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{(set: $name to "Bill") (set: $dogname to "Rocky") (set: $info to false) (set: $redeyes to false) (set: $survivors to (array: "Vince", "Nick", "Marty")) (set: $survivorfriends to 3)

The slight knocking of your rocking chair mixes seamlessly with the light chirping of a nearby swallow and the rustling of leaves in the forest. A perfect, blissful symphony. [(link: "Where am I?") [Your (link: "cabin") [dilapitated shack], surrounded by thick foliage on all sides, is weathered and slightly sad. Despite its slight crookedness- you //swear// that south wall is leaning more to the left than ever before- you will call these four (link: "walls")["walls"] home, sweet home, for this weekend only. While the bedroom and (link:"makeshift bathroom")[bucket in the corner] combo is far from five star, it functions well enough for a self-proclaimed outdoorsman like yourself. And, well, (link:"kitchen?") [what kitchen? The woods is your kitchen.]]] [[Continue.|home]]

You used to come up to this cabin with your parents every single summer when you were younger. In fact, a few other families used to live close by- you no longer even remember where their cabins were, tucked away in the dense woods like your own, but you kids used to meet at the nearby campsite to (link: "roast marshmallows")[create charred black clumps of disappointment]. Rickety old folding chairs are spattered haphazardly around the campsite, (link: "forgotten")[forgotten, just like your childhood hopes and dreams]. You always had fun here. Well, except for (text-color:red)[(text-style: "smear")[(text-color: black)[one time.]]] It's such a shame, what [[happened|anymore]].

Honestly, it's good you don't have any (link: "lovely guests") [unwelcome freeloaders] running around these parts //too// often. You hate what happened here, but it's nice to have some peace and quiet. **Too bad** that's not on the agenda this weekend: you and your college pals are on the hunt to figure out //what// is killing all of those poor kids. (link: "Why?") [You're all bored, and solving a spooky mystery sounded like fun. Also, no one can stop you from having a [[wicked party]] while you're here. In the abandoned woods.]

You don't quite remember how it happened, it was so long ago. You were picking up sticks for your meager fire with your other naive pals. Ricky Tallmadge, one of the (link: "best friends you'd ever had,")[older boys who'd actually talk to you,] left to go take a dump deeper in the woods. It wasn't long before the high-pitched screaming began. ----- [[Push the thought]] of poor Ricky's detailed and traumatic death from your mind. Remember the [[juicy details]] of this story. After all, he's a part of the mystery.

(link: "Every good party has a dog.") [(set: $dogname to (prompt: "What kind of adventure would it be without man's best friend? Accompanying you is your golden retriever named:", "Rocky"))] Other than your canine companion, your pals Nick, Marty, and Vince have decided to join you. Solve some mysteries and do some partying? What could //possibly// go wrong? ----- You came here to figure out what happened to Ricky and the other kids that have been vanishing. Whether it's a crazy guy in the woods or some hot alien chick, your priority is to [[figure out]] what's going on here. Well, Ricky's already dead...And you've driven far to get here... Might as well [[celebrate a little]], right?

You lean back in your chair, $dogname snoring softly at your feet. Fifty feet to your left, you see Vince emerge from the neighboring (link: "cabin")[shack] with a case of adult beverages in each hand. "Vince, we can head out to the old campsite tomorrow and enjoy ourselves. Don't you want to figure out what's out here first?" "Wait, you //really// believe there's a monster? There's nothing out here," Nick challenges suddenly, "it's all coincidence. I'm here for taking a break from studying." Vince pauses in thought while Marty peeks his head out from the truck, sleeping bag tucked under his arm. ---- [[Insist]] that going monster (or...crazy axe murderer..?) hunting would be more fun and make a much better story. [[Give in]] and relax for a bit.

You lean back in your chair, $dogname snoring softly at your feet. Fifty feet to your left, you see Vince emerge from the neighboring (link: "cabin")[shack] with a case of adult beverages in each hand. "The campsite's not far from here," you call, "and it's a perfect setup for a little bit of relaxation." Nick, leaning against your cabin, lifts up his sunglasses to squint at the two of you. "Well, what are we doing sitting here? Let's go!" ------ You all load up your packs to take to the run-down old campsite. It's about a [(either: "three", "ten", "seven", "four", "six", "eight")] minute walk to your destination. You only have two arms, so what do you decide to carry with you? Booze, duh. That's how we celebrate. (click: "Booze, duh.") [(set: $booze to true)(goto: "campstart")] What kind of campfire doesn't have smores? Those are a must. (click: "smores") [(set: $smores to true)(goto: "campstart")] You're starving right now. You need a full, nutritious meal. Hot dogs are what you need. (click: "Hot dogs") [(set: $hotdogs to true)(goto: "campstart")]

"(text-color:red)[(text-style: "smear")[(text-color: black)[*It's got me!*]]]" He wailed, "(text-color:red)[(text-style: "smear")[(text-color: black)[*It's dragging me away, it's got me! Help!!*]]]" At first, you and the other two kids thought he was playing a trick on you. Ricky did that sometimes. In fact, the adults didn't believe him much either. That is, until he (link:"vanished for good.")[vanished for good. They never quite figured out what happened to Ricky; when they found his body, all the blood had been sucked from it. Apparently, there were (text-color:red)[(text-style: "smear")[(text-color: #0C84B2)[three bite marks]]] on his right leg... After the Ricky Incident, families stopped coming as often. You can't put your finger on why, but the campground never felt the (link: "same.")[same. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe it was the sudden string of young boys going missing. Who knows?]] [[Continue.]] (set: $info to true)

You close your eyes and rub your temples slowly in an attempt to prevent the headache you can already feel forming. Hopefully, this adventure is a good idea... [[Continue.]]

You remember the good old days, with Ricky and the gang... Ricky was (link: "an interesting guy.")[the "cool kid" back in the day. He even smoked once. You saw him.] The path to the campsite has been neglected for years, but you, Nick, Marty, Vince and $dogname clamber down the overgrown trail, old memories fueling your excitement. {(if: $booze is true)[Once you reach the campsite, you place your drinks on a rickety picnic table with a //clank//. Your pals place down their supplies as well, and you settle in with an [[extra drink]] in your hand. (set: $drinks to 2)] (if: $smores is true)[Once you reach the campsite, you place your smores supplies on a rickety picnic table. Your pals put down their supplies as well. Your stomach growls at the thought of the sweet snack. You go off to find some [[branches]] for your campfire. (set: $drinks to 0)] (if: $hotdogs is true)[Once you reach the campsite, you place your hot dogs on a dingy picnic table. Your pals put down their supplies as well. Stomach rumbling, you take a sip of your beer before gathering some [[wood|branches]] for your campfire. (set: $drinks to 1)]}

You find yourself on the edge of the thicker part of the woods, but still in sight of the campsite. You see your friends and $dogname in plain view. Yet... You get the feeling that something's off. You gather a decent amount of sticks and firewood in your arms, and are about to (link: "turn back...")[turn back... When you see it. A large, dark mass deeper in the woods flashes [[through the trees]].

After a while, Nick and Marty get a sizeable fire going. Everyone has been enjoying a bit of the good life- plenty of drinks and food to satisfy. A red-faced Nick has begun dancing around the fire to his portable radio. Vince secretly records the incident on his phone. (set: $drinks to $drinks +3) It takes you a while to notice how quiet Marty's been- in fact, he's nowhere to be found. ----- [[Look]] for Marty. He probably isn't far, but the sun is starting to set. Knowing the way you're all starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, you should wrap this party and head back soon anyway. You're the most sober, so it's your job to make sure your pals end up safe. [[Stay]] and enjoy your friends' antics. Marty's probably just takin' a piss or something. He'll be back soon.

"Hey, I'm going to check on Marty," you announce to the two hooligans. You and $dogname step to the edge of the thick forest, scanning the edge for clues. //Which way did Marty head?// You figure he's probably stumbled his way back towards the cabin. You're about to head that way when you hear a //Crack!// coming from deeper inside the woods. "Marty?" you call. No response. ----- Follow the [[noise]]. Head back [[towards the cabin]].

You stay with your two other friends, knowing that Marty is just fine, wherever he is. You continue your party, until it begins to get dark. (set: $drinks to $drinks +2) Still no Marty... Now, the three of you are understandably concerned. You wander around the forest with your flashlight, calling his name. Eventually, the search ends. (click: "search ends")[(goto: (either: "Marty alive", "Vince missing", "keep looking"))]

"Thought I saw something out there," you begin. As you tell Marty what you saw, his eyes light up. "We've gotta figure out what it was!" Finally, somebody has a taste for adventure. However, whatever it was is long gone- and very well could have been a normal animal. ----- [[Go into the woods]] with Marty to look for clues. Tell him it was nothing after all and to [[forget]] about it.

"I just got a bit dizzy for a second," you brush off his concern. "I just need something to drink." Marty helps you carry the wood back to the campsite. Soon, you have a roaring fire. Hot dogs and smores fill your stomach, while that dark blur fills your mind. Vince offers you a beer. ----- [[Decline]] his offer. You're pretty tired already and don't feel like being a part of the party much longer. [[Accept]] the beverage. Maybe you'll be able to forget about the woods and just enjoy yourself.

"Come on," you start, "it'll be an adventure! Just think of the stories we'll be able to tell. //I bet chicks will dig it...//" After a bit of back and forth, you manage to convince the guys to adventure with you. You find a dusty old map in the cabin, with a few key features. Where to begin? ----- Leave some [[cameras]] around the two cabins, the abandoned campsite, and near a tiny creek you can see on the map. Explore a meadow and part of the creek [[on foot]].

"Fine," you sigh, "we'll just chill out for now," defeat evident in your voice. "I guess I am pretty hungry..." Nick smiles, a hint of triumph at the corners of his lips. ----- You all load up your packs to take to the run-down old campsite. It's about a [(either: "three", "ten", "seven", "four", "six", "eight")] minute walk to your destination. You only have two arms, so what do you decide to carry with you? Booze, duh. That's how we celebrate. (click: "Booze, duh.") [(set: $booze to true)(goto: "campstart")] What kind of campfire doesn't have smores? Those are a must. (click: "smores") [(set: $smores to true)(goto: "campstart")] You're starving right now. You need a full, nutritious meal. Hot dogs are what you need. (click: "Hot dogs") [(set: $hotdogs to true)(goto: "campstart")]

Luckily, you came prepared for adventure. You pull five trail cameras out of your backpack. You probably could have used a few more, (link: "but your wallet only goes so far.")[but you're a broke ass college student.] You place one in the treeline, facing the two cabins. While you hope you won't see anything out of the ordinary, you can't rule it out. Vince takes another camera and points it deeper into the woods. You decide that you want to put one at the abandoned campsite and two along the shallow creek. Both places are only a short walk from where you are. To save time, though, you decide to split up. Since your phones don't get service out here, each one of you has a walkie-talkie. ----- Go to the [[campsite|campcam]] with Nick and Marty. Go down to the [[stream|streamcam]] with Vince.

Why not take a short walk around? Looking at this place again might bring back some (link: "fond memories.")[fond memories of your parents, now six feet underground; memories of your best friends playing tag in the meadow, before they all stopped coming...] ----- You could visit the [[creek|creekfirst]] first, since it seems like an area that would be home to lots of activity. The [[meadow|meadowfirst]] might be a nice place to stop, as it was important to your parents and your friends. Plus, maybe you'll run across something mysterious among the tall grass.

[[Follow Marty]] [[Follow Nick]] [[Stay with Vince]]

The meadow is only a short walk away. You and your mother once discovered it by accident while exploring the area. She fell in love with the serene, warm quality of this secret spot. It inspired her to paint beautiful (link: "works of art.") [works of art. Two still hang in your tiny shack.] $dogname lumbers beside your group as you trek through the thick foliage. Soon enough, you find yourselves in a small clearing. The various plant life bristles slightly in the wind, the familiar sound taking you back to days long ago. You enter the clearing, only slightly noticing how some of the grasses were smashed close to the earth by heavy footsteps before you. "So..." Nick breaks the silence, "what were you thinking you were going to find? It's a field, that's it. Nothing here. Can we go back now?" You're only vaguely aware of his droning on as you step further into the clearing. (link: "Something caught your attention.")[A small toy bear lay among the weeds, looking sad and forgotten. Gingerly, you [[pick it up]].]