click the gray text to move forward
or to (link: "pick up items")[pick up items. like this!]
[[got it->good morning]]
(set: $postCheck to false)
(set: $twizzlerCheck to false)
(set: $exploreCheck to false)
(set: $noteCheck to false)
(set: $note1Check to false)
(set: $note2Check to false)
(set: $penCheck to false)[[good morning->you overslept]]you overslept.
[[again?->alarm]]it's bright outside. did you set your alarm last night?
[[yes->get up 1]]
[[no->get up 1]][[well.->house]] it doesn't matter now.
get out of bed
(link: "i don't want to")[you have to
[[okay->getup4real]]]choose your weapon:
(set: $twizzlerCheck to false)
(link: "twizzler")[you chose the twizzler! it's sticky.
(set: $twizzlerCheck to true)
(replace: "chewed-up pencil")[ ]
(replace: "birthday card")[ ]
[[it's morning.->morning]] ]
(set: $pencilCheck to false)
(link: "chewed-up pencil")[you chose the pencil! it's not very sharp.
(set: $pencilCheck to true)
(replace: "twizzler")[ ]
(replace: "birthday card")[ ]
[[it's morning.->morning]] ]
(set: $cardCheck to false)
(link: "birthday card")[you chose the birthday card! it says <font color="pink">"YOU'RE 12 TODAY!"</font>
(set: $cardCheck to true)
(replace: "chewed-up pencil")[ ]
(replace: "twizzler")[ ]
[[it's morning.->good morning]] ]
it's a saturday, so there's a lot you could do. or not do.
[[sit at your desk->desk]]
[[look at your walls->walls]]
(if: $exploreCheck is true)[[[leave your room->hallway]]]
[[start the story over->Start]](set: $exploreCheck to true)like the rest of your room, the desk is covered in detritus.
(link: "look closer")[ice blue jelly-grip pen. (link: "pick it up?")[you picked it up.(set: $penCheck to true)]
(link: "look closer")[skittles wrapper
(link: "look closer")[a (link: "list")[list of How To Get Boys To Pay Attention To You] handwritten on notebook paper
(link: "look closer")[a folded-over sheet of printer paper
(link: "look closer")[it's taped shut
[[open it?->open note]]
]]]]]
(if: $noteCheck is true)[take the note with you?
(link: "take it")[you took the note. (set: $noteTake to true)(replace: "leave it")[ ]]
(link: "leave it")[you left the note behind. (set: $noteTake to false)(replace: "take it")[ ]]]
[[leave your desk->getup4real]]
[[start the story over->Start]](set: $exploreCheck to true)towering above your bed is a scotch-tape-printer-paper monstrosity of a collage.
(link:"look closer")[it's all cats.
(link:"look closer")[specifically, drawings of cats that look like they've been messily cut-out of dust jackets, and photos snipped out of magazines.
(link:"look closer")[some of the drawings are your own: flat bold color pencil on the blank sides of forgotten pre-algebra worksheets, labeled in hand-lettered drippy gothic fonts with names like //Shimmertail// and //Blazeclaw//.
(link:"look closer")[there's a half-sheet of paper, a printed-out email. [[read it?->misty2]]
]
]
]
]
(if: $note2Check is true)[take the note with you?
(link: "take it")[you took the note. (set: $noteTake to true)(replace: "leave it")[ ]]
(link: "leave it")[you left the note behind. (set: $noteTake to false)(replace: "take it")[ ]]]
[[look away->getup4real]]
[[start the story over->Start]]the sun is brighter through the windows in the hallway – bright enough that it hurts, just a little, just enough that you have to kinda squint. the house is silent, still, except for your bare footsteps on the floor-tiles.
if your sister was in [[her room->sister room]], she'd be playing her music. something loud and grating.
to your right is the [[computer room->comp room]]
or you could [[go back to your room->getup4real]]
or [[start the story over->Start]]{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
]
}[[back to desk->desk]]<span class="noteClass">
**SENDER** [email protected]
**SUBJECT** RE: where are you????
**DATE** Mon May 07, 2007
heeeeyyyy flower!! or Alex i suppose i should say!! xD
sorry i've been like totally gone off the forum, if you
can believe it i got grounded AGAIN and i FINALLY get to
use the computer again. i hope the forum's been running
fine without me. i promise i'll be back soon, my parents
think i've been talking to BOYS. or OLD MEN. ONLINE. GASP.
as if!!! how do i convince them it's just another middle
school loser nerd girl? (i mean that in the nicest way i
promise rofl)
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070827095114/http://starclansforest.proboards98.com/" target="_blank">see you back in the forest</a>
xoxoxox Misty
PS. i miss you too. so so much.</span>
(set: $noteCheck to true) (set:$note1Check to true)
[[back out to the hallway->hallway]]
your sister's room – empty, as you thought – is neater than yours. she's also way better at math than you are. and two years older, and in high school, and knows how to make friends, and she's allowed to paint her nails. but you read more books, so who's //really// the winner here?
you know from the few times she's let you hang out in here that she keeps her secrets in the top drawer of her bedside table. you (link: "pull the drawer open,")[pull the drawer open,
push aside a few of her twizzlers (link: "(take one?)")[(you took one) (set: $twizzlerCheck to true)]
and it's all there.
you pick up a pad of extra-large post-it notes, thoroughly thumbed through with finger-grime and ink smudges.
[[pick it up?->postits]]
]
[[start the story over->Start]][[back to the hallway->hallway]]
[[turn on the computer->login]]
[[start the story over->Start]][[put the post-its down->sister room]]
(link: "look at first post-it")[*UGH WHAT ARE BOYS EVEN?*]
(link: "look at second post-it")[*i worry a lot about alex. shes such a weird kid (whatever that even means lol) and it just gets worse in high school you know?*]
(link: "look at third post-it")[*COMP PASSWORD AUGUST 2007: "sometomato2"* (set: $postCheck to true)]
(link: "look at fourth post-it")[all the rest are blank.]
[[go back->comp room]]
(set: $postCheck to true)
you boot up your parents' Dell 2005, and you're greeted with a login screen.
(if: $postCheck is true)[[[do you remember the password?->enter]]]
(if: $postCheck is false)[hmm.
you know your parents change the password every month. something about 'web safety' and 'keeping an eye on the kids.' your sister has a little more freedom than you – maybe you can find the answer in her room.]
[[start the story over->Start]](put: (prompt: "Password?") into $name)
You entered "$name"
(if: $name is "sometomato2")[you're in!
[[open Internet Explorer->comp2]]]
(else:)[wrong password! hmm.
you know your parents change the password every month. something about 'web safety' and 'keeping an eye on the kids.' your sister has a little more freedom than you – maybe you can find the answer in her room.
[[leave the computer room?->hallway]]]
[[start the story over->Start]](if: $noteCheck is true)[you type in the URL of The Forest of Stars, a fantasy-book-discussion, text-roleplaying-game message board community you've been running with Misty since the start of 7th grade. after a few years of finding a home in forums and chatrooms across the web, the two of you wanted to start a community of your own.
you've had trouble getting any regular members, though, and you haven't heard from Misty for months.]
(else:)[you've been running this forum with your friend Misty since the start of 7th grade. but you haven't heard from Misty for months. some of her emails to you are scattered around your room... they might be important later.]
navigate to: [[http://starsforest98.proboards.com/->comp3]]
[[log out->comp room]] to return to your room
[[start the story over->Start]]it's all dark.
[[continue->comp4]]this isn't how it should be.
[[continue->comp5]][[...->ghost1]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="500" alt="pink ghost">
[[continue->ghost1-2]]
[[start the story over->Start]][[back to the wall->walls]]<span class="noteClass">
(set: $noteCheck to true)(set: $note2Check to true)
**SENDER** [email protected]
**SUBJECT** RE: RE: thinking abt u <3
**DATE** Sun Feb 11, 2007
dearest flowereth!!! sorry it took so long 2 reply <3 you know
how school is. or maybe you don't! do you even go to a real
school??? its so weird how i don't know that much about your
life considering how much we talk.
and UGH I KNOW, we desparately need more people to join the
forum. its no fun when its just us! your so lucky that you have
real-life friends who like reading fantasy and stuff. none of
mine do, they just want to talk about *boys*. its so sad.
okay sooo this might be kinda weird sorry, but do you think
we could ever meet up irl? i know it prolly would never happen
cuz you live so far away and i know my parents would NEVER let
me, but i know people from other forums and stuff who have
become friends in the real world too. and sometimes i feel like
you understand me better than any of my friends here. sighhhhh.
your DEAREST,,,,,hehe
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070827095114/http://starclansforest.proboards98.com/" target="_blank">see you back in the forest</a>
xox Misty
</span><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"aaaa..."</span>
[[say something->say something 1]]
[[offer a gift->offer a gift 1]]
[[start the story over->Start]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"aaaa..."</span>
[[hello!]]
[[who are you?]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"I'd like to give you a gift!"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"...
nobody has given me a gift in a long time"</span>
[[what do you want?->can i help you?]] (set: $question to "what do you want?")
[[start the story over->Start]]"hello!"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"...
you can see me?"</span>
[[who are you?]]
[[what do you want?->can i help you?]](set: $question to "what do you want?")
[[start the story over->Start]]"who are you?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"you don't know me...
nobody knows me..."</span>
[[do you have a name?]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"do you have a name?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"i have a name
nobody ever says it though"</span>
[[tell me your name and i'll say it->tell me]](set: $tell to "tell me your name and i'll say it")
[[what do you want?->can i help you?]]
[[start the story over->Start]](if: $question is "can i help you?")["can i help you?"]
(if: $question is "what do you want?")["what do you want?"]
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"i am hungry
nobody has cared for me in a long time"</span>
(if: $twizzlerCheck is true)[
[[offer a twizzler]]
(if: $noteCheck is true)[[offer Misty's email]]](else:)[[[i don't have any food...->you don't have any food...]]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"you can have this twizzler! it's my sister's favorite candy."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"...
thank you..."</span>
she feels a little warmer.
[[tell me your name->tell me]](set: $tell to "tell me your name")
(set: $twizzler to false) (set: $twizzler to "given")
[[start the story over->Start]]"i have this email my friend sent me... do you want to read it?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">(text-style: "shudder")["JUST PAPER NOT FOOD"]</span>
[[offer a twizzler]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i don't have any food"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">(text-style: "shudder")["why won't you help me?"]</span>
[[i'm sorry]]
(set: $causeOfDeath to "starved")
[[start the story over->Start]]<p style="font-size:30px">game over</p>
(if: $causeOfDeath is "starved")[maybe you should have taken those twizzlers from your sister's room, after all.
this hungry ghost felt like nobody cared about her. what would you do differently, if you could [[start over?->Start]]](if: $causeOfDeath is "silence")[maybe you should have taken that pen from your desk, after all.
this silent ghost needed some way to communicate. nobody had listened to them in a long time. what would you do differently, if you could [[start over?->Start]]](if: $causeOfDeath is "underread")[maybe you should have looked closer at those notes Misty sent you, and taken them with you.
maybe that would have helped Misty remember her name,
remember her connection with you,
remember that someone out there understood her.
what would you do differently, if you could [[start over?->Start]]](if: $tell is "tell me your name and i'll say it")["tell me your name and i'll say it."]
(if: $tell is "tell me your name")["tell me your name."]
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"my name is
angelcat22"</span>
say her name: [["angelcat22"]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"angelcat22"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SJFrSEq.gif" width="250" alt="happy pink ghost">
<span class="pinkGhostClass">"...
thank you"</span>
the name is familiar in its absurdity: angelcat22 was a longtime member of Forest of the Stars who vanished from the site with no explanation two months ago. the same time you stopped hearing from Misty.
[[you should move on, too.->part2]]
[[start the story over->Start]]it's still all dark. darker than it should be. you should keep moving – maybe there are more like angelcat22 around.
[[continue->continue2]]
[[start the story over->Start]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="500" alt=“blue ghost">
[[continue->summer1]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
[[what's your name?->hello 2]]
[[what do you want?->want2]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"what's your name?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
[[try asking again?->hello 2]]
[[what do you want?->want2]]
[[offer a gift->gift2]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"what do you want?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
[[try asking again?->want2]]
[[what's your name??->hello 2]]
[[offer a gift->gift2]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i'd like to give you something, if that's okay!"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
(if: $twizzlerCheck is true)[offer [[a twizzler]]]
(if: $noteCheck is true)[offer [[Misty's note]]]
(if: $penCheck is true)[offer [[your pen]]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"you can have this twizzler. it's my sister's favorite candy."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
they don't take the twizzler.
(if: $noteCheck is true)[offer [[Misty's note]]]
(if: $penCheck is true)[offer [[your pen]]]
(else:)[looks like [[you don't have anything else to offer...]]]"my friend sent me this email a while ago. i don't know where she is now."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
they read the note, and hand it back to you. you notice their glow is a little stronger now.
(if: $twizzlerCheck is true)[offer [[a twizzler]]]
(if: $penCheck is true)[offer [[your pen]]]
(else:)[looks like [[you don't have anything else to offer...]]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"this pen was on my desk. i don't use it much, so you can have it."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
she picks up the pen and [[writes something in the dark.]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i don't have anything to give you."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">"..."</span>
[[i'm sorry]]
(set: $causeOfDeath to "silence")<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
as the pen trails through the dark, it leaves little sparks of light behind to form words.
<span class="blueGhostClass">"it's been so long since i've talked to anyone. i came here to find my voice and it just got quieter.
can i keep this pen?"</span>
[[of course you can]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"of course you can."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/piEmFeR.gif" width="250" alt=“blue ghost">
<span class="blueGhostClass">“thank you”</span>
"what's your name?"
<span class="blueGhostClass">“x.summer.rose.x”</span>
"it's a beautiful name"
the dark around you has [[lessened]], just a bit.
[[start the story over->Start]]it's good, you suppose. a return to how it should be. bright and warm and vibrant and full of voices. a forest full of stars.
but the dark is comforting, in a way.
you should [[keep looking.]]
or [[go back to the start.->Start]][[it's still all charcoal-gray.]]
[[start the story over->Start]]you're thinking about [[Misty->misty1]] again.[[there's someone here.]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="500" alt="purple ghost">
[[continue->cont1]]
[[start the story over->Start]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
[[say something?]]
or [[start the story over->Start]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
[[who are you?->who1]]
[[can i help you?->help1]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"who are you?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"i am
nobody"</span>
[[what does that mean?->mean]]
[[can i help you?->help1]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"can i help you?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"you can't help me
it's fine
don't worry about it."</span>
[[offer a gift?->i could give you something]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"what does that mean?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"it means
you wouldn't understand."</span>
the line reminds you of one of your favorite Evanescence lyrics. somehow, you think you really would understand.
[[i think i would understand.->understand]]
[[is that an Evanescence lyric?]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i think i would understand."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"i said
it means
you wouldn't understand."</span>
[[is that an Evanescence lyric?]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"is that an Evanescence lyric?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"...
it's not.
i was just saying it.
...
you know Evanescence?"</span>
[[yeah i totally do!]]
[[i don't actually]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"yeah i totally know Evanescence!"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"...
who are you"</span>
[[my name is Alex]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i don't actually"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"..."</span>
"sorry."
[[can i help you?->help1]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i could give you something!"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"...
what kind of thing
i want to read something."</span>
(if: $noteCheck is true)[offer [[Misty's email]]]
(else:)[you check your pockets... you don't have anything for her to read.
[[i'm sorry]]
(set: $causeOfDeath to "underread")]
[[start the story over->Start]]"i have this email my friend wrote me. i haven't heard from her in a while, but you can read it."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"..."</span>
she takes the printed-out email from you and reads it closely.
[[continue->email2]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"my name is Alex"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"...
do you
have another name?"</span>
[[no other name]]
[[you might call me flower]]
[[start the story over->Start]]"it's just Alex"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"okay
...
just like i thought"</span>
[[i'm sorry]]
(set: $causeOfDeath to "underread")
[[start the story over->Start]]"i go by flower on this forum"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"...
flower
prove it's you"</span>
(if: $noteCheck is true)[show [[Misty's email]]](else:)[you search your pockets.
you can't.
[[i'm sorry]] (set: $causeOfDeath to "underread")]"..."
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"i wrote this.
...
!!!!!!!!!!!!"</span>
[[continue->email3]]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"!!!!!!!!!!!!"</span>
could this be...
[[mistyheart818? is that you?->Misty?]]"Misty? like, mistyheart818? is that really you?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"ALEX
it's me!!!!!!!!"</span>
[[where were you?]]"where were you? i haven't heard from you in months!"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"tbh i don't know what happened!!!
it was like
i was thinking about all my ~real life~ ~friends~ and how we have like
nothing in common
you know?"</span>
[[i know]]"i do know haha"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"ok and like
i kept thinking about it
(how i feel so separate from everyone else)
and i got so freaked out that i stopped talking to people
even you"</span>
[[what about everyone else?]]"i understand. but what about everyone else? why did the whole forum end up like this?"
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KjgAoXO.gif" width="250" alt="purple ghost">
<span class="mistyGhostClass">"i don't know
but i'd imagine it's a lot of the same stuff i was thinking
all of us floating around here full of all these thoughts and not ever sharing them and not ever understanding ourselves
no wonder we all turned into ghosts"</span>
[[continue->final1]]a hungry ghost named <span class="pinkGhostClass">angelcat22</span> felt like nobody cared about her.(if: $twizzler is "given")[ you gave her one of your sister's twizzlers.] you listened, and said her name.
a silent ghost named <span class="blueGhostClass">x.summer.rose.x</span> needed some way to communicate. nobody had listened to them in a long time. you gave them a pen, one of your own, and they could write to you. to others. they could express themself.
a lonely ghost named <span class="mistyGhostClass">mistyheart818</span> felt isolated, like nobody would ever relate to her. you reminded her of a time she felt understood.
what would you do differently, if you could [[start over?->Start]]