PURGATORY

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU WAKE UP... SOMEWHERE? IN THE WOODS? YOU ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERDRESSED FOR THE WEATHER. ITS BETTER TO WALK THANK FREEZE, AND MAYBE YOU CAN EVEN FIND YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS FOREST. WHICH WAY WILL YOU GO? =|= [[FORWARD]] =|= [[BACKWARD]] =|= [[LEFT]] =|= [[RIGHT]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU WALK FOR A LONG TIME, UNTIL YOUR LEGS HURT AND YOU CAN'T WALK ANYMORE. SO YOU CRAWL. YOU KEEP CRAWLING UNTIL YOU CAN'T CRAWL ANYMORE. YOU TRY ROLLING. YOU NOTICE THE SUN HASN'T MOVED FROM ABOVE YOU. LIKE ITS WATCHING YOURR SILLY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE. LIKE IT KNOWS.. THERE'S A ROAD. A VERY BUSY ONE. IN FACT, THE CARS MOVE FASTER THAN YOU CAN REALLY SEE. THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN CROSS THIS ROAD. YOU WAIT AND HOPE SOMEONE NOTICES YOU LAYING ON THE GROUND, BUT NO ONE DOES. YOU LAY THERE FOR A LONG TIME WHILE YOU WAIT FOR YOUR BODY TO STOP HURTING. IT DOESN'T. =|= [[TURN BACK|START]] =|= [[MOVE ON]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[TRAIN TRACKS. YOU WAIT AROUND FOR A WHILE IN HOPES THAT A TRAIN PASSES. YOU HAVE NO WAY OF TRACKING TIME BUT YOU FEEL LIKE A TRAIN SHOULD'VE PASSED BY NOW. [[EXPLORE THE TRACKS]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[IT IS VILE. POISOUNOUS. SO MUCH SO THAT YOU ''DIE''. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU GO FOR A DIP IN THE LAKE. FULLY CLOTHED, OF COURSE. ACROSS FROM YOU, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE, STANDS A CREATURE. IT LOOKS ALMOST HUMAN—IF HUMANS LACKED A DEFINED PHYSICAL FORM AND HAD... HORNS? ANTLERS? WHATEVER IT IS, IT EXUDES AGGRESSION. =|= [[RUN?]] =|= [[FIGHT?]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=")[YOU DECIDE THAT FIGHTING ISN'T IN YOUR BEST INTEREST. SO YOU RUN. YOU CAN'T TELL IF THE CREATURE FOLLOWS BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP AND CHECK. YOU HOPE TO LOSE IT BY CHANGING DIRECTIONS. =|= [[FORWARD LEFT]] =|= [[FORWARD RIGHT]] =|= [[BACKWARD LEFT|RIGHT]] =|= [[BACKWARD RIGHT|LEFT]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WEAPONS BUT YOU FIGURE A ROCK SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH. YOU THROW IT AT THE CREATURE. IF IT WASN'T ANGRY BEFORE, IT SURE AS HELL IS NOW. =|= [[RUN?]] =|= [[ACCEPT YOUR FATE?]] |==| ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU LET THE CREATURE ATTACK YOU. YOU DIE INSTANTLY. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU FIND AN ANIMAL. IT LOOKS STRANGE BUT IT IS NOT AGGRESSIVE. HOWEVER, YOU ARE HUNGRY. =|= [[KILL IT]] =|= [[LET IT GO]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU GLANCE BEHIND YOU, JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE SAFE. YOU AREN'T. =|= [[CLIMB A TREE]] =|= [[KEEP GOING]] |==| ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU GROW TIRED. THE CREATURE NEVER DOES. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU COME ACROSS A CAVE AT THE BASE OF A MOUNTAIN. YOU FEEL SAFE. =|= [[REST]] =|= [[LOOK AROUND FOR SUPPLIES]] |==| ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU FALL ASLEEP FOR TOO LONG. THE CREATURE COMES BACK. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU FIND A STICK THAT LOOKS LIKE IT CAN BE TURNED TO A SPEAR. YOU ALSSO FIND SOME MEAT. IT LOOKS FRESH. TAKE A BITE? =|= [[YES]] =|= [[NO]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[DESPITE IT BEING RAW, YOU ONLY GET SEMI SICK. YOU TAKE THE REST BACK TO YOUR NEW CAVE. IN THE DISTANCE YOU HEAR ANOTHER ANIMAL SCREAM. =|= [[CHECK IT OUT?]] =|= [[STAY BEHIND]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU LEAVE THE MEAT AND GO BACK TO YOUR CAVE. IN THE DISTANCE YOU HEAR ANOTHER ANIMAL SCREAM. =|= [[CHECK IT OUT?]] =|= [[STAY BEHIND]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU COME ACROSS THE SAME CREATURE YOU FOUND EARLIER. IT DOESN'T NOTICE YOU YET. DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT? =|= [[FIGHT]] =|= [[DON'T FIGHT]] |==| ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU STAY BACK FOR A WHILE. YOU TAKE A NAP. PERHAPS FOR A BIT TOO LONG. THAT SAME MONSTER FROM BEFORE IS BACK AND IT DOESN'T LIKE THAT YOU'VE INVADED ITS SPACE. IT KILLS YOU. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[ITS A TOUGH FIGHT. THE CREATURE GETS YOU PRETTY GOOD YOU USE YOUR NEW SPEAR AND KILL THE CREATURE. NOW WHAT? =|= [[HEAL UP]] =|= [[CHECK OUT THE ANIMAL]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU DECIDE TO RUN. AGAIN. BUT WHICH WAY? =|= [[LEFT]] =|= [[RIGHT]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU GO BACK TO YOUR CAVE TO REST. YPUR PAIN DOESN'T SUBSIDE BUT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T STAY IN YOUR CAVE ANYMORE. IT FEELS STRANGE NOW. =|= [[TRY TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN]] =|= [[CHECK OUT THE AREA]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT IT IS. WAS. IT IS DEAD AND MUTULATED. =|= [[EAT]] =|= [[LEAVE IT]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU EAT YOUR MEAL AND [[HEAD BACK TO YOUR CAVE|HEAL UP]] ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE THE ANIMAL REMAINS ALONE. WHICH WAY DO YOU GO NEXT? =|= [[LEFT]] =|= [[RIGHT]] |==| ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU PICK UP A RROCK AND THROW IT. YOU REPEAT THIS UNTIL YOU KILL THE ANIMAL. YOU USE THE HIDE AS A SORT OF COAT, TO KEEP WARM. WHAT'S LEFT OF THE HEAD, A STATEMENT PIECE. YOU CARRY THE MEAT IN YOUR HANDS AS BEST YOU CAN. HOWEVER, THE CREATURE CATCHES UP WITH YOU. YOU DIE. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[THE CURRENT BEATS AT YOUR LEGS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO KNOCK YOU DOWN. YOU SUCCESSFULLY CROS THE RIVER AND THROUGH MORE TREES, YOU FIND A FIELD. A STRANGE LOOKING ANIMAL RUNS PAST YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD'VE BEEN A DEER IN ANOTHER LIFE. AS IF SOMEONE TRIED TO DRAW A RADIOACTIVE DEER FROM MEMORY. ANYWAY, IT RAN PAST YOU. =|= [[FOLLOW IT|FORWARD LEFT]] =|= [[SEE WHERE IT CAME FROM]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[ YOU RUN IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE WEIRD RADIATED DEER CAME FROM. YOU RUN FOR A WHILE. LIKE, A REALLY LONG TIME. THE FIELD SEEMS ENDLESS, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN SEE TREES SURROUNDING YOU. NO MATTER HOW FAST OR HOW FAR YOU RUN, YOU SEEM TO STAY IN THE SAME SPOT. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. [[CROSS THE RIVER AGAIN|START]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU WALK UP AND DOWN THE TRACKS, SEARCHING FOR SOME SIGN OF HUMAN LIFE. OCCASIONALLY, YOU FIND DISMEMBERED LIMBS OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS. YOU ALSO FIND A SOLE TRAIN CAR. =|= [[TRY AND GET INSIDE]] =|= [[LEAVE IT ALONE|TRY AND GET INSIDE]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU DECIDE THAT THE TRAIN CAR WILL MAKE FOR A GOOD SHELTER. WITH A LITTLE EFFORT, YOU CAN OPEN THE CARGO CONTAINER. INSIDE IS A MAN. A DEAD MAN. SURROUNDING HIM ARE LARGE CANS OF TOMATO SAUCE. HE MUST NOT HAVE HAD A CAN OPENER. YOU THROW HIS BODY OUT OF THE CONTAINER, THE DEATH SMELL LINGERS. YOU CAN DEAL WITH THAT LATER. YOU'RE HUNGRY. YOU GO FOR ONE OF THE TOMATO SAUCE CANS. YOU ALSO DON'T HAVE A CAN OPENER. YOU SEARCH THE POCKETS OF YOUR DEAD FRIEND BUT DON'T FIND ANYTHING. ON THE WALL IS A SPEAR MADE FROM A LARGE STICK. PERFECT. YOU OPEN THE CAN WITH THE SPEAR AND TRY YOUR BEST TO ENJOY THE TOMATO SAUCE. YOU DRINK HALF OF IT BEFORE LOOKING AT THE OTHER ITEMS IN THE CONTAINER WITH YOU. IN ANOTHER CORNER IS ANOTHER BODY WEARING THE SKIN AND HEAD OF SOME STRANGE ANIMAL. YOU MOVE THE OTHER ONE OUTSIDE NEXT TO THE FIRST ONE. YOU DECIDE TO START A FIRE AND COOK THE REST OF YOUR TOMATO SAUCE. YOU NOTICE THAT, DESPITE YOUR SEEMING LONG DAY, THE SUN HASN'T MOVED. YOU BEGIN TO WONDER WHERE YOU ARE AND HOW YOU GOT THERE. IN THE DISTANCE, YOU HEAR A LARGE ANIMAL GROWL. =|= [[CHECK IT OUT|KEEP GOING?]] =|= [[STAY HERE]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU SIT FOR A WHILE LONGER AND CONTEMPLATE YOUR SITUATION. YOU TRY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE YOU ENDED UP HERE. YOU CAN'T REMEBER. YOU CAN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE. YOU BEGIN TO PANIC. YOU SEARCH YOUR POCKETS FOR ANYTHING. YOU HOPE YOU MY FIND A CLUE TO YOUR IDENTITY. BUT YOU DON'T. YOUR POCKETS ARE EMPTY. =|= [[GO BACK INSIDE]] =|= [[TAKE A WALK?]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[THE URGENCY OF YOUR SITUATION IS WEIGHING HEAVILY ON YOU. PHYSICALLY. YOU BARELY STUMBLE BACK INTO YOUR CONTAINER HOUSE. IN THE BACK IS SOMETHING YOU HADN'T SEEN BEFORE. A DIFFERENT KIND OF CREATURE, NOT AN ANIMAL. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE THE SILHOUETTE OF A HUMAN. ITS BODY, AT LEAST. IT HAS HUMAN LOOKING ARMS AND HANDS BUT NO CLEARLY VISIBLE LEGS. ITS HEAD LOOKS LIKE IT CAME FROM THE SAME ANIMAL AS THE ONE THAT THE DEAD BODY FROM EARLIER WAS WEARING. JUST AS MANGLED. IT HOLDS OUT A HAND. =|= [[HOLD ITS HAND]] =|= [[TURN AWAY]] |==| ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[THE URGENCY OF YOUR SITUATION IS WEIGHING HEAVILY ON YOU. PHYSICALLY. YOU NEED TO GET AWAY. AHEAD OF YOU IS SOMETHING YOU HADN'T SEEN BEFORE. A DIFFERENT KIND OF CREATURE, NOT AN ANIMAL. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE THE SILHOUETTE OF A HUMAN. ITS BODY, AT LEAST. IT HAS HUMAN LOOKING ARMS AND HANDS BUT NO CLEARLY VISIBLE LEGS. ITS HEAD LOOKS LIKE IT CAME FROM THE SAME ANIMAL AS THE ONE THAT THE DEAD BODY FROM EARLIER WAS WEARING. JUST AS MANGLED. IT HOLDS OUT A HAND. =|= [[HOLD ITS HAND]] =|= [[TURN AWAY]] |==| ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#fff5f5))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[//It hurts.// A PAIN YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH. LIKE BURNING FROM THE INSIDE OF YOUR HAND. NO, NOT QUITE. ITS AS IF YOUR HAND IS BEING TURNED INSIDE OUT. EVEN THIS IS AN UNFIT DESCRIPTION. BUT STILL, YOU KEEP YOUR HAND IN THE CREATURE'S. IT DOES NOT SEEM ANGRY OR AGGRESSIVE. IT APPEARS TO BE... SYMPATHETIC? PERHAPS IT PITIES YOU OR MAYBE IT UNDERSTANDS YOUR SITUATION. YOU TRY TO ASK IT WHERE YOU ARE, WHY YOU'RE HERE. WHO YOU ARE. BUT YOU CAN'T. YOUR MOUTH OPENS BUT YOU CANNOT SPEAK. YOUR CREATURE FRIEND WATCHES YOU—OR YOU THINK IT IS. YOU CAN'T TELL IF IT HAS EYES OR NOT. IT STEPS A BIT CLOSER TO YOU. SLOWLY, ANOTHER STEP. IT KEEPS MOVING CLOSER, SLOWLY, UNTIL IT FULLY ENVELOPS YOU. YOUR ENTIRE BODY IS FULL OF THE BURNING, RIPPING FEELING YOU FELT IN YOUR HAND. YOU WISH YOU COULD SCREAM. BUT YOU CANNOT. YOU WAIT FOR YOUR CREATURE FRIEND TO BACK AWAY OR WALK THROUGH YOU. BUT IT DOESN'T. LOOKING DOWN, YOU NOTICE YOUR FORM HAS CHANGED. AND MORE ALARMINGLY, YOUR BODY IS ON THE GROUND. YOU HOLD YOUR HAND TO YOUR HEAD AND TOUCH YOUR NEWLY FORMED HORNS. [[//It hurts.//|START]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#740b0c))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON THE CREATURE. THE SPACE AROUND YOU IS ENVELOPED IN DARKNESS. THE PRESSURE IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU. //WE GET IT.// [[TRY AGAIN?|START]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#fff5f5))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[THE MOUNTAIN SEEMS A BIT SMALLER THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU FIRST SAW IT. YOU BEGIN TO CLIMB. ITS SURPRISINGLY EASY TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP. AT THE TOP, YOU FIND TOMATO SAUCE. AT LEAST 50 LARGE CANS OF TOMATO SAUCE. YOU PICK ONE UP AND THROW IT OFF THE MOUNTAIN. YOU WAIT TO HEAR IT HIT THE GROUND BUT THE SOUND DOESN'T COME. YOU LOOK DOWN. THE GROUND LOOKS SO FAR FROM WHERE YOU STAND AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE CAN YOU THREW. IN THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE A BODY OF WATER. IT DRAWS YOU IN. IN FACT, YOU CAN FEEL YOUR BODY FALLING FROM THE MOUNTAIN. AS THE WATER GETS CLOSER, YOU REALIZE YOU AREN'T ACTUALLY THAT CLOSE AND YOU ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING THE BASE OF YOUR CAVE. [[YOU CAN HEAR THE SAUCE CAN HIT THE GROUND.|START]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:#fff5f5))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXX=")[AFTER A BIT OF WALKING, YOU FIND THE END OF THE LAND. A VAST BODY OF WATER GENTLY ROLLS. YOU START WALKING CLOSER TOWARDS THE WATER. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT THE WATER IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN. [[YOU FALL DOWN THE CLIFF AND INTO THE WATER BELOW.|START]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:WHITE))(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXX=")[YOU INCH SLOWLY INTO THE ROAD. THE CARS DO NOT STOP FOR YOU. [[TRY AGAIN?|START]] ]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXX=")[This webpage is best experienced in a dark room and will not work properly on smaller screens. [[START]] ]