CMPM 80K Branching narrative assignment

Dreams can often foreshadow future events. //I'm laying down on a table. A figure in blood red robes stands over me, its face obscured by shadow. In one hand is a wicked looking knife. The stench of blood wafts in the air as the figure waves the knife in the air. I look to the side, and see a pile of bodies...// ''Author's note: This game implicitly or explicitly references murder, and PTSD. If you aren't ok with this, leave now.'' Bzzz... Bzzz... Bzzz... [[Stay in bed]] [[Get out of bed...]]

Hrrrmmmmm... I don't want to get out of bed... [[Wake up...]]

I'll have to get out of bed eventually... God damn it... I turn the alarm on my phone off. [[Go to the bathroom]] (set: $showered = false, $brushedTeeth = false)

(if: $brushedTeeth is false) [I brush your teeth. My mouth feels fresh, and there's no longer that wierd taste in it either. Nice!] (set: $brushedTeeth = true) (else:) [I've brushed my teeth already. No sense in wasting water.] [[Go to the bathroom]]

(if: $showered is false) [I wash myself down, the water leaving me awake and relaxed. This feels nice.] (set: $showered to true) (else:) [I've already showered. No sense in wasting water.] [[Go to the bathroom]]

I shuffle into the bathroom and empty my bladder. (if: $showered is false) [The morning haze hasn't quite lifted yet.] (else:) [I feel awake, kind of. Maybe breakfast would do?] (if: $brushedTeeth is false) [My mouth feels... mucus-y... yuck.] (else:) [My mouth stings slightly with from the minty toothpaste, but it's a good kind of sting.] [[Brush teeth]] [[Shower]] [[Go to the kitchen.]]

I take my phone with me to the kitchen. I start playing some music, and begin to decide what I will have for breakfast. Let's see... what's in the pantry? (set: $drinks = false, $food = false, $eatBreakfast = false) [[drinks]] [[food]] [[Go to the dining table]]

I walk over to the dining table. (if: $eatBreakfast is true) [I eat my breakfast heartily.] (if: $drinks is true) [I guzzle down the drink quickly. I keep forgetting how thirsty I get in the morning...] //Bzz, Bzz// I look at my phone, there's a notification from Mariah. It's a text. //Hey! There's this cool overnight concert that's going down by the harbor tonight! You want to come?// [[Sure!]] [[No thanks]] (set: $employedDocks = false)

A refreshing drink would start my day off well. (if: $food is false) [Should I get some food too?] (if: $food is false) [[food]] [[Go to the dining table]] (set: $drinks to true)

I should put some food in my stomach before I start my day. (if: $drinks is false) [Should I get something to drink as well?] (if: $drinks is false) [[drinks]] [[Go to the dining table]] (set: $food to true) (set: $eatBreakfast to true)

//Cool! I'll meet you at my apartment before we go!// Now that that's settled, I really don't have much to do. Just some reading for class. I settle down to read and before I know it, it's about time I get ready to head to the docks. I arrive in front of Mariah's apartment and knock on the door. She comes out. "Hey!" She says, shutting the door behind her. "You ready to go?" I nod, and we board the bus to the docks. [[Go to the docks]] (set: $goToBar to false) (set: $stuffedAnimal to false) (set: $eatHamburger to false)

//Aww. Well, whatever you're doing, have fun!// I look over to the clock. Damn, it's almost time to leave for work. I get changed and head to the docks. [[Go to the docks]] (set: $employedDocks to true)

(if: $employedDocks is true) [I arrive at the docks and head straight for the supervisor's office. The blinds are drawn shut. I can hear muffled voices inside. Should I knock on the door? [[Knock on the door]] [[Wait until your supervisor is done]] (set: $supervisorAnnoyed to false, $speakers to false, $lights to false, $smoke to false)] (else:) [We arrive at the docks at twilight, and there's already a large body of people there. It's loud and the smell of alchohol and grilled food fills the air. Two parallel rows of tents and vendors form a road leading to a massive stage in the background. As we stroll by the stalls, Mariah excitedly points out some flashy looking tents. "Ooh, that one is selling BTS merch! *Sniff* Mmm, those burgers smell real good too. Oh! And..." I smile as Mariah rambles on about the vendors and stalls as I take a look around myself. There's a dart game tent with stuffed animals for prizes. Thos things are usually rigged aren't they? Ah well, that would be fun either way. I notice a bar bustling behind one of the rows of tents, perhaps we could get something to drink? Mariah finishes rambling and turns to me. "So, what should we do first?" (if: $eatHamburger is false)[[Get a hamburger]] (if: $stuffedAnimal is false)[[Try to win a stuffed animal]] (if: $goToBar is false)[[Go to the bar]] [[Go to the concert]]]

I walk out to the . Notice some things out of place. Boss orders everyone to sleep in dock bunks. [[Set up overhead lights]] [[Set up speakers]] [[Set up smoke machine]] (if: $lights is true or $smoke is true or $speakers is true) [[Go to sleep]]

(if: $employedDocks is true) [The Supervisor comes out to inform us that we're sleeping in the bunks tonight. That's bull. I hate it there. I can't so much as twitch my nose before I bruise my forehead on the bunk above me. But then again, this is my job. I don't really have a choice in the matter, do I? I do know a hidden spot however, I could just sleep there and wake up before anyone else notices I'm gone. [[Sleep in the bunks]] [[Sleep in the hidden spot]] ] (else:) [Mariah and I walk the hotel's halls, searching for our hotel rooms, chatting about everything that's happened. (if: $goToBar is true) [Mariah giggled when we recollected our conversation at the bar. My cheeks were redder than they had been apparently.] (if: $eatHamburger is true) [Mariah could not stop raving about how good the burger was.] (if: $stuffedAnimal is true) [She regards the stuffed animal that she won, making note of its nose. It was indeed a cute nose.] ] [[Wake up]]

(if: $employedDocks is true)[ (if: $sleepHidden is true)[I wake up earlier than should be necessary, and make my way back to the bunks. Oddly enough, the door is already [[cracked open]]. I step through the threshold, only to find that [[no one is here]]. I run over to the supervisor's office and notice the smashed window. [[Something isn't right here...]] (set: $cabinets to false) (set: $desk to false) ] (if: $sleepBunk is true)[I wake up to a pain in my back. My head jerks up. I crane my neck to look around. I'm trapped in a cage with two other employees. Around me, I can see other cages with employees crammed inside in groups of three. In front of the only source of light in the darkened room is the slick haired man I saw exiting the supervisor's office and... [[the supervisor]]!] ] (else:) [I yawn as I stretch my arms. I go through my morning routine, then step out into the hallway. (if: $brushedTeeth is false) [There's a numbness in my mouth accompanying a strange taste. (if: $showered is true)I [[go to Mariah's room]].] (else:) [(set: $cracks to false) I notice some [[cracks]] in the wall that weren't there last night.] (if: $showered is false) [Morning haze clouds my mind as I shuffle down the hall. (if: $brushedTeeth is true)I [[go to Mariah's room]].] (else:)[(set: $vases to false) There are [[vases]] that lay on the ground, smashed.]]

(if: $employedDocks is true) [There are [[papers]] are scattered about the room, the [[desk]] tipped over and its contents spilled out onto the floor. Some of the [[cabinets]] are open, and bent. [[Move on to music stage]]] (else:) [The lobby is in a worse state than the rest of the hotel. Vases are broken on the floor, [[paintings]] are torn, [[furniture]] is wrecked, and blood is on the floor. [[Step outside to street]]]

(if: $employedDocks is true) [The [[air]] is sweeter than I remember it. There is trash scattered about the floor, though there don't appear to be any signs of a struggle. There doesn't appear to be anything strange here, so I move on [[backstage]].] (if: $employedDocks is false) [I climb up onto the stage. The air smells sweet, now that there aren't any sweaty bodies to cover up the smell. I climb up onto the stage itself, looking for anything unusual, when I notice the door to [[backstage]] is open.]

Take note of state of street: items littered about, colder than usual breeze blowing through street. Links within descriptive paragraph will provide more details. I step out onto the street, noting the colder than normal breeze blowing in from the ocean. Trash is littered about the street, accompanied by the occasional spatter of blood. [[Move on to music stage]]

(if: $dead is true) [ (if: $loneWolf is true or $nofight is true) [I died. I can't say what it's like. The living arent' supposed to know what the afterlife is like, after all.] (if: $pushed is true)[I'm not supposed to tell you this, but the dead KNOW things. How or why I don't know. I just know that whatever happened, the cultists got what they wanted.] (if: $knife is true) [Well, now at least I can say I died like a warrior, or some other such flowery prose. Not that it matters. I'm dead anyways.] ] (else:) [ (if: $supervisorAnnoyed is false)[It wasn't pretty. The dockworkers in particular were VERY vindictive. Most of the concert goers and dockworkers got out ok, others got bruises and minor cuts and things like that. Me? Well.. I don't think I'll be sleeping soundly for a while.] (if: $runAway is true) [It's not worth mentioning what happened immediately after I escaped. I ran and ran and ran. I ran until my legs gave out, and cried until what might as well have been the end of time.] (if: $hardFight is true)[The authorities found out that none of the concert goers or dock workers survived. On the bright side, if one could call it that, is that this cult was apparently responsible for mass disappearances every thirty years. The authorities made sure I was physically healthy and able to continue working. Got a nice reward out of it too. Cold comfort. Everyone is dead. And I had been helpless to stop it.] ] (if: $mariahDead is true)[I couldn't get out of bed for a month. But at least the cultists got put away forever. I guess that counts for something...] (if: $mariahSaved is true)[Mariah and I are inseperable now. After everything that's happened, we both need someone to lean on after everything that's happened. Neither of us could sleep soundly for a while.] [[Post Scriptum]]

We enter the bar, and that's when the full brunt of the alchohol we smelled earlier slams into our nostrils. People look like they're having a good time, no bar fights or anything like that going down. Mariah and I walk up to the bartender, who's laughing and conversing with a group of patrons. The bartender smiles at us. "Hello! What can I get you two?" We each order a pint and down it quickly. Before we can leave, we're talking with the group the bartender was speaking with. They're nice people. We chat for a while before deciding to check out what the rest of the stalls have in store. [[Go to the docks]] (set: $goToBar to true)

I set up the speakers with little issue. [[Set up concert]] (set: $speakers to true)

I make my way up to the rafters and help set up the overhead lights. It gets done without any complications. [[Set up concert]] (set: $lights to true)

I help some coworkers set up the smoke machine. I set the fog machine fluid jug down beside it, and walk away. Out of the corner of my eye, I see another jug tucked behind a box. The word "Fluothane" is written on the side. I dunno what that is. [[Set up concert]] (set: $smoke to true)

I knock on the door, silencing the voices inside. I hear shuffling on the other side before a man in a tuxedo with slicked back hair opens the door and pushes past me. I step into the supervisor's office, who is sneering. "You know you're supposed to wait outside if the door is closed." The supervisor stares at me for a bit after I nod. "I need you to help set up the concert tonight. Make yourself useful and find out who you can help out before I fire you." [[Set up concert]] (set: $supervisorAnnoyed to true)

I stand outside the supervisor's door, hearing the voices inside become slightly more heated. Soon, the door opens, revealing a man in a tuxedo with slicked back hair. He strides past me as I slip into the supervisor's office. I see the supervisor quickly stuff something into his drawer. He looks up and smiles unconvincingly, saying, "Ah, good to see you. That concert coming up tonight is gonna be big. We're gonna need your help to set it up." He gestures to the door behind me. "Better find someone and get started." [[Set up concert]]

The bunks are uncomfortable as hell, but if I get caught disobeying a direct order, I'll probably be fired... for whatever reason. I climb into a bunk and nod off... [[Wake up]] (set: $sleepBunk to true)

Yeah... no. I'm not waking up with a concussion. I follow my coworkers to the bunks, and pretend to sleep. Once I'm confident the others are sound asleep, I sneak out of the bunks to the hidden spot. I'll just have to wake up early... and... zzz... [[Wake up]] (set: $sleepHidden to true)

Those hamburgers are smelling really good right now. REALLY good. Mariah and I wander over to the hamburger tent, and look over the menu. We order burgers and chat. There's not much else to do at this tent, so we try to decide what to do next. [[Go to the docks]] (set: $eatHamburger to true)

Mariah and I decide that we're both feeling lucky, and step up to the dart throwing tent. Opposite us is a wall covered by balloons. The stall operator approaches us with a smile. "Hello! $3 for 3 darts." We each pay, and of course, we only win those tiny stuffed animals the size of our palms. It was fun though, I'll give it that. [[Go to the docks]] (set: $stuffedAnimal to true)

There are some scratches on the door, and the handle seems to have been hit more than a few times. [[Something isn't right here...]]

The sheets have been thrown around, some of them stained red. Some of the frames of the bunks are dented. [[Something isn't right here...]]

(if: $supervisorAnnoyed is false) [The supervisor looks over with a glum stare, his eyes failing to meet mine. I notice that he has a [[key]] on him...] (else:) [The supervisor looks over with a small smirk. He says something to the slick haired man, who leaves, and walks over to my cage. "Well well well... look who's finally awake." The supervisor sneers. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Even with all the ruckus we caused you barely shifted in your sleep." I glare back at him as he walks away laughing. "Enjoy your stay! It will be your first, and your last." I slump down, the gravity of the situation weighing on my shoulders. I turn dejectedly to [[talk to my cell mates]].]

These cracks are fairly deep. Not the kind that come from mildew or lack of maintenance, there had been a struggle. I think I can make out some scratch marks too, a faint splattering of red... (if: $showered is true) [I notice the [[vases]] are on the floor as well.] [[go to Mariah's room]] (set: $cracks to true)

The vases decorating the halls lay shattered on the floor of the hall. Upon closer inspection, there are smudges of red on some of the shards. These vases are white porcelain with blue patterns. (set: $vases to true) (if: $brushedTeeth is true) [I notice on the wall behind the vase are [[cracks]].] [[go to Mariah's room]]

(if: $vases is true or $cracks is true) [I rush to Mariah's room, only to find it ajar and slightly dented. I throw the [[door]] open, only to find the room is a mess. The [[sheets]] are thrown about the room, and chunks are missing from some of the furniture.] (if: $vases is false and $cracks is false) [I shamble over to Mariah's room, pausing for a minute. Why is her [[door]] open? And why is it bent?]

(if: $vases is true and $cracks is true) [The sheets are stained red, and are torn up. I pick it up and search under it, only to find nothing. But as I put the sheets back down, I feel something hard within it. I dig through the sheets and pull out a [[knife]]. [[Something isn't right here...]]] (if: $vases is false and $cracks is false) [I scan the room, seeing the smashed furniture and sheets thrown about the room. Suddenly, I feel an impact on my head and my vision goes dark... [[wake up]] (set: $KO to true) ]

I sift through the papers, hoping to find something of use. Alas, all I find are papers pertinent to running docks. And some excel spreadsheets. Mind numbingly boring. [[Something isn't right here...]]

I pull open the drawers and examine the contents that haven't spilled out onto the floor. Most of the things are just office supplies, but at the bottom of the drawer I find a folded up robe and a wicked looking knife with black decorations. [[Something isn't right here...]] (set: $knife to true)

The dents in the cabinets look fist sized, although one looks to be around the size of a person. Some of the papers and files have spilled out. I scan through them: the top cabinets are all standard business documents, it isn't until I reach the bottom of the cabinet that I find anything interesting. Several yellow envelopes with broken red seals. I pick one up and remove its contents. The ink is red, and makes mention of a sacrifice that happens every thirty years, the need for secrecy, and "Nosferatu", of whom their leader is considered the embodiment of, and how succession was handled: killing of the leader. I put it all away, moving ahead of the stack to the most recent envelope. It's addressed to my supervisor, making mention of the concert and how important it was to acquire enough sacrifices to satisfy their diety. [[Something isn't right here...]] (set: $cabinets to true)

(if: $vases is true and $cracks is true) [The door has a hole in it, roughly fist sized. There are splinters littering the floor.] (if: $vases is false and $cracks is false) [Upon closer inspection, the door is cracked in multiple places, some lined with a faint red.] I move past the door and look at the room, namely, the [[sheets]] on the ground.

Thank you for playing my game! Should you so desire, there are other paths that this story could take. If this is your first time playing through, you may not know that NOT clicking on certain links will lead to different outcomes! Should you so choose to replay this game, I hope it proves as entertaining the second time around as the first, if it did at all. Regardless, I hope you have a great day!

We finally go to the concert, and it's amazing! Lights, smoke, all that stuff. Everyone is having fun, I'm dancing with Mariah all through the night, even some of the other people attending. The night blurs into one massive, enjoyable night. Unfortunately, the night eventually draws to a close, and we all must retire to our hotel rooms for another day of fun. [[Go to sleep]]

A cast iron key hangs from the supervisor's belt. Perhaps I could steal them and unlock the cage? [[talk to my cell mates]]

The knife looks vaguely familiar. At the end of the hilt is a red jewel with black decorations on it. I hold onto the knife. It might help me figure out what's going on. [[Something isn't right here...]] (set: $knife to true)

(if: $supervisorAnnoyed is false)[I turn to my cell mates. They look back at me, desperation playing in their eyes. "I don't suppose you have a plan to get out of here?" I ask. They both shake their heads. We all turn our heads as the supervisor approches us. "I'm sorry about all of this, but it was the only way." One of my cellmats leaps at him from behind the bars, shaking the cage. He's spewing curses and trying to strangle the man when I notice the keys [[dangling]] from the supervisor's belt.] (else:) [One of my cell mates looks at me with a smirk on his face, while the other bears a look of wonder and hope. I raise an eyebrow, and the first cell mate discreetly raises the keys that were [[dangling]] from the supervisor's belt. I feel hope swell through me until all of the lights go out, leaving us in darkness.]

The paintings are torn, some with single, long gashes running through them, others with five, shorter, parallel rips. Sometimes they have both. Other times the canvas lays on the ground in pieces. [[Something isn't right here...]]

The individual pieces of furniture are in various stages of disrepair. The couches and sofas are slashed up and have stuffing pouring out of them, but the wooden tables are smashed up and splintered. [[Something isn't right here...]]

(if: $supervisorAnnoyed is false)[I quietly lift the keys from the supervisor's belt as he's distracted. The supervisor shuffles away dejectedly after mumbling something, before shutting the door and plunging the room into darkness. I hear the cussing cell mate slump against the bars. The other one of my cell mates whispers to me. "Hey, I saw you filch the keys off the supervisor. When do you plan on getting us all out?" [[Wait]] [[Go]] ] (else:) [I hear the jangling of keys as the cellmate wrestles with the lock. I soon hear a click, and the three of us surge out of the cage, stretching out. I look in the general direction of my cell mates. No one is around. I feel the keys being pressed against my chest. I fumble with them before they're held securely in my hand. "So," my cell mate starts, "You gonna free the others?" [[Of course!]] [[It's everyone for themselves!]]]

I remember the jug I saw tucked away in the corner, the one labelled "fluothane". I vaguely remember something about it being an anesthetic used for surgeries. They must have replaced the smoke machine fluid with it to knock the crowd out. [[backstage]]

There's an overterned makeup table, and, oddly enough, there's a gaping hole behind where it should be. It looks big enough for me to walk through, and I can see [[stairs]] that would allow me to do just that.

I hear voices coming from the door. Frantically looking around, I can't find a good hiding spot, so I leap over the table and sprint down the stairs. The stairs go down for a long time, and my lungs are burning by the time I reach the bottom. I've stumbled into a large cavern illuminated by electric ceiling lights. The cavern itself is full of cultists milling about. All of whom are staring at me now. [[Run back up the stairs]] (if: $knife is true)[[Take the knife out and try to fight them]]

I decide to wait, much to the dismay of my cell mates. Soon, the slick haired man throws the door open, accompanied by two other men in blood red robes, storming straight to my cage. He kicks the door, shouting, "One of you infidels has the key to this cage! Give it to us now, and your death may be quick and painless!" The three of us glare at him balefully, causing him to snarl and whip out the knife on his belt. "Very well then." He nods to one of the men, who pulls out his own key and unlocks the cage. The cussing coworker lunges out of the cage at the slick haired man, only to recieve a kick to his chin, knocking him out. The other coworker and I are roughly pulled out of the cage, whereupon the key I had hidden drops to the floor. [[Fight!]] [[Don't fight]]

I awkwardly crawl to the cage's door, grasping the key tightly as I fidget with the lock, trying to get the key in the right place. Eventually, I hear the satisfying click of the lock coming undone, and the three of us stumble out into the open. "Alright," I mutter, "now to free the others." The cussing cell mate snorts. "Forget them, I'm outta here!" The other cell mate manages to grab the cussing cell mate before the latter can make a run for the door. "Even if you don't care about the others we're not gonna let you alert those other wackjobs about what we're doing!" I feel two gazes fall upon me. "We ARE freeing the others, right?" [[Of course!]] [[It's everyone for themselves!]]

I throw a punch at him before he can look back at me, knocking him to the floor. My cellmates take the cue and attack the other two robed men while I scoop up the key and begin to unlock cages. The slick haired man eventually comes to his senses, notices me and snarls. [[Have someone else unlock cages]] [[Keep unlocking cages]] (set: $fight to true)

The slick haired man sneers before his fist connects with my jaw. I black out. [[to the altar]] (set: $noFight to true)

I feel my way over to the next cage, wrestling with that lock until I hear a clicking sound. The cage door creaks open and three bodies fumble their way out of the cage. I unlock another cage when suddenly the door the slick haired man and the supervisor walked through is flung open and the lights flicked on. It takes a while for my eyes to adjust, but when they do, I see the slick haired man and two robed cultists staring at me and the people I freed in shock. I sprint to the next cage, working to unlock it as the people I'd freed attack the three cultists. Eventually, more cultists come into the room as I continue to unlock cages, letting concert goers and dock workers out to either try to escape or fight the cultists. It takes a while, but eventually everyone is free. [[to the altar]] (set: $helpFree to true)

I rush blindly forward, my arms out as I feel for the door. As I'm searching however, the door flies open, slamming into my outstretched hands. I stumble back as the slick haired man and two robed people storm into the room. The lights flash on, and I'm blinded. I feel something hit my head and I tumble to the ground. [[to the altar]] (set: $loneWolf to true)

(if: $loneWolf is true or $noFight is true)[Next thing I know, I'm being dragged somewhere. As I come to, I notice I'm being dragged by my feet in a large cavern lit by ceiling lights. I look around, noticing that many other people in blood red cloaks are surrounding us, kneeling with their heads bowed. My cell mates are being dragged behind me, neither of them concious. They are thrown to the side as I'm dragged on top of an altar at the front of the cavern, closing my eyes before the slick haired man catches me. I could [[wait]] for a more opportune moment, or I could [[fight]] back now.] (if: $fight is true or $helpFree is true) [We press our way beyond the door into a spacious cavern lit by electric ceiling lights. The space is filled with angry and scared concert goers and dock workers. I do my best to dodge past bodies and find an exit to this cavern. Peeking out from behind the mass of people, I see a stairway leading up to what I assume would be surface level. I hear someone scream over the brawl and whip my head in its direction. My eyes widen in horror when I see the slick haired man dragging Mariah to the altar in front of the cavern. [[Help Mariah]] [[Run away]] ] (if: $hardFight is true) [I'm thrown unceremoniously onto the altar, hearing cursing and shouting. My eyes are still closed, perhaps I could [[wait]], trick them into thinking I'm still knocked out. Or I could [[jump up]] now and take the rest of the cultists out.]

I stop one of the running people and push the key into their hands. "Unlock the cages!" I shout. "What are you doing here?!" I look into their face, only to recognize Mariah. "No time to explain, go unlock the rest of the cages!" I turn to look at the slick haired man, who is bearing down on me with the wicked knife on his belt. I try to control my shaking knees and trembling hands as he lunges at me. I dive to the side, quickly rising to my feet. Not fast enough apparently. The slick haired man's foot crashes into my stomach. The slick haired man grabs my ear and drags me out of the room as the fighting escalates "You're coming with me". [[to the altar]]

I ignore the slick haired man and continue down the line, unlocking cages. I glance over my shoulder, and notice that some of the people in the cages are fighting the people in blood red robes. Apparently, some of the other robed people had keys on them, and some other people are working on getting everyone else out of the cages. Before I know it, everyone is out of their cages and either running, or fighting the increasing amount of cultists pouring into the room. Soon, everyone is free, and I join the wave of people surging out of the door. [[to the altar]]

I wait as the slick haired man monologues. Soon, the whole cavern is filled with chanting, and my eyes snap open. The slick haired man smirks as he chants, his hand clamping over my mouth. He waves his knife in the air, and before I can do anything, the knife greedily draws blood. [[The end]] (set: $dead to true)

My eyes snap open as I kick the slick haired man in the stomach. He doubles over, his face meets my other foot as I swing myself off the altar. I notice the chasm behind the slick haired man. I could push him down it, but do I want that weighing on my conscience? Although, if movies are to be believed, holding someone over one usually is enough to convince them to see things your way. [[push him off]] [[Hold him over the edge]]

I push my way through the crowd, fighting my way to the altar. I can see Mariah shoved onto the altar, the slick haired man brandishing his wicked looking knife. I push my legs as hard as they'll go, and soon I'm just before the altar. (if: $supervisorAnnoyed is true)[I'm tackled to the side and sent rolling along the ground. I fight to push my assailant off, but by the time I do, I notice Mariah already has a knife hilt deep in her chest. [[The end]] (set: $mariahDead to true) ] (else:)[The knife goes flying through the air as the slick haired man is tackled to the side by... the supervisor?! As the two of them are wrestling on the ground, I pull Mariah off the altar and drag her through the crowd, up the stairs, and out to safety. [[The end]] (set: $mariahSaved to true) ]

Between fight and flight, the latter won. I couldn't look back as I ran towards the staircase. Even as I got to the top of the staircase, I didn't stop. How could I? [[The end]] (set: $runAway to true)

While the slick haired man is stunned, I ram him with my shoulder sending him stumbling. Before he can regain his balance, I give him one more push, sending him tumbling over the edge. The cavern is silent, save for my heavy breathing. I look out over the assembled cultists, whose faces I can't see beneath the shadows of their robes. (if: $cabinets is true)[I brandish my hand in dramatic fashion. "I am your god! His former vessel is deceased. You shall obey my every order!" My cellmates look at me with wide eyes. The cultists look around uncertainly. I point to my cellmates, making them flinch. "Release them!" "But my lord-" A voice speaks up from the crowd. I snap towards them. "You dare question the word of your lord Nosferatu?! I said release them!" (if: $supervisorAnnoyed is true)[A familiar voice cuts through the cavern. "Do not listen to this fool! Avenge our lord Nosferatu!" My cellmates scream as they're trampled, my own eyes widening in fear and my throat closing tight. Mercifully, I don't feel the impact at the bottom of the chasm. [[The end]] (set: $dead to true) ] (else:)[The cultists move reluctantly, cutting the bonds of my cellmates, who look at me bewildered. "The keys, hand them to those two." I say, gesturing to my cellmates. The cultists do as they're told. "Go free the others." I say I stare down the rest of the cultists as the people trapped in cages are freed. Soon, concert goers and dock workers stream out of the cage room. What happens next... well... I'll let the police handle that. [[The end]]] ] (set: $pushed to true)

I grab the slick haired man's robe and hold him over the edge, fear playing slightly in his eyes. "Let everyone go." I snarl. He smiles menacingly. "And what makes you think you're in any position to be giving orders?" I look quickly behind me, seeing two cultists running up to the altar. As my head snaps back to the slick haired man, I notice [[the knife]] on the floor. Alternatively, I could just [[let go]].

I quickly bend down to scoop up the knife, but the slick haired man kicks my face, knocking me to the ground. Seems it was just an act of desperation, as he makes no effort to save himself as he shouts, "Avenge your lord!" The two cultists manage to get me. The last thing I remember is fists and feet crashing down on me. [[The end]] (set: $dead to true) (set: $pushed to true)

I release my grip on the man. The man screams as he tumbles into the chasm. As I whirl around, I feel two shoulders slam into my chest and I'm sent tumbling into the chasm. [[The end]] (set: $dead to true) (set: $pushed to true)

I whip around and barge my way back up the stairs, my heart threatening to leap out of my chest. On my way back up, I see the source of the two voices I had heard at the top of the stairs. (if: $knife is true) [I pull the knife out and swing at the two cultists. I don't bother to check whether they're still standing or not, they got out of my way either way. I finally make my way to the entrance, forced to stop and catch my breath. I hear the pounding of footsteps behind me. I could [[stay]] and try to use the hole to funnel them through, strike them down one by one. Or I could just [[run]]. Run as far as I can and tell someone of authority that something went down.] (else:)[I charge through the two of them, making it to the top of the stairs, and out to the streets. My legs feel like they'll crumple at any moment. Well, it's a good thing I stopped by a car. I could try to [[hotwire]] it, or I could just try [[hiding]] under it.]

I whip out the knife I found and charge the cultists, screaming at the top of my lungs as I charge. The cultists are stunned for a moment, until I run the first two through with the knife. Then they draw their own knives and charge. I manage to take a few more down, but soon I'm bleeding out on the floor, my vision growing darker and darker, until all I can see is black. (set: $dead to true) [[The end]]

I have to do something about these cultists. I brace myself as they come charging up the stairs, one by one. I run one through as they come up the stairs, pushing his body back down the stairs, tripping up the ones behind him. Due to the sheer amount of cultists behind the first, the body doesn't fall all the way to the floor. I charge back down the stairs, jumping on top of the body, the force making the still living ones tumble back down the stairs. Most of them anyways. Some of them are still standing when they pressed themselves agains the walls. They charge up the stairs at me, stepping over their comrades. I have to try to defend myself against them, and I do, but I can feel my body growing heavy. I can't keep this up. [[Stay and fight]] [[run]]

I can't take on this many cultists. I run back outside, toppling whatever furniture I can find, hopefully it slows them down. I push on as long as I can, but eventually my legs give out from under me. Right by a car. I might be able to [[hotwire]] it, if I'm feeling lucky. Otherwise, [[hiding]] under it looks like the best idea.

Well, whatever these cultists have planned, it can't go ahead if there's no one around to move it forward, right? I keep fighting for as long as I can, loosing track of time. I guess I took them all down at some point, because I remember swinging at a whole lot of nothing. I collapse to the floor. Breathing heavily. I guess I passed out for a bit, because next thing I know I'm being dragged [[to the altar]]. (set: $hardFight to true)

Punching the window open and getting in, I set to work hotwiring it, my fingers trembling as I work. I can hear the cultist's footsteps thundering in my direction, pushing me to work faster. The engine starts just as the cultists come into view. I floor the gas and speed out of there, reporting my findings to the authorities. [[The end]] (set: $hardFight to true)

I quickly crawl under the car, doing my best to control my breathing. For a long time, I hear the thudding of footsteps until the sun goes down again. I crawl out from under the car

I jump up from the altar, drawing a surprised shout from one of the cultists. I jump at the first one I see, a slick haired man, pushing him into the chasm I didn't know was behind the altar. The rest of the cultists scream and charge at me. I dive between them, my hand getting caught on something metal. I stumble to my feet, finding that I'd caught a key in my hand. A pretty big one too. I could [[bludgeon]] them with it, or I could [[throw]] it at them and try to run back to the stairs and grab a knife.

This thing is big enough to be considered a small club, somehow. I wack one across the face as they charge at me, but the remaining cultists are a little more wary. I spot a knife on the floor, which I quickly scoop up the knife. Like at the stairs, the next moments are a blur, but eventually I'm standing alone in the room, cut, bruised, and covered in blood. I look around the room, finding only one door besides the stairway. I get out, and call the authorities. [[The end]]

I chuck the key at them, causing them to dodge. I lunge at them, I manage to wrestle one of them to the ground, but I end up with many more holes than the human body was meant to have. [[The end]] (set: $dead to true)

I come to slowly, shaking my head and groaning. I look up, noticing that I'm in a cage with two other people. Looking outside the cage, I notice someone standing outside. Perhaps he is [[the supervisor]]?