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<<stopallaudio>>
[[The Black Pages]]
(Content Warning: This game contains descriptions of violence and disturbing imagery.)<<stopallaudio>>
Welcome to The Black Pages! The world's leading job site for excorcists, paranormal investigators, and everything extraordinary!
[[Jobs]]
[[High profile investigator needed]]
[[Poltergeist - Help!]]
[[House built on Cowboy burial ground]]Paranormal hunting tools from The Black Pages! Everything you'll need to capture undeniable evidence.
Tarot cards - $25
Ouija Board - $40
[[The Reality Check]] - $3,000
Deluxe 4k Camcorder with Nightvision capablity - $2,000There is an abandoned apartment complex on Main street that contains dangerous paranormal entities.
Requesting as much evidence as possible. Clear video footage is the minimum requirement for payment.
Apply at own risk. Death and injury are likely.
Required Equipment: The Paranormal Solutions Reality Check, and at least one device for recording evidence.
Payment: $10,000 upon completion.
[[Apply]]
[[Go Back|Jobs]]This poltergeist will be the death of me! I'm in Arizona and it killed my air conditioning! I think it's trying to simulate Hell. I'm burning alive! Also, a light started flickering and it didn't stop until I changed the lightbulb.
Excorist needed!
Pays $100. Price negotiable.
[[Go Back|Jobs]]
Every time I buy a bottle of whiskey it's gone the next morning. No on in my house has any idea where it goes.
Investigator needed.
$50 reward for solid evidence. Price negotiable.
[[Go Back|Jobs]]
Write your application
<<textbox "$Application" "Write Your Application Here" autofocus>>
[[Send]]The Paranormal Solutions Reality Check!
Prove to your client that you are the real deal. No longer are you at the mercy of reality bending entites. Open your third eye with the push of a button!
[[Purchase Reality Check]]"Thank you for your application.
You seem capable enough.
There will be a ladder on the south side of the building that leads to a window you can crawl through. I'll be watching from a distance to make sure you stay the full 24 hours. There's no way to leave the building other than the window.
Be there at 7 PM.
Good luck!"
You'll need some equipment.
[[Store]]Double-click this passage to edit it.This is probably a scam but it's required and you'll make the money back anyway.
Next you'll need a way to capture "evidence."
[[Purchase camcorder]]Way too high tech for what you need it for. It sure would record some fancy videos though...
[[Use your credit card]]Now you're ready. $5,000 profit isn't so bad.
[[Check out your equipment]]It's 7 PM. The sun is just beginning to set. You approach the abandoned apartment complex. Blackened bricks stack into the heavens. This isn't a great part of town.
[[Try the front doors]]
[[Check the north side of the building]]
[[Check the south side of the building]]
[[Look around]]They're not just locked, they're chained and boarded up. There's no getting through these doors.
[[Return|Go to the apartment complex]]A plain flat wall stands before you.
Curiously, this side has no windows.
[[Return|Go to the apartment complex]] A twenty foot ladder leads into a shattered window.
[[Return|Go to the apartment complex]]
[[Climb ladder]]The streets are pretty barren. You hear some sirens in the distance.
Across the street is a black sedan idling in park.
[[Return|Go to the apartment complex]]Just as they said, there's a ladder. Climbing, you start to realize how dark it is inside [[the Room|The Room]]<<audio "Echoes_of_Time" play loop>>
You find yourself in a darkened room. You can't see much.
It's filled with the smell of dust and mold.
[[Find the light switch]]
[[Turn on your camera]]You fumble around and find a light switch on the wall.
A flick reveals that the building has no electricity.
You feel kinda dumb.
[[Return|The Room]]You turn on your camera and remember it's night vision function. Turning it on and looking through the viewfinder, you can see pretty clearly.
[[Look around the room]]The apartment room is tiny. A one bedroom, one bathroom. The living room is scattered with trash but the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom are spotless. The apartment is still fully furnished.
The bed in the bedroom is still made.
You notice a mysterious inky pattern drawn on the wall.
[[Check Trash]]
[[Check Pattern]]
[[Check Bed]]It consists of ripped up pages from magazines, fast food wrappers, and chip bags. You notice a couple roaches here and there too.
[[Look around the room]] Upon closer inspection you realize the pattern is extremely intricate. The lines seem to spiral into microscopic detail. You become temporarily entranced in it's mystique.
[[Feel uneasy]]The bed is still neatly made. A cozy blanket and sheets adorn it. You could probably sleep here once you're done with your "paranormal investigating" work.
[[Look around the room]] You start to feel really uneasy.
Your anxiety is quickly approaching panic.
[[Look at the exit to ground yourself]]You look to the window you came through to remember that you can always leave if you need to.
...
The window is gone!
There's nothing but blank walls in every direction.
[[Assess the situation]]You merely thought of panic and so you did.
Your perceptual reality crumbles at the edges as you lose your sanity.
As your heart rate increases and your breathing goes short, all you can see is the creature. The walls close in on you.
The creature holds you in its grasp.
You feel yourself start to fade away.
You become one with the void.
GAME OVER
[[Try Again?|Push the button]]
<<stopallaudio>>Ok, stay calm.
There must be an explanation. You're disoriented...
No that is definitely where the window was.
This can't be real! What should you do?
[[Use the Reality Check]]
Now seems like a better time than any
[[Push the button]]<<stopallaudio>>
A flash erupts.
The Reality Check gets hot in your hands. Almost painful.
A compartment opens on the bottom and some warm residue dumps out.
The window appears before you! You can't believe this cheap piece of plastic actually works.
But you still aren't relaxed. In fact you somehow feel more panicked.
[[Panic]]
[[Exit the window as quickly as possible]]
[[Look behind you]]
<<audio "Distant_Tension" loop play>>
You scramble out the window.
You almost fall climbing down the ladder.
You lasted all of ten minutes.
$5,000 well spent!
GAME OVER
You survived
[[Try Again?|Push the button]]
<<stopallaudio>>There is a presence behind you. You're stiff but your human curiosity demands that you see it.
You turn around hesitantly.
Through your night vision viewfinder you see a tall white humanoid with little black spots all over it. Tall, thin, and bony the creature looms over you with an imposing aura.
You are horrified--frozen with fear. Every cell in your body wants to flee.
Do you find the motivation to stay?
[[Yes, though I'm scared I feel there is an important reason for me to stay|I have discovered a cryptid with seemingly paranormal ability. Capturing evidence might lead to a scientific breakthrough]]
[[No, I'm not staying. I am leaving because I fear for my life|Actually, I'm not staying. I am leaving because I fear for my life]]
<<audio "Giant_Wyrm" play loop>>
<<audio "Distant_Tension" stop>><<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Chase_Pulse" play loop>>
You find bravery in yourself.
The creature blocks the door to the apartment complex hallway.
[[Examine the creature]]
The Path of the Reasonable
You make a quick escape out the window. You don't have any evidence of what you've seen nor did you stay the full 24 hours. You don't receive any payment. You survived.
GAME OVER
[[Try Again?|Push the button]]Getting a closer look at the creature you estimate that its around 7 feet tall. It's nude and aside from black spots peppered around its body from head to toe it's completely featureless; it has no face or genatalia. Just a head, two arms, and two legs.
After observing the creature for a few moments you realize these black spots are, in fact, eyes. All of which are looking directly at you.
The creature hasn't moved.
[[Attempt to Escape to the Hallway]]
[[Touch the Creature]]<<set $manual to false>>
<<cacheaudio "Distant_Tension" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Distant%20Tension.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Giant_Wyrm" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Giant%20Wyrm.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Gathering_Darkness" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Gathering%20Darkness.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Bump_in_the_Night" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Bump%20in%20the%20Night.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Gloom_Horizon" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Gloom%20Horizon.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Quinns_Song-A_New_Man" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Quinns%20Song-A%20New%20Man.mp3">>
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<<cacheaudio "Quinns_Song-First_Night" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Quinns%20Song-First%20Night.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Quinns_Song-The_Dance_Begins" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Quinns%20Song-The%20Dance%20Begins.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Crypto" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Crypto.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Echoes_of_Time" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Echoes%20of%20Time.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Chase_Pulse" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Chase%20Pulse.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "Chase_Pulse_Faster" "https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Chase%20Pulse%20Faster.mp3">>
<<if $manual>>[[Open Reality Check Manual|Examine Table of Contents]]<</if>>Your equipment has already arrived! Free overnight delivery?
The camera looks very nice. Just as intended.
[[Examine Reality Check]]
It's a small black plastic cylinder with a red button on top. It fits easily in the palm of your hand. It feels very light as if it's just empty plastic.
Oh, it came with an instruction manual.
(Notice the "Open Manual" button on the sidebar)
[[Push button]]
<<set $manual to true>>A rather thick manual for a cheap piece of plastic.
[[Examine Table of Contents]]You push the button. Nothing happens.
You push it a few more times. Nothing happens.
Exciting.
Anyway, you're all set for the "job"
[[Go to the apartment complex]]
<<set $manual to true>>
[[Introduction]]
[[What is the Reality Check?]]
[[When to use the Reality Check]]
[[How it Works]]
[[How to Use The Reality Check]]
[[Reality and You]]
[[What is Reality?]]
[[Reality Benders]]
[[Close Manual|$return]]Congratulations on your purchase of the Paranormal Solutions® Reality Check!
This manual contains the basic information an amateur needs to know for use of their Reality Check
WARNING: From this moment on you will be trifling with forces you may or may not be able to handle. If you feel you are weak of mind, frail, or otherwise unprepared we strongly advise against use of our product. In all cases excercise extreme caution and use The Reality Check sparingly.
[[What is the Reality Check?]]
[[When to use the Reality Check]]
[[How it Works]]
[[How to Use The Reality Check]]
[[Examine Table of Contents]] The Reality Check is a device that will allow its user and anyone in the immediate vicinity of the user to experience what we call "true reality."
The concept of "true reality" is explained in further detail in the [[What is Reality?]] section of this manual, but in short "true reality" is reality without any filters.
Reality has a degree of subjectivity from individual to individual. The human population agrees on what everyone experiences enough so that subjective reality is usually not an issue, however no one is capable of experiencing true reality--until now.
We at Paranormal Solutions have created a device that removes perceptual barriers in such a way that its user can experience what we believe to be true reality.
[[When to use the Reality Check]]
[[How it Works]]
[[How to Use The Reality Check]]
[[Examine Table of Contents]] Every human has a reality sense.
This is a debated topic, but we here at Paranormal Solutions believe that humans do indeed have a sense for reality.
It's a complicated concept so to put it simply, think about your dreams.
Every now and then when you're dreaming the question will arise "am I dreaming?" and while you might not be able to convince yourself that you are in fact dreaming, you do question it for a moment.
Now, right now, ask yourself. Are you dreaming?
...
Did you question it? Did you consider it a possibility that you might be dreaming right now? No?
That is what we call reality sense.
We have an innate sense for what is real and what is not. When we sense that something //isn't// real the typical reaction is to be alarmed or unsettled. The moments where something just doesn't add up or where you feel uncomfortable for seemingly no reason at all. Those moments when you're alone and feel as if you're being watched. Those moments where you question your own perceptions.
These are the situations in which you should use your Reality Check. The mind has a funny way of playing tricks on us, so it may just be paranoia kicking in. Most times though, if something seems off then something probably is.
[[How it Works]]
[[How to Use The Reality Check]]
[[Examine Table of Contents]] Woo boy! By flipping to this section you just opened a huge existential can of worms.
We at Paranormal Solutions have spent decades developing The Reality Check. A lot of specialized and educated elbow grease went into the creation of that little piece of plastic you hold in your hands.
Now of course we aren't going to divulge all our secrets in a mass produced manual, but we will give you some insight into how it works.
Paranormal Solutions clinical studies have found that the average person is experiencing true reality or something very close to it more than 82% of the time. The remaining 18% of the time people are experiencing what we call "altered reality." This is an experience that deviates from true reality to some degree. The cause and severity of altered reality varies greatly so often these moments aren't noticable to the average person.
When reality is altered it creates a contrast with true reality.
To simplify this concept a bit, imagine that a pocket of altered reality is a pocket of hot air surrounded by room temperature air. When you're standing in the hot air it feels hot, but when you're outside of the hot air you feel comfortable. If there was a way to immediately equalize these two temperatures the whole room would normalize to a comfortable temperature.
This is where the Reality Check comes in.
Contained within your Reality Check is what we call a micro-void. This mirco-void is a small pocket where there is //no// reality. This provides a quantifiable constant for the Reality Check.
The value of True Reality is 1. The value for No Reality is 0. Should the reality check find a value between 1 and 0 it now knows you are not experiencing true reality. To remedy this situation The Reality Check will briefly expose its micro-void which will disrupt the contrast between the altered reality and true reality thus equilizing the immediate area.
This may be difficult to follow. Not to worry, none of this is necessary information for appropriate use of the Reality Check.
[[How to Use The Reality Check]]
[[Examine Table of Contents]]
Using the Reality Check is simple. If ever you suspect that the reality you're experiencing is in some way altered, simply press the button.
There are however a few conditions that must be met for the Reality Check to work.
1. There must be some form of altered reality within 200 yards.
2. The current reality must be less than 95% "true"
3. The Reality Check can only gaurantee a stable "true reality" for 50 seconds.
4. The Reality Check has a cool down time of 5 minutes. Within that five minutes the Reality Check will not function no matter how altered the reality is.
If all these conditions are met the Reality Check will flash and you will enter true reality.
[[Examine Table of Contents]]
[[Reality and You]]
[[What is Reality?]]
[[Reality Benders]]
Throughout this manual we have used the terms "true reality" and "altered reality" frequently. True reality defines one objective experience but altered reality is an umbrella term for different possibilities. There are two types of altered reality and it's important to note that the Reality Check is only 100% effective on one of them.
''Perceptual Alterations'' - This type of altered reality comes from within an individuals mind. These can be caused by drugs, mental illness, or intense stress. Perceptual alterations can be as simple as irrational paranoia or as severe as realistic hallucinations. While perceptual alterations //can// be the result of Existential Alterations within the mind it's important to note that the Reality Check will //not// cure your mental illness nor nullify the effects of any drugs. The Reality Check has very limited effectiveness on perceptual alterations.
''Existential Alterations'' - This type of altered reality is when something is objectively altered from true reality. This can be the result of an "existential glitch" or a reality bending entity. The Reality Check should be 100% effective against these alterations.
[[Examine Table of Contents]]
[[What is Reality?]]
[[Reality Benders]]
The concept of reality is a tricky one to navigate. As humans we are limited by human perception and even with the Reality Check there is debate whether we are experiencing a "true" reality. There are, in all likelihood, perceptual stimuli our minds can't comprehend. So to see a 100% true reality is usually considered impossible. The "true reality" that the Reality Check offers is the closest we can get to reality through the lens of human perception.
To call it a true reality is deceptive in a grand cosmic sense. There is much about reality we will never experience. However, it is important to understand that reality is often altered with in our purview of perception. There have probably already been several times in your life where you couldn't see something that was right in front of you. Living shadows, creeping beasts under your bed, breathing walls all around you as you lay blissfully unaware.
Ignorance is indeed bliss and it should be noted again that this Reality Check poses a risk to your sanity. Use this device with reverence.
[[Examine Table of Contents]]
[[Reality Benders]]
"Reality Bender" is an umbrella term for entites or objects capable of creating an altered reality.
These entities are the leading cause of altered realities in our daily lives. You shouldn't be afraid of them necessarily, but they should be treated as dangerous. Reality Benders are powerful, and while they may not necessarily be malicious they have the power to change the fabric of existence.
For whatever reason it seems rare for Reality Benders to directly alter living things but rather all that is around living things. That said, it does happen. There have been instances where individuals have ceased to exist because they crossed paths with the wrong Reality Bender. Don't let this be you.
__What To Do if you Encounter a Reality Bender:__
''1. Don't Panic!''
Reality Benders are unpredictable. If you panic it may cause them to act in the moment. It's questionabe how a reality bending entity would interpret the behavior of a human but there are too many bad possibilities to risk startling the entity.
''2. Feign Ignorance''
Reality Benders are usually hidden from other beings in some way or another. Being seen by other creatures may bring up feelings in them that they have never experienced. If you are able to convince the entity that you don't know it's there it will more likely leave you alone.
''3. Calmly leave the area. ''
Reality Benders usually don't enjoy others in their territory. Leaving their territory and waiting for your Reality Check to wear off is the safest choice.
''4. DO NOT ATTACK THE REALITY BENDER''
The physical forms of Reality Benders behave much differently from our own. Causing any physical damage to a Reality Bender is incredibly difficult. And if you //do// cause any physical damage it will likely be so little that it only succeeds in angering the entity. Creating animosity with the Reality Bender is the last thing you want.
Reality Benders should be treated like endangered animals; majestic, intriguing, and powerful but treated with respect. You are an observer not a nuisance.
[[Examine Table of Contents]]The creature blocks the door to the hallway. There are a couple ways you could try to get around it.
It's tall so you could try to quickly dive between its legs and hurry out the door.
However, while it is tall it also looks very frail. You could also try simply pushing it out of the way.
[[Dive between its legs]]
[[Push it aside]]<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Chase_Pulse_Faster" play loop>>
In the hopes that physical interaction will provide some form of communication you reach out to touch the creature.
You approach slowly with your arm outstretched. The creature's head follows your movements as you near closer and closer.
Your hand is inches away from the creature's chest when suddenly in a lighting fast motion the creature grabs your hand.
With incredible force it crushes your hand like an aluminum can. You hear the bones pop and crack with ease.
[[Scream]]
<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Chase_Pulse_Faster" play loop>>
In a feat of acrobatics that you imagine looks really cool you dive between the creature's legs.
In the darkness you can't make out whether the creature reacted or not but you manage to open the door and charge out into the [[hallway.]]<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Chase_Pulse_Faster" play loop>>
You rush to push the creature forcefully aside. As your hands make contact with the creatures bony chest the creature grabs your arm. The cold grip of the creature sinks into your skin.
It's incredibly strong, you can't get free!
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
[[Struggle]]
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
With all your force you attempt to wrend your arm away from the creature's grasp. A searing pain shoots up your arm as it starts to go numb.
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
[[Channel Your Fear Into An Unbelievably Powerful Struggle]]
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>><<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
On the verge of <<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>Panic<</mousegoto>>, you unlock your powers of self-preservation and call upon forces from within your body previously untapped.
As you pull yourself away from the creature you feel a hard snap. You arm has broken.
The creature squeezes and twists your broken arm. You fall limp screaming in pain.
You feel muscle, sinew and skin start to rip. Then suddenly [[your arm is gone.]]
The creature drops you no longer having anything to grasp. You fall to the floor as blood gushes from your stump arm.
The sharp drop in blood pressure makes you feel light headed.
The creature looms over you. In the dark you can barely make out the creature as it kneels on all fours surrounding you with its body.
There is really only one thing left to do.
<<mousegoto [[Panic]]>>[[Panic]]<</mousegoto>>
Looking through the camera you can see the hallway is in fairly good condition. It's strange, this place barely seems abandoned at all.
Turning around you see the creature emerge from the doorway. It briskly approaches you with an outstretched hand.
[[Panic]]
[[Run!]]
You pull into a deadsprint down the hallway.
You can't look through the camera and run at the same time. You're blinded by darkness!
[[Panic]]
[[Fumble with the camera to turn on the built-in light]]
[[Panic]]
[[Panic]]
[[Run straight ahead]]
[[Panic]]There's not much you can do but press every button as you run.
Luckily one of them turns on the light. Success!
[[Turn around and shine it at the creature]]
[[Use the light to navigate]]
[[Panic]]
You put all of your trust in your legs and sprint head first into the darkness.
Your legs instantly betray you by slamming you into a wall.
Stunned and barely conscious, you hear the creature's thumping footsteps quickly approaching.
<pre>
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]] [[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Turn on Camera Light|Fumble with the camera to turn on the built-in light]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]]
</pre>
Remembering that the creature is covered in eyes you whip around and shine the light directly at the creature.
It stops dead in its tracks and sheilds itself.
It curls into a ball and tiny eyelids cover all of the eyes.
You've found its weakness. But wait...[[Something is happening]]No need to risk slowing down. With your newfound light source you're able to see the hallways. Several apartment doors surround you. You can see the door to the stairway at the end of the hall.
But wait...[[Something is happening]]You cry out in pain.
With a brisk tug the creature yanks your arm hard enough to whip your whole body around like a rag doll.
It slams you into the ground.
[[Panic]]The walls appear to melt. Subtly, they flex in and out almost as if they're breathing.
Looking around small slits appear on the walls. You can't make out what they are at first until the slits thrust open revealing giant eyes looking at you from every direction.
The walls are covered in eyes. From nowhere a wall closes in front of you stopping you dead in your tracks.
You turn around to see another wall do the same behind you. You're trapped in a four wall cell.
[[Try the Reality Check]]
[[Record a video]]Realizing this probably has something to do with a break in reality you push the button.
Nothing happens.
Perhaps [[reading the manual|Examine Table of Contents]] will help remedy this situation.
[[What Should I do?|Something is happening]]You remember why you were here in the first place and decide this is pretty good evidence of something paranormal.
The Reality Check is on cooldown. These walls are impenetrable. Not much else to do but kill the time.
Narrating the video to explain how you got in this situation would be nice:
<<textbox "$Narration" "Enter Your Narration Here" autofocus>>
[[Record a Five Minute video until the cool down ends]]Damn you're a good documentarian. That is some top notch narration. Whoever sees this video will pass it on for generations.
Your filmmaking prowess aside, those five minutes were tense.
The creature seems content to just leave you in here forever.
Let's see how it reacts to this
[[Push the button|1]]<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Bump_in_the_Night" play loop>>
Once again a flash erupts and you feel the familiar heat. The walls vanish instantly. You're back in the hallway.
The creature has it's back to you but instantly snaps its head in your direction as if shocked.
It's about 30 feet down the hallway.
Clutching the wall, it pushes itself forward charging at you in a full sprint.
You get the feeling it's pissed.
It's gonna be a long night
<pre>
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]] [[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Record video while running]] [[Panic]]
[[Panic]] [[Panic]]
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Thinking on your feet you work to acheive your objective while also preserving your life.
The light from the camera blinds the creature. It stumbles and trips before closing all its eyes and moving forward slowly.
[[Stop to record video]]
Realizing you're safe, you stop to get a closer look at the thing.
With its eyes shut it looks like a completely pale faceless humanoid figure.
It moves it arms along the wall to feel where it's going. It's getting closer.
[[Punch the creature in its stupid head]]
[[Continue recording]]Feeling bold you give the creature a powerful right hook square in the eye on its cheek.
It instantly tackles you.
[[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]][[Panic]]
Now seems like the perfect time for some narration
<<textbox "$Narration" "Enter Your Narration Here" autofocus>>
[[Ok you have plenty of evidence]]Now it's just a matter of making it out of the building.
Suddenly the creature opens its eyes. They've adjusted to the light!
It grabs you!
But just as it grabs you it mysteriously disappears.
The walls begin to melt again.
The Reality Check is wearing off.
As it does you notice that the feeling of being held by the creature becomes more dull.
It feels as if you're being held down by an incredible pressure rather than a physical being. Your body and limbs can pass through this pressure but it takes effort.
You realize when the Reality Check wears off you're able to pass right through the invisible creature, though it's difficult.
Suddenly you feel the pressure shift. It pushes the camera out of your hands. You hear the plastic of the camera creak. It's trying to destroy the evidence!
[[Grab the camera]]With force you push through the pressure and snatch the camera from its grasp.
The eyes are on the walls again.
This time some gooey fluid starts to drip from the ceiling and pool on the floor. Some of it lands on you. It's thick and sticky.
The pressure pushes you against the wall. The sticky goo acts as an adhesive. It's difficult to pull yourself off the wall.
You need to stall for five minutes before you can use the Reality Check again.
[[Run down the hallway]]Seeing few other options you cradle the camera and run down the hallway. Eyes on the walls open and stare at you as you pass them by.
The goo is pooling on the floor quickly. It's up to your shins and it's making it difficult to move.
You feel the pressure surround you. It's reaching for the camera!
[[Throw some goo at the "pressure"]]
[[Throw the camera behind you]]You hock some goo at the general pressure surrounding you. It doesn't seem to do much.
The pressure is now so intense you can feel it pushing on your eyeballs and cutting the circulation in your arm.
It's nearly prying the camera from your grasp!
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Thinking fast you chuck the camera behind you.
It slowly sinks into the goo. Hopefully the goo doesn't conduct electricity or the camera is done for.
The pressure seems to lose interest in you and goes for the camera. The pooling goo shifts away from the light of the camera as pressure influences it.
Five minutes have now passed.
You get an interesting idea.
[[Holding the Reality Check, plunge your hand into the pressure and push the button]]
<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Gloom_Horizon" play loop>>
With a forceful jab your thrust your hand into the pressure and firmly press the button.
Flash. Heat.
The goo and the eyes on the walls fade away.
And then a loud painful screech.
Your fist is squarely inside creature's back.
Kneeling down, the creature's arms and legs flail in pain.
You are also in tremendous pain. The creature's ribs intersected with your arm. The ribs of the creature have broken so you are able to twist your arm around but the broken rib fragments are stabbed through your flesh.
Inside the creature, you still hold the Reality Check. The creature's insides are cold and slimy. You can feel some sort of vibration in its chest.
You notice that the creature is clutching your camera.
Despite its tremendous wound it still seeks to destroy the evidence.
In this instant you are posed with a choice.
The Reality Check contains something the manual calls a "microvoid" if you were to break open the little plastic device inside the creature's chest it would unleash the "microvoid" inside of creature's body. This would kill it. However, in the time it takes you to do this the creature would destroy your camera along with the evidence.
or
You could push your fist through the creature's torso and rip the camera from its clutches. While you might think this would kill it, the creature is very durable.
Which will it be?
[[Kill the creature]]
[[Save the evidence]]
<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Quinns_Song-A_New_Man" play loop>>
With all your strength you work the cheap plastic with your hands.
As you feel the plastic start to give you watch in sorrow as the creature pounds your camera to pieces.
Just as the creature finishes pulverizing your hard work to dust the plastic Reality Check snaps open. You feel an intense heat scald your hand.
You rip your arm out of the creature's body. Flames erupt from the creature's torso as it screeches in pain.
Bones crack as it slowly implodes on itself.
The creature is agonizingly crushed into a void.
It's time to [[go home.]]<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Bent_And_Broken" play loop>>
With all your fury you force your hand up against the creature's already broken rib cage.
As its fragile bones start to break and give way it writhes in pain. You successfully impale your arm through the creature and grab the camera.
"That's mine you filthy cryptid!"
Camera in hand, you pull it straight through the creature's torso.
Now it's time to make a break for it.
The creature, wounded and stunned, has little capacity to chase you.
Even so, you sprint back to the window you entered the building through.
You breathe a sigh of relief when you see that the window is indeed still there.
[[Climb down the ladder]]You find your way back to the window you entered the building through.
Exhausted, you sullenly climb down the ladder.
The black sedan parked across the street rolls down its window. A hand motions you over.
You wave your hand at the mysterious person as if to say "don't bother."
As you drive home you try to pretend like the past few hours never really happened.
You look down at the Reality Check manual.
In a way, I guess it //didn't// really happen.
THE END
You survived.
You lost $5,000.
You killed The Seer.
[[Start Over?|The Black Pages]]
[[Credits]]Exiting the building you can hardly believe you made it out alive.
The black sedan parked across the street rolls down its window.
A hand reaches out the window and motions you over.
You approach the vehicle.
A gruff voice asks "Do you have the evidence?"
You start to ponder whether you should give it to this guy.
The pay is good, but you could have uncovered something spectacular here. Maybe you should give to someone more trustworthy...
[[A deals a deal and money is money. Hand over the evidence to the stranger that hired you.]]
[[No, this evidence demands a higher intellectual authority. I should show this to scientists, philosophers, scholars, government agents. Literally anyone more qualified than this random guy from the internet.]]<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Quinns_Song-The_Dance_Begins" play loop>>
The man takes the camera and watches your footage through the viewfinder.
After a few seconds he simply says "Excellent!"
Reaching into the backseat, he grabs a brown paper bag.
He hands it to you.
It contains a wad of cash. $10,000 in total.
He drives off with your camera.
THE END
You survived.
You earned $5,000.
Your camera got stolen.
You impaled The Seer's torso.
[[Start Over?|The Black Pages]]
[[Credits]]<<stopallaudio>>
<<audio "Quinns_Song-First_Night" play loop>>
You look at the camera and then to the man.
Sheeplishly you tell him "No... I didn't find anything."
The man shakes his head in disappointment.
"That's a shame."
He drives off without paying you.
The next few months you contact any scholar willing to listen to you.
You aren't sure who to show this stuff to so you call people in all sorts of established fields. Zoologists, biologists, anthropologists, folklorists, journalists, engineers, anyone with an established career and public contact information.
Almost all of them write you off as crazy or someone pulling a hoax until finally one news station picks up the story.
You're called in for an interview.
Debate rages as to whether the videos are real.
You allow more and more established scholars to examine your footage and they become increasingly stumped as to how you could have possibly faked any of the footage.
There's talk of scientific investigations of the building where you recorded the video.
It seems that people are beginning to accept your story as the truth. You feel accomplished.
[[Until one day...]]
A black sedan rolls up next to you as you're walking down the street. The man in the black sedan assassinates you with a gun.
Do not betray The Black Pages.
THE END
You died.
You lost $5,000.
You impaled The Seer.
You enlightened the world.
You betrayed The Black Pages.
[[Start Over?|The Black Pages]]
[[Credits]]
<<Return>>
Created by Sean Cain
Music:
"Chase Pulse Faster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Bent And Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Bump in the Night" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Chase Pulse" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Chase Pulse Faster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Crypto" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Distant Tension" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Echoes of Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Gathering Darkness" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Giant Wyrm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Gloom Horizon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Quinns Song: A New Man" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Quinns Song: First Night" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Quinns Song: The Dance Begins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
<<return>>
[[Start Over?|The Black Pages]]