(set: $story to (either: 1, 2, 3, 4))(if: $story is 1)[your dad hates cats. you lived on a farm, so ferals and strays came by a lot. drawn to the light of your house. your dad stopped kicking them away once he saw them hunting the rabbits near the strawberries. you even saw him giving them food once or twice. but he still hates them.](if: $story is 2)[your mom is confused. she’s never been very aware of what she’s doing or what’s going on. when you were smaller, it would get in the way sometimes. you might open your lunch bag to find empty ziploc bags. she might lock the door behind you after she asked you to get the mail. you might wake up in the early morning to the sound of her frightened screams. but it never got too bad.](if: $story is 3)[your dad loves you. he would hug you every morning and he would always kiss you goodnight. he told you that you were the best thing in his life. you were the reason he got out of bed. you were the reason he went to work. he hates his job. you were the reason his sun still shined. he loves you very much.](if: $story is 4)[your mom gets angry. very easily. all the time. you try not to make her upset, but it almost never works. she is just a very angry person. you think it’s because her dad was angry, too, but he’s been dead for a long time. you didn’t really understand how that worked. but you couldn’t find any other reasons. she’s always been like this. ]
[[>>|1]](if: $story is 1)[one day he saw you petting a cat. its fur was very soft, and it meowed very gently, like it knew you were nice. he saw you scratching its ear through the window. you heard him scream through the walls. the cat was startled and ran off into the field. you saw him open the door and you ran the other way. but he still caught you.](if: $story is 2)[one day you walked into the kitchen and saw a medicine bottle tipped over on the counter. little white pills were spilled across the floor. you didn’t know what was happening. none of the glass bottles along the top shelves were knocked down. you didn’t hear anyone or anything in another room. but you never really understood.](if: $story is 3)[the birds would flock to your lighthouse with horrible news from the big cities. they frightened him. there were robbers and murderers and terrible, terrible people in the world. they might want to hurt you: his golden child. he began to lock the doors more than he kept them open. the lighthouse was dark and scary, but at least he was there. he loves you very much.](if: $story is 4)[when she was angry, she would steal things from you. she would steal your toothbrush. the cavities hurt. she would steal your lunchbag. the hunger hurt. she would steal your shoes. the scratches hurt. you asked her to stop, but she would just laugh. she’s always been like this.]
[[>>|2]]
(set: $her to (either: "his", "her"))(if: $her is "her")[(set: $she to "she")(set: $shes to "she's")(set: $him to "her")(set: $hers to "hers")(set:
$his to "her")(set: $girl to "girl")](else:)[(set: $she to "he")(set: $shes to "he’s")(set: $him to "him")(set: $hers to "his")(set: $his to "his")(set: $girl to "boy")](if: $story is 1)[he put you in the car and drove you to the edge of town. he told you to get out. you were crying. you apologized and said that it would never happen again. he didn’t care. he told you if you wanted to come back, you would have to burn off your fingerprints and cut off your lips. you were just a child. but he still drove away.](if: $story is 2)[when you came into the room, you saw her. she was levitating two feet off the ground. white foam was frothing from her mouth. you couldn’t see her eyes. her skin was grey and metallic, like iron. there was a humming noise coming from the vents, and the air smelled like rotten fruit. you ran out of the house. but it never left your head.](if: $story is 3)[eventually, he stopped leaving. he didn’t let you outside anymore. outside was where the bad people were. right? that’s what he said. he hugged you a lot. he fed you soup straight from the can. he wrapped you in many blankets. he kissed you on the forehead. he gave you everything he had. then, there was nothing left to give. you had to take the keys from his body. he loves you very much.](if: $story is 4)[one day, she got very angry with you. maybe angrier than you’d ever seen her before. she tried to steal something that you needed. her nails were grown out. she was much taller than you. she cornered you and tried to take something that you needed. she scratched and scratched and scratched at your chest. what was she trying to take? your heart? your lungs? she never did make much sense. she’s always been like this.]
[[>>|3]]your name is (set: $name to (either: "Prophet", "Patriot", "Pariah")) ''$name''. you’ve been in ''the Hospital'' for almost 3 years. they say this place is here to help, but it’s really just a dumping ground for the kids no one wants.
no, not even a dumping ground. it’s a prison.
[[>>|4]]you haven’t been outside since you were first brought here. there’s a courtyard with a playground, but they haven’t let anyone out there since one of the older kids jumped from the 12th story down to the swingset. on the winter nights where the sky turns orange, you can see his ghost sitting on a swing, waiting for someone to push him. they sealed all the windows from the fifth story up and you need a key to open the rest. no one ever cleaned up the body.
[[>>|5]]you’re surprised when you see a car pull up in the driveway. two Caregivers exit from the front and pull someone out of the back. the person has a cloth sack over their head, but their hands and feet are free. the Caregivers lead them gently up the walkway.
the scene is familiar. the same thing happened to you.
[[>>|6]]you sit on the bench outside the door to the second floor stairway. as expected, the Caregivers lead the hooded person through the door and then remove the sack. it’s a $girl. $she might be your age. probably older. $she looks bewildered as the Caregivers leave $him to $her own devices.
[[> approach and say hello.|7.1]]
[[> sit and watch $him.|7.2]]
[[> get up and leave.|7.3]](set: $dis to 1)$she seems startled when you get up and greet $him. $she takes a moment to process your words before replying, “hi. um. what’s going on here?”
[[> “you’re in ''the Hospital''.”|8.1]]
[[> “do you not know?”|8.2]]
[[> say nothing.|8.3]](set: $dis to 2)$she meets your gaze from across the hallway, just sitting and watching $him intently. $she approaches you slowly, almost afraid, and asks, “what’s going on here?”
[[> “you’re in ''the Hospital''.”|8.1]]
[[> “do you not know?”|8.2]]
[[> say nothing.|8.3]](set: $dis to 3)$she notices you stand from the bench and suddenly lurches forward to grab your wrist. you turn and pull back from $him, but before you can protest, $she says, “what’s going on here?”
[[> “you’re in ''the Hospital''.”|8.1]]
[[> “do you not know?”|8.2]]
[[> say nothing.|8.3]]“''the Hospital''?” $she repeats, even more confused. “where am i? what does that mean?”
“it's all i know. they don't tell us anything more,” you explain. “we just call it ''the Hospital''.”
“i’m so confused. how did i get here?”
[[> “what’s the last thing you remember?”|9]]“no. no one’s told me anything.”
“this is ''the Hospital'',” you reply. “that’s all anyone will ever tell you.”
“''the Hospital''?” $she hesitates, brow knotted. “where is that? how did i get here?”
[[> “what do you last remember?”|9]]“do you talk?” $she asks, almost frightened.
you don’t answer.
“those people wouldn't tell me anything about this place except that it’s called ''‘the Hospital’'',” $she continues. “the rest of my memories are so blurry…”
[[> you simply wait for $him to speak.|9]] “i remember my brother,” $she says. $her voice is smaller and softer. “he was really scared of something. it was following him, but it always hid when someone else was around. i was awake one night, getting a glass of water, and i think he thought i was the Something.” $she looks scared. “he had a knife.”
you give $him a moment of silence to process $her story.
(if: $story is 1)[[[> “my dad had a Something against cats, i think.”|10.1]]](if: $story is 2)[[[> “my mom was scared of a Something, too.”|10.1]]](if: $story is 3)[[[> “my dad was scared, but he was scared of everything.”|10.1]]](if: $story is 4)[[[> “my mom didn’t care if i was a Something.”|10.1]]]
[[> “that sounds like it sucks.”|10.2]]
[[> say nothing, but nod.|10.3]]
(set: $sagetrust to 1)(set: $em to 3)$she smiles, but it doesn’t reach $her eyes. “i think you get it, though.”
a moment of silence passes. the halls are unusually quiet for this late in the morning.
“i'm ''Sage'',” $she says nervously. “could you help me find my way around?”
[[> you nod. $she looks relieved.|11]](set: $em to 1)$she nods, grateful for the understanding. “it does. or, it did.”
a moment of silence passes. the halls are unusually quiet for this late in the morning.
“i'm ''Sage'',” $she says nervously. “could you help me find my way around?”
[[> you nod. $she looks relieved.|11]](set: $em to 2)$her lips press into a thin line and $she gazes down. $she understands.
a moment of silence passes. the halls are unusually quiet for this late in the morning.
“i'm ''Sage'',” $she says nervously. “could you help me find my way around?”
[[> you nod. $she looks relieved.|11]]you lead ''Sage'' down the hallway, listing the rooms as you pass their doors: ''the Bathing Rooms'', ''the Bunking Rooms'', ''the Kitchen'', ''the Staircase'', ''the Collective'', ''the Reprieve'', and ''the Center''. you understand the confusion you see on $her face. this place is a lot to take in.
you explain it as simply as you can: ''the Collective'' is where the children are allowed to play. ''the Reprieve'' is where the Caregivers and Watchers go when they’re not attending to their patients. ''the Center'' is where the children go for therapy. no one wants to go to therapy, but everyone has to go to therapy.
[[>>|12]]“where can i rest?” ''Sage'' asks, looking very out-of-place as $she gazes up at the grey walls. “is there a place for me to sleep?”
there’s plenty of spots. there are four ''Bunking Rooms'', each filled with empty cots. there’s even a place right above your bunk. but kids only share bunks when they’re friends. (if: $dis is 1)[you’ve been wanting a friend for a long, long time. ''Sage'' is nice enough. you think $she would make a good friend.](if: $dis is 2)[a lot of the kids in the ''Hospital'' aren’t talkative or interested in being your friend. maybe ''Sage'' would be okay with being your friend.](if: $dis is 3)[you try not to talk to anyone around the ''Hospital'', but ''Sage'' doesn’t seem too bad.]
[[> “do you want to bunk with me?”|13]]$she smiles in relief. “that would be great.”
you lead $him down the corridor to your designated metal door. all the doors look the same, save for the small engraving labelling the room for its purpose. you approach the door scratched with the number 2 and pull at the handle. something moves from within the room. a big black eye peers at you through the keyhole. when it recognizes you, the door unlocks and cracks open a smidge. just enough space for you to slip inside.
[[>>|13.5]]''Idling'' blinks once. and then twice. “do you trust $him?”
[[> “yes.”|14.3]]
[[> “no.”|14.4]]
[[> “i don’t know yet.”|14.5]]
(set: $idlingtrust to $idlingtrust + 1)''Idling'' blinks once. and then twice. “that wasn’t very nice, ''$name''. you used to be nice.”
[[>>|15]]
(set: $idlingtrust to $idlingtrust - 1)
(set: $sagetrust to $sagetrust + 1)''Idling'' nods. “then i will trust ''Sage'' too.”
[[>>|15]]
(set: $sagetrust to $sagetrust + 1)“then why is $she here?” ''Idling'' asks.
[[>“$she has nowhere else to go.”|15]]
(set: $sagetrust to $sagetrust - 1)you shuffle through the space and pull ''Sage'' along with you. the door closes behind you. the child at the lock, ''Idling'', clicks the key into place and looks back at you with confusion.
“''$name'',” they say. “who is this?”
“i’m ''Sage'',” $she replies.
“i did not ask you,” says ''Idling''. they aren’t angry or suspicious. they’re just wondering. “i asked ''$name''.”
[[> “this is ''Sage''.”|14.1]]
[[> “you heard what $she said.”|14.2]]
(set: $idlingtrust to 1)“you barely explained anything, though,” ''Sage'' says. “what’s going on?”
(if: $em is 3)[“i can’t fucking explain it.](if: $em is 1)[“i wish i knew how to explain it, ''Sage''.](if: $em is 2)[“i don’t know.] you’re just here now, okay?”
“that doesn’t answer my questions.”
[[> “i don’t know how to answer your questions.”|17]]''Idling'' tucks their key beneath their shirt and sits on the bunk across from your own. “we get two meals a day: breakfast and dinner,” they begin. “they don’t feed us a lot, so we have to sneak snacks from ''Reprieve''. we get clothing donations from charity that come around the first of the month. until then, you will have to wear the patient gowns they give you.”
''Sage'' doesn’t look very pleased. “who is ‘they’?”
“the Caregivers and Watchers. they give us care. they watch.”
“why can’t i remember how i got here?”
[[>>|16.3]]there are tears in ''Sage'''s eyes. $his breathing is heavy. you can feel it in your chest. “why am i here?”
“there’s nothing for you on the outside,” (if: $dis is 1)[you say before ''Idling'' can get the chance.](else:)[''Idling'' replies.] “the adults don’t know what to do with you.”
“so i just get left here?” ''Sage'' looks between you and ''Idling''. “my family is still out there. how do i get home?”
''Idling''’s gaze burrows into ''Sage''. ''“this is home.”''
[[>>|18]]“the Caregivers don't want you to remember. they don’t want us to leave. they don’t show us where ''the Hospital'' is.”
“so the residents don’t leave?” ''Sage'' asks.
“when they turn eighteen years old, yes. we wake up on the birthday, and the child is gone. Caregivers hurt you if you ask questions.” ''Idling'' looks scared. “don’t ask them questions.”
''Sage''’s expression falls. $she looks terrified. you wish you could comfort $him.
[[> but you can’t.|16.4]]“i have advice for you,” ''Idling'' states to ''Sage''. “stay away from the Watchers. if the Caregivers hurt you, you will recover. but the Watchers are different.”
you can feel ''Idling'''s black eyes on your cheek. you don't look back at them.
“the Caregivers control the patients. the Watchers control the Caregivers. the Watchers control ''the Hospital''. you should just stay away.”
[[>>|17]](if: $em is 3)[you cross your arms over your chest. “you’ll have to get over it, ''Sage''.](if: $em is 1)[you place a hand on ''Sage’s'' shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. “i’m sorry.](if: $em is 2)[you throw ''Sage'' a sympathetic gaze. “you’ll get used to it eventually.] that’s just how it is.”
“for everybody?” ''Sage'' asks. “no one //ever// leaves?”
“not until they let you. no one even tries,” ''Idling'' says. “if you do, you get taken to ''the Shelter.'' you don't want to go to ''the Shelter.''”
you don’t like talking about ''the Shelter.''
[[> “''Idling'',” you ask, “why are you here alone?”|19]]“i’m surprised ''Nurse Sigil'' did not find you,” says ''Idling''. “''Watcher King'' called a group session for all the older kids. you //are// over twelve, right?”
you’re very confused. a group therapy session called by ''Watcher King'' is extremely unusual. “why did he call a session just for older kids?”
“''Nurse Sigil'' didn't say. does it have something to do with the newcomer?”
you both look to ''Sage''. $she glances between you two wearily. “i didn’t do anything. why would this be about me?”
[[> you don’t have an answer to that question.|20]]it’s not long before the missing children appear. they mill down the hallways, heads bobbling in a daze, eyes glazed and distant. you’re not surprised to hear muffled retching from the nearest ''Bathing Room''. ''Sage'' cringes at the sound of vomit hitting the floor.
''Idling'' stands alert at the door and patiently waits for the bunkmates to arrive. they enter the room one by one: ''Apostle'' first, then ''Jubliant'', then ''Clockwise'', and then ''Messenger''.
there should be one more. you wait. everyone looks dizzy and sick.
you wait some more. no one else comes.
[[>>|21]]''Idling'' looks confused. “where is ''Veteran''?”
“''Watcher King'',” says ''Apostle''. she seems dreamy. or maybe nauseated. “''Watcher King'' took ''Veteran''.” she drifts from side to side on her feet like a drunken sailor. (if: $story is 3)[
//do you remember the sailors that would wash ashore by your lighthouse? do you remember the sway of their gait as they told tales of mermaids and sea monsters?//]
''Sage'' takes a step back. $she doesn't know what's going on, but $she knows enough to be anxious. ''Idling'' fidgets with the key on their neck. “did he take her to ''the Shelter''?”
[[> you begin to feel very cold.|22]]to be continued.''Idling'' tilts their head to the side as they think. “you are trying to.”
[[> “i guess so.”|15]]
(set: $idlingtrust to $idlingtrust + 1)''Idling'' pulls their key out of the door, placing its string back around their neck. you lead ''Sage'' to the bunk at the end of the room, right next to the window. $she takes off $her jacket and puts it on the top bunk. the jacket is one of $his only possessions.
“will i get new clothes?” $she asks with concern. “and what about food? how does this place work?”
you glance down at your bare feet. your toes curl against the ground. the concrete is cold.
[[> “i’ve already explained as much as i can.”|16.1]]
[[> “''Idling'' can tell you better than me.”|16.2]]