Nomina: Radix

Your name is Muna Blanc. You are 33 years old. 20 years ago, your [[house exploded.]]

You weren't home at the time, but your family was. Your mother, aunt, and uncle died. They were the extent of your known [[family.]]

You grew up with your friends' families. Sometimes you jumped around to different households if they couldn't take care of you. It just felt like a very, very prolonged [[sleepover.]]

You hear your family sometimes. In dreams. You've heard them ever since the accident. [[They were quiet at first.]] You couldn't make out any words, but you knew it was them.

Their voices get louder every year. It's still difficult to tell what they're saying. There's an itch at the back of your skull that makes you think they want you to [[come home.]]

And you plan on it. You've been [[floundering]] anyways. It's been two decades. It's finally time to [[pay your respects.]]

You were always extremely close with your family. Your mother (if:(history: where its name contains "was")'s length is 1)[was](if:(history: where its name contains "was")'s length is 0)[[was->was]] wonderful. She made so many dolls for you. She always listened to you, never made you feel bad about anything. You could tell she was sad, though. You never figured out why. Both of your mother's siblings lived in the house with you. It was a large house, feeling more akin to a mansion sometimes. It was enough space for everyone to get along and not feel cramped. Your Uncle got bullied a lot but that's just because he was the youngest sibling. [[You wish you could see them again.->pay your respects.]]

It'll take a few days. You live in the city of Vinet in Central Kirmuna. The house is a sea away to the north. You don't even know what the place'll look like now. You didn't hear about anyone building over it, or even removing the wreckage. It seems to be a sort of "haunted" area. Probably because no one knows what happened. Do you really want to go? [[Yes.]] [[No.->ending0]]

[[is?->floundering]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac6202da0f5e2d7451a5b3107dceb08e/c8e58b9107c7cf79-23/s250x400/f9e385f67de0223018fc6bd9811e45441cf04495.pnj"> (live: 8s)[ (go-to: "Boat2") ]

Unsurprisingly, the house is in shambles. It looks like it hasn't been touched since the incident. There aren't even any footprints in the snow approaching the house. Do people even come here on [[ghost tours]] anymore?

The ghost tours you heard about always made you uncomfortable. You can't say you're sad about no one coming out here. You don't even know if you want the place to be repaired. There's something nicer about [[nature reclaiming it]].

The roof of the porch is caved in, allowing snow to cover most of the planks and seats. You move to the right side of the porch. Oh! [[The Vending Machine]] is still there! That's nice. You see that only [[bubble tea]] is in stock.

(align:"=><=")[Nomina: Radix] [[Begin->start]] (set: $info to (0))

Would you like to buy it? [[Hell yeah]] [[No, that's weird->enter house]]

You purchase a nice cool boobly. If you get [[stuck out here->enter house]], at least you can survive for a little while off of sweet sweet boba. (set: $info to $info + (1))

Okay, you might be stalling a little bit. You're going to actually [[go inside]] now.

You've had a lot of time to think about what the entrance might look like. It seems relatively on par at first. But then you see the gaping hole in the ground. It's not even just a hole. It's like, a massive pit. It looks like a meteor landed on the house and tore into the stone below. (if:(history: where its name contains "The destruction")'s length is 1)[The destruction](if:(history: where its name contains "The destruction")'s length is 0)[[The destruction->The destruction]] even reaches several floors up, all the way to the roof. How didn't you notice this from the outside? The house is big, but you feel like you would have seen all of this before stepping through [[the front door]].

You look closer at the wreckage. It's weird. It was definitely some sort of explosion. But it looks nearly clean, the way it cut through the wood. You touch the edges of the floorboards. Yeah, if it weren't for the decayed debris, it would look like a sharp slice. Like someone perfectly cut the wood with a sword. (set: $info to $info + (1)) [[Continue looking.]] [[Get out of here.->the front door]]

You look back to the door. You don't like this. You came all this way to pay respects, but it feels so off. [[Leave]]

It doesn't look like you'll be getting upstairs without seriously endangering yourself. It'll probably be cool, though. You've climbed stuff before. You could also go into the pit. It's hard to see the bottom. [[Ascend.]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Descend.")'s length is 1)[No need to go back down.](if:(history: where its name contains "Descend.")'s length is 0)[[Descend.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[ But you just got here. You wouldn't leave without looking for your family, right? What did they die for? Don't you want to know? ] [[Stay]] [[LEAVE.]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[ Don't you fucking do that. ] [[LEAVE.->leave2]] [[Stay]]

Maybe, uh, maybe you will stay a little longer. You did just get here. You can do it for your family. [[Continue looking.]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[ You'll come back one day anyways. ] [[LEAVE.->ending1]] [[Stay]]

The End I (print:$info)/[[16->16a]] [[Restart->Startup]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[ Wow, fuck you! ] The End 0 (print:$info)/[[16]] [[Restart->Startup]]

It looks like you can climb up some of the boards and pipes to get to the second floor. It's just like climbing a tree! Totally absolutely. You're up to date on tetanus sauce shots anyways, you think. Maybe? You're so distracted thinking about your medical history that you've made it to the [[second floor]] without even realizing it!

The pit goes down deep, but the edges aren't particularily steep. They're just a little bit covered in snow. You kind of want to sled down there, but the fear of being skewered keeps you from doing so. Eventually, you're able to carefully make it to [[the bottom]].

(if:(history: where its name contains "The destruction")'s length >= 1)[You check the bottom to be sure and yes, it's smooth like the rest of the edges you looked at.] There isn't much down here. It's just full of snow, mostly. It almost makes it up to your knees. You know that this is where the basement was. That's where ground zero of the explosion must have been. There's nothing else to see here. [[Make your way back up.]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

Getting up the cliff is a little more difficult, but you get there eventually. Will you [[ascend->Ascend.]]?

The Vending Machine is sort of like a giant family heirloom. Your grandmother's grandmother's mother's grandmother's grandmother bought it and it's been here ever since. You always thought that it restocked itself magically. Maybe it did, but its magic is wearing off. You never really questioned it. It never gave anyone poison food or anything, so it's [[probably ok.->nature reclaiming it]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

Since the first floor was full of the dining room and kitchen, the second floor was used as the "Fun Family Time Entertainment Supreme" room. It's a large, (if:(history: where its name contains "open area")'s length is 1)[open area](if:(history: where its name contains "open area")'s length is 0)[[open area]]. It used to be full of hanging plants and lights. Your family loved (if:(history: where its name contains "boardgames")'s length is 1)[boardgames](if:(history: where its name contains "boardgames")'s length is 0)[[boardgames]], half of which are missing now. The remaining ones are caked in dust. The stairs to the [[third floor]] are still intact. [[Or, go back downstairs?->Continue looking.]]

Even more open now that half of it is exposed to the [[outside air.->second floor]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

You didn't really like boardgames as much as the rest of your family did. You think you just got sick of them after playing the same ones from ages 0-12. But your favorite was always "Frank Glupopolo Extreme Party Life 2." [[It never got old.->second floor]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

Where do you want to go on the third floor? [[Your room]] (if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length is 0)[[Your mother's room]](if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length >= 1)[You're not going in there.] (if:(history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length is 0)[[Alais' room]](if:(history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length >= 1)[You're not going in there.] (if:(history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length is 0)[[Berrin's room]](if:(history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length >= 1)[You're not going in there.] [[Go back downstairs?->second floor]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "rotten")'s length >= 1)[[It's getting late.]]

Since you never went back to the house after the accident, other people picked up your stuff for you. You remember making a long list of things you needed to have. You didn't care about the essentials (like, clothes and stuff) as much as your (if:(history: where its name contains "little hobbies")'s length is 1)[little hobbies](if:(history: where its name contains "little hobbies")'s length is 0)[[little hobbies]]. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length is 0)[It's locked. [[Break it down?]] [[Explore elsewhere.->third floor]]] (if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length >= 1)[You're not going in there. [[Explore elsewhere.->third floor]]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length is 0)[You enter your Aunt Alais' room, and it's in the same shape as your mother's. The mold is here too. The rooms aren't even all that close to each other. It would have spread to your room faster than your aunt's. You're not going in there either. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ](if:(history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length is 0)[You enter your Aunt Alais' room, and it's the same as Berrin's room! There's mold everywhere. Their rooms are sort of close, so it might have spread through the wall or something? [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ](if:(history: where its name contains "rotten." or "Berrin's room")'s length is 0)[You enter your Aunt Alais' room, and there's a shiny black substances covering every surface. It's definitely some sort of mold. But it's, like, weird. It doesn't seem to be anywhere else in the house? It wasn't even on the outside of the door, nor was it creeping under it. You don't really want to go in there. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]]](if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length >= 1)[You enter your Aunt Alais' room, and it's exactly the same as your mother's and your uncle's rooms. Where did all of this mold come from, and why is it so... contained? You're not going in there either. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ] (set: $info to $info + (1))

(if:(history: where its name contains "Alais' room" or "rotten.")'s length is 0)[There's a shiny black substances covering every surface. It's definitely some sort of mold. But it's, like, weird. It doesn't seem to be anywhere else in the house? It wasn't even on the outside of the door, nor was it creeping under it. You don't really want to go in there. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length is 0)[So is the rest of the room, just like Alais'. Mold, mold, mold. You're not going in here either. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ](if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length is 0)[So is the rest of the room. It's the same as your mother's. Covered in mold. You're not going in here either. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ](if:(history: where its name contains "rotten.")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length >= 1)[It's just like the other two rooms. Where is the mold coming from, and why is it so contained like this? [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

You made fairy houses. You still do sometimes. Sometimes you'd be able to lure a little guy in with honey and crackers. If you never got a living creature to move into a house, your mother would sew you a replacement doll to live there. Your room was full of tiny houses, some [[full of life]], others full of dolls.

Sprites, insects, Cats with Human Faces, nematodes, mice, Lumura moths, Cashew Beetles, Goldfish. [[Back->Your room]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

The house is already destroyed, what's another broken door? You kick it, and it comes off the hinges with ease. The wood was [[rotten.]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "Alais' room" or "Berrin's room")'s length is 0)[So is the rest of the room. There's a shiny black substances covering every surface. It's definitely some sort of mold. But it's, like, weird. It doesn't seem to be anywhere else in the house? It wasn't even on the outside of the door, nor was it creeping under it. You don't really want to go in there. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length is 0)[So is the rest of the room, just like Alais'. Mold, mold, mold. You're not going in here either. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ](if:(history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length is 0)[So is the rest of the room. It's the same as Berrin's. Covered in mold. You're not going in here either. [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]] ](if:(history: where its name contains "Berrin's room")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Alais' room")'s length >= 1)[So is the rest of the room. Where is all this mold coming from?? [[Go back to the hallway->third floor]]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

The sun is setting, and you've just got more questions now. You thought maybe, oh, it would be nice to come home and take a stroll down memory lane. You were mostly over what happened. You were expecting the house to be dilapidated. But it's... WEIRD! The huge crater in the side of the house. The weird ass [[//mold//??]]

You wish you got out of here while you still had the chance. You had planned on leaving sooner, before the sun set. You got a little distracted. [[These snowy woods->These snowy woods]] are not a safe place in the night. You'd freeze to death before you got to another house. It would be best to [[stay here for the night.]]

You remember a time when you were about 9 years old. You'd been mad at your mother for not letting you go outside that day. (text-colour:#547045)[The weather is far too cold today] She had said. But you hadn't cared and wanted to [[play in the snow]].

You'd waited until you were tucked into bed and you were sure everyone else was asleep. You'd put on your biggest coat, grabbed some Lumura seeds to light your way, and tiptoed out into the night. You'd walked a few minutes into the woods to a [[little frozen pond.]]

You had never seen it unfrozen. You weren't even sure if your mother had. Everytime you looked into the ice, you could see salmon stuck in place. You wondered how long they'd been there. You thought they could still be alive, just trapped in the cold. For a while now, you'd taken it upon yourself to [[free them.]]

You'd taken a rock and smashed it down on the ice over and over again. Your mother had seen you doing it before. But she wouldn't try to stop you. You think that she knew it was [[impossible to crack->impossible to crack]]. It was just a solid block of ice in an eternal freezer. [[But that night, you'd made progress.]]

(text-colour:#547045)[But you knew it wasn't, didn't you? You knew that with persistence comes reward. [[Don't you still think that's true?->free them.]] ]

Your finger slipped on the ice when you were swinging the rock down. Instead of hitting the cold surface, the rock smashed onto your middle and pointer finger. You didn't even realize it at first, but after a few seconds, [[OW!]]

One of your finger nails had all but been scraped off. Warm blood gushed onto cold ice. It began to melt. (set: $info to $info + (1)) (live: 2s)[ (go-to: "stay here for the night.") ]

You'd stay in your old room, but you'd rather get as far away from the mold as possible. You take some of your bedsheets and pillows and find a corner on the second floor to become a cacoon in. [[Eventually, you sleep.]]

(live: 5s)[ (go-to: "muna") ]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Muna!] (live: 3s)[ (go-to: "muna2") ]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Muna!] (live: 3s)[ (go-to: "muna3") ]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Muna!] (live: 3s)[ (go-to: "awaken") ]

You've heard those voices a lot. Most of the times, in a similar way. Calling you back home. When you wake up, there's nothing to see. But you're home now, and [[waking up]] is different.

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Darling, Dearest, Muna.] It's all three of them. Your aunt, your uncle, and your mother. You embrace, hold, cry. Oh, it has been so, so long since you've gotten to hug [[your mother.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Look at you! You're all grown up!] [[You look... the same?]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Mmhm. Limbo has its perks, you know?] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[At least we can change clothes.] [[So you HAVE been dead?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Oh, yes. Dearest, if we were not, this would not be our first reunion.] [[I have so many questions.]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[We're stuck here.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[en somniis. en morte.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Shut the fuck] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[ok.] [[In dreams? In death?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Indeed. Do you know what an Apparatus Tear is?] [[Yes.->yesTear]] [[No.]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[A gateway of sorts. They don't exist under normal circumstances like other Tears do. They are created intentionally.] [[Did you intentionally blow yourself up?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[That's what we made.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Didn't go as planned. You don't need the details.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Sort of exploded.] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[And what a strong blast it was. You saw what it did to the house. The physical ramifications were nothing compared to] [[the spiritual ones.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[No, no! That outcome was undesired.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[To make things worse, it became] [[Stationary->the spiritual ones.]] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[rather than Mobile.]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[What that blast did was effectively pin us down to where we died. We are very much dead. Partially alive.] (set: $info to $info + (1)) [[So...->questions]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[I know you do. And that's fine. But we don't have a lot of time left in this night. We will answer as much as we can.] [[Why are you here?]] [[Am I dead? Did I die in my sleep?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Oh, no! We are mainly in Limbo, and you are in Dreams. Overlapping planes, but with different states of being. Because of the explosion, we are floating in between. Not quite fully in Limbo. Not fully in the Waking World. ] [[Not fully in Dreams.]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[We wanted to see you, of course!] You can tell that she is being genuine. But she's also not being completely truthful. [[Before you can ask her...]]

You wake up.

(if:(history: where its name contains "Why are you here?")'s length is 0)[[Why are you here?]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Am I dead? Did I die in my sleep?")'s length is 0)[[Am I dead? Did I die in my sleep?]](if:(history: where its name contains "Why are you here?")'s length >= 1 and (history: where its name contains "Am I dead? Did I die in my sleep?")'s length >= 1)[[Why did you want me to come home?]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[We've been here for so long. How long has it been since the accident?] [[Two decades.]]

Alais laughs. (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[It's been much, much longer in here.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[A century? More? Sometimes it feels like it's been less. It feels like it's been days. Other times, it feels like forever.] [[Can you fix the Tear?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[We've been trying. Trust me. We've been trying.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[What HAVEN'T we done to fix it?] [[Something]] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[started to work.]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Please don't hold it against us.] Your mother shooshes him. (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[The Tear was initially created due to such a strong force clawing at the curtain between realms.] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[We thought, since it is a curtain, can't it be sewn back together? With enough work, with enough] [[thread]](text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[, can't we repair what we wrought?]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[This... thread.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[It's not what you'd call "ethically sourced."] [[What does that mean?]]

Berrin wrings his hands. (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[It's... like... the tear was created with lives lost, yeah? So, we thought, why don't we reverse engineer it? ] [[Oh, so you've been killing people.]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[OK, OK, listen, it's not that---] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[It's perfectly fine. It's mainly been animals.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[They worked at first. But we think it's getting hungrier. We've only had to use 80 sentient creatures so far.] [[It?]] [[Kind of fucked up.]] [[Okay.]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[We don't think the Tear is an actual entity. But sometimes it's easier to personify it like that, you know?] [[Yeah.]] [[No?]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[What would YOU have done? I don't think you understand how long we've been here. Everyone dies, why not die for a good cause?] [[There has to be another way that doesn't involve murder.]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[You handled that a lot better than I thought you would.] [[You haven't seen me in 20 years. I can handle a little murder.]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Oh, I knew you'd understand.] [[So you've been feeding "it"?]]

Alais shrugs. (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Understandable.] [[So you've been trying to repair the Tear with... souls?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[All for a good cause, I promise you.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[As long as that hole is there, the gods will be angry. Or the "balance" will be off. Whatever. Whatever it is, we are stuck here because of it.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[We are using the bodies and spirits of our guests to weave the Tear shut.] [[Is that why you wanted me to come here?->Is that why you wanted me to come back?]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[I don't like that "souls" thing. Kind of cliche?] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[And incorrect. It's not just souls. It's physical bodies as well. When people wander into this house, when they decide to stay too long, that's when we can take them.] (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[They fall asleep and we, uh,] [["get" them.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Sometimes people will find themselves in this Dream even when they are not physically at this spot. They are spared in that case. We don't want to further drive a stake through realms, do we? We cannot risk the separation of body and spirit.] [[Is that why you wanted me to come back?]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[I will not lie to you. We will not kill you unless you willingly give your life. But we highly request it. ] [[Why?]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Since you are our blood, your body and spirit could be instrumental in mending the Tear. Our bodies caused it, so similar bodies could end it. Maybe. ] [[You don't sound very sure?]] [[Okay!]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[I know. I know. Because I'm not- we're not.] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[It is not something we can test. We just have to do it. Risks are rewarded.] [[There has to be something else that you can do...->I can't accept that and I won't partake in this.]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Oh, wow, ok, for real?] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[You (if:(history: where its name contains "don't have to do it.")'s length is 1)[don't have to do it.](if:(history: where its name contains "don't have to do it.")'s length is 0)[[don't have to do it.]] We're not even sure if it would help.] [[What do I have to lose?]] [[Maybe not.->I can't accept that and I won't partake in this.]]

She's making it clear that you DO have to [[do it.->Okay!]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Actually, a lot!] You see Alais try to silently kick him. [[It's okay.]]

Your mother claps her hands together excitedly. (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Well, then. It's settled! Come along.] [[Follow.]]

You follow your mother as she walks downstairs, [[outside->outside]], and through [[the basement's]] exterior door. Your aunt and uncle tail behind.

The basement, amazingly, exists now. It's not just a giant hole. (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Did I ever tell you that you were born on this ping-pong table?] [[Yes, mom, many times.]]

It's not hard to notice that there isn't a gaping crater anywhere to be seen. But the house still isn't as you remember it. It feels like it's been reconstructed. But not just with planks and nails. With a thin, stringy substance. You want to examine more, but you [[don't want to stop walking.->the basement's]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[We are literally and figuratively in Limbo. It's nice not having to age. Not so nice not being able to move on to the afterlife.] [[You can't really die, then]]

Alais shakes her head. (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Isn't it funny? We got what we wanted. A way to move between Limbo and the Waking World. But we can't go anywhere other than our old, boring house. We can't even fucking DIE.] [[So...->questions]] (set: $info to $info + (1))

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[Well now you're gonna DIE on it, isn't that funny?] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Shush, Alais, it is not funny. But it is certainly strange how some things just come full circle.] [[How does this work?]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[It won't be difficult. It won't hurt too much. You just need to] [[sit down.]]

You sit down on the ping-pong table. Your mother steps in front of you and holds your hands in hers. [[Close your eyes, ]](text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget") [ my dear. We will do the rest.]

(live: 6s)[ (go-to: "ending2") ]

The End II (print:$info)/[[16->16d]] [[Restart->Startup]] (if:$info >= 16)[[Epilogue]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Alright, fair? I guess?] [[Is this why you wanted me to come back home?->Is that why you wanted me to come back?]]

(text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[You think we wouldn't have found it by now? What do you think we did, just IMMEDIATELY start killing people? This is a last ditch attempt.] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[She's right, Muna.] [[Fine. So are you going to kill me too?->Is that why you wanted me to come back?]] [[I can't accept that and I won't partake in this.]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Please, Muna, we don't even need you to do anything, we just think that sacrificing you would--] (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[It would be a noble thing, to die for your family, don't you think? For everyone else who's died, as well. ] [[It's not my responsibility.]] [[I want to help you.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[You are correct. It should not be up to you. But you are the only hope we have left.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[We've always been good to you. We've always loved you. Can't you help us now?] [[Yes.->It's okay.]] [[No.->I can't.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[But...?] [[There's no but. I'll do it.->It's okay.]] [[I can't.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[I understand.] She is clearly upset but is not willingly to force you. Alais [[rolls her eyes.]]

Berrin sees this and attempts to deescalate before she can freak out. He tries to not talk to Alais directly. (text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[It's alright! She could be right! There could be another way to go about this!] Alais glares. [[I think I need to leave now.]]

(text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[I was hoping we could, maybe, play a board game before you leave? It's been a long time.] [[Sure.]] [[I'd rather not.]]

You play "Frank Glupopolo Extreme Party Life 2" with your family one last time. It's fun. You almost forget that they're dead and you're never going to see them [[again.]]

(text-colour:#113A5C)+(text-style:"fidget")[Fair.] (text-colour:#2C9094)+(text-style:"fidget")[SO boring.] [[Say goodbye.]]

At least you get the chance to say a proper farewell. What more could you have hoped for? You guess this is closure. Maybe a little [[too much closure?]]

You hug them again. Alais does not want to hug you, but does anyways. (text-colour:#547045)+(text-style:"fidget")[Goodbye, Muna. I'm sorry.] You [[Pinch your cheek.]]

Suddenly, you are awake again. Not in Dreams or Limbo. Sun is beginning to pour from the hole in [[the roof.]]

The End III (print:$info)/[[16->16c]] [[Restart->Startup]]

The End IV (print:$info)/[[16->16b]] [[Restart->Startup]]

Much like your family's previous endeavors, plan "sacrifice Muna to fix reality" was a failure. If anything, it made things worse. You are like them now and tow the line between [[dead and alive.]]

<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac6202da0f5e2d7451a5b3107dceb08e/c8e58b9107c7cf79-23/s250x400/f9e385f67de0223018fc6bd9811e45441cf04495.pnj"> You're about [[halfway]] through the journey.

<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac6202da0f5e2d7451a5b3107dceb08e/c8e58b9107c7cf79-23/s250x400/f9e385f67de0223018fc6bd9811e45441cf04495.pnj"> (live: 5s)[ (go-to: "Boat2") ]

Finally, you arrive on the shores of Northern Kirmuna. After a much shorter hike up the mountain and through the woods, you arrive at [[your old residence.->Arrive]]

After a while, you begin to understand their desperation. You can never really tell how long you've been here. But you will not understand how they can continue to kill, despite everything that's happened. It's not doing anything. It's not working. [[It's making it worse.]] You avoid them as much as possible.

But one day. A four-legged worm wanders into a cabin in the woods. Marked by the goddesses, he will be the salvation of you and your family. [[Restart->Startup]]

Sixteen things you have to know, not all of them in red. One route that takes your sight, to lead to their liberation. [[Back->ending0]]

Sixteen things you have to know, not all of them in red. One route that takes your sight, to lead to their liberation. [[Back->ending1]]

Sixteen things you have to know, not all of them in red. One route that takes your sight, to lead to their liberation. [[Back->again.]]

Sixteen things you have to know, not all of them in red. One route that takes your sight, to lead to their liberation. [[Back->the roof.]]

Sixteen things you have to know, not all of them in red. One route that takes your sight, to lead to their liberation. You're on the right path. [[Back->ending2]]