Story 1, Episode 5

Alyx's journal???

Story 1, Episode 5

This is an installment of a story. Each week we will write a new piece of a story, and invite you to use your comments to help choose what happens next, or just add description to whatever is already going on. Assuming it works at all, sometimes we will have an arc in mind, sometimes we will toss dice, sometimes we will be at your whim.

Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4

Sid and Tulip made their way to the safehouse. They were still some distance away when the smog that enveloped the area every evening started rising from the forest floor, forcing them to mask up.

The door opened on the third round of heavy knocking from Sid, accompanied by some yelled insults from Tulip. A shabby-looking man straddled the doorway of the equally shabby-looking safehouse, staring them down with all the presence he could muster.

“No room at the inn, folks, you best get moving.”

“What do you mean there’s no room?” Tulip growled before Sid could get a word in, hackles up.

Sid’s fist was already clenched out of reflex. Licking this guy would be easy, even on five days of granola bars and water, but who knew how many people were in there?

“Now listen, I’m Sid, and this is Tulip, we’re trying to survive this thing just like you. If you’ll just give us some space on the floor, or…”

“I don’t wanna hear it. Get going,” the man glanced behind him. “You and, ah, Turnip can keep moving, we don’t want any trouble.”

That we seemed to include the man himself, who kept glancing behind him. He must have been the runt of the litter, forced to talk with some dangerous and possibly armed strangers. Sid could already feel a room of eyes following them from the musty shadows of the bungalow, waiting to take advantage of the confusion to eliminate a few more contestants. Fucking dog-eat-dog world.

“It’s Tulip motherfucker, and I’m gonna prune your ass if you don’t-”

Sid un-clenched their fist with effort, placing their hand on Tulip’s shoulder to calm them. This fight wasn’t worth it.

“Fine. Then can we at least use the bathroom?”

Sid could see the shabby man relax too. He clearly wasn’t spoiling for a fight. “As long as you’re quick about it.”

“Dude, what the fuck, we could have totally taken that guy.”

Sid lapped at some water from their newly-filled canteen and slipped their mask back on before answering. They’d headed uphill where the smog wasn’t so thick, but Sid could still catch some of its distinct rankness seeping in around the edges.

“I’ve been carrying your ass through this whole thing, I didn’t need more trouble this close to the end. Plus, who prunes someone? That guy’s probably laughing his ass off right now.”

“Yeah, laughing his ass off indoors. While we’re rough camping. Again.”

“Hey, this isn’t so bad. Back to nature, right? We’ve got the smog, the forest, I think I can even hear a stream. A lot better than staying up all night worried I’m gonna wake up without boots.”

Sid grimaced as they got up, the effort it took belying their confident words. “That stream sounds close. I’m gonna wash up before it’s totally dark.” They’d wandered out of sight of the safehouse, far enough to avoid any unwanted visitors, but they were losing daylight fast.

Ambling towards the sound of the stream, Sid shook their head, trying to clear it of the day's events. Dog eat dog world. The fighting over scraps of comfort, turning their belly up in a plea for solidarity, this whole survival game, it all felt like society. Even out here in the middle of nowhere. Especially out here, where the mask came off and people were just tearing each other apart without any pretense. Wasn’t this exactly what they were trying to escape? Wasn’t this exactly what they’d be going back into if they won this whole thing?

The smog was getting thicker. They could barely make out anything now. The sound of the stream seemed to grow distant and hollow. Sid searched the brown, billowing darkness for some sign of where to go. Back to Tulip, towards the stream, anywhere out of this confusion.

Before they’d taken two steps, they heard a crunching underneath their feet. Looking down, they saw a faint, almost bioluminescent glow. A… book?

Crouching down, Sid took the book into their hands. It was a small, tattered notebook, glowing in the darkness. Flipping through it, their mind reeled, overwhelmed by a riot of confused script and drawings. But the more they looked, the more it made sense. Stopping on a random page, they found the answer they were looking for.

The page looks like a map - where does it lead? Turn to THE STARS WILL AID IN THEIR ESCAPE

The page contains a warning - what does it say? Turn to NOWHERE TO RUN

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Ah, damn. Yet another 'choose your own adventure.' Sid used to read these, but there were never options, real options. Sigh. It's the only clue we have, thinks Tulip. To avoid complete disaster they both decide to follow the stars. But first, they must climb out of this smog. Grabbing the book gingerly they continue to climb hoping the air clears enough to see the sky, and perhaps a way out.

society! THE STARS WILL AID IN THEIR ESCAPE

"Licking this guy would be easy," Sid thought again, feeling the heat swell into their nether region.

Crouching down, Sid took the shabby-looking man's genitals into their hands. It was a small, tattered thing, glowing in the darkness. Wanking on it, their mind reeled, overwhelmed by a riot of confused slobber and gaggings. But the more they wanked, the more it made turgidity. Stopping at a random wank, they found the answer they were looking for.

The genitals look like a baby corn - where does it point? Turn to THE PENIS WILL AID IN THEIR IMPREGNATION

The genitals contains a piercing - what does it perforate? Turn to NOWHERE TO PEE

barking mad over the commenters literary comprehension skills

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