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"It's happening again," [[he]] said.
<<set $manknown to 0>>
<<set $remknown to 0>>
<<set $allofit to 0>>
<<set $truth to 0>>
<<set $fightflight to 0>>
<<set $countdown to 4>>
<<cacheaudio "rain" "https://www.soundjay.com/nature/rain-02.mp3">>
<<audio "rain" loop volume 0.3 play>>
<<cacheaudio "windbird" "https://www.soundjay.com/nature/windy-forest-ambience-01.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "windroof" "https://www.soundjay.com/nature/wind-gust-02.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "tavern" "https://www.soundjay.com/ambient/food-court-1.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "music1" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/hlvhpq0spjtbsdt/Rem1.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music2" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/frjxmn7syaz0k85/Rem2.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music3" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/wouscw0s17xwj2k/Rem3.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music4" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/8oa9fg8u5ysppy5/Rem4.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music5" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/10pbim8iggigzre/Rem5.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music6" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/bkryblp6kmnrsud/Rem6.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music7" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/47v95fgen3lptqo/Rem7.mp3?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "music8" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/228y7ide6d98z2d/Rem8.mp3?dl=1">>You almost didn't hear him over the <<linkreplace "rain">>rain pelting down on the roof of your tent<</linkreplace>>.
You [[look around]] for the source of the voice.<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
Standing on the dirt path outside of the gazebo is an old man. He <<linkreplace "smiles">>smiles, cracking his face into a roadmap of a thousand wrinkles<</linkreplace>>.
His <<linkreplace "eyes">>eyes, clear and cloudy all at once,<</linkreplace>> are trained right on you.
<hr>''
[["Who are you?"]]
[["What did you say before?"]]
<<audio "music1" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
He <<linkreplace "laughs">>laughs, a quiet chuckle, one that you're sure he wants you to notice<</linkreplace>>, but doesn't answer you.
"Are you coming?" he asks. "It's always better among friends."
<hr>''
[["No, really, who are you?"]]
[["Coming where?"]]
[["What did you say before?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
He looks <<linkreplace "skyward">>skyward, the rain coating his face and running in rivers through his countless wrinkles<</linkreplace>>.
"S'about that time. This one came around a bit faster than usual. Must be an anxious night." He winks.
<hr>''
[["An anxious night?"]]
<<if $manknown is 0>>[["Who are you?"]]<<endif>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
"A <<linkreplace "midnight traveler">>midnight traveler (odd, you think, that he'd say this when it's clearly daytime)<</linkreplace>>," he says. "You coming?" <<set $manknown to 1>>
<hr>''
[["Coming where?"]]
[["What did you say before?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
"The <<linkreplace "Old House">>Old House (something in the way he says it makes you feel like this is a proper name)<</linkreplace>>."
He adds, "Some are already there."
<hr>''
[["What's The Old House?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
The old man <<linkreplace "smiles">>smiles, but his eyes are sorrowful<</linkreplace>>.
"Looks like you've been busy. I'm sorry you'll have to leave it all behind."
You look down at your <<linkreplace "work">>work. Stacks of papers with scribbled notes, disconnected threads of thoughts. You were so close<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[["What's that supposed to mean?"]]
<<if $manknown is 0>>[["Who are you?"]]<<endif>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
The old man shrugs.
"I suppose you could continue if you wanted, but..."
He trails off, and <<linkreplace "gazes over your work">>gazes over your work, his eyes lingering for a second on your books<</linkreplace>>.
"I doubt you'd end up any closer than you are now." He purses his lips. "You're welcome to join us, though. If you plan on coming, that is."
<hr>''
[["Coming where?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
He <<linkreplace "frowns">>frowns. It's slight, but it's the first sign of frustration you've seen in the old man<</linkreplace>>.
"We really don't have much time to discuss things," he says. "You can come, or you can stay, if you like."
<hr>''
[["I'll come."]]
[["I'll stay."]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
"Right," he says, adjusting his <<linkreplace "pack">>pack. You're surprised you didn't really notice it before--the old man seems to be carrying a considerable weight slung over his shoulder, a package of some heft. The biggest surprise is how easily his body carries the burden<</linkreplace>>.
You turn back and look at your work as a wind whips through and scatters your papers hopelessly away from the tent.
<hr>''
[[Recover papers.]]
[[Walk and talk with the man.|Make conversation with the man.]]
[[Walk in silence.]]
<<audio "music3" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
The old man shrugs. "On your own terms, then," he <<linkreplace "says">>says, but a curious smile edges across his face<</linkreplace>>. He walks away.
You return to your work.
<hr>''
[[Look at your notes.]]
[[Look at your books.]]
[[Run after the old man.]]You grab a pile of papers and pore over them. To your surprise, the words are garbled. Nonsense. Absolutely incoherent.
Strange.
<hr>''
[[Try to make sense of something.]]
[[Look at your books.]]
[[Run after the old man.]]You pick up a red book without a title. You open it to find the pages are blank.
<hr>''
[[Pick up another book.]]
[[Run after the old man.]]You squint hard and look at the words in front of you.
While they seem to be in a language that you understand, the words don't make sense. The characters don't seem right. The parts are there, but at the same time, they're not.
<span class="fading1">Worst of all, they're starting to fade.</span>
<hr>''
[[Look at your books.]]
[[Run after the old man.]] <img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyxw80yr8gxiblh/oldman.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldman">
The old man smiles broadly at your approach.
"Change your mind, did you? Nothing wrong with that. Especially here."
<hr>''
[[Make conversation with the man.]]
[[Walk in silence.]]
<<audio "music3" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
Rainfall fills gaps in the well-worn path. You follow footsteps that seem to be going in the same <<linkreplace "direction">>direction (and, interestingly, at the same stride)<</linkreplace>> that you want to go.
After a moment, the old man speaks. "Sorry about your work," he <<linkreplace "says">>says. He seems genuine<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[["Will I be able to return to my work?"]]
[["Can you tell me anything about where we're going?"]]
[[Carry on in silence.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[["Do you know anything about "rem"?"]]\<</if>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
The two of you set off on a dirt road, slowly being overtaken by the rainfall. It's tough going, but the old man maintains a strong pace that inspires you to <<linkreplace "keep up">>keep up. He's made this walk before<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Make conversation with the man.]]
[[Carry on in silence.]]The old man doesn't try to stop you as you <<linkreplace "run after your papers">>run after your papers. You scamper for a short distance in the muck of the muddy earth, but the papers stay just out of reach<</linkreplace>>.
Eventually, a gust of wind carries them over an embankment and guides them into a river below, soaking them immediately.
<hr>''
[[Return to the old man and chat with him.|Make conversation with the man.]]
[[Return to the old man and walk in silence.|Walk in silence.]]You pick up a blue book. Again, blank pages.
<hr>''
[[Pick up a third book.]]
[[Run after the old man.]]You pick up a yellow book. Nothing.
<hr>''
[[Pick up a fourth book.]]
[[Run after the old man.]] Surely there had to be something in this one. You pick up a black book and, to your delight, find something inside.
While the characters around it are faded, three letters //can// be clearly identified:
<h5><span class="fading1">"rem"</span></h5><<set $remknown to 1>>
<hr>''
[[Examine the letters.]]
<<audio "music2" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
The two of you pass what feel like miles and miles of countryside. The storm picks up in <<linkreplace "intensity">>intensity, with winds causing even the mightiest oak to bend to its will<</linkreplace>>. The sky is getting darker.<<audio "windbird" loop volume 0.5 play>>
<hr>''
[[Carry on.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
The old man gives a facial reaction that is neither a "yes" or a "no," and sighs.
<hr>''
[["That's not a very helpful response."]]
[[Carry on in silence.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
"The Old House," he reiterates.
<hr>''
[["What exactly is The Old House?"]]
[[Carry on in silence.]] <img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
The old man laughs out loud at this. He loses himself in thought for a moment, turning over words in his head.
After a minute, he says, "Yes."
<hr>''
[["Yes? Yes what?"]]
[["Right. Thanks."|Carry on in silence.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
"You'll be able to return to exactly where you were with your work," he <<linkreplace "says">>says. He's clearly uncomfortable at being pressed on this<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Carry on in silence.]] <img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
You know exactly how the old man will respond before he even says it, and he <<linkreplace "smiles">>smiles mischeviously<</linkreplace>>.
"It's a very old house."
<hr>''
[["I can't believe this."]]
[[Right. Thanks.|Carry on in silence.]] <img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
The old man softens at your obvious <<linkreplace "exasperation">>exasperation, but a twinkle of whimsy remains in his strange eyes<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Carry on in silence.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/z80ha9iisu6durb/farm2.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="farm">
Something catches your eye. A mother stands on the front porch of a farmhouse.
She is <<linkreplace "yelling">>yelling, but no sounds are coming out<</linkreplace>>.
You notice that her arms are outstretched, and she's looking across the field at a child <<linkreplace "running in her direction">>running in her direction.
Or he would be, except no matter how hard he runs, he seems to be running in place<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Ask the old man what's going on.]]
[[Try to help them.]]
<<audio "music4" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/z80ha9iisu6durb/farm2.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="farm">
To your surprise, the old man doesn't seem to notice the scene.
"It will be resolved," he says.
<hr>''
[[Try to help them.]]
[[Carry on.|Carry on 2.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/z80ha9iisu6durb/farm2.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="farm">
Before you can do anything, the old man puts a hand on your <<linkreplace "shoulder">>shoulder. His grip is astoundingly firm, and he holds you entirely in place<</linkreplace>>.
"It's not that you shouldn't," he says at your wordless protest. "It's that you //can't//."
<hr>''
[[Carry on.|Carry on 2.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/z80ha9iisu6durb/farm2.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="farm">
The image of the scene lingers in your head, along with a crippling sense of helplessness.
"Don't," says the old man, though what he's referring to, you can't tell. "It's not..." he <<linkreplace "trails off">>trails off. He can tell that you're still looking at him, and adds, quietly, "They'll be fine." From his tone, you're inclined to believe him<</linkreplace>>.
The wind is so intense by this point, bales of hay are rolling by in the fields ahead of you. You're finding it difficult to stay upright.
<hr>''
[[Carry on.|Carry on 3.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
You reach a fork in the road, and are surprised to find a familiar-looking structure at the intersection.<<audio "windroof" loop volume 0.8 play>>
//Of course//, you think to yourself. //The Old House//.
Making their way into the building are a strange variety of <<linkreplace "people">>people. Men and women, sure, but with changing faces, transient shapes, and incoherent voices<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[["Who are they?"]]
[["Why are they here?"]]
<<audio "music5" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
"They are whoever they are tonight," he responds.
<hr>''
[["Why are they here?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
"Because they want to be. Some of them like to gather here when it ends."
A chill paralyzes you in place for a moment.
<hr>''
[["When what ends?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
The old man points up at the <<linkreplace "sky">>sky, black and wretched<</linkreplace>>.
"All of it."
He adjusts his pack and puts a hand on your shoulder, leaning in.
"Listen," he says. "They don't know who you are. It'd be best if they didn't."
<hr>''
[["I thought you said I'd be welcome here?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
"You are," he says, his tone measured. "But...it might make some of them uncomfortable if they realize who //you// are."
<hr>''
[["This place feels familiar. Why?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
The old man looks at the house and seems to take it in.
"You built it."
<hr>''
[["I...what?"]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/no59ujc5heaf2kf/oldhouse.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="oldhouse">
A crack of lightning tears the sky and cuts any further conversation short.
<span class="fading1">For a split second, the resounding thunder jars you out of consciousness.</span>
"In," he says. "We're on minutes, now."
You're running out of time.
<hr>''
[[Enter The Old House.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/4bf1gocycfbilv9/oldhouseinside.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="inside">
To your surprise, the inside of The Old House is a cheerful and welcoming <<linkreplace "tavern">>tavern. The structure is rustic, colonial, but well-maintained. This place was built long ago, but has never been empty long enough for a speck of dust to gather<</linkreplace>>.
Photographs and posters adorn the walls. There are several clusters of patrons around the bustling venue. A man paws at something on a countertop. The bartender gives you a cursory nod and smiles.
You didn't even notice the old man disappear.
<<set $countdown to 4>>\
<hr>''
[[Examine the decor.]]
[[Approach the quiet people at the fireplace.]]
[[Approach the laughing people at the table.]]
[[Approach the weary people in the corner.]]
[[Approach the man at the counter.]]
[[Approach the bartender.]]
<<audio ":playing" stop>>
<<audio "tavern" loop play>>
<<audio "music6" play>>Posters, photographs, paintings, and printouts cover nearly every inch of available wall space.
<hr>''
[[Examine the posters.]]
[[Examine the photographs.]]
[[Examine the paintings.]]
[[Examine the printouts.]]
[[Do something else.]]A group of figures sit around the fireplace. Some of them are sitting with their eyes closed. A little boy is deeply engrossed in a <<linkreplace "book">>black book<</linkreplace>>. All of them are very, very quiet.
<hr>''
[["Hello?"]]
[["What are you reading?"]]A raucous group of mid-teenaged friends is gathered around a table. They all seem to be greatly enjoying each other's company, and all are reeling from some fantastic joke.
"Hey!" says one of them, addressing you.
<hr>''
[["Hey."]]
[["What's so funny?"]]You approach the group and realize it's a family. The father looks at you.
He squints his <<linkreplace "eyes">>eyes, tired and dull<</linkreplace>>. "You look familiar."
<hr>''
[["Who might you be?"]]
[["Have we met?"]]You come up behind the man at the counter, who appears to be rubbing at something.
Before you even come into his vision, he speaks.
"Y'figure it out, yet?"
<hr>''
[["Excuse me?"]]
[["Figure what out?"]]
You approach the bartender.
"Hm," they say, in something between a greeting and an expectance of questioning.
<hr>''
[["What's your name?"]]
[["What is this place?"]]
[["Why are all of these people here?"]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem bartender]]<</if>>\The posters on the wall promote events, much like thousands of posters you've seen before. They boast names of bands and performers and venues that all sound equally as made-up as the <<linkreplace "next one">>next one. None of the names seem to stick out in your head, but they all sound equally intriguing<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Examine something else.|Examine the decor.]]There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, perhaps thousands of photographs, and yet none of them seem to be of anyone in particular. The images are out of focus, blurry, and entirely unidentifiable, like each one was taken by someone who had never held a camera <<linkreplace "before">>before. All the same, the images elicit a strange, deep emotional response from you that you can't quite identify<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Examine something else.|Examine the decor.]]Many of the paintings are familiar works of art, but something about them seems off. There's a copy of the Mona Lisa, but you're certain that she's facing the wrong direction. Van Gogh's Starry Night seems to swirl even as you look straight at it. The Dali pieces defy logic <<linkreplace "altogether">>altogether (although, to be fair, they never really had much logic in the first place)<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Examine something else.|Examine the decor.]]News articles of events, all of which you more or less remember. Many of them have happened within your lifetime, and you wonder why the tavern would care about the more <<linkreplace "mundane printouts">>mundane printouts. But they're clipped and hung, regardless, with some of them even framed<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[[Examine something else.|Examine the decor.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/4bf1gocycfbilv9/oldhouseinside.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="inside">
The Old House is almost too much to take in at once. Photographs and posters adorn the walls. There are several clusters of patrons around the bustling venue. A man paws at something on a countertop. The bartender keeps making and breaking eye contact with you every few moments.
\
<<if $countdown is 3>>
The storm is getting worse outside.<<endif>>\
<<if $countdown is 2>>
The storm is getting dangerously loud outside, and the walls seem to bend with every gust of wind.<<endif>>\
<<if $countdown is 1>>
The storm outside has reached a near-apocalyptic breaking point.<<endif>>\
<<if $countdown is 0>> <<goto "The End">> <<endif>>\
<hr>''
[[Examine the decor.]]
[[Approach the quiet people at the fireplace.]]
[[Approach the laughing people at the table.]]
[[Approach the weary people in the corner.]]
[[Approach the man at the counter.]]
[[Approach the bartender.]]"I said," he repeats, "y'figure it out yet?"
<hr>''
[["Figure what out?"]]You've come up close enough to see his front side now. He's rubbing a finger along a deep, well-worn <<linkreplace "groove">>groove, exactly the width of his finger<</linkreplace>>, in the countertop.
"All of it."
<hr>''
[["What are you talking about?"]]
<<if $allofit eq 1>>[[It's "rem".|Rem grooveman]]<</if>>He falls silent, with a look of hopelessness on his face, never breaking his slow trailing of the groove in the counter.
<span class="fading1">It's amazing how perfectly his finger fits that groove.</span>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem grooveman]]<</if>>You brace for the inevitable answer.
"The Old House," they say.
Of course.
<hr>''
[[Who are you?|"What's your name?"]]
[["Why are all of these people here?"]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem bartender]]<</if>>\"They're waiting," they say.
<hr>''
[["For what?"]]"Bartender," they say. "In name and trade."
<hr>''
[["That's it? That's your name?"]]
[["What is this place?"]]
[["Why are all of these people here?"]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem bartender]]<</if>>\"All it needs to be," they say, matter-of-factly. "Don't usually have time for anything else."
<hr>''
[["What is this place?"]]
[["Why are all of these people here?"]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem bartender]]<</if>>\"For the end."<<set $countdown -= 1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem bartender]]<</if>>\"'Lo," says the boy.
<hr>''
[["What are you reading?"]]"Nothin'," says the boy.
You look at the book he is <<linkreplace "reading">>reading. It is, in fact, entirely empty<</linkreplace>>.
<hr>''
[["Why are you looking at an empty book?"]]"Passes the time," he says. "'Till it all goes away."
You're about to walk away when he adds something else.
"It used to have words, y'know. Before."
<hr>''
[["What happened to the words?"]]"Before they went away," he says. "But y'know."
He doesn't finish his thought, and looks down at the blank pages of the book. <<set $countdown -= 1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem boy]]<</if>>"What's up?" he asks, smiling. The others continue chatting joyfully with each other, but never loud enough to interrupt your own conversation.
<hr>''
[["What's so funny?"]]
[["Do you know anything about what's going on here?"]]"Ahh," he says, waving a hand. "You had to be there."
<hr>''
[[Why aren't you all waiting like everybody else?|"Everyone else seems to be waiting for something."]]"Not if I can help it!" he says, "and I'm just fine with that!"
<hr>''
[["Everyone else seems to be waiting for something."]]He looks around the room, as if he's noticing his surroundings for the first time.
"Man," he says, "I hate waiting."
This doesn't provide any answers for any questions you might have had, and he returns to his <<linkreplace "friends">>friends. One of them looks at you and gives you a smile<</linkreplace>>.
<span class="fading 1">For a moment out of time, you're back in high school again.</span><<set $countdown -=1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem teens]]<</if>>"That's what I was wondering," he <<linkreplace "says">>says. There's something innately familiar about him<</linkreplace>>.
<span class="fading 1">The sense of deja vu is almost overwhelming.</span><<set $countdown -=1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem father]]<</if>>"Nobody in particular," he says.
He continues examining you.
"We've met before, haven't we?" says the man, but you can tell it's rhetorical. He's not expecting an <<linkreplace "answer">>answer, and you don't have one to give<</linkreplace>>.
<span class="fading 1">The sense of deja vu is almost overwhelming.</span><<set $countdown -=1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<if $remknown eq 1>>[[Do you know anything about "rem"?|Rem father]]<</if>><span class="fading1">In an instant, everything disappears.</span>
<hr>''
[[Wake up.]]
<<audio ":all" stop>>You open your eyes, awake in your bed.
The echoes of the sounds and images that had just surrounded you begin to fade from your memory.
<hr>
//<h6>rem: an interactive story based on a dream by thomas jordan.
design and music: <a href=http://www.tomality.com>tomality</a>
images: <a href=http://www.unsplash.com>unsplash</a> and google
sfx: <a href=http://www.soundjay.com>soundjay</a>
engine: <a href=http://www.twinery.org>twine</a>
[[Play again?|He starts to wake up.]]
</h6>//
<<audio "music7" play>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/weuw062h4pj0w53/walking1.jpg?dl=1" width="300" alt="walking1">
The old man stops walking. He looks at the sky.
"It's coming," he says.
You can tell this is all he is going to say.<<set $truth += 1>>
<hr>''
[["Will I be able to return to my work?"]]
[["Can you tell me anything about where we're going?"]]
[[Carry on in silence.]]
<<audio "music2" play>>At this, the boy looks at you.
One of the others sitting around the fire opens their eyes.
"I'd rather you didn't talk about that in front of him," they <<linkreplace "whisper">>whisper--or, rather, hiss--quite<</linkreplace>> pointedly. "Leave the boy to his imagination."
You decide to not push the issue.<<set $truth += 1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<audio "music2" play>>The teenagers stop laughing for a second.
"Who?" asks one of them.
"Haven't heard of her," says another.
"You'd think you'd REM-ember a name like that, huh?" quips a third.
The group groans and joins each other in a laugh. Their conversation strikes back up again.<<set $truth += 1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<audio "music2" play>>The man stares at you, wide-eyed.
"I knew it," he says. But shock keeps him from saying anything further. He's paralyzed with something between wonder and fear.<<set $truth += 1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]
<<audio "music2" play>>He stops tracing the groove with his finger.
"Rem."
He gets up from his chair. Several people react to <<linkreplace "this">>this, as if it's a monumental event<</linkreplace>>.
You can't shake a devastating feeling of fear in your bones that threatens to pull you out of reality.
The man approaches you, his face filling up your entire field of vision.
"What did you learn? What do you know?"
<hr>''
<<if $truth gte 4>>[["This is all a dream."]]<<else>>[["Nothing. I don't know anything!"]]<</if>>
<<audio ":playing" stop>>
<<audio "music2" play>>The man advances on you. He's backing you into a corner. Nobody seems to want to intervene.
You're trembling at this point. You've even forgotten about the storm outside. The only thought on your mind is survival.
"Don't you understand?" he asks, his voice raising. His eyes start darting rapidly around the room. "Don't you see what's happening? Don't you //see//?!"<<set $fightflight to 0>>
<hr>''
[[Fight.]]
[[Flight.]]You ball your hand up into a fist and swing at the man.
Or, at least.
You try to.
But for
some
reason
your fist
just isn't quite
tight enough
and your arm
just won't
swing
fast
eno
ug
h<<set $fightflight += 1>>
<hr>''
[[Flight.]]
<<if $fightflight gte 2>>[[Wake up.|The End]]<</if>>You turn to run.
Or you would, if you could.
But your feet are stuck.
And you can't move.
You can't move your feet, your legs, or even your body.
You can't move a muscle.
The man is inches from you.<<set $fightflight += 1>>
<hr>''
[[Fight.]]
<<if $fightflight gte 2>>[[Wake up.|The End]]<</if>>The bartender smiles.
"'Course I do," they say. "That's all it is, isn't it?"
<hr>''
[["All what is?"]]
<<audio "music2" play>>The bartender gestures ambiguously. "All of it," they say. They wave to the decorations on the wall, the people gathered in the tavern, and at the nearest <<linkreplace "window">>window, where black clouds have rendered the outdoors completely invisible<</linkreplace>>.<<set $allofit to 1>>
<hr>''
[["You're telling me that this is "rem"?"]]"Sure," they say. "Figured you'd be most in the know about that sorta thing."
They lean in and lower their voice. "Be nice to 'em." They motion towards the gathered patrons of The Old House. "They gotta go through this every single time, y'know?"
They return to...well, to doing <<linkreplace "nothing.">>nothing.
"You can click on the words all you like, but there's nothing else," they say<</linkreplace>>.
<<set $truth += 1>>
<hr>''
[[Do something else.]]The man fades, and vanishes.
One by one, the patrons of the tavern disappear.
The tavern empties, with the bartender giving a knowing nod at you before he, too, is gone.
The storm outside has stopped. Black clouds give way to whiteness, a pale and enveloping light that overtakes everything in your vision.
[[You peacefully transition out of your dream.|Wake up.]]
<<audio "music2" play>>You give the letters another glance, and to your surprise, they've vanished. The page is blank.
"Rem." Was it part of a larger word? An acronym? A secret code? A name?
Perhaps the old man would know. It's not too late to catch him.
The wind has picked up, threatening to pull your research tent up into the darkening sky.
<hr>''
[[Run after the old man.]]