Cortland 1919 Fire

You are a student at the Cortland Normal School. You’re talking to your friend Gabriella as you walk to school today. It's a beautiful day and Gabriella is also looking especially beautiful today. You are in love with her. Her: … So I was thinking of getting a puppy. What should I name it? [[I love you, please marry me]] [[Sporky. That’s fun, right?]]

Her: What are you talking about? You’re so funny, Derrick. The both of you continue walking towards the school. You admire the trees and the beautiful buildings. And the smell of Gabby’s hair. Cut that last thought. As you approach the school, you notice someone in black going around the back of the building. You ask Gabby: [[Hey, did you see that guy?]] [[Say nothing, it’s none of your business. ]]

Her: That’s weird. You’re a weirdo. The both of you continue walking towards the school. You admire the trees and the beautiful buildings. And the smell of Gabby’s hair. Cut that last thought. As you approach the school, you notice someone in black going around the back of the building. You ask Gabby: [[Hey, did you see that guy?]] [[Say nothing, it’s none of your business. ]]

Gabby: Yes, I saw him. Who was that? You both waver near the entrance to the school, hestitating. Why would someone be going around the back, this early in the morning? There weren't any sports practices going on today... Gabby: Should we follow him? [[Yes]] [[No]]

Gabby: Alright let's go already, we’re going to be late. You both conintue into the school, but the image of the man in black continues to scratch at the back of your mind. As you walk to homeroom, Gabby pauses near a poster for prom. You say: [[Prom is so dumb, I wish we didn't even have it.]] [[ Are you going with anyone?]]

Gabby frowns at you. Gabby: Prom is amazing. You get to party, dance, and drink. You get to be with someone you like and have a great night with them. What did prom every do to you, huh Derrick? You: I... uh... Just as you are about to reply, an explosion underground rocks the school and you and Gabby hold onto the wall to steady yourselves. Someone screams fire and everyone starts rushing for the exit. Before you do, you pause and glance at the stairs, thinking about all the history that will lost if the library burns. Do you... [[Go to the archives]] [[Exit the school]]

Gabby sighs sadly. Gabby: Not as of right now. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Do you... [[Ask Gabby to prom]] [[Simply nod solemnly]]

You and Gabby decide to follow him from a distance. When you get to the corner, you peek your heads around. You see the man enter the school through a back door and after you get to the door, you see him turn into a room all the way down the hall, but you’re not too positive which one. You know that the boiler room and the main office are down that hall somewhere, but you’re too far away to tell which room is which. You ask Gabby: [[Let's check the boiler room.]] [[Let's check the main office.]]

You and Gabby creep down the hallway, nervous, and she takes your hand and squeezes it as you approach the boiler room. You're so happy to hold her hand, but wish it were under better circumstances. Your hand trembles as it reaches for the knob. You open the door and you are both met with blackness. You can: [[Turn on the light]] [[Enter in the dark]]

You and Gabby walk to the main office slowly, filled with nerves, and stand in front of the door. Gabby reaches for the handle and tries it, but the door is locked. You suggest: [[Let's check the boiler room.]]

You flip the light swtich on and the man in black is standing in front of you, holding a blow torch. Gabby: What are you doing down here? Are you from maintenance? The man throws the lit blow torch into the back of the room, near the boiler, and pushes past the both of you. You: Hey what's your problem?! Do you: [[Grab his shirt as he passes by]] [[Let him leave]]

You and Gabby enter the room blind, feeling along the walls. In the very back of the room, you see a single flame hovering near the boiler. You: Is that a blow torch? Just ask you ask this, you trip over a wire on the floor, very ungracefully, and your head hits the cement floor. It's lights out for you. You wake up later surrounded by flames, Gabby is gone, and the building is collapsing around you. GAME OVER

You grab the man's shirt and he spins around, throwing a punch that hits you square in the nose. Gabby: Oh my god! Blood pours from your nostrils and the man takes off as you try to stop the bleeding. Behind you and Gabby, there are flames crawling towards the boiler. You: We have to get out of here! The two of you sprint down the hall and as you near the door you used to get in earlier, you see the man fill the door frame. He smiles and slams the door shut, trapping you. You: Shit! Let's take the... [[Elevator]] [[Stairs]]

The man disappears down the hallway. Behind you and Gabby, flames begin to encircle the boiler. Gabby: We need to go, now! The both of you sprint down the hall and out the door you used to get in earlier. Sunlight blinds you both for a second, but you keep running. Once you're at least to the football field, you both turn around. The Cortland Normal School is in flames. You wonder who that mysterious man was and why he did this. But you'll never know. GAME OVER

You and Gabby rush for the elevator and, in a panic, you hit the top floor button. Gabby: We just needed to get to the next floor, not the library! You: My bad! The elevator takes you to the library and you both step out, sweating nervously. Gabby starts running from table to table, screaming about a fire, and people start to painc and run to the stairs. You look around the library, suddenly aware of what the school will lose. Do you... [[Help Gabby get people to the stairs]] [[Go to the archives]]

You and Gabby sprint up the stairs as fast as you can. When you hit the next floor, you both bang on classroom doors, telling people to evacuate. Word spreads quickly throughout the school and when you and Gabby make it outside, the entire student body is safely on the lawn. You and Gabby watch the school burn to the ground. Why did this happen? Who was the man in black? You will never know. GAME OVER

You run around the library grabbing students and pushing them to the stairs where Gabby is directing them. When you think everyone is gone, you pause again near the archives, worried about the school losing its history. [[Go to the archives]] [[Stairs]]

You enter the archives, panting. There are so many files and books and yearbooks. What should you save? [[Tax records]] [[Yearbooks]] [[Microfilms]]

You choose the tax records and sprint for the stairs, taking two at a time. When you make it outside, Gabby finds you and starts punching your arm for doing something so stupid. Gabby: You could've gotten killed! How would I have ever told you that I have a crush on you if you were dead? Your soul almost exits your body, but you're quickly brought back down to earth as the principal approaches you. Principal: You saved the tax records? That was very brave of you, young man. He takes them from you. Later on, with those tax records and yours and Gabby's descriptions, the school is able to determine that the man in black was actually Dr. DeGroat, the president of the school. He had always wanted the school's location to change and burning the school gave the insurance money to do so. He was caught and arrested thanks to you. END

You choose the yearbooks and sprint for the stairs, taking two at a time. When you make it outside, Gabby finds you and starts punching your arm for doing something so stupid. Gabby: You could've gotten killed! How would I have ever told you that I have a crush on you if you were dead? Your soul almost exits your body, but you're quickly brought back down to earth as the school librarian approaches you. Librarian: You saved the yearbooks? You nod and offer them to her. She takes them from you and tears come to her eyes. Librarian: Your bravery will not be forgotten. Alumni of this school everywhere will be glad to hear that you wanted to preserve their history. Thank you so much. You later receive an Alumni Association award from the school that helps you fund your way through college, but no one ever finds out who that man in black was or why he burned the school down. END

You choose the microfilms and sprint for the stairs, taking two at a time. When you make it outside, Gabby finds you and starts punching your arm for doing something so stupid. Gabby: You could've gotten killed! How would I have ever told you that I have a crush on you if you were dead? Your soul almost exits your body, but you're quickly brought back down to earth as your history teacher approaches you. History Teacher: Derrick, you saved the microfilms from the archives? You nod and hand them to him. He takes them and smiles. History Teacher: I'm so happy you tried to save some of our school and town's rich history. These are very old newspapers and journal articles that could help future students in research or people interested in Cortland's past. Without the past, we can learn nothing -- it is essential for making decisions for the future. No one ever finds out who that man in black was or why he burned the school down, but Mr. Myer, the history teacher, becomes a key mentor in your future, even a life long friend. END

You: Hey, I was thinking... would you want to go to prom with me? As my date? You heart is beating out of your chest. Gabby, surprisingly, looks overjoyed. Gabby: YES! I mean, um, yeah sure, that sounds cool. You are so happy. The girl of your dreams just said yes to going to prom with YOU. Nothing could ruin this moment. Except something does. A sudden explosion underground rocks the school and you and Gabby hold onto the wall to steady yourselves. Someone screams fire and everyone starts rushing for the exit. Before you do, you pause and glance at the stairs, thinking about all the history that will lost if the library burns. Do you... [[Go to the archives]] [[Exit the school]]

Damn, you missed your chance. A sudden explosion underground rocks the school and you and Gabby hold onto the wall to steady yourselves. Someone screams fire and everyone starts rushing for the exit. Before you do, you pause and glance at the stairs, thinking about all the history that will lost if the library burns. Do you... [[Go to the archives]] [[Exit the school]]

You and Gabby sprint to the door as fast as you can. Word spreads quickly throughout the school about the explosion and when you and Gabby make it outside, the entire student body is safely on the lawn. You and Gabby watch the school burn to the ground. Why did this happen? Was it the man in black form earlier? You will never know. GAME OVER