "true">><</link>></div>

“Where's Ghostbusters when you need 'em?" You laugh weakly. Tama grew silent, a pensive look crossing his face, “Do you want me to come over tonight?" <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes]]>><<set $Tama_stayed to "true">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[No]]>><<set $Home_alone to "true">><</link>></div>

“Oh, dear God, yes." You let out a sigh of relief. At least you wouldn't be home alone tonight. Once a ghost saw you, you'd be known to them forever. You don't know what that one's deal is, but you'd rather not find out. However… You just accepted a shift for work, but you had no problem backing out. Tama nodded, with a smile placing his hands behind his head. “Cool, cool! We can order takeout and binge-watch a lot of cheesy shows." You feel a bit better, knowing you won't be totally alone. You have a feeling that the spirit was just getting started, and it wouldn't stop, not until it had company. “Don't forget to do Fischer’s assignment, though." “Ugh, don't remind me." He whined. He threw his arm around your shoulders and steered you to his car. By the time you two made it back to your apartment, it was night. You had made Tama go to the public library to do his assignment for Fischer's class. It's partially because you were 85% sure that he wouldn’t do it at your place. The other 15% came from not wanting to go home just yet. Despite the comfort that your apartment offers, you didn't want to risk having the spirits trail you back to your home. But you should have known that if something wants you badly enough, it will move hell and heaven to have you. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|Homebound]]>><<set $Tama_stayed to "true">><</link>></div>

You think for a while and then shake your head. It's not like you don't want to spend time with Tama, but you don’t want to drag him into any more of your craziness than what he has been exposed to. Besides, you did just accept an extra shift, and you couldn’t back out now. “Are you sure?” “I am. Thanks, though, and tell Ursula I said hey.” You wave him off, hoping that you don’t look as tired as you feel. He gives you the look. The one where he acts like he’s your mother and that he knows you better than you know yourself. You sigh, mentally drained and too tired to fight him on this. "Tama --" "I'm not going to lecture you. You're an adult, and I acknowledge that. But you are my best friend, so I'm gonna worry about you." He sends you a sheepish smile, looking at you from the coverage of his white lashes. //'Damn, he's good.'// You open your mouth and find the words dying in your throat. Swallowing, you rub your arm and send him a pained smile. "I'll text you when I get home, ok? Don't forget to turn your homework in, alright?" He nods, and you imagine floppy ears as he gazes at you with glassy eyes. You turn your back on him and walk to the bus stop, knowing that it would be a ''LONG'' wait for the next shuttle. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|homebound2.0]]>><<set $homealone to "true">><</link>></div>

It had just begun to downpour by the time you made it into your humble abode, the rain making your bones protest. Your apartment was in the same shape that you had left it in this morning. Which was to say that it was <<cycle "$cleaniness">><<option "very clean">><<option "an organized mess">><<option "a pigsty--dear god, is that sandwhich moving???">><</cycle>>. Tama makes himself comfortable on your sofa, already kicking off his shoes. He tucks his feet underneath himself, taking the blanket over your couch and wrapping himself in it. You smile at the image and turn to the fridge bringing out a beer for him and a <<cycle "$drink_preference">><<option "water">><<option "juice">><<option "milk">><<option "tea">><<option "beer">><</cycle>> for yourself. "Ooh, this looks good!" You stroll back into the living room and hand him his respective drink. You sit on the other end of the couch, and on the screen is a film called the Hospital. //Visitors seeking to communicate with their relatives' spirits in an abandoned hospital in Taiwan are haunted by disturbing, supernatural occurrences.// "This looks like the kind of movie you watch with the lights on." Tama rolls his eyes, "Believe me, it’s not that bad. No lights needed." You playfully narrow your eyes at him, "You don't fool me. You want to keep the lights off to have your nasty way with me." You gave him a scandalized look and push him away. "You sex fiend." He rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue in cheek, "Please, if I wanted to have my way with you. I doubt I'd have to do anything special to get you." <<if $inlove_Tama is true>> Ouch. True, but hurtful. "Oh, shut up." You say weakly. He raises an eyebrow. "You must be slipping; that steel wit of yours usually has a snapback by now." "Even Shakespeare had his days." You shrug helplessly. "What do you want me to say?" He looks at you for a long time, face suddenly serious. "It’s the jeans, isn't it?" You're thrown off guard by how serious he sounds and do a double-take. "The what now?" "The jeans." He repeats it as if he's trying to explain something to a 3-year-old. He pats his legs, and makes a tsk tsk noise. "Ursula said these jeans make my ass look like a crystal ball. It hypnotized you, hasn't it?" "Ursula REALLY needs to stop hyping you up." Your eyes scrunch up. "It’s not my fault Ursula knows that her man's an, what’s the word you kids use nowadays? A snack?" "Pfftttt!" It never fails to amaze you how out of touch Tama acted. Sometimes if you'd close your eyes, you could swear you were talking to an old man. "So now you're a hostess zinger? A lil HoHo snack cake? "I was thinking more like Twinkie," Tama places an palm on his cheek. "but, sure we can go with that." You stare wide-eyed at him, and shake your head. "You are fuckin' ridiculous, you know that?" "Why, thank you, and yes I do." He bats his eyelashes at you, "You still love me though." //Ouch, again//<<else>> "Someone's feeling themselves today, huh? Has Ursula been boosting your ego again?" "It’s not my fault Ursula knows that her man's an, what’s the word you kids use nowadays? A snack?" "Pfftttt!" It never fails to amaze you how out of touch Tama acted. Sometimes if you'd close your eyes, you could swear you were talking to an old man. "So now you're a hostess zinger? A lil HoHo snack cake? "I was thinking more like Twinkie," Tama places an palm on his cheek. "but, sure we can go with that." You stare wide-eyed at him, and shake your head. "You are fuckin' ridiculous, you know that?" "Why, thank you, and yes I do. You love me though." <</if>> "Just play the movie. After this, I’m picking, and we're watching Train to Busan!" He pushes play, "Wanna get some bad takeout?" Tama, who already nuzzled into your king-sized blanket, looks over at you with shiny eyes. "That's a no-brainer. What do you want to eat? Halal, greasy pizza, Thai food?" You begin scrolling on your phone, peering at the places that would deliver at this time, "Hmmm, how about some Halal?" Tama nods, and you order the food. He pats the spot next to him and opens the blankets so you can get in. <<if $inlove_Tama>> You feel your heart stop and start like a bad car motor. You try to avoid meeting his eyes and shuffle underneath the cover with him. Your legs intertwine, and his foot lightly skims against your thigh as he shifts. //'This is so unfair.'// <<else>> You roll your eyes playfully but shuffle underneath the cover with him.<</if>> He smiles at you and starts the movie. <div class="choice">[[Continue|45 minutes pass...]]</div>

You're 45 minutes into the movie when your doorbell rings. Tama, who is completely engrossed in the film, startles and gets up. “I'll get it!" He does a little shuffle towards the door and then yells, “Pause it, <<print $your_name>>!" You do as he asks. The doorbell rings three more times in a constructive row. For some odd reason, your scalp begins to tingle. “Hold your knickers; I’m comin'!" You hear him, crashing around like a clumsy buffalo unlocking your deadbolts, and then-- “What the fuc--?" Like a miniature blizzard, a cold gust blows through Tama and travels into the small apartment. Your lights flicker off and on before dying completely. The bulbs make a fizzling pop noise, sending your apartment into darkness. You sit up now, goosebumps trailing up your arms where the cold hits. “Tama?” Your eyes have trouble adjusting to the dark; not even the street lamps from outside your window do much to stave away the dark. You stand up, legs shaking as you wander to your front door, your breath coming out in clouds. “Tama?” You try again. Tama’s not standing in front of your door; however, it is wide open. You wonder where he could have possibly gone in such a short moment. Was he perhaps in trouble? Had something happened to him in the darkness? Those questions nag at you incessantly. You hesitate for a moment, as you peek your head outside. You still don't see anything, but you don't know if you should chalk that up to your <<cycle "$eyesight">> <<option "lack of night vision">> <<option "astigmatism">> <</cycle>>. You see that your apartment complex's hallway is completely flushed in murkiness; there must be a power outage in the entire complex. Typically the backup power generators would have kicked on by now. Another cold gust of wind brushes past you, and it hits you that it’s just as nippy out there as it is here. <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>>You stare down the dark hallway and feel that something is wrong. You just can't put your finger on it, though you wish you could. You rub your arms, pushing warmth into the chilled flesh, and contemplate walking down the dark corridor to find your missing friend. “Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm." You freeze. You know that sinister tune from anywhere; it’s plagued your dreams since you were 13, after all. //"Rawhead and Bloody Bones Steals Naughty Children from their Homes Takes them to his dirty den And they are never seen again."// You are shaking now, cold sweat dripping down your back. You close your eyes, and you are greeted by your mother’s pallid face, her eyes staring at you wide and bloodied. Her face still twisted in a scream as globs of blood clogged her nose. You see your father, his head being popped off like a corkscrew. Blood spewing everywhere like water from a busted pipe. His head rolled around your family home's carpet floor, leaving a trail of ichor. And your poor sister. You weren't able to see her from underneath the staircase cupboard, but you doubt you'll ever forget the way she screamed. The familiar sound of a cane tapping against wood filled the ominous hallway, and you feel the adrenaline coursing through your body. You turn back into your apartment, slamming the door shut as you lock it. You stand there, shaking as all is quiet. You can't hear the singing or humming anymore, and the sound of the cane has become non-existent. You want to relax; you want to feel safe. But you're never truly safe, are you? ''Knock knock.'' The knock sounds harmless if knocks can even sound harmless. You're no fool, and you refuse to go to the door. Not when IT could be there waiting; you’ll just wait until it leaves behind your nice fortress of a door, thank you. You're content to make your final stand here. In the safety of your dark apartment, but only when the doorknob starts to jiggle erratically and the knocking turns to pounding that you begin to panic. You think of Tama, his bright smiling face stained red with crimson. Unmoving as strips of flesh are torn from his body. You shuffle backward away from the door, falling on your butt as you try to stifle any noise that may rip from your throat. Your eyes are watering, and if you shake any harder, you're sure that someone's going to need to start throwing dollars your way. The pounding dies, and the apartment is thrown into silence once more. The only sounds you hear are your huffing breaths, coming out in short puffs. It can't get any worse, can it? “Hmmm, hmmmm~." The humming starts up again. You want to tear out your hair as you feel a cold shiver run down your back. It was alright when the noise could be heard from the other side of the door. But, unfortunately, //the humming is coming from inside.// You feel a hot breath on the back of your neck. Your skin is on fire; it feels like sparks are popping at you every second. You let out ragged breaths struggling to stay calm, clapping your hands over your ears you squeeze your eyes shut. “It's not real, it's not real, it's not real!" A distorted voice lets out a choking laugh. //"Let ?them go, let ?them go, oh bless ?them Wherever ?they may be ?they will search this wide world over But ?they'll never find another sweet man like me~."// <<elseif $waterlogged is true>> @@.fade-in-out;''DRIP DRIP DRIP''@@ Your ears strain at the sound of water as if there were a leak in the roof. You peer down the hallway, your eyes straining as you attempt to locate the sound of the leak. ''DRIP, DRIP DRIP.'' The sound is closer than it was a few moments ago. Admittedly, still far away, but close enough that the hair on your neck begins to stand. ''SPLAT, SPLAT, SPLAT'' You now hear wet boots slapping against the hardwood floor of your hallway. The individual's gait is slow and purposeful as the wood floors creak with the person's weight. You pat your sweatpants up and down, looking for your cellphone and cursing once you realize you left it on the couch. Your nose catches the scent of mildew and fish, penetrating your nostrils as you attempt to stop yourself from gagging. The sound of water dripping stops, and so do the wet splats. You feel comforted in knowing that the sound has stopped, but you aren’t sure if that’s a sign that you need to be worried or not. “Haaa, haaa, haaa.” Heavy breathing echoes throughout the hall, making you feel as if it were multiple individuals closing in on you like a crowd on a busy crosswalk. “Tama?" Your voice is shaking, barely above a whisper, as you clutch your arms. You feel something hit your shoulder, once, then twice, before a steady drip soon follows. Your shoulder soon becomes damp as the liquid seeps into the thin cotton hoodie. That disgusting stench comes back harsher than ever, as if it were trapped in your skin. “Nooooo.” A moaning voice croaked from above you. You slowly look up, shaking from head to toe, and meet dead fish-like eyes <<elseif $drfaulicer is true>> ''Thunk thunk thunk.'' You pause. You hear something that sounds like metal hitting the earth, but that’s simply impossible, right? It has to be. You tilt your head, trying to distinguish where the noise came from within the dark. “Ooooouuhhh..." You hear a breathy moan and feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Either Tama was sexing up the delivery person here or... Or something else was going on. ''Thump-thump-thump'' Is that your mystery noise, or is it your heart? You doubt you could make the distinction anymore. “Tama!" You hiss out into the dark. “Oooughhh," the thumping gets more aggressive as the voice pitches an octave. The noise sounded like the person was in pain. The sound feels like it came right next to your ear. So much so that you turn around half expecting to see Tama playing some cheesy low-budget porno with terrible sound effects. But he isn't here. No one’s there, only the cold chill of the hallway and that sickeningly sweet scent. “Tama?" You try again. ''Thump-thump.'' The sound comes from the air grate next to your head. It’s big enough that a person could fit in there if need be... Your scalp is on fire now, an icy cold type of burn that lets you know whatever comes next will not be in your favor. As if it heard your silent plea, the noise stops. It’s quiet for a moment, and just as you are ready to leave, you hear the thumps again. You should leave it alone. You know you should, but you are compelled by a greater force. The loud thumping is all but gone, as if the person who created the noise knows that you're there. As if its secrets were close to being discovered. “You're almost there…" like nails on a chalkboard, a voice croaks in your ear. “You have to find me. You owe me that much, don't you?" You are compelled by a greater force, feet moving on their own as you walk. It’s like an out-of-body experience; you see yourself moving, but you cannot make your legs obey the command ‘stop’. You amble for what feels like hours and finally halt to a stop, feet slipping into something slick. You look down at a grate that is located near your feet. You turn the flashlight on, peering into the darkness. On the ground is a body. Spreadeagled, arm outreached, it clutches the metal bar, knuckles bruised and bloody. Their head was cracked, broken like an eggshell as gray brain matter spilled out onto the concrete floor. It mingles with the vermillion pool of blood, making a congealed soup. “All the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put mommy together again." A child's voice comes from behind you; they sound pitiful and mournful. A chill slides down your back. A bloodied eyeball rolls like soup and finds yours. You see it reach a skeletal hand out towards you. <</if>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Cover your eyes]]>><<set $sanity -=10, $anxiety +=15>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Shooketh]]>><<set $sanity -=10, $anxiety +=15>><</link>></div>

You didn't want to go to work today, Mainly because of how tired you were today. But here you are, suffering as you rang up shifty customers with their shifty attitudes. “Wait, hold on, I have a coupon for that!" The middle-aged woman shouted. You had already closed out her transaction; reopening it would be a bitch, primarily because of how slow and ancient your store's system was. You sit there, listening to the woman breathe heavily and let out annoyed sighs while you were fighting with the register. You think you're halfway to victory, but then you're met with a black screen of death. You feel your soul deflate. “Okay, ma'am, gimme just a minute. I'll have to reboot the system; it doesn't like it when we try to go back." You give her your most courteous smile, but it seems to piss her off even more. “Is this going to take long?" You raise an eyebrow. //Well, you would have been out of here if you weren't trying to use coupons.// “Sorry ma’am, the system is a little slow, like I said. It shouldn't take that long." You said that 5 minutes ago. By the time you could get it back up, the woman was red in the face, and you had a small queue forming behind her. “OK, it's back online! Th--" She thrusts her plump fist out and deposits a bunch of coupons onto your scanner. You feel your eye twitch. You rescan her items and begin scanning her coupons, one by one. 4 out of the five coupons don't work, and that's because //they're expired.// “So, ma'am, you can't use the--" “What do you mean I can't use these!?" She shrieks. //Oh, she's one of those.// “Ma'am, the coupons are expired. We canno-" “These coupons are from your STORE. I know you guys have a policy." <div class="choice">[[Contain the rage][$brash to Math.clamp($brash -5, 0, 100)]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Get Ugly][$rude to Math.clamp($rude +8, 0, 100)]]</div>

<<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You shuffle backward, your hands covering your eyes as you scream. The sound rips from your throat as if you were a newborn babe, echoing throughout your small apartment. Your scream was one that you could feel in the pit of your stomach, the fear that rests there crawls around like ants on a spilled picnic basket.<<else>> You shuffle backward, your hands covering your eyes as you continue to scream. The sound rips from your throat as if you were a newborn babeechoing throughout your apartment complexes hallway. Your scream was one that you could feel in the pit of your stomach, the fear that rests there crawls around like ants on a spilled picnic basket. <</if>> “<<print $your_name>>!” <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>>And just like that, whatever cruel curse was placed had broken. The lights in your apartment flickered back on, illuminating the dark space. Only to show that no one is there. At your front door with plastic bags in his hands stands Tama. A bewildered expression on his face. He took long strides towards you. Food abandoned to the floor, he grabs your chin and tilts your face up. <<else>>And just like that, whatever cruel curse was placed had broken. The lights in your hallway flickered back on, and Tama stood at the end. Only a few feet away from where the figure once stood with plastic bags in his hands. A bewildered expression on his face. He took long strides towards you. Food abandoned to the floor, he grabs your chin and tilts your face up.<</if>> “What happened?? What’s wrong? Are you ok?" His questions rush out as he looks you over for injuries. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>You grab his hands, your face scrunching up as the tears start to flow freely, and you’re pretty sure you’ve begun snotting at this point. But, he doesn’t show disgust; instead, he’s looking at you as if you were made of fine china. “Where were you!” You cry helplessly. He pulls you closer, patting your back as you sob helplessly. <<else>>You can’t speak, a thick knot in the base of your throat. You refuse to cry, at least right now, but your body is a traitor to your mind. And you begin to shake before you know it. You're crying like a child now, sobbing without care, snot everywhere as you sniffle and hiccup.<</if>> Tama lets you cry, shooing away your neighbors who opened their doors to see what the commotion was. When he thinks that you’re finally able to move, he grabs the food and puts a reassuring hand on your back as he leads you back to your room. He settles you back onto your couch, and you two sit in silence the movie long forgotten. It takes about 2 minutes for you to find your voice. "They won't leave me alone…" Your voice breaks at the end, it takes every bit of strength that you have left to not cry again. You begin to tell him of the incident he missed out on just moments ago. Expression dark, he listens, nodding along. When you are finished, a contemplative look crosses his face. "Look, you can’t keep living like this.” <<link [[Continue|He wants to help]]>><<set $stay_Tama to "true">><</link>>

<<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You can’t move. Literally, you’re trying to get your legs to listen to you, willing them to obey your command. But they just won’t. You stare in horror at your front door, you can't bring yourself to turn around. To see the monster that had been dogging you for almsot 8 years has finally caught up with you That familar metallic scent flooding the small apartment space. Before you can even process what is happening, you feel your legs vibrating.<<else>>You can’t move. Literally, you’re trying to get your legs to listen to you, willing them to obey your command. But they just won’t. You stare in horror at the figure as it drags itself up. That rotten scent flooding the hallway in pursuit of you. Before you can even process what is happening, you feel your legs vibrating. <</if>> It’s becoming increasingly difficult for you to stay upright. “<<print $your_name>>!” <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>>And just like that, whatever cruel curse was placed had broken. The lights in your apartment flickered back on, illuminating the dark space. Only to show that no one is there. At your front door with plastic bags in his hands stands Tama. A bewildered expression on his face. He took long strides towards you. Food abandoned to the floor, he grabs your chin and tilts your face up. <<else>>And just like that, whatever cruel curse was placed had broken. The lights in your hallway flickered back on, and Tama stood at the end. Only a few feet away from where the figure once stood with plastic bags in his hands. A bewildered expression on his face. He took long strides towards you. Food abandoned to the floor, he grabs your chin and tilts your face up. <</if>> “What happened?? What’s wrong? Are you ok?” His questions rush out as he looks you over for injuries. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>You grab his hands, your face scrunching up as the tears start to flow freely, and you’re pretty sure you’ve begun snotting at this point. But, he doesn’t show disgust; instead, he’s looking at you as if you were made of fine china. “Where were you!” You cry helplessly. He pulls you closer, patting your back as you sob helplessly. <<else>>You can’t speak, a thick knot in the base of your throat. You refuse to cry, at least right now, but your body is a traitor to your mind. And you begin to shake before you know it. You're crying like a child now, sobbing without care, snot everywhere as you sniffle and hiccup. <</if>> Tama lets you cry, shooing away your neighbors who opened their doors to see what the commotion was. When he thinks that you’re finally able to move, he grabs the food and puts a reassuring hand on your back as he leads you back to your room. He settles you back onto your couch, and you two sit in silence the movie long forgotten. It takes about 2 minutes for you to find your voice. "They won't leave me alone…" Your voice cracks at the end, it takes every bit of strength that you have left to not cry again. You begin to tell him of the incident he missed out on just moments ago. Expression dark, he listens, nodding along. When you are finished, a contemplative look crosses his face. "Look, you can’t keep living like this.” <div class="choice">[[He wants to help]]</div>

You didn’t say anything; you didn’t have to, by the way, Tama grimaces. “I'm just trying to help you; I’m not attacking you." Tama lets out an aggrieved sigh as if he were the one that was constantly badgered and hounded by ghosts and spooks. Like he's the one who was being hunted and haunted by their past. “I think it might be a good idea to face your demons, or so to speak. This VR game is being developed called A Trial of Horror. Has ghosts and the likes, could be a way to get yourself more acclimated to your ‘visitors.’” He took a coily loc of his off-white hair from his face and twirled it. “Tama, I've been dealing with ghosts since I was 8. I doubt a VR game will change my perception of them." “I mean… probably not. But you can try! Hope is the greatest thing that humans can possess, right?" You frown, feeling more annoyed now than drained, “And how the hell is a horror game, that’s VR, so that's MORE reality than I ever want, supposed to make me more acclimated to ghosts?” “You’ll have a chance to get free therapy; obviously, the ghosts aren’t going anywhere, so why not try and find a way to at least expose yourself to their presence. Make it so that you have a chance to be exposed, and if that’s not a good enough reason for you to participate, they’re also offering players $10,000 if you participate and give them feedback. If you wanna look them up, the company’s called The Ego Tai’s Grimoire. Pretty goofy, but they are legit.” You close your eyes and rub your eyelids so hard that you see stars. There are at least 100 ways that this is NOT healthy. “Tama—” He gives you that puppy-eyed expression that he KNOWS you are weak to. In a gesture of peace, he holds his hands out and implores you, “Just try and look into it, ok?” Your lips tighten, but you don’t promise him anything. It's quiet for a moment until he turns to you. “Need a hug?" <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes, please]]>><<set $sanity to Math.clamp($sanity +=30, 0, 100)>><<set $anxiety to Math.clamp($anxiety -=30, 0, 100)>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[No, thanks]]>><<set $sanity to Math.clamp($sanity +=30, 0, 100)>><<set $anxiety to Math.clamp($anxiety -=30, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

<<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> You nod desperately, and he scoots himself further onto the couch. He opens his legs wide and pats the open space between them. “Come." You're sure you’re looking at him like he's crazy. You try to contain the flush that you feel coming. “T-Tama…" He rolls his eyes, either widely oblivious to your discomfort or deciding to ignore it; he pats the space again. “Come on." You hesitate and shuffle towards him on hands and knees. He grabs you gently, manipulating your body so that your back is against his chest. Tama radiates warmth like a space heater. Despite the cloth that hides your skin, you can't help but imagine your skin blazing with fire from where he leaves light touches. His arms wrap around you snugly as he places his chin on top of your head. You sit there, your tension ebbing away slowly like sand falling from a sand dial. You fully relax into his hold, leaning back against, you catch whiffs of bergamot and eucalyptus. “You know,” your head vibrates from the sound of his voice and the motion of his jaw. “My mother used to hold me just like this when I was younger." You feel yourself still. Tama never talked about his family, not really. It was always a little anecdotal here or there about heirlooms that scattered his apartment. But this. “I used to get scared a lot. Sometimes, I would jump at my own shadow if I couldn't tell the difference. My siblings had the time of their life harassing me. The fucking sickos, but my mother?" He pauses. You can hear the wet sound of him smacking his lips. “She would always stick up for me. Didn't matter what was going on; she’d make the others stop." “That's what mothers are supposed to do, I guess. Stick up for their kids?" Your voice is low as you speak “Yeah, but my mother was X-TREME, she'd do anything for us, and she would always take our sides over anyone. Even if it meant that the whole world would turn against her." His voice lingers softly, his eyes becoming glassy as if he were trapped in some distant memory. He cleared his throat and let out a breathy chuckle. "“f there was one thing mom didn't tolerate, it was someone bullying her babies. But I'll never forget how she held me. When I was too far gone in fear, she would just hold me close like this and sing to me. It would always be some little ditty, but my mother could make anything sound like the gates of heaven were opening." Tama begins to hum, an almost melancholic tune. You pause, taking the information in. “What about your father?" His arms loosen from around your body and fall limply to his sides. His cheat is no longer up against your back, and you feel the warmth that he once generated sap away. It reminded you of taking a deep in a cold lake after frost had melted from its top layer. “I never knew him." <<else>> You nod wordlessly, and he scooches over to you and throws an arm over your shoulder, bringing you in for a one-armed hug. You feel his warmth and immediately relax into his side, catching whiffs of eucalyptus and bergamot emitting from his skin. All is quiet; the only sound permitting the space is your kitchen clock, ticking away at the seconds passing. You nestled into his side, fists balled into his sweater as you stared at the blank screen of the TV. “You know this reminds me of my mother." You raise an eyebrow, but he continues. “Whenever I would feel helpless or powerless. She would always give me these big hugs. It would make me feel that everything was going to be okay. No matter what would happen." He smiles softly, lost in the memory. “She sounds like a good mom." “Oh, she was the best!" He chuckles. “I have a lot of siblings, but despite that, she would always make time for each of us individually. And when she couldn't, she made sure that we all were to some extent as harmonious as possible." Tama never really talked about his family, and whenever you mention them, he constantly changed the subject. You had begun to think that they were estranged at some point, but to hear him speak about his mother… he sounded so lonely. “Do you still talk to her?" He hesitates, a doleful smile crossing his face. “It’s pretty hard to. We've both been busy. But I know I still cross her mind." “And what about your father?" He stiffens and withdraws his arm slowly. He folds his arms over his chest and crosses his ankles. “I never knew him." Despite not knowing anything about his relationship with his father, you feel that you've hit a sore subject for him. <</if>> Questions bubble up to your throat. You turn to peek at his face. A vacant expression there. You genuinely couldn't tell if he was choked up about the situation or if he just didn't want to talk about it. “You never did tell me what happened between him and your mom." “<<print $your_name>>," It was the first time you've heard him so severe and so… cold. The flatness of his voice almost makes you jolt. “Let's just leave that where it is." An indignant feeling swells within your chest. You tell him everything! Well, almost everything. Would it be so bad if he could just cough up one measely detail about himself? “I--" You lick your lips and then feel yourself deflate. “Yeah, ok. Sorry." He says nothing, face still smooth like stone. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Signup]]</div>

“No hugs. But please just stay near me." He nods, and you too sit in comfortable silence, until you hear small snickers. You glare at him expression dark. “I'm not laughing at you <<print $your_name>>! This just reminds me of my mom is all." “And how does me loosing my shit remind you of your mother?" He gives you a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head. “Well, when I was dealing with my teen angst stage, and I was mad at the world. She would just sit next to me and listen to vent or bitch about any and everything. She wouldn't say anything, just let me process my emotions on my own terms, at my own pace." A toothy smile spread across his face as he becomes lost in the memory. You sit there staring at him. <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> Your own mother used to be like that. Comforting, and warm, she was like a breath of fresh air. The rays of warmth on a sunny summer day. The coziness of a blanket fresh from the dryer, but that was taken away from you wasn't it? By your own hands no less. <<else>> your mother was hardly the Saint Margaret. But she tried, and God did she try. You couldn't fault her for that much.<</if>> You draw your legs up, placing your cheek against your knee. “She sounds lovely." Tama nods, a melancholic smile spreading across his lips. “She really is." You pause taking the information in. “What about your father?" He pauses, the room becoming chilly. “I never knew him." Questions bubble up to your throat. You turn to peek at his face. A vacant expression there, you genuine couldn't tell if he was choked up about the situation or if he just didn't want to talk about it. “You never did tell me what happened between him and your mom." “<<print $your_name>>," It was the first time you've heard him so serious, and so… cold. The flatness of his voice almost makes you jolt. “Let's just leave that where it is." An indignant feeling swells within your chest. You tell him everything! Well, almost everything. Would it be so bad if he could just cough up one measely detail about himself? “I--" You lick your lips, and then feel yourself deflate. “Yeah, ok. Sorry." He says nothing, face still smooth like stone. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Signup]]</div>

<<if $drfaulicer is true>> @@.shudder;Thunk thunk thunk.@@ You pause. You hear something that sounds like metal hitting the earth, but that’s simply impossible, right? It has to be. You wander further into the freezer, waddling like a duckling as you make your way into the convoluted maze. You were going to find Mariah and then get the fuck out of the freezer. You didn't care where you had to go, but it wouldn’t be here. The smell of freeze and something sickeningly sweet wafts to your nose. Bananas probably overtaken by frost are situated on the shelves nearest to you. “Ooooo..." You hear a breathy moan and feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Either Mariah was back here with someone else who had trash tastes in mood music, or... Or something else was going on. A dark shadow skitters in your peripheral as you pass by another shelf. You freeze, resembling a blurry picture of sasquatch as your head turns to where you saw the shadow dart into a nook at the end of a long aisle. @@.shudder;Thump, thump, thump@@ Is that your mystery noise, or is it your heart? You doubt you could make the distinction anymore. You slowly peek into the dead end, the terror of what you'd find filling your stomach with dread! … Your one true terror is a lone aisle filled with frozen loaves of bread and pie crusts. Dollies filled with opened boxes littered the entire backspace; you let out a breathy laugh, clutching your heart as you sag against the shelf. ''Thunk thunk thunk.'' You straighten up almost immediately. The sound persists, and you get the distinct impression that it's not shoveling that you're hearing but the sound of something being hit. “Mariah, I don't have time for the games right now!" Your patience is short, and your courage even shorter. You NEED to get out of here. The thunks turn wet, a squelching sound like wet clay being mashed in. You get a feeling of dread that starts from the bottom of your toes and travels to the top of your head. A loud buzzing noise fills the freezer, the overhead lights flickering like a dying flame before it lets out a fizzled pop and dies. You curse, bringing out your phone, hands shaking as you turn your overhead flashlight on. “Mariah!" You whisper out into the cavernous dark. “Oooughhh," the thumping gets more aggressive as the voice pitches an octave. The noise sounded like the person was in pain. The sound feels like it came right next to your ear. So much so that you turn around half expecting to see Mariah playing some cheesy low-budget porno with terrible sound effects. But she isn't there. No one’s there, only the cold chill of the freezer and that sickeningly sweet scent. You turn corners now, rushing through the aisles and pallets as you seek out the moans and groans. The thought of finding Mariah long forgotten, as a frantic desire to find the voice, to find the person seeps into your very core. You're almost to the back of the freezer. You're sure that's where the noise is coming from. Or at least from behind the froyo shelf. Your scalp is on fire now; an icy cold burn that lets you know whatever comes next will not be in your favor. It’s quiet. The loud thumping is all but gone, as if the person who created the noise knows that you're there. As if its secrets were close to being discovered. “You're almost there…" like nails on a chalkboard, a voice croaks in your ear. “You have to find me. You owe me that much, don't you?" You are compelled by a greater force, feet moving on their own as you walk. It’s like an out-of-body experience; you see yourself moving, but you cannot make your legs obey the command ‘stop’. You amble for what feels like hours and finally halt, feet slipping into something slick. On the ground is a body. Spreadeagled, arm outreached. Their head was cracked, broken like an eggshell as gray brain matter spilled out onto the concrete floor. It mingles with the vermillion pool of blood, making a congealed soup. You're able to see that the person's skull was caved in by something blunt and sharp, by the shape of the dents and the state of the skull, it had to have been done by someone with a hammer, or a hell of a lot of rage. “All the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put mommy together again." A child's voice comes from behind you; they sound pitiful and mournful. A chill slides down your back. A bloodied eyeball rolls like soup and finds yours. You see it reach a skeletal hand out towards you. <<elseif $waterlogged is true>> ''Drip, drip, drip…'' You do a double-take. You know that's not water you hear, especially in the freezer. You think of all the perishable food that’s back here and imagine Walter, the general store manager chewing out the whole. You peer at the walls and ceiling, your eyes straining as you attempt to locate the leak. If it was leaking in here, that meant the food would go bad, and if the food went bad, you know either you or Mariah would get blamed for losses. ''Drip, Drip, Drip'' The sound is closer than it was a few moments ago. Admittedly, still far away, but close enough that the hair on your neck begins to stand. You wander further into the freezer, waddling like a penguin as you make your way into the convoluted maze. You were going to find Mariah, find the leak, and then get out of here. It was too cold for this bullshit. ''SPLAT, SPLAT, SPLAT'' Wet boots slapping against the concrete floor reverbs throughout the ample space, but it’s impossible to pinpoint the location of the sound exactly. The individual's gait is slow and purposeful, their wet boots signifying their every movement. You freeze, resembling a blurry picture of sasquatch as your head turns to the left, the path leading further into the freezer. You're almost to the back of the freezer. You're sure that's where the dripping is coming from. Or at least from behind the froyo shelf, but now you hear wet boots. An irrational fear of flooding makes you want to move quicker; you may be able to salvage whatever’s back there. However, you again question yourself, //where had you heard those boots before?// Your scalp is on fire now, an icy cold type of burn that lets you know whatever comes next will not be in your favor. It’s quiet. The boots smacking against the ground is all but gone, as if the person who created the noise knows that you're there. As if its secrets were close to being discovered. “Mariah!" You yell. Your nose catches the scent of mildew and fish, penetrating your nostrils as you attempt to stop yourself from gagging. The sound of water dripping stops, and so do the wet splats. You feel comforted in knowing that the sound has stopped, but you aren’t sure if that’s a sign that you need to be worried or not. A loud buzzing noise fills the freezer, the overhead lights flickering like a dying flame. You look up, anxiety rising as you will the lights to stay on, at least until you find Mariah. “Don’t you dare, don’t you fucking da--!” POP! The freezer lights all simitiously shut off, leaving you submerged in darkness. You curse, bringing out your phone, hands shaking as you turn your overhead flashlight on. “Haaa, haaa, haaa.” Heavy breathing echoes throughout the hall, making you feel as if it were multiple individuals closing in on you like a crowd on a busy crosswalk. “Mariah?" Your voice is shaking, barely above a whisper, as you clutch your arms. You feel something hit your shoulder, once, then twice, before a steady drip soon follows. Your shoulder becomes damp as the liquid seeps into the thin winter coat. That disgusting stench comes back harsher than ever as if it were trapped in your skin. “Nooooo.” A moaning voice croaked from above you. You slowly look up, shaking from head to toe, and meet dead fish-like eyes. You let out a terrified scream, shuffling away as the thing splats on the ground. <<elseif $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You enter the freezers, despite the coat you have on and the mittens, the cold still seeps into your bones. You wander further into the freezer, waddling like a duckling as you make your way into the convoluted maze. You were going to find Mariah and then get the fuck out of the freezer. You didn't care where you had to go, but it wouldn’t be here. The smell of freeze and something sickeningly sweet wafts to your nose. Bananas probably overtaken by frost are situated on the shelves nearest to you. Something falls onto the floor with a loud crash. The hair on your neck suddenly stands like a startled cat, and you know that something is wrong. You just can't put your finger on it, though you wish you could. You rub your arms, pushing warmth into the chilled flesh. //’Alright, let’s find Mariah and get out of here.'// “Mariah!” As you wander further into the freezer, you yell out, waddling like a penguin as you make your way into the convoluted maze. “Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm." You freeze, resembling a blurry picture of sasquatch as your head turns to where the humming comes from. The voice doesn’t sound like Mariah’s drugged-out drawls. You peek down the lone aisle filled with frozen loaves of bread and pie crusts. Dollies filled with opened boxes littered the entire backspace. No one was down the aisle. You turn back around, scratching your head in thought. “Mariah!” You try again. //“Hmmm, hmmmm~."// You freeze, skin prickling up like a cactus—the same innotation of the first hum, but a completely different tune. A sinister tune that you know from anywhere; it’s plagued your dreams since you were 5, after all. //“Rawhead and Bloody Bones Steals Naughty Children from their Homes Takes them to his dirty den And they are never seen again."// You are shaking now, cold sweat dripping down your back. You close your eyes, and you are greeted by your mother’s pallid face, her eyes staring at you wide and bloodied. Her face still twisted in a scream as globs of blood clogged her nose. You see your father, his head being popped off like a corkscrew. Blood spewing everywhere like water from a busted pipe. His head rolled around your family home's carpet floor, leaving a trail of ichor. And your poor sister. You couldn’t see her from underneath the staircase cupboard, but you doubt you'll ever forget the way she screamed. The familiar sound of a cane tapping against concrete fills the freezer, and you feel the adrenaline coursing through your body. You turn around, racing through the aisles as you try and make your way back to the door. Fuck finding Mariah, and fuck covering her. You want to feel safe; you want to be as far away from that incessant humming as possible. But you're never truly get away from it. Never. You reach the door and try to throw it open, but it won’t move. You start pounding on the door, “Hey! Let me out of here, please!” Your eyes are watering, and if you shake any harder, you're sure that someone will need to start throwing dollars your way. The only sounds you hear are your huffing breaths, coming out in short puffs. “Mariah! Come on, this isn’t funny!” A loud buzzing noise fills the freezer, the overhead lights flickering like a dying flame. You look up, anxiety rising as you will the lights to stay on, at least until you’re able to get out of here. “Don’t you dare, don’t you fucking da--!” ''POP!'' The freezer lights all shut off, leaving you submerged in darkness. You curse, turning around you bring out your phone, hands shaking as you turn your overhead flashlight on. “Hmmm, hmmmm~." The humming starts up again. You want to tear out your hair as you feel a cold shiver run down your back. You turn back towards the door banging with renewed vigor, you think you're screaming now, but you aren't sure. The sound of your blood pounding in your ears is too loud. You feel a hot breath on the back of your neck. Your skin is on fire; it feels like sparks are popping at you every second. You let out ragged breaths struggling to stay calm, clapping your hands over your ears you squeeze your eyes shut. “It's not real, it's not real, it's not real!" A distorted voice lets out a choking laugh. //"Let ?them go, let ?them go, oh bless ?them Wherever $they may be ?They will search this wide world over But ?they’ll never find another sweet man like me~."//<</if>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Cover thy eyes]]>><<set $sanity -=10, $anxiety +=15>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Shooketh|Shook]]>><<set $sanity -=10, $anxiety +=15>><</link>></div>

<<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You try and shuffle backward, but your back hits the door, your hands covering your eyes as you scream. The sound rips from your throat as if you were a newborn babe, echoing throughout the freezer. Your scream was one that you could feel in the pit of your stomach, the fear that rests there crawls around like ants on a spilled picnic basket.<<else>> You shuffle backward, your hands covering your eyes as you continue to scream. The sound rips from your throat as if you were a newborn babe echoing throughout the freezer. Your scream was one that you could feel in the pit of your stomach, the fear that rests there crawls around like ants on a spilled picnic basket. <</if>> “Why are you screaming?!" Mariah comes in from a side door. The one that leads directly out of the freezer and back into the better-lit storeroom. The one that you irrefutably forgot about in your panic. “Y-you--" She bucks at you, rolling her hands as she urges you to finish your sentence—her dark roots clashing against the bleached blonde locks that fall limply against her pale face. <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You have no explanation, it was gone—the creature that stalked you, the monster that haunted your very nightmares, if it were even there. <<else>> You turn towards the body, gesturing frantically, but that didn't help. Because it was gone. Not even a droplet of blood was left behind.<</if>> You stare at the spot dumbfounded, mouth opening and closing like a big bass. You only shake your head, still trying to process what happened. Mariah eyes you, scrutinizing you from top to bottom. Her red-tinged eyes let you know exactly what she may have been doing back here. “What are you even doing back here anyway?" She scowled, brow bunching together in annoyance. “Shouldn't you be at the front." “Quinn told me you were in here." Your voice is mechanical. Robotic in its intonation as you speak. “John told me to give you your break." A weird expression crosses her face as she tilts her head, “Quinn doesn't even work today." Well… //shit.// “And they call me a pothead..." Mariah mutters. She wanders off, leaving you alone in the freezer. //With whatever else is there.// <div class="choice">[[begin to laugh]]</div> <div class="choice">[[feel tears well up]]</div>

<<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You can’t move. Literally, you’re trying to get your legs to listen to you, willing them to obey your command. But they just won’t. You stare in horror at your front door, you can't bring yourself to turn around. To see the monster that had been dogging you for almsot 8 years has finally caught up with you. That familar metallic scent floods the small freezer space. Before you can even process what is happening, you feel your legs vibrating.<<else>> You can’t move. Literally, you’re trying to get your legs to listen to you, willing them to obey your command. But they just won’t. You stare in horror at the figure as it drags itself up. That rotten scent flooding the freezer space in pursuit of you. Before you can even process what is happening, you feel your legs vibrating. <</if>> It’s becoming increasingly difficult for you to stay upright. “Why are you screaming?!" Mariah comes in from a side door. The one that leads directly out of the freezer and back into the better-lit storeroom. The one that you irrefutably forgot about in your panic. “Y-you--" She bucks at you, rolling her hands as she urges you to finish your sentence—her dark roots clashing against the bleached blonde locks that fall limply against her pale face. <<if $rawheadandbloodybones is true>> You have no explanation, it was gone—the creature that stalked you, the monster that haunted your very nightmares, if it were ever there. <<else>> You turn towards the body, gesturing frantically, but that didn't help. Because it was gone. Not even a droplet of blood was left behind.<</if>> You stare at the spot dumbfounded, mouth opening and closing like a big bass. You only shake your head, still trying to process what happened. Mariah eyes you, scrutinizing you from top to bottom. Her red-tinged eyes, and the skunky smell, lets you know exactly what she may have been doing back here. “What are you even doing back here anyway?" She scowled, brow bunching together in annoyance. "Shouldn't you be up at the front?" “Quinn told me you were in here." Your voice is mechanical. Robotic in its intonation as you speak. “John told me to give you your break." A weird expression crosses her face as she tilts her head, “Quinn doesn't even work today." Well… //shit.// “And they call me a pothead..." Mariah mutters. She wanders off, leaving you alone in the freezer. //With whatever else is there.// <div class="choice">[[feel tears well up]]</div> <div class="choice">[[begin to laugh]]</div>

You thought you were doing a good job of not crying. But before you're even aware of it, you're tearing up and sobbing. The noise reminds you of a duck expressing his anger, and before you can stop it. You imagine yourself as Donald Duck, and that seems to only make you cry harder. It takes a moment, but you're finally able to stand. You're tired, not just emotionally but physically. You need to get home. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Home]]</div>

The laugh bubbles up in your throat as you laugh desperately, manically. Unable to stop yourself, the laughs turn to full-blown sobs as you cover your face with your hand. It takes a moment, but you're finally able to stand. You're tired, not just emotionally but physically. You need to get home. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Home]]</div>

Later that night, when Tama found himself asleep long before you did. You find yourself staring at the ceiling, lost in thoughts. You sit in silence for a moment, but your palms begin to itch, and before you know it, you’re on your phone, scrolling through the game developers' website. The site was well-put-together, you have to admit. Enough to make you feel as if it weren’t scamish. You look through the comments left behind and see that it's nothing but rave reviews, as well as redemption codes for in-game items. You read through a few more reviews, wrinkling your nose at some of the moronic ones. Somewhere along the way, you find yourself at the registration page. The neon sign-up button flashes before your eyes, tempting you to click. //‘You only live once, right?’// You click the button and begin to fill out the form. You had been hesitant to participate, even thinking this was a scam. So, what made you cave in now? <div class="choice"><<link [[Free Therapy]]>><<set $genuine +=6>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Literally don’t have a choice]]>><<set $stubborn -=8>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[For the love of money]]>><<set $rude +=6>><</link>></div>

@@#options; <<nobr>> <<link "Thank him">> <<replace "#options">> You feel slightly touched by Tama’s thoughtfulness, despite how bad of an idea this sounds. //Thanks, Tama! You’re always looking out for me. You’re the best friend I could possibly have!// <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <<link "What's in it for you?">> <<replace "#options">> Your eyes narrow; when something is too good to be true, there’s a reason for it. You doubt Tama would get you involved in anything that wasn’t legit. But he was trying to sell this thing to you a little bit too hard for you to not be suspicious. //‘What’s in it for you?’// You wait for a while, but just as you had expected. //‘Well, there may be a promotional thing going on. If you refer a friend and they sign up, you gain an additional $5,000. But I totally think this will help you!’// <</replace>> <</link>> <br> <</nobr>>\ @@\ You toss your phone onto your bed and collapse next to it, staring at the crème ceiling. What bullshit. Did Tama really think that playing some stupid game would be a healing process for you? It wouldn’t stop the spirits from coming at you, nor would it stop you from being terrified of them. You sit in silence for a moment, but your palms begin to itch, and before you know it, you’re on your phone, scrolling through the game developers' website. The site was well-put-together, you have to admit, enough to make you feel as if it weren’t scamish. You look through the comments left behind and see that it's nothing but rave reviews, as well as redemption codes for in-game items. You read through a few more reviews, wrinkling your nose at some of the moronic ones. Somewhere along the way, you find yourself at the registration page. The neon sign-up button flashes before your eyes, tempting you to click. //‘You only live once, right?’// You click the button and begin to fill out the form. You had been hesitant to participate, even thinking this was a scam. So, what made you cave in now? <div class="choice"><<link [[Free Therapy]]>><<set $genuine +=6>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Literally don’t have a choice]]>><<set $stubborn -=8>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[For the love of money]]>><<set $rude +=6>><</link>></div>

The week had gone by, and here you were on another Saturday. You were plagued by nightmares too terrifying that you often questioned whether they were fake. Your mind was assaulted, worn thin by your otherworldly visitors, their constant presence teetering on the line of your subconscious. Had you been too weak or even too tired, they would grasp ahold of you, their ghostly fingers gripping ahold of what little of your sanity you had left. Despite their constant molestation on your spirit, you’ve made it through another week. Worse for wear, but alive.<<if $Home_alone is "true">> You hear a knock at your door, and you almost jump out of your skin. You curse your frailty and rub your face. The incident from last week has left you shaken if you can't even stand to hear a knock on the door without panicking.<<else>>You hear a knock at your door, and frown. You aren't expecting any vistors, although that rarely mattered if Tama was involved. You really needed to teach him boundaries. You silently snorted, it's been 6 years, if he hasn't learned them by now, you doubt he would learn them ever. //'I swear if it's Tama again...'//<</if>> Moving your laptop from in your lap, you stand up. Stretching your muscles, you go to look out of the peephole. A man in a delivery outfit holding a large box waited as he looked helplessly up and down your hallway. You hesitate, thinking if you had ordered anything recently. //'Oh, that's right! The game.'// You wrinkle your nose. The item that you had gotten from the store did it's job and then some. You've never felt more better rested than you have now. You don't need the game no you feel. You eagerly unlock the door and greet the postman. He's tall and thin, almost scarily so, his nametag has //Carl// written in cursive. The patch fading from either age or multiple washes. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Another]]</div>

“<<print $your_name>>?" You nod. He hands over the box and offers you his device to sign. Your hands meet, and you feel a jolt of electricity trail down your body. The pad slips out of your hand as you curse. You sense severe negative energy emitting from him. It's so suffocating; you feel as if someone's trying to smother you with a pillow. If it feels this bad for you, you wonder how bad it must be for him. You hand him the pad back, looking in his face. Carl was pale, his brows bunched up in the middle of his forehead. Sweat rolled down his face, and his upper lip trembled. He waves goodbye to you, and for a moment, you see something latched onto him. A pale shadow too oblique for you to fully see. <div class="choice">[[He needs a hero]]</div> <div class="choice">[[It's not your business]]</div>

!Episode One: Feelin' Alright Doc'? The oppressive light that had flooded your eyes just moments before backed off slowly, or maybe it was never there in the first place? With your luck, it may have been the latter. Your senses rolled to you slowly. You feel your body is being jolted up and down, reminiscent of those old rickety roller coasters you used to ride as a child, and it was from those movements that you knew you had to be in a moving vehicle. The scent of artificial cherries wafts up to your nose as you try to blink the blinding light away. Slowly, your vision returns, a stinging sensation crawling in the back of your skull. Your head is currently propped against a slightly frosted glass window, the radiator emitting warm waves of air. From what you can see, the car is slowly rolling down a deserted highway; not even a single street lamp illuminated the stretch of land. "—and this just in, Dr. Hari Matali has released her statement on the ongoing political unrest currently shaking all of Northern Sudan. Dr. Hari has stated that the current mysterious illness has already claimed the lives of over 900 people, with more than 2,000 people currently experiencing mysterious symptoms. Dr. Hari calls for Prime Ministers and local governmental authorities to quickly develop a contingency plan. Quoting, "this disease has the potential to caus–" "—he sacrifice was much too high! Our greed just made us all go blinnddd~~" The sound of heavy drums filled the car as the station switched. "Hey!” A voice comes from beside you, loud and boisterous and shakingly familiar. “That could have helped us lat-!" You stiffen in your seat and try to side-eye the individual but find your neck creaking something awful. "Some news about a half-baked doctor talking about civil unrest. You read the objectives; this shit doesn't have anything to do with disea-" An older man, looking to be in his mid-40s, was on the driver's side, his fingers continued to fiddle with the radio until he rested on some obscure folk station. <div class="choice">[[Continue|What]]</div>

"This isn't your first go-around, man. You know that any little thing can help!" “Yeah, but not some sorry report about shit that isn’t even in the country isn't going to help!” “And how do you know that! Do you have some sort of insight that we don't have?" The second voice chimed; it didn't take a rocket genuis to figure out that there was a hint of animositiy in their tone. If your brows could furrow any more, you're pretty sure that they'd go into your eye sockets. You weren't exactly sure what you woke into or where you were for that much. But you DID know that you would rather not sit here and listen to the 3 stooges. "I'm the senior player here, and all these games are the same is what I’m saying." His words rushed out in a flurry as his fingers tapped the steering wheel. "If you guys want to survive WITH good rankings, you need to listen to me.” "Dude, I've been in more than 4 games with you, and I can confidently say that experience does not equate to skill. Instead of telling us to rely on you, give us the chance to be able to rely on ourselves.” "Alex is right, Mark. We need any advantage we can get; the game is set for Level 2 difficulty. We won't be able to rely on you in this." <<if $Apronoun is "woman">> Another woman?<<else>> A woman this time?<</if>> You couldn't see her face, only a bit of blonde strands that seemed to spill over her shoulders. “Maribelle cut the crap. You know, as well as I do, what kind of game we're going into. The hints don't come until the middle. You gonna let $their kind steer you wrong?" You notice the disdain in the man's voice. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Racist]]</div>

“MY KIND!?" The voice ground out. “Look, man, if you've got a problem, then say that shit. Otherwise, shut up and actually listen to what your teammates are trying to tell you!" As the three strangers continued to argue amongst themselves, you tried to track how exactly you got here. Your memory stops at picking up the black orb, and nothing else seems to come after. The desire to pull at your hair courses through you, but you resist. Not sure if you wanted to alert the other occupants that you had awoken. If they already didn't know, that is. “--eah, well, if ?they doesn't wake up by the time we get there, I say we leave ?them! We've got only a short time frame to work with." The woman on the passenger's side was hidden well, but you could see her head bobbing up and down. “Mark's right. You know we only have a short time to enter the gates before we automatically fail. Why waste time on people who may hold us back?" //Welp, there goes me sympathizing with her.// “Are you guys serious?? We're talking about another living human being!" “Well, how do we even know that ?they is still alive, Alex! Not everyone survives the migration; ?they could be dead for all we know!" "Well, that's disconcerting that no one checked for a pulse." Your voice cuts through the tension that seemed to stick like flypaper. A snort from your left makes you turn. Despite the current darkness inside and outside the car, you would know this person's face anywhere. The $adultPerson from the department hall. $They flash a smile, white teeth gleaming in the darkness. “Howdy." The other occupants in the car turn to look back at us. The woman had a look of relief on her face, her eyes closing as she let out a long breath. However, the man heaved out a long-suffering sigh. “Told you ?they was ok. You're too eager to abandon ship if it doesn't seem profitable for you. That's gonna lead you into an early grave." “What did you say to me!" The man yelled. You saw his green eyes flash into the dashboard mirror, staring the young $adultPerson down. “You threatening me?" “If I were threatening you, you'd know it." A sneer crawled on $their face. "I'm forewarning you." “Ummm, can you just pull over and let me out?" “No!” You resisted the urge to cry. If they won’t let you out, you can try and get some answers. <div class="choice"><<if visited("Where is this?")>><s>Where is this?</s><<else>>[[Where is this?]]<</if>></div> <div class="choice"><<if visited("Who are you guys?")>><s>Who are you guys?</s><<else>>[[Who are you guys?]]<</if>></div> <div class="choice"><<if visited ("What's happening?")>><s>What's Happening?</s><<else>>[[What's happening?]]<</if>></div>

“What is happening here?" “First things first, do you remember the last thing you were doing?" Alex asks. You stop and think... “I got a package, and I opened it. But,” You pause. The last thing you remember is picking up that strange black orb with golden cracks and then the strong pull in your gut. “I was expecting some kind of console or something. Instead, it was an orb with golden cracks. I picked it up, and next thing I know, I woke up here.” “Oh, great, a newbie!" The man threw his hand in the air and turned back to face the road ahead. //Did you forget to mention that you REALLY don't like this guy? You’re pretty sure he and Fischer had to be related with their terrible attitudes.// “You picked up an item that you knew nothing about?” Maribelle inquired. “That is the fastest way to get cursed, you know,” Alex mused. "Still doesn't explain why or what I'm doing here." [[Continue|happens]]

“Where even am I?" “In a car,” Mark stated. Wow, I REALLY am not liking this guy. “Hey Mark, look, I have something in my hand wanna see?" Alex raises $their palm looking intently at the smooth plans of $their hand. “It's called the five tenets of not being a dick." “Mark…" The women's voice rung out with uncertainty. The man simply snorts refusing to address either Alex or the woman. “To answer your question, we have no idea." Alex answers. “But if the news station would have stayed on, I'm sure we would know by now." $They throw a stink eye at Mark. <<return [[Racist]]>>

The $adultPerson next to you peers over at you, “You can call me Alex. It’s nice to meet you." “We’ve met before already, but it's nice to put a name to the face.” You smile, but Alex sends you a quizzical look. “Oh yeah? Have we played in a game together?” $They rub their chin in thought and then shake $their head. “Nah, I don’t think that’s it. I would have remembered if that was the case. Sorry, but I don’t remember?” It was literally five days ago! You clamp your lips together and decide not to push it. You feel a bit <<cycle "$emotion">> <<option "embarrassed">> <<option "annoyed">> <<option "unaffected">> <</cycle>> but decide to let it go. You just offer a smile. “I'm <<print $your_name>>." <<return [[Racist]]>>

“Check the phone," Alex said. “Should be in your left breast pocket or in your messenger bag." You furrow your nose, looking down at yourself to find that you're no longer wearing the clothes you just had on. Instead, you're now in form-fitting jeans and a button-up shirt. In between your legs, you find a medium-sized bag. You look back at Alex with a bewildered look, but all $they does is gesture at you to open it. You first pat your breast pocket, find nothing there, and then move onto the bag. <<link 'SEARCH'>> <<script>> Dialog.setup('Contents of bag'); Dialog.wiki(Story.get('Contents of bag').processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> You are suprised to see your <<if $notexorcised is "true">>porcelain tiger. The last time you saw it, it was resting in the oak box on your night stand.<<else>>antique bell. You had attached a string to its handle, and wore the cold metal across your neck everywhere. So, the big question is why is it here?<</if>> Nothing is making sense. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Why?]]</div>

“What exactly are bonus points?" “Well, for every game that you complete, you are ranked by your performance and whether you completed objectives. You gain regular points for that, right. However," Alex rubbed $their nose. “Bonus points come from completing secret objectives, saving teammates, anything really. The more points you have the better." <div class="choice">[[Main Objectives]]</div>

“Do we have to complete main objectives?” Your voice comes out soft. You’re wrapping your arms around yourself before you even know it. You juggle the idea around of just quitting and going back home to find comfort in your bed. But you don't even know where you are, let alone how far from home you currently were. You think of calling Tama, but remember that you don't have your old ratty cellphone, nor do you remember Tama's number by heart. So, thats out of the picture. Alex sends you a sympathetic look, “Well, not necessarily. That's the good thing I suppose. Everyone has the same main objectives for most games, so as long as someone completes it the game is technically finished and we're transported back. But you may want to try and earn some points, you'll need them. Have you read the postcard yet?" $They shake $their head at you, “Read it. It'll help." <div class="choice">[[Secret Objectives]]</div>

<h3>Dear player, Welcome to A Trial of Horror! You have been chosen to participate in an exciting and new experience that we hope will be both life-changing and eye-opening! The rules are straightforward. For each game you participate in, you are given a primary objective to complete and occasional side quests. Successful completion of objectives and side quests will lead to an accumulation of points that can be used to further your journey through the game! Refusal to participate in the missions will result in punishment and often lead to low rankings, so we encourage you to try your best to win! If you have any questions, please consult with the number listed below, and a representative will be with you! Again, Good luck and stay safe!</h3> “This," You lick your lips, reading over the postcard once more. “can't be, right? This is supposed to be a VR GAME." “Does this feel like a game to you?" You hesitate and pinch yourself as hard as you can. The sharp pain in your arm lets you know that this isn't a dream. You're not well-versed about the different gaming systems that are out right now, but you'd like to think that if something so miraculous as a compact item that can project video games into your psyche existed, you would have heard about it by now. But then, where does that leave you? It doesn't even begin to explain what is happening here and why. You slowly shake your head, knowing that the man and woman at the front of the car couldn't see you: only Alex and $their glowing eyes. The man, Mark, grumbled as he slowed the car. You were now in a large parking lot that was eerily empty. The only other vehicle there sat two spaces down from your own. “Come on; the other team is probably already waiting for us." Mark quickly shut off the car and exited the vehicle, slamming the car door in the process. Everyone filed out in unison, leaving you alone in the car, still trying to make sense of the mess. A light rapping on the window repurchased you, and you see Alex gesturing for you to exit. You hesitate but open the door and clamber out, the cold, crispness of the night air grasping you firmly. <div class="choice">[[Observe your surrounding]]</div>

You sling the bag over your shoulder, and step out of the car. The air is cold and biting. You rub your arms, hoping to coax warmth into your flesh. You have a chance to get your bearings and look around, now that you're no longer in the car. The large parking lot you're in isn't just a parking lot. It's attached to a large hospital building that seemed to be obsessed with catholic statues. They littered almost every surface of the building; the name @@.blink;''Los Muertos Memorial Hospital''@@ blinks obliquely against the extensive gray background. <<if $perception gte 13>> The longer you stare at the blinking sign, the more unsettled you feel. Your ears began to pick up the sound of rustling leaves, despite the nearest trees being yards away. It might have been the too cold temperature, or perhaps the stress of the entire situation weighed down on you, but you feel a cold chill trailing down your spine. As if a long icy digit had gone under your shirt and was dragging its nails down your back. Whispers kissed your ears, the voices sounding sweet like honey, but the words were far beyond your comprehension. You pause, straining your ears against the wind when you hear something perplexing, well, more bizarre than your current circumstances. Was that… Did that… You could have sworn you just heard a horse? //clue 1 gained// <<else>> You feel a cold chill travel down your back. You think you're just reacting to the environment, but there is something base, innate and WRONG with the energy of this place. You didn't want to find out what that was. <</if>> “Move your ass, kid! The wardens give us only an hour to initiate the beginning of the mission before they move in for the kill.” Mark grumbled. <div class="choice">[[Get scared]]</div>

“W-Wardens?” You wrap your arms around yourself and look, and no one is laughing. You had hoped that they were making a joke at the expense of the poor newbie. But the longer they stood there silent, the more your anxiety grew. What he means is that this is no game; this is very much so real. And that little line about punishment for not participating? It’s not a threat. It's a promise." Alex shrugged on $their knapsack, rummaging through it. “Can someone please start making sense here!" “Oh, honey…" The blonde, Maribelle, had saddled up next to you. When she was this close, you could finally see her face. You had expected a woman in her 20’s, not a woman who appeared to be in her mid-50’s with 4 kids and a soccer van. She had an accent, reminding you of those southern church ladies that would sit at the front of the pews humming and hawing at every word of the pastor. The kind that would obstinately believe that their words and actions were reflective of God's dogma. “While this is a game, that much is true, the consequences and actions of it play out very much as if it's reality." She bit her lips and then pointed out to a line of trees. “You see those trees out there?" <div class="choice">[[and?]]</div>

“It’s kinda hard not to, considering that they are the only things out here.” You say dryly. “Ha, you’re a smartass!” Mark had turned around to stare at us, a sneer on his face. “That’s cute. Those typically last about 15 minutes.” You glare at the older man, resisting the urge to tell him where he and his bouncing beer belly could go. “Look closer." She muttered. You did as she asked, your eyes scrutinizing every bit of the dense foliage. The leaves moved gently; however, their movement betrayed what hid within its canopy. Of all different sizes and shapes, Faces stared back at you, devoid of color and stiff from the unnatural position that they held. Their eyes were bugged out, too big to be even remotely normal as you saw yellowed irises and blood-burst veins. You startled, your chest hammering the longer you stared. You were beginning to feel off-kelter from the intense staring, and finally tore your gaze away. “What are they?” Your words come out in puffs of hot air as you clutch at your chest. A sharp pain was blooming there, like a rose maturing in the spring. “No one knows. Guardians are what Mark thinks. They're more like wardens to me." She worked her hands, rubbing her knuckles, as she stared off into the woods. “Anyone who tries to run off, who refuses to play, are taken by them." She turned to you, eyes glossy as she sniffled. “You don't want to see that." You nod. That's something you both can agree on. You sense that there's a story behind those wet eyes. However, not wanting to pry too much, you choose to follow the rest of the group towards the hospital entrance. “We were waiting for you guys!” Three people were waiting at the front door. The first two looked like they could be cousins, both redheads, with square faces and deathly pale skin. The male, however, looked suspiciously in need of a root touch-up if your eyes could be trusted. They appeared much younger than Mark and Maribelle, bodies built as if they played sports and lived in the gym. The two greeted Mark and Maribelle, the man shaking hands with Mark, while the woman bent down to scope Maribelle into a hug. The last figure, another young man, hung back. He was just as tall as Alex but stockier; his deep ebony skin reminded you of night, a constellation of stars represented by small dark dots covered his entire face. His hands were stuffed deep into his pants pockets, his shoulders raised high. The smile etched on his face was tight and thin as he nodded at Mark and Maribelle. His black coily hair was cut close to his scalp, a pattern of coily waves covering his head. A single gold hoop dangled in his left ear. It wasn’t until he saw Alex that his smile loosened. “I thought you weren’t gonna join this one!” He waltzed over to where you sll stood and clasped Alex’s arm tightly. His voice was surprising throaty in timbre, but so full of emotion. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|friend]]>><<set $met_Khalid to "true">><</link>></div>

“And leave you by yourself? You know me better than that, Khalid." Alex smiled. $Their face was bright as $they released the man's arm. $Their expression then grew severe as $they looked back at the small group that was now formed in front of the door lobby. Khalid leaned in closely, “I really didn’t want to have to play teamwork with those two.” Alex nodded. “Believe me, I know. Between Mark and Maribelle, I can tell you that neither of them has a functioning brain cell between the two.” The man shook his head, “Nah, I wish I could say that about these two. It’s something about 'em, maybe the eyes, I don’t know. I just don’t trust ‘em.” Alex raised $their eyebrow, “You came to that conclusion within a 30-minute car ride?” He laughed, “You know me. I like to be cautious.” “More like paranoid.” “You weren't saying that last week when we had to expose those vampires." Alex snorted, “You literally accused everyone of being the vampire, and then when you FINALLY got the right people, you ran off!” “Well, what did you want me to do? They had a pack of wolves with them!” “All you had to do was expose them to sunlight!” “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Khalid lifted both hands, “I’m hearing a lot of ‘It’s your fault Khalid!’ and not enough, ‘Thank you for saving my life, Khalid!’ Weren’t you the one with the holy water? What happened to that little bathtub plan of yours?” Alex paused. Lifting up $their pointer finger, it dropped as $their mouth flopped up and down like a fish out of water. $They coughed and rubbed $their nose, refusing to meet Khalid's gaze, “Let’s not bring up old shit, shall we?” “Naawww, since we’re talking about it, let's talk about it! You had both the holy water, liquified garlic, and the stakes, but where were you when we needed them?” “Man, c’mo--!” “Uh, hi? Sorry to interrupt the romance here, but I’m a little lost.” You interrupt, lifting your hand to slice through their banter. The two finally decided to acknowledge your presence. The dark-skinned male eyed you from head to toe, “Who’s this?” “First timer. <<print $your_name>>, meet Khalid ibn-al Bakir, the most annoying friend you could ask for.” “Ahem!" Khalid placed a hand over his heart. The tight black V-neck he wore left nothing to the imagination, clinging to his abs, outlining each ab he possessed. "BEST friend, thank you." He looks you over, head tilting, "You've got some bad luck. Sucks that your first time’s got to be a Level 2.” <div class="choice">[[Continue|Bromance]]</div>

Did you ever even have a choice? Fate was circling and moving beyond your abilities to imagine. You end up on the confirmation page and stare at it. You were sent a confirmation number, along with a customer service number, in case you experienced any trouble with the VR headset being sent. You feel as if you've just done something monumental, but only time would tell if you'd done something good. <div class="choice"><<link 'Morning comes'>> <<if $homealone is "true">>\ <<goto 'Next Day'>>\ <<elseif $Tama_stayed is "true">>\ <<goto 'Tama here'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

This was going to be the easiest $10,000 that you WOULD ever make. God knows you've done weirder things since you've been in college. You end up on the confirmation page and stare at it. You were sent a confirmation number, along with a customer service number, in case you experienced any trouble with the VR headset being sent. You feel as if you've just done something monumental, but only time would tell if you'd done something good. <div class="choice"><<link 'Morning comes'>> <<if $homealone is "true">>\ <<goto 'Next Day'>>\ <<elseif $Tama_stayed is "true">>\ <<goto 'Tama here'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

You think Tama may have been on to something with this being a therapeutic event. It’s not like the ghosts we’re going to go anywhere anytime soon; this would probably be a less dangerous way to acclimate yourself to the spiritual world. You end up on the confirmation page and stare at it. You were sent a confirmation number, along with a customer service number, in case you experienced any trouble with the VR headset being sent. You feel as if you've just done something monumental, but only time would tell if you'd done something good. <div class="choice"><<link 'Morning comes'>> <<if $homealone is "true">>\ <<goto 'Next Day'>>\ <<elseif $Tama_stayed is "true">>\ <<goto 'Tama here'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

“Everyone says that, but what’s bad about a level 2?” The two looked at each other's expressions. Alex's lips and eyes twitched several times, $they peered at Khalid with a vacant look. Khalid slapped his hand over his mouth, eyes crinkling as he stole quick glances at Alex. It took mere moments before the two burst out laughing. “W-W-where did you f-find this ?person from!" “D-d-did y-y-ou really ask t-that!" Your face was dour, lips pursued as you waited for the two jackals to stop laughing. “Remember, newbie, right?" “Woooo," Khalid wiped tears from his eyes, hugging his stomach as he tried to stifle the chuckles tumbling from his lips. “Shit. That was funny. Look, darling, level 2s aren't that bad. If you've got the right items and skills. But for someone like you who’s new? You may as well give Alex and me your last words. Especially with this one." “Yeah, you see the forums?" Khalid squinted his eyes and pursed his lips. Tapping a long digit against his chin, he hummed, “Think this game took out 60 players? And it was just released last week." “The forum?" Your head whips between the two, hoping that one, or both preferably, would begin to make sense. Alex nodded, “I can show you later. It's a perfect place to go to for info on upcoming events, sales, and new game releases." You give $them a small smile in gratitude. You think back to what Khalid said earlier, your lips pursing slightly. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Trust]]</div>

“Why don't you trust those two?" Khalid's face grew grave, his ebony eyes darkening like the sky before a storm. “Like I said. I couldn't really pinpoint why. But it’s something about 'em that smells rotten." Alex rubs $their chin, and snorts. Folding $their arms over $their chest, $they leans into Khalid, and lowers $their voice, “And if they're friends with Mark, then you know they're probably pretty low on the moral compass." “Yeesh, what's your issue with Mark?" You ask curiously. You had noticed the tension between the two in the car, and while Maribelle had been trying to play peacemaker, it was pretty evident that there was bad blood between the two. “Besides him being a racist piece of shit," Alex ground out. “He’s reckless, like a bull in a China shop, and he doesn’t care. I don't like it, and I've let him know on multiple occasions that I don’t like it. Somehow we still end up in the same games though." “Mark is the type of guy that thinks he's an alpha male. You either get in line, or you get left behind, and if you don't agree with him?" Khalid shakes his head. “He'll try and make your life a living hell." A sour expression falls upon your face as you glance at the middle-aged man. You couldn't believe that there were men his age that still acted like they were in high school. //Stunted growth much?// Your eyes roam over to the two players. “And what about the other two?" Khalid began to rub his knuckles. “I've heard rumors about a pair of redheads that entered a level 3 with about 10 other players. All veterans with high rankings, mind you. Those redheads were the only ones that made it out, with everybody's belongings." Khalid turned to you, a rueful smile on his face “Think I’m paranoid still?" <div class="choice"><<link [[No->Khalid likey]]>><<set $Khalid_approval +=15>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->Khalid dont likey]]>><<set $Khalid_approval +=5>><</link>></div>

You pursue your lips. Rumors could be baseless and the work of busybody gossips. However, all stories come from somewhere, and with something like this, it’s better to be cautious than not. Besides, something told you that you could trust Khalid. However, you did need to hear the full vampire story later. "Nothing wrong with being cautious." Khalid smiled warmly while Alex rolled $their eyes. "I knew I liked you." “Hey, we’re going to go ahead and get started! Maribelle thinks that she saw one of the guardians move.” The female redhead had sauntered over to us. Her eyes roamed over you. You all entered the entrance doors, two stone angels stationed on both sides of the door as if they were welcoming you into the gates of heaven. As you pass through them, you feel something shift from within you. The feeling only gets worse as you enter the hospital’s lobby. A sickening feeling like oil pouring on your head clings to you. You look around, trying to find the source of where the feeling came from. Your eyes land on a large landscape painting. It reminds you of those old renaissance paintings that you find in old churches. Faded from age, but still. The main image is of a man draped in a white sheet. He seems to be rising from the ground in a black box. He’s surrounded by numerous figures, all with bewildered expressions. Your eyes roam over the painting meticulously until you reach a particularly dark spot in the picture. <<if $perception gte 18>> Your eyes squint as you try to cut through the darkness. It’s small, but you think you see a figure curled into itself like a ball. A sense of dread engulfs you the longer you stare at the spot; as if you just dived head first into an ice bath. You feel a chill next to your ear; you want to blame the door that keeps opening and closing. But even your vast imagination, couldn't fully grasp onto that idea. <<else>> Your eyes try to cut through the darkness, but you have trouble identifying what’s there. Your heart starts to speed up the longer you stare at the spot.<</if>> The feeling seems to penetrate your mind. Scratching at your brain, like a blunt fingernail, it digs deep. It feels as if someone were attempting to scoop out chunks of flesh, and brain matter. You shut your eyes tight, counting to ten as a wave of vertigo washes over you. You try and ground yourself, hands balling up inyo your shirt, as you try and shallowly breathe through your mouth. You had never felt such a sense of... wrongness before in your life. You let out a shaky breath and open your eyes, turning away from the painting. You anticipated patients sitting around waiting to be seen, nurses gossiping amongst themselves, whether about cases or their weekend plans. But not this. Staff members walked around with haggard appearances, their eyes carrying a haunted look as they carried out their duties mechanically. The lobby was dolefully quiet; no sound seemed to break through the stiff silence. As you watched them, you couldn't help but feel a chill run down your back. Something wasn't right, but you couldn't put your finger on what it was. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Alex sees]]</div>

“If the shoe fits…" you trail off. Alex snorted, “Khalid will wear the motherfucker." “Rude!" “Hey, we’re going to go ahead and get started! Maribelle thinks that she saw one of the guardians move.” The female redhead had sauntered over to us. Her eyes roamed over you. You all entered the entrance doors, two stone angels stationed on both sides of the door as if they were welcoming you into the gates of heaven. As you pass through them, you feel something shift from within you. The feeling only gets worse as you enter the hospital’s lobby. A sickening feeling like oil pouring on your head clings to you. You look around, trying to find the source of where the feeling came from. Your eyes land on a large landscape painting. It reminds you of those old renaissance paintings that you find in old churches. Faded from age, but still. The main image is of a man draped in a white sheet. He seems to be rising from the ground in a black box. He’s surrounded by numerous figures, all with bewildered expressions. Your eyes roam over the painting meticulously until you reach a particularly dark spot in the picture. <<if $perception gte 18>> Your eyes squint as you try to cut through the darkness. It’s small, but you think you see a figure curled into itself like a ball. A sense of dread engulfs you the longer you stare at the spot; as if you just dived head first into an ice bath. You feel a chill next to your ear; you want to blame the door that keeps opening and closing. But even your vast imagination, couldn't fully grasp onto that idea. <<else>> Your eyes try to cut through the darkness, but you have trouble identifying what’s there. Your heart starts to speed up the longer you stare at the spot.<</if>> The feeling seems to penetrate your mind. Scratching at your brain, like a blunt fingernail, it digs deep. It feels as if someone were attempting to scoop out chunks of flesh, and brain matter. You shut your eyes tight, counting to ten as a wave of vertigo washes over you. You try and ground yourself, hands balling up inyo your shirt, as you try and shallowly breathe through your mouth. You had never felt such a sense of... wrongness before in your life. You let out a shaky breath and open your eyes, turning away from the painting. You anticipated patients sitting around waiting to be seen, nurses gossiping amongst themselves, whether about cases or their weekend plans. But not this. Staff members walked around with haggard appearances, their eyes carrying a haunted look as they carried out their duties mechanically. The lobby was dolefully quiet; no sound seemed to break through the stiff silence. As you watched them, you couldn't help but feel a chill run down your back. Something wasn't right, but you couldn't put your finger on what it was. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Alex sees]]</div>

You turn to your group, preparing to ask them for insight, but you realize that they've wandered off. The only one close enough to you is Alex. You walk over to $them, your lips parting to speak but they clamp shut when you catch Alex staring off into space. $Their eyes were focused on the aperture of the wall and ceiling. You look at the spot. It's an ordinary corner to you, bleak and dingy, but nothing special. You wonder what has enraptured $their attention. You call out to $them. “You, ok?" $They don't speak; in fact, $they doesn’t even acknowledge your presence. Eyes still trained to the small corner, $they squint. “Uh, hello?" You try again. It was then that $their eyes grew wide, and $their lips part to release a breathy gasp. You hear $them mumble something, $their voice so low that you doubt you had even heard anything. But your suspicions are confirmed when you see $their lips move. $Their lips move fast; it’s like watching a car chase almost, the way that Alex’s lips start to speed up. You feel antsy, your body jittery as it anticipates something you cannot predict. It made you sick. “Alex!" Your voice tears $them from $their trance as $they blink owlishly. “Huh?" “I asked if you were, ok? “Oh yeah. I'm cool. Fine, peachy." $They flashes a smile; however, it does not meet $their eyes. “Y’all good back there?" Khalid walks to where you two have stalled and eyes the both of you. He’s moved a bit closer to Alex, his arm brushing up against $theirs, as he peers into $their eyes. A worried expression flashing across his face. “Talk about it later,” Alex mutters. $They stroke $their <<print $Ahairstyle>> and let out a shallow breath. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Maribelle][$Adakai_approval +=5]]</div>

You all approach the front counter, not entirely sure how you would proceed. “What do we do?” Maribelle whispered. “We’ve got to talk to the Director; if we want to find out the hospital’s secrets, he's our best bet," Alex said. “Once we do th---" “No shit, Sherlock! The problem isn't what we're going to do, but how we're going to do it." Mark hissed. He rubbed at his belly harshly, kneading the mound of flesh as if it were dough. “Chill, man. Let $them finish." Khalid said, lifting his hands. “It’s alright, Khalid. Mark’s just showing his true colors once again.” You anticipate another fight between the two, but thankfully a soft voice broke the tension. “Hello, may I help you?” You turn to stare at the receptionist, her coily black hair was fashioned in a puff, and her warm brown skin was pallid. You could see dark circles deep underneath her eyes, and her hands seemed to shake uncontrollably as she placed them demure on top of each other. “Yes, we're hoping you can!" Faux roots smiled flirtatiously. “We have a meeting with Director Juan Morales? We're from the news station and were hoping you could point us in the direction of his office?" The woman paused and then turned to her computer, typing away. “Let me see…. Ah, yes, here you are. From MidSuns Newsweek, they didn't say that it would be this many of you, though… should be fine. Let me inform the director that you're here." She turned away from us, grabbing the phone. <div class="choice">[[Somethings not right]]</div>

"Are you ok?" She frowns, blinking hard as if she is having difficulty processing what you just asked. "Excuse me?" You pause, thinking carefully of your following words... <div class="choice"><<link 'You seem tense'>> <<if $perception gte 15>>\ <<goto 'Charisma Check'>>\ <<else>>\ <<goto 'Charisma Fail'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div> <div class="choice"><<link 'You are shaking'>> <<if $charisma gte 15>>\ <<goto 'Charisma Success'>>\ <<else>>\ <<goto 'Charisma Fail'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div> <div class="choice"><<link 'Just Leave'>> <<if $occult gte 15>>\ <<goto 'ghostly visitor'>>\ <<else>>\ <<goto 'no ghosts'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div>

You are about to leave, however, you take one last look at the receiptionist and<<if $occult gte 15>> your jaw almost unhinges at what you see. A phantasm slowly floats down from the ceiling, long spindly limbs trailing behind it like a centipede. Black hair that reminded you of spider legs surrounded its body, swaying and moving as if it had a life of its own. Its ghostly shade was adorned in a pale hospital gown as it extended its bony arms forward to embrace the secretary. It wraps itself around her shoulders, snuggling into her body, and then as if finally noticing your existence, it looks up. You see its ghastly face, smiling, its mouth split from ear to ear. You freeze, your body shuddering, as the phantom lifts a finger to it's chapped and cracked lips. It lets out an ear-shattering cackle. It didn’t take you long to make it out of there. <<else>>feel a cold chill as you look at her. You can't stop the chattering of your teeth and decide to leave.<</if>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Next Passage]]>><<set $ghost to "true">><</link>></div>

You run past the gift shop and find your group, talking amongst themselves. They've visibly split once again, Khalid and Alex, talking earnestly. While Mark and his merry band of misfits are laughing together. Alex is the first to notice you and smiles, all teeth as $they waves you over. “We thought we lost you for a minute. Did you forget something?" You… [[Think about telling them]] <<link 'Tell them'>> <<if $receptionist is "true">>\ <<goto 'the receiptionist'>>\ <<elseif $ghost is "true">>\ <<goto 'the ghost, man'>>\ <<elseif $fail is "true">>\ <<goto 'failed'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\

“I just wanted to know if you were ok. You seem to be tired?” The smile on her face is strained, “Sorry, I didn't think you guys could notice." You don't see how she would think that. “It's just…." She pauses, her eyes moving up and around quickly. “You shouldn't be here." Her voice comes out as a whisper, hoarse as if it pained her to speak. Pausing, you appraise the woman. “Why?" The receptionist's mouth opens and closes like a gaping guppy. The words died in her throat with a hoarse gasp. Her shaking had gotten worse; you feared that she might be having a seizure. Strangled noises kept fluttering past her lips; her glassy eyes flitted like a hummingbird. A significant pressure settled on your shoulders before you could jump over the desk or yell for help, like a meaty fist grounding you in place. Finally, she freezes like a statue; hackles rose high as if a wire was tightening every nerve in her body. Her eyes widened comically, and then in a slow roll, her jaw unhinged. “He sees you." <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Next Passage]]>><<set $receptionist to "true">><</link>></div>

“I just wanted to know if you were ok. You seem to be really tired?” The woman is straight-faced and merely nods at you. Not looking up from her computer. “I’m perfectly fine, but thank you for your concern.” It was like a switch had gone off; the frailty that she exuberated was now replaced with coldness. //'Did I do something wrong?'// Scratching your head lightly, you stare at the woman's demeanor. It felt like you were talking to an entirely different person. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|Next Passage]]>><<set $fail to "true">><</link>></div>

You could tell them what you saw. But would they believe you? You're still not sure what you saw yourself or specfically what you felt. You decide to keep it to yourself for now. You shake your head, "Was just trying to get my bearings." Alex peers at you. $Their eyes penetrate your own, almost as if $they could see to the bottom of your soul. You're thrown back to when you were a child and your mother would give you the "all-seeing eye". You feel yourself shrinking and try to avoid $their eyes. $They shrug, and turns back to Khalid. <<notify 60s>>//Alex will remember that.//<</notify>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|Elevator]]>><<set $Adakai_approval -=10>><</link>></div>

“You look like a hooker that just walked into a Sunday church service. You alright?" The smile on her face is strained, “Sorry, I didn't think you guys could notice." You don't see how she would think that. “It's just…." She pauses, her eyes moving up and around quickly. “You shouldn't be here." Her voice comes out as a whisper, hoarse as if it pained her to speak. Pausing, you appraise the woman. “Why?" The receptionist's mouth opens and closes like a gaping guppy. The words died in her throat with a hoarse gasp. Her shaking had gotten worse; you feared that she might be having a seizure. Strangled noises kept fluttering past her lips; her glassy eyes flitted like a hummingbird. A significant pressure settled on your shoulders before you could jump over the desk or yell for help, like a meaty fist grounding you in place. Finally, she freezes like a statue; hackles rose high as if a wire was tightening every nerve in her body. Her eyes widened comically, and then in a slow roll, her jaw unhinged. “He sees you." <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Next Passage]]>><<set $receptionist to "true">><</link>></div>

The woman's eyes narrow dangerously as she throws a terrible grimace your way. “I'm fine, but thanks for asking. I guess." You flinch; maybe it would be wise to think before you speak. But it's too late to take back what you've said; you clearly have offended her. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Next Passage]]>><<set $fail to "true">><</link>></div>

You hesitate; while you do want answers, you also don't want to bother the woman more than you already have. You smile at her, “Sorry, never mind." And turn your back to leave. You take one last look at the receptionist, and your jaw almost unhinges at what you see. A phantasm slowly floats down from the ceiling, long spindly limbs trailing behind it like a centipede. Black hair that reminded you of spider legs surrounded its body, swaying and moving as if it had a life of its own. Its ghostly shade was adorned in a pale hospital gown as it extended its bony arms forward to embrace the secretary. It wraps itself around her shoulders, snuggling into her body, and then as if finally noticing your existence, it looks up. You see its ghastly face, smiling, its mouth split from ear to ear. You freeze, your body shuddering, as the phantom lifts a finger to its chapped and cracked lips. It lets out an ear-shattering cackle. It didn’t take you long to make it out of there. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Next Passage]]>><<set $ghost to "true">><</link>></div>

You hesitate; while you do want answers, you also don't want to bother the woman more than you already have. You smile at her, “Sorry, never mind." And turn your back to leave. You take one last look at the receptionist. You feel a cold chill as you look at her. You can't stop the chattering of your teeth and decide to leave. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue->Next Passage]]>><<set $fail to "true">><</link>></div>

Camcorder Cellphone Postcard <<if $notexorcised is "true">>Porecelain Tiger>><<else>>Jade Bell<</if>> Flashlight - Batteries are currently at full power.

“I saw… something; it had attached itself to that receptionist." Alex looked at Khalid with a knowing glance. “I told you." Khalid rolled his eyes, “Whatever.” Alex turned back to you with a small smile noticing your confused expression. “Khalid and I felt something when we first came in. It didn’t show itself to us, probably because of our status.” $They rubbed $their jaw, “You should be careful; if it's seen you, it’s probably got you marked." //Story of your life.// You roll your eyes and wave your hand. “Tell it to get in line.” <<link [[Continue|A wild ride]]>><<set $you_told to "true">><<set $Khalid_approval +=6, $Adakai_approval +=10>><</link>>

“The receptionist got all weird on me like she was possessed. Said that ‘he saw me?’” Khalid looked smugly at Alex, “Told you.” Alex rolled $their eyes, “You were right for once, whoopie.” <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|A wild ride]]>><<set $you_told to "true">><<set $Khalid_approval +=6, $Adakai_approval +=10>><</link>></div>

Khalid looked at you with a strange glint in his eye, “It looks like the game has already started. Prepare yourself, newbie; this is gonna be a wild ride.” “It’s <<print $your_name>>.” “No disrespect, but I’m not sure if I should learn your name. You may not even survive the first part of this.” You glare at him, “A lot taken.” You all pile into the elevator; you're sure that's a safety hazard with the number of people that are in there with you. The elevator ran smoothly, and despite it being overly crowded you found that the shaft was large enough for everyone to at least have an inch of space. You all file out one by one, and you’re glad to be out of that death box until you look back and see a hunched figure standing in the corner. He’s dressed in all black, withered and wrinkled with a smile on his face; he waves you to go on. You knew the elevator was crowded, but you don’t think it was that crowded. Was there an extra body in there? You look back at the smiling man and feel a cold shudder run down your back. The staffing elevator is found on the southern wing of the elevator, unlike the first elevator you had taken. This one is not spacious, it’s truly cramped. It reminds you of a cage, old-fashioned bars trapping you inside with no steel door to hide the inside of the elevator shaft. “Well," Alex starts, “Isn't this a cozy start to a horror movie?" No one says anything, nerves probably shot to hell with how rickety and slow the machine is moving. <div class="choice"><<if $Adakai_approval gte 10>>\ [[Trapped with Alex|flirt with alex]] <<else>>\ <s>Trapped with Alex</s> <</if>></div> <div class="choice"><<if $Khalid_approval gte 12>>\ [[Trapped with Khalid|flirt with Khalid]] <<else>> <s>Trapped with Khalid</s> <</if>></div> <div class="choice">[[Trapped in the Box|with the doc]]</div>

You wish you had something to tell them. But unfortunately, you don't. Telling them about a weird feeling you had made you feel a bit...neurotic. You remember telling friends and family about the things you would see and feel. You also rememeber the looks they gave you, and the whispers behind your back. You don't want to go through that again. "It's nothing." You say. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|Elevator]]>><<set $fail to "true">><</link>></div>

You all pile into the elevator; you're sure that's a safety hazard with the number of people that are in there with you. The elevator runs smoothly, despite it being overly crowded. You were at least glad that the shaft was large enough for everyone to at least have an inch of space. You all file out one by one, and you’re glad to be out of that death box until you look back and see a hunched figure standing in the corner. He’s dressed in all black, withered and wrinkled with a smile on his face; he waves you to go on. You knew the elevator was crowded, but you don’t think it was that crowded. Was there an extra body in there? You look back at the smiling man and feel a cold shudder run down your back. The staffing elevator is found on the southern wing of the elevator, unlike the first elevator you had taken. This one is not spacious, it’s truly cramped. It reminds you of a cage, old-fashioned bars trapping you inside with no steel door to hide the inside of the elevator shaft. “Well," Alex starts, “Isn't this a cozy start to a horror movie?" No one says anything, nerves probably shot to hell with how rickety and slow the machine is moving. <div class="choice"><<if $Adakai_approval gte 10>>\ [[Trapped with Alex|flirt with alex]] <<else>>\ <s>Trapped with Alex</s> <</if>></div> <div class="choice"><<if $Khalid_approval gte 12>>\ [[Trapped with Khalid|flirt with Khalid]] <<else>> <s>Trapped with Khalid</s> <</if>></div> <div class="choice">[[Trapped in the Box|with the doc]]</div>

The foursomes talk ended as soon as you all had crammed into that tight space. You’re not sure if that's necessarily a good or bad thing. However, you find that the twins keep sneaking peeks at you. It makes you shiver and not in a good way. //I wish the two of them would cut it out.// The 5th floor is surprisingly more modern than the entire hospital. The catholic effigies that were plastered on every surface were toned down. And instead, mosaic glass littered the walls. You imagine that if you came here during the daytime that this floor would be breathtaking. Dr. Morales was awaiting your group in front of his office door. He was a tiny man with a long face. Owlish glasses on the tip of his nose, with a balding head. He greeted your group merrily, a broad smile on his gentle face. "Oh, the news station didn't tell me that it would be this many of you. Hmm, perhaps it would be best to have this interview in one of our conference rooms? I'm afraid my office is a mess." “Sure, that's no problem, whatever is most comfortable for you Doc'," Mark states. His smile never leaves as he ushers you all down the hall. “This floor is dedicated to the more administrative side of our hospital. Patients typically aren't allowed up here. So, there shouldn't be too many interruptions." Dr. Morales rummaged in his pocket and provided a thick antiqued key ring. Various keys of different sizes littered the obnoxious thing as he jumbled with it. Finally, he found a bronze key and inserted it into the door before us. <<if $perception gte 18>> You stare at the keyring and notice an odd-looking ornament attached to the ring. The object seems to pulse with a life of its own…. Almost like it was breathing. <<else>><</if>> The room was more extensive than his office by far. A long round table was in the middle of the room, and a large TV was mounted in the corner of the room. “Welcome, welcome, and thank you all for coming!" The good doctor waved his hand for you all to sit down. “Please help yourself to any drinks or pastry treats, I know it's pretty late at night, but us physicians truly don't have a very well working biological clock!" He laughs at his joke and grabs a cup of tea sitting at the head of the table. <div class="choice">[[Starting the interview]]</div>

You're being pushed in the small elevator, and find yourself against the wall. Khalid is in front of you, his back to you as he stares at the elevator dial. You feel heat radiating from your right and notice Alex with $their eyes closed. Your thighs are touching, as $they slouches against the wall with you. Your face feels itchy, almost as if its burning. You look up and realize that Harry is staring at you intently. "Ahem." Alex coughs lightly, and you look at $them. $They opens one eye and smiles at you, $they moves a bit closer arm touching yours. <div class="choice">[[Continue|a bit weird]]</div>

You’re being pushed by someone, and find yourself against the wall with Khalid trapping you. He's leaning over you body, hunched hands planted on either side of you as he trys to avoid squeeshing you. He sends an annoyed glance behind him and a huff. “Should have just taken two trips..." With every jolt of the elevator, he brushes against you. Chest bumping at your face, and legs intertwining with yours. He looks down at you with an apologetic smile. He’s so close that you can smell him, he reminds you of your grandmothers kitchen, a combination of warm cinnamon and nutmeg. Like an apple pie almost. <div class="choice">[[Feel embarrassed]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Try to move]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Get annoyed]]</div>

Nothing here yet... [[Continue|with the doc]]

You shift a bit trying to get comfortable (and as far away from Khalid as possible). However, your movements only end up making you brush up against him more. He curses and, shifts quickly when your fingers accidently skim against his lean stomach. "Sorry, sensitive there." He gives a sheepish smile. You look at the ground, trying to hide the discomfort on your face. You get jolted again, and accidently step on Khalid's foot. He lets out a long groan and drops his head low. You think you see tears. "You good over there man?" Alex peers at you two with an amused expression. "Just peachy." He grinds out. <div class="choice">[[Continue|with the doc]]</div>

<<if $height is "short">> If there's one thing you hate, it's giants. Especially good-looking giants. You scowl at his stomach and contemplate kicking him in his shins. Khalid has taken notice to your new deposition, and gives you a smile that does not reach his eyes. “It's not like I wanna be this close." He mutters. “It's either crowd against you, or play booty bump with the twins." Your scowl deepens, “Hate giants..." Hearing your statement, a smile grows on his face. He pats you on your head like you're some kind of dog, “The audicity of short people. That's the only big thing y'all got on ya." //Yeah, he's getting kicked in his shins.//<<else>> You really don't like people in your personal space. Even if they are good looking. You try to hide your grimance but you doubt you're doing too good of a job. Especially since Khalid has taken notice to your new deposition. “It's not like I wanna be this close." He mutters. “It's either crowd against you, or play booty bump with the twins." You would try and look at them but Khalid is blocking you from seeing anyone but his broad chest. “Maybe if you move over I can see better?" “And give Mark the rub of his life?" Khalid raises a brow, shifting closer to you after another particular hard jolt. You see his jaw tighten, and a strained smile crosses his face. Through his teeth, he speaks, “I don't think so."<</if>> <div class="choice">[[Continue|with the doc]]</div>

<<if $Agender is 'female'>> The elevator jolts, making everyone lose their balance. Despite Alex leaning against the elevator wall, $they jolts with everyone, $their eyes widening as $they try to stabilize themselves. You move quickly, grabbing ahold of $their arm to keep $them standing. $They grabs onto your arm to anchor herself to you, eyes wide as $their breath quickens. You didn't notice before, but she had freckles too. All over her face, and from the looks of it; all over her neck and body. You avert your gaze from her collarbone to look at something, //anything// else. //forfucksake, I feel like a scandalized purtian.// $They looks up at you wide-eyed and gives a throaty chuckle, "My hero." <<else>> The elevator jolts making everyone lose their balance a bit. You were leaning against the elevator wall, but that doesn't save you from the hard lurch. You think you're about to fall or stumble into one of the twins, who seemed to get closer to you in your ignorance. You're stabilized by a strong hand, yanked back into your standing position and into a warm side. You look up and realize that Alex has saved you from eating crow. You didn't notice before, but he had freckles too. All over his face, and from the looks of it; all over his neck and chest. You avert your gaze from his partly opened button-up to look at something, //anything// else. //forfucksake, I feel like a scandalized purtian.// "I got you." $They smile encouragingly. "Nothing will happen to you, not while I'm around."<</if>> You <<cycle "$emotion_forAdakai">> <<option "swoon">> <<option "get annoyed. You don't like being touched">> <<option "get annoyed. Just because Alex is attractive doesn't mean $their exempt from the 'no touchy' rule">> <<option "smile back">> <</cycle>>. "Thanks," You mumble trying to hide your emotions as well as you could. <div class="choice">[[Continue|with the doc]]</div>

"So, to start this interview, we are going to just ask you a couple of questions, if that's all right?" Alex started. "<<print $your_name>> could you set up the camcorder?" You jolt when your name is called but quickly bring out the camera. You set it up to face Dr. Morales and adjust the lens so that you can get get a better view of the man. //Hmmm, he sure is photogenic... For an old geezer.// Alex nods, and then with a straight face $they clears $their throat and folds $their hands. “First, we would like to know the hospital’s history?" He smiles demurely and crosses his hands. “The hospital was an old church house founded in the 1600s that the Christian missionaries had used to build relations with the indigenous tribes located along the plains.” Alex shifted in $their seat, an annoyed expression on $their face, “You mean they were there to convert.” Dr. Morales' smile never faulted, "You could say that. The missionaries had good intentions if not bad methods." Snorting, Alex leaned back into $their chair. $They didn't even try to hide the disgust on $their face, “In what way was holding resources hostage good in---" “Anyway!" Mark interrupted abruptly. Dr. Morales raised a thin brow, his smile quirking in the corner of his lips. He folded his hands poilitely, and tilted his head. As if to say 'Go on.' “How did a church house become a hospital?" “Well, illness quickly swept through the city in the form of smallpox. The church house quickly became an apothecaries hut, and the missionaries soon turned to herbal studies to treat infected patients to the best of their ability." “And did it work?" Maribelle asked, “Were they able to treat the sick?" “Some cases, yes. Of course, there is no real cure for disease. Only mitigation. The ones that could not save, died. And the ones that they could? Were horribly disfigured, immune systems completely throttled by exposure to so many different pathogens. All they could do was limit suffering." Dr. Morales pushed his glasses further upon his face. “Around ten years after that, the church house had burned down, no records have stated what happened or found any journals that accounted for the accident. It wasn't until 1962 that the hospital was rebuilt under the name of Mercy's Angel Hospital; the director at that time Joshua McGinnis." “I see... And just for the record Joshua McGinnis, came from a long line of sharecroppers from the 1800s, correct?" Alex shifted $their leg over to the side, placing $their folded hands on $their knee. "You surely know your history," Doctor Morales smiled that moonish smile of his and nodded. “That is correct. Joshua came from wealth, stolen wealth. But wealth none the less. However, if you know his history, then you know of the scandal that caused generational ruin?" “Of course. His great-great-great-great grandmother was a witch. Accused of being a devil worshipper if I remember correctly." “That is correct. People back then were so quick to burn someone at the stack and brand them heretic if they were even remotely different." He shakes his in culpability. His eyes became starry, a bit moon-eyed as if he were trapped in a memory lived many years ago. “Sarah, that was her name. She was a great healer, 'could take someone from the doors of death, and bring them back with the jaws of life! She dedicated her entire life to helping people, only to be betrayed by those in the end. Such a sad fate really." Letting out a deep breath, he leans back into his seat. “It took many years for Joshua's family to dig themselves from Sarah's legacy. But we are not talking about her, are we? As I said, Joshua was the director of the hospital for almost 40 years. The new director came around when Joshua had finally died--" “Mysterious accident?" Khalid leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. His eyebrows arched, and a sarcastic smile rested on his face. Out of both Khalid, and Alex, you didn't know who was worse “No, no, nothing of the sort. Joshua was completely healthy, with no medical issues or apparent co-morbidities; he just went in his sleep. Completely peaceful. Apparently it was more than he had deserved." Dr. Morales chuckled and dabbed at his forehead with a nearby handkerchief. “After his passing, his daughter, Alessa, inherited the hospital. Alessa was pragmatic but innovative. She was not afraid to try and explore different treatments, and things in general. It was a trait that severly her father lacked. Alessa taught me much, things that I had not dreamed of or could comprehend in my lifetime or the next. She was the one that had hired me and trained me in health administration when I had first joined the hospital. I didn't become the director until 2010. Although eternally grateful for the foundation that both Alessa and Joshua built, the board and I felt that the hospital could be more than it was. So, we did a hard rebranding and rebuilding of the hospital, and that is how Los Muertos Memorial Hospital came to be." <div class="choice">[[What is your inspiration for this kind of work?]]</div>

“Why, to help people, of course. I grew up in Barroca, a few thousand kilometers away from Santiago. Health care had been accessible to my family and me all my life. If it was treatable, we could get that aid. And as a young boy, I couldn't help but see these individuals as heroes." Dr. Morales chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he became lost in the memory. “But around 1989, I was 13 when my family had immigrated to America, and it was like traveling to a completely different planet. My grandmother was a type 1 diabetic, but she could keep it treated reasonably well in Cuba. However, when we went to the States, the price of insulin was too much for a 7-person household. There was much that we had to sacrifice choosing between food or clothes, medication or shelter, heat or transportation?" He paused for a moment, a contemplative look in his eyes. “The different monopolies and facets of Healthcare were completely different from what I grew up with. To go from being able to be seen anytime and for reasonable to almost no charge to now having to shell out almost thousands of dollars for simple procedures had baffled me! I had wondered, 'How can a country that boasts about freedom be so hellbent on keeping its citizens chained by debt and illness!' To this very day, I cannot fully understand or wrap my brain around it." “Healthcare is built on a system that profits those who earned the right to use it. If you don't work, you shouldn't have access to it. " Mark shrugged. “And what gives anyone the right to deny services to someone? Services that could be the difference between life and death? You have individuals who can be seen at any time to be covered and not worry about strenuous bills that the average citizen cannot pay? Individuals who have not "worked" for the wealth but inherited it through parental means or otherwise. It is frustrating when everyone should have the ability to have solid healthcare." Dr. Morales tilted his head, "And do not tell me that it isn't possible. Many countries can function on systems based on patient care instead of financial gain." Dr. Morales straightened his back and coughed, continuing his story. “By our 2nd year in the states, my grandmother had unfortunately passed away due to the refusal of both providers and pharmacists of writing her prescriptions. At that moment, I made a vow that as long as I lived, I would never allow another person to go without aid if I could provide it." “Luckily, I had met a few people who agreed with my sentiment and was able to build a community that did not mind giving up wealth for the greater good." “That’s a truly inspiring story, Dr. Morales. Thank you for sharing it with us." Maribelle's eyes were slightly glossy, and her lips quivered. You give a quizzical look to Khalid, but he raises a finger to his lips, a sign you take to shut your mouth. Khalid reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder, sliding the box of tissues on the table towards her. She nodded at him, mouthing 'thank you' as she took a few pieces and dabbed her eyes. [[What does your hospital specialize in?]]

“Ah, we do a bit of everything, family medicine, women's health, geriatrics. Although we have most recently started to transition more into Immunology, and Pathology." <<if $degree_options is 'Biology'>>“Oh?" Your interest is immediately piqued. "Is there a specific reason why you've switched to pathology?" Dr. Morales smiles kindly, “I see you have a special glint in your eye. Are you interested in medicine?" You nod, a bashful smile gracing your lips “Well--" “Sorry doc, but we do have to keep on schedule for the interview. If you want you can speak to our camera?person after, kay?" “Very well," He takes a particular interest in you, and smiles. "Once thiis is over, please feel free to stay behind and ask any questions that you may have. It is refreshing to talk to like-minded ?persons."<<elseif $degree_options is 'Nursing'>>“Oh?" Your interest is immediately piqued. "Is there a specific reason why you've switched to pathology?" Dr. Morales smiles kindly, “I see you have a special glint in your eye. Are you interested in medicine?" You nod, a bashful smile gracing your lips “Well--" “Sorry doc, but we do have to keep on schedule for the interview. If you want you can speak to our camera?person after, kay?" “Very well," He takes a particular interest in you, and smiles. "Once thiis is over, please feel free to stay behind and ask any questions that you may have. It is refreshing to talk to like-minded ?persons."<</if>> Still as easy-going as ever, he rubs his palms. “But, to answer your first question. My daughter has been dealing with a mysterious illness for a while now. No warning signs, no epidemiological link; it truly just cropped up and seized hold of her immune system. I'm hoping that by inviting as many doctors as possible, my daughter will have a chance to be seen by some truly inquisitive minds, and hopefully, we can find a way to treat her." Maribelle offers a sympathetic smile, “I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, doctor. I lost my child a year ago, so I understand how you must feel." “My daughter is not dead, Miss. Nor is she dying." Dr. Morales' eyes narrowed. All illusion of the once easy-going, charismatic man disappeared and was replaced with a cold and blank expression. The muscles in his face tighten, and you watch his Adam’s apple bobble as he visibly swallows. “She is merely sick." “I-of course. I shouldn't have assumed." Maribelle's face falls, a red tinge dusting over her cheeks. <div class="choice">[[What about the rumors?]]</div>

Dr. Morales raised a patchy eyebrow and steepled his fingers. "And what rumors would that be?" “The ones that say this place is haunted." Khalid answers. Dr. Morales pauses for a breath and then lets out a hearty laugh. “It seems that the hospital's reputation always precedes itself!" He wipes his eyes as he lifts his glass briefly. “While I do admit that sometimes, strange things do occur around the infant ward, it can mostly be chalked up to exhausted orderlies and patients." “But what about the incident with the elevator attendant," Khalid leaned forward in his seat, arms folded in front of himself. His lips curled in false amusement. <<if $you_told is "true">> Incident? You frown; what kind of incident? Why hadn't they told you about an incident? You thought you three were in it together, especially since you told them what you saw with the receptionist. You shoot a glare at Alex over the table, and $they shrugs. A sheepish smile on $their face.<<else>> You stare at Khalid and gnaw at your lip. Elevator attendant? How did he know? Was he able to see the little man as well?<</if>> “Ah, yes. THAT incident was regrettable, but again. Nothing but a complete accident.” “Getting crushed by elevator doors is more than an accident.” Alex bought $their hand up to $their hair, stroking the long braid. “Elevator doors that passed inspection just hours before, no less.” Dr. Morales shrugged. “As you say, the elevator just passed inspection and was not authorized for use for anyone. What that staff member was doing there in the first place, no one but God and him will know. As for why it occured... We don’t know the exact details, as the cameras weren’t installed at the time, but from what has been hypothesized is that the elevators weren’t able to sense the attendant, and—” The doctor brings his palms up and smashes them together with a loud clap. “Slammed. That is what we call life and coincidences." “That’s interesting, Doctor, but do you truly believe that?" Alex started. $they shifted in the wooden chair, crossing $their ankles. “While coincidences are a part of life, you have to acknowledge that some things are too strong and strange to be that. Particularly a man being cut in half." The doctor pursed their lips, "You have to understand something young $adultPerson. I was a man brought up on science and its rationale. Tales of occultism and hauntings have been just that, tales, and I am unaffected by its existence or lack thereof." The doctor then took a sip from his mug. <<if $perception gte 25>> You catch the slip just barely as the good doctor continues talking. ‘Was?’ He said that as if something had changed.<<else>><</if>> Your group sits in silence for a moment before Ariel decides to speak. “Is it alright if we ask you another question, Dr. Morales?" “So many questions!" Dr. Morales chuckled and took his glasses off. Taking a thin piece of cloth from his desk, he cleansed the lens with care. “I've given you many answers but have yet been able to ask my own. Do you not think that is wrong? For a man to open his doors and welcome strangers no less into his haven, an exchange should occur, no?" “Tell me." He paused in his cleaning and looked up. His lips curved up into a small smile as he leaned forward onto the wooden table. “Which news station were you with again?" Your senses were on fire. A tingling sensation at the nape of your neck put you on high alert the longer you stared at Morales. That sentence was as harmless as a fly, but you couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. Your nerves were on fire, and you clenched at the knot in your stomach. What happened next depended on your answer. Maribelle opened her mouth-- “Mindset News Station." All of you turned to look at Mark, a smug smile on his face as if he had just solved the greatest puzzle known to man. Alex's face morphs from anger, to disbelief and then back to anger. Morales froze. The smile on his face was sharp as his wide eyes seemed to shrink into slits. His movements were slow. As he placed the owlish glasses on his desk, letting his fingers trail against the wood before resting in his lap. Robotically, he tilts his head and lifts his head to stare at us. His eyes bleed black ichor. “Wrong." The small office plunges into darkness. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Feelin' Alright Doc']]</div>

And.... Dats' it. Thank you for reading ''A Trial of Horror''! Please look forward to the next chapter update in late November to Mid-December! If you have any questions, you can always reach me via my tumblr account atrial-ofhorror-if or my discord! Thanks again my loves!

<<if $distinguishing_features is "scars" and $regret is "Wraith">> You stroke the knotted flesh on your stomach. You rememeber the knife that had pierced through your flesh like butter. You hadn't even known it was there, until your adrenaline had died.<<elseif $distinguishing_features is "piercings">>You had <<cycle "$piercing">> <<option "a medusa">> <<option "a nose ring on your left nostril">> <<option "a nose ring on your right nostril">> <<option "a stud in your left nostril">> <<option "a stud in your right nostril">> <<option "your hoop and ball hanging frrom your septum">> <<option "snake bites on your lower lip">> <<option "a labret">> <<option "a monroe">> <<option "spider bites">> <</cycle>> piercing. Your face looks puffer than usual, making the skin around the metal look inflamed. As if you had an infection. You touch the metal, and flinch from the stinging pain. It feels as if you just got the piercing yesterday.<<elseif $distinguishing_features is "tattoos">> You remember when you first got your tattoo. The <<listbox "$tattoo_design">> <<option "crow in mid-flight It's wings spread wide as if to shadow and protect you from anything that meant you harm.">> <<option "infinity symbol">> <<option "semi-colon">> <<option "dreamcatcher embroiled in different colors. Wind ">> <<option "inked jellyfish, and sea life.">> <<option "the galaxy, inked stars and planets float on your skin.">><</listbox>> had hurt when it was etched into your skin. But the vibrant color, and picturesque piece was well worth the pain at the time. Now, in your bathroom light your tattoo looks warped. It had been a while when you got the ink on your <<cycle "$placement_tattoo">> <<option "stomach">> <<option "neck">> <<option "face">> <<option "back">> <<option "chest">> <<option "right arm">> <<option "left leg">> <<option "wrist">> <</cycle>>. But it hadn't been such an long interval of time in which the piece should be so distorted. Like flesh had scabbed over and healed, just to be re-opened again with an letter opener. <<elseif $distinguishing_features is "birthmarks">> Today, your birthmark looks larger than usual, and it appears to have moved from your thigh to the side of your stomach… you shake your head. That's not right. Birthmarks don't just move. Maybe…. Maybe you just never noticed it before? You look down at the fist-sized mark and try to stamp down the fear. <<else>>There's nothing remarkable about your appearance today: nothing but your sickly pallor. Dark shadows were heavy underneath your eye; a clear indication of your restlessness. From the corner of your eye you see a dark shadow flit across your mirror. It was probably just your imagination... You hope.<</if>> Your eyes travel down to your bare chest. <<cycle "$chest_gender">> <<option "The scars from your operation were starting to fade nicely. No longer agitated and angry, you stare at the smooth planes of your chest. You finally felt at home in your own body.">> <<option "It took you a long time to save up for the breast augmentation, almost breaking your poor little bank with the needed deposit. But you were finally happy with your body, and felt like you were on the road to being who you wanted to be. You do a little shimmy in the mirror, winking at your reflection.">> <<option "Your breast look normal as usual, although you do note that it is very cold.">> <<option "Your chest looks normal as usual.">> <</cycle>> You rub your eyes and then look at the nest that is your hair, and quickly style the <<print $hairtype>> locs <<cycle "$your_hairstyle">> <<option "into a ponytail">> <<option "into twin tails">> <<option "into a braided ponytail">> <<option "into braided twin-tails">> <<option "into a low bun at the nape of your neck">> <<option "into a high bun at the top of your head">> <<option "your hair isn't long enough to style">> <<option "by brushing the long locs">> <</cycle>>. Getting dressed, in your signature <<cycle "$fashion_style">> <<option "Boho">> <<option "Grunge">> <<option "Comfy">> <<option "Street-Chic">> <<option "Elegant">> <<option "Hipster">> <</cycle>> style, you're now ready to face the world and are soon out of the door. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Next]]</div>

You examine the phone. It's obviously not your shabby little cellphone. It's shiny and sleek, seeming to come from no known brand that you could identify. Free phones are always the best phones, is your motto. You decide to turn it on. Almost instantly, the phone begins to pingback to back. You read the notifications but feel that you are more confused than enlightened. ''You are currently enrolled in //'Feelin' Alright Doc?'//, a Level 2 difficulty has been predetermined from content. You are an investigative journalist from Midnight Train News & Journalism. Your boss has decided to send you and a small team of journalists to investigate Los Muertos Memorial Hospital, a seemingly shrouded in mystery; it is up to you and your constituents to find the secrets of this place. Use the camcorder to record the truth, and whatever you do, don't forget where you came from; it may just save your life.'' ''Main Objective: Find out what happened in Los Muertos Memorial Hospital Side Objective: Interview the director of the hospital.'' “What… what is this?" Alex glances at your phone and tilts $their head, “Those are the objectives we have for the current game. Side objectives are optional, but if you're able to complete them successfully, you get bonus points." <div class="choice"><<link [[Bonus Points]]>><<set $items to ["Camcorder", "Phone", "Postcard"]>><<set $itemdesc to { "Camcorder": "A new camcorder. It has a full battery and even a night vision option. You hope you won't have to use the night vision anytime soon...", "Postcard": "The postcard that you found in your bag. " }>><</link>></div>

You peered over to your nightstand, staring at the blinking phone with squinted eyes. You grab it, unlocking it quickly, to find multiple new messages. One from your boss, another from your best friend and classmate, Tama Shirosaki, and one that came from an unknown number. You open… <div class="choice">[[Your boss]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Unknown Number]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Tama Shirosaki]]</div>

“Lady, they are literally from over a year ago. We only honor coupons if they're three months old." Your face mimics that of a blank statue, you refuse to give her any more energy than what she's already taken from you Her face couldn't possibly get any redder, “well, that’s stupid!" You roll your lips tightly, and bite your tongue. //You need this job, you need this job...// You plaster a fake smile on your face, and tilt your head. “Its policy, ma'am. If you aren't satisfied with our policies, you can always go to another store." “I want to talk to a manager!" <div class="choice">[[Continue|she mad]]</div>

You close your eyes counting to ten as you try to calm down. It doesn't work, much. “Lady, first things first, this coupon is about a year old, ok." You start feeling your ire build. “Second, anyone with even half of a braincell would have read the fine print at the bottom, which by the way isn't even fine print, and realized that the coupon is too old for redepemtion. Third, even if we did honor old coupons, it's not gonna be for something that has already been discounted." Her face couldn't possibly get any redder, “Well, that’s stupid!" “No, what’s stupid is arguing about expired coupons when people are dying." “I want to talk to a manager!" <div class="choice">[[Continue|she mad]]</div>

//Gladly!// You call for John over the intercoms and watch as he comes to speed walking from the back to your register. You decide this is the perfect time to space out as the woman begins ranting and waving, throwing her hands around. You think it couldn't get any worse until she pushes out a thick voice and fat tears. That took the cake. “I'm sorry, you've been inconvenienced, ma'am, but <<print $your_name>> is correct in the fact that we don't take coupons over a year old." “ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!?" You didn't think her voice could get any higher, but you stand corrected. “<<print $your_name>>, I've got it from here. Go and give Mariah her break." Your nose scrunches when you hear the name, but you merely nod. //anything better than that witch.// You walk from around the register and head back until you bump into a figure in the bread aisle. Apparently, you have a people magnet on you because this has to be the 5th person you bumped into today. The person is dressed in a baggy hoodie and sweatpants; their hood is brought up to hide their face. In their hands is a basket full of sweets and cakes. “Watch where you're going." Their voice is flat and accusatory. If you weren't half delusional with sleep deprivation, you could swear you heard a bit of an accent. “It’s not like I bumped into you on purpose…" You mumble as you walk off from the person, not ready to get into it with another person today. You make it to the storeroom and rub your arms up and down. You hated being back here; it was always cold as hell, and it was SUPER crowded with pallets of frozen food, and shelves crammed with things, it always felt like something was going to jump from behind the shelves at you. You see a coworker jogging in the opposite direction of where you’re coming from. Mousy brown hair flying in every direction, the worker sped walked towards the exit. “Hey Quinn, you know where Mariah is?" She nods, not looking up from her phone and points to the fridge. “She's doing frozen foods inventory." Mentally groaning, you rub your forehead. You were afraid of that. If you disliked the storeroom, you HATED the freezers. They were large and spacious, larger than any grocery chain freezer storeroom you've ever seen. Not to mention, they were set up like goddamn library aisles with shelves filled with boxes and other frozen goods. <div class="choice">[[Darkness awaits]]</div>

You crack your door open, feeling exhausted, and throw your work things into the nearest corner. It had just begun to downpour by the time you made it into your humble abode, the rain making your bones protest. You just want to sleep. You strip dowm on your way back to your room, leaving behind a trail of clothes. You go back to your bed and curl up in it. Your eyes wandered towards the broken idol; its ivory chips looked slightly blackened around the edges. As if decay and rot had begun to invade its once holy flesh. You needed to get it replaced and fast. You are about to close until your phone vibrates. You look at its immobile form on your nightstand and are about to ignore it until something begins to nag at your nerves. You pick it up and see that it’s from Tama //Hey, I know you’ve been really stressed out lately because you know. Anyway, I think it might be a good idea to face your demons, or so to speak. This VR game is being developed called A Trial of Horror. Has ghosts and the likes could be a way to get yourself more acclimated to your ‘visitors'// “Or it’s a quick way to give me a mini heart attack." You frown. You’re just about to put your phone down but feel it start to vibrate once more. //And if that’s not a good enough reason for you to participate, they’re also offering players $10,000 if you participate and give them feedback. If you wanna look them up, the company’s called The Ego Tai’s Grimoire. Pretty goofy, but they are legit.’// [[Sign your soul]]

You admired Tama. He was a good friend, a great student, everything that you aspired and wanted to be. It always came so easy to him. Everything he did just seemed to go right. That could be annoying sometimes, honestly. But, above all else, you just appreciated him as a person. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Here and Now]] </div>

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Why ruin a good thing? You and Tama had a great friendship, and you didn’t want to see that ruined by an awkward confession. In your friend group, you had seen people get together only to separate shortly after and never speak again. The fear of being one of those couples lodged a boulder-like lump in your throat. You were refusing to allow those three simple words to cross your lips. <<if $gender is "young man">> Besides, you didn’t even know if Tama was into men. He wasn’t homophobic or uncomfortable with your sexuality as he still hugged and planted sloppy kisses on your cheek and forehead. But that didn’t mean that he would even want to be sexually or romantically involved with you. Fear could be a strong deterrent in stopping one from being happy. That was the conclusion you had come to after sitting and contemplating. That and a young woman named Ursula Montana who latched herself to Tama like a barnacle. She acted like she was an angel sent to earth, that it was genuinely irritating to even be in her presence. You wouldn’t say that you hated Tama’s girlfriend, but you didn’t hold any love for her. She reminded you of a rabbit with large icy blue eyes and ash blonde hair. She would fidget and blush whenever the attention turned on her and stammered whenever Tama would show her an ounce of attention. That kind of behavior made you itchy only because you //knew// she was faking.<<else>> Besides, Tama had a girlfriend. A cute and innocent one at that by the name of Ursula Montana. She reminded you of a rabbit with large icy blue eyes and ash blonde hair. She would fidget and blush whenever the attention turned on her and stammered whenever Tama would show her an ounce of attention. <</if>> You were a lot of things, that is certain. But the one thing you weren’t was a homewrecker. You loved Tama too much to even think of causing him that much grief and drama. <div class="choice">[[Here and Now]]</div>

You barely slept last night. Your mind was wrapped with nerves and fear; every darkened shadow that appeared on your wall was a new spook attempting to claw its way into your skin. You found there to be a smell that lingered wherever you went. There is a sour and bitter odor that will not leave, no matter how much Lysol and Febreze you spray. The very air around you felt sullied and tainted. However, what is worse is the weight on you. Your body feels as if you're being dragged slowly through a body of water, <<if $waterlogged is "true">> something that you never want to experience again.<<else>> your limbs stiff with the very mass that you cannot see.<</if>>. It wraps you in a cumbersome embrace. After flipping yourself like a pancake for the fifth time that night, you had gotten up and decided to do some light cleaning. Well, that turned more into deep cleaning. You were in your kitchen, on hands and knees, when your doorbell rang at 11 AM. You curse and take off your cleaning gloves, moving the bucket to the side. You hobble over to your front door, and <<if $height is "tall">> look out of your peephole to see white hair. <<else>> stand up on your tiptoes and look out of your peephole to see white hair. <</if>> You open the door. You aren't surprised to see that it's Tama there, and he seems to have a present for you. A medium-sized box in hand. He smiles, “Hey, bestie!" You grin and give him a one-armed hug. Moving aside to let him in, “What are you doing on this side of town!" He enters your apartment, placing the box near your door and closing it for you. “Oh, well, I was just in the neighborhood–" “Tama, you live halfway across the city." You fold your arms over your chest and give him an incredulous glance. “Not that I'm not happy to see you, but be honest." “Weeelll," He smiles guiltily. “maybe, I was just a bit worried about you?" <div class="choice">[[Continue|Carebear]]</div>

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“So, you got any plans for the weekend <<print $your_name>>?" You're scribbling in your notebook but shake your head. “Nah, will probably just work and stay home." “Aren't you tired of working and just going home???" Tama scrunches his nose up, "Your social life revolves just around me at this point! Don't you want to go out?" <div class="choice">[[I go out!][$teamplayer to Math.clamp($teamplayer +7, 0, 100)]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Eew, why?][$solo to Math.clamp($solo +8, 0, 100)]]</div>

You barely slept last night. Your mind was wrapped with nerves and fear. Every darkened shadow on your wall was a new spook attempting to claw its way into your skin. You found there to be a smell that lingered wherever you went. There is a sour and bitter odor that will not leave, no matter how much Lysol and Febreze you spray. The very air around you felt sullied and tainted. However, what is worse is the weight on you. Your body feels as if you're being dragged slowly through a large body of water, <<if $waterlogged is "true">> something that you never want to experience again.<<else>> your limbs stiff with the very mass that you cannot see.<</if>>. It wraps you in a cumbersome embrace. After flipping yourself like a pancake for the fifth time that night, you had gotten up and decided to do some light cleaning. Well, that turned more into deep cleaning. When Tama stubbled in, you were on hands and knees scrubbing the tiled floor in your kitchen. He shuffles in with tired eyes and pursed lips. Stretching, he smacked his lips and scratched at his belly. A patch of white curly hair lays on his lower abdomen; the hair trails further down until it disappears under his sleep shorts. His coily hair is out of its signature ponytail. Instead, the soft coils hang past his shoulders, bouncing with his body movements. “Morning~" He mumbles as he makes his way to your fridge, opening the box to steal your juice jug. He spins the top off and just drinks straight from the carton without pause. You stare at him in disbelief. “HEY–" Tama merely lifts a finger, still drinking from the jug. You watch as your precious vitamin C is drained, second by second. You think about chopping him in the neck but know that would probably make a mess you REALLY didn't want to clean. You silently fume as he finishes. Slamming the jug against your countertop, you watch juice droplets scatter against the white laminates. “Ah," He smacks his lips and licks any remaining juice from his plump lips. "Can't start the day without my daily dose of vitamin C!" <div class="choice">[[Continue|Orange]]</div>

You feel touched that he would be concerned about your well-being. But a phone call would have been nice before he just popped up. But you can’t stay mad at those puppy eyes. You reach out to pat his arm and give him a bashful smile, "Thanks for worrying, but I'm fine, Tama." "Those dark circles under your eyes tell a different story.” You raise a brow, "Coming from the guy that went grey prematurely, do you hav–" You stop and stare at his shirt. There is a large black stain that looks congealed and sticky. "What the hell is that on your shirt??" "Huh?" He looks down at where you're pointing and makes an O with his mouth. "This came from your box! When I lifted it up, I didn't realize it was leaking and got the shit on me." You frown and look at the box sitting on your fluffy white rug. "Wait, if it's leaking, why would you bring it into my clean apartment??" He opens his mouth and then frowns and closes it. With a weak chuckle, he rubs the back of his neck. "Ah, I guess I didn't think of that?" You roll your eyes and go into the kitchen to get a butter knife. Coming back, you crouch down to look more closely at the box. The bottom is damp, and if you were to touch it, your hands would come back sticky with the black liquid. “Now, who in the hell….” Peering at the label, you realize that it’s from your aunts. This must be the box of charms that they promised to send? But why was it leaking? You hope your aunts didn’t pack anything easily breakable, but knowing aunt Miriam, you couldn’t be sure. "Do you want to open it, or should I?" <div class="choice">[[Tama open it]]</div> <div class="choice">[[I got it]]</div>

Tama takes the butter knife from your hand. Crouching down, he slices the box open, prying the sides open. A foul odor wafts up, like the scent of something rotting away. Recoiling, he covers his nose with his hand and lets out a groan. “Oh, that’s fucking sick.” You lean over to see what he’s talking about and feel your blood chill. A dead black bird rests in the center, cushioned by packing peanuts. Thick black liquid oozed out of its mouth and other cavities. The black goo continues to slide into the box's content as if the bird were just killed. Movement catches your eye from underneath the bird. What you first thought was packing peanuts was actually maggots. The worms crawl through and around the body. You begin to dry heave. Nausea rocking your entire body. “Wait a minute; there’s something underneath it.” “Tama, do—” He takes the knife and moves the body over. You see small sticks of incense that have been broken and bunches of sage drenched in what smells like urine. But what most disturbs you is that your replacement <<print $idol>> has been broken. Broken was the understatement of the year; defiled was better suited. Never to be used, no chance of being purified, entirely and utterly //corrupted//. <div class="choice">[[Continue|A cursed gift]]</div>

“It's your stuff. You open it.” You shrug. Crouching down, you slide the knife through the tape holding the box closed. A foul odor drifts up from the package when the tape is broken. So strong is the aroma that you almost throw up on the spot. A mixture between something rotten and sweet. You pry the box sides open and have to stop yourself from screaming. A dead black bird rests in the center, cushioned by packing peanuts. Thick black liquid oozed out of its mouth and other cavities. The black goo continues to slide into the box's content as if the bird were just killed. Movement catches your eye from underneath the bird. What you first thought was packing peanuts was actually maggots. The worms crawl through and around the body. You begin to dry heave. Nausea rocking your entire body. “Wait a minute; there’s something underneath it.” “Tama, do—” He takes the knife and moves the body over. You see small sticks of incense that have been broken and bunches of sage drenched in what smells like urine. But what most disturbs you is that your replacement <<print $idol>> has been broken. Broken was the understatement of the year; defiled was better suited. Never to be used, no chance of being purified, entirely and utterly //corrupted//. <div class="choice">[[Continue|A cursed gift]]</div>

“Yeah, too bad that was my orange juice, you long throat bastard!" You bark out. Snatching the now empty jug from the counter, you throw it in the trash bin. You don't know what you're more annoyed at; the fact that he drank all of your juice or the fact that he spilled some on your once clean counters! You go over there with a wipe and hastily clean the mess. “Have you ever heard of a fucking cup??" Tama sits atop the island and tilts his head, eyebrow quirking. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." “No, someone woke up to see their orange juice ravaged by a vagrant!" He rolls his eyes and goes into your fridge, getting a bowl and your last box of Coco Puffs cereal. He empties the entire bag into the bowl, goes to the sink, and begins to fill the bowl with water. Your mouth drops, and you feel the last bit of your soul leave your body. You snap. “Alright!" You throw the wipe down and snatch your cleaning gloves off. Throwing them on the counter, you march over and snatch the bowl of cereal out of Tama’s hands. “That’s it; you're officially being kicked out!" “What?!” He yelps as you start pushing him towards your front door. He barely fought back, allowing himself to be moved. If he didn’t want you to touch him like that, you knew he would have no problem fighting you back. “C’mon <<print $your_name>>! You’re really going to throw me out!?” He digs his heels into your wood floors, trying to prevent you from moving him. “Yup!” You unlock the door and are about to push him out, but a large brown box sits directly in front of the door. “You’re gonna push me out, in front of a box??” “Shit, I just might!” You grumble, instantly removing your hand from his back. The little bastard had the devil's own luck. You peer around him to stare at the sender's name and realize it is from your Aunt Belinda. “bring the box inside, and maybe you can stay.” <div class="choice">[[Continue|Love is blind]]</div>

He rolls his eyes but reaches down to grab the box. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> You watch him bend down. He typically only slept in a pair of sleep shorts, and outside of that you doubted he even wore underwear from how his pants always fit him. It was slightly frigid outside, which wasn't unusual in itself for Milwaukee. As much as you tried, you couldn't help but stare at the shorts that Tama wore. They clung to him like a second skin. You can’t help but admire the two peachy globes and contemplate throwing a nickel off the ample flesh. <<else>>You watch him bend down. He typically only slept in a pair of sleep shorts, and outside of that you doubted he even wore underwear from how his pants always fit him. It was slightly frigid outside, which wasn't unusual in itself for Milwaukee. However, you couldn't help but worry if it was too cold outside to wear nothing but shorts. Shorts that were tight as these at least. You could only hope he wouldn't catch a cold.<</if>> “Like what you see, babe?” His voice is teasing as he looks back at you. A slight smirk slithers on his face as he stands up, hand stroking his bare stomach.<<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>You don't even try to pretend that you're not checking him out. Your eyes trail all over him, staring at his muscles. You then settle on his stomach and hips. His hips were narrow; however, his thighs were slightly muscular. Tama always said that track had helped him gain those muscular thighs. Your eyes roam to the white curly patch of hair at his lower navel. You lick your lips, staring at his smooth skin. You wonder if that white really does go all the way. What you wouldn't do to be on your knees in front of Tama. Sucking his dick and being used over and over again. <<else>>You roll your eyes. Tama has always been a bit of a narcissist. He knew he was pretty and had no problem letting everyone in a 50-mile radius now. Although you couldn’t fault him too much. You'd have a big head too if you looked even remotely like him.<</if>> You try to stop the goofy smile that crosses your face, but it's hard. You merely shake your head at him and try to cover your mouth. “You know you can touch it?" He said. He bends over and wiggles his butt in front of you. <<if $gender is "man" and $inlove_Tama>> You're a bit hypnotized by how he rolls his hips. You lick your lips slowly, imaging you and Tama in a very different situation. One where he is bent over your bed or a table, and his arms are pulled tight behind him. A flushed dazed look on his face as drool dribbles down his chin. You’re thrusting into his tight body, being gripped with such strength that you doubt you could leave if you wanted to. A place so hot, warm, and welcoming for you and only you. You bite your lip. Hard enough to draw blood. <<else>>You roll your eyes. If there was one thing you knew about Tama, he loved a good shock factor. <</if>> You... <div class="choice"><<link [[Smack it]]>><<set $Yue_approval to Math.clamp($Yue_approval += 6, 0, 100)>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Carrass it]]>><<set $Yue_approval to Math.clamp($Yue_approval += 15, 0, 100)>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Tell him no]]>><<set $Yue_approval to Math.clamp($Yue_approval -= 6, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

You approach him, and he bats his eyelashes at you. Trying to give the impression that he's some innocent youth, but you know better than to fall for his shit. You draw your hand back as far as you can and bring it down on Tama's ass with force. The rebounding sound fills your apartment and undoubtedly spills out into your hallway. “Eekk!!" Tama jumps into the air like a rabbit. He hops away from you, clutching his butt and rubbing the soft flesh. “Why would you do that!" You give him a dirty look, “Why would you wave your ass in my face!" He glowers at you and sticks his tongue out at you. “Well, why were you staring at it so hard!" <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>You feel yourself becoming flustered. "I was trying to figure out how someone so scrawny could have an ass that big!" “Well, that isn't the only thing big on me." He smirks. //Oh. Fuck.// Your eyes travel down to his boxers. You stare at his crotch, curious about what he was hiding in those tight boxers. Your brain short circuits and you're standing there gaping. Tama's looking at you with a raised brow. You realize that you should probably say something; otherwise, you'll look crazy. “Y-yeah, but we're not talking about your head!" “No, but I'm sure you're thinking about my dick." You choke on your spit as you exhale too sharply. You’re coughing, your face getting red as you try to catch your breath. Tama leans over to pat you on your back, “Jeez, I was just kidding <<print $your_name>>! No need to choke on your own tongue, although if you want to choke on something els---” “Tama!” You squeal. <<else>>“I was trying to figure out how someone so scrawny could have an ass that big!" “Well, that isn't the only thing big on me." He smirks. “Yeah," You groan and roll your eyes. "but we're not talking about your head." “Coming from the person with a jughead, I might actually start to feel insulted.” You two reach a stalemate, glaring at each other. No one is willing to be wrong. It only ends when you see Tama’s lips quirking. He's trying his hardest not to laugh, but he's failing miserably. “You're not funny." He sticks his tongue out, and makes a funny face. You snort.<</if>> <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|Back to the box]]>><<set $Yue_approval to Math.clamp($Yue_approval -= 9, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

“C-can I really?” You hate how hestiant and nervous you sound, like a teenager that just popped their first boner. He stands up, tilting his head as he appraises you. Tama gives you a weird look and raises a brow. Placing his hands on his hips, he juts his chin out to you, “I said you could, didn’t I?” You walk up to him and wrap your arms around him. He doesn’t flinch away; instead, he relaxes into your embrace. <<if $height is "tall">> He sags into the junction of your neck and shoulder, burying his face there. <<else>> His body leans into you, despite you being shorter than him. <</if>> Like a cat sinking into a box. Your hands settle on his back, feeling his muscles' smooth ridges and planes. He jumps a bit, and you still, slightly. Was this okay? Were you crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed? You knew you were. But you couldn't find yourself carrying. Did that make you a bad person? Maybe. “Your hands are cold.” He mutters. Your hands go up and down his back, but you want to do more. You need to ''feel'' more. Your hands go down further until you rest at the top of his ass. You don't waste any time and simply grab handfuls of the two-round globes. His butt was surprisingly soft, like a loaf of bunny bread. It starts off as a simple grab, but you can't stop now that you have him where you want him. You start to massage the flesh, rolling and kneading the cheeks in your hand as if they were dough. His breath hitches, <<if $height is "tall">> you feel the warm breath fan across your neck. A tickle making your own flesh very much heated. <<else>> despite him not being close to you. You can tell he's affected by what you're doing to him.<</if>> “...Feel good?" Your voice sounds strange even to your ears. Voice slightly husky and raspy as you try to keep your own desire from seeping into your throat. “Mhm." He murmurs. You feel him sag even more into your hold. <<if $height is "tall">> His lips skim across your neck. A wet sensation follows the direction of his lips, causing goosebumps to rise from where his lips trail. “Mmm.." You can't stop the little sigh of pleasure that slips past your lips. His hands find their way to your hips, rubbing the flesh there. You are taken off guard when his hands move to cup underneath your ass. Pulling you closer to him so that your pelvis’ are touching. You feel a prominent bulge. Tama curses, probably in mandarin, and grips you tighter. //"I’m going to fucking wreck you."// He snarls into your ear. You let out a gasp; you didn’t know what he said. But it sounded so… sexual <<else>> His hands find their way to your arms, rubbing up and down in a relaxed motion. You feel goosebumps rise from where his fingers trace, and warmth lingers there. Desire begins to bubble in your stomach. His hands find their way to your hips, rubbing the flesh there. You are taken off guard when his hands move to cup underneath your ass. Pulling you closer to him so that your pelvis’ are touching. You feel a prominent bulge. Tama curses, probably in mandarin, and grips you tighter. //“I’m going to fucking wreck you.”// He snarls into your ear. You let out a gasp; you didn’t know what he said. But it sounded so… sexual.<</if>> Your little gasp is like a needle to a balloon. Breaking any of the mounting tension that had been growing. Tama blinks, staring down at you. His eyes widen, eyebrows shooting up. He lets out a nervous chuckle. “Alright," He gently pushes away from you, putting distance between your two bodies. “Enough of that." You're dejected, but you don't want him to see that. An awkwardness settles over you two. He's refusing to meet your eyes, and you're doing everything but screaming at him to look at you. It was probably too late to regret what you've done. But do you regret it anyway? Only time will tell. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|Back to the box]]>><<set $Yue_approval to Math.clamp($Yue_approval -= 9, 0, 100)>><</link>></div>

“I'm not smacking your ass Tama." You say with a sour expression. He wiggles his ass again, making the flesh jingle, “You sure? You looked pretty hypnotized back there." <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> "Tama," You sigh like the world is on your shoulders. "Don't." "What?" He sees the expression on your face and kisses his teeth, "I was just playing <<print $your_name>>." "Well don't." "Why are you being so moody?" "I'm not bein-!" You catch yourself. "I'm not being moody. I just don't think your girlfriend would appreciate me feeling up her boyfriend." //Especially when I have a crush on him.// “And when have you ever cared about that?" Raising his brow, he gives you an smile, all teeth. Standing up, he stretches his muscles. His skin seeming to glisten in your shitty apartment lights. //Damn, if he can look good in anything and anywhere.// You stare at the long hard lines of his body, catching yourself licking your lips. “You've done worse things without her knowing, haven't you?" Your heart skips a beat, and you stare at him like a wide-eyed doe. “I-I don't know what you're talking about." His eyes crinkle, and he bites his lip. “You sure about that?" "Y-You're full of shit." Tama chuckles, and places a hand on his stomach, "Yeah, that's the best answer isn't it?" You brush past him with a huff, "Fuck off." He mumbles something, but you don't catch it. But, you don't even think you would want to hear it anyway. At least, for right now. <<else>>“I'm sure your girlfriend wouldn't appreciate me feeling her boyfriend up." You roll your eyes. He kisses his teeth and sighs deeply, a sound that comes from the pits of his stomach. “She's not here, is she?" You cross your arms over your chest. “I can always stick my foot up there if you'd like?" He pauses, grimacing while he covers his bum with his hands, “I'm good." "'Thought so."<</if>> <div class="choice">[[Continue|Back to the box]]</div>

He bends down to grab the box, but he jolts. Like he was electrocuted by spare hanging wires. “Eeeww, something is leaking.” A disgusted expression settles on his face as he lifts the box to show me. Something black and gelatinous oozes from the box. It slides down the box and splats onto the wooden floor. You watch as it slides down the cardboard planes. An inconceivable sense of dread scratches at your soul. Your lungs feel punctured, and you are winded like you've just run a 5k marathon. You are hypnotized by the black goo, a rock settling down into your stomach. “Put it down.” You whisper. “What?” “Put it down!” You hiss urgently, grabbing ahold of his wrist. Tama drops the box as if he were burned and looks at you with a frown. "Whats wrong, <<print $your_name>>?" You clutch at your chest, feeling your heartbeat rapidly. "I can't explain it fully. But something about that package feels wrong. Profane, cursed." "Hmm, even more reason to open it, don't you think?" Looking back and forth between the box and me. He leaves to go into the kitchen. Tama comes back with a butter knife and looks at you and then the box. “Do you want to do it, or should I?” <div class="choice">[[Please?]]</div> <div class="choice">[[I can do it]]</div>

You give him a crooked smile, but you only imagine that it looks pitiful if Tama’s own reaction is anything to tell. He merely crouches down and slices the box open. Prying the sides open. A foul odor wafts up, like the scent of something rotting away. The smell of decay and rust is strong. Recoiling, he covers his nose with his hand and lets out a groan. “Oh, that’s fucking sick.” You lean over to see what he’s talking about and feel your blood chill. A dead blackbird rests in the center, cushioned by packing peanuts. Thick black liquid oozed out of its mouth and other cavities. The black goo continues to slide into the box's content as if the bird were just killed. Movement catches your eye from underneath the bird. What you first thought was packing peanuts was actually maggots. The worms crawl through and around the body. You begin to dry heave. Nausea rocking your entire body. “Wait a minute; there’s something underneath it.” “Tama, do—” He takes the knife and moves the body over. You see small sticks of incense that have been broken and bunches of sage drenched in what smells like urine. But what most disturbs you is that your replacement <<print $idol>> has been broken. Broken was the understatement of the year; defiled was better suited. Never to be used, no chance of being purified, entirely and utterly //corrupted//. <div class="choice">[[Continue|A cursed gift]]</div>

“I got it.” He shrugs and hands you the knife. You crouch down and cut the tape holding the box closed. As soon as the tape is broken, a foul odor wafts from the package. So strong is the aroma that you almost throw up on the spot. A mixture between something rotten and sweet. You pry the flaps open and have to stop yourself from screaming. A dead blackbird rests in the center, cushioned by packing peanuts. Thick black liquid oozed out of its mouth and other cavities. The black goo continues to slide into the box's content as if the bird were just killed. Movement catches your eye from underneath the bird. What you first thought was packing peanuts was actually maggots. The worms crawl through and around the body. You begin to dry heave. Nausea rocking your entire body. “Wait a minute; there’s something underneath it.” “Tama, do—” He takes the knife and moves the body over. You see small sticks of incense that have been broken and bunches of sage drenched in what smells like urine. But what most disturbs you is that your replacement <<print $idol>> has been broken. Broken was the understatement of the year; defiled was better suited. Never to be used, no chance of being purified, entirely and utterly //corrupted//. <div class="choice">[[Continue|A cursed gift]]</div>

"Who would send something like that!?” Tama seethes. You look back to the box, eyes entranced on the black bird. "<<print $your_name>>!” "It was from my aunt.” Your voice sounds robotic, even to your own ears. "Suppose to replace my broken one. Keeps the spirits away.” Who could have done it? Your aunts would never do that to you; they would never send you something this…disgusting. <<if $regret is "Wraith">> Not to sound princess bridish, but any enemy you had was dead.<<else>> Courtney wasn't even an option. They didn't know where you lived.<</if>> Which left only one option. //Witches?// You don't know any other being that knew of the occult more than an witch. But of course, you didn't know any personally. Perhaps, your aunts may have a clue?... But if they were powerful enough to break through your aunt’s mysticism, then you probably shouldn't get involved with them. you don't have a choice, it seems. “Alright! We aren’t waiting around!” Tama’s voice is enough to break you out of your trance. You glance at him and see that he’s taken a random shirt from off of your couch, probably what he wore yesterday. He closes the box, nose scrunched up as he uses the shirt to pick it up. “We’re taking this to the dump.” You follow after him, getting on the elevator. “What do you mean by waiting around?” "Look, I know this woman,” He begins, shifting the weight from the box around. "Probably around our age. She’s super into the occult and knows a lot of stuff about it. I’m not saying she can get rid of your guests. BUT she can offer better protection than whatever the hell this is.” You pause and thoroughly look at Tama. "You know I’ve had this problem for years. Why are you just now mentioning her to me?” You try to hide the betrayed look on your face. But hiding your emotions from him was never easy. "I didn’t find out about her until some months back." He rubbed the back of his neck, head dropping. "Besides, I was embarrassed.” “About what??” You’re feeling annoyed with Tama and his need for secrets. He knows almost everything about you, down to your most profound regrets. So, what could possibly be so ''embarrassing'' that he couldn’t even tell you? <div class="choice">[[Conitnue|Excuses]]</div>

He doesn't speak for a while. Eyes like a storm; finally, he says, “It's complicated." “Has he been kidnapped or something?” He snorts, “They would have given him back by now if that was the case.” You halt. If Tama’s visiting an occultist, there's a good chance that his father may not even be alive. Or maybe his father is missing, and he needs to be found? There are so many possibilities. “Is he dead? Did someone kill him?" Tama laughs. You blink //Damn, I knew their relationship was terrible. But not that bad.// Seeing your expression, Tama sniffles, eyes watering as he clutches his stomach. “Sorry, just imagining the old man dead. Pffft!" He begins laughing again. He wipes tears from his eyes, “Being dead just feels like it would go against his very nature. If someone ever was lucky enough to kill him, it would probably be the shortest celebration ever." <div class="choice">[[All for dark humor]]</div> <div class="choice">[[A little sick]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Don't say that]]</div>

You hadn't realized that the shop Tama referred you to was in the large shopping plaza across town. Nor did you know that a fair was happening for the next two weeks, which caused Tama to park 5 blocks away When it was only 3 in the afternoon, the amount of already drunk people stumbling around made you want to just go home. You stand in front of the large building. It's crowded by a clothing store, and a juice bar that you know has the most ''DISGUSTING'' kale smoothie on earth. You've been in this plaza, you don't know how many times, but you don't remember seeing this store…You try and think back to the number of times you’ve passed this store, and you come up with a blank. //I'll need to ask Tama when this place opened up…// “How long has this been here again?” Tama makes a grunt and stuffs his hands into his pockets. “Why are you asking me? I don’t work here.” You raise your brow and reach over to pinch his cheeks, “Somebodies being a Mr. Grumpy gills.” He grunted and swatted away at your hand, “'m in a bad mood.” The store has an ‘OPEN’ sign hanging meagerly in its window, and right below it, a smaller sign with the store times. You tilt your head and glance at Tama, but he merely waves you on. “Go on in! I’m gonna wait out here. The incense in there gives me a headache.” You nod hesitantly and open the door. A burst of cold air greets you as the door chimes. <div class="choice">[[A mystics home]]</div>

When you crossed the threshold, you were overwhelmed by the heavy scent of burning incense. The smell of frankincense and myrrh mixed with musk was hard to dislodge from your throat. You cough harshly, hoping to remove the smoke from your tongue. Your eyes water and you strain to observe the odd-looking place before you. The store had a strange way of pulling you in. It possessed a dark nimbus, like the room housed many shades within its darkened walls. The furrows of smoke from the incense sticks were visible through the darkened room, casting shapes and clouds of numerous creatures as the offerings burned solemnly. Velvet dark draperies were tied together to let the little sunlight outside into the room’s dark folds. The front half of the store had glass cases lined up in the middle of the store. It reminded you of a jewelry shop, the way that it was set up. Various crystals and odd trinkets filled the cases, the gems glistening underneath the fluorescent light. Bookcases filled with books littered the walls, jars of curio acting as bookends. The second half of the store hosted more shelves, some holding actual booklets, binders aged and decaying, held on by mere fabric strings. The other shelves had more jars. The contents looked like a sort of dark ichor that sloshed like sludge, filling more than one of those oddly shaped glasses. You feel uneasy the longer you stare at those jars. A curtain of long beads blocked a doorway behind the checkout counter, probably leading to the rest of the building. “Hello, welco-- oh." Tama said that the woman who saw you would be young, around your age. But instead, the woman who stands before you is someone old enough to be your aunt. She was dressed eccentrically, draped in colorful satins and silks. The woman is wearing a flower indigo skirt and an off-the-shoulder tee that has some cartoonish yellow cat on it. Her warm beige skin was filled with wrinkles, and her curly black hair held strands of pure white. In her hands was a clipboard with a stack of papers. There was something about her that instantly made you smile. She had a sort of enigmatic energy that people could just gravitate to. As though you could tell her anything without judgment. <div class="choice">[[How may I assist you?]]</div>

“My name is Fang. Natala Fang. How can I help you today?” “Ah," You say lamely. //Fuck Tama for just throwing me in here!// “Errum, I-I don't know why I'm here. My friend recommended this place to me, but he said it would be a young woman who could help me, and you're clearly not her." Pausing, you realize what you said and quickly try to backtrack. "Not saying that you're like, old or anything! You're probably what, like, 40? Very young and --" “Sprightly?" The woman says with a smile and a raised brow. She doesn't seem to take offense to what you just said. Instead, she finds humor in your stuttering and flustering. “Dawaco, the woman who typically runs the shop, feels under the weather. I'm covering for her today." “Ah, then, I guess I should come back later?" You say shifting from foot to foot. “Hmmm," She tilts her head and examines you, a pensive expression on her face. “Is there a specific service you're looking for? If it's for readings, I do them differently from Dawaco, but the results are all the same. If you’re looking for charms and trinkets, you can peruse our shelves and cases." You hesitate. Before you left your hometown to attend college here, your aunts had taken you to just about every spiritual advisor they could find. No one has been able to truly help you. The only thing they could ever give you was the <<print $idol>>. But even those were starting to lose their usefulness. So, what could this one lone woman do for you that would be different? “... My friend told me that you guys were good at occult stuff." You're cautious with what you say. You know how people react when you tell them about your hauntings. “…I see.” Her eyes narrow, and her lips quirk. “And who is this friend of yours?” “Uh, it’s Tama Shirosaki?” The woman threw her head back and laughed, clutching at her stomach as deep belts of humor infected her. “But of course, it’s him!” <div class="choice">[[Continue|Jokes on you]]</div>

“Oh, pay me no mind, child. When you’re old and sprightly like me, the simple things just tickle you.” She winks at you, and you feel your face burn with embarrassment. She walks back to the front of the store and flips the store sign to closed. “So, you’re here for our OTHER services. Follow me to the consolation room.” She turns her back to you and walks towards the back of the store; parting the beaded curtains, she beckons for you to follow. “The consultation room?” The beaded door leads you to what you would consider a foyer. The main thing you notice is a flight of stairs. They seem to go up into a den of darkness; your eyes wouldn't be able to cut through that stifling dark locality. Right next to the stairs was a long hallway. The area looked more like a living space than a storage space. Picture frames and various art decor hung against the wall. The dark atmosphere that claimed the storefront was banished here, along with the thick incense smog in the storefront. There was still a hint here, but it was more muted, less assaulting. “Sounds real business-like and professional, doesn't it?" A sheepish smile on her face, she guides you to that door across from the stairs and opens the door. “Come." You hesitate but enter the room. It’s warm and comforting here, with ample space and couches that line the north, west, and eastern wall. The door you passed through has two large china cabinets situated on either side of the door. The walls are painted a warm coral and sea foam blue. Fringed pillows litter the floor, and a large white plush rug is centered in the middle of the floor. On top of it was a large kotatsu table, a burgundy futon laid underneath the wooden panes. It looked plush and warm. Large casement windows lined each wall, and short dark drapes covered each window. “Please get comfortable. Is there anything I can get you to drink? Lemonade, tea, coffee, water?" She walks around the room, opening the windows to allow fresh air and light into the room. “I'm fine, thank you." You sit at the end of the table. Farthest away from the window. Tama had a similar table in his own apartment, and you loved it. You happily stick your legs underneath the blanket and are welcomed by a soothing balminess. She nods and comes back to the large kotatsu table. She sits down and politely crosses her hands. “So before we begin, I would like to get a few basic details from you. What season were you born in?” <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$birth_season" 'summer'>><span style="color #008000"> ''Summer''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$birth_season" 'winter'>><span style="color #FFFF00;"> ''Winter''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$birth_season" 'autumn'>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Autumn''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$birth_season" 'spring'>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Spring''</span>.</div> <div class="choice">[[Continue|4 seasons]]</div>

<<if $birth_season is 'autumn'>>“Child born under turning leaves, born from summer's bane. Cousin to those lost in an eternal struggle of power, godchild to father death." “I'm sorry?" You wrinkle your nose. “I'm trying to understand what this is all about?" “Some people may choose not to believe it, but some seasons are completely unlucky to be born in. Coupled with transgenerational karma that your ancestors may have accumulated, a person could have a short and tragic life laid out for them." You raise and eyebrow and lean on your elbow, “Well, then what does my season say about me?" She taps her fingernail against the table and then smiles, “Well, for one, it says that you are very hardy, few things can faze you. However, you are not interested in fortunes, are you? Why don't you tell me what is going on? Start from the beginning."<<elseif $birth_season is 'spring'>>“Spring babe, a child born under blooming flowers and scented leaves. Dewy drops that cling to petals holding fragrant perfume." She pauses and looks at you. “Many flowers and animals that once slept awaken in this season. You could say that it is the beginning of life for many." “I'm sorry? I'm trying to understand what this is all about?" “Some people may choose not to believe it, but some seasons are completely unlucky to be born in. Coupled with transgenerational karma that your ancestors may have accumulated, a person could have a short and tragic life laid out for them." You raise and eyebrow and lean on your elbow, “Well, then what does my season say about me?" She taps her fingernail against the table and then smiles, “Well, for one, it says that you have a charisma that few can match, don’t you? You have a way of making even the ficklist person befriend you. However, you are not interested in fortunes, are you? Why don't you tell me what is going on? Start from the beginning."<<elseif $birth_season is 'winter'>>“Child born from cold-hardy grounds. Creatures sleep, and foliage recedes. All that is left is the cold silence.” She pauses and looks at you. “That is a season in which many things fall to slumber. Awaiting for the soft breath of spring." “I'm sorry? I'm trying to understand what this is all about?" “Some people may choose not to believe it, but some seasons are completely unlucky to be born in. Coupled with transgenerational karma that your ancestors may have accumulated, a person could have a short and tragic life laid out for them." You raise and eyebrow and lean on your elbow, “Well, then what does my season say about me?" She taps her fingernail against the table and then smiles, “Well, for one, it says that you are very hardy, few things can deter you. However, you are not interested in fortunes, are you? Why don't you tell me what is going on? Start from the beginning."<<elseif $birth_season is 'summer'>>“Born under the sweltering heat and decaying crops. You are a child of sunlight. Forgotten moments lost to a summer haze, sweet kisses stolen under large oak trees, breeze filtered by reeds." “I'm sorry? I'm trying to understand what this is all about?" “Some people may choose not to believe it, but some seasons are completely unlucky to be born in. Coupled with transgenerational karma that your ancestors may have accumulated, a person could have a short and tragic life laid out for them." You raise and eyebrow and lean on your elbow, “Well, then what does my season say about me?" She taps her fingernail against the table and then smiles, “Well, for one, it says you are quite charismatic, aren’t you? You have an aura that just attracts people, almost like you're a walking ball of sunshine. However, you are not interested in fortunes, are you? Why don't you tell me what is going on? Start from the beginning."<</if>>. <div class="choice">[[A long tale to tell]]</div>

You take a deep breath and begin to recite your tale. Starting from your first fatal encounter with the supernatural. The woman's face was a mask of sympathy as she listened. Patting your hand when you get too choked up. You finish with your most recent turn of events. The dead bird and desecrated idol. When you describe the contents of the box is when she finally reacts; her body outwardly tenses, and her hands tighten. "I see," She doesn't look at you. Eyes staring intently at the grain of the wood. "To be honest with you, I had already sensed the presence of something malevolent on your aura. But your story confirms what I already expected." She shifts on her haunches and lifts her head to stare at you. The severity of her expression makes you more nervous than comforted in knowing that she believed you. “It sounds like you may have attracted the attention of multiple maleficent beings throughout your lifetime. That wouldn't be much of an issue as spirits lose interest over time, depending on the host. However, it can become an issue when different levels of spirits congregate or besiege one body. What is most unsettling to me is this constant entity you describe; it seems to be the main ringleader for the others." You wonder how you could be ''that'' unlucky considering your age. “Not many people can claim to be so unfortunate. Although, I'm sure many wish they weren't. You have two options. I can give you a charm to make you less visible to those spirits. Or I can try to cleanse you. Your choice." You pause. “What would the cleansing entail, and how much would each cost?” “It’s not anything similar to an exorcism, and you’re not that bad off…yet.” She really didn’t need to add that last bit. “I would attempt to contact the spirit and ask it to move on. It’s less aggressive than simply banishing them, and quite honestly, there are too many of them to banish in one go. Because you’re Tama’s friend, I won’t charge you anything for either service; however, if you come back and Dawaco is working at the time, you may have to pay some sort of fee if you need follow-up help.” This sounded like a pretty important decision… But before you made it, you needed a bit more information on what you were getting yourself into. <div class="choice"><<if visited("Why are these spirits attracted to me?")>><s>Why are these spirits attracted to me?</s><<else>>[[Why are these spirits attracted to me?]]<</if>></div> <div class="choice"><<if visited("Do you know what the entity is?")>><s>Do you know what the entity is?</s><<else>>[[Do you know what the entity is?]]<</if>></div> <div class="choice"><<if visited("Can you tell how many are clinging to me?")>><s>Can you tell how many are clinging to me?</s><<else>>[[Can you tell how many are clinging to me?]]<</if>></div> <div class="choice">[[Continue|Choice to make]]</div>

Fang shrugged, “Some people are like beacons or walking night lights; their essence is extremely attractive to the other side. Other people may get cursed by witches if you believe in that sort of thing.” A mocking smile paints her lips. “Your circumstances might be similar. However, I couldn't tell you why they've chosen you from the risk factors you've given me. It could be that you were born under an unlucky star, or perhaps your ancestors have committed a grave atrocity that must be repaid in blood. Blood that you must bleed. Whatever it is, you should be vigilant.” <div class="choice"><<return "A long tale to tell">></div>

You had a sneaking suspicion that this ''malevolent'' entity was known to you. But it wouldn't hurt to confirm who or what it was. Fang gives a wry smile and shakes her head. “I'm sorry, there's too many to see. Maybe with the cleansing, I could possibly connect with it? But only if you want to, of course." <div class="choice"><<return "A long tale to tell">></div>

“Hmm, like I said, it's many. Too many to really count. The one presence that concerns me the most seems to hold the small ones together. They are the one that holds everything together. Have you ever felt like you weren’t yourself? If you've ever made choices that you know you would have never made in the past?" You tighten your lips, “No. I've always been in control of who I am and what I do." “Hmm, maybe you're not that bad off then." She says airly. Tapping her fingernails against the grain of the table. She follows a rhythm that you cannot place, but the longer you listen to it, the harder it is for you to think. ''TAP TA-TA-TAP'' ''TA-TA-TA-TAP'' Your muscles begin to stiffen as you draw in thin and ragged breaths. Your body feels warm, hot even to the touch, but you’re not sick with fever. You were burning with anger, your figure shaking as you balled your fists on the table. The tapping continued like a drum constantly beating on your head. Finally, when you couldn't take anymore. You snapped. “Do you fucking mind?!" You explode. Your voice doesn't even sound familiar to you. Like a stranger had inhabited your body. She gives you a surprised gasp, and you immediately feel bad. You don't know why you reacted that way, and the tapping wasn't even that bad! “I'm sorry." You whisper, feeling clammish. “Hmmm, or maybe you are that bad off." She smiled innocently. <div class="choice"><<return "A long tale to tell">></div>

<<if $birth_season is 'winter'>><<set $endurance +=5, $occult +=3, $luck -=3, $perception +=5, $intelligence +=4, $stealth +=4>><<elseif $birth_season is 'spring'>><<set $perception +=5, $charisma +=7, $luck +=4, $occult -=5>><<elseif $birth_season is 'summer'>><<set $endurance +=5, $charisma +=6, $luck +=4, $occult -=4>><<elseif $birth_season is 'autumn'>><<set $perception +=5, $intelligence +=5, $stealth +=6, $luck -=3, $occult +=6>><</if>> You’re not an expert on the occult, but nothing about that sounds like a cleansing? You now wish you had taken your Aunt Belinda up on her offer to teach you about mysticism. <div class="choice"><<link [[Go with the cleansing]]>><<set $sanity +=10, $anxiety -=5>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Deny the cleansing]]>><<set $notexorcised to "true">><<set $anxiety -=10, $sanity +=20>><</link>></div>

“Alright… I guess we can go forward with the cleansing.” “Wonderful!” She gets up and goes to each window. Untying the tassels for the curtains, allowing the dark drapery to cover the entirety of the windows. She stands up from the table and goes to the China cabinet. She brings out an old vanity mirror, three black candles, two fruit knives, and something tiny. Placing the vanity mirror on the table, she moves it to face both of you. Taking the candles, she takes a small fruit knife and begins to carve into the wax flesh. You try and peer at the words, but it is in a language you cannot comprehend. Maybe Latin, if you had to guess? She places each one on either side of the mirror and then directly in front of you. She brings out a matchbox and begins to light the candles. The flames are solid, and once it has burned enough, she takes wax from each candle and smears it onto the mirror. “I need to make a small cut on your hand and smear a little blood on the mirror. Is that alright?" “Uh, no!" … That is what you wanted to say. But you found yourself too shocked to speak. “It has to be your blood. The spirits are attracted to you, not me." You close your eyes and moisten your dry lips. Presenting your hand to Fang, you flinch when she pricks your pointer finger. You feel her pinching the flesh; the stinging pain lasts for just a moment. Taking your finger, she beings to draw on the mirror. Your finger is being guided to form strange sigils and obscure patterns. She releases your hand, and you open your eyes. “Alright," She begins. “So, before we begin, I'd like to set some rules. This is not only for your safety but mine as well." “One, do not look into the mirror during the cleansing. You may get the urge to or hear a loved one’s voice coming from there. But do not do it. It is a trap that works more often than you can imagine. Two, if I tell you to do something, you will do it. Do not ask questions, do not hesitate. Third, if you feel something else is in the room, do not interact with it. Or if you feel like you have to leave, don't do it. Interrupting the cleaning is just as bad as stopping it. If it does become unbearable, tap the table three times, and I will stop. Are we clear?" <div class="choice">[[Continue|Onwards to cleanse][$artifact to 'Jade Bell']]</div>

“I'm gonna have to pass on the cleansing, but I can go with the items." The woman shrugs, “Your choice. To get a charm that's better suited to you, I'll need you to answer a few questions." “Shoot." “First question; are you more attracted to the light or the dark?" //What a weird question.// You try not to let your thoughts show on your face. But by the way, she laughs, you imagine that your attempts were a failure. She placed her hand on her chest; despite her best efforts, she couldn't contain that enormous smile, “It seems odd, but there is a method to the madness, I swear.” <div class="choice">[[Light][$fear_oflight to false]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Darkness][$fear_oflight to true]]</div>

You nod. Her voice left no room for backtalk. She claps her hands once, and the room is bathed in darkness. The only thing cutting through the dark was the three candle flames illuminated the aphotic space. “I shall start now." You hear three chimes in unison. Your eyes cut through the dark and see that Fang has a small bell in her hand. No bigger than the length of her forefinger, the bell was bronzed. It was antiqued, with sparrows circling the circular side of the dome and reeds circling the flat aide. Fang speaks in an unknown language; her voice is soft yet commanding. You stare in wonder at the candles before you. The flames grew tall, appearing to heighten themselves due to your attention. She rings the bell for the fourth time, and then. Silence. “Is t–" “sssshhh!" She brings her fingers up to her lips. //Crreeaakkk// Your eyes both travel slowly to the ceiling. “I---" She motions for your silence again. You hear the sound of someone walking above you, presumably on the second floor. The air is stagnant, almost suffocating as you see the flame wane. The hair on the back of your neck rises, and goosebumps rise along the planes of your arm. The temperature has dropped. The footsteps come to a halt; the steps have stopped right above your head. If you had to guess, and you could be wrong here… You would say that -- “They are here." A wondrous look crosses her face. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Arrival]]</div>

An inaudible sigh fills the large room; <<if $endurance lte 15>> the chill in the air is unbearable. You can hardly contain the shivers that rack your body.<<elseif $occult gte 9>> You feel another presence amongst your once cozy space. It covers you; the sensation is that of a weighted blanket. Heavy atop your shoulders. It is so cold that you can see both your and Fang's breath in the darkness. <</if>> At the same time, that waning flame began to flicker wildly. Fang's attention drops to the mirror. Her eyes narrow, brow scrunching as she leans forward. “I welcome you into this humble place of healing. You may call me Sala. How may we address you?” You look at Fang with a frown, but she merely gives you a furtive smile. Your ears strain, and you can’t hear anything. The candles illuminate Fang's face, her attention solely focused on the mirror. Apparently, she hears something she did not expect. Fangs brow furrows, eyes scrunching up. “Do you know a Henry by any chance?" You shake your head. “I see…" a dubious expression painted over Fang's face. You didn't dare guess or assume what she was thinking. “Do you know the person to who you've attached yourself too?" You realize that she isn't speaking to you but to the entity in the room. Her frown grows. She speaks again; however, the language sounds foreign to you. Like she isn't even speaking English anymore. It is so quiet that you almost second guess what you hear. Feeling that you have gone crazy, you concentrate and hold your breath. Honing in on the sound that filled your skull, you finally make sense of it. Buzzing. “Do you hear that?” You ask Fang. "Hear what?” You pause, waiting to hear the noise again. But as soon as you gain Fang’s attention, the buzzing stops. “…Nevermind, it was just my imagination.” Fang had a cynical expression on her face; however, she merely nods. “This spirit is not the one that's at the cause of it all. Although they seem to be much stronger than the little ones that linger. They also cannot leave, despite wanting to. That spirit I told you about, the malevolent one? It is holding everyone hostage." <div class="choice">[[Continue|then who]]</div>

“I thought we already knew that?" “Yes, but it is now confirmed." “What even is it? Who is it? Does it have a name?" You're sitting up eagerly. Your eyes travel to the mirror… “<<print $your_name>>!" She calls you sharply, bringing your attention back to her. "Do not look into the mirror. Spirits, especially demonic ones, will never give their true names. To have it would mean that you have gained power over it. We will need to try something else." She turns back to face the mirror. “Thank you for your time. Goodbye." She rings the small bell once. The room instantly feels lighter, the cold chill receding. The candle's flickering flames went back to being a tall, strong flame. “The malevolent spirit is too dangerous for me to handle on my own, from the spirit's account. Dawaco would be better suited for dealing with this, perhaps if you —" You find it hard to pay attention to her words. You hear something, someone. Barely above the subconscious level, the sound of someone whispering. You are sweating. You don’t know when the air began to heat up, but you feel significantly warmer. Stickier. You fan yourself, attempting to cool down. You found the room to get darker, the flames of the candles sputtering and crackling with high intensity. “<<print $your_name>>, what's going on?" You close your eyes and feel a cold breath on the shell of your ear. “<<print $your_name>>." “Huh?" You failed the number one rule. You looked into the mirror. There was nothing to see at first. It reflected the room that you were in. Showing your confused face. However, the devil was in the details. Behind you was something you could not conceive. There was something in the mirror, almost like a speck of blackness that had tainted the glass. You had assumed that it was your dried blood until you saw it shifting. The whispering grew louder, more pronounced, and you could no longer deny that something desired your attention. It felt like no one was in that room but just you and the mirror. The spot grew bigger and bigger and bigg– ''CRACK!'' You jump. The lights are turned back on, and the room's light cheeriness was returned. The mirror had cracked, glass shards scattered across the darkened wood table, and the candles themselves looked like they had been split in half at the wick. “Wha-?” “You are worse than I thought. Far, far worse.” Fang looked worse for wear. She appeared to have run a mile in less than ten minutes. Her hair was in disarray, and her clothes were disheveled. She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath. “I do not think that I can help you.” <div class="choice">[[Continue|need help]]</div>

“What?!” Your eyes widen, and you feel your heart rate pick up. You weren’t disillusioned with your situation. Despite not knowing what happened to your desecrated idol, you felt that you were at the end of the line. Who else could you go to with the number of scammers and fakes that claimed to be spirit masters and whispers? If you don’t get help now, you may be driven mad or worst. Possessed. “Please, I’ll do anything!! Is it the money that you want? I can get it—" “The money is not the issue; it is the spirit.” She stands up from the table and begins to collect the damaged items. Tossing them into a rubbish bin, she goes back into the redwood china cabinet and grabs something else. “I do not have the knowledge to stop what is already happening within you.” “Then who does??” She rolls her lips, “Dawaco is skilled, but even this may be beyond her expertise. I would still recommend coming back next week to do a consultation with her.” Fang gets up again and ties up the curtains to allow the sun back into the room. “Come. I will escort you out.” Your spirits couldn’t be any lower than they are now. You follow her back into the store, going around the counter and near the door. You turn around to face Fang, eyes wet with unshed tears. “What will I do til then?” “Here.” She motions for you to hold your hand out and deposits something small. It is a bell. As soon as your hands make contact with the metal, you feel as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. “Whenever you feel the presence of a spirit, you can ring the bell ''once'', even ''twice'' would be ok. But any more times than that, and you will call something forth. Do you understand?” You nod, still staring at the small bell in wonder. Your hands roam over the curved grooves. “Keep it wherever you go, and it will aid you in everything.” "Here." She hands you a small oak box, along with a paper bag. "You can put the bell in there; keep it from getting dinged and banged up." You nod, eyes still transfixed on the bell. "Ummm," Fang hestiates. Something that you are suprised to see in a strong character such as hers. "Is it alright if I give you a hug?" Your eyes widen at her request. <div class="choice">[[Yes|please]]</div> <div class="choice">[[No|weird]]</div>

“I suppose the light?” You rub your arm. She laughs again, “There is no need to sound so abashed. Without the light, we would be blind to the darkness surrounding us. It can be healing. But understand that it can be just as damaging. With light, nothing is hidden from us. ''Nothing.''” She tucks a piece of curly hair behind her ear. “Next, is there anything you deeply regret?" <div class="choice">[[Yes|of course]]</div> <div class="choice">[[No|no why]]</div>

“Uh, the dark, I guess.” She merely smiles, fingers twiddling, “Many people fear the darkness. It is the idea of what hides in its shadowy folds that cast paranoia and distrust in their simple minds. However, the dark is merely a means to an end, and once you no longer fear it, it's not that bad anymore." She tucks a piece of curly hair behind her ear. “Next, is there anything you deeply regret?" <div class="choice">[[Yes|of course]]</div> <div class="choice">[[No|no why]]</div>

“Of course." You don't hesitate to answer. Life was full of regrets, and whether they were little ones or big ones, it made no difference. Unfortunately, your life seemed to be one immense regret after the other. Her hands reach out to pat yours, “There is no shame in regretting what you've done. We all have done something that we are not proud of. It is your actions afterward that determine whether you are redeemable.” <div class="choice">[[I have just the thing][$artifact to 'Porecelain Tiger']]</div>

“Having regrets is stupid." You roll your eyes. To regret something after it happened was purely moving backward. You couldn't change it; you couldn't fix it. There was no reason to express or have regrets about it. The best thing to do is learn from your mistake so that you'd never make it again. Or at least that's what your father told you. The woman raises a brow, “I understand why you say that. However, I do question your attitude towards it." <div class="choice">[[I have just the thing][$artifact to 'Porecelain Tiger']]</div>

“Hmmm, I think I have the perfect item for you. Come." She stands up, motioning for you to follow. The kotatsu had been nice and warm; you hated to part with it so soon. However, you were ready to be done and over with this visit. She takes you back to the front of the door. The beaded curtains clank together as you pass through them. “Wait right here." She goes into one of the cases on the far right, fiddling around inside of it. Coming back, she cradles something small in her hands. She opens her palm, and in it is a porcelain figurine of a tiger. Slightly bigger than your palm, the tiger is painted in different shades of orange, black, and brown. “This is Rakshasa." She takes your hand and places the tiger into your palm gently. “She will protect you. As long as you respect and care for her." As soon as your fingers make contact with the porcelain tiger, you feel as if the weight has been lifted from your shoulders. The air feels cleaner, less sullied by the bitter scent that lingered wherever you went. The very room that you were in brightened. The shadows that clung to the store’s corners faded away. You stare at this sacred little thing in wonder. “How–" She merely smiles, placing a hand against her stomach. “Keep her wherever you go." You are speechless, but nod. Never in your life had you felt so… weightless. So pristine and untouched by the very energies that surrounded you. It was like being born again, having shed a tarnished and sullied skin for a new one. “Here." She hands you a small oak box, along with a paper bag. “You can put her in there; keep her safe." “Than—" Your voice cracks. You take a deep breath, steeling yourself. You would not cry in front of this woman. “Thank you. Really." “Is it alright if I give you a hug?" Your eyes widen at her request. <div class="choice">[[Yes|please]]</div> <div class="choice">[[No|weird]]</div>

You nod. Fang places the box and bag on the counter. She closes the distance between you two and wraps her arms around you. It's a warm embrace, comforting. It reminds you of hugging your grandmother when she was alive. As if she could protect you from all outside forces that would harm you. Perhaps that was what you were missing all along. Not protection, but just the feeling of safety. “You're going to be alright. You are stronger than you even know." She pats your back. You feel hot tears brim at your lash line. You’re able to keep the tears at bay for a maximum of 3 seconds, but you can’t stop the ongoing flow once it begins. Tremors racking your frame. She doesn't comment on your crying or asks if you are ok. You are grateful for that. She pulls back from you. After you're done shaking and rest her hands atop your shoulders. “You are welcome here anytime, ok?" <div class="choice">[[Continue|out of sight]]</div>

“Sorry, I don't really like people touching me. Especially unknown people." You scrunch your nose up, hoping that it doesn't sound as bad as it came out. The truth of the matter is, you're fragile. And the idea of being hugged and comforted? You knew you would break down in tears as soon as she touched you. Fang only smiles. “That is alright." She presents the box and bag to you. “You are welcome here anytime, ok?" You nod wordlessly and take the box and bag. <div class="choice">[[Continue|out of sight]]</div>

You exit the store and feel ready to face the world. Tama was sitting on the bench in front of the store. He was twirling a piece of coily white hair between his fingers, humming a simple tune. He looked up from his phone and smiled at you. He notices a change within you, and he looks you up and down in approval, “You done?" You lift up the bag, “Yup. Although the girl you said would be there wasn't." Tama blinks slowly, and you can see the gears in his head-turning. “Who was there then?" “An older lady? Her name is Fang." Tama’s lips spread into a broad smile; however, his eyes were cold. You could see that the muscles along his jaw were flexing, and his nostrils flared. "I see…" He speaks slowly, standing up from the bench and stretching. His energy was shifting and changing. Almost feeling darkened and blackened by a mood that you didn’t understand where it came from. "I changed my mind. I'm gonna go in there." “Oh ok, you want me to go in--" “No need." “Uh, Tama?" He smiles at you, but the smile still doesn't meet his eyes. “You okay, man?" “Oh, I'm just peachy!" The words are strained as they leave his lips. You doubt that even he believes the lie he's trying to spew. But something in his body language tells you he doesn't care. And not to question him. “Just gotta get some things; I'll be out shortly." “But—" He's already through the door and closing it behind him. “--- you look mad." Hmm, how strange. That look on Tama's face had been all wrong just a few moments ago, but you couldn’t pinpoint exactly why that was. You're worried. Mostly at how Tama reacted to Fang's name and because you knew how passionate Tama could get when riled up. You could always try and eavesdrop if you are sneaky enough? <div class="choice"><<if $stealth gte 15>>\ [[Eavesdrop]] <<else>>\ <s>Eavesdrop</s> <</if>></div> <div class="choice">[[Wait outside]]</div>

Never one to leave a good mystery unsolved, you wait for a couple of moments before you circle around the back of the building. Trash cans litter the small alleyway, and you can barely navigate the space without rubbing against the cans. You walk until you come to a cracked door. //You know this is really not safe; anyone could come in.// You ease the door open softly and slip in as quietly as possible. You’re in the kitchen. It’s homey, covered in bright yellow paint and sea blue accents. It is just as immaculately cleaned as the front room. The thick scent of incense wasn't as strong back here as it was in the front. You suspect that Tama was still in the front of the store. So your best bet was to get by the beaded curtain if you wanted to get the scoop. The hallway felt much longer than when you entered the store, and there were so many doors along this corridor! //’Was it this many doors when you were here ?// But at least you had some hiding places to consider. You think the hallway is a great place to be at. Until you hear fast-approaching footsteps and the sounds of argument. “Fuck you, Fang! You know wha--" Your face goes through several different panicked expressions as you look around. //gotta hide, gotta hide!// You see a door that sticks out like a sore thumb in the corridor. Slats run up and down the black wood; if you hid there, you might be able to see and hear what was going on. While being able to hear. You open the door; it’s a small cubby hole of a closet. The walls are lined with shelves that house odd-smelling dried leaves and various jars. You barely have time to think as you quickly stuff yourself inside. It's dark, but the hallway offers light. Enough that you can see Tama trailing behind the psychic as she attempts to go up the stairs. From Tama's expression, this was a very heated argument. But the woman looked none too bothered by Tamas' behaviors. Like she was used to his outbursts. Her brow scrunched up in annoyance as she stood on the first few steps. Your ears strain to hear the conversation, watching as Tama brandishes his hands wildly in the air. “-ucking idiot?!" His melodic voice rang out. You're taken aback almost immediately. You never heard Tama sound so… pissed. You've seen him angry; you've seen him annoyed but never so full of rage. The woman's voice is too soft to catch all of what she's saying. But you hear Tama let out another loud 'fuck you' and an honest to god snarl. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> Warmth crawls over your face, and a hot tingle starts in your belly. //Jesus, I need help.// <<else>><</if>> “Yes, y–" His voice goes in and out. You're barely catching what he's saying because of how fast he's talking. “--on't need your help!" <div class="choice">[[Continue|listen]]</div>

You sit outside for a moment, time moving sluggishly as you await Tama’s reappearance. You scroll through your phone for a while, going through your social media and liking your mutuals posts. When that gets old, you turn to playing on your phone. You see movement in the windows and think Tama is coming back. However, only the woman, Fang, comes back to flip the store sign to ‘CLOSED.’ She notices you staring at her and gives you a small wave before walking away again. You didn’t want to interrupt any of Tama’s time with the psychic, but you also didn’t know how long he would be. You get up from the bench and stretch. //There has be something better to do besides lurk.// Looking out at the brightly colored tents and booths across the street, your hand begins to itch. Seems like you may have some luck today… You stand up, and stretch, rubbing your eyes. You move forward, eyes still closed, but you are stopped. You had bumped into a large muscular chest. It was like walking into a brick wall. You rub your nose and let out an aggrieved growl. What is with you bumping into people?! <div class="choice">[[A destined encounter][$met_Jin to "true"]]</div>

“She begs to differ." “She would never say that–" The room grows quiet as you hear the stairs creak and groan. “Lǎo mā." You hear Tama breathe out. You don’t like the way he sounds, as if the woman is the “You two are so loud," Another voice joins the room. A woman by the sound of it. She yawns and hums, the noise sultry. You hear her grunting, letting out a pleasurable moan. You imagine a long, languid stretch from the figure, her arms reaching out above her head to stretch overused joints. “Could wake the dead." “Okaasan! You should not be up; you need your rest–" “How can anyone rest with the two of you going at it like you are?” You hear stairs creaking underneath the weight of the woman. Her voice gets louder as she finally makes it to the main floor. You try to take a peek at her; you want to see the woman who holds so much reverence. “What’s the problem?” “My problem is that she is here! I do—” His voice cuts out. "-- got ?them under control!" “He’s clearly threatened by—” You strain to hear, leaning against the door as you press your ear to its wood surface. You hear someone scoff and are at least 78 percent certain that the person is Tama. “She shouldn't even be here! Tell he–" “I shouldn’t be here? How many times have you succeeded, whelp, hmm? Shall we count?" The other woman pauses. You hear her snort. “Exactly. Just say you need help; obviously, you do—" <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|caught]]>><<set $triedtowatch to "true">><</link>></div>

“Shut your fucking mouth, you worthless little cu—!" “Shhh," The two stop mid-sentence, and despite not being able to see much, you feel as if something is wrong. “There is an interloper amongst us." You freeze, feeling your blood run cold as the air shifts in the room. “Okaasan…" //Did… did she know? How did she know who even is this woman? What the fuck am I gonna tell Tama? Why the fuck is Tama even here?// “Fang, go attend to our customer, won't you?" You hear the woman say "at once." The sound of beads jingling, signifying her departure. You let out a relieved breath you didn't even know you had held. You have to lean against the door, but you see a curvaceous dark-skinned woman in a tank top and shorts rubbing Tama's face gently. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>You feel a bit jealous watching the closeness that the two share.<<else>><</if>> “Go wait in the dining room, little rabbit. I will listen to your concerns there." You hear Tama grumbling, annoyance in his voice, but he doesn't sound as angry. It was as if he were being soothed minute by minute by the woman's presence. “Yes, lǎo mā." You hear Tama walk further away from you. You wait and hear the woman’s steps along the floor. The floorboards creak with her weight, bare feet softly slapping against the wood ingrained. You hear her get closer and closer and //closer --// She's in front of your hiding spot. You can see black tresses sway as she leans closer to the closet door. You smell the thick scent of perfume through the door's slats, a mixture of mangoes, shea butter, and currants. You clap your hand over your mouth, stifling any sounds that might escape from your throat. You hear her shallow breathing as she leans closer to the door. “Hmm,” You feel your body vibrate from the timbre of her voice. “My imagination then~." You see her turn her back and walk away. You hold your breath for a minute, then two. You want to ensure the woman is gone before you even try to make it out of there. The thought of getting caught is fear-inducing. <div class="choice">[[Objective captured]]</div>

//I didn't even do anything wrong! The backdoor was open, and I merely got lost while trying to inform the building residents! Is that a crime? Realistically, I should be thanked for stopping a soon-to-be crime! // Be that as it may, the owners of this building may not chalk it up to such a trivial matter. Not to mention, Tama would probably take this violation of trust poorly. But then again, is Tama even on your list of concerns, especially since he’s acting so…shady. As you step out, you make your way to the back of the building again. The corridor feels even longer as you try to navigate your way back to the kitchen. You enter the room once again and immediately crouch. The woman from before has her back to you. Her curly black hair sways with her movements as she dances to an invisible beat. You quickly throw yourself behind the kitchen island. The inky locs caress her hips as you hear her humming to some melodious tune. She's oblivious to your presence and seems to be clueless in general if the almost overflowing cup in the sink is a sign. She passes by the sink twice before realizing that the water is overflowing. Making a little shrill shriek, she rushes over to stop the water flow and mop any remaining liquid. //what an airhead…// You try to slide around the island, but your sneakers squeak slightly against the laminated tile. You clench your teeth. //fuck!// You hold your breath as the sounds of clanking pause. You think it's game over for you. There's no way she didn't hear that. You turn to look back at the woman. She seems to not have heard the noise, focusing on the three-cylinder-style cups in her hands. She turns around abruptly, head down as she plays a balancing game. Her lips purse in concentration as she tries not to spill the contents of the cups. She walks out of the kitchen, still humming along. You wait again, breath still held, trying to track her movements. You don't hear feet anymore, which probably means she's gone. You move from the other side of the island and see the back-door insight. The hazy lights from the lampposts shine through the crack, and you're almost to freedom--! <div class="choice">[[Cursed]]</div>

“What, no goodbyes?" You freeze. The woman is sitting atop the kitchen counter. As if she had never left in the first place. Her feet swung in the air as she leans back. She was beautiful, ethereally so, with thick eyelashes and down-turned eyes. Her thick hair frames her body perfectly as if she had walked directly from the //Birth of Venus// painting. She looked just like you and Tama, young, probably in her early 20s, just an ordinarily beautiful girl. Except, //her eyes are glowing yellow.// A sly smile graced her lips as she studies your form. Eyes roam over you, head to toe, “And after we've been //soo// hospitable? Tsk tsk. What poor manners." She licks her thick lips, fat tongue peeking out from the plush flesh. You see sharp canines tug at her bottom lip, and her brow raises with your eye movement. She brings her fingers to her lips; the long talon-like nails trace the outline. As if she had been kissed and were trying to commit the sensation to memory. She approaches you, almost stalking your every move with those sleepy eyes of her. You urged your body to move, but the traitorous flesh would not obey you. Your legs feel like cement, destined to become one with the laminated floor, despite your best efforts to //fucking move!// Your legs are numbed, a thousand sharp needles the size of pins prick at your flesh, the hair on your neck standing taller. She raises her hand, placing soft fragrant fingertips onto your cheek. You strain, against an invisible force that is too strong for you. Sweat beads on your nose. A soft smile spreads across her full lips, and she leans in close to you, the smell of mint and something sweet on her breath makes you want to lean in. You would only get wrapped into her web. “Something within you is going to awaken very soon." She purrss. "What you choose to do with it is up to you, but it will have consequences for us all. That is if you manage to survive this time." She quirks her lips, and placees the tips of her nails onto your mouth. //“Computesco."// <<notify 30s>>//You have been cursed.//<</notify>> Nausea seizes you. The spell broken, you can feel your legs again, and you push away from the woman. You feel a dull pain in your brain. Almost like a throbbing migraine that progresses more and more, until it feels as if your brain is getting jammed with nails, over and over again. You can hear the woman laughing, the sound is like a wind chime soft and tilting, in a regular setting you would have possibly found it to be endearing. But all you want to do is get away from her. Your breathing quickens, and short pants come out as you clutch at your chest, trying to get the dull pain in your lungs to subside. The edges of your vision darken visibly as you attempt to blink away the dark spots. You quickly shut the door behind you and stumble through the alley. Not caring how many trash cans you bumped into. As long as you could get //away from here.// You fall onto your knees, hands pushing out to catch yourself. The ground is wet and sticky; the thought of what you could be touching long abandoned by you feel gravel digging into the soft flesh of your palms. The smell of garbage and exhaust fumes streamed past your nose. However, you're distracted by the feeling of something crawling in your belly. The feeling is alien, a violation of the body, hot and burning. You claw at your stomach, making pitiful whines. It's crawling. It wants to come out… You'll birth it, won't you? The burning is unbearable, <<if $gender is "woman">>cramps that start at the top of your uterus rack your abdomen. This felt worse than any period cramp you've ever experienced. <<else>>You begin to feel a sharp pain at the lower lining of your belly.<</if>>You dry heave, attempting to expel whatever is inside of you. At first, you're sure you might hack up a lung. With how hard you try to vomit. Your body is on fire, like a bad fever that’s spiked, and the throbbing headache turns to a visceral stabbing. You claw at your head and face, the crawling sensation traveling underneath your skin like roaches crawling in the dark. Clumps of hair come out, getting stuck in your fingernails. You stare in horror. “No, no, no!" You screech. You run your fingers through your hair, and more clumps come out. Your skin begins to sag and slough, and pieces of flesh fall off of your bones like roasted meat. The pain becomes too much. You pass out. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Wake up][$cursed_moon to "true"]]</div>

"...<<print $your_name>>! Wake up; it's time to go!" You crack your eyes open. Blinking bleary as you try to get your orbs used to the waning bright sky. The sky is much darker when you fully open your eyes. Not entirely dark yet, but it is a pretty shade of purples, and oranges. A far cry from the bright blue that it had been when you first got here. Tama is crouched in front of your face, finger poking you in the cheek. You sit up, a wave of vertigo washing over you as you try to orient yourself. You smack your lips and rub your eyes. You must have fallen asleep waiting for Tama. “That felt like the best sleep of my life.” “Sorry, I didn’t realize that I’d be in there for that long. That Fang woman sure can talk your ear off.” You rub your eyes nodding, “She can yap, but not for that long. What were you two talking about in there?" Tama smiles prettily, and bats his eyelashes, “The weather." “Alright then, keep your secrets." You roll your eyes and stand up, yawning. “We probably missed a good portion of the fair because of you.” Tama snorts and cracks his knuckles out of habit. “We’ve still got time to explore, Sleeping Beauty. Come on, let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into.” <div class="choice"><<link 'Good-naturued chaos'>> <<if $regret is "Lust">>\ <<goto 'Crazy, Possessed'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Greed">>\ <<goto 'Escapism'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">>\ <<goto 'Bonded'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

You all explore the carnival, sampling foods and snacks alike. You’re walking past one dart stall in particular with numerous stuffed animals that are the size of your torso. However, you are about to move on when one of the prizes catches your eye. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> A large white sea serpent plushie, probably the size of your torso, stares at you from behind the vendor. Staring at you with black beady eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed snake. <<else>> A large raccoon plushie, the size of your torso, stares at you behind the vendor. Staring at you with obsidian button eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed animal.<</if>> Tama notices you staring and motions over to the stall owner with a grin. “Tama, what are you doing??” He winks at you and turns to the stall owner, paying for two games. He lifts the dart and aims. “Tama, c’mon. You know these games are rigge—" Your phone begins to ring, causing you to jump. You struggle to pull the sleek black vibrating object from your pocket, almost dropping it. UNKNOWN NUMBER You frown. You know who it is without having to answer the phone. Courtney. It feels like no matter how many times you’ve changed your number, $heshe would get it. Blocking never worked because they would just call you from another phone. You thought moving halfway across the country would deter them some or put some space between you two. But that didn’t work; because after your freshman year of college, guess who transferred? $capitalheshe adopted your same friend group and took almost the same classes you did… The only good thing was that you could move into different sections if needed, but it didn’t stop you from running into $himher; more like $himher waiting until classes let out to ambush you. It was like $heshe wanted you to know that $heshe would ALWAYS know where you were. It was part of the reason why you hadn’t dated since. Your grip on the phone tightens, and you watch it ring, making a note to block the number later. You are about to stuff the phone back into your pocket when it starts to ring again. You look at Tama, who has a stern look of concentration on his face, and decide that it's best to move away while you handle this. If only so that you would not distract him. UNKNOWN CALLER You frown, ending the call immediately. You go into your caller settings and block the number. But you barely have time to celebrate your victory as you get another call, the same title, just a different number. You decline the call once more, your teeth-gnashing as you feel your annoyance build. You watch as a notification pops up to indicate a new voice message. Against your better judgment, you listen to it. “So, you’re really not going to answer the phone?” You hated what hearing that voice did to you. An oily film gathers on your tongue, and chills rake up and down your body. //Can't believe I really went out with someone like the--// “—look good in those black jeans. That rose on the back pocket really makes your ass pop.” <div class="choice">[[Continue|he sees]]</div>

You and Tama walk past the many stalls, curiosity crossing your face. Most stalls held games, balloon pop, ring-toss, and feats of strength and dexterity. Far less common, others had small trinkets, beer mugs, glasses with personalized customization, shirts, and sweaters with the carnival’s logo. You sniff the air and smack your lips as you catch a whiff of something spicy. “You smell that?” Tama is in the same position as you, licking his lips to catch any drool that might spill out. “Yeah, smells like curry!” You follow the odor, wading through the crowd of visitors to get to that delicious scent. Just as Tama predicted, it’s a curry stand with a long line of people already in it. You lick your lips and stare at the hanging menu. “Ugh, this line is long as hell!<<print $your_name>>, can you order a chicken biryani for me? There’s no point in both of us waiting.” You nod and stand in line. It definitely was a long wait, but your mouth waters uncontrollably as you get to the front of the counter. “Yeah, can I get a uh…” Your phone starts to ring in your back pocket. “Hello?” “Hey, Buttercup.” It’s your aunt. You give the vendor owner a panicked look and pull the phone away from your mouth. “Oh shit, umm, can you give me a minute?” “You’ll have to get to the back of the line.” “Ugh, fuck.” “Excuse me??” “Oh, sorry, Auntie!” You squeeze your eyes tight and pull the phone away from your mouth again. “Umm, can I get a chicken biryani and a malvani fish curry, please?” You pay the fee and take your order number. You get out of the line, moving to the side of the stall so that you can hear better. “Ok, sorry for that, auntie! I'm at this fair with Tama, and it's pretty crowded. Wait, hold on a mintue, oof,” You watch as a large crowd of people come towards you. Trying to manuever out of the way, you step to the side, however, several people bump into you. You give them a dirty glare, and huff but turn back to your conversation. “Anyway, how are you doing! “I’m fine, sweetie. Belinda and I were just thinking about you. We never heard if you got that box or not?” A pang of guilt and nausea settled over you. You probably should have called the two first and told them what happened. “Well, Auntie, it came alright, broken with a dead bird inside." "What?!" She screeches. You pull the phone back and scrunch your nose up. You give her the cliff notes of what happened. “We would never send you anything like that, honey!” You hear your aunt Belinda screech. She goes on a tirade of crying and yelling; most of it is intangible. “Not more trouble.” You hear Aunt Miriam mutter under her breath. You raise a brow, knowing she can’t see it. “What do you mean by 'more trouble?'” “Well… I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, but….” An awkward silence settles over the phone. <div class="choice">[[Continue|bad news]]</div>

You and Tama walk past the many stalls, curiosity crossing your face. Most stalls held games, balloon pop, ring-toss, and feats of strength and dexterity. Far less common, others had small trinkets, beer mugs, glasses with personalized customization, shirts, and sweaters with the carnival’s logo. You’re walking past the strong man stall when one of the prizes catches your eye. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> A large white sea serpent plushie stares at you from behind the vendor. Staring at you with black beady eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed snake. <<else>> A large raccoon plushie stares at you behind the vendor. It’s obscenely goofy, with a small feted pink tongue sticking out and large obsidian button eyes. However, you can’t help but become enamored with it. <</if>> “Hey, let's play that one." You stop Tama and draw his attention to the game. Tama is interested in the game until he realizes what it is. Once he does, he rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. “You know that game is rigged, don't you?" You wrinkle your nose and start digging into your pocket for money. “And how do you know that?" He doesn't say, just shaking his head as you approach the stall counter. “Excuse me?" Your voice breaks the strange trance the vendor was in, and he turns to you in the most oversized cowboy hat you've ever seen. “Howdy!" He has a thick southern accent; almost as thick as molasses. He's a portly older man with thinning gray hair and a jiggly beer belly. The smile on his face seemed to be permanently etched there. His eyes sparkled with glee at the sight of new customers. //Howdy?// You and Tama look at each other. “Guaranteed he's a scammer," Tama mutters under the guise of rubbing his nose. You glare at him and throw an elbow into his stomach. You plaster a fake smile on your face and wave him over. “Can I buy two games?" “Sure, no probl'm dumplin'!" //Dumpling?// Tama gives you another look. The man gestures for you to get near the bottom of the heavy base. “Ring the alarm, and you’ll be able to get one of these luxurious prizes!” He waves his arm at the prizes that are mounted on the wall, and your eyes zero in on the <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> sea dragon<<else>>raccoon<</if>>. “You got the strength for it <<if gender is "woman">> young lady? <<elseif $gender is "man">> young man?<<elseif gender is "non-binary">> young person?"<</if>> <div class="choice">[[Continue|Scammer]]</div>

“Didn’t wanna tell me what?” “Courtney was released from Jail.” It was as if you had been punched in your stomach. When you had ratted on Courtney, you were told that your testimony would make sure that they were put into prison for a VERY long time. Due to you two being minors at the time, they were sent to a Juvenile Detention Center for the first 3 years of their sentence before going to Court again to face trial as an adult. They received 25 years to life as their new sentence, the last you heard. “I-I—” You clutch the phone hard. You feel your <<cycle "$nail_type">> <<option "long">> <<option "blunt">> <<option "short">> <<option "extra-long">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$nail_style">> <<option "ballerina">><<option "talon-like">> <<option "stiletto">> <<option "almond">> <<option "natural">> <</cycle>> shaped nails dig into your flesh as you try to stabilize your breathing. “H-H-How?” “Apparently, they’ve tried to overturn their court ruling since they were first transferred to the County prison. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but it they managed to make it happen. I think it was due to a technicality, if I’m not mistaken. Jude called to give us a heads up.” You think you’re going to be sick. You know you are going to be sick. Your stomach feels hot as if you swallowed a hot piece of lead. Breathing shallowly, too quick to gain any breath, you clutch your phone desperately. In the background, you can hear your aunt trying to talk to you. But it's no use. You wouldn't be able to listen to them even if you wanted to. Your heart stammers, and your stomach burns as if you've swallowed a hot piece of lead. What if they find you? What if they found your family?? They've got to still be angry at your testimony. You were the reason they had to do time in the first place! "...<<print $your_name>>!" You try to blink the hot tears sliding down your face back. But you're having trouble. An outline enters your line of vision. The thing sways like a buoy on water, but you feel yourself being steered somewhere. Hands push on your shoulders, and you allow it. You go down until your butt settles on something firm. “<<print $your_name>>. Look at me. Focus, you're ok." You're breathing heavy, but you reach out to grab at the voice. You ground yourself to the person. Tama had a concerned look on his face, hands atop your shoulders. "Courtney was released from jail." The words leave your lips quicker than you can stop them. “Wait??” Tama scrunches his nose up, “Courtney, with the hair? The one who killed the store owner?? They let them out?!" <div class="choice">[[That's fucked]]</div>

You nod, watching as his face goes through a triage of emotions. "That's fucked up." Tama frowns, "How are you feeling?" "Angry for the family. Upset for myself. Scared." You steal a glance at Tama. He’s grabbing his chin and holding his hip. "They've been in jail for so long… I doubt they're even worried about you." "It was my testimony that sent them to jail, Tama." He grimaces and side-eyes you. “That’s rough, buddy.” “Tama!” “I’m kidding! Look,” Tama pats on your back, "You did the right thing, and that's all that matters. Besides, they don't even know where you live. You're halfway across the country; what are the chances of them finding you?" You lick your lips and rub your hand through your <<print $hairtype>> hair. "I guess you're right…." He lets out a hearty laugh and wraps his arm around your shoulders. "Of course, I'm right! Now c'mon, look what I got!" <<if $inlove_Tama is "true"> A large white sea serpent plushie, probably the size of your torso, stares at you from one of the picnic tables that is set in front of the vendor stall. Staring at you with black beady eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed snake. <<else>> A large raccoon plushie, the size of your torso, stares at you from one of the picnic tables that is set in front of the vendor's stall. Staring at you with obsidian button eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed animal. <</if>> “You won that??” “You know it, baby!” Tama looked at you with glittering eyes, “Pick which one you want.” <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> You feel your face heating up, and you point at the white serpent. Tama blinks, his eyebrows jump up, and his eyes widen. He shakes his head and laughs, his voice sounding huskier than usual. “Why am I not surprised…Here.” He hands you the white dragon with a smile, eyes roaming over your face as if he were trying to commit your features to memory. You cling to your new friend and peer at Tama, holding a stuffed raccoon with just as much care. “Thanks.” You mutter as you rub your face into the plushies neck. It’s soft; you imagine that this is what touching a cloud feels like, gentle and wispy. You think that you feel the ghost of fingertips trailing down your neck and shiver. You shift your face from the fur and soft material and see that Tama is staring at you with the strangest look on his face. His hand is raised mid-level of your neck, fingertips barely a hair away from your soft flesh. You never noticed how light Tama’s eyes were. You knew that they weren’t wholly obsidian; lack of light made it look like that; however, at this moment, you could clearly see flecks of brown shimmering in the dark irises. If you didn’t know any better, you would think he was going to cry. <<else>> You point at the raccoon; you can hardly hide the jubilation in your body as he hands it over - to you. Tama smooths out the fur of his own plushie. It is a giant black dragon with equally black hair and bready red eyes, its face stuck in a cartoonish scowl. “I didn’t take you for the dragon type, Tama.” He flashes you a grin, “You’d be surprised. Anyway, this is for my mom. She loves dragons.”<</if>> You are about to speak until the vendor calls your number, signifying that your food is ready. “I’ll get it!” Tama says eagerly, getting up from the table. You watch as he leaves, and feel tears well in your eyes. You smile weakly. If there was one person you could always depend on, it was Tama. <div class="choice">[[Night comes]]</div>

You freeze and slowly look down at your black jeans. You look around you. There are so many people around you that you doubt you would be able to spot them. But they had to be close. Seeing as how $heshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>were<<else>>was<</if>> able to see your outfit for the day. You look at Tama and bite your lip hard enough that you could draw blood. You could let him know what's going on? But you didn't want your crazy ex-drama to ruin his fun, nor did you want him to get hurt. So, you did the only thing you could do. You ran away. You have no idea where you're going. As long as you could be out of the crowd, you figured you would be safe. What a foolish thought. Your phone keeps beeping; one after the other, messages flood your line. You stop and unlock your phone; immediately assaulted by the numerous amounts of text //You can run, but don’t you know I’ll always find you?// //Oh, the kitten has tried to escape in the crowd; why don’t you just talk to me?// //I just want to talk!// //Do you like to make me run after you?? Is that it?! You want to see me make an ass out of myself?!// //When I find you, you’re going to wish you had just talked to me.// //Found you.// ''THUD'' You collide with a slim frame for the 3rd time today, your attention entirely consumed with the increasingly threatening messages. But you freeze as you feel hands gripping your shoulders too tightly. <div class="choice">[[They found you]]</div>

“See, what happens when you try to run?” The voice is soft and gentle. Docile even, but you are no fool. You know how angry Courtney can get when $heshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>don't<<else>>doesn't<</if>> get $hisher way. “Let me go, Courtney.” Your voice shakes, and you refuse to look up at $himher. "Uh uh. If I let you go, you'll take off." $capitalheshe grip tightens around your wrist. "And we wouldn't want that. Not when we have SO many things to talk about." “Courtney, for the last time! I don’t want to tal—” You barely have time to get the words out before being dragged away. You try and snatch your hand away, but $hisher grip tightens to the point that you feel your bones creaking and cracking from $hisher strength. You stare at $hisher hand around your wrist. Had $heshe always been this strong? You can’t remember. When you two were together, you were just kids, but $hisher presence makes you feel like you’re still the child. $capitalheshe<<if $pronouns_plural is true>>don't<<else>>doesn't<</if>> say anything, merely steering you further away from the crowd of people. “Let me go, Courtney, stop!” You yell, you hope that your screams would make someone turn around and come to your rescue. But no one seems to hear you, or is willing to intervene. Panic starts to go grow, as you’re drug further away from the gathering, entering into a dark zone. No security camera, no people, just a dark space of nothing between buildings. You scratch at their hands, digging your <<cycle "$nail_type">> <<option "long">> <<option "blunt">> <<option "short">> <<option "extra-long">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$nail_style">> <<option "ballerina">><<option "talon-like">> <<option "stiletto">> <<option "almond">> <<option "natural">> <</cycle>> shaped nails into $hisher flesh as you try and dislodge them from you. But it does nothing to $himher. Almost as if $heshe couldn't feel your scratches. $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>ignore<<else>>ignores<</if>> your fighting, opting instead to throw you against the wall. Your back collides with wet, piss-smelling stone. A dull throbbing pain radiates from your lower back. You’re in a dark alley, trash piled high, around a large dumpster. Large enough that it could hide a full-grown ?person. “What is w--!” Courtney throws $himselfherself at you, grabbing ahold of your neck. “You have gotten EXTREMELY bold since the last time I've seen you.” $capitalheshe coo. "You're not the same pretty sunflower from back then. You’re sharper, less innocent, more ‘’worldly’’. You’ve been tainted." “You mean I'm not the same ?person who used to let you just walk all over me whenever you wanted." You rasp out. The pressure on your neck tightens; it's not enough to cut off your air supply, but it's painful, and you knew that if $heshe wanted to, $heshe could choke you out. That mere thought is enought to cause you to shake. “You're living in the past, Courtney, and I don't want to live there with you! We have nothing to talk about, I said all I had to say when we broke up." You lick your lips, and try to push away from $himher. It's futile, but it makes you feel better. “Why can't you just let shit go! Why can't you just let me go" “You'll never be able to get rid of me, baby,” $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>press<<else>>presses<</if>> you further against the wall, sliding their knee between your legs. “Don’t you know that? We are connected. It goes farther than any kind of physical or mental bond. I can feel it in my soul. And I know you can too.” //$capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>are<<else>>is<</if>> fucking nuts!// <div class="choice">[[Triggering Content]]</div>

You've never seen Courtney like this before. It was like staring at a complete stranger. $capitalhisher eyes are wide and filled with mania, like $heshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>> don’t<<else>>doesn't<</if>> even see you anymore. “Courtney, for the last time. I’m through with you. I’ve been through with you. Move on!” You feel something sharp poke you through your tee shirt. It pokes at your belly, the skin sinking. “Do you think you’ll ever find someone who loves you like I do? Someone who would want to be with you? You’re a whore, who would open their legs for everyone. Everyone, but me that is." Your face contorts. <<if $sex_experience is "having sex with Courtney on a regular">>You didn't want to go back down memory lane. But Courtney was your first. In a lot of things. The first <<if $Courtney_Lustgender is "ex-partner">>person<<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is "ex-girlfriend">>woman<<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is "ex-boyfriend">>man<</if>> to show you how to sneak into movie theaters, the first to show you how to enjoy rainy days, the first to break your heart. $capitalheshe had a lot of nerve to try and accuse you of anything.<<else>> You open your mouth, it's really not fair. To be blamed and accused of doing something you never did.<</if>> It didn't matter though, about what you felt. Because Courtney was in another realm right now, and no words you spoke would be able to reach $himher. “But you don't really have a choice now do you?" $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>lean<<else>>leans<</if>> in close, lips mere inches from your ear. You shake, trembling as you try not to imagine what it is against your stomach. However, you don’t have to use your imagination as the blade presses further into your skin. $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>use<<else>>uses<</if>> $hisher free hand to caress your stomach. Going up and down, $hisher smooth palm leaves a trail of goosebumps in its wake. You feel $hisher fingers rest at the top of your jeans, tugging your hips closer to $hisher. $capitalhisher lips just mere inches away from yours, “You always tried to act so wholier than thou. Like you were better than everyone, and anyone. I fucking hated that about you. You—” “Man,” You hear Tama’s voice before you see him, the sound of his heave. But his presence is enough to make you less worried. “I already told you to stay away from ?them!” He launches himself at Courtney with bestiality that presides anything you’ve ever seen Tama exude. Courtney lets you go quickly. Jumping back from Tama's assault, $heshe put enough space between $himher and your white-haired friend. Tama stays back, choosing to stand in front of you. $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>sucks<<else>>suck<</if>> $hisher teeth and looks at you, “I always knew something was going on between you two.” <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> You feel your heart skip a beat, and your face gets hot. Tama snorts while cracking his knuckles, “Doesn’t matter if we’ve got a thing going on. You’re still going to get your ass beat.”<<else>> “First things first. Eeeww,” Tama says, scrunching his nose up. “Second thing, even if we were dating, it’s none of your business.” You hear Tama cracking his knuckles, and he lets out a dark chuckle, “Thirdly if I were you, I would worry about myself.”<</if>> Tama lunges for Courtney again, but $heshe<<if $pronouns_plural is true>> take<<else>>takes<</if>> off running down the other side of the alley. He’s about to take off after $himher, but your voice stops $himher in their tracks. “Tama, stop! $capitalhisher <<if $pronouns_plural is true>> arent't<<else>>isn't<</if>> worth it!” He freezes. You see him take an inaudible breath, his shoulders going up with the weight of holding himself back. "I swear on my mother, if I ever see that fucking psycho again, they're leaving in a fucking body bag!" Tama turns and punches the wall next to him. “Tama, I'm ok!" You're shaking, but you grab his arm to calm him down. Tama could really be a loose cannon when he got mad. The last thing you needed was him beating Courtney to death in an alley. Even if secretly that was what you wanted. “I'm fine, really!" “No, you're not!" He snatches away from you, nostrils flaring. “You're crying. You're crying and shaking like a leaf!" You touch your eyes, feeling wetness on the pads of your finger. Your attention snaps back to him, but he's not looking at you. Instead, he's staring down the alley that Courtney had fled down. “$capitalheshe better hope I don’t see $himher ANYWHERE." He grits out. You reach out to touch him, but he snatches his arm away. “Don't touch me right now, I don't know what I'm gonna do." You two walk back to the entrance of the alleyway. A young woman is standing there with two stuffed plushies in her hand. “Whew, am I glad I found you." A light sheen of sweat is on her face, “You took off so fast, I honestly thought I was gonna have to take these two home to my daughter." <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> The woman holds the large white sea serpent plushie that you were staring at in front of the darts stall. You look at Tama with surprise. <<else>> The woman holds the large raccoon plushie you were staring at behind the darts vendor.<</if>>"Here you go!" “Tama, you didn't–" He doesn't wait to hear you speak and merely shoves the toy into your open arms. [[Night comes]]

"Puh-lease,” Your hands wrap around the mallets wooden handle. Your <<cycle "$nail_type">> <<option "long">> <<option "blunt">> <<option "short">> <<option "extra-long">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$nail_style">> <<option "ballerina">><<option "talon-like">> <<option "stiletto">> <<option "almond">> <<option "natural">> <</cycle>> shaped nails dug into your skin. “I used to be able to knock people out three times my size. This isn’t anything!” Tama snorts and shakes his head. The mallet was weighted, heavier at its head than the handle. However, you lifted it with ease. You bring the mallet down, expecting it to ring the bell with as much strength as you put into it. But it barely moves up the meter, landing at the 30 mark, giving you the title of 'Weak as Curdled Milk.' The vendor sits behind his stall with a smirk, clapping his hands, "Well, that was a good attempt, dumplin'! Unfortunately, it doesn't get ya a prize." "No way, that's right!" You hiss. Your pride was on the line here! "Another!" You tightened your grip on the mallet, and with all of your strength, you brought it down against the lever. You made it higher up the meter, but only for it to land on 50. Jeering music plays, and the neon sign blinks out, "Zero not a Hero." You slam more money on the counter, determined to make the bell ring. "Alright," Tama finally intervenes, snatching the mallet out of your hand. "If you keep this up, you're gonna go broke." "I'm not leaving 'til I get the <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>white dragon!<<else>>the raccoon!<</if>>" You jester towards your self-proclaimed plushie. "Look at him! He needs me!" Tama's slight smile was growing, but he quickly covered it with his hand. However, he couldn't stop the chuckle that spilled from his lips. "You are absolutely right. They look so lonely without you." "Right?!" "Pfft," Tama turned to the vendor. "I'll play the last one for ?them." The vendor eyes Tama up and down. It wasn't like Tama was a small man. He was tall but slender, so it was common for people to underestimate him. A large smile broke out on his face, and he laughed. Holding his belly, he nods, "Sure. Go right ahead." Tama begins to roll the sleeves on his sweater up, but you quickly intervene, placing your hand on his arm. "This is my fight Tama!" He merely hums, removing your hand from his arm. "If we wait for you to ring the bell, we'll be here all day. Me, tired as hell, and you broke." He pauses and eyes you up and down. "Well, broker than you already are." "HEY!" <div class="choice">[[If it's up]]</div>

Tama takes the mallet, making exaggerated steps as he shuffles over to the lever. A small crowd of people had started to gather around you two. Murmurs breathing through the large group. You could hear that most of them didn't believe that Tama would be able to ring the bell. Some put money on it. Others commented on him making a fool of himself. Tama, all the while, had a confident smile on his face as he approached the lever. "See, the secret isn't to put a lot of strength into the swing." He heaves the mallet up. "You just gotta know where to hit it!" He brings down the mallet. It was like watching a bottle rocket whizz off into the air. The puck had shot up with so much force that it broke the metal shelling of the bell, shooting up into the sky. The meter whirled wildly, bleeping and screeching, "Strongman, strongman!!" The crowd let out whoops, and screeches. But the vendor's face was another story. He was holding his breath, lips screwed up tightly. "You– you—!!" "Ooops. Accident, I swear," Tama batted his white lashes and clapped his hands together. "But, I get a prize, don't I?" The vendor's face changes various shades of red and purple. "Prize?! You broke my machine, boy! You owe me money! 14 grand, to be exact!" Tama raised an eyebrow, "We can always talk to the cops about that if you want. I'm sure they would love to hear why your machine was rigged to not hit the bell anyway." "Rigged?!" Someone from the crowd yells out. "Yeah," Tama walks around the other side of the machine and bends down. he's shifting around the back of the device and lifts up a metal shard. "This was jammed into the metal springs, I’m gathering. The shard stops the puck from going further up when you hit the lever. Like my friend here, you'll never be able to ring the bell, no matter how strong you are." Tama had to yell over the screeching of the machine, but it didn't matter. The crowd had already heard all they needed to. One brave soul fought their way to the front of the crowd and yelled, "You've scammed every one of us!!" "Yeah! We want our money back!" The vendor who had been flaming upset was now pasty pale. "N-N-Now, h-h-hold on!" Raising his meaty palms up into the air, he tries to placate the growing crowd. Tama, noticing the vendor's attention elsewhere, snuck behind his stall, grabbing <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> the white dragon and a black raccoon stuffing them under his arm.<<else>>the black raccoon and a black dragon stuffing them under his arm.<</if>> The vendor, unfortunately, chose to turn around at that moment. "Hey!" With a free hand, Tama waves and takes off, a boyish laugh ripping from his throat. "Wait! You need to pay for the damages!" The vendor then turns to you with a scowl. “You! You’re gonna pay ya friends fee!” You take off after Tama. “Hey! Get BACK HERE!” Your and Tama’s laughter fills the fair's night. <div class="choice">[[Night comes]]</div>

The day faded away with the sun. The fair was still bright and loud; a new crowd of people coming to play filled the fair once again. You and Tama were walking back to his car, having to go through the park to get back to the shopping district. “My feet are screeching! let's stop for a minute!" Tama throws himself against the bench and throws his hand over his face with dramatic flair. The <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> stuffed raccoon<<else>>the black dragon<</if>> still in his other hand. “You're such a drama queen." You roll your eyes but fall onto the bench next to him. The throbbing in your feet was painful, to the point where you thought you might develop calluses, but you wouldn't tell him that. Tama merely hums. He relaxes fully onto the bench, resting his arms on the back. He tilted his head towards the night sky and let out a long sigh. “Well, today was a long day." You say. <div class="choice"><<link 'Continue'>> <<if $regret is "Lust">>\ <<goto 'Scared Shitless'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Greed">>\ <<goto 'Payback'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">>\ <<goto 'Anger never wins'>> <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

“Damn, you got it bad.” The voice is baritone, a deep and husky tone that you can feel even in your guts. Large hands steady you, the scent of jasmine, and something spicy fills your nostrils. “You straight?" You look up and are not disappointed by what you see. Undeniably handsome, a young Asian man stood in front of you. Dressed in black joggers and a black hoodie, you get the impression that he was attempting to stay low-key. But unfortunately for him, he was not the type to go unnoticed. His large frame and attractive looks were enough to attract a large crowd. Thick black eyebrows arch questioningly, set above heavy hooded and sharp-angled mahogany eyes. His plush lips quirk into a smirk, dimples appearing on his cheeks. Thick black hair fell in waves reaching his hips. You could spot two beauty moles under the corner of his right eye. “Would you be surprised if I told you were the 3rd person I bumped into today?" “Ha! You lucky ain't nobody steal your wallet then." He pauses and then lifts a brow. "Unless someone already did." Your hand goes to your pockets as you feel for the pleather object. You let out a sigh of relief when you feel it and glare at this strange man. His lips are rolled together tightly, but they didn't stop the snorts that escaped from the corner of his lips. “How could anyone steal my wallet in a crowd like this?" “You know where you at, right?" The man's eyes narrow, and he lets out an amused chuckle. He lifts his hand out to gesture to the many stalls and booths, people packed like sardines almost on top of each other. “This is prime time for some light finger thievery." “And you know that because?" He raises an eyebrow, the smile on his face growing, gleaming white teeth poking from his thick pink lips. “Mind ya business." <div class="choice"><<if $regret is "Greed">>\ [[Thievery isn't dead]] <<else>>\ <s>Thievery isn't dead</s> <</if>></div> <div class="choice">[[Borrriinnnggg]]</div>

Once a thief, always a thief is the old saying. You could recognize one of your own just by how a person holds themself. It's just that... He didn't give off the impression of a thief. He felt more like a scrapper than anything. As if he spent his entire life-fighting against anything and everything. Despite the lax energy that he emitted, his body seemed poised as if he were ready to strike at any time. His feet spread slightly while his arms were tensed and folded over his chest. You notice scarred flesh cutting through his right eyebrow and a small cut in the corner of his lip. Not the looks of someone who stole, but more like someone who knew their way around a tough crowd. You roll your eyes, “Yeah, sure." He smirks. “I know that look. Met a few people who probably ran in the same circles as you.” You pause, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Oh really? I wonder if the police would say the same thing once I tell them that you stole my wallet?” You balk at the accusation. You haven't stolen anything in years! It's not like you don't get the urge every now and again, but you're rehabilitated. You weren't gonna go back to that. Your hands go to your denim jacket and freeze when you feel a second wallet. The man notices your facial expression, and his grin widens. He cackles, arms wrapping around his stomach, “Help, thief! Thief!” He chortles, slapping his knees. “Would you shut up!" You hiss. You don't physically blush, but you can feel the blood rush up to your face. Attention was never something that you craved, especially when you were younger and actually lifting wallets off of people. “Wow, now you're trying to get me to be quiet after you stole MY wallet?! You've got some balls on ya, don't you?" He laughs even harder, more people are looking at you two, and you wish you could just curl up in a ball. “Look, I don't even know how I got it," You take the wallet out, swollen from the numerous amount of bills that he possess and hand it to him. “Here, just take it back!" He grins and takes it from you, slipping it back into his sweatpants. You would need to figuere out out how he even managed to slip it in your pockets in the first place. “Oh I know how you got it." The man wipes his eyes, and stands up, “I put it there." “WHAT?!" “Jin!" The man freezes, brows jumping up to his hairline. He grimaces and rolls his eyes. Sucking his teeth, he plasters a fake smile on his face and turns around, clapping his hands together in false cheer. “Ah... <div class="choice"><<link [[Zahra!]]>><<set $F_gender to "female">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Nasir!]]>><<set $F_gender to "male">><</link>></div>

You raise your brow. Looking at the guy, he didn't cross you as a thief. He was muscular and lean, built more like a scrapper than anything else. His arms flexed, and you watched as muscles tensed and then relaxed. As if he spent his entire life-fighting against anything and everything. Despite the lax energy that he emitted, his body seemed poised as if he were ready to strike at any time. His feet spread slightly while his arms were tensed and folded over his chest. You notice scarred flesh cutting through his right eyebrow and a small cut in the corner of his lip. Not the looks of someone who stole, but more like someone who knew their way around a tough crowd. You merely shrug carelessly, “Whatever. Don't really care anyway." The man raises his brow, “How boring. Maybe I should have stolen your wallet to get a better reaction?" What is with this guy? One minute he's telling you to be careful of pickpockets, and now he's contemplating becoming one just to get a rise out of you? Talk about unstable. <div class="choice">[[Get aggressive][$brash to Math.clamp($brash + 8, 0, 100)]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Roll your eyes][$sarcastic to Math.clamp( +5, 0, 100)]]</div>

“Ah, Zahra. My favorite handler.” A person in a thick gray hoodie and sweatpants walked up to you. She was significantly shorter than the Asian man. <<if $height is "tall">> Definitely shorter than you. <<else>> She may have a couple of inches on you. <</if>> As she neared where you all stood, Jin tensed up. His face went through several emotions before she finally reached you two. When you finally were able to get a good look at her, you had to wonder why Jin seemed so agitated. Sure, she had a resting bitch face, but she didn’t seem too fear-evoking. She had a mop of curly brown hair that fell to her chin and a curly fringe that sat neatly on her forehead. She had a silver hoop nestled tightly on the plush flesh of her lip. You try not to stare too much, but your eyes travel back to her face. She has a black eyepatch on her right eye, the cloth having white scribbling written all over it. Your eyes traveled below where the fabric ended, and you saw scarred flesh. //That…// You note with some disquietude that the longer you stare at that cloth, the more restless you get. Like the sudden wailing of a woman’s cry at a dying man’s door or the sudden shriek of crows as you enter the wrong part of a forest. You can’t help but feel as if some great calamity resided in that eye of theirs. The woman shifted from your rude and unrelenting staring or from wanting to receive her companion’s full attention. Turning away from you so that you could no longer gaze upon that auspicious eye. “I looked up, and you were gone." She says with a deadpan expression. The man visibly freezes for a moment, eyes widening. Noticing the woman's stare, he cracks out a nervous grin and begins rubbing the back of his head. “I got hungry." “You're nowhere near the food stalls." “Eerrr, had to go to the bathroom?" “The porta potties are near the entrance." The man's face instantly soured as he looked up at the sky, Brows, and chin furrowed. “...Was helping an old lady cross the street?" “You don't even like old people. Try again." Her eye then moves toward you. <div class="choice"><<link [[Recognition? or mistaken identity]]>><<set $F_name to "Zahra">><</link>></div>

“You can certainly try, but don't cry victim if I knock your teeth back into your throat.” The smile on his face never left, but something darker and sinister crawled onto his handsome face. His mahogany eyes darken in seconds, all emotion draining from them. An blackened aura settling over his face like a macabre mask; you may as well be staring into an abyss. “I wish you would." <<if $regret is "Wraith">>You shift your feet and square your shoulders; if a fight was what he wanted, then a fight would be what he got. Who were you to deny this guy a nice dose of vitamin H for these hands. Besides, he's a fighter, which meant he wouldn't be an easy knockout. You'd have to work for it. A smile threatened to bubble on your lips, but you wouldn't let it show. The man, however, had no problem showing his glee, “Go ahead! I’ll even let you throw the first punch!” He points at his face earnestly. His laughter comes out like a machine gun. <<else>> You deflate like a balloon as you watch the man. Something’s not right; his whole demeanor feels off from what it was a moment ago. You try and think about what’s causing you discomfort when looking at him, but can't think straight due to his gaze. //So cold, It’s like staring into the eyes of a shark…// Your balled-up fists drop to your side, and you avoid looking at him. He sees you shrinking back, and his face shifts into disgust, lips curling up as he looks down at you, “Nah, that ain’t right. Don’t get my blood pumping just to back out now.” <</if>> “Jin!" The man freezes, brows jumping up to his hairline. He grimaces and rolls his eyes. Sucking his teeth, he plasters a fake smile on his face and turns around, clapping his hands together in false cheer. “Ah... <div class="choice"><<link [[Zahra!]]>><<set $F_gender to "female">><<setGender "f" "f">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Nasir!]]>><<set $F_gender to "male">><<setGender "f" "m">><</link>></div>

“Somebody way less chill than me would probably call the cops.” You say dryly. The smile on his face never left, but something darker and sinister crawled onto his handsome face. His mahogany eyes darken in seconds, all emotion draining from them. An blackened aura settling over his face like a macabre mask; you may as well be staring into an abyss. “I wish they would." You raise an eyebrow. “Oh really? Because you look like you've already got a rap sheet as long as the dictionary, if we're being honest. You sure you want to get into that type of trouble?" <<if $regret is "Greed">> The man smirks knowingly, “Ooo, takes a type to know a type, don't it?" He licks his lips and rubs the lower portion of his face. Letting out a sigh, he merely shrugs, “But you right, I don't wanna catch another case." <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">> The man smirks knowingly, “Ooo takes a type to know a type, don't it?" He licks his lips and rubs the lower portion of his face. Letting out a sigh, he merely shrugs, “But you right, I don't wanna catch another case." <<else>> “Well, look at the goody two shoes." The man says mockingly. “Never gotten in trouble a day in your life before, have you?” You cross your arms over your chest, “Can’t say that I have.” He chuckles, “A little trouble ain't hurt nobody. Have a little fun." <</if>> “Jin!" The man freezes, brows jumping up to his hairline. He grimaces and rolls his eyes. Sucking his teeth, he plasters a fake smile on his face and turns around, clapping his hands together in false cheer. “Ah... <div class="choice"><<link [[Zahra!]]>><<set $F_gender to "female">><<setGender "f" "f">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Nasir!]]>><<set $F_gender to "male">><<setGender "f" "m">><</link>></div>

<<if $met_Faizan is "true">> She lets out a puff of annoyance. "You." "Me?" "Yes, ''you''. The idiot employee at the grocery store with less than one full functioning brain cell." "Hey!" You cry out. It’s true, but that doesn't make it any less hurtful. Your mind travels back to Tuesday, the last time you were at work, but your mind is a jangled mess of exam papers, rude customers, and haunted spaces. No room for attractive faces or otherwise. "Wait," The man's, lip twitched. "This is the ?person? The one thats curse--Oof!" The woman had quickly slapped the guy in his gut. With an exaggerated groan, he slumps, holding his stomach in pain. "Y-you l-little…" He starts but barely has any time to finish before the woman grabs hold of his ear. "A-a-! T-that hurts Zahra!" “Maybe that will teach you to think before you speak.” She lets go and turns her back towards him. Her brow is furrowed, and lips drawn down, in agitation. “Aight, Slick Rick, you got one mo’ time,” Jin grumbles. He’s still rubbing his ear and just gives her a dirty look, mumbling something too low for you to hear. <<if $sarcasrtic gte 6>>“Sorry, but I don’t think we’ve met before?" You drawl, face the picture of aloofness as you apprease the man in front of you. "And if we did, then I don't remember. Lack of brains cells and all that." Zahra's lips twitch, and she glances over at Jin. He rolls his lips together tight and refuses to look at her. "And I'm not suprised one little bit." Zahra begins. "Only thing I worry about is how you can breathe and think at the same time." //Oh, she's good.//<<elseif $genuine gte 5>>“Sorry, but I don’t think we’ve met before?" You begin, face drawn into a scowl as you try to think back of when you might have seen this woman. "By how hard you're trying to think, you're definitely going to pop a brain vessel." You frown, and cross your arms. "Are you trying to call me dumb?" "And 1st prize for least astute test car dummy goes to..." Jin drumms on his thigh, as she clears her throat dramatically. “The idiot in the black jeans."<</if>> Jin looks at Zahra and then you, lips twitching as he attempts to hold back his snorts of amusement. It works for just a few seconds before he bursts out into laughter. Holding his stomach, he slumps over, wheezing. "She's not that funny." Sneering at Jin, you watch him all but fall over himself, as he tries to stifle his laughter. "Speak for yourself." Zahra looks back at you and the building you were standing in front of. “Did you just come from there?” You nod, watching her warily; all you knew was that you were not going to get your ear pulled like Jin. “Was she in?” “Umm, who?” She rolls her eyes and looks at Jin as if to say, ‘Can you believe this idiot?’ Zahra waves her hand and, with a roll of her eyes, continues on, “The proprietor of the store, the seer, Foxy, Ole Maggie?” “Umm, a woman was there—” “Young or old?" “Old?” You hate how confused and uncertain it sounds. “I’m sorr—” “Black? “Uh, no?” Zahra lets out a laugh in disbelief, throwing her hands up. “It’s been like this for the past two weeks?! It’s like she’s avoiding me.” Jin rolled his eyes and lifted his hand to examine his nails, “Well, maybe she busy. You know even scammers need a d—” “Don’t,” Zahra warns, a somber expression on her face. “Just don’t. You don’t know her. She’s the real deal. I’m telling you.” Jin snorts, “Hard to tell since she's ‘busy' every time I come here with you.” “There’s another woman there that can hel—” “Yeah, I don’t like her,” Zahra says with a finality that this was a subject that would not be broached. “Welp,” You pop the ‘P’ harder than you intend. However it doesn't seem to break the slow-growing tension in the young woman's body. You don't see how anyone couldn't like Fang. She was sweet, if a bit handsy. "Look's like I've run out of usefulness, I'll just be go--" She ignores you, still looking at the building with narrowed eyes. “I know she’s there.” “Wanna crash the place?” She looks back at Jin with a slow smile on her lips, “You’re not afraid of being eternally damned?" Jin snorts, “Pretty sure I’m already there. She can get in line if she wants to place a root on me tho.” <<else>> "Hmmm." She merely says. She turns to you, eyes crawling all over you as if she were measuring your worth by your stance. Satisfied or unsatisfied by what she saw, you can’t tell. And you really don't know if that's a good or bad thing. "Was Jin harassing you?" "Hey!" "Well, aside from him threatening to steal my wallet, no.” Zahra turns to him slowly, eyebrow raised. Jin rolls his eyes and pouts, plump lips sticking out. “I was just playin’.” “Do you want to go back to jail?” She asks with disbelief on her face. “Now, hold on! I ain’t never went to jail!” “Yes, you did!" Zahra shakes her head, as she stuffs her hands into her hoodie. “They could never hold you; that much is true, but that’s because no one will press charges.” “And whose fault is that! Ain’t mine!” “Umm, should I be calling the police ooorr?” “Mind ya business.” "Mind your business." //I really just wanna go...// You look at the fair with longing. The two say it in unison, like a comedic duo trained to deliver the punchline in unison. You didn’t know what was up with these two, but something about the woman and her eye invoked a sense of dread that you couldn’t ignore. No matter how hard you try. “Ok, well, nice talking to you two, but I’m just gonna go—" “Hold on.” Zahra looks back at you and the building you were standing in front of. “Did you just come from there?” You nod, watching her warily; all you knew was that you were not going to get your ear pulled like Jin. “Was she in?” “Umm, who?” She rolls her eyes and looks at Jin to say, ‘Can you believe this idiot?’ Zahra waves her hand and, with a roll of her eyes, continues on, “The proprietor of the store, the seer, Foxy, Ole Maggie?” “Umm, a woman was there—” “Young or old?" “Old?” You hate how confused and uncertain you sound. “I’m sorr—” “Black? “Uh, no?” Zahra lets out a laugh in disbelief, throwing her hands up. “It’s been like this for the past two weeks?! It’s like she’s avoiding me.” Jin rolled his eyes and lifted his hand to examine his nails, “Well, maybe she is busy. You know even scammers need a d—” “Don’t,” Zahra warns, a somber expression on her face. “Just don’t. You don’t know her; she’s the real deal. I’m telling you.” Jin snorts, “Hard to tell since she's' busy' every time I come her with you.” “There’s another woman there that can hel—” “Yeah, I don’t like her,” Zahra says, voice holding a tone that this was a subject that would not be broached. “Welp,” You pop the ‘P’ harder than you intend. However it doesn't seem to break the slow-growing tension in the young woman's body. You don't see how anyone couldn't like Fang. She was sweet, if a bit handsy. "Look's like I've run out of usefulness, I'll just be go--" She ignores you, still looking at the building with narrowed eyes. “I know she’s there.” “Wanna crash the place?” She looks back at Jin with a slow smile on her lips, “You’re not afraid of being eternally damned?" Jin snorts, “Pretty sure I’m already there. She can get in line if she wants to place a root on me tho.” <</if>> <div class="choice">[[Let them do what they want]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Stop them][$brash to Math.clamp($brash +6, 0, 100)]]</div>

She told you to mind your business, didn't she? Well, you'd do just that. You'd rather not get involved with whatever these two had planned. You had a strong inclination that no matter what you say. They'd do whatever they wanted. They walk right past you. You watch as they try to open the door, but surprisingly, it is stuck. Zahra tries pushing again, but the door refuses to grant her entrance "Are you serious?!" "Let’s just try another day, Rah," Jin examined his fingernails, a blithe expression. "You've got time. It ain't gott–" "No, I don't have time!" She hisses. Her eyes are wide, pupils blown out as the black of her iris engulfs the entire brown of her cornea. The wind blows through you all, ruffling her hair. She stills for a moment, eyes still wide and nostrils flaring. She looks up at the sky, taking a deep breath, "You know that better than anyone." "Fine. Then let’s wait here.” Jin rolls his eyes but merely places his hands over his head. He turns towards you, “You said yo friend was inside, right? We gone wait here ‘til they come out and bum rush inside." Zahra nods, face still frowning but the tension that racked her frame ebbs away slowly. “It may take a while." "Shit, you ain't got nothing but time right now." Jin raises his hands and motions around. "Where you gotta be at? Work?" Zahra rolls her eyes, but she doesn’t seem as on edge as before. “Fuck you, Jin.” "And you," Jin yawned, his eyes roaming over you from top to bottom. "You may wanna get an exorcist or something. Whatever's got ahold of ya’ soul is a mean son of a bitch. And it ain't planning 'ta let go." //Please, tell me something I don't know.// You roll your eyes, and a quick quip is on the tip of your tongue. But you freeze as the weight of his words finally hit you. Something has your soul; ''something'' is touching your soul. Fear bristles at your throat. Your fingers tighten around the paper bag in your hand. <div class="choice"><<link 'Goto the Fair'>> <<if $regret is "Lust">>\ <<goto 'Crazy, Possession'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Greed">>\ <<goto 'Escape'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">>\ <<goto 'Strongman, strongman'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div>

Now you had to intervene. Stepping up, you place a fake smile on your face, "My friend is in there, so you all are going to have to wait–" They walk past you as if you weren't speaking to them. You had a sneaking suspicion that Tama would not get along with these two characters, especially Jin. Jin would probably say something to piss Tama off, and then Tama would have to wipe the floor with Jin. That’s something you really did not want to see. //Look at me being a good friend. Stopping Tama from having to spend another night in jail.// You chase after them and place a hand on Zahra’s arm. “I said, my fri—” The world spins like a camera being dropped from a tall height. You barely have any time to get any words out of your mouth before you realize that you’re on the ground, staring at the orange and purple sky. A dull and throbbing pain radiates from the center of your stomach, making your backache. You feel dizzy and out of breath as you try to orient yourself. Jin is standing over you, hands in his pockets. He still has that annoying smile on his face. But his thick brows were drawn to the center of his forehead, and you could see a tick in his jaw. “Don’t go grabbing on my girl like that.” You try to speak but find the lack of air in your lungs stopping you. You watch as they try to open the door, but surprisingly, it is stuck. Zahra tries pushing again, but the door refuses to grant her entrance “Are you serious?!" “Let’s just try another day, Zahra," Jin examined his fingernails, a blithe expression. “You've got time. It ain't gott–" “No, I don't have time!" She hisses. Her eyes are wide, pupils blown out as the black of her iris engulfs the entire brown of her cornea. The wind blows through you all, ruffling her hair. She stills for a moment, eyes still wide and nostrils flaring. She looks up at the sky, taking a deep breath, "You know that better than anyone." “Fine. Then let’s wait here.” Jin rolls his eyes but merely places his hands over his head. He turns to you, still lying on the ground like a dying guppy. “Oh, get up! I ain’t even hit you that hard.” You struggle to stand, turning on your side. However, Jin merely crouches and //grabs// you by the scruff of your neck like you weigh nothing. “Stand up! You making me look bad.” //To whom? I’m the one laid out like a dead fish.// He stands you on your feet, and you struggle to stay upright. Jin pats you on your back, “You aight, you aight!” He dusts you off. “You said yo friend was inside, right? We gone wait here ‘til they come out and bum rush inside." Zahra nods, face still frowning but the tension that racked her frame ebbs away slowly. “It may take a while." “Shit, you ain't got nothing but time right now." Jin raises his hands and motions around. “Where you gotta be at? Zahra rolls her eyes, but she doesn’t seem as on edge as before. “Fuck you, Jin.” “And you," Jin yawned, his eyes roaming over you from top to bottom. “You may wanna get an exorcist or something. Somethings get ahold of ya’ soul. And it ain't planning 'ta let go." //Please, tell me something I don't know.// You roll your eyes, and a quick quip is on the tip of your tongue. But you freeze as the weight of his words finally hit you. Something has your soul; something is touching your soul. Fear bristles at your throat. Your fingers tighten around the paper bag in your hand. <div class="choice"><<link 'Goto the Fair'>> <<if $regret is "Lust">>\ <<goto 'Crazy, Possession'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Greed">>\ <<goto 'Escape'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">>\ <<goto 'Strongman, strongman'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div>

“Ah, Nasir. My favorite handler.” A person in a thick gray hoodie and gray sweatpants walked up to you. He was significantly shorter than the Asian man. <<if $height is "tall">> Definitely shorter than you. <<else>> He may have a couple of inches on you. <</if>> As he neared where you all stood, Jin tensed up. He had a mop of curly black hair that fell to his chin and a curly fringe that sat neatly on his forehead. He had a short, neatly trimmed goat patch on his chin. You try not to stare too much, but your eyes travel back to his face. He had a black eyepatch on his right eye, the cloth having white scribbling written all over the material. Your eyes traveled below where the fabric ended, and you saw scarred flesh. //That…// You note with some disquietude that the longer you stare at that cloth, the more restless you get. Like the sudden wailing of a woman’s cry at a dying man’s door or the sudden shriek of crows as you enter the wrong part of a forest. You can’t help but feel as if some great calamity resided in that eye of theirs. The man, whether from your rude and unrelenting staring or from wanting to receive his companion’s full attention, shifted. Turning away from you so that you could no longer gaze upon that foreboding eye. “I looked up, and you were gone." He says with a deadpan expression. The man visibly freezes for a moment, eyes widening. Noticing the other man's stare, he cracks out a nervous grin and begins rubbing the back of his head. “I got hungry." “You're nowhere near the food stalls." “Eerrr, had to go to the bathroom?" “The porta potties are near the entrance." The man's face instantly soured as he looked up at the sky, Brows, and chin furrowed. “...Was helping an old lady cross the street?" “You don't even like old people. Try again." His eye then moves toward you. <div class="choice"><<link [[Continue|mistake]]>><<set $F_name to "Nasir">><</link>></div>

<<if $met_Faizan is "true">>He lets out a puff of annoyance. "You." "Me?" "Yes, ''you''. The idiot employee at the grocery store with less than one full functioning brain cell." "Hey!" You cry out. It’s true, but that doesn't make it any less hurtful. Your mind travels back to Tuesday, the last time you were at work, but your mind is a jangled mess of exam papers, rude customers, and haunted spaces. No room for attractive faces or otherwise. "Wait," The man said, lips twitching. "This is the ?person? The one that was curs--Oof!" The man quickly slapped the guy in his gut. With an exaggerated groan, he slumps, holding his stomach in pain. "Y-you l-little…" He starts but barely has any time to finish before the other man grabs hold of his ear. "A-a-! T-that hurts Nasir!" “Maybe that will teach you to think before you speak.” He lets go and turns his back towards him. He brow is furrowed, and lips drawn down in agitation. “Aight, Slick Rick, you got one mo’ time,” Jin grumbles. He’s still rubbing his ear and just gives Nasir a dirty look, mumbling something too low for you to hear. <<if $sarcastic gte 6>>“Sorry, but I don’t think we’ve met before?" You drawl, face the picture of aloofness as you apprease the man in front of you. "And if we did, then I don't remember. Lack of brains cells and all that." Nasir's lips twitch, and he glances over at Jin. He rolls his lips together tight and refuses to look at him. "And I'm not suprised one little bit." Nasir begins. "Only thing I worry about is how you can breathe and think at the same time." //Oh, he's good.//<<elseif $genuine gte 6>>“Sorry, but I don’t think we’ve met before?" You begin, face drawn into a scowl as you try to think back of when you might have seen this man. "By how hard you're trying to think, you're definitely going to pop a brain vessel." You frown, and cross your arms. "Are you trying to call me dumb?" "And 1st prize for least astute test car dummy goes to..." Jin drumms on his thigh, as he clears he throat dramatically. “The idiot in the black jeans."<</if>> Jin looks at Nasir and then you, lips twitching as he attempts to hold back his snorts of amusement. It works for just a few seconds before he bursts out into laughter. Holding his stomach, he slumps over, wheezing. "He's not that funny." Sneering at Jin, you watch him all but fall over himself, as he tries to stifle his laughter. "Speak for yourself." Nasir looks back at you and the building you were standing in front of. “Did you just come from there?” You nod, watching him warily; all you knew was that you were not going to get your ear pulled like Jin. “Was she in?” “Umm, who?” He rolls his eyes and looks at Jin to say, ‘Can you believe this idiot?’ Nasir waves his hand and, with a roll of his eyes, continues on, “The proprietor of the store, the seer, Foxy, Ole Maggie?” “Umm, a woman was there—” “Young or old?" “Old?” You hate how confused and uncertain you sound. “I’m sorr—” “Black? “Uh, no?” Nasir lets out a laugh in disbelief, throwing his hands up. “It’s been like this for the past two weeks?! It’s like she’s avoiding me.” Jin rolled his eyes and lifted his hand to examine his nails, “Well, maybe she busy. You know even scammers need a d—” “Don’t,” Nasir warns; he lifts a single finger up as if to silence Jin, a somber expression on his face. “Just don’t. You don’t know her; she’s the real deal. I’m telling you.” Jin snorts, “Hard to tell since she's ‘busy' every time I come here with you.” “There’s another woman there that can hel—” “Yeah, I don’t like her,” Nasir says with finality that this was a subject that would not be broached. “Welp,” You pop the ‘P’ harder than you intend; however it doesn't seem to break the slow-growing tension in the young man's body. You don't see how anyone couldn't like Fang. She was sweet, if a bit handsy. "Look's like I've run out of usefulness, I'll just be go--" He ignores you, still looking at the building with narrowed eyes. “I know she’s there.” “Wanna crash the place then?” He looks back at Jin with a slow smile on his lips, “You’re not afraid of being eternally damned?" Jin snorts, “Pretty sure I’m already there. She can get in line if she wants to place a root on me tho.”<<else>>"Hmmm." He merely says. He turns to you, eyes crawling all over you as if he were measuring your worth by your stance. Satisfied or unsatisfied by what he saw, you can’t tell. And you really don't know if that's a good or bad thing. "Was Jin harassing you?" "Hey!” "Well, aside from him threatening to steal my wallet, no.” Nasir turns to him slowly, eyebrow raised. Jin rolls his eyes and pouts, “I was just playin’.” “Do you want to go back to jail?” He asks with disbelief on his face. “Naw, hold on! I ain’t never went to jail!” “Yes, you did!" Nasir shakes his head, as he stuffs his hands into his hoodie. “They could never hold you that much is true, but that’s because no one will press charges.” “Umm, should I be calling the police ooorr?” “Mind ya business.” “Mind your business." The two say it in unison, like a comedic duo trained to deliver the punchlines simultaneously. “Ok, well, nice talking to you two, but I’m just gonna go—" Nasir looks back at you and the building you were standing in front of. “Did you just come from there?” You nod, watching him warily; all you knew was that you were not going to get your ear pulled like Jin. “Was she in?” “Umm, who?” He rolls his eyes and looks at Jin to say, ‘Can you believe this idiot?’ Nasir waves his hand and, with a roll of his eyes, continues on, “The proprietor of the store, the seer, Foxy, Ole Maggie?” “Umm, a woman was there—” “Young or old?" “Old?” You hate how confused and uncertain you sound. “I’m sorr—” “Black? “Uh, no?” Nasir lets out a laugh in disbelief, throwing his hands up. “It’s been like this for the past two weeks?! It’s like she’s avoiding me.” Jin rolled his eyes and lifted his hand to examine his nails, “Well, maybe she busy. You know even scammers need a d—” “Don’t,” Nasir warns; he lifts a single finger up as if to silence Jin, a somber expression on his face. “Just don’t. You don’t know her; she’s the real deal. I’m telling you.” Jin snorts, “Hard to tell since she's ‘busy' every time I come here with you.” “There’s another woman there that can hel—” “Yeah, I don’t like her,” Nasir says with finality that this was a subject that would not be broached. “Welp,” You pop the ‘P’ harder than you intend; however it doesn't seem to break the slow-growing tension in the young man's body. You don't see how anyone couldn't like Fang. She was sweet, if a bit handsy. "Look's like I've run out of usefulness, I'll just be go--" He ignores you, still looking at the building with narrowed eyes. “I know she’s there.” “Wanna crash the place then?” He looks back at Jin with a slow smile on his lips, “You’re not afraid of being eternally damned?" Jin snorts, “Pretty sure I’m already there. She can get in line if she wants to place a root on me tho.”<</if>> <div class="choice">[[Mind your business]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Stop them.][$brash to Math.clamp($brash +6, 0, 100)]]</div>

He told you to mind your business, didn't he? Well, you'd do just that. You'd rather not get involved with whatever these two had planned. You had a strong inclination that no matter what you say. They'd do whatever they wanted. They walk past you as if you weren't standing there. You watch as they try to open the door, but surprisingly, it's stuck. Nasir tries pushing again, but the door refuses to grant him entrance. “Are you serious?!" “Let’s just try another day, Nas," Jin stuffed his hands into his hoodie pockets, a blithe expression on his face. “You've got time. It ain't gott–" “No, I don't have time!" He hisses. His eyes are wide, pupils blown out as the black of his iris engulfs the entire brown of his cornea. The wind blows through you all, ruffling his hair. He stills for a moment, eyes still wide and nostrils flaring. He looks up at the sky, taking a deep breath, "You know that better than anyone." “Fine. Then let’s wait here.” Jin rolls his eyes and places his hands over his head. He turns towards you, “You said yo friend was inside, right? We gone wait here ‘til they come out and bum rush inside." Nasir nodded, face still frowning, but the tension that racked his frame slowly ebbed. “It may take a while." “Shit, you ain't got nothing but time right now." Jin raises his hands and motions around. "Where you gotta be at? Work” Nasir rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t seem as on edge as before. “Fuck you Jin.” “And you," Jin yawned, his eyes roaming over you from top to bottom. “You may wanna get an exorcist or something. Whatever's got ahold of ya’ soul is a mean son of a bitch. And it ain't planning 'ta let go." //Please, tell me something I don't know.// You roll your eyes but then stop as the weight of his words finally hit you. Something has your soul; ''something'' is touching your soul. Fear bristles at your throat. Your hands tighten around the plastic bag in your hand. <div class="choice"><<link 'Goto the Fair'>> <<if $regret is "Lust">>\ <<goto 'Crazy, Possession'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Greed">>\ <<goto 'Escape'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">>\ <<goto 'Strongman, strongman'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div>

Now you had to intervene. Stepping up, you place a fake smile on your face, "My friend is in there, so you all are going to have to wait–" They walk past you as if you weren't speaking to them at all. You had a sneaking suspicion that Tama would not get along with these two characters, especially Jin. Jin would probably say something to piss Tama off, and then Tama would have to wipe the floor with Jin. That’s something you really did not want to see. //Look at me being a good friend; gotta make sure Tama doesn’t spend a night in prison again.// You get in front of them and place a palm on Nasir’s chest to stop him. “I said, my fri—” The world spins like a camera being dropped from a tall building. You barely have any time to get any words out of your mouth before you realize that you’re on the ground, staring at the orange and purple sky. A dull and throbbing pain radiates from the center of your stomach, making your back ache. You feel dizzy and out of breath as you try to orient yourself. Jin is standing over you, hands in his pockets. He still has that annoying smile on his face. But his thick brows were drawn to the center of his forehead, and you could see a tick in his jaw. “Don’t go touching on my man like that.” You try to speak but find the lack of air in your lungs stopping you. Every breath feels like Nasir steps over you, ignoring your prone body. Jin merely stands by you, keeping an eye on both you and Nasir. You watch as they try to open the door, but surprisingly, it's stuck. Nasir tries pushing again, but the door refuses to grant him entrance. “Are you serious?!" “Let’s just try another day, Nas," Jin stuffed his hands into his hoodie pockets, a blithe expression on his face. “You've got time. It ain't gott–" “No, I don't have time!" He hisses. His eyes are wide, pupils blown out as the black of his iris engulfs the entire brown of his cornea. The wind blows through you all, ruffling his hair. He stills for a moment, eyes still wide and nostrils flaring. He looks up at the sky, taking a deep breath, “You know that better than anyone." “Fine. Then let’s wait here.” Jin rolls his eyes and places his hands over his head. He turns to you, still lying on the ground like a dying guppy. A sneer on his lip. “Oh, get up! I ain’t even hit you that hard.” You struggle to stand, turning on your side. However, Jin merely crouches and //grabs// you by the scruff of your neck like you weigh nothing. “Stand up! You making me look bad.” //To whom? I’m the one laid out like a dead fish.// He stands you on your feet, and you struggle to stay upright. Jin pats you on your back, “You ‘aight, you aight!” He dusts you off. “You said yo friend was inside, right? We gone wait here ‘til they come out and bum rush inside." Nasir nodded, face still frowning, but the tension that racked his frame slowly ebbed. “It may take a while." “Shit, you ain't got nothing but time right now." Jin raises his hands and motions around. “Where you gotta be at?” Nasir rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t seem as on edge as before. “Fuck you Jin.” “And you," Jin yawned, his eyes roaming over you from top to bottom. “You may wanna get an exorcist or something. Somethings get ahold of ya’ soul. And it ain't planning 'ta let go." //Please, tell me something I don't know.// You roll your eyes but then stop when you process his words. Something has your soul; something is touching your soul. Fear bristles at your throat. Your hands tighten around the plastic bag in your hand. <div class="choice"><<link 'Goto the Fair'>> <<if $regret is "Lust">>\ <<goto 'Crazy, Possession'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Greed">>\ <<goto 'Escape'>>\ <<elseif $regret is "Wraith">>\ <<goto 'Strongman, strongman'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>>\</div>

TW!! This scene contains triggering content, such as stalking, abusive behaviour, attempted sexual assault (very minor), and derogertary language. To skip scene, please click [[Here|skippy]] To continue, please click [[Continue|its scary]]

You take the opportunity to creep past the duo, who are arguing once again. Although you hate to call it arguing, seeing as how <<print $F_name>> is doing all of the talking, Jin is just standing there with the most blithe expression you have ever seen. You cross the street, glaring at the cars that honk at you despite the green pedestrian light. One car decides to run the red stoplight and is 3 cm from hitting you. Coming to a jolting stop when you don't immediately jump out of the way, they honk their horn. “FUCKING DICK!" You scream. You continue walking but make sure to flick the driver your middle finger. You walk the rest of the way across the park and near the goofy pillars that signify the beginning of the fair. You are assaulted by the different smells of fried food. You walk past the many stalls, curiosity crossing your face. Most stalls held games, balloon pop, ring-toss, and feats of strength and dexterity. Far less common, others had small trinkets, beer mugs, glasses with personalized customization, shirts, and sweaters with the carnival’s logo. You’re walking past an extremely tall, strong man stall when one of the prizes catches your eye. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> A large white sea serpent plushie stares at you from behind the vendor. Staring at you with black beady eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed snake. <<else>> A large raccoon plushie stares at you behind the vendor. It’s obscenely goofy, with a small feted pink tongue sticking out and large obsidian button eyes. However, you can’t help but become enamored with it. <</if>> “Excuse me?" Your voice breaks the strange trance the vendor was in, and he turns to you in the most oversized cowboy hat you've ever seen. “Howdy!" He has a thick southern accent, almost as thick as molasses. He's a portly older man with thinning gray hair and a jiggly beer belly. The smile on his face seemed to be permanently etched there as his eyes sparkled with glee at a new customer. //Howdy?// You plaster a fake smile on your face and wave him over. “Can I buy two games?" “Sure, no probl'm dumplin'!" //Dumpling?// The man gestures for you to get near the bottom of the heavy base. "Ring the alarm, and you’ll be able to get one of these luxurious prizes!” He waves his arm at the prizes that are mounted on the wall, and your eyes zero in on the <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> sea dragon<<else>>raccoon<</if>>. "You got the strength for it <<if $gender is "young woman">> young lady? <<elseif $gender is "young man">> young man?<<elseif $gender is "young person">> young person?"<</if>> “Puh-lease,” Your hands wrap around the mallets wooden handle. Your <<cycle "$nail_type">> <<option "long">> <<option "blunt">> <<option "short">> <<option "extra-long">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$nail_style">> <<option "ballerina">><<option "talon-like">> <<option "stiletto">> <<option "almond">> <<option "natural">> <</cycle>> shaped nails dug into your skin. “I used to be able to knock people out three times my size. This isn’t anything!” The mallet was weighted, heavier at its head than at the bottom. However, you lifted it with ease. You bring the mallet down, expecting it to ring the bell with as much strength as you put into it. But it barely moves up the meter, landing at the 30 mark, giving you the title of 'Weak as Curdled Milk.' The vendor sits behind his stall with a smirk, clapping his hands, “Well, that was a good attempt dumplin'! But since you didn’t ring the bell, you get no prize!” “No way, that's right!" You hiss. Your pride was on the line here! “Another!" You tightened your grip on the mallet with all of your strength and brought it down to the lever. You made it higher up the meter, but only for it to land on 50. Jeering music plays, and you watch th You slam more money on the counter, determined to make the bell ring. “Alright, don't think, just do." “So this is where you went to?" Tama walks up to you with his arms folded. "You know these things are designed to take your money, right?" “I'm not leaving 'til I get the <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>white dragon!<<else>>the raccoon!<</if>>" You jester towards your self-proclaimed plushie. “Look at him! He needs me!" A small smile was growing on Tama's face, but he quickly covered it with his hand. However, he couldn't stop the chuckle that spilled from his lips. “You are absolutely right; it looks so lonely without you." <div class="choice">[[Continue|Tama assists]]</div>

You take the opportunity to creep past the duo, who are now arguing once again. Although you hate to call it arguing, seeing as how <<print $F_name>> is doing all of the talking, Jin is just standing there with the laxest vacant expression possible. You cross the street, glaring at the cars that honk at you despite the green pedestrian light. One car decides to run the red stoplight and is 3 cm from hitting you. Coming to a jolting stop when you don't immediately jump out of the way, they honk their horn. "FUCKING DICK!" You scream. You continue walking but make sure to flick the driver your middle finger. You walk the rest of the way across the park and near the goofy pillars that signify the beginning of the fair. You are assaulted by the different smells of fried food. You walk past the many stalls, curiosity crossing your face. Most stalls held games, balloon pop, ring-toss, and feats of strength and dexterity. Far less common, others had small trinkets, beer mugs, glasses with personalized customization, shirts, and sweaters with the carnival’s logo. You sniff the air and smack your lips as you catch a whiff of something spicy. You follow the odor, wading through the crowd of visitors to get to that delicious scent. It’s a curry stand. You lick your lips and stare at the hanging menu as “Yeah, can I get a uhhh…” Your phone starts to ring in your back pocket. “Hello?” “Hey, Buttercup.” It’s your aunt. You give the vendor owner a panicked look and pull the phone away from your mouth. “Oh shit, umm, can you give me a minute?” “You’ll have to get to the back of the line.” “Ugh, fuck.” “Excuse me??” “Oh, sorry, Auntie!” You squeeze your eyes tight and pull the phone away from your mouth again. “Umm, can I please get a malvani fish curry?” You pay the fee and are given your order number. You get out of the line, moving to the side of the stall so you can hear better. “Ok, sorry for that, auntie! I'm at this fair with Tama, and it's pretty crowded. Wait, hold on a mintue, oof,” You watch as a large crowd of people come towards you. Trying to manuever out of the way, you step to the side, however, several people bump into you. You give them a dirty glare, and huff but turn back to your conversation. “Anyway, how are you doing! “I’m fine, sweetie. Belinda and I were just thinking about you. We never heard if you got that box or not?” <div class="choice">[[Guilty as charged]]</div<

Tama lunges for Courtney again, but $heshe takes off running down the other side of the alley. He’s about to take off after $himher, but your voice stops him in his tracks. “Tama, stop! $capitalheshe aren’t worth it!” He freezes. You see him take an inaudible breath, his shoulders going up with the weight of holding himself back. "I swear on my mother, if I ever see that fucking psycho again, they're leaving in a fucking body bag!" Tama turns and punches the wall next to him. “Tama, I'm ok!" You're shaking, but you grab onto his arm to calm him down. “I'm fine, really!" “No, you're not!" He snatches away from you, nostrils flaring. “You're crying. You're crying and shaking like a leaf!" You touch your eyes, feeling wetness on the pads of your finger. Your attention snaps back to him, but he's not looking at you. Instead, he's staring down the alley that Courtney had fled down. “$capitalheshe better hope I don’t see $himher ANYWHERE." He grits out. You reach out to touch him, but he snatches his arm away. “Don't touch me right now, I don't know what I'm gonna do." You two walk back to the entrance of the alleyway. A young woman is standing there with two stuffed plushies in her hand. “Here you go! I honestly thought of taking these two home for my daughter." <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> The woman holds the large white sea serpent plushie that you were staring at in front of the darts stall. You look at Tama with surprise. <<else>> The woman holds the large raccoon plushie you were staring at behind the darts vendor.<</if>> “Tama, you didn't–" He doesn't wait to hear you speak and merely shoves the toy into your open arms. <div class="choice">[[Night comes]]</div>

You take the opportunity to creep past the duo, who are now arguing once again. Although you hate to call it arguing, seeing as how <<print $F_name>> is doing all of the talking, Jin is just standing there with the laxest vacant expression possible. You cross the street, glaring at the cars that honk at you despite the green pedestrian light. One car decides to run the red stoplight and is 3 cm from hitting you. Coming to a jolting stop when you don't immediately jump out of the way, they honk their horn. "FUCKING DICK!" You scream. You continue walking but make sure to flick the driver your middle finger. You walk the rest of the way across the park and near the goofy pillars that signify the beginning of the fair. You are assaulted by the different smells of fried food. You’re walking past a dart stall when one of the prizes catches your eye. <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> A large white sea serpent plushie, probably the size of your torso, stares at you from behind the vendor. Staring at you with black beady eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed snake. <<else>> A large raccoon plushie, the size of your torso, stares at you behind the vendor. Staring at you with obsidian button eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed animal. <</if>> You smile at the vendor, motioning them so that you can buy a game. Your phone begins to ring, causing you to jump. You struggle to pull the sleek black vibrating object from your pocket, almost dropping it. UNKNOWN NUMBER You frown. You know who it is without having to answer the phone. Courtney. It feels like no matter how many times you’ve changed your number, $heshe would get it. Blocking never worked because they would just call you from another phone. You thought moving halfway across the country would deter $himher some or put some space between you two. But that didn’t work; because after your freshman year of college, guess who transferred? $capitalheshe adopted your same friend group and took almost the same classes you did… The only good thing was that you could move into different sections if needed, but it didn’t stop you from running into $himher; more like $himher waiting until classes let out to ambush you. It was like $heshe wanted you to know that $heshe would ALWAYS know where you were. It was part of the reason why you hadn’t dated since. You didn't need the drama of some innocent person running into Courtney on a bad day. Your grip on the phone tightens, and you watch it ring, making a note to block the number later. You are about to stuff the phone back into your pocket when it starts to ring again. UNKNOWN NUMBER You frown, ending the call immediately. You go into your caller settings and block the number. But you barely have time to celebrate your victory as you get another call, the same title, just a different number. You decline the call once more, your teeth-gnashing as you feel your annoyance build. You watch as a notification pops up to indicate a new voice message. //Just leave it.// You close your eyes, and breathe. //Just ignore it.// You always were a glutton for punishment. You press play. <div class="choice">[[You really shouldn't have]]</div>

“So, you’re really not going to answer the phone?” You hated what hearing that voice did to you. An oily film gathers on your tongue, and chills rake up and down your body. //Can't believe I really went out with someone like the--// “—look good in those black jeans. That rose on the back pocket really makes your ass pop.” You freeze and slowly look down at your black jeans. You look around you. There are so many people around you that you doubt you would be able to spot them. But they had to be close. Seeing as how they were able to see your outfit for the day. No matter where you looked and how hard you concentrated, you couldn’t find any visage of Courtney. So, you did the only thing you could do. You ran away. You have no idea where you're going. As long as you could be out of the crowd, you figured you would be safe. What a foolish thought. Your phone keeps beeping; one after the other, messages flood your line. You stop and unlock your phone; immediately assaulted by the numerous amounts of text ; //You can run, but don’t you know I’ll always find you?// //Oh, the kitten has tried to escape in the crowd; why don’t you just talk to me?// //I just want to talk!// //Do you like to make me run after you?? Is that it?! You want to see me make an ass out of myself?!// //When I find you, you’re going to wish you had just talked to me.// //Found you.// THUD You collide with a slim frame for the 3rd time today, your attention entirely consumed with the increasingly threatening messages. But you freeze as you feel hands gripping your shoulders too tightly. <div class="choice">[[Continue|help]]</div>

You've never seen Courtney like this before. It was like staring at a complete stranger. $capitalhisher eyes are wide and filled with mania, like $heshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>> don’t<<else>>doesn't<</if>> even see you anymore. “Courtney, for the last time. I’m through with you. I’ve been through with you. Move on!” You feel something sharp poke you through your tee shirt. It pokes at your belly, the skin sinking. “Do you think you’ll ever find someone who loves you like I do? Someone who would want to be with you? You’re a whore, who would open their legs for everyone. Everyone, but me that is." Your face contorts. <<if $sex_experience is "having sex with Courtney on a regular">>You didn't want to go back down memory lane. But Courtney was your first. In a lot of things. The first <<if $Courtney_Lustgender is "ex-partner">>person<<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is "ex-girlfriend">>woman<<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is "ex-boyfriend">>man<</if>> to show you how to sneak into movie theaters, the first to show you how to enjoy rainy days, the first to break your heart. $capitalheshe had a lot of nerve to try and accuse you of anything.<<else>> You open your mouth, it's really not fair. To be blamed and accused of doing something you never did.<</if>> It didn't matter though, about what you felt. Because Courtney was in another realm right now, and no words you spoke would be able to reach $himher. “But you don't really have a choice now do you?" $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>lean<<else>>leans<</if>> in close, lips mere inches from your ear. You shake, trembling as you try not to imagine what it is against your stomach. However, you don’t have to use your imagination as the blade presses further into your skin. $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>use<<else>>uses<</if>> $hisher free hand to caress your stomach. Going up and down, $hisher smooth palm leaves a trail of goosebumps in its wake. You feel $hisher fingers rest at the top of your jeans, tugging your hips closer to $hisher. $capitalhisher lips just mere inches away from yours, “You always tried to act so wholier than thou. Like you were better than everyone, and anyone. I fucking hated that about you. You—” “Man,” You hear Tama’s voice before you see him, the sound of his heave. But his presence is enough to make you less worried. “I already told you to stay away from ?them!” He launches himself at Courtney with bestiality that presides anything you’ve ever seen Tama exude. Courtney lets you go quickly. Jumping back from Tama's assault, $heshe put enough space between $himher and your white-haired friend. Tama stays back, choosing to stand in front of you. $capitalheshe <<if $pronouns_plural is true>>sucks<<else>>suck<</if>> $hisher teeth and looks at you, “I always knew something was going on between you two.” <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> You feel your heart skip a beat, and your face gets hot. Tama snorts while cracking his knuckles, “Doesn’t matter if we’ve got a thing going on. You’re still going to get your ass beat.”<<else>> “First things first. Eeeww,” Tama says, scrunching his nose up. “Second thing, even if we were dating, it’s none of your business.” You hear Tama cracking his knuckles, and he lets out a dark chuckle, “Thirdly if I were you, I would worry about myself.”<</if>> Tama lunges for Courtney again, but $heshe<<if $pronouns_plural is true>> take<<else>>takes<</if>> off running down the other side of the alley. He’s about to take off after $himher, but your voice stops $himher in their tracks. “Tama, stop! $capitalhisher <<if $pronouns_plural is true>> arent't<<else>>isn't<</if>> worth it!” He freezes. You see him take an inaudible breath, his shoulders going up with the weight of holding himself back. "I swear on my mother, if I ever see that fucking psycho again, they're leaving in a fucking body bag!" Tama turns and punches the wall next to him. “Tama, I'm ok!" You're shaking, but you grab his arm to calm him down. Tama could really be a loose cannon when he got mad. The last thing you needed was him beating Courtney to death in an alley. Even if secretly that was what you wanted. “I'm fine, really!" “No, you're not!" He snatches away from you, nostrils flaring. “You're crying. You're crying and shaking like a leaf!" You touch your eyes, feeling wetness on the pads of your finger. Your attention snaps back to him, but he's not looking at you. Instead, he's staring down the alley that Courtney had fled down. “$capitalheshe better hope I don’t see $himher ANYWHERE." He grits out. You reach out to touch him, but he snatches his arm away. “Don't touch me right now, I don't know what I'm gonna do." You two walk back to the entrance of the alleyway. A young woman is standing there with two stuffed plushies in her hand. “Whew, am I glad I found you." A light sheen of sweat is on her face, “You took off so fast, I honestly thought I was gonna have to take these two home to my daughter." <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> The woman holds the large white sea serpent plushie that you were staring at in front of the darts stall. You look at Tama with surprise. How did he know you wanted this? <<else>> The woman holds the large raccoon plushie you were staring at behind the darts vendor.<</if>>"Here you go!" “Tama, you didn't–" He doesn't wait to hear you speak and merely shoves the toy into your open arms. [[Night comes]]

A pang of guilt and nausea settled over you. You probably should have called the two first and told them what happened. “Well, Auntie, it came alright, broken with a dead bird inside." "What?!" She screeches. You pull the phone back and scrunch your nose up. You give her the cliff notes of what happened. “We would never send you anything like that, honey!” You hear your aunt Belinda screech. She goes on a tirade of crying and yelling; most of it is intangible. “not more trouble.” You hear Aunt Miriam mutter under her breath. You raise a brow, knowing she can’t see it. “What do you mean by 'more trouble?'” “Well… I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, but….” An awkward silence settles over the phone. “Didn’t wanna tell me what?” “Courtney was released from Jail.” It was as if you had been punched in your stomach. When you had ratted on Courtney, you were told that your testimony would make sure that they were put into prison for a VERY long time. Due to you two being minors at the time, they were sent to a Juvenile Detention Center for the first 3 years of their sentence before going to Court again to face trial as an adult. They received 25 years to life as their new sentence, the last you heard. “I-I—” You clutch the phone hard. You feel your <<cycle "$nail_type">> <<option "long">> <<option "blunt">> <<option "short">> <<option "extra-long">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$nail_style">> <<option "ballerina">><<option "talon-like">> <<option "stiletto">> <<option "almond">> <<option "natural">> <</cycle>> shaped nails dig into your flesh as you try to stabilize your breathing. “H-H-How?” “Apparently, they’ve tried to overturn their court ruling since they were first transferred to the County prison. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but it they managed to make it happen. I think it was due to a technicality, if I’m not mistaken. Jude called to give us a heads up.” You think you’re going to be sick. You know you are going to be sick. Your stomach feels hot as if you swallowed a hot piece of lead. Breathing shallowly, too quick to gain any breath, you clutch your phone desperately. In the background, you can hear your aunt trying to talk to you. But it's no use. You wouldn't be able to listen to them even if you wanted to. Your heart stammers, and your stomach burns as if you've swallowed a hot piece of lead. What if they find you? What if they found your family?? They've got to still be angry at your testimony. You were the reason they had to do time in the first place! "<<print $your_name>>!" <div class="choice">[[Who comes to your aid?]]</div>

You try to blink the hot tears sliding down your face back. But you're having trouble. An outline enters your line of vision. The thing sways like a buoy on water, but you feel yourself being steered somewhere. Hands push on your shoulders, and you allow it. You go down until your butt settles on something firm. “<<print $your_name>>. Look at me. Focus, you're ok." You're breathing heavy, but you reach out to grab at the voice. You ground yourself to the person. Tama had a concerned look on his face, hands atop your shoulders. "Courtney was released from jail." The words leave your lips quicker than you can stop them. “Wait??” Tama scrunches his nose up, “Courtney, with the hair? The one who killed the store owner?? They let them out?!" You nod, watching as his face goes through a triage of emotions. "That's fucked up." Tama frowns, "how are you feeling?" "Angry for the family. Upset for myself. Scared." You steal a glance at Tama. He’s grabbing his chin and holding his hip. "They've been in jail for so long… I doubt they're even worried about you." "It was my testimony that sent them to jail, Tama." He grimaces and side-eyes you. “That’s rough, buddy.” “Tama!” “I’m kidding! Look,” Tama pats on your back, "You did the right thing, and that's all that matters. Besides, they don't even know where you live. You're halfway across the country; what are the chances of them finding you?" You lick your lips and rub your hand through your <<print $hairtype>> hair. "I guess you're right…." He lets out a hearty laugh and wraps his arm around your shoulders. "Of course, I'm right! Now c'mon, look what I got!" <<if $inlove_Tama is “true”> A large white sea serpent plushie, probably the size of your torso, stares at you from one of the picnic tables that is set in front of the vendor stall. Staring at you with black beady eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed snake. <<else>> A large raccoon plushie, the size of your torso, stares at you from one of the picnic tables that is set in front of the vendor's stall. Staring at you with obsidian button eyes, you can’t help but become enamored with the stuffed animal. <</if>> “You won that??” “You know it, baby!” Tama looked at you with glittering eyes, “Pick which one you want.” <<if $inlove_Tama is “true”>> You feel your face heating up, and you point at the white serpent. Tama blinks, his eyebrows jump up, and his eyes widen. He shakes his head and laughs, his voice sounding huskier than usual. “Why am I not surprised…Here.” He hands you the white dragon with a smile, eyes roaming over your face as if he were trying to commit your features to memory. You cling to your new friend and peer at Tama, holding a stuffed raccoon with just as much care. “Thanks.” You mutter as you rub your face into the plushies neck. It’s soft; you imagine that this is what touching a cloud feels like, gentle and wispy. You think that you feel the ghost of fingertips trailing down your neck and shiver. You shift your face from the fur and soft material and see that Tama is staring at you with the strangest look on his face. His hand is raised mid-level of your neck, fingertips barely a hair away from your soft flesh. You never noticed how light Tama’s eyes were. You knew that they weren’t wholly obsidian; lack of light made it look like that; however, at this moment, you could clearly see flecks of brown shimmering in the dark irises. If you didn’t know any better, you would think he was going to cry. <<else>> You point at the raccoon; you can hardly hide the jubilation in your body as he hands it over - to you. Tama smooths out the fur of his own plushie. It is a giant black dragon with equally black hair and bready red eyes, its face stuck in a cartoonish scowl. “I didn’t take you for the dragon type, Tama.” He flashes you a grin, “You’d be surprised. Anyway, this is for my mom. She loves dragons.”<</if>> You are about to speak until the vendor calls your number. Tama looks at the piece of paper in your hand and plucks it quickly from your fingertips, “I’ll get it if you share it with me?” You let out a fake groan but nod anyway and watch as he eagerly gets up from the table. You smile weakly. If there was one person you could always depend on, it was Tama. <div class="choice">[[Night comes]]</div>

"Right?!" "Pfft," Tama turned to the vendor. "How many games has ?they bought?" "3?" "I'll play 'em" The vendor eyes Tama up and down. It wasn't like Tama was a small man. He was tall and slender, but it was common for people to underestimate him. A large smile broke out on the vendor's face, and he laughed. Holding his belly, he nods, "Sure. Go right ahead." Tama begins to roll the sleeves on his sweater up, but you quickly intervene, placing your hand on his arm. "This is my fight Tama!" He merely hums, removing your hand from his arm. "If we wait for you to ring the bell, we'll be here all day. Me, tired as hell, and you broke." He pauses and eyes you up and down. "Well, broker than you already are." "HEY!" Tama takes the mallet, making exaggerated steps as he shuffles over to the lever. A small crowd of people had started to gather around you two. Murmurs breathing through the large group. You could hear that most of them didn't believe that Tama would be able to ring the bell. Some put money on it. Others commented on him making a fool of himself. Tama, all the while, had a confident smile on his face as he approached the lever. "See, the secret isn't to put a lot of strength into the swing." He heaves the mallet up. "You just gotta know where to hit it!" He brings down the mallet. It was like watching a bottle rocket whizz off into the air. The puck had shot up with so much force that it broke the metal shelling of the bell, shooting up into the sky. The meter whirled wildly, bleeping and screeching, "Strongman, strongman!!" The crowd let out whoops, and screeches. But the vendor's face was another story. He was holding his breath, lips screwed up tightly. "You– you—!!" "Ooops. Accident, I swear," Tama batted his white lashes and clapped his hands together. "But, I get a prize, don't I?" The vendor's face changes various shades of red and purple. "Prize?! You broke my machine, boy! You owe me money! 14 grand, to be exact!" <div class="choice">[[Scam reveiled]]</div>

Tama raised an eyebrow, “We can always talk to the cops about that if you want. I'm sure they would love to hear why your machine was rigged to not hit the bell anyway." “Rigged?!" Someone from the crowd yells out. “Yeah," Tama walks around the other side of the machine and bends down. he's shifting around the back of the device and lifts up a metal shard. "This was jammed into the metal springs, I’m gathering. The shard stops the puck from going further up when you hit the lever. Like my friend here, you'll never be able to ring the bell, no matter how strong you are." Tama had to yell over the screeching of the machine, but it didn't matter. The crowd had already heard all they needed to. One brave soul fought their way to the front of the crowd and yelled, “You've scammed every one of us!!" “Yeah! We want our money back!" The vendor who had been flaming upset was now pasty. “N-N-Now, h-h-hold on!" Raising his meaty palms up into the air, he tries to placate the growing crowd. Tama, noticing the vendor's attention elsewhere, snuck behind his stall, grabbing <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> the white dragon and a black raccoon stuffing them under his arm.<<else>>the black raccoon and a black dragon stuffing them under his arm.<</if>> The vendor, unfortunately, chose to turn around at that moment. “Hey!" With a free hand, Tama waves and takes off, a boyish laugh ripping from his throat. “Wait! You need to pay for the damages!" The vendor then turns to you with a scowl. “You! You’re gonna pay ya friends fee!” You take off after Tama. “Hey! Get BACK HERE!” Your and Tama’s laughter fills the fair's night. <div class="choice">[[Night comes]]</div>

You're both quiet for a while, merely enjoying each other’s company.<<if $regret is "Lust">> The awkwardness still lingers like fog atop marshland, but you do your best to let it roll off of your back. Thinking about your situation, only made you more tense, and the last thing you needed was to continue to think about Courtney. Especially, when you had much bigger concerns on your hand. //Like ghosts//<<else>>You're both quiet for a while, merely enjoying each other’s company. Every now and then, one of you brings up something the other had done in the past. Beginning a spiral of past memories that you two shared.<</if>> “I wonder how long we can be like this…." He whispers. “What do you mean?" Tama snorted, “Like you don't know." Your face is an expression of confusion, and annoyance. You don't know where Tama's attitude has come from, <<if $regret is "Lust">>or maybe you did. But if he was still angry about Courtney, he had no reason to take it out on you. “I dont know what you're talking about, but if this is ''still'' about Courtney--" “It doesn't have shit to do with that walking fertilizer!" He growls, “You don’t trust me, and if you don’t trust me anymore, what’s the point of being here?”<<else>>but you'd prefer he fixed it. “I don't know what you're talking about." He snorts, “You don’t trust me, and if you don’t trust me anymore, what’s the point of being here?”<</if>> Your face scrunches up. You have no idea how to respond; better yet, you don’t even know what you’ve done to receive a response like this. “What the hell are you talking about??” He looks at you with a strange expression. “You don’t even know the gravity of what you’ve done." “Wha--" “Not only did you put yourself in danger, but me as well.” He sits there with a look of astonishment, half of a smile dangling from his lips. He stands up from the bench and begins to pace. “Tama, I honestly don’t know what I've done!” “That’s the problem.” A tick appears on his jaw. He faces you, fury in his eyes. “You always do shit without thinking about anyone else. It's always been about you and no one else. You're fucking selfish!" “And when have I ever done something to hurt you! I've always had your back!<<if $inlove_Tama is "true">>Even when it never benefited me!" //Even when I was helplessly in love with you.// “So, don't sit here and act like I'm out for myself!" “Save the tears for someone who actually gives a fuck <<print $your_name>>. You can sit here and act hurt and all that bullshit but I'm the one who should be hurt!" He spits out. "After everything I've done for, after everything I've ever sacrificed to make sure that I could stand beside you whole! And then you turn around and just-- FUCK!" You jump, eyes wide, and rolling your lips together. "I can’t believe I ever lo—” Tama speaks lowly. You can’t hear what he’s saying, but whatever it is, only makes him angrier. “Fucking hell man!" His voice cracking, he turns away from you. Throwing his hands up, and dragging them down his face, he sags. He's breathing heavy, the sound of something rattling in his chest like a clump of phelgm is stuck. As if he were trying to stifle unchecked sobs from passing between his lips. Letting out one long exhale, he drops his hands limply, and turns to face you. His face void of emotion. “Forget it. Just… Just forget all about this.” “Tama I--" He turns his back on you. <<else>>Sure I may not have been the most reliable person I could have been. But you can't deny that I have been loyal to you! Loyal to a fault!" “You call this loyalty? You couldn’t even respect my privacy, but you have loyalty for me?” Tama sneers. You never realized how dark his eyes were, like a bottomless cave that led to somewhere you could not go. They burned with an emotion you never though you would see coming from Tama. Hate. He snorts, closing his eyes, “Forget I said anything." He stands up, so that you could only see the strong lines of his back. "You seem to be good at that anyway.”<</if>> You sit there with a stupid expression. You don't know what you've done to make Tama so upset. But you would do anything to get him to forgive you. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter now. Nothing will matter anymore. “Come on, I should get you home. You have that 8 am tomorrow, remember?” <div class="choice"><<link [[Going home]]>><<set $anxiety +=15>><</link>></div>

<<if $regret is "Lust">> The awkwardness still lingers like fog atop marshland, but you do your best to let it roll off of your back. Thinking about your situation, only made you more tense, and the last thing you needed was to continue to think about Courtney. Especially, when you had much bigger concerns on your hand. //Like ghosts//<<else>>You're both quiet for a while, merely enjoying each other’s company. Every now and then, one of you brings up something the other had done in the past. Beginning a spiral of past memories that you two shared.<</if>> “I wonder how long we can be like this…" He whispers. “What do you mean?" He parts his lips, words seeming to get stuck in his throat. You watch as he struggles to find his voice, brows furrowed in the center of his forehead. His eyes water, and he shakes his head finally. He rolls his lips so tight that you have the allusion that his lips have disappeared. He gives a tiny smile. “I'm scared." You've never known Tama to be irrational. So whatever fear he had, it must be very real. Or something that he couldn't deal with. “Whats going on?" He doesn't say anything. He licks his lips, and leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. “I feel that no matter what I do, nothing seems to go my way. Every action that I take always results in the same ending. If fate is ever moving, if nothing is written in stone, then why can’t I change anything?” You peer at him, you can’t imagine what he means, or what he’s trying to change. But your job is to be there for him. Not to question him. Unless he decides to become a serial killer. Then you’re pulling back full reign. “Fate is a fickle mistress, Tama. You’re the one who told me that remember? If you can’t change it then why not just go with the current?” He snorted, “Believe me. You don’t want that to happen. I just—" Letting out a frustrated groan, he rubs his face. He refuses to meet your concerned gaze. “I want to be relied on. I want to be helpful. I want to protect those that I care about. But how can I? What if I have to become someone I don’t know? What if I have to betray those that I care about to make it happen? If only to save someone else? If only to save myself?" “Isn’t this too deep of a conversation for a Saturday night?” You weakly chuckle. “<<print $your_name>>, I’m serious.” You take a deep breath. “I’ve made some terrible decisions in my life Tama, and most of them were based on my own selfish desires. Realistically, I'm in no space or shape to judge you." You circle your arms around your knees and lay your cheek against your knee. “It's only human nature to want to protect yourself or even someone you really care about. Even if that means someone else has to burn for it. Someone that may be innocent. But, that doesn't make you a bad person, does it? We all can't be matrys and saints.” “I suppose..." He lets out a deep sigh and flutters his eyes, “I'm glad you said that. Makes me feel a bit better." Curiousity killed the cat is the old saying, "What's going on?" He didn't say anything, eyes still skyward. “Tama?" <div class="choice">[[A bad feeling]]</div>

<<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> “You know I love you, right?" He turns towards you. Not waiting for your response, he scoots closer to you. "I need you to know that. No matter what the future holds for us. You are my heart." //He means as a friend. That's all he means.// Your arms tighten around your knees. Your heart is beating out of your chest, and you can feel . “I-I-I know that, Tama... And you know I love you, right?" He stares at you long and hard. “Yeah…." He reaches over and grasps your hand. He's so cold, you weren't suprised since he ran colder than most, but today, his body temperature just seemed to reach a new chill level. He rubs the ridges of your knuckles, “Yeah, I know." He smiles, and lets go of your hand, and shoots you a wide smile. <<else>> “You're my best friend. I just want you to know that. No matter what happens." He bumps his shoulder against yours, and gives you a cheeky smile. "Us against the world, always." “Keep away from you heathen." You chuckle, and bat him away from getting any closer. You give Tama an inch and he'll take an mile. “You're gonna try to kiss me I can see it in your eyes." He laughs and shakes his head, “Nah, if you're expecting it I dont get to see that disgusted look on your face." Your eyes still trained on him, you feel your body start to relax. You give him a warning glare, and turn to face the sky, silently counting down. //1....2....3...annndd--// Moving too fast for you to try and bat him away, he grabs your shoulders and drags your face to his. Planting a sloppy kiss on your cheek, he giggles as you furiously wipe at the wet spot, “Nasty!" You hiss. He holds his stomach, laughing like a madmen you can see tears gathering in the corners of his eyes, “I could be gone tomorrow, you better enjoy my surprise kisses while they last!" It's something in the way that he says it. Like its more truth then just bullshit.<</if>> “You're…" You stare at him, stomach-dropping unexpectedly. You didn’t like where this was going; you didn’t like how it sounded. You force a chuckle from your lips and narrow your eyes, “You make it sound like you're going to move or something." You try to joke it off. Perhaps by making light of the situation, it would allay the severity of the mood. Tama smiles, but you don’t like that smile. It’s loose and weak; you almost wouldn’t even call it a smile, more like a melancholic grimace. Your face falls. “You’re not leaving, right?” You ask again. Urgency and hysteria were laced in your voice as you resisted the urge to reach out and grab ahold of him. It works for two seconds before you reach out to grab his sleeve. “Tell me you’re not leaving.” “<<print $your_name, calm down. You’re going to get yourself worked up over nothing. You don’t have to worry.” “I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you say you’re not leaving.” You probably look pathetic right now, but you don’t care. Tama is your friend, your best friend. The only person who knew you more than even your own family. To lose him would be like losing a piece of yourself, and you don’t think you could live with that. His face visibly softens, and he grabs your hands. “I won’t go anywhere. Come on, I should get you home. You have that 8 am tomorrow, remember?” <div class="choice">[[Going home]]</div>

<<if $triedtowatch is "true">>Tama drives you home; the tension from the park was still there. However, neither of you was willing to talk about it and hash it out. Stopping in front of your apartment complex, he parks the car. He doesn't say anything, but just tilts his head awaiting for you to exit. You gather your spoils, and slide out of the car. //God, he really could be petty.// Rolling your eyes, you decide to be the bigger person. “See you on Monday?" Your smile is tight, a bit forced and unnatural but you do your best to add cheer and jubilance to it. Perhaps it was your way of making amends after your arguement. They rarely happened, and when you say rarely you mean it, but they always seemed to become bigger than needed. He chuckles, although it sounds more strained than anything. Leaning against the wheel of the car, he smiles at you dimples popping in his cheeks, “Bye <<print $your_name>>." You shut the door and watch as he drives off. A sense of sadness washes over you, but you quickly shake it off. <<else>> Tama drives you home; the tension from the park was still there. However, neither of you were willing to talk about it. Stopping in front of your apartment complex, he parks the car, “We have reached our destination; thank you for riding Shirosaki train lines. Your bill is 200 hundred dollars, please.” He shows you his palm and makes a grabby motion. You roll your eyes, “Put it on my tab.” You gather your spoils, and slide out of the car. Turning around, you stare at Tama one last time. “See you on Monday?" Your smile is tight, a bit forced and unnatural but you do your best to add cheer and jubilance to it. Maybe he notices your awkwardness? Because he gives you one of those motherly chuckles. Leaning against the wheel of the car, he smiles at you dimples popping in his cheeks, “Bye <<print $your_name>>." You shut the door and watch as he drives off. A sense of sadness washes over you, but you quickly shake it off. <</if>> <div class="choice">[[Continue|Next Week]]</div>

He gives you a deadpan stare, “When <<print $your_name>>? Like you said, you're either at home, at work, or with me." “Well, maybe I go out and don't tell you about it!" You huff, “You're not always around me." He licks his lips and leans against the pullout desk. “If you go out so much when was the last time you went out on a date?" It's been a while, truthfully. <<if $regret is "Lust">>However, it's not due to any fault of your own. Having a crazy stalker of an ex made situationships and anything in between challenging to navigate.<<else>> You used to date more actively when you were in your undergrad. Most of everyone you knew had turned around and coupled up, with their significant other, so you felt like you had to do so as well.<</if>> In the end, you found that, ''PLEASE ONLY CHOOSE ONE'' <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$ace" true>><span style="color #008000"> ''You weren't attracted to people romantically or sexually''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$aro" true>><span style="color #FFFF00;"> ''You were attracted to people romantically but did not have any sexual desires''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$cishetero" true>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Preferred a relationship with equal parts of sex and love''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$demisexual" true>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Wanted to be loved first and foremost''</span>.</div> <div class="choice">[[Continue|You weren't attracted to people romantically or sexually.]]</div>

“Eeew, people." You wrinkle your nose. “My point exactly! You probably don't even remember the last time you went on a date, do you?" You pause. It's been a while, truthfully. <<if $regret is "Lust">>However, it's not due to any fault of your own. Having a crazy stalker of an ex made situationships and anything in between challenging to navigate. You used to date more actively when you were younger.<<else>>You used to date more actively when you were in your undergrad. Most of everyone you knew had turned around and coupled up, with their significant other, so you felt like you had to do so as well.<</if>> In the end, you found that, ''PLEASE ONLY CHOOSE ONE'' <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$ace" true>><span style="color #008000"> ''You weren't attracted to people romantically or sexually''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$aro" true>><span style="color #FFFF00;"> ''You were attracted to people romantically but did not have any sexual desires for them''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$cishetero" true>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Preferred a relationship with equal parts of sex and love''</span>.</div> <div class="choice"><<radiobutton "$demisexual" true>><span style="color #008000;"> ''Wanted to be loved first and foremost. Everything else could fall into place afterwards.''</span>.</div> <div class="choice">[[Continue|You weren't attracted to people romantically or sexually.]]</div>

<<if $ace is true>> "Why would I waste that person's time and my own when it's guaranteed to go nowhere?" You put your pen down and give Tama an incredulous look. He rolls his eyes, “It's not like you have to do anything or commit yourself to that person. Just go out to socialize and have fun!" “Why do I need to do that with strangers when I have you?" You bat your eyelashes at him, and he makes a gagging noise. “Gross."<<elseif $aro is true>>“Its always a wasted venture." You place your chin on your propped-up palm. “Most people want sex and aren't willing to understand my stance on it. I'd rather not get my heart broken by another asshole, thank you." Tama snorts, “You're right about that. If they can't understand you, then it's on them. Fuck 'em. If they love you, they should be willing to compromise and work with you.<<elseif $demisexual is true>>“Its always a wasted venture." You place your chin on your propped-up palm. “Most people want sex and aren't willing to understand my stance on it. I'd rather not get my heart broken by another asshole, thank you." Tama snorts, “You're right about that. If they can't understand you, then it's on them. Fuck 'em. If they love you, they should be willing to compromise and work with you." <<else>> “Realistically, I just don't have time." You sigh. <</if>> “Besides, between working, school work, and babysitting you. When would I be able to go out?" “Uh, 'cuse you?" Tama places a hand on his chest. “You don't have to babysit me. Unlike a certain tired grad student I know, I have a social life." “Since your social life is so busy, why don't you tell me what's going on with you and miss thing?" “Who?" He tries to act clueless, but that bashful cutesy smile crawling on his face and light flush betray him. “Uh-huh." You stop yourself from saying much more. Fischer has stopped his lecture, to begin roaming the rows in the auditorium. That was your cue to act busy. <div class="choice">[[The Demon named Fischer]]</div>

You decide not to make any more waves in the class and keep silent, you’ve already missed the quiz, but at least you didn’t miss the lecture. Small victories should always be celebrated, no? “<<print $your_lastname>>, could you stay behind for a moment." As soon as 2 o’clock had hit, you were prepared to haul ass out of the auditorium, but when Fischer had called you out (again), you felt your shoulders slump in aggravation. Tama gave you a pitying look and clapped your arm, “I'll wait outside for you." You nodded and wadded through the other students to stand in front of Fischer's podium. He stood there gathering papers and cleaning up the table slowly as if he had all the time in the world. Which he may have, but you didn't. You wait for a moment, prepared to leave if he said nothing, as you were already on a tight time constraint as is. Finally, he looks up at you, a frown turning his already dour face into more of a bad omen. “This is the 5th time that you have shown up late to my class." Is this really what he wants to talk about? Your attendance? Talk about something that could have been an email. <div class="choice">[[Apologize][$genuine to Math.clamp($genuine +5, 0, 100)]]</div> <div class="choice">[[When in doubt][$sarcastic to Math.clamp($sarcastic +6, 0, 100), $rude to Math.clamp($rude +7, 0, 100)]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Try and explain][$genuine to Math.clamp($genuine +5, 0, 100)]]</div>

You purse your lips; your phone had told you that the name of the news station was Midnight Train? You look amongst your group to see if anyone else has a reaction, but the only person who is expressing as much discomfort as you is Alex. You two look at each other behind the other's back. You didn’t know each other well, not enough to recognize social cues from one another. But from what you’re gathering, Alex wears $their emotions on $their sleeve. And what you’re seeing from them now, doesn’t help the sense of nervousness that threatens to bubble in your heart. //Paranoia is a hell of a drug. Isn't it?// “Hey, before we leave, can we all have a quick pow-wow?” Alex waves $their hand away from the receptionist, a grin tight on $their face. You see a mixture of annoyed and curious faces as you all form a circle in the next hallway. “What’s up?” Khalid asks. He rocks on his feet, moving from side to side as if he could not sit still. “I don’t know about you all, but the News station definitely wasn’t called Midsuns on my phone,” Alex says. A series of agreements erupt through the group, brows raised and furrowed amongst your band of 7. "Yeah, mines say Midtown's News Weekly.” You turn to stare at Ariel in surprise. "Oh, there’s got to be a mistake, 'cause mine said Mid-Atlantic Daily News.” Maribelle chimed "So, all of our intro texts say something different,” Khalid begins. You watch as he talks with animation. Hands waving in the air, you try to focus, but your mind wanders. You look at Alex, $their brows furrowed and lips twitching, "This….” You lick your lips, your mind still trying to puzzle together what this could mean for your group. "This happens a lot?” You didn’t mean to phrase it as a question, but again. Maybe you had; what did you know about this game’s system or how it’s supposed to operate? You were a novice amongst Journeyman and Masters, a child thrown into the waters forced to swim or sink. <div class="choice">[[What do you do now?]]</div>

“Not all the time,” Alex strokes $their <<print $Ahairstyle>>. “I’ve been in some instances where the information we’re given is off from the information that we receive. Most of the time, it’s just human error from the information brokers.” Information brokers? Shouldn’t $they mean the developers? “Let me call support; clearly something is wrong,” Alex announces; part of the group nods, clearly comforted in support of Alex calling someone for assistance. Mark was the only one, however, that looked annoyed. Alex put his phone on speaker, clicking past the automated messages until he got to a living person. You hope. “Hello, you’ve reached the informatics department. My name is Daniella. How may I be of service today?” A tired women’s voice “Hi, Daniella this is <<if $Agender is 'female'>> Alexandria Adakai <<elseif $Agender is 'male'>> Alexander Adakai <</if>> and I’m currently in the middle of the mission, ‘Feelin’ Alright Doc’”. My group and I have run into an issue with the information provided to us. We were informed that our News station was called Midsuns, but all of us have different names for the station.” “Hmm, let me do some checking for you….” The woman pauses, and you hear the clicking of a keyboard. “And what mission have you currently enrolled in again?” “Feelin’ Alright Doc’.” “Ah, ok…. I think,” She trails off. It’s quiet once again, and the only thing you hear is the sound of a keyboard and mouse. “Ok, so, what was the problem again?” Alex looks at the phone like it’s just spit in $their eye. $They wrinkles $their nose and has no issue letting $their emotions show on $their face, “The issue is that we were all told different news station names. And now, we are being told that none of the names we were given are correct.” “Oh, ok, well, that is not a problem or an issue supported by the information brokers.” She states matter of factly. “You were all given different names due to the current difficulty level, and failure to represent the correct news station will result in a change of difficulty for the mission.” Ariel looks at the phone wearily and rubs her forehead, “What do you mean by a change in difficulty? Be direct.” <div class="choice">[[She's being direct]]</div>

“The difficulty will raise by one. Making it a Level 3.” Ariel gains an ashen pallor on her skin, her lips rolling together tightly. “Ok, but what sense does that make if we have no idea or clue about what.” “You can unlock a clue for 258 points.” Alex’s eyes almost bug out, “Two hundred and fifty-eight points?! Does the clue come with a walkthrough and the bathwater of Jesus Christ? Cause if it doesn’t, then there’s no way in hell that I’m paying for it!” “<<if $Agender is 'male'>> Sir, <<elseif $Agender is 'female'>> Ma’am, <</if>> you have the points to afford the clue. If this is a matter of expense, I’m sure you and your comrades won’t have an issue with your frugality when you all become food for the crows.” Alex grits $their teeth and rubs $their forehead with the back of $their hand. "Fine, fuck!" "I got you, fam," Khalid interjects, snatching the phone out of Alex's hand so fast that $they barely had time to process what happened. "HEY–" "I need your 10-digit player number and verbal authorization for the transfer of funds. It doesn't matter who pays." Khalid rolled his eyes and muttered something too low for you to hear. Rattling off a long serial number, he shifts from foot to foot as he waits for the woman to speak again. "Alright, confirming the purchase for a Mister Khalid ibn-al Bakir?" "Yup, that’s me." "Hmmm, alright, the payment went through. Are you ready for the hint Mr. Bakir?" "Lay it on me, baby." "The news station is not called Midsuns. The director knows this, and so does the receptionist. One of your group members has the correct name." We all wait for her to say more, but we're only met with silence. Alex takes $their phone back when $they catches Khalid not looking and dances away from his hands. "Is that it?" "Yes." Khalid's face goes through a series of different expressions, from disbelief to humor to anger. "Lady, that hint was some bullshit! You told us what we already know!" Your group chimes in with agreement, some angry for Khalid and others just angry in general. Alex had explained why points were so important; however, you didn't understand why he was getting so angry. They were just fictitious points. "How is this a hint?" Harry added loudly. "You know what, lemme talk to your manager cause ain't no way you about to play me like that!" Khalid exclaims, still reaching for the phone "It’s just a joke of course there is more!" The woman says quickly. Your eyes narrow into slits. //Joke, yeah, right.// "The next piece is a riddle. I can't give you more than that, so be my guest if you want to speak to higher up after that." She clears her throat. "Are you ready?" "Ma'am, come on." "The one who has the right name is one born from summer's bane." Your face scrunches up. How cryptic is that? “Is that it?” Khalid asks. <div class="choice">[[Continue|Khalid doesn't like it]]</div>

“Yes, Mr. Bashir.” Khalid smiles, which is rare for how obscure and non-detailed the hint was. He licks his lips and brings his hands up to pat them on his chest. “Lady, you are playing with m—” However, Alex interferes before Khalid can continue, “Ok, we’ve got it, thanks, bye!” $They hang up the phone. Khalid lets out a bark of laughter and shakes his head, turning away from you all with his hands raised. The call ends, and you all look at each other. “Okay, so summers bane?" “Who was born in the summer?" <<if $birth_season is 'summer'>> Khalid, Harry, and Ariel raise their hands. You slowly raise your hand as well, adding to the consensus. “Okay, y'all are automatically out," Alex says. $They rubs $their chin and lets out a huff. “Summers bane has to be winter, and the opposite of summer is winter. Case closed." Mark states with a roll of his eyes. Alex merely raises a brow, “Ok, how many people were born in Winter?" Mark proudly presents his hand. You try not to roll your eyes too hard at him, but you wouldn’t care if he saw your blatant dismissal. You don't miss the small snort that Khalid lets out. “I was born in Fall," Maribelle adds. “And I was born in Spring." Alex finishes. <<elseif $birth_season is 'spring'>> Khalid, Harry, and Ariel raise their hands. “Okay, y'all are automatically out," Alex says. $They rubs $their chin and lets out a huff. “Summers bane has to be winter. Case closed." Mark states with a roll of his eyes. Alex merely raises a brow, “Ok, how many people were born in Winter?" Mark proudly presents his hand. You try not to roll your eyes too hard at him, but you wouldn’t care if he saw your blatant dismissal. You don't miss the small snort that Khalid lets out. “I was born in Fall," Maribelle adds. “And I was born in Spring." “Me too.” Alex smiles at you, attention immediately piqued at potentially sharing a birthday month with you. <<elseif $birth_season is 'winter'>> Khalid, Harry, and Ariel raise their hands. “Okay, y'all are automatically out," Alex says. $They rubs $their chin and lets out a huff. “Summers bane has to be winter. Case closed." Mark states with a roll of his eyes. Alex merely raises a brow, “Ok, how many people were born in Winter?" Mark proudly presents his hand. You try not to roll your eyes too hard at him, but you wouldn’t care if he saw your blatant dismissal. You don't miss the small snort that Khalid lets out. “I was born in Fall," Maribelle adds. “And I was born in Spring." “I was born in winter.” You add though no one pays you any mind.<<elseif $birth_season is 'autumn'>> Khalid, Harry, and Ariel raise their hands. “Okay, y'all are automatically out," Alex says. $They rubs $their chin and lets out a huff. “Summers bane has to be winter. Case closed." Mark states with a roll of his eyes. Alex merely raises a brow, “Ok, how many people were born in Winter?" Mark proudly presents his hand. You try not to roll your eyes too hard at him, but you wouldn’t care if he saw your blatant dismissal. You don't miss the small snort that Khalid lets out. “I was born in Fall," Maribelle adds. “Me too." You add. No one seems to hear you, however.<</if>> “Wait a minute," Ariel interrupts. She raises both of her hands, and her expression morphs into one of doubt. “What about fall?" Winter was the opposite of Summer, that was true. However, didn't summer end because of Fall? Also, what if you were thinking too broadly? Maybe, seasons weren't even a factor? Mark scrunches his nose up, “What about fall?" “When summer ends, is it not taken over by Fall? So, wouldn’t Fall be Summer’s bane.” “Well, who’s to say that the hint pertains to riddles? They could be talking about major events, like droughts or floods?” You chime in; honestly, you just wanted to play devil’s advocate here. “Why the hell would it be something like that?” Mark states, “Yeah, that doesn’t even make sense!” Harry agrees. “No, what doesn’t make sense is that—” As you all argue amongst yourself, the group falls into dissent; no one is willing to be wrong. <div class="choice">[[Chaos is thy name]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Get swept up]]</div>

You don’t have much to add to the arguments and refuse to settle on one side. Instead, you find that straddling the fence is much more fun. You throw quick and quiet comments into the fray, twisting words when you can, knocking down egos and stroking flames as much as possible. “Did you just say I was stupid?!” Ariel turns on Mark in a flash, “No, I didn’t, but it’s not like it isn’t true!” Their argument ignites like stray flames catching on paper. Had you not been the driving factor, you would have never guessed that it was coming. You saddle up to Harry quietly. He’s watching as Maribelle tries to calm Mark down. His lips curl, and you hear him mumble, “—weakling." “Harry, what do you mean Maribelle has no backbone?” You lick your lips and plaster on a concerned expression as you turn to him. You place your hand above your heart and watch as confusion blooms across his face. “I don’t appreciate bein’ told I hav’ no backbone.” Maribelle side-eyes Harry with enough disapprovment that you would think you’re talking with your mom again. He merely snorts, waving her off. “Well, then I suggest you grow one; unfortunately, you are the weakest link.” “Weakest link? Rich comin’ from the guy who leeches off of his sister to survive.” //Ooo, didn’t think she had it in her!// You can barely contain your glee as you watch everyone turn on each other. The sheer chaos and discord! The distrust and anger! You think you’re getting a bit light-headed from trying to contain the cackle that threatens to bubble to your lips. You turn to start on Khalid and Alex but are met with their disapproving stares. Caught red-handed it seems. You let out an exasperated gasp and gesture to your teammates. “Do you see this? Anarchy! How can they turn on each other at a time like this!!” Alex gives you a mean stink eye, and Khalid merely shakes his head. “Ugh, you and Jin would be best buddies.” <div class="choice">[[Lost little lambs]]</div>

You don’t know how you got swept up in the arguments, but soon you’re yelling at Ariel and Harry while they yell at Maribelle, whose yelling at Harry and Mark. Khalid is somewhere in the mix, just yelling with no clear target, but he’s pretty passionate about whatever it is. <div class="choice">[[Lost little lambs]]</div>

“Hold on!” Alex yells. The arguing stops instantly. “Arguing is going to get us nowhere! Let’s be diplomatic; clearly, we’re stuck between Maribelle <<if $birth_season is 'autumn'>> <<print $your_name>> <<elseif $birth_season is 'winter'>> <<print $your_name>> <</if>>and Mark having the correct name." So, they actually were listening? Thats nice. “Let’s vote. All in favor of Maribelle?” Four hands raise. “Really, Khalid?” Alex brows furrow up, and $they pinch the bridge of $their nose. “What?" He shrugs, “Evil typically always wins.” Mark silently fumes, but doesn't say anything. “Alright, we’re going with Bells then!” Khalid claps his hands, “What's your station called again?" “MidViews Newstation." She chews her lip contemplatively. “Whelp, that's settled!" Khalid lets out an obnoxious laugh, trying to break through the budding tension. “Umm..." The receiptionist has come over to your little group, still trembling. “If you could come back to the counter, I can finish checking you all in?" “Oh, shoot sorry about that!"Alex shoots the woman, a charming smile and takes the lead. <div class="choice">[[Information to succeed]]</div>

The woman gets back to her desk, and starts typing on her computer. Once she is done, she faces you all again, “Director Morales will see you. His office is on the 5th floor, room 1690." She finished typing and then opened her drawer. “Technically we have 6 floors with 4 different wings, and 5 different units. The main elevator on the will only take you from the 4th floor to the basement. To get to the 5th floor, you'll need to either take the service elevator or the stairs. I recommend the elevator, since the stairs can be... a bit dangerous." Still shaking, she produced seven keycards and laid them out before us. ''You gained Keycard*.'' “This will give you guys limited access to the upper floors. And here you go as well." She then placed several passes on the counter. “These are also guest passes. It'll let you move about the hospital without the guards questioning you too much." <<notify 30s>>''You gained the Media ID Pass*''<</notify>> “The service elevator is near the big operation theater, if you go left once you reach the room and just keep going, you can't miss it. Do you have any questions?" The group shakes their heads and moves to head further into the hospital. For some reason, you are compelled to stay there. You were staring at the woman who refused to meet your eyes. She continues to type away on the computer, but you notice how her eyes flicker to yours every few seconds. It’s a few minutes of awkward silence before she lifts her head from the bright screen. She plasters a too-wide smile on her face, one that looks rather painful than welcoming. “I-i-is the-rrre anything e-l-l-else that I can help you with?" You raise an eyebrow. You don't think you're too much of a fearful creature, but clearly, the receptionist doesn't think so. You could… <div class="choice"><<link [[Ask her whats wrong?]]>><<set $humanity +=2>><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<link [[Just Leave]]>><<set $humanity -=5>><</link>></div>

You stare at the man's retreating back and hesitate. You should mind your own business; too bad you've always been somewhat of a meddler. "Hey!" You jog to catch up with him. He had turned around to stare at you, confusion on his face. You watch the pale shade cling to him; you try to avoid its chilly gaze. You hadn’t expected him to actually stop, so now that he has. You are standing there, feeling like an idiot with good intentions. How do you want to handle this? <div class="choice">[[Be upfront]]</div>

You feel bad for the man, but it's none of your business. Who knows what he's done to call forth such a sickening shade. Besides, what if the spirit decided to leave the guy and latch onto you? You shiver. Yeah, no thanks. You feel bad for the man, but it's none of your business. Who knows what he's done to call forth such a sickening shade. Besides, what if the spirit decided to leave the guy and latch onto you? You shiver. //Yeah, no thanks. // You pry the boring brown box open, you see another box within it. This box is black, little angels etched into the cardboard, with sworls and intricate leafs. It reminds you of some fancy Renaissance opening with weeping angels and beautiful backgrounds. It doesn’t have any distinguishing features on it, but you know better than to judge something by its package. You open the black box with your butter knife and find a black orb cushioned by velvet cloth and white peanuts. You pick it up and bring it up to the light so that you can see it clearly. It has golden cracks in it, reminding you of the kintsugi bowls that you would see in Tama’s apartment. Family heirlooms that he claimed his father crafted for his mother when they first started dating. You feel a warmth emitting from the orb; it was comforting. almost like a space heater, as if it had a life of its own. “Hmm… Interesting.” You tried to put the orb down, to look further into the box for the VR headset, but found the globe stuck to your hand. You try and release your grip on it, hoping it would just fall and roll from your grasp. But it stays firm and grows warmer. It’s a burning heat, one that you find to be increasingly uncomfortable, as seconds tick. Light emits from the golden cracks, and you find yourself being drawn into it. “What the f—” <div class="choice">[[So, the story begins]]</div>

“You’ve got a ghost on you.” Well. Maybe that was a bit too upfront. The guy looks at you as if you've got two heads. “I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling the truth." You try. “You've felt tired, right? Exhausted even, like you don't have the energy to do anything, even stuff that used to make you happy?” He’s still giving you the side-eye, but you notice his shoulders have lost some of the tension they once held. He’s softening, that is true, but he still looks guarded. You curse, knowing that you have to take this a bit further than you wanted to if you were going to get him to believe you. You gaze at the shade that clings to him. It takes a moment for you to fully be able to see it. The miasma surrounding it is thick like fog. You’re sure that its features are muddled because of it. It takes a moment before your eyes cut through the mist. You can see the characteristics of a man, cheeks hollowed from what looks like hunger. His eyes are deep-set, and he has a strong browbone, all of which have become more prominent and sunken due to sickness. “Did someone recently die that you knew? A man maybe, looks like he could have suffered from some kind of wasting disease?” Carl stops then, eyes widening, “Wh-How do you know about that?” <div class="choice"><<if $occult gte 15>>\ [[Communicate with it]] <<else>>\ <span-class='grayed-out'>Communicate with it</span> <</if>>\</div> <div class="choice">[[Try to explain]]</div>

The shade looks at you, his expression pensive as he weighs your mettle before him. You are sure that the cold chill that settles in your bones has nothing to do with the weather. When the abyss can perceive you, despite your position in life and the power you possess. When it can reach out to touch you, like cold gusts of winds on flower petals. That is the most suffocating thing you can experience. Finally, he speaks, barely above a whisper, “Toby.” You pause, unsure if you heard correctly, but the way Carl looks at you, you’re sure you don’t have time to double-check. “Was his name Toby?” The UPS guy's face becomes even paler, his lips thinning. "How do you know that?” You part your lips, but Carl swiftly interrupts. His lips are pulled back, and his nose scrunches up in disgust. His fatigued face finally seems to have some form of emotion aside from lethargy. "I don't know where you heard that name or what you THINK you know," He's breathing hard, "but it's got nothing to do with you. Mind your fucking business." He gives you a smoldering glare and turns around to your elevator. The miasma around Carl thickened like New York smog. The shade is solidifying as its victim walks away. Wispy dark hair lying limp on its shoulders, its face more fleshed out than before. Hollow cheekbones and vesicular lesions covered its entire body. It lifted its skeletal hand and watched as it solidified. It grins. <div class="choice">[[If it leads...]]</div>

“I can see it." You stare at the shade. “It's got massive bad energy, which probably means that it's pissed." The man rolls his lips together. His eyes narrow, and he takes a step towards you, “Look, I don't know what kind of weird shit you’re trying to pu—” “Look, I know how crazy this sounds, but it’s true!” You implore. If the shoe was on the other foot, and you were in the delivery man’s position, you would want someone to tell you. However, your circumstances are a bit different from most people's. Carl rolls his eyes, “Look, kid, you have your whole life ahead. Try not to waste it by rotting your brain, ok?” //Does he think I’m an addict?// He turns to leave, heading for your hall’s elevator. The white transparent fog thins slightly, and you can clearly see the specter's face at that moment. Weaker but still present in its rank visage. It lifts its head mechanically, hair dragging down its shoulders as if it came and dragged itself out of muddy waters. It turns to you, emaciated face, sunken with puss-filled lesions and grimaces. Its cold aura crawls across your skin like tiny hairy legs. <<if $notexorcised is "true">>In the back of your head, you hear something roar. <<else>>In the back of your mind, you hear a bell chime.<</if>> It robotically lifts its head and frowns. <div class="choice">[[If it leads...]]</div>

You pry the boring brown box open, you see another box within it. This box is black, little angels etched into the cardboard. It reminded you of some fancy Renaissance opening. It doesn’t have any distinguishing features on it, but you know better than to judge something by its package. You open the black box with your butter knife and find a black orb cushioned by velvet cloth and peanuts. You pick it up and bring it up to the light so that you can see it clearly. It has golden cracks in it, reminding you of the kintsugi bowls that you would see in Tama’s apartment. Family heirlooms that he claimed his father crafted for his mother when they first started dating. You feel a warmth emitting from the orb; it was comforting. almost like a space heater, as if it had a life of its own. “Hmm… Interesting.” You tried to put the orb down, to look further into the box for the VR headset, but found the globe stuck to your hand. You try and release your grip on it, hoping it would just fall and roll from your grasp. But it stays firm and grows warmer. It’s a burning heat, one that you find to be increasingly uncomfortable, as seconds tick. Light emits from the golden cracks, and you find yourself being drawn into it. “What the f—” <div class="choice">[[So, the story begins]]</div>

<div class="header"> <div id="header-text" data-passage="header-text"></div> <div id="function-menu"> <span id="menu" class="lnr lnr-menu"></span> <span id="settings" class="lnr lnr-cog"></span> <span id="saves" class="lnr lnr-download"></span> <span id="restart" class="lnr lnr-redo"></span> </div> </div> <div id="story"> <span id="back" class="lnr lnr-chevron-left"></span> <div id="passages"></div> </div> <div class="footer"> <span id="up" class="lnr lnr-chevron-up"></span> <span id="footer-menu" data-passage="footer-menu"></span> <div class="mobile-menu"> <span id="mob-menu" class="lnr lnr-menu"></span> <div id="mob-function-menu"> <span id="mob-settings" class="lnr lnr-cog"></span> <span id="mob-saves" class="lnr lnr-download"></span> <span id="mob-restart" class="lnr lnr-redo"></span> </div> <span id="mob-footer-menu" data-passage="footer-menu"></span> </div> </div>

A Trial of Horror | $gamechapter

<<replace "#header-text">><<include "header-text">><</replace>>

“Fuck, watch where you’re going!” You growl out. You bend down to pick up the scattered papers, if only so that you didn't have to hear this person whine later. "You almost broke my nose." Were you exaggerating? Absolutely. The person snorts, head still down as they gather their papers. “—bumped into me.” They mutter. “Excuse me?” You lean forward towards them. Frown marring your face, “Say that again for me, I didn’t quite catch that.” “I said,” Voice risen in timbre, there is a sharp edge to their soft tone that you catch immediately. Your eyes narrow, and you’re about to lay into the person again. You’re stopped, however, when they stand to their full height. You gulp nervously. “You bumped into me, why would I need to watch where I’m going?” Your breath catches in your throat at the sight of them. <div class="choice"><<link [[A man?]]>><<SetPronouns "m">><<set $Agender to 'male'>><</link>>//Adakai is set to male//</div> <div class="choice"><<link [[A woman?]]>><<SetPronouns "f">><<set $Agender to 'female'>><</link>>//Adakai is set to female//</div>

“Oh, shoot, I'm sorry about that!" You crouch down to help, gathering the scattered papers that had tumbled from their arms. “Ah, it's all good; I should have been paying more attention." Voice low and husky, you ponder just how the person was at fault when you clearly were the one about to go on a warpath. You tilt your head to tell them as much. Probably make a joke about being like a small tank. However, your breath catches in your throat at the sight of them. When you finally focus on the person in front of you. <div class="choice"><<link [[A man?]]>><<SetPronouns "m">><<set $Agender to 'male'>><</link>>//Adakai is set to male//</div> <div class="choice"><<link [[A woman?]]>><<SetPronouns "f">><<set $Agender to 'female'>><</link>>//Adakai is set to female//</div>

<h1>Alexandria Adakai</h1>\ ''Nickname:'' Alex ''Age:'' 24 ''Gift:'' ??? ''Zodiac Sign:'' Aries\ <span class="Adakai_sanity"> <div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">sanity $Adakai_sanity%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="Adakai_sanity-stat"></div></div></div></span> <hr>\ Relationship Status: <<if $eliza_approval >=70>> Shows text/options for a loving/close friends relationship. <<elseif $eliza_approval >=41 && $eliza_approval <=69>> Alex likes you. You've gained $their trust, and in the same breath their. <<elseif $Adakai_approval >=27 && $Adakai_approval <=40>> $They are curious about you. <<elseif $Adakai_approval >=16 && $Adakai_approval <=26>> Alex has a strong dislike for you. You might have said or done something to $them that rubbed $them the wrong way? You don't know. But what you do know is that $they'd rather not have to deal with you. <<elseif $Adakai_approval >=0 && $Adakai_approval <=15>> $They don't know you. How can they form an opinion on someone they don't know?<</if>> <<if $ace is true>><<else>>Romance Status: 0; She doesn't think of you romantically. She just met you afterall.<</if>> <<back "Return">>

<h1>Alexander Adakai</h1>\ ''Nickname:'' Alex ''Age:'' 24 ''Gift:'' ??? ''Zodiac Sign:'' Aries\ <span class="Adakai_sanity"> <div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">sanity $Adakai_sanity%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="Adakai_sanity-stat"></div></div></div></span> <hr> Relationship Status: <<if $eliza_approval >=70>> Shows text/options for a loving/close friends relationship. <<elseif $eliza_approval >=41 && $eliza_approval <=69>> Alex likes you. You've gained $their trust, and in the same breath their. <<elseif $Adakai_approval >=27 && $Adakai_approval <=40>> $They are curious about you. <<elseif $Adakai_approval >=16 && $Adakai_approval <=26>> Alex has a strong dislike for you. You might have said or done something to $them that rubbed $them the wrong way? You don't know. But what you do know is that $they'd rather not have to deal with you. <<elseif $Adakai_approval >=0 && $Adakai_approval <=15>> $They don't know you. How can they form an opinion on someone they don't know?<</if>> <<if $ace is true>><<else>>Romance Status: 0; He doesn't think of you romantically. He just met you afterall.<</if>> <<back "Return">>

<h1>Nasir Faizan</h1>\ ''Nickname:'' Nas ''Age:'' 26 ''Gift:'' ??? ''Zodiac Sign:'' Leo\ <span class="Faizan_sanity"> <div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">sanity $Faizan_sanity%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="Faizan_sanity-stat"></div></div></div></span> <hr>\ Relationship Status: He doesn't know you. But from what he's seen so far? He's not impressed. <<if $eliza_approval >=80>> Shows text/options for a loving/close friends relationship. <<elseif $eliza_approval >=61 && $eliza_approval <=79>> Alex likes you. You've gained $their trust, and in the same breath their. <<elseif $Faizan_approval >=47 && $Faizan_approval <=60>> $They are curious about you. <<elseif $Faizan_approval >=16 && $Faizan_approval <=46>> Alex has a strong dislike for you. You might have said or done something to $them that rubbed $them the wrong way? You don't know. But what you do know is that $they dont trust you. Yet. <<elseif $Faizan_approval >=0 && $Faizan_approval <=15>> Faizan hates you.<</if>> <<back "Return">>

<h1>Zahra Faizan</h1>\ ''Name:'' O'Hara ''Age:'' 26 ''Gift:'' ??? ''Zodiac Sign:'' Leo\ <span class="Faizan_sanity"> <div class="stat-bar-group"> <div class="stat-bar-container"> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-left">sanity $Faizan_sanity%</div> <div class="stat-bar-overlay-right"></div> <div class="stat-bar" id="Faizan_sanity-stat"></div></div></div></span> <hr>\ Relationship: She doesn't know you. But from what she's seen so far? She's not impressed. <<if $eliza_approval >=80>> Shows text/options for a loving/close friends relationship. <<elseif $eliza_approval >=61 && $eliza_approval <=79>> Alex likes you. You've gained $their trust, and in the same breath their. <<elseif $Faizan_approval >=47 && $Faizan_approval <=60>> $They are curious about you. <<elseif $Faizan_approval >=16 && $Faizan_approval <=46>> Alex has a strong dislike for you. You might have said or done something to $them that rubbed $them the wrong way? You don't know. But what you do know is that $they dont trust you. Yet. <<elseif $Faizan_approval >=0 && $Faizan_approval <=15>> Faizan hates you.<</if>> <<back "Return">>

<h1>Yue Tu</h1>\ ''Nickname:'' Rabbit ''Age:'' Unknown. ''Gift:'' ??? ''Zodiac Sign:'' Gemini\

You roll your eyes, and thrust the papers onto $their chest. $They raises an eyebrow, but grab ahold of the papers before they fall. $They stares at you, for an uncomfortable amount of time. So much so that you ''have'' to say something, if only to break the disconcerting bubble that $they created. “Can I help you?" $They jumps. Like $they wasn't just staring at you and making you uncomfortable as all hell. $They clears $their throat, and shifts the bag on $their back. "Nah. Thanks tho." $They lift $their hand to wave as $they continue on $their way, leaving behind the scent of cedarwood and juniper. Your nose crinkles as you watch $them fade into the crowd of students. Something about $them was...off. “Weird." <div class="choice">[[Continue->Onwards]]</div>

He massages his sore knuckles, rubbing his stiff fingers. His face became cloudy. “I’m gonna kill them. I’m telling you, the next time I see them, they are as good as dead.” “Tama, I don’t want you to get into any trouble; just let it go.” “I’m not letting shit go.” He hisses. "They aren’t gonna get away with this shit! I’m not gonna let them keep fucking with what’s mine.” “Wow, who said I was yours!" Your nose flares up, and you barely stop the sneer from crossing your face. “Or anyone's for that matter!" <<if $inlove_Tama is "true">> “You think I don't know?" He gives you a look that makes your heart almost skip a beat. All those times that you thought you were hiding your affection for him. "I-I don't know what you're talking about." Your stutter. The flush in your face is hard to contain, and usually you could better hide your emotions. But here you are. An open encyclopedia with pages and pages filled of nothing but him. "Ok." The smile on his face feels like poison. Sweet and coyingly innocent, a taste that you want to keep drinking over and over again. “If you don't know what I'm talking about than neither do I." He couls be so cruel sometimes. So very cruel. What would it matter if he knew of your feelings. He had no intention of returning them. And that you were certain of. <<else>> “You know I don't mean it like that!" He says quickly. “You're my best friend, my family! If someone is fucking with you, then they're inevitably fucking with me!"<</if>> You let out a sigh through your nose. You prop your legs up on the bench and wrap your arms around them, fingers gripping your flesh as you close your eyes, “Tama, I don’t want anyone to get hurt." “And what about you then? Do you not care about yourself getting hurt?” You couldn't argue that. You two sit in silence. It's awkward and something you're not comfortable with in your and Tama’s relationship. But after how things ended in the alley, you shouldn't be surprised that he's still pissed. You rub your stomach, a phantom pain ripples across your flesh, like a skipped rock. "Have you thought about filing a restraining order against Courtney?" Tamas's voice is the one that breaks through the silence. And you wish it hadn't. Your fingers dig deeper into your flesh, “It's not like they're threatening to kill me. If I just continue to ignore them, they'll lose interest." “<<print $your_name>>, you've been ignoring them for almost 5 years now." <<if $degree_options is 'Crimanl Justice'>>“Well, what am I supposed to tell the police? That they keep texting and calling me? That they keep showing up to places that I am at? Did you forget that their class is in the same building?" You rub your temples, "Tama, you know better than I do what happens when you report these type of cases, especially on campus." You had read case studies accumulated by your advisor, for individuals who reported their stalkers to the police. It never ended well for the victims, either the police disregarded the severity of the stalking or somehow the stalkers would always manage to continue to harrass the victims until it escalated. “And 29% of those individuals didn't report their stalkers," Tama shakes his head. “You're a Criminal Justice PhD, <<print $your_name>>. Please don't become a statistic when you're studying to stop them." You bristle, "Fuck you Tama." The truth was that you had went to the police about Courtney. Multiple times when you were younger, when the stalking had just begun. But they never took it serious, perhaps, because you two had been the same age? Or maybe it was the harmless innocent act that they often used to weasel their way into someone's heart? It didn't matter. Nothing mattered, but trying to keep them far away from you.<<else>>“Well, what am I supposed to tell the police? That they keep texting and calling me? That they keep showing up to places that I am at? Did you forget that their class is in the same building?" You rub your temples, “And then it doesn't help that Courtney has access to me, no matter what I end up doing! They probably use different phones to reach out to me, so it's not like the police can easily track it back to Courtney. Face it, Tama. They're not gonna take me serious." The truth was that you had went to the police about Courtney. Multiple times when you were younger, when the stalking had just begun. But they never took it serious, perhaps, because you two had been the same age? Or maybe it was the harmless innocent act that they often used to weasel their way into someone's heart? It didn't matter. Nothing mattered, but trying to keep them far away from you.<</if>> “I'm not trying to piss you off, <<print $your_name>>," He licks his lips and looks up at the sky. "If I hadn't come when I did, what do you think would have happened, huh! I can't always be there to protect you." “I've never asked you to protect me, Tama." You growl. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm a grown ?person, and I can take care of myself!" He rolls his eyes, "Yeah, that little tantrum you're about to throw? I don't care." He turns in his seat and looks at you. "I need you to be safe. And this situation isn't going to do anything but get worse. I can feel it in my bones." You grit your teeth and turn your attention to the tree behind him. "I've got it under control." He lets out a groan rubbing his face. "Do you?? Do you really, though? Why can't you get it through that thick ass skull of yours that I care about you!? That if something happens to you then I'm screwed!" Tama closes his eyes, breathing heavily. “Forget it. Just…” He rubs his hands over his face and lets out a tired sigh, “Forget about it." <div class="choice"><<link 'Your friend'>> <<if $triedtowatch is "true">>\ <<goto 'Betrayed'>>\ <<else>>\ <<goto 'Your heart?'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

He rubbed his hands. “Hell, at least it was fun!" “Looks like the world-famous dart champion strikes again." He tilts his head and looks at you with a smirk, “You know it. Too bad we weren't at Sinclair's; we could have made a killing off of the bikers there." “Don't you remember what happened last time?" You shake your head. “They literally chased us halfway across West Allis." “I had fun, didn't you? Oh, don't give me that face. You played a good conman, if I remember correctly." You try to stop the smile that blooms across your face. You and Tama managed to get away with almost two thousand dollars that night and split it between Tama and yourself. However, the bikers weren't willing to part with that much money. And with two green-looking college students, they thought they would be able to punk you guys out of the earnings in the parking lot. Unfortunately for them, Tama drives like he's in the Nascar Race. “You're always getting me into trouble." “Oh, you love it." <div class="choice"><<link 'Your friend'>> <<if $triedtowatch is "true">>\ <<goto 'Betrayed'>>\ <<else>>\ <<goto 'Your heart?'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

He rubbed his hands, a gleeful smile crossing his lips. "I should have taken more, but I wasn't thinking." "You only have two hands, and these," You lift your new prized possession, "are huge!" "It’s not the size of the prize but the size of your ambition." Your brow twitches, and you stare at him suspiciously. "I’m not walking into that one.” He snickers. You two sit in silence, letting the cool night air blow through your bodies. There was only one burning question that you needed to know. “Tama, how did you end up breaking the machine anyway?" “Secret." He smiles and winks at you, “That, and a whole lotta inner anger." You bump fists with Tama. “I feel you on that." <div class="choice"><<link 'Your friend'>> <<if $triedtowatch is "true">>\ <<goto 'Betrayed'>>\ <<else>>\ <<goto 'Your heart?'>>\ <</if>>\ <</link>></div>

“I asked her about my dad.” You stilled. Your forehead wrinkles in surprise, brows jumping to your hairline. You are frozen in place. Coughing into your hand, you awkwardly shift from foot to foot. “I—I see.” He rolls his eyes. Stepping off the elevator as soon as the doors open, Tama walks to the side door of your lobby. If you took the first door to your left, the hallway led to the community laundry room, the basement storage space, and the dumpster bins. He opened the door with one hand and quickly shuffled outside. You follow after him. “And see, that’s why I didn’t wanna tell you!” "What are you talking about!" He turns to you. Mouth clamped and nostrils flaring. You could see flickers of irritation spasm across his face, "You always give me that //aww, you poor thing!// look whenever I bring him up! That’s annoying as hell." “Well, every time I ask about him you get defensive!” He grinds his teeth and goes back to walking. “I do not get defensive!” You get near the trash dump, and Tama hurls the box like a basketball. “Look!” You gesture to his stance. “You’re getting defensive about it right now!” “I--!” His face is like a storm, but he's trying to hold himself back, teeth clenched and jaw tightly wounded. His eyes close, and you see his lips quirk as if he were counting to ten. He visibly exhales, and opens his eyes. "It's just a sore subject okay. You know that. So why do you keep asking about it, especially when you know it hurts me?" <<if $degree_options is 'Psychology'>>“Because how you're handling whatever emotion you have towards him is unhealthy as hell!" Crossing your arms over your chest, your brows furrow in the center of your forehead. “Oh, don't go all ''Licesned Therapist'' on me!" He throws air quotes at you, and sneers. “You should fix your own unhealthy mechanisims before you try fixing mine." Your face drops.<<else>>“Tama, I'm sorry." You say quickly. “You know I'm just worried about you." “Well, don't be." Snapping, you can see the tension building back in his shoulders. “I'm fine." <</if>> Well, that was the end of that. You sit in silence, lips turned up. Tama sees the expression on your face, and immeadiately sighs, deep and heavy, like the world's burdens were on his shoulder. “Look, it's not that I don't want to talk about it--" “Then what is it??" <div class="choice">[[Continue|Be open]]</div>

<<nobr>> <li><div class="menu-item"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-user-secret"></i> <b> Who do you know?</b>' "Who do you know?">><</link>></div></li> <li><div class="menu-item"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-book-skull"></i> <b>Skills </b>' "Skills">><</link>></div></li> <li><div class="menu-item"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-id-card"></i> <b> Who are you?</b>' "Who are you?">><</link>></div></li> <li><div class="menu-item"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-mobile"></i> <b> Phone</b>' "Phone">><</link>></div></li> <li><<link "credits">><<script>> Dialog.setup("Credits"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("credits").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>><</link>></li> <</nobr>>

You frown. “Tama, tha—" He waves you away. “Anyway, if you want to go to that shop, it's only open on odd days. So we can go tomorrow or wait until next week. Your choice." //It sounds unhealthy.// You sigh and rub your forehead. It's clear this conversation is over. “I'd rather get this shit over and done with as quickly as possible." “Tomorrow it is then. <div class="choice">[[Tomorrow can't come soon enough]]</div>

<<if $Courtney_Lustgender is 'ex-girlfriend'>> <<set $heshe to 'she'>> <<set $capitalheshe to 'She'>> <<set $hisher to 'her'>> <<set $capitalhisher to 'Her'>> <<set $himher to 'her'>> <<set $capitalhimher to 'Her'>> <<set $hishers to 'hers'>> <<set $capitalhishers to 'Hers'>> <<set $himselfherself to 'herself'>> <<set $capitalhimselfherself to 'Herself'>> <<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is 'ex-boyfriend'>> <<set $heshe to 'he'>> <<set $capitalheshe to 'He'>> <<set $hisher to 'his'>> <<set $capitalhisher to 'His'>> <<set $himher to 'him'>> <<set $capitalhimher to 'Him'>> <<set $hishers to 'his'>> <<set $capitalhishers to 'His'>> <<set $himselfherself to 'himself'>> <<set $capitalhimselfherself to 'Himself'>> <<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is 'ex-partner'>> <<set $heshe to 'they'>> <<set $capitalheshe to 'They'>> <<set $hisher to 'their'>> <<set $capitalhisher to 'Their'>> <<set $himher to 'them'>> <<set $capitalhimher to 'Them'>> <<set $hishers to 'theirs'>> <<set $capitalhishers to 'Theirs'>> <<set $himselfherself to 'themselves'>> <<set $capitalhimselfherself to 'Themselves'>> <<set $pronouns_plural to true>> <</if>>By your 4th year, the relationship had begun to turn sour. Courtney was originally sweet and was so protective of you; that was one of the things that had attracted you to them in the first place. But $hisher love for you became overwhelmingly toxic. Every guy and woman who looked at you twice would have to deal with $hisher rage. It progressed further and further, there were a lot of accusations of infidelity, and none of them came from you. You couldn't understand where $heshe got $hisher information from. Especially since you were <<cycle "$sex_experience">> <<option "a virgin">> <<option "not ready for sex with anyone, Courtney included">> <<option "not interested in sex">> <<option "not a virgin but didn't have time for intimate relations">> <<option "having sex with Courtney on a regular">> <</cycle>>. It took about a week of inquiries before you found out from a close friend that Courtney had cheated throughout half of your relationship. From friends, co-workers, and even sworn enemies, Courtney had made $hisher rounds through a good portion of people you once held close to you. You had never felt more <<cycle "$emotion_aboutbreakup">> <<option "conflicted">> <<option "embarrassed">> <<option "pissed">> <<option "depressed">> <<option "disgusted">> <</cycle>> than at that moment. At first, you were angry at Courtney; there were many things you could tolerate, but cheating? With your ex-friends AND associates? That was a low even you couldn't ignore. Despite loving Courtney, you couldn't take the ridicule and embarrassment of being with them. So, you kicked $himher to the curb. After your anger died, it was replaced by something you found more stifling. Depression. You couldn't help but feel that you were inadequate. That there was some base desire or want you had been unable to fulfill for Courtney. You looked at yourself in the mirror and tried to determine what it was about you that made $himher stray. It took a long while for your self-confidence to return, and even when it did, something inside of you had died with the relationship. And Courtney? Courtney didn't take the breakup so well. After the breakup, $heshe refused to let you go. Believing this was merely a bump in the road, $heshe declined to give you the desired space. You had hoped that once you graduated high school, you could let go of some of the emotional hurt that Courtney caused. And that $heshe could do some ''DEEP'' soul searching. But, instead of going to $hisher dream college, $heshe followed after you like a lost puppy. $capitalheshe befriended your new friend group, asked after you, and showed up to events they knew you were going to. You could ignore $hisher presence; that wasn't hard to do after all, but what you couldn't do was ignore $hisher constant and persistent phone calls every Saturday at midnight on the dot. Telling Courtney to stop didn't work, and neither did snapping at $himher. You honestly didn't know what to do at this point. Is this your regret? <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes|Response]]>><<set $charisma +=9, $endurance -=3, $intelligence +=6, $luck +=6, $anxiety +=16, $regret to "Lust">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[Let me go!]]>></div>

<<if $Courtney_Lustgender is 'ex-girlfriend'>> <<set $heshe to 'she'>> <<set $capitalheshe to 'She'>> <<set $hisher to 'her'>> <<set $capitalhisher to 'Her'>> <<set $himher to 'her'>> <<set $capitalhimher to 'Her'>> <<set $hishers to 'hers'>> <<set $capitalhishers to 'Hers'>> <<set $himselfherself to 'herself'>> <<set $capitalhimselfherself to 'Herself'>> <<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is 'ex-boyfriend'>> <<set $heshe to 'he'>> <<set $capitalheshe to 'He'>> <<set $hisher to 'his'>> <<set $capitalhisher to 'His'>> <<set $himher to 'him'>> <<set $capitalhimher to 'Him'>> <<set $hishers to 'his'>> <<set $capitalhishers to 'His'>> <<set $himselfherself to 'himself'>> <<set $capitalhimselfherself to 'Himself'>> <<elseif $Courtney_Lustgender is 'ex-partner'>> <<set $heshe to 'they'>> <<set $capitalheshe to 'They'>> <<set $hisher to 'their'>> <<set $capitalhisher to 'Their'>> <<set $himher to 'them'>> <<set $capitalhimher to 'Them'>> <<set $hishers to 'theirs'>> <<set $capitalhishers to 'Theirs'>> <<set $himselfherself to 'themselves'>> <<set $capitalhimselfherself to 'Themselves'>> <<set $pronouns_plural to true>> <</if>>By your 4th year, the relationship had begun to turn sour. Courtney was originally sweet and was so protective of you; that was one of the things that had attracted you to them in the first place. But $hisher love for you became overwhelmingly toxic. Every guy and woman who looked at you twice would have to deal with $hisher rage. It progressed further and further, there were a lot of accusations of infidelity, and none of them came from you. You couldn't understand where $heshe got $hisher information from. Especially since you were <<cycle "$sex_experience">> <<option "a virgin">> <<option "not ready for sex with anyone, Courtney included">> <<option "not interested in sex">> <<option "not a virgin but didn't have time for intimate relations">> <<option "having sex with Courtney on a regular">> <</cycle>>. It took about a week of inquiries before you found out from a close friend that Courtney had cheated throughout half of your relationship. From friends, co-workers, and even sworn enemies, Courtney had made $hisher rounds through a good portion of people you once held close to you. You had never felt more <<cycle "$emotion_aboutbreakup">> <<option "conflicted">> <<option "embarrassed">> <<option "pissed">> <<option "depressed">> <<option "disgusted">> <</cycle>> than at that moment. At first, you were angry at Courtney; there were many things you could tolerate, but cheating? With your ex-friends AND associates? That was a low even you couldn't ignore. Despite loving Courtney, you couldn't take the ridicule and embarrassment of being with them. So, you kicked $himher to the curb. After your anger died, it was replaced by something you found more stifling. Depression. You couldn't help but feel that you were inadequate. That there was some base desire or want you had been unable to fulfill for Courtney. You looked at yourself in the mirror and tried to determine what it was about you that made $himher stray. It took a long while for your self-confidence to return, and even when it did, something inside of you had died with the relationship. And Courtney? Courtney didn't take the breakup so well. After the breakup, $heshe refused to let you go. Believing this was merely a bump in the road, $heshe declined to give you the desired space. You had hoped that once you graduated high school, you could let go of some of the emotional hurt that Courtney caused. And that $heshe could do some ''DEEP'' soul searching. But, instead of going to $hisher dream college, $heshe followed after you like a lost puppy. $capitalheshe befriended your new friend group, asked after you, and showed up to events they knew you were going to. You could ignore $hisher presence; that wasn't hard to do after all, but what you couldn't do was ignore $hisher constant and persistent phone calls every Saturday at midnight on the dot. Telling Courtney to stop didn't work, and neither did snapping at $himher. You honestly didn't know what to do at this point. <div class="choice"><<link [[Yes->Response]]>><<set $charisma +=9, $endurance -=3, $intelligence +=6, $luck +=6, $anxiety +=16, $regret to "Lust">><</link>></div> <div class="choice"><<return [[“I'm sorry?”]]>></div>

Nothing here yet.... The author is brainstorming! [[Continue|Can't deal]]

<div class="main-title"><span class="main-title-item">A Trial of Horror</span></div> <div class="subtitle"><span class="subtitle-item">[[NEW GAME|Intro]]</span> <span class="subtitle-item"><<link 'LOAD GAME'>><<run UI.saves();>><</link>></span> <span class="subtitle-item"><<link 'RESUME GAME'>><<run Save.autosave.load()>><</link>></span> <span class="subtitle-item"><<link 'SETTINGS'>><<run UI.settings();>><</link>></span></div>

<<widget "setGender">><<silently>> <<if ndef $args[1]>> <<set _rng to random(0,2)>> <<if _rng is 0>><<set _let to "m">><</if>> <<if _rng is 1>><<set _let to "f">><</if>> <<if _rng is 2>><<set _let to "n">><</if>> <<else>> <<set _let to $args[1]>><</if>> <<if $args[0] is "a">> <<if _let is "m">> <<set $a_they to "he">> <<set $a_them to "him">> <<set $a_their to "his">> <<set $a_theirs to "his">> <<set $a_themself to "himself">> <<set $a_title to "Mr">> <<set $a_s to "s">> <<set $a_is to "is">> <</if>> <<if _let is "f">> <<set $a_they to "she">> <<set $a_them to "her">> <<set $a_their to "her">> <<set $a_theirs to "hers">> <<set $a_themself to "herself">> <<set $a_title to "Miss">> <<set $a_s to "s">> <<set $a_is to "is">> <</if>> <<if _let is "n">> <<set $a_they to "they">> <<set $a_them to "them">> <<set $a_their to "their">> <<set $a_theirs to "theirs">> <<set $a_themself to "themself">> <<set $a_s to "">> <<set $a_is to "are">> <</if>> <</if>> <<if ndef $args[1]>> <<set _rng to random(0,2)>> <<if _rng is 0>><<set _let to "m">><</if>> <<if _rng is 1>><<set _let to "f">><</if>> <<if _rng is 2>><<set _let to "n">><</if>> <<else>> <<set _let to $args[1]>><</if>> <<if $args[0] is "m">> <<if _let is "m">> <<set $m_they to "he">> <<set $m_them to "him">> <<set $m_their to "his">> <<set $m_theirs to "his">> <<set $m_themself to "himself">> <<set $m_s to "s">> <<set $m_is to "is">> <</if>> <<if _let is "f">> <<set $m_they to "she">> <<set $m_them to "her">> <<set $m_their to "her">> <<set $m_theirs to "hers">> <<set $m_themself to "herself">> <<set $m_s to "s">> <<set $m_is to "is">> <</if>> <<if _let is "n">> <<set $m_they to "they">> <<set $m_them to "them">> <<set $m_their to "their">> <<set $m_theirs to "theirs">> <<set $m_themself to "themself">> <<set $m_s to "">> <<set $m_is to "are">> <</if>> <</if>> <<if ndef $args[1]>> <<set _rng to random(0,2)>> <<if _rng is 0>><<set _let to "m">><</if>> <<if _rng is 1>><<set _let to "f">><</if>> <<if _rng is 2>><<set _let to "n">><</if>> <<else>> <<set _let to $args[1]>><</if>> <<if $args[0] is "f">> <<if _let is "m">> <<set $f_they to "he">> <<set $f_them to "him">> <<set $f_their to "his">> <<set $f_theirs to "his">> <<set $f_themself to "himself">> <<set $f_s to "s">> <<set $f_is to "is">> <</if>> <<if _let is "f">> <<set $f_they to "she">> <<set $f_them to "her">> <<set $f_their to "her">> <<set $f_theirs to "hers">> <<set $f_themself to "herself">> <<set $f_s to "s">> <<set $f_is to "is">> <</if>> <<if _let is "n">> <<set $f_they to "they">> <<set $f_them to "them">> <<set $f_their to "their">> <<set $f_theirs to "theirs">> <<set $f_themself to "themself">> <<set $f_s to "">> <<set $f_is to "are">> <</if>> <</if>> <</silently>><</widget>>

Coming soon...

[[Codex]]