Chapter Text
You wake up. It's freezing. You must have left the window open.
>close window
You'll have to get out of bed first.
>i
Your hope is moderate, your despair is high, and your emptiness is with you. You have a point.
>look
You are lying on your back on the futon in your bedroom. A thick navy blue blanket reaches your neck. There is a small table beside your futon. Your wallet, cell phone, and gun are there. There is a sliding door to the north, and a rack of drying clothes on the other side of the room. Next to the rack is a mirror. A string of plastic beads hangs from the light in the center of the room. The window above the wall behind you is open a crack. Moonlight filters through the glass and a mild breeze causes the open curtains around it and the clothes hanging on the rack to flutter very slightly.
>take all
You take the gun, phone, and wallet. The rack of clothes is too bulky to take.
>get up
You get to your feet. You're shivering.
>look rack
There are several pairs of black pants drying on the rack, as well as some white long sleeved shirts, and some T-shirts in a variety of colors. There are also a a few pairs of socks and underwear, attached to one of the hangers with clothes pins, as well as a belt draped over an otherwise empty hanger at the end of the rack.
>Take clothes.
You find the driest pieces of clothing and put them on. You feel a little warmer now.
Your despair has decreased by 1.
Close window.
>Done. You feel a little warmer now.
Your despair has decreased by 1.
>look mirror
You look at yourself. You’re that tired, laid-back guy, the one who’s going to need at least three cups of coffee to function this morning. There’s something else, but you look away.
>look mirror
You look at yourself, again. You’re that easy-going, affable guy, the one who’s going to get scolded by his partner for coming in to work five minutes late and getting coffee cup rings on his desk. There’s something else, but you look away.
Your hope has increased by 1.
>look mirror
You look at yourself, again. You’re that young, cheerful guy, the one who’s going to get drunk tonight and forget about how much the week has worn your spirit down to a restless little nub. But it’s no big deal, really, because you’re lucky you’re alive. After all, you’re in the police racket, and people die all the time in this game. There’s something else, but you look away.
Your hope has increased by 1.
You look at yourself, again. You’re laughing. You try and clamp your jaw shut, when you realize it already is. But you’re still laughing. He won’t shut up. You reach forward to cover his open mouth, but you’re just covering your own soundless one. There’s someone behind you.
Your emptiness twitches.
>look behind you.
There’s no one there.
>look mirror
You look at yourself, again. No one’s laughing anymore. You’re pale and shaking. How long have you been standing here, waiting for something to reveal itself? Don’t answer that. How long have you been aching for a plan to entwine yourself with, a plot to lose yourself in? Don’t answer that. How long can you go without - there’s someone behind you.
Your emptiness stirs.
>look behind you.
There’s someone behind you.
>look behind you.
You’re there. You whisper in his ear. “It’s going to happen.”
You have gained your bad self.
You whisper in his other ear. “You’ll be surprised at first, but sooner or later—
“—things will fall into place,” he finishes. He runs a hand through his dry hair and straightens his tie. You knock it slightly out of place. He straightens it again. You let it slide because it’s already late.
“I’m here if you need me.” You disappear.
Your bad self has gone inside. Getting in touch is self explanatory. And because apathy’s a silent killer, you have also gained the ability to fast-forward the slow parts.
>fast-forward the slow parts
You’re fast-forwarding…
…where do you want to stop?
>where something was left out
Specifics would be helpful.
>Crime scene.
There is no crime scene, at least not *here*, detective.
>You know what I mean
That’s debatable.
>I can’t go back to the crime scene?
*You* can only go one way.
>wait
Time passes. It’s nauseating to be stuck in fast-forward. You are feeling ill.
Your hope has decreased by 1.
>Can I see the victim?
I don’t know. *Can* you? It’s nauseating to be stuck in fast-forward. You are feeling ill.
Your hope has decreased by 1.
>I'm lost
Indeed. It's a good thing I found you.
>HINT
Giving up already? Are you sure?
>SAVE
You can't save anything here.
>QUIT
You can't do that here.
>HELP
What do you need help with?
>What should I do next?
You know what to do. Just let things play out. Act normal. But do what you need to do.
I don't understand.
>You just think you don't understand. Give it some time. You'll get used to it.
Your hope has increased by 1.