The Secret in Castle

You are standing in front of a great old castle. It is very late at night, a little cool, breezy, very dark and there are only faint stars. Through the rusty iron door, the castle was strewn with spider webs, bats and black cats. Three days ago, your best friends Betty and May invite you to explore an old castle, which is famous for its mystery, on Halloween night. A legend says that a witch has been living in this castle for the last 100 years. It is said that the witch made countless fine jewelry for her own use. But all the people who came here to look for the treasure have found no trace of her or the jewels. You are a little scared... However, Betty and May already went inside. [[Go into the castle although you are very scared...->Branch 1 Go in...]] [[Stay outside by yourself...->Branch 2 Stay outside...]] <img src=https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/dfbkbo/picture214990305/alternates/FREE_768/castle.JPG>

You go into the castle. The opening of the rusty iron door makes some [[noise->Noise]]. (if:visits >= 2)[You trot through a front yard strewn with dead branches and leaves. You finally catch up with Betty and May, and arrive at the [[front door->Front Door]] of the old castle.] (if:visits >= 3)[[[You push the door open and go in...->Branch 1-1 Keep going in...]] [[You feel like there's something strange about this door, and stop Betty and May...->Branch 1-2 Stop...]]]

You stay outside. The night is dark and the wind is high. You are shivering outside the iron gate, and your heart is beginning to panic. You take off the glasses. You wish that “if you can't see everything clearly, you should be less terrified, all is yourself frighten yourself.” Just as you're about to put your glasses in your pocket, they slip out of your hand. When you lean down to pick up your glasses, a black cat comes out of nowhere and takes them away. [[You run after the black cat and try to get the glasses back...->Branch 2-1 Go in accidentally...]] [[You think, “forget it, it's safe to stay where you are”...->Branch 2-2 Keep staying outside...]]

The door opens, revealing a splendour and luxury far different from the ruin outside. You look up, the golden crystal chandelier is polished, without any dust, even a little dazzling. Next to the chandelier are two staircases that descend from the second floor. The room is filled with artworks that look like they were made in the last century. There are a complete set of armor, shields and spears for soldiers, as well as harnesses for the royals and nobles, and many [[portraits->Portraits]] of what appear to be members of prominent families. (if:visits >= 2)[[[Next.->Branch 1 Continue...Keep going in...]]] <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/16/11/8a/16118a96a8a67bf906885c65228475cd.jpg>

You look carefully at every sculpture on the door and suddenly you notice that there is a sculpture cat missing a green gemstone as its eye. You asked Betty and May if they feel weird. However, they seem don't care at all, and just open the door... [[Next.->Branch 1-1 Keep going in...]]

Without the glasses, you can't see anything very clearly, so you have to run after a hazy dark shadow. As you run, the sly black shape slipped away round a corner. You take a step forward to see where it's gone, but you step on [[something hard->Something Hard]]... (if:visits >= 2)[Finally, the world around you becomes clear...You are in a [[room->Branch 1-3 Go into a room...]]...]

You sit on a stone by the door and wait for Betty and May to come out. You sit there...and fall asleep... [[Next.->Branch 2-2-1 Finally going in...]]

The noise excit a flock of bats. [[Back.->Branch 1 Go in...]] <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f3/24/6f/f3246f0693cd5b9e434b1fdd2dd3e08e.jpg>

This is a huge door, you reckon it must be at least three metres high. Although it is covered with dust, it is a very delicate and expensive door. The flowers, birds, fish and insects on the sculpture are lifelike, each pair of animal eyes are inlaid with gemstones of different colors, each flower is in bud. [[Back.->Branch 1 Go in...]]

You squat down and check. It's your own glasses! “Luckily, the glasses are not crushed,” you think, and then put the glasses on. [[Back.->Branch 2-1 Go in accidentally...]]

You are dozing off... Suddenly, you feel someone tap you on the shoulder You barely open your eyes, and see [[an elegant and mysterious woman->An Elegant And Mysterious Woman 1]] standing in front of you. (if:visits >= 2)[She bends down, her charming eyes narrow, and asks you: "Why are you sleeping here? Do you want to come in and have some tea?" (force-input-box:"=XX=","\"Yes\" you answered.") You look into her deep dark green eyes and don't know why you don’t say no. [[Next.->Branch 2-1-1 Continue...go in...]]]

When coming close to the pictures, you are surprised to see that the eyes of the people in these portraits are all dark green. You instantly feel a shiver down your spine... [[Back.->Branch 1-1 Keep going in...]] <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ee/20/00/ee2000ef16fb56ef61c043b0b3577f7e.jpg>

You three all go up the stairs to the second floor together. Through the dim candlelight on the side of the walkway, you can see only a long corridor on the second floor. The two sides of the corridor seem to be no end in sight, just disappearing into the darkness. There are uncountable closed doors along the corridor... You guys decide to split up, Betty goes left, and May goes right. [[You go left with Betty...->Branch 1-1 Go left...]] [[or go right with May...->Branch 1-2 Go right...]] [[You are curious about what's in the room, so you go neither way, but choose to open the nearest door...->Branch 1-3 Go into a room...]] <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7a/02/f5/7a02f56be12775a0575b1dba53552434.jpg>

She wears a black gauze hat with a large, ostentatious brim that covers almost all of her pretty face, except for her wine-red curls. She dresses as if from the last century, in a black modified whalebone dress with lace trimming. [[Back.->Branch 2-2-1 Finally going in...]]

Betty and you walk down the hallway to the right You walk from room to room by the dim light of the candles，but no matter how long you walk, the end of the straight corridor still cannot be seen. Finally, you see the glare of light at the end of the hallway. Betty and you run excitedly towards it... [[Next.->Branch 1-1-1]]

May and you walk down the hallway to the right You walk from room to room by the dim light of the candles，but no matter how long you walk, the end of the straight corridor still cannot be seen. Finally, you see the glare of light at the end of hallway. May and you run excitedly towards it... [[Next.->Branch 1-1-2]]

Contrary to what you might expect, the room is empty, with nothing but a small chandelier and another door. [[You walk straight to the door and open it->Room]], full of curiosity and anticipation... (if:visits >= 5)[Then you open countless doors like this and pass through countless rooms that are exactly the same. You start to doubt, start to worry, and start to be afraid, frantically open door after door, but what are waiting for you is one... after the other. Stunned, you stand panting in the middle of the room. It suddenly occurs to you that you can exit through the door that connects to the corridor in the first room. You decide to [[go back->Branch 1-3 Continue...go back...]] to the first room...]

It is the same room as before, again with only a small chandelier and another door... [[Back.->Branch 1-3 Go into a room...]] (if:visits >= 2)[Still the same room , with only the small chandelier and another door... [[Back.->Branch 1-3 Go into a room...]]] (if:visits >= 3)[Sorry...but still...unchanged... [[Back.->Branch 1-3 Go into a room...]]] (if:visits >= 4)[... [[Back.->Branch 1-3 Go into a room...]]]

You hurry back and open the doors one by one... Long after.. You think you should be in the "first" room by now, but the door to the hallway never appears. That's when you realize it, and start to wonder if you have fallen into an infinite loop. [[Next.->Branch 1-3 Continue...]]

She brings you into a little room... [[Next.->Pre-End Question]] <img src=https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/14477d93-5624-4fd8-b008-96c957882bc1/d5u1t5-2237d3fb-9f58-47b7-bcaa-8a060da4ce8b.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMTQ0NzdkOTMtNTYyNC00ZmQ4LWIwMDgtOTZjOTU3ODgyYmMxXC9kNXUxdDUtMjIzN2QzZmItOWY1OC00N2I3LWJjYWEtOGEwNjBkYTRjZThiLmpwZyJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl19.tU0_FE_DNgxLx9z6cfrW-FnselWSeJToImAe_NH5ltE>

However, you guys get back to the beginning of the corridor where May was separated from Betty and you. You guys are stunned. May is also there, she says that she just had the exact same experience with you guys. If the hallway is a circle, Betty and you should have met May in the hallway. However, the corridor that Betty and you just walked by is definitely straight, and you guys have never met May there. How could this happen? You are confused... [[Next.->Branch 1 Continue...lights off]]

However, you guys get back to the beginning of the corridor where Betty was separated from May and you. You guys are stunned. Betty is also there, she said that she just had the exact same experience with you guys. If the hallway is a circle, May and you should have met Betty in the hallway. However, the corridor that May and you just walked by is definitely straight, and you guys have never met Betty there. How can this happen? You are confused... [[Next.->Branch 1 Continue...lights off]]

Suddenly all the lights go out, even the faint candles in the corridor. The castle is enveloped in darkness. "Ah!" you don't know if Betty or May let out a scream. In the dark, someone yawns and says, "Who made such a loud noise that disturbs my sleeping?" This time, you are sure that it is neither Betty nor May, but a strange mature female voice. You are so frightened that you instinctively scream and squat to hold yourself tightly, as if it makes you feel safer. "Oh oh oh calm down children, don't be so afraid." she says, and then all the lights come back on. Then, you dare to stand up slowly and ask, "Who are you?" "This is not important, but since you guys disturbed my sleep, one of you needs to come to my room and get some...ummm...little punishment. I will give you three minutes to discuss who this little poor baby is." [[Betty and May are your best friends, so even though very scared, you still decide to go...->Branch 1-1 Yes]] [[You are too scared to say yes to the request...->Branch 1-2 No]]

"I will go!" You muster up the courage to say. “Alright, then you, close your eyes.” that woman says. You close your eyes as she tells you, nervous but trying to calm yourself “Welcome” You feel the location of the voice right in front of you. You open your eyes. The owner of the voice is [[an elegant and mysterious woman->An Elegant And Mysterious Woman 3]]... (if:visits >= 2)[You two are alone in the room... [[Next.->Pre-End Question]]]

None of you want to go. So the mysterious woman speaks up: "Since none of you will come forward to be punished, the three of you will come together." Just then, all the lights in the castle go out again, and before you realize, you are already in a small room. In the room, sits [[an elegant and mysterious woman->An Elegant And Mysterious Woman 4]]. “She must be the person we just talked to,” you think... (if:visits >= 2)[[[Next.->Pre-End Question]]]

Just as you are sinking into despair, there is the sound of a door opening behind you. [[An elegant and mysterious woman->An Elegant And Mysterious Woman 2]] walks in... (if:visits >= 2)[[[You are so scared, and run for the door, trying to get out...->Branch 1-3-1 Escape...]] [[You are curious, so you stay...->Pre-End Question]]]

“It was so dark in so many places in the castle, she must not like the light,” you think. In the dim room, a small desk lamp is lit up. Then you can see more clearly that she is sitting on a soft single sofa, holding a delicate ceramic teacup, the tea is still steaming. She blows on her tea, takes a sip, and then says, "I want you to answer a question for me, but you need to be honest." "Do you believe witches exist?" She asks. [["Yes, I do believe." You answer, looking into her dark green eyes.->Pre-End Believe]] [["No, I don't." You answer, looking into her dark green eyes.->Pre-End Don't believe]] <img src=https://www.funpartystore.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/2/thumbnail/600x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/l/flowered_black_witches_hat_with_net_veil.jpg>

You want to escape, however, when you come to the door, it's not there anymore, what in front of you is the wall... You're angry and scared, yell at the woman: "Let me out! You crazy woman!" "Alright, if you answer my question, I will consider letting you out." She answers you calmly, as if she doesn't care about your yelling at all. You think about it and try to calm yourself down... [[Next.->Pre-End Question]]

She wears a black gauze hat with a large, ostentatious brim that covers almost all of her pretty face, except for her wine-red curls. She was dressed as if from the last century, in a black modified whalebone dress with lace trimming. [[Back.->Branch 1-3 Continue...]]

She smiles and gives you a dark green jewel necklace. She says it was the key to a room in the castle that no one had ever been to. After you take the necklace, her figure gradually disappears, you open your eyes. You wake up on the bed, looking at dazzling sunshine. So, all this is a dream...It's just that there seems to be a priceless jewel necklace on the pillow... [["Ring ring!"->End ring ring!]] <img src=https://www.tupianguanjia.com/i/1202548/4r4i1/QQ截图20171229153723.jpg>

She is very angry, and her face is gradually becoming fiercer. You are so scared that you want to run but can't move. You wake up in a cold sweat on your bed... [["Ring ring!"->End ring ring!]]

The phone on the bedside table rings. It's Betty and May inviting you to explore an old castle in the suburbs, which is famous for its mystery, three days later on Halloween night... -End- <img src=https://images.theweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/tw_image_9_4/public/43904_article_full.jpg?itok=nzyzSwl0&resize=450x200>