The Path (v0.0.7)

Apologies! You are using an outdated browser which lacks required capabilities. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Initializing. Please wait…

<<Vars 2>>\ \ <<if $A1 is 1>>"Alright, if you must," Kennelly says. Armen's brow furrows, as though he can detect a hint of hesitation. "\ <<elseif $A1 is 2>>"I don't know, you better not pull something weird on us," Kennelly says, and Armen simply chuckles to himself. "But…whatever. \ <<elseif $A1 is 3>>"You've gotta give me something," Kennelly says. Armen tilts his head and thinks it over, but he offers only that it will definitely be enjoyable for everyone. "Ugh…whatever," Kennelly sighs. "<</if>>\ Come on. I need some coffee." The two of them walk out of the lab. The white and silver halls of the facility echo their footsteps, and they nod politely at a researcher they pass on their way to the break room. "If nothing else," Armen says as they walk, "we should take her over to Orlovo for a few drinks, hm?" The Agency's Aber Kadzer facility, a near military-scale base hidden in the taiga of northern Russia, is the place that Armen, Kennelly, and a hundred other researchers and Agents call home. The little town of Orlovo is the only population center within a hundred miles. The base features recreational options to help keep personnel sane, but Orlovo is the only respite for those seeking something removed from Agency life. Kennelly considers this as the two of them enter the break room, a public space so polished and well-maintained that it makes his office look like a child's bedroom. The couches and armchairs are upholstered with a soft, turquoise material that appears suede but is immune to spills and dirt. Screens embedded in the walls display news stations from across the globe, eerily silent and littered with subtitles. A series of machines along a counter sit prepared to dispense any snack or beverage a researcher may need as they slave away over the Agency's many projects. While some people grow used to such amenities, seeing it still warms Kennelly's nerdy heart. Three touches on one of these devices has it brewing a strong cup of hazelnut coffee. Kennelly knows that bringing Natalie out to Orlovo would be a normal thing to do—getting out of the facility, having a few drinks, bonding with friends. It sounds well and good, but it is very much against his own shut-in nature. This leads him to assume that Natalie would probably enjoy it. "Alright, let's take her to the pub tomorrow night," he says. "But we probably shouldn't tell her why." Armen nods, though his expression is distracted, betraying the secret machinations brewing behind his eyes. "Don't plan anything too //crazy//," Kennelly jabs, taking his coffee and blowing on it. Armen looks up sharply. "Ha. Ha." "Oi," the two of them hear from behind. They turn around to see a tall and broad-shouldered man wearing an almost too-tight gray teeshirt and black jeans. Thin-rimmed, rectangular spectacles rest on his ruddy nose just above a full ginger beard that cavorts over a firm chin and friendly jawline. The man's expression is approachable but hesitant, as if he's afraid to interrupt but also quite intent on doing so. Kennelly swirls his coffee cup in a circle. "Uh, Brighton, right?" he says, recognizing the man. "In…archives?" "You remember!" Brighton says in his Scottish accent, his lips barely betraying a shy smile. Kennelly motions to Armen with his coffee cup and introduces him. "I believe we've met at least once'r twice," Brighton says with a nod and firm handshake. "I hate to interrupt, but I over'eard you talkin' about headin' into the local waterin' hole. Been havin' a right mean kickin' to get off the compound, if ye catch the meanin'. Mind if I tag along?" Kennelly opens his mouth awkwardly, and Armen simply raises his eyebrows. It's not as if these are the most official of plans, but they don't know the Scotsman. If memory serves correctly, Brighton is quiet and studious in his work, but rumors tell of him becoming boisterous in social situations. Kennelly has a vague recollection of something less-than-professional happening at a facility Christmas party. <<click "Inviting Brighton could be fun" "A-3">><<set $A2 to 1>><<set $Brighton += 1>><</click>> <<click "Not really sure either way" "A-3">><<set $A2 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Bad idea, Natalie doesn't know Brighton" "A-3">><<set $A2 to 3>><<set $Brighton -= 1>><</click>>

<<Vars 1>><<set $A1 to 0>>\ \ ''13:12PM, January 11th, 2▓▓▓'' "Bleeding fucking Christ," Armen shouts, barging into Kennelly's lab with as much tact as a home invasion. "Fuck them to the ether of space and back." Kennelly examines the cut across his index finger with a sigh. Armen's sudden intrusion had jolted the pale digit right across the edge of a manila envelope. A drizzle of <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">> had spattered onto a small box—an object from the scene of a paranormal incident, left all too casually on Kennelly's desk. In the corner of his eye, Kennelly had a chance to catch the red box glow in response to this fluid contact, but such an event is lost to notice with Armen's caustic declarations. "Agent? Ha! 'If you'd like to be an Agent, you ought to pass your psych evals, Mr. Monroe, because, as it stands, you're pretty much a crazy person.' " Armen drops onto a lab stool and spins around, scanning the chaotic room strewn with instruments, sealed specimens, and papers. Halfway through this rotation, Armen notices Kennelly's assistant, Gupta, standing like a deer before the oncoming traffic that is his rage, darting her dark eyes between Armen and the door. "Never stick your neck out for anyone!" he shouts at her. Only with this offense does Kennelly finally look up from the cut on his finger to acknowledge his old friend. With a wave of a hand, he manages to wrest the attention of his research assistant from Armen's ravings. "Gupta, you're done here for the day," he says. "It appears this strange man requires some assistance. Perhaps he's become possessed by a supernatural force." Neither Kennelly's body nor his expression acknowledge Armen's presence directly, but his assistant nods quickly, implying her complete understanding of her boss's dry sarcasm. She begins to pick up her things to leave. "Yes Dr. Crayton," she says, scurrying around Armen and towards the door, where she pauses and adds a respectful "have a good day" before leaving. Kennelly responds to this with a muttered "uh huh and you," puts the wounded finger in his mouth, and picks up the wooden box with the other hand. Armen spins absentmindedly in circles on the stool, aware that his friend is refusing to acknowledge his tantrum, and thus equally refusing to acknowledge Kennelly's refusal. "These god damn dream therapy sessions," Armen mutters. "Endangers the lives of others, reckless, mentally perturbed…it's all in dreams! Such a bullshit way to judge someone." Kennelly knows that Armen is running off quotes from an Oversight Council review, one designed to determine whether the man is ready to become a Field Agent, the evidence of which is based off of both the Agency's new dream therapy technique and general psych evals. He finds the quoted observations to be apt, though he knows Armen has the best intentions in his desire to be an Agent. With no constructive advice to offer that he hasn't said before, Kennelly examines the red box and realizes he is unable to find where his <<Blood2 "blood" "Blood">> spilled on its surface. The small cube is made of an unidentifiable wood (the bio labs checked and double-checked) with a natural red coloring (no dyes could be found in its substance), a red as such that a few drops seem to have disappeared into it. He is aware that he //technically// just contaminated evidence from a catastrophic event, an event from a year earlier charmingly called "The Flesh Warehouse Incident," an event that grips the two men, Armen and Kennelly, close to each other with a hand that one might argue belongs to fate itself. Aside from the odd property of being //naturally// bright red wood, the box exhibits no paranormal or otherwise notable features—thus its careless placement. It doesn't open, there's nothing inside of it, there's no markings on it. It was found on the scene, and quickly determined to have no apparent relevance to the events that occurred. As humans often handle trauma, neither of these men discuss or think about that event much at all anymore, and the box unfortunately remains on Kennelly's desk more as a memento of his mistakes. The purposeless cube is an almost ironic reminder of his constant need to //figure it out//. All that as it is, Kennelly sets the box aside and says, "No one thinks you're crazy." Armen picks up a piece of loose wire and, twisting it around his fingers until the tips turn white, says that they must think he's crazy, because with one fuck up they won't let him become an Agent and assume he will endanger the lives of others for shits and giggles. "You don't always follow the rules," Kennelly says flatly, keeping his focus on his desk. "Which somehow has worked out well enough for you as an engineer, but it won't fly as a Field Agent." He knows this will only inflame Armen's internal self-loathing, but that's an unavoidable casualty in being friends with such a man. "Don't you enjoy the lab?" Armen ignores the question and notices the red box. "Why do you //still// have that, it's just a stupid piece of wood." He has expressed time and again that Kennelly ought to forget it and everything related to the warehouse incident. Back when they had tried talking about it with one another (having been silent on the topic for months), Armen insisted that there was nothing to be "figured out," that it was a random tragedy that couldn't be avoided. Kennelly reasons such thinking is what allows Armen to live with what happened. As their psych counselor friend, Natalie, would say, "everyone finds their own methods to cope." Like a hostage giving over to Stockholm syndrome, Kennelly finally turns around and looks Armen full in the man's intense, hazel eyes. With his gaunt, olive features gathered into a scowl below his pitch-black hair, Armen fails to look intimidating. His face is handsome enough, but lacks the natural masculine violence that his personality attempts to make up for. An engineer wearing a purple button-up shirt and black vest, the man is overdressed for a lab, let alone an Oversight Council hearing. Kennelly decides in all of a moment that the best course of action for the both of them is to change the subject. "I found out Natalie's birthday," he says, referring to their close mutual friend at the facility. Armen's expression turns from sour to excited, as though replaced by another self. "I had a reason to get access to other personnel records. Really shouldn't have looked at hers, but…" "But fuck it!" Armen says. "She's kept that a secret since I met her. Well, when is it?" Kennelly says that it's two days from now, and Armen's eyes light up in a concerning manner. "Then we have to surprise her. Oh, that's perfect! I have a good idea…but…I can't tell you, it's too great." Armen keeping a secret surprise gives Kennelly an odd and sickeningly bad feeling about whatever his friend has in store. Everything Armen had muttered was true: the man can be reckless and hot-headed, prone to put his own goals first even if there might be consequences, always focused on a path to getting what will fulfill him next. \ <<click "That's not a good idea.">><<set $A1 += 1>> <<if $A1 lt 3>><<replace "#option1">>\ T̑ͦͪͬ̄̎͂ȟͧ̔ͣ̎ͫ̀aͤ͌́ͩͦẗͮ̔̉̅̽̐'s̆́ ͊̅́͊n̈́o͊ͨ͐ͮ̈̑t̃ͦ̐ͧ̾͑̉ aͯ͐̈ ͋̽̀̿͌̊g̈̿ͤ̾̄̄o̎͐ͤ̍̈oͯ̒̆ͧ̉ͥͫd͆ͧ ̊ͯͪ̑i̍̾dͦ̀̈́̐ͪͨͤe̐̈̂a͗ͣ͛͊ͧ̉.͊͗͒ͤͮ̆̄\ <</replace>><<elseif $A1 is 3>> <<A1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "I have a bad feeling.">><<set $A1 += 1>> <<if $A1 lt 3>><<replace "#option2">>\ I̷ ̶h͞a̛v̡e̷ a ͠ba͏d͞ ҉f̀e̴el͏i̛n͠g҉.\ <</replace>><<elseif $A1 is 3>> <<A1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "I can't see how that would go well.">><<set $A1 += 1>> <<if $A1 lt 3>><<replace "#option3">>\ I͖̠̰̰̬̘ ̤͍͉͙̜̥c̮̙̜̠͉̗̟ạ͍̤͍̜̹n'̖̩̱̝t͍ s̳̪e̼̤̤e̖͇͕̣͍͈ h͈̥͓͓̼ͅo͙̞̹̤̩w͔͇̙ ͙͇̺͇̭̰ț̞͕̥h̠͚͈͚̜̼̩a͖̥͍ͅt̼͖̬͚ w͕̱o͈̗̬͎ṷ̰̫̪l͚̱̪d̥̺̘̪̙̥ ̪̝̳g͖̩͙̣o͍͉͖̼ ͉̻̤͖̰̬̲w̟͕̼̙ͅe̳̭l͕̮̼̜͎ḻ̻̫̟̺.\ <</replace>><<elseif $A1 is 3>> <<A1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>>\ \ \ \ /* PART A FROZEN CHOICE */\ <<widget "A1ChoiceSwitch">><<replace "#ChoiceGlitch">>\ <<click "…However, something in the back of Kennelly's mind makes him think">><<replace "#glitch">>…H▓w≡v≡r, s▒m≡thing iℵ th≡ back ░f K≡₦₦≡lly's miⓝd mak≡s him thi∩k<</replace>><<A1ChoiceGlitch>><</click>> it might just be all right. After all, it's some kind of present for their mutual friend's birthday, what exactly could go wrong? It's not Kennelly's place to do to his friend what the Oversight Council just did, and a dozen people aren't going to die over a birthday surprise. <</replace>>\ \ <<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Allow him to keep his secret" "A-2">><<set $A1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Remark that it sounds fishy" "A-2">><<set $A1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ask to be let in on it" "A-2">><<set $A1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</widget>> <<widget "A1ChoiceGlitch">><<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Ω all▓w him t░ kⒺⒺp his s≡cr≡t" "A-2">><<set $A1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ω rɘmark that it s░u∩ds fishy" "A-2">><<set $A1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ω ask t▒ b≡ lεt iⓝ ▒₦ it" "A-2">><<set $A1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</widget>>

<<Vars 3>>\ \ <<if $A2 is 1>>"Sure," Kennelly says. He doesn't see how it could hurt anything for Brighton to come, Natalie is herself a fairly inviting and friendly person, and focusing so rigorously on his own work has left Kennelly with a notable social void in his life recently. "Yeah, of course," Armen chimes in.\ \ <<elseif $A2 is 2>>Mulling it over, Kennelly can't bring himself to feel strongly one way or the other about it, so he simply looks at Armen and shrugs. "What do you think?" Brighton turns his face expectantly to Armen, a hand fidgeting at the edge of his pocket. "The more the merrier," Armen says sincerely, without skipping a beat.<</if>>\ \ <<if $A2 lt 3>> Brighton's small eyes light up in excitement, though the rest of him remains reserved, as though he's trying to hold something back. Kennelly wonders when the man was last invited along to socialize with anyone. "Super," Brighton says. Armen explains that they'll be in touch by email soon about the exact time tomorrow night, and Brighton gives a heavy nod before making his way back to his own office.\ \<<else>>"Uh," Kennelly says, looking down at the floor with an uncomfortable weight in his gut. "I dunno, since it's for Natalie's birthday and all…" Brighton's shoulders slump down, though he manages to keep his expression mostly neutral. Kennelly looks at Armen for assistance, but he just shrugs and says it's up to Kennelly. Brighton struggles to keep the polite smile affixed to his face. A low sound starts in the man's throat as he thinks of what to say, clearly not expecting this awkward outcome. "Ah, yes." He clears his throat. "Fair enough, sorry again to intrude." Armen tosses him a "No problem, maybe next time?" consolation, and Brighton just replies with a soft "aye." The archivist walks away, his gait slow, stripped of the earlier nervousness. Armen throws Kennelly wide eyes that might be saying "way to be a dick," but Kennelly just coughs stiffly and takes a drink of his coffee.<</if>> As they walk back to the lab, Armen begins running his mouth off about the Oversight Council in a hushed voice, and Kennelly finds himself tuning out as he stares far too intently at the coffee in his hands. The dark fluid slides side to side in the disposable cup, countless atoms smashing against each other in the complex interactions of their fluid dynamics, an endless chaotic motion that gives rise to what appears to be but a mundane occurrence from the massive scale of the human eye. "Uh, hey," Armen says at the door to Kennelly's lab. "Anyone home?" He knocks on the door to the empty lab. Kennelly doesn't explain himself or acknowledge his friend's humorous gesture. "We should probably get back to work." "I've got the day off," Armen says. "They decided to give me one nice thing after pulling my hopes and dreams out from beneath me." He sighs and crosses his arms. "I'll probably go back to the lab regardless, but…you seem rather distracted—as in //more than usual//. <<if $A2 is 1>>Inviting that Brighton guy along bothering you<<elseif $A2 is 2>>Did you mean to say you don't want that Brighton guy to come along<<elseif $A2 is 3>>You bothered we didn't invite that Brighton guy along<</if>>?" Kennelly shakes his head. "There's just a lot on my mind." "Stop me if I'm being too //psychoanalytical//, or whatever, but what's the most important thing?" Armen asks. "You seem a lot more serious than normal this afternoon." <<click "Understanding past incidents" "A-4">><<set $A3 to 1>><<set $past += 1>><</click>> <<click "Enjoying this night out with friends" "A-4">><<set $present += 1>><<set $A3 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Making future discoveries" "A-4">><<set $A3 to 3>><<set $future += 1>><<set $Armen += 1>><</click>>

<<Vars 4>>\ \ <<if $A3 is 1>>"It's not something you like to talk about," Kennelly says, pushing open the door to his lab and making his way back to his desk. "But I find myself still thinking a lot about the past, and about…you know, what happened." Armen rolls his eyes, but sits down at a stool again and appears reluctantly willing to listen. He did ask, after all, and Kennelly feels like getting things off his chest. "We both know that I thought I understood what was happening in the Flesh Warehouse…" It's a name they don't utter often, one both ominous in its own right and even more so given what happened during that incident a year ago. "I still think we //can// understand the things we investigate, that everything fits into //some// kind of system, no matter how abstract or 'supernatural.' Even things as crazy as psychic fields have //rules//. But it's hard. I try, and I wonder…how much trying is 'enough?' " Kennelly leans back in his chair and stares vacantly at the white-tiled ceiling, looking past it and into the spaces of his own mind. Armen shakes his head. "No clue why that's hanging you up now more than any other time, but I can't be focusing on the past," he says and stands up. "If I spent all my time wondering where we went wrong, how those guys died, why the things I…why it happened…well, I'd probably just go even crazier. And then I'd never become an Agent…" Armen gestures at the red box on the desk. "Every time I think of that day, I feel myself being pulled back from the person I want to be." The edges of Kennelly's mouth curl up into something almost like a smile, and he finds this admission from Armen uncharacteristically metaphorical. He keeps this to himself, though. "Yeah, well, I can't ignore the past. If I do, I won't figure anything out…" Armen shrugs and walks towards the exit. "Figuring it out is your job," he says. "I just want to be the one to stop it after you do."\ \ <<elseif $A3 is 2>>"No, no. Maybe it sounds weird," Kennelly says, pushing open the door to his lab and making his way back to his desk. "But I guess I'm mostly just thinking about going out with you guys. I haven't really left the facility for a while…" Armen rolls his eyes as he sits down at a stool again. "How long has it been this time?" Kennelly thinks for a moment, relaxing onto the desk and tapping a thumb on his chin. "I suppose about six months." Armen lets out a curt laugh at this. "It was when I went to that summit on reconciling psychic fields with general relativity." Armen comments with over-played sarcasm that this sounds like a load of fun. "Oh, it was enjoyable. I forget that it helps to re-frame problems when I get exposure to outside experiences. Of course, as Natalie always insists, there's something to be said for enjoying what we can 'in the moment,' per se, so…well, anyways, I suppose I'm looking forward to Orlovo." Kennelly leans back in his chair and stares vacantly at the white-tiled ceiling, looking past it and into the spaces of his own mind. Armen's ironed shirt crinkles at the shoulders as he shrugs. "It's not just Natalie, I keep saying you've gotta get out and do things more," he says, standing up and beginning to pace around the table. "Get some balance in life, however the fuck you want to put it." Armen gestures to Kennelly's desk. "Work is good, yeah, but you work better if you try new things sometimes. That's how I get shit done." The edges of Kennelly's mouth curl up into something almost like a smile, knowing Armen's desire for adventure all too well. "Hey, I //do// things," Kennelly says, and his friend comments that playing video games and reading books don't count. "Well maybe there is something to be said for finding enjoyment in what we do?" he challenges. "You are such a fucking workaholic." Armen smiles and shrugs, walking to the exit. "Natalie's right. You push too hard sometimes."\ \ <<elseif $A3 is 3>>"Oh, you know," Kennelly says, pushing open the door to his lab and making his way back to his desk. "Mostly the same ol' same ol', just trying to keep up with what's next." Armen rolls his eyes as he sits down at a stool again. "Well, what are you working on specifically? If it won't take stupidly long to explain." "Eh," Kennelly says. "I really am just trying to figure out what might be most important down the line—psychic fields, nano-tech, you know…Not that we can ever really //know// until it happens, but the better I understand what we have here, the better prepared we can be for whatever weird crap the universe is cooking up where we can't see." Armen comments that predicting the future is an admirable order. "Well, if I can't figure it out //now//, perhaps whatever happens //then// might just be the missing puzzle piece…" Kennelly leans back in his chair and stares vacantly at the white-tiled ceiling, looking past it and into the spaces of his own mind. Armen nods. "Yeah, all that weird crap…we're gonna kick its ass." Armen gestures at the red box on the desk. "Sure, bad shit happened, and it happens, and it's gonna keep happening. I don't want to sound like some dumb action movie or something, but…well, we'll be there when it does." The edges of Kennelly's mouth curl up into something almost like a smile, the sincerity of Armen's passion and cynical optimism catching him off guard. "Yeah, I suppose we will." Armen shrugs and walks to the exit. "Maybe the future you, the person all this stuff builds up to…maybe he's figured it all out already."\ \ <</if>> He stops with one foot out the door. "By the way, I was gonna stop by Archives about a camera to bring with us. I know you don't really care about pictures, blah blah, whatever, Natalie might, but do you think I should grab a photo or video camera?" "Couldn't we just use our phones?" Kennelly asks, trying to be practical. "Like some sort of cavemen?" Armen rolls his eyes. "Dear friend, we have some of the best equipment in the world at our disposal, why behave like barbarians? Photo or video." It's more a demand than a question. <<click "Take video camera" "A-5">><<set $A4 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Take photo camera" "A-5">><<set $A4 to 2>><</click>>

<<Vars 5>><<set $A5 to 0>><<set $A5a to false>><<set $A5b to false>><<set $A5c to false>><<set $A5d to false>>\ \ <<if $A4 is 1>>"Uh, I guess the video camera?" Kennelly says. "I don't know, brings the events to life more I guess. I doubt we'll use it much either way."<<else>>"Uh, I guess the photo camera?" Kennelly says. "I don't know, that's the normal thing to do, take pictures or whatever."<</if>> "You manage to shit on a party before the party even starts," Armen says snidely. "<<Photo>> it is." He steps out of the office without a backwards glance. A soft jingle sounds from another desk across the room. Kennelly picks himself up from his introspective perch and carries his body to the laptop vying for his attention. It turns out to be a reminder notification for a meeting that was already canceled this afternoon. Thinking about what to focus his efforts on next, Kennelly notices the personnel database he left open when he was looking up details on new potential research assistants. This is how he found out Natalie's birthday—not that she would work with him, they're in totally different departments, he was just prying into her file. A nagging in the back of his head reminds him that there are background records on everyone in these files. If he wanted to, he could look into his friends, or even himself, to see what first-level information the Agency keeps on each of them. Of course, opening any of it would leave his digital signature, a note in a database remarking that he was there. Given the pull Kennelly has at the Agency, he doesn't expect that anyone would be particularly concerned—none of the deep stuff would be here, nothing beyond his clearance level. However, there is the moral consideration, as it's not exactly //polite// to go looking into the personal and professional details of other people, even if they //are// his friends. \ \ \ \ \ <<A5AClick>>\ <<A5BClick>>\ <<A5CClick>>\ <<if $A2 isnot 3>><<A5DClick>><</if>>\ <<click "Don't check any files (move on >)" "A-6">><</click>>

<<Vars 7>><<set $B1 to 0>>\ \ ''20:13PM, January 12th, 2▓▓▓'' Natalie betrayed no suspicion when Armen and Kennelly insisted on bringing her out, and in fact seemed quite eager for the opportunity. The next evening, the three friends<<if $A2 lt 3>> and their incidental guest<</if>> zipped up downy parkas, <<if $A2 lt 3>>and jumped<<else>>and were surprised in the garage by the presence of Brighton, the archivist from yesterday. Armen clapped the man on the massive shoulder and explained that he invited him along, ignoring Kennelly's bug-eyed look of confusion at this. Natalie just smiled, polite as always, as they all jumped<</if>> into one of the facility's lesser-equipped jeeps (no global satellite surveillance packages, no heavy boxes of stun-, shot-, or hand-guns), heading to the town of Orlovo. <<if $A2 is 3>>Outside the pub, Kennelly pulls his friend aside for an explanation as to how Brighton ended up here. "Look mate," Armen whispers. "I saw him in archives when I went to get the camera, and he just…looks //so// sad. He's like a big ginger puppy!" Kennelly asks why Armen has to make him the asshole here. "Oh, friend, you do that all on your own with your bounty of social ineptitude." He ruffles Kennelly's hair and heads into the pub with a chuckle. <</if>>\ \ Now, they cluster around a round table in the town's only pub, hanging their coats and scarves over the tall, high-backed chairs as Armen asks a barmaid for beers. The mugs brought out are twice as large as Armen expected. "I coulda told ye," Brighton says, and Kennelly doesn't doubt it. Once they are settled, Armen stands, proposes a toast to "escaping horrors," and hold his glass up jovially. Natalie brushes her blond bangs to one side and lifts her drink with a wry smile. Brighton picks his own up with an uncomfortable motion of his shoulders and arms, <<if $A2 is 1>>though he seems excited to be here<<elseif $A2 is 2>>though he seems tentatively happy to be here<<elseif $A2 is 3>>and he awkwardly avoids eye-contact with Kennelly<</if>>. Staring at the glass of foaming amber fluid before him, Kennelly feels a sudden empty pit in his stomach, and he clears his throat. "Actually…I think I'll abstain tonight," he says. "What!" Armen shouts like a thunderclap. "Come on man, why would you even…I mean…ugh, Natalie, can you talk sense into him?" He drops down into his chair. "Uh," Natalie says, waving her glass in a hesitating circle as she glances around at the other three. Brighton is still awkwardly holding his own mug up, and his face<<if $A2 is 3>> does in fact<</if>> remind Kennelly of a puppy longing for a treat. "Well, why do you feel like abstaining?" Natalie says. Armen's eyes plead to Kennelly, as if to say <<if $A2 lt 3>>"really, man?"<<else>>"is this you getting back at me?"<</if>> \ <<click "Just don't like drinking that much.">><<set $B1 += 1>> <<if $B1 lt 3>><<replace "#option1">>\ J͂͛͗ͯͮǘ̽͑̚sͦͣͯ̃͗̈͗t̒ͫͥ̋ͭ ͂ͨ̾̂dͦ͂ͥ̉̃̎͊oͤn͑̏̎͊̅'͌̅t͗͒ ͭͭ̏ͬ̆ͥl͗ī̒ͨk͒͗ͬ̾e̾ͣͣ ̂̔̇̚dͫ̑ȓͦͣi̽͊͛͂ͧ́͐nk̃͑̑̆͐̒inͯ̏g̓̍̏̋͛ ͨ́ͤ́ͣͣth͒ͨ̑ͣ̎̎ͧaͪͥͬ̎̈t̾͂͌ ͐mú̈́̒͐̍ċͬ̐͌͊̈́hͧ͂͊͆ͧ̈͑.\ <</replace>><<elseif $B1 is 3>> <<B1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "Want to keep my head on straight.">><<set $B1 += 1>> <<if $B1 lt 3>><<replace "#option2">>\ W̨an̕t to ̛k͝eep ͟mỳ ͠h̢e͞ad͢ ón şţra͜i͝gh̢t̸.\ <</replace>><<elseif $B1 is 3>> <<B1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "I have work to get done this weekend.">><<set $B1 += 1>> <<if $B1 lt 3>><<replace "#option3">>\ I̲̪̹̥ ̠h͚̤a͖ve ̪͉̞͙̟̥w͔̗o̝̟̺̪r̘k͈͚̤ ̗ț͙̯̖̞̭o̗̤͍͎͈ ͙g͍̳̠̳̲̪ḛ̱̹̲͓t ̙̼̹̯̝͕ḍ̜͉̜̯̝̩o̩͔n̤̦̗̱ͅe͖̲͔ t̰̹̰̝h̬̦̲i̲̞̮̞s̺͉̳ ̦̠̠̝̹̠̻w͕̝̹͙͉͇̠e̺e̠͍͉ken̞̥͙̼̹̠d.\ <</replace>><<elseif $B1 is 3>> <<B1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>>\ \ \ /* PART B FROZEN CHOICE */\ <<widget "B1ChoiceSwitch">><<replace "#ChoiceGlitch">>\ <<click "…Kennelly wonders, and realizes that he's not entirely sure. He just feel like…it would a really bad idea">><<replace "#glitch">>…Kennelly ʍ⊗nders, and realizes ╬hat he's n๏☩ en₮irely sure. He jusⓣ feels like…i☩ ⓦⓞuld be a really bad idea<</replace>><<B1ChoiceGlitch>><</click>>. Maybe he's uncomfortable with the idea of drinking around someone he <<if $A2 lt 3>>doesn't know that well<<else>>told couldn't come with them on this jaunt<</if>>, but he <<if $A2 lt 3>>doesn't know how to<<else>>can't just<</if>> say that on the spot. "I, uh, well…I guess I don't know," he manages to stutter. He finds himself a bit embarrassed, remembering all the shit he's gotten from various friends for being such a shut-in throughout his life. Brighton, understanding that they aren't going to start drinking yet, puts his beer down on the table, leaving a hand on it. <<if $A2 lt 3>>"Our car drives itself, doesn't it?" he asks, and Natalie nods. "Never needed a designated driver the few times I've come out here m'self."<<else>>Kennelly figures the archivist would have no trouble drinking without any of them joining in.<</if>> Armen shakes his head back and forth for several seconds. "We came to kick back and relax, right?" He stares down Kennelly, grabs his mug, and holds it out firmly. "Come on." From anyone else, it might come across as rudely insistent, but Kennelly knows Armen better. His friend is looking out for him in his own weird way. <</replace>>\ \ <<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Allow the fun this time" "B-2">><<set $B1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Begrudgingly accept" "B-2">><<set $B1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Agree to one drink" "B-2">><<set $B1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</widget>> \ <<widget "B1ChoiceGlitch">><<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Ω all⊙ω ┬he fun ╬his ₮ime" "B-2">><<set $B1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ω begrudgingly accep₮" "B-2">><<set $B1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ω agree ☩◔ ☻ne drink" "B-2">><<set $B1 to 3>><</click>><</replace>>\ <</widget>>

<<Vars 11>>\ \ /* ANSWER 1a */\ <<if $B4 is 1>>"If I'm being completely honest," Kennelly says carefully, knowing that with Armen he might be treading difficult grounds. "And assuming that this wish-granting house truly transcends time and space…<<if $B3 isnot 3>>Not that I think such a thing exists, but if it did, then <</if>>I would probably try to change the past." \ \ /* ANSWER 2a */\ <<elseif $B4 is 2>>"Assuming this wish-granting house can truly do anything," Kennelly says. "<<if $B3 isnot 3>>Not that I think such a thing could ever exist, but if it did, <</if>>I think I would wish to increase my own intelligence." \ \ /* ANSWER 3a */\ <<elseif $B4 is 3>>"This might sound a bit much," Kennelly says. "But assuming this wish-granting house can transcend time itself, <<if $B3 isnot 3>>not that I believe in it, but if it could,<</if>> I think I'd shoot for something like immortality." \ <</if>>\ \ His third beer before him <<if $B1 is 3>>(and what happened to only one?)<</if>>, Kennelly wonders if he's about to run his mouth off <<if $B3 isnot 1>>a bit<</if>> too much. /* ANSWER 1b */\ <<if $B4 is 1>>He takes the blunt approach. "What happened at the warehouse is the worst thing I've ever seen," he continues. He doesn't have to explain this event to Brighton<<if $A5d is true>>, even if it did happen before the man joined their facility<</if>>, as it is one of the most recent catastrophic incidents that has occurred with Aber Kadzr staff. "That was all caused by my own ignorance…my own //arrogance// even…" With this, Kennelly falls silent. Armen is also quiet, his lips tight as his fingers grip his mug with such intensity that the knuckles have turned white. Natalie puts a hand on Kennelly's arm in a kind gesture, at a loss for anything else to do—she doesn't say anything, but he feels like she probably thinks this wish would be foolish. "Aye…" Brighton says quietly, taking another heavy swig. "A noble wish, that is. We can't really say what might be today were the past to change, but perhaps it would be worth the attempt." The answer seems to have drained the whole group of good humor.\ \ /* ANSWER 2b */\ <<elseif $B4 is 2>>"It would be useful," he continues. "Hopefully I could understand things better and stop more bad things before they strike." Armen pointedly looks away from him. "Greater intelligence would help me answer questions that…well, if I'm honest, questions that eat away at me every damn day." Armen laughs, though the sound is darker now, having lost some of its good nature. "Maybe a smarter Dr. Crayton would be on the Oversight Council," he says. "Get me in the ranks of the Agents." Kennelly doesn't respond to this<<if $B3 isnot 3>>, not wanting to entertain the whole "wishing" idea that much further<</if>>. "I don't know about that," Natalie says. "But I could see myself wishing for something similar, something that helps me see the things around me with a little more clarity." Kennelly figures that she doesn't mean raw intellect, but a concept more subtle. Brighton clears his throat after another heavy swig. "Who can say what a greater intellect might comprehend?" he says. "For all we might guess, such a power would render reality even more confusin' or terrifyin'. There might not be anythin' behind the curtain that you want to see." Kennelly doesn't respond to this, feeling it to be a foolish rabbit hole that could go too deep.\ \ /* ANSWER 3b */\ <<elseif $B4 is 3>>"The chance to live agelessly," he continues. "Seeing the world develop, be there as human knowledge and ability expands…I don't think I could hope for anything greater than that." It's something he's thought about a lot, wondering if it will ever be possible using technology of the future. "Really?" Natalie says. "Forever is way too long. For life to have meaning, don't some things have to end?" By her tone, one would think that just thinking about life going on forever makes her anxious. "Of course not," Armen butts in. "With all of the future ahead of you, you could be anything you want. Maybe for a few decades you're an Agent, or an analyst, or //anything//, but then you go off and travel the galaxy, bring any dream you have to life." Kennelly nods. Brighton clears his throat heavily after another swig. "You've got to think it through a bit, I'd wager," he says, solemnly shaking his head with each word. "What consequences might there be to immortality? What if you can't remember all the time that you experience, and you lose everything you once knew…everyone you care for?" This poses a curious question, but one that Kennelly thinks opens up too many hypothetical arguments.\ <</if>> Armen chuckles grimly. "Well then," he says. "This topic is kind of a downer, isn't it?" It's a sincere attempt to change the mood. "Escaping horrors appears to be a challenge for us." The others make half-hearted sounds of agreement. Finishing off their drinks (Brighton already <<if $B2 gte 3>>three<<else>>two<</if>> deeper in than the rest of them), the group manages to stumble its way to a more agreeable topic. They talk about their lack of knowledge of popular trends outside the facility, recognizing that a small town in northern Russia probably isn't the best case study. Armen mocks the outfit of one of the more bedraggled men hitting on a woman at the bar, and Natalie chastises him despite Brighton's hearty chuckles. Kennelly admits that even without the added obstacle of being stuck in the facility, he obviously was never one for keeping track of what's popular. Mugs dwindling, cheeks hot with the thudding of alcohol in their <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>, the group decides that it's getting time to head back. Kennelly can detect a hint of hesitation in Brighton's eyes, as though he were prepared for a longer stay in the bar, but the three friends are more inclined to relax at the residential compound. Besides, the man has already drank <<if $Brighton lt 0>>an obnoxious<<else>>a considerable<</if>> amount, even for his size. Planning a surprise of his own, Kennelly has a chocolate cake lying in wait back in the fridge. He told Armen, but just got mocked for his "small-mindedness" (though Armen still hasn't mentioned what //his// surprise is). The plan is to ask if anyone would like to hang out and watch a movie while enjoying it with some wine. Though some might find this lame, the plan gives Kennelly a very warm feeling as they prepare to leave. Armen heads to the bar to pay the bill as the group slowly exercises the process of layering on their coats and gloves. In the midst of this, they are startled by the presence of a small old woman approaching and declaring something in Russian. Kennelly, Natalie, and Brighton realize that none of them are proficient enough to figure out what she's saying. "Sorry," Natalie says as best she can in the language. "We do not understand." "Please, please," the old woman says in thickly-accented English. "Travelers, you are travelers, you must take." She holds out hands covered in woolen fingerless gloves, clutching something within them. "Take please, you must." "Sorry, no money," Kennelly says awkwardly. "We don't have anything, no thanks." "No, no, free," the woman says, her voice becoming more fervent with every word. "Travelers in danger, you must take. Protection." She grabs Kennelly's hands and forces some small metal object into them. At this, the group can hear the bartender shouting something at the old woman in bombastic Russian. She shrieks incomprehensible words back before turning to Kennelly. He notices now that her eyes are pale—cataracts? No, unnaturally so, milky white spilled across their surfaces. "Please. Not safe, not safe." She shoves past them, making a quick line to the exit and disappearing into the snowy dark beyond. Brighton mutters something with a chuckle, and the other two laugh uncomfortably. "What was that?" Armen asks as he returns to the table. Kennelly can only manage a soft "um," entirely thrown off guard, and Armen gestures to the pendant. "And what is //that//?" Kennelly's brain thaws from its confusion. "Oh," he says. "No clue." He holds it up, dangling a metal pendant from a black nylon cord. The charm is in the shape of an omega symbol, and it is otherwise unremarkable. "She said something about protection?" He looks at Brighton and Natalie for support, but they both appear as baffled as he is. "Good luck charm, I guess," Armen says, fingering the pendant for a moment and then letting it go. "I wonder why the owner was shouting at her. Bothers tourists a lot?" "Tourists," Brighton says with another warm chuckle. "Pretty sure none but us make visits to this little town." Armen shrugs in assent. "Gonna keep it?" he asks Kennelly. <<click "Give it to Brighton" "B-6">><<set $B5 to 1>><<set $Brighton += 1>><</click>> <<click "Give it to Natalie" "B-6">><<set $Natalie += 1>><<set $B5 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Give it to Armen" "B-6">><<set $Armen += 1>><<set $B5 to 3>><</click>>

<<Vars 10>>\ \ <<if $B3 is 1>>"The more important question," adds Kennelly, "is if it appears in your life randomly and travels through all of time and space—a phenomenon I won't admit is possible even despite the many 'imaginary' things we know of—how would we go about finding it?" "Come on, now," Armen responds. "Give me a chance to finish the story before jumping down my throat." To Brighton, "My friend is quite defensive for someone who pretends to not give a shit about it." He gives Kennelly a sarcastic sideways glance. "As to why we would go looking for it…" He settles back into a serious storytelling tone. <<elseif $B3 is 2>>Kennelly keeps his mouth shut. They've been over this many times, and he has expressed his doubts that anything exists on Earth that can travel willy-nilly through space and time. Nothing they've ever seen suggests that such a thing is remotely possible. "Ah, you see," Armen continues, "there's much more to the story than just its strange movements through the universe." He settles into his chair and gives the table a conspiratorial look. \ \ <<elseif $B3 is 3>>"Well, if we are assuming such a place //does// exist," adds Kennelly, "I have to admit that it would be incredibly interesting to examine. Nothing I've ever seen exhibits any such command over time and space. Though, you know, I think that if The Agency knew about it, I would be involved in studying it." "My dear friend presumes a lot," Armen responds, directing his banter in Brighton's direction. "Your compliment of calling him 'the <<if $A2 is 1>>great<<elseif $A2 is 2>>revered<<elseif $A2 is 3>>well-respected<</if>> Dr. Crayton' has certainly gotten to his ego, but we must admire his intellectual curiosity." He chuckles to himself. "As to why we would go looking for it…" With this he settles back into a serious storytelling tone. <</if>>\ \ "Have you ever had a dream where you acquired something—some object or desire deep within you—and then you woke up with frustration to realize that none of it was real?" His voice drops a few decibels lower, and the dim light of the pub gives him a mysterious air. "Well, it is said that those who make it through the tribulations of the Dream House come out of the experience with such a desire fulfilled. The rumor is that the higher-ups keep it a secret because it's practically their own private genie in a bottle." "Or maybe," Natalie interjects, "they don't talk about it because it could interfere with my work." Armen sighs and says it's got nothing to do with dream therapy. "Even if it's technically unrelated, getting it in people's heads that dreams can come true doesn't help with the technique we administer, which //you know// is already disorienting enough." "To be honest," Armen says, "I barely even remember what happens during those sessions." Kennelly has to agree, <<if $B3 isnot 3>>but he doesn't want to add fuel to Armen's fire<<else>>which he does with a nod<</if>>. On the topic of dream therapy, Brighton interjects that he doesn't know much about it. It's a relatively new procedure only used at a few of The Agency's facilities, so Natalie gives the brief rundown. The subject is put into a trance using psychic fields (old knowledge to The Agency, but only recently put to practice). The administering therapist takes advantage of the power of the patient's own mind, using suggestion to guide them through a dreamscape of their own making. This is coupled with typical motivational interviewing and other therapeutic techniques to help patients overcome a variety of psychological issues, though it becomes much more risky when those issues are connected to trauma that can turn the session into something more like a nightmare. Brighton looks skeptical, though a hint of a curiosity remains as a sparkle in his eye. "Ah, well, dreams aside, y're tryin' to tell me there's a magical house that travels the world grantin' wishes?" He licks his upper lip slowly with a concentrated expression. "I suppose I can grant that it's possible, given everything else I've seen." "Ha!" Armen shouts, crossing his arms. "Finally, someone who has some fucking sense." The spell he was casting with the telling of his story is broken by his victorious gloating. <<if $B3 is 1>>Kennelly can't hold back at this one. "Sense?! Come on. Nothing suggests that it's possible to travel through time, let alone grant any wish that someone has." Of course, he's said as much a half-dozen times, but he still can't handle Armen's belief in it. "It's just…it's just…it's stupid!" Brighton nods and admits that there is a fair point here as well. "Even if you can't admit that it's possible," Armen says, gritting his teeth, "you have to at least see why it's exciting to think about." He looks around at them, desperate for validation. Natalie shrugs, her expression bemused. Brighton nods heavily, his gaze is on the table, absorbed in thought. "Wishes…" Kennelly mutters. "How would it even work? How do you grant a wish, what is the mechanism behind it, and what are the limitations of something so…so dumb." Armen agrees that these are all good questions, which is why it would be amazing to locate the Dream House and find out. "However, as you would say, my dear friend," he adds, "\ \ <<elseif $B3 is 2>>Kennelly stifles his annoyance at Armen's suggestion that believing in nonsense equals having sense. The idea of time travel is ridiculous enough, but adding magical wish-granting powers to the conversation takes it well beyond the realm of rational believability. Of course, he's said as much a half-dozen times, and so on this topic, he must give up. "Though my friends here doubt me," Armen continues, "you all have to at least see why it's exciting to think about." He looks around at them, desperate for validation. Natalie shrugs, her expression bemused. Brighton nods heavily, his gaze on the table, absorbed in thought, and Kennelly's silence only leaves the archivist to buy more into Armen's ideas. "Dream House, eh," Brighton mutters. "What sort of wishes does it grant? Is it really anythin' y'want?" "Good question," says Armen. "We can't really know unless we find it. As my dear friend here would say," and he gestures to Kennelly, "\ \ <<elseif $B3 is 3>>"I'm not sure he's entirely on your side," Kennelly says. "He simply said it's possible. Even if all evidence shows time-travel does not fit our physical laws, or if logic dictates that the power to literally grant wishes is irrational to consider…" Kennelly sighs, wondering why he's feeding the troll this time. "When it comes down to it, //technically// there is a non-zero chance that it exists." "I'm glad," Armen says, "even if it's on a technicality, you can finally dream a little." Kennelly wonders if playing along was worth Armen's smug look. "I see the glimmer in your eyes, you also find it exciting to think about." He looks around at them, desperate for validation. Natalie shrugs, her expression bemused. Brighton nods heavily, his gaze on table, absorbed in thought. "Wishes…" Kennelly mutters. "If we are to take it seriously, then we must wonder how it even works. How do you grant a wish, exactly? Are there any rules to it, any limitations?" Armen agrees that these are all good questions, which is why it would be amazing to locate the Dream House and find out. "However, as you would say my dear friend:\ <</if>> hypothesizing without evidence won't get us anywhere." He leans back in his chair. "But…if you //could// wish for anything at all, hm?" Armen shifts his whole chair to face Natalie, giving her a satirically sultry look. "Well, how about you, my dear?" To the two that know him well, Armen's behavior unmistakably marks him for being tipsy on beer. Kennelly wonders if his friend has brought up the topic of wishes just because of Natalie's birthday. Armen seems weirdly adamant about it all this time, way more than usual given how little patience his friends have for it. "Me?" she says, and Armen nods demurely. "Well…when I think of wishes, I don't know if I'd ask for much. Maybe just to retire early and go somewhere nice. A house on the Mediterranean, enough money to live comfortably and help people in need. Or just world peace?" She places a hand on her cheek and suddenly realizes how red in the face she has become over the course of drinking. "It's still…stupid." Her smile is both embarrassed and sincere as she looks up. "Well what about you?" she directs to Armen. "Do you really have to ask?" Armen says. Brighton's face spells out that even if the others are in on it, he certainly doesn't know, so Kennelly explains that Armen wants to become a Field Agent. "Well that's an awfully strange wish," Brighton says with unexpected quickness. "You can have //anythin'//, and y'want to put y'rself in danger?" An odd stillness descends on the table. When Armen finally responds, it's with a much more serious tone than anything that has touched his voice throughout the evening. "No," he says. "I want to //protect// people from danger." Brighton's hand awkwardly scuffs the back of his turtleneck collar as he mutters a soft "aye" and takes a drink. "And you?" Armen says to Brighton. "What might our new friend wish for?" If Brighton has been prone to introspective looks before this moment, the expression that overcomes his face now doubles in its intense inward gaze. Kennelly wonders if it's related to Armen calling him their "friend," a gesture that to some might simply be polite, but to others could be taken much more personally. "Oh, no," Brighton says. "Certainly not anythin' of great interest." He follows this with silence, and they can all tell that, for whatever reason, he would like to avoid answering the question. "What about you, Kennelly?" Natalie says quickly, glossing over the awkwardness with practiced finesse. Of course Kennelly expected this moment, but as the alcohol has crept into his veins, bringing his complete focus to the conversation before him, he has not had much of a chance to consider it. <<click "To undo the mistakes of the past" "B-5">><<set $B4 to 1>><<set $past += 1>><</click>> <<click "Greater intelligence to understand present problems" "B-5">><<set $B4 to 2>><<set $present += 1>><<set $Natalie += 1>><</click>> <<click "Immortality to see all of the future" "B-5">><<set $B4 to 3>><<set $future += 1>><</click>>

<<Vars 9>>\ \ <<if $B2 is 0>>"Sure, it's similar enough," Kennelly says. Armen notices Brighton's empty mug and calls the barmaid over for some refills.\ \ <<elseif $B2 is 1>>"I suppose that's also a part of my own thoughts," Kennelly says as Brighton's mug is refilled. "As a researcher, you know, I'm just trying to figure out what's going on." Brighton nods amiably as he lays into the second beer.\ \ <<elseif $B2 is 2>>"I suppose that's fair enough." Kennelly shrugs and takes a swig of his own beer. Armen lightly drops a hand on the table and clears his throat. "Well, on the topic of escaping the the fucking horrors," he chuckles. "Anyone have a non, uh, 'imaginary' topic of conversation?"\ \ <<elseif $B2 is 3>>"Alright, alright, I suppose I must acquiesce," Kennelly says and takes a swig of beer. He likes an imaginary jaunt as much as anyone—a good book or movie—and he knows that sometimes these are decent enough ways to get some complex truths out of things. "When it comes to philosophical questions such as the meaning of //sentient motivation//, well…perhaps it's not my realm of expertise. Feel free to imagine away." Armen shakes his head. "I toasted to escaping the fucking horrors," he says with a chuckle. "Who can think of something a little less serious?"\ \ <<elseif $B2 is 4>>"Well, on this we're of different minds," Kennelly says and takes a deep swig, avoiding Brighton's eyes. He likes an imaginary jaunt as much as anyone—a good book or movie—but he's not about to use those as his standard for understanding //real life//, nor about to presume that every tragic occurrence has some intelligent source behind it. Natalie adds in explanation that Kennelly doesn't necessarily believe in free-will, which he does not dispute. Armen shakes his head. "Pretty sure I toasted to escaping the fucking horrors," he says with a chuckle. "Who can think of something a little less serious?"\ <</if>> As the conversation turns in a direction unrelated to the bizarre nature of their work, Kennelly watches Natalie to see if she is having fun. A distracted expression crosses her face often, and he wonders if she's realized that they know about her birthday. Into their second round of beers, her longest sentence is wondering aloud why The Agency doesn’t encourage them to get out like this more often, which implies she must be enjoying it at least. She also makes a good point, though. Working for the secret organization that attempts to contain and hide all that is considered "paranormal" practically—and sometimes literally—drives personnel insane. The strangeness of what they work with is liable to bend the mind something fierce, things that bring up questions about the so-called "fundamental laws of the universe," that sometimes make one forget one's link to humanity. The Agency likely finds that keeping its personnel stuck inside is to the advantage of its larger goal—to hide it all away. That's what Kennelly thinks about it, anyway, but he doesn't feel like disagreeing with Natalie's fundamental point, so he just nods and keeps quiet. "You know, this normal-ass bar is fun enough for now," Armen says as he lays into his third beer. "But if we //really// want some adventure, we could try to find the Dream House." Kennelly and Natalie roll their eyes in near perfect synchronicity, but Brighton only expresses bafflement at the phrase. "Oh, you haven't heard?" "We have to apologize in advance," Natalie interjects. "This is something Armen brings up all the time, and it's…kinda dumb." Kennelly knows that she takes particular offense to it based on the name. Armen makes an odd grunting noise low in his throat. "Hey, hey, let the man make up his own mind about what is and isn't dumb." Natalie groans with annoyance and gets up to make her way to the restroom. As Armen starts his chronicle about the myth, his English-accented tone becomes so serious that one cannot tell if it is genuine or farcical. "The Dream House," he begins, "is a location so shrouded in paranormal mystery that The Agency keeps no known record of it on hand, despite the fact that a notable number of Agency personnel have claimed witnessing it." Perhaps it is due to the beer starting to reach Brighton's mind that the man's eyes are immediately rapt in the tale. "In fact," Armen goes on, "each one of us has heard rumors of people at the highest levels, even members of the Oversight Council, who have hinted at the destruction of classified documentation on it." Kennelly finds it fascinating that his friend is so obsessed with the story that he can ignore his own drink for the entire telling. "Wait, you're in archives!" Armen shouts, startling the other two with the sudden outburst. "You //really// haven't heard of it?" By Brighton's reaction, one would assume he has not, but Armen gives him a sly grin. "Come on, mate, you can trust us." "Honestly," says Brighton. "I haven't an earthly clue what you're talkin' about." "Alright, alright," Armen says. "Well then, 'what //is// the Dream House?' is surely the question on your mind." Brighton doesn't even nod, just stares expectantly and waits for an answer. Natalie returns and settles into her seat. "Has he gotten to the super dumb part yet?" she asks. "About the dreams?" "Spoilers!" Armen barks, then shifts in his chair entirely towards Brighton to shut her out. "The location is said to be unfixed in space-time," he continues. "A place that travels the world and forces itself upon unwary travelers in times of great personal need. In fact, the rumor says that you have a dream about finding it before it happens upon you, thus the name." Natalie groans mockingly, but Armen ignores her. "Once you're inside, you cannot leave until its machinations are complete, as it twists you through time and space for incomprehensible reasons." "I must say truthfully," Brighton interjects. "That sounds terrible. Why would we go lookin' for a place that does something so ridiculous?" <<click "Also challenge Armen's preposterous ideas" "B-4">><<set $B3 to 1>><<set $Armen -= 1>><</click>> <<click "Stay out of Armen's over-trodden story entirely" "B-4">><<set $B3 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Play along with Armen this time" "B-4">><<set $B3 to 3>><<set $Armen += 1>><</click>>

<<Vars 8>>\ \ <<if $B1 is 1>>"You're right," Kennelly says, giving in to his friend's amiable peer-pressure. He takes the mug from Armen and raises it. "To joining in the fun."\ <<elseif $B1 is 2>>"Alright, alright," Kennelly says, giving in to the friendly challenge. He takes the mug from Armen and raises it. "Let's get this thing going, I guess."\ <<elseif $B1 is 3>>"Fine, just one drink," Kennelly says with a shake of his head, giving into the peer-pressure. He takes the mug from Armen and half-heartedly holds it up. "Let's get it over with, then."\ <</if>> The rest of them follow suit before each taking a hearty swallow. As the three friends set their mugs down, Kennelly sees that Brighton's is still glued to his mouth. By the time the man is done gulping, a good third of the beer is gone. Noticing Kennelly's stare, <<if $A2 is 1>>Brighton gives a meek smile and brushes the foam from the hair of his upper lip. Kennelly smiles back kindly, wondering what it must be like to be someone who partakes in such festivities so readily<<elseif $A2 is 2>>Brighton awkwardly brushes the foam from the hair of his upper lip and offers a thin-lipped smile. Kennelly politely returns the smile, though he already wonders if Armen inviting Brighton along was the best idea<<elseif $A2 is 3>>Brighton quickly looks away and awkwardly brushes the foam from the hair of his upper lip. Only minutes into the evening, and Kennelly is already feeling like Armen might have made a mistake in dragging Brighton along<</if>>. "I liked your toast," Natalie says to Armen. "Escaping horrors…I spend all my time putting people through them," she says, referring to her work as a dream therapist. "Sometimes I forget how utterly normal it is out here." Armen looks around at the bar with its aged veneer of a day when it was once better-maintained. The few patrons from town are sequestered into an escape from their own daily troubles, heavy coats hung on the backs of chairs, many heads hung low. "It's pretty <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>y great, isn't it?" Armen says. "Well," Kennelly interjects, "what I find great is knowing just how much is going on under the surface. Seeing how mundane it is out here just reminds me of what was in my head before I knew about the, uh…place we work." The overly-responsible voice in the back of his head recalls that they can't talk explicitly about The Agency out in the pedestrian world. "I used to spend a lot of time thinking about things I had assumed were…you know, imaginary." Armen and Natalie's coy looks to each other betray their intimate knowledge of Kennelly's personality. Of course, there's the "professional" layer—the PhD-holding, former quantum-physics-researching, scientific prodigy—a man who has made it his goal to plot out an understanding of paranormal phenomena to the point that they will all eventually be considered "normal." Below all this, though…he's just a nerdy guy who's always been fascinated with knowing more. "You totally played //Dungeons and Dragons// when you were in high school, didn't you?" Armen asks. "I don't mean things like that," Kennelly says in his own defense. "Of course //magic// isn't real. It's just nice to know things are a bit more…interesting than most people think." "What do you mean high school?" Natalie interrupts, taking them a step back as she looks between Kennelly and Armen. "When he goes off to those conferences, him and his physicist buddies always have a game." Armen's eyebrows fly up his forehead as he nearly spits out a mouthful of beer. "What!" he barks. "You have literally never told me that." Kennelly offers a startled shrug. "You, uh…never asked," he says with his gaze fixed squarely on the foam drifting in his glass. They've been friends for years, but that only extends back to when they both joined The Agency—what they know of each other's life before this is only what they've shared. "Oh, sod off," Armen says. "I like nerdy things, too." He gets dubious looks. "Come on, I'm nerdy! I play those VR games with you, I do science." Kennelly notes that these don't necessarily preclude going so far as to play tabletop role-playing games. "Well //maybe// I'd like to learn your tabletop…//stuff//. You don't know if you don't ask!" He takes notice that Brighton is staring around the table with mild confusion. "Sorry, mate, maybe not the most exciting topic." "No, it's alright," Brighton says. "Just not exactly what I'd expect from <<if $A2 is 1>>the great<<elseif $A2 is 2>>the revered<<else>>the, uh, respected<</if>> Dr. Crayton," and with this, he gestures towards Kennelly. "No disrespect o' course, played some games in my day. I was a fiction writer before all this, after all." <<if $A5d is true>>Kennelly recalls this from Brighton's file, though it didn't go into any kind of detail on what books the man wrote.<<else>>Kennelly finds himself curious as to what kind of books this man used to write.<</if>> "<<if $A2 is 1>>The great Dr. Crayton?" Armen says. "I bet that's what they call him in their games<<elseif $A2 is 2>>The revered Dr. Crayton?" Armen says. "I think I like the sound of that<<elseif $A2 is 3>>The respected Dr. Crayton?" Armen says. "I guess he does make a name for himself<</if>>." He laughs and bats Kennelly's shoulder playfully. Along with the dull warmth the beer offers, Kennelly feels a flush begin up his neck. "Yes, well, classically a theoretical physicist tends to be a bit of a geek," he says. "Besides, a lot of it is inspired by stuff I'm required to research for The Agency anyways—mythology and whatnot." Armen mocks Kennelly for turning //games// into homework, but Brighton shows appreciation for the efforts, noting his work as an archivist requiring similar research. "It's all okay," Natalie says. "This is a safe space." She gives Kennelly a wink, and the heat rises up to his face. "We actually all get together for board game Saturdays sometimes," Natalie says to Brighton, describing one of the events started up in the rec wing recently. The Scotsman nods as he just about finishes his first beer, and he explains that he hasn't worked at Aber Kadzr for very long, so he mostly just uses the rec center to go jogging. "I'm glad you came out with us, then," Natalie says with a warm smile. Armen gives Kennelly a raised-eyebrow glance that says <<if $A2 is 1>>"guess we did the right thing," and Kennelly returns the expression.<<elseif $A2 is 2>>"guess I did the right thing," and Kennelly shrugs.<<elseif $A2 is 3>>"looks like I made the right choice," and Kennelly looks down at his mug awkwardly.<</if>> Meanwhile, Natalie has asked Brighton about his work, admitting she's seen him around but not had a chance to talk with him. He explains in brief details that he turns all sorts of records, experimental results, incident reports, and videos from the facility into archival files. His department stores most of this in The Agency's core database, which everyone uses in their day-to-day work<<if $A5 gt 0>>, such as the linked connections that Kennelly saw in their personnel records<</if>>. Armen asks how a former novelist ends up here. "Aye, y'know, I had my own…encounters," Brighton says. "The Agency found me, let's say, in the thick of it. Once I knew what I knew, I thought it'd be better to not stop knowin'." He finishes the beer<<if $A5d is true>>, and Kennelly has a guess as to the incident the man is referring to based on his file<</if>>. "Maybe I was right, maybe I was wrong, but here I am." Chuckling, Armen says, "Yeah, I think that's pretty much how it goes." He gestures to Kennelly. "I suppose that's what you meant when you said you like learning about those, let's say, //imaginary// things?" <<click "Ask Brighton to clarify (more…)">><<replace "#OptionRead1">>\ \ "Hm, I'm not sure," Kennelly says. "I more meant that peeking behind the curtain was something I wanted, but I think Brighton might mean something different." Now it's Brighton's turn to become flushed as the focus of the group turns fully onto him. "Aye," he says, thumbing the rim of his empty mug. "That's not exactly right for me. I like books and myths as much as anyone, but I can't say I spent an abundance of time hopin' for these kinds of secrets to come bargin' into m'life. Now that they're here, though—and excuse m'language, but I feel I'd be doin' m'self a disservice to not try to understand exactly why in the ever-livin' fuck such things are goin' on." "Such fucking language is quite welcome," says Armen as he raises his glass, leaving Brighton to return the gesture by shaking an empty mug. "As are some more fucking drinks," Armen adds, and gestures over one of the barmaids. <<click "Press on to figure Brighton out better (more…)">><<replace "#OptionRead2">>\ \ "Yeah," Kennelly puts forth tentatively. "But, I mean, can we really //know// why? I agree with trying to understand the how or what, but I'm not sure we can always figure out the //why//." More than anyone else at the facility, Kennelly is obsessed with understanding how paranormal events work, but he has a bit of a pet-peeve about people trying to anthropomorphize things that are often accidents of the universe akin to storms and earthquakes—just like those myths did. Brighton eyes Kennelly over the top of the barmaid's arm as she dishes him another mug of beer. "Perhaps not," he says after a few moments of silence. "But we have our imaginations at the least, aye? And I don't imagine just givin' up on the prospect of understandin' why these things happen, even if it might be hard." <<click "Question these illogical sentiments (more…)">><<replace "#OptionRead3">>\ \ "Well, our imaginations don't mean much under the circumstances," Kennelly says. Armen slaps a hand on the table and clears his throat, perhaps trying to move away from confrontational topics, but Kennelly doesn't acknowledge this. "And anyways, not to be too nihilistic, but the reason why things happen and exist just comes down to the consequence of complex physical events." In the midst of talking, Kennelly stops focusing his attention on anyone in particular, and his words come across less as an attack, more as thoughtful musings. "That's a recurring argument," Natalie butts in. "You keep insisting it all boils down to atoms and radiation, but you don't leave much room for people." "Ha," Brighton barks. "Perhaps, Dr. Crayton—" and here Kennelly cuts in and insists that the man use his first name. "Aye, alright. See, Kennelly, the things y'research in yer lab might not often seem to have motivations of their own, but once those oddities end up in someone's hands, well…I would say 'why' enters the equation. Not to mention, given the things we deal with…it's a bit much to assume we truly know the extents of their power, origins, or //even// intentions." <<click "Amiably agree (move on >)" "B-3">><<set $B2 to 3>><<set $Brighton += 1>><</click>> <<click "Agree to disagree (move on >)" "B-3">><<set $B2 to 4>><<set $Brighton -= 1>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</click>> \ <<click "Shrug (move on >)" "B-3">><<set $B2 to 2>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</click>> \ <<click "Agree with Brighton's general sentiments (move on >)" "B-3">><<set $B2 to 1>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</click>> \ <<click "Just agree (move on >)" "B-3">><<set $B2 to 0>><</click>>\

<<Vars 13>><<set $C1 to 0>>\ \ ''22:13PM, January 12th, 2▓▓▓'' On the return journey, Armen insists on pulling over the jeep when they reach a snow-covered bluff overlooking the woodlands to the south. The moon is out, the stars are bright, and the other three can appreciate his desire to soak this all in even as the frigid air bites at their alcohol-numbed cheeks. "The night is young, the moon is full," Armen says. "We could still find the Dream House." He knocks back a flask of vodka he had apparently snuck along, wipes his chin, and smirks. The Cheshire grin is a bold challenge to the bright drifting rock above that ignites the coniferous taiga and four lone researchers with an indigo clarity. A night wind ruffles Natalie's bangs into her eyes as she suggests that they just head back to the facility with a distracted expression. She fiddles with the fingers of her gloves like the tentacles of some creature found in a murky tide pool. "I'm serious," Armen says, and unzips his parka. "Let's find it." He takes a deep breath of wintry air and huffs it out as steam. His olive skin looks incredibly pale under the moon and starlight, like a phantom. "Find what?" Natalie says. "Wait, the Dream House?" Brighton interrupts with a declaration that he has to excuse himself momentarily, and he walks off behind the jeep. Natalie asks Armen to drop the dumb joke, and he digs a hand around inside his jacket, biting his tongue as if the task of searching his pockets is difficult, pulling out a rolled-up paper with much gusto. "This is no dumb joke," Armen says. Natalie asks him what it is, then. "Well, this is a map," he replies. They can all hear Brighton's awkward, sputtering stream of urine hit the dirt road on the other side of the jeep. Natalie humors Armen and asks why he has a map. "Well, I happened to purchase this at the bar, and it happens to be one of the last possessions of an old woman who recently passed away, and she happened to be the mother of a man who is said to have disappeared into a mysterious house a few years ago…returning with great riches weeks later." "It's probably a scam," Natalie says. Brighton saunters back, zipping up his heavy pants, and asks what's going on. Armen repeats himself. Kennelly laughs quietly, but keeps his mouth shut as it all falls into place. //This// is Armen's "surprise." On the surface, the whole plan was about bringing Natalie out of the lab to do something fun for the obvious reasons. However, it is //really// about Armen getting to do what he wants to most: searching for paranormal matters, like Field Agents do…even if this one is obviously a fake wild-goose chase. "If it's nearby," Brighton says with little pause. "I could be convinced to look at a haunted house. Been stuck inside too much, and it sounds like the start of an excellent story." Kennelly has to question the archivist's taste in stories if this is his idea of a good one. Armen unrolls the map, traces a finger over it, and pronounces that they are actually at the head of the snow-covered trail which will lead right to where the man had disappeared. "Shouldn't be too hard! We're four brilliant scientists—well, some of us." He looks at the group. "At least we're all //smart//. So, what do you say?" Natalie bites her lower lip and looks at Kennelly. "What do you think? It kind of sounds like one of those crazy Armen things." She doesn't notice the grimace on their friend's face after she uses the word "crazy." \ <<click "Probably a waste of time, we should just go back.">><<set $C1 += 1>> <<if $C1 lt 3>><<replace "#option1">>\ P͒ͬͧŕ̀ͪ͌̚o͌̾ͤ̀b̿aḃ̆l͋͛̿̚yͯ͂ͫ͆ ͒̊̊̓ͪăͩ̐̌ ̽ͤ̽wa̿̔s͒͊ͩ̍̚t̅͆e ͗̊ͥ̄͋̍ȫ͆̒͗f͐ͩͯ͆̍̓ ̇͐tiͬͨm͋͌̊ͦ̅ͣ̇eͩͦͤͮ̅̈ͮ,̔ ̔w͌̊ͤ̈́ͤͦẽ̓ͫ ̿͊̈̇ͩs͌̇ho̎̎̑̎̓͑úͪ̿̏̑͐ͩl̎̍dͪ̀̆̔̎̓ ͌́́j̈́͗̐̋̈́̔uͯs̊t̐̚ ͫ̍ͣ͗ͥg̑̀o̓͒ͪ̿̑̃ ͦͪͭ͛ͧͨb͂̿͆̌̔̚ã͛c͋ͯ̚k̉.\ <</replace>><<elseif $C1 is 3>> <<C1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "Bad idea, it could be dangerous.">><<set $C1 += 1>> <<if $C1 lt 3>><<replace "#option2">>\ Ba͞d ̕id̸eá,̨ ͏it̶ c̕o̴ưld͝ ͝b̷e ͢d͜an̴ge͝ròu̴s.\ <</replace>><<elseif $C1 is 3>> <<C1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "It is way too cold, we can't stay out.">><<set $C1 += 1>> <<if $C1 lt 3>><<replace "#option3">>\ Ị͍͎t͓̗͇̥ ̜̖̲iṣ̥͔͇̣ ͈͚̗̭̤w̳̩̖̞̰a̼͉̩̹̗y̭ ̦̼t̻o͎͍̦̦̠̞o͖͈̦̠ ̫̟̯̙̻̝c̬̘o̭̗̘̝l̹͓̗̖̤͉d̫̣̭͕̟̩͉,͔͕͓͍͚ ͈͈̜̳͖w̱̺̘͔e ̼̯͎̜̭͖̻c̹̳̹̠͕̮͖a͈n̼̮͈'̱̻͇t͖̤̥̘̭ ͓̘̻s̙̟̥͔͈̖t͚̰̪̗̰a̜͉y̰̲͍ ̹o̙̘̪̗̭ͅṷ̼̪t.͍͇͚̘̝̝͙ \ <</replace>><<elseif $C1 is 3>> <<C1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>>\ \ \ \ /* PART C FROZEN CHOICE */\ <<widget "C1ChoiceSwitch">><<replace "#ChoiceGlitch">>\ "Uh," Kennelly responds, his voice catching in his throat. For a second he felt he should refuse outright, without even a grain of hesitation. However…<<click "a prickling sensation at the base of his neck overcomes him">><<replace "#glitch">>a p®ickling sənsa┬ion a╬ ☩ⓗɘ basⓔ of ɥis nⒺck ov≡ʁcom≡s ╫im<</replace>><<C1ChoiceGlitch>><</click>>, and he finds that some part of his mind is second-guessing himself. When was the last time he got to enjoy a walk in the woods? "What about the car?" Kennelly asks. Armen explains they won't be gone long enough to worry about it. "Anyways," he adds. "Can't really steal one of these things, can you? Coded to our IDs, tracked by The Agency, it's not going anywhere." There's not much to dispute here, and besides, who's looking to hot-wire a jeep on the side of the road in the middle of the night? <</replace>>\ \ <<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Embrace the call to adventure" "C-2">><<set $C1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Acquiesce to your friend" "C-2">><<set $C1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Allow an hour of exploration" "C-2">><<set $C1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</widget>> <<widget "C1ChoiceGlitch">><<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Ω εmb®acⓔ you® call ╬o adv≡n☨uʁ≡" "C-2">><<set $C1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ω acqui≡sc≡ ┬o youя fⓡiεnd" "C-2">><<set $C1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ω allow an ♄ouя of ⓔxplo®a☩ion" "C-2">><<set $C1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</widget>>

<<Vars 14>>\ \ <<if $C1 is 1>>"You know what," Kennelly says, an almost wistful tone to his voice. "That sounds like a great idea." He bares this uncharacteristic admission to the group with a crooked smile. "Great!" Armen shouts as his eyes light up, unaware of his friend's bizarre change in attitude. The soft crease in Natalie's brow suggests that she wonders if Kennelly is being sarcastic. Armen rushes to the back of the jeep, and he \ \ <<elseif $C1 is 2>>"What harm could it do?" Kennelly asks, a pang deep within him answering the rhetorical question silently. "At least we get to enjoy nature a bit." "Can't poop on this party!" Armen shouts, his eyes lighting up despite his friend's lack of enthusiasm. Natalie shakes her head with a weary smile as Armen rushes to the back of the jeep. He \ \ <<elseif $C1 is 3>>"Man…" Kennelly mutters. "Fine, as long as it's only around an hour. It's pretty cold out." He keeps to himself that they probably have better things they could be doing. "Of course, of course," Armen says, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Your old bones won't have to be out here long." Natalie chuckles at this despite herself as Armen rushes to the back of the jeep. He \ \ <</if>>\ \ comes back with a small duffel bag he had hidden in the trunk and explains that he has everything they need, passing around large flashlights and turning on a digital compass. With that, he strikes his arm out in the direction of the forest beyond the fence. "Onward!" As Armen forges ahead with surprising verve, Brighton asks the others if they do things like this often. Natalie shakes her head, and Kennelly tries to put her in the mood of adventure by pointing out that she hasn't been out of the facility much in months either. She forces a smile. "So let's do work best done //inside// the warmth and safety of the facility, but out in the cold air instead," she says, albeit sarcastically. At least she's smiling now. They tighten the zippers on their parkas, being drunk enough that they don't question how far they are going (and at least two of them thinking Armen will give up quickly). Once they pass the tree line, the snow becomes shallow, and only the bottom edges of their boots disappear into its crystalline void. No one but Kennelly notices, but Natalie now has a bounce to her heavy steps. He realizes with regret that he can't come up with fun activities as well as Armen can…hell, he'd been about to suggest they all go back, drink wine, and eat the cake that he'd made. That hopeful vision slips away into the night along with any sight of the road. Evergreen trees squeeze in around them like lanky observers. "I think it's pretty much a straight shot through," Armen shouts, waving the map around as if the others can see it in the gloom. They trudge on, forming a line, quiet as they listen to the still air amplify the crunching of their boots. This peaceful travel continues for several minutes, until Kennelly is surprised by a hand reaching out to him with something in it. "Boo!" Armen says, holding out and shaking his metal flask. Kennelly takes it, more to get Armen's hand out of his face than anything else, and sniffs the contents. "It's the good shit," Armen gibes. Not giving it much thought, Kennelly takes a swallow—he might be doing this to sate Armen's implicit taunting, he might be doing it to make it easier to enjoy this odd adventure, or maybe he's just doing it to help keep warm. The logic of the decision <<if $B1 is 3>>and his earlier proclamation of "one drink" are<<else>>is<</if>> lost to him as the powerful liquor courses down his throat, a smooth burning right into his gut. Kennelly subconsciously senses a longing for the flask from Brighton behind him. He passes it off, and the Scotsman takes it <<if $A2 is 1>>eagerly with a smile<<elseif $A2 is 2>>slowly with a polite nod<<elseif $A2 is 3>>slowly, his gaze flicking down at the snow when eye-contact is made<</if>>. With the alcohol hitting Kennelly's mind, he can't quite process the speed with which the flask moves from the trade-off to Brighton's lips for a tossed-back swig. The man's face betrays no cringe or wince as he downs the hard liquor. Armen takes the flask back and pushes to the lead of the group silently. Natalie is in front of Kennelly again, and he finds that his concern for her enjoyment of the night is pressing hard to the fore of his mind. He notes in an ironically detached fashion that the soft inebriation growing within him melts away his innate inhibitions. The socio-emotional walls his mind keeps up to block in the strong feelings he has for these, his closest of friends, start to melt despite the cold air. Kennelly tries to think of a way to ask Natalie a question that will reveal how much she's enjoying the expedition. He figures something out, the words making it up not quite mattering as much as the intent that she can read through his veiled attempt at friendly concern. She says that she's having a good time, but his tone must betray that Kennelly can see through this amiable response. He knows there is something under the surface that is eating away at her. "I really am alright," she says. <<click "Ask Natalie what's bothering her (more…)">><<replace "#exposition1">>\ "I don't know," Kennelly says, the liquor giving him an abnormal bravery to try to breach the social barrier that she's erecting. "It seems like something is really bothering you." Natalie slows her step so that Kennelly can walk side-by-side with her, the path between the pine and spruce trunks just wide enough to allow it. "You're not too good at this whole psychoanalyzing thing, are you?" she jests. The hot puffs of steam they both expel with each breath briefly mingle in a cloud before drifting into the ether behind them. Her expression is both tense and soft, one that's possessed her often this evening, an effect only achievable on a face that is as serious and sincere as hers. "You'll remember," she says eventually, "that when I speak of my family, it's generally of the aunt and uncle that raised me." Kennelly nods slowly, sensing an emotional edge at the periphery of her words. "Well, I don't talk about it much…but I was ten years old, when…I mean, it was around this time of year when my…when I lost my parents." Her voice is halting, though whether out of emotion or simple awkwardness at discussing a private matter, it's impossible to tell. "It was a long time ago, but…" The phrase dies off, no echo left in the night, the sound swallowed by the cold and ice. "It was a long time ago." Kennelly stares at the back of Armen's head, wondering what he thinks of this. <<if $A5c is true>>Having read her file, Kennelly should have known better—he should have realized there was a reason she never discussed her birthday—but Armen had no way of knowing, since Kennelly kept that information to himself, figuring it to be private enough to not bring up. <<else>>Neither of them knew why she never mentioned her birthday, but given their work at the facility, either could have figured at a reason like this.<</if>> Armen doesn't say anything, but the slight turns of his head to listen in have been obvious. <<click "Ask what happened (more…)">><<replace "#exposition2">>\ "Sorry," Kennelly starts, "I don't want to…be rude or anything, but do you mind if I ask, you know…what happened?" <<if $A5c is true>>Of course, Kennelly remembers from Natalie's file that this event was somehow tied to a paranormal subject, SBJ-1033 or…0133?<</if>> Natalie gives him a polite smile. "It's not rude," she says. "We've been friends for a while, it's probably weird I've never talked about it." "Not really," Kennelly says. Some might find it weird, some might not, but he knows Natalie a little too well at this point to be surprised about her keeping the past to herself. "Well, yeah, not weird, a normal symptom of obvious psychological repression," she responds, a sort of cynical self-awareness blistering in the words. "It's just…one of those Agency kind of things, my parents. Something…you know." She sighs, and Kennelly says she doesn't have to explain anything if she doesn't want to. The group falls back into silence for a minute, maybe more, and Armen passes the flask back down the line. They each take a drink. "It was some kind of creature," Natalie continues eventually. "Something that…doesn't like humans. My parents saved me, from what I can remember…though, to be honest, I only remember what I do because of dream therapy. You guys aren't the only ones who do it." She stares up at the coniferous branches above, through the diamonds and triangles of negative space that reveal a night sky full of stars beyond that. "I don't know why it comes to mind, it's stupid, really. I barely even remember their faces." <<click "Ask about the creature (more…)">><<replace "#exposition3">>\ "That's about, what…twenty years ago?" Kennelly asks, and Natalie nods. <<if $A5c is true>>Of course, Kennelly knows the date of the incident and Natalie's age from her file, but this conversation is making him feel even more guilty for having read that. "Was there ever any resolution with whatever that creature was?" He finds himself curious about the SBJ despite himself.<<else>>"Was there any kind of resolution? With the…creature you mentioned?" Despite this being sensitive ground for his friend, Kennelly's curiosity about paranormal events gets the better of him.<</if>> "In a sense…" She turns and looks at Brighton for a brief moment, <<if $A5c is true and $A5d is true>>and Kennelly has a general idea as to why, knowing the connection between their files, but not understanding at all what the whole story is<<else>>which leaves Kennelly befuddled for the meaning of the glance<</if>>. "It was taken care of…But, like I tell my patients, it isn't about knowing the ABCs of whatever happened, it's about living today. I don't let my memories, however vague they are, hold me down to things that are over and done with." Brighton makes a sound low in his throat from behind them. "But it just keeps goin'," he says softly. "Even if you want it to stop, love defines us, and our memories of it keep on shinin' through…" Everyone, including Armen, slows down and then stops walking to look at the archivist. He halts in his tracks, startled by three pairs of eyes fixed on him. "Sorry," he says, rubbing his face with the back of one of his gloves. "Just…something silly I read once." "That's okay, it was pretty," Natalie says, but then starts walking again, past Armen, into the forest beyond. "But for me, the past is the past." <<click "Agree with Natalie that the past is the past (move on >)" "C-3">><<set $C2 to 3>><<set $Natalie += 1>><</click>> <<click "Agree with Brighton that our memories define us (move on >)" "C-3">><<set $C2 to 4>><<set $Natalie -= 1>><</click>> <</replace>><</click>> \ <<click "Thank her for sharing the story (move on >)" "C-3">><<set $C2 to 2>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</click>> \ <<click "Apologize for asking (move on >)" "C-3">><<set $C2 to 1>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</click>> \ <<click "Leave Natalie to her quiet (move on >)" "C-3">><<set $C2 to 0>><</click>>

<<Vars 15>>\ \ <<if $C2 is 0>>\ Despite doubting her, Kennelly nods and lets the topic go. If she wanted to talk about it, then she probably would, and it isn't his place to try to dig under her skin. All the same, he wonders if it is perhaps for the best that they didn't go back to the facility for the cake he made her. Armen passes the flask back down the line. They each take a drink.\ \ <<elseif $C2 is 1>>\ Kennelly feels a hot flush beneath his layers of winter wear. "Sorry for bringing it up," he says, shoving a gloved hand under his collar and rubbing his neck awkwardly. He wonders if it is perhaps for the best that they didn't go back to the facility for the cake he made her. "It's really okay," Natalie responds. "Don't worry about it. It's just something I, you know, try to pay respects to…" The group falls back into silence, and Armen passes the flask back down the line. They each take a drink.\ \ <<elseif $C2 is 2>>\ "That's, well…" Kennelly starts. "Thanks for, you know, sharing." During this conversation, he's felt a hot flush of awkwardness flare up beneath his layers of winter wear, and he takes a moment to shove a gloved hand under his collar and rub at the heat on his neck. He wonders if it is perhaps for the best that they didn't go back to the facility for the cake he made her. Natalie simply nods, not replying otherwise, and the group trudges onward toward their supposed destination.\ \ <<elseif $C2 is 3>>\ "That it is," Kennelly says, also turning away from Brighton <<if $Brighton lt 0>>and his obnoxious interjection <</if>>to follow Natalie. This trek was most definitely a better option than offering her a cake and making it obvious why they brought her out tonight. He remembers to thank Armen later as they trudge along toward their supposed destination.\ \ <<elseif $C2 is 4>>\ Kennelly shrugs his shoulders. "Guess it's a sensitive topic," he says to Brighton. "But, for what it's worth, I can see where you're coming from." He considers the <<if $Brighton lt 0>>odd<<else>>poetic<</if>> interjection quite apt as he starts walking again. This trek was most definitely a better option than offering her a cake and making it obvious why they brought her out tonight. He tells himself to remember to thank Armen later.\ <</if>> After a while, Brighton makes his way next to Armen and politely requests the flask. Armen shakes it, making clear there's a decent amount left, before handing it over. "Help yourself," he says. While Natalie has come across as distracted throughout the evening, Brighton's attitude and <<if $Brighton lt 0>>ludicrous<<else>>ample<</if>> amount of drinking suggest that the man is battling his own demons as well. \ <<if $B2 gt 1>><<set $BDrunkLevel += 1>>Kennelly's <<if $B2 lt 3>>brief<<elseif $B2 is 3>>philosophical<<elseif $B2 is 4>>combative<</if>> exchange with him earlier in the bar made it clear that there is some negative attitude Brighton holds towards the things that the Agency works with<<if $C2 gt 1>><<set $BDrunkLevel += 1>>, and now something about Natalie's story has obviously bothered the man further<</if>>\ <<elseif $B2 lte 1 and $C2 gt 1>><<set $BDrunkLevel += 1>>It's even more obvious now, his dour expression revealing that something about Natalie's story has obviously bothered the man further\ <<else>>However, the man has said nothing throughout the evening to suggest exactly what those demons may be<</if>><<if $C2 gte 3>>, driving him to <<if $Brighton lt 0>>annoying<<else>>interesting<</if>> literary declarations<</if>>. When Brighton hands the flask back, Armen shakes it again, and from the sound <<if $BDrunkLevel is 2>>Kennelly can tell the man took a very hefty swallow<<elseif $BDrunkLevel is 1>>Kennelly can hear that the man took a notable swallow<<else>>Kennelly hears that a fair amount of vodka remains<</if>>. Armen takes a swig himself and then pockets the flask<<if $BDrunkLevel is 2>> with a sigh<</if>>. "How far off are we?" Natalie asks, shining her flashlight into the canopy above to look at the snow-sprinkled branches. Armen stops and asks Brighton to shine a light on the map. The rest of them gather around as he smooths out the crumpled paper. "Honestly," Armen says, "Don't bite my head off, but I, uh…kinda thought we would be there by now." He looks at the woods around them, squinting as if that could help his meager human eyes pierce the veil of shadows and darkness beyond their group. "Come on man," Kennelly says with a sigh, and pulls an overly large phone from his own pocket. "You know the Agency gives us these things for a reason." The device is a satellite phone, functioning almost anywhere, and with a few taps, he's opened the phone's GPS app. Armen crosses his arms, crumpling the map in the process. "Where's your sense of adventure," he asks in a mock-grumpy tone. Kennelly simply holds out the phone, and eventually Armen groans and gives in, comparing their GPS position with the roughed-up paper map in his hands. He concludes that it should be a little ways ahead, though it's hard to tell as the GPS map has few details on these trails. He directs this last comment to Kennelly as a jab. About to head off again, Armen notices that everyone has started rubbing their gloved hands together to generate some warmth, and he conveniently remembers to pass out thermal hand-warmers from his duffel. Kennelly is shocked at his friend's preparedness for a journey that could easily have been taken as a simple joke. "Sorry, sorry, should've remembered those earlier," Armen says, showing a rare display of concern for others. The group continues on, each of them squeezing the odd synthetic disks that now provide precious warmth. "Y'know, this reminds me of a little thing I wrote up just the other day," Brighton says, holding up the hand-warmer<<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>> with a hiccup<</if>>. "It was like this, a <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>wee little<<else>>small<</if>> disk you rub <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>around <</if>>in your hands. <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>Got to name<<else>>Called<</if>> it the Worry Stone." Kennelly recognizes the name, remembering it to be OBJ-3636. "Seemed <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>utterly<<else>>it could be<</if>> brilliant, but o'course, it just fucked y'//right// in the head." Brighton thrusts his arm out in a funny punching motion<<if $BDrunkLevel is 1>>, nearly stumbling<<elseif $BDrunkLevel is 2>> and stumbles<</if>> into a tree. <<if $BDrunkLevel is 2>>Righting himself with a laugh, he<<else>>As he<</if>> tells his story, <<if $BDrunkLevel is 2>>and as he does, his<<else>>Brighton's<</if>> voice grows <<if $BDrunkLevel is 0>>excited<<elseif $BDrunkLevel is 1>>fervent<<else>>wild<</if>>. He explains that the Agency found the Worry Stone in the hands of a delusional florist, who had been holding the object for years, activating its latent paranormal features. As long as the Worry Stone is held, whatever memories or thoughts might bother the holder can be slowly rubbed away with each pass of the stone through one's fingers. "The bloke had just about lost his<<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>> fuckin'<</if>> mind," Brighton says. "Like all the <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>bullshit<<else>>things<</if>> we work with, it seems it could be a fair boon, but y'keep yer hands on it, and y're liable to <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>throw yer whole life out the window<<else>>forget just about anythin'<</if>>. Had an embarassin' day? Social anxiety? Dread o' the future?" His booming voice stops short, leaving behind an infinite number of hypothetical questions. "I actually talked to him," Natalie <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>tentatively interrupts<<else>>says<</if>>. "The florist that is. He was a candidate for dream therapy to try to see what might be left of his mind. Oversight decided it could be dangerous, though." Armen mutters something derisive at this, though whether he's dismissing dream therapy, the Oversight Council, or both is impossible to discern. "To be honest," Brighton says, as if he hasn't put frankness first with his every statement, "it's a dangerous thing for us to keep at all." The implications are obvious to all of them. <<if $B4 is 1>>"<<Kennelly>>, even //you// said y'd erase the past if given the chance, no?" Kennelly remembers the earlier<<if $B3 isnot 3>> preposterous<</if>> conversation on wishes, and has to assent<<if $Kennelly is false>>, asking Brighton to call him by his first name while doing so<<set $Kennelly to true>><</if>>. <</if>><<if $C2 gte 3>>"<<if $B4 is 1>>And no<<else>>No<</if>> offense, lass," Brighton adds towards Natalie. "But it does seem y'd do away with some memories<<if $B4 is 1>> as well<</if>>." Natalie says nothing. <</if>>"The rock might be locked up, but I figure it'd be best if we threw away the <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>y key, aye?" <<click "Agree that destroying memories is dangerous" "C-4">><<set $C3 to 1>><<set $past += 1>><<set $Brighton += 1>><</click>> <<click "Admit that erasing worries might make life more bearable" "C-4">><<set $C3 to 2>><<set $present += 1>><</click>> <<click "Posit that stress makes it difficult to focus on the future" "C-4">><<set $C3 to 3>><<set $future += 1>><</click>>

<<Vars 16>>\ \ <<if $C3 is 1>>"Yeah," Kennelly says. "I never feel good about the stuff that can screw with your mind. Start erasing thoughts and memories, and you can't be sure what you're getting into. It's bad enough that I have no clue how it does that. No offense to dream therapy, Natalie, but we barely even understand how psychic fields work." She doesn't disagree, and he feels like he could go on a rant about the entire field of study, but he holds himself back. "I definitely wouldn't use it." "Aye, <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>I don't know about any o' that shit<<else>>that's more yer expertise<</if>>," Brighton says. "But I agree<<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>> completely<</if>>, better <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>to stay the hell away from<<else>>not to touch<</if>> such things." Armen claps Brighton hard on the back. "Ah, but come now, friend," he interrupts. "I've got a whole ex-girlfriend living up here," and he taps his head. "I can definitely do without her." He hiccups in the middle of a laugh, his predictable blasé attitude about paranormal objects shining through. <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>"Y'must have good memories in that head, even if y'keep pretendin' not," Brighton says, shoving Armen's hand away and stumbling a bit. His voice is both playful and condescending, giving Armen a taste of his own medicine<<else>>"Surely there are some good memories o' her there as well," Brighton says quietly, the sincerity of his tone intense<</if>>.\ \ <<elseif $C3 is 2>>"I can see the appeal," Kennelly says. "There's definitely some bullshit I can do without sometimes." His inebriation cuts through his professional concern like it's soft butter. Armen makes a sound almost like a laugh, before it gets caught in a short coughing fit, which he works his way out of as he claps Kennelly hard on the back. Natalie chuckles as well<<if $C2 gte 3>>, her dour attitude buffed away by Kennelly's language<</if>>. "Anyone would be tempted," she agrees. "We're responsible adults, right? Everything in moderation." It seems she wouldn't mind using the Worry Stone. "<<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>No, that's the problem!<<else>>Well that's the problem, innit?<</if>>" Brighton<<if $BDrunkLevel lt 2>> nearly<</if>> shouts. "You say you'd use moderation now, <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>but then you end up falling into a rabbit hole and next thing y'know, y're wakin' up on the ground in your own spittle and don't even remember who you are<<else>>but then yer friends here find y've forgotten every little argument y'ever had<</if>>." Given the man's dramatic tone<<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>and <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>excessive<<else>>plentiful<</if>> drinking<</if>>, Kennelly seriously wonders if Brighton speaks from experience.\ \ <<elseif $C3 is 3>>"I dunno," Kennelly says, his inebriation pushing through what would normally be professional concern. "I have a lot of things on my plate, a lot of things I wanna do. Sure, most thoughts and feelings are important, but what about pointless stress that just gets in the way of moving forwards?" "Here fucking here," Armen says, clapping Kennelly hard on the back. "No offense, Brighton, but there's some stupid shit people think about day in and day out, and it's just like…why? Move on!"<<if $C2 gte 3>> Armen gestures to Natalie. "You know what I mean." She says nothing, attention absorbed by the hand warmer between her gloves.<</if>> "There are <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 1>>fuckin'<<else>>always<</if>> consequences for tryin' to take the easy way out," Brighton says with a surprisingly intense tone. No one asks what he means by that<<if $BDrunkLevel gte 0>>, but given the amount the man has drank tonight, they can all make guesses<</if>>.\ <</if>> "Hold up," Armen says as the group breaches the edge of the woods. They all shine their flashlights forwards, and the soft beams slash through the darkness and sparkle off a patchy field of snow that stands between them and the black silhouette of a house. "There she blows," Armen whispers. The moon is fully visible again, positioned high behind the building, blazing above the tree tops but keeping the front of the house in relative darkness. "You're sure no one lives here?" Natalie asks. Armen says there's only one way to find out before stepping into the clearing. Natalie keeps her flashlight to the ground, suddenly self-conscious about the possibility of inhabitants, and Kennelly does the same. <<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>Brighton stumbles forward a step, regains his footing, and follows after Armen<<else>>Brighton slowly follows after Armen, his flashlight focused on his footing ahead of him<</if>>. "Are we sure about this?" Natalie asks. Kennelly doesn't know if the question is rhetorical. At this point, Armen is already all in, too distant to even hear her. "Well, we came this far," he says, pulling out his phone to glance at the time—22:41PM. It's only been about thirty minutes since they left the car<<if $C1 is 3>>, well within an hour, though the walk back would take time as well<</if>>. "Might as well look around?" he concludes. Natalie takes an exaggerated breath, hiking up her shoulders as if the journey is only just beginning, and the two of them make their way to the house. As they walk, Kennelly notes hedges in disrepair separating the lawn from the forest on most sides. Approaching closer, he can see that the building is a medium-sized rustic abode made up of thick wood planks. Armen has gotten close enough to throw his flashlight across the walls, showing off a coating of faded and chipped-away blue paint. Based on the architecture and upkeep, Kennelly would guess that the house is no less than a century old. "How did you even hear about this place?" Natalie asks as the ground transitions from patchy grass to rocks and dirt. "Do you just go around asking for maps to abandoned houses?" <<if $A4 is 1>>A small red dot blinks in Armen's shadowy hands and his face is lit by pale light. "Natalie asks their intrepid leader for the back-story of this ghastly adventure," Armen says in a mock-documentary voice. It takes a moment, but Kennelly realizes that his friend is holding up a video camera and recording their approach. He turns the lens around to face himself. "However, to protect the identities of those involved, I must keep the details to myself until we're sure of what we have on our hands."\ <<else>>A bright flash surprises both of them. "Cheese!" Armen says too late. After the spots fade from his vision, Kennelly sees the hefty DSLR camera in his friend's hands. "We must document all that we find," Armen says. "Evidence is needed, or the brass might try to lock us up and pretend that none of this ever happened." In the twilight, Kennelly can barely discern a wink on Armen's face.\ <</if>> Why is Kennelly surprised that Armen only brought the camera for this? Natalie rolls her eyes as she pushes past to look closer at the house. "Seriously," she says. "This just looks like any old house. You don't actually think there's anything here, right?" Armen ignores her and starts walking around the outer edges of the building, <<if $A4 is 1>>video camera in one hand and flashlight in the other<<else>>camera to his face and snapping pictures of the walls<</if>>, recording nothing interesting. The group makes their way around the perimeter of the house once, the frost-clouded windows and chipped paint revealing little of note. Brighton <<if $BDrunkLevel lt 1>>takes a seat<<else>>stumbles into a sitting position<</if>> on the front steps and blows steam into his hands. "Next, we pierce the defenses," Armen says as he walks up the creaking stairs toward the front door. "No," Natalie says, stopping short of the porch. "Come on, no. We've had a few drinks, we got a nice walk in the woods, but I'm drawing the line at breaking and entering into random properties in a foreign land." "Seriously?" Armen says, <<if $A4 is 1>>turning the camera to face her, as though recording a conflict in a reality TV drama<<else>>turning and snapping another picture of her, arms crossed before the threshold<</if>>. "We came all the way here to just look at the door and walk away?" His eyes, gleaming with a stray reflection of moonlight off of snow, dance back and forth between Natalie and Kennelly. <<click "Agree with Natalie, going inside is a bad idea" "C-5">><<set $C4 to 1>><<set $Natalie += 1>><<set $Armen -= 1>><</click>> <<click "Stay out of the argument" "C-5">><<set $C4 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Agree with Armen, going in the house was the point of coming" "C-5">><<set $C4 to 3>><<set $Natalie -= 1>><<set $Armen += 1>><</click>>

<<Vars 17>>\ \ <<if $C4 is 1>>"She's right," Kennelly says, kicking a bit of snow on the ground in tipsy awkwardness. "You haven't really given us a good reason to just go barging into an empty house." \ <<elseif $C4 is 2>>Kennelly tosses his hands up in the air in an apathetic, drunken shrug, losing his balance with the movement and stumbling around a bit.\ <<elseif $C4 is 3>>"Yeah," Kennelly says, stretching his alcohol-numbed fingers up to the sky absentmindedly. "We're here already. Who's gonna catch us?" Natalie gives him a a condescending look, leaving him to wonder at her suddenly hostile attitude.\ <</if>> Armen offers a guttural sigh, puts the camera back in the small duffel bag, and plops down onto the porch next to Brighton. Leaving them hanging without a response, he takes the flask out of his pocket, takes a slow drink, then passes it to Brighton. "Look," he says as he cringes and smacks his lips. "This is gonna sound so, so, //so// lame, but it's the truth, so fuck it." He pauses. A strong breeze picks up, ruffling their hair and jackets, and then it dies off just as quickly. There is an ominous tension that wasn't there before<<if $B2 gt 1 or $C2 gt 1>>, even in the midst of earlier conversations<</if>>. "I dreamt about it." "Come on, Armen," Natalie says. "You talk about it all the time. You know how dreams work, of course it's going to come up at least once." Kennelly <<if $C4 is 1>>makes a sound in agreement with her, growing concerned with how seriously Armen is taking this stupid story<<elseif $C4 is 2>>stays silent, curious to see where his friend is going with this, though a little worried at how seriously Armen is taking it<<elseif $C4 is 3>>asks her to give Armen a chance to explain, finding himself curious about how seriously his friend is taking this<</if>>. "I can give you the science we have on dreams," she continues. "But we've talked about it plenty before." "Yeah, I know, that's why I didn't bring it up," Armen says. "But it was different than some stupid dream. It was…intense. Seriously, I know this sounds so fucking stupid, but it felt…//realer// than real life. I don't know how else to describe it." Armen pulls the map out and throws it on the step in front of him. "I made this up, the map. No one gave it to me. I dreamt of this place right here and I knew exactly where it was, but I've never even been here before." The man's eyes are wide and wild, his voice harsh. Kennelly has not seen his friend this intense about anything since… "Maybe I'm <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>y fucking crazy, but I'm pretty sure this is actually happening…" Armen puts his face in his hands. No one says anything for some time, and it's Natalie who finally responds. "Well, if it //is// real," she starts, keeping her voice low, as though they could be overheard. "Shouldn't you have told someone at the Agency? It could be anything…" Armen offers a dark chuckle. "And if it is the Dream House? That means the Agency already knows. Maybe not everyone's heard of it," and he gestures to Brighton. "But enough of us have, enough that if it's real, then there's some reason they don't confirm it…" "A paranormal location that appears to Agency personnel…" Brighton mutters. "There ought to be a reason for that, aye? Whatever it is, it knows about the Agency." Natalie says that makes it sound even more dangerous. "//But//…they let rumors of it persist? Some wish-grantin', teleportin', time-travelin' house?" Brighton pats his legs several times. "You folks are interestin' at the least." "Hold on," Kennelly interrupts. "Did you have this dream before we made plans to come out? //Is// this the surprise you were talking about?" He's confused as to how his friend could keep such a dramatic secret, let alone plan a whole birthday outing around it. Armen continues staring at his hands, and Brighton and Natalie's blank looks spell out that they have no idea what Kennelly is talking about. "Yes, literally the night before. It's…all too convenient, everything lining up. I had to come." "What do you mean about a surprise?" Natalie cuts in. Armen leans back on his hands and stares at the stars, and Kennelly rubs the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, see…" He doesn't know how to explain this<<if $C2 gte 1>>, especially now knowing why Natalie keeps her birthday to herself<</if>>. "We, uh…we found out your birthday is soon." "Oh. I see." This is all she has to say. Armen stands and stomps his feet lightly a few times to warm up after sitting still. "I can't walk away from this," he says. "I have to at least see what's inside. Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's a ghoul that'll turn my guts to ice and eat my brain, maybe I've just developed mutant powers that let me find empty Russian houses in the woods, but I //have to see//." Brighton stands up as well and pats Armen on the back<<if $BDrunkLevel gt 0>>, nearly knocking him over with the drunken force<</if>>. "I respect a man chasin' a dream," he says. "I'll gladly come to see where this one takes you." Armen looks at Kennelly, his closest friend at the Agency. "<<if $Armen gte 2>>You believe me right? Or at least you believe that I believe me?<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>Maybe you think I'm being an idiot about this. Feel free to leave, if so.<<else>>Maybe you think I'm being dumb, I don't know. You can go if you have to.<</if>>" He rubs his forehead slowly, his intensity about this barely contained. <<click "Agree to follow his dream" "C-6">><</click>>

/* SET VARIABLES */\ <<widget "Vars">>\ \ <<if ndef $CurrentVersion>><<set $CurrentVersion to "6">><</if>>\ <<if ndef $End>><<set $End to false>><<remember $End>><</if>>\ <<if $End is false>><<script>>config.history.controls = false;<</script>><<elseif $End is true>><<script>>config.history.controls = true;<</script>><</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $CurrentStoryTitle>><<set $CurrentStoryTitle to "">><</if>>\ <<if ndef $Author>><<set $Author to "">><</if>>\ <<set $CurrentPassageNumber to $args[0]>>\ <<if $CurrentPassageNumber gt 0>><<set $CurrentStoryTitle to "Never Let Go Of">><</if>>\ <<if $CurrentPassageNumber gt 0>><<set $Author to "by Isaiah Everin">><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 0>><<if ndef $Z0>><<set $Z0 to either (1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 1>><<if ndef $A1>><<set $A1 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 2>><<if ndef $A2>><<set $A2 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 3>><<if ndef $A3>><<set $A3 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 4>><<if ndef $A4>><<set $A4 to either(1,2)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 5>><<if ndef $A5>><<set $A5 to 4>><<set $A5a to true>><<set $A5b to true>><<set $A5c to true>><<set $A5d to true>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 7>><<if ndef $B1>><<set $B1 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 8>><<if ndef $B2>><<set $B2 to either(0,1,2,3,4)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 9>><<if ndef $B3>><<set $B3 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 10>><<if ndef $B4>><<set $B4 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 11>><<if ndef $B5>><<set $B5 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 13>><<if ndef $C1>><<set $C1 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 14>><<if ndef $C2>><<set $C2 to either(0,1,2,3,4)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 15>><<if ndef $C3>><<set $C3 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 16>><<if ndef $C4>><<set $C4 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 19>><<if ndef $D1>><<set $D1 to either(1,2,3)>><<if $D1 is 1>><<set $BrightonTrial to either(0,1,2)>><<elseif $D1 is 2>><<set $NatalieTrial to either(0,1,2)>><<else>><<set $ArmenTrial to either(0,1,2)>><</if>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 20>><<if ndef $D2>><<if $D1 is 1>><<set $D2 to either(2,3)>><<elseif $D1 is 2>><<set $D2 to either(1,3)>><<else>><<set $D2 to either(1,2)>><</if>><<if $D2 is 1>><<set $BrightonTrial to either(0,1,2)>><<elseif $D2 is 2>><<set $NatalieTrial to either(0,1,2)>><<else>><<set $ArmenTrial to either(0,1,2)>><</if>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 21>><<if ndef $D3>><<if ($D1 is 2 and $D2 is 3) or ($D1 is 3 and $D2 is 2)>><<set $D3 to 1>><<elseif ($D1 is 1 and $D2 is 3) or ($D1 is 3 and $D2 is 1)>><<set $D3 to 2>><<else>><<set $D3 to 3>><</if>><<if $D3 is 1>><<set $BrightonTrial to either(0,1,2)>><<elseif $D3 is 2>><<set $NatalieTrial to either(0,1,2)>><<else>><<set $ArmenTrial to either(0,1,2)>><</if>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if $args[0] gt 23>><<if ndef $D5>><<set $D5 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ \ \ <<if $args[0] gt 25>><<if ndef $E1>><<set $E1 to either(1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] gt 26>><<if ndef $E2>><<set $E2 to either(0,1,2,3)>><</if>><</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $Armen>><<set $Armen to 0>>\ <<if $A3 is 3>><<set $Armen += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B3 is 1>><<set $Armen -= 1>><<elseif $B3 is 3>><<set $Armen += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B5 is 3>><<set $Armen += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C4 is 1>><<set $Armen -= 1>><<elseif $C4 is 3>><<set $Armen += 1>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $Natalie>><<set $Natalie to 0>>\ <<if $B4 is 2>><<set $Natalie += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B5 is 2>><<set $Natalie += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C2 is 3>><<set $Natalie += 1>><<elseif $C2 is 4>><<set $Natalie -= 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C4 is 1>><<set $Natalie += 1>><<elseif $C4 is 3>><<set $Natalie -= 1>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $Brighton>><<set $Brighton to 0>>\ <<if $A2 is 1>><<set $Brighton += 1>><<elseif $A2 is 3>><<set $Brighton -= 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B2 is 3>><<set $Brighton += 1>><<elseif $B2 is 4>><<set $Brighton -= 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B5 is 1>><<set $Brighton += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C3 is 1>><<set $Brighton += 1>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ \ <<if ndef $past>><<set $past to 0>>\ <<if $A3 is 1>><<set $past += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B4 is 1>><<set $past += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C3 is 1>><<set $past += 1>><</if>>\ <<TimeBeforeTrials>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ndef $present>><<set $present to 0>>\ <<if $A3 is 2>><<set $present += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B4 is 2>><<set $present += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C3 is 2>><<set $present += 1>><</if>>\ <<TimeBeforeTrials>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ndef $future>><<set $future to 0>>\ <<if $A3 is 3>><<set $future += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $B4 is 3>><<set $future += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $C3 is 3>><<set $future += 1>><</if>>\ <<TimeBeforeTrials>>\ <</if>>\ \ \ <<if $args[0] gt 22>>\ <<if ndef $BR>>\ <<if $Brighton gte 2 or $B5 is 1>><<set $BR to either(1,2,3)>>\ <<if $BR is 1>><<set $past += 2>><<elseif $BR is 2>><<set $present += 2>><<elseif $BR is 3>><<set $future += 2>><</if>>\ <<TimeTest>><<if ($Time isnot -1) or ($Brighton gte 3)>><<set $BrightonSaved to true>><<elseif ($Time is -1) and ($Brighton lt 3)>><<set $BrightonSaved to false>><</if>><<TimeTestReset 1>>\ <<else>><<set $BR to 0>><<set $BrightonSaved to false>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $NA>>\ <<if $Natalie gte 2 or $B5 is 2>><<set $NA to either(1,2,3)>>\ <<if $NA is 1>><<set $past += 2>><<elseif $NA is 2>><<set $present += 2>><<elseif $NA is 3>><<set $future += 2>><</if>>\ <<TimeTest>><<if ($Time isnot 0) or ($Natalie gte 3)>><<set $NatalieSaved to true>><<elseif ($Time is 0) and ($Natalie lt 3)>><<set $NatalieSaved to false>><</if>><<TimeTestReset 2>>\ <<else>><<set $NA to 0>><<set $NatalieSaved to false>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $AR>>\ <<if $Armen gte 2 or $B5 is 3>><<set $AR to either(1,2,3)>>\ <<if $AR is 1>><<set $past += 2>><<elseif $AR is 2>><<set $present += 2>><<elseif $AR is 3>><<set $future += 2>><</if>>\ <<TimeTest>><<if ($Time isnot 1) or ($Armen gte 3)>><<set $ArmenSaved to true>><<elseif ($Time is 1) and ($Armen lt 3)>><<set $ArmenSaved to false>><</if>><<TimeTestReset 3>>\ <<else>><<set $AR to 0>><<set $ArmenSaved to false>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if ndef $collectibles>><<set $collectibles to 0>><</if>>\ <<if ndef $BDrunkLevel>><<set $BDrunkLevel to 0>><</if>>\ <<if ndef $KennellyName>><<set $KennellyName to false>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget "TimeAfterTrials">>\ <<if ndef $AfterTrials>>\ <<set $AfterTrials to true>>\ \ <<if $BR is 1>><<set $past += 1>><<elseif $BR is 2>><<set $present += 1>><<elseif $BR is 3>><<set $future += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $NA is 1>><<set $past += 1>><<elseif $NA is 2>><<set $present += 1>><<elseif $NA is 3>><<set $future += 1>><</if>>\ <<if $AR is 1>><<set $past += 1>><<elseif $AR is 2>><<set $present += 1>><<elseif $AR is 3>><<set $future += 1>><</if>>\ <<set $past += $BrightonTrial>><<set $present += $NatalieTrial>><<set $future += $ArmenTrial>>\ <<Time>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget "TimeBeforeTrials">>\ <<if def $past>><<set $InitialPast to $past>><</if>>\ <<if def $present>><<set $InitialPresent to $present>><</if>>\ <<if def $future>><<set $InitialFuture to $future>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget "Time">>\ <<if ($past gt $present and $past gt $future)>><<set $Time to -1>>\ <<elseif ($present gt $past and $present gt $future)>><<set $Time to 0>>\ <<elseif ($future gt $past and $future gt $present)>><<set $Time to 1>>\ <<elseif $past is $present>><<if $Brighton gt $Natalie>><<set $Time to -1>><<elseif $Natalie gt $Brighton>><<set $Time to 0>><<else>><<if $Z0 is 1>><<set $Time to -1>><<else>><<set $Time to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $past is $future>><<if $Brighton gt $Armen>><<set $Time to -1>><<elseif $Armen gt $Brighton>><<set $Time to 1>><<else>><<if $Z0 is 1>><<set $Time to -1>><<else>><<set $Time to 1>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $future is $present>><<if $Armen gt $Natalie>><<set $Time to 1>><<elseif $Natalie gt $Armen>><<set $Time to 0>><<else>><<if $Z0 is 3>><<set $Time to 1>><<else>><<set $Time to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <</if>><</widget>> <<widget "TimeTest">>\ <<if ($past gt $present and $past gt $future)>><<set $Time to -1>>\ <<elseif ($present gt $past and $present gt $future)>><<set $Time to 0>>\ <<elseif ($future gt $past and $future gt $present)>><<set $Time to 1>>\ <<elseif $past is $present>><<if $Brighton gt $Natalie>><<set $Time to -1>><<elseif $Natalie gt $Brighton>><<set $Time to 0>><<else>><<if $Z0 is 1>><<set $Time to -1>><<else>><<set $Time to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $past is $future>><<if $Brighton gt $Armen>><<set $Time to -1>><<elseif $Armen gt $Brighton>><<set $Time to 1>><<else>><<if $Z0 is 1>><<set $Time to -1>><<else>><<set $Time to 1>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $future is $present>><<if $Armen gt $Natalie>><<set $Time to 1>><<elseif $Natalie gt $Armen>><<set $Time to 0>><<else>><<if $Z0 is 3>><<set $Time to 1>><<else>><<set $Time to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <</if>><</widget>> <<widget "TimeTestReset">>\ <<if $args[0] is 1>><<if $BR is 1>><<set $past -= 2>><<elseif $BR is 2>><<set $present -= 2>><<else>><<set $future -= 2>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] is 2>><<if $NA is 1>><<set $past -= 2>><<elseif $NA is 2>><<set $present -= 2>><<else>><<set $future -= 2>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if $args[0] is 3>><<if $AR is 1>><<set $past -= 2>><<elseif $AR is 2>><<set $present -= 2>><<else>><<set $future -= 2>><</if>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget "GreaterFriends">>\ <<if ($Brighton gt $Natalie and $Brighton gt $Armen)>><<set $GFriend to -1>>\ <<elseif ($Natalie gt $Brighton and $Natalie gt $Armen)>><<set $GFriend to 0>>\ <<elseif ($Armen gt $Brighton and $Armen gt $Natalie)>><<set $GFriend to 1>>\ <<elseif $Brighton is $Natalie>><<if $past gt $present>><<set $GFriend to -1>><<elseif $present gt $past>><<set $GFriend to 0>><<else>><<if $D1 is 1>><<set $GFriend to -1>><<else>><<set $GFriend to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $Brighton is $Armen>><<if $past gt $future>><<set $GFriend to -1>><<elseif $future gt $past>><<set $GFriend to 1>><<else>><<if $D1 is 1>><<set $GFriend to -1>><<else>><<set $GFriend to 1>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $Armen is $Natalie>><<if $future gt $present>><<set $GFriend to 1>><<elseif $present gt $future>><<set $GFriend to 0>><<else>><<if $D1 is 3>><<set $GFriend to 1>><<else>><<set $GFriend to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if $GFriend is -1>>\ <<set $GFriendValue to $Brighton>><<if ($Brighton - $Natalie) lt ($Brighton - $Armen)>><<set $GFriendRange to ($Brighton - $Natalie)>><<else>><<set $GFriendRange to ($Brighton - $Armen)>><</if>>\ <<elseif $GFriend is 0>>\ <<set $GFriendValue to $Natalie>><<if ($Natalie - $Brighton) lt ($Natalie - $Armen)>><<set $GFriendRange to ($Natalie - $Brighton)>><<else>><<set $GFriendRange to ($Natalie - $Armen)>><</if>>\ <<elseif $GFriend is 1>>\ <<set $GFriendValue to $Armen>><<if ($Armen - $Brighton) lt ($Armen - $Natalie)>><<set $GFriendRange to ($Armen - $Brighton)>><<else>><<set $GFriendRange to ($Armen - $Natalie)>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if ($Brighton lt $Natalie and $Brighton lt $Armen)>><<set $LFriend to -1>>\ <<elseif ($Natalie lt $Brighton and $Natalie lt $Armen)>><<set $LFriend to 0>>\ <<elseif ($Armen lt $Brighton and $Armen lt $Natalie)>><<set $LFriend to 1>>\ <<elseif $Brighton is $Natalie>><<if $past lt $present>><<set $LFriend to -1>><<elseif $present lt $past>><<set $LFriend to 0>><<else>><<if $D1 is 1>><<set $LFriend to -1>><<else>><<set $LFriend to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $Brighton is $Armen>><<if $past lt $future>><<set $LFriend to -1>><<elseif $future lt $past>><<set $LFriend to 1>><<else>><<if $D1 is 1>><<set $LFriend to -1>><<else>><<set $LFriend to 1>><</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $Armen is $Natalie>><<if $future lt $present>><<set $LFriend to 1>><<elseif $present lt $future>><<set $LFriend to 0>><<else>><<if $D1 is 3>><<set $LFriend to 1>><<else>><<set $LFriend to 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if $LFriend is -1>>\ <<set $LFriendValue to $Brighton>><<if ($Natalie - $Brighton) lt ($Armen - $Brighton)>><<set $LFriendRange to ($Natalie - $Brighton)>><<else>><<set $LFriendRange to ($Armen - $Brighton)>><</if>>\ <<elseif $LFriend is 0>>\ <<set $LFriendValue to $Natalie>><<if ($Brighton - $Natalie) lt ($Armen - $Natalie)>><<set $LFriendRange to ($Brighton - $Natalie)>><<else>><<set $LFriendRange to ($Armen - $Natalie)>><</if>>\ <<elseif $LFriend is 1>>\ <<set $LFriendValue to $Armen>><<if ($Brighton - $Armen) lt ($Natalie - $Armen)>><<set $LFriendRange to ($Brighton - $Armen)>><<else>><<set $LFriendRange to ($Natalie - $Armen)>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ \ <<if $GFriendValue gt $LFriendValue>><<set $FriendRange to ($GFriendValue - $LFriendValue)>><<elseif $LFriendValue gt $GFriendValue>><<set $FriendRange to ($LFriendValue - $GFriendValue)>><<else>><<set $FriendRange to 0>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget "GFriend">><<if $GFriend is -1>>Brighton<<elseif $GFriend is 0>>Natalie<<elseif $GFriend is 1>>Armen<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "LFriend">><<if $LFriend is -1>>Brighton<<elseif $LFriend is 0>>Natalie<<elseif $LFriend is 1>>Armen<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "Kennelly">><<if $B2 gte 3>><<set $KennellyName to true>><</if>><<if $KennellyName is true>>Kennelly<<else>>Dr. Crayton<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "photo">><<if $A4 is 1>>video<<else>>photo<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "Photo">><<if $A4 is 1>>Video<<else>>Photo<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "jillianwords">>\ <<set $lastword to 0>>\ <<set $jillianword1 to $args[0]>>\ <<set $jillianword2 to $args[1]>>\ <<set $jillianword3 to $args[2]>>\ <<set $jillianword4 to $args[3]>>\ <<set $jillianword5 to $args[4]>>\ <<set $jillianword6 to $args[5]>>\ <</widget>> <<widget "jillianclick">>//\ <<if $lastword lt 13>>\ <<if $jillian is 1>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword1>>\ <<elseif $jillian is 2>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword2>>\ <<elseif $jillian is 3>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword3>>\ <<elseif $jillian is 4>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword4>>\ <<elseif $jillian is 5>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword5>>\ <<elseif $jillian is 6>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword5>>\ <</if>>\ <<click $jillianword>>\ <<set $lastword += 1>><<set $jillian += 1>><<if $jillian gt 5>><<set $jillian to 1>><</if>>\ <<replace "#jillianword">><<jillianclick>><</replace>><</click>>\ <<else>><<set $collectibles += 1>><<set $jillianword to $jillianword6>>$jillianword\ <</if>>\ //<</widget>> <<widget "ChoiceWidget">><<print $CurrentVersion>> · <<print $CurrentPassageNumber>> · \ <<print $A1>><<print $A2>><<print $A3>><<print $A4>><<print $A5>>\ <<if $A5 gt 0>> · <<if $A5a>><<print 1>><<else>><<print 0>><</if>><<if $A5b>><<print 1>><<else>><<print 0>><</if>><<if $A5c>><<print 1>><<else>><<print 0>><</if>><<if $A5d>><<print 1>><<else>><<print 0>><</if>><</if>>\ <<if def $B1>> · <</if>>\ <<print $B1>><<print $B2>><<print $B3>><<print $B4>><<print $B5>><<if def $C1>> · <</if>>\ <<print $C1>><<print $C2>><<print $C3>><<print $C4>><<if def $D1>> · <</if>>\ <<print $D1>><<print $D2>><<print $D3>><<print $D5>><<if def $D2>><<if def $E2>><<print $E2>><</if>> · <</if>>\ <<print $BrightonTrial>><<print $BR>><<if $BrightonSaved>>1<<elseif $BrightonSaved is false>>0<</if>><<print $NatalieTrial>><<print $NA>><<if $NatalieSaved>>1<<elseif $NatalieSaved is false>>0<</if>><<print $ArmenTrial>><<print $AR>><<if $ArmenSaved>>1<<elseif $ArmenSaved is false>>0<</if>>\ · <<print $Brighton>><<print $Natalie>><<print $Armen>> · \ <<print $InitialPast>><<print $InitialPresent>><<print $InitialFuture>> · \ <<if def $Time>><<print $Time>> · <</if>>\ <<print $collectibles>><</widget>> /* BLOODY COLLECTIBLES */\ <<widget "Blood">><<click $args[0]>><<set $collectibles += 1>><<replace "#blood">>$args[1]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>> <<widget "Blood1">><<click $args[0]>><<set $collectibles += 1>><<replace "#blood1">>$args[1]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>> <<widget "Blood2">><<click $args[0]>><<set $collectibles += 1>><<replace "#blood2">>$args[1]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>> <<widget "Blood3">><<click $args[0]>><<set $collectibles += 1>><<replace "#blood3">>$args[1]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>> <<widget "Blood4">><<click $args[0]>><<set $collectibles += 1>><<replace "#blood4">>$args[1]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>> <<widget "CountCollectibles">>\ <<if $collectibles is 1>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 2>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 3>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 4>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 5>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 6>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 7>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 8>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 9>>nine\ <<elseif $collectibles is 10>>ten\ <<elseif $collectibles is 11>>eleven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 12>>twelve\ <<elseif $collectibles is 13>>thirteen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 14>>fourteen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 15>>fifteen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 16>>sixteen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 17>>seventeen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 18>>eighteen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 19>>nineteen\ <<elseif $collectibles is 20>>twenty\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 20 and $collectibles lt 30>>twenty-\ <<if $collectibles is 21>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 22>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 23>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 24>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 25>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 26>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 27>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 28>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 29>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 30>>thirty\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 30 and $collectibles lt 40>>thirty-\ <<if $collectibles is 31>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 32>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 33>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 34>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 35>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 36>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 37>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 38>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 39>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 40>>forty\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 40 and $collectibles lt 50>>forty-\ <<if $collectibles is 41>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 42>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 43>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 44>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 45>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 46>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 47>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 48>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 49>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 50>>fifty\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 50 and $collectibles lt 60>>fifty-\ <<if $collectibles is 61>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 52>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 53>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 54>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 55>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 56>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 57>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 58>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 59>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 60>>sixty\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 60 and $collectibles lt 70>>sixty-\ <<if $collectibles is 61>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 62>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 63>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 64>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 65>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 66>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 67>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 68>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 69>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 70>>seventy\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 70 and $collectibles lt 80>>seventy-\ <<if $collectibles is 71>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 72>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 73>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 74>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 75>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 76>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 77>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 78>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 79>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 80>>eighty\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 80 and $collectibles lt 80>>eighty-\ <<if $collectibles is 81>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 82>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 83>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 84>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 85>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 86>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 87>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 88>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles is 89>>nine<</if>>\ <<elseif $collectibles is 90>>ninety\ <<elseif $collectibles gt 90 and $collectibles>>ninety-\ <<if $collectibles is 91>>one\ <<elseif $collectibles is 92>>two\ <<elseif $collectibles is 93>>three\ <<elseif $collectibles is 94>>four\ <<elseif $collectibles is 95>>five\ <<elseif $collectibles is 96>>six\ <<elseif $collectibles is 97>>seven\ <<elseif $collectibles is 98>>eight\ <<elseif $collectibles gte 99>>nine<</if>>\ <</if>><</widget>> <<widget "UnsetAll">>\ <<unset $CurrentStoryTitle, $Author, $CurrentPassageNumber>>\ <<unset $Z0, $A1, $A2, $A3, $A4, $A5, $A5a, $A5b, $A5c, $A5d>>\ <<unset $B1, $B2, $B3, $B4, $B5>>\ <<unset $C1, $C2, $C3, $C4, $C5>>\ <<unset $D1, $D2, $D3, $D4, $D5>>\ <<unset $E1, $E2, $E3, $E4, $E5>>\ <<unset $Brighton, $BrightonTrial, $Natalie, $NatalieTrial, $Armen, $ArmenTrial>>\ <<unset $BrightonSaved, $NatalieSaved, $ArmenSaved, $BR, $NA, $AR>>\ <<unset $past, $present, $future, $InitialPast, $InitialPresent, $InitialFuture>>\ <<unset $Time, $collectibles, $BDrunkLevel, $KennellyName>>\ <<unset $LFriend, $GFriend, $LFriendValue, $LFriendRange, $GFriendValue, $GFriendRange>>\ <</widget>>

/* KENNELLY CLICK */\ <<widget "A5AClick">>\ <<click "Read Kennelly's file (more…)">><<set $A5a to true>><<set $A5 += 1>><<replace "#OptionReadA">><</replace>>\ <<if $A5 is 1>><<replace "#computer1">><<A5AText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 2>><<replace "#computer2">><<A5AText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 3>><<replace "#computer3">><<A5AText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 4>><<replace "#computer4">><<A5AText>><</replace>> <</if>><<LastOptionA "a">><</click>> <</widget>> /* KENNELLY TEXT */\ <<widget "A5AText">> <<if $A5 gt 1 and $A5 isnot 4>>Now <<elseif $A5 is 4>>Finally, <</if>>Kennelly navigates to his own file… Dr. Kennelly Crayton - Agency Paranormal Analyst Citizenship: United States of America - Age: 34 - Gender/Sex: M/M - Height: 5'8" - Hair Color: Brown - Eye Color: Brown - Ethnicity: Caucasian Former Occupation: Particle Physicist at Standford University <<if $A5b is false>>Skimming the notable connections that are available to Kennelly's clearance level, he finds links between his file and that for the Flesh Warehouse Incident are near the top. There is also <<if $A5 gt 1>>the<<else>>a<</if>> general assessment of his current attitude, which he checks out to see what they have to say about him lately.<<else>>Like in Armen's file, the most recent major link for Kennelly is to the Flesh Warehouse Incident (INC-2333-G4), followed by his latest general assessment. This sort of thing is made available to him anyways, but Kennelly checks to see what the Agency thinks of him lately.<</if>> …Dr. Crayton shows a healthy adjustment 11 months after the incident, though colleagues remark that he seems more driven to work than before…negative attitude is often (and understandably) present, though it does not impede his professional functions or relationships…He still maintains the perspective that supernatural phenomena are not beyond scientific research, an admirable attitude that leads to many strong contributions to The Agency…He continues to attend weekly counseling, and monthly dream therapy sessions, to which he attributes his positive mental progress… Nothing surprising to Kennelly here—he is, after all, a man who considers himself to possess a notable level of self-awareness, such that rarely do the observations of others surprise or confuse him. After the above, there are links between him and every study he's conducted or assisted with, and those to the Agency peer-reviewed theoretical papers he has written on a variety of paranormal events, <<if $A5b is false>>but even a year later, the Flesh Warehouse stands out among them all. <<FleshWarehouseDescription>><<else>>but still…even a year later, the Flesh Warehouse persists above all of those things. Maybe Armen is right…maybe it's time to move on.<</if>> <</widget>> /* ARMEN CLICK */\ <<widget "A5BClick">>\ <<click "Read Armen's file (more…)">><<set $A5b to true>><<set $A5 += 1>><<replace "#OptionReadB">><</replace>>\ <<if $A5 is 1>><<replace "#computer1">><<A5BText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 2>><<replace "#computer2">><<A5BText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 3>><<replace "#computer3">><<A5BText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 4>><<replace "#computer4">><<A5BText>><</replace>> <</if>><<LastOptionA "b">><</click>> <</widget>> /* ARMEN TEXT */\ <<widget "A5BText">> <<if $A5 gt 1 and $A5 isnot 4>>Next <<elseif $A5 is 4>>Finally, <</if>>Kennelly makes his way to Armen's file… Armen Monroe - Aber Kadzer Upsilon Projects Engineer Citizenship: Great Britain - Age: 31 - Gender/Sex: M/M - Height: 5'10" - Hair Color: Black - Eye Color: Hazel - Ethnicity: Pakistani Former Occupation: NASA Aerospace Engineer <<if $A5a is false>>Looking over the notable connections, he finds that links between Armen's file and that for the Flesh Warehouse Incident are near the top. <<else>>Like in Kennelly's file, the most recent major link in Armen's file is to the Flesh Warehouse Incident.<</if>> There are also links to all of the Upsilon projects he has worked on, engineering efforts that take into account the supernatural knowledge that The Agency has gained over the years. The most recent have Armen listed in high-ranking positions. This is all followed by <<if $A5 gt 1>>the<<else>>a<</if>> general assessment of his friend's current attitude.\ <<if $A5c is false and $A5d is false>> With a mild amount of guilt, Kennelly\ <<elseif $A5c is true and $A5d is false>> Having already looked over one friend's file, Kennelly finds it hard to feel guilty as he\ <<elseif $A5c is false and $A5d is true>> Having already looked over even an acquaintance's file, Kennelly finds it hard to feel guilty as he\ <<else>> Having already looked over multiple files, Kennelly finds it hard to feel guilty as he\ <</if>> starts to skim what the Agency thinks of his friend lately. …while showing an initial upwards trend in attitude following the events of the Flesh Warehouse Incident, Mr. Monroe's recent behavior has displayed a downward turn…In his attempts to gain Field Agent status, Mr. Monroe is tenacious to a concerning degree, especially considering the events of 11 months ago…He continues to attend weekly counseling, though the efficacy of this practice is at this point uncertain…Monthly dream therapy sessions have similarly made little progress… The Agency has kept a close eye on Armen, considering that it was his direct actions that led to things turning south during the exploration of the warehouse. He was only there as field engineer on hand to monitor equipment for the Agents inside, but circumstances led to him having to make a call. It was only after the fact—in the endless debriefings and investigations—that Kennelly could come forward and explain that it was //his// ideas that Armen was following. In giving that advice, Kennelly had thought he understood how the Flesh Warehouse was affecting the bodies of those inside it, but…as events stand now, he was clearly wrong. If Armen looked at this, he'd surely be frustrated to see these references at the top of his file. This is exactly what he's trying to move past, but arguably not in the best manner. Thinking about it more, Kennelly begins to wonder if Armen's categorical rejection of past events is not in his emotional best interest. <<if $A5a is false>><<FleshWarehouseDescription>><<else>>Though, if Kennelly considers it further, Armen is probably at least partially right…perhaps it is time to move on.<</if>> <</widget>> <<widget "FleshWarehouseDescription">>Kennelly doesn't need to click on the link to the Flesh Warehouse Incident to know what it says, he's seen it dozens of times, poured over it, and assisted in writing it. Hovering his mouse over INC-2333-G4 in spite of himself, a summary text appears. Otherwise known as "The Flesh Warehouse Incident," the event occurred at LOC-2333, a building that manipulated biofields through unknown mechanisms. Despite Agency's best efforts, considerable loss of life was suffered both among Agents dispatched and local citizens. The cause of the violent occurrences are still under study, though LOC-2333 has since been destroyed, categorizing its effects as GRAY (i.e. origins potentially unknowable). Potentially…<</widget>> /* NATALIE CLICK */\ <<widget "A5CClick">>\ <<click "Read Natalie's file (more…)">><<set $A5c to true>><<set $A5 += 1>><<replace "#OptionReadC">><</replace>>\ <<if $A5 is 1>><<replace "#computer1">><<A5CText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 2>><<replace "#computer2">><<A5CText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 3>><<replace "#computer3">><<A5CText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 4>><<replace "#computer4">><<A5CText>><</replace>> <</if>><<LastOptionA "c">><</click>> <</widget>> /* NATALIE TEXT */\ <<widget "A5CText">> <<if $A5 is 4>>Finally, <</if>>Kennelly clicks through to Natalie's file<<if $A5 gt 1 and $A5 isnot 4>> next<</if>>… Natalie Myers - Aber Kadzer Dream Therapist Citizenship: United States of America - Age: 29 - Gender/Sex: F/F - Height: 5'6" - Hair Color: Blond - Eye Color: Blue - Ethnicity: Caucasian Former Occupation: Masters in Psychology at Harvard University <<if $A5d is false and $A5a is true or $A5b is true>>Natalie was not involved in the Warehouse incident<<elseif $A5d is true>>Natalie was also not involved in the Warehouse incident<<else>>Natalie was not involved in the Warehouse incident that both Kennelly and Armen were<</if>>, as her job doesn't often take her outside of the facility. As a counselor, were she not already friends with Kennelly and Armen, she might have been the one discussing the incident with the both of them over the past year, administering dream therapy sessions in an effort to guide them through it. <<if $A5a is false and $A5b is false and $A5d is false>>Near the top of the file<<else>>As in the other files, there<</if>> is a general summary of how the Agency considers her currently. \ <<if $A5b is false and $A5d is false>>Feeling a little bad about it, Kennelly's curiosity gets the best of him as he starts to read about his friend.\ <<elseif $A5b is true and $A5d is false>>Kennelly has already looked at one friend's file, so there's no harm in feeling bad about reading another.\ <<elseif $A5b is false and $A5d is true>>Kennelly has already looked at an acquaintance's file, so there's no harm in feeling about bad reading this one.\ <<else>>Kennelly has already looked at several files, so there's no harm in feeling bad about reading another<</if>> Ms. Myers, despite her relatively low level of academic training, has demonstrated high efficacy in her counseling position at the Agency, administering dream therapy sessions with consistent success…through repeated exposure to on-ground paranormal incidents, she has kept her resolve…She has recently attempted to distance her work from dangerous situations, though she also expresses desire to conquer her fears and rescue others from the consequences of tragic events… The most recent link is to an incident involving SBJ-3492, a violent individual with telepathic abilities who Natalie was attempting to counsel using dream therapy—arguably not a great candidate for such a procedure. The subject escaped restraints and held Natalie hostage, but a group of on-site Agents were able to rescue her. Kennelly has been impressed with how well she has handled herself since this happened, though he understands entirely why she would want to get away from working directly with SBJs in the facility. Even at the time, he had thought it was a bit too early for her to be getting into that kind of work. <<if $A5d is false>>Kennelly notices at the bottom of the list an incident report titled INC-1071 that occurred two decades before Natalie joined the Agency. Hovering over the link, he only discovers that the event involved SBJ-0133, a subject he's never read about before, now marked as DECEASED. Both links are locked out to his clearance level, though Kennelly feels that he wouldn't want to be peering into his friend's past without her permission anyways.\ <<else>>Like in Brighton's file, Kennelly finds an incident report at the bottom of the list, INC-1071, this one dated two decades before Natalie joined the Agency. Hovering over the link, Kennelly discovers something peculiar. Like the event in Brighton's file, this one involved SBJ-0133. This incident is also locked from his clearance level, and of course Kennelly feels that he wouldn't want to be peering into his friend's past anymore than Brighton's.<</if>> \ He recalls that she has hinted at tragic events in her childhood being related to her employment at the Agency, but she has no desire to go into the details, even with friends. <<if $A5d is true>>Regardless, the connection is a bit uncanny, and Kennelly cannot help but wonder who SBJ-0133 was, and also whether inviting the archivist along was a bad idea.<</if>> <</widget>> /* BRIGHTON CLICK */\ <<widget "A5DClick">>\ <<click "Read Brighton's file (more…)">><<set $A5d to true>><<set $A5 += 1>><<replace "#OptionReadD">><</replace>>\ \ <<if $A5 is 1>><<replace "#computer1">><<A5DText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 2>><<replace "#computer2">><<A5DText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 3>><<replace "#computer3">><<A5DText>><</replace>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 4>><<replace "#computer4">><<A5DText>><</replace>> <</if>><<LastOptionA "d">><</click>> <</widget>> /* BRIGHTON TEXT */\ <<widget "A5DText">> <<if $A5 is 4>>Finally, <</if>>Kennelly opens up Brighton's file<<if $A5 gt 1 and $A5 isnot 4>> next<</if>>… Brighton McNeil - Agency Projects Archivist Citizenship: Great Britain - Age: 39 - Gender/Sex: M/M - Height: 6'3" - Hair Color: Red - Eye Color: Blue - Ethnicity: Caucasian Former Occupation: Novelist <<if $A5a is true or $A5b is true>>Brighton was not working at the Aber Kadzr facility when the Warehouse incident occurred<<else>>Brighton was not present during the Warehouse incident that both Kennelly and Armen were, as he was not working at the Aber Kadzr facility when it happened<</if>>. Even so, he wouldn't have been involved due to his work, which is focused on archiving all of the knowledge and experience of the facility in files just like this one. Kennelly has only met the man a few times, and thus all he knows of him boils down to reputation. <<if $A5a is false and $A5b is false and $A5d is false>>This file<<else>>As in the other files, this one<</if>> carries a general assessment of the man as seen by the Agency. \ <<if $A5b is false and $A5d is false>>Given that they have invited Brighton along to socialize\ <<elseif $A5b is true and $A5d is false>>Given that Kennelly has already looked at one friend's file\ <<elseif $A5b is false and $A5d is true>>Given that Kennelly has already looked at one friend's file, and they've just invited Brighton along to socialize with her as well\ <<else>>Given that Kennelly has already looked at both of his friends' files, and they've just invited Brighton along to socialize with all of them\ <</if>>, it couldn't be that bad to get a peek at what the man is like. Mr. McNeil has adjusted well to his position of Archivist at the Aber Kadzr facility…in personal assessments, he has expressed minor regrets in not having much time for a creative outlet…However, he shows agitation in social/professional functions, and is given over to displays of passionate ranting when intoxicated…Oversight has recommended starting counseling to help with issues related to the events that brought him into the Agency's attention…Possible candidate for dream therapy. The details about Brighton's behavior at Agency social events is of no surprise to Kennelly. He can vaguely remember the man at a Christmas party going on about some OBJ he was writing about at the time. If Kennelly can recall correctly, it was a small brick wall that implanted suicidal thoughts into anyone who leaned against it. Brighton had vehemently declared that if such things exist, there certainly could be nothing like a Christian God overlooking humanity. This went over quite well with the holiday spirit… <<if $A5c is false>>Kennelly notices at the bottom of the list an incident report titled INC-2419 that happened around when Brighton was recruited to the Agency, making it likely that this is the event that the summary above was referring to. Hovering over the link, Kennelly finds that the event involved SBJ-0133, a subject he's never read about before, now marked as DECEASED. Both links are locked out to his clearance level, not that Kennelly would feel great about prying into what brought Brighton to the Agency,\ <<else>>Like in Natalie's file, Kennelly finds an incident report at the bottom of the list, INC-2419, this one happening around when Brighton was recruited to the Agency. This is likely the event that the summary above was referring to. Hovering over the link, Kennelly discovers something peculiar. Like the event in Natalie's file, this one involved SBJ-0133. This incident is also locked from his clearance level, not that Kennelly would feel great about prying into what brought Brighton here any more than he would spying on Natalie. The Agency is<</if>> a place that recruits much of its staff from those who encounter the paranormal in less than ideal circumstances. \ <<if $A5c is true>>However, the connection is a bit uncanny, and Kennelly cannot help but wonder who SBJ-0133 was, and also whether inviting the archivist along was a bad idea.<</if>> <</widget>> <<widget "LastOptionA">>\ <<if $A5 is 1>>\ <<if $args[0] is "a">><<LastOptionB "Kennelly's personal file is enough">>\ <<elseif $args[0] is "b" or $args[0] is "c">><<LastOptionB "One close friend's file is enough">>\ <<elseif $args[0] is "d">><<LastOptionB "One acquaintance's file is more than enough">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif $A5 is 2>>\ <<LastOptionB "That's probably enough">> <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A2 lt 3>>\ <<LastOptionB "That's enough…though, what's one more going to hurt?">>\ <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A2 is 3>>\ <<LastOptionB "There's nothing left to read">>\ <<elseif $A5 is 4>>\ <<LastOptionB "There's nothing left to read">>\ <</if>><</widget>> <<widget "LastOptionB">><<replace "#LastOption">><<set $LastOption to $args[0] + " (move on >)">><<click $LastOption "A-6">><</click>><</replace>><</widget>>

<<Vars 6>>\ \ <<if $A5 is 0>>Not wanting to pry into things he perhaps ought not to\ \ <<elseif $A5 is 1 and $A5a is true>>Not wanting to pry into the private files of his friends\ \ <<elseif $A5 lte 2 and $A5a is false>>Not wanting to pry into any more private files\ \ <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A5a is false>>There may only be his own file left, but he doesn't need to bother looking at it\ \ <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A5b is false>>There is only be Armen's file left, but he doesn't need to read it to know what it says\ \ <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A5c is false>>There may only be Natalie's file left, but for some reason he doesn't feel like looking at it\ \ <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A5d is false and $A2 lt 3>>Not wanting to pry into the private file of a mere acquaintance\ \ <<elseif $A5 is 3 and $A5d is false and $A2 is 3>>Having looked at his closest friends' files\ <<else>>Having looked over all of the files relevant to his current social scenario\ <</if>>, Kennelly shuts down the database<<if $A5 gt 1>>. He finds that while he might feel informed, he also isn't really sure what has come over him to pry so much. This isn't something he would normally do, as it serves his personal goals very little. However, what's done is done, so he moves past it<</if>> and gets back to more important work. <<click "20:12PM, January 12th, 2▓▓▓" "B-1">><</click>>

<<Vars 12>>\ \ <<if $B5 is 1>>"Well," Kennelly says, thinking it over. "How about our, uh…new friend?" He holds the pendant out to Brighton<<if $A2 is 3>>, hoping to make up for the insult of telling him he couldn't come<</if>>. The archivist eyes the hanging piece of metal with suspicious eyes. "<<if $A2 lt 3>>Oh, I dunno," he says, rubbing his chin awkwardly<<else>>Uh, really?" he says, rubbing his chin awkwardly, clearly caught off-guard by the gesture<</if>>. "I guess if no one else wants it, some luck never hurts." The others nod or keep to themselves, no one caring much about the odd trinket. "Aye, alright." Brighton takes the pendant and puts the nylon cord over his head. "Perfect fit," he says with a smile and a wink to Kennelly. "Thanks."\ \ <<elseif $B5 is 2>>"Hm," Kennelly says, and a light bulb goes off in his head. "Uh, Natalie, would you like it?" He holds it out, thinking that if anyone should get a gift tonight, it should be her. "Oh," she says, not expecting the gesture. "Sure!" She takes the nylon cord gingerly with one hand and examines the pendant with the other. "It's pretty well made. Greek omega is a weird symbol to find out here, though, isn't it?" The rest of them are as uncertain as she is. "Well, thank you." This makes Kennelly warm in the face once more. She puts it on around her neck and holds it tight in her right hand.\ \ <<elseif $B5 is 3>>"Uh, do you want it?" Kennelly holds it out to Armen. "I don't know about taking weird objects from strangers in our line of work," he says with a wry smile. Armen slowly takes the pendant and gives it a closer look. "I suppose I can hold onto it for now," he says. "Might want to shoot some x-rays at it back at the lab and see what happens." He uncouthly shoves his head into the loop of nylon and returns the sardonic look Kennelly gave him.\ <</if>> With the strange encounter floating pleasantly in the beer-addled buzz that each of the Agency members has formed over their stay, the group makes its way back to the self-driving jeep outside. <<click "22:12PM, January 12th, 2▓▓▓" "C-1">><</click>>

<<Vars 19>><<set $D1 to 0>><<set $D1Switch to false>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>>\ \ ''00:00PM, January 13th, 2▓▓▓'' In the center of a dark and dust-smothered room, Kennelly stands alone. He feels unsteady on his feet, as though on a ship lost at sea. The wood of the old house creaks softly, from the wind, or from the cold, or from any of the inexplicable forces that permeate this structure. A flashlight sits on the floor, casting its beam at a random wall, the photons spreading thinly, enough to see that the room is aged and empty of anyone else. A rickety rocking chair nods slowly back and forth to his right, as if someone has just stood up and left it. A beat-up looking couch is positioned against a wall in front of him, with a coffee table separating him from it. Bookshelves, empty picture frames, but no windows…it seems to be a living room. Kennelly looks down at his empty and gloveless hands, noticing in his numbed awareness that his fingers are stinging with cold. The last thing he remembers is walking through the door to the house. His mind feels as though it's gripping wet ice as he tries to recall how he ended up in this room. He fumbles in his pockets for his cellphone, almost dropping it, hoping its dim screen will offer some clarity on the situation. Midnight. But hadn't they come upon the house…an hour ago? "What the fuck is going on?" Kennelly mutters. Trying to keep a clear head, he navigates across the phone's interface to call one of his friends, but…no service? This is a satellite-connected device, few things could possibly impact its signal. On the white backdrop of the mobile calling app, Kennelly notices five dead pixels in the center of the screen in the shape of a pentagon. "What the //fuck// is going on." Kennelly snatches the flashlight off the ground and casts its beam around the room to see closed doors on either side of him—a green one to his right and a red one to his left. A soft gleam grabs his attention, and he focuses the light to illuminate Armen's <<if $A4 is 1>>video<<else>>DSLR<</if>> camera on a wicker table next to the rocking chair. The chair's motion becomes more subtle with each sway, and Kennelly can feel himself make up for its stillness as his hands begin to shake. \ <<click "I should call out for help.">><<set $D1 += 1>> <<if $D1 lt 3>><<replace "#option1">>\ I͒͐̑͒͂̔ ̃ś͌hō͋u̅͗̏l͆͋d́̈̑̚ ̉͊̓̂͊c̾ã̿̑ͫll ̓́o̊̊̃͑̾ͦ͂ȕt͛͌ ͐̂̆ͤ̔̀f̉̈́̅͛ͯͫͣǒr ͛̇̇h͗͆̒̊͛̓̎ě̎ͪͫ̓͂͐l̔̂̉̅̿p.\ <</replace>><<elseif $D1 is 3>> <<D1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "I need to escape this room.">><<set $D1 += 1>> <<if $D1 lt 3>><<replace "#option2">>I ͟n̸ee͢d ̡to ̷e͝sc͞a͟p̴e ͢this̵ ŗoo͠m.\ <</replace>><<elseif $D1 is 3>> <<D1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "I'll just sit down and cry.">><<set $D1 += 1>> <<if $D1 lt 3>><<replace "#option3">>\ Ḭ̥̹'̬̜͕̮̫̹l̹̺̻l ͓̠j̤̰͓ṷ̭̘̻͎s̪͎t͕̠̻̼ ̻̱̖̗̤̤si͍̼̥t̥ ͚̫͇d̘o̘͈͖w̭̭̹̙n̖̣̮ ̼̩̭a̳͖͍̖n͔ḓ̣̤̠̩̞̥ ͈c̜̘͇r͕̮y͕̪̞͍.̦͓̫\ <</replace>><<elseif $D1 is 3>> <<D1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>>\ \ \ /* PART D FROZEN CHOICE */\ <<widget "D1ChoiceSwitch">><<replace "#ChoiceGlitch">>\ <<click "Kennelly understands that there are few choices left for him to make, but he also knows that he has to figure this out">><<replace "#glitch">>Kennelly ʊnde®stands that theⓡe aɌe ɟew ch๑ices leⓕt ╒❂Ɽ him t☻ make, b◡t he alsⓞ kn☀ws that he has t⊚ ℱigⓤꭉe this ¤☋t<</replace>><<D1ChoiceGlitch>><<set $D1Switch to true>><</click>>. The best way to start accounting for the missing time is to check Armen's camera, so Kennelly trades the flashlight for it and turns on its small LCD screen. Like his phone, the camera's software is behaving oddly, the screen glitching out entirely if he tries to take any <<photo>>s. He wants to throw it in frustration, but instead takes a deep breath and checks for evidence of what has happened. There are only thumbnails for three files in the device's storage, but their dates make no sense at all. One thumbnail looks to be of Brighton and some other man, logged ten years in the past. Another looks like it could be Natalie in a sunny room, logged at exactly midnight tonight. The third is definitely Armen, wearing all black, logged ten years in the future. Kennelly looks at his phone again to verify the date, only to find that its clock has not progressed whatsoever. Still midnight. "Dream House…time travel…" Kennelly mutters. "<<if $B3 isnot 3>>You've got to be fucking kidding me…<<else>>We actually found it…<</if>>" <<if $C4 is 1>>He should have stuck to his guns with Natalie<<elseif $C4 is 2>>He should have said something, agreed with Natalie, convinced Armen that this was a bad idea<<else>>He should never have agreed with Armen to come here<</if>>. He's not equipped to handle field work like this, he's a //scientist//, not an Agent. None of them should have come. Armen's ranting from the other day, the Oversight Council's judgments of him, <<if $A5b is true>>the notes on his file, <</if>>his idiotic confidence that he could handle something powerful enough to implant dreams in his mind—//Kennelly// should have known better. He //does// know better, so how the hell did he end up here? What has overtaken him to make such foolish choices? Alcohol does not make a good excuse. To have any chance, he needs to <<click "calm down">><<CalmDownKennelly>><<set $Calm to true>><</click>>.<</replace>><</widget>>\ \ <<widget "CalmDownKennelly">><<replace "#stop">>\ calm down. Kennelly feels a wave of serenity wash over him, pushing away the swirling panic—a sensation so sudden and out of place, it reminds him of something, but…he finds himself unable to worry about that. There are more important things to focus on. "I can figure this out," he tells himself. Whatever these files on the camera are, they should reveal //something//… <<if $D1Switch is false>>\ <<click "10 years in the past (Brighton)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Midnight tonight (Natalie)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "10 years in the future (Armen)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 3>><</click>>\ <<else>><<click "Ω 10 yeaꭉs in the past (Bɹight●n)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ω midnight t⊚night (Natalie)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ω 10 yeaⱤs in the ℱʊtⓤ®e (Aяmen)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 3>><</click>><</if>>\ <</replace>><</widget>> <<widget "D1ChoiceGlitch">> <<if $Calm is true>><<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Ω 10 yeaꭉs in the past (Bɹight●n)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ω midnight t⊚night (Natalie)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ω 10 yeaⱤs in the ℱʊtⓤ®e (Aяmen)" "D-2">><<set $D1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</if>><</widget>>

<<Vars 0>>\ <<if $End is true>><<UnsetAll>>\ ''(The back and forward buttons have been enabled in the tool-bar to the top left. To turn this off, <<click "click here">><<set $End to false>><<remember $End>><</click>> and then restart the game)'' <</if>>//Here is as good a place to start as any.// <<Vars 0>> //What has been on your mind lately?// <<click "Chapter V. Time">><<step1>><</click>> Chapter IV. Love (Unavailable) Chapter III. Language (Unavailable) Chapter II. Exploration (Unavailable) Chapter I. Self (Unavailable)\ \ \ <<widget "step1">>\ <<replace "#text">>\ //Ah, yes, a fundamental constant that causes a great deal of concern for many. Are you considering it from the scientific or creative sense?// <<click "A. Scientific">><<step2>><</click>> B. Creative (Unavailable) <</replace>>\ <</widget>>\ \ <<widget "step2">>\ <<replace "#text">>\ //Ah, yes, the movements of time are complex, hard to understand, affecting us in ways we cannot ever fully grasp. The profound realization to be made is that these forces extend well beyond our relative scope, permeating backward and forwards to an almost overwhelming extent.// //So, why is this on your mind in particular?// <<click "Something bad happened…">><<set $Z0 to 1>><<step3>><</click>> <<click "Something bad is happening…">><<set $Z0 to 2>><<step3>><</click>> <<click "Something bad is going to happen…">><<set $Z0 to 3>><<step3>><</click>>\ <</replace>>\ <</widget>>\ \ <<widget "step3">>\ <<replace "#text">>\ //Of course. There are many questions we feel we must ask about these things, such as "how does this make me feel?" or "how might I solve the problem?" But, for now, try not to focus on the questions or the answers, try to look instead at the moment between them.// <<click "I don't understand">><<step4>><</click>> <</replace>>\ <</widget>>\ \ <<widget "step4">>\ <<replace "#text">>\ //Yes, but you do understand that is why we're doing this today.// //Try to relax and allow the session to execute its design. You may encounter resistance, but don't worry, it knows how to sort things out. Trust that, even if it doesn't always seem like it, the session does have your best interest at heart.// //Count down whenever you're ready.// <<click "Ready">><<set $countdown to 6>><<step5>><</click>> <</replace>>\ <</widget>>\ \ <<widget "step5">><<set $countdown -= 1>>\ <<replace "#text">>\ <<if $countdown gt 0>>\ <<if $countdown is 5>>\ //"When the last days were upon me, and the ugly trifles of existence began to drive me to madness like the small drops of water that torturers let fall ceaselessly upon one spot of their victim’s body, I loved the irradiate refuge of sleep. In my dreams I found a little of the beauty I had vainly sought in life, and wandered through old gardens and enchanted woods…once I walked through a golden valley that led to shadowy groves and ruins, and ended in a mighty wall green with antique vines, and pierced by a little gate of bronze…"//\ <<elseif $countdown is 4>>\ //"…After a while, as the days of waking became less and less bearable from their greyness and sameness, I would often drift in opiate peace through the valley and the shadowy groves, and wonder how I might seize them for my eternal dwelling-place…as I looked upon the little gate in the mighty wall, I felt that beyond it lay a dream-country from which, once it was entered, there would be no return…"//\ <<elseif $countdown is 3>>\ //"Then one night in the dream-city of Zakarion I found a yellowed papyrus filled with the thoughts of dream-sages who dwelt of old in that city…Therein were written many things concerning the world of dream, and among them was lore of a golden valley and a sacred grove with temples, and a high wall pierced by a little bronze gate…Some of the dream-sages wrote gorgeously of the wonders beyond the irrepassable gate, but others told of horror and disappointment. I knew not which to believe, yet longed more and more to cross forever into the unknown land…So when I learned of the drug which would unlock the gate and drive me through, I resolved to take it when next I awaked."//\ <<elseif $countdown is 2>>\ //"Last night I swallowed the drug and floated dreamily into the golden valley and the shadowy groves; and when I came this time to the antique wall, I saw that the small gate of bronze was ajar. From beyond came a glow that weirdly lit the giant twisted trees and the tops of the buried temples, and I drifted on songfully, expectant of the glories of the land from whence I should never return."//\ <<elseif $countdown is 1>>\ //"But as the gate swung wider and the sorcery of drug and dream pushed me through, I knew that all sights and glories were at an end; for in that new realm was neither land nor sea, but only the white void of unpeopled and illimitable space. So, happier than I had ever dared hoped to be, I dissolved again into that native infinity of crystal oblivion from which the daemon Life had called me for one brief and desolate hour."//\ <</if>> <<click $countdown>><<step5>><</click>>\ \ <<elseif $countdown is 0>>\ //From// Ex Oblivione //by H. P. Lovecraft// Let's <<click "get started">><<START>><</click>>.<</if>><</replace>>\ <</widget>>\ \ <<widget "START">><<replace "#text">>\ A door thrown open, sudden and startling, and then a throbbing red, a pumping of <<Blood "the blood" "The Blood">> through veins. This color possesses the box on Kennelly's desk when a drop of his own vital fluid falls from an innocent paper-cut onto its slick, wooden surface. Through such happenstance do these events unfold, the catalyst of less accidental motions. <<click "\"Well, hello there…\" a zealous voice seem to whisper through time and space itself, from some inaudible zone">><<replace "#hello">>"wɘll həll☯ th≡®≡…" a ℤⓔal☹us v◕ic≡ s≡≡ms t◎ whispεʁ thя⊙ugh timə and spacɘ its≡lf, fⓡ○m s●me inaudible ⓩ◯nⓔ<</replace>><</click>>. This is only noticed by those eyes which read the passage of the life that now is brought to attention. A man named Armen slams a door closed, and with this, the strange red box pulses in unison with time's sudden procession, sending ripples of itself backwards and forwards through the steady flow. This odd goings-on remains unnoticed by Kennelly and Armen. After all, it is a supernatural event occurring in a place where such events are the mundane, a relic of times the two guilt-ridden paranormal researchers may <<click "Never Let Go Of" "A-1">><</click>>.\ <</replace>><</widget>>

<<Vars 18>>\ \ Maybe it's the alcohol in his veins, maybe it's his sympathy for a friend, maybe it's the fact that a mere acquaintance is not turning Armen away…or maybe it's just the strange persistent feeling he's had throughout the night that he must follow this path onward. Whatever the reason is, Kennelly nods and walks up onto the porch. "Curiosity killed the cat," he mutters as he goes. "And if we die," Armen says. "It's not like they won't find our bodies, right? Best part of being in The Agency!" He pokes the back of his neck, drawing attention to the biometric chips each of them have embedded in their flesh. Brighton makes a dark joke about keeping track of livestock. Now it's only Natalie left at the bottom of the steps. Seeing the rest of the group, she doesn't have much of an option, and this makes Kennelly feel an incredible guilt that he hadn't considered before pushing forwards. However, she cuts through this, giving them a strained smile. "Brighton is right. Who am //I// to stop a dream?" She climbs the steps. Armen flashes his classic grin at all of them, but it looks forced. Kennelly can only imagine what is going through his mind. "Then here we go," he says. <<click "23:59PM, January 12th, 2▓▓▓" "D-1">><</click>>

<<Vars 20>><<set $trials to 1>><<if ndef $Time>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>><</if>>\ \ Kennelly clicks on the <<if $D1 is 1>>first file, dated January 13th, ten years before now.<<elseif $D1 is 2>>second file, dated January 13th, at midnight…right now?<<elseif $D1 is 3>>third file, dated January 13th, ten years from now.<</if>> The odd glitches seem to persist on the screen in his attempts to do this, a cliche detail in the abnormal endeavor he has now found himself. After a few moments of pixels hanging in the dark, Kennelly is startled by <<if $A4 is 1>>audio crackling to life<<else>>an image suddenly filling the screen<</if>>. <<if $D1 is 1>><<BrightonsTrial1>>\ <<elseif $D1 is 2>><<NataliesTrial1>>\ <<elseif $D1 is 3>><<ArmensTrial1>>\ <</if>>

/* STEP 1 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial1">>\ <<if $A4 is 1>>It's unclear where the video is being recorded at first, it seems the camera is brushing against someone's clothing, muffling a deep voice from whomever is being filmed. The view is lifted, offering Kennelly a shaky look at Brighton. \ <<else>>Squinting to make out details on the small panel, Kennelly can see a crisp image of Brighton sitting with another man, their arms slung over one another's shoulders. \ <</if>>The first thing he notices is that the Scotsman looks somewhat younger than he did an hour ago—though, he's wearing the same turtleneck sweater<<if $B5 is 1>>, and Kennelly can see the omega pendant that he'd <<if $Brighton gte 2>>given the man as a gift<<else>>off-handedly given the man<</if>><</if>>. \ <<if $A4 is 1>>The camera is jostled and then set still on a tripod or some sort of surface, and the man who had been holding it makes his way to sit next to Brighton on a couch. They put their arms over one another's shoulders, and Brighton leans over and gives the man a kiss on the cheek. \ <<else>>Brighton's head is leaned up against the other man's shoulder, and it seems this is more than just a friend. In fact, <<if $trials is 1 and $D1 isnot 2>>using the arrow keys on the camera to zoom in<<else>>zooming in to get a better view<</if>>, Kennelly can see that both men have silver bands on their ring fingers. He pans around the scene more, noticing pictures of them in the frames on the walls, frames positioned…just like the ones in this room.<</if>> <<if $trials is 1>><<if $A4 is 1>>Kennelly notices that the couch the two men are sitting on is very familiar.<</if>> He holds up the camera to compare, and while it all looks much older now, the <<photo>> does in fact match the contents of this room.<<elseif $trials gt 1>><<if $trials is 2>>Like<<else>>Obviously, as<</if>> before, <<if $trials is 2>>there is clear similarity between the room the <<photo>> captures and the one Kennelly stands in<<else>>the room is the same<</if>>, though the couch the two men sit on looks fresh<<if $trials is 2>>er<</if>>, <<if $D1 is 2>>like in Natalie's<<else>>the opposite of Armen's<</if>> version of this.<</if>> <<if $D1 isnot 3>>As he moves to find the right angle<<if $trials gt 1>> again<</if>>,<<else>>Kennelly knows that matching the angle will precipitate some sort of time shift, and as he moves to find it,<</if>> his head is struck by a dizzy spell. <<if def $ArmenTrial>>//Not again//, he thinks as he<<else>>He<</if>> tries to reach an arm out to steady himself, but he finds that his muscles won't budge. <<click "He falls backwards…">><<replace "#trial1">><<BrightonsTrial2>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>> /* STEP 2 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial2">>\ He falls backwards… Or does he? It feels like he's falling, but his vision remains fixed on the camera's screen and nothing seems to move around him. <<if $D1 is 3>>This isn't quite like vertigo, though he<<else>>He<</if>> feels the drag of some force akin to gravity pulling him, experiencing it internally as opposed to externally, like a bad reaction to a drug more than a literal sensation of falling. Nausea wells up in his stomach as he gets the distinct sense that something has hooked up under his ribcage and is yanking him from behind. There's a flow around his outer periphery, like the friction of water rushing past him in this bizarre descent, a fish on a line. //''<<click "Thud.">><<replace "#trial2">><<BrightonsTrial3>><</replace>><</click>>''//<</widget>> /* STEP 3 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial3">>\ //''Thud.''// Darkness…Kennelly's eyes are closed<<if def $NatalieTrial>>—did he fall asleep again? No<</if>>. He opens them to find that he //has// fallen, right onto his back. The room is bright with incandescent lighting, warm yellows and oranges. He stretches his neck, and looks around blearily from the floor to find himself in the same room, only less…old. <<if $trials is 1>>Or more old? <</if>> Though, if he<<if $trials is 1>> actually is<<else>>'s<</if>> in the past, technically it's still old, but… "Oi," a voice says in front of him. "Looks like one of <<if $Brighton gte 2>>the friends<<else>>those folks<</if>> you were telling me about has shown up." Heavy steps, and Kennelly's eyes focus to see the hand of the stranger from the <<photo>> reaching out. Kennelly takes it, feeling a shocking gladness at the warmth of the stranger's palm. "Christ, he's <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>y freezing.<<if ($D1 is 2 and $D2 is 1) or ($D2 is 2 and $D3 is 1)>>" Of course, the warmth from Natalie's room left him a while ago. "<<else>> <</if>>Come, come, take a seat." Kennelly is guided to the rocking chair—<<if $trials is 1>>now still, <</if>>its surface polished smooth—and he sits down into it<<if $trials is 1>> cautiously<<elseif $trials is 2>>, happy to have company again, though totally unsure how to treat them<<else>>, ready to tackle whatever is coming next<</if>>. "<<if $Brighton gte 2>>Quite glad y'could join us here<<elseif $Brighton lt 0>>So…a bit of a surprise seein' you here<<else>>Welcome surprise to see y'here<</if>>," Brighton says from the couch with a bemused look as the other man makes his way back around the coffee table. <<if $trials is 1>>"I, uh…I'm not sure where…//here// is…" Kennelly says, noting that neither he nor Brighton seem to be exhibiting any inebriation from all that they drank earlier<<elseif $trials is 2>>"You as well," Kennelly says, <<if $D1 is 2>>wondering if comfortable-couch sitting is really all the house has in store for them<<else>>cautious and unsure about how this version of Brighton might behave<</if>><<else>>Kennelly says nothing, not sure what to expect from this scenario<</if>>. He casts his eyes around the room<<if $trials is 1>> with an almost crazed speed<</if>>, taking in as much as he can. It's<<if $trials gt 1>>, again,<</if>> the same as before, but everything looks <<if ndef $NatalieTrial>>newer…older…whatever. Less beat to shit<<else>>newer in a quaint way, not freshly made but lived in<</if>>. The biggest difference is that red door that had been across the room, left from the center, is no longer there, though there is still the green one right behind him. The stranger drops into the couch cushions. This offers Kennelly a good look at the man's face, which startles him tremendously with the realization that the man's eyes are completely white—no iris, no pupils<<if def $NatalieTrial>>, the opposite of the cat…<<else>>. <</if>>Is he blind? By his movements, it wouldn't seem so, and he looks normal otherwise as he shakes Brighton's knee in a friendly manner. "He seems quite shook up, don't he?" The man has an English accent himself, though from a different region than Armen. "You alright, mate?" //''<<click "Thud, thud, thud.">><<replace "#trial3">><<BrightonsTrial4>><</replace>><</click>>''//<</widget>> /* STEP 4 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial4">>\ //''Thud, thud, thud.''// The green door behind Kennelly shakes on its hinges, making him jump.<<if $trials gt 1>> That's new…<</if>> "<<if $Brighton gte 2>>Well, I'm excited to introduce you two<<elseif $trials lt 0>>Ah, I guess I've gotta introduce you<<else>>Oh, 'scuse me, I'm bein' quite rude, aren't I?<</if>>" Brighton says, unaware of the knocking. "<<if $Brighton lt 1>>Doctor, uh…Crayton<<else>>Kennelly<</if>>, was it? This is my husband, Richard." Brighton puts his own hand on top of Richard's<<if $A4 is 1>>, and there are indeed silver bands on their ring fingers<</if>>. Kennelly can't tell if the man simply has a youthful glow or actually appears 10 years younger, but Brighton's smile is sincere, smoothing away worry lines on his face that Kennelly had taken for granted, beaming a positive radiance that goes far beyond anything he'd shown <<if $trials is 1>>throughout the entire evening<<else>>earlier<</if>>. Richard gives a polite little wave. "Nice to meet you." //''Thud, thud, thud.''// <<if $trials is 1>>"Uh," Kennelly stutters again.<<elseif $trials is 2>>"Uh, hello," Kennelly stutters<<else>>"You as well," Kennelly says, ignoring the knocking along with them, confident it will sort itself out<</if>>. <<if $trials lt 3>>The knocking draws<<else>>It does draw<</if>> his attention to the walls,<<if $trials is 3>> though,<</if>> where the picture frames are now full of images of the life between these two men<<if def $NatalieTrial>> (no windows to the sky this time)<</if>>. The books on the bookshelves have no titles on the spines, but vary in color and size, and small knickknacks decorate the various surfaces around the room.<<if $trials lt 3>> "Do you guys…"<</if>> "Odd, y'showin' up," Brighton trudges on<<if $trials lt 3>>, ignoring the knocking and Kennelly's stammering<</if>>. "Was just talkin' about <<if $Brighton gte 2>>the great conversation I was havin' with y'folks<<elseif $Brighton lt 0>>y'folks runnin' into me<<else>>runnin' into y'folks<</if>>, and I was gettin' on about the the, ah…Agency did y'call it?" "It all sounds fascinating," Richard adds, his expression lively despite the blank white of his eyes. "If maybe a bit hard to believe." "Aye, I can't imagine workin' at such a place, but they made it sound <<if $Brighton gte 2>>like amazin' adventures<<elseif $Brighton lt 0>>quite normal<<else>>quite fascinatin'<</if>>." <<if ndef $ArmenTrial>>Kennelly's mouth moves up and down, unable to interrupt or grasp this absurd exchange.<<else>>Similar to Armen but in the opposite direction,<</if>> Brighton no longer believes himself to be an archivist at the Agency<<if $trials is 1>>?<<else>>.<</if>> "The tales you told, some damned crazy things. Too much of a homebody m'self for such things." Brighton <<if $Brighton gte 2>>briefly nuzzles the side of his head against Richard's shoulder, surprisingly open in his displays of affection<<else>>pats Richard's hand amiably<</if>>, and Kennelly can't help but wonder if Brighton even notices the weird ocular feature that his husband possesses. "Good fodder for a story, though, eh?" Richard says. "Hold on, sorry," Kennelly says<<if $trials lt 3>> with a raw edge in his voice<</if>>. He finds himself getting hot under his layers of winter wear, so he slowly takes his heavy coat off as he speaks. "<<if $trials lt 3>>Please, just…give me a second to just figure out…<<else>>Can I ask you guys—<</if>>" //''<<click "Thud, thud, thud.">><<replace "#trial4">><<BrightonsTrial5>><</replace>><</click>>''//<</widget>> /* STEP 5 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial5">>\ //''Thud, thud, thud.''// <<if ($trials is 1) or ($trials is 2 and $D1 is 2)>>"Do you guys //seriously// not hear that?" He juts a thumb in the direction of the green door behind himself<<if $trials is 1>>, just now noticing that he hasn't been holding the camera since he got off the floor (no time to figure that one out, though)<</if>><<elseif $trials is 2 and $D1 is 3>>"Do you guys…hear that?" He points a thumb at the green door behind himself, hoping he's not going crazy, but also not wanting to agitate them like he did Armen<<else>>"Do you guys happen to hear that?" He points a thumb at the green door behind himself<</if>>. The looks he gets from the two men make him<<if $trials is 3>> almost<</if>> feel embarrassed, but he won't admit that //he's// the one being weird here. He puts his coat over the back of the chair<<if def $NatalieTrial>>, knowing that it will just appear back on him when this whole ordeal is over<</if>>. Brighton leans forward in his seat. "Y'alright, <<if $Brighton gte 2>>friend<<else>>doctor<</if>>?" He looks to Richard for support. "If y've got to go, <<if $Brighton gte 2>>we totally understand<<elseif $trials lt 0>>by all means, we won't stop ye<<else>>we won't hold y'hostage<</if>>. Richard and I've got some catchin' up to do, after all." The two men look each other in the eyes, a connection sparking there despite the ivory orbs that Richard stares with, a connection that is almost physically tangible.<<if $B5 is 1>> "And I won't forget ye," Brighton says, pulling the omega pendant out from under his collar and waving it.<</if>> <<if $trials is 1>>\ Kennelly can make guesses as to what's happening here, but nearly every one of them is absurd to consider. At first he thought the Dream House (<<if $B3 lt 3>>and how ridiculous to even acknowledge that's where he is right now<<else>>and to think that he's actually //there//<</if>>) to be somehow simulating some part of Brighton's past, but Richard's presence is far too real to be reduced to a hologram. The next guess would be a mass psychic hallucination, but the corporeality of the environment around Kennelly feels too precise, beyond anything he's experienced in his own mind. The last obvious option is that they've //actually traveled through time//, but… "<<if $Brighton lt 1>>Doctor<<else>>Kennelly<</if>>?"\ <<elseif $trials is 2>>\ Having been through this once, Kennelly isn't surprised to find himself in another circumstance where the "victim" of the Dream House is utterly unaware of the bizarre events going on around them. \ <<if $D1 is 2>>Natalie was anesthetized by just a book, a cat, and soft light—Brighton being placated by a husband seems normal by comparison. The pressing question is, though, what //is// Richard? The strange eyes are a connection, though a cat is one thing. A human with speech patterns and emotional reactions? How can the Dream House just //make// that? Is Richard a real person Brighton knew, or the dream husband he wishes he had?\ <<else>>However, this is a fair bit stranger than just a series of duplicated rooms. What //is// Richard? Maybe the Dream House is just simulating some part of Brighton's past, but, aside from his weird eyes, Richard's presence is far too real to be reduced to a hologram. Hadn't Armen said something about eyes? And "breaking the rules?"<</if>> Kennelly gets an idea. "You know," he says. "I just saw <<if $D1 is 2>>Natalie<<else>>Armen<</if>> in a room a lot like this one." He wonders if he can break the spell by explaining it. "Aye?" Brighton says cheerily. "<<if $Brighton gte 2>>Why didn't y'invite <<if $D1 is 2>>her<<else>>him<</if>> over as well<<else>>Any reason y'bring it up<</if>>?" "Well, that's the thing," Kennelly says. "You see, there's this camera, and…" He realizes that every time he's sent to one of these rooms, the camera disappears. "I mean…it's this place, the //Dream House//, do you remember any of that?" The look Brighton gives him nearly breaks Kennelly's heart. <<if $D1 is 2>>Worse than Natalie, it's not that the man doesn't care, it's that he truly doesn't understand whatsoever.<<else>>Like Armen, Brighton is stuck in a delusional perception of what he thinks this room is. At least he recognizes Kennelly…<</if>> "Can't say I do," Brighton says. "Y'sure y're alright, <<if $Brighton lt 1>>doctor<<else>>Kennelly<</if>>?"\ <<else>>\ Having been through this twice, Kennelly isn't surprised that Brighton is utterly unaware of the bizarre events going on around him. Natalie got a room of calm respite, Armen got a fantasy of becoming a Field Agent, and this man gets a husband…in a way, it all adds up. The pressing question is, though, what //is// Richard? The strange eyes are a connection, though a cat is one thing. A human with speech patterns and emotional reactions? How can the Dream House just //make// that? Also, Armen had definitely said something about eyes and "breaking the rules," which leads to a fair assumption that his future-flung friend might have known a lot more than Kennelly about the house. However, given his last two goes at this, Kennelly figures it's worthless to take a direct approach to trying to understand. "Y'alright, <<if $Brighton lt 1>>doctor<<else>>Kennelly<</if>>?" Brighton asks, breaking Kennelly's quiet concentration.\ <</if>> //''Thud, thud, thud.''//<<set $BrightonTrial to 0>> <<click "Try to understand this exchange (stay…)">><<set $BrightonTrial += 1>><<replace "#trial5">><<BrightonsTrial6>><</replace>><</click>> <<if $trials is 1>><<click "Investigate the door (leave >)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "Investigate the door (leave >)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "Investigate the door (leave >)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* STEP 6 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial6">>\ "<<if $trials is 1>>Uh, no, that's alright…I mean<<else>>Yeah<</if>>, I'm fine," Kennelly says, settling back into the rocking chair in an attempt to seem at ease.<<if $trials lt 3>> This fails, though, as his wild eyes make him look like a demented vagrant brought in off the street.<</if>> "After all, I've only just met, uh…Richard. You didn't ever mention him. How long have you…been together?" <<if $trials is 1>>On the spot, he<<else>>He<</if>> finds coming up with small talk to understand this scenario better a very odd test of his <<if $trials is 1>>wit<<else>>patience<</if>>. "Oh, we're reaching seven years now," Richard says, and Brighton adds that they've only been married for one of those. "Yes, but we both //knew// much sooner than that, didn't we?" It piques Kennelly's interest that this man—who for all intents and purposes probably does not actually exist—is carrying the conversation. <<if $trials lt 3>>Did Brighton make Richard up as part of his "wish" for the Dream House? Or is this someone that Brighton actually knew, or knows? <<else>>//Was// this someone Brighton actually knew?<</if>> Kennelly <<if $Brighton lt 0>>is annoyed<<else>>feels foolish<</if>> that he <<if $A5d is true>>didn't dig more into the archivist's past in those files<<else>>never asked the archivist much more about himself<</if>>. //''Thud, thud, thud.''// In the midst of this <<if $trials lt 3>>panicked <</if>>analysis, Kennelly had almost forgotten about whatever the hell is on the other side of that door, but if he wants to talk to these two, he must, like them, <<click "keep ignoring it">><<replace "#trial6">><<BrightonsTrial7>><</replace>><</click>>.\ <</widget>> /* STEP 7 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial7">>\ keep ignoring it. "What did we know?" Brighton asks, continuing Richard's comment. Richard laces his fingers with Brighton's and waves their paired hands around. "What do you think, you goof? At least //I// knew. I've always known." Richard tickles Brighton's chin with his other thumb<<if $B5 is 1>> before twiddling the pendant on his neck<</if>>, and Kennelly finds this being's warm affect, with eyelids that crinkle kindly at the edges when he speaks, to contrast heavily with the man's pupiless gaze. "But, uh," Kennelly interrupts, trying to pick his words carefully to keep them talking<<if def $ArmenTrial>>, but wanting to avoid the disaster he had with Armen<</if>>. "But really? You really always knew you'd…be together? What about you Brighton?" A flush bristles under Brighton's ginger beard, and a chuckle bubbles up between his words to follow it. <<if $Brighton gte 2>>"Richard says he's known since he first saw me," he says. "He knows I'm not quite a hopeless romantic, I dunno about happily ever after or any o' that, but…" He looks at their interlaced hands and shakes them a bit himself. "I've loved him for a good long time, and…I don't plan on stoppin'."<<elseif $Brighton lt 0>>"Richard likes being quite open about these things…" He looks down at their hands awkwardly. "All I know is he's been…great to me."<<else>>"Well, I'm not the hopeless romantic he is, but…" He looks at their interlaced hands. "I've known he's a great man for a long time."<</if>> The genuine feelings between the two of them are hard for Kennelly to process<<if $trials is 1>> in the midst of what he knows to be some sort of paranormal event<</if>>. A part of him wants to just relax into this moment,<<if $trial gt 1>> stay here with people instead of finding his way back to that cold and lonely room,<</if>> allow them to be…happy. <<if def $NatalieTrial>>That didn't really do much for Natalie, <<if $NatalieSaved>>he could only snap her out of it by acting<<else>>but he also never snapped her out of it anyways<</if>>.<<else>>And why not? Can he really stop whatever is going on here even if he wants to?<</if>> //''Thud, thud, thud.''// Kennelly licks lips that are beginning to feel all too dry. <<click "Try to relax and keep listening (stay…)">><<set $BrightonTrial += 1>><<replace "#trial7">><<BrightonsTrial8>><</replace>><</click>> <<if $trials is 1>><<click "Insist that they acknowledge the door (leave >)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "Insist that they acknowledge the door (leave >)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "Insist that they acknowledge the door (leave >)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* STEP 8 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial8">>\ "It doesn't ever really stop, though, does it?" Richard asks. Kennelly is so lost in thought that he doesn't remember what they were talking about, so he just awkwardly adjusts his position in the hard rocking chair, <<if def $NatalieTrial>>remembering<<else>>envying<</if>> the<<if ndef $NatalieTrial>> apparent<</if>> comfort of the couch that the couple is settled so deeply into. "Even if you want it to stop, love defines you, so your memories of it will just keep shining through." Brighton <<if $Brighton gte 2>>shakes his head with a grin<<elseif $Brighton lt 0>>rolls his eyes, uncomfortable with his husband's romantic openness<<else>>shakes his head<</if>>, <<if $C2 lt 3>>and Kennelly can't help but smile at this, though it is more out of wry sarcasm than his heart being truly warmed by the comment. Are these two for real?<<else>>but Kennelly is distracted by the statement. It sounds too familiar…hadn't Brighton said something similar when they were walking through the woods? At the time, it had seemed too grossly sentimental even for him. Is Richard the one he heard it from?<</if>> Is //any of this// "real?" The Dream House is living up to its name…but…Kennelly needs to <<click "figure it out">><<replace "#trial8">><<BrightonsTrial9>><</replace>><</click>>.\ <</widget>> /* STEP 9 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial9">>\ figure it out. "You, uh, said you had catching up to do?" Kennelly asks. "What did you mean?" "Oh, that," Brighton says. "Richard's been on a bit of an adventure of his own. Haven't seen him in…" A new expression passes over Brighton's face—concern? confusion? <<if $B5 is 1>>His attention is drawn to the pendant on his neck, and he fingers it lightly, briefly lost in thought<<else>>Kennelly isn't sure, but it's gone before he can get much of a look at it<</if>>. "In a little while," Brighton finishes. Kennelly has a sense that he's about to tread on thin ice, but he also feels like that's the only way he'll get anywhere <<if $trials is 1>>in this place that, for lack of any better words, seems to be Brighton's fantasy<<elseif $trials is 2>>in this place that seems to be a fantasy<<else>>in this fantasy world<</if>>. "Where have you been?" he asks towards Richard, feeling a chill run down his spine in doing so, uncomfortable acknowledging this…being…as if it is a real person. "Oh, you know," Richard says. "Here and there." //''<<click "Thud, thud, thud.">><<replace "#trial9">><<BrightonsTrial10>><</replace>><</click>>''//\ <</widget>> /* STEP 10 */\ <<widget "BrightonsTrial10">>\ //''Thud, thud, thud.''// "No," Kennelly says, his voice growing hard in his throat, suspicious of the man's every word. "I don't know at all." Brighton squeezes their interlaced hands tight. "Oh, he's bein' just a wee bit modest," he says. "He's been on a book tour." It seems a bit convenient that Brighton had to provide the answer. Kennelly looks around at all the books on the shelves, wondering if there's anything in them at all<<if def $NatalieTrial>>, or if they're each endlessly changing like the one Natalie had<</if>>. "You're both writers, then?" Richard laughs heftily at this. "Is that what you told them you do?" he asks, and Brighton shrugs and says not at all. "//This one// here is still trapped in an endless procession of graduate schools." <<if $trials is 1>>Then nothing is the same<<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 2>>Then Brighton truly isn't the same as he was earlier tonight<<else>>Like Armen, Brighton is totally deluded, though he has this specter to help him along in the process<</if>><<else>>Of course, Brighton isn't himself at all anymore<</if>>… Kennelly grips the arms of the rocking chair, a complete reversal of the hands of the couple gripped before him<<if $trials lt 3>>. Where is he? //When// is he? There has to be an explanation. <<else>>, finally accepting that perhaps he is indeed traveling through time…<</if>>The only way to <<if $trials lt 3>>find out<<else>>be sure of anything<</if>> is to \ <<if $trials is 1>><<click "leave (>)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "leave (>)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "leave (>)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>.\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 1 */\ <<widget "BrightonsEnd1">>\ <<if $BrightonTrial is 0>>"Sorry, but I have to know what the hell is going on," Kennelly says as he gets up from the rocking chair. He feels unstable on his feet, as though the world sways around him in time with the empty chair, but he pushes forwards. <<if $Brighton gte 2>>Brighton insists on asking again if Kennelly is okay<<else>>Neither Brighton or Richard move or react<</if>> as he makes his way shakily to the green door.\ <<elseif $BrightonTrial gt 0>>"Look, this is lovely and everything," says Kennelly, standing up as he speaks. "But what's behind this door?" He feels unstable on his feet, as if the world sways around him in time with the rocking chair he just left behind, but he pushes onward. The two men simply stare, stupefied. "A cold winter's night, I imagine," Brighton says, remaining cheery to an almost infuriating degree<<if def $NatalieTrial>>, reminding Kennelly of Natalie's sickeningly calm demeanor<</if>>.\ <</if>> \ \ <<if $Time is -1>>"I would figure y've got no good reason to be goin' out there, aye?" he says. "It seems y'd be quite a bit happier in the comfort of this room."<<else>>"To be honest, I dunno why y'd want to go out there," he says. "It's quite comfortable right here, no?"<</if>> Making the assumption that Richard is someone from Brighton's past, Kennelly <<if $Time is -1>>can sympathize with the archivist's great desire to stay here with his memories, to ignore the potential peril that this room represents, but this fantasy cannot last forever<<else>>pities the archivist, but cannot sympathize with his desire to remain trapped in this fantasy of the past in spite of the peril that this room represents<</if>>. "No, Brighton," Kennelly says. "Maybe this is all familiar and normal to you, but I can't say the same. <<if $trials gt 1>>I've seen outside this room, and there's more going on here than you want to admit<<else>>There's more to this room than you want to admit<</if>>. Do you even remember how you got here?" Brighton and Richard look to each other again, both quite perplexed with the question. "Not sure what you mean, <<if $Brighton gte 2>>Kennelly<<else>>doctor<</if>>," Brighton replies. "I've always been here. It's my home."<<if $B5 is 1>> "Then where did you get //that//?" Kennelly asks, pointing at the pendant around Brighton's neck. The archivist lost to time touches a finger to the metal omega symbol and his eyes seem to unfocus. He furrows his brow in concentration, trying to remember something that to him hasn't even happened. "//I// gave it to you," Kennelly says. "You came out with us, and I gave it to you <<if $A2 isnot 3>>to help you feel more comfortable<<else>>mostly to apologize for saying you couldn't come out with us<</if>>. Before we came here, the //Dream House//." Brighton puts a hand to his head and makes a soft groaning sound, inciting Richard to put his arm around the man's shoulder. "Alright, I think that's quite enough," Richard says.<</if>> //''<<click "Thud, thud, thud.">><<replace "#trialend1">><<BrightonsEnd2>><</replace>><</click>>''//\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 2 */\ <<widget "BrightonsEnd2">>\ //''Thud, thud, thud.''// The wood of the green door shakes hard with each knock, and Kennelly can feel the vibrations carry through the floor, see the picture frames quiver on the walls<<if $ArmenTrial is 2>>, though the force is much less than the explosive doors from when Armen was shouting him down<</if>>. <<if $BrightonTrial is 2>>"You can't just keep ignoring the violent thing that is obviously smashing against the door over and over again," Kennelly says. He knocks his own hand on the wall three times, though he finds he can't come close to emulating the volume with his own fist.<<if $trials gt 1>> "This isn't //real// Brighton. Come on."<<if $trials is 3>> He says this despite knowing how useless it is<</if>><<if def $ArmenTrial>>, not worried about another incident like with Armen since neither of these men have guns<</if>>.<</if>> Brighton <<if $B5 is 1>>stops rubbing his forehead and looks up with irritation and confusion<<else>>just continues with his polite concern<</if>>, but Richard stands now, letting go of his husband slowly, and his blank eyes are grim.<<if def $ArmenTrial>> Uh oh…<</if>> "Look, mate, we've been nothing but welcoming here," he says. "Offered you a place in our home, and politely ignored what a spaz you're being, but if you insist on remaining a complete weirdo, we're gonna have to ask you to leave." <<if $trials gt 1>>Kennelly finds himself sick of being treated like //he's// the weird one as Richard puts a hand on his<<else>>He puts a hand on Kennelly's<</if>> back—a shiver-inducing gesture given Kennelly's total lack of comprehension as to who or //what// this person is—and ushers him closer to the exit. Kennelly looks hopelessly at Brighton one last time. The Scotsman<<if $B5 is 1>>'s confusion has dissipated, as if he's completely forgotten Kennelly's question about the pendant, and he<</if>><<if $Brighton gte 2>> insists that his husband means no offense by all of this, and that it really was lovely to meet again<<else>> simply stares, his eyes vacant of any awareness that they even knew each other before this exchange<</if>>. With nothing left to do, Kennelly \ <<else>>\ He doesn't bother bringing this up with the couple on the couch—<<if $BrightonTrial is 0>>if there's anything to see, they'll see it when he<<elseif $BrightonTrial gt 0>>if they can't notice something so obvious, pointing it out further couldn't possibly achieve anything until he<</if>><</if>> \ <<click "opens the door">><<replace "#trialend2">><<BrightonsEnd3>><</replace>><</click>>.\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 3 */\ <<widget "BrightonsEnd3">>\ opens the door. <<if $trials gt 1>>First comes Kennelly's surprise that the thing even responds to his touch now—unlike his every other attempt—then the<<else>>The<</if>> room is sucked of warmth and the doorway frames a dark void. No light from the living room seems to break past the boundary between it and the space outside, and Kennelly has to squint to see that it is not actually pitch black beyond the threshold. Someone is lying on the ground, spread-eagled on wooden planks, and another figure kneels over them. Kennelly looks around the living room for the flashlight he had before falling into this…place? time?…only to find that it has appeared in his hand just through him thinking of it<<if $BrightonTrial gt 0>>—and naturally, the other two don't appear to notice this at all<</if>>. "<<if $trials is 1>>Oh fuck this<<else>>That's also new<</if>>," Kennelly mutters to himself, pushing onward through the doorway and shining his light on the two figures in the darkness. The flashlight slashes through with an unnatural brilliance, illuminating the figure of…Brighton. He's kneeling over the corpse of…<<if $BrightonTrial is 2>>well, of course, <</if>>Richard, whose neck is torn open, all of his life's fluid already poured forth onto the floor. Kennelly turns back and sees the…other Brighton?…sitting at the couch <<if $BrightonTrial lt 2>>with the other Richard<<else>>and the other Richard standing silently in the doorway, almost statuesque, seemingly oblivious to the scene before him<</if>>. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," Kennelly whispers to himself, his hands shaking, remembering he left his coat behind<<if def $NatalieTrial>> (knowing it doesn't really matter)<</if>>,<<if $trials gt 1>> presented with a far more violent scenario than anything he's seen so far,<</if>> absolutely unsure of what to do. Though, doesn't he know what to do? <<click "Get this figured out">><<replace "#trialend3">><<BrightonsEnd4>><</replace>><</click>>.\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 4 */\ <<widget "BrightonsEnd4">>\ Get this figured out. "Hey!" Kennelly says in a half-whisper half-shout. "Hey, Brighton!" He makes his way deeper into the room to the man hunched over a corpse. It's clear now that this room is exactly the same in layout as the previous<<if $trials gt 1>> (not much of a surprise at this point)<</if>>, though again decrepit, and somehow dimmer, like every surface is averse to reflecting light. This other Brighton doesn't react to Kennelly's flashlight in his face<<if $B5 is 1>>, though the light catches a glint of the omega pendant around his neck<</if>><<if $Brighton lt 2 or $B5 isnot 1>>, and Kennelly notes that this man's eyes are a cloudy gray, no irises or pupils<</if>>. The beam casts the already pale Scottish skin in a paler shade, the ginger of the beard and hair as vibrant as the pool of red fluid catching reflections from below. <<if $trials gt 1>><<if $trials is 2>> This is the <<if $D1 is 2>>same pool<<else>>source<</if>> of <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">> that Kennelly saw in <<if $D1 is 2>>Natalie<<else>>Armen<</if>>'s room. No skid marks lead<<elseif $trials is 3>>Was this the source of <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">> in the previous two rooms? There are no skid marks leading<</if>> back to the room he came from this time, but fresh, wet footprints lead to the other door. Above this,<</if>> Brighton stares in forlorn sadness at the body of his husband on the ground, his visage now clearly aged again with years of grief. The creak of the door sounds from behind, and Kennelly looks back to see the //first// Richard silhouetted by warm lights, his white eyes standing out eerily in his silhouette. "Bit rude to leave the door open, eh? Don't wanna let anything in…"<<if $Brighton gte 2 or $B5 is 1>> Before the door slams shut, Kennelly notices that the Brighton in the other room has disappeared from the couch.<</if>> //''THUD.''// The door shuts. It's alright, it's alright, //everything is alright//…the warmth of the previous room was imperceptible in this gloom anyways, and whoever these men or doppelgangers are, Kennelly <<if $trials is 1>>has a suspicion<<else>>knows that<</if>> none of them intend to help him understand. He approaches the kneeling man, who strikes a figure that now reminds Kennelly of someone in somber worship. <<if $trials is 1>>Trying to prepare for whatever he's supposed to do to get them all out of this<<elseif $trials is 2>>Preparing for whatever craziness is to come next<<else>>Hoping to put this all to an end<</if>>, Kennelly takes a deep breath in preparation to <<click "reach out">><<replace "#trialend4">><<BrightonsEnd5>><</replace>><</click>>.\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 5 */\ <<widget "BrightonsEnd5">>\ reach out. When his fingers make contact with Brighton's shoulder, the first thing Kennelly perceives is //cold//, \ <<if $Brighton gte 2 or $B5 is 1>>\ but he gets a good grip and shakes Brighton softly. "Hey, come on," The man's head is jostled around, <<if $B5 is 1>>the omega pendant shaking on his neck, <</if>>but his eyes continue to stare vacantly down at the corpse of his husband. "Snap out of it!" <<if $Time is -1>>Unsure of what else to do<<else>>Tired of the man's immobility<</if>>, Kennelly lightly smacks Brighton across the face. Of all things, this actually gets his attention. "Oi," Brighton says gruffly, finally focusing on Kennelly. "What y'do that for?" Kennelly says that they need to get out of here. "Can't you see I'm grievin'? My husband is dead!" "Brighton, please just listen," Kennelly says slowly. "None of this is real.<<if def $ArmenTrial>> I've already seen Armen, he's also confused about what's happening.<</if>><<if def $NatalieTrial>> Natalie's here, too.<</if>> This is the Dream House." This version of the archivist is just as confused about Kennelly's challenge, but he seems more in shock than completely rejecting the possibility of truth. "I'm sorry <<if $A2 is 1>>I invited<<else>>Armen dragged<</if>> you along, I had no idea <<if $A2 is 1>>Armen<<else>>he<</if>> would bring us here." Brighton still seems unsure, so Kennelly keeps pushing. "Don't you remember talking in the bar earlier? We talked about<<if $B2 is 0>>, uh, //Dungeons and Dragons//<<elseif $B2 is 1>> how you didn't really want to know about fantastical things like this<<elseif $B2 is 2>> how you think imagination can help us understand this kind of place<<elseif $B2 is 3>> how we need to use our imaginations to understand why places like this exist<<else>> how you think there's always a reason this kind of place exists<</if>>." <<if $B2 lt 3>>Maybe Kennelly is being too hopeful, but it<<else>>It<</if>> seems a spark of recognition ignites<<if $B2 lt 3>> briefly, though it dies just as quickly<</if>>. "<<if $B2 lt 3>>I don't think I remember that…" Brighton mutters.<<else>>I know the reason. That fuckin' monster, it killed him…it killed my Richard, killed him //for sport//." Well, that's getting somewhere, though Kennelly knows not what monster the man is referring to.<</if>> "This is just like the Worry Stone!" Kennelly says, thinking this might add fuel to Brighton's recollection. "Remember that? Your memories have been //erased//." "My memories are //right here//," Brighton says, tears welling up in his eyes, but for the first time Kennelly feels the man is beginning to recognize him. "<<if $C3 is 1>>Didn't you agree that we shan't let our pasts disappear?<<else>>The rest of y'said y'd erase yer memories of the past, //not// me.<</if>> <<if $B4 is 1>>Like y'said before, I'm just wishin' to change it<<else>>Maybe changin' it isn't yer wish, but this is what I want<</if>>. Would y'take that away from me?" <<click "Leave him to have this while he still can">><<set $past += 2>><<set $BR to 1>><<replace "#trialend5">><<BrightonsEnd6>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Help him stop holding on to the past">><<set $present += 2>><<set $BR to 2>><<replace "#trialend5">><<BrightonsEnd6>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Remind him of his future after Richard died">><<set $BR to 3>><<set $future += 2>><<replace "#trialend5">><<BrightonsEnd6>><</replace>><</click>>\ \ <<else>><<set $BrightonSaved to false>><<set $BR to 0>>but when he presses on to try to get a good grip on the man's body, his hand keeps moving, pushing through with only some resistance.<<BrightonsEnd6>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 6 */\ <<widget "BrightonsEnd6">>\ <<if $BR gt 0>><<if $BR is 1>>"<<if $Time is -1>>Alright<<else>>Whatever<</if>>, Brighton," Kennelly says, defeated. "<<if $Time is -1>>If this is what you need,<<else>>I don't know why you need this, but<</if>> I can't stop you, and I need to keep going and figure a way out of here." Brighton wipes away his tears with a sniffle. "Right, well…"\ \ <<elseif $BR is 2>>"<<if $Brighton gte 2>>I know this is hard for you, but you<<else>>You<</if>> have to move on," Kennelly says. "I'm trying to //help you//. This is just an illusion, a memory you're trapped in." "An illusion…" Brighton says, and his tears come in fuller force. "It's too real<<if $Brighton gte 2>>, but…too good to be true…<<else>>. I see him here.<</if>>"\ \ <<elseif $BR is 3>>"You had a life after this," Kennelly says. "You're trapped in a memory, but this isn't all there is. You've had a whole future beyond this." "After this?" Brighton says, and he starts sobbing. "<<if $Brighton gte 2>>I know I ought to move on, but<<else>>A future without him<</if>>…"<</if>> \ \ He bends forward and puts his hands on Richard's unmoving chest, gripping the blood-stained fabric of the corpse's shirt. "<<if $Time is -1>>I <<if $BR is 1>>would've thought<<else>>knew<</if>> y'd<<else>>I know y'cannot<</if>> understand, <<if $Brighton gte 2>>Kennelly<<else>>doctor<</if>>. These memories are everythin' to me…\ \ <<TimeTest>><<if $Time isnot -1 or $Brighton gte 3>><<set $BrightonSaved to true>><<else>><<set $BrightonSaved to false>><</if>><<TimeTestReset 1>>\ \ <<if $BrightonSaved is true>>But…maybe…fuckin' Christ, maybe y're right. <<if $Brighton gte 2>>I know y've been on my side all night, maybe<<else>>Maybe<</if>> it truly is time for me to leave them behind…"<<if $B5 is 1>> He grips the pendant around his neck like it's a lifeline.<</if>> Relieved, Kennelly holds out a hand, offering Brighton a chance to try to get out of this with him, and the archivist slowly takes it. "Then let's go," Kennelly says. \ <<else>>I feel y'have to understand, y'know what the past means to someone like me. I have to stay." Kennelly knows there's nothing more he can do to change the man's mind. Out of begrudging respect, he reaches out for a handshake, and Brighton slowly grabs the outstretched hand. "Good luck," Kennelly says, and as he does, the archivist's eyes fade to a dull, cloudy gray. Startled, Kennelly pulls away, triggering something strange in Brighton's hand. <</if>><</if>>\ <<if $BrightonSaved is true>>There's a hint of a smile on the archivist's face as Kennelly pulls the man's considerable weight up to stand next to the corpse of Richard. "Thanks for yer patience, <<if $Brighton gte 2>>friend<<else>>doctor<</if>>," Brighton says<<if $Brighton gte 2>>, clapping Kennelly on the shoulder awkwardly<</if>>. Kennelly smiles and nods. "Of course," he says. "Now that I've helped you, maybe you can help me. I'm trying to figure out what's going on here…" He shines his flashlight around the room again, and with Brighton out of the way, the beam <<if $trials is 1>>reveals large bare footprints in <<Blood2 "the blood" "The Blood">> on the floor,<<else>>brings attention to the <<Blood2 "the blood" "The Blood">>y footprints on the floor, the<</if>> steps that forge a path into the darkness beyond. "<<if $trials gt 1>>I saw those footprints in the same room<<if $trials is 3>>s<</if>> where I saw <<if def $ArmenTrial>>Armen<</if>><<if $trials is 3>> and <</if>><<if def $NatalieTrial>>Natalie<</if>>. <</if>>Do you know where <<if $trials gt 1>>they<<else>>those<</if>> came from?" "I'm not sure," Brighton says. "They don't look like they came from the thing that…killed…" His voice trails off and his breath hitches, tense with grief. "No, y're right, this isn't real anyways. I killed the monster that killed my husband, it can't be here." Kennelly makes a mental note of this detail and stores it away<<if $A5d is true>>, finally having an all too vivid picture of the event from Brighton's file<</if>>. There is a long, low growl from across the room, catching both of them off guard. "Oh, can't it?" a deep voice says out of the darkness. Kennelly swings his light around, trying to illuminate this new presence. He only gets a brief snapshot of something large and bipedal—with pitch black eyes and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, covered in scales—but, in panicked fear, he stumbles away, the flashlight losing its target.\ \ <<else>> The flesh under Kennelly's fingers turns to ash, a reaction that cascades across Brighton's figure, his right arm, his neck, his face, his hair, his chest, his abdomen. The process slows as the body collapses into itself, stopping only once it reaches the thighs. The ash is black, and it coats the slash across Richard's neck, turning the image of that gruesome wound into something like a charcoal sculpture. The dark flakes cling to the ground as well, <<if $trials is 1>>revealing large bare footprints in <<Blood2 "the blood" "The Blood">> on the floor,<<else>>sticking to <<Blood2 "the blood" "The Blood">>y footprints, the<</if>> steps that forge a path into the darkness beyond. Nothing is alright. Kennelly steps away from the…corpses? No, they're not real, obviously none of this is real, just a nightmare all too detailed. \ <<if $trials is 1>>\ "If anyone can hear me!" Kennelly shouts into the empty darkness as he continues to back away. "I'm done! This is enough! If this is some kind of trick, or if this is just a dream therapy session gone wrong, I'm //done//!" He knows that's not the explanation—why would he have a dream about the dead husband of a man he barely even knows? Unless all dreams are like this…and he'll forget this when he wakes up.\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 2>>\ <<if $NatalieTrial is 2>>He doesn't care what Natalie said, if she<<else>>If Natalie<</if>> and these men weren't part of a dream, wouldn't they want to escape as badly as Kennelly does? Though…why would he have a dream about the dead husband of a man he <<if $Brighton gte 2>>was just getting to know<<else>>barely even knows<</if>>?\ <<else>>\ He thought that having his best friend hold a gun to his head was the worst thing he could experience, so he finds himself in awe of this place's ability to continually terrify him.\ <</if>> "If anyone can hear me!" Kennelly shouts into the empty darkness as he continues to back away. "I'm done! This is enough! If this is some kind of trick, or game, or a dream, I'm //done//!"\ <<else>>\ Natalie giving in to oblivion, Armen threatening to kill his best friend, and now this…how are wishes being granted here? "If anyone can hear me!" Kennelly shouts into the empty darkness as he continues to back away. "I'm done. I'm done with your game, I'm done with all of this."\ <</if>><</if>> His foot catches on something, and he falls backwards rapidly—a real descent this time, not just a drug-like feeling of being pulled down into the sea of absurdity that he now swims in. He falls right onto his back, hard, and it hurts…badly, but he knows that <<if $BrightonSaved>>he needs to get up and see if Brighton's okay, so they can both<<else>>eventually he has to get up and<</if>> \ <<if $trials is 1>><<click "move on" "D2End">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "move on" "D3End">><</click>>\ <<else>><<click "move on" "D4End">><</click>><</if>>.<</widget>>

/* STEP 1 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial1">>\ <<if $A4 is 1>>The tiny speaker on the camcorder emits a soft whirring sound, like a fan. The screen shows a candid angle of his friend, Natalie, sitting on a couch, as though someone dropped the camera, left it recording, and it just happened to be pointing at her. The lighting is\ <<else>>The image is of Natalie, sitting with her legs crossed, reading a book. She seems blissfully unaware of the fact that she is being photographed, caught in a splendid moment of calm respite. The lighting of the shot is spectacular,\ <</if>> bright and natural, though coming from no particular direction. A black cat lies curled up on the arm of the couch next to her, its tail <<if $A4 is 1>>swishing back and forth. Its purring is the one discernible source of sound<<else>>lying against her shoulder<<if $B5 is 2>>. The glint of the omega pendant shines at her collarbone<</if>><</if>>. <<if $trials gt 1>>Unsurprisingly, the<<else>>The<</if>> fabric of the couch in the <<photo>> stands out to Kennelly, <<if $trials is 1>>and he takes a few steps towards the one in //this// room to be sure, finding that it is exactly the the same upholstery<<else>>and he notes it as the same as the couch in this room<</if>>. <<if $trials is 1>>Curious<<elseif $trials is 2>>Knowing what to do next<<else>>Already aware of the routine<</if>>, Kennelly crouches to see if he can line up his own view with that in the <<photo>>. He has to get cross-legged on the ground next to the coffee table to find the right angle, but it's definitely a match. <<if $trials gt 1>>Oddly, nothing seems to happen, and as he sits and looks<<else>>Sitting and looking<</if>> at this peaceful <<if $A4 is 1>>clip<<else>>snapshot<</if>> of his friend, Kennelly finds the hardwood floor strangely comfortable, and he can't help but to allow himself to <<click "rest for a moment">><<replace "#trial1">><<NataliesTrial2>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 2 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial2">>\ rest for a moment. <<if $trials is 1>>The lost hour, being alone in this room, whatever this house is doing to him<<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 1>>The dead bodies<<else>>Armen's weird reactions<</if>>, being trapped in this room, whatever this house is doing to them<<else>>The crazy rooms, being trapped here without help, whatever the house is doing<</if>>…all of his worries slide into the ether. He feels his heart rate slow, the weary cold in his muscles fade away, and relaxing waves of calmness wash over his entire body and mind. Some remote part of him tries to cling to a logical expression of this experience, but then this too is utterly anesthetized. Everything is okay, or maybe nothing matters, or maybe it's just okay that nothing matters. Either way, the last bit of Kennelly's awareness lets go, forcing him to <<click "doze off">><<replace "#trial2">><<sleep>><</replace>><</click>>…<</widget>> /* SLEEP */\ <<widget "sleep">>\ doze off… Warmth. Relief. Safety. "What do you see?" <<click "Nothing">><<replace "#sleep">><<NataliesTrial3>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 3 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial3">>\ Nothing. Kennelly is startled awake by soft paws kneading his belly. He opens his bleary eyes to look right into the face of a black cat, and is almost scared half to death by the fact that its eyes are as pitch black as its fur<<if def $BrightonTrial>>—the opposite of Richard's<</if>>. It's hard to be frightened of it, though, as its gentle purrs travel down its arms and into the little feet that playfully press into Kennelly's stomach. "Morning<<if $Natalie gte 1>> sunshine<</if>>." A voice from his left. He rolls his head over to see Natalie staring at him. "Wha…" Kennelly mutters, and rubs his face, pulling his upper body into a sitting position to find that he's been dozing in a couch next to his friend. His sudden movements startle the cat, and it jumps onto the floor, swishing its tail indignantly at the interruption. "Have a good nap?" Natalie asks, folding her book closed on her lap. "<<if $Natalie gte 1>>Sweet<<else>>Any<</if>> dreams?" Nap, dreams…has Kennelly been dreaming? He remembers a winter night, but his coat and scarf are gone, nowhere to be seen. <<if $trials is 1>>There was a pub…but he doesn't feel drunk anymore…then the forest, the strange house, the room…//this room//. "Uh," he mumbles. "I'm not really sure. Where…are we?"<<elseif $trials is 2>>"No…" he mumbles, rubbing the tired from his eyes. He recognizes this room. "Where are we?"<<else>>"No," he mumbles, and quickly rubs the tired from his eyes. He knows where he is, but does Natalie? "Where are we?" He gets right to the point.<</if>> Natalie's smile is comforting, and she <<if $Natalie gte 2>>puts a hand on his shoulder<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>brushes a strand of blond hair behind her ear<<else>>pats his shoulder<</if>>. "Just where we need to be, I think." She looks around the room, and he follows her gaze. It's definitely the same room he<<if $trials is 3>>'s been in for so long<<else>> was in…how long ago? Hard to be sure, having fallen asleep<</if>>. <<if $trials is 3>>Now<<else>>Regardless<</if>>, everything is crisp and new looking<<if def $BrightonTrial>>, more so than in Brighton's version of this<</if>>, fresh wallpaper, clean furniture, none of the dust or grime. The bookshelves are empty, and there is nothing around to identify who lives here. The space is brightly lit as though by sunlight, but in a weirdly uniform way, and it takes Kennelly a moment to <<click "figure it out">><<replace "#trial3">><<NataliesTrial4>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 4 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial4">>\ figure it out. When he does, he gasps. Each of the picture frames on the walls, <<if $trials is 3>>usually empty<<else>>empty before<</if>>, is now a little window looking out onto a segment of sky. Every segment is different—some sunset, some sunrise, some afternoon, though all daytime. The effect is amazing, while very difficult to believe, and Kennelly wants to investigate them, but <<if $trials is 1>>he feels there are more important questions that need answers first<<else>>can't be sure what will happen to him if he does so<</if>>. He turns back to Natalie<<if $Natalie gte 2>>, who's taken her hand off of his shoulder to put<<else>> to see her putting<</if>> the hardcover book on the coffee table. The black cat jumps up, its bizarre black eyes searching for attention, and presses its head into her hand in a request for petting. She gives in easily, and its purring picks up again. Just as the question leaves his mouth, Kennelly knows it's a stupid one. "Whose cat is that?" he asks, <<if $trials is 1>>perplexed at how normal this all seems<<else>>in the back of his head wondering when the next traumatic thing will occur<</if>>. Natalie's laughter is startlingly sweet<<if $B5 is 2>>, jostling the omega pendant hanging from her neck<</if>>. "Oh!" she says, pulling her hand back to cover her mouth. The cat paces the coffee table while Natalie tries to stop giggling. "Sorry! I just…" She uncrosses her legs, brushing a wisp of cat hair from her jeans with one hand. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>That's a good question, but <<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>Don't think I'm dumb, but <</if>>I hadn't really thought about it. It was just…here." "Uh, alright…" <<if $trials is 1>>He's not sure why, but this isn't the answer he expected. "Well, how did //you// get here? //When// did you get here?" He feels very glad to have a friend around to<<else>>He's only mildly surprised by the answer, more by the fact that she seems aware that this isn't normal. "Wait, do you know we're in the Dream House?" he asks, hoping she can<</if>> help him <<click "understand">><<replace "#trial4">><<NataliesTrial5>><</replace>><</click>>. <</widget>> /* STEP 5 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial5">>\ understand. <<if $trials is 1>>"Sorry," she says. "I'm not really sure about that, either. <<else>>"Well, yeah," she says, <<if $trials is 2>>surprising him<<else>>and this shocks him more than anything he's seen tonight<</if>>. "<</if>>I've just been reading this fascinating book," and she gestures to the table. Kennelly notices that the cover of the book is simply white—no title, no author. He finds this…unsettling. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>Don't judge me too much for this, but it's<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>Not to sound like an idiot, but it's<<else>>It's<</if>> been helping me clear my head, but…I guess a little too well." This is //also// unsettling, reminding him of Brighton's earlier story about the Worry Stone<<if $C3 is 2>> and Natalie's willingness to use such an object<</if>>. "<<if $C4 is 1>>Can't believe we really gave in to Armen, though, huh?<<elseif $C4 is 2>>Can you believe I ended up giving in to Armen to come in here?<<else>>You regretting agreeing with Armen to come in here?<</if>>" Ignoring her question, <<if $trials is 1>>\ Kennelly feels panic rise in his chest again about where they are and exactly what is going on here. If this is the Dream House (<<if $B3 lt 3>>and how ridiculous to even acknowledge that's where he is right now<<else>>odd to think that he's actually there<</if>>), then the story goes that it's moving them through time…but didn't the <<photo>>'s tag say midnight tonight? On remembering the <<photo>>, he wonders how it was taken when the camera is nowhere to be seen. "Well," Kennelly says, abandoning this jumble of thoughts. "Do you have a guess at how long you've been here?"\ <<elseif $trials gt 1>>\ Kennelly feels his heart jump into his chest. "Wait, you seriously remember?" She gives him a funny look. "Thank god, \ <<if $trials is 2>>I just saw <<if $D1 is 1>>Brighton<<else>>Armen<</if>>, and I got here using this, uh, camera…" He looks around and realizes that the camera never follows him when he's sent to one of these rooms. "He had no idea what was going on, he <<if $D1 is 1>>had this man with him, a husband, and thought he didn't even work at The Agency, and then there was a //body//<<else>>thought he was an Agent, he didn't even recognize me, said he was here for revenge, he //pointed a gun at me//<</if>>, and, and…" \ <<else>>I've just seen Armen and Brighton, and I've been, I don't know, //traveling through time// or whatever using Armen's camera, which just keeps sending me to this room, but it's different every time. Neither of them have any idea what's going on, Brighton had a husband, and Armen thought he was an Agent, and there were bodies, and Armen //pointed a gun at me//, and, and…" <</if>>\ He feels himself starting to hyperventilate, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. "I don't understand what the hell is happening, but…but I think we're trapped here." Natalie <<if $Natalie gte 2>>moves closer and puts an arm over his shoulder<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>pats his leg<<else>>puts a hand on his shoulder<</if>>. "Hey,<<if $Natalie gt 0>> hey,<</if>> it's //okay//<<if $Natalie gt 0>>, look, everything's fine now, right?<<else>>.<</if>>" The physical contact <<if $Natalie gt 0>>soothes away some of<<else>>does little to soothe<</if>> Kennelly's panic. <<if $trials is 2>>"Is it okay, though?" he asks<<else>>"No, I don't think it's okay at all," he says.<</if>> "I have //no idea// what's going on. How long have you even been here?"\ <</if>> "<<if $Natalie gt 0>>Well, it's hard<<else>>Hard<</if>> to say." She pulls her phone out of her pocket, facing the screen to him. Just like his, it shows midnight, as well as a pentagon of five dead pixels. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>Hasn't changed one bit. What do you make of that?<<else>>Really no way to track time in here.<</if>>" She sighs as she tosses the phone on a couch cushion. "I really <<if $trials is 1>>am sorry<<else>>do think it's okay<</if>>, Kennelly," she says<<if $trials gt 1>>, <<if $Natalie gte 2>>withdrawing her arm and moving back to her side of the couch<<else>>giving his shoulder a good shake before withdrawing her arm<</if>><</if>>. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>I know you, and I know<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>It's not that hard to figure out<<else>>I can guess<</if>> how you're feeling. You just want to know what's going on." Kennelly nods, <<if $trials is 1>>unsure of where she's going with this<<else>>wiping away the few tears that have forced their way out of his eyes<</if>>. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>But I believe in you. <</if>>You'll work it out, eventually, I'm sure." <<set $NatalieTrial to 0>>\ <<click "Try to stop worrying for a moment (wait…)">><<set $NatalieTrial += 1>><<replace "#trial5">><<NataliesTrial6>><</replace>><</click>> <<if $trials is 1>><<click "Look around the room (act >)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "Look around the room (act >)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "Look around the room (act >)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* STEP 6 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial6">>\ Kennelly drops his head on the back of the couch<<if $trials gt 1>>, his breath still hitching<</if>><<if $Natalie gte 2>>, somewhat relieved by Natalie's trust<</if>>, allowing the silence hang for a while. The cat<<if $trials is 1>>, giving up on gaining their attentions,<</if>> hops off the table and starts batting around a dust bunny on the floor, its obsidian sight tracking the target effortlessly. They both watch it, Kennelly baffled by its presence.<<if def $BrightonTrial>> It obviously reminds him of Richard, though notably less complex to simulate (if that's what's going on).<</if>> Is it a real cat? How did it get here? //Why// is it here? It doesn't look like it cares about such questions as it amuses itself…certainly a lot //like// a real cat. "You<<if $trials is 1>> seem<<else>>'re<</if>> so calm," Kennelly says, interrupting the quiet<<if $trials gt 1>>, his breath finally relaxed<</if>>. "Aren't you scared at all about whatever is going on?" "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>Yeah, I guess I am,<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>I don't know…<<else>>A little bit, I guess,<</if>>" Natalie says, stretching out her legs and resting them on the coffee table. "But, I dunno…\ <<if $trials is 1>>doesn't really seem like much is going on, right?" Kennelly can't argue with that one. "Besides,\ <<elseif $trials is 2>>not much has happened in //here//, despite what you were talking about." "Everything seemed safe at first in the other room," Kennelly says. "But then…it just kept getting worse."<<if $ArmenSaved>> What was that doppelganger that Armen shot?<<elseif $BrightonSaved>> What was that monster he saw with Brighton?<</if>> "Hm," she says. "I wasn't there of course, but\ <<else>>everything has seemed fine in here." Kennelly doesn't have the heart to tell her that things will probably only get worse soon enough. "Besides,\ <</if>> none of Armen's dumb stories say anything //bad// about the Dream House, right?" She rubs her face<<if $B5 is 2>>, shaking the nylon cord of the pendant Kennelly gave her earlier<</if>>. "Sounds so stupid to say that out loud, though…" She has a point. All the stories say is that it //grants wishes// and //travels through time//, but none of them say it's necessarily dangerous. Is Natalie's wish just sit in a nice room, read a book, and pet a cat?<<if $trials is 1>> And what does that mean for him? How is this //his// wish? <<else>> Regardless,<<if def $BrightonTrial>> Brighton brought his //dead husband// to life,<</if>><<if def $ArmenTrial>> Armen created a future in which he's a Field Agent,<</if>><</if>> <<if $trials is 2>>and so the power of the Dream House is becoming hard to reject. <<else>>and so it really does seem like the Dream House makes anything possible…<</if>>For now, Kennelly can only <<click "wonder">><<replace "#trial6">><<NataliesTrial7>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 7 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial7">>\ wonder. "What's that book about?" Kennelly asks, trying to at least get some information out of this while he can. Natalie responds by picking it up and putting it on his lap. He casually tips the cover open with one finger, <<if $trials is 1>>feeling weirdly nervous about what he might find inside<<else>>wondering if this is what will trigger new horrible events to occur<</if>>. Just words, though, and they look innocent enough. He reads aloud… "//Ikkyu, the Zen master, was very clever even as a boy//," he starts. "//His teacher had a precious teacup, a rare antique. Ikkyu happened to break this cup and was greatly perplexed. Hearing the footsteps of his teacher, he held the pieces of the cup behind him. When the master appeared, Ikkyu asked: 'Why do people have to die?'// " Kennelly tugs a bit at his collar, a nagging in his mind hoping that reading this isn't going to trigger some kind of psychic or paranormal episode. Everything seems normal, though…so he continues. " //'This is natural,' explained the older man. 'Everything has to die and has just so long to live.' Ikkyu, producing the shattered cup//<<if $Natalie gt 1>>—" "Says, '//it was time for your cup to die,'// " Natalie interrupts excitedly. Kennelly looks at her, and sees that her eyes catch a fantastic light off of the sun shining in one of the picture frames. "Sorry," she says. "It's not in the spirit of koans at all, but sometimes my mind treats them like riddles. Ikkyu is kind of a dick though, huh?" She grins. <<else>>, says, '//it was time for your cup to die.'// " Kennelly closes the book. <</if>>"Is that all this is?" <<if $Natalie gt 1>>Kennelly<<else>>he<</if>> asks. "Zen koans? Where did it come from…" He can't help but wonder how the Dream House would produce this. "Have you read them before?" Maybe it somehow extracted the text from her memories… "Yeah, but when I looked, it was full of fairy tales I'd never seen. <<if $Natalie gte 2>>Pretty neat, huh?<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>You probably think it's weird, but I think it's pretty neat.<<else>>Pretty neat, I guess<</if>>," Natalie says. //Of course//, why would any of this start to make sense? Despite a tiny curious voice perking up in his mind at the idea of a book that randomly generates stories, Kennelly throws the book on the coffee table with annoyance. This startles the cat, making it dash under the couch in fear. <<click "Take a deep breath (wait…)">><<set $NatalieTrial += 1>><<replace "#trial7">><<NataliesTrial8>><</replace>><</click>> <<if $trials is 1>><<click "Investigate the room (act >)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "Investigate the room (act >)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "Investigate the room (act >)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* STEP 8 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial8">>\ Kennelly breathes in and out slowly, finding the process a bit trite in light of the whole "zen" thing.<<if $trials gt 1 and $Natalie gt 1>> "There you go," Natalie says. "It's gonna be alright."<</if>> He closes his eyes again, <<if $trials is 1>>lying back and feeling like he has no idea what he's supposed to be doing here<<elseif $trials is 2>>appreciative of the calm that the couch is providing him<<else>>confused at how calm he can be at a time like this<</if>>. He hears Natalie pick up the book and flip it open, wonders what's inside of it now, but he doesn't feel like he'll gain anything by asking. //Pat, pat.// He feels the cat climb onto his lap, purring again, apparently desperate for loving after being spooked by the book. Kennelly can't bring himself to care for this animal, though, as he's not fully convinced it's real—its creepy eyes<<if def $BrightonTrial>>, like Richard's,<</if>> do a lot to help with that. It's just a constant reminder <<if $trials is 1>>that he doesn't understand this room—where it is, when it is, how he got here—<<else>>of his confusion, <</if>>a reminder that he has yet to<<if $trial gt 1>> //actually//<</if>> <<click "figure anything out">><<replace "#trial8">><<NataliesTrial9>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 9 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial9">>\ figure anything out. "Natalie," he says, eyes still closed, <<if $Natalie gte 2>>and he hears her close the book<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>and she doesn't reply<<else>>and she makes a sound acknowledging him<</if>>. "Do you think this is all just a dream?" He feels the cat jump off his chest as it determines he's going to keep ignoring it. <<if $Natalie gte 2>>"Hmm," she mumbles as he hears her opens the book again<<else>>Natalie doesn't reply, but he hears a page turn, so he knows she's still there listening<</if>><<if def $ArmenTrial>>, relaxing him of the notion that maybe she's just disappeared<</if>>. <<if $trials is 1>>"Like, it all seems a little too far fetched, right?" he says. "All these precise details, but none of them adding up to anything sensible."<<else>>"I've been seeing some //crazy shit//, to be honest. <<if def $ArmenTrial>>Rooms that go on forever<</if>><<if $trials is 3>>, <</if>><<if def $BrightonTrial>><<if $BrightonSaved>>Some kind of lizard monster<<else>>Brighton's body turning into ash<</if>><</if>>…It all //feels so real//, but none of it makes sense."<</if>> He opens his eyes and throws his legs up onto the coffee table as well, noting that the cat has crawled below it to stare at them lazily, its eyelids drooping over the black orbs of its gaze. Natalie continues reading, and he figures that if she's not going to help him out, he might as well <<click "keep musing">><<replace "#trial9">><<NataliesTrial10>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 10 */\ <<widget "NataliesTrial10">>\ keep musing. "I don't remember any dream therapy sessions being this vivid," he continues. "But what if, like, you don't remember how vivid it is when it's over? What if it's always this lucid, and you always just forget afterward?" A look of intense annoyance passes over Natalie's face, but it's gone before Kennelly can fully register it, and she finally looks up from the book. "If it's a dream," she says<<if $B5 is 2>>, fingering the pendant hanging from her neck<</if>>. "Then whose dream is it?" <<if $trials is 1>>Well…somehow he hadn't really thought of that.<<else>>Fair point…and why would he be dreaming of these scenarios anyways?<</if>> This makes him realize there are probably a lot of things he hasn't thought of, even though Natalie had said <<if $Natalie gte 2>>she believes in him<<else>>he could figure it out<</if>>. He hasn't thought of anything because he keeps sitting here, keeps waiting as if waiting can help him with anything. No, what Kennelly needs to do is<<if $trials is 3>>get this over with and<</if>> \ <<if $trials is 1>><<click "act (>)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "act (>)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "act (>)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>.\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 1 */\ <<widget "NataliesEnd1">>\ <<if $NatalieTrial is 0>>\ "<<if $trials is 1>>Uh, <<if $Natalie gte 2>>thanks<<else>>yeah<</if>><<else>><<if $Natalie gte 2>>Thank you. <</if>>You're right<</if>>," Kennelly says, feeling a burst of motivation from the compliment. He gets up from the couch in an off-balance sort of way,<<if $trials gt 1>> his breath hitching a bit from the emotions surging within him,<</if>> and his movements startle the cat, causing it to dash under the coffee table to hide.\ <<elseif $NatalieTrial gt 0>>\ "Alright," Kennelly says, pushing himself up out of the couch. "Heeere we go." It's <<if $NatalieTrial is 1>>surprisingly<<else>>incredibly<</if>> difficult to leave the embrace of these cushions, <<if def $BrightonTrial>>and he has a little sympathy for Brighton being so unwilling to do so. He just about<<else>>and he nearly<</if>> falls off balance in his tottering attempt to get up.\ <</if>><<if $NatalieTrial is 1>> Curious as to Kennelly's motions, the cat sneaks its way back out from under the couch and sleuths to beneath the coffee table.<</if>> The most obvious thing to start with would be the picture frames on the walls, but Kennelly's attention is immediately grabbed by bright red fluid on the floor. Stuck on the couch, his view of this puddle of <<Blood "blood" "Blood">> had been obscured by the coffee table. "Oh, what the fuck!" he shouts. The cat dashes from below the table in terror, comes up upon the edge of the liquid on the floor, skids to a halt, and sprints right <<if $NatalieTrial gt 0>>back <</if>>under the couch. "Oh yeah," Natalie says, her tone absurdly detached for the circumstance. "I sorta…forgot that was there, I guess." <<if $NatalieTrial lt 2>>Kennelly's expression says everything about how preposterous this sounds to him<<else>>Kennelly makes a wild sound of confusion that is hard to even describe<</if>><<if $trials gt 1>>, and he finally gets a clue at what makes her attitude similar to <<if $trials is 3>>those of the others<<else>><<if $D1 is 1>>Brighton's<<else>>Armen's<</if>><</if>><</if>>. "<<if $NatalieTrial lt 2>>I…just…<<else>>I don't know! I just <</if>>didn't want to think about it. <<if $Natalie gte 2>>I'm sorry Kennelly, I'm just not as good as you at<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>I know you think I'm just being stupid, but I don't really know how to deal with<<else>>Maybe I'm being dumb, I'm not too good with<</if>> these sorts of things." She runs a hand through her hair. Kennelly <<if $Natalie gte 2>>can't help but feel a bit of pity for her. "It's fine," he says, turning<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>can't stop from scoffing at this, no pity for Natalie's lack of concern. He turns<<else>>feels a bit sorry for scorning her, but he can't sympathize with her lack of concern. He turns<</if>> his attention back to what appears to be the remains of a murder. <<if $trials is 1>>The pool of fluid is large, with skid marks of something being dragged under the red door to his right, and wet footprints leading to the green door on the opposite end<<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 1>>The pool of red fluid is exactly the same as that which Kennelly saw before, though now there are skid marks of something (Richard's body?) being dragged under the red door to his right, and wet footprints lead to the green door on the opposite end.<<if $BrightonSaved is false>> No ash though<</if>><<else>>The shape of this pool of red fluid is a lot like the stains he saw before, now with fresh wet skid marks going one direction and footprints in the other<</if>><<else>>The pool of red fluid of course matches that from the last two rooms, this time fresh. Richard's body is nowhere to be seen,<<if $BrightonSaved is false>> nor is any black ash,<</if>> though the footprints that go off one way and the skid marks of something being dragged the other way are bright and fresh<</if>>. Well, that means the only evidence for what happened here is on the other side of both of these doors. He still hasn't checked out the impossible picture frames, either. He has to <<click "keep looking">><<replace "#trialend1">><<NataliesEnd2>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 2 */\ <<widget "NataliesEnd2">>\ keep looking. "<<if $Time is 0>>I think you know why I just ignored it, right<<else>>Don't you ever get tired of trying so hard<</if>>?" Natalie asks out of the blue, <<if $Time is 0>>possibly somewhat<<else>>not at all<</if>> ashamed at her lack of engagement. "Whether it's an illusion or not, we probably can't understand this place. <<if $Time is 0>>I thought you'd understand just riding it out and observing<<else>>You always keep clinging onto things, but maybe you've just gotta ride this one out and observe<</if>> whatever happens." Kennelly <<if $Time is 0>>can see where Natalie is coming from, especially given <<if $trials gt 1>>how little has actually happened to her here<<else>>that it doesn't seem like the house has necessarily done anything malevolent<</if>>. As a man who spends most of his time in a lab, trying to fight whatever this places is isn't exactly what he wants to be doing—but at the same time, what choice does he really have?<<else>>has no interest in listening to Natalie's passive complaints. She probably doesn't see her words this way, but in the midst of <<if $trials gt 1>>the terrible things that this house is doing<<else>>such a remarkable paranormal event<</if>>, her phrasing and attitude just come across as lazy at best and completely defeatist at worst.<</if>> "For all you know, you could be sitting here until you die," Kennelly says. "I'm not gonna feel sorry for trying to get us out of this." Natalie frowns. "Well, <<if $Natalie gte 2>>that's certainly a valid option as well<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>why don't you tell me how you //really// feel<<else>>I'm not stopping you<</if>>," she says<<if $Natalie lt 0>> sarcastically<</if>>. Whatever, Kennelly needs to <<click "keep going">><<replace "#trialend2">><<NataliesEnd3>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 3 */\ <<widget "NataliesEnd3">>\ keep going. First he needs to check the doors. <<Blood1 "The blood" "The Blood">>y aftermath left on the floor is too concerning, <<if $trials is 1>>who did it even come from?<<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 1>>and it doesn't really make sense how it could be here from the events in Brighton's room.<<else>>and Kennelly has had a burning curiosity about what those stains were from in Armen's room.<</if>><<else>>even if there is the worry about what might happen if he tries to go through the doors.<</if>> He picks the red door, the one with the smears, thinking that perhaps more danger would lie behind the door with the footprints<<if $BrightonSaved or $ArmenSaved>>, and knowing they might just belong to a <<if $BrightonSaved>>monster<</if>><<if $BrightonSaved and $ArmenSaved>> or a <</if>><<if $ArmenSaved>>doppelganger of himself<</if>><</if>>. Testing the doorknob, however, nothing happens. <<if $trials gt 1>>Not a huge surprise, though he can't help but wonder at the arbitrary reasoning with which these damned things decide to open<<else>>It appears to be locked, and no amount of shoving gets Kennelly anywhere<</if>>. "You know," Natalie says. "I did at least try to open the doors." Kennelly sighs. "You couldn't just tell me that?" he asks, and she says she was curious to see if he could manage it. <<if $B5 is 2>>"That gift I gave you isn't much a good luck charm, is it?" He gestures to the pendant on her neck. She looks down at it curiously. "I hadn't put two and two together yet," she replies. "Didn't think through you giving it to me because of my birthday." "Yeah," he says. "Even if Armen's crazy plan got us stuck in here, I at least get some points for that, right? I also had a cake for you back at the compound." He hopes with this that he might ignite a little more motivation in her to help, but she just gives him a sardonic smile, leaving him to assume the kind gestures just cancel out the annoyance of him secretly figuring out her birthday. Well, it was worth a try, but he still needs to<<else>>He's starting to wonder if she's getting some kind of messed up amusement out of watching him try to<</if>> <<click "figure this out">><<replace "#trialend3">><<NataliesEnd4>><</replace>><</click>>. <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 4 */\ <<widget "NataliesEnd4">>\ figure this out. Time to check out the pictures. Looking at the closest frame, a segment of midday sky, he is immediately disoriented by the perspective. It's definitely not just a photograph, he can get completely different angles on the sky past the frame by moving his head. He holds out a hand tentatively, aware now that there is no glass separating the space beyond the frame from this room. "Wait, Kennelly," Natalie says<<if $Natalie gte 2 or $B5 is 2>>, sitting up nervously in the couch, more at attention than she's been this whole time<</if>>. <<if $NatalieTrial is 2>>His patience with her wearing thin, he<<else>>He<</if>> stops and gives her his attention. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>I know that this is what you have to do, but…please, just be careful.<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>You probably shouldn't do that…<<else>>That doesn't seem like the best idea, no? Just be careful.<</if>>" <<if $Natalie gte 2>>He smiles, unable to ignore her friendly concern<<if $NatalieTrial gt 0>>, and despite her refusal to actually help<</if>>. "I'll be fine," he says, and his confidence is genuine as he<<elseif $Natalie lt 0>>He shakes his head, <<if $NatalieTrial gt 0>>completely tired of her refusal to help, <</if>>and<<else>>He forces a smile, finding that he wants to comfort her at least a bit<<if $NatalieTrial gt 0>>, despite her refusal to actually help<</if>>. "Yeah," he says, gritting his teeth as he<</if>> extends his arm to <<click "reach in">><<replace "#trialend4">><<NataliesEnd5>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 5 */\ <<widget "NataliesEnd5">>\ reach in. Warmth. Relief. Safety. The skin of his arm is amazed by these sensations, and Kennelly is suddenly and bizarrely all too understanding of why Natalie seems to care so little about their circumstances, but…//what is this?// His preternatural terror of the unknown allows him to overcome the seductive air of this window into an unknown sky, and he tears his arm out, falling right onto his ass in the process. Just as this happens, the myriad of skies in all of the picture frames disappear, but…he can still see? In Kennelly's hand, light. It is as though he is holding a small sun in his fist, and he uncurls his fingers slowly, unable to resist his curiosity. //What the hell is this?// The light is overwhelming, too much for the small room, so he squeezes his hand shut again, despite his fear of the power he's holding in his hand. "So are you concerned at all //now//?" he asks Natalie, noting the glimmer in her eyes from the miniature sun he's holding. <<if $Natalie gte 2 or $B5 is 2>>She does in fact appear concerned, but in a more panicked fashion than he was hoping for. He realizes with sick certainty that this ball of light in the picture frames is what was keeping her calm. "Why'd you do that?" she asks, her voice shaking. He hadn't really meant to, but now that he finally has her attention, Kennelly thinks he should try to get something out of this. However, worried about the power of the orb in his hand, he does the only thing he can think of and drops it into the folded fabric of the front of his shirt. The light is bright enough to keep the room dimly illuminated even from there, though he crawls over closer to the couch to get away from the red mess on the floor. "<<if $trials is 1>>You might not see it this way, but I'm trying to //help// you<<else>>Well, I'm <<if $ArmenSaved or $BrightonSaved>>trying my best to help you guys<<else>>seeing if I can help at least one person in this damned place<</if>><</if>>," he says, leaning back against the coffee table. "Is sitting around and reading a book what I should be doing instead?" "I was just trying to keep a level head about this, I don't know what's wrong with that," she says, eying the light in Kennelly's shirt suspiciously. "Can't you just put that back?" He ignores the absurd question, not even sure what putting it back would entail. "<<if $C2 is 0>>You've been bothered about something all night, and now when we end up in here, you just shut down,<<elseif $C2 is 1>>I know something bad happened to your family, and you've been in a bad mood about it, but is that really a good enough reason to just shut down completely?<<elseif $C2 is 2>>I know you've had reasons to be upset tonight, but you have to understand me when I say that ignoring your problems and shutting down doesn't just make it all go away,<<elseif $C2 is 3>>I know this time of year is rough for you, but you say you want to move on. You must understand that ignoring your problems and shutting down isn't how to fix a problem,<<elseif $C2 is 4>>Maybe things are hard for you right now, but you should really know better than to ignore all your problems and shut down,<</if>>" Kennelly says. "<<if $B4 is 1>>You don't want to change the past, you just want to ignore it.<<elseif $B4 is 2>>What happened to wishing for a better understanding of things?<<elseif $B4 is 3>>It seems you're so afraid of what might happen, you just sit and hope that nothing does.<</if>>" "You think //now// is the best time to psychoanalyze me?" she asks petulantly. "Fine, you want to <<if $C2 is 0>>know why I shut down<<else>>talk about this<</if>>? My whole family died //on my birthday//, Kennelly, when I was just a little girl. I try to help people at the Agency, but every day I feel like I'm just holding my finger in a dam of tragedy that never stops. <<if $C4 is 1>>What happened to being on my side about not coming in here<<elseif $C4 is 2>>Why didn't //you// even try to stop Armen from coming in here<<else>>Why did you even agree with Armen to come in here<</if>>? This //isn't my fault//, so don't blame me for not being able to solve a problem that I don't even understand." <<click "Explain that the past must be overcome">><<set $past += 2>><<set $NA to 1>><<replace "#trialend5">><<NataliesEnd6>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Let her stay here in peace">><<set $present += 2>><<set $NA to 2>><<replace "#trialend5">><<NataliesEnd6>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Insist that she help in escaping">><<set $NA to 3>><<set $future += 2>><<replace "#trialend5">><<NataliesEnd6>><</replace>><</click>>\ \ <<else>><<set $NatalieSaved to false>><<set $NA to 0>>"Put that back!" she screams, catching him completely off guard, causing him to fumble the orb in shock. It rolls off his palm and across the floor. <<NataliesEnd6>>\ <</if>><</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 6 */\ <<widget "NataliesEnd6">>\ <<if $NA gt 0>> <<if $NA is 1>>"You're not there to hold back the dam, Natalie," Kennelly says, some warmth finding its way into his voice despite the strain of this night. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>You know that. <</if>>You're there to help people survive the flood." She tosses her bangs to the side and puts her forehead in steepled hands. "<<if $Natalie gte 2>>You could just about steal my job, couldn't<<else>>You just keep trying to take my job from me, don't<</if>> you?"\ <<elseif $NA is 2>>"<<if $Time is 0>>You know, I //do// get it<<else>>Okay, have it your way<</if>>, Natalie," Kennelly says. "<<if $Time is 0>>If you need to stay here, then that's fine<<else>>I can't understand why you don't want to help<</if>>, but I'll try to let you know when I find a way out of here." She tosses her bangs to the side and puts her forehead in steepled hands. "We all do what we need to do…"\ <<elseif $NA is 3>>"Look, maybe your wish is to just be comfortable and happy, <<if $Time is 0>>and I get that<<else>>however weird<<if $Natalie gt 0>> you know<</if>> that seems to me<</if>>," Kennelly says. "But we don't know if this place is here to grant wishes. <<if $trials gt 1>>From what I've seen so far, I don't think it's that simple, and<<else>>Whatever it is,<</if>> the power here //scares// me<<if $Natalie gte 2>>, too<</if>>. I really need your help." She tosses her bangs to the side and puts her forehead in steepled hands. "We were so stupid to come in here…this isn't the place for people like us,"\ <</if>> she says. Cutting through the tension, the cat tiptoes out and curiously sniffs the glowing bulge under Kennelly's shirt before swatting it with a paw and dashing back under the couch. Neither of them can help from smiling at this. After a long period of silence, Natalie finally speaks again. \ <<TimeTest>><<if $Time isnot 0 or $Natalie gte 3>><<set $NatalieSaved to true>><<else>><<set $NatalieSaved to false>><</if>><<TimeTestReset 2>>\ <<if $NatalieSaved is true>>"Alright, you got me," she says. "I'm just being…really stubborn. Seriously, the more I think about it, the more embarrassed I feel.<<if $Natalie gte 2>> Even if Armen's a dumbass, you've been so nice to me all night.<</if>><<if $B5 is 2>> And besides, you gave me a present //and// made me a cake?<</if>>" She sits up attentively in the couch, stares at Kennelly for a long moment, then throws her face aside and laughs at herself. "I'm sorry for being such a jerk." Kennelly lets out a sigh of relief. "Hey, don't worry about it," he says. "This is all <<if $trials is 1>>kinda<<elseif $trials is 2>>pretty<<else>>majorly<</if>> fucked up." He stands up, careful to keep the orb tucked into the fold of his shirt. Natalie jokes that he's like a mama kangaroo. "Yeah, except for a baby, I have an object of unimaginable power that came out of a portal to an unknown sky," Kennelly replies. "You really know how to stop a girl from panicking," Natalie says, standing up as well. Kennelly is unbelievably happy to see her get out of that couch. "So what now?" she asks. "Well," he says. "Any idea why it looks like someone was murdered in here?" She shakes her head and explains it was like that when she got here. "Excellent," Kennelly says, and walks closer to the mess, using the light in his shirt to look at it more clearly.<<if def $BrightonTrial>> "In Brighton's room, his, uh…his husband was dead<<if $BrightonSaved>>, and then for half a second I saw some kind of monster in the corner<</if>>. The same footprints were there, but no skid-marks." The memory makes him shiver.<</if>><<if def $ArmenTrial>> "Armen's version of this had something similar, but it was…I dunno, in the future? So it was dried up, just left stains behind."<</if>> "It's creepy, whatever it is," Natalie says, crossing her arms as though the room has gotten colder. "The cat's cute, but its eyes are pretty creepy, too." She looks around, perhaps hoping not to have insulted it.<<if def $BrightonTrial>> Kennelly remembers Richard's eyes, but doesn't mention them.<</if>> "Maybe we should start by doing something with that?" She nods to Kennelly's glowing belly. "Alright, alright," he says, unfurling his shirt slowly. He\ <<else>>"You're gonna have to do this without me…" she says. "I'm sorry, but I think some part of you understands what's going on for someone like me. I help people get through things after they happen, but I'm not the one to fix something like this…" She cups her hands over her eyes, either ashamed or simply tired of arguing. Kennelly stands up. "Well, then I better get going," he says. "Just gotta figure out what to do with this…" He unfurls his shirt, but\ <</if>> immediately has to shield his eyes, having forgotten just how bright the orb actually is. In his clumsiness, the ball tumbles out of the fold of his shirt, spilling onto the floor.\ <</if>> Of all things to happen next, Kennelly briefly sees the figure of the cat run out from under the couch as it chases the spiraling globe of light. It pounces, its raven fur enveloping the orb's brilliance, throwing the entire room into sudden and complete darkness. "Natalie?" Kennelly asks into the black. <<if $NatalieSaved is true>>"Way to go," she says quickly, her voice tense, but trying to keep a good humor. "Where are you?" They both shuffle in the darkness and manage to grab one another's arms, but in the process they both trip onto the ground. "Ow!" Natalie shouts.\ <<else>>No response.\ <</if>> <<if $NatalieSaved is true>>"Alright, alright, hold on," Kennelly says. "I have an idea, let's<<else>>Well, there's no time to sit around and hope she eventually helps, or speaks, or does anything at all. Despite his inability to even see the room around him, Kennelly must get up and<</if>> \ <<if $trials is 1>><<click "do something" "D2End">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "do something" "D3End">><</click>>\ <<else>><<click "do something" "D4End">><</click>><</if>>.<<if $NatalieSaved is true>>"<</if>><</widget>>

/* STEP 1 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial1">>\ <<if $A4 is 1>>Static is the first thing Kennelly sees and hears, but after a few seconds it quick cuts to shaky footage of a dark room. Little is visible as the camera jostles about, and Kennelly can hear a familiar voice in the middle of speech. "…yeah, well, we're here now," Armen says from behind the lens. "And we're gonna figure this the fuck out this time…" The voice is cut off by heavy movement of the camera as it's passed off to someone else. The view is somewhat fuzzy, the recording captured in low light, but as it stabilizes, Kennelly can make out the dim form of Armen. He stands confident\ <<else>>It's an awkwardly bright photo, the flash blasting in a dark environment. The focus of the shot is Armen\ <</if>>, with his classic smug grin, wearing an outfit Kennelly has never seen him in before. In fact, it looks a lot like a Field Agent uniform, one of The Agency's getups that's like a cross between an army uniform and something out of an action movie: black jacket with utility pockets, form-fitting undershirt, heavy belt, black cargo pants. <<if $A4 is 2>><<if $trials is 1 and $D1 isnot 2>>Using the arrow keys on the camera to zoom in<<else>>Zooming in on the center of the image<</if>>, Kennelly sees a holstered gun under Armen's left arm, and he can't help but ask himself who the hell would give his friend a weapon. Zooming back out,<<else>> "Are you ready?" Armen says, adjusting his jacket a bit as if he's trying to look tough. Kennelly still has no idea who his friend is talking to, but as the auto-focus adjusts the shot,<</if>> he notices that Armen is standing in front of a familiar green door. <<if $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 1>>Fairly sure of what he needs to do<<else>>Not sure what else to do<</if>>, <<elseif $trials is 3>>Knowing what to do next, <</if>>Kennelly turns and lines the camera up to confirm his suspicions that, in the <<photo>>, Armen stands in front of the very same green door Kennelly can see on the right-hand side of this room. He lowers the camera to <<click "take a step forward">><<replace "#trial1">><<ArmensTrial2>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 2 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial2">>\ take a step forward. A tidal wave of vertigo hits him. <<if def $BrightonTrial>>"Ugh, not again," he mutters as he<<else>>He<</if>> covers his eyes with his free hand, waiting for it to pass, but it doesn't go anywhere. He perceives some kind of optical illusion in his closed eyes, lines rushing past him as though he is going into hyperspace. The streaks that fly by are not stars, just blurry smears from the pressure of his hand against his eyelids. The visuals are fascinating, though, acute in their inexplicable details. There is a central point from which the swirling lines radiate, an infinitesimal speck that all of these illusory paths lead to. Completely lost in this spectacle inside his head, Kennelly is jolted with the realization that he's about to <<click "fall forwards">><<replace "#trial2">><<ArmensTrial3>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 3 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial3">>\ fall forwards. He opens his eyes to see that he's not falling, just standing awkwardly in the same place, only to be startled by the presence of Armen in the room with him. <<if def $BrightonTrial>>Even though he expected this, <</if>>Kennelly almost //actually// falls over, but he manages to steady himself. "Er, you alright<<if $Armen gte 2>> there, buddy<</if>>?" Armen asks casually, right in the same place by the green door, as though Kennelly had been the one taking the <<photo>>.<<if def $BrightonTrial>> <<if $trials is 2>>Things are playing out similarly, but at<<else>>At<</if>> least Kennelly didn't collapse this time.<</if>> <<if $trials is 1>>Wildly confused, Kennelly looks between his hands and his friend several times, noticing the camera he held a second ago is nowhere to be seen. He<<else>>Kennelly<</if>> scans the room to get his bearings—it's dimly illuminated, though by //two// flashlights now, placed on the wicker table by the rocking chair. The furniture is covered in a layer of grime and dust, the surfaces weathered, though it all looks //more// decayed than it did just a moment ago<<if $trials is 2>>, far filthier than the last time around<<elseif $trials is 3>>, far filthier than the last two rooms<</if>>, and the wallpaper is notably peeling. Just as Kennelly notices dark red streaks on the floor, his attention is jostled upwards by a //''<<click "knock">><<replace "#trial3">><<ArmensTrial4>><</replace>><</click>>''//.<</widget>> /* STEP 4 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial4">>\ //''knock''//. "<<if $Armen gt 0>>Hello? Anyone home?<<else>>Hey, snap out of it.<</if>>" Armen says, his knuckles resting on the door. <<if $trials is 1>>"Uh," Kennelly replies slowly. "Yeah, um…god, it's good to see you." He has no idea what to think of this, but he's happy he has his friend to help him work it out<<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 1>>"Yeah," Kennelly replies slowly. "Hey man, it's…good to see you." He has to wonder what Armen remembers, and hopes his friend can help him<<else>>"Yeah, yeah," Kennelly replies slowly. "Man, it's really good to see you." He's glad to see another friend given how little help the last one provided him<</if>><<else>>"Yeah," Kennelly replies slowly. "It's, uh…it's good to see you." He makes no assumptions about what Armen knows, remembers, or thinks of what's going on here<</if>>. He almost wants to run forward and hug the man, but <<if $trials is 1>>so little has actually //happened// to make that action feel justified. Kennelly notes with this inhibition that he no longer even feels a buzz from all that they drank earlier<<elseif $trials is 2>>he seriously feels like he might just break down crying if he does<<else>>has no idea how Armen might react to that<</if>>.<<if $Armen lt 0>> His emotions are sobered with the memory that<<if $trials gt 1>>all of <</if>> this is pretty much entirely Armen's fault.<</if>> "<<if $Armen gt 1>>Yeah, okay, you too," Armen says with a confused smile<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>Uh, alright man," Armen says<<else>>Uh, sure, you too," Armen says<</if>>. "Now can you stop being weird and help me with this?" He taps the green door. <<if def $BrightonTrial>>The word "weird" catches Kennelly's attention, and he wonders what Armen's perspective on this place is. <</if>><<if $trials is 1>>"Wait, wait," Kennelly says. "Can we just talk about what's happening for a second?<<else>>"Hey," he says. "Do you mind if we talk for a second about what's happening?<</if>> Like…where'd you get that outfit?"<<if $trials is 1>> He shakes his head once, noticing the vertigo is finally gone.<</if>> Armen sighs impatiently. "Better question is where's //your// uniform<<if $Armen gte 2>>, bucko<</if>>?" <<if ndef $BrightonTrial>>Kennelly has no idea what to make of that one<<else>>Another clue that this isn't the Armen Kennelly <<if $trials is 2>>was hoping for<<else>>would want to talk to<</if>><</if>>. "Jokes aside, <<if $Armen gt 0>>mind if<<else>>can<</if>> we talk //while we go//? Haven't the time to sit around and chat." Armen seems weirdly confident about everything, <<if def $BrightonTrial>>so Kennelly figures it better to just follow along for now, and he<<else>>but Kennelly is glad to be talking to someone with some sort of plan, so he<</if>> nods in acquiescence and moves to stand in the doorway behind his friend. Heat radiates strangely off of Armen's back, as though his eagerness to explore the house spills off of him in the frigid air. <<if $Armen gte 2>>"Let's do this," Armen says<<else>>"Ready?" Armen asks<</if>>, and Kennelly can only guess that he means to force the door. On the count of three, they shove, opening it unceremoniously. //''<<click "Creeeeeaaaak.">><<replace "#trial4">><<ArmensTrial5>><</replace>><</click>>''//<</widget>> /* STEP 5 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial5">>\ //''Creeeeeaaaak''//. Armen pushes further into the next room with no hesitation. Kennelly, however, grabs one of the flashlights off the wicker table, poking it through the doorway before entering himself. First he notes that the door they just opened is red on the opposite side (green on the side they entered from). He turns to see that <<if def $BrightonTrial>>, like in Brighton's version of this, this next<<else>>the<</if>> room looks exactly the same—couch, rocking chair, empty picture frames, <<if $trials is 1>>green door<<else>>all the things that Kennelly is growing more sick of with every passing second, even the green door<</if>> across from them that Armen barrels towards without any care to investigate the room that they're in or that he has no light source with which to forge his way onward. <<if ndef $BrightonTrial>>Kennelly is stumped as to how or why someone would make two exact replicas of a bunch of ruined crap. <</if>>"Hold on!" <<if def $BrightonTrial>>Kennelly<<else>>he<</if>> shouts, stumbling to keep up. "Can you at least tell me what you're looking for?"<<if def $BrightonTrial>> He needs some context for whatever delusional future his friend has dragged him to.<</if>> Armen turns and immediately throws a hand up to block the light that Kennelly has pointed directly in his face. "Are you serious?" Armen says, and Kennelly lowers the light with an apology. "Dream House? Experiment? Ringing a bell? <<if $Armen gte 2>>I hope you're not<<else>>Don't tell me you're<</if>> already losing it in here." <<if def $BrightonTrial>>Isn't that Kennelly's question? Armen<<else>>He<</if>> walks over, puts a hand on Kennelly's shoulder, and shakes it softly. "We don't want a fuck up like last time, yeah?" With Armen this close,<<if $B5 is 3>> a clear view is offered of the omega pendant from earlier dangling under his black coat, and<</if>> the heat pouring off of him is even more obvious, almost as though the man has a high fever<<if $trials gt 1>>, so intense that Kennelly must consider it another piece of the paranormal puzzle<</if>>. Kennelly pulls away from Armen's hand, <<if $Armen gte 2>>glad for the well-meaning gesture<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>annoyed by the condescending gesture<<else>>unsure of the well-intended gesture<</if>>, and his focus is drawn to red footprints<<if $trials gt 1>>, no longer fresh, but<</if>> stained into the floorboards, coming from the doorway behind them. "Last time…" he mutters. \ <<if $trials is 1>>\ If this is the Dream House (<<if $B3 lt 3>>and how ridiculous to even acknowledge that's where he is right now<<else>>and to think that he's actually there!<</if>>), then according to Armen's stories, they are being scattered through time and space…But that's impossible. //Time travel is impossible//. "What, uh…which last time?" he asks, wondering if maybe Armen is referring to The Flesh Warehouse.\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<if $D1 is 1>>\ Looking at it logically (and ignoring the absurd power that it implies), the Dream House created something from the past for Brighton (resurrecting his dead husband), and here it has created something from the future for Armen, allowing him to become a Field Agent. There is quite a bizarre logical loophole, though, in that to convince Armen he's in the future, it has somehow also deluded him into thinking this is the //second// time he's been here. "What do you mean by last time?" Kennelly asks.\ <<else>>\ The Dream House created a room of peaceful tranquility for Natalie, which didn't really fit the bill of what this place is supposed to be about. According to Armen's stories, they are being scattered through time and space…But that's impossible. //Time travel is impossible//. "What, uh…which last time?" he asks, wondering if maybe Armen is referring to The Flesh Warehouse.\ <</if>><<else>>\ Looking at it logically (and ignoring the absurd power that it implies), the Dream House created something from the past for Brighton (resurrecting his dead husband), offered Natalie some form of magical tranquility, and here it has created something from the future for Armen, allowing him to become a Field Agent. There is a bizarre logical loophole, though, in that to convince Armen he's in the future, it has somehow also deluded him into thinking this is the //second// time he's been here. "What do you mean by last time?" Kennelly asks.\ <</if>> "Oh, <<if $Armen gte 2>>come on<<else>>fuck off<</if>>, man," Armen says. "We don't need to go over it again and again, the past is <<Blood "the blood" "The Blood">>y past. Let's get a move on, not gonna let this bastard beat us." This doesn't give Kennelly //any// useful information at all, just confirms that<<if def $BrightonTrial>> this version of<</if>> the man still <<if $Armen gt 0>>has an unhealthy relationship with<<else>>refuses to acknowledge<</if>> the past. Armen walks to the next green door. "Coming?" he asks without looking back. <<set $ArmenTrial to 0>>\ <<click "Follow Armen to the next room (go…)">><<set $ArmenTrial += 1>><<replace "#trial5">><<ArmensTrial6>><</replace>><</click>> <<if $trials is 1>><<click "Investigate the stains on the ground (stop >)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "Investigate the stains on the ground (stop >)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "Investigate the stains on the ground (stop >)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* STEP 6 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial6">>\ Armen kicks the green door open without any help, giving Kennelly no option but to hurry and follow along. This room is exactly the same again—same<<if $trials gt 1>> damn<</if>> couch, same<<if $trials gt 1>> damn<</if>> rocking chair, same<<if $trials gt 1>> damn<</if>> door across from them. The red footprints continue onward in the same direction that they're moving. <<if $trials is 1>>The seeming mundane nature of these rooms had almost made Kennelly forget they are in the midst of what is undoubtedly a paranormal event<<else>>This is a frustrating detail, as Kennelly was //hoping// they might find the source of the tracks, but the series of rooms seems endless<</if>>. "Ok, ok, I'll bite," Kennelly says, trying to keep up as Armen speed walks on to the next door. "What exactly we're looking for here?"<<if ($trials is 2 and $D1 is 1) or ($trials is 3)>> He's tired of having to tiptoe around the reality of the situation to get information out of anyone<<elseif ($trials is 2 and $D1 is 2)>> He's annoyed that Armen does not seem as privy to the truth of the scenario as Natalie was<</if>>. "Not //what//," Armen says, throwing his shoulder into the door. It clatters open, but he is prepared and keeps his balance with a notable lack of effort. "//Who//. I shouldn't have to explain this to you<<if $Armen gt 0>>, but we're looking for the piece of shit who pulled one over on me the last time I was here<</if>>." Kennelly almost has to jog to keep up as Armen presses on into the //next// room—same again, nothing changing at all between iterations.<<if $Armen gt 0>> "The murdering asshole who tricked me with a damned dream."<</if>> <<if $Armen lt 0>>None of what Armen's talking about makes any sense<<else>>Even if it doesn't make sense, this is definitely some new information<</if>>, though it's hard for Kennelly to work it out as he pursues his friend on this wild goose chase through a series of empty rooms. <<if $Armen gt 0>>From Armen's language, it seems that he believes himself to have been here before<<else>>Who is this third-party that Armen wants to get revenge on<</if>>? "Well, uh," Kennelly says as Armen topples another green door. "How many of these rooms are we going to look in<<if $Armen gt 0>> for the…asshole<</if>>?" "As many as it fucking takes," Armen says, still not deigning to look back. <<if $trials is 1>>The declaration means nothing, and Kennelly starts to wonder if Armen has any clue whatsoever what they're doing here<<else>>While the revelation that Armen //does// have a specific goal here felt like Kennelly was inching towards some answers, this declaration means practically nothing<</if>>. His friend's words are as nonsensical as <<if $trials lt 3>>the situation Kennelly finds himself in<<else>>everything else<</if>>, and they are <<if $Armen gte 2>>worrisome<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>frustrating<<else>>concerning<</if>>, but Kennelly knows that somehow he has to <<click "figure this out">><<replace "#trial6">><<ArmensTrial7>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* STEP 7 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial7">>\ figure this out. "Look, dude," Kennelly says as they continue their monotonous journey through a series of doors—each room so much less interesting than the last that they are not even worthy of description at this point. "Can you just…" He feels like he needs to stop and catch his breath, but he keeps going, unbuttoning his jacket from the warmth of all this movement. "Just pretend for a second that I have no idea what you're talking about, and start from the beginning. You said someone died here?" For whatever reason, this gets Armen to finally stop, though he still doesn't turn around. Kennelly takes this chance to catch up and move in front of him. This close to his friend, Kennelly<<if $B5 is 3>>'s attention if drawn to the omega pendant, but then he<</if>> <<if $A4 is 1>>finally notices the gun holstered under Armen's left arm, and he wonders who the hell gave the man a weapon<<else>>can't help but steal a nervous glance at the gun under Armen's arm<</if>>. The heat wafting off of his body is<<if $trials is 1>>…unnatural…<<else>> deeply unnatural, <</if>>but that is a separate problem Kennelly will address after understanding what his friend thinks is going on. "Look, <<if $Armen gte 2>>I know you're new at this stuff<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>I know you're a fucking newbie<<else>>you might be a newbie<</if>>," Armen begins, throwing Kennelly for another loop. "But that doesn't excuse not knowing the //premise// of an expedition right in the middle of it. <<if $Armen gte 2>>I'll give you the benefit of the doubt //this time// and trust<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>You pray<<else>>You better hope<</if>> that the powers that be in this place aren't messing with your head." "Uh, <<if $Armen gte 2>>thank you<<else>>alright<</if>>," Kennelly says, feeling heftily belittled despite being <<if $trials is 1>>fairly<<else>>completely<</if>> sure that he's not the one being messed with.<<if $Armen gte 2>> "That would be great."<</if>> <<if $Armen lt 2>>Armen gives the smarmiest, rudest smile that Kennelly has seen in some time. It's a condescending expression that the man has never been known to make at his friends, <<if $trials is 1>>so<<else>>and given everything that Kennelly has been through, <</if>> it hurts a <<if $trials is 1>>little bit<<else>>lot<</if>> coming from him now.<</if>> "Ten years ago, to the fucking day, I was led to the Dream House," Armen explains, reminding Kennelly of the date on the <<photo>>. "This time, same dream, same damned house, but now I'm ready. We've brought a whole squadron, right—you remember them? Ten others? We know more about this bastard than ever, and we're here, right now, to bring this place to its god damn knees before it takes another one of us." <<if def $BrightonTrial>>This confirms that Armen thinks it's the future—or maybe it really //is// the future and Kennelly's been the fool here all along<<else>>Alright, so Armen has officially lost it…or genuinely believes them to have traveled forward in time<</if>>. Maybe this isn't Armen at all, but some representation of him that the Dream House has concocted<<if $trials is 2>>, <<if $D1 is 1>>like Richard<<else>>like the cat<</if>><<elseif $trials is 3>>, like Richard and the cat<</if>>, though he seems too genuinely //Armen// to be an illusion<<if $trials gt 1>>—and besides, his eyes are normal<</if>>. Whatever is going on, <<if $trials gt 1>>Kennelly is //pretty sure// <</if>>time travel is impossible, and so regardless of why Armen is saying these things, the only way to understand is to continue to question. "Sorry, again, but, uh…who died?" Kennelly asks. Armen's look of confident indignation collapses, leaving nothing but wide-eyed rage. "<<if $Armen gte 2>>One of my closest friends<<else>>A great man<</if>>," is all Armen says as he shoves Kennelly aside. "Now, I'm done with your shit. Stay here." <<click "Keep following Armen (go…)">><<set $ArmenTrial += 1>><<replace "#trial7">><<ArmensTrial8>><</replace>><</click>> <<if $trials is 1>><<click "Bring up the red footprints (stop >)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "Bring up the red footprints (stop >)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "Bring up the red footprints (stop >)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* STEP 8 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial8">>\ Kennelly ignores the demand, insistent on getting more out of his friend, and keeps following, which Armen pointedly ignores in his continued pursuit of seemingly nothing. It's becoming clear that Armen doesn't recognize Kennelly as himself, perhaps thinking he's someone else entirely. <<if $Armen gte 2>>Is //Kennelly// the friend<<else>>Who is the person<</if>> that Armen believes died? Deciding on a different tactic, Kennelly asks Armen what he saw the "last time" he was here (feeling idiotic to be playing along). Armen doesn't answer, so Kennelly keeps going, knowing that the man is terrible at ignoring something that actively pesters him. "I mean, we're just walking through a series of empty rooms, how exactly did that kill anyone?" Armen stops suddenly, and //''<<click "WHAM.">><<replace "#trial8">><<ArmensTrial9>><</replace>><</click>>''//<</widget>> /* STEP 9 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial9">>\ //''WHAM.''// The world spins and Kennelly learns what it means when people describe "seeing stars." Several moments of dazzling pain pass before he can open his eyes. When he does, Armen's hand is outstretched waiting to pull him up, but Kennelly looks at it dubiously. "<<if $Armen gte 2>>Sorry I had to do that<<else>>I'm not sorry about that<</if>>," Armen says. "But come on." He waves with his fingers, a gesture saying "let me help you up despite decking you in the face." There's not much Kennelly can do, and he certainly doesn't feel like getting in a fight with an armed man, so he takes Armen's hand and is lifted up onto his feet with strength he was not aware that his friend even had. "Look me in the eyes," Armen says, grabbing Kennelly by both shoulders this time, leaving him to wonder why the man leaves his jacket on given the immense heat that blisters from his flesh. "You think this is just a series of rooms? Remember your training. Never, //ever// underestimate the unexplainable." However stupid it might sound, this crosses the line for Kennelly more than Armen calling him a newbie, <<if def $BrightonTrial>>more than Brighton's <<if $BrightonSaved>>strange monster<<else>>ashen corpse<</if>>, <</if>><<if def $NatalieTrial>>more than Natalie's refusal to act, <</if>> and even more than being punched square in the face. "Nothing is unexplainable," he says, meeting his friend's challenging gaze. "I thought you believed that, too." This sparks something in Armen's eyes—confusion or recognition, it's hard to tell. "Who told you that?" //''<<click "BANG. BANG.">><<replace "#trial9">><<ArmensTrial10>><</replace>><</click>>''//<</widget>> /* STEP 10 */\ <<widget "ArmensTrial10">>\ //''BANG. BANG.''// "What was that?" Kennelly says, twisting his head to look down the series of doors that they've come through. //''BANG. BANG. BANG.''// Each of the doors is slamming closed in succession, throwing their red faces towards the two men, each with such immense force that Kennelly would expect the wood to shatter, the hinges to break, and the walls to crack around their frames. "Hey!" Armen says, his voice somehow audible over the nearly explosive slams. He grabs the sides of Kennelly's head with terrifying violence and forces a stare between them. "Look at me!" Armen's fingers are ridiculously hot, so much so that Kennelly genuinely thinks that they might burn him, despite how stupid that sounds. "//Who told you that?//" Kennelly has forgotten whatever he said that sparked this immense reaction, so he can do nothing but stare into Armen's eyes, the quivering of the man's arms and hands making his vision shake erratically. //''BANG.''// That's the door to the room they're in. "Who told you," Armen whispers, flecks of his spit landing on Kennelly's cheeks. "Who ever said that I think everything can be explained?" This is the last straw. Kennelly doesn't know what the hell is going through his friend's head, why he's doing any of this, treating him like a stranger he can just push around. This <<if $trials gt 1>>has all been<<else>>is<</if>> confusing, and difficult, and hard to understand, but there is no excuse for this behavior. Kennelly has to make him \ <<if $trials is 1>><<click "stop (>)" "D2Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "stop (>)" "D3Middle">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 3>><<click "stop (>)" "D4Middle">><</click>><</if>>.\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 1 */\ <<widget "ArmensEnd1">>\ <<if $ArmenTrial lt 2>>\ Letting Armen continue on, Kennelly kneels down and examines the dark stains on the floor. They're prints of large, bare feet, and their make-up would of course be <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">>, likely from the larger streaks he noticed in the first room<<if $ArmenTrial is 1>>, though it makes no sense that there would be enough liquid to merit the tracks continuing this far in<</if>>. Those streaks had been from something being dragged through the red door<<if def $BrightonTrial>>, the door that hadn't been in Brighton's version of this<</if>>.<<if $trials gt 1>> This is all obviously the remnants of what Kennelly saw in the other room<<if $trials gt 2>>s<</if>>.<</if>> "Hey," Kennelly says to Armen, who's only made it one room further. "What are these footsteps from?"<<if $trials gt 1>> He figures that since Armen has a goal here, the man might be able to provide some actually useful information.<</if>> The man stops but doesn't look back. "You don't want to know," he shouts. Kennelly raises his voice to shout as well, despite finding the acoustics of this series of duplicated rooms unsettling. "Clearly I //do// want to know, so…can you just tell me?" The sigh is audible from where Kennelly kneels. He gets an uplifting feeling in his stomach to see Armen come back to answer him, though his friend stops short at the threshold of the door. "<<if $ArmenTrial is 1>>If you really can't fucking remember,<<else>>You should already know this, but<</if>> the footsteps are from the person I came here to kill," Armen says grimly. "And frankly, with all your questions<<if $ArmenTrial is 1>> and all your bullshit<</if>>, you're starting to remind me a lot of them." He reaches into his jacket<<if $ArmenTrial is 1>> and unholsters his weapon<<else>>, pulling out his hand to reveal a pistol<</if>>. "In this place of all places, that's not something you really want to be doing<<if $Armen gte 2>>, friend<</if>>." He steps into the room as he trains the gun on Kennelly's head.\ \ <<elseif $ArmenTrial is 2>>\ Surprising even himself, Kennelly dexterously unholsters and steals Armen's gun, pressing it to the man's chest. "Let go, please," he says, his voice much calmer than it has any right to be. Armen drops his hands to his sides and gives Kennelly his best "are you fucking crazy?" look, but this isn't the best time for that. Flashlight in one hand, gun in the other, Kennelly<<if $trials gt 1>> finally<</if>> feels some modicum of control over the situation, and he understands the appeal of these weapons. He points both objects at the ground, highlighting the red footprints that have no logical reason to still be visible if they really are tracking <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">> all the way from the first room. "What the fuck are these?" he asks. Armen looks down at the floor casually, oozing an irresponsible lack of concern for the gun pointed in his direction. "<<if $Armen gte 2>>You know I put a lot of trust in you to let you shadow me in here, right?<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>Stupid fucking newbies…<<else>>You really are a newbie, aren't you?<</if>>" Before Kennelly can even tell what's happened, Armen strikes at his wrist, kicks him in the gut, and drops him to his knees in less than a few seconds. Wheezing and disoriented, Kennelly looks up to see his friend aiming the gun at his head. "Those are the footsteps are from the person I came here to kill," Armen says grimly. "And frankly, with all your questions and all your bullshit, you're starting to remind me a lot of them." He presses the gun into Kennelly's forehead. "In this place of all places, that's not something you really want to be doing."\ <</if>> Not knowing what course of action he could have realistically taken to avoid this scenario,<<if $ArmenTrial is 2>> though not stealing a supposed Agent's gun might have been a place to start,<</if>> Kennelly has no better choice now but to <<click "sit perfectly still">><<replace "#trialend1">><<ArmensEnd2>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 2 */\ <<widget "ArmensEnd2">>\ sit perfectly still. <<if $ArmenTrial is 0>>"Uh, why are you doing that?" Kennelly asks. "It's just me. Your friend? Kennelly?<<else>>"Armen, please, just listen<<if $ArmenTrial is 1>> for one second<</if>>," Kennelly says<<if $ArmenTrial is 2>>, his voice shaking<</if>>. "It's //me//, it's Kennelly,<</if>> I'm not—" //''THUD.''// He spills onto the floor, his chest aching from the kick Armen landed. The man isn't joking around, Kennelly feels that he'll have a bruise for days from the strike. "How //dare// you say that name?" Armen bellows, towering above him. "You never even knew the man, you know //nothing//." With a sore ribcage and a gun to his head, Kennelly doesn't have much focus left to fully comprehend that Armen thinks he's someone else. "We lost him before you even knew The Agency existed." <<if $Time is 1>>Clearly Armen thinks it's a pretty grim future. Kennelly understands how his friend's mental state might drag them into such a place, though why he has to be dead in that future seems questionable<<else>>//Of course// Armen genuinely thinks it's the future, there's no other time he knows how to focus on, though why Kennelly has to be //dead// in this future remains to be seen<</if>>. What can he say then? He doesn't even know what role he's meant to be playing in this fantasy, so the only real option is to let Armen do the talking and <<click "wait for an opportunity">><<replace "#trialend2">><<ArmensEnd3>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 3 */\ <<widget "ArmensEnd3">>\ wait for an opportunity. "There's <<if $Armen gte 2>>very little<<else>>almost nothing<</if>> keeping me from shooting you right here and now." Armen <<if $Armen gte 2>>grimaces, it seems almost out of pity<<else>>smiles, the expression manic and perverse<</if>>. "Your eyes look normal, though, and that's a //good// sign for you—unless you've finally broken the rules." <<if $trials is 1>>Kennelly has no idea what the implication of this is.<<elseif $trials is 2>>This reminds Kennelly of <<if $D1 is 1>>Richard<<else>>the cat<</if>>'s eyes, but…what does it mean?<<else>>This reminds Kennelly of the eyes of Richard and the cat, but…what does it mean? What does Armen know?<</if>> "Even so, no one's here to see us." Armen crouches down and grabs Kennelly's collar<<if $B5 is 3>>, the omega pendant around his neck hanging directly in Kennelly's face<</if>>. The heat off of his body is sweltering. "Now tell me," he says, pulling Kennelly's face uncomfortably close, his breath pouring forth like a torrent of steam. "A //good reason// why I shouldn't." <<if $B5 is 3>>"I gave you that," Kennelly blurts out. Armen's furious expression slips. "The pendant. I gave it to you and you made a joke about shooting x-rays at it." They both glance awkwardly at the omega symbol, Kennelly feeling his stomach drop through the floor in terrified hope. "How did you…" Armen mutters, but then his defenses fly back up and he shoves the gun into Kennelly's aching chest. "How the hell do you know about that! Is this some kind of //joke//?" Well, so much for that. <</if>>Panicking, almost hyperventilating, every fiber Kennelly's being screams for him to <<click "try to figure this out">><<replace "#trialend3">><<ArmensEnd4>><</replace>><</click>>.<</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 4 */\ <<widget "ArmensEnd4">>\ try to figure this out. "Your friend…uh…Dr. Crayton. He was really important to you, yeah?" Kennelly says, playing along with the idea that in this room, he is dead. "But from what I think I know of him…wouldn't he want you to give me a chance to explain?" Armen eyes him dubiously, his hot breath still seething into Kennelly's face. "<<if $Kennelly gte 2>>I suppose, assuming you have a good explanation for this shit, I would be foolish not to hear it out.<<elseif $Kennelly lt 0>>Are you presuming to explain my deceased friend to me?<<else>>He'd certainly admire your tenacity in trying, that's for sure.<</if>>" He loosens his grip on Kennelly's collar<<if $Armen gte 2 or $B5 is 3>>, pointing the gun down at the floor<</if>>. "<<if $Armen gte 2>>Out of respect for him, I'll give you one chance to explain<<elseif $Armen lt 0>>I'll give you //one chance// to explain yourself, but just so that I feel less guilty if I have to kill you<<else>>I'll give you one chance to convince me of how you're //not// against me here<</if>>." Nervous, but glad for the opportunity, rushing to think of what he could say to keep his friend from murdering him right here and now, Kennelly decides to try for honesty, shutting his eyes and taking his one and only chance to <<click "reach through">><<replace "#trialend4">><<ArmensEnd5>><</replace>><</click>>. <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 5 */\ <<widget "ArmensEnd5">>\ reach through. "An hour ago,<<if $Armen lt 0>> against all reason,<</if>> I agreed to walk into this house with you," he says rapidly, worrying with every word that escapes his mouth that he might hear a gunshot. "I thought it was stupid, I thought it was dangerous, <<if $trials is 1>>but I did it because I'm your friend, and I wanted to be there for you,<<else>>and clearly I was right, since <<if def $BrightonTrial>>Brighton's lost his mind and suddenly has a husband<</if>><<if $trials is 3>>, and <</if>><<if def $NatalieTrial>>Natalie's trapped, completely lost her ability to care<</if>>, and you're here, you don't even remember who I am, but I came here<</if>> because I know you're having a hard time, and I know this is something you need to help you move <<if $Time is 0>>forwards<<else>>on<</if>>,<<if $Armen lt 0>> no matter how ridiculous it is,<</if>> and I don't know how to snap you out of whatever is wrong with you, but I //swear to god// I'm Kennelly, and that's saying a lot because //I don't even believe in god//, and—" The hands let go of Kennelly's collar, and he falls back onto the ground. He keeps his eyes shut, cowering, not knowing what Armen might do next since everything Kennelly has said before this just kept making it worse. \ <<if $Armen gte 2 or $B5 is 3>>\ He can still feel Armen's breath from a distance, though, and so he slowly opens his eyes, scared in every moment of doing so that his friend might just pull the trigger. But no…Armen is crouched on the floor with his face in his hand, eyes clenched shut as though he has a headache. "You can't know all that…" he says, his voice straining, seemingly in pain from trying to process this. "That's impossible. You can't put me through this again…" "Armen," Kennelly says softly, adjusting his position on the ground into a slightly less uncomfortable one, his chest still aching. "It's the house. <<if $C4 is 1>>Natalie and I warned you,<<elseif $C4 is 2>>Natalie warned you,<<else>>We decided to come in here together, but<</if>> this is…more than we should have taken on by ourselves." "It can't be…" Armen says, standing up, revealing eyes red with tears. "You died. I watched you die." No matter what Kennelly thinks of it, his friend is strongly under the assumption that they have traveled through time. Maybe he's right… "Okay…look…maybe I //do// die, alright, but from my perspective, that hasn't happened yet. From my perspective, <<if $Time is 1>>I get to be in the future, now, I guess. That's…uh, cool, right?<<else>>you're, I don't know, being fooled by this place into thinking things have happened that haven't actually happened.<</if>>" Armen scoffs and wipes his nose with a long snort. "<<if $A3 is 1>>I know you don't like focusing on the past, but I'm real, I'm right here, and I need your help<<elseif $A3 is 2>>I agreed to go on an adventure with you, you got me out of my lab, so don't leave me hanging here<<else>>Look, this is just one of those weird things the universe is throwing at us, remember? And we gotta work together and fight it<</if>>. Besides, look, <<if $B3 isnot 3>>you were right and I was wrong! The Dream House is real, and, you know<<else>>the Dream House is real, we get to be here and try to understand it<</if>>, clearly it's powerful and maybe it's granting wishes and traveling through time, so, it makes a bit of sense for me to be here, right?" "You don't get it," Armen says, a tear rolling down his cheek. "It's all my fault…again. You're going to die, and it's because I dragged you here, because I'm selfish, because I'm a reckless crazy idiot. I can't ever get it right!" He punches his leg with the butt of his gun in frustration. "I need to //make this right//, find the piece of shit that killed you, don't you see that?" <<click "Explain that this is his chance to change the past">><<set $past += 2>><<set $AR to 1>><<replace "#trialend5">><<ArmensEnd6>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Encourage him to focus on this moment while he can">><<set $present += 2>><<set $AR to 2>><<replace "#trialend5">><<ArmensEnd6>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Allow him to return to his revenge">><<set $AR to 3>><<set $future += 2>><<replace "#trialend5">><<ArmensEnd6>><</replace>><</click>>\ \ <<else>> <<ArmensEnd6>><</if>>\ <</widget>> /* ENDING STEP 6 */\ <<widget "ArmensEnd6">>\ <<if $AR gt 0>><<if $AR is 1>>"That's…a noble desire, Armen," Kennelly says. "And I <<if $Armen gte 2>>wouldn't expect any less from you<<else>>really appreciate it<</if>>, but right now…I'm alive, and so maybe this is your chance to change the past as you see it. Isn't that at least worth a try?" Armen slowly holsters his gun and wipes his face again. "I thought you didn't even believe in time travel…" He laughs bitterly. "How do I know this isn't just another trick that the house is playing on me?"\ <<elseif $AR is 2>>"Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Kennelly says. "I don't really want to think about dying at the moment<<if $Armen gte 2>>, though I do appreciate your concern for what might be my impending death<</if>>. How about we try to focus on what we have here, yeah?" Armen slowly holsters his gun and wipes his face again. "If you're telling me the truth…I've<<if $Armen gte 2>> really<</if>> missed you, Kennelly. But I'm not crazy, I //watched// you die."\ <<elseif $AR is 3>>"Okay, alright," Kennelly says. "<<if $Time is 1>>I understand, you have a goal and you need to make it happen. Who am I to stop you?<<else>>You don't change much, do you? If you've got a goal, then nothing is going to get in your way.<</if>> But I've gotta keep trying, you know…to not die." Armen grips the gun tight in his hand and wipes his face again. "I can't just give up. I started this, and I have to end it."\ <</if>> His voice is hoarse, catching in his throat. The silence hangs for some time after this, Kennelly <<if $AR lt 3>>unsure how to respond<<else>>allowing the man to make up his own mind<</if>>, the strange rooms around them making no sound to cut the tension. <<TimeTest>><<if $Time isnot 1 or $Armen gte 3>><<set $ArmenSaved to true>><<else>><<set $ArmenSaved to false>><</if>><<TimeTestReset 3>>\ <<if $ArmenSaved is true>>"Fine," Armen says finally, breaking the quiet. "You're right, I need to…I want to help you." He straightens his jacket, <<if $B5 is 1>>touches the pendant at his neck briefly before tucking it into his shirt, <</if>><<if $AR is 3>>finally holsters his gun, <</if>> and then puts out a hand to help Kennelly get back onto his feet. As he's pulled up, Kennelly notes that the crazed heat that Armen was emitting has notably cooled down. "However the hell you got here…thanks for being patient.<<if $Armen gte 2>> Sorry if, from your perspective, I seem totally mental…I still remember that night with you guys like it was yesterday.<</if>> This place ended up a lot more fucked than I was expecting it to be." "<<if $trials gt 1>>You can say that again. <</if>>It's all good<<if $trials gt 1>>, though, relatively speaking<</if>>," Kennelly says, brushing himself off and wincing a bit at the pain in his chest. Armen apologizes again, explaining that he had to be careful. "Yeah, about that. Now that we've, uh…relaxed a bit…do you mind answering a few questions?" "Right, right," Armen says. "For you, this is your first time here." He runs his hands through his jet black hair and sighs, aggravated. "This is so //fucked//." "Yes," Kennelly says. "It is, but I need to know, who are you looking for? You keep saying someone is here, that they, you know…killed me. //Who// killed me?" "I did," a voice suddenly says from the<<if $ArmenTrial is 2>> only<</if>> open door. They both snap around to be surprised by…another Kennelly. He looks slightly different, though, the most notable change being the fact that he has one black eye and one white eye<<if $trial gt 1>>—like <<if def $NatalieTrial>>the cat<</if>><<if $trials is 3>> and <</if>><<if def $BrightonTrial>>Richard<</if>><</if>>. "Or at least he thinks I did." Without hesitation, Armen whips his gun back out of its holster, pointing it at the doppelganger. "//Finally//," he says, his arms steady, his voice cold. "I've been waiting ten years for this." "Oh, I bet you have," the strange clone says. "But can you actually do it after all—" The gunshot cuts off the sentence, and it is nearly deafening, forcing Kennelly cover his ears and fall over<<if $trials gt 1>> yet again<</if>> onto the ground. Eyes shut tight, Kennelly is afraid to open them to see what just happened, afraid of what Armen might have just done<<if def $BrightonTrial>>, afraid of seeing another corpse<</if>>.\ \ <<else>>After a while, Armen clears his throat, finally breaking the quiet. "<<if $AR isnot 3>>No, <</if>>I'm gonna go…and I don't think you should follow me. If you really are Kennelly, then you understand why I need to keep going…and if you don't get it now, you'll understand soon enough." He backs away slowly<<if $AR is 3>>, finally holstering his weapon<</if>>. "Good luck," he says before turning around and making his way through the next door. Kennelly says nothing as Armen leaves, knowing he can't stop him. However, sitting alone in this room, he's not really sure what to do.<<if $trials gt 1>> Previously, something fairly dramatic occurred before he was sent back, but this feels like a fairly anticlimactic ending to this scenario.<</if>> Emotionally exhausted and feeling abandoned, he closes his eyes yet again and takes a moment, some silly part of him hoping that Armen might just change his mind and come back, another part afraid of the truth.\ <</if>> <</if>>\ \ <<if $AR gt 0>><<if $ArmenSaved is true>>However, his ears still ringing, Kennelly has to accept that cowering on the ground isn't going to help anything, so he\ <<else>>Armen isn't coming back, and there's nothing to be gained in following him. Kennelly\ <</if>>\ <<else>> However, now there is naught but silence…Kennelly can't even hear Armen moving. He<</if>> takes a few deep breaths, preparing to open his eyes, get up, and \ <<if $trials is 1>><<click "stop being a coward" "D2End">><</click>>\ <<elseif $trials is 2>><<click "stop being a coward" "D3End">><</click>>\ <<else>><<click "stop being a coward" "D4End">><</click>><</if>>.<</widget>>

<<Vars 21>><<set $trials to 2>><<if ndef $Time>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>><</if>>\ \ Exasperated, jittery with cold, no other options left, Kennelly picks up the camera and clicks on the <<if $D2 is 1>>first file, dated January 13th, ten years before now.<<elseif $D2 is 2>>second file, dated January 13th, at midnight…right now?<<elseif $D2 is 3>>third file, dated January 13th, ten years from now.<</if>> Again, stupid glitches flit across the screen, each twitching pixel and UI element another laugh in his face. Tired of this charade, Kennelly closes his eyes until eventually <<if $A4 is 1>>audio clicks on<<else>>an image opens up<</if>>. <<if $D2 is 1>><<BrightonsTrial1>>\ <<elseif $D2 is 2>><<NataliesTrial1>>\ <<elseif $D2 is 3>><<ArmensTrial1>>\ <</if>>

<<Vars 22>><<set $trials to 3>><<if ndef $Time>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>><</if>>\ \ Hoping against hope that he will soon be done, Kennelly gets up, grabs the camera, clicks on the <<if $D3 is 1>>first file, dated ten years before now<<elseif $D3 is 2>>second file, dated at midnight tonight<<elseif $D3 is 3>>third file, dated ten years from now<</if>>, and waits for the <<if $A4 is 1>>video to begin<<else>>photo to appear<</if>>. <<if $D3 is 1>><<BrightonsTrial1>>\ <<elseif $D3 is 2>><<NataliesTrial1>>\ <<elseif $D3 is 3>><<ArmensTrial1>>\ <</if>>\ \

<<Vars 23>><<set $jillian to either(1,2,3,4,5)>>\ \ Kennelly feels like he should be afraid, but he's just not. Whatever this thing is, it obviously has answers, it's obviously connected to Richard, and the cat, and <<if $ArmenSaved is false>>possibly <</if>>is the exact person that Armen was searching for to kill. "Where are we?" Kennelly asks, to the point and pretty much sick of everything this house has thrown at him. "You mean to tell me, Dr. Crayton," the doppelganger says, getting up to stand exactly opposite Kennelly across the coffee table. "You still haven't //figured it out//?" It raises its hands in an inquisitive gesture, then points them casually down at the table at a red box that has now appeared there, replacing the camera. Not just any red box… "//The// red box, you'll remember it, I know. 'I don't care //what// you know,' is probably what you're thinking, you just care how I know it, right? Because all of this is quite 'impossible,' and who I am is much less important to the <<if $A2 is 1>>great<<elseif $A2 is 2>>revered<<else>>respected<</if>> Dr. Kennelly Crayton, //paranormal expert extraordinaire//, than what I represent and how I manage to represent it." Kennelly already can't stand this thing's irritating attitude. "For a second, though, dear Kennelly, let us put aside your selfish desires and acknowledge that at least //someone// here wants to know what I know. So! Before our <<jillianwords "brilliant" "baffling" "befuddling" "breathtaking" "bewildering" "brutal">><<jillianclick>> conclusion, and as per //the rules//, I'll offer an honest answer to one free question. Ask." It's straight to the point as well, with another reference to "the rules," something Armen had mentioned, something related to white eyes and black eyes. Kennelly remembers his vast knowledge of myths and fictional concepts and considers possibilities. Is this thing some kind of //changeling//? Was it playing as the cat and the man, was it afraid to show its face to future Armen, <<if $ArmenSaved>>only doing so when Kennelly got through to his friend<<else>>knowing he'd shoot it on sight<</if>>? <<if $ArmenTrial gte 1>>Kennelly now has a much better understanding of his friend's suspicion and annoyance, though of<<else>>Of<</if>> course, Armen's trial more than anything implies a reality that Kennelly doesn't want to face, that the house has actually sent him traveling through— "No, please, fill up all of this time," the doppelganger interrupts Kennelly's thought-process. "We've got so much of it in here, just keep delaying the inevitable<<if $BrightonTrial + $NatalieTrial + $ArmenTrial gt 3>>. Dragging things out is clearly something you enjoy, and I wouldn't want to take that fun away from you<</if>>." Deeply amused with itself, the other Kennelly drops back into the couch and kicks its legs up onto the coffee table, its bare toes brushing against the red box. The real Kennelly ignores this. The clone's attempts at distraction and its taunting tone are too familiar, so clearly present in every moment Kennelly has been in the house…and maybe even before that. //Inevitable//. His mind has been tripping over itself for the past two days—every feeling he's had that he should stop, every worry that might have protected him from ending up here, all of it started yesterday, when Armen barged into his lab. Armen's dream came before that, though, but for Kennelly, the weird sense of his mind being…//invaded//…started when his <<Blood "blood" "Blood">> spilled on the box that now sits on the table before him. Is it related, or just another object that the Dream House has conjured to taunt him? Kennelly almost opens his mouth to ask something about these intrusive thoughts over the past day, but he catches himself—//one question//. He's read enough books and played enough games to recognize this obvious trope, and he begrudgingly respects the power of this creature enough to not fuck around with wasting any answers he might get out of it. Given its ability to extract so much from their minds—from dead loved ones to Agency uniforms<<if $NatalieTrial is 2>> to books of zen koans<</if>>—and will them into being, this creature probably knows all the same stories and games that Kennelly does. Maybe more. The doppelganger, having eerily not moved a muscle over the past few moments, shakes its head and makes a tutting sound. Kennelly thinks to himself, //Are you reading my mind right now?// It just keeps smiling, and as Kennelly stares into its uncanny eyes, he has to acknowledge that, given this being's immense power, no matter how hard he tries to apply his cleverness and intelligence, he probably is not going to "beat" it. At best, he can hope for a peaceful outcome of leaving this house, maybe learning a thing or two about why all of this has happened, but the deck is obviously stacked against him and has been from the very start. There are dozens of potential questions that would give Kennelly useful information, but given the attitude of this being, there would be no surprise if it didn't give a clear answer to any question chosen. "Well, Kennelly, if //you're// not going to choose," the doppelganger says, breaking the silence, and a sheer pain shoots through Kennelly's temple. <<click "Ask: \"Why did you bring us here?\"" "D-6">><<set $D5 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ask: \"What have you done to my friends?\"" "D-6">><<set $D5 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ask: \"What is the Dream House?\"" "D-6">><<set $D5 to 3>><</click>>

<<Vars 24>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<set $jillian to either(1,2,3,4,5)>>\ \ "<<if $D5 is 1>>Why did you bring us here<<elseif $D5 is 2>>What have you done to my friends<<elseif $D5 is 3>>What is the Dream House<</if>>?" Kennelly asks, and as he does, the sudden searing pain dissipates completely. The doppelganger giggles at this, a sound that disturbs Kennelly coming from a copy of his own body. \ <<if $D5 is 1>>"Why? <<if $B2 gte 2>>What happened to 'can we really //know// why?' " It's referring to Kennelly's conversation in the pub with Brighton, an event that feels like an eternity ago<<else>>Does there //have to be// a reason?" It sighs melodramatically<</if>>. "What if I'm just an accident, like an earthquake or tornado? What if I'm just a hungry lion here to gobble you up?"\ \ <<elseif $D5 is 2>>"<<if $Brighton lt 0>>You say 'friends,' but one of them doesn't seem like much of a friend to you.<<if $A2 is 3>> You didn't even want him to be here tonight.<</if>> Besides, it's<<else>>It's<</if>> more about what they've done to themselves than what I've done to them, you assume far too much of me to think I could come up with all of this on my own.<<if $Armen lt 0>> The one who dragged you here made the choice to come<<if $C4 isnot 3>>, despite your protestations<</if>>, and all of you agreed to chase a dream.<</if>>"\ \ <<else>>"Well that one just seems silly, we could be sitting around here all night<<if $BrightonTrial + $NatalieTrial + $ArmenTrial is 0>>, and staying in one place doesn't seem to be your strong suit<</if>>." It puts its arms behind its head. "You're shooting straight for the truth there, but I could answer in dozens of different ways—both metaphorical and literal—and all would still be true."\ \ <</if>> "You know what I mean," Kennelly says, refusing to be intimidated by this thing and its trickster nature. "\ <<if $D5 is 1>>Maybe you're not human<<if $B2 is 4>>, and maybe Brighton was right<</if>>, but all of this is too well-orchestrated to be an accident\ <<elseif $D5 is 2>>None of them are responsible for the things that this house is doing to them. Unless you'll admit that this //is// just a dream in my head, this is happening //to// us, and you're making it happen\ <<else>>I don't want jokes for an answer, I can guess all kinds of things someone like you might say. 'It's a house' or 'it's a dream.' No, I want to know exactly what this place is\ <</if>>." "You don't understand the whole pattern," it replies. "But you see that the pattern is there to be found. I do applaud such <<jillianwords "uninterested" "unenjoyed" "unentertained" "uninspired" "unexcited" "unending">><<jillianclick>> efforts, they are the first step to walking down The Path." More empty words. "//Answer//," Kennelly demands. "Come, come," the doppelganger sneers. "I gave you plenty of time to think of a question, <<if $Time is -1>>can't we take a step back for a second<<elseif $Time is 0>>can't we just relax for a second<<elseif $time is 1>>must you rush me forwards<</if>>?" It <<if $Time is -1>>gets back up and walks to the red door on the left<<elseif $Time is 0>>shifts to the side to lay across the couch<<else>>gets back up and walks to the green door on the right<</if>> while it talks. "\ <<if $D5 is 1>>You ask me for a dream's goal, but can anyone answer such a question? There are an infinite number of ends that reach in every direction—yet only one end to this, and only one direction it could move\ <<elseif $D5 is 2>>I already did answer. //I// did nothing to your friends, unless we are to abstract a designer to the design\ <<else>>What is in a name? 'It's a house,' //and// 'it's a dream,' //and// it offers that comfort one seeks in the promise of both of these\ <</if>>." The creature <<if $Time isnot 0>>traces a finger along the door frame<<else>>runs a finger across the top edge of the couch<</if>>. "\ <<if $D5 is 1>>Did the house bring you or did you bring the house? I cannot say why until we know which, but I do know this: both are the rat and the cage, both are the cheese and the maze\ <<elseif $D5 is 2>>You observed as they spun themselves snug in the threads of this interconnected web, but you do me a disservice to assume that //I// am the spider\ <<else>>Like those things, it is both inside and outside of you. Watch what it does to time, to memories and pursuits, to births and to deaths, and as you watch, wait in nostalgic hope\ <</if>>." <<if $Time is 0>>It flops out of the couch, gets up again, and<<else>>It<</if>> saunters over <<if $Time is 0>>to stand<<else>>and stands<</if>> far too close. Kennelly backs away, the wall right behind him. "Seriously!" he shouts. "You promise a truthful answer and then give //riddles//? Are your motives really this shallow?" "Why do you think that any of this is //about// you and what you //want//, Kennelly?" the doppelganger replies. "Can't you acknowledge for just one moment that this is //for// you and what you //need//? Fury courses through him, his muscles tense, an animal surge that makes him want nothing but to attack, a feeling that a man like Kennelly can only remember from vague childhood memories and nightmares. "You've dragged me over the coals for your own sick amusement and now you act like a stereotypical villain from a fucking //comic book//." The rage within him twists, forms into a knife, the sheen of which reflects the face of this sadistic creature. "Honestly, after all of this, I'm disappointed. <<if $D5 is 1>>You're worse than a natural accident. Compared to a force of nature, you're just //boring//<<else>>I kind of expected more<</if>>." It turns and picks up the red box, then holds it out to Kennelly like a present, inching closer to him. "Ah, but my friend," it says. "I'm just trying to give you a gift, a //wish//, your most grave desire: a chance to //figure it out//." Anger fully ignited, Kennelly shoves the doppelganger away with a heavy push. It offers no resistance, falling back and letting go of the box. The impact of its body with the table and the box with the floor coincide in a loud smash, made more startling by the red box bursting into a wet explosion of <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>. Lying in a pile of broken wood, the doppelganger cackles to itself, pointing at Kennelly's <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">>-drenched clothing. "That's not what you expected!" it shouts, its words punctuated by piercing laughter. Kennelly looks down to find that his clothes and the floor are dry. The doppelganger's laughter cuts off suddenly. "Or is it?" Kennelly looks up to see the clone sitting on a solid and undamaged coffee table. "Do you see the connections?" Its smile has been wiped away, and it looks almost desperate now. "Do you? Please tell me you do, this isn't just a game, I need to know that this has gotten through to you, to know that this hasn't been for nothing." The clone's show turns to panic and frustration, an act that is close to being thoroughly convincing. "Has all of this just wasted your precious time? Well, whose fault is that! //I// need //you// to <<click "see" "E-1">><</click>>!"

<<Vars 20>><<if ndef $Time>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>><</if>>\ \ <<if $D1 is 1>>\ Kennelly slowly crawls up into a sitting position, rubbing the back of his head, to find that <<if $BrightonSaved>>Brighton is gone, along with the corpse of Richard and whatever that monster was<<else>>the two strange bodies are gone<</if>>. He remains on the musty floor to sit and cool off from that experience for a moment. His flashlight lies on the ground next to him, and the camera rests on the coffee table as if he'd carefully placed it there before collapsing through time itself, and to make things weirder, his winter coat has appeared back on his body\ <<elseif $D1 is 2>>\ He digs in his pocket for his phone, the closest source of light he can find.<<if $NatalieSaved>> "Here we go," he mutters.<</if>> As he clicks the screen on, in the space of a blink, the room around him is, again, dimly illuminated.<<if $NatalieSaved>> "Natalie?" She's nowhere to be seen.<</if>> His flashlight is on the wicker table, the camera on the coffee table, and the room is back to the dank and grim look it had before he woke up next to <<if $NatalieSaved>>his friend<<else>>Natalie<</if>>. To make things weirder, his winter coat has appeared back on his body…He also notes that he's sitting on the floor right where the puddle was, and it's gone\ <<elseif $D1 is 3>>\ <<if $AR gt 0 and $ArmenSaved is false>>It seems he is quite suddenly back where he started, the red and green doors closed, and<<else>>Armen <<if $ArmenSaved>>and the doppelganger are<<else>>is<</if>> gone. Kennelly looks around to be sure, and sees no evidence of his friend, just<</if>> the flashlight and camera sitting side by side on the floor next to him. He<<if $ArmenSaved is false>> slowly crawls up into a sitting position, and<</if>> remains on the musty ground to sit and think for a moment, noting no more pain in his chest from the kick. The red stains have disappeared from the floorboards, the room looks less aged than it did wherever (or whenever?) he just went\ <</if>>\ —but that can wait. He takes a few deep breaths and tries very, very hard to put together the pieces of what just happened to him. Kennelly feels he is //almost// privy to the game being played, even if he's utterly ignorant to its general rule-set<<if $D1 is 3>>—something that Armen somehow seemed to know more about<</if>>. Whether this is the "Dream House" as Armen imagines it or not, this location is preying on him and his friends. For whatever reason, it has <<if $D1 is 1>>shown Kennelly a past version of Brighton—a man who had become unaware of who he is in reality, who didn't know of the Agency, and who didn't even know where he is…and then shown <<if $BrightonSaved>>them a vision of the monster that killed the man's husband<<else>>him a horrific statue of ash of the same man grieving over a corpse<</if>><<elseif $D1 is 2>>transported Kennelly to another version of this room with his friend Natalie, a room that seduced her with an inexplicable anesthetic light. Everything there seemed real, but also unreal, too hard to believe even for someone who calls himself a paranormal analyst<<elseif $D1 is 3>>whisked Kennelly to a place that, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be in the future, a time when Armen is an Agent and returning to this place for some sort of revenge. The illusion was made all the more confusing by the fact that<<if $ArmenSaved>>, at least for a time,<</if>> his friend seemed to think Kennelly was someone else<</if>>. Is this some kind of metaphor? Kennelly isn't a huge fan of poetry, and he's never known a paranormal event to try to tell him a story, so he's the worst audience the Dream House could hope for. In fact, he'd be better off with Brighton's help with that, <<if $D1 is 1>><<if $BrightonSaved>>had the man teleported back here with him<<else>>were the man not otherwise occupied<</if>><<else>>if only he knew where the man was<</if>>. Kennelly measures EM waves, coordinates data analytics, watches how rats react to paranormal artifacts—he's not cut out for being the rat himself. How do you deconstruct the powers of a supernatural structure when you're stuck inside of it? Well, there's a few things he at least has to <<click "try">><<replace "#try">><<D2End2>><</replace>><</click>>.\ \ <<widget "D2End2">>\ try. The doors, the walls, the couch, the coffee table, the rocking chair, the picture frames, the bookshelves—Kennelly shoves, kicks, screams at, and attempts to dismantle all of them. <<if $D1 is 3>>The weird future Agent Monroe, with his inexplicable martial talents, had busted down the green doors with ease, but Kennelly has no success with either door<<else>>He has no success forcing down either the red or green door<</if>>. There's nothing inside or under the furniture<<if $D1 is 2>>—no other black cats, no evidence of the bright ball of sunlight—just<<else>> except for<</if>> dust, dust, and more dust. <<if $D1 is 1>>Unlike minutes ago, when it had been polished and moving smoothly, the<<else>>The<</if>> rocking chair is rickety, its varnish worn away, barely looking like it could support his weight. The clock on his phone still reads midnight, and the //battery meter// hasn't even changed. The Dream House is insisting to him that //it has trapped him in time//, unmoving, unchanging, almost to laugh at him for thinking that such things could never happen. Does that count as a wish? If it was truly <<if $D1 is 1>>Brighton<<elseif $D1 is 2>>Natalie<<else>>Armen<</if>> who he saw "moments ago" (assuming that phrase means anything now), then <<if $D1 is 1>>has the man truly brought back to life his dead husband as a wish in this time out of time<<elseif $D1 is 2>>did she truly conjure that room of calm serenity out of a wish of her own<<else>>why did the man bring them both into a future where he's come to the house again and Kennelly has died<</if>>? The worst thing of all is that this is essentially solitary confinement. Yeah, maybe <<if $D1 is 1>>Brighton<<elseif $D1 is 2>>Natalie<<else>>Armen<</if>> provided <<if $NatalieSaved or $BrightonSaved or $ArmenSaved>>very little<<else>>absolutely no<</if>> help in figuring anything out, but Kennelly finds that even so, he misses at least having someone in the room with him. //Beep.// The camera turns itself on, it's soft LCD glow glimmering across the surface of the dirty coffee table. Kennelly isn't a hero, or an Agent, and frankly he's starting to not feel like much of a man at all…he's just a scientist stuck in place he doesn't understand…alone. //Beep.// <<if ndef $BrightonTrial>><<click "10 years in the past (Brighton)" "D-3">><<set $D2 to 1>><</click>> <</if>>\ <<if ndef $NatalieTrial>><<click "Midnight tonight (Natalie)" "D-3">><<set $D2 to 2>><</click>> <</if>>\ <<if ndef $ArmenTrial>><<click "10 years in the future (Armen)" "D-3">><<set $D2 to 3>><</click>><</if>><</widget>>

<<Vars 21>><<if ndef $Time>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>><</if>>\ \ <<if $D2 is 1>>\ Kennelly slowly stands up and rubs the back of his head, sore from the fall. <<if $BrightonSaved>>Brighton is gone, along with the corpse of Richard and whatever that monster was<<else>>The two strange bodies of Richard and Brighton are gone,<</if>> and Kennelly's coat has <<if ndef $NatalieTrial>>weirdly<<else>>again<</if>> appeared on his body. The flashlight lies on the coffee table, and the camera rests next to it as if he'd carefully placed them both there before collapsing through time itself\ <<elseif $D2 is 2>>\ He digs in his pocket for his phone, the closest source of light he can find.<<if $NatalieSaved>> "Here we go," he mutters.<</if>> As he clicks the screen on, in the space of a blink, the room around him is, again, dimly illuminated.<<if $NatalieSaved>> "Natalie?" She's nowhere to be seen.<</if>> The flashlight and camera are on the coffee table, his coat has <<if ndef $BrightonTrial>>weirdly<<else>>again<</if>> appeared on his body, and everything has returned to being dank and grim as if he never awoke next to <<if $NatalieSaved>>his friend<<else>>Natalie<</if>>. He slowly stands up, realizing that he had fallen on the floor where the puddle was, but it's gone now\ <<elseif $D2 is 3>>\ <<if $AR gt 0 and $ArmenSaved is false>>It seems he is quite suddenly again back where he started, the doors closed, and<<else>>Armen <<if $ArmenSaved>>and the doppelganger are<<else>>is<</if>> gone. Kennelly looks around to be sure, and sees no evidence of his friend, just<</if>> the flashlight and camera sitting side by side on the coffee table. He slowly stands up, noting that the pain in his chest from the kick has also departed, as well as the red stains from the floorboards. The room looks less aged\ <</if>>. Kennelly makes his way to the couch and drops into it, <<if def $NatalieTrial>>noting that the cushions are much lumpier than before<<else>>and finds himself displeased with its lumpy cushions<</if>>. He's exhausted and irate from these tedious experiences, feeling like he needs at least a minute in this time out of time to <<click "take a break">><<replace "#break">><<D3End2>><</replace>><</click>>.\ \ <<widget "D3End2">>\ take a break. Nothing happens in the interim, offering Kennelly a welcome repose from the stress these jaunts through time are causing him. He'd hoped that seeing one of his friends would help with the loneliness he feels in this quest to understand the Dream House, but his time with <<if $D2 is 1>>Brighton<<elseif $D2 is 2>>Natalie<<else>>Armen<</if>> ultimately just added fuel to the fire of confusion and panic. <<if $D2 is 1>>That past version of the man—unaware of who he is in reality, who doesn't know of the Agency, and who doesn't even know where he is—was useless. And what of that terrifying <<if $BrightonSaved>>monster<<else>>statue of ash<</if>><<elseif $D2 is 2>>The room may have seduced her with an inexplicable anesthetic light, but it just left Kennelly feeling sick. <<if $NatalieSaved>>Why was he able to snap her out of it<<else>>How could something so powerful even exist<</if>><<else>>His friend seemed like a real Field Agent, with the crazy martial arts skills to boot…but he didn't recognize Kennelly<<if $ArmenSaved is false>>, nor want to help him<</if>>. <<if $ArmenSaved>>And who was that doppelganger<<else>>Was he really //from the future//<</if>><</if>>? After these trials, Kennelly has to accept that the Dream House has a power beyond anything he's ever seen. It's beyond the Flesh Warehouse, a building that slowly flayed apart the internal structure of people in it, beyond psychic fields that can erase memories or change people's personalities, beyond even those wonders that the rest of the world knows of—atom bombs, nuclear power, the laws of physics as people think of them. Kennelly genuinely doesn't even know where to start in trying to piece together how it works—traveling through time breaks the laws of relativity, <<if def $ArmenTrial>> the endless rooms break conservation of mass or somehow must be warping space,<</if>><<if def $NatalieTrial>> sky portals and magic balls of light don't even fall on any spectrum of science,<</if>><<if def $BrightonTrial>> casually creating believable clones of dead humans is well beyond even the bast bio-engineering of today,<</if>> "granting wishes" is a miracle and not just a paranormal phenomenon, and while some of this might be explained by psychic suggestion, it would have to be the most powerful psychic force Kennelly has ever heard of. Presuming this is all //real//, this location is the most significant discovery that Kennelly would know The Agency to have made. Is turning it into a humorous rumor how The Agency keeps its true power a secret? If something like //this// exists above Kennelly's clearance level, then what else might there be out in the universe? How far do the mysteries go? On the table, the camera's black lens stares into and through Kennelly<<if def $NatalieTrial>> like the eyes of the black cat<<if $D2 isnot 2>> from earlier<</if>><</if>><<if def $BrightonTrial>>,<<if def $NatalieTrial>> also<</if>> reminding him of Richard's blank stare.<<else>>.<</if>><<if def $ArmenTrial>> What had Armen meant about eyes and the "rules?"<<if $ArmenSaved>> Kennelly hadn't had a chance to ask before being whisked back here.<</if>><</if>> The camera seems to taunt him, asking him an endless question—//can// you figure it out? There's only one thing that might bring this to an end. <<if ndef $BrightonTrial>><<click "10 years in the past (Brighton)" "D-4">><<set $D3 to 1>><</click>> <</if>>\ <<if ndef $NatalieTrial>><<click "Midnight tonight (Natalie)" "D-4">><<set $D3 to 2>><</click>> <</if>>\ <<if ndef $ArmenTrial>><<click "10 years in the future (Armen)" "D-4">><<set $D3 to 3>><</click>><</if>><</widget>>

<<Vars 22>><<if ndef $Time>><<Time>><<TimeBeforeTrials>><</if>>\ \ "It's okay, Kennelly," a weirdly familiar voice says from the darkness. "The ending is in sight." <<if $D3 is 1>>\ Kennelly jolts up from the ground and sees that <<if $BrightonSaved>>Brighton and the monster<<else>>the bodies<</if>> are gone\ <<elseif $D3 is 2>>\ But before Kennelly can do //anything//, in the space of a blink, the room is dimly illuminated<<if $NatalieSaved>>, and Natalie is gone<</if>>\ <<elseif $D3 is 3>>\ <<if $AR gt 0 and $ArmenSaved is false>>Armen is still gone, but the doors are closed, and Kennelly no longer feels<<else>>Kennelly finds that Armen is gone, along with<</if>> the pain in his chest from the kick\ <</if>>. Exhausted with the number of times he's ended up on the floor tonight, he stands up and brushes himself off<<if $D3 is 1 or 2>>, winter coat returned to his body,<</if>> back where he started. It wasn't <<if $D3 is 1>>Brighton<<elseif $D3 is 2>>Natalie<<else>>Armen<</if>>'s voice he just heard…but it is one he knows… "Over here." Snapping around, Kennelly wonders if he's finally lost his mind. <<if $ArmenSaved>><<if $D3 is 3>>The a clone of himself has now appeared on the couch<<else>>Sitting there on the couch casually, Kennelly sees the clone of himself from Armen's trial yet again<</if>><<else>>Sitting there on the couch casually, Kennelly sees a clone of himself<</if>>—same pale skin, same mole on the cheek, same mess of short dirty blond hair, same pudgy, out-of-shape body. It's a bit off, since Kennelly is used to seeing himself in a reflection instead of truly face-to-face, but almost everything about the copy's physical state is identical…all except for three things. First, the other Kennelly is wearing only an undershirt and jeans, bare feet, no winter coat or boots, seeming quite comfortable despite the cold of the room. Second, the expression this clone wears is smug, confident, and condescending in a way that no one has ever known Kennelly's face to look—in fact, it almost puts Armen to shame. Third, its eyes: <<if $ArmenSaved>>again, <</if>>one pure white and one pitch black. "Well, hello there," the doppelganger says, its tone, like its expression, possessing a quality that Kennelly could never match himself. "Let's <<click "get started" "D-5">><</click>>."

$Author

//$CurrentStoryTitle//\

<<if $CurrentPassageNumber gt 0>><<click "Exit Game (Survey)" "ExitGame">><</click>><</if>>\ \

<<set $PreviousPassage to previous()>>\ <<if $End is false>>\ \ If you're done playing (and regardless of how far you got), please copy "''<<ChoiceWidget>>''" and paste it into the first response of ''[[this survey|http://goo.gl/forms/gjn9umCKhM]]''. The survey also has five optional feedback questions. If you would like to ''save your progress and continue playing later'', then feel free to use that functionality in the left-hand tool-bar (saves are stored as cookies on your local device). To continue playing, ''<<click "click here to go back to the previous passage" $PreviousPassage>><</click>>''.\ <<else>>\ Thank you for playing ''NEVER LET GO OF''. This text-adventure was written by Isaiah Everin as an artifact for his mastery thesis at SMU Guildhall. To assist with that project, please copy "''<<ChoiceWidget>>''" and paste it into the first response of ''[[this survey|http://goo.gl/forms/gjn9umCKhM]]''. The survey also has five optional feedback questions. If you'd like to play the game again, to make new choices and explore their consequences, then simply ''<<click "click here" "Z-0">><</click>>''. Forward/Back buttons have been enabled to make that easier. If you'd like to disable that feature, then <<click "click here">><<set $End to false>><<remember $End>><</click>>, save your game, and refresh the page.\ <</if>>

<<Vars 25>><<set $E1 to 0>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<set $jillian to either(1,2,3,4,5)>>\ \ In a blink, the doppelganger is back <<if $Time is -1>>by the red door<<elseif $Time is 0>>on the couch<<elseif $Time is 1>>by the green door<</if>>, smiling again as though its miniature breakdown hadn't even just happened. "Dear Kennelly, what if I told you that here in this house you could find a whole new <<jillianwords "robust" "respectable" "rousing" "riveting" "rich" "rage-inducing">><<jillianclick>> field of paranormal science to study?" Kennelly waits for elucidation, but it doesn't come, so he opens his mouth to respond. \ <<click "I don't care anymore.">><<set $E1 += 1>> <<if $E1 lt 3>><<replace "#option1">>\ I͛̐ ̽d̈́̉͛̓oǹͥ̈'̄̓́t͑̊ͨ ̄̓ͮ̎̆̈̃c̈́̓̈́ͬͤ͂̚ǎ́ͪ͌ͪͫŕ̀̃eͥ̽̈̒̆ aͬ̇̓̈ͬ͗n͒̏ͯ͆y͋m̑͐ͣ̂ͨo̔r̿̈͒̍ͣ̔̐eͥ.͋\ <</replace>><<elseif $E1 is 3>> <<E1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "Just shut the hell up already.">><<set $E1 += 1>> <<if $E1 lt 3>><<replace "#option2">>\ Ju͟st̕ sh̴ut͡ ͢th͏é ͝h̴ȩl̀l ͢úp ̛al͘r̕ȩady̷.\ <</replace>><<elseif $E1 is 3>> <<E1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>> <<click "Leave me the fuck alone.">><<set $E1 += 1>> <<if $E1 lt 3>><<replace "#option3">>\ L͓̹e̟̰̮̦͖̗̩a̱̜̤̼͎v̟e̼ ͚͖͍̬m͓̫̰͕̯e̦ ̪͕th̬͙̤e̺̟̖ ̗̱fuck̘̗̱ͅ ͎a̲͙̭̜̮̗l̹͍̣̬̣̫ͅo͚͖̝n̺̼e̻̝͈ͅ.̟̼\ <</replace>><<elseif $E1 is 3>> <<E1ChoiceSwitch>> <</if>> <</click>>\ \ \ /* PART E FROZEN CHOICE */\ <<widget "E1ChoiceSwitch">><<replace "#ChoiceGlitch">>\ "Yes, Kennelly!" the changeling interrupts gleefully, its horrid tone commingling with the awful sensation of frozen rage permeating Kennelly's mind. "<<click "You've almost got it! You feel it on the inside, but you don't see it from the outside">><<replace "#glitch">>You'ʌε almost got ⓘt! You ⓕ≡≡l ⇕t on thɘ ïnsīdⓔ, but you don't s≡≡ ¡t ɟrom thɘ outsıdⒺ<</replace>><<E1ChoiceGlitch>><</click>>." It crosses its arms and frowns clownishly. "I'll admit, though, you caught me! I don't //care// if you see, I don't care if you understand anything at all! It's all about me—me, me, me, selfish me, mean ol' me, big jerk, cruel little petty asshole fucking—" Suddenly it slaps itself in the face, a convenient reaction given that Kennelly was wanting to do the same thing. "You have made so many choices," it continues. "Answered so many of //my// questions, and in doing so I think we've gotten to know each other rather well. Maybe you've been sleeping at the desk, but I've been copying your notes and I'm ready for the exam. How about we bring this to its determined conclusion?" <</replace>>\ \ <<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Beg that this be finished" "E-2">><<set $E1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ask for this to be over" "E-2">><<set $E1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Request that this be resolved" "E-2">><<set $E1 to 3>><</click>>\ <</replace>><</widget>> \ <<widget "E1ChoiceGlitch">><<replace "#ChoiceSwitch">>\ <<click "Ω bεg that th¡s b≡ ℱ⌛n⌛shⓔd" "E-2">><<set $E1 to 1>><</click>> <<click "Ω ask ╒or thƗs to b≡ oⓥɘr" "E-2">><<set $E1 to 2>><</click>> <<click "Ω r≡qu≡st that thıs bε r≡sol✓≡d" "E-2">><<set $E1 to 3>><</click>><</replace>>\ <</widget>>

<<Vars 26>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>><<set $jillian to either(1,2,3,4,5)>>\ \ Kennelly feels the powerful urge to <<if $E1 is 1>>beg that this be finished<<elseif $E1 is 2>>ask for this to be over<<else>>request that this be resolved<</if>>, but he clamps his mouth shut and grits his teeth so hard that his jaw aches. The changeling laughs again, and with a clap of its hands, Kennelly finds himself sitting on the couch. The clone has swapped places with him, and it now stands in a pool of <<Blood "blood" "Blood">> across from him. "Stop!" Kennelly says once he's certain he can control his own mouth again. "What's the point of //asking me anything// if you're going to keep taking control of what I say?" "//Me// control //you//? I wouldn't dream of it, Kennelly! But I might dream, yes we all dream, a dream is an inception of something great." The clone of him looks down and traces its bare toes in the red fluid on the floor. "Tonight we watch a puppet pilot the strings." It stretches its arms above its head and twiddles its fingers. "But you don't seem like you've enjoyed the show! And after you put your whole life's effort forth to make it a good one…Well, it's not all about enjoyment, is it? I think you know that. I think you know." It crosses its arms and offers a stern look. "This is getting boring yes, //boring//, it's all been rather boring. Don't blame me!" It stomps its feet in the puddle on the floor like a toddler. "I won't answer //any more// boring questions, so stop asking! However <<jillianwords "ignescent" "intelligent" "incisive" "imaginative" "interesting" "ignorant">><<jillianclick>> they may or may not be. Unless you //want to be bored//, you little rascal of a scientist…hm? If boredom is what you want, I could drive you completely mad with it through several questions of my own. Maybe you can parse some critical detail about me from such a diatribe? Watch me revel in narcissistic monologuing? Force me to self-reflexively analyze myself? Mm, mm, clever, clever. How about it?" <<click "Listen and (stay…)">><<set $E2 to 1>><<replace "#OptionStay">><<PastElucidation>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Ask to (leave >)" "E-3">><<set $E2 to 0>><</click>> \ \ <<widget "PastElucidation">>\ "Alrighty then," the doppelganger says, not waiting for Kennelly's response. It snaps its fingers, and suddenly the two of them are looking down at the body of <<GFriend>> lying across the coffee table. "Why do //you// seem to favor this one<<if $FriendRange gte 3>> so much<<elseif $FriendRange lte 1>>, if even just a little<</if>>?" The changeling kneels over the unconscious body of Kennelly's friend, and as it spills out a litany of questions, its tone becomes a contradictory mixture of deadpan and manic. "\ <<if $GFriend is -1>><<if $Time is -1>>Is it because your attitudes on the tides of life are so similar, stuck in the past as he is<<else>>Especially when your own attitude on the tides of life is so different from his<</if>>? <<if $D1 is 1>>Why'd you go to his trial first? <</if>><<if $A2 is 1>>What about him made you want to invite him<<elseif $A2 is 2>>Do you regret him being dragged along<<else>>Do you feel guilty about not inviting him<</if>> on this quest?<<if $A5d is true>> Clearly you were curious about him, reading into his past, but did you understand it?<</if>> <<if $B2 lt 4>>Did you just agree with him to be friendly, even when you knew<<else>>Do you feel vilified now in holding firm that<</if>> he was a fool to think he could ever know why these things keep happening to him?<<if $B5 is 3>> <<if $A2 isnot 3>>And what about him made you<<else>>Did your guilt force you to<</if>> give him the pendant?<</if>> Not to mention, do you <<if $C3 is 1>>still think keeping memories intact is for the best? Do you<<else>>now<</if>> see him for the hypocrite that he is<<if $C3 gt 1>>, letting his memories be erased<</if>>?<<if $BR gt 0>> <<if $BrightonSaved>>Did you think you were close to truly saving him from himself?<<else>>Did you think that you could save him from himself? <<if $BR is 1>>If so, why did you encourage him to stay and wallow in his misery<<else>>Are you really surprised he stayed behind when even you are so obsessed with the past<</if>>?<</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $GFriend is 0>><<if $Time is 0>>Is it because your attitudes on the tides of life are so similar, stuck in the present as she is<<else>>Especially when your own attitude on the tides of life is so different from hers<</if>>? <<if $D1 is 2>>Why'd you go to her trial first? <</if>> How do you feel about this journey you have given her<<if $A5c is true>> after prying into her past<</if>>? Are you surprised <<if $B4 is 1>>that she did not try to change the past like you would<<elseif $B4 is 2>>by her self-centered wish to find peace<<else>>that one such as her cares not for changing the path laid out<</if>>? <<if $C2 lt 3>>Don't you wonder why<<elseif $C2 is 3>>Are you shocked at all that<<elseif $C2 is 4>>Are you confused as to why<</if>> she would not want to see her dead family? Why does she not seek revenge? Not to mention, why did you <<if $C4 is 1>>turn your back on her to follow Armen<<elseif $C4 is 2>>not stand by her side and abandon this quest while the two of you had the chance<<else>>not listen to her when she warned you not to come here<</if>>?<<if $B5 is 3>> Did you think your pawned off gift might keep her safe?<</if>><<if $NA gt 0>> <<if $NatalieSaved>>Did you think you were close to truly saving her from herself?<<else>>Did you think that you could save her from herself? <<if $NA is 2>>If so, why did you encourage her to stay and wallow in her own complacency<<else>>Are you really surprised she wouldn't act when even you are so obsessed with putting now before all else<</if>>?<</if>><</if>>\ <<elseif $GFriend is 1>><<if $Time is 1>>Is it because your attitudes on the tides of life are so similar, stuck in the future as he is<<else>>Especially when your own attitude on the tides of life is so different from his<</if>>? <<if $D1 is 3>>Why'd you go to his trial first? <</if>>How do you feel about him now that he's dragged you all to chase this dream? <<if $C4 is 3>>How much do you regret following this friend toward such a horrible end<<else>>Why didn't you stand by Natalie when you knew this was a horrible idea<</if>>? Are you surprised that, even here, he <<if $A3 is 1>>would never stop running from the past<<elseif $A3 is 2>>cannot sit and stay in one place<<else>>can't stop endlessly chasing something new<</if>>? <<if $B3 isnot 3>>How do you feel now knowing that he was right about this house<<else>>Do you accept your portion of blame for playing along with him<</if>>? <<if $B5 is 3>> Did you think your pawned off gift might keep him safe?<</if>><<if $AR gt 0>> <<if $ArmenSaved>>Did you think you were close to truly saving him?<<else>>Did you think that you could save him from himself? <<if $AR is 1>>If so, why did you encourage him to keep chasing after ghosts<<else>>Are you really surprised he kept running when even you are obsessed with chasing the future<</if>>?<</if>><</if>>\ <</if>>\ /* NOT STAYING IN ANY TRIALS */\ <<if ($BrightonTrial is 0) and ($ArmenTrial is 0) and ($NatalieTrial is 0)>> And why didn't you stay around with <<if $GFriend is 2>>her<<else>>him<</if>> or any of your so-called //friends// to try to understand them better?<</if>>" <<click "Keep listening and (wait…)">><<set $E2 to 2>><<replace "#OptionWait">><<PresentElucidation>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Try to (act >)" "E-3">><</click>>\ <</widget>>\ \ \ <<widget "PresentElucidation">>\ It claps its hands again, and in a blink its own body has changed. It no longer possesses Kennelly's form, but instead carries the exactly likeness of <<LFriend>>, though now both of its eyes are pitch black. "And why do you care for this one<<if $FriendRange gte 3>> so much<<elseif $FriendRange lte 1>> a bit<</if>> less?" It continues its questioning, clearly uninterested in Kennelly's answers, its voice the same tone as before<<if $LFriend isnot 0>>, though stripped of any accent<</if>>. "What were those footprints? And what was dragged away? //Why in every version of this is the floor covered in <<Blood1 "blood" "Blood">>?// Why does it seem I have been watching you for the past two days? Why was the red box in the Flesh Warehouse, what does it have to do with me, what does it have to do with the Dream House? //What is the Dream House//, and what do any of you have to do with //any of this//? Are you living in some fantasy story, pulled into the wily grip of a djinn or fairy, or am I just an extra-dimensional, arbitrary monster with too much power? Are you sick of these questions? Have you //figured it out//, yet? Have you realized that the answer to all of this is so much simpler than you want it to be?" <<click "Let it (go on…)">><<set $E2 to 3>><<replace "#OptionGo">><<FutureElucidation>><</replace>><</click>> <<click "Make it (stop >)" "E-3">><</click>>\ <</widget>>\ \ \ <<widget "FutureElucidation">>\ It claps its hands one last time and waves them over the unconscious body on the table. <<GFriend>> opens <<if $GFriend is 0>>her<<else>>his<</if>> eyes to reveal them to be pure white. The black-eyed doppelganger of <<LFriend>> keeps talking. "Is there an answer to any of these questions, or are you to be left with nothing but existential, //Lovecraftian// fear?" Suddenly the white-eyed clone of <<GFriend>> picks itself up off the table and smoothly moves to stand next to the other. It speaks now, its voice the same odd blend of flat and frenzied<<if $LFriend is 0>>, though stripped of any accent<<elseif $LFriend isnot 0 and $GFriend isnot 0>>, also stripped of any accent<</if>>. "Did you think you could change the outcome? If, in the universe as you know it, //time travel is impossible//, then when and where are we now?" "How did we //really// get here?" the other asks, and then they speak in unison. "And where are we going?" And next in alternating words. "Do." "You." "Think." "That." "I." "Keep." "Dragging." "This." "Out." "Because." "I'm." "Awful." "At." "Bringing." "Things." "To." "Their." "<<click "Finish" "E-3">><</click>>?"\ <</widget>>

<<Vars 27>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>><<set $jillian to either(1,2,3,4,5)>>\ \ <<if $E2 is 0>>"Alrighty then," the doppelganger says, not waiting for Kennelly's response. It snaps its fingers, and suddenly the two of them are looking down at the body of <<GFriend>> lying across the coffee table. "I do wonder, though, why you seem to favor this one<<if $FriendRange gte 3>> so much<<elseif $FriendRange lte 1>>, if even just a little<</if>>." The changeling pinches the cheek of Kennelly's unconscious friend, then\ <<elseif $E2 is 1>>Just as Kennelly feels the urge to stand up and do something about this, the doppelganger\ <<elseif $E2 is 2>>Just as Kennelly feels the urge try to stop this insanity,\ <<elseif $E2 is 3>>As they both clear their throats, the <</if>>\ \ <<if $E2 lte 1>> claps its hands<<if $E2 gt 0>> again<</if>>. In a blink, its own body has changed. It no longer possesses Kennelly's form, but instead carries the exactly likeness of <<LFriend>>, though now both of its eyes are pitch black. "<<if $E2 is 0>>And<<else>>However,<</if>> I am curious as to why you seem to care for this one<<if $FriendRange gte 3>> so much<<elseif $FriendRange lte 1>> a bit<</if>> less." Its voice is the same tone as before<<if $LFriend isnot 0>>, though stripped of any accent<</if>>. After a moment of letting the silence hang,<</if>><<if $E2 lte 2>> the doppelganger claps its hands one last time and waves them over the unconscious body on the table. <<GFriend>> suddenly opens <<if $GFriend is 0>>her<<else>>his<</if>> eyes to reveal them to be pure white. The black-eyed doppelganger of <<LFriend>> keeps talking. "I think they want to see the ending now. How about you?" The white-eyed clone of <<GFriend>> picks itself up and stands next to the other. As it speaks, its voice possesses the same odd tone<<if $LFriend is 0>>, though stripped of any accent<<elseif $LFriend isnot 0 and $GFriend isnot 0>>, also stripped of any accent<</if>>. "If we must…" The <</if>>two doppelgangers face one another. "I know you hate this part," the black-eyed one says. "No, I'm the one who loves it," the white-eyed one says. "Oh well, at least it's always <<jillianwords "exquisite" "enjoyable" "entertaining" "energizing" "exciting" "excruciating">><<jillianclick>> in its own way." Both seem to have completely forgotten Kennelly, focused more on their self-obsessed performance than his intellectual or emotional reaction to any of this. Their hands rest calmly at their sides as they stand together, bare-foot in a pool of <<Blood "blood" "Blood">>. Next, they speak in synchronicity<<if $E2 is 3>> again<</if>>, and as they do, Kennelly can do nothing but stare in horror as their features shift garishly between the faces of all four of The Agency personnel trapped in this house, their flesh undulating as the substance of their bodies inconceivably rearranges. "Where are we now?" As they speak, the space around them also begins to shift and bend, like shafts of reality are at odds between the four different versions of this room that Kennelly has seen. "What's been holding us back?" Their voices harmonize strangely, losing any similarity to the forms they inhabit. Their black and white eyes shift hue, both becoming a dark crimson. "Why is this happening to us?" True emotion bleeds into the words, the voices a chorus of the four friends, a gut-wrenching sadness that somehow manages to pull Kennelly out of his exhausted indifference to this circus of nonsense. He can't help but grip the couch cushions under him, afraid of what might happen next, a deep terror echoing beneath the surface of his mind, the part of him that acknowledges every continuous moment of this to be completely impossible. "Who are you?" They turn and look at Kennelly, now both picture-perfect reflections of him with strange red eyes. No matter what mental defense he tries to erect, something in their voices crawls under his skin, prickles at every emotion he's felt throughout this harrowing night, makes him feel like //something important is happening// even if, for the life of him, he cannot possibly comprehend what the point of any of this was. A lesson? A test? A game? "You've been staring in the mirror and asking a reflection who the antagonist is, treading a Path that you followed with eyes half-closed, swimming in a dream. Can you change the course of a dream? Does it not shuttle onward in spite of protestation? From whence does it come, towards what does it travel? Every night you might wonder, you might ask, you might reach out for that unknowable answer, and in doing so, you <<click "wake up and end it." "E-4">><</click>>"

<<Vars 28>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>><<set $jillian to either(1,2,3,4,5)>>\ \ Their voices raise to a horrible shout. "Now what will you do about this last <<jillianwords "dangerous" "damning" "diabolical" "deadly" "disastrous" "delightful">><<jillianclick>> peril!" A powerful wind picks up from nowhere and the room begins to shake around them violently. One of the clones kicks the other to the floor, throwing it onto its hands and knees in the form of <<GFriend>>.<<if $GFriend isnot 1>> The doppelganger that remains standing has changed its own shape yet again, now appearing as a tall and broad-shouldered humanoid with scaly red skin, black eyes, and a grin of inhumanly sharp teeth<<if $BrightonSaved>>, the very same creature Kennelly briefly saw before leaving Brighton's room<</if>>.<</if>> As <<if $GFriend is 0>>she<<else>>he<</if>> kneels unsteadily in the midst of this earthquake, it becomes clear that <<GFriend>>'s eyes are back to normal, looking around in frightened confusion. <<if $GFriend is 0>>Her<<else>>His<</if>> gaze is left to jump back and forth between <<if $GFriend is 1>>a red-eyed Kennelly and a normal one<<else>>the monster standing before <<if $GFriend is 0>>her<<else>>him<</if>> and Kennelly<</if>> cowering on the couch. "What<<if $GFriend is 1>> the fucking shit is<<else>>'s<</if>> <<if $GFriend is -1>>goin'<<else>>going<</if>> on!" <<GFriend>> shouts over the growing rumble of the Dream House. <<if $GFriend is 1>>He points at the changeling with a shaky hand. "<<if $ArmenSaved is true>>I just shot you<<else>>You<</if>>!"<<elseif $GFriend is 0>>Her attention is drawn to the monster, <<if $NatalieSaved>>but she stands her ground to<<else>>and she backs away from<</if>> it, mouthing words Kennelly can't make out in the cacophony.<<elseif $GFriend is -1>>He points at the monster with a shaky hand. "<<if $BrightonSaved>>Y'cannot be here! I killed ye m'self!<<else>>What the hell!<</if>>"<</if>> Mind racing, seeing this as a chance to have some help facing these insane tribulations, Kennelly tries to sit up and say something, but with an explosive ''//POP//'', he finds himself standing in the doppelganger's place. <<if $GFriend is 1>>Armen's gun from earlier is<<if $ArmenTrial is 2>> again<</if>> in his hand, pointed at his friend's head<<else>>His hands are now tight around <<GFriend>>'s throat, and the skin of his limbs is covered in strange red scales, his fingers tipped with black claws<</if>>. The walls and floor continue to tremble around them, though Kennelly finds his grip on <<if $GFriend is 1>>the gun<<else>>his friend's neck<</if>> is strong and steady. Under <<if $GFriend is 1>>the gun's barrel<<else>>Kennelly's choking fingers<</if>>, the very air around them vibrating with inconceivable power, <<GFriend>> appears <<if $GFriend is -1>><<if $BrightonSaved>>brave and guarded<<else>>traumatized and alone<</if>><<elseif $GFriend is 0>><<if $NatalieSaved>>fearless and unwavering<<else>>petrified and abandoned<</if>><<elseif $GFriend is 1>><<if $ArmenSaved>>resolute and heroic<<else>>furious and terrified<</if>><</if>>. No matter how hard Kennelly tries, no matter what he thinks, no matter what he feels, no matter what he wants, nothing allows him to <<click "let go" "E-5">><</click>>.

<<Vars 29>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>>\ \ With another disorienting yank on his mind, Kennelly realizes he's back in the couch, immobile and unable to do anything but watch as <<if $GFriend is 1>>the clone of him shoots Armen point-blank in the face<<else>>the monster before him slashes out <<GFriend>>'s throat with one powerful swipe of its claws<</if>>. Crimson liquid spatters across the wall behind them, <<if $GFriend is 1>>fringes of Armen's skull poke out from the back of his head<<else>><<GFriend>>'s life fluid gushes forth in a sputtering torrent<</if>>, and the body slumps heavily onto the floor. //''THUD.''// The wind and shaking come to an immediate halt. <<click "Do something.">><<replace "#KeepTrying1">><<KeepTrying1>><</replace>><</click>>\ \ <<widget "KeepTrying1">>Kennelly's body is frozen. The doors to either side of the room slowly creak open of their own volition. The <<if $GFriend is 1>>doppelganger<<else>>monstrous changeling<</if>> shimmers, distorting the light around it, and reforms into two bodies again—one black-eyed and one white-eyed. The face they possess now is not recognizable as anyone Kennelly knows. It's male, tall and tan, with soft features and a mess of dark, wavy hair. The black-eyed one has an idiotic yet disturbing smile plastered to its face, and the white-eyed one stares at Kennelly with flat pity as a tear rolls down its cheek. <<click "Do something!">><<replace "#KeepTrying2">><<KeepTrying2>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>>\ \ <<widget "KeepTrying2">>Kennelly can't move, he can't speak, he can only watch, unable to change this outcome. The black-eyed being ambles off towards the green door, snickering to itself, leaving behind wet, red footprints on the floor as it disappears into the next room. The other one wipes the tears from its face, takes a deep breath, and bends over. Kennelly feels like he is shivering deep inside, though every cell of his body seems to be in stasis. He helplessly watches as the white-eyed creature drags <<GFriend>>'s body, one heavy step at a time, through the red door. //''THUD.''// Both doors slam shut. //<<click "Do something, Kennelly!">><<replace "#KeepTrying3">><<KeepTrying3>><</replace>><</click>>//<</widget>>\ \ <<widget "KeepTrying3">>As if every strained moment of frozen silence has gathered energy inside of him, Kennelly's fury, sorrow, confusion, and hatred all abruptly spill out of him in an animalistic scream. It lasts several moments, his head shaking, his throat burning, and when he stops, he still feels the scream echo on inside of him ceaselessly. Though he knows he can move, Kennelly doesn't. He cannot acknowledge what just happened. He cannot accept the reality of any of this. It's not real, it's a dream, it's not happening. Why should he have to accept something that is imaginary? \ <<set $stop to 0>> <<click "Save your friend">><<replace "#1">><</replace>><<LeaveHimAlone>><</click>>\ <<click "Wait for your freedom">><<replace "#2">><</replace>><<LeaveHimAlone>><</click>>\ <<click "Pursue your revenge">><<replace "#3">><</replace>><<LeaveHimAlone>><</click>>\ <</widget>>\ \ <<widget "LeaveHimAlone">><<set $stop += 1>><<if $stop is 3>><<replace "#stop">> //<<click "Just leave me alone!" "E-6">><</click>>//<</replace>><</if>><</widget>>

<<Vars 30>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>>\ \ Moving faster than he has this whole night, as if breaking free from invisible chains holding him down to the sofa, Kennelly jumps up onto his feet with frenzied momentum. Out of nowhere, though, he feels that he is drunk again. The nerves of his skin are deadened and his coordination is shot to hell, causing him to fall over onto his hands and knees. Scrambling up dizzily from behind the coffee table, he discovers that all traces of blood on the floor are gone. Unable to hold it in anymore, Kennelly wretches, vomiting stomach acid, hours old beer, and vodka onto the dusty table and ground. //<<click "Is this over yet?">><<replace "#End1">><<End1>><</replace>><</click>>// \ <<widget "End1">>//Is this over yet?// He sputters, trying to catch his breath, feeling like his thoughts could implode into a panic attack at any second. The bile in his mouth is the last thing on his mind as he crawls onto his feet, his trembling hand gripping the coffee table for support, sliding off slightly in the hot mess from his gut. He discovers with dull emptiness that the <<if $A4 is 1>>camcorder<<else>>camera<</if>> and flashlight have reappeared near him. They both minutely quake on the table's surface with his feeble attempts to stand. //<<click "Is this the end?">><<replace "#End2">><<End2>><</replace>><</click>>//<</widget>>\ \ <<widget "End2">>//Is this the end?// Wiping away spittle from his lips with the heavy sleeve of his winter coat, Kennelly notes that both the doors of the room are open. The spaces beyond each threshold are dark, though, impossible to make out. It's odd to realize it, but the interior of this room until this point has been rather strangely illuminated for how little light a flashlight should provide—like in a movie, when dark places that should not be visible are easily seen. Now everything is smothered in intense shadows, barely visible save for the few places that the bouncing light reflects to. //<<click "Is this going to be forever?">><<replace "#End3">><<End3>><</replace>><</click>>//<</widget>>\ \ <<widget "End3">>//Is this going to be forever?// Kennelly fumbles the cellphone out of his pocket. <<click "00:01PM, January 13th, 2▓▓▓" "Z-1">><</click>><</widget>>

<<Vars 31>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>>\ \ 00:02PM, January 13th, 2▓▓▓ With the pentagon of five dead pixels gone from its screen, the phone finally has a signal. Never has a tiny, digital icon filled Kennelly with so much emotion—exaltation, relief, wonder, hope…but he can't help but second-guess himself. What if this is just another trap? //Thud.// Kennelly can hear distant sounds coming from the next room over. Straining to see in the darkness beyond, he gets a snapshot of wet, bloody footprints on the floor. He grabs the flashlight and finds that, no…there's nothing there, just dirty wood and his eyes playing tricks on him. He rubs them, noting a horizon of sobriety shining through after vomiting moments ago. Twisting around to make sure there's nothing weird in the room with him, he notices that the red door now opens up onto nothing more interesting than an empty closet full of cobwebs. //Thunk.// It sounds like some distant person is moving things around in the darkness beyond the open green door. Kennelly grips the flashlight, quite ready to mindlessly attack should he see any more people or creatures with weird eyes. "Hello?" he tries, but finds himself hoarsely whispering. He clears his throat and tries again. "Hey! Who's there?" "Kennelly?" The voice is a way's off, and it bounces eerily around the walls of the abandoned house. The shadows flutter and sway with the movement of another flashlight in the distance beyond the doorway, and after a few strained moments of curiosity, Kennelly sees <<GFriend>> crest a set of stairs. \ \ <<if $GFriend is -1>>"Oi, there y'are!" he shouts as he bumbles his way across creaky floorboards and pops his head into the room. "We were s'pposed to stick together, aye? And here y'go, wanderin' off to leave me to the ghosts and ghouls." He tilts his head curiously with a tipsy smile. "Speakin' of, y'look like y've just seen quite a few yerself."\ <<elseif $GFriend is 0>>"There you are," she says impatiently, carefully making her way across creaky floorboards to stick her head into the room. "What happened to 'stay together and never split up,' jackass." Her sarcastic smile wavers. "Woah…hey, are you alright?"\ <<elseif $GFriend is 1>>"Oh bloody hell, there you are," he barks, stomping his way across creaky floorboard to pop his head into the room. "What the fuck happened to 'no cliche horror movie shit,' huh?" His sarcastic indignation slips. "Hey, earth to Crayton, are you okay?"\ <</if>> Kennelly's fingers are shaking, making the the small beam of light jitter around <<GFriend>>'s form, revealing that the <<if $GFriend is 0>>woman<<else>>man<</if>>'s eyes are normal. "I…" Kennelly's lips tremble and his eyes burn. "I don't know…" He feels the weight of everything—the trials, the questions, the pain, the confusion—all collapsing onto him. He blacks out. Darkness… …and then… …light. //<<click "Wake up" "Z-2">><</click>>.//

<<Vars 32>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>>\ \ //…wake up…Kennelly, please…what did you do…nothing, he just collapsed…fucking hell…// Kennelly opens his eyes to see three faces hovering over him, dimly lit from several angles by a variety of flashlights, all three of his friends crouched on the ground around his body. "Oi, he's awake," Brighton says. "Fuck!" Armen bends over and puts a hand to Kennelly's cheek. "Hey, hey, it's okay." Kennelly's eyelids flutter briefly, and he notices the backs of their heads are rimmed by moonlight coming from a nearby window. "You're alright. We're gonna get the fuck out of here, okay?" "Give him a second," Natalie says. Armen scoffs, a bit of his spit flying onto Kennelly's forehead. "A second? I don't think he wants to be in this place for another second." He looks down, his face only a foot away. "I don't know what this <<if $GFriend is -1>>ginger<<elseif $GFriend is 0>>lady<<else>>house<</if>> did to you, but I think it's time to go home, eh?" Kennelly says nothing, finding an incomprehensible comfort from the friendly hand against his face. <<if $GFriend is -1>>"Don't blame //me//," Brighton says. "I found him like that, I swear! Right, Kennelly?"\ <<elseif $GFriend is 0>>"Armen, knock it off," Natalie says. "I didn't do anything to him and we all know that."\ <<elseif $GFriend is 1>>"Come on, Armen," Natalie says. "At least take some blame, you're the one who dragged us in here."<</if>> "Whatever," Armen says, then checks Kennelly's forehead as though looking for a fever. "We need to just call this in," Natalie says. "I don't know what the hell is going on here, we're all having trouble remembering things, an entire hour has disappeared, and then there's those weird <<photo>>s on the camera…Come on Armen, it's time to call it quits and admit that we fucked up." Armen closes his eyes, and Kennelly remains quiet and still, focused on the warmth of the three bodies around him. "What was on the camera?" Brighton asks. "Don't think y'showed me." Armen chuckles. "Well, where to start…it's like a fucking psychedelic snuff <<if $A4 is 1>>film<<else>>photo shoot<</if>> on there." He gestures to the camera sitting on the floor nearby. "Dead bodies, pentagrams, some kind of lizard person, <<if $collectibles gt 0>>and then <<if $collectibles is 1>>a <<photo>><<else>><<CountCollectibles>> <<photo>>s<</if>> of the word 'blood' written in, you know, I bet you can guess what<<else>>just a bunch of weird shit<</if>>. Take a look if you want." "Ah, no thanks…" Brighton rubs the back of his head somberly and stands up. "I reckon y're both right. Been too worried about our friend here to think about it, but I've gotta say, I'm feelin' rather uncomfortable bein' here. It's like constant déjà vu or somethin'." He pats Armen on the shoulder. "Y'want I should help y'carry him out?" "No," Kennelly mumbles. "No, please…" They all inch closer to listen. "I want to…just, please help me up." Armen and Brighton scramble to comply, making a well-coordinated effort to get Kennelly into a seated position. Brighton leaves one hand on Kennelly's back to keep him stable, and Natalie pulls out her phone. "No, don't call," Kennelly snaps quickly. "Not yet, just…wait a second." A heavy wind can be heard pressing against the windows. "I just need a minute to…" His voice trails off. Other than being mentally exhausted and still slightly nauseous, Kennelly feels mostly fine. For a brief moment, he wanted to ask them all questions, try to piece together if they're even aware of anything he just went through, figure out if they had journeys similar to his, but… Any consideration is immediately interrupted by intensely bright lights blasting through the windows. "The fuck?" Armen says, covering his eyes. The engine of a vehicle can be heard over the winter winds. There's a loud crackle, and then a voice booms on a megaphone. "Make a perimeter." Dozens of heavy footfalls crunching in snow and the chirrups of radios create a strange chorus beyond the walls of the house. "Guess we don't need to call after all," Armen says as he stands up to peek out the windows. "Oh Christ on a stick." He backs away quickly, and Natalie asks what's out there. "You'd think we just bombed Aber Kadzr, it's a whole squadron." Brighton ruffles Kennelly's hair softly. "No expense spared for this one, aye?" Kennelly isn't sure what he means by this, why The Agency would come looking for them out here, or whether to be relieved or worried. "We ain't got nothin' to be ashamed of, right?" Brighton says, as if reading all of their minds. "No," Natalie says, though her blank expression of worry doesn't quite match her words. "No, of course not. We just…went into a house…" "Fuck it," Armen says. "No use hiding in here, and I don't want to get shot by some overzealous fucking Agent. Let's take the white flag out there and see what the ruckus is." He looks to Kennelly. "Unless you've got a better plan." Kennelly shakes his head. "No, you're right." He has guesses about why The Agency would come for them, but he might as well wait to see if those guesses are confirmed. He moves to stand up, and Brighton helps him with a strong arm. "Thanks," Kennelly says bashfully as he moves toward the front door. Armen picks up the camera and holds it at arm's length, and the cadre of three friends gathers to leave. They're stopped in their tracks by something on the floor before them. Sitting innocently, carefully placed in the center of the path out of the house, is the red box. "Oh what the fuck," Armen says. "What the fucking fuck. Did you bring that?" He grabs Kennelly's shoulder. "Seriously, mate, is this all a joke to get back at me for…I don't know, being such a dickhead all the time or something?" Kennelly doesn't respond, just bends down, picks up the box, and then <<click "opens the door" "Z-3">><</click>>.

<<Vars 33>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>>\ \ Spotlights blast the four Agency personnel on the front porch of this abandoned house. Three of them awkwardly hold their hands up as if surrendering to a police raid, but Kennelly keeps his hands on the red wooden box and squints ahead to try to see who's in charge of the squadron surrounding them. "Stop." A voice booms out from a silhouette that trudges towards them in the snow. Four Agents flank him on either side, holding guns at the ready but not actively trained on the porch. Once the leader is close enough, Kennelly can see his dark skin and close-cropped, curly beard. They all recognize the man as Agent Breakfield, formerly of the US Army, now the top Oversight member of The Agency's martial branch. Breakfield stares down the four of them with cautious concern, then motions with one hand towards Armen. An Agent runs over, unceremoniously steals the camera from Armen's grasp, and jogs it to a nearby jeep. "I suppose you're all a bit confused, yes?" A few of them nod as Breakfield crosses his arms behind his back, and Kennelly can't help but feel that the man is looking down on them all with stern disapproval. "I would think anyone smart enough to work for our Agency would also be smart enough to think that wandering off into the winter taiga in the middle of the night without checking in might trip a few alarms." His voice is deep and husky, brushed at the edges with a fatherly tone. "You drive the jeep, you carry the phones, you have //chips// in the backs of your skulls, and you know all of these things are GPS marked and tracked every second of the day." Kennelly looks down at his feet. He did know that, but somewhere between the pints of ale and swigs of flask vodka, he'd somehow abandoned critical reasoning skills and allowed his friend to convince him to pursue a prophetic dream. "It's even more concerning, though," Breakfield continues, "when all of those markers disappear off our maps, all at once, entirely gone from the face of this earth." His shadowed eyes are grim as he's interrupted by a small, Asian woman pattering over from a nearby jeep with a tablet in her hand and a pen in her mouth. Kennelly doesn't recognize her, but he can see a lab coat peeking out from under her nylon parka. Breakfield turns his back on them and talks to the woman in a harsh whisper. As she speaks, she jabs the tablet with her pen at intervals. Kennelly can't make out many words, but he does catch, "why did it have to be //four// of them this time?" The woman shakes her head and clutches her arms with a shiver, marching back to the jeep in a huff. "Which one of you had the dream?" Breakfield asks, turning back to them. They can't help but all look at Armen. "Hey!" he says indignantly. "What happened to solidarity?" "Quiet," Breakfield says, and takes a few steps closer. "Where did that come from?" he asks, pointing at the red box. Kennelly explains in a stuttering voice that there's one just like it on his desk back at Aber Kadzr, and that it originally came from the Flesh Warehouse. "No," Breakfield interrupts. "I'll spare you the long explanation for the moment, but no, there is no such box in Aber Kadzr. If there were, it would be destroyed on sight." //<<click "That can't be true…" "Z-4">><</click>>//

<<Vars 34>><<TimeAfterTrials>><<GreaterFriends>>\ \ Kennelly looks to Armen for support, and his friend just shrugs. "But…" he says softly, unsure of what this means. "I look at it every day, are you suggesting—" "Do you trust your own mind at the moment, Dr. Crayton?" Breakfield asks bluntly, and Kennelly has no response to this. "Yes, you are all very confused, I'm sure. What just happened to you is, as those of you who can currently remember it might think, unprecedented. However, you work for The Agency. Encountering the unknown, facing the inexplicable, and cataloging the impossible are, of course, daily efforts. Even if //some of you//," and he stares at Kennelly as though reading his mind, "are under the impression that they can figure just about anything out." The small woman comes scurrying back through the snow and holds the tablet out to Breakfield. He looks down at it briefly and nods. "Now, you're all exhausted." Brighton hiccups nervously. "And from the smell of you, still intoxicated." Breakfield touches his ear, mutters something, and suddenly everyone in the area starts preparing to leave. "We're gonna bring you back, get you a night of sleep, and tomorrow you'll be brought in for a debriefing. We shall have few answers for you, you shall have fewer answers for us, and everyone can bond over the great sea of mystery that life presents us as we realize that it all still makes no sense whatsoever." He actually smiles at this, but nothing about the expression warms any of their hearts. Breakfield holds up a hand and gives an odd gesture, prompting one of the nearby Agents to dash over with a metal container and stand at attention. "The few men and women you see around here," Breakfield says, his voice taking a strangely compassionate turn. "They've all been through something similar. Horrific, confusing, terrifying." He paces in front of the four friends, giving them each a long look. "They are bonded in their desire to stop the creature some of you may have seen tonight. Should you feel a similar lust for revenge, perhaps The Agency will see you fit to help us chase after it. A fool's errand, to be sure, but…" His voice trails off, and Kennelly finds himself already feeling an odd camaraderie with the man. //He knows//. Breakfield gestures and the nearby agent holds the metal container under Kennelly's hands. "Time to move on." Kennelly's engine of intellect shudders to life, chugging with exhaustion in spite of the weird sense of sorrow he feels in his gut. He can't help himself, he can't kill off the curiosity inside of him that clings to the thought that he might actually learn more about whatever happened to him tonight. Though he can't quite quantify in what way, he knows that his life has changed, that the path he was following has diverged. He remembers the words of his doppelganger, its hints and its questions…//a whole new field of paranormal study//. Looking down at the red box in his hands, Kennelly has no choice but to <<click "let it go" "Z-5">><</click>>.

<<Vars 35>><<set $End to true>><<remember $End>><<set $countdown to 0>>\ \ <<click "0">><<step6>><</click>>\ <<widget "step6">><<set $countdown += 1>>\ <<replace "#ThisText">>\ <<if $countdown lt 6>>\ <<click $countdown>><<step6>><</click>>\ \ <<elseif $countdown is 6>>\ //The connection has faded, and thus the session has come to a close.// //It may be a bit disorienting as you step away from this experience, so take a moment to relax.// //As always, we shall welcome you back for further sessions when the time for them arises.// //Feel free to leave whenever you are ready.// ''<<click "Leave" "ExitGame">><</click>>''\ <</if>><</replace>>\ <</widget>>\

<<if $D1 is 1>><<BrightonsEnd1>>\ <<elseif $D1 is 2>><<NataliesEnd1>>\ <<elseif $D1 is 3>><<ArmensEnd1>><</if>>

<<if $D2 is 1>><<BrightonsEnd1>>\ <<elseif $D2 is 2>><<NataliesEnd1>>\ <<elseif $D2 is 3>><<ArmensEnd1>><</if>>

<<if $D3 is 1>><<BrightonsEnd1>>\ <<elseif $D3 is 2>><<NataliesEnd1>>\ <<elseif $D3 is 3>><<ArmensEnd1>><</if>>

<<Vars 0>>\ Welcome to Isaiah Everin's mastery thesis artifact; this is a first draft used for the thesis project, more polished drafts will be available in the future. If you're interested in a final-quality experience, it is recommended you wait for future drafts. ''Before quitting the game (at any time), please click the EXIT GAME (SURVEY) button in the left-hand toolbar and follow the instructions there.'' This is very important to the thesis project. If you would like to play between multiple sessions, use the Save feature to the left (saves are stored as cookies on your local device). If you close the game without saving, all progress will be lost. Otherwise, thank you for playing. //Participation in this play-test extends only through playing the text adventure (using a modern web browser) and completing a voluntary online survey. The answers The Participant provides in the survey are stored in an online database, and the survey collects no personal or identifying information about The Participant; complete anonymity of The Participant is thus maintained. The author (Isaiah Everin Cooper) has no implicit/explicit knowledge of anyone who plays the game or completes the survey.// //Participation in the play-test and survey is voluntary, with no awards or compensation made for participation. No foreseeable risk or discomforts have been identified in participating, but The Participant may refuse to participate or stop participating at any time at his/her own discretion.// //The only mandatory response on the post-game survey is a text string copied from the artifact determined by The Participant's choices in the text adventure. This is to record the choices players make, the results of which are integral to the conclusion of this thesis project. All other questions on the post-game survey are entirely optional, and The Participant may or may not answer any as he/she sees fit.// Principal Investigator: Prof Wendy Despain 406-570-0805 – [email protected] Masters Candidate / Designer: Isaiah Everin Cooper 707-362-9037 – [email protected] SMU Guildhall 5232 Tennyson Parkway, Building 2 | Plano, Texas | 75024 ''<<click "AGREE AND START GAME" "Z-0">><</click>>''