monster

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Welcome to your adventure! This is an interactive short story. As you read, you will come to links that will take you on to the next page. Often there will be multiple and you must decide what option to take. Once you reach the conclusion, you may want to restart, make different choices, and see where you end up! To begin, please choose: Do you desire [[creating life]] or [[being life created]]?

Welcome, Doctor. I think I've heard of you. You're <<print either("Frankenstein","Shelley","Faustus")>>, are you not? No, my name is Doctor <<textbox "$name" "">> Don't you remember me? [[Click here to continue]]

Wake up. Cold. Scared. Dark. You don't know who you are. You don't know what you are. Your eyes open and you see something looming above you. What do you do? [[Attempt to sit up and look around.]] [[Experience the feeling of your body and try to move your arms and legs]]

Welcome to your lab. [[continue]]

Welcome to your station. [[proceed]]

You have been working on this project for months. Secluded yourself in your lab, avoiding interaction with the outside world. You have been forced to scavenge for parts. You are surrounded by body parts, tools, jars. Your creation is almost complete. All you require now are the eyes. The graveyard requires digging up the body and the bodies aren't as fresh. However, the morgue has higher security and you may be caught. Where do you go? [[Graveyard]] [[Morgue]]

What prompted this undertaking? [[The desire to create consciousness.]] [[Fame, glory, and riches.]]

You are attempting to do what no one has accomplished before. Creating a new life from only pieces of the dead. [[Go to your lab]]

On a mission to achieve the impossible, you sought out to accomplish what has never been done. You wanted to create life, create a being capable of making its own decisions, of knowing the difference between right and wrong. A species that could go further than humans will ever be able to. Your prototype is almost completed. [[Head to the machine.]]

You find your way into a seated position and look around you. Everything is new, confusing. Shiny, dark, clear, every object in the room grabs your attention, but you don't know what to do, what they are, who you are. Suddenly, you notice something moving in the corner. It is shaped like you, looking at you. It moves towards you, making some sort of noise. [[Stay seated, letting the creature come towards you.]]

You find yourself able to twitch, flex various parts of the body. You are aware of a feeling of discomfort. You turn your head, everything in your visual field popping out at once. You look over to your arm and see something sticking in it. You lift your other arm and make an attempt to take it out. The creature you first viewed makes a noise you can't understand. He appears to be scolding you. You rip out the object and sit up. [[You attempt to make a noise yourself, wanting to make a connection.]] [[You find yourself swelling with anger, wanting to hurt the creature.]]

This thing has a form like you. You look down at yourself, feeling disconnected from this shell you find yourself in. Whoever you are, you don't know what you're supposed to be. The thing comes closer still. It is making noise, foreign sounds reaching your brain and not leading to any meaning. You are cold and nothing is covering your flesh. The thing has a long white object covering the body. You envy it. [[You attempt to make a noise yourself, wanting to make a connection.]] [[You find yourself swelling with anger, wanting to hurt the creature.]]

You slide off the table, feeling movement within your legs for the first time. The creature has fear in it's eyes. You don't know how to control this new form, finding yourself crashing into the objects filling the room. Glass comes crashing down, jars split open, contents spill onto the floor. The creature in the corner holds out its arms, attempts to come towards you, but you must vacate this strange land. You stumble around, searching for an exit, crashing through glass and outside. Which way do you go? [[Forward, towards the light, the buildings, and the town.]] [[Turn around, head towards the darkness of the forest.]]

A strangled sound comes from your throat as you stare into the eyes of the being watching you. It stands frozen in the corner. You edge yourself off the table and move towards it. What does he do? [[Appears frightened, but allows you to come towards him]] [[Shouts at you, and retreats into the corner]]

Not knowing what to do, you amble forward and attempt to strike. How does the being respond? It [[Shouts at you, and retreats into the corner]] or [[Appears frightened, but allows you to come towards him]]

[[Explore]]

[[enter the forest]]

You quickly walk along the cobblestone streets, clutching your shovel, until you arrive at the graveyard fence. Which way do you enter? [[The front gate.]] [[hidden spot along the back.]]

It's the dead of night as you use your pocketknife to pick the lock of the morgue's backdoor. You've done this at least once a week for the past ten months, as you prefer the parts you find here over those at the graveyard. Tonight will likely be your last visit, for you're only looking for a pair of eyes. You're lucky, there's no security guard on duty tonight. [[next]]

[[walk through the morgue]]

After extracting the stolen possessions, storing them safely in a compartment, you quickly steal back to the lab to complete your project. You dash through the door as the first glimmers of dawn begin to shine in the east. The being lays stationary on the metal table, with two empty sockets in the skull. It has the form of a man, with specific deviations from the human. There is harsh stitching where every varying body part was sewn together, the proportions are remarkably different from man, in that the being stands eight feet tall. You bend over the creation, insert the missing eyes, and bring it to life. [[The eyes flutter open.]]

You continue your search and come across a grave that looks as if it was dug today, belonging to a Miss Pamela Potter. You dig it up and find a freshly buried corpse, with a pair of beautiful light blue eyes. [[These will do well.]]

As you approach the front gate, you see a couple standing at the foot of a grave. Not wanting to be seen, you doubleback and head to the [[hidden spot along the back.]]

Months ago, you found a weak spot along a strip of fencing near the back where you can easily slip through. You always want to avoid using the front entrance. You walk along the rows, looking for fresh soil, indicating a newly planted corpse. You find one who must have been buried within the past week, a Mr. Emmett Lewis. You quickly dig up the body and examine the eyes. Large and brown, seeming fully intact. Do you choose these or continue your search? [[These will do well.]] [[I want to keep looking.]]

If this creation is a success, you will become rich and famous beyond your wildest dreams. You plan to sell you creations, planning a life of servitude and usability for them. They will be programmed to perform every action asked of them. But before this dream becomes reality, you must complete the prototype. [[Head to the machine.]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You extend an arm and find yourself able to wiggle the fingers at the end of it. One of them touches the cheek of the being. Though frightened, it stands its ground and speaks to you in a soothing tone. You don't understand who you are, why you have awoken in this strange land, or what your purpose is. What you do immediately realize is that this creature is your god, your creator. A strong connection and familiarity swells inside you. [[An immediate bond is formed]]

Your creator is frightened of you, you are not wanted by him. You understand you don't belong here. [[Fear kicks in, you find yourself up and running away.]]

You gasp and stumble backwards. Despite your months of work and preparation, you never truly believed you would succeed. You see the newly placed eyes twitching, exploring their alien surroundings. You back yourself into the far corner of the room, unsure of what to do next. Suddenly the creature slides into a seated position, rolls off the table, and looks straight at you, making terrible sounds. It stretches out an arm and starts shuffling towards you. What do you do? [[Panic, bolt for the exit, and run out of the building and into town]] [[Stay calm, remain where you are, and attempt to soothe the being]]

You head outside into the fresh morning air, down the streets until you reach the [[town]]

It appears agitated, limbs twitching, eyes flickering from side to side. You can hardly contain your excitement. Never again will you doubt your scientific abilities, for you have accomplished the impossible. Though unprepared for how to interact with this creature, you must start somewhere. You [[Teach it to communicate]] [[Figure out what it eats]]

You slowly shuffle down the alley, coming across a large, cracked [[mirror]].

You pass by a small child, out in the garden watering plants. Feeling overwhelmed by your strength, you reach out and grab her. You hear a shout and turn. Someone is charging at you, making noises Do you [[Release the girl and charge at the man]] [[Drop the girl, turn, and run to the forest]]

It's daybreak and the town is beginning to come alive. You are comforted by the light of the sun and the general hum of the beings moving about. You are suddenly uneasy about these new surroundings, don't know what to do. Do you [[Duck into a nearby dark alley]] [[Continue forward towards the creatures like your creator]]

Ah yes, forgive me, Doctor $name. Your work is well known around these parts. And I hear you're working on something new? Well by all means, proceed. [[begin]]

You stagger along, running into trees and shrubs. Suddenly you hear a frightening rumble. You turn frantically, not knowing where to run. You realize the growl is coming from inside you, near your abdomen. You spot some berries along the ground and become aware of your mouth watering. Somehow you know you want to ingest these, but they will not fulfill you. Do you [[Eat the berries]] or [[Pursue something of greater substance]]

You feel calm, at peace within the trees. You continue to walk, explore, and decide you will stay here. [[Build a home]]

You hear a noise off in the distance. Continue on through the forest, and see a creature in a far off clearing. [[Move closer]]

Whatever this creature is, you long for it. Your intuition tells you that you must sneak up on it, fight it, kill it. You look around, searching for a weapon to use. What do you pick? [[A sharp stick]] [[A large rock]] [[Use your hands]]

The stick is not strong enough and snaps in two. Sadly, you must [[Eat the berries]]

You succeed in bringing down the animal, and rip it apart to feed. You do feel somewhat uneasy about how you behaved. Do you either [[feel remorse]] and vow you will not kill again? or [[enjoy the feeling]] and seek out violence?

You approach from behind and grab the being, trying to bring it down. However, your own body does not prove strong enough to overpower it. It breaks free and scampers away. Defeated, you must have to just [[Eat the berries]]

[[stumble along]]

You peruse the rows of corpses, taking note of the color, size, and overall condition of the eyes. Finally you settle on a large, dark brown pair. [[These will do well.]]

The townspeople are starting to begin their day and are beginning to move about the cobblestone streets. It has been so long since you have interacted with a fellow human, you are unsure of how to act. You suddenly lock eyes with a young girl gardening in her front yard. Her lip quivers and she begins to scream, dropping her watering can and running through the front door. Confused by her reaction to you, you grow self-conscious. You turn down a dark corridor and come across a shattered mirror. [[Look at your reflection]]

You are excited at the prospect of passing on your knowledge to another. Immediately, you begin collecting your books and preparing how you will teach him to speak. What is your long-term goal? [[To teach the creature enough that he can think for himself and survive in the world]] [[Teach the creature your methods of creation, in the hopes that it can continue your work]]

You bring it an array of fruits, meats, and breads. You slowly hand them over and motion for him to eat them. Surprisingly, the creature does not care for the taste of meat and instead prefers the fruits, especially the apple. For many days you watch over the creature, only having it sleep and eat. Finally, you decide you must [[Teach it to communicate]]

[[Look at the glass]]

It continues to make noises that you cannot understand. It goes into another room and brings back objects in its hands. One is a large brown box or rectangle of sorts. The other is something round and red that he holds out to you, motioning towards the mouth. You take the thing and put it in your mouth, bite down, chew. It is the most wonderful feeling. You experience joy for the first time. [[This is the beginning of a life-long companionship]]

You strike the man down and he lies motionless on the floor. You realize you are surrounded by others like him, looking confused and scared. More begin to race towards you. This is your last chance to change course. You can leave now, turn back, and [[enter the forest]] or you enjoy this feeling of power, and [[fight the humans]]

You run away from the shouting townspeople, feeling angry, confused, scared. You head for the ominous dark shelter of the towering trees and [[enter the forest]]

You see a face in the glass, but don't know what it is. You reach one finger out to touch it, but just hit the cold surface. Suddenly you realize, this face is you. It is grotesque. How do you react? [[Feel uneasy, and leave the town]] [[Feel pride, and experience a taste for violence]]

As the years pass, your creator spends every day with you. Slowly, you learn to speak, read, write, and control your emotions. You read novels together and at supper you discuss them together. Your creator is overjoyed, not only at his success, but also at having a friend. He had long been living in isolation. As much as you enjoy the company of your creator, you want to experience the outside lands as well. Do you [[Spend your days together until he passes away]] [[Leave him to adventure out into the world]]

You established a bond with your creator, you learned, and you grew. You did not let your form define you and you embraced every aspect of life. You lived freely. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]

You venture out into the world, staying in the shadows. You realize that the people of the world will not understand you, will not easily accept you. You walk in the dead of night, making camp under the stars. You stray far and wide, listen in on conversation, view incredible landscapes and faces, feel like you have truly had a chance to appreciate the world. After many years away, you decide you must return to your creator. You [[Spend your days together until he passes away]]

[[Stare]]

You don't recognize the face that looks back. You have been in your lab for so long you look like a different person. Your skin has grown wrinkled, your hair thin. You can clearly see the bones of your face and your eye sockets are hollow. You realize that you were not building a monster. You were becoming one. [[You can't change who you've become. Return to your lab to be alone]] [[You want to change. You head back to try to find your creation]]

Years pass. You don't interact with the townsfolk. There are whispers about the strange doctor who doesn't leave his lab. Your body begins to decay. You don't know what happened to the monster. When you came home that day he had gone. You didn't try to persue him. You don't know what has become of him. One night, you awake from a nightmare, shivering with sweat. As you reach over for your water you glance outside the window and start backwards. There is a face in the window. <div class="aliens">When you look at it, it disappears.</div> But you’re sure you saw something. [[He haunts you]]

You find it wreaking havoc back in your lab. It is throwing jars, ripping down curtains, smashing the tools. You speak to it in a soothing voice, are able to calm it down. This is your creation, and you have decided you want to establish a connection. First, you [[Teach it to communicate]]

You did not establish a relationship with your creator, but you lived a peaceful life. You had a simple life, but you enjoyed it, you were happy. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]

You strike at everyone who approaches you. Your strength overpowers them, they all drop to the ground. Feeling only a thrill, you continue on, wanting to hurt and kill. You travel, seeking out murder everywhere you go. Word travels of the hideous beast who terrorizes villages. You hope news of you makes it way back to the creator. You want them to know this is their fault. They are the true monster. Eventually you are stopped and your reign of terror ends. As you lay dying, you think [[You are happy with the destruction you have caused]] [[You regret what you have done, you wished you could begin again]]

As much as you try to forget the thing, that part of your life, it will always be with you. You were responsible for the creature and could not accept that responsibility. You don't know what became of it. It may have lived a solitary, peaceful life. It may have terrorized and killed villagers. You try to get it out of your head, but it never leaves. It is with you forever. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]

You go back the way you came. You see the building with the lab, but you continue on. You are scared and do not want to have any interactions. You continue forward and eventually [[enter the forest]]

You continue into the town, not bothering to hide yourself. You allow others to see you. You feel excitment at their fear. Some retreat, scream, move out of your way. However, some come towards you, holding long sticks. You [[fight the humans]]

You decide you do not want to be violent. You head back to your previous spot and [[Eat the berries]]

You realize you are angry with your creator, angry with his species. You want what they have. You decide to leave the forest and enter the town. When you come within sight of people. You [[fight the humans]]

You lived life as an evil being, acting out of anger, betrayal, and sadness. You weren't accepted and didn't know how to live with this terrible truth. You enjoyed hurting the humans, but deep down you envied them and the connections they were able to form with each other. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]

You weren't pure evil, just misunderstood. You were not welcomed by your creator and you did not know what to do except rebel. Maybe if you had another chance, you could choose differently. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]

You teach him and the two of you grow very content with your partnership. He becomes your dear friend, of which you had very little. Eventually you introduce him to a trusted colleague, Harry. Although difficult at first, your friend grows to understand and appreciate the creature. Aside from you and Harry, the creature never interacts with another person. You never felt it was safe enough to do so. However, with your books and knowledge, the two of you felt like you explored the world together. You often think how lucky you are that your story ended up in this way. Your creation proved your abilities to yourself, and gave you a lifelong friend. And for that you are forever grateful. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]

Years pass. You have succeeded in teaching the creature basic communication skills, expanding his knowledge with each passing day. Eventually you began to teach your practice, how your lab works, and help him understand how he came to be. What is the creature most interested in? [[Creating as many like him as possible]] [[Just creating one mate for himself]]

He quickly became skilled at the process of stitching the bodies together. In fact, he is much better than you ever were, something that concerned you. He quickly expressed desires of making a species like him, a chance for him to feel at home. Finally realizing the catastrophic repurcussions this could have, you must deny him. You tell him that if he wants to continue with the process, his only option will be [[Just creating one mate for himself]]

He is excited at this prospect of a companion who looks like him. He spends months collecting the pieces, putting the parts together, turning to you for help and guidance. Sometimes you wonder if you will regret allowing, and encouraging this to happen. Do you change your mind at put a stop to it? [[Yes, anything could happen]] [[No, your creation needs a partner to be truly happy]]

One night you sneak into the lab while the creature is out. You gaze down at the partly finished woman laying on the table. You take a deep breath and begin tearing her apart. You grab random objects from around the lab and rip her to shreds, making sure no piece can be reused. Suddenly you feel a presence; the creature is behind you. You turn to look at him. He is filled with rage, begins shouting and screaming, yelling that you have betrayed him. He turns and flees out the door. That is the last time you see him. [[He haunts you]]

Work continues on the woman, until she is finally complete months later. You and the creature both anxiously watch as she shows the first signs of life. She reacts similarly to the way your creature first did, except she can recognize there is someone else like her. She feels that sense of connection with him, not demonstrating the fear he once did. Years pass, and the two decide to leave and make their home elsewhere. Although sad to lose them and the companionship, you are struck at what you are responsible for producing, how beautiful it is. You don't know if you'll see them again, but you rest knowing your work has made something good. End. If you'd like to choose a different story, head to: [[Beginning]]