(set: $playthrough = $playthrough + 1)So, you want to hear another story?
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[I'm afraid I have none to tell.(stop:)]]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You see, things just aren't the same anymore. I don't have as many ideas, I don't have the energy. Storytelling... well, it's just harder now. As are many things.](stop:)]
(live: 13s)[(transition: "dissolve")[But then again... perhaps I could make another for you. I just need a few things.(stop:)]]
(live: 16s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Tell me: who are you?
(link-reveal: "I am a student")[(set: $profession = 0)(go-to: "Loves")]
(link-reveal: "I am a young professional")[(set: $profession = 1)(go-to: "Loves")]
(link-reveal: "I'm just an ordinary person")[(set: $profession = 2)(go-to: "Loves")]
(link-reveal: "I am old, retired now")[(set: $profession = 3)(go-to: "Loves")]]]What do you love?
(link-reveal: "I love creating things")[(set: $loves = 0)(go-to: "Storytime")]
(link-reveal: "I love discovering things")[(set: $loves = 1)(go-to: "Storytime")]
(link-reveal: "I love understanding things")[(set: $loves = 2)(go-to: "Storytime")]
(link-reveal: "I love my friends and family")[(set: $loves = 3)(go-to: "Storytime")]
(link-reveal: "I love adventures")[(set: $loves = 4)(go-to: "Storytime")]One last thing: what is your best friend's name?
{
(live: 3s)[
(set: $confirm1 to false)
(set: $confirm2 to false)
(set: $name to (prompt: "Your best friend's name:", ""))
(if: $name is "Darkness" or "darkness")[(go-to: "Storytime Two")](else-if: $name is "Despair" or "despair")[(go-to: "Storytime Three")](else:)[
(set: $confirm1 to (confirm: "Your friend is male?"))
(if: $confirm1 is true)[
(set: $male to 1)
]
(if: $confirm1 is false)[
(set: $confirm2 to (confirm: "Your friend is female?"))
(if: $confirm2 is true)[
(set: $female to 1)
]
]
(display: "Variable Check")(stop:)]]
}
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$name is a good name. But this is a story about you.(stop:)]]
(live: 9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[I will tell the story, and you will decide what you do.(stop:)]]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Choose wisely, my friend.(stop:)]]
(live: 15s)[(go-to: "Doorway")](transition: "dissolve")[You stood in front of the doorway, with $name at your side. It was a (weekday:) night, late in the evening. Around you, the already dim, earthen colors of the old farm faded even further as the sun set somewhere behind the trees. Through the doorway, you could barely make out the inside of the little house, the entryway fading into the darkness of a hallway behind.]
|choice1>[(link: "I wanted to go home")[(transition: "dissolve")[$name playfully shoved you. 'What, a little darkness and a little dust and you're ready to run home? Come on, we came all the way out here, we might as well go inside.' $cgp stepped through the doorway, turning on $pp flashlight as $gp went. Taking one more hesitant look around, you followed.](replace: ?choice2)[](show: ?next)]]
|choice2>[(link: "I led the way through the doorway")[(transition: "dissolve")[You stepped past $name into the old house. You had come all the way here, and you weren't about to be deterred by a little dust and some darkness. You switched on your flashlight and indicated to $name that $gp should do the same.](replace: ?choice1)[](show: ?next)]]
|next)[[[I continued into the old house->Inside]]]{
(if: $male is 1)[(set: $gp = "he")(set: $cgp = "He")(set: $cpp = "His")(set: $pp = "his")(set: $dop = "him")(set: $refp = "himself")]
(else-if: $female is 1)[(set: $gp = "she")(set: $cgp = "She")(set: $pp = "her")(set: $cpp = "Her")(set: $dop = "her")(set: $refp = "herself")]
(if: $playthrough is 1)[
(set: $firstName to $name)
(set: $firstProfession to $profession)
(set: $firstLove to $love)
(set: $firstMale to $male)
(set: $firstFemale to $female)
]
(if: $playthrough > 1)[
(if: $name is not $firstName)[
(set: $nameChange = true)
]
(if: $profession is not $firstProfession)[
(set: $profChange to true)
]
(if: $love is not $firstLove)[
(set: $loveChange to true)
]
(if: $male is not $firstMale)[
(set: $genderChange to true)
]
(if: $female is not $firstFemale)[
(set: $genderChange to true)
]
(if: $nameChange or $profChange or $loveChange or $genderChange)[
(set: $anyChange to true)
]
]
}{
(set: $cgp = "They")
(set: $gp = "they")
(set: $pp = "their")
(set: $cpp = "Their")
(set: $dop = "them")
(set: $refp = "themself")
(set: $name = "your friend")
(set: $male to 0)
(set: $female to 0)
(set: $playthrough = 0)
(set: $loves to 0)
(set: $profession to 0)
(set: $firstname = $name)
(set: $firstLove = 0)
(set: $firstProfession = 0)
(set: $nameChange to false)
(set: $genderChange to false)
(set: $profChange to false)
(set: $loveChange to false)
(set: $flashingText to (a: "come closer", "come to me", "I am here", "I am waiting", "deeper", "deeper, yet deeper", "down, down into the darkness", "your friend is mine", "come below"))
(set: $intensity to 200)
(set: $flickering to false)
(set:$firstEntry to true)
(set: $evilText to (text-colour: "#990000")+(text-style: "Emboss")+(transition: "dissolve"))
(set: $putridKey to false)
(set: $tortureKey to false)
(set: $thermite to false)
(set: $usedThermite to false)
(set: $putridLock to false)
(set: $tortureLock to false)
}Inside the entryway, you stumbled over the decaying remains of several pairs of thick leather boots. On a hook you saw the tattered remains of a raincoat, mostly eaten away by time.
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[With each breath, you could feel the dust in the air coat your tongue. (if: $profession is 3)[Your old lungs couldn't take it, and you coughed heavily for a moment.] The floor of the entryway was coated with years' worth of dirt blown in through the open doorway. Looking down, you could just barely make out the raised portion of the floor where the door had been lying for years, now masked by all the dirt.](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Ahead of you, $name peered through the second doorway on the other side of the entryway. This door, too, had been missing for many years, and the dirt and dust splayed out over the rotted-out carpet of the hallway.](stop:)]
(live: 18s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Stepping into the innner doorway, you flicked your flashlight around. Dust particles swirled heavily in the thin light of the beam.](stop:)]
(live: 24s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$name pushed past you, eager to explore further. You followed $dop into the hallway. Turning around, $gp asked, 'Where to now?'](stop:)
[[I said we should go up the stairs->Upstairs]]
[[I said we should go into the living room->Living Room]]
[[I said we should go into the kitchen->Kitchen]]
](transition: "dissolve")[The floors creaked and cracked as you made your way up. Frankly, you were surprised that none of them gave way under your weight, given how far they bent and how loudly they groaned. However, you made your way to the upper floor with no incident.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Reaching the top, you looked around. There was far less dirt here than down below, and under your feet were the remains of a carpet. With each step the powdery, dessicated cloth gave way into dust, once again filling your mouth with a dry, sour taste. Beside you, $name started coughing, and needed to stop for a moment to catch $pp breath.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[As $pp breathing stilled, the house returned to its long-kept silence.](stop:)]
(live: 15s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Before long, $name was ready to move again, and looked to you for directions. 'Which room do you want to check first?' $cgp asked.
[[I went to the left->Bedroom]]
[[I went to the right->Bathroom]]
[[I went straight ahead->Master Bedroom]]
](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[The last of the evening light streamed through the living room windows, highlighting the pale browns and beiges of the old furniture.]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Once upon a time, the room had been well-manicured, someone's pride and joy. The furniture was well-arranged, with a cohesive aesthetic, and lent itself to a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere.(stop:)]]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[In the back of the room stood a large mirror reflecting the orange light of the evening back across the room, as well as a china cabinet.
|choice1>[(link-replace: "I walked toward the china cabinet")[(transition: "dissolve")[You approached the china cabinet, inspecting the old glassware and dishes. They were of good quality, and still surprisingly clean for how long the house had been abandoned.]]
[[I returned to the hallway->Hallway Two]]
(stop:)]]](transition: "dissolve")[Stepping into the kitchen, $name immediately gagged. A horrendous smell filled the air, making it thick and barely breathable. Covering your nose and mouth, you brought your flashlight up to investigate further.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Cockroaches skittered here and there, pouring in and out of a hole at the bottom of the pantry door. On the table lied the bones of an animal carcass long rotted away, and a host of maggots filled the sludge gathered in the sink. $name immediately moved to back out of the room.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I also left the room->Hallway Two]]
[[I wanted to look closer->Kitchen 2]](stop:)]](transition: "dissolve")[You entered a small bedroom. On your left, a twin bed sat against the wall, and under the window at the other end of the room was a desk. Immediately to your right stood a wardrobe, held closed by an iron chain and a padlock.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
|choice1>[(link-replace: "I looked under the bed")[You found dust, mouse droppings, and dead spiders when you looked under the bed, but not much else.
]]
|choice2>[(link-replace: "I searched through the desk drawers")[For the most part the desk contained blank sheets of dry, crumbling paper. However, in the last drawer, you found a notebook.
|notebook>[(link-replace: "I looked through the notebook")[(display: "Notebook")(replace: ?noNotebook)[]]]
|noNotebook>[(link-replace: "I left the notebook in the drawer")[(replace: ?notebook)[]]
]]]
[[I returned to the landing->Upstairs Two]]
](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[You entered a small bathroom. To your right was a sink, to your left a claw-foot bathtub, and in front of you a squat toilet. Your flashlight barely illuminated the room, and outside of its beam the darkness weighed oppresively upon you. Though still covered in dust, the bathroom was cleaner than many of the rooms you'd seen so far.(if: (history:) contains "Kitchen")[ It certainly looked better than the kitchen.] Beyond that, there wasn't much remarkable about the little room.
[[I returned to the landing->Upstairs Two]]](transition: "dissolve")[At the end of the hall, you found the master bedroom. Though, to be fair, in a house this size not much could be expected from such a room. A queen size bed was tucked into the back right corner, with a huge wardrobe filling the space between it and the left-hand wall. A writing desk stood just to your left, and a thick rug covered the floor. A broken coat rack leaned against the wall behind the door.]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
|desk>[(link-replace: "I looked through the desk")[You found nothing of interest in the desk.]]
|bed>[(link-replace: "I looked under the bed")[
You found only dust under the bed.]]
(link-replace: "I searched the wardrobe")[(replace: ?desk)[](replace: ?bed)[]As you and $name approached the wardrobe, you heard a creaking sound come from the landing, followed by another, closer, creak. And another. It sounded like someone was climbing the stairs toward the landing.
$name looked at you, $pp eyes widening. 'What do we do?' $cgp asked
[[I stood and faced the doorway->Fight Entry]]
[[I decided we should hide in the wardrobe->Hidden Entry]]
]](stop:)]
[[I went into the kitchen->Kitchen]]
[[I went into the living room->Living Room]]
[[I went upstairs->Upstairs]](transition: "dissolve")[Taking as shallow breaths as you could manage, you pushed farther into the kitchen. Behind you, $name called out, 'What are you doing? That place is disgusting!' You had to agree, as your shoe came to rest in something soft and sticky within your first two steps. Pushing down the urge to gag, you kept moving foward. In the dim light of your flashlight, you could just make out a door at the far end of the room. Unfortunately, you didn't think you could make it through; the door was blocked by a knocked-over cabinet.
|choice1>[I moved toward the sink](click-replace: ?choice1)[(replace: ?choice2)[](replace: ?choice3)[](display: "Sink")]
|choice2>[I moved toward the pantry](click-replace: ?choice2)[(replace: ?choice1)[](replace: ?choice3)[](display: "Fridge")]
|choice3>[I moved toward the table](click-replace: ?choice3)[(replace: ?choice1)[](replace: ?choice2)[](display: "Table")]](transition: "dissolve")[You approached the kitchen table. On top was the full skeleton of what you assumed to be a pig, given the size. The skeleton sat atop a large platter which was cracked in half length-wise. All around the platter, the table was stained, eaten away by rot. (if: $loves is 2)[It seemed to you that when the animal had rotted away, the fluids draining out of it had increased the rate at which the table had rotted.] Outside of that area, the wood remained in remarkably good condition. Behind you, $name called for you to come back.
[[I returned to the hallway->Hallway Two]]](transition: "dissolve")[You crossed the kitchen to the sink, cockroaches crunching under your feet as you crossed. You hadn't realized how thick the bugs were before. Reaching the sink, you looked down. The drain of the sink was clogged, and whatever had been in the sink before had rotted down to a thick paste filled with maggots.(if: $loves is 2)[ It seemed to you that the house had been abandoned much longer than the amout of time whatever was rotting in that sink had been been here.] With nothing more to do here, you [[returned to the hallway->Hallway Two]]](transition: "dissolve")[You approached the pantry. As you came closer, every step crushed a bug beneath your foot. By the time you were in front of the pantry, the last step crunched down on six or seven of the creatures. You looked at the door of the pantry, and at the slime on the handle.
(if: $loves is 4)[|open>[I opened the pantry.](click-replace: ?open)[Hundreds of the insects slithered out from the opening door, accompanied by a thick, putrid sludge. Whatever had once been in the pantry had turned into a breeding ground for the animals. You stumbled backward, avoiding the tide of filth, and [[returned to the hallway->Hallway Two]]]]
(else:)[[[I turned and left the room->Hallway Two]]]]{(set: _move1 to true)(set: _move2 to true)
(if: (history:) contains "Bathroom")[(set: _move1 to false)]
(if: (history:) contains "Bedroom")[(set: _move2 to false)]
(if: _move1 is true)[[[I went to the right->Bathroom]]]}
(if: _move2 is true)[[[I went to the left->Bedroom]]]
[[I went straight ahead->Master Bedroom]](transition: "dissolve")[The notebook read as follows:]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[//Nov. 1:
I'm not sure whether we'll have enough supplies to last the winter. A disease took hold of the crop just before harvest, and we lost a good portion of it. We certainly won't be able to feed both the animals and ourselves -- even if we kill the animals and eat them too, I don't know if we'll have enough to make it through to the spring thaw.//](stop:)]
(live: 15s)[(transition: "dissolve")[//Dec. 28th:
We've made it so far, but Christmas had to look a little lean. Jonah didn't understand, he's only six. He kept asking why we weren't going to have a ham this year -- when I told him it was because the crops failed, he asked why plants keep us from having meat. I still laugh a little each time I think of him saying it. Father tells me it's going to work out, but I'm not so sure.//](stop:)]
(live: 25s)[(transition: "dissolve")[//Feb. 2nd:
The winter has been unusually harsh and cold. Of what little we had, some froze when the barn roof collapsed under the weight of the snow. It might be february, but there's no sign of the cold letting up any time soon. With four feet of snow still on the ground, and nothing left to our name -- I don't know what we do now. We're too far out from town to go get help in this weather. Father is ill, and Jonah keeps asking when our next proper meal will be.//](stop:)]
(live: 35s)[(transition: "dissolve")[//Feb. 10th:
A man came by today, tall, wearing a dark coat and a dark hat. He asked if he could stay with us until the thaw. We told him we have nothing left, we can't possibly feed him. He told us that he has some supplies in his cart he's willing to share if we keep him here just a few nights. Just until he can finish fixing his cart. We agreed, and he gave us the first decent meal we've had in weeks. He's asleep on the couch downstairs right now.//](stop:)]
(live: 45s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The journal entries end there.](stop:)]
(live: 50s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$name, looking over your shoulder, hummed. 'I wonder what happened to them?' $cgp asked.](stop:)]
(live: 55s)[(transition: "dissolve")['I don't know', you replied. 'But after seeing this place... I can't imagine they made it much farther.'](stop:)]
(live: 60s)[(transition: "dissolve")['The barn roof IS still collapsed,' $name said. 'I suppose if they didnt make it, it never would have been fixed.'](stop:)]
(live: 65s)[(transition: "dissolve")['Maybe,' you said. 'Though it's also possible that it collapsed again later. This place has been abandoned a long, long time.]
(stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[You turned to face the doorway. Behind you, $name closed $refp in the wardrobe. The creaking grew closer, coming right up to the door, then stopped. The doorknob jiggled for a second, as if the being on the other side had found it locked. For a moment, everything stood still.]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Then, the floor underneath the wardrobe where $name was hiding let out a long, creaking groan. You held your breath as the sound rang out, and the doorknob started jiggling again. You didn't think it was locked -- you certainly hadn't locked it in the brief moment you'd been in here.](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Then things ran out of control.](stop:)]
(live: 21s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(transition: "dissolve")[(live: .5s)[(if: time < 23s)[The floor underneath the wardrobe collapsed](if: time > 23s and time < 24s)[$name, screaming, was still in the wardrobe](if: time > 24s and time < 25s)[As you turned, the wardrobe crashed down through the hole](if: time > 25s and time < 26s)[The door flew open, and something smacked you upside the head](if: time > 26s)[(go-to: "Fight Aftermath")]](stop:)]]](transition: "dissolve")[You and $name pulled open the wardrobe door and stepped inside. Pulling the door shut behind you, you left just a tiny sliver of space through which you could see. You saw the doorknob jiggle, as if it were locked.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[A long pause followed.](stop:)]
(live: 15s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Then, the floor below your feet let out a long, creaking groan, growing louder. You felt the floor begin to buckle underneath the wardrobe, but you grit your teeth, held your breath, and kept put.](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Several things then happened at once:](stop:)]
(live: 21s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(transition: "dissolve")[(live: .5s)[(if: time < 23s)[The floor underneath the wardrobe collapsed.](if: time > 23s and time < 24s)[$name, screaming, shoved you out of the wardrobe](if: time > 24s and time < 25s)[As you fell, the wardrobe crashed down through the floor](if: time > 25s and time < 26s)[The door flew open, and something came through](if: time > 26s and time < 27s)[You caught a glimpse of black boots](if: time > 27s and time < 28s)[Just as one of those boots kicked you out cold.](if: time > 28s)[(go-to: "Fight Aftermath")]]](stop:)]](live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[(link-replace: "I woke up on the floor of the bedroom")[(live: 10s)[(link-replace: "It was dark, and I couldn't find my flashlight")[(live: 10s)[(link-replace: "The house was utterly silent")[(live: 2s)[You lay next to the giant hole in the floor where the wardrobe had fallen.](stop:)](stop:)](stop:)](stop:)](stop:)](stop:)](stop:)]
(live: 45s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Peering down, you couldn't see the bottom, but you could see that the wardrobe had smashed clear through the next floor as well, down into an inky darkness.](stop:)]
(live: 50s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Dizzy, you pulled yourself to your feet. You needed to find $name. You needed to get out of there. You didn't know who had come through that door, or why they had chosen to knock you out and leave you here, but you and $name had to get out. You just had to find $dop first.](stop:)]
(live: 55s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I stumbled out onto the landing->Dark Landing]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[Groping to find a wall, you stumbled forward in the darkness. You caught onto the desk, pulled yourself to the doorway, and inched out onto the landing. A little light came from the windows downstairs, and so finding the staircase was easy.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Getting down them was less so.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Easily half the stairs were now collapsed, and the remaining ones looked damaged. Standing at the top, you hesitated.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[(link-replace: "I went to check the other bedroom")[You couldn't see anything in the darkness.
]
(link-replace: "I started down the stairwell")[(display: "Staircase")]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[You placed your foot carefully on the first stair, letting your weight transition to it smoothly and slowly. It held. The next two steps were missing.]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You grasped the railing hard, and pulled yourself forward along the edge of the two broken stairs. Then, arms shaking, you lowered yourself inch by inch onto the next safe stair.](stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[In this manner you made your way to the bottom of the stairs one slow, painful stair at a time. At least here you could see. And in the light, you could see bootprints of black slime staining the carpet, coming out from and going back into the kitchen.](stop:)]
(live: 9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Perhaps more importantly, the inner door of the entryway -- which you hadn't even noticed earlier -- was now shut and locked. If you wanted to get out, you'd need to find another way.](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I checked the living room ->Dark Living Room]]
[[I went into the kitchen->Dark Kitchen]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[Entering the living room, you felt some relief. Here, with the brighter beiges of most of the furniture and the moonlight coming from the large window, you could see a little better than in the rest of the house.]
{
(if: $loves is 0)[(link-replace: "I looked around for tools, or a weapon, or something")[You found nothing of use.]]
(if: $loves is 3)[(link-replace: "I sat down on the couch")[You sat down, burying your head in your hands. It was going to be hard to find $name. You hoped $gp were alright. But sitting around got you nowhere.]]
(if: $loves is 1)[(link-replace: "I looked at the shelves in the back")[You found a few odds and ends; family photos showing an old man, with a wife perhaps ten years younger, and two sons -- one a grown man, the other still a small child.]]
(if: $loves is 2)[(link-replace: "I looked at the handles on the door")[Small traces of the black slime you saw in the hallway are on the handles of the door.]]
(if: $loves is 4)[(link-replace: "I looked out the window")[As you approached the window, you found that while the room was bright, the window was covered in a thin layer of black slime, obscuring the outside world. Wiping at the glass with one of the curtains, you found that the slime was on the outside of the pane as well.]]
}
[[I headed back into the hallway->Dark Hallway]](transition: "dissolve")[You entered the kitchen, and reeled back at the stench.(if: (history:) contains "Kitchen")[ It seemed even stronger than before.] In the gloom, you couldn't see the cockroaches against the slime on the floor, but you could hear them skittering away in the shadows. Covering your nose and mouth, you pushed on into the room.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[As you passed the table in the center of the room, the far wall came into view. In the shadows, you could see that(if: (history:) contains "Kitchen 2")[ the cabinet that had been in the way earlier was shoved aside, and] the door set in the far wall led down a set of stairs.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I braced myself and headed down the stairs->Basement One]]
[[I decided it might be best to go get help and come back->Dark Entryway]]](stop:)]And so there was nowhere left to go but the kitchen.
[[I entered the kitchen->Dark Kitchen]]{
<script>Sound.play('https://www.dropbox.com/s/q9g59e73c1vvtin/Nctrnm_-_05_-_True.mp3?dl=1');</script>
}(transition: "dissolve")[You stumbled down the stairs, desperately gripping the railing to keep from falling. Each stair had a thin layer of the same slime that coated the floor of the kitchen -- that slime that stank of years of decay. The fumes only thickened as you descended into the basement, and you pushed down the urge to vomit. $name needed you, and so you had to go. $cgp must have fallen down here. It couldn't possibly be that far to where you had seen $dop.]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[In the last pool of light at the bottom of the stairwell -- if that dim grey rectangle could even be called such -- you found a candle and a box of matches. Jumping at the opportunity, you grabbed it, only to find a single match left.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Still, you figured anything was better than the impenetrable darkness currently surrounding you.](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[(link-replace: "I lit the match")[(display: "Bottom Of Stairs")]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[You pounded on the door, hoping it would give way as easily as the stairs. There would be no such luck, and it held firm. You quickly searched around the rest of the bottom floor, finding nothing promising. There was another door at the back of the main hall, past the stairwell and the kitchen door, but it, too, was made of sterner stuff than you.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[What's more, you found that the doorknob on the back door was coated in more of that black slime, and that the bootprints had stained the carpet dark between there and the kitchen door. The door itself looked newer than the rest of the house, as it was made of a lighter, less weathered wood.](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I returned to the dark stairwell->Basement One]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[The candle more than illuminated the space in which you found yourself. The stairs dropped you off in a hallway, which ran the length of the cellar. One door stood in the right-hand wall, leading back under the kitchen, while another stood at the far end of the hall, probably leading to a hatch in the back yard.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I took the door on the right->Basement Two]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[Luckily, the door was unlocked. Pushing it open, gritting your teeth as it shrieked on its rusty hinges, you entered the main room of the cellar. At the far end, the cracked remains of the wardrobe had not yet given in to the weight of the rubble lying on top of them.]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You called out for $name, asking if $gp was okay. No response came from the wardrobe. You rushed over, placing the candle at your feet, and heaved away the wooden beam holding the wardrobe doors shut.](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Prying open the doors, you found nothing.](stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The wardrobe was empty.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[I stood there, unsure what to do->Hesitation]]
[[I picked up my candle and turned to go find $name.->Determination]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[You took a deep, shuddering breath, memories of $name running through your head. How you met $pp, how you became friends with $pp, all the times you had gotten $pp into trouble, or out of trouble -- the times $gp had come to you with $pp fears, dreams, or whatever else was going on in $pp life.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You took another breath, steadier, and pushed the memories aside. You had to go find $pp still. That didn't change just because you'd been set back. You picked up your candle, and turned to go.
[[I opened the door back into the hallway->THE END]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[Your face set like flint, and you picked up your candle. You threw the door of the wardrobe shut, and turned to leave the room.
[[I opened the door to the hallway->THE END]]](transition: "dissolve")[The door shrieked its way open, and when it swang fully away, you stopped dead in your tracks.]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Propped up against the wall was $name's body, $pp head lying between $pp legs, eyes gouged out. Above $pp on the wall, written in blood and black slime, was written](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(transition: "dissolve")[DO NOT RETURN HERE]](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(if: $playthrough is 1)[[[Try again?->Start]]](else:)[[[Try again?->Why?]]](stop:)](transition: "dissolve")[Why did you return?]
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[(if: $anyChange)[(if: $nameChange)[You changed your friend's name. ](if: $profChange)[You changed who you said you are. ](if: $loveChange)[You changed what you love. ](if: $genderChange)[You changed your friend's gender. ]](else:)[You changed nothing.]](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[And yet you were ready to go again, to try again, to try to change fate.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Honestly, what are you expecting?](stop:)]
(live: 11s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You can't save $name. (if: $nameChange)[You can't save $firstName, either]](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Your choices don't matter here.](stop:)]
(live: 13s)[(transition: "dissolve")[YOU don't matter here.](stop:)]
(live: 14s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You were told not to return, yet return you did.](stop:)]
(live: 15s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Why?](stop:)]
(live: 16s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Did you really think a few simple changes to your choices would be enough to stop anything?](stop:)]
(live: 18s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Was it pride? Was it care for your friend? Or was it just dedication to seeing every outcome?](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You mean nothing. Your choices mean nothing. This story ends in pain. You won't worm your way out of it, and you won't be able to save anyone. You'll be alone, in the dark, with no resolution, no hope, and no happy ending.](stop:)]
(live: 25s)[(transition: "dissolve")[But if you want to try so desperately, I suppose I can find you a suitable outcome. I will give you another chapter.](stop:)]
(live: 28s)[(transition: "dissolve")[But don't say I didn't warn you.](stop:)]
(live: 30s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Oh, and if you want to come back to this chapter later, just answer 'Darkness' the first time you are asked your best friend's name.](stop:)]
(live: 35s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[Try Again->Storytime Two]]](stop:)]{
(if: $name is "Despair" or "despair")[
(set: $confirm1 to false)
(set: $confirm2 to false)
(set: $name to (prompt: "Your best friend's REAL name:", ""))
(set: $confirm1 to (confirm: "Your friend is male?"))
(if: $confirm1 is true)[
(set: $male to 1)
]
(if: $confirm1 is false)[
(set: $confirm2 to (confirm: "Your friend is female?"))
(if: $confirm2 is true)[
(set: $female to 1)
]
]
(display: "Variable Check")(stop:)]
}(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The huge door shrieked open on its hinges, and you stepped out into another empty hallway beyond. You heard $name cry out, but $gp sounded so far away... You descended another stairwell, spiralling ever further underground. The boot prints were heavily marked in the stairwell, with slime -- both dried and fresh -- coating the stairs.](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You pressed on down the stairwell, coming to the bottom after what felt like an eternity. You came into a small room with cement walls, and felt the temperature drop a few degrees upon entering.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[At the other end of the room stood a tall figure in a dark hat, a long, dark coat, and black boots. It smiled at you from beneath the brim of its hat.](stop:)]
$evilText[
(live: 15s)[HELLO, THERE (stop:)]
(live: 17s)[I SEE YOU'VE COME BACK TO GET YOUR FRIEND(stop:)]
(live: 20s)[I'M TERRIBLY SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME(stop:)]
(live: 23s)[YOU SEE, I NEED MORE FOOD(stop:)]
(live: 25s)[AND YOUR FRIEND SEEMED SO... EDIBLE(stop:)]
(live: 28s)[BUT I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A SPORTING CHANCE TO SAVE IT(stop:)]
(live: 31s)[SO I SHALL DO THAT NOW(stop:)]
(live: 34s)[HERE ARE THE RULES: THIS DOOR BEHIND ME LEADS TO A MAZE (stop:)]
(live: 36s)[I WILL GIVE YOU A HEAD START, THEN I WILL FOLLOW (stop:)]
(live: 38s)[IF I GET TO YOUR FRIEND FIRST, I EAT IT(stop:)]
(live: 40s)[IF YOU GET THERE FIRST, YOU GET TO LEAVE(stop:)]
(live: 42s)[GOOD LUCK(stop:)]
(live: 44s)[OH, AND SHOULD YOU WANT TO COME BACK(stop:)]
(live: 46s)[YOU MIGHT SAY 'DESPAIR' IS YOUR FRIEND(stop:)]
]
(live: 50s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The creature stood aside, still grinning at you from under its hat.
(set: $turns = 0)
[[I headed into the maze->A5]]]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->B6]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->A5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->B1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->A2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->B2]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->A1]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->B3]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->A4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->A3]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->A5]]Double-click this passage to edit it.You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door to the right->A4]]
[[Take the door to the left->A6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->B7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->A8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->A7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->A9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->B9]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->A8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->C1]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->A1]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->A2]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->B3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->C3]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->A3]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->B2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'right'->B5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->C5]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->B4]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->B6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->C6]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->A6]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->B5]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->B7]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->A7]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->B6]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->B8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->C8]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->B7]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->A9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->D1]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->B1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->C2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->D3]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->B3]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->C4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->D5]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->B5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->B6]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->C7]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->B8]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->C9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->C1]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->C1]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->C3]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->D2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->D4]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->C3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->E4]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->C4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->C5]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->D6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->D7]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->C6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->C7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->D8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->C8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->E2]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->D3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->F2]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->D2]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->E1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->E3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->D4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->D5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->D7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->D9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->E9]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->D8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->D9]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->E8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->F1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->E2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->F3]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->E2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E1]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E3]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->F4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->F8]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->E9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E8]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->F9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->G4]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->F3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->F4]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->G3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->G9]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->F8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->H9]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->F9]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->G8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->G2]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->G4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->H2]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->G1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->G3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->G2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->H1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->G2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->I1]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->G1]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->I9]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->G9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->G7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->G9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->H7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->G8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->G7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->H8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->H1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I2]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->H7]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->H9]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I1]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->H3]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I2]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->I3]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I7]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I9]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I6]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I8]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->H6]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I5]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I7]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->I6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'left'->I4]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->H4]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->I5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->I4]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->H5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->G5]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->H4]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->H5]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->G6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->F6]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->G5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->G6]]
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E6]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->F5]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->F6]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->E7]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E5]]
[[Take the door marked 'right'->F6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'down'->F7]]
[[Take the door marked 'left'->E6]]You enter an unremarkable room.
(set: $turns = $turns + 1)
[[Take the door marked 'up'->E7]](if: $turns > 29)[You entered the final room to find $name's clothes in a pile on the floor, surrounded by bones and black slime. On the wall, in a mixture of blood and slime, was written:
(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "Emboss")[TOO LATE]]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You are left to wander out from the maze on your own, as your candle burns ever lower.
[[Try again?->Start]]](stop:)]](else:)[You enter the room to find $name unconcious on the floor. You run to $pp side, and shake $pp, trying to wake $pp. You check $pp pulse. $cgp's definitely still alive, but you can't wake $dop. Behind you, you hear laughing.
(live: 5s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "Emboss")[(transition: "dissolve")[HELLO, THERE](stop:)]]]
(live: 7s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "Emboss")[(transition: "dissolve")[I'M GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT IN TIME](stop:)]]]
(live: 9s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "Emboss")[(transition: "dissolve")[I DO HOPE YOU AREN'T DISAPPOINTED](stop:)]]]
(live: 11s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "Emboss")[(transition: "dissolve")[AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW](stop:)]]]
(live: 15s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The creature grabbed you by your shirt collar and threw you aside, cracking your head against one of the cement walls. You fell to the ground and felt blood running through your hair.](stop:)]
(live: 18s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You rolled to your side just in time to see the creature pull a jagged knife out from inside its jacket and run it through $name's ribcage. You cringed away from the scene, rolling back to face the wall. For an eternity, you lay there as horrendous crunching and slurping noises came from behind you.](stop:)]
(live: 26s)[(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "Emboss")[(transition: "dissolve")[I'LL LEAVE THIS WITH YOU AS A GOODBYE TOKEN](stop:)]]]
(live: 11s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$name's head dropped down between you and the wall, eyes gouged out and replaced with deposits of the black slime. As you scrambled away, you heard the door close and the creature's laugh receed down the hallway.
[[This can't be it->ENDING THREE]]](stop:)]
](transition: "dissolve")[Give it up.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Some games aren't meant to be won.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Some tragedies cannot be avoided.](stop:)]
(live: 15s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Some friends will be lost no matter what.](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The longer you struggle, the harder you try...](stop:)]
(live: 25s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The more frustrating and painful the final defeat will be.](stop:)]
(live: 30s)[(transition: "dissolve")[So just give up. There is no victory here.](stop:)]
(live: 35s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Nothing you can say will change anything.](stop:)]
(live: 40s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Nothing you can do will change the ending.](stop:)]
(live: 45s)[(transition: "dissolve")[So it is, and so it will be.](stop:)]
(live: 50s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You did your best. Now give up.](stop:)]
(live: 55s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Give up, and go away.](stop:)]
(live: 60s)[(transition: "dissolve")[There is nothing for you here.](stop:)]
(live: 65s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You wanted a story. I gave you one. But not all stories are happy, and not all will make you feel fulfilled at the end.](stop:)]
(live: 70s)[(transition: "dissolve")[This one will only ever end in pain. So give up, and go away. I am done.](stop:)]
(live: 75s)[(transition: "dissolve")[(text-colour: "#990000")[(text-style: "emboss")[THE END]]](stop:)]{
(if: $name is "Darkness" or "darkness")[
(set: $confirm1 to false)
(set: $confirm2 to false)
(set: $name to (prompt: "Your best friend's REAL name:", ""))
(set: $confirm1 to (confirm: "Your friend is male?"))
(if: $confirm1 is true)[
(set: $male to 1)
]
(if: $confirm1 is false)[
(set: $confirm2 to (confirm: "Your friend is female?"))
(if: $confirm2 is true)[
(set: $female to 1)
]
]
(display: "Variable Check")(stop:)]
}(transition: "dissolve")[The door of the basement room shrieked its way open, and you stepped out into the hallway. The doorway off to your right, the one you assumed went up to the back yard, hung open.]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Instead of opening into a short stair upward, it opened into a black maw, descending down farther beneath the house.](stop:)]
(live: 8s)[(transition: "dissolve")[As you descended the stairway, the walls transitioned from drywall and plaster to raw clay, then from clay to a dark metal.](stop:)]
(live: 11s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The stairwell writhed down into the earth, turning at odd intervals, quickly destroying your sense of direction. All you knew was that you were far, far under the earth -- you weren't sure whether you were still under the farmhouse, or how far away you had moved.](stop:)]
(live: 16s)[(transition: "dissolve")[At long last, you came to a landing. The floor and walls stretched out before you, made of that same dark metal. The candle in your hand cast nowhere near enough light.](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[(link-replace: "I turned to go back to the surface, to try to find help.")[You backtracked up the stairwell, but just beyond the first turn, a large metal barrier had been moved into place to block your exit.
](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[[[I calmed my nerves and kept walking->Underground Hallway One]](stop:)(set: $intensity = 200)](display: "chapterTwo")(transition: "dissolve")[(if: $firstEntry)[You edged forward into the darkness of the hallway, unwilling to move too quickly, lest there be something in the dark beyond the light of your candle.
(live: 3s)[Painfully aware of the silence surrounding you, you cringed as each footstep echoed down the cavernous corridor.
(stop:)]
(live: 6s)[Some time later - what was probably no more than a minute or two, but felt like an eternity - you came to a crossroads.
(stop:)](set: $firstEntry to false)
(live: 9s)[To your right and left stood doorways, a wet, metallic smell coming from the one, a rotten stench coming from the other. Ahead, the corridor continued.
(stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[[I went into the stench->Putrid Hall One]]
](if: not $tortureKey)[[[I entered the doorway smelling of metal->Torture Hall One]]
][[I continued down the main corridor->Underground Hallway Two]]]
(stop:)]](else:)[(transition: "dissolve")[You stood at the crossroads, deciding where to go.
(if: not $putridLock)[[[I went into the stench->Putrid Hall One]]
](if: not $tortureLock or not $thermite)[[[I entered the doorway smelling of metal->Torture Hall One]]
][[I continued down the main corridor->Underground Hallway Two]]]]]
(display: "Flickering Text"){(set: $sentence to "no sentence")
(live: .05s)[
(set: $rng1 to (random: $intensity))
(set: $rng2 to (random: 1,9))
(if: $rng1 is 1)[
(set: $sentence to $flashingText's $rng2)
(set: $flickering to true)
]
(else:)[
(set: $sentence to " ")
(set: $flickering to false)
]
]}(live: .05s)[(if: $flickering)[(text-colour: "#990000")+(text-style: "Emboss")+(text-style: "Shudder")+(text-style: "Rumble")[
$sentence
]](else:)[(text-colour: "#808080")[
]]](display: "chapterTwo")(if: not $usedThermite)[(transition: "dissolve")[You stepped through the doorway as the stench smacked you across the face. The air tasted sour, and had a thick and nauseating texture. You gagged, but kept going.
]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Two steps later, your foot sank ankle-deep into a thick sludge, releasing an even stronger waft of the scent from where you had broken through the coagulated film covering the slop.]
(stop:)]
(if: $thermite)[(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You stepped back from the pool, pulled the little silver rock from your pocket, dropped it through your candle's flame, and (link-replace: "ran")[(set: $usedThermite to true)(set: $thermite to false)(go-to: "Underground Hallway One")]](stop:)]](else:)[(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Pushing down the urge to vomit, you pressed on, trying to ignore the sickening slurping sounds and squishing sensations surrounding your feet.
](stop:)](live: 9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
On the other side of the room, you found another door.
[[I walked through.->Putrid Hall Two]]
](stop:)]]](else-if: $usedThermite)[(transition: "dissolve")[The room now stood empty, purged of the rotting filth that had been here before. The odor, unfortunately, was worse than ever.
[[I headed through the far door ->Putrid Hall Two]]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(transition: "dissolve")[You entered a room with several workbenches. Various tools, mostly rusted, littered every surface. You took care to avoid stepping on the nails scattered about the floor.
(if: not $thermite)[(link-replace: "I rummaged through the tools")[(set: $thermite to true)You found a little box labeled "Slime Containment Reagent", with another note attached reading "Do Not Expose To Flame Until Use". Opening the box, you found and pocketed a little silvery stone.
]]
[[I continued into the next room ->Torture Hall Two]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(Display: "chapterTwo")(transition: "dissolve")[The hallway stretched out before you, into the darkness. The two doorways with their stench or the darkness ahead seemed the only options.]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
[[I returned to the doorways ->Underground Hallway One]]
[[I continued down the hallway ->Barrier Doorway]]
](stop:)]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(if: $tortureLock and $putridLock)[A huge iron door stood blocking your way.
[[I gave it a shove ->Storytime Three]]
](else:)[(transition: "dissolve")[A huge iron door stood blocking your way. Try as you might, it would not budge.
[[I returned to the hallway ->Underground Hallway Two]]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(transition: "dissolve")[Metal contraptions lined the walls of the next room. At the far end you could make out another door in the dim light of your candle.
(link-replace: "I took a closer look at the structures")[Looking more closely, you recognized a few of the objects. A bronze bull. An Iron Maiden. A rack. A stockade made of metal. A furnace with branding irons.
(link-replace: "I opened the bull's stomach")[Nothing but ashes.
]
(link-replace: "I opened the Iron Maiden")[
In the drain in the bottom of the Iron Maiden you found a key. You reached in, careful to avoid impaling the top of your head on the Maiden's spikes. After a moment, you successfully retrieved the key. (set: $putridKey to true)
]
(link-replace: "I checked the stocks")[Nothing of interest.
]]
[[I continued on to the next room ->Torture Hall Three]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(if: $usedThermite)[(transition: "dissolve")[The hall now stood nearly empty, save the bones scattered here and there among the ashen remains of the slime.
[[I continued on ->Putrid Hall Three]]]](else:)[(transition: "dissolve")[Another vault of slime opened up before you, even deeper and more pungent than the last. As you trudged through, the slime now up to your knees, your foot touched something solid under the surface, something which skittered off at your touch. You tried not to think about what it might be.]
[[I continued. ->Putrid Hall Three]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(if: $usedThermite)[(transition: "dissolve")[In the back of the room, beyond the central pit, you could now make out a shelf. Atop the shelf sat a large iron key. (set: $tortureKey to true)
[[I picked up the key and kept moving ->Putrid Hall Four]]]](else:)[(transition: "dissolve")[After your first step into the next room, the floor fell off in a drop. You searched around for purchase with your foot, but found nothing. Unwilling to plunge bodily into the slime, you edged around the perimeter of the room. Eventually you made it to the far door.
[[I hoped it was the last room ->Putrid Hall Four]]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(if: $usedThermite)[(if: $putridKey)[(transition: "dissolve")[The locking mechanism in the final room, clear of any slime, fit the key from the tortue rooms perfectly. A grinding sound followed, then everything fell silent. (set: $putridLock to true)]](else:)[(transition: "dissolve")[The key you found in the previous room did not fit the locking mechanism set in the far wall.]]](else:)[(transition: "dissolve")[You could make out a large locking mechanism set in the far wall. Unfortunately, it was filled with crusted-over slime, and seemed inoperable.]]
(transition: "dissolve")[[[I returned to the hallway ->Underground Hallway One]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(transition: "dissolve")[The third room looked different from the others. The walls were brighter, cleaner, whiter. The contrast from dark metal of the other rooms startled you, even in the dim light of your candle.
(live: 3s)[(link-replace: "I inspected the floor")[As you knelt to inspect the floor, you regretted your decision. From beneath a large pane of glass, a skull stared back at you, ribs and other bones spiralling outward from it.
]
[[I left the white room behind ->Torture Hall Four]](stop:)]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(display: "chapterTwo")(transition: "dissolve")[The final room was barren, a cavernous box of dark metal and silence. At the far end, a locking mechanism stood against the wall.
(if: $tortureKey)[
(link-replace: "I used the key from the slime rooms in the lock")[A grinding sound followed, echoing horrendously in the empty room. Clutching your ears, you fell to the ground. A moment later, silence returned. (set: $tortureLock to true)
]]
[[I returned to the main hallway ->Underground Hallway One]]]
(display: "Flickering Text")(if: $intensity > 5)[(set: $intensity = $intensity - 5)](else:)[(set: $intensity = 1)]