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You're awake. You haven't been awake for a while. You're lying on the ground, in almost total darkness. In the distance, there's a light.
[[Go Toward the Light->The Beach]]
[[Go Away from the Light->The Crossroads]]
<img src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/wVhsw6Go1tMBEpv9mGQGOf8dIAXSTaeUdVs3IOPYxany7cQF_Y6mmMFZ7tlgcGKA_fw5=h310-rw" width="500" height="800">
<<set $shells to 0>>You're at a beach.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/2276179882_d980412dd7.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Climb the Lighthouse->The Lighthouse]]
[[Run into the Sea->The Sea]]
[[Collect Seashells->Seashells]]
[[Leave Beach->The Crossroads]]You're pretty far out. The shore is just a line on the horizon.
<img src="http://45.media.tumblr.com/542b87b6ab628003cacb9d08e100df07/tumblr_nomlkvZ8bb1uq2imuo1_500.gif" height="600">
[[Swim Out Further->Whale]]
[[Go Back to Shore->The Beach]]
[[Look Underwater->Underwater Cave]]The stairs creak and sway beneath you, and salt wind enters through the cracks in the crumbling stone. You begin to fear you may not make it to the top.
[[Continue Climbing->Top of the Lighthouse]]
[[Back Down->The Beach]]The Forest is no place to be at night.
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/148047934" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<<set $shells += 36>>
You found 36 shells.
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[Go back->The Beach]]Two paths diverged, one goes into the woods...
[[Take Open Road->Bridge]]
[[Take Forest Path->The Forest]]
[[Take Neither, Head Back Toward Light->The Beach]]The village is sleeping. The few flickering lights in the windows were left on by old folks, who nodded off in their armchairs, or children, who are afraid of the dark. You feel like an unwelcome presence.
<img src="http://img11.deviantart.net/76fa/i/2011/012/5/d/village_at_night_by_unidcolor-d370xmq.jpg" width="500" height="300">
[[Leave the Village->The Crossroads]]
[[Raise a Rousing Cry for Help->Big Mistake]]
[[Sneak into Buildings->Where]]
[[Scour Streets for Seashells->Village shells]]
You're at the top of the lighthouse. In three directions, there is nothing but sea. But behind you, far away, you can barely see the lights of a small village.
[[Look around Lighthouse->Looking around]]
[[Leave Lighthouse->The Beach]]
Look what found you.
<img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01971/bluewhale_1971029b.jpg" width="1000" height="600">
[[Swim into Mouth->Whale's Mouth]]
[[Swim Away->The Sea]]You've done it now.
[[Avoid Being Swallowed->Spat Out]]
[[Give in to Fate->Whale's Belly]]Below, you see the entrance to an underwater cave.
[[No good can come of this->The Sea]]
[[What's the worst that could happen?->Enter Cave]]You scream and curse and pound your fists on the walls of the whale's mouth. Finally, the whale has had enough of your nonsense. You're spat out. Frightened, you make your way back to shore.
[[Just keep swimming->The Sea]]In the belly of the beast, you find a skeleton, a treasure chest, and a mysterious orb.
[[Ransack Skeleton->Skeleton]]
[[Open Chest->Shells]]
[[Gaze into Mysterious Orb->Orb]]Well, that skeleton was definitely haunted. And not happy about being disturbed.
<img src="http://33.media.tumblr.com/ed08925dfbb76029360a4753792f73b3/tumblr_nc0pdt14NO1s2wio8o1_500.gif" width="500" height="300">
[[Throw skeleton across room->Blowhole]]
[[Give this Poor Soul his Last Rites->burial]]Well look at that, it's full of shells. Yawn.
[[Collect Shells->find]]
[[Close Chest->Whale's Belly]]As soon as you gaze into its depths, the orb has you transfixed. You see the future...or...no. No, it isn't the future, it's the past! You can remember now. You remember the disaster. You remember how you got to that godforsaken island in the first place, and you remember now, what it takes to escape!
Too bad you're in the belly of a whale.
[[Unglue Eyes from Orb->Whale's Belly]]Your ruckus has disturbed the whale. It lets out a mighty bellow, and ejects you through its blowhole. Frightened, you make your way back towards shore.
[[Just keep swimming->The Sea]]His soul is laid to rest. Which means you won't even have a ghost friend, as the whale slowly digests you. There's a chest, and two passages to swim through.
[[Open chest->cave shells]]
[[Swim through passage on left->Merine]]
[[Swim through passage on right->Sona]]
[[Leave Cave->The Sea]]You look around, and you see a small chest, a framed picture and a small trap door. And of course, the fire in the lighthouse lamp.
[[Open Chest->Shells Lighthouse]]
[[Look at Picture->Map]]
[[Open Trap Door->letter]]
[[Examine Fire->Fire]]
[[Stop looking->Top of the Lighthouse]]
You've come to a bridge.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Qgbz7QF.jpg" height="600">
[[Cross it->Troll]]
[[NOPE->Go Around]]"Didn't anyone warn you about the bridge?" laughs the hideous fish creature as it devours you. You decide to go around. It takes you a few hours, but eventually you find your path again.
[[Continue down Path->The Village]]The villagers are not very understanding. They've come with their pitchforks and torches, to drive you into the sea.
[[Swim to Live->The Sea]]
You've entered the Church.
<img src="https://www.stuckey.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/sage-chapel-cornell-night-brian-stuckey-6.jpg" width="500" height="300">
[[Look around->church inside]]
[[Leave church->Where]]Where would you like to sneak into?
[[The Church->The Church]]
[[A House->A House]]
[[The Big Mansion->Mansion]]
[[The Jail->Jail]]You tiptoe into a home, and hear a family sleeping.
[[Leave->Where]]
[[Search their Home->Family Home]]
You've entered the mansion. Looking around, you see a staircase, a painting and a chest.
[[Look at Painting->Painting]]
[[Open Chest->You've Found Shells]]
[[Climb Staircase->Creaky]]
<img src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8492/8292190362_8ff09af05d_z.jpg" width="500" height="300">
You've entered the jail.
[[Read Graffiti on Wall->Graffiti]]
[[Wake Sleeping Prisoner->Prisoner Interaction]]
[[Leave Jail->Where]]...looks familiar...
<img src="https://gislounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/here-be-dragons.png" width="800" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Keep looking->Looking around]]As you gaze into the hypnotic flames, something begins coming back to you. The fire reminds you of late nights gathered around the...fireplace. In a home, a home where you had a family. You can't believe it was here, on this island...
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/bsRSKZhTXgDXa/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300">
[[Continue Gazing->Notice gas]]
[[Turn Away->Looking around]]Wait a minute, what's that? you notice the gasoline fueling the fire is running low. There's a pitcher of gas nearby.
[[Pour gas on fire->Flame]]
[[Let it Die->Death]]The fire roars, stronger than ever.
[[Continue looking around->Looking around]]You watch as the last of the flames die.
It's dark.
You don't realize how dark, for a moment. Then you do, and you reach out to find your bearings. But you don't feel anything. You search for the gas can, the chest, the floor, the walls...all gone. You want to scream but, somehow, it feels like your lungs are gone.
They are. All of you is. And it's very, very dark. In the living room, they have a chest and a framed picture.
[[Open Chest->Find Shells]]
[[Look at picture->Isidra, Goddess of our Souls]]
[[Enter Bedroom->OOF]]
[[Stop Snooping->A House]]You found 60 shells.
<<set $shells +=60>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->Family Home]]In the bottom corner, you are able to read: "Isidra, Guardian of our Souls."
<img src="http://www.northernway.org/tide_resize.jpg" width="500" height="300">
You woke the family, and they alerted the village.
[[Uh oh->Big Mistake]]
The graffitti reads:
"Shame on Isidra, Imprisoner of Our Souls"
[[OK->Jail]]"Wha..who's there...Livia!"
[["Yes, it's me."->Exposition]]
[["You're only dreaming."->Figures]]Looks familiar...wait a minute, there's hinges on the side...
<img src="http://www.northernway.org/tide_resize.jpg" width="500" height="300">
[[Leave it alone->Mansion]]
[[Poke it->real picture]]Yikes! You didn't realize the stairs would be quite this creaky.
[[Keep Climbing->Mayor]]
[[Back Down->Mansion]]
"Who's there?!?" a voice bellows from the top of the stairs. Carrying a lantern, he steps into view- Mayor Jones! A pit opens in your stomach as you remember why you're so afraid of this man.
If you don't do something quick, he'll call Isidra.
[[Run! Maybe he didn't see you?->Don't speak]]
[[Come Forward and Beg Forgiveness->Ha Ha Ha]]
[[Do Nothing. Wait.->He Comes Closer]]"Ha, Ha, Ha! As if I would take pity on the likes of you, traitor! Isidra may have forgiven you, but never forget that you are not welcome in our village. If it were up to me, I'd let you, no, MAKE you leave the island! But glorious Isidra loves all of her children...even those who have treacherous parents..."
[[Say Something->Don't speak]]
"It's you." He grins. "I'm calling Isidra."
[[Next->Arrival of Isidra]]"Foolish girl! Leave my home at once! I've sent the signal, and they're waiting for you..."
[[Leave->Big Mistake]]Livia, it's really you! Oh, I'm glad to see you! Well, as glad as I ever am to see anybody here..."
[["You work at the Lighthouse"->Yes]]"Figures, with the nightmares I've had...I don't even know what they did to ya...I don't even know if you're alive! Heh, alive- I guess I know you're not that, none of us are...just stuck...
[["You're not Dreaming"->Exposition]]
[[Leave him be->Jail]]I did, yes. With your father. You remember, they would've had to hit you pretty hard for you to forget. Nasty villagers...never liked them, that's why I kept to the lighthouse. But I was glad to have a helper when your father came along. Your family was different.
[["Do you know where they are?"->tears]]His eyes well with tears.
"No. no, no. All I know is they never meant to leave you behind...Isidra caught them in the middle of it. They were all ready to fly, but you fell. I was there, they had no choice, they had to go. And then they came...and they took you away from the beach...oh, I'm so sorry! It was all my fault, I told your father about the gulls! And now- now she's taken all the gulls away."
[["Where are the gulls?"->Never]]"Oh, you'll never find them now. Isidra's made certain that the only way off this island now, is through her."
[[Thank him->Jail]]You found 115 shells.
<<set $shells +=115>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->Whale's Belly]]You found 285 shells.
<<set $shells += 285>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->Mansion]]It swings around to reveal...another painting.
<img src="http://mythologyhall.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/0/8/14080761/6558664_orig.jpg?454" width="500" height="300">
[[Interesting...->Mansion]]You found 92 shells.
<<set $shells +=92>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->Looking around]]You find a note that says:
"Dear Livia,
I owe my soul to you.
I cannot free you.
They took me away.
Keep the fire burning.
All my love,
Father
Ps. Don't cross the bridge, when you come to it."
[[Keep looking->Looking around]]You found 19 shells.
<<set $shells += 19>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->The Village]]Merine. You remember.
<img src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/50f6d5b8e4b0a4e6d446e5b3/t/55c3779ee4b0caf1b8df8b3c/1438873503063/871-07496959-silhouette-mermaid" width="1000" height="600">
[[Speak to her->Merine Talk]]
[[Swim away->Enter Cave]]"You're not allowed here, Livia. Not anymore. What would Isidra say if she knew?"
[["I'll leave then"->Enter Cave]]
[["I don't care"->Merine more talk]]You found 63 shells.
<<set $shells += 63>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->Enter Cave]]"I wish I could be on your side. But I am a faithful servant of Isidra."
[["What does that mean?"->More talk]]
"It means if you do not leave soon, I will summon her, as I did on the day your family fled."
[[Leave->Enter Cave]]
[[Stay->Arrival of Isidra]]"Well, well, well...a human's come to play."
Sona. You remember.
[[Play her game->Sona's Game]]
[[Leave->Enter Cave]]
<img src="http://t02.deviantart.net/mPqjlJ4ye65EvYt6Ku7Zwoemtvs=/fit-in/300x900/filters:no_upscale():origin()/pre07/e866/th/pre/f/2014/145/f/2/jungle_huntress_siren_by_plavidemon-d7jon1d.jpg" width="500" height="600">"Fine, I'll let you go. Swim away quickly, before I change my mind."
[[Swim away quickly->Enter Cave]]"You know the rules. If I don't like your answer, you're trapped. Now, I demand a gift. What can you give me?"
[["I'm not playing anymore..."->That's fine.]]
[["A Hug"->That's funny.]]
[["A Song"->Go ahead]]
[["Shells"->That's funny.]]Double-click this passage to edit it."That's funny. Not for you, because you'll be trapped for eternity. But for me."
Your fate:
<img src="http://pre07.deviantart.net/7808/th/pre/i/2013/156/b/1/mermaid_cave_by_dejano23-d5o2q38.jpg" width="800" height="600">
"I like songs...I suppose you win."
[[Sing->Chest]]"Beautiful song."
Sona gives you 300 shells.
<<set $shells += 300>>
You now have <<print $shells>> shells.
[[OK->Enter Cave]]
She's arrived.
<img src="http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s462/femalefortitude/Fairy%20Tales%20and%20Legends/56625941_zps07235473.jpg" width="500" height="600">
[[Hear her Speak->Isidra speaks]]
You see a hymn book and a painting.
[[Open hymn book->hymn book]]
[[Look at painting->Isidra again]]
[[Stop looking->The Church]]There's written music. The lyrics read:
Glory to Isidra
and all who are her servants
Glory to her Island
sheltered here are all her children
Glory to the Sea
which moves upon her order
Glory to Isidra
and return her to us soon
[[Close book->church inside]]
[[Turn the page->note falls out]]
"Glory to Isidra" reads the plaque below the painting.
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiCt6fP4LAQs9nZ43698gXOfsbJT1i-z8uPmRXTjADy7ZLA9XW" width="500" height="600">
[[OK->church inside]]A note falls out. It reads:
"Dear Livia,
I owe my soul to you.
I cannot free you.
They took me away.
Remember, always, to sing.
With all my love,
Mother
Ps. Stay out of the woods"
[[Close hymn book->church inside]]Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it."None know what terrors lie Beyond. My island is a refuge, and you insult my hospitality."
[["I must rejoin my family"->Hmm]]You are made keeper of the lighthouse for eternity. Sometimes it's not so bad. "You are breaking rules, girl. I gave you a second chance. Your parents betrayed me and I did not condemn you. My island is free for you to roam, but do not disturb the peace again."
[[Demand to be Released->Release]]
[[Agree to be Peaceful->The Awakening]]"I doubt you will. The Beyond is an empty place. How can souls find each other there? If you insist on oblivion, I will let you go. For a price."
[[What price?->soul]]"The price of a soul. 500 shells."
<<if $shells >= 500>> [[Give her shells->Freedom]]<</if>>
<<if $shells < 500>> [[Admit you don't have the clams->OtherDeath]]<</if>>Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.She gave you a ship and you rode past the edge of the island's waters, and you came to a void. The memories came flooding back: it was the same one you'd seen swallow your parents as they rode on the backs of gulls, looking over their shoulders for you. You've never seen anything so terrfiying, and you've never been less afraid.
<img src="https://45.media.tumblr.com/317d0faf24bfe6c3ab4ac75489f6bc9e/tumblr_nlwjfmpOLk1taknieo1_500.gif" width="500" height="300">
"You've annoyed me for the last time."
Quicksand forms around your feet- you soon recognize it's a wave, come to sweep you out to sea- and this time you won't be coming back.