(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "No Save available")
|==
[''Welcome $name ''
On your journey, you will be presented with several choices, and each one you make will shape how the story ends! If at any point you return to the homepage, the story will save your progress. This adventure is narrated, so be sure to adjust your audio settings using the
controls in the sidebar before you begin. Speakers are recommended over the use of headphones.]
(align:"<==")+(box:"=X")[ ''Click to begin ->'']
(link: "load")[(load-game: "file A")]
[[Options Archive]]
[[Change Character name]]
[[A word from the author/Extras]]
|=
[[<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/615988596687503361/826780777592520724/Where_Ends_Meet_cover.jpg?width=371&height=595' style='max-width: 100%;max-height:100%;'/>->jake pov]]
|==|
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $option to 1)
If you finish the story and decide you want to see what other paths are available to you, but dont want to go through it all step by step, then here you can find links to each desicion you could have made throught the adventure.
[[Run/Investigate->pg1]]
[[Run to hide in the cabin->non filter 7]]
[[Stay/follow->pg8]]
[[Arrive at the lake->non filter 9 ]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')(masteraudio: 'stopall')(set: $pagename to "pg1")(set: $track to 'A3')(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
(text-style:"italic")[-Three months later in a small town nearby-]
(text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)] Locals have been reporting that animals on their farms have been going missing. While some blame rambunctious youths' others have pinned the blame on poachers, and local outcry has stirred the police department into action. Investigations are now underway —more on this story after the weather with Jen;
(text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)]
Poachers, drunk teenagers, predators in the forest. So many possibilities. While the police have begun questioning victims, more animals vanish. At first, it was just one or two a month, then one a week. Now it's gotten to the point that no sooner have livestock been bought in do they vanish the very next night. Game cameras were set up, nighttime stakeouts took place and traps were set to try and catch whoever, whatever is doing this, all to no avail. While trekking through the woods at 3am isn't exactly your idea of fun, you're determined to solve this mystery once and for all. So, taking your car up to the car park a few miles out of town, you pull in, collect your belongings and begin your journey towards the cabin.
Torch in hand, you set off along an old hill walking trail. The path barely visible -even under the concentrated torchlight- is slightly overgrown. Each step takes you deeper and deeper into the thick of the trees, and as time passes, you grow closer to the cabin's grounds. Your fingers chilled, you swap the torch between your hands frequently to scrunch them into your pockets, grasping at the warmth of your body heat. The altitude exposes you to the wind as the trees begin to thin out. Your clothes flutter against you as if dancing in the wind. The atmosphere weighs down. Like a child lying awake at night, staring into the darkness of the unknown, you feel tense, paranoid that perhaps you're not alone out here. Maybe things do go bump in the night after all. Strange static energy seems to sweep over you at the thought, raising the hairs on your body and sending a shiver down your spine. It's then that amongst the sounds of the trees and leaves rustling in the wind, the light howling of the air, that you hear a scream. Short and muffled, perhaps in fear or pain, you're unsure. A jolt of adrenaline hits, your heart rate picks up. Looking in the direction of the call, you freeze in place. Movement catches your eye amongst the brush as your heightened senses race to annalise the situation.
[[RUN->pg2]]
[[Investigate->pg3]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg2")
(set: $track to 'A4')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Deciding that you’d rather be as far away from danger as possible, you lurch at the glimpse of motion. Your tired legs push against the soil hard and propel you away from the potential threat. You hear the bushes rustle behind you but focusing on moving forward as fast as you can along what resembles a pathway, you don't stop to look behind you.
Minutes seem to pass, and as you propel yourself through the branches and the foliage. Torch swinging and bobbing as you move it sends shadows scattering in all directions. Running. Running. Running...
Eventually slowing, your ears strain to pick up any signs of movement. Eyes darting around you while you regain your bearings. You wait, listening, watching. Only your panting breath fills the space. It seems like whatever was in the brush watching you decided not to give chase. You reckon you put enough distance between yourself and it to be safe for now.
At a glance, the compass tells you that in your haste, you didn't stray too far from the route you planned out earlier. It shouldn't take too much longer before you reach the cabin. You should probably keep moving to be on the safe side; however, you are also rather tired, so perhaps a slow walk while you drink some water and have a snack bar would be best.
(set: $option to 0)
(set:$RunFox to 1)
[[Next->chap two]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg3")
(set: $track to 'deepbreath')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Taking a deep breath, your curiosity gets the better of you. It's just a forest, right? Monsters are for children... surely it was just a trick of the mind?
Tightening the grip on your torch, you slowly approach. Eyes darting around, you struggle to see anything at first, so you shine the light over the area...
There! Your light sweeps over one clump of bushes and plucks two glowing spheres from the darkness. The sight causes you to jump, dropping the torch, it thuds to the ground. Your reaction seems to have startled the creature before you, and as you dive into reclaiming your only source of visibility, catch sight of a fox darting deeper into the forest.
Well. Don't you feel silly? Getting all wound up over a fox. You need to be careful. The imagination tends to run wild when you let it. That scream you heard earlier was probably just a vixen's cry. Take a deep breath, get yourself together. When you're good and ready, we can continue. We need to go investigate the cabin after all... Just watch out for hunters' traps; we don't want you getting hurt now, do we?
(set: $option to 0)
(set: $RunFox to 0)
[[Next->chap two]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg4")
(set: $track to 'A5')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
After pulling yourself together and pushing on, you eventually find yourself emerging into a clearing. Before you finally stands the small wooden hunters' cabin you've been searching for all evening. Bathed in darkness, the half-rotten floorboards and wind-battered shingle roof takes on an eerie quality. While still held together structurally, you can't imagine the small building would hold much heat. The surrounding trees seem to lean inwards steeply, grasping with their branches, threatening to consume the cleared land for its own once more.
Now that you're here, it's time to investigate.
[[Next->pg5]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg5")
(set: $track to 'A7')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Making your way around the outskirts of the property, you check for signs of someone having been here recently. Keeping your eyes peeled for anything distinctly out of place. Seeing as the clearing allowed the moon's light to brighten things up a bit, you turn off the torch. No point wasting all the battery, right? You still need to get back to the car, and if you find something, you can always turn it on again.
Walking around, nothing much seems to catch your eye. The cabin's foundation appears to be supported by several exposed wooden posts, and crouching down, you confirm that nothing lurks underneath. What you do find, however, is that piles of loose, dry grass seem to be pushed underneath. Now that is odd. Perhaps if there had been livestock kept here, you would understand. If the poachers are raising and selling the animals instead of slaughtering them... but the lack of living animals in the area prove that this is not the case.
Spurred on by this discovery, you continue to walk around. To your right, a door built into the ground attracts your attention. An outhouse...A root cellar, perhaps?.
SNAP. The slight sound seems to echo into the silence. You freeze and look towards the direction that it comes from... footsteps, what sounds like hushed whispers. Someone's coming.
[[Run to hide in the cabin->pg7]]
[[Run towards the door->pg8]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg7")
(set: $track to 'A8')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Moving quickly towards the cabin, you realise that there's simply not enough time to get to the door. Not only that, but you don't even know if the door is unlocked or jammed! So thinking on your feet, you roll under the foundation as quietly as you can, pulling some of the grass to conceal yourself further. Doing your best to stay still, you watch in anticipation.
As the figures make their approach, you can hear their footfall disturbing the vegetation on the ground. They seem to know the area well, either that or they have a similar mindset as you do, as no light is cast over the earth upon their entrance. Seems they don't have a light source on them. Hearing them talk, you strain your ears to listen to the conversation.
"You think this will do it?"
"Has to, I'm all out of other ideas."
"Well, I'm just saying, last time Jake got mauled."
"That was an accident. How were we supposed to know where the nest was?"
"It's our job to know."
"Whatever, you make the plans next time. See how easy it is."
"fine"
"fine"
"You ready?"
"Sure, let's get outta here already."
"3. 2. 1. GO"
You watch on in fear and curiosity as the two talk. Thoughts race across your mind trying to piece things together when you notice a flash of light before you. The sound of feet slamming into the ground can be heard as both of them run away. It takes you a second to realise what just happened. Blinking, you look at the tiny light before you… a match. The flame catches onto the grass about an arm's length away.
Oh no.
Palms dig into the earth as you claw your way out from under the foundation as fast as you can, bag snatching on boards above you, you brute force your way through. Coming to the edge of the foundations, you grab onto one of the support logs to wrench yourself out completely. However, in your haste, you manage to dislodge one of the boards, and it comes down on your leg.
(if: $RunFox >= 1 )[[Next->pg10]]
(if: $RunFox <= 0 )[[Next->Page11]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg8")
(set: $track to 'runningtowards')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Running towards the small structure, you pray that the door hasn't swelled shut over the years. You tug on the rusted handle and feel a wave of relief wash over you as you pull it open. Sliding into the small, dark space, you contemplate leaving the door open a crack.
Deciding to keep an eye on things, you wait with bated breath to see who appears. Maybe it's a local? Perhaps It's a trader who occasionally passes through the town. Maybe You'll be able to figure out what's happening after all! How amazing would that be... You, solving the mystery even the police haven't solved yet. You'd be a local hero. Maybe you could sell the story to the papers or the local news—so many possibilities. You were nervous before, some may even say a little scared, but now you feel the excitement coursing through you as the answers you long for finally feel within reach. As you ponder the possibilities, a voice pulls you from your thoughts.
"You think this will do it?"
"Has to, I'm all out of other ideas."
"Well, I'm just saying, last time Jake got mauled."
"That was an accident. How were we supposed to know where the nest was?"
"It's our job to know."
"Whatever, you make the plans next time. See how easy it is."
"fine"
"fine"
"You ready?"
"Sure, let's get outta here already."
"3. 2. 1. GO"
You watch on in fear and curiosity as the two talk. Thoughts race across your mind trying to piece things together when you notice a brief flash of light. The sound of feet slamming into the ground can be heard as both of them run away. You wait a few seconds longer before you realise- the cabin was on fire! They had lit the cabin on fire and then ran off. Looks like the police won't be able to investigate it for evidence anymore... it'll be gone soon enough. The question is, should you stay here and watch a bit longer, or should you leave and try to follow behind them?
[[Stay->pg16]]
[[Follow after them->pg13]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg10")
(set: $track to 'A9')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Looking back, you see that the fire appears to have picked up faster than you had anticipated. If you didn't find a way to delay it, you're done. Reaching for the side of your bag, you yank the water bottle out from its pocket, intending to saturate the ground by your foot to give you just a little bit more time. You begin to unscrew the cap, but as you do remember that you drank it all earlier. You had hoped to go to a nearby well to top it up before you started the journey back to the car, but things never work out the way we plan them to. Abandoning your idea, you shimmy further under the foundation again to try and set yourself free. If you can just pry yourself out, injuries or not, you'll be alive. A loud crash sounds out as the boards above the spot you lay before cave in, and part of the cabin collapses without the structural support.
More of the beams fall onto your legs and pin you below the burning cabin. The heat rises, and the world around you begins to glow brighter. The sound of crackling reaches your ears like a roaring engine. The smoke is growing thicker, and the cramped space traps some of it below with you. Coughing and hacking, you push on every fibre of your being, focusing on escaping. You must make it out. Ignore the pain, ignore the heat; survival is all that matters. So close, you're so close. You can see the flat earth of the clearing before you. You can see people coming back; maybe they heard you yell out in pain. Perhaps they can save you.
"Help"
You call out as best you can.
"Help me" Your arm reaches out as you see them approach. No...as He approaches. Just one figure, but they are coming... They're going to save you. You're going to make it.
Blinking your eyes free of smoke and tears, you focus on the figure before you. A creature, unlike anything you'd seen before. Tall and skinny, the creature curls its spine over and looks at you. Bald, its grotesque face flickers in the light from the flames. Skin twisted and stretched across its facial structure, the mask-like visage almost seems to smile down at you as its crooked jaw clicks to the side. In the empty eye sockets you swear you see glimmer for just a moment before like a cat, its spine arches, its jaw dislodges, and it pounces.
(set:$pg10 to 1)
[[Next->DEAD pg12]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg11")
(set: $track to 'lookingback')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Looking back, you see that the fire appears to have picked up faster than you had anticipated. If you don't find a way to delay it, you're done. Reaching for the side of your bag, you yank the water bottle out from its pocket, intending to saturate the ground by your foot, giving you just a little more time. You begin to unscrew the cap as fast as you can, fumbling to pry it loose. Tossing the lid away, you douse your leg and the grass around it in water. Taking the empty bottle, you jam it under the plank holding you in place, and with a hard kick, manage to ram it in. It props it up just enough to tear your leg out from underneath. Finally emerging from the foundation, a loud crash sounds out behind you as the boards above the spot you lay before cave in, and part of the cabin collapses without structural support. The heat rises, and the clearing grows brighter. The smoke is growing thicker with every passing moment, and stumbling to your feet, you adjust your torn bag and back away, catching your breath at last.
That was close. Thank goodness you had that water with you. By no means could it put out the blazing inferno before you, but it slowed it down just enough to get out of there with a few minor scrapes and burns.
Averting your gaze from the brightness of the fire, you see something moving in the depths of the forest. Ducking down to avoid detection, you make your way to the edge of the clearing. Now in the shadows as well, it's easier to make out the shape before you. A tall, skinny form seems to move through the foliage, its thin branch-like arms reaching out to pull itself through as it goes. Maybe it's just the adrenaline, perhaps it's the soot and dirt in your eyes, or perhaps it's the darkness, one thing’s for sure, whatever it is, it hasn't seen you yet, and you're getting the hell out of here while you still can.
(set:$FireLive to 1)
[[Next->chap three]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg12")
(set: $track to 'jenanimalblood')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
(text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)] "Thank you for that, Jen. Now back to the story. While witnesses have collaborated with the police investigation, some shocking news has surfaced regarding one of our town residents. When the police went to investigate at the Hunters cabin this morning, they discovered the remains of a local farmer who has yet to be named. Their car was found parked outside of the town by an old hill walking trail and was spotted by a dog walker in the early hours of the morning which sparked the initial manhunt. Our source says that inside they found hunting knives, traps, and traces of animal blood. Is one of our own responsible for the recent thefts? Let's see what our correspondent has to say:" (text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "p13")
(set: $track to 'itstime')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
It's time to get out of here. If you leave now, maybe you can follow them.
Pushing the door open, it's then that you notice there are markings in the wood. Long deep gashes that you didn't see before. How did you not see them? They're so large. So deep. So inhuman… Then again, you were pretty focused on listening to the conversation and trying to figure out what happened. Wonder if perhaps a bear did get down here at some point...
Closing the door behind you again, you make your way around to the other side of the cabin. After finding a small trodden path you think they may have taken, begin to follow after them.
[[next->chap three]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $track to 'pg16')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Deciding to stay to see if they come back, you find yourself looking around the little room you're hiding in. Small and cramped, the walls seem to be made out of wood. At first, you think the room is empty, but after moving around a little, you realise that the back half of the floor is actually a hatch. Pulling it up with a creak, a small stairway is revealed to you. Clearly, this was the food store built for the cabin. Being underground the food would be kept at a consistent temperature all year round in addition to deterring bears, wolves or foxes from trying getting into the main dwelling for a quick meal.
Pulling out the torch, you close the gap in the doorway so it is harder to see the light from outside and turn it on. Each step down the stairs is steep but solid, carved into the very earth. As you descend, the smell of stale air and dampness rushes to consume you. With each step, you descend further and further and further down. Strangely deep for an average food cellar, but perhaps at this elevation on the hill the frost-line sits deeper in the ground? In any case, you eventually reach the bottom. Sweeping the beam of light around you see the dry rock walls glisten ironically with moisture. Sealed in the room over time, Small mushrooms scatter over the surfaces where the water pools and glancing around you see a thick shelving unit sat against one wall. Old baskets of food sit rotted to mush and the smell of putrid, fungal air makes you gag as airflow fills the space for the first time in decades. Boalking, your insides churn in disgust.
Backing up, you're just about to leave this horrid little place when your light catches a glimmer in the other corner of the room. Behind an old crate lies what looks to be a scimitar. Its curved, rusty blade at first blending into the shadows of the rocky wall seems still to hold its reflectiveness in places. Pulling it out gently, you examine the handle and notice that an inlay is carved on guard. A generic crest frames the miniature image of a claw crossed over a clenched fist. As you stare at the picture, eeriness fills the atmosphere. You feel as if the silence in the room just got quieter still. Something feels wrong.
Clutching the scimitar in your hand, you turn off the torch. Relying on your memory, you cautiously make your way to the other side of the room and up the stairs. Bracing your hand on the walls to support you, you slowly, silently making your ascent —step by step by step.
Hatch still open, you arrive at the doorway once more. Senses heightened, you notice markings in the wood. Long deep gashes you didn't see before. How did you not see them? They're so large. So deep. So inhuman….It doesn't matter. You can look at them later; right now, your instincts are screaming at you. Danger. Danger !. Bracing yourself, you push open the door with your foot.
Nothing. You see nothing other than the now fully engulfed cabin blazing away before you, smoke billowing into the night sky above. You walk out slowly. Alert, looking around. Looking for something, anything to explain why you feel so on edge, why you feel like your very life is on the line.
It's then that you see it at the edge of the clearing. Staring at you. Its tall, slim skeletal build blending into the stalky trees around it. Its bald head tilts, assessing you. The skin appears stretched tight across its facial structure. Dried and flaking. The eye sockets empty, dark and hollow, yet glinting with the reflection of the flames. Its jaw clicks to the side with a sickening "crunch".
You hold your breath. Palms sweaty, not quite believing your eyes. In your mind, a thousand thoughts race. Fight or run. What if you die, what about your family, why did you come here, what is this, why did you come, can you outrun it, will it just leave can-
It's at this moment that time seems to warp. You watch in slow motion as the jaw drops wide open. Unhinged and gaping like that of a snake as it leaps towards you. Your muscles tense, and you hold the rusty sword before you. Life flashes as it so often does at times like these. The last thing you see is the back of its leathery throat engulfing your head, and you feel the resistance of the scimitar as it runs through the stomach of this creature—this thing.
This thing that rips into you with its large sharp claws.
That crunches through your spinal cord with one strong bite.
This thing that takes your life.
(set: $pg16 to 1)
[[next ->DEAD pg12]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg9")
(set: $track to 'unlike')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Unlike the path from the car to the cabin, this one is much better. The ground is worn flat from years of use, and the shrubbery at the sides don't threaten to trip you up with each new step you take. Although you don't see anyone up ahead, the faint glow of light in the distance assures you that you're going the right way. Things are looking up. No matter what it takes, you WILL solve this mystery. Too many people have suffered because of it, including your own family. How are people supposed to make a living when things keep getting taken right from underneath their noses?! No more. This won't go on any longer! You will put a stop to this once and for all.
(if: $FireAlive >= 1 )[[Next->pg14]]
(if: $FireAlive <= 0 )[[Next->pg15]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "end1")
(set: $track to 'end1')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
(text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)]Thank you for that, Jen. Now back to the story. While witnesses have collaborated with the police investigation, some shocking news has surfaced regarding one of our town residents. When the police investigated the Hunters cabin this morning, they discovered the ashen remains of the old cabin and the brutalised body of a local farmer who has yet to be named. While exact details of their death remain unknown, one source claimed to have overheard police chatter describing the incident as "animalistic, '' and "unlike anything they've ever seen before". To find out more, let's head over to see what our correspondent has to say; (text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)]
(set:$end1 to 1)
[[The End->end]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg14")
(set: $track to 'asyoufinally')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
As you finally seem to arrive at your destination, you see the trees thinning out to reveal a large lake before you. With a little dock at one edge of the bank and stone walls scattered around its perimeter, it makes for a beautiful sight. Strangely peaceful after what you just experienced.
Looking over a few paces away, you catch sight of two figures, one of which is hunched over a pile of items. The hunched one is large and burley, around 7ft tall when stood upright. The other, short, rotund, with a long scraggly beard, pleated down to his waist. He seems to be holding onto a crossbow of some kind while standing guard.
[[Confront them ->pg 20]]
[[Leave and report this all to the police->pg 18]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg15")
(set: $track to 'asyoufinally')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
As you finally seem to arrive at your destination, you see the trees thinning out to reveal a large lake before you. With a little dock at one edge of the bank and stone walls scattered around its perimeter, it makes for a beautiful sight. Strangely peaceful after what you just experienced.
Looking over a few paces away, you catch sight of two figures, one of which is hunched over a pile of items. The hunched one is large and burley, around 7ft tall when stood upright. The other, short, rotund, with a long scraggly beard, pleated down to his waist. He seems to be holding onto a crossbow of some kind while standing guard.
[[Its time to end this ->pg 22]]
(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "Confront them")
(set: $track to 'confront')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Stepping out from the shadows into the cleared ground, you call out to them.
"Hey, What do you think you're doing here, huh?"
They both drop what they're carrying and swing around to face you, raising their weapon of choice as they do so.
"What are you just going to shoot me then! Do you think that you can just go around taking cattle and setting things on fire? What do you think gives you the right? That's people's lives that you're messing with. You better have a damned good explanation because the police are on their way, and you're both in a serious heap of trouble".
Exchanging looks between themselves, they stare at you for a moment. Just as the tall one goes to say something, terror fills the face of the shorter man, and he raises the bow with a firm grasp. He's going to shoot you; this is the end, you're dead. Why did you do this? Your thoughts tumble and trip over themselves as you watch the arrow come towards you almost in slow motion. Your muscles are tense; As if to launch yourself away from the impending projectile, however, not even a second later the arrow sails past, and you hear a "thud" as it embeds itself into something behind you.
You're alive... you’re ok; he didn't shoot you. He didn't-
A screech pierces the night air and pulls you from your feelings of relief. Out of the corner of your eye, you see something lurch. Your body already in motion is shunted in another direction. Your stomach flips as the ground suddenly meets your face. You don't even have a moment to register the pain before you're tumbling again. Round and round and round, you spin. Finally, coming to a stop near the water's edge, you see it.
A creature, unlike anything you've seen before. Tall and skinny, the creature curls its spine over to look at you. Bald, its grotesque face shines in the torchlight. Skin twisted and stretched across the facial structure, the mask-like visage almost seems to smile down at you as its crooked jaw clicks to the side. It's standing over a body while it hisses at the two men. Like a cat stalking its prey, it begins to move towards them... wait a moment ... a body... your body... your...
[[Next->pg 21]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "Leave and report this all to the police")
(set: $track to 'leave')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Enough is Enough; it's time to call it a night.
Taking your time to creep through the undergrowth, you estimate that if you cut across to your right, down the hillside, you should be able to save some time getting back to the car. It would mean taking the torch out to check the compass - which may alert them to your location if you're not careful- but it's the best option.
Pushing on, you start the journey back, but not 5 minutes later do you hear yelling from back at the lake. What could they possibly be doing? Are they trying to kill each other with those weapons? Maybe Jake made his return after being mauled by them and is gaining revenge? Who knows, it's certainly not your problem; if anything, it's even more motivation to get out of here quicker. A blood-curdling scream echoes through the trees as if to confirm this notion. Nope. Nope, nope. Not dealing with this. Screw that. I'm so out. Nope.
Walking faster, you feel the trees and twigs pull and clawing at your already ruined clothing. Your legs now all raw and bloodied, Your eyes tired and bloodshot, exhausted from the night's events. You can't wait to get home. No matter how uncomfortable you feel, no matter how much pain you're in, you keep moving forwards. On and on through the darkness of the night towards your car. Towards salvation.
[[Next->pg 19]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "end2")
(set: $track to 'end2')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
(text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)] Thank you for that, Jen. Now back to the story. While witnesses have collaborated with the police investigation, some shocking news has surfaced regarding one of our town residents. Late last night, one of our very own took it upon themselves to investigate the matter, and armed with a torch and some snacks, took off into the woods. While they managed to catch a glimpse of the ones behind it all, no suspects have been named, and questions have been raised over the account's accuracy. To find out more on this fascinating tale, let's head over to the local hospital and see what our correspondent has to say;" (text-style:"italic")[(News Jingle plays)]
(set:$end2 to 1)
[[The End->end]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $track to 'decidingcomeback')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Stepping out from the shadows into the cleared ground, you call out to them.
"Hey, What do you think you're doing here, huh?"
They both drop what they're carrying and swing around to face you, raising their weapon of choice as they do so.
"What are you going to shoot me then! Do you think that you can just go around taking cattle and setting things on fire? What do you think gives you the right? That's people's lives that you're messing with. You better have a damned good explanation because the police are on their way, and you're both in a serious heap of trouble".
Exchanging looks between themselves, they stare at you for a moment.
=|=
"You shouldn't be here."
=|=
"You've got it all wrong."
|==|
They say at the same time.
"Look.. what's your name?"
"$name "
"ok, well $name, There's a creature out in these woods, see. A tall creepy thing that eats people. There were two of them with a nest up here, but we burned it just now so that the eggs wouldn't hatch. That's why animals were vanishing down there; they needed food that was small enough for babies to eat- see?"
Even you can tell by how awkward this guy is that he himself knows how insane he sounds.
"That's right. The three of us - Me, Bill and Jake came here to kill them off. We got one of them, but so did they... poor Jake."
He looks at the boat with sadness in his eyes.
"I know it's hard to believe, but It's out there, hunting us. It'll be here soon. The fire will have attracted it, and it won't be happy."
"That's right, you gotta come over here so we can keep each other safe and- shoot."
You hear a snap of twigs behind you and at that moment know that what they said was the truth. You rush towards them without any hesitation as they brace themselves for another bloody battle.
[[Next->pg 17]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "Next")
(set: $track to 'endsmeet')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Feet pounding against the soil, you race towards the two strangers, praying with all your might that you don't end up like Jake. Sailing forwards, you dive for the glint of a metal object on the ground, and a swoosh of air can be heard as the short one let's loose an arrow at the monstrosity. Birling around, you get your first real look at the creature.
Unlike anything you've seen before, its tall and skinny frame curls in opposition as if a cat arching its back in defiance. Bald, its grotesque frame shines in the light of the moon, slick with a translucent mucus. Skin twisted and stretched across the facial structure, the mask-like visage almost seems to smile over at you as its crooked jaw clicks to the side. Pop, the jaw comes loose from its hinge and hangs low, revealing an array of jagged spindly teeth. Hissing at the two men, you don't appear to be its target for now.
Lunging for the one who just shot at it, his tall friend swings with all his might and intercepts. Crack. The hammer-like weapon finds purchase in its gut and it grunts in pain. Quick to adapt, its clawed arms swing out with unnatural speed and catch the side of his arm.
"Hurry up and shoot the blasted thing, Bill!"
"It's too fast. keep it still for me."
"Oh yeah, because that's so easy to do" the tall one wrestles against it for a moment as arms swing and hammers wail down. Bill seems to be fumbling around with an arrow and a little bottle, but the tall guy is in trouble. A hooked claw catches the side of his head, and pouncing the creature knocks him to the ground.
Acting on impulse, you take the distraction as a chance to attack, and lifting the metal object over your head you bring it down on the creature's skull with a resounding crunch.
The creature sways, the tall guy below blinks in surprise. Bill finally takes his shot... and misses, instead sinking it into the soil by your feet. As you make a grab for the sharper weapon, 'It' grabs you too, "oof", you belly flop into the cold, damp soil and it clutches the wooden stock as it grips onto your ankle and yanks you closer. Turning, you raise your empty hand to block its gaping jaw from chomping down on you and plunge the arrowhead into its leathery neck.
You feel a sharp pain in your abdomen before the tall guy sends it flying with a kick to its head. Rip. You feel your flesh give way as it's torn from your stomach.
"It's dead,"
"No thanks to you knucklehead. Help me get this one patched up."
It's dead; you did it. We did it. It's dead.
You feel pressure being applied to your wounds and a shift in gravity as consciousness leaves you and everything fades to darkness.
(set:$end3 to 1)
[[The End->end]](set:$name to (prompt:"Please enter your character's name: ", "New Name"))
(goto:"Welcome")(set:$name to (prompt:"Hello.
My name is Paige Riddell. I will be your narrator today and your guide through this adventure.
Before we continue, please provide a name for your character in the story
: ", "Alex"))
(set:$pg10 to 0)
(set:$pg16 to 0)
(set:$end1 to 0)
(set:$end2 to 0)
(set:$end3 to 0)
(goto:"Welcome")
A1:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726439758102588/A1_1_new.mp3
A12:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726478690156564/A1_2_new.mp3
A3:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726512735191050/A3_new_WITH.mp3
A4:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726786539356160/A4_potential_new.mp3
deepbreath:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726807095115796/deepbreath_pg_3.mp3
A5:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726825545596969/A5.mp3
A7:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726846462984202/A7.mp3
A6:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726869753823312/A6_new.mp3
A8:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726890251911208/A8_pg7.mp3
runningtowards:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726924112265276/runningtowards_pg_8.mp3
unlike:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726957931069447/unlike.mp3
A9:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829726984010989649/A9.mp3
lookingback:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727004185722920/lookingback_pg11.mp3
jenanimalblood:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727022296334396/jenanimalblood.mp3
itstime:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727043200876544/its_time.mp3
asyoufinally:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727081800663080/Asyoufinally_pg15.mp3
decidingcomeback:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727106224095232/decidingtocome_pg_16.mp3
endsmeet:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727136188334120/endsmeet_pg17.mp3
leave:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727150386446387/leave.mp3
end2:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727172120805426/end_2_WITH.mp3
confront:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727200625295390/confront_pg20.mp3
end1:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727228769599498/end_1_WITH.mp3
end2:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/829727228769599498/end_1_WITH.mp3
pg16:https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829726229610758174/830467250002853918/deciding.mp3(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')(masteraudio: 'stopall')(set: $pagename to "next")(set: $track to 'A12')(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
After getting dressed and making your way into the main room, you stock the wood-burning stove and light it to warm the place up. Then moving to the small kitchen corner, you find sat upon the counter sits a glass. Half-empty… you don't remember leaving that there... Oh well.
Cleaning it away alongside a few stray dishes, you begin to prepare yourself some breakfast. As you crack the egg into the pan, however, a loud scraping noise catches your attention.
Thud. Something heavy hits the outer wall of the cabin, and a fear runs through you, stealing the breath from your lungs.
Thud.
You turn to face the room… peering around the door to see if anything is visible through the windows.
Waiting… waiting… waiting.
Looks fine. Probably just a branch falling over after the storm the other day. You really should have cut them down. There's no reason to worry. It's just because of your job... after the things you've seen, it's no wonder you're paranoid.
Returning to cooking, you look at the mess in dismay. Sadness washes over you, thinking about the full English that could have been- Then you feel it. The hairs on the back of your neck prickling. The eerie absence of birds from the trees around you. Something is wrong; years of training kick in as you suddenly recall the noise you heard last night, the noise they make when they hunt, that noise- CRASH.
You catch a glimpse of glass rolling across the floor in the other room. Your veins pulse with adrenaline, and fear returns. Sadness, instinct, fear, sadness, fear. FEAR, overwhelming it crashes down upon you in waves, and running as your life depends on it; you grab the first thing that comes to your hand as you race for that front door.
Armed with a freshly oiled frying pan, you burst out from the cabin into the small clearing. Standing back, you watch, waiting for it to emerge. You can hear it moving inside, making its way closer. A shadow moves within the cabin. Closer and closer it gets until you watch as the door slowly opens. You hold your breath. Raise the pan. You were trained for this; You're ready.
The world seems to slow down; your veins pulse with adrenaline, your heart rate speeds up, every muscle tenses. You're ready.
[[Next->chap one]]startingVol: 0.5
sidebarStartClosed: false
muteOnBlur: true
showControls: true
persistPrefs: true
volumeDisplay: true(save-game: 'Last page veiwed')(masteraudio: 'stopall')(set: $track to 'A1')(set: $pagename to "Introduction")(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')(set: $option to 0)
The sound of crying reaches your ears amongst the silence of the night, stirring you slightly from your slumber. So quiet and gentle is the sound that your hazy mind barely registers its presence before sleep claims you once more, and it fades into the darkness.
Beep, beep, beep. Your alarm blares out aside you, jolting you awake. The small dose of adrenaline sending shivers down your spine -or perhaps that's just the morning air. After all, this small cabin of yours isn't fully insulated yet, and winter is fast approaching.
Begrudgingly pulling yourself out from under the covers, you reach over to turn off the alarm. Still groggy eyes find themselves wandering towards a photo. Framed in pine, it shows a young couple smiling together underneath a large oak tree. They look happy. The couple you bought the place from must have forgotten to take it with them when they left. They seem like the forgetful sort. So far, you'd come across some clothing left behind in the wardrobe, a beat-up old watch, an old dog's collar and even some basic toiletries and supplies. At least they left behind some thick blankets and pre-cut logs. Being the only one around for miles, it's not like you can just pop to the shop and buy some stuff. That's why you bought this place to begin with, a rural location close enough to the town to keep an eye on things but far enough away that there would be no prying eyes.
Next
After getting dressed and making your way into the main room, you stock the wood-burning stove and light it to warm the place up. Then moving to the small kitchen corner, you find sat upon the counter sits a glass. Half-empty, you don't remember leaving that there. Oh well.
Cleaning it away alongside a few stray dishes, you begin to prepare yourself some breakfast. As you crack the egg into the pan, however, a loud scraping noise catches your attention.
Thud. Something heavy hits the outer wall of the cabin, and a fear runs through you, stealing the breath from your lungs.
Thud.
You turn to face the room… peering around the door to see if anything is visible through the windows.
Waiting… waiting… waiting.
Looks fine. Probably just a branch falling over after the storm the other day. You really should have cut them down. There's no reason to worry. It's just because of your job... after the things you've seen, it's no wonder you're paranoid.
Returning to cooking, you look at the mess in dismay. Sadness washes over you, thinking about the full English that could have been- then you feel it. The hairs on the back of your neck prickling. The eerie absence of birds from the trees around you. Something is wrong; years of training kick in as you suddenly recall the noise you heard last night, the noise they make when they hunt, that noise- CRASH.
You catch a glimpse of glass rolling across the floor in the other room. Your veins pulse with adrenaline, and the fear returns. Sadness, instinct, fear, sadness, fear. FEAR, overwhelming it crashes down upon you in waves and running as if your life depends on it; you grab the first thing that comes to your hand as you race for that front door.
Armed with a freshly oiled frying pan, you burst out from the cabin into the small clearing. Standing back, you watch, waiting for it to emerge. You can hear it moving inside, making its way closer. A shadow moves within the cabin. Closer and closer it gets until you watch as the door slowly opens. You hold your breath. Raise the pan. You were trained for this; You're ready.
The world seems to slow down; your veins pulse with adrenaline, your heart rate speeds up, every muscle tenses. You're ready.
[[Next]](text-colour:black)[
[[Home->Welcome]] / (link-repeat: "Pause Audio")[(track: $track, 'pause')] / (link-repeat: "Resume Audio")[(track: $track, 'play')] / (link: "save")[(save-game: "file A")]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg9")
(set: $track to 'unlike')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Unlike the path from the car to the cabin, this one is much better. The ground is worn flat from years of use, and the shrubbery at the sides don't threaten to trip you up with each new step you take. Although you don't see anyone up ahead, the faint glow of light in the distance assures you that you're going the right way. Things are looking up. No matter what it takes, you WILL solve this mystery. Too many people have suffered because of it, including your own family. How are people supposed to make a living when things keep getting taken right from underneath their noses?! No more. This won't go on any longer! You will put a stop to this once and for all.
If you survived the fire; [[next->pg14]]
If you followed after them from the root cellar; [[next->pg15]](masteraudio: 'stopall')<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/829726229610758174/829744078798192650/jake.png?width=845&height=595'>
[[Introduction]](masteraudio: 'stopall')<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/829726229610758174/829743508655046726/one_adventure_begins.png?width=845&height=595'>
[[Three months later in a small town nearby->pg1]](masteraudio: 'stopall')<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/829726229610758174/829743461427183716/chap_three_lake.png?width=845&height=595'>
[[Next->pg9]](masteraudio: 'stopall')<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/829726229610758174/829743434880385034/Chap_two_cabin.png?width=845&height=595'>
[[Next->pg4]](masteraudio: 'stopall')<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/829726229610758174/829746901108523048/where_ends_meet_text_adjust_.png?width=596&height=596'>
-THE END-
[[Home page->Welcome]]
''(text-style:"underline")[Author's note]
''
Hello $name, and thank you for giving 'Where Ends Meet' a try.
I just wanted to take a moment to let everyone know that this game was created as part of my autonomous performer assessment at university (for my BA Hons Course). As such, while I intend to continue developing the game, it may be a while before any updates are made. Please do feel free to send any feedback or questions via email to ''gowithitgamer@gmail.com.''
I couldn't have done any of this without the support of my friends helping me navigate the world of audio and code, so a massive shout out to Dylan Paterson, Nikky Livian, Konstantinos Kafantaris and my DnD buddies for keeping me sane throughout all of this.
Lastly, a HUGE thanks to my family for putting up with all the noise coming from my room as I contemplate throwing the mic away and scrapping everything... we got there eventually! I’m super proud of where we sit right now and looking forward to improving it further.
''(text-style:"underline")[Extras]''
This project was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever made, I wrote way more than I ever thought I would and probably spent more time fighting with technology than I did procrastinate (A first for me!). As a result, I’m left with an excess of material that will probably never be seen - which feels like such a waste- so just in case any of you lovely people are curious here you can find some of the original scripts for the game. Ideas I tried out or plots I had begun to explore before settling on my final adventure.
[[The first Cabin scene]]
[[The waking Nightmare]]
[[Investigate the Cabin]]
[[Artwork]]
You can also find behind the scenes footage and resorces that I used to create the game so far on my faceBook page ''@WhereEndsMeet.''
[[Homepage->Welcome]]
This segment was the very first thing I wrote for the project. I had toyed with the idea of starting off on a pirate ship and having the player fight their way out, before deciding to situate the character in a cabin. So many fairy tales and Horror stories revolve around the forest, around the darkest of nights and creepy buildings. I wanted to play into the cliche and this was the result;
-Darkness. It shrouds your senses like a thick fog. It's cold, hazy embrace clinging to you as your consciousness fights against it. Your numb body seems to shimmer into being, slowly, agonisingly as sharp pins and needles crawl up from your toes to your knees to your stomach all the way up inch by inch until everything is alive. Sticky, heavy, your eyes seem to take a lifetime to open but once they do they are immediately met not but a blinding light but by the dimly lit appearance of wood. How curious... It appears that you’re not in the oh so familiar bed you have slept upon for years of your life. No. You seem to be lying on wood. Hard work. Cold wood. Damp wood. And now that you think about it, it is damp. You are damp. Not completely soaked through but that dampness that seems to burrow its way into your very bones. Perhaps that's why you’re so numb.
How long have you been here I wonder… as you continue to blink yourself awake you suddenly become aware of a highly unpleasant burn in your eyes. Unlike anything, you've ever felt before. The urge to rub kicks in and although it takes you a while to muster the strength, the energy, the motivation to move you eventually do. You start with your fingers sore and stiff a heat blooms out from the joints as you wiggle them. Gritting your teeth, Ignoring to the best of your ability just how truly uncomfortable you are you finally pull up your hand to wipe away the gunk. It's sticky, gritty, wet. No wonder your eyes felt like they were on fire. Whatever this is it looks disgusting, and it smells… ugh.
Now reasonably alert you try to sit up, pulling your hands below you for support and pushing, pushing, pushing. You have to try a few times before you finally make it as your muscles give out below you. Now up, however, you get a chance to take in your surroundings. Cosy, the room looks cosy for the most part, the old fashioned wingback chair in the corner, a little coal fire, a padded storage stool just next to it, a shelving unit, thick wool curtains and a small spattering of tasteful cabin decoration throughout. Cabin! That’s it… your in a cabin! Hmm, it’s such a shame... It would be a truly lovely cabin too if it wasn’t for the fact that the window just beside you was broken in and shards of glass were scattered upon the floor.
With this thought you carefully get up, swaying slightly as your blood rushes to your head. You don’t recognise this place, you don’t really remember what happened before you passed out either, you just remember running… running through a forest…
So: Your cold, damp, sore, confused and you find yourself in an unfamiliar cabin… what would you like to do? -
[[Back->A word from the author/Extras]]
Not happy with my initial trial, I decided to take a different approach. Because I wanted to pull forth the stuff of nightmares I used the motivation of a bad dream to take my character on a walk through the forest. Each location in the area would hold a different story, with each story having two endings. While I did do some work on this and had a rough skeleton plot for a few of them I found I laked any passion towards the stories. It became more about just writing something down than it was about me enjoying exploring a new genre to write in. Despite this, I did in fact write out one complete path before I moved onto the current story. This was what I ended up with;
-The air is cool. Fresh against your face. The scent of pine floating in the breeze. The dusty early morning sky barely lit, trickles through the canopy in drizzles of light. Below your feet, the soft earth is littered with fallen needles, and as you walk, a sense of calm washes over you. Your mind once racing from night terrors feels free now as if floating through a haze of tranquillity. With each step, you glide further and further along the trail. Further and further away from that stuffy little cabin. You pass by the little well along your way, and as you go to walk by, notice little specks of white surrounding its base. Snowdrops. Like little white pearls swaying ever so slightly with the current of the night's air. Behind you something shifts. You didn't quite manage to catch sight of it, but no worries, probably just a bird… maybe even a squirrel, the place is full of life after all.
Continuing your walk you find yourself coming to a crossroad:
To your left is the pathway that leads to the beautiful big oak tree where you held your wedding ceremony all those years ago, a little bit muddy but not too tricky to navigate.
Straight ahead is the gently sloping path towards the lake where you once played as children.
To your right is the path that takes you into the mountains nearby. The track while steeped is easy enough to climb, and the sunrise from there would be spectacular.
Which path do you decide to take?
------
Taking the track to the right you begin the gradual walk up the path. Walking through the trees, getting higher and higher in elevation they begin to thin out. Looking back toward the way you just came the landscape opens up before you. The muted sea of green spreading out for miles in each direction. Occasional gaps in the canopy open up to reveal the cabin and local areas that you and your family cleared out over the years. A truly beautiful view.
It is then that you notice, on the trail below you a figure trudging along. It appears Barney must have followed you from the cabin. "Barney here boy!" you call out. Seeing you he picks up the pace and greats you with a nudge to the leg. "suppose this can be your morning walk instead then boy". Now a duo, the two of you continue onwards to the view point. There are two paths you can take:
You could follow the cliffside along to the viewpoint, but the last storm may have washed some of the trail out
You're parents mentioned years ago they made another trach round the other side of the hill, but you haven't tried that one before.
------
Probably safer to try the other pathway. If rocks are loose on the cliffside then it could be quite dangerous. At least this way neither of you will fall to your deaths.
…
Typical.
Stuck. Well and truly stuck. You’d heard about the old mines that were said to run through these mountains, but never did you think you would end up stuck in one. It’s not like you went out hunting for coal. It's not like you were exploring an unstable my shaft. It's hardly your fault that the ground gave way below your very feet. You were perfectly content taking an early morning stroll. It’s painfully ironic that by avoiding the cliffside you ended up falling into an old mineshaft. How were you to know... and now you're stuck? Pinned beneath the topsoil that fell in after you. Suppose it could be worse. You could have been seriously injured. You could have died. Although perhaps you still will. If you're stuck here for too long and nobody finds you... there are wild predators out here, there could be a storm, or you could starve. Then who would look after Barny, who would- Oh! That’s right. Where's Barny? Did he get trapped; did he survive. You can’t see him from where you are... can't hear him. “Barney!” “Barney, here boy. Come here! Barney!”.
You wait... and wait... nothing. You try again, and again and again. Over and over, you shout until the Sky transitions from sunrise to a bright blue to a pinky grey, until your throat goes hoarse. You can feel the cramp set in. The cold from the earth burrowing into your bones. You’ll get sick from this regardless of if you make it out. How can you escape... how? You’ve been wiggling and moving and much as you can, but this soil is so damned heavy. You do Hope Barney is ok. That he made it. That you'll make it... You will make it. If Barney can survive getting stuck in a hole for days without food or water, then so can you. Determined you wiggle your fingers, tense each muscle in your body, trying all you can to move as you cast your mind back:
It was a beautiful summer's evening sitting by Lake Maura, feet dangling in the presently cool waters below, you hear a noise. At least you think you do. It's so quiet that you're not sure if you heard something or not... You sit and wait, silently listening, you can hear the wind rustling the leaves in the gentle breeze, you can hear the crickets chirping in the tall grass and the brush, birds occasionally call out to each other from one side of the forest to the other. Reminding you that while everything is peaceful it is very much alive. There it is! That noise you heard before, so quiet you almost didn’t catch it. It seems to be coming from over in that direction. Just past the large oak tree northeast of where you sat. Curious, you dry off your feet with your socks and slip on your shoes. Walking with the low golden sun on your left you can feel the rays warming your skin. It really is a lovely evening.
Walking closer you stop once more to listen. This time you wait a few minutes before you hear it again. The soft sound of whimpering. You follow the noise into the brush of the forest, and not too far in find it. This is where the noise is coming from... somewhere below? Looking around the ground appears to be torn up. Claw marks, snapped twigs, even the tiniest trace of blood can be seen here and there. The scene of a fight for sure. kneeling to inspect the area further it is then that you notice out the corner of your eye... movement. Cautiously you lean over what appears to be a rabbit hole, to reveal a small mess of a furball staring back at you. A little pup. Its paw bent at an odd angle seems to have gotten itself wedged in their tight. Drained of strength it blinks at you slowly, eyes drooping as it fights to retain consciousness. It doesn't look old. Maybe a month or two at the most judging by its size.
Deciding to help this little guy out you search the area for anything that could help you free him from his confines. You manage to source an old bit of metal fencing, your scarf, and taking your empty water bottle to the lake retrieve some water for him too.
Carefully taking the metal and wrapping the fabric around one end so as not to cut yourself you start to widen the edges of the hole. Carefully, slowly, you manage to widen the space just enough to fit a few fingers around the side of the pup. Not wanting to hurt it too much you unwind the scarf and drop it around the edges. If you can hook the scarf around its underbelly then maybe, just maybe, you'll get the extra leverage you need to set him free without aggravating his wound too much.
It takes you a while to position the scarf just right, being particularly slow when sliding it around the injured paw. Once it’s there, however, it takes no time at all to lift him out to freedom.
That was a long time ago now, and yet you still recall the long, sleepless night that followed. Barnie had been so exhausted that you had to drip feed him water through the evening while battling to keep his temperature down. The injured leg had caused infection and so many times you thought you would lose him. But just like you- he is a survivor. You will make it out of this alive. If only to save his sorry ass.
This isn't working. You need to find another way to get out. The Soil is too compressed to escape through strength alone... you need leverage. A way to pull yourself out...
Movement catches your ears. Something is close by. Could it be a predator, a wolf, a fox, birds coming to peck you apart bit by bit until there is nothing left? Shit. It's getting closer. You hold your breath hoping to be left undiscovered. Hoping to make it through the night. Closer and closer it gets until finally, you see it. The silhouette of a creature peering over the hole. Black against the dusty sky. The glint of its eyes looking at yours... your heart pounds against your chest, tears well up against your face.
“Barney!”
The old dog barks at you. A glint of pride in His old eyes as if to say, “I found you! I did it!”. Sliding down the sides of the collapse he makes his way over. Limping slightly with bloodied fur around his head he stumbles his way to you. He looks a mess. You assume he must have gotten knocked out by a rock. Maybe even trapped beneath some. He’s covered in dirt and mud and tufts of grass. Licking your face and giving you a nudge of affection, he moves to dig away the soil on top of you. Slowly he digs, huffing and puffing as his body strains. You watch as slowly blood drops drip from a wound somewhere on his battered body. You know. You know you're going to be ok. You know because there is absolutely no doubt in your mind that Barney will leave you like this. He WILL get you out. No matter what he will save you, even it costs him his life. Even if it takes days. He won't leave you like this.-
[[Back->A word from the author/Extras]]
Origionally in the current story line when you arrived at the cabin you had an option; to explore the surroundings first, or to explore the cabin itself. This was eventually taken out to streamline the story and solve a contradiction made later on, however it is possible that I may integrate it in future adaptions to the game.
- Moving towards the cabin, you slowly make your way into the little wooden porch. Each old wobbly step up creaking under the pressure, and your stomach churns at the thought of it giving way. Although covered in moss and cobwebs, the railings provide you with some comfort when you discover that they seem to be solid and capable of taking your weight. Eventually, at the small ancient wooden door - without incident - you contemplate the possibility that perhaps by some miracle, the door would be unlocked. That whatever being in charge of your destiny might allow for some minor aid in your endeavours. That they may take some pity on you - that you'd walked all this way, already, and had one scare in the forest, and that you were trying your best to solve this mystery. However, that seemed not to be the case tonight, as when you tug on the door, it doesn't open. Nor when you push against it with all your might does it budge.
Letting out a sigh, you glance aside. A window! Rushing over you pries against it, hoping that it moves... nothing. No matter, perhaps you can see through it? Wiping away a little of the dust and grime off the glass, you press the torch up against the pane and squint looking inside. Through the gaps of the old cloth, you catch glimpses of paper pinned against a wall. News clippings and dark photographs seem to swallow the wooden space, too far away to read but close enough to identify. Upon the floor of the cabin, however, is where you see it. Piles of animals butchered unceremoniously. Guts and gore strewed all around. Piles of meat, both new and old, seem dumped without care. This was no animal. This was no poacher, this was disgusting. The acts of a monster. No consideration for salvaging and selling the meat. This was a slaughter.
Pulling back from the window, you wipe your hand on your trousers. You've seen enough of that. Maybe there's something else around here that can tell you WHO the culprit is.-
[[Back->A word from the author/Extras]]
<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/615988596687503361/833360894183866428/where_ends_meet_text_adjust_.png?width=656&height=656'>
Cover Art, by P,Riddell
<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/615988596687503361/833360066199289906/creature_image_landscape.png?width=930&height=656'>
The creature in the hills, by P,Riddell
<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/615988596687503361/833360311846436904/moon_cretor_cabin.png?width=930&height=656'>
Moonlight Cabin, by P,Riddell
<img src='https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/615988596687503361/833361444220436480/138935275_2851945251760389_4381352674709123680_n.png'>
The Creature by k, Kafantaris
[[Back->A word from the author/Extras]](save-game: 'Last page veiwed')
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(set: $pagename to "pg7")
(set: $track to 'A8')
(track: $track, 'playwhenpossible')
Moving quickly towards the cabin, you realise that there's simply not enough time to get to the door. Not only that, but you don't even know if the door is unlocked or jammed! So thinking on your feet, you roll under the foundation as quietly as you can, pulling some of the grass to conceal yourself further. Doing your best to stay still, you watch in anticipation.
As the figures make their approach, you can hear their footfall disturbing the vegetation on the ground. They seem to know the area well, either that or they have a similar mindset as you do, as no light is cast over the earth upon their entrance. Seems they don't have a light source on them. Hearing them talk, you strain your ears to listen to the conversation.
"You think this will do it?"
"Has to, I'm all out of other ideas."
"Well, I'm just saying, last time Jake got mauled."
"That was an accident. How were we supposed to know where the nest was?"
"It's our job to know."
"Whatever, you make the plans next time. See how easy it is."
"fine"
"fine"
"You ready?"
"Sure, let's get outta here already."
"3. 2. 1. GO"
You watch on in fear and curiosity as the two talk. Thoughts race across your mind trying to piece things together when you notice a flash of light before you. The sound of feet slamming into the ground can be heard as both of them run away. It takes you a second to realise what just happened. Blinking, you look at the tiny light before you… a match. The flame catches onto the grass about an arm's length away.
Oh no.
Palms dig into the earth as you claw your way out from under the foundation as fast as you can, bag snatching on boards above you, you brute force your way through. Coming to the edge of the foundations, you grab onto one of the support logs to wrench yourself out completely. However, in your haste, you manage to dislodge one of the boards, and it comes down on your leg.
If you ran from the noise in the forest;[[Next->pg10]]
If you investigated the noise;[[Next->Page11]]