October 13th, 1954
Like so many stories, this one begins during a storm. A lone black Cadillac advances along a serpentine dirt road. It winds between dying trees, the many falling leaves painted sunset in autumn's light. Proof of the storm in question comes as distant thunder pursues the Cadillac. Windshield wipers sweep away a light rain as the car draws ever closer to its destination. Yet, the scene is eerily quiet.
Finally, the car slows to a stop at the end of the dirt road. The two front doors burst open, the left just before the right. From the left appears a blonde woman in a masculine black suit, bearing a shouldered purse. Her sharp, hard, green eyes focus on the cave in front of them, flitting only briefly across at the empty campsite. She goes by Francis Hartman, and at thirty years of age, she has proven a remarkable private investigator. Even so, the strangest thing about her isn't her profession or taste for other women. No, it's her history as a soldier in the Second World War. Masquerading as a male, she fought in both the European and Pacific theatres, retiring from active duty after taking a bullet below her right breast in Iwo-Jima.
What of the other passenger? That would be none other than Randy Stone, renowned for absolutely nothing. So, fame isn't his thing, but Randy has proven a formidable aid to Francis in her investigations. Doubling as her back-up and general-purpose secretary, Francis would call him her most trusted ally. He stands tall, with curly brown hair and a fair complexion. None would describe him as muscular, but his build is nonetheless competent.
Francis: "This looks like the place. Randy, you check out the campsite, I'll start with the cave."
Randy: "Sure thing, boss."
Francis: "One more thing. Make sure you keep your walkie-talkie on you."
Randy: "Why, you think I'll need help?"
Francis: "You know it."
[[Talk to Randy|Talk to Randy]]
[[Check the trunk|Check trunk]]
[[Enter the cave|Enter Cave]]
Randy: "Something on your mind, boss?"
Francis: "Does this case seem strange to you too?"
Randy: "Yeah, it's something else, boss. Dozens of disappearances all reported around this remote cave? People go missing in caves all the time, but the sheer number... think we're dealing with a serial killer?"
Francis: "Possibly. The payment we've been offered is suspicious too."
Randy: "What, you're going to complain about being paid well?"
Francis: "Shut it, Randy. You know as well as I that the payment doesn't fit the job. Something here doesn't add up."
Randy: "...and yet you took the job anyway."
Francis: "Sigh. I can't pass up this opportunity. You know that."
Randy: "We're looking for three people in particular, yeah?"
Francis: "Right; Catherine Lowell, Victor Davis, Jennifer Smith. They all went missing recently, so there's a good chance they're still alive."
Randy: "We should get started. I'd prefer not to stay out here after dark."
Francis: "Right. Take care of yourself, Randy."
[[Check the trunk|Check trunk]]
[[Enter the cave|Enter Cave]]
Francis walks around and pops the trunk.
Inside is a spare tire, a rickety tire pump, a series of old maps, and two boxes of thirty-seven caliber ammunition.
Francis: "There's nothing else we need from here."
Randy: "Did you forget something, Francis?"
Francis: "No, doesn't look like it."
Francis slams the trunk closed.
[[Talk to Randy|Talk to Randy]]
[[Enter the cave|Enter Cave]]
Francis: "Why the hell am I feeling nervous about this? It's just some damn cave. No different from any other."
Francis walks into the cave, the light of day fading into the blackness within. The cave is damp and smells off. The earthen scent of the cave blends with something unidentifiable. Francis squints as her eyes struggle to adjust to the sudden change in light. As darkness gives way, the structure of the cave becomes clear.
Francis: "That's odd. The structure of this cave isn't natural at all. There's mining tracks running along the floor. Is this an abandoned mining vein? None of the reports on the area said anything about this".
Movement catches her eye.
Francis: "Is that a cat?"
[[Radio Randy|Walkie-Talkie]]
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossTalkingAnimal)
Francis shakes her head.
Francis: "I should test the walkie-talkies."
Fiddling with the walkie-talkie, Francis doesn't see a rise in the mine track she's walking along, and trips, falling flat on her face. The walkie-talkie drops near her.
Francis: "Ouch. I'm glad Randy didn't see that. How clumsy of me."
Shaking her head, she readies the walkie-talkie.
Francis: "Randy? Randy? This walkie-talkie keeps cutting out. Maybe this wasn't the best idea."
The cat glances up sharply, as if in response to Francis, and walks closer to her with a meow.
Randy: "I can hear you just fine, boss."
No noise comes out of the walkie-talkie, yet Francis hears Randy clearly. The cat draws closer to Francis, distracting her from the walkie-talkie, and she notices the cat's mouth moving in time with Randy's voice.
Francis: "D-did that cat just talk?"
Randy: "What are you talking about?"
The cat's mouth moves in perfect unison with Randy's voice. With growing alarm, she looks around herself to check for other sound sources. She checks the walkie-talkie again, it's still silent.
Francis: *shouting* "Oh god, that cat just talked! Why the hell is your voice coming out of a cat?"
Randy: "Francis, calm down. This is completely unlike you. What is going on down there?"
Francis takes a moment to slow her breathing back down.
Francis: "You're right, Randy. No two ways about it, your voice is... definitely coming out of that cat."
Randy: "Boss, are you sure you are not seeing things? That does not make any sense."
Francis: "If I'm seeing things, it's really convincing. No, talking cats don't make sense, it's completely insane. Nothing about this whole job makes sense!"
Randy: "Well, as long as we can hear each other, that is what matters. Keep me updated."
[[Follow the mine tracks|Mine Tracks]]
Francis walks further ahead, the strange black cat trailing close behind her. A strange crimson moss weaves itself among the stones and uproots the tracks. It should look completely out-of-place, but in some unearthly way, it blends in. Eventually the tunnels give way to a large blackened cavern. The tracks run straight ahead into the distance, but the room ahead is strewn with wheelbarrows, scattered papers, mining carts, and other evidence of human activity. Francis suddenly halts.
Francis: "That's weird. The hair on the back of my neck is standing up. I'm being watched, but by what?"
Francis rests her hand on her gun. She looks around, trying to find the source of the gaze, but sees only empty darkness. Two specks of light gleam in the dark. The specks focus steadily on Francis.
Francis: "There you are."
But Francis still feels uneasy. Now that she knows what to look for, she finds dozens more of the glimmers in the distance. In front of her they seem gathered in mass, but they flank her to the left, and right. There are even some behind her, how did she miss those?
[[Examine the eyes|The Watchers]]
[[Examine the fungus|Examine Fungus I]]
[[Examine the mine shaft|Mine Shaft]]
[[Dash for the far door|Make A Break For It]]
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossGhostlyGathering)
There are far too many eyes ahead of Francis to discern numbers. With no way to know how the eyes would respond to her intrusion, waltzing into their midst would leave her vulnerable to attack.
She would have to test their response. Francis steps forward. Again, and again, and after five steps, the eyes become agitated. A dark mist gathers around them, and the eyes step forward in response to Francis's invasion. Even without a clear shape, Francis can feel tangible violent intent from the mist figures.
Francis takes a slow deep breath to calm her nerves. She darts forward, running towards the far end of the cavern, along the mine tracks, trying to blitz past the figures before they can respond. She gasps as the lethargic shadows grasp and tear at her as she passes - how she doesn't know - and finally, slams into the doors at the far end of the cave.
[[Break through the doors and slam them shut|That Cat Again]]
Francis: "Ha… haha… ahahahahahahaha!"
Meanwhile, outside the cave...
Randy: "Boss? Are you still in there?"
Randy walks towards the cave entrance.
GAME OVER
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossTalkingAnimal)
As she collects herself, Francis realizes the passage around her is different. Far from being the earthen cavern she remembers; it now seems that she's in a school. Bulletin boards and lockers line the walls, the floor is linoleum, and lights interrupt the ceiling at regular intervals. Dark liquids trickle down from the ceiling, staining half the lockers.
Those eyes are back again. Francis resolves to call them "Watchers." Unlike the ones she run past minutes ago, these mill about the hallway, oblivious to her presence.
The black cat strolls up to Francis.
Francis: "That's weird, how did you get past the Watchers?"
Randy: "Hey boss, about that talking cat of yours – "
Francis: "It's not my cat."
Randy: "I was thinking maybe there is a gas in the cave causing you to see things. Thing is, I called in some favors, and even the experts could not explain a gas that causes hallucinations like this."
Francis: "Damn. It was a good shot Randy, would've explained a lot of things. Speaking of seeing things, I seem to be in a school now."
Randy: "I will start looking into building permits for the area. Maybe someone got carried away with a bomb shelter."
Francis: "Could be. If this is someone's pet project, I doubt they filed the paperwork."
Randy: "Yeah, I know boss, but what if it is an abandoned government site? It would explain the excavation equipment too."
Francis: "That's odd, I don't think I mentioned the mining equipment to Randy."
[[Continue|School Hallway]]
(if: $roomsCompleted is 3 and $farDoorOpened is false)[
[[Talk with the Shadows|The Watchers II]]
[[Examine the body|Jennifer Smith]]
[[Open the hallway exit|Locked Door]]
[[Approach the far door|The Door Opens]]
]
(else:)[
Francis: "What to do now?"
[[Talk with the Shadows|The Watchers II]]
[[Examine the body|Jennifer Smith]]
[[Open the hallway exit|Locked Door]]
[[Open the first door|Classroom]]
[[Open the second door|Bathroom]]
[[Open the third door|Science Lab]]
[[Open the far door|Far Door]]
]
(if: $classDoorLocked is false)[
Francis steps into a classroom. An adult, which Francis assumes is the teacher, stands staring at a painting. There are blackboards, but the teacher is nowhere near them. More disturbingly, the blackboards are covered in the ramblings of a madman.
Teacher: "Francis! You're late! Sit down at once."
Francis: "W-what?"
The class starts laughing at Francis. They look no older than elementary school students.
[[Talk to the teacher|Talk to Teacher]]
[[Talk to the students|Talk to Students]]
[[Take a seat|Sit Down]]
]
(if: $classDoorLocked is true and $classNightmare is true)[
Francis shudders, remembering the horror in the classroom. The smell of vomit makes her gag.
Francis: "I'm not going back in there ever again."
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
]
(if: $classDoorLocked is true and $classNightmare is false)[
Francis smiles to herself. She has no reason to return to the classroom.
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSeeLisa, 0))
(if: $bathroomLocked is false)[
Francis steps into the women's washroom. From the back stall, she hears crying.
Francis advances to the stall and knocks gently on the stall door.
???: "Hey Fran."
Francis: "Where do I know that voice from? H-Hi."
???: "You don't remember me? You promised me you'd never forget!"
Francis: "Of course I remember, um… Li-Lisa."
Lisa: "You'd better remember. Don't even joke about something like that."
Francis: "What're you doing here? You're -"
Lisa: "Agatha Christie. Come on, let me read you a passage."
Francis: "Wait a minute that's… No, no, no, not that. stop it, stop reading our book. You're not even real, none of this is real. Don't pretend you know her!"
Lisa: "You're a real detective now, Francis. I'm so proud of you. Your life is just like one of these novels. Back then, you could never guess who the criminals were. But now that you're an adult, it's all different, huh? So tell me, whodunnit?"
Francis: "I couldn't finish it. Not after what happened."
Lisa: "I know. You've kept our relationship alive a long time, blanketed in protective layers within your mind. I need to ask you one last favor, Fran. Finish our book. Finish it for yourself, and for me."
Francis: "If I do that, our relationship will be dead. Our memories together will end. Why? Why make me remember all this?"
Lisa: "I haven't talked to you in a long time, Francis. I miss poring over mysteries with you. But that incomplete story you've carried around with you? You're waiting for another chapter that can never come."
Francis: "Maybe I prefer it that way."
Lisa: "Only happy stories deserve endings, huh? You invested so much in us. Let's finish our story. Isn't that what detectives do?"
Francis: "I won't let you go. I… I love you."
Lisa: "Oh Fran, I've waited so long for you to say that. I love you, too. That's why I want to leave you with good memories, not bad ones."
Francis hears a distinct click. The bathroom door has locked itself behind her.
[[Search for Clues|Search for Clues]]
]
(if: $bathroomLocked is true)[
Francis attempts to open the bathroom door, but it's locked. She's relieved the door doesn't open.
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
]
(if: $labLocked is false)[
Francis walks into a science lab. The acrid smell of chemicals fills the air.
Teacher: "Ok class, form groups."
The teacher doesn't even glance over in your direction.
Teacher: "Francis, you're late again. Hurry up and get started."
[[Ask teacher for help|Stop Slacking]]
[[Ask to join a group|You Can't Join Our Group]]
[[Scrounge up equipment|Find Equipment]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
]
(else:)[
Francis attempts to open the lab door, but it's locked.
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
]
(if: (count: (history:), "The Basins") < 1)[
{
(set: $foundBathroomClueA to true)
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule)
}
Francis: "Makeup smears mar the basin. I'd bet money you were crying, and it caused your makeup to run."
Lisa: "You know I don't go anywhere without makeup."
]
(else:)[
Francis: "I've already investigated this clue."
]
[[Search for more clues|Search for Clues]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSystemicRidicule, 0))
}
The teacher doesn't even glance over in your direction.
Teacher: "Francis, you're late again. Hurry up and get started."
[[Ask teacher for help|Stop Slacking]]
[[Ask to join a group|You Can't Join Our Group]]
[[Scrounge up equipment|Find Equipment]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
The Teacher starts pacing angrily.
Teacher: "It's time to start our class for today. That'll be Francis 101."
Students: "Do we have to?"
Teacher: "As you grow up, you'll have to deal with people like her. You'll think you're free, that you've moved into a nice, sane neighbourhood where people don't have gross perversions. But they'll always creep in. They're everywhere."
Students: "Can't we just kill them?"
Teacher: "They're too smart for that. There are hidden supporters in the government, elements that support these freaks."
Francis: "I'm leaving... why can't I move? What the hell did you do to me?"
Teacher: "Look at her. She won't grow her hair out."
Students: "Gross."
Teacher: "She won't wear skirts."
Students: "Monster."
Teacher: "She kisses other girls."
Students: "Freak."
Francis: "At least I don't hate everyone else to feel good about myself."
Teacher: "But there are ways to deal with these people."
Francis: "I have my job. I don't need any of you."
Teacher: "You ignore them. Act like they don't exist. Talk over them. Only greet them if you're forced to."
Students: "Yes!"
Teacher: "If they force you to talk - and they will - then you force them into silence. Insult them. Point out all the reasons they don't deserve to exist."
Francis: "Shut up. You're all so small-minded!"
Teacher: "If anyone dares to associate with them, attack them too. Don't play with them at recess. Don't share notes with them, or school materials. Force them to conform."
Students: "Conform!"
Teacher: "When you grow up, don't hire them. Don't work with them. Attack them. If you do it in secret, the police won't even care."
Students: "Attack them!"
Teacher: "Never stop. Either kill her or let her kill herself. We're going to have a break, so Francis can make things easy on us. That would be very polite, Francis."
Students: "Go kill yourself, Francis."
Things fade to darkness. It grows darker and darker until her surroundings are darker than the void itself.
Francis: "Am I dying? That isn't right, I'm not in any pain."
Francis feels as if she were floating, yet, she walks as if on the ground. She slowly becomes aware of two others near her, both standing at ease. From within each emanates a dim light. One of them appears as a beautiful woman in an elegant dress. The other... looks like a skeleton?
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - 15, 0))
[[Approach the figures|Lost in the Abyss]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSystemicRidicule, 0))
}
The teacher scowls as Francis approaches. It seems clear that she dislikes Francis. She stands with dark hair and eyes, in her fifties, if Francis had to put a number to her age. Many wrinkles line her face, and her expression seems stuck in a perpetual frown.
Teacher: "I said, class is starting. I'm so sick of your impudence."
(if: $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "Sorry, I thought my size would be enough of an indicator, but I'm not a student. Francis Hartman, Private Eye. I'm looking into the disappearances of several people. Your name isn't, um, Catherine Lowell? Victor Davis? Jennifer Smith?"
]
(else:)[
Francis: "Francis Hartman, Private Eye. Why is there a dead body in your hallway? Are you familiar with the late Jennifer Smith?"
]
Teacher: "I see you're still experiencing delusions. They've gotten worse if you can't even remember my name. I'll be phoning your parents and leaving a note for administration."
[[Talk to the students|Talk to Students]]
[[Take a seat|Sit Down]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule, 0))
(set: $studentTimesSpoken to $studentTimesSpoken + 1)
}
{
(if: $studentTimesSpoken is 1)[
The kids look at Francis with wary eyes. They keep a distance from her.<br>
<br>
Students: "I saw you."<br>
<br>
Francis: "Stop pulling my leg. I've never seen you before, kid."<br>
<br>
Student: "You don't remember us? That's so disappointing. Say hi to Kara for me."<br>
<br>
Francis: "I don't know you and I don't know anyone named Kara."<br>
<br>
The children start laughing at Francis.<br>
<br>
Student: "Give her a big smooch from all of us."<br>
]
(elseif: $studentTimesSpoken is 2)[
The kids look a little uncomfortable.<br>
<br>
Student: "Don’t you love us? Aren't we good enough for you?"<br>
<br>
Francis: "No, I don't like any of you brats."<br>
<br>
Student: "You're always so selfish."<br>
<br>
Francis: "I literally just met you."<br>
<br>
Student: "No, Francis. We met twenty years ago. You really are crazy, aren't you?"<br>
]
(elseif: $studentTimesSpoken is 3)[
The kids look nervous now.<br>
<br>
Francis: "I'm looking for some people, have you seen them? Catherine Lowell? Victor Davis?"<br>
<br>
Students: "You're the only one who's ever been here."<br>
<br>
The students exchange a knowing look with one another.<br>
<br>
Francis: "Neither you nor the teacher have ever been here? Stop lying."<br>
<br>
Students: "You never left, did you? Just stay with us. The outside world is such an ugly place."<br>
<br>
Teacher: "I said sit down Francis! Class is starting. Anyone who continues to talk will be sentenced to detention."<br>
<br>
Students: "You should sit down. You don't want to make her mad."<br>
]
(if: $studentTimesSpoken < 4)[
[[Talk to the teacher|Talk to Teacher]]<br>
[[Talk to the students again|Talk to Students]]<br>
[[Take a seat|Sit Down]]<br>
]
(else:)[
The kids look really nervous now.<br>
<br>
Students: "Oh no, you've really made her mad now."<br>
<br>
<br>
[[Turn toward the teacher|Sacrifice]]
]
}
The door is locked. Francis shoulder checks the door, but only ends up hurting her shoulder. It's barred on the other side.
[[Go back|School Hallway]]
{
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossSeeGhost)
(set: $watcherSecretAKnown to true)
}
Francis inches closer to the gleaming eyes before her, checking around herself to make sure the other eyes haven't advanced towards her. They seem still.
Francis: "What am I seeing?"
She stiffens in alarm as she gets closer. Surely, she should see a shape by now. By now she was dangerously close, and yet all she could see were the eyes. The eyes in front of her had not so much as blinked in response to her presence.
Francis: "How is this possible?"
Squinting carefully, she can make out a haze surrounding the eyes, like a faint mist, but it is deathly still. The eyes flash in anger, and the eyes and mist fade away.
[[Try something else|Mine Tracks]]
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody)
Francis approaches the vertical mine shaft. She twitches in annoyance. It's hard to tell if the sound she hears is the work of her imagination or not, but wherever the source, it is an infuriating noise. As she draws closer to the mine shaft, the sound becomes loud enough to place.
Francis: "That sounds like..."
It sounds like hundreds, no, thousands of hands trying desperately to scramble up the shaft. Fingernails scratch and tear against the dirt and rock. But looking down, Francis can't see anything.
Clamping her hands to her ears, Francis backs away in disgust.
[[Try something else|Mine Tracks]]
It poses an uncomfortable realization that the golden standard, the measuring bar for whether an area is safe for life is life itself. Long ago, we caged the canary, and lowered it into the depths of mines. If the canary survived a measure of time in the depths, we raised it back up, and unshackled it. The mine was safe for use. While modern minds would love to think we have evolved beyond such primitive practice with our formulas and advanced sciences, our last test is still a life.
Going back to the canary, what story could it tell? What did it see staring back at it, down there in the abyss?
[[Go to the cave|The Cave]]
A cacophony of whispering voices echo all around Francis. Their sheer number makes it impossible to tell what any of them are saying.
{
(if: $cFrancisDone is true and $sFrancisDone is true)[
[[Continue|Mental Resolution]]<br>
]
(else:)[
(if: $cFrancisDone is false)[
[[Talk to the woman in the dress|Conservative Francis Intro]]<br>
]
(if: $sFrancisDone is false)[
[[Talk to the skeleton|Skeleton Francis Intro]]<br>
]
]
}
{
(set: $classDoorLocked to true)
(set: $classNightmare to true)
(set: $roomsCompleted to $roomsCompleted + 1)
(set: $woundedPts to $woundedPts + 2)
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossGhostlyGathering, 0))
}
Teacher: "That's enough!"
There is a horrible sound, a shrieking angry noise, the kind of thing Francis could imagine only emanating from the mouth of a banshee. The sound chills Francis's blood, for all her years in battle, she has never heard something so frightening, so wrong.
The teacher bursts open with a sickening meaty sound, and out of her comes something that doesn't belong in this world. Sunken, beady eyes crown a twisted, fanged mouth. Her many eyes swivel to hold Francis in her cruel gaze. The teacher becomes emaciated in form but for her stomach, which distends to grotesque proportions. Unable to bear its weight, she hunches over, her long, clawed arms hanging down to her knees. She's covered in a clear slime, oozing from thousands of infected green tumors.
Francis: "Oh my god!"
Francis lurches to her feet, gun in her hand. She struggles not to vomit.
Teacher: "Every day you ignore me, defy me. You shouldn't even be in this classroom; you don't even know how to read. Two plus two is too difficult of an equation for you. I'm changing the class's lesson for today. Today we learn about ritual sacrifice. The first step is to tie the sacrifice down, then cut off their limbs."
Francis spins around, the children have become monstrous, given way to emaciated husks themselves, they have sharpened teeth, bloody clothes, and talons instead of nails. Some of them hold rope, others rusty butcher knives. They grin, bearing their fangs, laughing evilly. Instinctually, Francis knows these children have killed before. They look excited to kill again.
The marks on the blackboards writhe like tendrils, forming into gruesome depictions of ritualistic human dismemberment. The chalk turns crimson, and becomes as a liquid, running down off the blackboards and across the floor. In blatant dismissal of physics, the blood all trails towards Francis.
Francis for all her training and harrowing experiences, has nothing to help her with this. She cannot shake this horrible feeling that if the blood touches her, she won't leave the classroom alive. Francis bolts from the room. The teacher tries to block her escape, but Francis puts a bullet into her as she runs and pushes her way past the monster.
She turns to slam the door shut, in time to see the teacher advancing towards her, unphased by her assault. Barely, Francis couldn't say how, she gets the door shut and bolted. Where did that bolt come from? Francis was sure it hadn't been there before.
Francis: "What... what the fuck was that?"
Eyeing the door, her heart still racing, drenched in a cold sweat, she tries to pull herself together.
Overcome with nausea, Francis turns and vomits.
[[Retreat to the hallway|School Hallway]]
Francis draws closer to the beautiful woman.
Francis: "Who are you?"
Lady in Dress: "I'm *you*, Francis! Don't I look great?"
Francis: "You look nothing like me."
Lady in Dress: "That's because you're awful, Francis! Have you ever met anyone else like you? No! All of society can't be wrong, right?"
Francis: "That's not true. There's Jesse, and that girl from my school, and -"
Lady in Dress: "They're both *dead*! You wanna know who's alive?"
A man in a flawless suit appears besides the fancy woman.
Lady in Dress: "John Smith! He's rich, and beautiful, and amazing! We're married!"
Francis: "That's gross, that's not me at all! He looks awful. Does he even talk?"
Man: "I'm John Smith! Have some money!"
Lady in Dress: "*Isn't he great*?"
Francis: "You're not me."
Lady in Dress: "I am! I'm your best version! I'm rich, everyone loves me! Next week, I'm going to a gala, and a fundraiser, and a wedding! Let's go! Aren't you excited?!"
Francis: "I hate all of that stuff. If you're me, you hate all of that stuff."
Lady in Dress: "But I'm happy! The death threats and bullying have stopped! I'm not suffering anymore!"
Voices: "We'll accept you! We'll embrace you!"
How does Francis respond?
[["You've become a parody of me."|CFrancis Choice A]]
[["And that seems worth it to you?"|CFrancis Choice B]]
Francis draws closer to the skeleton.
Skeleton: "Hey."
Player: "What are you?"
Voices: "She's a witch! Burn the bitch!"
Skeleton: "I'm you. The true you, the one that you really want to be. I rebelled. I revelled in discarding all that they valued. I treated them with the same contempt they showed me."
Francis: "I thought that's what I was doing. What happened to you? You don't look like me at all."
Skeleton: "Well, I'm dead. That's what you wanted, isn't it? But there was something so therapeutic in flaunting my sexuality, in completely rejecting the worthless notions of others trying to define me."
Francis: "What do you mean by that? Complete rejection?"
Skeleton: "I murdered anyone who disagreed with me. I held rallies, I burnt buildings, I blackmailed. Anything for the cause. This society needs to be burnt down and built anew."
Francis: "What if you destroy so much that society can't be rebuilt?"
Skeleton: "Then maybe this world deserves to burn."
How does Francis respond?
[["You're lying to yourself. That's never what this was about."|SFrancis Choice A]]
[["Would you do things the same way again?"|SFrancis Choice B]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossArgumentLost, 0))
Lady in Dress: "Say what you will, but I'm not bullied anymore! I don't think about death to escape things anymore!"
How does Francis respond?
[["You're lying."|CFrancis Choice E]]
[["Oh, please, like a bunch of ankle biters could wear me down like that."|CFrancis Choice F]]
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainArgumentWon, 100))
Lady in Dress: "We've both already changed ourselves to fit in, right? We say our Ps and Qs, we're polite, flattering, we abide the law."
Francis: "I'm only polite when I choose. But you? You're constantly simpering and running after the approval of everyone. That's not who I am."
Lady in Dress: "Do you even know who you are?"
Francis: "I'm a Private Eye. I'm confident, I'm assertive, I make my way in life. None of our classmates had to give up who they are. Why the hell should we? Fuck that."
Lady in Dress: "Really? That's what you think? Do you remember Suzanne Johnson? Kathleen Mullin? Barbara Mehlenbacher?"
Francis: "No. Why should I remember them?"
Lady in Dress: "Suzanne is married with three children. She wanted to sail the seas when she grew up, but now she's trapped in the suburbs. Kathleen wanted to be a lawyer, but she's stuck as a secretary in the waiting room. Barbara dreamed of being a cop, now she's an elementary teacher."
Francis: "That's their problem. Nothing stopped them from doing what I did."
Lady in Dress: "Really? Your father was never around, and your mother was as rebellious as you. Yeah, they didn't support you, but those other kids? Their parents were always pressuring them to conform, placing their unrealized dreams on their children's shoulders. You didn't have that pressure. You don't get to judge them."
Francis: "That's not fair, they treated me like shit, it's not the same at-"
Lady in Dress: "Life isn't fair. What do you expect to do about it?"
How does Francis respond?
[["I'll inflict my pain on them. Let's see how long they sing their petty little tune when they can't be themselves."|CFrancis Choice C]]
[["I won't let them win. I only have one life and I'm not letting others dictate how I live it."|CFrancis Choice D]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSelfRejection, 0))
Lady in Dress: "Victimizing others isn't a plan. An eye for an eye makes the world blind. I'm hurt too but becoming the very thing we hate isn't the answer. You know that."
Francis: "One day! One day in my shoes and, and -"
Lady in Dress: "You create a dozen new people just as jaded and hateful as you are."
[[Continue|CFrancis Failed to Reconcile]]
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainSelfAcceptance, 100))
Lady in Dress: "But without them, life is meaningless!"
Francis: "Without sycophants and liars? Without hypocrites and bullies? I don't have time for them."
Lady in Dress: "You have to make time, or society will, society will-"
Francis: "There's nothing society could do that would make me as unhappy as you are."
Lady in Dress: "Shut up! I'm perfectly happy, I have a husband, a kid, and prestige."
Francis: "That's what makes society happy. Not you."
Lady in Dress: "You're just jealous! I'm happy! I'm… so… happy…"
Francis: "Really?"
Lady in Dress: "I hate him. That little brat is so needy, screaming and shouting, gimme this, gimme that. When's the time for me? I've has just disappeared into this wretched, insignificant life."
[[Reconcile|CFrancis Reconciled]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSelfRejection, 0))
Lady in Dress: "Then why are you here?"
Francis: "I'm investigating several missing persons -"
Voices: "Just conform! Be like us!"
Lady in Dress: "No, why are you seeing me right now? Why are we even having this conversation?"
Francis: "I-I…"
Lady in Dress: "Those 'ankle-biters' got to you and you know it."
[[Continue|CFrancis Failed to Reconcile]]
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainSelfAcceptance, 100))
Voices: "She's accepted! She's one of us!"
Lady in Dress: "No! This is the absolute truth!"
Francis: "Ok, what do you like about your husband?"
Lady in Dress: "He, well, he's… gorgeous!"
Francis: "How?"
Lady in Dress: "Um, well, he's, his suit's really nice!"
Francis: "Listen to yourself. Every word, every inch of you, it's pure bullshit."
Lady in Dress: "But he has money!"
Francis: "To spend on social gatherings and clothes you don't want?"
Francis: "You're not happy. Do you dream about him at night? Does he make your heart race?"
Lady in Dress: "Well, I'm… not perfectly happy. But things could be worse."
Francis: "Could they?"
Lady in Dress: "I could be alone and poor, in a tiny office solving other people's problems."
Francis: "But you'd be yourself."
Lady in Dress: "What good is being yourself if you're always miserable?"
Francis: "Would good is living a lie?"
Lady in Dress: "No, you can't be…"
Francis: "Listen to yourself."
Lady in Dress: "I, I sold joy for safety. I'm not happy. I'm not me."
[[Reconcile|CFrancis Reconciled]]
{
(set: $cFrancisDone to true)
(set: $woundedPts to $woundedPts + 1)
}
Voices: "Join us! Embrace us!"
Lady in Dress: "No, safety is better than happiness. Your way's only going to hurt more people. This way, living with society, I can make a difference. People take me seriously. Whatever you are? You're a joke. Besides, I'm not gonna lose sleep over whether someone comes and finally punishes me for my sins."
Francis: "They don't take you seriously. You gave them everything they wanted-"
Alien Voice: "You test my patience, insect."
The woman in the red dress fades away.
[[Continue|Lost in the Abyss]]
{
(set: $cFrancisDone to true)
(set: $healedPts to $healedPts + 1)
}
Voices: "She lied to us! Cut her from our fold!"
Francis laughs bitterly.
Francis: "I know people who thought like you lot. We called them Nazis. They decreed who could love, who could be loved, and how that love could be expressed. Anyone who didn't fall into their neat little box wound up in a mass grave."
Lady in Dress: "I remember. We fought them together."
Francis: "It never changes, does it? All the pain, the panic of battle, our friends dying beside us. Just so we could come back home to our own little tyranny."
Voices: "She insults us! She rejects us! How dare she!"
Lady in Dress: "I want to be me. I'm so… tired of lying. All the time. It never ends. But… will I ever be accepted?"
Francis: "I accept you. You are part of me. We'll have to start from there."
The woman in the red dress smiles and fades away.
[[Continue|Lost in the Abyss]]
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainArgumentWon, 100))
Skeleton: "What do you mean?"
Francis: "It just sounds like you want revenge to me. I mean, couldn't you have kept true to yourself without being so aggressive?"
Skeleton: "What else do you suggest I do? This is the only weapon I have. You've seen the shit they put us through. I had to do something."
How does Francis respond?
[["If you'd kept a lower profile, you'd still be alive."|SFrancis Choice C]]
[["So should we become the very thing we hate?"|SFrancis Choice D]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossArgumentLost, 0))
Skeleton: "Yeah, I would. I died, but people will notice. There will be monuments to me, I might even get my own holiday. This society has become so toxic it's even poisoned children against us. There will be no justice for us unless we act."
How does Francis respond?
[["Doing nothing is just as powerful."|SFrancis Choice E]]
[["You might not get the change you want."|SFrancis Choice F]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSelfRejection, 0))
Skeleton: "Aren't you giving them what they want by keeping a low profile? Fading into obscurity? No one cares about you if you go away, if they don't have to look at you. But death? That grabs them. That forces them to pay attention."
[[Continue|SFrancis Failed to Reconcile]]
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainSelfAcceptance, 100))
Skeleton: "I'm nothing like them. I did nothing wrong. If they don't suffer like we have, then they'll never understand."
Francis: "You did nothing wrong? You just said you murdered people and commited terrorist acts! Them suffering solves nothing. They'll just hate us even more, and now they'll have reasons to. If you're going to act like this, reject any possible peaceful solution, bring nothing but pain, then you become the problem."
Skeleton: "No, I have to make them pay attention, I have to-"
Francis: "We both know that won't solve anything. My way is slower, my way is more painful, but at least there'll be a world left in the end."
[[Reconcile|SFrancis Reconciled]]
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainSelfAcceptance, 100))
Skeleton: "What are you talking about? All change is good."
Francis: "If there's no world to come back to, you haven't changed anything."
Skeleton: "Of course I have, everyone's dead. That's a pretty big change."
Francis: "That's just another form of giving up. All you did is make yourself and others miserable."
Skeleton: "But they accept us now!"
Francis: "No they don't. By your violence, you justify the very people you hate. But live your life, live freely, and you set an example. You show people that they can co-exist and respect one another."
Skeleton: "But death is easier."
Francis: "Easier? EASIER? That doesn't sound like you. When have we ever taken the easy way out? Challenge yourself. Understand these people and interact with them."
Skeleton: "So… difficult."
Francis: "I'll help you. Every step of the way."
Skeleton: "Thank ...you."
[[Reconcile|SFrancis Reconciled]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSelfRejection, 0))
Skeleton: "Yeah, that's how you do things, isn't it? What a waste of space. Your business is going to tank, and you're gonna die alone in this cave like everyone else."
Francis: "No, that's wrong, that's-"
Skeleton: "Please, do nothing. Do nothing and die."
[[Continue|SFrancis Failed to Reconcile]]
{
(set: $sFrancisDone to true)
(set: $woundedPts to $woundedPts + 1)
}
Voices: "Kill her!"
Skeleton: "No, I'd rather be dead and free than be such a failure to the cause."
Francis: "This isn't a cause, it's a suicide mission, it's -"
Alien Voice: "Just heal already!"
The skeletal figure fades away.
[[Continue|Lost in the Abyss]]
{
(set: $sFrancisDone to true)
(set: $healedPts to $healedPts + 1)
}
Francis: "There's so much we can do if we work together."
Skeleton: "But that's hard. I just want to burn it. I'm so sick of trying."
Francis: "It'll be hard, but if anyone can do it, it's you. You just have to live."
Skeleton: "This hate in my heart is so heavy. But if I don't fight, if I just live… I need to gain followers."
Francis: "Those kinds of followers will only hurt you."
Skeleton: "Without people like them, though, without revolutionaries… will I ever be accepted?"
Francis: "I accept you. You're part of me. But this isn't the path I want to tread."
Alien Voice: "Well done, insect."
The skeletal figure smiles and fades away.
[[Continue|Lost in the Abyss]]
The darkness slowly fades, into the familiar hell that is the classroom.
Teacher: "My, Francis has been deep in thought for a long time. Perhaps she's finally worked up the nerve. Conform or die. Which do you choose?"
{
(if: (history:) contains "CFrancis Reconciled" and (history:) contains "SFrancis Reconciled")[
[[Wake up|Good Class End]]
]
(else:)[
[[Wake up|Bad Class End]]
]
}
{
(set: $classDoorLocked to true)
(set: $roomsCompleted to $roomsCompleted + 1)
}
Francis snarls in anger. Of all the faces she doesn't want to see now...
Francis: "Shut up you miserable, hate-filled, sexless windbag! And these brats, I loathe every one of you little bastards!"
Teacher: "So mature. I can see you've learned so much."
Francis: "One more word and I will kill you!"
Teacher: "Still viewing violence as a valid answer to your problems. So disappointing. No, no, this won't do at all. I'm putting this in your report."
Francis: "Fuck your class, fuck your reports and fuck you!"
Francis storms out of the classroom. The teacher tries to stop her, but with a strength Francis didn't know she had, she shoves the teacher out of the way.
[[Leave the classroom without looking back|School Hallway]]
{
(set: $classDoorLocked to true)
(set: $roomsCompleted to $roomsCompleted + 1)
}
The classroom slowly fades back into view. Francis feels oddly calmed by her experience, even in the face of a room she hates so much.
Francis: "Ah! Finally, I can move again!"
Francis: "Neither."
Teacher: "What? That's not an option! Sit down, right -"
Francis: "I refuse. You're a miserable, bitter shrew poisoning impressionable children. You wipe your ass with the liberty I and so many others fought for. You couldn't do what I did then nor what I do now. I'm not your student, and it's high time you fucked yourself."
Teacher: "Don't talk that way in front of the children, Francis."
Francis: "I'm speaking the same way you spoke to me, *teacher*. Bye."
Teacher: "N-No. Sit down. Class isn't over yet."
Francis doesn't answer, walking steadily towards the door.
Teacher: "Sit down right now, or I'll -"
Francis: "You'll what, suspend me? You can't do anything to me anymore."
[[Leave the classroom without looking back|School Hallway]]
(if: (count: (history:), "The Mirror") < 1)[
{
(set: $foundBathroomClueB to true)
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule)
}
Francis: "The mirror is in pieces. Someone had struck the glass with great force. Blood marred the impact site. Lisa had many enemies. Someone could have attacked her in the bathroom."
Lisa: "I always thought someone had it in for me."
]
(else:)[
Francis: "I've already investigated this clue."
]
[[Search for more clues|Search for Clues]]
(if: (count: (history:), "The Stall Door") < 1)[
{
(set: $foundBathroomClueC to true)
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule)
}
Francis: "The door showed no evidence of forced entry. It was still barred from the inside."
]
(else:)[
Francis: "I've already investigated this clue."
]
[[Search for more clues|Search for Clues]]
(if: (count: (history:), "The Drugs") < 1)[
{
(set: $foundBathroomClueD to true)
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule)
}
Francis: "The devil's powder. Lisa had a drug history, and this was potent stuff. Where'd she get her hands on it? Did her dealer come to extract payment?"
Lisa pouts.
Lisa: "Rude! I didn't have a drug problem!"
]
(else:)[
Francis: "I've already investigated this clue."
]
[[Search for more clues|Search for Clues]]
(if: $foundBathroomClueA is true and $foundBathroomClueB is true and $foundBathroomClueC is true and $foundBathroomClueD is true)[
Francis: "Alright, Lisa. You can come out now. I've figured it out."
[[Solve the case|Elementary]]
]
(else:)[
Francis: "I need to find more evidence to figure out what happened here."
[[Talk to Lisa|Talk to Lisa]]
[[Examine the broken mirror|The Mirror]]
[[Examine the basins|The Basins]]
[[Examine the stall door|The Stall Door]]
[[Examine the discarded joint|The Drugs]]
]
{
(set: $healedPts to $healedPts + 1, $roomsCompleted to $roomsCompleted + 1, $bathroomLocked to true, $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossLoseLisa, 0))
}
Lisa leaves the bathroom stall, and comes face to face with Francis. Her expression is very tired, her make-up is running, and her eyes are red.
Francis: "You hated the way they treated us, Lisa. One day, after your parents threatened to kick you out, you lit up in the bathroom. You couldn't even look at yourself, and smashed the mirror in anger. Worried sick about you, I came in to find you messed up. You said you never loved me. That we couldn't be together, that we had just been a phase."
Lisa: "I'm sorry, Francis. I didn't know what else to do."
Francis: "No, I buried you to forget. I went to war to find death and came back alive. Even when I became a private eye I couldn't remember what gave me the idea. I'm a coward, Lisa."
Lisa beams brightly.
Lisa: "No. You're… my detective."
Lisa fades away. Francis slumps down on the floor and begins crying. It isn't the quiet tears she would have preferred, but full, painful sobs. She stays there for some time.
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
(set: $farDoorOpened to true)
Alien Voice: "It is time."
The far door unlocks with an oddly loud click, and slowly opens. Francis can't see anyone opening the door.
The black cat runs off down the hall, and through the new door.
Francis: "Hey! Cat, what the hell's gotten into you?"
[[Enter the far door|The Usual Suspects]]
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule)
Francis: "There's a horde of angry shadows on the other side of this door. I don't want to tangle with them again."
[[Try something else|School Hallway]]
Lisa: "You can do this, Francis. I believe in you."
[[Search for other clues|Search for Clues]]
Francis blinks in surprise as she enters the climatic room. It's quite large compared to the others Francis has been in, but that's not what surprises her. Rather, the source of her confusion is the cafeteria that stretches out before her. She didn't know what she thought she'd find beyond the door, but it wasn't this. The cafeteria itself is in shambles. Hastily abandoned food and drink cover tables, overthrown chairs, and smashed glass displays protect rotting food. Blood drenches many of the tables and much of the floor, and discarded bodies lay strewn about as if caught by a hurricane. Something stands in the middle of the carnage, and a thick, stagnant mist covers the floor.
Two bodies catch Francis's eye.
[[Examine the body on the left|Check Body on Left]]
[[Examine the body on the right|Check Body on Right]]
[[Examine the moss covering the floors and walls|Examine Fungus III]]
[[Walk Closer to the Grisly Scene|Randy Cat What Have You Done]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody, 0))
(set: $foundCatherineLowell to true)
}
Francis checks for signs of life. There are none - no pulse, no breath, the body is cold. Francis gives the body a pat down. There it is. She digs out the deceased's wallet.
Francis: "Ah! I'm in luck."
There's a bit of blood on the driver's license, but not enough to obscure the victim's identity.
Francis: *sigh* "Now we know what happened to Catherine Lowell. I'll notify the authorities."
Francis: "Oh? Her wounds seem to have been self-inflicted. Interesting. What was Catherine Lowell doing with a gun?"
[[What next?|The Usual Suspects]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody, 0))
(set: $foundVictorDavis to true)
}
This body is cooking in the middle of a fire. The smell is nauseating. With the body as burnt as it is, Francis can't determine the cause of death.
A wallet lies near the man's body. He must have dropped it. The driver's license bears the name Victor Davis.
Francis: "That's disappointing. I'll notify the authorities."
[[What next?|The Usual Suspects]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossGrislyScene, 0))
}
Francis approaches the middle of the room. The cafeteria is dark save for a few burning fires, and she can only see a few feet in front of her.
She passes by several other bodies, finally reaching the middle of the room, where she sees the black cat sitting calmly in the middle of a pool of blood.
Francis: "Randy? Are you there?"
Cat: "Do you feel better now, Francis?"
Francis: "What? Why would you ask that now?"
Cat: "That stuff sounded pretty traumatic. I had no idea you had such a tough time, boss."
Francis pauses. Her eyes narrow.
Francis: "I didn't say anything about what I went through. Look, let's get out of here. Wanna go to Byrne's for a drink?"
Cat: "Well, normally yeah, but, you know, we really should finish up what we are doing here first."
Francis: "Byrne's? You're fine with going there after we're done?"
Cat: "Yeah, of course, like usual."
Francis: "Byrne is Randy's mother's birth name. We've never been to a bar with that name. Who are you, really?"
A distorted laugh echoes throughout the entire school. The voice emanating from the cat changes drastically, dropping in pitch and twisting in cadence. It becomes the alien voice from earlier.
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Well done, Sherlock. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out our little game."
Francis: "Don't play games with me."
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Such impudence. Do not presume to lecture me on table manners, worm."
Francis: "Table manners? You aren't going to eat me!"
{
(if: $healedPts > $woundedPts)[
[[Continue|Good End Randy Cat]]
]
(elseif: $healedPts is $woundedPts)[
[[Continue|Neutral End Randy Cat]]
]
(else:)[
[[Continue|Bad End Randy Cat]]
]
}
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossRandyDies, 0))
}
(Alien voice) "Cat": *laughs* "Did you really think you were in control? Besides, I have had my fill."
Francis: "W-what?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Your pain was delicious. I tried to heal you, but you just did not care, did you? You were just as weak as the rest."
Francis: "My past is none of your damn business!"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Oh, but it is. That is my power. I am trapped in this stupid cave and you insects just cannot shut up, your melodrama never ends, it just keeps washing over me like an itch. So I scratch it."
Francis: "You mean the others? How did killing them help?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "I did not kill anyone. You killed them, remember?"
Francis: "What the hell are you talking about?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Just like you killed Randy."
Francis: "Wh-what are you talking about? What did you do to Randy, you bastard?"
The cat in front of Francis mews weakly and starts to shake. It collapses to the ground as the shaking gets worse, and makes eye contact with Francis one last time. The cat bursts apart in a spray of blood and gore.
[[Find Randy's Killer|Bad End Nightmare]]
Francis steps back hesitantly. She's no coward, but after everything that's happened, what's going on here clearly isn't the work of your average crazy. At this point, she knows enough to complete her contract and get the authorities involved.
Getting out of here sounds like a really good idea. Francis turns and leaves, checking over her back to make sure she isn't being followed.
She's had enough of this damned place for one lifetime.
[[Escape the cave|Are You Randy Good]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossRandyDies, 0))
}
(Alien voice) "Cat": *laughs* "Did you really think you were in control? Besides, I have had my fill."
Francis: "W-what?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Your pain was delicious, but I am tired of you. I have tried to heal you, but you refused to heal. You were just as weak as the rest of them."
Francis: "That doesn't make any… is that what you did with the others? Killed them once you got bored of toying with them?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Those insects took their own lives. How wasteful."
Francis: "Fuck you. Stop toying with me."
(Alien voice) "Cat": "You have learnt nothing. Get out of my sight."
Francis: "Who are you really?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "If you wish to see the truth, keep walking towards me. But even a cockroach like you will not survive my true form. Consider this your only warning."
The cat in front of Francis mews weakly and starts to shake. It collapses to the ground as the shaking gets worse, and makes eye contact with Francis one last time. The cat bursts apart in a spray of blood and gore.
[[Find the source of the voice|Neutral End Nightmare]]
[[Escape the cave|Neutral End Leave]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossRandyDies, 0))
}
(Alien voice) "Cat": "You still think you are in control, don't you? I have no use for you anymore."
Francis: "W-what?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Your pain, I can feel it filling every pore of me, it is so satisfying. I have healed you, forced you to face all those festering wounds you thought you had suppressed. But now, you cannot feed me any longer."
Francis: "What? How? That's impossible!"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "That is my power. I am trapped in this stupid cave and you insects just cannot shut up, your melodrama never ends, it just keeps washing over me like an itch. So I scratch it."
Francis: "Itching? You call murder 'itching'? How did killing them help?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Each of those insects took their own lives. What a waste of good food."
Francis: "Why are you telling me all this?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "For my amusement. I have lived longer than the childish pastime you call 'recorded history.' It gets so droll without changing things up a bit."
Francis: "Fuck you. Stop toying with me."
(Alien voice) "Cat": "You can leave now. You cannot feed me any longer. But I must congratulate you. You are the first insect to survive my healing process. Are there more like you? I admit I am still rather peckish."
Francis: "Who are you really?"
(Alien voice) "Cat": "Why do you ask? You can no better understand me than a worm understands you. If you wish to see the truth, keep walking towards me. But even a cockroach as persistent as you will not survive my true form. Consider this your only warning."
The cat in front of Francis mews weakly and starts to shake. It collapses to the ground as the shaking gets worse and it makes eye contact with Francis one last time. The cat bursts apart in a spray of blood and gore.
[[Find the source of the voice|Good End Nightmare]]
[[Escape the cave|Good End Leave]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSeeNightmare, 0))
(set: $sawNightmare to true)
}
Francis walks hesitantly forward. She can't leave without putting this last piece of the puzzle in place. She passes more bodies, and both the moss and the mist grows ever thicker. At last, the object of her search comes into view.
It doesn't exist. It can't exist. It must not exist. All the scientists and the wise men of the world could not name, let alone make sense of, the abomination before her. All of them alike would declare it not of this world, not of any sane world. It is that which should not be! Moss from every part of the cave collects here into a monstrosity as tall and wide as the cave itself, although it seems to waver, as if it has no measure. Fangs and eyes protrude from countless vines. Between the moss, the unnatural skin of the creature lays exposed. Covered in thick green mucus, the skin ties to the moss with a seaweed-like sinew. And its face! The most depraved of madmen could not have put together so unholy an image! Francis cannot maintain eye contact with it. For all the horrors of man and war had nothing to desensitize her to *this*. A thick mass of tendrils extend down from the mouth like a writhing beard. Countless eyes gaze coldly down at her. Every angle of this creature seems wrong, a disavowing of all that man knows. Francis has seen past the veil, and her mind will never be the same.
Francis begins screaming hysterically.
Francis: "Oh god, what the hell is that!? What is that. You… this can't be real!"
Alien voice: "Foolish insect, I warned you."
Francis: "I- I- I…"
Alien voice: "Impressive. You have not completely lost yourself, insect. What now? Come to slay the beast, have you? You cannot hurt me. Your role has come to an end, and you know it."
Screaming, Francis raises her gun and fires off three rounds. The bullets slam into the creature and sink into the mucus mass and disappear completely. If the creature suffers even remotely from her assault, it does not show.
Alien voice: "You cannot kill that which is older than death itself."
Francis steps backward, still screaming. She turns and bolts from the room, unable to understand the thing before her.
[[Escape the cave|Are You Randy Good]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSeeNightmare, 0))
(set: $sawNightmare to true)
}
Francis walks hesitantly forward. She can't leave without putting this last piece of the puzzle in place. She passes more bodies, and both the moss and the mist grows ever thicker. At last, the object of her search comes into view.
It doesn't exist. It can't exist. It must not exist. All the scientists and the wise men of the world could not name, let alone make sense of, the abomination before her. All of them alike would declare it not of this world, not of any sane world. It is that which should not be! Moss from every part of the cave collects here into a monstrosity as tall and wide as the cave itself, although it seems to waver, as if it has no measure. Fangs and eyes protrude from countless vines. Between the moss, the unnatural skin of the creature lays exposed. Covered in thick green mucus, the skin ties to the moss with a seaweed-like sinew. And its face! The most depraved of madmen could not have put together so unholy an image! Francis cannot maintain eye contact with it. For all the horrors of man and war had nothing to desensitize her to *this*. A thick mass of tendrils extend down from the mouth like a writhing beard. Countless eyes gaze coldly down at her. Every angle of this creature seems wrong, a disavowing of all that man knows. Francis has seen past the veil, and her mind will never be the same.
Francis begins screaming hysterically.
Francis: "Oh god, what the hell is that!? What is that. You… this can't be real!"
Alien voice: "Foolish insect, I warned you."
Francis: "I- I- I…"
Alien voice: "Impressive. You have not completely lost yourself, insect. What now? Come to slay the beast, have you? You cannot hurt me. Your role has come to an end, and you know it."
Screaming, Francis raises her gun and fires off three rounds. The bullets slam into the creature and sink into the mucus mass and disappear completely. If the creature suffers even remotely from her assault, it does not show.
Alien voice: "You cannot kill that which is older than death itself."
Francis steps backward, still screaming. She turns and bolts from the room, unable to understand the thing before her.
[[Escape the cave|Neutral End Finale]]
Francis: "Let's get out of here."
{
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
<br>
Francis: "I found all three of them. They're all dead, Randy."<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
<br>
Francis: "I found Victor Davis and Catherine Lowell. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Jennifer Smith?"<br>
<br>
Francis just shakes her head.<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
<br>
Francis: "I found Victor Davis and Jennifer Smith. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Catherine Lowell?"<br>
<br>
Francis just shakes her head.<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
<br>
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Victor Davis. He's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived."<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
<br>
Francis: "I found Catherine Lowell and Jennifer Smith. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Victor Davis?"<br>
<br>
Francis just shakes her head.<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
<br>
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Catherine Lowell. She's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived."<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
<br>
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Jennifer Smith. She's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived."<br>
]
(if: $carExploded is false and $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
<br>
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I didn't find any of the missing persons."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What the hell were you doing in there, boss? We can't just abandon them, they could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Randy marches towards the cave, determined to find the persons himself.<br>
<br>
Francis grabs his arm with a grip like steel, her eyes still looking forward.<br>
<br>
Francis: "We're abandoning the case, Randy. I barely made it out alive, and I'm not willing to lose you too."<br>
<br>
Randy rounds on Francis, unable to tear from her grasp. He's furious, until he sees the tears in her eyes.<br>
]
}
Francis: "I'll tell you everything once we're far away from here. O'Reilly's? First round is on me."<br>
Randy: "Sure thing, boss."
Francis: "Thank you Randy. Did I ever tell you why I became a Private Eye?"
{
(if: $carExploded is false)[
The two walk back to the car.<br>
]
(else:)[
The two begin the long walk back to the nearest town. They can call for help from there. The storm has let up, and rays of light pierce the dark clouds overhead.<br>
]
}
THE END
{
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainBeatNightmare, 100))
(set: $carExploded to true)
}
Francis remembers the explosives she recovered from the cave. She digs around in her purse.
Randy: "Francis? Did you drop something?"
With a triumphant "aha!" she pulls the compound from her backpack. Her eyes sparkle dangerously.
Randy: "Francis? Cut it out, you're scaring me here."
Francis: "Randy, have you ever seen me this freaked out before?"
Randy: "Not even close, boss."
Francis: "I can't describe what I found down there. I need you to trust me on that. But it was bad. Bad enough to mess me up like this."
Randy: "...Alright. You and I go way back boss. I'll trust you."
Francis: "Thank you. There's something terrible in that cave. Something we can't kill or dismantle; something that drives people mad. But we can stop it from killing again."
Randy: "How?"
Francis: "We trap it in the cave. Here's what we do."
Randy: "Wait, boss! What about the missing people?"
{
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "They're all dead, Randy! I couldn't save any of them, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "I found Victor Davis and Catherine Lowell. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Jennifer Smith?"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "I found Victor Davis and Jennifer Smith. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Catherine Lowell?"<br>
<br>
Francis: "There's no way anyone else survived, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Victor Davis. He's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "There's no way anyone else survived, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "I found Catherine Lowell and Jennifer Smith. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Victor Davis?"<br>
<br>
Francis: "There's no way anyone else survived, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Catherine Lowell. She's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "There's no way anyone else survived, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Jennifer Smith. She's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "There's no way anyone else survived, but I can save the next person from entering this hellhole."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I didn't find any of the missing persons."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What the hell were you doing in there, boss? If they're in that cave, you're killing them!"<br>
<br>
Randy marches towards the cave, determined to find the persons himself.<br>
<br>
Francis grabs his arm with a grip like steel, her eyes still looking forward.<br>
<br>
Francis: "We're abandoning the case, Randy. I barely made it out alive, and I can't lose anyone else to that damn cave."<br>
<br>
Randy rounds on Francis, unable to tear from her grasp. He's furious, until he sees the tears in her eyes.<br>
]
}
Francis and Randy position her beloved Cadillac in the cave entrance. She opens the gas lid and dumps the chemical compound in and around the fuel intake.
Randy retreats to a safe distance.
Randy: "Are you sure about this, boss? It's a long walk back to town."
Francis: "It's all we can do, Randy."
Francis sighs, deeply, and lays a hand on her baby (car). She strokes it, lovingly, like a mother a child.
Francis: "I'm sorry, Kara, but I have to do this. It's all I can do. It's been a great ride."
Francis begins to shed silent tears. She got this car when she first became a detective. It would be a long time before she could afford to replace it.
Her mind grieving, but made-up, Francis strikes open her Zippo lighter, tosses it at the fuel intake, and bolts, diving away from the car. The compound catches immediately, lighting flames which race down into the ample fuel tank. The car goes up in a roaring boom, sending flame and smoke into the sky. The explosion tears the beloved Cadillac and the cursed cave entrance to shreds, sending a giant cascade of rock down over the entrance and car.
For an impromptu demolition, it did its job well. The cave entrance is buried under tons of rock.
Francis: "Thank you, Kara."
[[Go home|Good End Finale]]
{
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainRandyLives, 100))
}
Francis finally emerges from the dreadful cave.
Randy approaches Francis in relief.
Randy: "Francis! Are you ok? The walkie-talkie stopped working and I had no idea what happened and -"
Francis raises her gun at Randy.
Francis: "Hold it. Who are you?"
Randy: "Whoa, calm down boss! What the hell's gotten into you?!"
Francis: "I said, who are you? What bar do we always go to?"
Randy: "I-I'm Randy, I work with you? We've worked together for years. We go to O'Reilly's pub? What happened to you, boss?"
Francis lowers her gun and smiles.
Francis: "So, It's really you?"
Randy: "Boss, are you okay? What happened in there?"
Francis walks forward and gives Randy a friendly embrace.
{
(if: $hasExplosiveCompound is true and $sawNightmare is true)[
[[Block cave entrance|Blow Up Cave Entrance]]<br>
]
}
[[Go home|Good End Finale]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity + $sanityGainRandyLives, 100))
}
Francis finally emerges from the dreadful cave.
Randy approaches Francis in relief.
Randy: "Francis! Are you ok? The walkie-talkie stopped working and I had no idea what happened and -"
Francis raises her gun at Randy.
Francis: "Not another step. Who are you?"
Randy: "Whoa, calm down boss! What the hell's gotten into you?"
Francis: "Tell me! What bar do we always go to?"
Randy: "I-I'm Randy, I work with you? We've worked together for years. We go to O'Reilly's pub, why on earth are you asking me that now?"
Francis lowers her gun.
Francis: "It's really you, isn't it?"
Randy: "Boss… are you okay? What happened in there?"
Francis: "Let's go home."
Randy: "But the disappearances? All the -"
{
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "I found all three of them. They're all dead, Randy."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "I found Victor Davis and Catherine Lowell. They'sre dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Jennifer Smith?"<br>
<br>
Francis just shakes her head.<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "I found Victor Davis and Jennifer Smith. They'sre dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Catherine Lowell?"<br>
<br>
Francis just shakes her head.<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is true and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Victor Davis. He's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "I found Catherine Lowell and Jennifer Smith. They're dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about Victor Davis?"<br>
<br>
Francis just shakes her head.<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is true and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Catherine Lowell. She's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is true)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I only found Jennifer Smith. She's dead, Randy."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What about the others, boss? They could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Francis: "It's hell in there. There's no way anyone else survived."<br>
]
(if: $foundVictorDavis is false and $foundCatherineLowell is false and $foundJenniferSmith is false)[
Francis: "It's a mess in there. I didn'st find any of the missing persons."<br>
<br>
Randy: "What the hell were you doing in there, boss? We can't just abandon them, they could still be alive!"<br>
<br>
Randy marches towards the cave, determined to find the persons himself.<br>
<br>
Francis grabs his arm with a grip like steel, her eyes still looking forward.<br>
<br>
Francis: "We're abandoning the case, Randy. I barely made it out alive, and I'm not willing to lose you too."<br>
<br>
Randy rounds on Francis, unable to tear from her grasp. He's furious, until he sees the tears in her eyes.<br>
]
}
Francis: "Let's go home, Randy. I need a drink."
Randy: "Boss?"
Francis: "I'll be okay, thanks Randy. I just can't stay in this damned place any longer."
GAME OVER
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSeeNightmare, 0))
(set: $sawNightmare to true)
}
Francis walks hesitantly forward. She can't leave without putting this last piece of the puzzle in place. She passes more bodies, and both the moss and the mist grows ever thicker. At last, the object of her search comes into view.
It doesn't exist. It can't exist. It must not exist. All the scientists and the wise men of the world could not name, let alone make sense of, the abomination before her. All of them alike would declare it not of this world, not of any sane world. It is that which should not be! Moss from every part of the cave collects here into a monstrosity as tall and wide as the cave itself, although it seems to waver, as if it has no measure. Fangs and eyes protrude from countless vines. Between the moss, the unnatural skin of the creature lays exposed. Covered in thick green mucus, the skin ties to the moss with a seaweed-like sinew. And its face! The most depraved of madmen could not have put together so unholy an image! Francis cannot maintain eye contact with it. For all the horrors of man and war had nothing to desensitize her to *this*. A thick mass of tendrils extend down from the mouth like a writhing beard. Countless eyes gaze coldly down at her. Every angle of this creature seems wrong, a disavowing of all that man knows. Francis has seen past the veil, and her mind will never be the same.
Francis begins screaming hysterically.
Francis: "Oh god, what the hell is that!? What is that. You… this can't be real!"
Alien voice: "Foolish insect, I warned you."
Francis: "I- I- I…"
Alien voice: "Ah, yes! Feed me your sorrow, your confusion, your suffering!"
[[Francis feels her grip on reality slipping. The trials of the cave are too much for her mind to handle, and she starts to giggle hysterically.|Insanity]]
Francis steps back. She's no coward, but after everything that's happened, what's going on here clearly isn't the work of your average crazy. At this point, she knows enough to complete her contract and get the authorities involved.
Getting out of here sounds like a really good idea. Francis turns and leaves, checking over her back to make sure she isn't being followed.
She's had enough of this damned place for one lifetime.
[[Escape the cave|Neutral End Finale]]
{
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody)
(set: $mossSecretAKnown to true)
}
Examining the moss is a surreal experience. The blood-red and purple colors blend together in a decidedly muted tone. On closer inspection, the blood-red marks tiny buds, and the purple moss laces the buds and moss structure together. The moss fibers sway back and forth slightly, but there's no breeze in the cave to move them.
Francis: "I've never seen anything like it. It's almost hypnotic."
Entranced, Francis stretches forth a hand and pokes the moss. Several of the bulbs burst open with a hiss, releasing a pungent thick cloud.
Francis: "Agh!" *Cough* *Cough*
Francis swings her arms wildly to clear the air.
[[Try something else|Mine Tracks]]
Francis approaches the nearest watcher. Now that she knows what to look for, making its shape out is easier than before. Gritting her teeth, she prepares for action.
Francis: "Hey! You there!"
The creature continues to shamble aimlessly back and forth, oblivious to her shouting.
If there was one thing Francis hated, it was being ignored. Her teeth grind together, and she steps forward, grabbing it on where she would approximate its shoulder.
Francis: "I'm talking to you!"
Anger turns to shock as her hand passes straight through the creature, and the shadow dissipates into thin air.
[[Try something else|School Hallway]]
{
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody)
(set: $mossSecretBKnown to true)
}
The moss looks completely different in decent lighting. When examined further, it isn't swaying at all, but pulsating with a steady regularity. It looks disturbingly like the pulse of a heart.
Francis: "Ugh, that's creepy! What *is* this stuff?"
The moss finches - she didn't think moss could flinch - and several buds burst open, spraying Francis with spores.
Francis: "Agh!" *Cough* *Cough*
Francis swings her arms wildly to clear the air.
[[Try something else|School Hallway]]
{
(set: $sanity to $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody)
(set: $mossSecretCKnown to true)
}
Francis: "There's that moss again. I swear this crap is everywhere."
The blood on the ground seems to seep towards the moss. As for the moss itself, the eerie pulsing from before is still there but, there seems to be something else going on. Following her eyes along the ground, she finally sees it.
Francis: "All of this moss is connected. It runs through the entire cave. Is the moss alive?"
The moss flinches - she didn't know moss could flinch - and several buds burst open, spraying Francis with spores again.
Francis: "Agh!" *Cough* *Cough*
Francis swings her arms wildly to clear the air.
[[Try something else|The Usual Suspects]]
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSocialRidicule, 0))
Students: "Ew, gross. You're not joining our group."
[[Try something else|Unprepared]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
Francis checks every nook and cranny of the lab, but there's no spare equipment.
[[Try something else|Unprepared]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSystemicRidicule, 0))
}
The teacher scowls at your approach.
Teacher: "Oh, all the groups are all formed already. That's what you get for being late to class. Do the experiment on your own."
Francis: "I don't go to school here, I'm investigating -"
Teacher: "I don't care about your little detective games, Francis. Do your work."
Francis: "There are people who've disappeared -"
Teacher: "Enough, Francis. Do your work."
Teacher: "Have you even started your assignment? The titration must be done by the end of class or I will fail you."
Francis: "There's no more vials or equipment -"
Teacher: "That's not my problem. Just do your work."
[[Wait for a group to finish|Lady Luck]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
The teacher comes by.
Teacher: "What are you doing, Francis? The lab is due in half an hour, and you haven't even started."
Francis: "I need equipment."
Teacher: "That's not an excuse. You have thirty minutes to complete the lab."
The teacher storms off.
One of the other groups calls him over and presents their work. With smiles, they get up and leave without cleaning up their equipment.
[[Start the lab|Old Memories]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossSystemicRidicule, 0))
}
Francis rushes over to the abandoned equipment and begins.
She frowns at the assignment specifications. This is remarkably complicated, far more suited to senior level university than high school chemistry.
Teacher: "You might as well give up now. There's no way you'll finish on time."
Francis snorts.
Francis: "Shut up. I can do this no problem."
She smiles, remembering how she'd put the men in her squad to shame in boot camp. They'd learnt the hard way not to look down on her, and this asshole would too.
Francis hands start to fly as she scribbles down calculation after calculation, preparing the chemicals in minute amounts, and blending them together.
Teacher: "Five minutes left, everyone."
But of course, only her and the teacher remain in the lab.
Teacher: "One minute left, Francis. Give it up."
Francis ignores the teacher and continues to work furiously.
Teacher: "Ten seconds left."
[[Finish the lab|Explosive Compound]]
[[Leave the lab|Leave the Lab]]
(set: $woundedPts to $woundedPts + 1, $roomsCompleted to $roomsCompleted + 1, $labLocked to true)
Teacher: "Detectives belong in movies. Do something practical. Without math and science, you have no future."
Francis: "I've been doing pretty well."
Teacher: "You're behind on your rent, this is your first client in months and you're not going to survive, let alone solve the case."
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
(set: $hasExplosiveCompound to true)
Francis: "Done!"
The teacher comes over and grudgingly checks her work.
Teacher: "It looks like you got lucky this time."
[[Continue|I Did All The Science]]
{
(set: $healedPts to $healedPts + 1, $roomsCompleted to $roomsCompleted + 1)
(set: $labLocked to true)
}
Francis: "Luck had nothing to do with my results. You'd know that if you ever looked through my work."
The teacher tuts in annoyance and starts cleaning up the lab.
Francis takes her resulting chemical with her. This is an explosive compound, but why would they be making that during class?
Francis: "It's really too bad."
Teacher: "What is it now, Francis?"
Francis: "I learnt so much in your class. It would have been nice if we could have gotten along."
Francis throws the teacher a smile, and leaves, her head held high.
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]
{
<!-- Handle inventory setup. -->
(set: $inv to (a: ))
(set: $cigarettes to "Cigarettes:Francis' favorite brand, she never leaves home without it. There are only two left in the pack.")
(set: $lighter to "Lighter:A Zippo lighter. Francis has an odd habit of burning through these (no pun intended).")
(set: $magnum to "Magnum:Francis favored weapon, a thirty-seven caliber snub-nose magnum. It packs a brutal punch and fits easily in her purse.")
(set: $map to (datamap: "hall", (a: ), "kitchen", (a:), "cellar", (a: )))
(set: $offstage to (a: $cigarettes, $magnum, $lighter))
(print: Window.move_object($cigarettes, $offstage, $inv))
(print: Window.move_object($magnum, $offstage, $inv))
(print: Window.move_object($lighter, $offstage, $inv))
<!-- Set sanity redemption values -->
(set: $sanityGainSmallVictory to (random: 1, 3))
(set: $sanityGainArgumentWon to (random: 2, 4))
(set: $sanityGainRandyLives to (random: 4, 6))
(set: $sanityGainSelfAcceptance to (random: 5, 8))
(set: $sanityGainCigarette to (random: 10, 12))
(set: $sanityGainBeatNightmare to (random: 12, 15))
<!-- Set sanity loss values -->
(set: $sanityLossSocialRidicule to (random: 1, 4))
(set: $sanityLossSystemicRidicule to (random: 2, 5))
(set: $sanityLossArgumentLost to (random: 3, 6))
(set: $sanityLossDeadBody to (random: 3, 6))
(set: $sanityLossSeeGhost to (random: 4, 6))
(set: $sanityLossTalkingAnimal to (random: 4, 7))
(set: $sanityLossGhostlyGathering to (random: 5, 8))
(set: $sanityLossSeeLisa to (random: 6, 9))
(set: $sanityLossGrislyScene to (random: 6, 10))
(set: $sanityLossLoseLisa to (random: 7, 10))
(set: $sanityLossRandyDies to (random: 8, 12))
(set: $sanityLossSelfRejection to (random: 9, 15))
(set: $sanityLossSeeNightmare to (random: 15, 20))
<!-- Set autosave variables -->
(set: $_version to "2.0.2")
(set: $_autosave_slot to "autosave")
(set: $_autosave_filename to "save v"+$_version)
(set: $_start_passage to "Canary")
}
<h1>Canary</h1>
*By: Michael Morris-O'Connor, Daniel Decker, Pelin Kivrikoglu*
version 2.0.5
{
<!-- Auto-save our progress (unless a passage forbids it) -->
(unless: (passage:)'s tags contains "nosave")[
(save-game: $_autosave_slot, $_autosave_filename)
]
(unless: (passage:)'s tags contains "no-header")[
Sanity: $sanity<br>
(if: $sanity < 20)[
Francis feels like she's being watched. They must be out to get her. She is desperate for a cigarette.<br>
]
(elseif: $sanity < 40)[
Francis's hands start shaking uncontrollably. She is desperate for a cigarette.<br>
]
(elseif: $sanity < 60)[
Francis checks her gun is loaded. She craves a smoke.<br>
]
<!-- Go insane if we reach that point -->
(if: $sanity is 0)[
(go-to: "Insanity")
]
]
}
{
(set: $tags to (passage:)'s tags)
(if: not ($tags contains "no-footer"))[
(display: "list inventory")
]
}
{
<!-- Set initial variables that change here instead of in the Startup passage -->
(set: $sanity to 100, $cigarettesRemaining to 2, $healedPts to 0, $woundedPts to 0, $roomsCompleted to 0, $farDoorOpened to false, $teacherEnraged to false, $studentTimesSpoken to 0, $mossSecretAKnown to false, $mossSecretBKnown to false, $mossSecretCKnown to false, $watcherSecretAKnown to false, $watcherSecretBKnown to false, $watcherSecretCKnown to false, $cFrancisDone to false, $sFrancisDone to false, $foundBathroomClueA to false, $foundBathroomClueB to false, $foundBathroomClueC to false, $foundBathroomClueD to false, $hasExplosiveCompound to false, $sawNightmare to false, $carExploded to false, $classNightmare to false, $classDoorLocked to false, $bathroomLocked to false, $labLocked to false, $foundVictorDavis to false, $foundCatherineLowell to false, $foundJenniferSmith to false)
(unless: (saved-games:) contains $_autosave_slot and (datavalues: (saved-games:)) contains $_autosave_filename)[(goto: Canary)]
}
While this game has dialogue containing homophobia, these do not reflect the beliefs of the creators, and is used to show the trauma around this type of bullying.
*Trigger Warning*: This game contains elements of homophobic bullying, systemic discrimination, addiction, suicide, and depression. Player discretion is advised.
''[[NEW GAME->Canary]]
(link: "CONTINUE")[(load-game: $_autosave_slot)]''
<br><br>Francis is carrying:<br>
{(if: $inv.length > 0)[
<!-- converts an array of objects into an array of links and then joins them with newlines between each item -->
(print: $inv.map(Window.make_link, "use").join("\n"))]
(else:)[nothing]}
{
(set: $loc to (history:)'s last)
<!-- if a passage called "use-<item>" exists then call that instead -->
(set: $__passage to "use-" + $__item.splt(":")[0])
(if: (Window.passages.get($__passage) != undefined))[
(display: $__passage)
]
(else:)[
This item isn't usable.
]
(live: 1s)[(goto: $loc)]
}
{
<!-- if a passage called "take-<item>" exists then call that instead -->
(set: $__passage to "take-" + $__item.splt(":")[0])
(if: (Window.passages.get($__passage) != undefined))[
(display: $__passage)
]
(else:)[
Francis takes the (print: $__item.splt(":")[0]).
(set: $loc to (history:)'s last)
(print: Window.move_object($__item, $map`s $loc, $inv))
(live: 1s)[(goto: $loc)]
]
}
{
(set: $loc to (history:)'s last)
(set: $sanity to (min: $sanity + $sanityGainCigarette, 100))
(set: $cigarettesRemaining to $cigarettesRemaining - 1)
}
Francis lights up, and takes a long, slow drag on the cigarette. The nicotine rush and the familiar poison of many years' addiction sooth broken nerves. A matter of minutes pass in no time at all, and Francis discards the cigarette butt.
(1x cigarette consumed)
(if: $cigarettesRemaining <= 0)[
Francis: "Damn, I'm all out. I knew I should have picked more up on the way here."
(print: Window.move_object($cigarettes, $inv, $offstage))
]
{
(live: 3s)[(goto: $loc)]
}
{
(set: $sanity to (max: $sanity - $sanityLossDeadBody, 0))
(set: $foundJenniferSmith to true)
}
Francis checks for the body signs of life. There are none - no pulse, no breath, the body is cold. The body is of a woman, in her early thirties. There are no visible signs of injury.
Francis gives the body a pat down. She finds out the deceased's wallet, and in it, a driver's license.
Francis: *sigh* "I thought I'd find you in time, Jennifer Smith. I'll notify the authorities."
Francis: "I can't determine an exact cause of death, but she wasn't missing long enough to die of starvation. Dehydration maybe? I'll have to leave it to the coroners."
[[Return to the hallway|School Hallway]]