They gesture to a scar that ripples across their neck like a living thing. "I almost died," they say. "But not quite. And I saw a [[glimpse]] of it."
"You think your life is more important than this?" [[Step.|step2]]
There haven't been ships docking here for a long time. Everything smells of ocean spray and rotting wood. You <<if $weapon is "knife">>tap your knife against the bollards.<<endif>><<if $weapon is "gun">>watch your gun shine dully in the moonlight.<<endif>><<if $weapon is "secret">>feel your secret burn in your chest.<<endif>>\nYou hear [[footsteps|footsteps3]] behind you.
The man looks up at you, and now that he’s a little closer you can see the blue tinge starting to form on his lips. He looks pained. “I don’t like--” he says. “I don’t [[like this.]]”
"I'm sorry," you say.\n"It's not my [[fault]]," you say.
Where do you live? <<cyclinglink $home "docking district" "shopping district" "center of wealth">>\nWhat do you have? <<cyclinglink $weapon "knife" "gun" "secret">>\n[[Good.|begin2]]
"The [[end.|the end]]"
They wrinkle their nose at you. "No," they reply. "It's [[self-defense.]]"
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A child stands a few feet away from you. <<if $weapon is "gun">>They are holding a [[knife.]]<<endif>><<if $weapon is "secret">>They are holding a [[knife.]]<<endif>><<if $weapon is "knife">>They are holding a knife, [[too.|knife.]]<<endif>>
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“Come, come,” sings the sea. “[[Embrace]] us, child.”
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
Something flickers in their eyes and you can very abruptly see the ocean wrap itself around their brain. They crack a smile.\n"Child," they whisper. "Why do you [[reject|reject2]] us?"
They're right in your face now. They smell like smoke and [[saltwater.]]
“Sure you do,” he says, looking up at you and squinting. “You’ve got--you’ve got the--”\n“Don’t,” you say. He tilts his head.\n“All right,” he says after a few seconds. “I understand. I was like that [[too.]]”
the flood
"Oh yeah?" they say. "Who?"\n"[[Someone]]," you reply.
Saltwater has begun to pour from the man’s mouth. His words are garbled and wet but you can <html><i>hear</i></html> them, deep inside.\n“You have been [[chosen]], child.”
They look up at you and there's a little fear in their eyes. "Won't you be [[marked]]?" they ask.
"In [[heaven]]?"
The one with the scar takes one last step forwards and you raise the knife in trembling [[hands.]]
"Aren't you a little young for that?" you ask, pointing to the knife, even though you know [[no one]] is too young for that now.
You open your mouth to [[speak.|speak2]]
There is a ringing in your ears. No one stirs but you can feel eyes watching you from the long-abandoned buildings.\n"Okay," says the one with the scar. "Okay." They step back. Their friend still hasn't said a [[word.|word]]
You silently raise your <<$weapon>>. He smiles halfheartedly.\n“Okay. You--” he says. “You could if you wanted to.”\n“There’s me getting back to you,” he says.\n“[[Okay]],” you reply.
You wander through rows and rows of boarded-up storefronts, your <<$weapon>> heavy in your <<if $weapon is "knife">>hand.<<endif>><<if $weapon is "gun">>hand.<<endif>><<if $weapon is "secret">>heart.<<endif>>\nYou hear [[footsteps|footsteps2]] behind you.
But you don't.\n[[You shoot the gun.]]
The street is dark and there are people watching you from the boarded-up stores and the one with the scar won't stop <html><i>smiling</i></html>.\nYou want to go back to the <<$home>>. You want to close your eyes and wait for the [[end.|end3]]
"Curiosity killed the cat," you say. The child sticks out their [[tongue]] at you.
“But you can be [[greater]], child.”
"I'm looking for [[sea dogs]]," they say.
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
"Have you heard the ocean's siren song?" asks the shorter one. Their voice is reedy and grating and you hate it instantly. The taller one takes another drag.\n[["No," you reply. "I don't want to."|no]]
You screw your eyes shut tighter.\n"[[Yes]]," you say.
They step a little closer. Their compatriot stays back, the damp-looking fur of their coat rustling slightly in the sea breeze that reaches you everywhere in town.\n"I have a <<$weapon>>," you say. The shorter one raises their hands and chuckles.\n"Okay," they say. "I'm just [[saying]]."
“You think I have a choice?” He lets out a humorless laugh and spreads his arms wide. “Ahab is forever Ahab, man!”\nHe lets his arms drop and stares at his feet.\n<<if $weapon is "secret">>\s\n“How do you--” He pauses for a moment. “How do you deal with it?”\n“I don’t know what you’re [[talking about]],” you reply.\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\n“Are you going to kill me?” he asks quietly.\n“Do you [[want me to]]?” you reply.\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\n“Are you going to kill me?” he asks quietly.\n“Do you [[want me to]]?” you reply.\n<<endif>>\n
He coughs and starts to topple forward onto you. You sidestep, letting him fall onto the sand, and it’s not until you start backing away from him and the water that you see the strings start to [[pull at him.|pull2]]
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
They chuckle and take another step [[forward.]]
"Oh," says the child, and goes quiet again. They're still white-knuckling the knife.\nWhen they speak again their brow is furrowed. "Do you know what's going to [[happen]] to us?"
He is gasping, clutching his chest, when you see the strings start to [[pull at him.]]
You nod at them very seriously. They return the gesture.\n<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\n"Are you gonna [[shoot]] the someone?" they ask.\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\n"Are you gonna [[stab]] the someone?" they ask.\n<<endif>>
You cannot say more. There are people watching. The child will surely [[understand.]]
"Hello," you say.\n<<if $weapon is "secret">>\s\nThe child stares at you for a moment before narrowing their eyes and raising their knife [[threateningly.]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\n"Hello," says the [[child.]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\n"Hello," says the [[child.]]\n<<endif>>
You can do nothing but look out on the water here. You can do nothing but see the blue-tinged fingers, the servants of the awful crashing waves.\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\nYou raise your knife against the ocean as if it will do something meaningful. You hear [[footsteps]] behind you.\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\nYou gesture towards the ocean with your gun as if it will do something meaningful. You hear [[footsteps]] behind you.\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "secret">>\s\nYou hold your secret in your heart of hearts as if it would not soon become obvious. You hear [[footsteps]] behind you.\n<<endif>>
<<if $home is "docking district">>\s\nYou reach the [[shopping district.|shopping district]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $home is "shopping district">>\s\nYou reach the [[docking district.|docking district]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $home is "center of wealth">>\s\nYou reach the [[private beaches.|beaches]]\n<<endif>>\n
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
"I don't care!" yells the child. "You're going to--"\nYou cut them off. "No I'm [[not.|say it]]"
Two figures stop a few feet away from you. The shorter one grins an awful grin and the taller one simply takes another drag on their cigarette. You can see the blueish tinge beginning to form around both of their [[lips.|lips]]
The <<$home>> is dangerous these days, like everywhere, but it's the only home you've ever had.\nIf you stay inside and watch the oncoming dark you will start to hear the wailing of the sea dogs. Don't stay inside.\nYou have a [[<<$weapon>>.|weapon]]
“I don’t like--” He lets out a short breath through his nose. “I don’t like people, being around people, and it <html><i>makes</i></html> me be around them.”\nHe nudges the sand with his toe. “It wants me to [[push you in]],” he says again.
colin c.s.
You can barely hear the child now. "Am I going to see my [[mom]] again?" they whisper.
A solitary figure stands a few feet away from you. They are wearing a bathrobe over a button-down shirt and shivering.\nYou can see the blueish circles around their [[eyes.|eyes]]
They glance around for a moment like they can't see the eyes watching [[both of you.]]
"Do you not [[need|need2]] us?"
"[[No]]," you reply.
The child gets quiet.\n"My dad [[was]]," they say.
“But it ends, you [[understand]]?”
"Yes," you say.\n"[[Oh]]," says the child.
[["I was."]]
<html><b>the flood</b></html> by colin c.s.\n\nthis story is about the end of the world. it also contains: death/murder, the ocean, discussion of parents and possession.\n\n[[begin?|begin]]
The setting sun is pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and [[deep.]]
<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\nYou [[fire.]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\nYou walk a little closer, grab his shoulder and sink the knife into his [[stomach.]]\n<<endif>>
The waves move forward. Start to lap at his shaking body. You clutch the knife close to your heart and you [[fear.]]
The waves crash [[behind you.]]
If you look out towards the ocean you will see blue-tinged fingers reaching from the cresting waves.\nDon't look out there. Look down.\nYou have a [[<<$weapon>>.|weapon.]]
"Don't you come near me," says the child, and you can hear the [[fear]] in their voice.
"He told me to [[kill him.]]"
"So you're ashamed," they say, taking a step forward. "So you don't want to [[listen.]]"
You’ve seen this person, this man before, briefly, before his door was slammed in yours. He’s very wealthy and very reclusive and you have been looking for him. He moves closer.\n“It wants--” he says. “It wants me to push you [[in.]]”
"It's [[beautiful.|beautiful]]"
"Well, what about you?" they ask. "What are [[you]] doing with that <<$weapon>>?"
He moves jerkily forward and you instinctively step [[back]], towards the water.
The man’s limbs are moving jerkily now, a marionette moving closer to you.\n“We have to spread the good word,” he says. “We [[need]] you, child.”
He twists his neck and stares at you out of the corner of his eye. “We see you, child,” he chokes out. “We [[mark]] you.”
Your hand starts to shake. The sea breeze is worming its way into your mouth and nose and finally, finally, the taller one, the one with the cigarette, opens their mouth to [[speak.]]
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
"We'll see," you say. The child looks worried.\n"Do you know if they're..." they say. "[[Y'know.]]"
“Child,” he chokes out. “Child, child, do not [[reject]] us.”
You can taste salt. The one with the scar hasn't stopped smiling, either. Your hand is shaking.\nThe one in the damp fur coat opens their mouth, suddenly. "The waters will part," they say. "and you will [[end.|end2]]"
"Charity--" says Gallagher.\n"Child!" yells Charity. You close your eyes against their voice. "Do you not [[love]] us?"
The waves have begun to lap at your heels and the man is choking now, coughing, falling to his knees. You close your eyes and feel the spray on your [[back.]]
"It's [[many things]]," you reply.
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
"We can show you," they say, trying to step forward again. <<if $weapon is "knife">>[[You gesture with your knife.|knife]]<<endif>><<if $weapon is "gun">>[[You fire a shot into the air.|gun]]<<endif>>
The child quiets. Looks around like someone besides you might hear what they say next.\n"Can you really [[hear it]]?" they ask.
His eyes roll towards yours and his mouth twitches into a smile that’s not his. “Child,” he gasps. “The oceans--the oceans will [[part]], child.”
The child starts to cry. You reach out to hold them and they [[let you.]]
The child has started to cry. They are too young and too afraid.\nYou crane your neck to stare at the ocean [[behind you.|behind]]
He wrinkles his nose. “Maybe,” he says. “Let me get back to you.”\nYou laugh a little. “Okay,” you say.\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\nYour knife glints in the [[moonlight.]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\nYour gun shines dully in the [[moonlight.]]\n<<endif>>
"In the [[end.|end5]]"
"They're very [[loud.]]"
“The oceans will part and you will [[end|end4]].”
The man has started opening and closing his mouth like a fish, eyes screwed shut, and you can see the strings start to [[pull]] at him.
"It'll be fine," you say. "I have a <<$weapon>>."\nThey let out a bark of a laugh before they start to cry. [[You walk on.|on]]
<<if $weapon is "secret">>\s\nThe shorter one looks at you more closely and narrows their eyes, still grinning. "Now, is that really true?" they say.\n"Yes," you say. [["Go away."|go away]]\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "knife">>\s\nThe shorter one's eyes glitter in the dark. \n"It's its gift, you know," they say. "To show us the [[end.]]"\n<<endif>>\s\n<<if $weapon is "gun">>\s\nThe shorter one's eyes glitter in the dark. \n"It's its gift, you know," they say. "To show us the [[end.]]"\n<<endif>>
“We know you can [[hear]] us, child.”
"I'm looking for [[someone]]," you say.
The child shrugs. "Okay," they say. "Do you want to look [[together]]?"
"Well," you say. "It's only a few more [[days.|days]]"
"You think you're too good for this?" [[Step.]]
"Turn--turn--" they begin, closing their eyes, furrowing their brow, almost weeping. You can hear the ocean puppeteering their vocal chords. "Turn your gaze towards the water and embrace your ending. The oceans will part and you will end. The oceans will part and you will [[end.|end]]"
You can see waves behind your [[eyes.]]
Their voice lowers again. "Answer us, child," they murmur. "Do you not [[hear|hear3]] us?"
They look excited now, beginning to gesture wildly with their hands. "But you can--"\n"Stop," you say.\n"Gallagher," says the taller one, looking pointedly at their companion, and then they turn towards [[you.]]
“Well,” you say. “don’t do [[that.]]”
"Yes," you reply. The child nods, staring at the wood beneath their feet.\n"So they're..." They [[trail off.]]
"I want to know what [[happens.]]"
You can hear the ocean’s siren [[song.]]
You are quiet. You can feel the fingers writhing behind you on the [[waves.]]
"Do you not [[hear|hear2]] us?"
"Embrace your [[ending]]," they murmur.
Outside you can see people peeking at you from windows, like always. Don't meet their eyes. Keep walking.\nYou meet a sea dog in their late stages in the first five minutes. They are blue-tinged and shambling, saltwater bubbling up at the edges of their mouth, and they look at you with such [[pain.|pain]]
"I heard we only have a few [[days.]]"
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.
You close your eyes.\n"The--the [[thing in the ocean]], I mean," whispers the child.
“You can’t hide [[forever.|forever]]”
The stars above are pale and weak, and the rolling sea is dark and deep.