As you wake up the next day, you decided to stay with the simple life and stay in town for your next project. Once you've arrived at the office, you inform Mariah of your decision. Before she can explain to you of your next project, she receives a phone call. You notice the glow on her face fade away and the amount of despair building up as she hangs up the phone to look at you. With eyes full of worry she informs you best friend, who took the assignment last minute, is in the hospital in critical condition. Lastly, you decide to the take the other project so that you can visit your best [[Friend In The Hospital]] and be near when he wakes up.

As you head to your work meeting at city hall, you can't stop but think about your friend and hope everything goes well. The night before you called Mariah to inform her of what had happened. You feel useless as you along with the hospital don't know anything. Mariah comforts you and offers to visit you in two days. You are excited to hear the news and know deep down how much romantic feelings you have had for her since you started working at the firm. Midday you receive a call from an unknown number part of you believes it may be an [[Emergency Call]] but you decide to let it go to [[Go to Voice mail]] instead.

As you arrive at the hospital your heart is pounding and your mind full of great concern and thousandths of what if concerns. Once you walked into the hospital, you notice two people waiting for you. You have to decide to either [[Talk to Police]] or [[Talk to Doctor]] first in discovering your friend's disappearance.

You decided to let your phone go to voicemail and hear the message after work. Nurse Joy informs you that your friend is still in critical condition but has gone missing. You [[Run to Hospital]] to figure things out.

Officer Jenny informs you how severe your friend's conditions are and the importance of bringing him back. Officer Jenny also tells you how his disappearance was utterly unexpected and how no staff can't identify ever saw when he got up and walk away and most importantly if he was even alone. She also notes the security system including cameras where suffering static issues and didn't work correctly. Enrage with what you hear you ponder if you should [[Talk to the Doctor]] but or perhaps [[Sleep on it]] due to the strain on your soul. However, you also feel you should [[Search for Friend]] by yourself and believe the town would prove to be little to no usefulness in locating your friend.]

Dr. Oak informs you how severe your friends conditions is and the importance of bringing him back. Dr. Oak Also informs how his disapperence was completely unexpected and how no staff can't identifity ever seeing when he got up and walk away and most importantly if he was even alone. Your next step is to [[Talk to the Police]] but you are full of dreed and consider if you should [[Sleep on it]] due the strain on your soul. However, you also feel you should [[Search for Friend]] by yourself and believe the town would prove to be little to no usefulness in locating your friend.

As you decide to Sleep on it. You are tossing and turning in your bed and can't believe how conflicted your heart feels. Mariah will come tomorrow for you, you have always sought her attention and can't believe she is willing to fly to you. However, you wish it wasn't under these circumstances. Your best friend of nearly 12 years is in critical condition and has gone missing. Both the police officer and Doctor prove to be clueless. You know what you must do and [[Search for Friend]] in the night.

As you walk around late at night full of despair and worry for your friend, you decide to look for potential clues or eyewitnesses. Although the town isn't that big, it is still big enough to miss certain individuals especially standers. As you enter the main street, you notice to your left the famous [[Cedar Bark Bar]] where all the Rangers would wet their whistle. A couple of yards to the left of the bar is the best restaurant in town [[Forest Dishes]]. As you turn to the right, you notice [[Redwood Inn]], the location where your best friend had stayed. All other buildings have closed for the night reminding you of all the scary movies Mariah made you watch with her, you hate watching scary movie, and now you begin to think you're in one now. Further down the street at the entrance of the woods is the [[Power Plant]] site of the project you and your friend were assigned to.

As you enter the dim lighting of the bar, you noticed only three people inside. The bartender, a waitress, and one customer. The bartender greets you and asks what you will be having. You respond the town special. You seat next to the only customer and introduce yourself. As he turns and talks to you noticed he is the mayors assistant you say at your meeting at work. As you enjoy your drink and converse with the mayor's assistance, you see a lot of dirt in the bottom of his nails. You ask if he had been digging his response: "There was this young man who seems to need help. I tried talking to him, but when I got closer, he ran towards me and pushed me several times then ran off towards the main street. You instantly told him about your friend and asked if he could draw a picture of him. The mayor's assistance draws his face and hands you the [[Picture]].

You decide to head to the Redwood Inn and enter the central office. You meet the manager and ask about your friend. She replies with "I'm sorry honey I can't release that information, I have to respect my customer's privacy.". You plead your case and tell her about the clue(s) you found and want to find your friend before it's too late. The manager stares you in the eye and then tells you "Your friend arrived a couple of days ago and was fine and dandy, but two days ago he was acting weird and stopped making eye contact with people acting the total opposite the way when he came here. The manager has a [[Video]] showing how different he acted.

You enter the famous Forest dishes where the aroma is fantastic, but you have to keep your focus. The restaurant has a below average dinner rush which is a bit weird at this time especially for happy hour. You continue to walk in and speak to the greeter. You ask for information about your friend, but he tells you that he just clocked in for work. However, the person from the earlier shift is in the back clocking out. You sit down and wait for her to come out. As you wait for what seems like 30 minutes already you notice something under the chair, you consider picking up the piece of [[Parchment ]] or perhaps leaving and investigate [[Cedar Bark Bar]], [[Redwood Inn]] or the [[Power Plant]].

(set: $video to true) As you watch the video, you can't believe how awkward he was acting. He was acting as if all his energy and will to live was taken out of him. There isn't a trace of your friend's character in your friend anymore. You ponder what should be your next move. Should you investigate the [[Cedar Bark Bar]] or [[Forest Dishes]] on main street or perhaps the [[Power Plant]]. (if: $picture is true and $video is true and $parchment is true and $bushes is true)[Now that you've collected all the evidence that you can find, you should [[Inform Police]] so that they may help you out.]

(set: $parchment to true) As you pick up the piece of parchment, you notice it was the hospital tag filled with your best friends information. Your mind is instantly filled with fear and suspicion. How can the restaurant not have seen your friend from the hospital? Where they that idiotic, busy, or hiding something? You ponder what should be your next move. Should you investigate the [[Cedar Bark Bar]] or [[Redwood Inn]] on main street or perhaps the [[Power Plant]]. (if: $picture is true and $video is true and $parchment is true and $bushes is true)[Now that you've collected all the evidence that you can find, you should [[Inform Police]] so that they may help you out.]

You followed your instincts and headed back to the trail by the power plant. You follow the path over the hill and see an old run downed building. By the looks of it, it could have been a [[Sugar Mill]].

You head back to your hotel room but know you will not get a wink of sleep. You continue to think on what Officer Jenny, and come to the conclusion that her words help no respect or belief in you. You are determined to find your best friend and should [[Follow Your Instincts]].

You continue to follow the trail of blood and avoid the many holes on the floor that would lead to a one way trip to the basement or worse. The sugar mill is full of an awful aroma like the animals of the woods have come here to die. The trail of blood leads you to a wall that is so black you wonder what could of happen. You shine a light on the wall with your phone and notice the hundreds of dead vines covering the entire wall. But these vines are entirely black but yet don't look dead or dehydrated. In fact, the vines seem to have blood and carcasses of animals. You are horrified by the scene and even think about [[Running Back to the Hotel]] and imagine none of this happened and in fact, this was all a dream. You fall and panic and fear the vines will come and attack you. You notice to your left there is a[[Rotten Door]] that is barely hanging by its hinges.

You take the left path and struggle through a series of thorn bushes scratching and causing you to bleed. Your arm continues to thrive with pain making you lose focus. The compass seems to point forward. You contiune and fog begins to settle in the horizon. The fog has become so dense and cold you begin to shiver. Trying to hold your warmth in you don't notice where you are walking and bump into what seems like rotting wood. You try to observe but made a big mistake. This pieace of wood was actually a yellow jackets wasp nest. You run away but are stung multiple times in the process. You conitune to run in pain and notice a small a pile of dead [[leaves and mud]]. You run and dive into the pile of leaves and mud to hide from the anger wasp.

The compass seems to point forward. You contiune and notice a thick fog begins to settle in the horizon. The fog has become so dense and cold you begin to shiver. Trying to hold your warmth in you don't notice where you are walking and acciently trip and drag a net on the floor. What could this net be? You hear a rumble and look upwards. You had triped over the net holding a rock slide area in place. You begin to run but it is to late The rocks hit your head, ribs, and injured arm which surges with pain and begin to slightly bleed. You sit down [[against a tree]] to pull yourself together from all the pain.

You continue heading straight and notice on the horizon a small green flash of light. You feel the urge to [[Investigate]] this phenomenon.

(set: $lastPassage to "Morning") You lay on a field of leaves and wait until morning hoping you may feel better and possibly heal. You wake up later that night feeling pain but not as much as before. (if: $firstTimeMorning is true)[(set: $health += 5)(set: $firstTimeMorning to false)] On the horizon, you notice a small green flash of light. You rise and [[Investigate]] this phenomenon. (link: "//Check Compass//")[(goto: "Check Compass")]

You arrive at what seems like the source of this light which emits from the entrance of a cave. You continue to walk in grasping your injuries and follow the cave what seems like took hours. The cave is pitch black and extremely quiet. The green light emits again, and you begin to pick up speed. You didn't notice where you were walking and fall into an [[Icy Underground Lake]]. The light seems to be coming from the lake bed, and now you have no choice but swim underwater. Could you hold your breath for that long? Could you even be prepared for what awaits you?

You decided to pick it up and noticed how cold the metal feels on your skin. Once on, you noticed numbers appering on the device. On the upper left it shows the temperature around you. In the middle a compass of some sort with a futuristic design. And in the bottom right you notice a gauge with the value 100 then it went down to $health. You are confused what could this number be why it went down. You didn't have enough time to think about this as a small cold breeze distracts your focus. You looked up and noticed you had fallen into a small cave. There is no way going back up and have only one option and proceed to the cave opening. The cave leads to the [[Inner Woods]] far more in-depth than you have ever been.

(set: $health -= 18) You wait 10 minutes and rise from the pile of leaves and mud. You notice your device and it reads $health. Why is this? What could it mean? You have no time to stop and investigate, you want to conitune on and search for your friend. As you walk you stepped on a [[notebook]] covered in mud and twigs.

(set: $health -= 25) You rest for 10 minutes and stand up. You notice your device and it reads $health. Why is this? What could it mean? You have no time to stop and investigate, you want to conitune on and search for your friend. As you walk you stepped on a [[notebook]] covered in mud and twigs.

(set: $lastPassage to "rest") As you rest you notice a small crystal to your left. You touch it and place it in your pocket. (if: $firstTimerest is true)[(set: $health += 5)(set: $firstTimerest to false)] You walk stright to the end of the cave and discover a building cover with the vines you though you would never see again. [[Vines of blood]], death, and covered with skulls. How could this be? Where did they come from? Where are you? (link: "//Check Compass//")[(goto: "Check Compass")]

You begin to breath hard and have neglected how cold the air has become. Your breathe has become visable reminding you of the cold winter days back home espically when you grab hot choclate with Mariah after work. It was a magical night. You walk forward and noticed how your surrondings look so familiar. You then franticlly opent he notebook and pick one of the photos. In this photo you see a man wrapped in cloth drench in a purple fluid hung on a tree. You slowly look to your left and notice a skull nailed to the extact tree from the image. You walk towards the tree and as you get closer a pile of bones and purple cloth have been covered by dead leaves at the based of the tree. What is this place? Where have you arrived? Is you friend even here or even alive? Have you arrived at the origin of the [[skullroots]] experiment? What could this all mean?

You enter the building and find the place smells of death. You contiune forward in search of your friend. Every noise has your heart pounding. The vines seems to be alive and waiting for its next vicitm. You make sure not to touch any of them even the smallest root. As you walk searching for clues you notice how blood has stain the walls but also this purple liquid. What could it be? Is it blood from the vines or something else? You arrive at the end of a hallway and could either turn left or right? What should you do? The left is covered with more [[dense blood]] while the right is covered with purple liquid and [[broken glass]].

Suddenly, you got knocked back by a tremendous force. (set: $health -= 30) (if: $health <= 0)[You tried to stand, but unfortunately you have lost all your health, and you can't move your body anymore. (link: "//Demise//")[(goto: "Game Over")]] (else:) [What pushed you away? An old man walks towards your friend and screams, "How dare you interupt my experiment!!!" "Who are you?" You inform the old man what has happend and what you discovered. The old man begins to laugh and tells you who he is. You find out he is the maker of these vines to develop a weapon experiemnt that was considered waste of money and improbable. He has developed these vines as a weapon to kill enemies in mass numbers using nature instead of chemical warfare. The vines first will stimulate a toxic forcing the victim into a comatose state. Second, controlling the bodying function of their movement. Then lastly, the vines will feed on the victim to the bones. How can such an [[experiment]] be made?]

The old man informs you that his dream is peace but must kill those who cause harm to the world through politics and war. He also informs that there must be sacrifice to make progress. You ask why go this far? While he talks you look around and notice a metal pipe you can use to fight. You now know you have no choice but to [[fight]].

You run towards him and yell I will defeat you and save my friend. You need to quickly decide to make [[a left]] or [[a right]] before he sends the vines to attack you.

(set: $health -= 10) (if: $health <= 0)[You move left but the vines hits you and knocks you back. You tried to stand, but unfortunately you have lost all your health, and you can't move your body anymore. (link: "//Demise//")[(goto: "Game Over")]] (else:)[You move left but the vines hits you and knocks you back. Your devices rings and now reads $health. You try to get your balance back but you suffer more damage than you thought. You finally get your footing and face down the old man. You can move [[left]] or [[right]] to target him once again.]

You dodge the vine and stab the pipe towards the old man by is block by the vine. You gain your stance and jump over the vine punch the man in the face. You run back towards your friend placing yourself in [[front of him]].

The man spits blood out of his face and you notice his blood is a weird purple color? Why is that? You think of what you have learned and figure and can only conclude that he has have prolong his exposure to the vines. What if the vines has controlled him? What can you use to fight him. Then you feel the crystal in your pocket and believe this might just help out defeating the vines. You run to the vines and need to decide if you can move [[left]] or [[right]].

You run left and dodge the vine attack. You get closer and stab the crystal in the mans heart. He screams in rage and begins to hits the walls in a tamper. The vines begin to turn bright red and crumble apart. You pick up your friend and run to the exit. You make it in time and the building falls apart into pieces. You hear a noise near by and notice a forest ranger in the distance. Your body is falling. Through the fight you had been injected with the toxics form the vines. You feel a numbness spreading through your body shutting down all your movement. You look behind and see the vinec creeping to you closer and closer. Your faith has been sealed. Your story is over but you know you've done good here. You saved your friend who you hope gets better and future victims. Your last thought is of Mariah and how you wish you could say I love you, but life had set a different path for you that of a hero. (set: $hero to true) (link: "A Hero's Death")[(goto: "Game Over")]

{ (set: $health to 100) (set: $lastPassage to "") (set: $picture to false) (set: $video to false) (set: $parchment to false) (set: $bushes to false) (set: $coward to false) (set: $hero to false) (set: $firstTimeMorning to true) (set: $firstTimerest to true) }

(if: $coward is true)[You'll have to face the inevitable eventually.] (if: $hero is true)[You died a hero's death, but things could've gone a lot better.] (else:)[You died.] (link: "Try again")[(goto: "Origins")]

The number on the compass is $health. (link: "Back")[(goto: $lastPassage)]

You decided to make a left and hopefully though this might be a safer bet. You recall playing all your video games and how apperance aren't what they always seem. For all you know this might be the safe route. You conitune to explore and notice a flickering light down the hall. You curiosty and fear begin to peak higher. You feel danger may be emmting the light but you aren't sure of that yet. You arrive at the source and noticed the light was coming from a close IT department door. The light was emitting from all the servers and laptops looping a video of some sort. You are curious without a doubt but should you [[enter the room]] and push your curiousity? Or should you go back and explore the [[other hall]]?

As you walk down the hallway, you only hear the nosie of glass breaking under each of your steps. You are worried if the noise may distrube the vines, but then again when to vines have ears. You proceed faster down the hall and notice a room with flickering lights. Full of curiosity but also fear you walk a bit slower to avoid any unnessecary surprises. You reach your hand out to the doorknob and pull the door open. It was too late, what you say you couldn't comprehend. All you know is that last thing you ever did was opening a door where you embark your (link: "Demise")[(goto: "Game Over")].

As you enter the IT room, you noticed a series of videos looping over and over. The video shows your friend walking and entering the building, but the vines don't move at all. How come? You begin to look at files within the pc and found detial information about the vines. A dismissed project by a leading scientist from a foreign nation whose idea was to develop an organic weapon that could control the mind of their victims and eventually kill them from the inside out. This weapon was intended as an indirect tactic to push invading forces from entering a heavly dense population of bystanders to prevent unessecary bloodshed on the innocent. You understand where the scientist may be coming from, but the development of such a weapon is to dangerous for mankind to make and even control. As you gain your thoughts back from gather so much information you noticed a door in the back of the room. What should you do? Should you [[enter]] or investiage the [[other hall]]?

You push a side your curiosity and remeber that curosity killed the cat so the same may happened onto you. You walk away but hear a crush. You slowly look down every so frantically and noticed you stepped on a root. The vines begin to move around you and so you run. You run your heart out. Vine sbegin to crush everything in sight tearing through the walls, glass, and office furniture. You were somehow able to make it through and escape the building, and here you though you ate out to much. You get up and noticed a sharp pain on the bootom of your foot were you stepped on the vine. You looked at the sole of your shoe and notice a blackish purple spike had entered your foot. You feel a numbness spreading through your body shutting down all your movement. You look behind and see the vinec creeping to you closer and closer. Your faith has been sealed. (link: "Demise")[(goto: "Game Over")]

As you walk trhough the door you find yourself walking in the pitch black darkness. You try to turn your phone on but it was drenched in water and you have to rice around you to soak the mosisture. You contiune forward and step on an unexpecting missing panel floor and fall down. Slaming against wall to wall and landing in a great thump.(set: $health -= 25) (if: $health <= 0)[You tried to stand, but unfortunately you have lost all your health, and you can't move your body anymore. (link: "//Demise//")[(goto: "Game Over")]] (else:)[You get up and continue walking forward. You find your self in front of what seems like the doors from a gas chamber. Why is there even a [[gas chamber]] here?]

(set: $lastPassage to "gas chamber") You enter the room and thankfully no experiemnts are going on at the time. You look around and noticed your friend strapped to a table with vines moving closer and closer slowing to him. You run to him and find a pile of [[scapes of metal and wood]] near you. You decide to pick an object and run towards his direction. (link: "//Check Compass//")[(goto: "Check Compass")]

As the crystal becomes embedded in the man's chest, you soon realize Hollywood got something right, the hero always makes the final shoot. The man falls over and the vines around the room begin to turn ash gray and crumble to pieces. As your gaze follows the trail of ash leading to the man your mind becomes at ease and know the end has come. But you remeber that Mariah is here and your friend is still unconscience. You try to get up but your legs fail you. Mariah runs towards you full of tears to hug you and make sure you are okay. Your eyes become heavy and you soon begin to [[drift into a grand slumber]].

(set: $lastPassage to "Vines of blood") You are scared and consider [[running back]], but can you? On the other hand, you have come so far to just give up and let your friend die? No, you can't. You have to [[walk forward]] and find your friend even if it scares you. (link: "//Check Compass//")[(goto: "Check Compass")]

You couldn't take it anymore and ran away. You want to go back home you want to feel safe again. You have lost all hope. (set: $coward to true) You reach the end of the cave and at the front of the lake. What can you do? You begin to breathe frantically your heart is pounding. The air has become very dense you eyes can focus on anything. The cave is moving in all directions. You are scare but know you can't leave your friend. You are in lost in spirit and mind and didn't notice where you were stepping. You lost your footing and fell into the lake. As you fall you hit your head. As your body reach a cliff in the bottom of the lake your mind has slowed down. Your thoughts have focus on one idea. You have let your friend died taken by the blood vines. If only you could have made better choices since the beginning of this horrible nightmare. What would you do differently? Where would you go? Your eyes have become heavy and breathinig stopped. You lay in the bottom in the lake forgetten and never found. (link: "A Coward's End")[(goto: "Game Over")]

Your fear has blinded you and encourage you to run back to your hotel. You forget about the rotten door and want to head to somewhere safe. As you run your foot falls in one of the holes in the floor. You try getting up but can't you begin to panic and hear cracking. (set: $health -= 15) The floor around you breaks, and you fall for what seems like minutes. You hit the floor hard and hurt your right arm. You're in minor pain but feel you can still contiune on. You notice in the ground a small device that looks like a watch and appears to have a [[compass]]. You have a feeling you should put it on but aren't sure if you should pick it up.