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Every day is a new case, and every case is unique. You stare at the few pages of notes you took while conversing on the phone.
A missing person case.
The local authorities have been unable to locate Mr. Dexter Julianos, and so his wife has turned to you.
[[Examine the notes closer.|Case Profile]]
by Torin SlikYou look down more carefully at your hand-written notes on the page. There isn't a lot of information, but you feel you know what your next step should be.
Dexter Julianos is 35 years old with a medium build, short ginger hair, and freckles. He is of European decent.
Both his wife and his friends describe him as easy-going and fun-loving. They cite him as being the one who always brings a laugh or smile to the group with his jolly demeaner. He's generally well liked in the community.
Julianos was last seen three days ago by his work colleagues. Julianos is a courier at a specialized delivery company here in town. They specialize in delivering packages to remote locations.
His most recent delivery was to a small forest-bound house just outside the west side of town. You find this to be a peculiar delivery location, as that particular house has been abandonded for a long time.
The police searched the house and it's surrounding area, but found nothing. Nevertheless, you feel you have to check it out for yourself.
The hour is getting late, but there's no time to waste.
[[Drive to the forest house.|The Forest]]
The sun has dipped below the horizon as you drive out of town. You can just see the appearance of the twinkling stars in the sky.
An hour passes and you reach the edge of forest. There is a path, but not big enough to fit your car through. You'll have to walk from here.
You step out of the car, and take a moment to listen. It's unusually silent. There are no sounds of crickets. No distant car noises.
In addition to the lack of sound, the darkness seems unnaturally thick for this early in the night. The shadows seem to reach at you.
You examine the pathway leading into the forest. It isn't much more than a dirt road, overgrown with foliage. The trees loam overtop, their branches gnarled and wicked.
You start to think, perhaps this could have waited until morning. But you've already made the trek out. You might as well finish what you started.
[[Make your way down the path.|The Dark path]]
The darkness is all consuming.
You pull out your flashlight and beam it in front of you.<<addToInv "Flashlight">> The light seems to fade into the shadows unnaturally. You shake the light. Perhaps it's low on batteries.
The silence continues as you walk down the path. Your footsteps get absorbed into the dirt.
You continue walking for several long minutes. How far is this house?
Suddenly, something glimmers on the ground in front of you, reflecting off the light from your flashlight.
[[Examine the glimmer.|The Button]]
[[Ignore it and continue walking down the path.|Deeper and Darker]]You bend down to examine the glimmer. It seems to be a silver button. It doesn't look like it's been here for overly long. Perhaps it belonged to Mr. Julianos?
<<if $inventory.indexOf("Silver Button") == -1>>[[Pick up the button.]]<<endif>>
[[Examine your surrounding.|No Footprints]]
[[Continue down the path.|Deeper and Darker]]The pathway continues to stretch on and on. It also begins to narrow. The trees seem to reach for you.
You get the sense of something watching you. A dark observer. You can't locate it, however. Everywhere you look reveals nothing but dark woods.
You're not sure how long it's been now.
Suddenly, you see a faint glow of light up ahead. It seems to be coming from further up the path. It's high up.
[[Investigate the light.|The House Appears]]You aim your flashlight carefully at the ground in the surrounding area. You don't see anything else of significance. No other objects. No sign of Mr. Julianos' footprints.
Looking behind you, you realize you can't see your own footprints either. Very strange.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of your neck rise, and a chill goes down your spine. Just for a brief moment.
It's as if something is watching you.
[[Continue down the path.|Deeper and Darker]]As you get closer to the light, you start to see the sillouette of a house. This must be the place!
You can now see the light is coming from the second floor window. Something twigs in your memory. Wasn't this house supposed to be abandoned?
Looking closer you examine the house in more depth. It certainly looks abandoned for all other intents. The wood is rotting and there are boarded up windows on the ground floor.
The whole thing looks decrepit, and for a moment, you feel a chill in your soul.
[[Circle the house.|The Perimiter]]
[[Go to the door.|The Front Door]]
You slowly circle the house, examining it from all sides. There isn't much else to see. The grounds are wild and unkempt. All the bottom floor windows are boarded up, just like the front. There are no extra windows on the top floor other than the one you saw earlier.
The sound of footsteps reaches your ears. You freeze.
[[Turn to face the footsteps.|Nothing There]]
[[Run and Hide.|Fear]]You walk up the wooden steps towards the front door. It shows clear signs of rot. The lock is rusted and broken.
Beside the door is a small mailbox.
[[Open the mailbox.|The Mailbox]]
[[Try the door.|The Entrance]]You whip your flashlight around to see ... nothing.
There's no sign of movement. Nothing is disturbed. All you see are the gnarled trees. Listening carefully, you note the sound of footsteps are gone.
Perhaps it's just your imagination? The atmosphere of this place could make anyone jumpy.
Then again, perhaps it's time to leave and come back in the morning.
[[Head to the front door.|The Front Door]]
[[Head back to the path.|Trapped]]
You dash away from the sound of footsteps and dive behind the side of the house. You listen carefully.
You hear them. They're getting louder. Closer.
Then, silence.
[[Peer around the corner.|Nothing]]
[[Wait and listen longer.|Waiting]]You brace your hands against the house wall and slowly move your head around the corner.
You see ... nothing.
There's no sign of movement. Nothing is disturbed. All you see are the gnarled trees.
Perhaps it's just your imagination? The atmosphere of this place could make anyone jumpy.
Then again, perhaps it's time to leave and come back in the morning.
[[Head to the front door.|The Front Door]]
[[Head back to the path.|Trapped]]You wait for severl very long minutes. You still don't hear anything. But that doesn't mean nothing's there.
Perhaps it's time to leave.
[[Peer around the corner.|Nothing]]
[[Head back to the path.|Trapped]]You carefully make your way back towards the path. You freeze.
It's no longer there.
You spend some time searching. You were sure you came in from the front door side, but the path is nowhere to be found. It's as if it just dissapeared.
Suddenly, your flashlight flickers. You shake it a few times. It flickers some more.
Then it dies. <<removeFromInv Flashlight>><<addToInv "Dead Flashlight">>
You're left standing in almost complete darkness. The only light now is coming from the second story window.
There's nowhere else to go now, but inside the house.
[[Go to the front door.|The Front Door]]
The mailbox is empty.
[[Try the door.|The Entrance]]The door slowly creaks open. The sound is unnerving in contrast to the silence of before.
You step inside and look around. Directly in front of you is a set of stairs leading to the upper level, shrouded in complete darkness.
To your right seems to be an old sitting room. It's lit with a gloam from several small candles. Curious that they are lit.
One such candle is within arms reach of the door.
<<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") != -1>>[[Go up the stairs with your flashlight.|Level 2]]<<endif>> <<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") == -1>>[[Grab a candle and go up the stairs.|Level 2]]<<endif>>
[[Explore the sitting room.|The Sitting Room]]<<if $status.indexOf("TheSittingRoomV") == -1>>You step into the middle of the L-Shaped sitting room.
There are two old, worn-out sofas flanking a rotting wooden table. It had been skillfully carved. In the corner is are coat-rack, with one coat hanging on it. On the far wall is a burnt out fireplace.
There are several pictures hanging on the walls. One of particular interest is that of an old woman wearing black clothing, something a woman would wear to a funeral.
To the far left is a dinning room table with seats all around. There's a doorway to a kitchen on the close wall.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheSittingRoomV") != -1>> You step back into the middle of the sitting room. <<if $status.indexOf("TheWidowV") != -1>>
Strange. You don't remember the old woman painting having a red gash in it.<<endif>><<endif>><<addToSta TheSittingRoomV>>
[[Examine the fireplace.|The Fireplace]]
[[Examine the old painting.|The Widow]]
[[Examine the coat rack.|The Coat]]
[[Go to the kitchen.|The Kitchen]]
[[Go up the stairs|Level 2]]<<initInv>>
<<initSta>>
[[Inventory]]
<<if $inventory.length == 0>>You are carrying nothing of interest.<<else>>You are carrying:
<<invWithLinks>><<endif>>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>A small powered flashlight.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>The flashlight is dead.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>You pick up the button. It feels cold. You put it in your pocket for safe keeping. It may be a clue. <<addToInv "Silver Button">>
[[Examine your surrounding.|No Footprints]]
[[Continue down the path.|Deeper and Darker]]A round silver button.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>><<if $status.indexOf("2ndFloorV") == -1>>The stairs creek and groan as you ascend them. <<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") == -1>><<addToInv "Lit Candle">><<endif>>
The light from your <<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") == -1>>candle<<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") != -1>>flashlight<<endif>> barely seems sufficient. At the top of the stairs is a gloomy hallway. There are four doors, two on each side.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("2ndFloorV") != -1>>You're back in the upstairs hallway.<<endif>> <<addToSta 2ndFloorV>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheStudyV") == -1>>[[Open the near left door.|The Study]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheStudyV") != -1>>[[Open the study door.|The Study]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") == -1>>[[Open the near right door.|The Upper Bathroom]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") != -1>>[[Open the upper bathroom door.|The Upper Bathroom]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") == -1>>[[Open the far left door|The Bedroom]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") != -1>>[[Open the bedroom door.|The Bedroom]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeV") == -1>>[[Open the far right door|The Office]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeV") != -1>>[[Open the office door.|The Office]]<<endif>>
[[Go back down the stairs to the sitting room.|The Sitting Room]]The candle is burning with a small flame.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>><<if $status.indexOf("TheStudyV") == -1>>You open the door and step inside. This room appears to be a study.
There is a large table with several rickity chairs around it. Several shelves lean against the walls with endless books. There's a small desk in the corner.
On the ceiling, a large hanging light is emmitting its glow. This must be the light you saw from outside.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheStudyV") != -1>>You are back in the study.
The light is still on, flickering. Everything seems undisturbed.<<endif>><<addToSta TheStudyV>>
[[Examine the bookshelves.|Books]]
[[Examine the desk.|The Desk]]
[[Go back to the hallway.|Level 2]]<<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") == -1>>You open the door.
In front of you is an old decrepit bathroom. The floor seems to be particularly rotten. There's a broken sink to the right and a shower stall to the left. The toilet seat is in the back.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") != -1>>In front of you is an old decrepit bathroom. The floor seems to be particularly rotten. There's a broken sink to the right and a shower stall to the left. The toilet seat is in the back.<<endif>>
[[Investigate the bathroom further.|Collapsed]]
[[Go back to the hallway.|Level 2]]
<<addToSta TheUpperBathroomV>><<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") == -1>>You open the door and step inside.
This room is clearly a bedroom. There's a large bed against the right back wall with a small bedside table beside it. A broken lamp sits on top of it.
There's a closet with old ratty clothing.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") != -1>>You are back in the bedroom. Nothing seems disturbed.<<endif>>
[[Investigate the room further.|Bedroom Examined]]
[[Go back to the hallway.|Level 2]]
<<addToSta TheBedroomV>><<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeV") == -1>>You open the door and step inside. This room seems to be some sort of office.
There's a large desk with some books and sprawled out papers, a telephone, and a typewriter on it. A broken light hanges from the ceiling. There are shelves with odd objects displayed.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeV") != -1>>You are back in the office.<<if $status.indexOf("ShelvingV") == -1>> Everything seems undisturbed.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("ShelvingV") != -1>> While the desk seems undisturbed, your attention focuses on the shelving.
Did some of the objects move?<<endif>><<endif>>
[[Examine the desk.|The Office Desk]]
[[Examine the shelving.|The Artifacts]]
[[Go back to the hallway.|Level 2]]
<<addToSta TheOfficeV>>The bookshelf is completely full. There are more books here than you think one person could read in a lifetime. Some of them don't seem to be in english. You recognize a few here and there, but most are unfamilier.
There are a variety of subjects here. You figure whoever owned this collection must have been a scholar.<<if $status.indexOf("BooksV") == -1>>
You hear a thumping sound.
You turn to find the source. To your surprise, one of the books on the far end of the shelf has fallen to the floor.
[[Pick up the book.|The Ancient Book]]
[[Search another part of the room.|The Study]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("BooksV") != -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Ancient Book") == -1>>
The fallen book is still laying on the floor.
[[Pick up the book.|The Ancient Book]]
[[Search another part of the room.|The Study]]<<endif>><<endif>><<addToSta BooksV>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Ancient Book") != -1>>
[[Search another part of the room.|The Study]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("UnlockedV") == -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Golden Key") != -1>>The drawer is locked.
[[Use the golden key on the lock.|Unlocked]]
[[Explore the study more.|The Study]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("UnlockedV") == -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Golden Key") == -1>>The drawer is locked.
[[Explore the study more.|The Study]]<<endif>><<endif>>You pick up the old dusty book. It's written in a language you don't recognise, and the very first page seems to have been torn out, but you seem compelled to keep it. You put it in your backpack.<<addToInv "Ancient Book">>
[[Explore the room more.|The Study]]There are a few pieces of paper scattered on top of the desk. They seem to be hand-written notes. None of them make any sense to you, as they are incoherent rambling.
There is a drawer under the main table surface.
<<if $status.indexOf("UnlockedV") == -1>>[[Attempt to open the drawer.|Locked Drawer]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("UnlockedV") != -1>>[[Open the drawer.|Unlocked]]<<endif>>
[[Explore the room more.|The Study]]<<if $status.indexOf("UnlockedV") == -1>>You insert the key and open up the drawer. Inside is a single page. It looks like it's been torn from a book. You take the page. <<addToInv "Torn Page">><<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Torn page") != -1>>The drawer is empty.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("UnlockedV") != -1>>The drawer is empty.<<endif>>
[[Explore the study more.|The Study]]
<<addToSta "UnlockedV">>You take a step inside the bathroom to get a better look.
Suddenly, the floor collapses underneath you! You tumble and fall into the dark abyss below.
Your vision clouds and your hearing fades.
[[Await your fate.|Webs]]
Your eyes snap open.
You're surrounded by pitch darkness. Your <<if $inventory.indexOf("Lit Candle") != -1>>candle<<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") != -1>>flashlight<<endif>> is gone. Your not sure how long you've been down here.
You try to move, but a sharp pain courses through your body. You must have broken something.
Slowly, you begin to have an awareness of another feeling. This one on top of your body. It's like tiny little legs prickling you all over.
Spiders!
More frantic this time, you try to move, but the sharp pain intensifies. The prickling increases.
Your last memories are of screaming.
<<removeFromInv "Flashlight">>
<<removeFromInv "Lit Candle">>It seems to be the front page of a book. The writing is indecipherable. It's a combination of runic symbols and disturbing shapes.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>The writing inside the book is indecipherable. It's a combination of runic symbols and disturbing shapes.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>You look around the room, but find nothing of interest.
[[Go back to the hallway.|Level 2]]<<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeDeskV") == -1>>You investigate the books and papers on the desk. They seem to be an assortment of history books, accounting figures, and geological and topographical map peices.
One book, however, seems to be a journal.
[[Take the journal.|The Journal]]
[[Examine the room further.|The Office]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeDeskV") != -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Journal") == -1>>You look over the desk again. All the books and maps are there, undisturbed.
The journal is still there.
[[Take the journal.|The Journal]]
[[Examine the room further.|The Office]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeDeskV") != -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Journal") != -1>>You look over the desk again. All the books and maps are there, undisturbed.
[[Examine the room further.|The Office]]<<endif>><<endif>><<addToSta TheOfficeDeskV>><<if $status.indexOf("ShelvingV") == -1>>The objects on the shelving are stange and unnatural. Some of them look like ceramic jars with bizzard engravings. Some are geometric shapes that don't make sense. Other ones, you can't even describe.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("ShelvingV") != -1>>Yes. Some of these objects have definitly moved.
What is going on here?<<endif>><<addToSta ShelvingV>>
[[Explore the office more.|The Office]]
You pick up the journal and put it inside your backpack.
[[Examine the office more.|The Office]]
<<addToInv Journal>>The book is old. The pages are worn down and yellow. Most of the passages describe the thoughts of an old historian. However, the last few passages seem to change in tone.
"It is here. I've found it. It was here all along. Right under this very place I call home.
I can't stay here.
No-one should be here. We can't let it out.
It may already be out. I'm not sure.
I've hidden the knowledge away, and threw away the key in the fireplace. No-one should come here. It's so remote. <<set $fireknowledge to true>>
I'm starting to hear things. See things. Am I going mad?
I leave tomorrow."
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>><<if $status.indexOf("TheWidowV") == -1>>You step up to the painting. There's nothing overly remarkable about it. You're not sure why it captivates your attention.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheWidowV") != -1>>Nope. The gash was certainly not there before. It almost seems to be bleeding.<<endif>>
[[Look at something else.|The Sitting Room]]<<addToSta TheWidowV>>
You step up to the coat rack and examine it further. There's a single blue coat with silver buttons on it. There's a hanging thread of fabric where the bottom button should be. <<if $inventory.indexOf("Silver Button") != -1>>
The button you picked up earlier must belong to this coat.<<endif>>
[[Look at something else.|The Sitting Room]]<<if $status.indexOf("TheKitchenV") == -1>>The stench of rot is especially strong in the kitchen. The lots of cuboards around. There's an oven, a stove, and dishwasher, all in various states of decay or disrepair.
On the far wall, there's two doors.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheKitchenV") != -1>>You're back in the kitchen. It seems to get darker every time you come here.<<endif>><<addToSta TheKitchenV>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheWorkshopV") == -1>>[[Open the left door.|The Workshop]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheWorkshopV") != -1>>[[Open the door to the workshop.|The Workshop]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheLowerBathroomV") == -1>>[[Open the right door.|The Lower Bathroom]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheLowerBathroomV") != -1>>[[Open the door to the lower bathroom.|The Lower Bathroom]]<<endif>>
[[Go back to the sitting room.|The Sitting Room]]The fireplace is old and burnt out.
\<<if $fireknowledge is true>>
[[Poke around the logs.|The Key]]<</if>>
[[Look at something else.|The Sitting Room]]<<if $status.indexOf("TheWorkshopV") == -1>>You step through the door and look around.
The walls are full of varous tools. Saws, hammers, crowbars, you name it. Multiple tables have been shoved to the sides.
In the centre of the room, a black and red symbol has been painted on the concreate ground. It seems to be made out of charcole and red paint.
At least, you hope it's red paint.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheWorkshopV") != -1>>The workshop is dark and cold. The symbol lays ominously on the ground.<<endif>><<addToSta TheWorkshopV>>
[[Stand on the symbol.|The Symbol]]
[[Go back to the kitchen.|The Kitchen]]<<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") != -1>><<if $status.indexOf("TheLowerBathroomV") == -1>>It's another bathroom. This one seems slightly less run down.<<endif>><<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheLowerBathroomV") != -1>>It's a bathroom.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheLowerBathroomV") == -1&ggt;><<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") == -1>>It's a bathroom.<<endif>><<endif>>
There's a sink and toilet, both looking extremely old.<<addToSta TheLowerBathroomV>>
[[Examine the bathroom further.|Lower Bathroom Examination]]
[[Go back to the kitchen.|The Kitchen]]You search high and low, but find nothing of interest here.
[[Go back to the kitchen.|The Kitchen]]<<if $inventory.indexOf("Ancient Book") != -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Torn Page") != -1>>You are standing on the symbol.
You feel something unusually warm inside your backpack.
[[Check your backpack.|The Joining]]
[[Step off the symbol.|The Workshop]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Ancient Book") != -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Torn Page") == -1>>You are standing on the symbol.
[[Step off the symbol.|The Workshop]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Ancient Book") == -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Torn Page") != -1>>You are standing on the symbol.
[[Step off the symbol.|The Workshop]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Ancient Book") == -1>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Torn Page") == -1>>You are standing on the symbol.
[[Step off the symbol.|The Workshop]]<<endif>><<endif>>You open your backpack, and find both the ancient book and the torn page ... reacting.
You pull them out and examine them both. It's an eerie sensation. You feel an attraction between them, like a magnetic pull.
[[Put them together.|Joined]]
[[Put them away.|Bleeding]]
The torn page melds into the book. It snaps open, and the symbols on the page begin to writhe and squirm on the page. <<removeFromInv "Torn Page">><<removeFromInv "Ancient Book">><<addToInv "Arcane Book">>
You feel something enter inside your mind. You try and shake it off, but to no avail.
The large symbol on the floor begins to melt away into the floor, and the floor itself seems to melt into the ground.
What is revealed below is a dark stairway, leading down.
[[Descend the Stairs.|Dark Stairs Down]]
[[Turn back and leave.|Nowhere to Go]]You try to pull the page and the book away from each other, but you're struggling. You feel an ache in your mind, like something's straining against you.
A tear falls slowly out of your right eye. It drops onto your arm.
It's red.
[[Continue to resist.|Broken]]
[[Relent and allow the book and the page together.|Joined]]It takes every ounce of mental strength you have, but you keep the page and the book apart. A few more seconds pass, and the straining stops. The book and the page shrivle and whither away. <<removeFromInv "Ancient Book">><<removeFromInv "Torn Page">>
You fall to the floor. Exhausted. You're almost certain now that something evil resides in this house.
The shadows around you seem to dance slowly. It's as if they're converging on you.
[[Rest for a moment.|Shadow's Embrace]]
[[Get out of the workshop.|The Chase: Kitchen]]
<<if $GKeyV is true>>
\There is nothing more for you to find.\
<<else>>
\You shift the logs for a while, and a key falls out. This must be the key referenced in the journal. You pocket it.<<addToInv "Golden Key">>\<</if>>
[[Look at something else.|The Sitting Room]]<<set $GKeyV to true>>A small golden key.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>You allow your body to slump to the floor, rather than get up. It's been a long night so far, and you deserve some rest. You think about all that has happened.
Perhaps a little shut-eye will allow you to see things more clearly. Yes, you deserve this rest. The shadows won't hurt you. They feel almost inviting.
The darkness wraps around you. No light is left in the room.
You close your eyes and breath deap. Surely, everything will be okay once you rest.
Your mind slips away ... never to return.You take a step towards the door to the kitchen. The shadows slowly meander in your direction. You take another step.
The shadows get closer.
You dash through the door. You're standing in the kitchen. One of the boarded windows creaks, and a chilled wind cuts through you.
Suddenly, your <<if $inventory.indexOf("Flashlight") != -1>>flashlight cuts out.<<removeFromInv "Flashlight">><<addToInv "Dead Flashlight>><<endif>><<if $inventory.indexOf("Lit Candle") != -1>>candle flickers and goes out.<<endif>> You can't see anything except an eerie yellow glow from the sitting room.
You feel something. It's the feeling you get when someone is standing behind you, breathing down your neck.
[[Check behind you.|Consumed]]
[[Rush into the sitting room.|The Chase: Sitting Room]]You look over your shoulder to see blackness. Somehow, you know something is there.
You feel a chill pierce your chest. It settles deep in your heart. You gasp for breath, but can't.
You fall to the floor, and your mind flashes with madness.
Shadows. Maniacal laughter. A twisted puppeteer.
You weep.
You stumble into the sitting room. For a momentYou have a feeling of respite. The light from the still-lit candles in the room give off a comforting glow.
Then, one of the candles flickers out.
Then another.
You know you don't have long.
You notice the painting of the old woman is gone from the wall where it was. As you quickly glance around to see if you can find it, you hear something else.
Footsteps, from outside.
[[Open the door and leave the house.|Stabbed]]
[[Run up the stairs.|Which Room?]]You open the front door and barrle out of hte house. The yard around is dark and gloomy, only lit slightly by the study window.
You look to the left and then to the right. There's nothing you can see that would have made the footsteps. You need to find the pathway back.
A sharp pain lances through your back. You look down.
There's a stake through your heart.
The world goes dark.
You rush up the stairs. The last of the candlelight from downstairs diminishes, and the only bit of light left is coming from the study. You feel a chill rise up from behind you.
<<if $status.indexOf("TheStudyV") == -1>>[[Open the near left door.|The Study2]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheStudyV") != -1>>[[Open the study door.|The Study2]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") == -1>>[[Open the near right door.|The Upper Bathroom2]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") != -1>>[[Open the upper bathroom door.|The Upper Bathroom2]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") == -1>>[[Open the far left door|The Bedroom2]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") != -1>>[[Open the bedroom door.|The Bedroom2]]<<endif>>
<<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeV") == -1>>[[Open the far right door|The Office2]]<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheOfficeV") != -1>>[[Open the office door.|The Office2]]<<endif>>Small round orbs of glass. You have $marbles of them.
<<back>>You dive into the room and pull the door shut.
The light on the ceiling is still lit, flickering. The books on the bookshelf sit undistrubed. The desk has something on top of it. You look closer and realize it's the painting of the old woman.
Her face has changed.
She's angry. Scowling.
<<if $status.indexOf("TheWidowV") == -1>>Her neck has a huge gash in it, and it's bleeding. Not just in the picture. Red paint seems to be bleeding off the painting and onto the floor.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheWidowV") != -1>>The gash your saw on her neck is bigger than before. Red paint seems to be bleeding off the painting and onto the floor.<<endif>>
You hear the creeking sound of a door opening from downstairs. Then footsteps. They're coming up the stairs!
The light flickers more rapidly. You look around. There's nowhere to hide.
Your only chance is to open the window and jump.
[[Make a leap of faith|Sanity Broken]]
You dive inside the room and slam the door shut.
<<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") != -1>>The bathroom is as run down as ever.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheUpperBathroomV") == -1>>It seems to be a run down bathroom.<<endif>>
Suddenly, the floor collapses underneath you! You tumble and fall into the dark abyss below.
Your vision clouds and your hearing fades.
[[Await your fate.|Webs]]You dive inside the room and slam the door shut.
<<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") == -1>>This room is clearly a bedroom. There's a large bed against the right back wall with a small bedside table beside it. A broken lamp sits on top of it.
There's a closet with old ratty clothing.<<endif>><<if $status.indexOf("TheBedroomV") != -1>>The darkness of the bedroom is eerie.<<endif>> Without any light from a light source, you can barely see.
You hear the creeking sound of a door opening from downstairs. Then footsteps. They're coming up the stairs!
[[Grab the broken lamp and prepare to defend yourself.|Unwinnable Fight]]
[[Hide in the closet.|Closet Terror]]
You dive inside the room and slam the door shut.
You look around frantically for anything to use. You can hear the footsteps coming closer to the office door.
You hear the creeking sound of a door opening from downstairs. Then footsteps. They're coming up the stairs!
Your eyes latch on to one of the stange artifacts. You feel a sense of comfort. As if it will protect you.
[[Grab the artifact.|No, It won't]]
[[Turn to face the door and defend yourself.|No Chance]]
You grab the lamp, ready it in front of you, and face the door.
You hear the footsteps getting closer and closer. They stop outside the door. There's a momentary silence.
Then, the door slowly starts to creek open. Your breathing increases. The door opens fully.
There's nothing but darkness.
You wait more.
Nothing.
Wait, there's more footsteps ... circling you!
You whip around ready to strike your stalker. A sharp pain in your back lances through you. You drop the lamp and feel your chest. There's a wooden stake in it.
Your mind fades to nothing. You step into the closet and close the door. You wait. Every muscle in your body is tense. You hold your breath.
The footsteps get closer. And closer.
The stop outside the bedroom door. There's silence.
Then, you hear the slow creaking of the door opening. More footsteps. Whatever it is, it's inside.
The footsteps get closer to the closet door. Then they stop again.
The silence is deafening. For several minutes you wait.
BLAM!
The door in front of you shatters and you feel a sharp pain lance through your heart. You feel your chest. There's a wooden stake in it.
Your mind fades to nothing. You reach forward to grab the artifact off the shelf.
A sharp pain lances through your back. You reach down to touch your chest. There's a woodens stake in it.
Your mind fades to nothing. You turn around to face the door. Footsteps echo closer. They stop outside the door.
For a moment there's absolute silence.
Then the door starts to creek open. You clench your fists. When the door is fully open, you ready yourself.
Nothing's there.
All you see is darkness. Is there anything actually there?
Wait, there's more footsteps ... circling you!
You whip around ready to strike your stalker. A sharp pain in your back lances through you. You drop the lamp and feel your chest. There's a wooden stake in it.
Your mind fades to nothing. As the light flickers faster and faster, you open the window and look down. The roofing slants underneath you. You grab the windowsill and manuver yourself onto the roof. Below you is the front yard.
The light flickers one last time, then dies. Pure blackness is now behind you. You hear the door to the study slowly creek open.
You jump.
You fall to the ground and roll. There's no time to waste. The chilling cold of the night air seeps into your bones.
You feel a presence slowly descending from the window. You know in your heart you wouldn't see anything if you turned around.
But it's there.
[[Try and find the path back.|Trapped in Darkness]]
[[Run straight into the forest.|The End of Night]]
You start running around the perimiter, desperately trying to find the path you took in. No matter how far you go, it just isn't there.
You feel your foot catch something, a root perhaps. You fall to the ground.
Looking up, you can't see anything. The darkness is complete. You can't even see your own hands.
Footsteps are coming closer.
You try to get up, but stumble again.
A sharp pain lances through your back. You reach down to touch your chest. There's a woodens stake in it.
Your mind fades to nothing. You run.
You don't care where you're going. You don't care where you end up.
As long as it's away from that cursed house.
You never should have come in the first place.
For hours you run. Farther and farther into the forest. You're not sure how much longer you can keep up your pace. Your legs and lungs are getting tired.
Finally, you stop. The darkness is complete. You can't even see your own hands.
How are you supposed to make your way home now?
You shake your head and banish such thoughts. You only have one option now. Foward.
Hours more you continue, until your body and mind become exhaused.
Sleep takes you.
[[Wake up.|The Hospital]]You feel yourself come out of sleep. You're not exactly sure what your dreams were, but they were not normal.
You feel a softness under your body, and on top of it. Are you in a bed?
You open your eyes slowly.
You are in a bed. There are curtains all around your bed. You hear the noise of light activity, people walking around and such.
Light filters through the curtains and cast a warm glow against the covers of the bed.
A hand pulls back one of the curtains. A middle-aged man looks gives a start. But then he smiles.
"You're awake. We weren't sure if you'd ever come back to us."
[[Ask: "Who are you?"|Coma]]
The man nods in understanding.
"My name is Dr. Krenor. I'm the physisian assigned to you when your were brought in by Search-and-Rescue from the forest."
[[Ask: "How long have I been here?"|Never again]]Dr. Krenor's eyes dim slightly.
"You've been here just over two years. You were a mess when you got here. Mubling about some crazy nonsense over at a house in the forest. No-one knew what you were talking about. Then, you just dropped into a coma."
Your heart sinks.
Two years!
You thank the doctor and he leaves the room. You close your eyes and sink deeper into the bed.
You never figured out what happend to Dexter Julianos. You're not even sure what happend to you out there.
You only know that you're never going back to that forest ever again. The book doesn't seem the same as it was. It's writhing in shadow. The symbols dance on the page.
What is it?
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>><<if $labrynthV is true>>You are back in the room at the bottom of the stairs. You still don't understand where the gloom is coming from.<<else>>The stairs are dark and damp. You're not sure what they're made of, some sort of black stone?
You can't see much blow you other than the steps leading down. You continue for a few minutes until you reach the bottom.
At the bottom is a room. It's lit by a wavy gloom. It reminds you of light being filtered through water. However, you can't locate the source.
There are some strange markings on the walls. They are similar to the markings in the ancient book.
There are three pathways, one exiting from each wall.<</if>><<set $labrynthV to true>>
<<if $DE is true>>[[Go to the dead end hallway.|Dead End]]<<else>>[[Go forward.|Dead End]]<</if>>
<<if $hallwayV is true>>[[Go back to the hallway door.|Long Hallway]]<<elseif $R is true>>[[Go back to the ritual room.|The Ritual Room]]<<else>>[[Go left.|Long Hallway]]<</if>>
<<if $A3V is true>>[[Go to the pyramid room.|Pyramid Room]]<<else>>[[Go right.|Pyramid Room]]<</if>>
<<if $nope is true>><<else>>[[Go back up the stairs.|Nope]]<</if>>You turn around to leave, but the door behind you is gone. You look around. Everything is gone. All you see are four wooden walls surrounding you, and the stairway down.
You only have one choice left.
[[Descend the Stairs.|Dark Stairs Down]]<<if $DE is true>>You are back at the dead end.
The indent <<if $prI is true>>has the prism fitted in it.<<else>>is empty.<</if>><<else>>The hallway lead down for a few hundred metres. Stange symbols litter the walls. The strange glow continues.
Then it stops at a dead end. There's a small rectangular indent in the wall.<</if>><<set $DE to true>>
\<<if $pr is true and $prI is false>>
<<link [[Fit the prism in the indent.|The Indent H]]>><<removeFromInv "Small Prism">><<set $prI to true>><</link>><</if>>
[[Go back.|Dark Stairs Down]]The hallway is long. You seem to walk forever.
Finally, you come up to a closed door. <<set $hallwayV to true>>
[[Open the door.|The Ritual Room]]
[[Go back.|Dark Stairs Down]]<<if $A3V is true>>You're back in the pyramid room.
The indent <<if $PI is true>>has the pyramid fitted in it.<<else>>is empty.<</if>>
\<<else>>The hallway leads to a small room.
This room has no defined ceiling. The walls connect together in a point. It's as if you're in the inside of a pyramid.
The room is completely bare. There's no furnature or objects of any kind. There are only two features of note. The first is the strange symbols etched in the walls. They're the same kind as you've seen before. The second is a square indent in the middle of the floor.
It's lit with the same gloomy light as the first room.<</if>><<set $A3V to true>>
\<<if $p is true and $PI is false>>
<<link [[Fit the pyramid in the indent.|The Indent P]]>><<set $PI to true>><<removeFromInv "Small Pyramid">><</link>><</if>>
[[Go back.|Dark Stairs Down]]You step up a few steps and stop.
There's a wall stopping you from going any further. How did it get there?
No where to go but back down.<<set $nope to true>>
[[Go back.|Dark Stairs Down]]<<if $R is true>>You are back in the ritual room. The man is still sleeping on the floor.<<elseif $T is true>>You are back in the ritual room. Julianos is still rummaging on the floor.<<else>>You step through the doorway and look around.
The room is about 25 feet across and circular in shape. The walls are still covered in the strange symbols. In the centre of the room is some sort of altar.
To the side of the room, lying on the floor, is a man.<</if>> <<set $R to true>><<set $hallwayV to false>><<if $PI is true and $prI is true and $dI is true>>
Something is glowing on the altar.<</if>>
<<if $T is true>>[[Talk to Julianos.|Julianos]]<<else>>[[Wake up the man.|Julianos]]<</if>>
[[Examine the altar.|The Altar]]
[[Go back to the stairway room.|Dark Stairs Down]]<<if $altarV is true>>You are standing in front of the altar.
<<if $p is true and $d is true>> There is nothing lying on top of it.<<else>>On top of it lies:<</if>>\
\<<if $p is true>><<else>>
-The pyramid.<</if>>
\<<if $d is true>><<else>>
-The dome.<</if>>
The indent <<if $dI is true>> has the dome fitted in it.<<else>>is empty.<</if>><<else>>You step up to the altar to examine its contents more closely.<<set $p to false>>
There are some geometric ojbects lying on top of the altar: A pyramid, a rectangular prism, and a dome. They are all very small, easily fittable into the palm of your hand.<<set $d to false>>
The altar itself is made of the same black material everything else down here is. There's a small round indent in the middle.<</if>><<set $altarV to true>><<if $PI is true and $prI is true and $dI is true>>
Three symbols of a triangle, square and circle are glowing. There's also a glowing palm print.<</if>>
\<<if $p is true>><<else>>
<<link [[Take the pyramid.|The Altar]]>><<set $p to true>><<addToInv "Small Pyramid">><<set $PI to false>><</link>><</if>>
\<<if $d is true>><<else>>
<<link [[Take the dome.|The Altar]]>><<set $d to true>><<set $dI to false>><<addToInv "Small Dome">><</link>><</if>>
\<<if $d is true and $dI is false>>
<<link [[Fit the dome in the indent.|The Indent]]>><<set $dI to true>><<removeFromInv "Small Dome">><</link>><</if>>
\<<if $PI is true and $prI is true and $dI is true>>
[[Place your hand on the glowing palm.|Escape]]<</if>>
[[Back.|The Ritual Room]]<<if $T is true>> Julianos looks up at you, his eyes sunken and defeated.<<else>>You walk over to the man and kneel down. You can hear him breathing slowly.
You put a hand to his back and shake him gently. He wakes with a start. He frantically looks around and locks eyes with you. He scampers back to the wall.
"Who are you? No, no, no, you're just another nightmare."
He grabs his head and shakes, then looks back at you.
"You're not trying to hurt me. Are you real? Are you really here?"
You nod, and he visibly calms down.
"I'm Dexter. Dexter Julianos."<</if>><<set $T to true>><<set $R to false>>
[[Ask, "How did you get here?"|J-Tale]]
[[Ask, "What is this place?"|Underground]]
[[Stop talking to Julianos.|The Ritual Room]]<<set $p to true>>The pyramid is a blue stone. Perhaps lapis lazuli?
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>><<set $pr to true>>The prism is a white mineral. It could be quartz, but your not sure.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>><<set $d to true>>The dome is black. It looks like obsidian.
You think it might fit the indent on the altar.
<<return "Back to inventory.">>
<<link "Return to Story." $return>><</link>>You put the small dome inside the indent. It fits snuggly.
[[Back.|The Altar]]"I don't really know. I remember making a small delivery to the house.
"I came up to the door and opened the mailbox. Just as I was doing so, the door opened. A pleasent man struck up a conversation. It was getting dark, so he offer for me to stay the night, as it was easy to get lost on the path. I didn't think anything of it.
"As I was sitting in the chair by the fireplace, I got so drowsy. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I was down here."
[[Ask something else.|Julianos]]"I don't know. There's not much to this place. A few rooms back there. I can't tell where the light is coming from. It's just ... there.
"I think maybe the objects on the altar are the key.<<if $pr is true>>"<<else>> I've been looking at this prism."<</if>>
\<<if $pr is true>><<else>>
<<link [[Ask, "May I have the prism?"|The Prism]]>><<set $pr to true>><<set $prI to false>><<addToInv "Small Prism">><</link>><</if>>
[[Ask something else.|Julianos]]You put the small pyramid inside the indent. It fits snuggly.
[[Back.|Pyramid Room]]He looks at you for a while, then slowly produces a small white rectangular prism out of his pant pocket. He hands it to you.
"Perhaps you can use it better than I can."
[[Back.|Julianos]]You put the small prism inside the indent. It fits snuggly.
[[Back.|Dead End]] You reach forward towards the glowing palm. Julianos takes notice, and he gets up off the floor and walks towards you.
Your hand touches the light of the palm, and it grows brighter for a moment. Then, the light fades out.
You feel something ... leave you. It's like a weight has been lifted. You feel more optimistic.
There's a rumbling sound from the far wall. A pathway opens up. You can't see where it leads, as there is nothing but darkness. The gloomy light seems to stop where it begins.
Julianos stares at it, then turns to you.
"Is this it? Are we finally free?"
[[Head down the pathway.|Liberation]]You gently grasp Julianos by the arm and walk down the path. There's nothing but pure darkness. You put your hand on the wall to guide yourself straight.
You seem to walk for hours. The only sound are your footsteps and breathing of the two of you.
Finally, a light appears in front of you. It gets brighter and brighter as you approach.
[[Walk into the light.|Journey's End]]
You walk into the light with Julianos by your side. Bright sunlight gleams in the sky. Light forest surounds you, and the tall city building tower in the distance in front of you.
You've made it.
[[Continue.|Case Solved]]Till the day you die, you'll never quite know what happened in that dark house.
Perhaps it was all in your mind, or perhaps there was something much more sinister going on.
The family of Mr. Dexter Julianos was eternally grateful to you. You recieved your accalades by the city for solving the case. You never told the full story to the public.
You know they wouldn't believe you anyway.
''CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SOLVED THE CASE.''