Climb

You wake up. You're lying face down. The ground is cold against your cheek. Your mouth is dry. [[Get up]] [[Lay still]]

You take your first steps towards the insurmountable wall. The rocks are cold and firm beneath your hand. You find a handhold and begin to tug yourself up slowly. [[Climb|Climb02]] [[Let Go]]

Falling isn't so bad. [[...|Let Go2]]

This doesn't seem too hard. You haul yourself up, one hand, one foot at a time. You breathe evenly, bracing yourself against cold winds. [[Climb|Climb03]] [[Let Go]]

You get up. Blinking slowly, you take in your surroundings. It's dark, but your eyes take a few moments to adjust, the area beginning to form. It seems you're at the bottom of a deep trench. It extends further than you can percieve. The sky is dark and far off. Shivering, you draw your arms around yourself and press gently. You're sore, but you're alive. [[Climb]] [[Scream]]

Nothing happens. You shiver a bit. Wherever you are, it's cold. [[Get up]]

You draw in a deep breath and scream with all your might. Your body shakes and trembles with the effort. Tears begin to well in your eyes as the scream becomes more desperate, more animalistic. It fades out as your throat aches. You pause and look around, waiting. Nothing happens. [[Climb]] [[Wait]]

You sit and wait. The cold creeps up the back of your spine from the cold ground and you shiver harder. Your teeth chatter as you take another glance around at the utter nothingness that is this trench. You get the feeling if you wait, you will die down here. [[Climb]] [[Wait|Wait02]]

It's colder now. It's getting darker and your toes are numb and your hands are numb and it's getting hard to think. You consider screaming again but what good would it do? You lie down, not from any desire but because it is the easiest thing to do. Your eyelids sink shut, and sleep overcomes you. [[...|Introduction]]

A rock under your hand crumbles. You slide down slightly. You grit your teeth and find a different rock to grip onto, beginning to pull yourself up again. [[Climb|Climb04]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. And climb. The wind howls around you, knocking debris from above down onto you. You slip, sliding down, scraping your fingers across the rock, imbedding gravel into your hands. You pause, catching your breath on a small step. [[Climb|Climb05]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. And climb. And climb. Your fingers are getting numb. They're grazed and you can start to feel blood warming your hands, sticking to rocks. [[Climb|Climb06]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. There's a fair amount of distance between you and the ground. You still can't see the top. The distance overwhelms you. You cling to the rocks and try to settle your stomach, calming yourself. [[Climb|Climb07]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. and climb. It feels like you've been climbing for days. Your arms shake with the effort. A jutting rock scrapes your leg as you move it, blood immediately starting to pour out of the angry scrape. [[Climb|Climb08]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. Blood drips. You feel it oozing, the blood slowly clotting. Everything is burning and shaking. You stop to sit on a platform jutting out, resting for a moment. [[Climb|Climb09]] [[Let Go]]

After a while, you haul yourself up. You're still shaking, why are you shaking? The wind howls. The bottom is dark. The top isn't in sight yet. You grab for a hand hold, and start to climb again. [[Climb|Climb10]] [[Let Go]]

So tired. [[Climb|Climb11]] [[Let Go]]

You push off with your feet, moving upwards again. You can do this. [[Climb|Climb12]] [[Let Go]]

You climb steadily for a while. Ten minutes? Twenty? An hour? How long were you down there? Your hand slips at your distraction. You slide, scraping your front a bit before you grab a hold again. You brace yourself against the stones. [[Climb|Climb13]] [[Let Go]]

You move up again. Make up the distance you lost. Are you bleeding again? You can't tell. [[Climb|Climb14]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb15]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb16]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb17]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb18]] [[Let Go]]

You climb... [[Climb|Climb19]] [[Let Go]]

You start to wonder what you're doing. You can't climb this. You still can't see the top. [[Climb|Climb20]] [[Let Go]]

Maybe it would be better to stop? [[Climb|Climb21]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb22]] [[Let Go]]

Your fingers fumble numbly for the next hand hold and slip down. You hang by one hand and your feet. Everything is screaming at you to let go. [[Climb|Climb23]] [[Let Go]]

You regain your balance and continue upwards. Your leg bleeds again as you bump it against the rock. [[Climb|Climb24]] [[Let Go]]

The blood from your leg causes you to slip. You tumble down, sliding, thumping against a ledge hard on your back. You're winded. [[Climb|Climb25]] [[Let Go]]

You pull yourself up against the rocks. You can see the ground from this ledge. It's just as dark. The top looks so far away. [[Climb|Climb26]] [[Let Go]]

You push off again. You've lost a lot of height. You can't work out what part of you isn't scratched. [[Climb|Climb27]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. You try not to think. [[Climb|Climb28]] [[Let Go]]

You try not to feel too. [[Climb|Climb29]] [[Let Go]]

You try not to do anything but climb. [[Climb|Climb30]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb31]] [[Let Go]]

You climb over some of your own blood from earlier. It's drying. [[Climb|Climb32]] [[Let Go]]

It feels like you've climbed so far, but you still can't see the fucking top. [[Climb|Climb33]] [[Let Go]]

Climbing fucking sucks. [[Climb|Climb34]] [[Let Go]]

Why are you even bothering? Is it making a difference? You can't even tell when you're this close to the wall. [[Climb|Climb35]] [[Let Go]]

What if you never get out? [[Climb|Climb36]] [[Let Go]]

What if this is all there is? Climbing and falling? [[Climb|Climb37]] [[Let Go]]

What's the fucking point?! [[Climb|Climb38]] [[Let Go]]

Can't anyone see you're down here!? Where's the rescue helicoper? Where's the ladder?! [[Climb|Climb39]] [[Let Go]]

Doesn't anyone care you're down here!? Climbing?? [[Climb|Climb40]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb41]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. Despite the cold wind, you're sweating with the effort. It stings your eyes and tastes salty in your mouth. [[Climb|Climb42]] [[Let Go]]

The rocks above you come away in your hand. You slide down, slamming hard into the ledge you fell onto before. You can see your blood from before when you open your eyes. [[Climb|Climb43]] [[Let Go]]

You get up shakily, looking up. A rock finally dislodging from the last few trickling down hits you in the forehead. [[Climb|Climb44]] [[Let Go]]

You decide to climb sideways a bit, if only to avoid this fucking ledge again. You shuffle along the wall to the right a bit, climbing hand over hand sideways. [[Climb|Climb45]] [[Let Go]]

You start heading upwards again. [[Climb|Climb46]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb47]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb48]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb49]] [[Let Go]]

The rocks here are too small to grip onto. You cling to the patch of wall you can, looking around. [[Climb|Climb50]] [[Let Go]]

You try to climb down and around this patch. You slip, scraping down and landing on your tail bone at the bottom again. The pain is excruciating. [[Climb|Climb51]] [[Let Go]]

You get up. You limp back to the wall and find a different way to climb. You start again. [[Climb|Climb52]] [[Let Go]]

You think you might have broken something that fall. The climbing is slower, but you're doing it. If you'd just stop falling down, maybe you'd be at the top by now. [[Climb|Climb53]] [[Let Go]]

How far have you climbed? [[Climb|Climb54]] [[Let Go]]

How far have you fallen? [[Climb|Climb55]] [[Let Go]]

How far do you have to go? [[Climb|Climb56]] [[Let Go]]

Are you ever going to make it to the top? [[Climb|Climb57]] [[Let Go]]

You look up. You still can't see the top. You pull yourself up slower than before. [[Climb|Climb58]] [[Let Go]]

It just doesn't feel worth it. [[Climb|Climb59]] [[Let Go]]

It doesn't feel like you're moving at all. [[Climb|Climb60]] [[Let Go]]

Your arms feel like lead. [[Climb|Climb61]] [[Let Go]]

Your tongue is heavy in your mouth and you can't feel your toes. [[Climb|Climb62]] [[Let Go]]

You don't remember what not feeling sore feels like. [[Climb|Climb63]] [[Let Go]]

You pause against the wall to catch your breath. You slip down weakly, scrabbling for purchase as you end up at the bottom again. [[Climb|Climb64]] [[Let Go]]

You scream. In frustration and agony. It doesn't sound human. [[Climb|Climb65]] [[Let Go]]

You move to a different patch. You start again. [[Climb|Climb66]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb67]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb68]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb69]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb70]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb71]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb72]] [[Climb!|Climb72]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb!|Climb73]] [[Climb!|Climb73]] [[Climb!|Climb73]] [[Let Go]]

YoU climb. [[Climb!|Climb74]] [[Let Go]]

YOU Climb! [[Climb!!|Climb75]] [[Climb!!|Climb75]] [[Climb!!|Climb75]] [[Climb!!|Climb75]] [[Let Go]]

Climb climb climb! [[Climb!!|Climb76]][[Climb!!|Climb76]] [[Climb!!|Climb76]] [[Climb!!|Climb76]] [[Let Go]]

c...limb... cl-climb... c... [[...climb|Climb79]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb80]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb81]] [[Let Go]]

...c [[Climb|Climb82]] [[Let Go]]

...cl- [[Climb|Climb83]] [[Let Go]]

...Climb. [[Climb|Climb84]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb85]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb86]] [[Let Go]]

Why? [[Climb|Climb87]] [[Let Go]]

Why are you doing this? [[Climb|Climb88]] [[Let Go]]

What are you trying to prove? [[Climb|Climb89]] [[Let Go]]

Are you doing this for yourself? [[Climb|Climb90]] [[Let Go]]

Are you doing this for everyone else? [[Climb|Climb91]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb92]] [[Let Go]]

You don't have to, you know. [[Climb|Climb93]] [[Let Go]]

It hurts. [[Climb|Climb94]] [[Let Go]]

You ache, and you bleed and you burn. [[Climb|Climb95]] [[Let Go]]

And here you are. [[Climb|Climb96]] [[Let Go]]

You just keep climbing. [[Climb|Climb97]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb98]] [[Let Go]]

You don't know why. [[Climb|Climb99]] [[Let Go]]

Or- maybe you do. [[Climb|Climb100]] [[Let Go]]

Hand over hand. [[Climb|Climb101]] [[Let Go]]

Foot over foot. [[Climb|Climb102]] [[Let Go]]

Scraping, grazing. [[Climb|Climb103]] [[Let Go]]

You keep climbing. [[Climb|Climb104]] [[Let Go]]

You pause, to catch your breath. You look up, trying to spot the top. You still can't see it. [[Climb|CLimb105]] [[Let Go]]

Persistance fuels you, taking a deep breath and hauling yourself up again. It'll be visible soon. Surely. [[Climb|Climb106]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb107]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb108]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb109]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb110]] [[Let Go]]

Fatigue finally wearies you. You slip, falling, scrabbling for purchase and ripping your hands and knees open further. Stones wedge in your bloody hands, but you finally slow, landing back on a jutting rock. [[Climb|Climb111]] [[Let Go]]

You take a deep breath. Pick the stones out of your palms and shakily rub them on your pants to try to clear the blood off. When you go to climb again, your hands are slippery and slick with blood. [[Climb|Climb112]] [[Let Go]]

You tear the bottom of your shirt with shaking hands, wrapping the fabric around your hands. Your blood soaks the rocks as you test your bandages against the wall, but they are no longer slippery. [[Climb|Climb113]] [[Let Go]]

Hauling yourself up, you shakily resume. You've lost a lot of progress again. [[Climb|Climb114]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb115]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb116]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb117]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb118]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb119]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb120]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb121]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb122]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]]

The top is so far off. [[Climb|Climb123]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]]

How are you going to make it? [[Climb|Climb124]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]] [[Let Go]]

Are you even moving? [[Climb|Climb125]] [[LET GO|Let Go]]

Please- [[Climb|Climb126]] [[Just let go.|Let Go]]

You're so tired of it. [[Climb|Climb127]] [[Let Go]]

Everything is shaking and strained. [[Climb|Climb128]] [[Let Go]]

Please! [[Climb|Climb129]] [[Let Go]]

You don't HAVE to do this! [[Climb|Climb130]] [[Let Go]]

This- why are you doing this? You're hurt! [[Climb|Climb131]] [[Let Go]]

Stop it!! [[Climb|Climb132]] [[Let Go]]

You feel every scrape, every bruise, every cut, from every failed attempt, every fall and slide and it hurts- please- [[Climb|Climb133]] [[Let Go]]

...It's scary. [[Climb|Climb134]] [[Let Go]]

This is too much. You're doing too much. You're going to kill yourself doing this. [[Climb|Climb135]] [[Let Go]]

This isn't good for you. [[Climb|Climb136]] [[Let Go]]

You can't keep doing this. [[Climb|Climb137]] [[Let Go]]

You keep doing it. [[Climb|Climb138]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. The rough wall face scrapes against you. [[Climb|Climb139]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb140]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb141]] [[Let Go]]

... [[Climb|Climb142]] [[Let Go]]

It's not getting any closer. [[Climb|Climb143]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb144]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb145]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb146]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb147]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. It's getting harder to pull yourself up. [[Climb|Climb148]] [[Let Go]]

You're heavy. It's like moving through thick fog to raise your arms. [[Climb|Climb149]] [[Let Go]]

This is impossible. [[Climb|Climb150]] [[Let Go]]

You push through it. [[Climb|Climb151]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb152]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb153]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. And climb. And climb. [[Climb|Climb154]] [[Let Go]]

You won't listen, will you? [[Climb|Climb155]] [[Let Go]]

Why not? Do you want to die? [[Climb|Climb156]] [[Let Go]]

Cause you're gonna. This isn't safe. [[Climb|Climb157]] [[Let Go]]

If you push yourself any further, you will die. Listen already. [[Climb|Climb158]] [[Let Go]]

It won't kill you to stop. [[Climb|Climb159]] [[Let Go]]

please. [[Climb|climb160]] [[Let Go]]

Please! [[Climb|Climb161]] [[Let Go]]

PLEASE [[Climb|Climb162]] [[Let Go]]

PLEASE LISTEN [[Climb|Climb163]] [[Let Go]]

LISTEN [[Climb|Climb164]] [[Let Go]]

You pushing yourself so hard is going to destroy you. Just stop. Please. Please listen. [[Climb|Climb165]] [[Let Go]]

You will go numb, and you will stop and you might not be able to start again. [[Climb|Climb166]] [[Let Go]]

You're so tired. [[Climb|Climb167]] [[Let Go]]

Don't go numb. Don't. Please. [[Climb|Climb168]] [[Let Go]]

You- you climb. [[Climb|Climb169]] [[Let Go]]

You...climb. [[Climb|Climb170]] [[Let Go]]

It's slow. But you climb. [[Climb|Climb171]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb172]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb173]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. The wind howls around your ears, chilling you further. [[Climb|Climb174]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. Your hand slips off a rock and you slide down a few feet, catching yourself at the last moment. [[Climb|Climb175]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. Your trembling is impossible to ignore now and is making it harder to keep a firm grip. [[Climb|Climb176]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb177]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb178]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb179]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. Looking down, the bottom is still visible. Looking up, endless wall. Your grip loosens. [[Climb|Climb180]] [[Let Go]]

You grip tighter, everything screaming out in pain. [[Climb|Climb181]] [[Let Go]]

You ignore it, pushing through. Sweat and...tears? sting your eyes. [[Climb|Climb182]] [[Let Go]]

It's okay. It's okay. Please don't cry. [[Climb|Climb183]] [[Let Go]]

You wipe your stinging eyes on your shoulder, continuing to shakily climb. [[Climb|Climb184]] [[Let Go]]

It is slow, and it is painful. But you climb. [[Climb|Climb185]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb186]] [[Let Go]]

Are you still crying? [[Climb|Climb187]] [[Let Go]]

You didn't know you could cry like this. [[Climb|Climb188]] [[Let Go]]

It feels like- blinking. Like nothing. Yet- [[Climb|Climb189]] [[Let Go]]

You can hear this sound. Like- like some kind of animal. [[Climb|Climb190]] [[Let Go]]

Is that- Is that you? Is that the sound you're making crying? [[Climb|Climb191]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. The noise continues. You're numb to it. [[Climb|Climb192]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb193]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. And climb. [[Climb|Climb194]] [[Let Go]]

And climb and climb and climb. [[Climb|Climb195]] [[Let Go]]

And climb and climb and climb and climb and [[Climb|Climb196]] [[Let Go]]

And the noise continues and you climb and you bleed and you climb and you cry and you climb [[Climb|Climb197]] [[Let Go]]

You pound the rocks with a fist angrily. [[Climb|Climb198]] [[Let Go]]

Blood pours from your already injured hand. You keep punching. [[CLimb|Climb199]] [[Let Go]]

You don't feel anything. [[Climb|Climb200]] [[Let Go]]

You stop punching. It's not doing anything. [[Climb|Climb201]] [[Let Go]]

Is this really you? [[Climb|Climb202]] [[Let Go]]

Your hand seizes up from the abuse. You struggle to keep grip with one hand. [[Climb|Climb203]] [[Let Go]]

Your grip breaks, sending you sliding back down. It doesn't hurt this time. You tumble down to a jutting rock, landing flat on your back. The air is knocked out of you and the noise stops. [[Climb|Climb204]] [[Let Go]]

You gasp for air harshly. It doesn't hurt anymore. Everything's blurry. [[Climb|Climb205]] [[Let Go]]

After lying flat for what feels like an eternity, you slowly crawl up to a standing position. [[Climb|Climb206]] [[Let Go]]

You lean heavily on the wall, slowly starting to climb with one hand. Everything starts to throb again, and you welcome the relief from the numb. [[Climb|Climb207]] [[Let Go]]

You dare to use your other hand after a while, the pain only fueling you. A reminder that you're still here. [[Climb|Climb208]] [[Let Go]]

You start to press wounds and scrapes whenever you find yourself going numb or growing tired. [[Climb|Climb209]] [[Let Go]]

This time, when you fall, scraping down the side and landing hard, it doesn't hurt as it used to. It's getting easier to deal with. [[Climb|Climb210]] [[Let Go]]

Honestly, you could stand worse. You climb despite the pain. You revel in it. [[Climb|Climb211]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. The only thing you can hear is your own blood pumping in your ears. [[Climb|Climb212]] [[Let Go]]

You're still alive. [[Climb|Climb213]] [[Let Go]]

Despite it all, you're still alive. [[Climb|Climb214]] [[Let Go]]

You slide down near constantly, but it doesn't kill you. [[Climb|Climb215]] [[Let Go]]

You still keep getting up. [[Climb|Climb216]] [[Let Go]]

You're still here. You're still moving. [[Climb|Climb217]] [[Let Go]]

That's got to mean something, right? [[Climb|Climb218]] [[Let Go]]

Even if you spend the rest of your life climbing. [[Climb|Climb219]] [[Let Go]]

...the rest of your life. [[Climb|Climb220]] [[Let Go]]

Is this worth it? To do this, alone, climbing, hurting, crying- for the rest of your life? [[Climb|Climb221]] [[Let Go]]

Is this living? [[Climb|Climb222]] [[Let Go]]

It's admirable, honestly. They might write a book about you. [[Climb|Climb223]] [[Let Go]]

Or a movie. [[Climb|Climb224]] [[Let Go]]

But is that living? To climb till death? [[Climb|Climb225]] [[Let Go]]

Do you want to be another entry in the 'tragedy' section? [[Climb|Climb226]] [[Let Go]]

Suppose it doesn't matter. Being remembered would be kind of nice. [[Climb|Climb227]] [[Let Go]]

You're pretty sure that you've done this before. How else did you get down here anyway? [[...|Let Go3]]

Falling is easy. [[...|Let Go4]]

Before you reach the bottom, you hear an unfamilar sound. Someone else calling? [[...|Let Go5]]

You hit the ground hard at the bottom with a thump. The air is knocked out of you, but the sound of running feet comes towards you. [[Catch breath|Let Go6]]

You gasp for air. Your lungs burn, but you force air into them, gulping desperately. The foot sounds stop, and a voice you can't determine shouts 'hey!' [['Hey?'|Let Go7]]

Does anyone know you're down here to remember though? [[Climb|Climb228]] [[Let Go]]

It doesn't matter. [[Climb|Climb229]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb230]] [[Let Go]]

You climb. [[Climb|Climb231]] [[Let Go]]

You slide down. [[Climb|Climb229]] [[Let Go]]

'Yeah- I felt like that too.' They admit, offering you a hand up 'maybe- maybe if we both try?' [[Take their hand|Let Go9]]

You take their hand, and despite the pain in your hands there is a sense of comfort in the help up. You stand unsteadily and they prop you up gently. [['Thanks'|Let Go10.1]] [['Don't touch me'|Let Go10.2]]

'Anytime.' They smile. 'Is this okay? You look hurt.' [['It's okay'|Let Go11]] [['No. Let go of me'|Let Go10.2]]

They step back, no longer touching you. 'Sorry.' [['It's okay'|Let Go11]]

'Okay.' They nod. 'Come try again with me? I couldn't get anywhere on my own, but maybe if we both try- yknow, hold each other up?' they gesture back at the wall you were climbing. [['I- don't know if I can, again'|Let Go12]] [['It won't work.'|Let Go12]]

'Many hands make light work? Look- I know maybe you don't know me, or don't trust me, but you fell down here too, so we've gotta lift each other up. How else are you going to get out of here?' [['...'|Let Go13]]

'Please. I'm trusting you. Please trust me. There's nothing down here but us- and people like us who fell down- who let go.' they gesture back to the darkness surrounding you. [[Look around|Let Go14]]

With your eyes adjusted fully, you look around again. There are people everywhere. Old. Young. All genders. Some climbing, some sitting, some lying on the ground. You look at the person next to you again. [['Why?'|Let Go15]]

'It is, the way it is.' they shrug 'But we can fight it- You're still trying. You let go of your pride. You stopped trying to do it alone. Let me help.' [['My pride?'|Let Go15.1]] [['Why aren't you helping them?'|Let Go15.2]] [['How is letting go and falling 'still trying'?'|Let Go15.3]]

'You're human. We're not built to do this alone. Pride makes you think you can.' [[...|Let Go16]]

'I have. Or others have. Or others are. But we're focusing on you right now.' [[...|Let Go16]]

'Cause even if you didn't think so, it was still a call for help. It still let people know what was going on' [[...|Let Go16]]

'Please. Will you try again?' They stare at you. Waiting. They need you as much as you need them, even if you don't know. [[Try|Let Go17]] [[Do it yourself instead.|Climb]]

You nod, and gesture to the wall with your hand. [['Lets try'|Let Go18]]

You try. You lean on others. You climb again. You probably fall again. If you get out is up to you. But at least you're not alone trying anymore. [[...|Let Go19]]

For the first time, you can see the top. [[...|Let Go20]]

You're not there yet. [[...|Let Go21]]

You don't know if you'll ever get there. [[...|Let Go22]]

But sometimes, you need someone elses help to see the way out. [[...|Let Go23]]

You're not alone. [[...|Let Go24]]

You try. [[...|End]]

Climb was a production of love and frustration by Savannah Ferguson. It was brought to you by several months of bad moods and learning the hard way that no man is an island. Big thanks to playtesters: -Peter Giannopoulos -Ethan Lewis -Tamara Wardhana Special thanks to Peter for putting up with all the bad moods that led to this and endless hours of games design discussion and theory, Bridy Sargant for dealing with a lot of cranky phone calls, and Celia Johnston for dealing with that many cranky phone calls and miserable ones, even the 4am ones. To Tarryn and Zelda, for being around the most when things went absolutely pear shaped and still making me smile. Rachael Adams for always being on skype when times are extreme and not minding when I buggered off for hours at a time to write this. Tamara Wardhana for- never being asleep for some reason when I needed to vent and always being ready for the next big laugh. You guys help me climb.