<<set $path = false>>"West," I say. "Let's go." The rookies follow behind with the bots as I start marching. I'm coming for you, you kidnapping son of a bitch. Just you wait.\n\n<<display 's13'>>

"What's wrong?" I ask. He seems worried, and now //I'm// worried.\n\n"You've made a smoke signal," he says quietly, looking at the fire, "and they saw it."\n\n<<display 'v7'>>

<<set $defend = "friend">>"He's my friend."\n\n"Oh, yeah?" the second man says. He doesn't believe me. Just then, a third man -- much older and dirtier than the other two -- steps into view, panting like crazy.\n\nThe two officers greet him, "Hello, Detective, sir."\n\nThe detective sees the injured man and turns to the two officers. "What's going on? Is this our guy?"\n\n"We thought so," one of them answers, "but the girl says he's just her friend."\n\n"Her friend?" the detective repeats, turning to me. "Isn't he a bit old to be your friend? And what are you and your friend doing all the way out here in the rain, anyway?"\n\n"Hiking."\n\n"Hiking?"\n\n"And camping."\n\n"Is that so?"\n\n"You probably saw the smoke from our campfire in the clearing back there. When it started raining, we had to pack up and leave."\n\n"You packed light, didn't you?" the detective says, noticing the one bag I have over my shoulder. <<display 'e13'>>

<<set $defend = "dad">>"He's my dad."\n\n"Oh, yeah?" the second man says. He doesn't believe me. Just then, a third man -- much older and dirtier than the other two -- steps into view, panting like crazy.\n\nThe two officers greet him, "Hello, Detective, sir."\n\nThe detective sees the injured man and turns to the two officers. "What's going on? Is this our guy?"\n\n"We thought so," one of them answers, "but the girl says he's just her dad."\n\n"Her dad?" the detective repeats, turning to me. "What were you and your dad doing all the way out here in the rain?"\n\n"Hiking."\n\n"Hiking?"\n\n"And camping."\n\n"Is that so?"\n\n"You probably saw the smoke from our campfire in the clearing back there. When it started raining, we had to pack up and leave."\n\n"You packed light, didn't you?" the detective says, noticing the one bag I have over my shoulder. <<display 'e13'>>

"I did it!" I announce proudly, pointing at the fire, but the man doesn't seem impressed. He seems worried, and now //I'm// worried.\n\n"I can see it," he says quietly, looking at the fire, "and so can they."\n\n<<display 'v7'>>

"If I remembered what?" I ask.\n\n"Something you did," he answers. "Something you were forced to do." There's a rustling through the leaves all around as a gust of rainy wind swoops through the forest. The man turns his head to look back down the path behind us, as if he's expecting for our pursuers to arrive at any second. "They took the wrong path," he reminds me, "but they must've corrected themselves by now, so they can't be far. Please," he turns to me. "[[Go|e8]]."

<<set $defend = "none">>"I... I don't know who he is."\n\n"Is that so?" the second man says. Just then, a third man -- much older and dirtier than the other two -- steps into view, panting like crazy.\n\nThe two officers greet him, "Hello, Detective, sir."\n\nThe detective sees the injured man and turns to the two officers. "What's going on? Is this our guy?"\n\n"We believe so," one of them answers. "The girl doesn't know who he is."\n\nThe detective's eyes lock onto me. "Do you remember anything, kid? About when or why he took you?"\n\n"No."\n\n<<display 'e13'>>

"Are you okay?" I ask. He seems worried, and now //I'm// worried.\n\n"No, I'm not," the man says quietly, looking at the fire. "You've sent a smoke signal, and they saw it."\n\n<<display 'v7'>>

She stares at the ground in front of her. "Right," she mutters shortly. She looks up at the injured man and puts her finger on his wrist, checking for a pulse. Her expression tells me she can't feel one.\n\nShe looks back at her mechanical arm while I pace around. I don't know what to do with her. She didn't mean to kill anyone -- I could see her consciousness switch off before she did it -- but maybe the fact that she can't control herself makes her even more dangerous. I don't know what that facility does, but they can at least contain her. Besides, how do I even know that this whole little girl personality isn't just some mask the machine is putting on to keep itself out of trouble? I turn to her. She's still just staring at the ground, overcome with guilt, unsure what to do with herself. I look at her eyes. They aren't vacant, anymore. They're filled with tears, grief, thought, regret. How could a machine fake that? Then again, how could a machine look like a little girl in the first place?\n\n[[(Let her run away)|e20q]]\n[[(Return her to the facility)|e20w]]

<<set $track = $track + 1>>I look up the incline. I should've known that it was too steep for me, but now that I think about it, the man we're searching for might've been able to scale it. There's lots of rocks and [[roots|s4t]] poking out that would've made good footholds if he climbed down.\n\n<<if $track lt 3>><<display 's4'>><<else>><<display 's4r'>><<endif>>

Before I can stand up and back away from the man's body, <<display 'e9'>>

[["He wouldn't have."|e11q]]\n[["Maybe he did."|e11w]]\n[["Yes, he did."|e11e]]

"Honey," one of the men starts, "we're policemen, okay? We're here to help. Are you the girl who went missing from the facility back there?" He points to the south. That's where the man and I came from.\n\n[["Yes."|e10q]]\n[["Maybe."|e10w]]\n[["No."|e10e]]

"Alright," he sighs, "listen. There's a facility a little south of here that called us and said they were missing a little girl. They said that one of their former employees -- a white man in his early thirties, like that one there -- kidnapped her and headed north, and they had evidence that he'd done something to erase parts of her memory. Have you been finding yourself a little forgetful, lately?"\n\nI //have// lost my memory. I look to the motionless body of the injured man. Did //he// do this to me? <<if $who eq "good">>He couldn't have, right? He's supposed to be a good guy. I know he's a good guy<<else>>Could he have done something like that? Is he really a bad guy?<<endif>>\n\n"Kid," the detective's voice calls me back out of my thoughts. His eyes have caught the big red patch soaking through the man's pant leg. "He doesn't look too good, okay? We're here to help, so if you <<if $defend neq "none">>and your... um... '<<print $defend>>'<<endif>> don't mind, we'll bring him to the hospital, and we'll get you back to that facility, alright? They're worried sick about you there. What do you say?"\n\n[["No. I'm leaving."|e13q]]\n[["Alright, I'll come back."|e13w]]

"Maybe it's a map of the woods," I say, uncertain. "This circle with the 'X' could be us, and this other one could be another clearing."\n\n"And these horizontal lines at the top," Bill points out, "they could be the highway north of here."\n\n<<display 's11'>>

But then the injured man's eyes widen with a mix of realization and impending regret. He turns to me.\n\n"I'm sorry," he says.\n\n"Three."\n\nSuddenly the injured man reaches his other hand into the bag on my shoulder and pulls out his gun and aims it at the three policemen. They all step back and draw their own firearms, aiming them at us.\n\nMy arm goes completely numb, and it feels like my insides disappear as... as...\n\n[[<THREAT ACKNOWLEDGED>|e16]]

"Maybe it's a map of this clearing," I say, uncertain.\n\n"Maybe, sir."\n\n<<display 's11'>>

she doesn't respond. She just watches the man blankly for a moment.\n\n"I'm sorry," he whispers to her again, though it doesn't seem to register. "I didn't want it to come to this. I didn't want to use you like they did."\n\n"What are you talking about?" Marcos demands, stepping forward with his gun still drawn. "What did you do to--"\n\nSuddenly the girl's head jerks up, her vacant eyes flashing with small translucent squares, and she raises her hand towards him. Her arm twitches violently as the fingers pull back and the limb unfolds into some whirring mechanical apparatus, and before I can even blink at the unbelievable sight, a streak of bright light has ripped right through Marcos' gun, arm, and chest, sending him to the ground in a smoking heap. The two K-10s rush her, but some kind of shockwave hits them before they get within ten feet and they drop like someone'd hit the off switch.\n\n"What the hell?" Bill yells. He looks from the two dead dog-bots to Marcos's motionless corpse, then back to the girl who's locked onto him. He raises his gun and yells as he fires once. Twice. Three times. Each bullet is deflected by short bursts of electric light eminating from the girl like an automatic shield, and once Bill's run out of bullets, her arm unleashes another warbling streak that cuts right through him, and he falls to the ground, dead.\n\nI turn to the girl, and she turns to me. The injured man said she wasn't an ordinary kid. I though it was just your average obsessive predator bullcrap, but now I see what he meant. What the hell kind of place is that facility?\n\nThe whirring arm begins lighting up again, this time aimed at me.\n\n[[(Fire at the girl)|e17q]]\n[[(Fire at the man)|e17w]]\n[[(Drop the gun)|e17e]]

The End, Part Three: The Searcher\n--------------------------------------\n\nMarcos, Bill, and I have our guns trained on the injured kidnapper, but the girl's too close for a clean shot.\n\n"Drop the gun," I order, and, to my surprise, he actually does. He lets his hand go limp and the gun drops to the ground beside him. Was he even planning to fire that thing, or was he just trying to get us to draw our weapons? I can't imagine why he'd bother agitating police officers. He's muttering something to himself. "Speak up, son," I demand, but he's not talking to me. He's not even listening to me. Then I hear what he's saying.\n\n"I'm so sorry."\n\nSorry? For what? Kidnapping a kid? I'll show him what "sorry" means in just a second. I turn to the kid. She looked confused and afraid just a second ago, but now, her face seems uncannily calm. Vacant.\n\n[["Are you okay?"|e16q]]\n[["Come with us, kid."|e16w]]\n[[(Reach out to her)|e16e]]

<<set $root = true>>My eyes lock onto one of the roots jutting out of the hill's face. It's snapped, and judging by the color of the exposed interior, I'd say it's recent. It's not along the hill where I fell, either. It's too far to the left of my path. Somebody else made there way down in a similar fashion.\n\n<<display 's4r'>>

Before I can place my fingers on the man's wrist to check for a pulse, <<display 'e9'>>

There are a few prints in the ground, but very few of them look anything like human feet, and whatever ones might've passed are long gone to the mud.\n\n<<display 's5'>>

there's another rustling through the leaves around us, this time in the bushes at ground level. I turn to see two animals made of metal jumping out onto the path in front of me as two men in dark blue uniforms emerge on the path behind. The two men look to me, then they see the injured man lying on the ground.\n\n"What happened?" one of them asks.\n\n[["I don't know."|e9q]]\n[["It's my fault."|e9w]]\n[[(Remain silent)|e9e]]

There's nothing interesting about these trees. There's nothing interesting about any of the trees. There's a couple scratches on them, really low to the ground, probably from animals, not the kidnapper.\n\n<<display 's5'>>

"Sir," one of the boys calls over. The two of them made the smart choice and walked down a longer, gentler slope nearby with the K-10s. Now they're searching around the bottom of the hill. One of the bots is pawing at the ground as his handler looks to me, "I think we've got something."\n\n[[(Meet up with them)|s6]]

Before I can place my finger under his nose to ensure that he's still breathing, <<display 'e9'>>

"Maybe it's part of the state," I say, uncertain.\n\n"The state?"\n\n"Yeah. These horizontal lines at the top could be the border, and--"\n\n"This state doesn't have a top that's that straight."\n\n"It was just a suggestion, Bill."\n\n<<display 's11'>>

<<set $part = $part + 1>><<set $searcher = true>><<display 's1'>>

''NEXT CHAPTER:''\n<<if $searcher eq true and $runner eq true>>[[The End: Part One|End]]<<else>><<if $searcher eq true>>[[The Runner|Runner]]<<else>>[[The Searcher|Searcher]]\n<<if $runner eq false>>[[The Runner|Runner]]<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>

Thank you for playing\n''"View"''\nA short story by Tom Gould\n\n__YOUR CHOICES AS THE VICTIM:__\n<<if $kindle eq "map">>''Human GPS''<<else>>''Human ATM''<<endif>>: You burned the <<print $kindle>> from the man's bag as kindling<<if $who neq "none">>.\n<<if $who eq "good">>''Trusting'': You wanted to believe that the man was good<<else>><<if $who eq "bad">>''Cautious'': You were aware that the man might be bad<<else>>''Undecided'': You weren't sure if the man was good or bad<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>.\n<<if $defend eq "none">>''I Never Knew You'': When cornered by the police, you admitted that you did not know the unconscious man<<else>>''He's With Me'': When cornered by the police, you defended the unconscious man, claiming that he was your <<print $defend>><<endif>>.\n\n__YOUR CHOICES AS THE RUNNER:__\n<<if $camp eq true>>''Gas on the Fire'': You allowed the girl to imagine that your escape was like camping<<else>>''Water on the Fire'': You tried to convince the girl that your escape was to important to pretend that it was like camping<<endif>>.\n<<if $fault eq true>>''Faulty'': You allowed the girl to feel guilty for her actions<<else>>''A Face Like That'': You told the girl that what happened wasn't her fault<<endif>>.\n<<if $fall eq "help">>''I've Fallen'': You asked the girl to help you keep going, but you couldn't stand up<<else>><<if $fall eq "go">>''Don't Look Back'': You asked the girl to continue without you, but she couldn't do it<<else>>''Defend Yourself'': You told the girl to take the gun and go on without you, but she couldn't do it<<endif>><<endif>>.\n\n__YOUR CHOICES AS THE SEARCHER:__\n<<if $path eq true>>''Pathfinder'': You deduced the right way through the woods<<else>>''Trail and Error'': You took the wrong path from the clearing<<endif>>.\n<<if $die eq true>>''A Shallow Grave'': When the girl changed, you fired, and were gunned down, left to die in the mud<<else>>''Dis-Armed'': When the girl changed, you dropped your gun, causing her to relent.\n<<if $what eq "idk">>''No Expert'': You told the girl you didn't know what she was, and she took that to heart<<else>><<if $what eq "weapon">>''No Human'': You told the girl she was a weapon, and she took that to heart<<else>>''Nothing Less'': You told the girl that she was human, and she took that to heart<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>.

''NEXT CHAPTER:''\n<<if $searcher eq true and $victim eq true>>[[The End: Part One|End]]<<else>><<if $searcher eq true>>[[The Victim|Victim]]<<else>>[[The Searcher|Searcher]]\n<<if $victim eq false>>[[The Victim|Victim]]<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>

<<set $who = "good">>I think he's probably a good guy, though. I feel like I know him, and even though I can't quite remember who he is, I think I can trust him.\n\nI look back around me. I imagine that being in the woods like this is kind of what camping is like<<if $camp eq false>>, even though the man with me said that we weren't camping<<else>>, because the man with me said that it was kind of like a camp<<endif>>. I don't know a lot about camping, but the one thing I know about them is my favorite part: campfires. The man said that he didn't think we'd be able to make a fire because of the rain, but I think I can do it, anyway. If the man sees that I can make a fire, maybe we can go camping for real sometime.\n\nI clear a space in the middle of the clearing. Now the first thing I need is...\n\n<<display 'v2'>>

"Function?" I repeat. "Why wouldn't I function?"\n\n"You would be nearly comatose with guilt," he answers. There's a rustling through the leaves all around as a gust of rainy wind swoops through the forest. The man turns his head to look back down the path behind us, as if he's expecting for our pursuers to arrive at any second. "They took the wrong path," he reminds me, "but they must've corrected themselves by now, so they can't be far. Please," he turns to me. "[[Go|e8]]."

<<set $who = "bad">>I hope he's not a bad guy. He seems like he cares about me, but I can't be sure. I feel like I kind of know who he is, but when I try to remember him, I feel scared, and I don't know why. I guess if anything bad happens, I'll be ready for it, just in case.\n\nI look back around me. I imagine that being in the woods like this is kind of what camping is like<<if $camp eq false>>, even though the man with me said that we weren't camping<<else>>, because the man with me said that it was kind of like a camp<<endif>>. I don't know a lot about camping, but the one thing I know about them is my favorite part: campfires. The man said that he didn't think we'd be able to make a fire because of the rain, but I think I can do it, anyway. If the man sees that I can make a fire, and he turns out not to be bad, maybe we can go camping for real sometime.\n\nI clear a space in the middle of the clearing. Now the first thing I need is...\n\n<<display 'v2'>>

look : 1, 2, 3\nroot : true, false\npath : true, false\n\nwho : good, bad, idk\nkindle : map, money\n\nfault : true, false\nfine : true, false\nfall : help, go, gun

"I trust you," I tell him, and he gives a tired but genuine smile.\n\nThere's a rustling through the leaves all around as a gust of rainy wind swoops through the forest. The man turns his head to look back down the path behind us, as if he's expecting for our pursuers to arrive at any second. "They took the wrong path," he reminds me, "but they must've corrected themselves by now, so they can't be far. Please," he turns to me. "[[Go|e8]]."

"Let's move."\n\nShe looks concerned. She understands we're in a hurry, and it worries her.\n\n<<display 'r6'>>

<<set $who = "idk">>I don't really know anything about him. I feel like I remember his face a little, but it's not really clear. I suppose I'll learn more about him when he returns.\n\nI look back around me. I imagine that being in the woods like this is kind of what camping is like<<if $camp eq false>>, even though the man with me said that we weren't camping<<else>>, because the man with me said that it was kind of like a camp<<endif>>. I don't know a lot about camping, but the one thing I know about them is my favorite part: campfires. The man said that he didn't think we'd be able to make a fire because of the rain, but I think I can do it, anyway. If the man sees that I can make a fire, and he turns out to be good, maybe we can go camping for real sometime.\n\nI clear a space in the middle of the clearing. Now the first thing I need is...\n\n<<display 'v2'>>

<<set $track = $track + 1>>I look up the incline. I doubt I would've made it down without breaking something, but the man we're searching for might've been able to scale it. There's lots of rocks and [[roots|s5t]] poking out that would've made good footholds if he climbed down.\n\n<<if $track lt 3>><<display 's5'>><<else>><<display 's5r'>><<endif>>

I don't know what to say to them, so I say nothing. I just stare.\n\n<<display 'e10'>>

<<set $fault = true>>"It's okay," I tell her. "You couldn't have known. I've been trying not to worry you by letting you know, but it seems my caution only served to make things worse."\n\nThe girl shivers. "I'm sorry," she says quietly. <<display 'e2'>>

window.either = function() { return arguments[~~(Math.random()*arguments.length)];}

<<set $fault = true>>"It doesn't matter," I tell her, "okay? All that matters right now is that we get to the highway. If we can do that, we'll be fine."\n\nThe girl nods, the guilt on her face intensifying with every step. "I'm really, really sorry," she says quietly. <<display 'e2'>>

There are a few prints in the ground, but very few of them look anything like human feet, and whatever ones might've passed are long gone to the mud.\n\n<<display 's4'>>

<<set $root = true>>My eyes lock onto one of the roots jutting out of the hill's face. It's snapped, and judging by the color of the exposed interior, I'd say it's recent.\n\n<<display 's5r'>>

"Sir," one of the boys calls over. The two of them have followed me down the hill with the K-10s and are now searching around the bottom. One of the bots is pawing at the ground as his handler looks to me, "I think we've got something."\n\n[[(Meet up with them)|s6]]

There's nothing interesting about these trees. There's nothing interesting about any of the trees. There's a couple scratches on them, really low to the ground, probably from animals, not the kidnapper.\n\n<<display 's4'>>

I sit silently awaiting what comes next.\n\n<<display 'e15'>>

I walk over to the pool of mud that holds a pile of sticks in the middle of the clearing, but the sticks here are all soaked through. I don't think they'll be good for a fire.\n\nThere's still the [[big branches|v3q]] and the [[smaller branches|v3w]] under the nearby trees.

"As if there was a mudslide?" I ask him.\n\n"Maybe, sir," the boy says. "Or maybe the kidnapper fell down that same hill."\n\n"Alright. <<display 's7'>>

<<set $fault = false>>"It's nobody's fault," I tell her. "You were trying to help. Right? That's the important thing."\n\nShe takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Okay," she says. <<display 'e2'>>

"Please," I beg him. "Let me go. They'll kill you."\n\n<<display 'e15'>>

<<display 'e1'>>

<<set $camp = false>>"I don't think so," I say. "We won't have the time."\n\n"I see," she mutters, looking a little saddened. "I've never been able to camp before. They get to make fires, though. I know that much."\n\n<<display 'r8'>>

"You said you used to draw these as kids?"\n\n"Yes, sir. You don't think the girl is helping him, do you?"\n\n"I don't know." I take a close look at the map. <<display 's10'>>

<<set $what = "human">>"I'm no military engineer," I tell her, "so as far as I'm concerned, you're a lost kid that just killed two officers of the law, and to be honest, I've never been more confused in my life."\n\n<<display 'e19'>>

"It's just the weather," I tell him. "If it weren't for this rain, we'd have his trail by now. He went north, so we're keeping north."\n\n<<display 's2'>>

"I think I am," I tell them.\n\n"And this is the man that took you from there?" the other asks.\n\n<<display 'e11'>>

"Give it a few more minutes," I tell him. "This damned rain is washing away our evidence, but we might be able to find something if we keep looking just a little longer."\n\n<<display 's2'>>

"I don't know," I tell them. "Maybe."\n\n"Well, did this man take you from somewhere?" the other asks.\n\n<<display 'e11'>>

<<set $fine = true>>"I'll be fine."\n\nShe can see the pain in my face. "You'd better not be lying."\n\n<<display 'e3'>>

<<set $camp = true>>"Sure," I shrug. "It'll be kind of like a camp."\n\nShe smiles to herself. "I've never been to a camp. But I know you get to make fires."\n\n<<display 'r8'>>

"I see." I ponder for a short while. What could the map mean? <<display 's10'>>

<<set $what = "idk">>"I don't know," I tell her honestly. "I got a call about a kidnapping, and that's what I came to solve. I don't know what the hell is going on, anymore."\n\n<<display 'e19'>>

"Why would he mark his path?" I ask. "He's on the run."\n\n"Maybe he needed a visualization of some sort," the officer suggests. "If we could figure out what it means, we could probably find him a lot easier."\n\nI take a look at the map. <<display 's10'>>

<<set $what = "weapon">>"I'm no military engineer," I tell her, "but I don't think I'd be far off if I said you were some kind of weapon. A really innocent-looking weapon."\n\n<<display 'e19'>>

<<set $camp = true>>"Yeah," I shrug, "a really quick camp."\n\n"That's fine," she says, smiling to herself. "I've never been to a camp before. They make fires at camps, you know."\n\n<<display 'r8'>>

"The guys at the facility up there said he went north," I tell him. "That's where we're going. The damned rain's washing away our evidence, but we'll find something if we keep looking."\n\n<<display 's2'>>

"I don't know," I tell them. "I don't think so."\n\n"Well, did this man take you from somewhere?" the other asks.\n\n<<display 'e11'>>

"I d-don't know," I stutter. I'm not sure what to think or what to say to them.\n\n<<display 'e10'>>

"...as if someone fell down the hill," he finishes.\n\n"Alright. Good work. <<display 's7'>>

<<set $path = true>>"East," I say. "Let's go." The rookies follow behind with the bots as I start marching. I'm coming for you, you kidnapping son of a bitch. Just you wait.\n\n<<display 's13'>>

"Alright. I'll come back."\n\n"Great," the detective smiles, "and we'll be sure your friend--"\n\n<<display 'e14'>>

"As if someone fell downhill," I finish.\n\n"Yes, sir," the man nods. "I suppose that's why they call you Detective."\n\n"Save the flattery, kid. <<display 's7'>>

<<set $map = true>>I take another look at the map. The biggest circle is at the bottom with an "X" through it. Coming off of it's right side is a line that curves up and leads to another smaller circle. From the top of that one, a longer line stretches directly upward to meet two horizontal lines at the very top of the picture.\n\n<<display 's12'>>

<<set $part = $part + 1>><<set $victim = true>><<set $who = "none">><<display 'v1'>>

"Not really. It's a bit too important for that."\n\n"I see," she nods. "A very important hike."\n\n"Sure."\n\nShe looks back to the trees on either side of us. <<display 'r7'>>

"I... I..." the girl starts, but she's continually cut off by her panicked breathing. After a few minutes she stops scrubbing at her misshapen forearm, and her breathing gradually returns to normal. She looks up to me, her face soaked with tears and rain, and picks her words very carefully: "What am I?"\n\n[["I don't know."|e18q]]\n[["Apparently some kind of weapon."|e18w]]\n[["You're a lost kid."|e18e]]

''NEXT CHAPTER:''\n<<if $runner eq true and $victim eq true>>[[The End: Part One|End]]<<else>><<if $runner eq true>>[[The Victim|Victim]]<<else>>[[The Runner|Runner]]\n<<if $victim eq false>>[[The Victim|Victim]]<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>

There's a path going west and a path going east. One of them must end up going northward. <<if $map eq false>>That map on the boulder is still there, too<<else>>I'm still not sure what to think of the map on the boulder<<endif>>.\n\n[[(Take west path)|s12q]]\n[[(Take east path)|s12w]]\n[[(Examine map)|s12e]]

<<set $map = false>>"Hey," Marcos calls to the both of us. "I've got something here!" We look up from the rock to see him pointing up to the sky. <<if $victim eq true>>At first I don't notice it, but then I see the weak trail of white smoke rising up from somewhere farther into the woods.\n\n"Is that from a fire?" Bill asks.\n\n[["He can't be that stupid."|s11q]]\n[["That's another slip-up."|s11w]]\n[["It's got to be him."|s11e]]<<else>>There's something farther into the woods -- something rising up from the trees to the north. The kidnapper has given away his position<<endif>>.\n\n"We've got him now," Bill grins.\n\n"The K-10s have his scent," Marcos says. "He's definitely up there. There are two paths leading out of this clearing. Which one do you want to take?"\n\n<<display 's12'>>

There's a circle at the bottom with an "X" through it, then a curved line leading from the right side up to another smaller circle, then a long line going directly upward to meet two lines perpendicular to it.\n\n"What do you suppose it's a map //of//?" Bill wonders aloud.\n\n[["The clearing."|s10q]]\n[["The woods."|s10w]]\n[["The state."|s10e]]

"No. I'm leaving."\n\n"Leaving? Leaving for where?"\n\n"I'm just not going back to the facility. The man said not to. He said to find the life I deserve."\n\n"What?" The detective looks genuinely confused.\n\nI turn around, but I forgot about the two metal dogs guarding the path ahead. They don't look like they want to move, and their vacant eyes kind of creep me out.\n\n"Kid, please," the detective says, "I don't know what the guy said to you, but he's not right in the head if he wiped your memory, right? Just come back with us and we can sort out this--"\n\n<<display 'e14'>>

"Yup," I nod, "it's just like a hike."\n\n"Cool." She looks back to the trees on either side of us. <<display 'r7'>>

"I guess it is."\n\n"Hiking seems fun," she says, looking back to the trees on either side of us. <<display 'r7'>>

I take the man's bag and pull it over my shoulder.\n\n"There's <<if $kindle eq "map">>a map in there."\n\n"A map?"\n\n"Yes. It's a big folded piece of paper with a picture of the state on it, and a bunch of lines to show where the roads go. You can use it to follow the highway away from here."\n\n"I think I burned the map<<else>>some money in there."\n\n"Money?"\n\n"Yes. They're little green pieces of paper that you can trade for food, rooms to stay in, and lots of other things out there. Try to pay attention to how much you use, because there's only so much."\n\n"I think I burned the money<<endif>>."\n\n"You what?"\n\n"I needed kindling for the fire."\n\nThe man strokes his forehead, letting out a long, heavy sigh, then he starts to laugh. "Of course you used it for kindling," he smiles. He tries to keep the smile for as long as he can, but soon it starts to fade. His eyelids drift shut and his laughter slows with his breathing. He looks like he's falling asleep.\n\nI'm worried, but as I open my mouth to call to him, I realize that I don't know his name. I kneel down next to him and push on his shoulder. "Hello?"\n\nHe doesn't respond. He doesn't move.\n\n[[(Check breathing)|e8q]]\n[[(Check pulse)|e8w]]\n[[(Leave)|e8e]]

He sighs, his eyelids look heavy and his voice becomes soft. "You need to hurry, okay? And you need to leave me here if you're going to have a chance at the life you deserve." He forces a smile. "I'll be fine. My leg's a little messed up, but it's nothing fatal. You go on ahead, and I'll find you later, okay?"\n\n[["Okay."|e5q]]\n[["How will you find me?"|e5w]]\n[["You're a bad liar."|e5e]]

The End, Part Two: The Victim\n----------------------------------\n\nI know this is all my fault, <<if $fault eq true>>just like the man said<<else>>despite what the man said<<endif>>. His injured leg, the bad people after us, and even now -- him falling and not being able to get up -- is probably my fault, too. I see the wet red stain all up the side of the man's pant leg. I should have listened when he said to stay put at the clearing. I thought I was being helpful by making a fire because it was cold and rainy, but I just made everything worse.\n\n"Please don't die here. Tell me what you want me to do."\n\nSuddenly, he coughs. I look up and await anything he has to say. I need some kind of instruction. I'm lost.\n\n<<if $fall eq "help">>"Help me," he finally wheezes. "Help me get back up."\n\nI nod and stand up, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him to his feet, but he can't do it.\n\n"Maybe I could find you a crutch," I suggest. I run over to the trees and pull out a branch that looks sturdy enough, then I hurry back to the man and hold it out for him. "Is this good?"\n\n"Yes," he says, but when he digs the stick into the ground and starts using it to stand back up, it snaps, and he falls back down.\n\n"I'll find another one," I tell him<<endif>><<if $fall eq "go">>"Go," he finally wheezes. "Go without me."\n\n"Without you?" I repeat. "No." I stand and grab his arm to try to pull him up.\n\nHe yanks his arm away from me. "Stop it. I'm not getting up like this. You have to get to the highway."\n\n"I'll find you a crutch," I tell him. I run over to the trees and pull out a branch that looks sturdy enough, but when I test it with my own weight, it snaps in half. I look for another one<<endif>><<if $fall eq "gun">>"The gun," he finally wheezes. "Get the gun."\n\nI look at him, too surprised to respond right away. "Why?" I realize that I already know the answer, I just don't like it.\n\n"Those men coming after us," he says, "they'll be here soon. You're going to keep going without me, and if they catch up to you, you're going to have to stop them from taking you away. Got it?"\n\n"No." I stand up and grab his arm, pulling to try to get him to his feet. "I'm not leaving you." \n\nHe yanks his arm away from me. "Stop it. I'm not getting up like this. You have to get to the highway."\n\n"I'll find you a crutch," I tell him. I run over to the trees and pull out a branch that looks sturdy enough, but when I test it with my own weight, it snaps in half. I look for another one<<endif>>, but the more I search, the less hopeful I become. Each stick is weaker than the last.\n\n"Listen to me," the man calls.\n\n"No," I answer. "If I can just--"\n\n"Listen to me!" he repeats in an angry, booming voice. I turn slowly to look him in the eye. He takes a deep breath and speaks very slowly, and very plainly. "I can't get up. You have to go alone."\n\n[["But why?"|e4q]]\n[["Where will I go?"|e4w]]\n[["Not without you."|e4e]]

There's a rustling through the leaves all around as a gust of rainy wind swoops through the forest. The man turns his head to look back down the path behind us, as if he's expecting for our pursuers to arrive at any second. "They took the right path," he reminds me, "so they can't be far. Please," he turns to me. "[[Go|e8]]."

He looks up the path, then back to me. "I know you can't remember much, but please, trust me, it's for the best. You wouldn't have been able to fuction if you remembered."\n\n[["I trust you."|e6q]]\n[["Function?"|e6w]]\n[["Remembered what?"|e6e]]

The End, Part One: The Runner\n----------------------------------\n\nThe girl tries to support me as I limp along the path. We have to get to the highway before we're caught.\n\n"Is this my fault?" the girl asks. The curiosity and awe has gone from her voice, replaced with guilt as she looks down at my wounded leg.\n\n"What do you mean?"\n\n"The smoke," she says. "The people chasing us saw the smoke, right? That's what you said. And your leg. You hurt it trying to get back to me, didn't you? So this..." she pauses for a moment. "This is my fault."\n\n[["It's okay."|e1q]]\n[["It doesn't matter."|e1w]]\n[["It's nobody's fault."|e1e]]

Suddenly there's a loud snap from beneath me, and in an instant of excruciating pain I fall to the ground. The girl yells and tries to pull me up but due to the pain I can barely breathe, let alone stand. I manage to push myself up on my arms, struggle to one knee and then flop onto my back to lie face-up in the rain. The girl is shouting something about not dying here. All I can think about now is how close the cops must be to catching us and bringing her back to that God-forsaken facility. I can't let that happen, no matter what.\n\n[["Help me back up."|e3q]]\n[["Go without me."|e3w]]\n[["Get the gun."|e3e]]

She looks down. "Is your leg going to be okay?"\n\nI've been trying to avoid looking at the newly worsened wound. I can feel warm blood soaking the inside of my pant leg, spreading through the rain-wetted fabric, and the shooting pain inside increases with every step as the disorganized bones of my knee and shin scrape against each other and cut at the muscle tissue around them.\n\n[["You'll be okay."|e2q]]\n[["I'll be fine."|e2w]]\n[["We'll be fine."|e2e]]

She's still for a moment, then, slowly, she nods. I don't expect her to remember much -- if she still had her memory, she wouldn't be able to fuction -- but the slight trace of recognition I see in her eyes almost brings tears to mine.\n\n"What's going on?" she asks. I think she at least remembers that she can trust me.\n\n[["You're okay."|r4q]]\n[["We're leaving."|r4w]]\n[["I need your help."|r4e]]

"We're going somewhere safe, okay? But I need you to help me out. We need to go north, to the highway. Can you tell me how to get through the woods?"\n\nShe pauses, thinks, then nods and closes her eyes. After a few seconds, she picks up a small rock, turns to the boulder, and begins writing something on its surface.\n\nShe starts with a big circle. "This is us," she says, scraping a large "X" through it. She draws a line leading from the right of the circle and curving up, then she draws another smaller circle. "This is the next clearing." She draws one more, much longer line from the top of that circle, and then scrapes two horizontal lines at its end. "This is the highway. It's straight north from the second clearing. There's an easy path that leads to it from there." She turns to me. "Is that good?"\n\n[["Very good."|r5q]]\n[["I knew you could do it."|r5w]]\n[["Let's move."|r5e]]

"How far is the next clearing?" I ask as we start along the path she found.\n\n"It's... a half-mile northeast of here," she says, "and then from there it's five miles to the highway."\n\nA few minutes of silence pass as we walk. She seems to be in awe at the wildlife around her. I'm glad to see that her attitude hasn't been affected by the memory wipe. "Is this like a hike?" she suddenly asks in her familiar curious tone.\n\n[["Yup."|r6q]]\n[["I guess."|r6w]]\n[["Not really."|r6e]]

The thin drops from above have thickened to form a deluge. I pull my hood up, and when I see that the girl doesn't seem to notice the rain, I pull her hood over her head for her. "So," she continues without paying any mind to the rapidly worsening weather, "what are we gonna do when we get to the next clearing?"\n\n"We might rest for a few minutes, but I want to keep moving as soon as possible."\n\n"So is it going to be like a camp?"\n\nI'm surprised she remembers all of these terms. The thoughts of hikes and camps and the outside world must have run deeper than I thought. Maybe it's for the best that she kept that fascination.\n\n[["Sure. It'll be like a camp."|r7q]]\n[["A really quick camp."|r7w]]\n[["I don't think so."|r7e]]

Chapter <<print $part>>: The Runner\n--------------------------\n\n<<set $r2q = false>><<set $r2w = false>><<set $r2e = false>>I'm out. The facility is finally behind me, disappearing behind thick clusters of trees as I run farther and farther into the forest. My first stop will be a clearing just two miles north. The bag over my shoulder is very lightly packed with just a few odds and ends I managed to scrape together, last-minute: a bit of money, some food and medicine, a water bottle, a lighter, a fake I.D., a gun, a state map, and the keys to an old car I have waiting for us on the side of the highway north of here. The girl in my arms is fast asleep. She has no idea what's happening to her. I'm not sure she'd want to know.\n\nWithin minutes I'm sure the facility will have a search party after us, probably using the K-10 tracking robots to follow our scent. The facility loves using bots, and they'll probably see this whole thing as an opportunity to test their new equipment.\n\nCaught unaware in my thoughts, I suddenly trip and tumble down the side of a steep hill that had come seemingly out of nowhere. I hold the girl tight, shielding her from the roots and rocks that scrape across me, then we hit the ground. The impact causes a sharp pain in my leg, but I force myself to my feet.\n\n<<display 'r2'>>

<<if $r2q eq false>>[[(Look back up the hill)|r2q]]<<endif>>\n<<if $r2w eq false>>[[(Look back at the girl)|r2w]]<<endif>>\n<<if $r2e eq false>>[[(Look back to the sky)|r2e]]<<endif>>\n[[(Keep running)|r3]]

I hold the sleeping girl close and continue moving through the trees. I feel thin wet drops hitting my face as the rumbling storm continues crawling along the sky from the north. Finally, I reach the clearing. Unfortunately, this is the limit to my knowledge of these woods, and the map isn't detailed enough to guide me through them. I need some way to tell what's between us and the highway, and that's where the girl comes in.\n\nThis is the part where I wake her up. I set her down, still sleeping, against the side of a boulder.\n\n[[(Shake her)|r3q]]\n[[(Talk to her)|r3w]]\n[[(Splash with water)|r3e]]

"First the hill, then the map, now the smoke." I find myself grinning, "That's three slip-ups, and where I come from, it's three strikes and you're out."\n\n"Yes, sir. The K-10's got his scent now. He's definitely up north, toward the smoke. There are two paths leading away from this clearing, though. Which one do you want to take?"\n\n<<display 's12'>>

I aim the binoculars toward the first clearing, and I finally see movement apart from the trees and rain. Three men, two of whom are handling K-10s, have entered from the direction of the facility. They must be searching for us. They've made it pretty far, already. They look around for a while, a little aimlessly, letting the K-10s do their sniffing.\n\nThen I see one of the men pointing.\n\nHe's pointing right at me. But they can't possibly see me from all the way down there. What could he be pointing at? I turn around<<if $victim eq true>>, and that's when I see the pillar of thick white smoke rising into the sky. I feel my heart skip a beat as I realize that the smoke is coming from the clearing where I left the girl<<else>>, and my heart skips a beat. Something is rising up from the clearing where I left the girl<<endif>>. I need to get back down to her<<if $searcher eq true>>. Before I descend, I look back to our pursuers to see that they're taking the <<if $path eq false>>western path from the first clearing. Their error should buy us some time, but not much<<else>>eastern path from the first clearing. They'll catch up if we don't keep moving<<endif>><<endif>>.\n\n<<display 'r10'>>

"It means he's probably hurt. There's no way he slipped down that hill, hit all those roots and rocks, and got up without a scratch. Even for a fit guy in his early thirties, that's gonna leave a mark."\n\n"So you think he's injured and can't get too far, so we can still catch up to him?"\n\nI grin, "Damn straight. <<display 's8'>>

The climb is precarious, and my injured leg makes it even more so, but I manage my way up. When I reach the top, I lie flat on my stomach, pull out my binoculars, and start looking around. There's the [[facility|r9q]] far to the south, the [[incline|r9w]] I'd fallen down, and the [[first clearing|r9e]] just a half-mile southwest of us.

"He can't be that stupid."\n\n"Sir, the K-10's seem to disagree. They've got the scent. He's definitely up north, toward the smoke."\n\n"What the hell is this guy thinking?" I wonder to myself. He's given himself away. It doesn't seem right.\n\n"There's two paths, sir," Marcos points out. "Which one do you want to take?"\n\n<<display 's12'>>

<<set $die = true>>I pull the trigger, aiming right for the kid. Whatever it is, it's not human, and I can't let it go. More bolts fire off, deflecting every bullet I send its way until the hollow click of the empty gun lets me know I'm out. One last series of chirping electric sounds charge up the kid's last shot, and I watch helplessly as the third bright streak tears through my gun, up my arm, and into my chest, sending me flying back to die in a pool of leaves and mud.\n\n[[THE END]]

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"It means we're on the right track. That impression looks recent, so even for a fit guy in his early thirties, he couldn't have gotten too far if the mark is this fresh."\n\n"So you think we still have a chance of finding him?"\n\nI grin, "Damn straight, I do. <<display 's8'>>

I can see the incline I'd fallen down. It's all covered in mud now, but the mark I'd left is still somewhat visible, even from here<<if $searcher eq true and $look eq 2>>. Then I notice another mark a short distance away, as though someone else had fallen down the same hill<<endif>>.\n\nThere's the [[facility|r9q]] far to the south, and the [[first clearing|r9e]] just a half-mile southwest of us.

"It's got to be him."\n\n"The K-10's agree, sir. They've got his scent. He's definitely up north, toward the smoke. There are two paths leading out of this clearing. Which one do you want to take?"\n\n<<display 's12'>>

"It means he couldn't climb down."\n\n"Couldn't climb down, sir?"\n\n"He's a fit man in his early thirties," I remind them. "If he was about to fall down a hill like this, he would've easily been able to grab hold of some of those rocks and roots."\n\n"So, because he fell, we know he couldn't grab onto anything for some reason."\n\n"Not just some reason, son," I say. "I think he was carrying the girl. He rushed himself and tried to scale the hill while holding her, but then he tripped and couldn't stop the fall."\n\n"I see. So if he's on foot and carrying a ten-year-old kid, we can still catch up."\n\nI grin, "Damn straight, we can. <<display 's8'>>

I can see the facility looming just outside the forest. That place looks more like a prison than anything else. I'm just glad we both made it out.\n\nThere's the [[incline|r9w]] I'd fallen down a bit north of there, and the [[first clearing|r9e]] just a half-mile southwest of us.

<<set $choice = "free">>"I'll take you to the highway," I tell her, "but then you're on your own." She looks up to me as her arm finally starts to reassemble.\n\n"Alone?"\n\n"If I take you with me the facility will track you down within the day. Your only shot in on your own." I force a grin. "You can take care of yourself, right?"\n\nShe carefully hoists the bag over her shoulder and stands up. "You're really... letting me go? After what I did?"\n\n"No. You escaped before we could bring you in."\n\n[[THE END]]

[["He's my dad."|e12q]]\n[["He's a good friend."|e12w]]\n[["I don't know who he is."|e12e]]

<<set $choice = "back">>"I'll take you back to the facility," I tell her, "then this can all be over."\n\nShe looks up.\n\n"You'll keep out of trouble there, right?"\n\n"You're taking me back?"\n\n"I don't know where else you could go. I'm not sending a ten-year-old-girl-looking android onto the streets alone to fend for herself, and if I keep you with me or at the department, they'll track you down within a day, anyway."\n\n"It's... it's okay." She stands, taking a deep breath and clutching the bag in her good hand. She looks up at the trees and the clouds and just gazes for a few minutes, as if to say goodbye. "I don't like hikes anymore, anyway."\n\n[[THE END]]

<<set $root = true>>My eyes lock onto one of the roots jutting out of the hill's face. It's snapped, and judging by the color of the exposed interior, I'd say it's recent.\n\n<<display 's3r'>>

There are a few prints in the ground, but very few of them look anything like human feet, and whatever ones might've passed are long gone to the mud.\n\n<<display 's3'>>

There's nothing interesting about these trees. There's nothing interesting about any of the trees. There's a couple scratches on them, really low to the ground, probably from animals, not the kidnapper.\n\n<<display 's3'>>

"Sir," one of the boys calls up. The two of them have already taken the K-10s down the long path and are searching around the bottom of the hill. One of the bots is pawing at the ground as his handler looks to me, "I think we've got something."\n\n[[(Meet up with them)|s6]]

''VIEW''\nBy Tom Gould\n------------------------\n<<set $part = 0>><<set $searcher = false>><<set $runner = false>><<set $victim = false>>A story told from different perspectives.\nWhose will you see first?\n------------------------\n[[The Searcher|Searcher]]\n[[The Runner|Runner]]\n[[The Victim|Victim]]

<<set $track = $track + 1>>I look down the incline. I doubt I could make it down too easily, but the man we're searching for might've been able to scale it. There's lots of rocks and [[roots|s3t]] poking out that would've made good footholds if he climbed down.\n\n<<if $track lt 3>><<display 's3'>><<else>><<display 's3r'>><<endif>>

"I-it's all m-my fault," I stutter. I'm not sure what else to say to them.\n\n<<display 'e10'>>

"Very good."\n\nShe gives a short smile, then we both stand up.\n\n<<display 'r6'>>

"I knew you could do it."\n\nShe gives a wide smile as we both stand up. That pride of hers hasn't gone away.\n\n<<display 'r6'>>

"Yes," I say. "Yes, I think he did."\n\n"Okay," the first nods politely. "Do you know who he is?"\n\n<<display 'e12'>>

"But why?" I ask. "Why am I running?"\n\n"You don't remember right now," the man continues, "but there's a life you're leaving behind. A bad life. Do you understand?"\n\n"No," I admit. "I don't understand."\n\n<<display 'e5'>>

"Where will I go?" I ask. "I don't know anyone else."\n\n"You'll find something," the man says. "You're adaptable. The life your leaving behind is worse than anything you'll find out there. Do you understand?"\n\n"No," I admit. "I don't understand."\n\n<<display 'e5'>>

Sparks fly out of the top. I press it again and more sparks fly out. On the third press, the sparks become a tiny flame. I can finally light the fire, and I feel kind of excited.\n\n<<if $stick eq true and $paper eq true and $light eq true>><<display 'v6'>><<else>><<display 'v2'>><<endif>>

"Maybe he did," I say, "I don't really know."\n\n"Okay," the first nods politely. "Do you know who he is?"\n\n<<display 'e12'>>

"No," I say. "He's not like that."\n\n"Okay," the first nods politely. "Do you know who he is?"\n\n<<display 'e12'>>

Suddenly my head feels light and my arm twitches at the shoulder. It hurts. I hold it still with my other hand, but my eyes have locked onto something in the bag. A gun. I don't think I've seen one before, but I know what it is, and I know what it can do. Is the man going to use it? Is their something after us? I close my eyes and try to think of something else -- campfires, hikes, the rain on the leaves -- and soon, I calm down.\n\nI take a second look at the bag. Beside the gun is a little metal thing with a switch on the side. I pick it up and use my thumb to [[press it|v5w]].

"I need your help," I tell her, hoping that she doesn't think too hard about what's happening.\n\n"My help?" she repeats.\n\n<<display 'r5'>>

"Not without you," I plead. I can't even begin to imagine where I'd go if I was on my own. The thought is just too big.\n\n<<display 'e5'>>

"We're leaving," I tell her, hoping that she doesn't become too confused.\n\n"Leaving? Where are we going?" she asks.\n\n<<display 'r5'>>

"You're okay," I tell her, hoping that she doesn't become too worried.\n\n"Where are we?" she asks.\n\n<<display 'r5'>>

''"View" by Tom Gould''

"You're a bad liar."\n\nHe chuckles weakly. "You're the second person to tell me that<<if $fine eq true>>."\n\n"You said you'd be fine," I remind him. "You said we'd be okay. Was that a lie, too?"\n\nHe doesn't answer.<<else>>."<<endif>> <<if $path eq false>><<display 'e6'>><<else>><<display 'e7'>><<endif>>

<<set $kindle = "map">>I pull the folded paper out of the front pocket. It should do really well.\n\n<<if $stick eq true and $paper eq true and $light eq true>><<display 'v6'>><<else>><<display 'v2'>><<endif>>

<<set $kindle = "money">>I pull the pouch from the left pocket and take the little green papers out. I'll probably need all of them if I'm going to start a decent fire.\n\n<<if $stick eq true and $paper eq true and $light eq true>><<display 'v6'>><<else>><<display 'v2'>><<endif>>

"How will you find me?"\n\nHe chuckles weakly, "I'll think of something." <<if $path eq false>><<display 'e6'>><<else>><<display 'e7'>><<endif>>

"Okay."\n\n"Good girl," he wheezes. <<if $path eq false>><<display 'e6'>><<else>><<display 'e7'>><<endif>>

"That's not important right now. We're on a mission, understood?"\n\n<<display 'r4'>>

I unscrew the cap of my water bottle and splash her face. She gasps, her eyes pull wide open, and she sits straight up.\n\n"What the--" she looks around. She feels lost. I can tell. "Wait," she turns to me. "Who are you?"\n\n[["A friend."|r3a]]\n[["No time to explain."|r3s]]\n[["That's not important."|r3d]]

"A friend," I tell her. "That's all I can say right now, okay?"\n\n<<display 'r4'>>

"Hey," I call to her. "Hey, it's time to wake up. Come on." She doesn't budge. Just like any normal ten-year-old, when she's asleep, she's nearly impossible to wake. I'm going to have to try a little harder.\n\n[[(Splash with water)|r3e]]

I try shaking her by her shoulders, but she's out like a light. Just like any normal ten-year-old, when she's asleep, she's nearly impossible to wake. I'm going to have to try a little harder.\n\n[[(Splash with water)|r3e]]

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to explain right now. Okay?"\n\n<<display 'r4'>>

There's some kind of mark on the surface, aimed away from the wind, so the rain hasn't had the chance to wash it away.\n\n"What's that look like to you?" I ask, calling the second officer -- Bill -- over to see. He squints at the markings for a moment.\n\n"It looks kind of like a map."\n\n"A map?"\n\n"Yes, sir. My brothers and I used to draw crude maps like this when we went hiking as kids. You take a rock and scrape it on another rock. It's like writing with chalk."\n\n[["I see."|s9q]]\n[["Why would he mark his path?"|s9w]]\n[["So is the kid helping him?"|s9e]]

Come on."\n\nWe continue north with the K-10s still attempting to find a decent scent to track. Suddenly, one of them picks up its head, alerted by something. Its eyes flash with a few translucent squares -- screens, I guess -- and its buddy's do the same as they share and analyze the new information, then they both turn in the same direction and begin pulling their handlers along the path. They've got it. A bit farther through the mud and branches, we arrive at a clearing. There's one path leading to the east, and another to the west. There's a big [[boulder|s9]] straight ahead at the edge of the clearing. The bots return to sniffing around for the rest of the trail.

<<set $fine = false>>"You'll be fine."\n\n"That's not what I asked."\n\n<<display 'e3'>>

<<set $die = false>>Slowly, I drop the gun and raise my hands. The injured man had dropped his gun when the kid started this just a minute ago. Maybe she'll yield if I do the same. I wait for a few seconds, staring right into her unfocused eyes. Then, finally, the whirring slows to a halt.\n\nHer icy, emotionless stare gives way to a look of confusion. She sees the two dead cops in front of her, then she sees her extended arm which is still mechanically fractured. Her confusion becomes terror and panic as she tries to wipe away the unfamiliar machinery as though it were wet paint, but despite her efforts the arm maintains its weaponary shape. She's starting to hyperventilate, and when I hear that desperate, spastic sound, I can't tell if I should think of her as some ungodly war-machine, or just a scared child. I look at the injured man beside her. He's not moving. I can see the blood seeping through his pant leg, forming its own puddle in the mud around him. He's lost too much.\n\nI look back to the girl, still gasping for air, scraping at her arm, and sobbing in her unimaginable confusion. I take a [[step closer|e18]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $look = 3>>\n<<set $root = false>>\n<<set $track = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>There's no use checking around up here, and there's no way I'm making it down that incline without falling on my ass, so I take the time to look for a gentler slope and make my way down to the bottom of the hill.\n\n<<display 's5'>>

There's a few [[trees|s3q]] standing up here, the [[ground|s3w]] is soaking wet, and the [[hill|s3e]] beside me is starting to give me vertigo.

"Alright, sir."\n\n"Besides," I add, "if any of the other squads had found anything, don't you think they would've radioed us by now?"\n\n"You have a point, sir," he nods. "We'll keep north, then."\n\nOne thing I like about these rookies is that they're respectful, if not boring as hell to talk to. They might not understand why this case is so important to me, but they can tell it's not something they should ask about. A long time ago, I made a promise over the grave of the last kid I failed, and all these boys need to know about it is that I'm not failing again. This predator is going down.\n\nA little farther into the woods we come to a hill -- or rather, a drop. It's steep and muddy.\n\n[[(Stay and search the top of the hill)|s2q]]\n[[(Descend and search the base of the hill)|s2w]]\n[[(Take time to find a safer way down)|s2e]]

Chapter <<print $part>>: The Searcher\n--------------------------\n\nThere's nothing like the heavy scent of half-drowned foliage to remind me why I hate the rain. I push yet another heavy branch out of my face and step into yet another gurgling pool of mud. As I curse my own leg for its lack of awareness, I feel the eyes of the two rookie officers behind me. To them, this is probably a wild goose chase led by a senile old man, but to me, it's a chance to repair a past failure, and I won't let that chance get away. We were called in by a nearby facility -- a school or factory or something. Apparently, one of their former employees kidnapped a ten-year-old girl from them and made his way into these woods. Now, the weather is making it nearly impossible to track him.\n\nI hear the buzzing interiors of the K-10 bots that the officers are handling: sleak metal dog-shaped tracking machines. They walk around like real dogs, they sniff like real dogs, but they pick up scents better than any real dog I've seen. Some people call them a perfect balance of functionality and familiarity. I call them an uncanny bastardization of the fake and the life-like. Nowadays, bots are designed to seem more alive than they really are, but for me, those vacant eyes are always a dead giveaway. It ain't right.\n\n"Detective Connery, sir," one of the officers -- Marcos -- calls out to me in that stick-up-your-ass kind of way, "the K-10s haven't picked up the trail for nearly an hour. Should we call it in and try another area?"\n\n[["It's just the weather."|s1q]]\n[["Give it a few more minutes."|s1w]]\n[["They said he went north."|s1e]]

So, do either of you boys know what that means?"\n\nThey look at each other, then back to me.\n\n[["It means we're on the right track."|s7q]]\n[["It means he couldn't climb down."|s7w]]\n[["It means he's hurt."|s7e]]

"Sir, <<if $root eq false>>the K-9's directed us toward this hill, and upon inspection, many of the roots appear to have been recently disturbed. Also, <<endif>>if you stand back here, you can see a sort of impression in the hill<<if $look eq 3>>, much like the one you made over there<<endif>>, as if..."\n\n[["As if there was a mudslide."|s6q]]\n[["As if someone fell downhill."|s6w]]\n[[(Remain silent)|s6e]]

There's a few [[trees|s5q]] standing around down here, the [[ground|s5w]] is soaking wet, and when I look back up at how steep the [[hill|s5e]] beside me is, I'm glad that I took the long way down.

There's a few [[trees|s4q]] standing around down here, the [[ground|s4w]] is soaking wet, and when I look back up the [[hill|s4e]] beside me, I'm surprised I made it down in one piece.

<<set $fine = true>>"We'll be fine."\n\nHer face tells me that she's not so sure.\n\n<<display 'e3'>>

"No!" Suddenly the injured man's hand reaches up and grabs my arm, holding it tight. "Leave her alone," he yells, cringing in pain. The two officers each place a hand on their belts and the detective slides his hand into his coat.\n\n"Let her go, boy," the detective says in a low, steady voice.\n\n"You don't know what they'll do to her there," the injured man says. "I worked there. I saw it happening. I can't let you take her back. She's special, but they'll just use her like some kind of--"\n\n"I'm not asking again," the detective growls. "If you wanna live to see tomorrow, you'll let her go by the count of three."\n\nThe injured man doesn't budge. I can see his eyes searching around for a solution but none can be found.\n\n"One."\n\nThe two officers stand at the ready. The metal dogs close in with their lifeless eyes focused on the man.\n\n"Two."\n\nI'm shaking all over. I can hear a high-pitch buzzing coming from the inside of the metal dogs, and the detective's eyes are becoming more furious with every drawn out second. Thunder rumbles through the cloud above as the rain continues to pour. I look to the man holding my arm.\n\n[["Please, let me go."|e14q]]\n[[(Remain silent)|e14w]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $look = 1>>\n<<set $root = false>>\n<<set $track = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>"I'm gonna look around up here for a second," I tell the boys. They both nod and start searching nearby with the K-10s. I take a couple seconds to catch my breath, but with this damned humidity, it'll be a wonder if I don't drown while doing so.\n\n<<display 's3'>>

<<set $die = true>>I pull the trigger, aiming right for the injured man. I don't know what he did to this poor girl to make her into this inhuman thing, and I don't know what he did to make her attack the two rookies I'd brought out here, but this is where it ends. He dies today. More bolts fire off from the girl, defending the man from every bullet I send his way until the hollow click of the empty gun lets me know I'm out. One last series of chirping electric sounds charge up the kid's last shot, and I watch helplessly as the third bright streak tears through my gun, up my arm, and into my chest, sending me flying back to die in a pool of leaves and mud.\n\n[[THE END]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $look = 2>>\n<<set $root = false>>\n<<set $track = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>It would be a waste of time to check up here, so I take a step on the muddy incline and prepare to descend.\n\nBad move. My foot slips, I fall, and I feel every rock and root on the hill sticking into my ribs and back all the way down before getting a faceful of sludge at the bottom.\n\n"Sir," one of the rookies calls after me, "are you okay?"\n\n"I'm fine." I climb back to my feet and scrape a few clumps of wet dirt off my coat and face. "Just look for the damn trail."\n\n<<display 's4'>>

I walk over to the heavy branches and grab one. I try to pull it out from under the trees, but they're all knotted and tangled with each other. I don't think they're coming loose.\n\nThere's still the [[smaller branches|v3w]] under a nearby tree, and the [[wet ones|v3e]] in the middle of the clearing.

"Right." I look up to the rumbling clouds above. "I don't think anyone's making a fire in this weather."\n\n"I bet I could do it," she says with a certain childish seriousness in her eyes. I shake my head and smile. So she remembers her love for challenges, too. I wonder, exactly how much of her memory did she keep? Or is there something deeper that helped her retain so much?\n\nAfter a long while of marching uphill through mud and climbing through soaked underbrush, we finally arrive at the next clearing. The rain is heavier now, as was expected, and I hope in silence that it'll help mask our scent from our pursuers, if only temporarily. Nearby, I can see a mound of large rocks reaching above some of the trees. That would be a good place to take out the binoculars and make sure we aren't already being tracked.\n\n"Stay here," I tell the girl, dropping my bag beside her and pulling out the binoculars. "I'll be right back."\n\nShe nods and stands perfectly still in the middle of the clearing while I move up the [[hill|r9]].

I walk over to the smaller branches piles under a nearby tree. They're damp, but I think they might be dry enough for a fire, so I drag them over to the pit I cleared out and stack them inside.\n\n<<if $stick eq true and $paper eq true and $light eq true>><<display 'v6'>><<else>><<display 'v2'>><<endif>>

<<set $r2e = true>>I look back to the sky where the thick grey clouds are darkening the late summer day, and I hear a distant rumble as a storm rolls slowly toward us.\n\n<<display 'r2'>>

Chapter <<print $part>>: The Victim\n--------------------------\n\n<<set $stick = false>><<set $paper = false>><<set $light = false>>I'm alone right now, standing in the middle of the clearing I helped to find. It's really pretty. The leaves are all a really deep green, and I like the way the rain makes them all dance around in the trees above me. Of course, the ground is really wet, so it sort of sticks to my shoes, but that's not too bad, because my shoes look kind of cool like that.\n\n<<if $runner eq true>>The man I've been hiking with went to do some scouting for a little while. He doesn't seem very happy, and he's trying to take me somewhere. I hope it's somewhere good. I didn't really think too much about it, but I wonder who he really is. There's lots of things he //could// be.\n\n[[(A good guy)|v1q]]\n[[(A bad guy)|v1w]]\n[[(I'm not sure)|v1e]]<<else>>I imagine that being in the woods like this is kind of what camping is like. I don't know a lot about camping, but the one thing I //do// know about it is my favorite part: campfires. I know it might be hard to make a fire because of the rain, but I think I can do it, anyway. If the man sees that I can make a fire, maybe we can go camping for real sometime.\n\nI clear a space in the middle of the clearing. Now the first thing I need is...\n\n<<display 'v2'>><<endif>>

<<if $stick eq false>>[[(Some sticks for fuel)|v3]]<<endif>>\n<<if $paper eq false>>[[(Some kindling to start the fire)|v4]]<<endif>>\n<<if $light eq false>>[[(Something to light the fire with)|v5]]<<endif>>

<<set $stick = true>>I need to find some sticks for the fire to burn. I look around. There are a few really [[big branches|v3q]] on the ground not far away, and some [[smaller ones|v3w]] under a nearby tree. There are also a few [[wet ones|v3e]] in the middle of the clearing that have been covered in mud.

<<set $paper = true>>I need to find something dry and easy to light to help start the fire. I look over to the bag the man left here with me. I guess it's the only place where I'll find anything dry. I kneel down beside it and sift through a couple pockets. The [[front pocket|v4q]] has a large, neatly folded piece of paper with a picture of the state, except with lines going all over it. The [[left pocket|v4w]] has a little pouch that can fit in my hand, and the pouch is filled with little sheets of green paper.

<<set $light = true>>I need something to light the fire with, and I suppose the man's bag is the only place I'll find something like that, so I walk over to it and open the top zipper. Inside is a water bottle and some wrapped up food, and a couple small containers of pills. None of that is going to help me start a fire, so I [[push it all out of the way|v5q]].

Now that everything is set up, I take the <<if $kindle eq "map">>big folded paper and light it with the little sparky thing. Once it catches, I quickly stuff it under the sticks I'd piled up to keep it from being doused by the rain<<else>>little green papers and light them with the little sparky thing. Once they catch, I quickly stuff them under the sticks I'd piled up to keep them from being doused by the rain<<endif>>. It takes a little while but one of the sticks finally catches, and the fire starts to spread very slowly along its bottom. I jump up and smile. I did it. But the fire is dwindling pretty quickly, so I look around for not-too-wet leaves to sprinkle around it. When the leaves catch, they starts spewing out a pretty thick white smoke that climbs high into the sky. I feel like I'm making clouds. It's pretty cool.\n\nSuddenly there's a loud thud from the bushes as something falls into them. Seconds later, the man emerges, limping with a bent leg. It looks worse than before. He must have fallen from the rocks he climbed to scout from. He looks at the fire, then he looks at me.\n\n[["I did it!"|v6q]]\n[["What's wrong?"|v6w]]\n[["Are you okay?"|v6e]]

"They?"\n\n"There are bad people chasing us," the man says very seriously. "They know where we are because of the smoke. We have to go, now." He lifts the bag and pulls it over his shoulder, cringing as he accidentally shifts too much weight to his injured right leg. He grabs my arm tight and pulls me along, and I'm a little afraid of him. "We've got to make it to the highway," he says, "before they catch up."\n\n<<display 'v8'>>

<<set $r2w = true>>I look down to the girl. She's still completely unaware. A fall like that would've seriously hurt a normal kid, but she's special. The facility made sure of that.\n\n<<display 'r2'>>

<<set $r2q = true>>I look back up the hill. I've left a trail all the way down. It'll be easy for them to tell that I came this way unless the rain covers it up with mud.\n\n<<display 'r2'>>

<<set $fall = "go">><<display 'e4'>>

I reach out to her, but <<display 'e17'>>

<<set $fall = "help">><<display 'e4'>>

<<set $part = $part + 1>><<set $runner = true>><<display 'r1'>>

"Are you okay?" I ask, but <<display 'e17'>>

<<set $fall = "gun">><<display 'e4'>>

"Come with us, kid," I say, but <<display 'e17'>>