Sugarcane

It was all for nothing. No matter how fast you ran, no matter how far you got, it would have found you. It was so painfully slow, you thought you could outrun it easily but this was a mistake; you had to stop, had to rest, had to sleep. It didn't have to stop: it was always resting.\n\nAfter an eternity of slow dragging sounds, it comes into view. The horrible, soul-rending talons come first, attached to thick, furry limbs. Next comes the crown of its rounded head and all too soon it pierces you with a gaze from deep, black eyes.\n\nYour screams freeze in your throat as the arms begin extending towards you, murderous razor-talons outstreched. They reach and reach and reach some more; four, now five times the length of its body and still coming for you. It hasn't moved since it locked eyes with you but the arms continue their inevitable journey towards your unmoving body.\n\nAnd all the while, it just grins: a stupid, horrible grin full of smugness. Almost like it knew, it always knew it was all over back before the maintenance tunnels where it singled you out but it wanted you to know too. Wanted to see the horrifying realisation in your eyes.\n\nThe talons are almost upon you and all you can do is stare at its hideous face as it embraces your soul.\n\n[[The last thing you'll ever see...|The face of evil]]

It is 37,239 steps behind you.\n\nYour family was a little surprised by your sudden arrival, but still welcomed you to stay as long as you needed to. They can sense something is troubling you but it's clear you don't want to talk about it.\n\nYou're not sure if you can ever head back to your home town, knowing what may be back there. Then again, have you come far enough to get away? What if your family are at risk just by you being here?\n\n[[Everything will be fine|caught]]\n[[Actually, this country sucks. Let's leave forever!|airport]]

You lean against the wall, trying to get your panicked breaths under control and make some sense of what you just saw.\n\nYou couldn't see much in the deep shadows other than the souless black eyes peering at you from the gloom, a hideous rictus and the talons, oh god, the talons: constricting its victim with a macabre embrace and passing straight through him, rending out chunks of some pale, ethereal substance.\n\nIt never moved as its victim's eyes went cold and glassy, or when you bolted for the exit. And yet, seconds after slamming the door on the grim spectacle you heard the scything talons raking down the other side.\n\nYour thoughts are interrupted by a chilling sound from behind you: serrated claws biting into concrete and then a furred bulk being dragged along behind them.\n\n[[Run|XR1]]\n\n<<set $stamina = 10>>\n<<set $distance = 2>>\n<<set $speed = "running">>

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nYou find yourself at another set of crossroads. Looking at each of the passages in front of you, you notice small chalk symbols drawn next to the doorways. Has someone been through this before? What does that say about your chances if the same thing is now after you?\n\nYou push those thoughts out of your head; after all, maybe someone who used to work here was just as confused by the maze of tunnels.\n\n[[Take the passage with a star|Star]]\n[[Take the passage with a cross|Cross]]\n[[Take the passage with a triangle|Triangle]]

The vent extends into the darkness and looks wide enough for you to crawl through. At least, it's wide enough for as far as you can see. \n\nProgress will be slow and you won't be able to turn around inside.\n\n[[Crawl into the vent|V3]]\n[[Head back to the passage|Square]]\n<<set $direction = "V">>

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\n<<display deadEnd>>\n\n[[S1]]\n<<set $deadEnd = true>>

<<silently>><<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<endsilently>>/%\n%/It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.\n\nYou control your breathing and try to calm your shaking limbs. \n\n<<set $stamina = $stamina + 5>>/%\n%/<<if $stamina gte 20>>/%\n%/You think you're ready to try the door.\n\n[[Try the door|D1]]/%\n%/<<else>>/%\n%/You aren't ready to force the lock yet.\n\n[[Rest some more|rest]]\n[[Give up for now|L3]]\n<<endif>>

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nYou're finally out of that hell. What do you do now?\n\n[[Go home|home]]\n[[Go stay with your family a few cities away|family]]\n[[Go to the airport|airport]]

It is 1052 steps behind you.\n\nWhen you get home you do up every lock and dead bolt you have on your door. The events of the day have a hazy, dream like quality to them but the shaking in your arms is very much real.\n\nYou try to put it behind you as the days and sleepless nights go on but you can't shake the dread in the pit of your stomach.\n\n[[Everything will be fine|caught]]\n[[Maybe you should go visit your family|family]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nFinally something breaks the monotony of these tunnels - a door to a room marked "supplies".\n\n[[Enter the supply room|C1]]\n[[Take the passage with a star|Star]]\n[[Take the passage with a triangle|Triangle]]\n

The warren of maintenance tunnels has gotten the better of you; you find yourself in a dead end, no doors or new turnings to take.\n\nYou will have to retrace your steps.

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nThese tunnels seem to have been used as storage: rows of barrels line the walls. The myriad of chemical warning symbols discourage further investigation.\n\n[[Take the passage with a line|S1]]\n[[Take the passage with a circle|Circle]]

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It is here.\n\n[[Turn around|The End]]\n

<<silently>><<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<if $distance lte 0>><<goto "caught">><<endif>><<endsilently>>/%\n%/It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.\n\nThe vent is pitch black by now. It's hard to keep going as you navigate the twists and turns of the vent by touch alone.\n\nThere is a rhythmic tapping and scraping sound reverberating along the walls of the vent.\n\n<<if $direction eq "L3">>\n[[Keep going|V3]]\n<<else>>\n[[Keep going|V1]]\n<<endif>>

<<silently>><<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<if $distance lte 0>><<goto "caught">><<endif>><<endsilently>>/%\n%/It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.\n\n<<if $direction eq "L3">>\nYou crawl into the darkness, metal walls closing around you. \n\n[[Keep going|V2]]\n<<else>>\nYou keep crawling forwards as light begins to return to the vent. The exit is just ahead.\n\n[[Hurry up|L3]]\n<<endif>>

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<<silently>><<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<if $distance lte 0>><<goto "caught">><<endif>><<endsilently>>/%\n%/It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.\n<<if $direction eq "L3">>\nYou keep crawling forwards as light begins to return to the vent. The exit is just ahead.\n\n[[Hurry up|Square]]\n<<else>>\nYou crawl into the darkness, metal walls closing around you. \n\n[[Keep going|V2]]\n<<endif>>

The sound of a heavy, sodden object slapping onto plastic coated floor.\nThe bite of three grotesque claws into lino.\nA wet, shuffling, dragging sound. Like someone dragging an ominous mop oh so slowly just outside the door.\n\nIt is [[here.|The End]]

The Chase

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nYou find yourself in a maintenance cupboard, bottles of cleaning supplies and tools are scattered along the shelves.\n\n<<replace "Look through the boxes on the floor">>You search through a couple of stacked boxes but only find some bleach and sponges.<<set $distance = $distance - 1>>\nIt is now <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.<<endreplace>>\n\n<<replace "Look through a metal toolbox on the shelf">>The rusted hinges take a moment to pry open. The only useful item inside, amongst the nails and drill bits, is a crowbar which you take with you.<<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<set $crowbar = true>>\nIt is now <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.<<endreplace>>\n\n<<replace "Look through the first aid cabinet on the wall">>Behind a mound of plasters you find something useful: an asthma inhaler. You take a couple of quick puffs to alleviate some of the tightness in your chest.<<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<set $stamina = $stamina + 5>>\nIt is now <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.<<endreplace>>\n\n[[Back to the corridor|Circle]]\n<<set $deadEnd = true>>

<html><img src="http://i.imgur.com/cyGc42k.jpg"></html>\n\n[[Try again|Start2]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nYou run down the corridor, away from whatever it is that's chasing you. The echoes in the corridor must be messing with your sense of distance; the sounds of clicking claws and dragging fur seem to be just as close as they were a moment ago, but the tempo never increased and you're sure you managed to get further away from the creature.\n\nYou've come to a crossroads and suddenly realise you're not entirely sure where you are. You just picked the closest door you could find and ran into what appear to be maintenance corridors. Surely one of the paths will lead to another exit.\n\n[[Turn Left|L1]]\n[[Straight On|S1]]\n[[Turn Right|DE1]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $distance = $distance - 1>>\n<<if !$deadEnd>>\n <<if $speed eq "walking">>\n <<set $distance = $distance + 1>>\n <<endif>>\n <<if $speed eq "running">>\n <<set $distance = $distance + 2>>\n <<endif>>\n <<if $speed eq "sprinting">>\n <<set $distance = $distance + 3>>\n <<endif>>\n<<else>>\n <<set $deadEnd = false>>\n<<endif>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<if $distance lte 0>>/%\n%/ <<goto "caught">>/%\n%/<<endif>>/%\n%/It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.

You are <<cyclinglink $speed "running" "sprinting" "walking">>\n\n<<silently>>\n<<if $speed eq "running">>\n <<set $stamina = $stamina - 1>>\n<<endif>>\n<<if $speed eq "sprinting">>\n <<set $stamina = $stamina - 3>>\n<<endif>>\n<<endsilently>>/%\n%/<<if $stamina lte 0>>/%\n%/ <<goto "Exhausted">>/%\n%/<<endif>>/%\n%/<<if $stamina gt 0 and $stamina lte 5>>\nYour breathing is laboured, your legs are shaking and you're finding it hard to concentrate. If you don't stop now, you may not be able to keep going./%\n%/<<endif>>/%\n%/<<if $stamina gt 5 and $stamina lte 15>>\nYour breathing is heavy and your heart is pounding. You can keep going for now./%\n%/<<endif>>/%\n%/<<if $stamina gt 15>>\nYour breathing is controlled; you're doing pretty well./%\n%/<<endif>>\n\n<<replace "Rest for a moment">>You pause for a moment, gulping down breaths in an attempt to alleviate the ache in your legs.<<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<set $stamina = $stamina + 5>>\nIt is now <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.<<endreplace>>

Uprooting your life was difficult and you didn't have the time to bring most of your posessions. Your family don't understand your sudden move and wonder why you won't come back to visit.\n\nYou slowly begin to rebuild a new life; you find somewhere to live, a job, new friends, maybe you'll start dating again.\n\nSometimes you miss you family or old home or friends you left behind. But then you hear a suffle of fur and it's just a dog and you remember that it's much, much better right here.\n\n[[Life is good|life2]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nThe corridor stretches onwards into the gloom with no signs of stopping.\n\nAt least you can use the space to put some distance between you and whatever's on your heels.\n\n[[Keep going|L3]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nThe corridor finally comes to an end.\nAhead of you is metal door which appears to be locked but has a green fire exit sign above it.\nNear the ground to your right is a medium sized air vent./%\n%/<<if !$direction eq "V">>\nFrom behind you, down the corridor, you can hear clicking and shuffling sounds. Turning around is not an option.<<endif>>\n[[Check the exit|D1]]\n[[Check the vent|Vx]]\n<<if $direction eq "V">>\n<<set $distance = $distance + 2>>\n<<endif>>

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nYou frantically search for a hiding place as you head down the corridor but to no avail; the walls are smooth, the passage doesn't twist or turn and there are no doors or rooms to duck into.\n\nYou only hope that there is some way out at the end of this corridor.\n\n[[Keep going|L2]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nAnother crossroads. Having four exits to the room is making you very aware that no matter which way you look, there is always a behind you. \n\nEchoes are messing with your sense of distance and direction now, it would not be wise to linger. \n\n[[Take the passage with the line|S1]]\n[[Take the passage with the circle|Circle]]\n[[Take the passage with the cross|Cross]]\n[[Take the passage with the square|Square]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\nAnother dead end. Unlike the others, however, there's a medium sized air vent near the floor in a corner.\n\n[[Investigate the vent|V]]\n[[Go back to the passage marked by a triangle|Triangle]]\n<<set $deadEnd = true>>\n<<if $direction eq "L3">>\n<<set $distance = $distance + 2>>\n<<endif>>

You lived a full life.\nYou lie in a hospital bed with machines beeping around you. This latest operation should have cleared everything up and once you can get out of here, it'll be like you were 20 years younger.\n\nYou begin to doze.\n\n<<continue "scrape">>Your eyes shoot open as you hear a sound straight out of your nightmares. You imagined it. You had to have imagined it, [[right?|caught2]]

It's no good, this is as far as you can go.\nYour breathing is ragged.\nYour heart is racing.\nYour vision blurs and your limbs won't move.\n\nYou sink to the ground, panicked gasps escaping your mouth, and wait.\n\n[[Wait...|The End]]

<<display status>>\n<<display creature>>\n\n<<display deadEnd>>\n\n[[Go back|XR1]]\n\n<<set $deadEnd = true>>

It is 634,598 steps behind you.\n\nYou get to the airport and book a one way ticket to somewhere far, far away. You're done with this continent, let alone this country.\n\nYou get on the plane, nervously checking up and down the aisles, straining your hearing for those dreadful scraping sounds. You keep trying to tell yourself that it's silly: you're miles from home and you'll be in the air soon.\n\nYou stare out the window until you can see the ocean beneath you and breathe a sigh of relief. Surely it is over now.\n\n[[Settle into your new life|life]]

The vent extends into the darkness and looks wide enough for you to crawl through. At least, it's wide enough for as far as you can see. \n\nProgress will be slow and you won't be able to turn around inside.\n\n[[Head into the vent|V1]]\n[[Go back to the door|L3]]\n<<set $direction = "L3">>

by Tim Skew\n@9W_vgculture

<<silently>><<set $distance = $distance - 1>><<if $distance lte 0>><<goto "caught">><<endif>><<endsilently>>/%\n%/It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.\n\n<<if $crowbar>>\nYou jam the crowbar into the door frame and heave. There is resistance at first, but the added leverage makes short work of the flimsy lock.\n\n[[Freedom!|Exit]]\n<<endif>>\n<<if !$crowbar>>\n<<once>>You kick at the lock. The door hardly budges. This would be easier if you had some kind of tool to help you.\n\n[[Kick again|D2]]\n[[Leave the door for now|L3]]<<becomes>>Another kick shows more signs of success: there's a visible gap in the frame around the lock.\n\n[[Kick again|D2]]\n[[Leave the door for now|L3]]<<becomes>>The kick is accompanied by splintering sounds from the other side of the door. One more kick should get it open.\n\n[[Kick again|D2]]\n[[Leave the door for now|L3]]<<becomes>>The lock splinters and the door swings open. Up ahead, you can see the outside.\n\n[[Freedom!|Exit]]\n<<set $stamina = 5>><<endonce>>\n<<endif>>

It is <<print $distance>> <<print ($distance eq 1 ? "step" : "steps")>> behind you.\n\nYou give the door a push and just as you thought, it's locked. A further shove makes it apparent that it isn't bolted, and only locked at one point in the centre. It may be possible, with enough effort, to break it open. Maybe.\n\n<<if $stamina gte 20 or $crowbar>>\n[[Attempt to break the lock|D2]]\n<<endif>>\nTake some time to [[catch your breath|rest]]\n\n[[Leave the door alone|L3]]