Sugarcane

"Who are you again?"\n\nHe exaggerates and insulted gasp. "For real? You don't remember? From the grocery store. I grabbed you then, too." He laughs, then I hear someone behind me.\n\n<<display 'p06'>>

The barricade is made up of varying pieces of furniture. At the front, farthest from the door, is a heavy <<if $m04q eq false>>[[bed frame|m04q]]<<else>>bed frame<<endif>> stuck against a corner of the wall, and in the back of the whole barricade, right up against the door, is a legless <<if $m04w eq false>>[[table|m04w]]<<else>>table<<endif>>. Behind that, there is a small <<if $m04e eq false>>[[window|m04e]]<<else>>window<<endif>> resting in the middle of the thick metal door.\n\n<<display 'm07'>>

He smiles and follows me down the fire escape and back into the alley. <<display 'p30'>>

<<set $myFault = false>>No. It isn't. Aaron was coming. He was going to find us no matter what. His theories about the disease would have driven him to do this with or without me finding him in the alley. I can't risk beating myself up over it. I have to stay focused. I need to be strong if I'm going to survive.\n\n<<display 'p36'>>

<<if $d16q lt 3>><<if $d16qa eq false>>[["You look like you've been through hell."|d16qa]]<<endif>>\n<<if $d16qb eq false>>[["Why were you in that trailer?"|d16qb]]<<endif>>\n<<if $d16qc eq false>>[["How long has it been since her arm?"|d16qc]]<<endif>>\n[[(Back)|p16]]<<else>>They look like they could use some space for a while, so I back away. <<display 'p16'>><<endif>>

<<set $m05q = true>>"What game is this?"\n\n"Memory," Christa says as she takes a turn flipping a pair of cards. They match, and she adds them to her pile. "My sister used to be really good at it." She flips over another two. They match, and she adds them to her pile as well. "Roy says he played it with his sister, too."\n\n"She always beat me," Roy admits, smiling, "like this little pain. How are you better than an adult, kid? What are you, like, two?"\n\n"I'm eight," Christa laughs as she flips over the last matching pair. She throws her arms up. "And know I am become Death!"\n\nRoy's head sags and he can't help but smile at her victorious self-praise. "Alright, alright, let's just reset the game." She collects the cards before he can grab them.\n\n"I'll do it!" she says.\n\n"But your--" Roy stops and sees the eagerness in her eyes. "Alright, go for it."\n\nAfter a few seconds of struggling, she finally manages to handle the deck with her one hand, shuffles, and then begins dealing.\n\n"Impressive," he nods as the pride beams from her face.\n\n<<display 'RC'>>

He jumps over the desk and quietly enters the back room, and once he’s out of sight, the muffled clattering of drawers and cupboards begins. I turn to the aisles, many of which have been tipped over, creating a precarious maze of twisted metal. Only a few remain standing and accessible. There’s the dry food to my [[left|d03q]], the wet food to my [[right|d03w]], and the water toward the [[back|d03e]].

<<set $d16q = $d16q + 1>><<set $d16qb = true>>"Why were you in the trailer?"\n\nMark gives me a hard look. "There are monsters in this world," he says, "and I don't mean the walking corpses."\n\n"We don't know who," Hannah says. "We just know they were one of the living."\n\n"And the bodies?" I ask. "There were a lot of bodies in there with you."\n\n"They were bitten people," Mark says. "The moment they died, I shot them. We didn't kill anyone we didn't have to."\n\n<<display 'd16qq'>>

__Chapter 1: Two Weeks In__\n\n//"We love you Kerry. Please stay safe. Home is okay."//\n\nThe last message I received from my parents before my phone died is burned into my mind. Every waking moment I worry for their safety, and wonder if I’ll ever see them again.\n\n"Kerry," Roy calls from ahead. "We’re almost there. Stay focused."\n\n[["I am focused."|d01q]]\n[["Which store are we going to?"|d01w]]\n[["Why didn't we bring the others?"|d01e]]

"Kerry?" Roy calls as he arrives behind Aaron. "What the--? Oh, you guys. Are you looking for supplies, too?"\n\n"We were," Aaron replies, "but this is our second time in here in as many days, and we’re walking out empty-handed. There’s nothing left."\n\n"Damn." Roy looks back at all the shelves stripped cleaned. "The animal hospital was tapped, too. I guess this place is done, then."\n\n"You know," Aaron says, "we’ve been getting a lot of people together over the past few days. We’re trying to get enough to clear somewhere out – make it safe, build a wall, form a community. We want to rebuild. If you guys are up for it, you should join us. The more people we have, the stronger we are against the dead."\n\n[["That sounds great."|d07q]]\n[["We're fine, thanks."|d07w]]\n[["I don't know."|d07e]]

"Gordan," a voice calls from the other end of the aisle. "What the hell are yo<<if $gun eq false>>u doing?"<<else>>u-- Put the damn gun away."<<endif>> I look over my shoulder to the second man. He’s almost as tall and dark as Gordan, but he doesn’t carry the same brutishness, and there’s a certain severity in his eerily blue eyes.\n\n"Aaron," Gordan say<<if $gun eq true>>s as he holsters his gun<<else>>s<<endif>>. "It’s the girl from the grocery store."\n\n"I can see that," Aaron says, waving the man away. His eyes catch the phone lying beside his foot. He bends down, picks it up, dusts it off, and hands it back to me with a soft smile. "You still carry your phone, huh? Old habits die hard, I guess." He looks past me to his ogre of a friend. "I’m sorry about him."\n\n[["That's the second time."|d06q]]\n[["Next time, I'm killing him."|d06w]]\n[["It's fine. No harm done."|d06e]]

[["No thanks to you."|d05q]]\n[["Good to see you, too."|d05w]]\n[["Who are you again?"|d05e]]

Apparently, Roy wasn’t the only one who thought to get supplies from the pet shop. As I scour the aisle for anything salvageable, but find nothing, it becomes clear that this place has been stripped clean for a while.\n\nA buzz passes my ear. My hand moves faster than my thoughts as I grab my phone from my sweater pocket, hoping against every conspiring reality that it might still be alive, and that I might still have a chance to return my parents' message, or even simply look at it once more, just to be sure it's real. But the screen does not light.\n\nI wave the fly from my cheek and sigh. Damned bugs.\n\nSuddenly, an arm wraps around my neck and lifts me off my feet. My phone slips from my fingers as a familiar voice chuckles gruffly and says, "Wait a second, you again?" And just as quickly as it had snatched me up, it drops me and I fall forward onto my hands and knees.\n\n[[(Turn around)|d04q]]\n[[(Draw gun)|d04w]]

Then he and Gordan walk off across the parking lot to the road, and soon they’re out of sight.\n\nRoy turns to the rear of the store. "I wonder if they checked the back. I know I saw at least one truck in the lot behind the shopping center. I bet that had – or has – something useful. [[Come on|p10]]."

"By all means, take your time to talk it over. We certainly won’t be going anywhere."\n\n"Just try to make up your minds before one of you bites the dust," Gordan smirks, "or somethin' else bites back."\n\n"Will you shut the hell up?" Aaron says. Gordan throws up his hands and chuckles as he walks off toward the exit. Aaron shakes his head and looks back to us. "Give it some thought, and we’ll be seeing you." He follows Gordan toward the crooked front doors, but before he steps out into the pale clouded light, he turns back to us. "By the way, where is it your group is held up? Someplace close by?"\n\n[["Yeah, one of the buildings near here."|d08q]]\n[["I think it's best we don't say for now."|d08w]]\n[[(Lie) "No, we're pretty far away."|d08e]]\n

<<set $m06e = true>>I search the bathroom. Nothing. Back to the living room.\n\n<<display 'm066'>>

"She'll come around."\n\n"I pray for that every second of the day," he says, turning to me. "What makes you so sure?"\n\n"I... I still love //my// dad," I say, shrugging. "I know he did what he did because he loves me, and your kid knows that too. It'll just take a bit of time before she can show it on the outside."\n\nHe smiles and looks back to his daughter, <<display 'p29'>>

<<set $m07e = true>>"Do you guys like it here?"\n\n"Yeah," Nate answers. "Yeah, it's great."\n\n"Actually," Owen looks around with a grin. "It's almost surreal. Like, //too// good. You guys aren't cannibals, right?"\n\n"Would cannibals be stocked up on cat food?"\n\n"Maybe, as a last resort," Nate jokes.\n\n<<display 'NO'>>

"I don't know what you're talking about," I wheeze through Gordan's tightening grip.\n\nAaron scowls. "There's no point in lying now, Kerry."\n\n"I'm not lying. We didn't do anything wrong."\n\n<<display 'p33'>>

I don't speak. I simply inch to the window. Maybe I can--\n\n<<display 'p27'>>

<<if $m05q eq true and $m05w eq true and $m05e eq true>>"Well, I'll let you two continue with your game," I say, turning away.\n\n"Uh-huh," Christa mutters, already too engaged in her turn to notice me leaving.\n\n<<display 'p25'>><<else>><<if $m05q eq false>>[["What game is this?"|RCq]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m05w eq false>>[["How are you feeling, Christa?"|RCw]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m05e eq false>>[["This seems like a dream."|RCe]]<<endif>>\n[[(Back)|p25]]<<endif>>

"We didn't kill them," I wheeze through Gordan's tightening grip. "The woman was bitten. <<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>We stopped the man from killing her and tried to help, but she jumped."\n\n"Help?" Aaron yells. "You can't help the bitten. They're dead."\n\n"She wasn't dead yet. <<else>>The man killed her to stop her from turning, then he fainted. We saved him from the corpses, but he jumped."\n\n"Saved him?" Aaron yells. "By bringing him into the Dead House? There are infected filling more than half of the building. You killed him by bringing him in there."\n\n"We've been in there for two weeks. The disease isn't airborne. <<endif>>You don't understand how it works."\n\n<<display 'p33'>>

''Just Short of the Dead: Episode Two'' by Tom Gould

"So you're the one who locked Mark's family in that trailer," I wheeze through Gordan's tightening grip.\n\n"The girl was bitten," Aaron yells.\n\n"She was fine," I argue. "They cut it off before it killed her. And what about her parents? They weren't bitten."\n\n"They shared food and water with her. It was only a matter of time."\n\n"If they were infected, they would've died by now. They're not. You don't understand how it works."\n\n<<display 'p33'>>

<<set $m04w = true>>I look to the legless table in the back of the barricade. It's a bit more worn than I remember.\n\n"Someone was definitely struggling with the door," I say. "But they didn't get far."\n\n<<display 'm044'>>

"Sounds great!" I say with an exaggerated smile, the sarcasm almost oozing from between my teeth. <<print $saved>> can't help but laugh.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"I'm just kidding. That's a bit cliched for my taste.<<else>>"Just kiddin' Princess. That's a bit cliche, don'tcha think?<<endif>> <<display 'k033'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = false>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<set $m04q = true>>I look to the bedframe. It's stuck against a corner of the hall. Its edge seems to have been pressed very hard into the wall, leaving a noticeable indentation.\n\n"Was that indentation there last time you checked the barricade?" I ask.\n\n"No," <<print $saved>> says. "No, I can't say that it was."\n\n"So, somebody pushed it?" Emmett wonders aloud. "Somebody //did// get in through the door?"\n\n"No," I say, seeing that the mark is only a few centimeters deep. That's definitely not enough room to get through a door. "But they tried."\n\n<<display 'm044'>>

"I'm not going to shoot," I say, lowering my gun. The boy looks relieved for a moment.\n\n<<display 'm10'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = false>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = false>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

The three corpses we've just killed are lying sprawled out on the ground. They don't look like they've been dead for too long. One of them was clearly stabbed several times in the chest. Another has a gash in its throat. My eyes lock onto the third. The onyx-colored handle of the [[knife|p13]] that wounded the other two protrudes from its ribs.

<<set $myFault = true>>Yes. It is. Everyone's gone, and it's all my fault. I was too selfish -- to stupidly, childishly selfish -- to just forget about my phone and focus on what was important. I have my phone now, but the comfort that it used to bring me is gone, replaced by piercing guilt. It's almost paralyzing, but I know that I have to stay focused.\n\n<<display 'p36'>>

__Chapter 2: Quarantined__\n\nThe air is getting colder by the hour as the sun hides farther and farther behind the dome of thick grey blotting the sky. One semi-trailer truck sits alone in the lot, three corpses scrape at its latched door, then I hear a whimper – the whimper of a living person, trapped inside by the hungry dead. Roy hears it, too.\n\n"Someone’s in there," he says. "We have to help them." I scan our surroundings but see no other corpses, just the three at the trailer. Roy hits the brick wall of the store with his pipe and the six dead eyes roll in his direction. "[[Ready|p11]]?"\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<if $cut1 eq false>>A [[dumpster|d12q]]<<else>>The dumpster<<endif>> sits festering by one of the sealed garages. <<if $cut2 eq false>>An overturned [[shopping cart|d12w]]<<else>>The overturned shopping cart<<endif>> lies caught in some bushes. The dead [[corpses|d12e]] lie motionless on the ground.

<<set $gun = true>>I pull out my gun and face my assailant, who's already drawn his own. His skin is dark and his eyes are darker. He stands at least six and a half feet tall, his broad shoulders nearly touching each side of the aisle, making him look more like a wall than a man. "Haven’t seen you since the grocery store a couple weeks back," he grins. "Good to see you’re still drawing breath."\n\n<<display 'p05'>>

The man pauses, then nods. He holsters the gun in the rear of his pants and stands, reaching out to take the girl from his wife, but the girl refuses his arms and remains with the woman. Sighing, the man turns and climbs out of the trailer, beckoning the two to come as he follows Roy and me. Together, we head toward the [[apartments|p15]].

__Chapter 3: Welcome Home__\n\n<<silently>>\n<<set $d16q = 0>>\n<<set $meetParents = false>>\n<<set $d16qa = false>>\n<<set $d16qb = false>>\n<<set $d16qc = false>>\n<<set $d16w = 0>>\n<<set $meetChild = false>>\n<<set $d16wa = false>>\n<<set $d16wb = false>>\n<<set $d16wc = false>>\n<<endsilently>>The five of us climb through the fourth floor window from the fire escape and step into the familiar hall of pale brown walls and tasteless maroon carpeting. Roy guides the family to room 487, which he’s dubbed both the "hospital" and the "armory". The woman sets her daughter on one of the many beds lined against the wall. Roy kneels beside the girl and offers her a bottle of water. She shakes her head.\n\n"You have to drink if you want your strength back," he says. "Come on." He offers the water again, and she hesitantly accepts. As she takes a few small sips, Roy begins undoing the bandages on her arm to examine her wound's condition.\n\n<<display 'p16'>>\n

<<if $meetParents eq false>>The [[man and his wife|d16q]]<<else>><<if $d16q lt 3>>[[Mark and Hannah|d16q]]<<else>>Mark and Hannah<<endif>><<endif>> sit on the bed opposite their <<if $d16w lt 3>>[[daughter|d16w]]<<else>>daughter<<endif>>.\n\n<<if $meetParents eq true and $meetChild eq true>>[[Roy|p17]] is still examining the girl's arm.<<endif>>

"Hey, Kerry," Roy says as I walk up to him.\n\n[["Is there anything I can help with in here?"|p18a]]\n[["I'm going to check on the other two guys."|p18b]]\n[[(Back)|p16]]\n

We'll each take one door."\n\nThat sounds much better. The three of us line up, each one at one of the three doors. <<print $saved>> gives a quick nod and we open our respective doors, weapons ready.\n\nNothing.\n\n"How can it be nothing?" Emmett groans. "Where's the damn shooter?" My hands crawl back into my sweater pocket for the comfort of my phone. I'm becoming anxious.\n\nThen there's a crash outside. We all look at each other, then [[run out of the store|k06]].

<<set $garage = false>>"Let's try the shoe shop," I say. The other two follow my lead into the back entrance. Inside is filled with rows of shelves, most left untouched. The expensive women's section is cleaned out, but the outdoors designs are all still lined up on display. <<print $saved>> catches sight of them.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Geez," he says, looking around. "We should come back here with bags and get some of these. Our shoes aren't going to last forever. It'd be great not to have to worry about that."<<else>>"Shit, man," he says with a surprised smile. "People're a bit stupider then I give 'em credit for. You'd think they'd lift some shoes so they wouldn't have to worry about theirs tearin' up."<<endif>>\n\n"I'll check the aisles," Emmett says. "<<print $saved>>, you check the front. Kerry, you check the changing area."\n\n[["Sure thing."|k04q]]\n[["No way. Not by myself."|k04w]]\n[["You're giving orders?"|k04e]]

<<set $cut1 = true>>The dumpster is filled with rotten garbage and expired food that will never be picked up. A mixture of maggots and some moldy substance is forming on the top layer. It'll take me hours to sift through all that for something sharp enough to cut the wires.\n\n"Don't bother with that," Roy says, seeing me glancing at the overwhelming filth. "Going through a two-week-old dumpster is a last resort."\n\n<<display 'p12'>>

<<set $cut2 = true>>As I pull the shopping cart out from the bushes, several small bags drop out. This must have belonged to one of the homeless people that wandered through town. There are plenty of empty cans and bottles, and a sleeping bag and tarp, but nothing sharp to cut the wires with. It takes me a few seconds to notice the bloodstains on all the bags.\n\n"Poor Whoever-that-was," Roy mutters.\n\n<<display 'p12'>>

"You saved her life."\n\n"I know."\n\n"And you acted fast, even when you knew it might cost you visible love for a long time. But because you made that sacrifice, she's here today."\n\nHe nods, eyes welling up with tears. "You sound like you know this stuff better than me," he says.\n\n"I... I have //my// father to thank for that, actually," I say.\n\nHe smiles and looks back to his daughter, <<display 'p29'>>

<<set $YouAreHere = "room">><<if $m06 eq true>>"Haven't we already been in here?" Emmett asks as we reenter room 489.\n\n"Yeah," I say, "but I want to be sure we checked everything."\n\n"I don't know," <<print $saved>> says. "There isn't much to check."<<else>><<set $m06 = true>>I take a look inside room 489.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"You really think whoever took the medicine would've been dumb enough to come in here while we were on watch?" Eric asks.<<else>>"You think whoever took that medicine walked right into the room we were sittin' in?" Robert asks.<<endif>>\n\n"They came into a building they knew was occupied," I say. "They must've either been really brave or really stupid."\n\n"Point taken."<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'm066'>>

"Good to see you, too." He laughs, obviously seeing through my exterior politeness, then I hear someone behind me.\n\n<<display 'p06'>>

<<set $m05e = true>>"This seems like a dream. How did everything end up working out so well?"\n\n"I don't know," Roy answers. "Sometimes things just work out, you know? Times like these, even when the world's in the state it's in, make you certain there's Someone up there looking out for you." He flips over a pair of cards. They don't match. "God is dead," he softly declares. Christa immediately flips over a matching pair and adds them to her pile.\n\n<<display 'RC'>>

"No, I'm not alright," I say as my stomach turns.\n\n"It wasn't your fault," he says. "Remember that." <<display 'p28'>>

The hungry moans of walking corpses surround us, echoing in the distance as they shamble through the streets of a city just as dead. The thin December wind is cold and brisk, churning forgotten trash in short twisters across the vacant parking lot. The paramedic leads the way to the empty shopping center, his eyes fixed on the only store we haven’t been inside, yet: the pet shop.\n\nHe pulls the once-automatic doors open and we warily step inside, a well-worn steel pipe in his hands, a dented aluminum bat in mine, and guns resting in duct-tape holsters on our thighs. He takes two bags from his shoulder and surveys the front desk of the animal hospital.\n\n"I'm going to check there for medical supplies. You check the aisles."\n\n[["Shouldn't we stick together?"|d02q]]\n[["Alright. Be careful."|d02w]]\n[[(Nod)|d02e]]

<<if $priorities eq "Christa">>We hurry up the stairs to the third floor and pass through the hall, then<<else>>We arrive at the third floor and walk down the dark hallway toward the window. It looks almost identical to the fourth floor, save for the unwelcoming shut doors, the lack of a barricade, and the dried mud streaks on the floor.\n\nWe<<endif>> climb through the window and slowly scale the last staircase up to the fourth floor. We pull the young <<print $saveGirl>>'s limp body into room 487 and lie it on one of the unoccupied beds.\n\n"Who's that?" Roy asks.\n\n"Some kid from the alley," <<print $saved>> says, taking a breath as the weight drops from his shoulders. <<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>"She was stuck under some debris. Almost got shot. She's bitten."\n\n"Oh," Roy says, standing still for a moment. He looks to the woman. "We'll try to make her as comfortable as possible," he says.\n\n"But she's bitten," Emmett repeats.\n\n"She's alive for now," Roy says sternly, and we're going to treat her like it until she draws her last breath."<<else>>"He just got through 'taking care of' his friend down there."\n\n"'Taking care of', huh?" Roy repeats. "You probably couldn't stop him, huh?"\n\n"She was bitten," Emmett adds.\n\n"I'm going to try to take that as a, 'No, we couldn't'," Roy says.<<endif>>\n\n<<if $priorities eq "Christa">><<display 'p23'>><<else>>"What about the medicine?" Mark asks impatiently. "Did you already find it?"\n\n"No," I say. "We'll [[start looking|m01.5]] now that we know we're safe.<<endif>>

<<set $d16q = $d16q + 1>><<set $d16qa = true>>"Pardon my saying so, but you look like you've been through hell."\n\nMark gives a short laugh, but his smile doesn't last. "I wish that was an exaggeration. I can't be sure anymore. My wife and I were at work when this started. We ran home as fast as we could, but," he puts his head in his hands, "that wasn't fast enough."\n\nHannah's shoulders tremble with grief as they share some terrible memory. I can't bring myself to pry any further into it.\n\n<<display 'd16qq'>>

jQuery "on"

<<set $d16q = $d16q + 1>><<set $d16qc = true>>"How long has it been since her arm?"\n\nMark shakes his head. "I don't know. Days? A week, maybe? I haven't been counting. Just surviving day to day."\n\n<<display 'd16qq'>>

<<set $m06w = true>>I search the bedroom, but it looks just as it did when I left, so I return to the living room.\n\n<<display 'm066'>>

"Please, stop!" I plead. "You don't have to do this." <<display 'p34'>>

<<if $m06 eq true>>"Well, hi, again," <<print $saved>> waves as I walk over.<<else>><<set $m06 = true>>"Hey, guys," I say as I walk over to Emmett and <<print $saved>>.\n\n"Oh, hey Kerry," Emmett says, sitting up. "Did you get some hot chocolate?"\n\n<<if $m04q eq false>>"No, I didn't."\n\n"Ah, well, Hannah's got it on that side table there. You should have some."<<else>>"Yeah," I say, holding up my cup. "It's good. Thanks, Emmett."<<endif>><<endif>>\n\n<<display 'SE'>>

"Roy! Emmett! Everyone!" I scream as loud as I can. <<display 'p34'>>

I try to struggle against Gordan, but it's no use. I can't do anything. <<display 'p34'>>

"Still drawing breath, no thanks to you." He just laughs, then I hear someone behind me.\n\n<<display 'p06'>>

The <<if $m05q eq false>>[[window sill|m05q]]<<else>>window sill<<endif>> is well-insulated when it's shut. From inside, you wouldn't be able to the hear the fire escape being scaled. The <<if $m05w eq false>>[[lock|m05w]]<<else>>lock<<endif>> is undone right now. <<if $m05e eq false>>The window squeaks pretty bad when it's [[opened|m05e]]<<else>>The fire escape is [[outside|m08]]<<endif>>.\n\n<<display 'm07'>>

"I don't know," I say.\n\nRoy steps in. "We'll talk about it with //our// group and see what they think."\n\n<<display 'p08'>>

The <<if $m06q eq false>>[[kitchen|m06q]]<<else>>kitchen<<endif>> is to our right. The <<if $m06w eq false>>[[bedroom|m06w]]<<else>>bedroom<<endif>> is to our left, along with the <<if $m06e eq false>>[[bathroom|m06e]]<<else>>bathroom<<endif>>.\n\n<<display 'm07'>>

<<set $MarkDied = "hero">>"He saved my life," is all I can think to say.\n\n<<display 'p38'>>

<<if $d16w lt 3>><<if $d16wa eq false>>[["You're a tough kid."|d16wa]]<<endif>>\n<<if $d16wb eq false>>[["Can I get you anything?"|d16wb]]<<endif>>\n<<if $d16wc eq false>>[["It's scary out there, huh?"|d16wc]]<<endif>>\n[[(Back)|p16]]<<else>>She looks like she's had enough talking for now, so I back off. <<display 'p16'>><<endif>>

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<<if $m04q eq true and $m04w eq true and $m04e eq true>>Mark and Hannah<<else>>[[Mark and Hannah]]<<endif>> are sitting on a sofa each with a cup of hot cocoa in their hands. They're watching <<if $m05q eq true and $m05w eq true and $m05e eq true>>Roy and Christa<<else>>[[Roy and Christa]]<<endif>>, who are playing <<if $m05q eq true>>Memory<<else>>with some cards<<endif>> on the carpet in front of them. <<if $m06q eq true and $m06w eq true and $m06e eq true>><<if $saved eq "Eric">>Eric and Emmett<<else>>Robert and Emmett<<endif>><<else>><<if $saved eq "Eric">>[[Eric and Emmett|Saved and Emmett]]<<else>>[[Robert and Emmett|Saved and Emmett]]<<endif>><<endif>> are both sitting across from each other, looking out the window, laughing at <<if $m06q eq true>>the photo album they've found<<else>>some book they've found<<endif>>. <<if $m07q eq true and $m07w eq true and $m07e eq true>>Nate and Owen<<else>>[[Nate and Owen]]<<endif>> are in the corner playing Chess.\n\n<<if $m04 eq true and $m05 eq true and $m06 eq true and $m07 eq true>>I wonder if the young <<print $saveGirl>> is doing alright alone in [[487]].<<endif>>

__Chapter 6: Together__\n\n<<silently>>\n<<set $m04 = false>>\n<<set $m04q = false>>\n<<set $m04w = false>>\n<<set $m04e = false>>\n<<set $m05 = false>>\n<<set $m05q = false>>\n<<set $m05w = false>>\n<<set $m05e = false>>\n<<set $m06 = false>>\n<<set $m06q = false>>\n<<set $m06w = false>>\n<<set $m06e = false>>\n<<set $m07 = false>>\n<<set $m07q = false>>\n<<set $m07w = false>>\n<<set $m07e = false>>\n<<endsilently>>My eyes peel open. It's early morning. Fog blocks any view of the city outside, merging the grey sky with the asphault of the road. I turn out of bed and slide onto to the floor. I feel awful, but I haven't been able to sleep in at all in the past two weeks. I stand, yawn, comb my ever more filthy black hair out of my eyes, and trudge forward out of the bedroom.\n\nIt seems everyone's moved into 489 this morning. They look so much more lively than yesterday. <<display 'p25'>>

"This place is poison," the young <<print $saveGirl>>'s voice echoes in my ears as <<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>her<<else>>his<<endif>> body topples over the fire escape railing.\n\nI stand frozen in the hall. The people in 489 hear the loud smack on the pavement four stories below. Roy jumps up and comes out to see what happened. Emmett and <<print $saved>> look at each other in alarm. Nate and Owen's eyes go wide. Christa looks frightened. Mark offers for her to come sit in his arms, but she stands and crawls into the lap of her mother instead.\n\nRoy sighs and pulls the window shut. "I'll... I'll clean up later," he says. I can see in his eyes that he's disgusted by his own lack of shock.\n\nEveryone tries to return to the joyful warmth the room had held just moments ago, but we're still too human to ignore what has just happened. There's an air of mourning dampening the atmosphere. Roy finally coaxes Christa into restarting their card game, but their mood has sobered. Mark stands up and walks out to the hall, pulling me aside.\n\n"Are you alright?" he asks quietly.\n\n[["I'm fine."|d27q]]\n[["I don't know."|d27w]]\n[["No, I'm not alright."|d27e]]

__Chapter 7: Apart__\n\nI take one step through the door and come face-to-face with the young <<print $saveGirl>>.\n\n"Oh," I gasp. "Are you alright?" <<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>She looks awful. Her skin is paling, and her blue eyes have begun to yellow and swell. She pushes past me, coughing.\n\n"I'm sorry," she wheezes. "I'm... sorry for troubling you." She keeps moving forward, using the wall for support, then she pulls the fire escape window open and begins climbing outside. "I should have known I couldn't... I couldn't survive."<<else>>His skin is pale with dread, and his brown eyes are swollen in fear. He pushes past me, coughing as if to avoid taking a breath.\n\n"Why did you...?" he hacks. "Why did you bring me in here?" He keeps moving forward, using the wall for support, then he pulls the fire escape window open and begins climbing outside.<<endif>>\n\n[["Wait, stop!"|d26q]]\n[["What do you think you're doing?"|d26w]]\n<<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>[[(Run to pull her back)|d26e]]<<else>>[[(Run to pull him back)|d26e]]<<endif>>\n[[(Remain silent)|d26r]]

As we enter room 487, we see that the girl has been taken into the bathroom by her mother. Mark sees the gun in Emmett's hand and pulls his own on us again.\n\n"Why do you have that?" he yells to Emmett.\n\n[["It's just in case."|d21q]]\n[["Put it away, Emmett."|d21w]]\n[["What do you think you're doing, Emmett?"|d21e]]

<<if $priorities eq "Christa">><<if $myFault eq true>><<if $MarkDied eq "sorry">>A<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "hero">>B<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "love">>C<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "silent">>D<<endif>><<else>><<if $MarkDied eq "sorry">>E<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "hero">>F<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "love">>G<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "silent">>H<<endif>><<endif>><<else>><<if $myFault eq true>><<if $MarkDied eq "sorry">>I<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "hero">>J<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "love">>K<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "silent">>L<<endif>><<else>><<if $MarkDied eq "sorry">>M<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "hero">>N<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "love">>O<<endif>><<if $MarkDied eq "silent">>P<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>

<<if $priorities eq "Christa">>"You keep this up and you people will end up reopening this building," Mark jokes. "You really are something."<<else>>"Thank you so much," Hannah says as she holds her daughter close. "You're all so wonderful."<<endif>>\n\nRoy smiles, then he turns to me. "You did good today, Kerry. Why don't you get some rest? You can use the bed in 489."\n\n"Thanks." I really am exhausted. I walk out into the hall and into the lookout room where Emmett and <<print $saved>> are talking very quietly. <<print $saved>> looks very serious, almost scolding. There's no need for me to get involved in that. I flop onto the bed, and before my head even has time to find the pillow, I [[fall asleep|p24]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $m02q = false>>\n<<set $m02w = false>>\n<<set $m02e = false>>\n<<endsilently>>"She's fine," Mark shouts.\n\n"Emmett, put the gun away," Roy demands. Emmett clutches it until his knuckles become white, but the severity of Roy's eyes causes him to yield, and he resentfully holsters the gun.\n\n"What's happening?" Roy asks, looking back to Mark, who's returned his gun to his belt.\n\n"She started throwing up," he says, leading Roy to her in the bathroom.\n\n"We need those antibiotics," Roy says. "You three will--"\n\nSuddenly a single gunshot pierces the silence outside.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"What the hell?" Eric says under his breath. "Who was that?"<<else>>"Shit, are we being attacked?" Robert yells.<<endif>>\n\n"Somebody's outside," Emmett says, rushing over to the window to get a look and the shooter. "Crap. They ran into the alley."\n\n"Damn it," Roy mutters. He looks to Christa who's leaning over the toilet. Hannah kneels right beside her, rubbing her back gently and whispering calmly to her. "We need those antibiotics," he says again.\n\n"And we need to make sure we're not being attacked," <<print $saved>> adds.\n\n"Alright," Roy says, taking a deep breath. Lost medicine, a shooter, and a girl that may be taking a turn for the worse. I haven't seen him this close to being overwhelmed before.\n\n"You need to stay with her," I tell him. "You're the only one who'd know what to do if she got any worse. We'll take care of the antibiotics and whoever it is running around out there."\n\n"Alright," he says, though the thought of leaving us to do the brunt of the work clearly troubles him. "I guess we don't have a choice. I'll stay up here. You guys can either [[look for the medicine|m01]] or [[be sure we're not being attacked|k01]], first." He looks to me. "<<if $distract eq "Us">>I trust your judgment<<else>>I'm trusting your judgment<<endif>>."

<<set $d16w = $d16w + 1>><<set $d16wa = true>>"You're a tough kid."\n\nShe's silent.\n\n"Ah. The strong, silent type, huh? So you're tough, //and// you're too cool for us."\n\nShe's still silent, but for a brief second, she cracks a grin.\n\n<<display 'd16ww'>>

"We're fine, thanks," I say. <<if $trustCrew eq false>>I'm not exactly the trusting type, especially in days like these.<<endif>> I think back to the two men in the park when this all started, and to the riots of people fighting each other in the grocery store weeks ago. For me, a small group of trusted people is the better option.\n\nRoy steps in. "We'll talk about it to //our// group."\n\n<<display 'p08'>>

<<set $d16w = $d16w + 1>><<set $d16wb = true>>"Can I get you anything, Christa?"\n\nShe shakes her head. She seems to be content with the water for now.\n\n<<display 'd16ww'>>

"That sounds great," I say. The thought of not having to worry about the dead had almost become foreign to me, but if we could get enough people together, it might just be possible.\n\nRoy steps in. "I'm not sure. We'd have to talk it over with //our// group."\n\n<<display 'p08'>>

<<set $saveGirl = "woman">>I strike the young man in the hand, pushing the gun away. It fires, but the bullet misses the woman by a few feet. His eyes light up in fury and he brings the gun into the side of my head. I stumble into the garage door and see him charging for another blow, but it never reaches me. <<if $saved eq "Eric">>Eric jumps up from the girl and brings his fist into the young man with awful force, catching him right in the throat. The young man sputters and chokes for a moment, then collapses, dead.<<else>>Another gunshot rings out, catching the young man right in the throat. Robert has fired, and he never misses. The young man drops to the ground, sputtering for a moment, then he collapses, dead.<<endif>>\n\n"Thanks," I say.\n\n"Don't mention it," <<print $saved>> smiles. "Let's just get this girl free."\n\nThe three of us return to digging her out. She's fainted, either from pain or the shock of seeing someone she knew try to kill her. Finally she's free from the debris. Emmett and <<print $saved>> hoist her up onto their shoulders, then we quickly move to the fire escape.\n\n"Shit," Emmett grunts. "We can't climb the first ladder with her. We'll have to go inside and use the stairs."\n\n"What about the barricade?" <<print $saved>> points out as the corpses close in on us.\n\n"The third floor," I say. "The stairs go to the third floor, before the barricade. We can climb that far, then come out the window and use the stairs on the fire escape."\n\n"Perfect," <<print $saved>> smiles. "Let's go."\n\nThe three of us hurry away from the reach of the mob and into the [[apartment staircase|k07]].

As the other two start checking their respective parts of the store, I head to the back changing room. Built in the vacant skeleton of a clothing store that closed only a few weeks before this all started, this shoe store might be the only one I know of that actually has a back changing room like this. It's got a few stalls, but the doors have been removed for a more open feeling. I peek into each stall, one by one.\n\nNothing.\n\nI hear Emmett groan from the main area. "He's not here. Damn it, where did he go, then?" My hands crawl back into my sweater pocket for the comfort of my phone. I'm becoming anxious.\n\nThen there's a crash outside. We all gather back together, then [[run out of the store|k06]].

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__Chapter 5: The Case of the Missing Meds__\n\nI turn to Roy.\n\n<<display 'm02'>>

<<set $saveGirl = "man">>The gun fires. Her head falls onto the cold pavement, a hole through her brain. The young man gasps and brings a hand to his mouth and the tears start to pour from his eyes. We all stare at her lifeless body. Then, suddenly, the young man falls into me, sending us both to the ground. He's fainted.\n\n"Didn't have the stomach for it, I guess" Emmett mutters to his unconscious form.\n\n"He just killed someone he knew," <<print $saved>> says. "I'd be worried if he had 'the stomach' for that." He looks to see the corspes are closing in. "Damn it. Come on."\n\nHe stands and hoists the young man up onto his shoulder, and Emmett quickly helps him. I stand, then we return to the fire escape.\n\n"Shit," Emmett grunts. "We can't climb the first ladder with him. We'll have to go inside and use the stairs."\n\n"What about the barricade?" <<print $saved>> points out as the corpses close in on us.\n\n"The third floor," I say. "The stairs go to the third floor, before the barricade. We can climb that far, then come out the window and use the stairs on the fire escape."\n\n"Perfect," <<print $saved>> smiles. "Let's go."\n\nThe three of us hurry away from the reach of the mob and into the [[apartment staircase|k07]].

"No," I answer, although I don't think we have any idea what he's talking about.\n\n<<display 'k055'>>

"Wait," I call, running forward to them. "Stop!"\n\n<<display 'p27'>>

"The what?" I ask. Neither of us have any idea what he's talking about.\n\n<<display 'k055'>>

I start moving to the window. "What do you think you're--?"\n\n<<display 'p27'>>

"That might just be one of the most cliched thing in any horror movie ever." <<print $saved>> cracks a smile.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"I'm just kidding. That's a bit cliched for my taste.<<else>>"Just kiddin' Princess. That's a bit cliche, don'tcha think?<<endif>> <<display 'k033'>>

"I... don't know," I say, unsure.\n\n"I'm sure that's normal for someone who just watched... something like that," he says. <<display 'p28'>>

"I can even imagine how hard that was, for either of you."\n\nMark shakes his head. "I pray you'll never have to make a decision like that for someone you love," he says.\n\n"Just... just know that she still loves you immensely," I say. "You're her father, and you did what you did out of love for her, to save her. She might need time to show it, but she knows."\n\nHe looks to me, his eyes welling up with tears. "You think so?"\n\n"My dad... my dad was a lot like you. Always willing to do the hard thing for the people he loved, even when it ended up hurting him. I still love him, even though I don't show it on the outside."\n\nHe smiles and looks back to his daughter, <<display 'p29'>>

"No. Let him finish."\n\n"This isn't the time," <<print $saved>> says.\n\n<<display 'p20b'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = false>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

[img[http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/095/7/d/jsotd2_image_0_by_thegouldenway-d7d8k41.jpg]]\n\nThank you for playing\n''JUST SHORT OF THE DEAD | EPISODE TWO:\nSelfish'' by Tom Gould\n\n__SOME OF YOUR CHOICES:__\n<<if $trustAaron eq "true">>''Among Friends'': You were honest with Aaron about where you lived.<<endif>><<if $trustAaron eq "false">>''Stranger Danger'': You chose not to tell Aaron where you lived.<<endif>><<if $trustAaron eq "lie">>''Pants on Fire'': You lied to Aaron about where you lived.<<endif>>\n''Priorities'': You chose to <<if $priorities eq "Christa">>find the medicine before tracking down the shooter.<<else>>track down the shooter before finding the medicine.<<endif>>\n<<if $garage eq true>>''Bloodhound'': You tracked down the shooter in the garage.<<else>>''Bumbling About'': The shooter evaded you while you searched the store.<<endif>>\n''Un-Conscience'': You saved the young <<print $saveGirl>> from a mob of corpses.\n<<if $myFault eq true>>''Self-Accusation'': You blame yourself for Mark's death.<<else>>''Self-Justification'': You do not blame yourself for Mark's death.<<endif>>\n\nIf you'd like to see more "Just Short of the Dead", let me know at ''thegouldenway.deviantart.com''. Thanks to player feedback, I was able to find time to make this second part, so keep the feedback coming and I'll begin the third.\n\nIn order to properly carry over progress to the next installation, you'll need to keep your letters for all previous episodes, so be sure to remember the letter you got at the end of Episode One, as well as the letter you will receive from Episode Two below.\n\nBased on how you played, this is the letter you will input into the next episode to carry over your choices: <<display 'result'>>\n

<<if $m07 eq true>>"Ah, come to watch Owen's demise after all?" Nate asks as I return to their corner.<<else>><<set $m07 = true>>"Hey, Nate and Owen," I say, walking over to their corner.\n\n"Ah, an audience to watch our epic battle," Nate declares.\n\n"Don't mind him," Owen says. "He's a preemptively sore winner since he never actually wins."\n\n"Them's fightin' words, Owen," Nate scowls as he moves a rook on the Chessboard. "Check."<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'NO'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = false>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

"It's fine. No harm done."\n\n"And that's the important thing, right?" Aaron smiles.\n\n<<display 'p07'>>

<<set $m06q = true>>I search the kitchen.\n\n"Anything out of place?" <<print $saved>> asks.\n\n"Not that I can tell," I say, returning to the living room.\n\n<<display 'm066'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = false>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

"So, did anything happen while we were out?"\n\n"No," <<print $saved>> says. "Business as usual. Streets as barren as they've been all week."\n\n<<display 'p20b'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

Christa becomes still and silent, her eyes locked right onto mine. I turn away. I can't bear to watch as the tears begin rolling down her cheeks. "What happened?" she begs. "What happened to him?"\n\nThen an explosion rings from the depths of the inferno, causing parts of the walls to crumble.\n\n"We need to go," Nate says. "The biters will be coming for the noise."\n\nHe's right. We need to find somewhere to hide from the corpses. Somewhere to hide from people. The three of us turn, and run.\n\n[[END]]

"That's the second time he's grabbed me."\n\n"And hopefully it'll be the last," Aaron replies, giving Gordan a look.\n\n<<display 'p07'>>

"The next time he grabs me, I'm killing him."\n\n"And you'd be perfectly justified, I'm sure," Aaron says, giving Gordan a look. Gordan just shrugs and ignores the comment.\n\n<<display 'p07'>>

<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"I'm sorry about your friends. About Alexia and Robert. We didn't know the bite would... do that... to Stanley."<<else>>"I'm sorry about your brother. About Eric and Alexia. We didn't know the bite would... do that... to Stanley."<<endif>>\n\nEmmett just looks back out the window at the empty streets.\n\n<<display 'p20b'>>

I jump back inside. "You're right," I say. "Let's keep looking."\n\n"Yay," Emmett groans. "More looking."\n\n<<display 'm055'>>

"So," he says as we reach the bottom and step around the dead <<print $saveGirl>>. "Where to first?"\n\n"It happened by the garage," I say, walking into the branching alleyway where the debris had trapped the woman, out of sight of the apartment building. "But there was a mob of corpses marching through here, so it's possible that it got dragged--"\n\nI freeze. Someone's crouching beside the dead body of the young <<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>man I'd fought<<else>>woman who'd been shot<<endif>>. He stands when he hears my voice and turns slowly. His eerily blue eyes lock onto me.\n\n"Well, it's a small world, isn't it?" Aaron says in what sounds almost like a low growl. There's something in his hand. "Nice phone," he says, tossing it over to me.\n\n[["Thanks."|d30q]]\n[["What are you doing here?"|d30w]]\n[["What happened here?"|d30e]]\n[[(Remain silent)|d30r]]

<<set $m04w = true>>"I see Christa's up and about."\n\n"Yep," Hannah smiles. "I know she's not completely healed, yet, but she's already doing so much better. It's all thanks to you guys and your medicine. I haven't seen her smile since before..." she checks herself. "Nevermind. No sense in thinking about all that right now, right? We should enjoy times like this. They don't come too often."\n\n<<display 'MH'>>

"I found her," a little voice calls from behind me, across the street from the fire. I turn. Christa is leading Nate by the hand. They're both covered it ash from the fire.\n\n"Kerry?" Nate calls. "Kerry, you're alive?"\n\nChrista lets go of him and runs over to me, her eyes darting left and right.\n\n"We thought everyone was gone," Nate says. "We thought we were going to be alone."\n\n[["I thought the same thing."|d36q]]\n[["You're not alone."|d36w]]\n[["It's going to be alright."|d36e]]

<<set $m07q = true>>"So were you two alone before today?"\n\n"For a while," Nate says, thinking back. "We started out with our father, then this park ranger, then we ended up here."\n\n<<display 'NO'>>

Aaron shakes his head. He doesn't say anything. He just drives his fist right into my face, and I fall out of Gordan's arms. A haze of orders flies around as the world goes dark, then bright orange fills the misty morning air as glass bottles of rags and fire explode and spread and destroy, and I slowly [[drift into unconsciousness|p35]].

__Chapter 8: Shattered__\n\nMingled mist and smoke smothers me as I pull myself awake. I scramble to my feet, a hand raised before my eyes to shield them from the towering blaze engulfing the entire apartment building. I have to help them. There might still be time.\n\nBut the moment I take a step forward, I feel the thick liquid gripping my clothes and skin, and my nostrils fill with the unmistakable scent of gasoline. My panic drags me out of the puddle I've been lying in. I'm drenched. If I take one step into the fire, I'll be completely consumed. I run to every alternate entrance, but there is no surpassing the wall of flames. Now in the street, I drop to my knees. I can't do anything.\n\nAlone with my only my thoughts to drown out the screams of the blaze lapping at the sky, my hand crawls into my pocket for my phone, but as my fingers wrap around it begging for comfort, I find that all I can think of is Mark. I had guided him out here. He was so worried about his daughter, willing to die for her, but I had taken him out here to die for a phone. Now a single question scrapes at the back of my mind like nails on a chalkboard: Is this all my fault?\n\n[[Yes.|d35q]]\n[[No.|d35w]]

"What do you think you're doing, Emmett?"\n\n"What I have to do, if it comes down to it," Emmett says. "I told you she was bitten."\n\n<<display 'p22'>>

<<set $m04e = true>>"Are you glad you stuck with us?"\n\nMark laughs out loud. "The way things've been going, it's more like you guys stuck with us. You found us in that trailer, you took us in even when I was as hostile as I was, and you helped my daughter start feeling so much better in just a day. That smile of hers," he looks down at her playing cards on the carpet in front of him. I can see his eye just barely holding back a tear. "That smile is priceless," he continues. "We won't ever be able to repay you people for what you've done for us."\n\n<<display 'MH'>>

"You're not taking us back, asshole. Get down Owen!" another voice shouts as an older boy stands from behind the couch and launches a shard of brick, missing my head by just inches. Good throw. Almost too good.\n\n"Stop it, Nate!" the first boy, Owen, yells to him. "It's not them!" The second boy, Nate, already holding another heavy piece of something in his hand, takes a good look at my face.\n\n"Holy crap," he mutters. "Then you're from upstairs, right?"\n\n[["Yes. Who did you think we were?"|m10q]]\n[["Yes. We need that bag back."|m10w]]\n[["What does it matter? We came for our medicine."|m10e]]

<<if $m04q eq true and $m04w eq true and $m04e eq true>>"I'll leave you two alone for now," I say. "Thanks again for the hot chocolate."\n\n<<display 'p25'>><<else>><<if $m04q eq false>>[["Is that hot chocolate?"|MHq]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m04w eq false>>[["I see Christa's up and about."|MHw]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m04e eq false>>[["Are you glad you stuck with us?"|MHe]]<<endif>>\n[[(Back)|p25]]<<endif>>

"Put it away, Emmett."\n\n"No," he says. "I told you she was bitten."\n\n<<display 'p22'>>

"Put the gun down," I tell him. I have no idea what the Dead House is, but I've had enough guns in my face for one day.\n\n<<display 'k055'>>

"It's just in case," I tell him.\n\n"You don't go anywhere near my daughter with that," Mark says.\n\n"I told you she was bitten," Emmett says.\n\n<<display 'p22'>>

"What are you doing here?" I say, nervously catching my phone.\n\n"I sent out some scavengers a while ago. They didn't return for quite some time. I got worried." He looks down at the body at his feet, then back to us. <<display 'p31'>>

<<set $m04q = true>>"Is that hot chocolate?"\n\n"It is," Hannah says with a smile. She turns and grabs one of the many full cups from the side table beside her. "That boy, Emmett, made it for everyone. He said he was sorry about his attitude recently. He seems very nice."\n\n"Is that right?" I accept the cup and take a sip of the warm foam on the top. It's good. Really good.\n\n<<display 'MH'>>

<<set $m06w = true>>"Thanks for your help today. Both of you."\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Don't mention it," Eric says. "I'm just glad I could be of more help than in the grocery store two weeks ago."<<else>>"Don't worry about it," Robert says. "I should've been helpin' more from the start."<<endif>>\n\n"I'm just glad you were able to put up with me," Emmett says. "I was an ass today."\n\n"We all have bad days," I say. "You had more of a right than most to be pissed off."\n\n<<display 'SE'>>

"Sure thing," I say. <<display 'k044'>>

<<set $m06q = true>>"What's got you two in such a good mood?"\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"I was going through some of my things," Eric explains, "and I found an old family photo album of ours. I figured it'd be good for a laugh with Emmett."<<else>>"I was going through some of my brother's things," Emmett explains, and I found an old family photo album of ours. I figured it'd bring back some better memories."<<endif>>\n\n"That's pretty cool," I admit.\n\n<<display 'SE'>>

"Why didn't we bring the others?"\n\n"We need people back at the apartment to watch our stuff, and I figure splitting into two groups of two is safer than leaving one guy behind. <<if $saved eq "Eric">>Eric is probably fixing up the barricade<<else>>Robert is probably hanging out by a window, keeping watch on the street<<endif>>, and Emmett is probably still making his maps."\n\n<<display 'p02'>>

I shake my head and enter the room with <<print $saved>> and Emmett.\n\n"Hey," Nate smiles. "Those are the guys that I--" He stops cold, realizing that he's given himself away. "Dang it."\n\n[["Just give us the bag, please."|m11q]]\n[["Hand it over. Now."|m11w]]\n[["There's a sick little girl."|m11e]]\n

[img[http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/094/e/e/jsotd2_small_by_thegouldenway-d7d1nkt.jpg]]\n\n''Just Short of the Dead\nEpisode Two | Selfish''\n------------------------------\nWritten by Tom Gould\n------------------------------\nPreviously:\nKerry, a young businesswoman, woke up to a city overtaken\nby the dead. With the help of other survivors, she made it\nto the safety of her apartment building. After losing several\nfriends, it becomes clear that whatever is happening will not\nbe over any time soon.\n------------------------------\n[[Begin]]

Owen looks to me. "Come on. We thought the bag had guns. That medic guy called the room an armory. We just... we needed to be able to defend ourselves."\n\n"They're just kids," <<print $saved>> points out before turning to the two. "What are you, ten?"\n\n"I'm thirteen," Nate says indignantly. "Owen's ten."\n\n"Like I said. Kids," <<print $saved>> continues. "You're stealthy, Emmett. Tell me you wouldn't've done the same if you were in their place."\n\n"Not if I wanted to join a group," he replies.\n\n<<print $saved>> eyes him harshly. "We're //not// leaving a couple of desperate kids to die."\n\nEmmett grinds his teeth and looks to me, then he shakes his head and walks out of the room. As the clanking of the fire escape alerts us to his exit, <<if $saved eq "Eric">>Eric sighs.\n\n"I'm sorry about him," he says, looking to me and the boys. "He's just... nevermind. Let's get that medicine back [[upstairs|m14]]."<<else>>Robert lets out a huff.\n\n"I don't know what's gotten into that kid. If his brother... nevermind." He turns to me and the boys. "Let's get that bag [[upstairs|m14]]."<<endif>>

Nate looks at Owen and then back to us. Then he walks into the bedroom and drags the bag out, leaving it at my feet.\n\n"There," he huffs. "Happy?"\n\nOwen smiles. "So, the fourth floor. You guys have a barricade, right?"\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>Eric nods. "Yeah. That's my handiwork."<<else>>Robert nods. "Yeah. Our friend... he did a good job with it, and we've been maintaining it since he passed away."<<endif>>\n\n"It's solid," Nate says. "Would you... um." He scratches his overgrown black hair, searching for words. "Would you have room for a couple kids?"\n\n[["Yes, we have plenty of room."|m12q]]\n[["Yeah. Honest ones."|m12w]]\n[["I don't know. We'd have to check with the others."|m12e]]

*<<playbgm iHBWZn9re0U 32>> plays the YouTube video starting from 32 seconds in.\n*<<playbgm iHBWZn9re0U>> plays the YouTube video from the beginning, or resumes it if it was paused.\n*<<stopbgm iHBWZn9re0U>> stops the sound track. \n*<<loopbgm iHBWZn9re0U>> makes the sound track constantly loop (although it may not quite be seamless).\n*<<unloopbgm iHBWZn9re0U>> stops it from looping.\n*<<pausebgm iHBWZn9re0U>> pauses the sound track.\n*<<stopbgm iHBWZn9re0U>> stops playback and resets its position to the start.

We climb through the window of the fourth floor. Emmett has already returned to room 489 where he sits silently looking out the window. I pass by and carry the bag into room 487, followed by our two new recruits. Mark and Hannah are sitting with Christa, who's looking much better, but is still only drinking water. Roy sits anxiously, and his face lights up when we walk in with the medicine.\n\n"You got it," he says, jumping up to receive the bag. Then he notices the boys. "Who're they?"\n\n"The thieves," <<print $saved>> jokes. "Figured they'd be good to have on our side. Nate and Owen, was it?"\n\nThe two nod.\n\n"Alright then," Roy smiles. "We'll be sure to put you to work. But first thing's first." He starts looking through the bag. Mark and Hannah smile in relief. He can finally treat Christa properly.\n\n<<if $priorities eq "Christa">>Suddenly, there's another gunshot from the alley with the fire escape. Everyone stops cold. Roy looks to me.\n\n"We're on it," <<print $saved>> says quickly. He and I rush out of the room, collect Emmett, and hurry through the window to [[investigate the noise|k01.5]].<<else>><<display 'p23'>><<endif>>

But Aaron has stopped listening, and at least twenty more figures have emerged from the fog behind him clad in coats and kevlar vests and carrying various weapons.\n\n"We should have taken care of the Dead House right at the start," Aaron quietly says. The army behind looks to him as though a divine judgment has been cast.\n\n"Aren't there living in there?" one of them asks.\n\n"Yes," Aaron says. "But one of them is bitten. The rest have been breathing it for days."\n\nHe nods, then the whole assembly pulls masks over their noses and mouths to keep the "infection" out. As they begin marching toward the apartment building, I see the red plastic jugs of gasoline being carried with them. Aaron walks right up to me.\n\n[["Roy! Emmett! Everyone! They're coming!"|d33q]]\n[["Aaron, stop, please!"|d33w]]\n[[(Struggle)|d33e]]

"I //am// focused."\n\n"Just making sure."\n\n<<display 'p02'>>

"Which store are we going to?" I ask.\n\n"The pet store<<if $saved eq "Eric">>." He grins. "Don't tell Eric."<<else>>," he answers.<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'p02'>>

"It's... It's going to be okay," I say, my shoulders quaking from relief. Nate smiles, wiping the soot from his face.\n\n"I'm thirteen," he says. "You don't have to lie to me."\n\n<<display 'p37'>>

"I'm going to find that medicine," I say. <<if $m05q eq true>>"See the dry mud on the sill? That's gotta be from Roy's bag. W<<else>>"W<<endif>>hoever took it had to have come out here. Are you coming or not?"\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Sure thing," Eric says. "But I'm going to get a weapon before I do." He jogs into 489 and grabs the axe from the wall, then he climbs out the window after me.<<else>>"Not without a firearm, Princess," Robert smirks. He jogs into 489 and grabs his revolver, then he climbs out the window after me.<<endif>>\n\n"I hope you're right about this," Emmett says as he joins us.\n\nOnce we're all together, I lead the way down the first set of stairs to the third floor balcony.\n\n"So," <<print $saved>> starts, "do you think the thief is still here or long gone?"\n\n<<if $priorities eq "Christa">>I'm about to answer when my eyes suddenly catch movement behind the third floor window. I can hear someone whispering something. <<print $saved>> and Emmett can hear it too.\n\n"I guess that answers that," Emmett says in a low voice.<<else>>"There was more dried mud on the carpet when we brought that scavenger up through the third floor," I answer. "They've got to be in there somewhere.<<endif>> I slowly open the window and climb inside. Pulling out my gun, I creep slowly toward the only open door in the hall as <<print $saved>> and Emmett climb in behind me. Once they're beside me and I've reached the open doorway, I carefully [[peek into the room|m09]].

<<set $m07w = true>>"You two look like you've been outdoors for a while."\n\n"We have," Owen admits. "We were camping when the biters showed up."\n\n"'Biters', huh?"\n\n"Yeah," Nate sighs. "One of them bit our dad. That's what we've been calling them since."\n\n"He used all his vacation days at once and took us camping to try to get our minds off our mother," Owen adds. "She passed away about a month and a half ago. He was... he was a good dad."\n\n<<display 'NO'>>

Suddenly Roy runs into the room. The three of us look to see his eyes darting from Emmett to <<print $saved>>. "Did either of you touch the antibiotics while we were out?" he asks.\n\n"What are you talking about?" Emmett says.\n\n"The medicine bag," Roy clarifies. "It was there before Kerry and I left, and it's not there now."\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Why would we take the antibiotics?" Eric asks.<<else>>"Do I look like I've been shootin' antibiotics?" Robert says indignantly.<<endif>>\n\n"Neither of us were hurt. We didn't have any reason to use them," Emmett says. "That medicine is important to all of us, and you're the only one who knows how to use most of it right. We wouldn't take it out without letting you know."\n\n"Then somebody came in and took it while you were on watch?"\n\n"Came in and...? I didn't hear anything," <<print $saved>> says. "You know how loud the fire escape is, and the stairway doors are still barricaded."\n\n"You need it for that girl?" Emmett asks. "So now she's sick? Anyone else remember a scenario like this. Maybe two weeks ago?"\n\n"Stop," Roy demands. "She got an open wound. It could be anything."\n\nSuddenly there's a scream from the other room. The four of us rush into [[room 487|p21]].

<<set $trustAaron = "lie">>"No, we're somewhere farther downtown. We already went through all the shops in that area."\n\n"Oh, you guys are busy, then," Aaron smiles. "Well, wherever you're set up, I hope it stays safe as long as you need it to." <<display 'p09'>>

As I enter 489 behind Roy, I see that he's already started questioning <<print $saved>> and Emmett about the medicine.\n\n"It was there before we left," he says. "Neither of you touched it?"\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Why would we take the antibiotics?" Eric asks.<<else>>"Do I look like I've been shootin' antibiotics?" Robert says indignantly.<<endif>>\n\n"Neither of us were hurt. We didn't have any reason to use them," Emmett says. "That medicine is important to all of us, and you're the only one who knows how to use most of it right. We wouldn't take it out without letting you know."\n\n"Then somebody came in and took it while you were on watch?"\n\n"Came in and...? I didn't hear anything," <<print $saved>> says. "You know how loud the fire escape is, and the stairway doors are still barricaded."\n\n"Who is it that you need them for, anyway?" Emmett asks.\n\n"It's a little girl," Roy answers. "Her arm was amputated and I think it's infected."\n\n"You mean she was bitten?"\n\n"No, I mean she could have gotten any regular disease inside her while the wound was exposed."\n\nEmmett takes a deep breath. "You two aren't exactly the most cautious about who you bring in here, are you?"\n\nSuddenly there's a scream from the other room. The four of us rush into [[room 487|p21]].

Christa starts pacing around, as if expecting someone, and suddenly, my stomach turns.\n\n"Where's my dad?" she quietly asks.\n\n[["I'm so... so sorry."|d37q]]\n[["He saved my life."|d37w]]\n[["He loved you so much."|d37e]]\n[[(Remain silent)|d37r]]

<<set $trustAaron = "true">>"Yeah. We're in one of the buildings near here."\n\n"Alright, well, I hope it stays safe as long as you need it," Aaron says. <<display 'p09'>>

"You're... You're not alone," I say, my shoulders quaking from relief. Nate smiles, wiping the soot from his face.\n\n"And neither are you," he says.\n\n<<display 'p37'>>

"I... I thought the same thing," I say, my shoulders quaking from relief. Nate smiles, wiping the soot from his face.\n\n"Well, I've never been so happy to be wrong," he says.\n\n<<display 'p37'>>

<<set $trustAaron = "false">>"I think it's best we don't say for now."\n\n"Safety first, I get it," Aaron smiles. "Pardon my being nosey. Wherever it is, I hope it's safe for as long as you need it to be." <<display 'p09'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

"Yes, we have plenty of room."\n\n"Are you kidding me?" Emmett yells. "These two are liars and thieves. They're the last people we should be letting in."\n\n"Ouch, man," Nate groans.\n\n<<display 'm13'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

"Kerry," Mark mutters. "Who is this--?"\n\nA deafening flash slams against me and echoes all around, piercing every nerve as my eyes follow the sanguine streaks leading Mark's body to the ground.\n\nBlood pools on the cement at my feet. I feel like I'm already choking before Gordan's massive arm has seized me around the neck.\n\n"We've got to stop meeting like this," he hisses into my ear with a low cackle as the barrel of his revolver caresses my skull, ready for another kill. "Livin' in the Dead House, huh? Minglin' with infected. Wouldn't've taken you for the dangerous psychopath type."\n\nI see Aaron's disappointed eyes tracing my writhing body as I make a feeble attempt at loosening the iron grip.\n\n"Kerry," he says. "Kerry, you seemed like you were going to make a fantastic addition to the group. That guy you were with, too. He struck me as the heart-of-gold type." His eyes become more intense. "You let an infected family free, and you killed two good people. Why?"\n\n[["We didn't kill them."|d32q]]\n[["So you're the one who locked up Mark's family."|d32w]]\n[["I don't know what you're talking about."|d32e]]

<<if $m04 eq true>>"Hello, again," Mark says as I return to the sofa.<<else>><<set $m04 = true>>"Hey, Kerry," Mark says as I walk over to the sofa.\n\n"Oh, hi Mark. Hey Hannah."\n\n"Did you sleep alright, hon?" Hannah asks. The warmth in her voice is sincere and motherly. Quite unfamiliar.\n\n"Yeah," I say, smiling. "Just great."<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'MH'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<if $meetChild eq true>>I turn back to Christa. She's still taking small sips from her water bottle, flinching occasionally as her arm is unbandaged.<<else>><<set $meetChild = true>>The girl sits on the bed almost motionless, staring at the floor in front of her as she takes small, infrequent sips from her water bottle. She has the same sandy brown hair as her father, and the same dark brown eyes as her mother, but she's far paler than either of them. She flinches as Roy continues removing the bandages on her arm.\n\n"Don't worry," I tell her. "Roy knows what he's doing. My name's Kerry. What's yours?"\n\nShe pauses, then her eyes meet mine. "Christa," she mutters.<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'd16ww'>>

<<if $YouAreHere eq "door">>[[Room 489|m06]] is towards the other end of the hall, and just past it is the fire escape [[window|m05]].<<endif>><<if $YouAreHere eq "window">>[[Room 489|m06]] is just behind us, and the barricaded [[staircase door|m04]] is at the other end of the hall.<<endif>><<if $YouAreHere eq "room">>Outside the room, the barricaded [[staircase door|m04]] is to the right, at one end of the hall. The fire escape [[window|m05]] is to the left, at the other end of the hall.<<endif>>

<<set $YouAreHere = "door">><<if $m04 eq true>>"Back at the barricade?" Emmett says as we return to the staircase door.\n\n"I want to be thorough," I tell him.<<else>><<set $m04 = true>>The staircase door is barricaded tight.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"I've been improving that for days now," Eric says. "There's no way anyone got through here."<<else>>"Eric did a pretty good job on that," Robert says. "Nobody's gettin' through there."<<endif>>\n\n"Maybe," I say, "but it can't hurt to look."<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'm044'>>

<<set $YouAreHere = "window">><<if $m05 eq true>>"I feel like we're going in circles," Emmett says as I walk back to the fire escape.\n\n"It's called 'double-checking'," I say.<<else>>We walk over to the fire escape.<<set $m05 = true>><<endif>> <<display 'm055'>>

<<if $m02q eq false>>[["Do you have any leads?"|m02q]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m02w eq false>>[["What did the bag look like?"|m02w]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m02e eq false>>[["What else did it have in it?"|m02e]]<<endif>>\n[[(Go to hallway)|m03]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $YouAreHere = "hall">>\n<<set $m04 = false>>\n<<set $m04q = false>>\n<<set $m04w = false>>\n<<set $m04e = false>>\n<<set $m05 = false>>\n<<set $m05q = false>>\n<<set $m05w = false>>\n<<set $m05e = false>>\n<<set $m06 = false>>\n<<set $m06q = false>>\n<<set $m06w = false>>\n<<set $m06e = false>>\n<<endsilently>>"Alright," I say. "We'll start looking around to see what we can find." Roy nods and Emmett, <<print $saved>>, and I step out into the hall. The barricaded [[staircase door|m04]] is to my right. The fire escape [[window|m05]] is to my left, past [[room 489|m06]]. None of the other doors in the hall have been opened.

<<if $meetParents eq true>>I turn back to Mark and Hannah. They're still just as anxious as before.<<else>><<set $meetParents = true>>The man runs his hands through his sandy brown hair, his feet tap on the floor. The woman sitting beside him is very still, not once taking her watery eyes off of her daughter. Her long hair is mostly tied back in a ponytail, but it's coming undone, and strands of dark brown are leaking over her forehead.\n\n"I don't think we were introduced," I say, approaching them slowly. "My name is Kerry. The doctor is Roy."\n\nThe man looks up. "My name's Mark," he says. "This is my wife, Hannah."<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'd16qq'>>

__Chapter 4: The Case of the Missing Meds__\n\n<<set $priorities = "Christa">>"We'll find the medicine, first."\n\nI catch Mark's thankful smile just before Emmett turns to me. "What are you talking about? We could have a killer coming after us."\n\n"It was just one gunshot," I say, "and the girl //needs// that medicine."\n\n"We don't even know if..." Emmett starts, but when he catches Mark's eyes burning into him, he pauses, then lets out a huff. "Fine."\n\nI turn to Roy.\n\n<<display 'm02'>>

I climb out the window onto the fire escape. My baseball bat is still hooked onto my backpack, and my gun in still resting in my duct tape holster.\n\n"Hold on a second," Emmett calls. "Where are you going?"\n\n[["I'm going to find that medicine."|m08q]]\n[[(Go back inside) "You're right. Let's keep looking."|m08w]]

"Don't shoot," a voice whispers from behind an overturned couch. Someone else tries to shush him, but he stands up with his hands raised to see us. It's a young boy in a green waterproof coat and mud-drenched jeans. His dark eyes focus on my gun.\n\n[["I'm not going to shoot."|m09q]]\n[["Step out slowly."|m09w]]\n[["Where's the medicine?"|m09e]]

__Chapter 4: The Case of the Shying Shooter__\n\n<<set $priorities = "Killer">>"We'll find the shooter, first."\n\n"What about my daughter?" Mark argues.\n\n"What good is the medicine if we get attacked?" I ask. "We need to be sure this place is secure before we can safely search for the medicine and treat her."\n\n"She's right," Emmett says. "We'll be as quick as we can about it."\n\nI can see in Mark's eyes that he understands, but his scowl doesn't soften. Roy nods and Emmett, <<print $saved>>, and I exit the room and climb through the window to the [[fire escape|k02]].

We climb down into the alley.\n\n"They ran //out// of the street, Emmett?" <<print $saved>> asks.\n\n"Yeah," he answers, looking further into the alley. "They might've gone into one of these buildings through here<<if $priorities eq "Christa">>. But then again, it's been a while since we saw them, so they could be anywhere by now.<<else>>.<<endif>>"\n\nSuddenly there's a loud clank as something metal drops within one of the buildings. The sound echoes around us, bouncing off the walls of the surrounding structures.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Where do you think that's coming from?" Eric asks, surprised.<<else>>"Shit!" Robert growls. "Where the fuck?"<<endif>>\n\n"I can't tell," Emmett says, his eyes darting from one building to another. There's a [[convenience store|k03]] right next to us. Further in there's a small [[shoe shop|k04]] on the left, and an abandoned [[garage|k05]] on the right. We have to start somewhere, but if we're not right, we could lose the shooter.

<<set $garage = false>>"Let's try the convenience store," I say. The other two follow my lead into the back entrance. Inside is just about empty, save for the counter and the shelves.\n\n"Damn it," Emmett mutters. "Of course they wouldn't come in here. It's too small to hide in."\n\n"Hold up," <<print $saved>> whispers, pointing toward the restroom's slowly swaying door. "Someone's in there."\n\nTogether, the three of us march quietly toward the door. I take the bat in my hands and tap it against the door, then I gently push it open and look around. The mirror is smashed and the sink counter is stained with blood. The room seems empty except for the three closed stall doors.\n\n"Let's open up each door one at a time," <<print $saved>> says. I turn and stare right into his eyes.\n\n[["That is the single stupidest idea..."|k03q]]\n[["That is the most cliched thing in horror..."|k03w]]\n[["Sounds great!"|k03e]]

<<set $drawerBot = true>>I check the bottom drawer. There's a few unused bandages and some clean cloth, but no medicine bag.\n\n<<display 'p18aa'>>

<<set $garage = true>>"Let's try the garage," I say. The other two follow my lead under one of the partially open metal doors. Inside are a few forsaken cars stripped of working parts. My bat in hand, I peek around each car before carefully continuing further toward the back to the office. Slowly I turn the knob and enter.\n\nSomeone else pulls the door open from the other side and I almost fall forward with the force. I catch myself and look ahead to see a gun aimed right at my head.\n\n"Are you bitten?" the frantic young man holding it asks.\n\n"No," <<print $saved>> answers as we all raise our hands. "No one's bitten."\n\n"Are you from the Dead House?"\n\n[["No."|k05q]]\n[["The what?"|k05w]]\n[["Put the gun down."|k05e]]

In a branching alleyway, we see a young, dark woman trapped beneath some fallen debris. She looks to us with blue eyes begging for help. There's a mob of corpses slowly marching through the alley towards her.\n\n"Come on," Emmett yells, running over to start moving debris off of her.\n\n"Thank you," she cries. "Thank you."\n\nBut then Emmett freezes. <<print $saved>> and I trace his gaze. There's a bleeding bite wound on the girl's back. The skin is already discolored. <<if $garage eq false>>Then a young man emerges from the garage behind us with a gun in hand. The shooter.<<else>>Then the young man emerges from the garage behind us with his gun in hand.<<endif>>\n\n"Cat," he says, eyes watering as he takes aim at her head. "Cat, I'm sorry."\n\n"No," she pants. "I'm fine. I feel fine. I feel fine!"\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"You can't just kill her," Eric yells to the young man over the moans of the oncoming mob. "That's not right."<<else>>"You're just gonna kill her?" Robert yells to the young man over the moans of the oncoming mob. "That ain't right, man."<<endif>>\n\n"What should he do?" Emmett asks. "Just wait for her to die a slow, painful death like--?"\n\n"I can't," the young man says. "I can't do that to you, Cat. You don't want to be one of them, do you?"\n\n"I... I don't want to die, either."\n\n"I'm sorry," he mutters, his finger beginning to tighten over the trigger.\n\n[[(Push gun away)|k06q]]\n[[(Let him fire)|k06w]]

"Step out from behind the couch," I say. "Slowly." The boy looks afraid, but he starts to inch out from his cover.\n\n<<display 'm10'>>

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He smiles, a bit relieved. "Of course you're not from the Dead House," he says. "You wouldn't be standing if you were." He lowers the gun, then his expression turns to pleading. "I need help. I need to find my sister."\n\n"You're sister?" Emmett repeats.\n\n"Yes. She was injured and she needs help. I was trying to find her when... when we got separated." My hands crawl back into my sweater pocket for the comfort of my phone. I'm becoming anxious. There's something wrong here. I can feel it.\n\nThen there's a crashing sound outside. The four of us look to each other, then [[run out of the garage|k06]].

<<set $drawerTop = true>>I check the top drawer. It's empty.\n\n<<display 'p18aa'>>

"Yeah," I say, unsure. "Yeah, I'm... I'm good."\n\n"Alright," he says. <<display 'p28'>>

<<if $drawerTop eq true and $drawerMid eq true and $drawerBot eq true>><<display 'p19a'>><<else>><<if $drawerTop eq false>>[[(Check top drawer)|d18aq]]<<endif>>\n<<if $drawerMid eq false>>[[(Check middle drawer)|d18aw]]<<endif>>\n<<if $drawerBot eq false>>[[(Check bottom drawer)|d18ae]]<<endif>><<endif>>

"Where's the medicine?" I ask him.\n\n"Medicine?" he says, confused.\n\n<<display 'm10'>>

<<set $drawerMid = true>>I check the middle drawer. There are plenty of surgical tools, but no medicine.\n\n<<display 'p18aa'>>

"You're giving order?" I say.\n\nEmmett looks at me. "Does it really matter? I don't remember voting on a leader. Aren't we all just trying to survive? Does it really matter who's--"\n\n"Guys," <<print $saved>> says, standing between us. "Enough."\n\nEmmett huffs and turns away. <<display 'k044'>>

<<set $m06e = true>>"I'm sorry about Alexia and <<if $saved eq "Eric">>Robert<<else>>Eric<<endif>>," I say. "And I'm sorry if I pushed you today, Emmett. I know it's been hard on you."\n\n"Oh," he says, trailing off, then he waves his hand. "I was... I was in the wrong. I've been a bit unreasonable since that night, and I was being selfish by acting like I was the only one who felt loss. I didn't think about how we've all lost people important to us. You made a choice that saved <<print $saved>>, and because you acted, the losses weren't greater." He smiles. "You're a good person, Kerry."\n\n"Well... thank you."\n\n<<display 'SE'>>

<<if $m07q eq true and $m07w eq true and $m07e eq true>>"I'll leave you guys to your game," I say.\n\n"You might as well watch me obliterate Owen," Nate boasts.\n\n"Checkmate," Owen says as he moves his knight.\n\n"What?" Nate screams, examining the board in panic.\n\n"I'm just joking," Owen says with a sinister grin. "Keep you're head in the game."\n\n<<display 'p25'>><<else>><<if $m07q eq false>>[["So were you two alone before today?"|NOq]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m07w eq false>>[["You two look like you've been outdoors for a while."|NOw]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m07e eq false>>[["Do you guys like it here?"|NOe]]<<endif>>\n[[(Back)|p25]]<<endif>>

<<if $m06q eq true and $m06w eq true and $m06e eq true>>I can see Emmett's eyes returning to the collection of photos.\n\n"I'll leave you two to your album then."\n\n"Thanks," Emmett says.\n\n<<display 'p25'>><<else>><<if $m06q eq false>>[["What's got you guys in such a good mood?"|SEq]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m06w eq false>>[["Thanks for your help today."|SEw]]<<endif>>\n<<if $m06e eq false>><<if $saved eq "Eric">>[["I'm sorry about Alexia and Robert."|SEe]]<<else>>[["I'm sorry about Alexia and Eric."|SEe]]<<endif>><<endif>>\n[[(Back)|p25]]<<endif>>

I walk into the aisle to my left and scan the shelves for any dry food. There's nothing left but dust and cobwebs. <<display 'p04'>>

"You don't have to--"\n\n"Don't be silly," he says. "It's the least I could do to start repaying our debt to you." He smiles and follows me down the fire escape and back into the alley. <<display 'p30'>>

<<set $m05w = true>>"How often is this locked?" I ask.\n\n"I usually check it before going to sleep," <<print $saved>> says, "but someone's always on watch, so I guess it never seemed too important."\n\n"Right, so it was probably left unlocked when Roy and I left."\n\n<<display 'm055'>>

<<set $m05q = true>>I look to the window sill. There's some dry mud dragged across it.\n\n"That's odd," I mutter. "I don't remember stepping in any mud on our last run." <<if $priorities eq "Killer">>Actually, it looks a lot like the dry mud that was dragged on the third floor carpet.<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'm055'>>

I walk into the aisle to my left and scan the shelves for any wet food. There's nothing left but dust and cobwebs. <<display 'p04'>>

"Hand it over. Now."\n\n"Come on, Nate," Owen pleads. He can see they don't have a choice.\n\n<<display 'm12'>>

"Just give us the bag, please."\n\n"Come on, Nate," Owen pleads. "We don't even know how to use most of it."\n\n<<display 'm12'>>

"We have medicine."\n\n"How do I know we can trust you?" the man growls, raising the gun.\n\nRoy raises his hands again. "We could have left without opening the door, right? We wanted to help, so we helped. Now, your daughter's probably just infected. I mean the wound has been infected. Emergency amputations always carry that risk. It could be anything. If that's the case, she needs antibiotics and… Listen, we’re held up not far from here. We have medicine and supplies. We can help if you’ll let us."\n\n<<display 'p14'>>

<<set $m05e = true>>I slide the window open slowly. It's almost silent.\n\n"I thought it sqeaked like crazy when it opened," Emmett says.\n\n"Apparently that's only if you open it too fast," I say. "So whoever snuck in could've used the window if they opened it slow enough for you not to hear it."\n\n<<display 'm055'>>

"Yeah, sure. If we find any that aren't thieves we'll be sure to invite them up."\n\n"Ouch," Nate groans.\n\n<<display 'm13'>>

I walk into the aisle to my left and scan the shelves for any water. There's nothing left but dust and cobwebs. <<display 'p04'>>

"Listen, there's a little girl up there, and she's very sick. We need that medicine."\n\n"Oh, no," Owen mutters. "Nate, come on, we shouldn't have taken it in the first place."\n\n<<display 'm12'>>

"Was she bitten?"\n\n"Don't you dare say that," the man growls, raising the gun.\n\nRoy raises his hands again. "Kerry, whatever happened, they cut it off. She has a chance. Sir, she's probably just infected. I mean the wound has been infected. Emergency amputations always carry that risk. It could be anything. If that's the case, she needs antibiotics and… Listen, we’re held up not far from here. We have medicine and supplies. We can help if you’ll let us."\n\n<<display 'p14'>>

I bite my lip. I'd rather not agitate the situation.\n\n"She's infected," Roy observes, causing the man to raise his gun.\n\n"Don't you dare say that," he growls.\n\nRoy raises his hands again. "No, no, I didn't mean like those things. I mean the wound has been infected. Emergency amputations always carry that risk. It could be anything. If that's the case, she needs antibiotics and… Listen, we’re held up not far from here. We have medicine and supplies. We can help if you’ll let us."\n\n<<display 'p14'>>

<<set $d16w = $d16w + 1>><<set $d16wc = true>>"It's scary out there, huh?"\n\nShe nods, but then her eyes return to the floor. She must be remembering something unpleasant.\n\n<<display 'd16ww'>>

"Congratulations," I say. "That's the single worst idea I've ever heard. <<print $saved>> cracks a smile.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Well, I'm honored to hear that, but I'm afraid I'm just kidding. That's a bit cliched for my taste.<<else>>"I was just kiddin' Princess. That's a bit cliche, don'tcha think?<<endif>> <<display 'k033'>>

"Is she sick?"\n\n"She's //fine//," the man growls, raising the gun.\n\nRoy raises his hands again. "Hold on, hold on. She's probably just infected. I mean the wound has been infected. Emergency amputations always carry that risk. It could be anything. If that's the case, she needs antibiotics and… Listen, we’re held up not far from here. We have medicine and supplies. We can help if you’ll let us."\n\n<<display 'p14'>>

Which letter did you get at the end of "Just Short of the Dead: Episode One"?\n\n[[A]] . . . [[B]] . . . [[C]] . . . [[D]] . . . [[E]] . . . [[F]] . . . [[G]] . . . [[H]] . . . [[I]] . . . [[J]] . . . [[K]] . . . [[L]] . . . [[M]] . . . [[N]] . . . [[O]] . . . [[P]]

<<set $m02e = true>>"What else did it have inside?"\n\n"Nothing but medicine," Roy says. "Enough to rattle like a couple assault rifles."\n\n<<if $m02q eq true and $m02w eq true and $m02e eq true>><<display 'm03'>><<else>><<display 'm02'>><<endif>>

"What happened here?" I ask, nervously catching my phone.\n\n"Oh, I'm starting to figure it out." He looks down at the body at his feet, then back to us. <<display 'p31'>>

__Chapter 5: The Case of the Shying Shooter__<<set $garage = false>>\n\n<<display 'k02'>>

then I follow him back into 489. Now that my thoughts have returned to my parents, my hands reach into my sweater pocket, but it's empty.\n\n"What is it?" Hannah asks, noticing my expression.\n\n"My phone," I gasp. "My phone's gone." I run into the bedroom, but it's not there, it's not in my bag, and it's not in 487. It's nowhere on the fourth floor.\n\n"Did it still work?" Christa asks.\n\n"No, no, it's just that... it reminded me of people I care about."\n\n"I have something like that," she says. "From my sister." She points to a thin necklace she's wearing. "I'd be very sad if I lost it. I'll help you look for your phone."\n\n"Did you lose it on the third floor?" Owen asks.\n\n"No, I don't think so." I sift through everything we've done today. We've been all over the place, but I know I had it up until...\n\n"The alley," I finally realize. "<<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>When I fought the guy who was trying to kill that woman who jumped. It must've fallen out then<<else>>When the man went unconscious, he fell and hit me. It must've fallen out then<<endif>>."\n\nChrista stands up as though she's already been recruited.\n\n"I don't think so," Mark says to her.\n\n"But I have to help," she argues. "It's very important."\n\n"I'll help her instead," Mark says. "You need your rest, alright? We'll find it. I'll see you in a bit." He opens his arms for a hug, but she just sits down and turns away. Mark shakes his head, understanding, then draws his gun and looks to me. "We'll keep working on that. Lead the way, Kerry."\n\n[["Thank you."|d29q]]\n[["You don't have to come."|d29w]]\n[[(Lead the way)|d29e]]

<<set $m05w = true>>"How are you feeling, Christa?"\n\n"Pretty good, thanks," she says. "Thank you for getting the medicine."\n\n"It was my pleasure."\n\n"I want to help people like you when I grow up," she says.\n\n"Why wait?" Roy says. "You can always help people."\n\n"Then can I go out with you guys sometime?"\n\n"Ah, no," I nervously chuckle, feeling her parents' eyes on my back. "Smooth, Roy."\n\nHe just shrugs.\n\n<<display 'RC'>>

"We didn't really check."\n\n"Of course," Emmett says, forcing a smile. "You two are just the pinnacle of caution, aren't you?"\n\n<<display 'p19b'>>

He gazes into the room at his daughter and falls absolutely silent for a long while. "You know," he finally says in a low voice, "the hardest thing for a father to do is hurt their child. I'd give my life for her in an instant, not a second thought. But when I saw that bite on her wrist... and I knew her only chance was..." he clears his throat and lets out a long breath. "She can't look at me the same way again. She knows why I did what I did, but she's still a child. She's fragile."\n\n[["She'll come around."|d28q]]\n[["You saved her life."|d28w]]\n[["I can't even imagine how hard that was."|d28e]]

<<set $m02q = true>>"Do you have any leads?" I ask him.\n\n"Like clues?" he says, walking over to the drawer. "I'm not sure. The bag was the only thing in the top drawer, so it's possible that, if someone came in, that just happened to be the first place they checked, and, seeing the unmarked bag, they just took their chances, grabbed it, and ran."\n\n<<if $m02q eq true and $m02w eq true and $m02e eq true>><<display 'm03'>><<else>><<display 'm02'>><<endif>>

I silently catch my phone.\n\n"Old habits die hard, huh?" He looks down at the body at his feet, then back to us. <<display 'p31'>>

"Thanks," I say, nervously catching my phone.\n\n"Don't mention it." He looks down at the body at his feet, then back to us. <<display 'p31'>>

"We've just misplaced something," I tell them as I run out to join Roy. "Don't worry. We'll get it in a second."\n\n<<display 'p20a'>>

"Is there anything I can help with in here?"\n\n"Yeah," he says as the last of the bandages finally peels away. The newly revealed stub that was once Christa's forearm is a sight I find myself unprepared for, and my hands immediately search my pocket for the comfort of my phone. The flesh of the girl's arm is shredded and discolored, and the interior is exposed with the bone fractured and protruding slightly from the end. Though I struggle to keep my reaction from the girl's attention, Roy's face is calm, his eyes analytic.\n\n"Sorry, Kerry," he continues. "If you could get me the medicine bag from one of the drawers over there, that'd be great."\n\nI approach the dresser in which we've been storing our medical supplies.\n\n<<set $drawerTop = false>><<set $drawerMid = false>><<set $drawerBot = false>><<display 'p18aa'>>

<<set $m02w = true>>"What did the bag look like?" Roy thinks for a minute, then spreads his hands about two and a half feet from each other.\n\n"It was about this big. It was the one I had when we went through the park. It was black and it had a strap for carrying." He pauses. "You know what? It was also pretty dirty. I didn't have the mind to clean it before putting it in the drawer. It had some dried mud on the bottom."\n\n<<if $m02q eq true and $m02w eq true and $m02e eq true>><<display 'm03'>><<else>><<display 'm02'>><<endif>>

"I'm going to check on the other two guys," I say, but Roy is too focused on the girl's wound to notice me leaving.\n\nApartment 489 is our lookout room. Inside sit Emmett and <<print $saved>>, each holding guns, looking out through the open windows. <<print $saved>> turns when he hears me entering and waves.\n\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>"Hey, Kerry. How was the run?"<<else>>"Hey there, Princess. Bring back anything interesting?"<<endif>>\n\n"It sounded like more than just you and Roy," Emmett says. "Did you bring somebody else?"\n\n"Yeah, a family of three."\n\n"Are any of them bitten?"\n\n[["No. There fine."|d18bq]]\n[["The girl might've been."|d18bw]]\n[["We didn't really check."|d18be]]

<<if $m05 eq true>>"Hi, hi, again," Christa sings as I return to the carpet.<<else>><<set $m05 = true>>"Yes!" Roy chants as he flips over two of the cards on the ground and adds them to a pile beside him. He flips over another two, but they don't match. "Darn," he huffs, flipping them back.\n\n"My turn!" Christa shouts excitedly. Her arm is freshly bandaged, and the color has returned to her face.\n\n"Hey there, Kerry," he says as I approach the carpet.<<endif>>\n\n<<display 'RC'>>

"No. They're fine."\n\n"You're sure?" Emmett asks. "'Cause last time you showed up with someone--"\n\n<<display 'p19b'>>

<<set $MarkDied = "love">>"He loved you so much," I tell her.\n\n<<display 'p38'>>

"Thank you," I say. He smiles and follows me down the fire escape and back into the alley.\n\n<<display 'p30'>>

"The girl might've been, but her parents amputated the arm, so I think she's okay."\n\nEmmett's eyes widen in disbelief. "You think? So she could've been bitten, //and// her parents are psychopaths. You really know how to pick 'em, don't you?"\n\n<<display 'p19b'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

"Alright. Be careful in there."\n\n"You too." <<display 'p03'>>

"Yes," I say. "Who did you think we were?"\n\n"No one," Nate says quickly. "Just some random bad guys, you know?"\n\n<<display 'm11'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Eric">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

"Yes," I say. "We need that bag back."\n\n"What bag?" Nate says quickly. Owen gives him a look, but he just shrugs.\n\n<<display 'm11'>>

"Shouldn't we be sticking together?"\n\n"I'm just doing a quick check. The faster we get through here, the safer we'll be." <<display 'p03'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Stanley">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $saved = "Robert">>\n<<set $distract = "Us">>\n<<set $trustCrew = true>>\n<<endsilently>><<display 'p01'>>

<<set $MarkDied = "silent">>I can't even bear to speak.\n\n<<display 'p38'>>

I nod. <<display 'p03'>>

"I don't know. We'd have to check with the others."\n\n"There's no need," Emmett says. "They're liars and thieves. Why would we even consider bringing them in?"\n\n"Dude, ouch," Nate groans.\n\n<<display 'm13'>>

"No way. Not by myself," I say.\n\nEmmett looks to me. "Okay, so you'd rather the killer get away because we weren't covering the whole store at once?"\n\nI scowl at him. He has a point, but it still seems stupid to split up. Whatever. <<display 'k044'>>

"What does it matter? We came for our medicine."\n\n"So I //should// keep throwing bricks?" Nate says with a grin. Owen just gives him a look.\n\n<<display 'm11'>>

I walk over to the doorway of 489.\n\n[[(Walk out to 487)|p26]]\n[[(Back)|p25]]

I run to the window and reach out to <<if $saveGirl eq "woman">>her, but she pulls away<<else>>him, but he pulls away<<endif>>.\n\n<<display 'p27'>>

"Our medicine is gone," I tell them.\n\n"What?" Mark stands up. "I swear if you people brought us here to--"\n\n"Stop," Hannah says, pulling his sleeve. I run out to join Roy before they can ask me anything else.\n\n<<display 'p20a'>>

"What is the 'Dead House'?" I ask. It's becoming hard to breath. My heart's racing. My skin is crawling. The hairs on the back of my neck are on end.\n\n"The second most dangerous place in the whole city as of now," Aaron muses. Mark brings the gun up slowly as Aaron's blue eyes fill with something terrifying.\n\n<<display 'p32'>>

<<silently>>\n<<set $cut1 = false>>\n<<set $cut2 = false>>\n<<endsilently>>I don't have much of a choice. As the corpses' rigid forms draw near, I raise my bat and bring it down into the head of the first. Roy catches the other two with his pipe and shoves them off balance, sending them to the ground where he quickly bludgeons them back to death.\n\nI get a good look at the trailer door. "Quarantined" is written across it in blood. I feel my stomach twist and I reach into my sweather pocket to my phone. It brings a sort of innocent comfort.\n\n"What the hell?" Roy pants as he stares at the dry brown letters. He looks at the latch where a crude collection of wires is holding it shut. "That's a problem. We need to find a way to cut through those." Roy spots a shard of metal behind of the the trailer's tires and picks it up. He begins sawing at the wires, but it's slow. "See if you can find me something better. I'll keep at it."\n\nI look around. <<display 'p12'>>\n\n

"Emmett," <<print $saved>> says, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't."\n\n[["So, did anything happen while we were out?"|d19bq]]\n[["No. Let him finish."|d19bw]]\n<<if $saved eq "Eric">>[["I'm sorry about your friends."|d19be]]<<else>>[["I'm sorry about your brother."|d19be]]<<endif>>

"Roy," I say, becoming worried.\n\n"What is it?" He turns and sees me holding open the drawer. "Is it there? It should be in the top one." He gets up quickly and moves over to the drawers to search them himself. "It was in here before we left. I checked. Hang on." He leaves in a near-sprint and runs into 489, our lookout room.\n\n"Is everything alright?" Hannah asks. She and Mark look troubled by Roy's urgency. Christa is trying hard not to look at her exposed wound.\n\n[["Everything's fine."|d19aq]]\n[["We've just misplaced something."|d19aw]]\n[["Our medicine is gone."|d19ae]]

<<set $m04e = true>>I look to the door's small window.\n\n"That looks a bit more smudged than I remember," Emmett notices.\n\n"So someone pressed up against it and got a look at the barricade?" <<print $saved>> wonders aloud.\n\n<<display 'm044'>>

The fog becomes as dense as the silence around us, and Aaron takes a step closer. <<if $trustAaron eq "true">>"You said you guys lived around here, didn't you?" Another step closer. "I figured I'd drop by and see how you're set up." Another step. "Imagine my surprise when I find my dead friend in an alley so close to the Dead House, and then you show up not a minute later."<<else>>"Here I was thinking you guys were set up on the other side of town." Another step closer. "I guess it's smart not to trust people you barely know." Another step. "Imagine my surprise when I see your phone lying next to my dead friend in the middle of an alley so close to the Dead House."<<endif>> Another step.\n\nHe stops just a few feet in front of us.\n\n[["I'm so sorry."|d31q]]\n[["It's not what you think."|d31w]]\n[["What is the 'Dead House'?"|d31e]]

"I'm so sorry," I say. It's becoming hard to breath. My heart's racing. My skin is crawling. The hairs on the back of my neck are on end.\n\n"I appreciate that," Aaron muses. Mark brings the gun up slowly as Aaron's blue eyes fill with something terrifying.\n\n<<display 'p32'>>

The ribs scrape and crack, and the sliced flesh sputters with stagnant blood as I pry the knife out of its hold. I can feel my face twisting in disgust, but I think my gag-reflex is long gone.\n\n"There we go," Roy says as I hand him the blade. "That's a nice knife, too." He quickly slices the wires holding the latch and pulls the handle.\n\nThe barrel of a gun greets us as the doors rolls up. A disheveled man of tiring strength holds it unwavering, his eyes fixed and ready to kill at the slightest provocation. Behind him crouches a woman in torn business attire, clutching a pale little girl as if preparing to shield her from the whole world. All three of them are smeared with blood and dirt. They're surrounded by dead bodies.\n\n"Get back," the man commands through gritted teeth. Roy drops the steel pipe and raises his hands, prompting me to do the same.\n\n"We want to help," he tells them. "We heard crying. We’re sorry if we startled you."\n\nThe fire in the man’s eyes dims as he notices Roy's untucked uniform. "You a doctor?" he asks.\n\nRoy nods. "Yes, sir, I’m a paramedic. Is someone injured?"\n\n"My daughter." The man rests the gun and his wife loosens her grip enough to reveal that the girl’s left arm has been hastily amputated just below the elbow, a bloody mess of bandages and wrappings keeps her from bleeding to death.\n\n[["Was she bitten?"|d13q]]\n[["Is she sick?"|d13w]]\n[["We have medicine."|d13e]]\n[[(Remain silent)|d13r]]

<<set $MarkDied = "sorry">>"I'm so... so sorry," is all I can manage to say.\n\n<<display 'p38'>>

"Everything's fine," I tell them as I run out to join Roy. "We'll be back in just a second."\n\n<<display 'p20a'>>

"It's not what you think," I say. It's becoming hard to breath. My heart's racing. My skin is crawling. The hairs on the back of my neck are on end.\n\n"It never is," Aaron muses. Mark brings the gun up slowly as Aaron's blue eyes fill with something terrifying.\n\n<<display 'p32'>>

<<set $gun = false>>I face my assailant. His skin is dark and his eyes are darker. He stands at least six and a half feet tall, his broad shoulders nearly touching each side of the aisle, making him look more like a wall than a man. "Haven’t seen you since the grocery store a couple weeks back," he grins. "Good to see you’re still drawing breath."\n\n<<display 'p05'>>