Loops

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It was unusual when the message appeared in your inbox. For various reasons. 1) You and Rob hadn't talked much since finishing college. B/ You had always made it abundantly clear that partying was not really you're thing. 3 - So had Rob. 4) It was just a message with a time and place, but no link to the event page. Who does that these days? What a loser. Still, you couldn't help but mark yourself intrigued. Maybe you should show face? [[Go to the party.|Loop 0-2]] [[Stay in and sleep.|Loop 0-BAD END]]

Intrigued you are, but not really enough to go to a presumably busy house party at an old school friend's out of the blue. It was only in a few hours after all! You didn't have time for that. You could just rest instead. So that's what you do. You put your phone down, close your eyes and rest. And have an amazing sleep; not knowing of the events of that extraordinary night. ''//ZERO END - Resting easy//'' [[Restart the loops?|Loop 0-1]]

You see it's in a few hours and decide to go. Why the hell not? Go say hi, hang out for a drink or two and then head home. Nothing much. Mostly just being polite and catching up for old time's sake. After getting ready, you grab the train to the nearest stop to Rob's house before walking the rest of the way. And now here you are, standing outside what looks like a small mansion. Huh. You had forgotten that Rob was fairly rich. His lack of a real social media presence made that easy to forget. Though he's a famous inventor right? Works for that company? Yeah, you think so. Details don't come easily though so you shrug it off. You approach. [[Ring the doorbell.|Loop 0-3]]

[[DING|Loop 0-4]]

[[DONG|Loop 0-5]]

[[And you stand out there waiting for what feels like|Loop 0-6]]

[[Minutes...|Loop 0-7]]

[[Or... more like...|Loop 0-8]]

[[Years...|Loop 0-9]]

...before he finally answers the door with his classic big grin and window-cleaner wave. ''"'sup, pal!? I was worried you weren't gonna make it!"'' He spoke with his old loud, cheery enthusiasm as he patted you on the back and encouraged you to come in. His place was !!LARGE. You were in a vast, booming entry-hall with spiral staircase and everything. Fancy, towering bookshelves and extravagant - yet healthy - plants clearly would have dominated the room (along with the shining, beautiful ornaments that you weirdly noticed last) if it weren't for one thing: the. sheer. number. of. [[guests.|Loop 0-10]]

Despite the size of the hall, the floor was still pretty packed. You couldn't even begin to count how many people were here. At least 30? 40? Fifty plus? Who knows? Most certainly not you. What you could definitely tell is that you were 100% entirely out of your element here. There were too many people and yet somehow they all seemed to know each other. Meanwhile, their faces all seemed to blend together for you. You felt your breathing getting harsher and your heart tighten. You couldn't do this. Could you? Was... Was this a prank? Rob knew you weren't good with crowds. And without realising it, you got to action. Your flight or fight instincts switched on and you turned towards the door and began to walk to it quickly; not even hearing Rob's protests or questions about how you were doing. [[And you opened the door and stepped through it.|Loop 1-1]]

As you stepped through the door, you felt a small shiver and your head throbbed for a brief second or two. Your breathing had relaxed and you started to feel like you weren't as anxious but now... Now you felt close to vomiting and your head just wouldn't stop throbbing. And then suddenly... [[You were fine.|Loop 1-2]]

And yet despite feeling fine, something was off. And not in a subtle way. A very major way. You were inside the room again. You weren't outside in Rob's garden like you should be. Looking round, everything was even the same; though maybe there were some minor differences? The plants looked a little less healthy. Rob had a different shirt on. But otherwise... It was all the same. What the [[hell?|Loop 1-3]]

''"You alright, buddy?"'' You felt a warm hand on your shoulder. Your shoulder hurts for a moment, but you don't take note of it. Not really. ''"You looked like you were going to faint for a sec, and we've not even started drinking yet!"'' He gave a hearty, reassuring chuckle. Must have been your imagination. Maybe you hadn't turned to leave. Just pictured it vividly but stayed where you were... That had to be it right? You give Rob some comforting words, though you say that you need some air. With a nod, he holds the front door open for you and you step [[outside|Loop 2-1]].

And that same feeling happens again. But this time, you keep your eyes open. And notice something. The world's turned pure white. Just for a moment. And then, as your headache and stomach pain go away, you're in the hall again. And this time, everyone's casual wear is replaced with formal three-piece suits. Including Rob (No!! //Robert!//) - someone famous even in his industry for never bothering to dress well. You look down. You're still in your same crappy clothes though. ''"Hey, could you not have put in some actual effort? I told you this was a formal event!"'' Rob - urgh, no. //Robert// - seems annoyed. You check your phone to see if he actually said this. You swear he didn't, right? [[And yet here it was.]] You apologise with an awkward micro-bow and head nod, but he thankfully shrugs it off. ''"I've got some clothes that look your size in my wardrobe. Follow me."'' With a nod, you follow him up the [[stairs|Loop 2-2]].

''Hey! I know it's been a while since we last saw each other, but I'm holding a gala at my house tonight to celebrate a promotion at my company! Thought it would be a great time to catch up. Be sure to dress smart and be there for 7pm on the dot. Here's the address:'' [[Exactly as he said.|Loop 2-1]]

The staircase seems to go up for //ever// ''without'' !!!an !!end ''//in//'' //sight// but eventually... you make it. You follow him into the room and you [[see|Loop 2-3]]

no walls. Just three large, wide wardrobes taking up the space that a wall otherwise would. To the right was one that appeared to have casual wear. To the left, underwear. A lot of it. And to the right was formal wear. It took Rob - sorry, //Robert// - a whole 5 minutes to find an outfit in your size. ''"Try them on. I got them tailored specifically for guests like you. Ones that remind me of..."'' He stopped. ''"Just do it."'' He left the room. [[Get changed.|Loop 2-4]]

You do as you're told and grab a black suit jacket, black bowtie, white shirt, black trousers and a dark grey waistcoat. After a few minutes, you finally get dressed and walk back out into the hall. Nothing had really changed. No weird feeling in your head or gut. People are still in their fancy suits - regardless of gender - and just talking politely and quietly over their wineglasses. You go down the seemingly endless stairs looking for Rob, a-hem //Robert// a - hem. But you can't seem to find him at all in the crowd. You push through and through, but no luck. And then you see him through the window. He's outside, in the back garden. Do you want to risk it? This weird reset thing happens when leaving the front door but what about the back door? [[Risk it, Coward.|Loop 3-1]] [[Stay inside.|Loop 2-END]]

You walk out the back door. t HRO b p pppppppppppppppULs e E //clEnch// And after a moment, you're fine again. And you're inside the main hall, having just walked through the front door for the fourth time. There are a few differences around you. The plants have withered entirely. There's a sign pointing to the dining room with a plaque and a greyed out picture above it. And while everyone is in suits, there is something most notably different: [[There's only about a quarter of the original number of people present.|Loop 3-2]]

You decide to stay inside. You celebrate with everyone else until the wee hours. At one point, a strange feeling passes through you - similar and yet different to the loops feeling - before leaving as quickly as it came. It's about 2am by the time you reach the door and decide to risk trying to leave. After wishing everyone a good night, you open the door and step outside to see the open air of a familiar, but not too familiar, but not too not familiar world. ''//TWO END - Suit Up for a New Life//'' [[Restart?|Loop 0-1]]

Just as you notice this, you feel a gentle hand touch your shoulder. A warm hand. ''"You ok?"'' It's Rob. But this time he's not smiling. His eyes are swolen red and his face is contorted into the best attempt at staying stoic as he can considering the situation... whatever situation that is. ''"I understand. It's fine to get lost in your head at times like these."'' He pau ses. And looks you up and down almost disapprovingly before nodding. ''"Casual wear huh...? Well, I'm sure //she'd// have appreciated that more than this whole formal affair. I mean, //she// always hated it when I... We... dressed up back then, didn't //she//?"'' [[And you look down and see what he's talking about.|Loop 3-3]]

That suit from the previous loop is gone. You're now dressed in your original, normal clothes again. And while they are much, much, much, much, much, much, much, 'much' comfier than the suit; you quickly realise that perhaps this isn't the right time to be comfortable. Because while you aren't sure who //she// is, you know that //she// has left now. And that everyone who knew //her// misses //her//. And that apparently should include you too. You try your best to look at the picture as Rob directs you to the dining room, but to no avail. The picture just appears blurry for some reason. ...No. It's not that. It's more that your head hurts when you see the picture. And your eyes are being forced to focus on everything but. The picture itself is probably fine. It's you. You can't see the picture properly. Anyway, you walk into the dining room to see an open casket with a body... a familiar one...? a blurred one... inside and it doesn't take long for you to [[faint|Loop 4-1]].

''"Hey, hey!? You okay!?"'' And you're shaken awake. You look up to see Rob beaming at you in relief. ''"You collapsed as soon as you walked in! I was startin' to panic!"'' He let out a deep sigh. You say you're fine as you try to work out what happened. You didn't walk out. You didn't leave. You just... fainted was all. And yet, here you are in the main hall again. And Rob... Rob's back to casual wear too. You sit up and look round to see if your fears are founded. The plants have been replaced. Replaced with marble statues of plants. There are no guests at all. It's just the two of you. [[You must be in yet another loop.|Loop 4-2]]

''"Are you still up for some games? Are you well enough?"'' Rob's passing you some water, which you drink to try and recover. Or at least make it seem like you need to. Other than the confusion and frustration, you feel fine. You nod and he pulls you up before walking you up the endless spiral stair case all these steps just to get to where you want why??? [[and then you make it to what was the clothes room in that previous loop.|Loop 4-3]]

But this time it's not a clothes room. The wardrobes have been replaced with giant shelves filled with games, DVDs, Blurays, HD DVDs (those still exist!?), every games console imaginable and various TVs of all kinds. And a big ''RED'' button. You see Rob give it the side eye briefly before looking at the main sight. The main sight. In the middle, there it was: a classic console from your childhood plugged into an old CRT, with beanbags in front. As you sit on one and Rob sits on the other, you watch with excited nostalgic eyes as he switches on a classic platform fighting game the two of you used to play all the time. You don't know how long you play for. By the end of it, it must have been hours. And you lost every single game. Rob explained that he //was// a famous competitive player and well, you knew that already, didn't you? You walk downstairs - not even noticing the length of the staircase as Rob explains the meta to you - and towards the door. You've forgotten about the loops. ''//Almost//''. You remember at the last second and ask if you can use the bathroom instead. Any excuse to stay longer. Rob nods but does give a cryptic warning: ''"Don't go into the games room again. You won't get in trouble or anything but... Just don't. Please."'' [[Go to the bathroom.|Loop 4-4]] [[Go to the games room.|Loop 4-5]]

You do as you're told and go to the bathroom; walking past the games room as you do so. Why is the bathroom on the top floor anyway? Ruddy hell. It's so tempting though. What's in that game room? Was it the consoles or... the button. The big ''RED'' button. But you shake it off. You resist it. You need to use the loo, anywho. And anyway, what if going in there caused another loop? Better safe than sorry they say, after all. [[Do your business.|Loop 4-END]]

You can't help yourself. When you walk past the games room, the button seems to glow through the sliver of a gap between the door and its frame. You look round to make sure Rob isn't around and as soon as you give yourself the all clear, you make a dash into the room and stare at the !!BIG ! RED !!!button [[Press it.|Loop 4-6]] Don't press it; [[go to the bathroom as promised instead.|4-7]]

You do your business and sit and contemplate for some time before finally getting up. Looking at your phone, you find that it's just about to turn midnight. And as you open the door and the time hits 12 on the dot, you feel another gut punch. Your head throbs again... But this time, your location doesn't change. There's no flash. You're fine again and still in this loop. What did that mean? Did it mean anything? Well, time to find out you suppose. You wish Rob a good night and walk out of the house. And you're outside. You've left. You're about to celebrate but you look around and remember something: this isn't your timeline. This isn't where you came from. This isn't your home. Everything's different. The houses, the tiny marble statues in the shape of grass covering this world's equivalent of gardens. The purple sky... This isn't your world. And you're trapped here. ''//FOUR END - Counterpicked a Different Reality//'' [[Restart?|Loop 0-1]]

You press the button. And almost immediately after doing so, you feel the ground - nay, the //entire world// around you begin to rumble. And then... collapse. As even you begin to crumble into pieces, you vaguely hear a voice in your head ask what you have done. And this was your first death. [[...|Loop 5-1]]

You stop yourself from pressing the button, leave the games room with your head hanging in shame and go to the bathroom. Why is the bathroom on the top floor anyway? Ruddy hell. It was so tempting though. Maybe you should go back in and press it? You need to... You ha But you shake it off. You resist it. You need to use the loo, anywho. And anyway, what if going in there caused another loop? Better safe than sorry they say, after all. [[Do your business.|Loop 4-END]]

The next few loops go quickly. You press a button that ends the world. You trip over a cable that causes a giant robot to activate, which then shoots you and Rob. You get kidnapped by aliens. Twice. The first time, they take you out the building and you loop back in. The second time, you died in the ship before it could even leave. At one point you became a tree. Only three things could be learnt over the next ten or so loops as you died repeatedly: a) You never get over death; especially when you can remember each one. It kinda sucks to be honest. 2: Each loops seems to be more unusual in some way than the last - even if it seems mundane at first Γ - Each loop returns you to the entrance hall in the same state as you entered the first time . . . [[And now here you are on the latest loop..|Loop 5-2]]

You're in the entrance hall again. But this time, the furniture and other objects are all identical to first time you entered. The big difference is the hall itself: ...it's the inside of a crappy shed. Nails are sticking out of wooden planks that are slowly retreating inwards from the walls and floor, moonlight streams in through the gaps between the wall planks, cobwebs take over the ceiling and the only light is a dim, fading lightbulb on its last legs. There's another major difference: [[Nobody's here. Not even Rob.|Loop 5-3]]

You're alone. For the first time in this hellish never-ending evening, you're alone. In a dim room with no windows and barely any space due to the fancy furnishings. A room with only one exit. You shiver - both due to the Fear and the Cold - and rub your hands together. You don't like this loop. You don't like it at all. It's creepy. It's lonely. It's ''//horri-//'' !!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA [[A scream.|Loop 5-4]]

You can't tell where it came from. It kind of just... surrounded you. But you can recognise it at least. rob itsrob robsscreaminginpain !AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA You hear it again. Louder this time. And you look down. It's coming from the floo-no. It //is// the floor. Blood leaks from the cracks between floor boards as the screams continue. You turn; trying to work out what you can do. But then [[they|Loop 5-5]]

[[stop|Loop 5-6]]

silence at last [[....|Loop 5-7]]

''Knock.'' ''Knock.'' ''Knock.'' [[The door.|Loop 5-8]]

You turn to the door. You hesitate on opening it. But then remember you can't leave otherwise. Your options are to risk it or to stay in here forever. So you tenatively turn the handle. And as the door opens, you don't even feel any pain as the knife enters [[yo|Loop 6-1]]

Another different loop that's what you notice as you wake up in your bunk bed you look around and it's the same size as the shed you were just in; though the furniture has been replaced with classic, nostalgic furniture that you recognise immediately And down on the ground playing games is Rob... but [[Younger.|Loop 6-2]]

He looks a good 10-15 years younger. His hair is scraggly and his outfit is the most dishevelled, sugar dust covered thing you've ever seen. And he's still beaming just like he does even now. and his face then fades. just for a mo ''"O- - - h you're up! Mornin' sleepy head!"'' He's laughing; even though his eyes are still on the TV. his laughs break up for a while and at one point you hear...? static??? You look around and you realise: you're in your old college flat youve went back in time somehow this loop still to rob's place but now... now a different robs place ''"Hey!"'' thought interrupted. ''"C'mon down for a bit! I wanna tell ya about an idea I'm gonna pitch to that Great whatever Corp!"'' You sigh and shake your head. This memory isn't familiar but... You do recall him getting a job at The Great Empire Corporation at some point in the future. It'd be how he's so loaded now. Then? howdoestimetravelwork ''"Didya do somethin' with yer hair? You look older..."'' He lets out another hearty laugh as he puts the controller down and looks you up and down. ''"'Tis a good look!"'' [[He laughs again.|Loop 6-3]]

''"Anyway."'' serious face. ''"I've got plans. Plans for this prototype. For a project. A looping project. Realities within realities."'' And immediately: -> his idea -> his idea -> your head -> his idea ''"Haha! Sorry, this has gotten a bit complicated, hasn't it? Lemme simplify: small worlds like our own that let people live forever and go wherever they want. And if they die or go anywhere they shouldn't... They reset to where they were and how they were earlier. I know it sounds weird but I've got all the designs ready and know exactly how to build it if I get the resources and support I need... What do you think?"'' [[it seems familiar... I like it though|Loop 6-4]] [[it seems familiar... and I hate it!|Loop 6-5]]

You give the answer you think he'd like to hear. Or maybe you know he does? Or maybe it's what you really think? You don't really know. He beams some more. ''"I knew you'd get it!! If things go well and I get this, people can live together forever! Friendships won't die. Relationships can last. Security can be stronger than ever. I..."'' His mouth stops moving and the words stop going through your ears and instead, they go into your head. ''"i wOulDn't neeEEEed to lo_se you. A&&nD as @ you can see :eye:..."'' they thoughts don't stabilise and you feel your head throbbing ''"even TIME travel tick tock tick tock tick is possible //tock// but can cause issues with the interface"'' ''"even rEvI"'' [[and the room fades.|Loop 7-1]]

''do you think thats a valid response?'' a voice. not the rob of this loop. but it sounds like him. though youre not hearing it through your ears but your thoughts ''[[''try again.''|Loop 6-3]]''

Your head throbs and your stomach churns before you notice you're back in the hall. But this time, it's just you and Rob. And you're on opposite ends of the hall. There's no furniture; even though it's clearly the same hall from the early loops. Just the two of you in this empty, ceilingless (wait what? that's right. no ceiling. but no sky either. just a white void.) ''LARGE'' room. ''"You were never meant to die, y'know. But fail safes were sadly put into the system inherently. And even though I made my own branch of The New Life just for you... These sadly must have come in."'' Rob's mouth isn't moving as he talks. You notice that he looks older now. Older than all the other loops. You shiver. You're cold. Freezing. And you feel... Stiff... And suddenly you remember something. [[You're older than you realised too.|Loop 7-2]]

''"I wanted to return to those old days. That was all, Old Friend. But the Corporation must have found out and changed the system at least somewhat. Loops were beginning to get out of control. You died again and again. My... My //avatar// died once. That... That hurt. So I sacrified you to get us both out of there... All I wanted was us. Again. Playing that classic game and yet"'' He's speechless for a moment before suddenly, his hand tightly grips your shoulder from behind. He was never in front of you. He was always talking from behind, by the door; just like at the party. ''"Here we are. It took a lot of work you know, to go back in time? Each loop needs a connection to the prior. The hall, the crowds, the suits, death - it was meant to be death in game and yet turned into your own damned the system and damned the Corporation, wood, etc. And eventually I was able to make it us. Our home. My home. Instead of the mansion, it was our old home. And I was able to disguise my avatar as my past self... But the system was bouncing it and bouncing it fast. So I had to explain it all to you to get it to return..."'' none of this is making sense. [["Why?" you ask.|Loop 7-3]]

''"I told you! I told you that it's because I wanted us to be friends again! To spend time together again!"'' His body is transforming. Shimmering. Spiking out. Looking like it will explode. ''"But I couldn't just message you out of nowhere like the good old days!? i COULDNT TALK TO YOU AND EVen if IDid whaT IF YOU H8D meeee No.... ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... i had to use the system - only tested once on someone who sadly eSCAPED IT - ooooon you it was the only way. to bring back those days.......................................................................................... [[I HAD TO|Loop 7-4]]''

His form is becoming increasingly unstable and the world begins to transform around him into abstract shapes. You don't feel anything. You feel nothing. Nothing. ''my desire was selfless!!! PPPPpp p p p p p URE IDIDWHATIhadtoIDIDwhatimustbecauseIMISSEDYOU yoUWEREMYONLYREALFRIENDANDTHATNEVER Ch-ch-changed so now you became MINE i have YOU HERE FOREVER and YoUCANTDOANYTHING'' [[listen.|Loop 7-5]] [[fight back|Loop 7-END]]

You listen and nod. And he becomes more stable. ''"I'm sorry. I'm sure... Friend... You must have missed me over these many decades too... But I just... couldn't talk to you... And and... I had to see if we could relive those days... I doon'tttttttttttttttttT want to die alone!!111111 nOT LIKE //HE//'' At points, the instability returns again briefly before he recomposes himself. [[Put your hand on his shoulder.|Loop 7-6]]

You yell at him. Words you don't even know. Words you don't even feel. But you're yelling //something//. You're unhappy and out of control - literally, you cannot control yourself - and that's all you need to know. You punch him? You think? And he screams. That horrible scream from the shed loop. And everything turns black. And you can't remember. [[You|Loop 7-END2]]

''//SEVEN END - ...//'' [[Restart?|Loop 0-1]]

You feel a slight burning pain in your hand as you do so. ''"Thank you, Old Friend... I know I should return you to yourself eventually... And I will but... Would you be willing to do this...? Just a few more times...?" [[Nod your head.|Loop 7-7]]

He laughs heartily for the first time since you've seen this more withered form. ''"Of course... I never meant for you to remember this. Another glitch in the system... or maybe something the Corporation did... They don't approve of people doing what I've done... Going rogue for personal reasons... And doing //this//... Going against that one law..."'' You hear him sigh. ''"You know what happens when you return right? When you go back to your own reality...? You know who //she// is, don't you?"'' [[You point at who she is.|Loop 7-8]]

''of course you did. you can't recognise something that you aren't meant to process. that loop. the one with //her// it was a memory. of course... a memory you cant have.. but one i forged with this system... i never knew it could do this. that it could bring //you// here. but it could. it did. this experiment succeeded. and i just need... Time. More time with you. are you sure youre prepared'' [[Nod again.|Loop 7-9]]

One last hand on your shoulder. ''"I'll wipe your memory. For real this time. Each loop will be new to you again. Hopefully... And if not... Then I suppose you'll just grow wise again. I hope we love each other again, old friend. And I hope //she// loves it too. I'll see you again soon. As a new me. And a new you."'' [[And you faint.|Loop 8-1]]

You wake up in your own home. Your stomach churns. Your head hurts. And then you hear a text notification. It was unusual when the message appeared in your inbox. For various reasons. ''//TRUE END - Book Ending//'' [[View the message & restart the loops?|Loop 0-1]]