Okay.

(if: $wake is 1)[//Wake up.//] (if: $d is 2)[<strike>//The distant sound of two different screams blurring together jolts you to conciousness. Your heart is racing//</strike>] (if: $d is 3)[You don't remember what you were dreaming about, but you know you're feeling a little bit better than when you fell asleep.] (if: $d is 4)[You jolt awake. You can hear your housemate showering.] (if: $d is 5)[Someone's [[knocking->talkd5]] on your door] (if: $d is 3 or $d is 5)[The quickly disappearing light of the red sunset](else:)[Morning light] filters through a [[regrettably small window]], under which several [[house plants]] reside, taking over a sturdy oak desk. (print:(either: "There's a dresser to the right of the desk, with your things inside. That dresser has lived in this house much longer than you have.", "All four walls are made of white plaster, cracked in places.", "You've done your best to make this room yours.")) A cup of tea, long gone cold, is on the bedside table. It holds down a [[stack of paper]]. A box fan hums pleasantly somewhere else in the house. (if: $wake is 1)[(if: $d is 0)[You can hear the shuffle of someone making breakfast beneath you.](if: $d is 3)[You can hear the shuffle of your housemate getting home beneath you. They're calling for you.]] (print: (either: "A cheap but large mirrior leans against the wall, on top of the dresser. You meet your own gaze.", "The wall behind your head slopes to meet the wall about halfway up. The gentle curve reminds you of an incense holder.", "Your eyes hurt.")) (if: $wake is 1)[(if: $d is 2)[<strike>//You don't remember ever walking back upstairs.//</strike>]] [[Go back to sleep.]] (if: $talk is 1)[[[Go into the hallway. ->Go upstairs.]]](else:)[[[Go into the hallway. ->Leave room.]]] (set: $wake=0)

You approach the window, stretching your arms above your head. A dense forest occupies most of the [view]<c1|, populated by a fresh variety of oak and maple, all of it covered in climbing ivy. There is a sizeable section of roof outside of your window as well. It is made of teracotta shingles that slant away from you, but not at such an angle that you would [slide]<c2| right off. It looks hot. From what little you can see of it, the sky is blue and [cloudless]<c3|. (print: (either: "You try to look farther into the forest and see nothing but leaves.", "Something hops from one branch to another, too quickly for you to see what it was.", "You were hoping for rain.", "The forest moves as a unit, swaying with the gentle breeze.", "Your eyes hurt.")) <blockquote>(click: ?c1)[<strike>//The forest is much closer to your window than you remembered it being yesterday.//</strike>]</blockquote> <blockquote><blockquote>(click: ?c2)[<strike>//You could walk out onto it, if you wanted to. You've never tried.//</strike>]</blockquote></blockquote> <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(click: ?c3)[<strike>//You're not sure how to feel.//</strike>]</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> [[Okay. ->INTRO]] (set: $fatigue=$fatigue+1)

There are twelve plants sitting on your desk. They are all different specimens in various pots; a few cacti, an aloe, an ivy, and various other succulents. You love them dearly, and have named all of them. There is no space on your desk for anything else. (print: (either: "You check Jane's soil... still slightly damp.", "Bonita is growing plump--she may even branch another barrel soon.", "You notice a few more of Inga's leaves have brown scale. You pluck them, because it's the only thing you can do to prevent the fungus from reaching her roots.", "Nelly has started bending towards the light. You turn her pot the other way.", "Your eyes hurt.", "They are all doing just fine.", "That's alright, because they make you happy.")) (if: $jarE is 1)[You should fill up the jar.] (if: $jarF is 1)[You set down the jar.(set: $jarF=0)] (if: $watered is 1)[You already [[watered ->water]] your plants.](elseif: $watered is 0)[You should [[water]] your plants.] [[Okay. ->INTRO]]

There are a lot of things you'll (if: $d is 0)[eventually need to look at](if: $d is 2)[need to look at soon](if: $d is 3)[need to look at tomorrow](if: $d is 4)[need to look at](if: $d is 5)[look at now]. (if: $d is 5)[] [[Okay. ->INTRO]] (set: $fatigue=$fatigue + 1)

(if: (history:) contains "The Rebuttal")[//Sure.//](else:)[//Morning.//] "There's coffee, if you want some." > [[//Okay.// ->Coffee]]

//Okay.// They move towards you slowly, shuffling their feet in a pair of worn slippers. They hand you a steaming mug of good, dark coffee, with the amount of cream you like already added. > [[//Thank you.// ->Dialogue1]]

Your [[bedroom ->INTRO]] is on the second floor, near the top of the stairs. There are 4 other doors besides yours on the second floor. [[Open the door in front of you.]] [[Open the door to your right.]] [[Open the door in the middle of the hall.]] [[Open the door at the other end.]] (if: $d is 2)[[[Go downstairs. ->FRONT HALL2]]](elseif: $d is 3)[[[Go downstairs.->FRONT HALL 3]]](elseif: $d is 4)[[[Go downstairs.->FRONT HALL 4]]](else:)[[[Go downstairs. ->FRONT HALL]]]

Just a closet, full of towels and cleaning supplies. It's surprisingly deep. (if:$d is 2)[(if:(history:) contains "BREAKFAST")[You see a plastic first aid kit in the way back. You maneuver it out, knocking around some dusty cleaning supplies in the process.]] (if: $d is 2)[(if: (history:) contains "BREAKFAST")[[[Okay.->Bedroom]]]] (elseif: $talk is 1)[[[Okay. ->Go upstairs.]]] (else:)[[[Okay. ->Leave room.]]]

(if: $d is 4)[You knock on the door, but they don't hear you over the sounds of the water. You should wait until they're done.] (else:)[A bathroom--a (if: $showered is 0)[[[shower ->shower]]] (elseif: $showered is 1)[shower] to your left, a sink in front of you, the toilet between them. There is a window above the toilet, offering the same view as the window in your bedroom. (if: $jarE is 1)[You fill up your jar in the sink. (set: $jarE=0)(set: $jarF=1)(set: $jarlvl=1)(set: $fatigue=$fatique+1)]] (if: $talk is 1)[[[Okay. ->Go upstairs.]]] (else:)[[[Okay. ->Leave room.]]]

It is locked. (if: $talk is 1)[[[Okay. ->Go upstairs.]]] (else:)[[[Okay. ->Leave room.]]]

(if: $fatigue is >100)[The door opens slowly (final boss). will set fatigue to 101 after certain dream sequence in history] (else:)[It is locked.] (if: $talk is 1)[[[Okay. ->Go upstairs.]]] (else:)[[[Okay. ->Leave room.]]]

(if: $jarE is 1)[You already picked up the jar. It needs to be filled in the bathroom.] (elseif: $jarE is 0)[There is a small white jar near the back of the desk, hidden by the leaves of a clustered jade. It probably held some sort of oil once. (if: $watered is not 1)[(if: $jarlvl is 1)[You remove its stopper and portion out the water. (set: $watered=1)(set: $jarlvl=0)(set: $fatigue=$fatigue + 1)] (elseif: $jarlvl is 0)[You need to [[fill it]] with water.]]] (else:)[You'll have to water your plants again tomorrow.] [[Okay. ->house plants]]

(set: $jarE=1) You pick up the jar. [[Okay. ->house plants]]

//Who are you?// The words sit heavy on your tongue, but you do not say them. This person is very familliar. > [[//Morning.// ->The Person]] > [[//Nnh.// ->The Rebuttal]]

This game is equal parts fiction and autobiography: it’s up to you to decide which is which, although that is not the purpose of this story. Please use headphones for the duration of the game and play the game in one sitting, if possible. [Okay.]<resp| (click: ?resp)[(replace: ?resp)[<span class="fade">Remember: nothing can harm you. The things you lose are always in the last place you look. You are not dreaming. Even good people have done bad things. Breathe. [[Do not look behind you. ->Wake Up]]</span>]]

You walk down the wooden stairs as quietly as possible. You can see that the front door is still locked, so you look to your left. No one is in your small, sparsely-furnished family room. The irony of the name does not esape you. [[Okay. -> DINING ROOM]]

You round the corner and continue through the family room into the dining room. There is a heavy wooden table with four chairs. There isn't a tablecloth, but someone placed freshly cut sunflowers in an old milk jug as a centerpiece. [[Okay. ->Good morning.]]

//Thank you.// "You're welcome," they reply gently, without any inflection or unspoken meaning. They move past you, towards the front door. You linger in the kitchen doorway and watch them exchange their slippers for a pair of nice leather shoes. When they bend over to tie their laces, they look up at you. "So, what are you doing today?" > [[//Probably nothing.// ->GAns]] > [[//I'm not sure.// ->NAns]] > [[//I'm going with you.// ->BAns]]

//Probably nothing.// You put your cup down on the kitchen table and watch the steam rise off the top. The person who gave you the coffee lets out a small chuckle and stands back up. They suddenly seem very tall, and they are still smiling. "Alright. I'll see you later, then. There's to-do list for you on the fridge." [[//Okay.// ->House]]

//I'm not sure.// You take a sip of your coffee, but set it down on the table. You feel a bit embarassed, and you've almost lost your appetite. The person who gave you the coffee lets out a small chuckle and stands back up. They suddenly seem very tall, and they are still smiling. "You'll figure something out. I'll see you later, then. Oh, and there's to-do list for you on the fridge." [[//Okay.// ->House]]

(set: $irritation to $irritation + 1) //I'm going with you.// You put your cup down on the kitchen table. You know you have a pair of shoes //somewhere//, if you could just find them, then-- The person who gave you the coffee lets out a small chuckle and stands back up. They suddenly seem very tall, and they are still smiling. "That's a good one. There's to-do list for you on the fridge. I'll see you later, [alright?]<s1|" (click: ?s1)[[I...]<s2| ] (click: ?s2)[[but...]<s3| ] (click: ?s3)[[I wasn't...]<s4| ] (click: ?s4)[[...]<s5| ](click: ?s5)[[...]<s6| ](click: ?s6)[[...]<s7| ] (click: ?s7)[[[//Okay.// ->House]]]

//Nnh.// They laugh shallowly. Their smile quirks upwards in benign amusement. You suddenly feel rather childish. "Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed, huh?" > [[//Sure.// ->The Person]] (set: $irritation to $irritation + 1)

(if: $d is 4)[You move through the family room and dining room, still feeling intermittent shaking through the floor with the soles of your bare feet. The sunflowers have been knocked over. [[//Okay.//->KITCHEN]]] (else:)[You are standing in the family room, alone. (if: $d is 2)[You're kind of hungry.] [[Open the front door.]] [[Sit down on the couch.]] [[Go into the dining room.]] [[Go upstairs.]] ] (set: $talk=1)

It is locked. [[Okay. ->FAMILY ROOM]] (set: $fatigue=$fatigue+1)

You sink into the three-person sofa. It's very comfortable. (if: $d is 0)[(if: (history:) contains "jump1")[You're exhausted. [//Okay.//]<c1| (click: ?c1)[[...]<c2|] (click: ?c2)[[...]<c3|] (click: ?c3)[[[... ->dream1]]]] (else:)[You're tired, but not enough to fall asleep yet. [[//Okay.// ->FAMILY ROOM]]]] (else:)[You could watch something on TV, maybe? [[Turn on the TV.]] [[Stand up.->FAMILY ROOM]]]

You're in the dining room. It's not seperated from the kitchen or family room by any real demarkation, but it's the dining room nonetheless. There is heavy wooden table with four chairs in the center of the room. It doesn't have a tablecloth, but someone placed (if: $d is 0)[fresh](if:$d is 2)[day-old](if:$d is 3)[wilting](if:$d is 4)[withered](if:$d is 5)[dead] sunflowers in an old milk jug as a centerpiece. (if: $d is 0)[(if: $coffee is 0)[Your cup of [[coffee ->drink coffee]] is sitting on the edge of the table. It's no longer steaming, but it's probably still hot.]] (if:$d is 2)[(if:(history:) contains "BREAKFAST")[Your half-finished breakfast is near your pulled out-chair.]] [[Go into the kitchen. ->KITCHEN]] [[Go into the family room. ->FAMILY ROOM]]

Your [[bedroom ->INTRO]] is on the second floor, at the top of the stairs. There are 4 other doors besides yours on the second floor. [[Open the door in front of you.]] [[Open the door to your right.]] [[Open the door in the middle of the hall.]] [[Open the door at the other end.]] [[Go downstairs. ->FAMILY ROOM]]

(set: $fatigue=$fatigue-1) (set: $coffee=1) You sit down at the table and slowly sip your cup of coffee while looking out the wide bay window. The view isn't much; just the grey siding of what you assume is another house and some sparse ivy trailing up it. The coffee is good, though. [[Okay. ->Go into the dining room.]]

(if:$d is 4)[<iframe src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/wEMn4Seq0s8?autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;playlist=wEMn4Seq0s8"; style="visibility: hidden; width: 500px; height: 500px; position: absolute; top: -1000px; left: -1000px;"></iframe> In the kitchen, there's no broken glass (if: (history:) contains "Go back upstairs.")[or signs of a hurt animal]. Everything is perfectly in place, as it's always been. You must've been drḛ̏aming̶̛̻̭̣̽̕. You hear something below you scraping against the cement. You move towards the basement door. [[Okay.->Open the door.]]] (else:)[<iframe src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Vsp9etBnVZY?autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;playlist=Vsp9etBnVZY"; style="visibility: hidden; width: 500px; height: 500px; position: absolute; top: -1000px; left: -1000px;"></iframe> You walk into the kitchen. It's very clean, with checkered tile floors and green laminate countertops. It has all the things kitchens usualy do; a double-basined sink, lots of cupboards, an oven and stove, a white magnetic (if: $d is 0)[[refridgerator]<c1|](else:)[refridgerator]. There's a door hidden right out of view to the right of the fridge, painted the same color as the walls. You would have missed it if you didn't already know it was there. (click: ?c1)[Someone wrote something on a post-it note and stuck it to the fridge. It reads, "To do: water your plants, do the dishes, check on the laundry. Try not to fall asleep on the couch again. I love you." There was something else, too, but it was erased.] [[Leave the kitchen. ->Go into the dining room.]] [[Check the fridge.]] [[Check the cupboards.]] [[Check the sink.]] [[Open the door.]]] (set: $alertText to (text-style: "shudder") + (color:"#800000"))

(if: $d is 2)[You have a lot of breakfast options. You're in the mood for... [[eggs.]] [[pancakes.]] [[yogurt and fresh fruit.]] [[nothing.->KITCHEN]]] (elseif: (history:) contains "BREAKFAST")[(print: (either: "Well, that's interesting.", "You were hoping there'd be cake.", "There's a ton of fresh fruit in here.", "There are a few containers of leftovers, nothing too fancy.", "Maybe you should eat? Nah.", "Milk, cream, eggs, cheese. Staples are calles staples for a reason.", "You thought you had orange juice, but it's not in here.", "Maybe you should buy some vegtables.", "What did you expect to find?", "Your eyes hurt")) [[//Okay.//->KITCHEN]]] (else:)[(print: (either: "Well, that's interesting.", "You were hoping there'd be cake.", "There's a ton of fresh fruit in here.", "There are a few containers of leftovers, nothing too fancy.", "Maybe you should eat? Nah.", "Milk, cream, eggs, cheese. Staples are calles staples for a reason.", "You thought you had orange juice, but it's not in here.", "Maybe you should buy some vegtables.", "What did you expect to find?", "Your eyes hurt")) [[//Okay.//->KITCHEN]]]

You open a cupboard at random. (print: (either: "Nothing in here but pots.", "Nothing in here but pans.", "Nothing in here but plates and bowls.", "Nothing in here but cups.", "There are utensils in this one.", "Your eyes hurt.", "Wow, that's a lot of canned goods.", "You must really like cereal.", "What did you expect to find?", "Nothing in here but tupperware.", "This one's stuffed with smaller kitchen appliances.")) [[//Okay.// ->KITCHEN]]

You open the semi-hidden door behind the fridge, revealing a narrow, steep staircase that winds behind the wall and beneath the house. (if: $d is 4)[[[Go down the stairs.->BASEMENT2]]](elseif: (history:) contains "jump1")[[[Go down the stairs. ->BASEMENT]]](else:)[[[Go down the stairs.]]] [[Go back to the kitchen. ->KITCHEN]]

(if: (history:) contains "jump1")[There's a huge heating unit in the back corner, and a washer/dryer unit set up against the left wall. It shudders in place, just doing it's job. There's an empty laundry hamper next to it. [[Go back upstairs. ->KITCHEN]]] (else:)[[You grope blindly in the dark.]<c1|(click: ?c1)[(replace: ?c1)[[You find a light switch.]<c2|(click: ?c2)[(replace: ?c2)[[You turn on the light.]<c3|(click: ?c3)[(replace: ?c3)[It's a perfectly normal unfinished basement. You can't believe you were that worked up over nothing. There's a huge heating unit in the back corner, and a washer/dryer unit set up against the left wall. It shudders in place, just doing it's job. There's an empty laundry hamper next to it. [[Go back upstairs. ->jump1]]]]]]]]]

You walk down the wooden stairs as quietly as possible. (live: 2s)["Good morning, sleepyhead."] (live: 4s)[The person who made you coffee yesterday is at the bottom of the stairs. They're holding themselves at an odd angle, but they're already dressed to leave. You must've slept in later than usual. You pause mid-step. "I told you not to fall asleep on the couch." > [[//I know, I'm sorry.// ->Gans2]] > [[//I didn't mean to.// ->Nans2]] > [[//So what?// ->Bans2]]]

(if: $dishes is 0)[There are a few dishes in the sink; nothing too arduous. You wash them off quickly, dry them, and put them away. [[//Okay.// ->KITCHEN]] (set: $fatigue=$fatigue+1)(set: $dishes=1)] (else:)[There's nothing in the sink. [[//Okay.// ->KITCHEN]]]

//I know, I'm sorry.// "It's okay, but you really have to listen to what I tell you. I nearly put out my back getting you into bed--it's still killing me, actually. But what's worse was the panic you put me through." Oh no, they're speaking softly. You take a step back. "Can you imagine what it feels like to come home and find you face down on the couch? I can't tell if you're dead or sleeping. I already worry becasue I can't be here to watch you all day, but what if you were having an episode, like last time, and I was too late?" <strike>//You don't remember last time.//</strike> "I have to go, but next time, //please// listen to me, okay? You know that I love you. I want you to get better." <strike>//You don't remember being worse.//</strike> You hesitate. You realize they're expecting an answer. (live:15s)[> [[//Okay.//->House]]]

//I didn't mean to.// "I know you didn't, but you really have to listen to what I tell you. I nearly put out my back getting you into bed--it's still killing me, actually. But what's worse was the panic you put me through." Oh no, they're concerned. You take a step back. "Can you imagine what it feels like to come home and find you face down on the couch? I can't tell if you're dead or sleeping. I already worry becasue I can't be here to watch you all day, but what if you were having an episode, like [last time]<c1|, and I was too late?" (click:?c1)[<strike>//You don't remember last time.//</strike>] "I have to go, but next time, //please// listen to me, okay? You know that I love you. I want you to get [better]<c2|." (Click:?c2)[<strike>//You don't remember being worse.//</strike>] You hesitate. You realize they're expecting an answer. (live:15s)[> [[//Okay.//->House]]]

//So what?// (set:$irritation=$iritation+1)"So //what//? I nearly put out my back getting you into bed--it's still killing me, actually. I can't take care of the both of us if I get hurt, too. But what's worse was the panic you put me through." Oh no, they're angry. You take a step backwards. "Can you imagine what it feels like to come home and find you face down on the couch? I can't tell if you're dead or sleeping. I already worry becasue I can't be here to watch you all day, but what if you were having an episode, like last time, and I was too late?" <strike>//You don't remember last time.//</strike> They take a deep breath, rubbing the bridge of their nose with one hand and their back with the other. "I have to go, but next time, //please// listen to me, okay? You know that I love you. I want you to get better." <strike>//You don't remember being worse.//</strike> You hesitate. You realize they're expecting an answer. "Look, I'm already in a bad mood--don't make it worse." (live:15s)[> [[//Okay.//->House]]]

You rush down the stairs, interrupting the monster in human skin who just walked back in the house. <blockquote><strike>//Their face is familliar because it is yours.//</strike></blockquote> They hastily lock the door behind them and press back against it. "What's going on?" (live:6s)[You walk down the stairs with purpose. > //You can't keep me here any more.//] (live: 8s)[The person is taken aback at your sudden strength; your sword is in your right hand, your sheild in your left.] (live: 10s)[> //This place is mine,// you shout, three voices becoming one. //My body is mine. My will is mine. My mind is mine. Neither you nor I belong here. It's time to end this.//] (live: 12s)[The person //laughs.// Their body bends backwards with the force of it, suddenly cracking and twisting into an inhuman form. Eyes open on their skin, their smiling mouth leaking black bile. Its voice is demonic, emenating from all areas of its body. $alertText[//You think just because you learned how to play this game you can win it? You've already lost so many times before, this time won't be any different!//]] (live: 18s)[It lunges at you.] (live:19s)[Parrying the blow, you don't allow yourself to be cornered as you back into the family room. You slam them with your sheild, throwing their oozing form onto the kitchen table and breaking it with the impact. Your run to the front door, desparately janking the doorknob. //It's no use!// <b>//We have to destory it!//</b>] (live:24s)[You turn just in time to dodge a peice of the table thrown at your head. Moving on the offensive, you slash at the creature with all your might, tearing chunks from its amorphous body. Something is different this time. You can tell it's already grown weary of your battle. You have a chance. [[//Okay.//->FINALE2]]]

(print: (either: "It's a cooking show about cupcakes! All of the contestants are dogs.", "It's a quiz show--no, it's a game show! No, it's a quiz show. Both?", "It's a morning talk show. You watch for a few minutes, but all the hosts just keep laughing and not saying anything.", "It's some sort of cop-drama... but all of the cops are dogs.", "It's a kids cartoon you used to watch when you were younger.", "It's an infomercial! Neat!")) This doesn't interest you at all. [[Okay.->Sit down on the couch.]]

You grab the egg carton from the top shelf, a bit of butter, some pepper from the cupboard behind you. You don't know how to cook much but eggs are easy. You turn on the stove, grab a clean pan, sizzle a little butter and crack your eggs in, one-handed, one at a time. [[You use your spatula to break the yolk, scrambling the eggs lightly.->BREAKFAST]] [[You turn the eggs over, nice and easy.->BREAKFAST]] [[You let the whites fry up to a golden, bubbly film.->BREAKFAST]] (set: $bfast to "eggs")

You grab the premade batter from the middle shelf, and bit of butter as well. You turn on the stove, grab a clean pan, sizzle a little butter and pour your pancakes in, one at a time. [[You decide to add some chocolate chips before you turn them over.->BREAKFAST]] [[You decide to add some frozen blueberries before you turn them over.->BREAKFAST]] [[You decide to add some cinnamon and walnuts before you turn them over.->BREAKFAST]] (set: $bfast to "pancakes")

You grab the carton of vanilla yogurt from the door. There's not much left, so you'll eat it straight from the container. You grab a little honey from the cupboard, and a spoon. [[You also grab an apple from the fridge to cut up into your yogurt.->BREAKFAST]] [[There are some frozen blueberries in the freezer--perfect.->BREAKFAST]] [[The fresh strawberries in the crisping drawer are the way to go.->BREAKFAST]] (set: $bfast to "yogurt")

Kit in hand, you go into your bedroom and sit on the bed. You fish around for the bottle of off-brand pills, and take two when you find them. There are a few other things in the kit; gauze and tape, tweezers, decongestants, a thermometer, and sleep aids. [Tempting.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[//Just a quick nap,// you rationalize. //Just to try to remember that dream.// You pop a few capsules and lay down. The afternoon birdsong outside your window seranades you to sleep. [[Okay.->dream2]]]

You sit up, staring at the door. You stay quiet; you do not hear your roomate get out of bed. You hesitate. [[Get up and lock the door.]] [[Go check it out.]]

You peel yourself out of bed and put on a light sweater and some slippers. Carefully, you open your door and peek into the hallway. There's nothing upstairs. [[Go back to bed.]] [[Go downstairs.]]

Quietly, as quietly as you can, you descend the stairs. There’s nothing out of place in the family room, but as you round the corner to peer into the kitchen, you hear something shuffling on top of broken glass. [[Look closer.]] [[Go back upstairs.]]

You move closer, trying to make out what broke into your house in the low light. Whatever it is, it’s growling. You wish you’d brought some self defense; a pair of scissors, an exacto knife, anything. As you inch closer, you realize there's something in your kitchen that's [big]<c5|(click: ?c5)[(replace: ?c5)[massive]], [hunched over]<c4|(click: ?c4)[(replace: ?c4)[quadruped]], and [having a difficult time standing up]<c3|(click: ?c3)[(replace: ?c3)[staggering]]. The light from a streetlamp outside reflects off its glossy black fur, especially the parts that look [dense]<c2|(click: ?c2)[(replace: ?c2)[matted]] and [wet]<c1|(click: ?c1)[(replace: ?c1)[bleeding]]. It lifts its head towards you. Heart in your mouth, you turn and run. [[Okay.->Go back upstairs.]]

As you step into the hallway, your housemate returns from work. You call down to them. > //Hey! How was work? I'm feeling a lot better, just so you know.// They're taking off their coat tiredly. You can sense they're not really in the mood to talk. "That's great. I'm glad. Work was fine. What did you do today?" You stumble over your words. > //I, um, read a book.// "Oh really? Which book?" You flounder. > //That's, um, not important. I was actually thinking I could go outside, sometime. Soon. Tonight, maybe.// "Oh really? Are you sure you'd not rather eat dinner? You must be hungry. You ask what they mean. "Because I came home for lunch today. To see you." Oh no. "And you were asleep. I saw the bottle of sleep aids on your bedside table. You've been asleep all day, haven't you?" //Oh no.// "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't //lie// to me. I've had a long day as it is." Your face burns in embarassment. They start walking up the stairs towards you, and you retreat back into the open doorway of your room. "I'm dissappointed that you'd lie to me like that. I doubt you're as 'better' as you feel if you still think you need to take sleep aids." You start to explain you didn't mean to waste the whole day, and that you really //do// feel better, but they interrupt you. "Look, I love you, but I'm exhausted. Whatever it is you want to talk about, it can wait until tomorrow." > //But--// "//Tomorrow//, alright?" There's no room for argument right now. [[//Okay.//->dog sequence START]]

You trudge down the stairs, one hand on the railing, the other rubbing the bridge of your nose. You're exhausted from yesterday's fight, and the stress with the (if: (history:) contains "Go back upstairs.")[animal that got into your house](else:)[breaking glass you heard]. You're still not really sure if that happened or if you dreamt it. Very strange things have been happening lately. You sigh through your nose. You don't //want// to talk with them about your argument, not really. But you're starting to think that for all they say they love you, they don't respect you very much. (live: 9s)[As you reach the last step, something makes the house shake violently.] (live: 10s)[You lose your balance, catching yourself on one knee before you fall completely onto the floor.] (live: 12s)[You're about to stand up, but you feel another small tremor come from beneath you.] <blockquote>(live:13s)[<strike>//You didn't think your town had earthquakes.//</strike>]</blockquote> (live:15s)[You hear your housemate turn off the shower. Certain they're fine, you decide to go ahead and check the basement for broken pipes. [[Okay.->FAMILY ROOM]]]

You start to descend, keeping one hand on the wall in case of aftershocks. There really ought to be a railing here. You think you can see something wet near the bottom of the stairs, and you groan. You don't want to think about dealing with water damage in this old house. [Okay.]<c1|(click:?c1)[(replace:?c1)[Suddenly, you slip on the edge of a step. Your feet go out beneath you and you fall [hard]<c2|. (click:?c2)[You crack your head on the step behind you, then tumble down the rest of the stairs. You clutch the back of your head in both hands, concerned that your fingertips are [wet]<c3|.] (click:?c3)[Your vision swims behind closed eyelids. [[Okay.->dream3]]]]]

Your housemate is outside your bedroom. "Hey, I just got back. So, did you want to talk?" You're certain you did at one point but you cant remember why. You're having a hard time remembering things again. "Let me know if you remember what you wanted to talk about." [[//Okay.//->talkd52]]

(live:10s)[<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://umich.box.com/shared/static/i47v3py5pkdk2b0wdn5hhv0btl0254nr.css" type="text/css" />] <iframe src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/7koXN8M6rZc?autoplay=1"; style="visibility: hidden; width: 500px; height: 500px; position: absolute; top: -1000px; left: -1000px;"></iframe> (set: $fatigue=$fatigue+3) (live:5s)[//Wake up.//] <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>$alertText[(live: 12s)[[[//Okay.// ->Wake Up]]]]</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>

You open your eyes. You're kneeling in the middle of your basement, alone. "Hey, I heard somehting, are you alright?" Your housemate is suddenly at the bottom of the stairs, looking at you. You're not sure how to respond. > //Yeah I just… ran into some pipes. I'm okay--I think I'm gonna lay down on the couch for a bit.// "Do you need anything? I can-- <strike>//Their shape seems to wobble a bit in the low light.//</strike> > //No, no I'm fine.// <strike>//You check your hands for blood. Nothing.//</strike> > //You… you go. We'll talk tonight.// They seem irritated. "Okay, I'l be at work, we’ll talk when I get back, alright? Don't go anywhere." Every detail of this moment seems to jump at your at once. You focus on the grooves in your fingerprints, each individual color of the cracked concrete. The pain and tiredness you were feeling fall away. > //Yeah, don’t worry. I'll be here.// They let out a sigh through their nose. "Okay. See you tonight." [[//Okay.//->upstairs]]

One step at a time, you gingerly make your way upstairs and lay yourself on the sofa. Your head aches, but sleep does not come. Your mind fixates on the cracks in the plaster of the ceiling. [//Okay.//]<c1|(click:?c1)[(replace:?c1)[You turn on the TV to stop your mind from running in dizzying circles about the small details around your house. [//Okay.//]<c2|(click:?c2)[(replace:?c2)[You lose yourself for a few hours in other people's 30-minute problems, but are eventually stuck where you started. [//Okay.//]<c3|(click:?c3)[(replace:?c3)[You're a bit uncomfortable propped on your side. You decide to move upstairs where there are blankets. [//Okay.//]<c4|(click:?c4)[(replace:?c4)[In your bedroom, under the sheets, you close your eyes and let the day get away from you. You don't sleep at all. [[//Okay.//->INTRO]] ]]]]]]]]

You lie back in bed. There is something you are forgetting. Something important. <blockquote><strike>//You grab it before it can roll too far away and hold it in front of yourself; a weapon.//</strike></blockquote> <blockquote><strike>//It is bound in place by the sharp edge of a shield, stabbed through the thing's back and deep into the ground.//</strike></blockquote> <blockquote><strike>//The thing curls up against your spine, and wraps its heavy arms around your ribcage.//</strike></blockquote> You remember dreaming of fields of wheat. //You do not remember the moment you fall asleep.// [[//Okay.//->Untitled Passage 1]]