Taylor's Reality

//"Good morning Boston. It's 7:15 and all sunshine, but we have some rather tragic news for you this morning. The body of the notorious killer, Blind-Eye Billy's, last victim was found today. It was identified as the eccentric and widely loved billionaire, Maximillion DeLeon. As usual, the body was found with both eyes slashed, Blind-Eye Billy's trademark-"// Before the news anchor can continue, you turn off the television in your room and rub your eyes. "Crap, I left it on all night again." You hop out of bed and get about halfway through putting your clothes on before your mother's scratchy voice pierces through the house's walls. "Taylor Luís Fernandez, come downstairs NOW!" [[Go downstairs]] [[Stay in your room]]

You sprint downstairs, almost falling over as you turn into the kitchen. You know better than to make your mother wait. "What is it, mom?" "You left the TV on all night. That's another $50 I'm adding to your rent." [["How did you know?"]]

You lock your door and sit in the corner with one sock on. "Maybe if I don't make any noise, she'll forget I exist." you whisper to yourself as you hear your mother stomp up the stairs. The stomping soon stops, but you still wait in the corner. And wait. And wait. You stand up and slowly inch towards the door without making a sound. [[You reach for the lock and take a deep breath.]]

"I could hear it all night." "Then why didn't you wake me up to tell me to turn it off? What kind of household are you running here?" You groan. "One with rules about wasting electricity." "If you stopped making me pay rent and charging me for every little thing, then I wouldn't be here wasting your electricity. Do you guys even want me to leave?" "Maybe if you were an entrepreneur like Sahil you-" Your face turns red, "Mom, you can't expect me to be like Sahil," your voice trails off. "You can't expect anyone to be like Sahil." Your mom sighs, "You need to start getting ready for work. We'll talk about this more later." [[You turn around to go upstairs, but you bump into what feels like a bear.]]

Before you can even touch the lock, your door comes flying off of the hinges and crashes down on top of you. Your mother towers over you with a kitchen knife in one hand and a breakfast burrito in the other. "You left the tv on all night. That's another $50 I'm adding to your rent. And $300 more for the door." [["But you broke the d-"]] [["How did you know I left the TV on?"]]

"I broke it because you locked it. That's your fault." You sigh, "Do you really need to add all of that to my rent? How am I supposed to move out when you guys make me spend my entire paycheck on rent?" "You'd be spending more on an actual apartment. Maybe if you were an entrepreneur like Sahil you-" Your face turns red, "Mom, you can't expect me to be like Sahil," your voice trails off. "You can't expect anyone to be like Sahil." "Anyway, this wouldn't be a problem if you got a decent job, spent less money on junk food, helped around the house, got a girlfr-" [["All right, you can stop now."]] [["A girlfriend? Mom..."]]

"I could hear it all night." "Then why didn't you wake me up to tell me to turn it off? What kind of household are you running here?" You groan. "One with rules about wasting electricity." "If you stopped making me pay rent and charging me for every little thing," You lift the door off of yourself and stand back up, "Then I wouldn't be here wasting your electricity. Do you guys even want me to leave?" "Maybe if you were an entrepreneur like Sahil you-" Your face turns red, "Mom, you can't expect me to be like Sahil," your voice trails off. "You can't expect anyone to be like Sahil." "Anyway, you wouldn't be here if you stopped wasting electricity, got a decent job, spent less money on junk food, helped around the house, got a girlfr-" [["All right, you can stop now."]] [["A girlfriend? Mom..."]]

A tall man with round glasses and a thick mustache approaches. After widening his eyes at the door's absence, he knocks on the wall, "Dolores, we've gotta open the auto shop in an hour. We should get going." He walks towards you and picks up the door, then turns around and starts mashing it into the busted hinge. Your mom taps on his shoulder, "Danilo, it's broken. At least get a screwdriver-" "Shush. It's a perfectly good door. I just need to find the right angle." He continues to mash the door into the hinge to no avail. "Well, I'll fix it later. Or maybe you could, Taylor?" You shake your head. "That was a joke. Oh, happy birthday by the way." He doesn't even pretend to be excited about it. He also doesn't realize that your birthday was actually yesterday. Both of your parents leave without saying another word to you. You check your watch and realize it was 7:20. "Crap, I'm late for work." [[Get ready for work]]

Before either of you can continue, a tall man with round glasses and a thick mustache approaches. After sighing at the door's absence, he knocks on the wall, "Dolores, we've gotta open the auto shop in an hour. We should get going." He walks towards you and picks up the door, then turns around and starts mashing it against the hinge. Your mom taps on his shoulder, "Danilo, it's broken. We have to call somebody who actually knows how to fix it." The man looks towards you "Son, never pay somebody to do something you can do yourself." He frowns and continues to mash the door into the hinge for a bit, then eventually gives up. "Well, I'll come back to it later, we gotta get going." Before he leaves your room, he turns to you once again, "Oh, I almost forgot, happy birthday son." He doesn't even pretend to be excited about it. He also doesn't realize that your birthday was actually yesterday. Both of your parents leave without saying another word to you. You check your watch and realize it was 7:20. "Crap, I'm late for work." [[Get ready for work]]

You finish getting dressed and dash out of the back door after grabbing a breakfast burrito from the kitchen. Since you're going to be late otherwise, you go through the woods in West Roxbury. After jogging to work for about 5 minutes, you can feel a smile creeping up on your face. After a little longer, you come across an intersection with two paths. The right path is shorter, but there's a skunk patrolling the area. The left path is much longer, but there's a huge rottweiler that looks lost along the way. [[Take the right path]] [[Take the left path]]

"Happy birthday son." Your dad doesn't even pretend to be particularly happy or excited about it. He also doesn't realize that your birthday was actually yesterday. He walks around you without waiting for a reply. "Dolores, we gotta get going, Marcos said he's coming to the auto shop the moment it opens, we can't keep him waiting." "Marcos? As in our old friend from Salvador? When did you get back in contact with him?" "Oh, he called an hour ago and said he got in an accident the other day and needed some repairs. I was surprised. We left Brazil 31 years ago, I didn't think he still remembered us." "You never told me he called. He's a pretty successful businessman nowadays, isn't he? Are we charging him extra?" Your dad chuckled, "Of course we are!" You groan and go upstairs. [[Get ready for work]]

You start to jog down the right path, making sure to stay as far away from the skunk as possible. Right as you pass the skunk, it turns and looks at you. You laugh and wave at it "It's actually pretty cute." You take out your phone to take a picture of it, but the skunk turns around to walk away as soon as you do. Then it raises its tail, sprays you and runs away. <img src=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xjC6Szu3vqU/hqdefault.jpg> "Are. You. Fucking. KIDDING ME?!" You kick a tree repeatedly, then take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. "I don't have time to take a shower at home. I guess I'll just have to go to work smelling like this and ask if I can use the shower there." [[Go to work]] (set: $Skunk to 1)

You start to jog down the left path. You stop by the dog and reach to pet them, but quickly dodge their jaw as they try to bite your hand. "Not too friendly huh? Do you have an owner?" You look around their neck from a distance but don't see a collar. "Whatever, I gotta go." You jog past the dog, but soon realize that they're following you. You pick up your pace a bit and they continue to chase you. As you speed up, they match your pace. You trip over a rock and your phone falls out of your pocket. You turn around and suddenly they're gnawing at your feet, ruining your shoes that you bought just a week ago. Their teeth pierce through the shoes and are now sinking into your feet. Right as you realize that you can't escape, you hear an old woman whistle. "Boris, get off of that young man this instant!" The dog quickly runs to her side. "I'm so sorry dear, do you need help? I can bandage up your feet, those wounds are deep." "It's fine ma'am, I need to make it to work on time! Please keep your dog on a leash!" You pick up your phone, that's now bent nearly to the point of snapping in half after you fell on it and [[jog the rest of the way to work.]] (set: $Dog to 1)

You arrive at a convenience store with a crooked logo that says "The Stinky Skunk." You enter the store through the back. "If you're trying to sneak in, it's not working. I could smell you from a mile away, Taylor." Your manager is standing right behind you, grinning with a skunk in her arms. "Wait. Is that-" "My pet skunk, Stinky? Why yes it is. Wanna pet him?" "Hell no, get that little demon away from me! I don't wanna get sprayed again!" You start walking towards the shower. "Where do you think you're going? That shower is for homeless people and customers that bring the wrong kind of stink into the store. Employees can't use it. Plus you'll be late if you shower now, Taylor." Your manager points Stinky's rear at you like a weapon. [["So you're gonna make me work when I smell like this?"]] [[Get in the shower anyway]]

"It'd be pretty on brand. I even got you a skunk costume!" Your boss reaches into a locker and pulls out a giant skunk costume that smells like rotten tomatoes and chlorine. "Maxine, that looks ridiculous." "You remember how you made us lose 8 customers because you were late yesterday, right, Taylor?" Maxine steps closer with Stinky once again ready to fire, "You still owe me for that, Taylor. I can't fire you because of the labor shortage, but I can make Stinky spray you as many times as I want. Now put on the damn skunk costume, Taylor." "I'm reporting you to HR after this. Do we have HR? We should get HR." [[Put on the costume]] [[Don't put on the costume]] [[Throw the costume in the dumpster]]

You try to get past your manager to shower, but she doesn't let you. "Get to work or I'm spraying you, Taylor. I have bills to pay and my husband's been in the hospital for weeks. I don't care if you break both of your legs, I need you at the cash register greeting customers with a smile, Taylor!" "How am I supposed to greet customers with a smile if I smell like this?" "It's on brand, they'll love it! I've even got a skunk costume for you!" "Maxine, I'm starting to think Stinky would be more appropriate for my job than I am." Maxine thinks for a minute then her eyes light up, "Taylor, you remember yesterday when we lost 8 customers because you were late? Or last week when you ate our entire stock of twinkies? Or last month when you spent your whole shift in the bathroom because you ate those oxtails from the gas station?" [["Yes"]] [["No"]]

"If I put this on, you'll let me shower at the end of my shift, right?" "Of course, Taylor!" Maxine smiles as she pets Stinky. "I don't get paid enough for this." You sigh and step into the costume. "Is $5 an hour not enough for you?" The costume is really itchy, but you put up with it. While Maxine runs the cash register with Stinky, you stand outside and wave at passersby. Surprisingly, the costume does attract more customers. A group of children walk up to you, wincing and giggling as they take turns sniffing you. "Are you a real skunk?" they ask. [["Only from 7:40 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays."]] (set: $CostumeYes to 1)

"I'm not putting that thing o-" Maxine lightly squeezes Stinky and he sprays you. "Oh my god it got in my mouth! What the he-" Stinky sprays you again, "Okay I'll wea-" Stinky sprays you another time, "I'M TRYING TO SAY I'LL WEAR IT!" "Sorry, he did that last one on his own." [[Put on the costume]]

You take the costume and go outside to throw it into the dumpster, but Maxine follows you. "If you put that costume in the dumpster, it's coming out of your salary, Taylor!" Maxine gently squeezes Stinky and he sprays you. "Gross, it went up my nose! I thought you wanted this costume to smell bad anyway!" You throw the costume deep inside the dumpster. "I don't want it to smell like //that//! That's $20 you owe me!" "You pay me $5 an hour! That costume isn't worth 4 hours of work!" "Dammit, Taylor! You think I can afford to pay you more?!" "I think you're legally obligated to pay me more!" [[You storm off to the cash register and start your shift.]] (set: $CostumeNo to 1)

"Good. So I was initially holding off because of this whole labor shortage thing, but hiring Stinky is a great idea! He won't even ask me to pay him. So, you're fired, Taylor!" "Does this mean I can use the shower now?" "Go ahead." Maxine grabs a tiny apron from one of the lockers and takes Stinky to the cash register. [[Get in the shower]]

"Well I do! I was initially holding off because of this whole labor shortage thing, but hiring Stinky is a great idea! He won't even ask me to pay him. So, you're fired, Taylor!" "What would Stinky even do with the money?" Maxine pulls out a tiny top hat and puts it on Stinky's head, "I'll have you know, Stinky has quite the fashion sense. He'd waste all the money on exotic clothing." "Does this mean I can use the shower now?" "Go ahead. You'll be homeless soon anyway." Maxine grabs a tiny apron from one of the lockers and takes Stinky to the cash register. [[Get in the shower]]

After showering for an hour, you grab a change of clothes from your locker and leave, throwing your old clothes in the dumpster. [[Then your phone rings]]

You look at your phone to see who's calling. It's Sahil Arya. You answer without hesitating. "H-h-hello Sahil! What're you calling about?" "Same thing as usual. Wanna get coffee after your shift?" "Well I just got fired. Wanna just get coffee now?" "Oh. Do you wanna talk abou-" "Please no." "Alright, I'll meet you at The Sugary Squirrel place in 20 minutes." [[Meet Sahil at the cafe]]

The children ignore you and enter the store. After 8 hours of letting the smell of skunk spray sink into your skin and a lunch break, the end of your shift approaches. At 4:59, right as you're getting ready to go inside, a familiar voice calls to you. "Taylor? Is that you in there?" A chill goes down your spine as the last person you wanted to see, Sahil Arya, is right behind you. "Dude, you smell awful." You accept the inevitable humiliation and don't even try to lie to him. "S-S-Sahil. H-hi, funny seeing you here, i-isn't it?" "Um, I don't really think I'd call it funny. It's pretty normal actually, I come here everyday. I was wondering if you wanted to get coffee, but clearly," Sahil squeezes his nose, "You need a shower first." "I-I was just about to shower, just wait for me out here, I'll be out in a bit." [[Take a shower]]

After showering for a while, you hop out and get a change of clothes from your locker. You check your watch and realize it's been an hour. "Oh no, I kept him waiting for too long. Though, I wish he wouldn't always ask me to get coffee with him. I don't even like coffee. Going out for dinner would be nice. Maybe a fancy restaurant..." You head to the cash register to see Sahil petting and holding Stinky. "Please put that thing down." You grab Stinky and hand him back to Maxine, making sure to point him away from you. Sahil frowns, "Aw, but he was so cute." [[Leave for the cafe]]

You arrive at the cafe with Sahil, sniffing yourself one last time to make sure you don't still smell. Unfortunately, you do. Sahil sits at a table in the dead center of the shop and you join him after getting your coffee. "So uhh, how's your business going? It must be tough dealing with the labor shortage and stuff." Your face turns slightly red as you twiddle your thumbs. Sahil takes a long sip of coffee then speaks as he stares into his cup. "Yeah, it kinda sucks, but next to dreams everyone's favorite escapist pastime is video games, and lots of games need anti-cheat software. Just knowing that keeps me going during those all-nighters." "Be careful with all-nighters, dude. You'll regret it when you get older." "Who cares about what happens when I get older? They're helpful now, so I'll pull as many as I need." There's a long silence as he continues to sip his coffee. You feel as if the eyes of everyone else in the cafe are trained onto both of you as you try to think of something to say to keep the conversation going. [["Real nice weather we're having..."]] [["You have any interesting dreams lately?"]]

You arrive at the cafe, sniffing yourself one last time to make sure you don't still smell. Unfortunately, you do. You see Sahil sitting at a table in the dead center of the shop and join him after getting your coffee. "So uhh, how's your business going? It must be tough dealing with the labor shortage and stuff." Your face turns slightly red as you twiddle your thumbs. Sahil takes a long sip of coffee then speaks as he stares into his cup. "Yeah, it kinda sucks, but next to dreams everyone's favorite escapist pastime is video games, and lots of games need anti-cheat software. Just knowing that keeps me going during those all-nighters." "Be careful with all-nighters, dude. You'll regret it when you get older." "Who cares about what happens when I get older? They're helpful now, so I'll pull as many as I need." There's a long silence as he continues to sip his coffee. You feel as if the eyes of everyone else in the cafe are trained onto both of you as you try to think of something to say to keep the conversation going. [["Real nice weather we're having..."]] [["You have any interesting dreams lately?"]]

After working for 9 hours, including a lunch break, you finally finish your shift. "Maxine, can I finally take a shower now?" "I guess, but when I get a new skunk Costume, you better wear it!" You get in the shower for about an hour and get a change of clothes from your locker. [[Then your phone rings.->Your phone rings]]

You look at your phone to see who's calling. It's Sahil Arya. You answer without hesitating. "H-h-hello Sahil! What're you calling about?" "Same thing as usual. Wanna get coffee? Your shift is over, right?" "Y-yeah, my shift is over. Wanna go to the usual place?" "The Sugary Squirrel? Sure. Meet you there in 20 minutes." [[Meet Sahil at the cafe]]

Sahil doesn't reply. He's staring at the tv screen in the corner. You look over and see that he's watching the local news station. //"As of today, approximately 50% of the American population has disappeared from our reality and entered the dream realm. Is this merely a trend, or is this the future of civilization? More on that at 6:00."// Sahil looks back towards you, "It's crazy isn't it? One day you're here, then the next you decide you want to enter the dream realm, and poof, you're gone." [["So, nice weather we're having..."]] [["It sure is. I can't imagine doing that."]]

Sahil doesn't reply. He's staring at the tv screen in the corner. You look over and see that he's watching the local news station. //"As of today, approximately 50% of the American population has disappeared from our reality and entered the dream realm. More than 75% of those people are criminals or social outcasts. Is this their way of getting a fresh start? Is this merely a trend, or is this the future of civilization? More on that at 6:00."// Sahil looks back towards you, "It's crazy isn't it? One day you're here, then the next you decide you want to enter the dream realm, and poof, you're gone." [["It sure is. I can't imagine doing that."]] [["So, have you had any interesting dreams lately?"]]

You arrive at a convenience store with a crooked logo that says "The Stinky Skunk." You rest against the back door for a moment, but are quickly interrupted as the door flies open. "You're late, Taylor!" Your manager yells at you. "What's your excuse this time?" [["$5 an hour just isn't enough to motivate me to get out of bed on time."]] [["I was literally almost eaten by a dog."]]

"Well," She looks down at your feet. "I hope it's enough to pay your medical bills. Those are deep cuts." "Well, Maxine, I hope that my generous manager, upon seeing her trusty employee in need, would fetch him the first aid kit." "You have 5 minutes to patch yourself up. If you get any blood on the floor I'm not paying you." [[She goes to the back of the store to grab first aid kit.]]

Your manager looks down at your feet, "I'm not paying your medical bills if that's what you want from me, Taylor." "Maxine, you're barely paying me at all. Just give me five minutes, some gauze, and some band-aids." "Five minutes, not a second more." [[She goes to the back of the store to grab first aid kit.]]

After patching yourself up, you head to the cash register with Maxine right behind you holding a skunk. "You know, while you were playing with a dog or whatever, I was picking up a shipment and there was nobody at the register. I put my little buddy, Stinky, there, but we lost 5 customers while I was busy. That can't happen again, Taylor." "This wasn't even my fault! And it was only 5 customers, it's not a big deal." "Not your fault? Couldn't you have taken the bus, gotten here on time, and avoided the dog altogether?" "I... like to stay in shape. I jog here everyday." "And on top of that, every customer matters. I have bills to pay and a husband who's been in the hospital for weeks. It's something new every single day with you! Can't you just show up on time, clock in, do your job, clock out, and go lock yourself in your bedroom and sulk or whatever you do at home, Taylor? Is that too hard to ask, Taylor?" [["For $5 an hour, yes it is."]] [["And is it too hard to ask you to get off my back for 10 seconds?"]]

"You think I wouldn't pay you more if I could?" "Yes! You only haven't fired me because you can't replace me. With the labor shortage there's not a single other miserable college dropout who wants to work at the fucking Stinky Skunk!" Maxine sighs, "Please just get to work." [[Right as you're about to reply, an alarm sounds.]]

"Whatever your parents did when raising you, it obviously didn't work. You're brattier than both of my kids and half as competent. If there weren't laws against it, I'd have them working here instead of you." "And would you pay them $5 an hour too?" Maxine's head is practically on fire, "Just shut up and get to work, Taylor." "I'd love to." You smile and head towards the cash register. [[Before you can reach the register, an alarm sounds.->Right as you're about to reply, an alarm sounds.]]

"The hell is that?" "That means someone stole something, Taylor." Maxine groans. "Then shouldn't we run after them?" "No, let the cameras do their job and the police will get them." You look over at the camera feed and only see static, "I don't think the cameras are doing their job." "What do you mea-" Maxine looks at the camera feed and turns pale, "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" [[Go to the cash register]]

After 8 hours of standing on your mangled feet and a lunch break, the end of your shift approaches. You clock out and head out the front door, but someone calls you before you can even take three steps. "Taylor! Did your phone break or something?" "Sahil? What're you doing here?" "Sahil Arya is here to do the same thing he does everyday, ask if you wanna get coffee at The Sugary Squirrel." "Uh, sure. But about my phone..." you hold up your broken phone. "Yikes. Don't even wanna know what happened there." [[Head to the cafe]]

You arrive at the cafe with Sahil. You glance at your ruined shoes, wondering how he hasn't noticed. Sahil sits at a table in the dead center of the shop and you join him after getting your coffee. "So uhh, how's your business going? It must be tough dealing with the labor shortage and stuff." Your face turns slightly red as you twiddle your thumbs. Sahil takes a long sip of coffee then speaks as he stares into his cup. "Yeah, it kinda sucks, but next to dreams everyone's favorite escapist pastime is video games, and lots of games need anti-cheat software. Just knowing that keeps me going during those all-nighters." "Be careful with all-nighters, dude. You'll regret it when you get older." "Who cares about what happens when I get older? They're helpful now, so I'll pull as many as I need." There's a long silence as he continues to sip his coffee. You feel as if the eyes of everyone else in the cafe are trained onto both of you as you try to think of something to say to keep the conversation going. [["Real nice weather we're having..."]] [["You have any interesting dreams lately?"]]

"Yeah, I guess. Wish we got some more of that while we were in college. Maybe we wouldn't have dropped out if we got a bit of sunshine." Sahil laughed. "Well, I dropped out, but you..." "You don't need to dance around it. I failed all my classes." [["You were doing so well before our 3rd year. What happened anyway?"]]

"You can't imagine many things dude. You haven't even had a dream once in your entire life." "It's not that unusual, is it? I hear that dreaming is actually unhealthy and disrupts your sleep." Sahil finishes his coffee, "Wasn't talking about that kind of dream." You take your first sip of coffee, "Well what's wrong with not wanting to do anything with your life?" "Everything. My parents didn't teach me much, but they at least taught me that." [["You haven't brought up your parents since college."]]

Sahil slams the table, "I didn't answer the first time you asked, what makes you think it'll work the second time?" People from all around the cafe are looking at both of you, for real this time. You're practically a tomato at this point, but you try to calm Sahil down. "Oh, um, I didn't mean to-" "I'm just kidding!" Sahil grins with all of his perfectly white teeth, "Man, you're terrible at reading people. No wonder none of the girls liked you back in college." "I didn't really care what the //girls// thought about me..." You mumble to yourself. Sahil takes another sip of coffee, "So anyway, I did have a pretty crazy dream last night. I saw my dad, yelled at him about how he and mom were never around. Then he yelled at me about how they were busy with their tech company and didn't have time to raise a kid-" [["Then why even have a kid?"]]

"Taylor, you may not think it's normal because you've never had any, but most people have dreams. Problem is, dreams take up a lot of energy, so you need to lean on other people for support. I didn't have that. Both of my parents were so busy running their tech company that they never made time for me. I wasn't important to them. I wasn't part of their dream. That shit hurts, man." Sahil finishes his coffee and stands up, "I've gotta get going. Let's get coffee at the same time tomorrow. Don't get attacked by any more animals, okay?" [["Wait up a second!"]]

"Never had a reason to. I cut off contact with them anyway. They were always too busy with their damn tech company," Sahil gets up and refills his coffee mug. "They were always traveling to these random countries. They never made any time for me, then they had the audacity to get mad at me when I failed out of college." Sahil starts chugging his freshly poured coffee, not reacting to the scalding heat at all. "Um, you probably shouldn't do that..." "I said too much." Sahil mumbles to himself then stands up and heads for the door in a rush, "I've gotta get going. Let's get coffee at the same time tomorrow. Don't get attacked by any more animals, okay?" [["Wait up a second!"]]

"That's what I said! And then I told him that if they paid more attention to me then I wouldn't have failed all my classes in college. You won't believe what this guy said next! He said, 'Maybe if you weren't such a failure, we'd pay attention to you'. He missed my whole point!" "Sounds like you have an absolutely exquisite relationship with your dad." You both take a sip of coffee with your pinkies out and laugh, "Anyway, aren't dreams supposed to be happy? That sounds like a nightmare." "You really know nothing about dreams, huh? Makes sense since you've never had one, I guess." Sahil stands up and finishes his coffee, "Taylor, dreams aren't always pleasant. They don't always show us what we want to see. Sometimes they show us what we //need// to see. It's been 10 years since I've talked to my parents and I'd gladly go for 10 more, but that dream gave me just a little bit of closure. I never got to say any of that to my mom or dad's face." Sahil checks his watch and heads for the front door of the cafe. "I've gotta get going. Let's get coffee at the same time tomorrow. Don't get attacked by any more animals, okay?" [["Wait up a second!"]]

You follow Sahil out onto the sidewalk as he keeps walking. Sahil turns around, slightly annoyed. "What is it?" [["Nothing, nevermind."]] [["Can we go somewhere else tomorrow?"]]

"I feel like you're not telling me something. I'm sure you have your reasons, but you never act like this. I'll see you tomorrow." (if: $Dog is 1)[Sahil starts to walk away then turns back around and hands you a $50 bill. "Also, please buy yourself some new shoes."] [[You start to head home, but you bump into a woman as she exits the cafe.]] (set: $didntaskout to 1)

Sahil raises an eyebrow, "Like a different cafe?" "Um, no. I was thinking like... like a restaurant. We could get dinner or something." You start twiddling your thumbs and stare at the ground. "Why? Are you hungry?" "Well yes, but-" "Do you just want me to buy you dinner? All you have to do is ask. I know money is tight for y-" "No you don't have t-" "But that's what friends do!" [["I don't want to get dinner as friends!"]]

Sahil halts. "What do you mean by that?" "I'm-" you take a deep breath, "I'm asking you out on a date." Sahil stares at you as if he has a hundred questions and is trying to figure out which one to ask first. "Um, I appreciate the offer, like I really do. But I'm not-I don't really-no. I'm saying no. I value your friendship, and I want to stay friends, but no. What made you ask?" "What you said about dreams made me want to try it. I guess it was kinda stupid, sorry." You start to walk away, but Sahil follows you. "Taylor, you still wanna get coffee tomorrow?" (if: $Dog is 1)[Sahil reaches into his pocket and hands you a $50 bill. "Also, please buy yourself some new shoes."] "Mind if I take a rain check on the coffee?" [[You part ways, but you bump into a woman as she exits the cafe.->You start to head home, but you bump into a woman as she exits the cafe.]] (set: $askout to 1)

She looks like she's about your age, is about 6 inches taller than you, and is wearing a suit. "Excuse me sir, I've been listening to your conversation for a while. You wouldn't happen to have a job right now, would you?" [["I have a shitty job."]] [["No, I don't have a job."]] [["Wait, were you listening to the last part?"]]

"And how much are you making at this 'shitty job'?" "$5 an hour." "Well," the woman reaches into a pocket and hands you a stack of $100 bills, "I've got a better offer for you. That's $10,000." You take the money immediately and observe it to make sure it isn't fake. "What's the catch?" "There is no catch. I'm offering you a job at my company, Nightmare Inc. If you accept, that money is yours." "What does the job entail?" Well, why don't you come with me and [[find out?"]]

"Perfect." the woman reaches into a pocket and takes out a stack of $100 bills, "If you work for me at my company, Nightmare Inc. the money is yours. That's $10,000. You take the money immediately and observe it to make sure it isn't fake. "What's the catch?" "There is no catch. I need people like you!" "What does the job entail?" Well, why don't you come with me and [[find out?"]]

"Yup. I heard the whole thing. Including there part where you-" "Okay, okay. I have a job but it doesn't pay well, why're you asking?" "Perfect." the woman reaches into a pocket and takes out a stack of $100 bills, "If you work for me at my company, Nightmare Inc. the money is yours. That's $10,000. You take the money immediately and observe it to make sure it isn't fake. "What's the catch?" "There is no catch. I need people like you!" "What does the job entail?" "Well, why don't you come with me and [[find out?"]]

<img src=https://preview.redd.it/h1xf8ogp7ydy.jpg?auto=webp&s=421a0e35ed04fe3963f72f0eadd321e97d5fc73d> After walking for about 5 minutes, you arrive at a large corporate headquarters. You turn around and start walking away almost immediately, "Are you joking? That is by far the most evil looking building I've ever seen. Look at those clouds! Are you guys trying to make a weapon that'll destroy the city or something? Nope, no way! I'm not working there!" The woman takes out another stack of money, "I'll give you $5,000 if you walk in." [["Yes ma'am!"]]

You enter the building and find yourself in a large lobby. The room is completely empty besides a counter next to an elevator. You see the elevator is currently on the 20th floor and on its way down. "Wait here, the other co-owner is on his way down," The woman grabs a large stack of papers from under the counter and flips to the last page. "While we're waiting, sign this." "What is it?" "Your work contract. There's no point in going any further if you don't sign it. So sign it, now." "Can I at least read it fir-" "Sign. It. Now." "Okay, sorry," You timidly sign the papers. "What now?" "We keep waiting." [[Wait patiently.]] [["So do you have a name?"]] [["Why are there so many floors?"]]

You wait until the elevator comes down to the first floor. A tall man with a skeletal figure and grey hair steps out of the elevator and stands at the counter. "Another applicant, Mordred?" "Yes, Clyde. I'll be questioning him now." She turns to face you (if: $Dog is 1)[and looks at your shoes, "You know, you aren't gonna make a good first impression when your shoes look like that." "I wasn't expecting to apply for a new job today!" "Anyway, I'm gonna ask you some questions so he can evaluate you. Answer every single one honestly, they're all essential to evaluating you as a potential employee. I think you're a perfect fit for the job, but I need to get him to agree."] (if: $Skunk is 1)[and sniffs you, "You know, you aren't gonna make a good first impression if you smell like a middle schooler who just found out about Axe body spray." "I got sprayed by a skunk and already showered for an hour. Maybe you should've sniffed me before you brought me here." "Okay, okay. I'm gonna ask you some questions so he can evaluate you. Answer every single one honestly, they're all essential to evaluating you as a potential employee. I think you're a perfect fit for the job, but I need to get him to agree."] [["All right, ask away."]]

"You can call me Mordred." "Is that not your real name?" "No. I can't tell you my real one for security reasons." "Security reasons? What do you think I'm gonna do? Stalk you?" (if:$Dog is 1)[She looks at your shoes, then your face. "Yes."](if: $Skunk is 1)[She walks up to you and smells you. "Yes."] [[The elevator opens and a tall man with a skeletal figure and grey hair steps out.]]

"For all of our employees, of course." "How many employees do you have?" "That number is classified." "Right..." After a prolonged silence, [[the elevator opens and a tall man with a skeletal figure and grey hair steps out.->The elevator opens and a tall man with a skeletal figure and grey hair steps out.]]

"How old are you?" "30 years old." "Do you have a college education?" "I dropped out after 3 years." "Are you in a relationship?" "No" "Are you sexually active?" You hesitate before answering. [[Tell the truth]] [[Lie]]

The man walks around you and observes you carefully "Well, Mordred, it seems you've brought quite the..." (if: $Dog is 1)[He looks at your shoes, "Interesting applicant."] (if: $Skunk is 1)[He sniffs you, "Interesting applicant."] "I sure have, Clyde," She turns to face you. "I'm gonna ask you some questions so he can evaluate you. Answer every single one honestly, they're all essential to evaluating you as a potential employee. I think you're a perfect fit for the job, but I need to get him to agree." [["All right, ask away."]]

"Is this question really essential?" "No, but I never said you could ask me questions, so now it is. Answer, now." "No." "Describe your daily routine." [[Tell the truth->Truth]] [[Lie->Lie1]]

"Yes." "Describe your daily routine." [[Tell the truth->Truth]] [[Lie->Lie1]]

"You're gonna start the job." "What? Like right now?" "Yup, let me explain what you'll be doing." Mordred leads you to the elevator and takes you to the 13th floor. When the elevator door opens, you see rows of pods with nobody in them. "You're going to get into one of these pods and enter the dream realm." <img src=https://whitestarcantina.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/aliens6.jpg> Mordred taps one of the pods, causing it to open, "These pods are here to make sure we can forcefully take you out of the dream realm. Since normally your body will completely disappear when you enter the dream realm, they'll keep data on your body so that we won't lose you in all the intricacies of interdimensional travel." [["What am I going to do in the dream realm?"]] [["Can I get something to eat before we start?"]]

"I wake up in the morning at 7:00 AM, get dressed, jog to work, work from 7:40 AM to 5:00 PM, grab coffee with my friend, go home, eat dinner, and watch the news, then go to bed around 8:00 PM." She raises an eyebrow, "So you sleep for 11 hours?" "Yes." "If you had to estimate, how many dreams do you have per week?" "None." Clyde strokes his chin as Mordred continues, "Have you ever had a dream?" "No." Mordred looks back at Clyde, "See, it's just like I told you, never had a dream in his life. He's exactly who we were looking for," She turns back to you as Clyde nods and shakes your hand. "Congratulations, you got the job." [["All right, what now?"]]

"I wake up in the morning at 6:00 AM, get dressed, grab breakfast and sprint to the gym, shower at the gym, go to work from 7:40 AM to 5:00 PM, grab coffee with my friend, go to the gym again, go home, eat dinner and watch the news, then go to bed around 8:00 PM." She raises an eyebrow, "You don't look like you go to the gym 2 times a day." "I have bad genetics." "Right. Anyway, you said you sleep for 10 hours. If you had to estimate, how many dreams do you have per week?" "None." Clyde strokes his chin as Mordred continues, "Have you ever had a dream?" "No." Mordred looks back at Clyde, "See, it's just like I told you, never had a dream in his life. He's exactly who we were looking for," She turns back to you as Clyde nods and shakes your hand. "Congratulations, you got the job." [["All right, what now?"]]

"You'll be forcing people out of the dream realm. Prodigies who were mistreated by their parents, doctors trying to avoid medical malpractice lawsuits, wrestlers who were accused of murder, people who were working jobs they hated, lots of people are using this realm to escape reality. We here at Nightmare Inc. are funded by those who want certain people out of here." "And how am I gonna get them out? With my natural good looks and charm?" Mordred grins, "Maybe you could if you had those. You'll be using this," Mordred reveals a dark colored box that looks like it came straight out of a haunted house, "It's called a Nightmare Box. Since each resident of the dream realm gets their own area, or 'dream world', we've created boxes that transform that area into a nightmare when they're opened. It'll only work if you open it at the dream world's core, the spot where the owner's imagination is at its strongest and in its purest form. Each box will only work on the dream world it's assigned to, so don't break it. They're fragile, they aren't cheap, and remaking one would take years." <img src=https://vegalleries.com/sites/default/files/jundisneyana20280b.jpg> [["Anything else I need to know?"]]

"Sure," Mordred hands you a pill from her pocket, "This'll keep you full for the next 12 hours." You put the pill in your mouth and your hunger is gone almost before you swallow it. "What is this?" "Some experimental combination of all sorts of weird plants and stuff. If you grow an extra arm or something, please report it to us. We won't really help you with it, but it'd be nice to know so we can repurpose the formula." "That sounds like a really easy way to get sued." "You know suing a company as large as us isn't free, right? Are you gonna sue us?" "No." [["Anyway, What am I going to do in the dream realm?"->"What am I going to do in the dream realm?"]]

"Two things actually. First, you need a fake name. I'll be able to communicate with you while you're in the dream realm, but I can't use your real name for safety purposes." "Oh, I have so many fake name ideas." "I don't care. I'll refer to you as Roylat!" "Roylat? Hey that sounds kinda coo-wait, that's just my name backwards with two letters swapped!" "Eh, nobody will figure that out. Anyway, the second thing is that you'll also need a mask, so they won't be able to recognize your face." "What kind of masks do you have?" (if: $Skunk is 1)["Just a skunk mask. Isn't it adorable?"](else:)["Just a rottweiler mask. Isn't it adorable?"] "That's the farthest thing from adorable. Will this come to the dream realm with me?" "Of course, just put it on before you get into the pod. It'll be inseparable from your face. Nobody can rip it off. It'll even morph to match your facial expressions." [[You put on the mask and hop into the pod.]]

Mordred starts pressing a bunch of buttons on a console near your pod. As she presses more buttons, the pod starts to make sounds similar to a helicopter taking off. "Oh and one more thing," Mordred gets ready to close the pod and yells over the noise, "everything in there is only as real as you make it, so remember that none of it is real!" "What the hell does that mean?!" Mordred sighs, "Just try not to die in there, okay? I'd have to do way too much paperwork." "Wha-" [[The pod closes abruptly and you lose consciousness.]] (set: $Dreams to 0) (set: $BoxOpen to 0) (set: $BoxDest to 0)

You wake up and immediately realize you're falling. You check around you, but everything is dark, but your surroundings are soon illuminated by rabbits with glowing red eyes. You can barely tell what's going on as you whizz past them, but you can hear them chewing on something. You don't think much of it, but between the squishing and growling, you can occasionally feel something splash on your face. You finally hit the ground, but it doesn't hurt. You stand up and look around. You're in a green room with five doors in front of you. You turn around and see a wooden chair behind you. "You made it! You'd be surprised how many people die of shock before they get past the rabbit hole," You can hear Mordred's voice, but you can't figure out where it's coming from. "Oh, I'm not physically in there with you. I'm just projecting my voice into the dream realm using an Intermediate Translator. Wait, that's probably confusing. Just think of it this way: I'm basically in your head. I'll be checking in on you every once in a while, but otherwise I'll let you get to work." [["What about the Nightmare Boxes?"]]

"Just imagine one in your hand and the right one will appear. You don't have full control here since it's technically not your dream world, but you can do some basic stuff." Your arm detaches and starts patting you on the head. "Hey! Give me my arm back!" "You must be fun at parties." Your arm floats back to you and reattaches. "I don't go to parties. Anyway, what're these doors?" "Each door is a dream world. You've been assigned 5 of them today. [[Pick one."->Dream Choice]]

(if: $Dream1Complete is 1)["I feel like I've been here before." "That's because you have. I don't think you wanna experience it again!" Mordred turns your hand into a frog. "What the- turn my hand back!" "I'll turn it back, but you need to get back to work!" [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]] ](else:)[You open the door and find yourself right in front of a high school. [[Go to the high school]] ]

(if: $Dream2Complete is 1)[You enter Door 2 and see absolutely nothing. "Mordred, can I get some lights in here?" "You can just do that yourself, you know." A torch appears in your hand. Before you raise it, you realize that something is producing a rancid stench. "What is that smell?" You raise the torch and immediately find out. There are three dead bodies hanging upside down in front of you. Sweat covers your entire body as you look down and realize that the bodies have their eyes slashed out. "Shit..." "What's the problem? The bodies aren't even re- wait, we've been here before." "We have?" A strong gust of wind pushes you back through the door. "Weird. I guess I'll just pick a new door? [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]] ](if: $Dream2Complete is 2)[You enter Door 2 and see absolutely nothing. "Mordred, can I get some lights in here?" "You can just do that yourself, you know." A torch appears in your hand. Before you raise it, you realize that something is producing a rancid stench. "What is that smell?" You raise the torch and immediately find out. There are three dead bodies hanging upside down in front of you. Sweat covers your entire body as you look down and realize that the bodies have their eyes slashed out. "Shit..." "What's the problem? The bodies aren't even re- wait, we've been here before." "We have?" A strong gust of wind pushes you back through the door. "Weird. I guess I'll just pick a new door? [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]] ](if: $Dream2Complete is 0)[You enter Door 2 and see absolutely nothing. "Mordred, can I get some lights in here?" "You can just do that yourself, you know." A torch appears in your hand. Before you raise it, you realize that something is producing a rancid stench. "What is that smell?" You raise the torch and immediately find out. There are three dead bodies hanging upside down in front of you. Sweat covers your entire body as you look down and realize that the bodies have their eyes slashed out. "Shit..." "What's the problem? The bodies aren't even real." "Mordred, have you been watching the news at all recently?" Your breaths continue to become shorter and more rapid, "The owner of this dream world... it's-it's-" A cloth covers your mouth as a man whispers in your ear, "Blind-Eye Billy!" [[You pass out before you can scream.]] ]

(if: $Dream2Complete is 0)[You try to open the door, but it's locked. "What the hell is this, Mordred? You didn't tell me I needed any keys." "That's because you don't. This one is heavily connected to Door 2, it should open once you go through there." "What do you mean heavily connected?" "I'll explain when it's necessary." [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]] ](if: $Dream2Complete is 1)[You pass through the door and look around. "It's just a beach? I'm starting to think these people don't need the dream realm and just need a vacatio- wait, why is the ground shaking?" From the ocean, a giant crab with an island on their back rises. <img src=https://ego-alterego.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/4.jpg> A woman standing on the crab with bags under her eyes and a blood covered scalpel calls to you. "Excuse me, sir? You wouldn't happen to be a Nightmare Inc. employee, would you? Because if you're not, it would seem that you're lost!" "Say yes." Mordred whispers. "You're trying to make sure I //don't// die, right?" [["No, I'm not a Nightmare Inc. employee."]] ](if: $Dream2Complete is 2)["I feel like I've been here before." "That's because you have. I don't think you wanna experience it again," Mordred turns your hand into a sea lion. "Hey that's kinda cu-turn my hand back!" "I'll turn it back, but you need to get back to work!" [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]] ]

(if: $Dream4Complete is 1)["I feel like I've been here before." "That's because you have. I don't think you wanna experience it again," Mordred turns your hand into a cat. "What the- turn my hand back!" "I'll turn it back, but you need to get back to work!" [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]] ](else:)[You pass through the door and are met by a large man in a suit. You try to pass him, but he steps in front of you, guarding what seems to be a casino. "Um, can I get in?" The large man puts a hand out, "Pay up. You gotta give me $10,000 to get in." "What? I don't have that kinda money!" "Then leave." "Just make some money. You can still do that stuff here, remember?" Mordred whispers. "Oh, right." [[Make $10,000]] [[Make $20,000]] ]

"It's empty. Helloooooooooooo! Writer! You need to put something here!" "Be patient, he's probably asleep or something." "If he's asleep, can I visit his dream world?" "If you ruin the writer's dreams, I'm pretty sure he'll run out of ideas for this story. Just go to another dream world." [[Choose a different dream world->Dream Choice]]

(if: $Dreams is 4)[You open the 5th and final door to see 5 more doors and a wooden chair in the middle of a forest. You look back into the green room and see nothing has changed. It's so familiar, yet it feels so alien at the same time. "Uh, Mordred? What am I looking at here." "At the end of every employee's first day, we give them one final test. You've spent enough time here that your imagination has been stimulated significantly. It's not much, but this is //your// dream world." "Mine?" [["Yup."]] ](else:)[You open the 5th and final door to see 5 more doors and a wooden chair in the middle of a forest. You look back into the green room and see nothing has changed. "Uh, Mordred? What am I looking at here." "At the end of every employee's first day, we give them one final test. It's not much yet, but this is //your// dream world." "Mine?" "Yup. But you have to complete the others first." [[Choose another door->Dream Choice]] ]

[[Door 1]] [[Door 2]] [[Door 3]] [[Door 4]] [[Door 5]]

You enter the high school. The school isn't particularly big and after exploring a little, you figure out that most hallways only include blank white rooms. Only one hallway, the cafeteria, and the library seem to actually have anything in them. [[Go down the hallway]] [[Go to the cafeteria]] [[Go to the library]] (set: $Jada to 1)

You enter the cafeteria to see a single child eating her lunch with one hand and holding a toy bear with a Buzzard Toys logo in the other hand. [[Approach the child]] (set: $Jada to $Jada + 1)

You enter the library and immediately feel nauseous. You wonder why, but quickly realize that everything is constantly rotating clockwise, along with the gravity. You stumble around until you reach a bookshelf, where you only see three books. [[Read "The Other Me" by Eightwelve]] [[Read "A Thesis on Hand-Eye Coordination" by Handyman]] [[Read "In My Bed, In My Head" by Jada Prody]] (set: $Jada to $Jada + 1)

You go down the hallway and enter the only classroom that has anybody in it. Nobody seems to notice you entering, so you take a seat in the back as the teacher lectures. "So a probability sample is when each item in a dataset is just as likely to get selected as another. What's an example of a probability sample, class?" A girl sitting next to you raises her hand. She looks about 18, but she's sitting with her legs crossed and is making a mess as she eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "Yes, Jada." "Well, If I were to throw this sandwich at the ceiling fan and it hits a bunch of people in class, I think that's an example of a probability sample." A couple students laugh nervously, but the teacher marches to the back of the class. "Jada, I know you don't care about getting held back again, but I do. My class isn't a joke, so please, put forth at least a little bit of effort. You're the smartest person in this room by far, even smarter than me, so please act like it." [["She can act how she wants."]] [[Say nothing.]](set: $Jada to $Jada + 1)

Upon opening the book, you see that there are no words on the pages, but rather small eyeballs and hands squirming around on each one. Surprised, you drop the book. The eyeballs jump off of the pages and roll away while the hands crawl away. You look up and realize that you're no longer in the library, but seemingly on another planet. You look behind you and see a child staring at a giant hand holding two eyeballs. It seems like they're having a conversation, but they're not speaking in a language you recognize. <img src=https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8qfuqJpLBIl7PxRDh3OfSu9WeqileXksVq_xw5DaAEYy-UG_rrsj5Rms9HGIMF-MDsa4&usqp=CAU> The eyeballs turn towards you, then quickly turn back to the child. The hand drops the eyeballs and picks up the child, retreating into a hole and leaving the eyeballs behind. [[You close the book.]]

You open the thin book and realize that every page is blank except for the last one, which includes a poem. //"There's a monster in my bed. I think it wants me dead. It flies without wings. It tries to take my things. I want it out of my room. I hope that it leaves soon. I see them in the mirror. Sometimes they come to dinner. They hide inside of mom. They hide inside of dad. Maybe I just say that So they don't seem that bad. There's a monster in my bed. I think it wants me dead. But sometimes I fear They're just hiding in my head."// You hear somebody yawning behind you. You turn around and see a child sitting up in her bed in the darkness. Suddenly, two lights appear in front of her. The lights shine brighter and brighter until you realize they belong to an ethereal being with an innumerable number of tentacles. <img src=https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7f4293d04365c3d2f0cc18f740eed8965cad235/177_0_5302_3181/master/5302.jpg?width=1200&height=900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&s=355e9561c3e67a9d29c01aa34c19ecdb> The monster and the girl both turn around. Their matching eyes of light glare at you as the monster slowly approaches. [[Close the book.]]

You open the book and realize that it only has one page with three sentences and a picture. "I feel like there are two mes: One that is trapped inside of a small box, and one that's found her way out of the box, but doesn't know where to go. I can't tell which is the original, I don't think I'll ever know. Am I still trapped in the small box, or am I trapped in a bigger one?" <img src=https://artincontext.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Surrealist-Paintings.jpg> [[Close the book->Close2]]

[[Read "The Other Me" by Eightwelve]] [[Read "A Thesis on Hand-Eye Coordination" by Handyman]] [[Read "In My Bed, In My Head" by Jada Prody]] [[Go down the hallway]] [[Go to the cafeteria]] (if:$Jada > 3)[ [[Leave the school]] ]

"Buzzard Toys? I used to love those things," You sit down next to the child. "Don't you have any friends to eat with you?" The child looks up at you, "I'm 12 years old, but I'm a senior. How am I supposed to make friends?" A lunch tray appears in front of you with mashed potatoes and chicken. "A senior at 12 years old! You must be some sort of genius!" You exclaim between bites, "Man, you really can do whatever you want, kid! You could be like, a scientist, or a doctor. A really good one too!" "That's what mom and dad said, but I don't want any of that. I wanna hang out with other kids my age, I wanna make mistakes, I wanna do stupid things that only kids can do," She slams her toy bear on the table and it starts walking in circles. "But everyday I come home from school and they make me study for 6 hours so that I can 'stay ahead of the curve'. Then if I don't listen to them, they lock me in the basement!" [["Sorry, kid. I have pretty crappy parents too, I know what it's like.]] [["Wait, they lock you in the basement?"]]

"What do your parents do to you?" "They make me pay rent," You groan. "Do they hurt you?" "Not physically, but they do lots of things that hurt me mentally. They forget my birthday all the time, they make me feel like everything is my fault, and they remind me that I'm a failure." "Mine hurt me. Both mentally and physically. I never want to see them again, but deep down, I feel like I miss them. I don't know why. I don't want to miss them. I want to forget they ever existed, but sometimes," A hefty middle aged man and a tall, muscular woman enter the cafeteria, "they even creep their way into my dreams. I want them to leave me alone," She starts to tear up, "I just want them to leave me," She picks up her lunch tray and throws it at the man and the woman, "''ALONE''!" [[The room melts away and you find yourself back at the front of the high school]]

"Yeah. They'd leave me down there with no food. There was no air conditioning, so during the summer I'd sweat until I passed from dehydration. There was a small hole in the wall too, so in the winter I'd nearly freeze." "I-I don't know what to say, that's horrible." "It's okay. I don't have to deal with them anymore. Or rather," A hefty middle aged man and a tall, muscular woman enter the cafeteria, "I rarely do." The middle aged man steps forward, "Jay-Jay, please come home. We know what we did wrong, we'll treat you better, we promise!" The child stands up and walks towards her parents, then walks directly past them, "You said that last time, and the time before that, and the time before that! Why can't you just leave me alone?!" [[The room melts away and you find yourself back at the front of the high school]]

"Mordred? You said you're 'funded by those who want certain people out of here'. Who wants this girl out of here?" "Her parents, of course. But that shouldn't matter to you, just focus on your work." [[Go down the hallway]] [[Go to the library]] (if:$Jada > 3)[ [[Leave the school]] ]

You exit through the school's front doors and notice that the snow is completely gone. Jada is waiting for you, sitting in front of a shed with a single hole in the side. "You came here to bring me back to the real world, didn't you?" "Mordred, is this the core of Jada's dream world?" "That it is, Roylat." Jada stands up. "What did I ever do to you? Why couldn't you just leave me alone?" Jada's Nightmare Box materializes in your hands and you prepare to open it. "I'm just doing my job, Jada." "I was only 12 when I came to the dream realm. I got to explore all sorts of things that I liked. Wrote a couple books, both under my name and under pseudonyms, just for fun," Jada stands up as tears roll down her face. "I don't have any money. I don't have any friends. I'd have to go back to living with my parents. You wouldn't do that to me, would you?" [[Open the Nightmare Box]] [[Destroy the Nightmare Box]]

The teacher turns to you, "And who would you be?" "I'm, uh, Roylat." "Well, Roylat, it's not so nice to meet you. My name is Mr. Braykwinde and I don't appreciate you interrupting my class," The teacher grows in size and becomes more muscular until his clothes rip. "Step outside." [[Go outside with the teacher]] [[Refuse to go outside]]

"Mr. Braykwinde, you're wrong. I can act however I want, whether you like it or not," Jada throws her sandwich at the ceiling fan. Instead of spreading across the classroom, the entire sandwich hits Mr. Braykwinde in the face. "Now please, go wash your face." Mr. Braykwinde leaves without saying a word as the whole class laughs. "I don't recognize you," Jada approaches you, "and you look way too old to be a student. Even a mask can't hide that. Who are you?" [["I'm Roylat."]] [["I'm Taylor."]]

You go outside and realize that now it's snowing. The rest of the class, including Jada, follow you outside. Mr. Braykwinde flexes and gets ready to strike, rapidly changing colors between purple, red, blue, and green. You start stretching, "Sheesh, can you turn any other colors of the rainbow?" Mr. Braykwinde eyes turn red and he starts foaming as he winds up a punch. [[Dodge->Dodge1]] [[Stand still->Stand1]]

"No." Mr. Braykwinde is furious. His bulging mass of a body turns red, then green, then blue, then red again. He takes a deep breath, puffs his cheeks, and winds up to punch you. [[Dodge]] [[Do nothing]]

"Well, Roylat, may I ask why you came here?" "I can't tell you that." "Well, I could deduce all sorts of reasons, but I don't feel like thinking today. Why don't we grab some coffee?" Jada snaps and suddenly you're in a cafe. "You know, I've been here for six years, and that stuff never gets old. If I want to get coffee, I can have it right away." [["You've been here for six years?"]] [["Jada, you can't stay here forever."]]

"Well, Taylor, may I ask why you came here?" "I can't tell you that." "Well, I could deduce all sorts of reasons, but I don't feel like thinking today. Why don't we grab some coffee?" Jada snaps and suddenly you're both in a cafe, sitting at a table with a cup of coffee. "You know, I've been here for six years, and that stuff never gets old. If I want to get coffee, I can have it right away." [["You've been here for six years?"]] [["Jada, you can't stay here forever."]] (set: $TaylorJada to 1)

You try to dodge his punch, but he hits you anyway. Hard. You go flying through multiple rooms and end up outside. You land in a snowbank that's so cold you don't even notice how much pain you're supposed to be in. "Roylat!" Mordred yells at you, "You're falling apart like a damn lego set, reattach your arms and legs!" You look down and realize that your arms and legs have been blown off and there's a massive hole in your chest. "Nevermind, I'll get them for you. Just remember what I said. Everything is only as real as you make it," Your missing body parts reattach themselves and you stand back up right as Mr. Braykwinde winds up for another punch. [[Don't dodge]]

Mr. Braykwinde punches you with all his might, but his fist goes right through your body. "What the-," He punches you again and again, but none of them connect. He starts to turn blue again, but he continues to punch until he collapses. "Looks like you exhausted him." [[The room melts away and morphs into a plain white room as Jada approaches you.]]

Jada walks around you, observing you from top to bottom. "From what I can see, it seems like you're a 30 year old man, roughly 5'6, in pretty good shape, and your name is either Taylor or Joseph. Roylat was a fake name. Am I right?" [["How did you know all that?"]] [["You got everything but the name right."]]

"200 IQ. It's a blessing and a curse." "What're you doing in high school with a 200 IQ? You're what? 18? Go build rockets or something." "But that stuff is stressful. Why would I ever leave high school? It's so easy. I can do whatever I want because everyone's stupid, and I don't need to deal with any of the consequences of being an adult." "You know this is a dream, right?" "What do you mean?" You hold your hand up. [["Try to touch me"]]

"Oh? And what's your real name?" "Can't tell you that." "Riiight." "Those were some crazy guesses though, how'd you know all that?" "200 IQ. It's a blessing and a curse." "What're you doing in high school with a 200 IQ? You're what? 18? Go build rockets or something." "But that stuff is stressful. Why would I ever leave high school? It's so easy. I can do whatever I want because everyone's stupid, and I don't need to deal with any of the consequences of being an adult." "You know this is a dream, right?" "What do you mean?" You hold your hand up. [["Try to touch me"]]

Mr. Braykwinde punches you with all his might, but his fist goes right through your body. "What the-," He punches you again and again, but none of them connect. He starts to turn blue again, but he continues to punch until he collapses. "Looks like you exhausted him." [[The area around you melts and is replaced with a white room as Jada approaches you.]]

You try to dodge his punch, but he hits you anyway. Hard. You go flying, but you land in a snowbank. "Roylat!" Mordred yells at you, "Get up and grab your arm" You look down and realize that your left arm has been blown off and there's a massive hole in your chest. "Nevermind, I'll get them for you. Just remember what I said. Everything is only as real as you make it," Your missing body parts reattach themselves and you stand back up right as Mr. Braykwinde winds up for another punch. [[Don't dodge]]

Mr. Braykwinde punches you with all his might, but his fist goes right through your body. "What the-," He punches you again and again, but none of them connect. He starts to turn blue again, but he continues to punch until he collapses. "Looks like you exhausted him. Or maybe the cold got to him? Who knows." [[The area around you melts and is replaced with a white room as Jada approaches you.]]

Jada walks around you, observing you from top to bottom. "From what I can see, it seems like you're a 30 year old man, roughly 5'6, in pretty good shape, and your name is Taylor. Roylat was a fake name. Am I right?" [["How did you know all that?"]] [["You got everything but the name right."]] (set: $TaylorJada to 1)

"Why?" "Just do it, please," Jada tries to touch you, but her hand goes right through yours. "See how your hand goes right through? All of this stuff may be real to you, but it isn't to me, or anybody else. That doesn't happen in reality because no matter how hard you try, reality is reality. Sometimes it's really fun, sometimes it's really sad, but it's all real. That's why it's special." Jada tries to slap you, but her hand goes through you again, "I don't need to hear this from some middle aged loser. God, can't you all just leave me alone?!" [[The room melts away and you find yourself back in the high school lobby.->The coffee shop melts away and Jada disappears.]]

"Yup. I've been a senior in high school since I was 12, and I plan on keeping it that way." "Six years is a long time..." "Doesn't feel like it. Maybe it's because I'm having so much fun here!" "Are you really having fun? When I was in high school I felt like I was trapped in a box. I thought I'd have so much more freedom than I actually ended up having every year. I graduated middle school and thought I'd finally become independent and was on the road to moving out of my parent's house by the time I turned 18. I wasn't. I thought I'd get a car when I turned 16 and drive far away from my parents. I didn't. I thought I'd join the military when I was 18 and go to college afterwards and get a good job so I could live on my own. Then I chickened out, went to college anyway, dropped out, and here I am!" "What're you trying to say?" "I'm saying that maybe you're trying to convince yourself that things are better than they actually are just because you're older. You need to do something with your life eventually." "What the hell do you know?! You're an even bigger failure than I am!" [[The coffee shop melts away and Jada disappears.]]

"What do you mean?" "Eventually you've gotta move on. High school doesn't last forever, and for good reason. You have to do something with your life." "And why the hell do I? What's wrong with just doing what makes me happy?" "Just because you're happy now doesn't mean you can't be happier doing something else." "You're just like my parents. Stop telling me how to live my life, none of you actually want me to be happy. You just want to use me to make yourself happy!" [[The coffee shop melts away and Jada disappears.]]

[[Go to the cafeteria]] [[Go to the library]] (if:$Jada > 3)[ [[Leave the school]] ]

"Sorry Jada," You open the Nightmare Box and a harsh snowstorm consumes the entire highschool. Jada begins to freeze, as her shoes and socks disappear. A hefty middle aged man and a tall, muscular woman appear behind her and grab her by the legs, dragging her into the shed. As Jada is being dragged away, she screams, "I know your name (if: $TaylorJada is 1)[Taylor! (set: $TaylorJada to 2)](else:)[Roylat!] When I get back to the real world, I'll find you! I promise, I'll fucking find you!" After a long silence, you speak up, "Mordred, I know. This is why you made me use a fake name." "You're right. No time to get caught up on that though, onto the next dream world." [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream1Complete to 1) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxOpen to $BoxOpen + 1)

You lift the Nightmare Box with one hand and spike it into the ground, causing it to shatter then slowly disintegrate. "Roylat, what the hell is wrong with you?!" "I can't send her back to the real world, Mordred. That's too cruel. Just because I accepted this job doesn't mean I don't have morals." Jada sits back down on the stairs quietly and smiles. You feel a burning sensation in your right arm, "Roylat, go to the next dream world. Now." [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream1Complete to 1) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxDest to $BoxDest + 1)

You wake up in a desert. You can't see anything but sand and Blind-Eye Billy standing right in front of you eating a banana. "How's it going, dude? Want a bite?" You panic and try to get up and run, but realize that you've been hogtied. Tears roll down your face as the circumstances sink in. Between sniffles you manage to form a sentence, "I always thought my mom would kill me, but being killed by a serial killer might be worse." "I'm not gonna kill you, man. Just by looking at you it's obvious you're not rich." "Then why did you hogtie me?" "Because, if you're one of the people from Nightmare Inc. that's here to take me out of the dream realm, then I'd have to kill you. That should be pretty obvious." "Hahaha, well thank God I'm not one of those gu-" Mordred interrupts you. "That's exactly what he's here for!" "Mordred?!" "Some people reveal their core when they feel threatened. If he does anything crazy, I'll pull you out." Mordred whispers. Billy takes a switchblade out of his back pocket. "Oh, well that changes things." [["Mordred... I'm gonna punch you so hard if I survive!"]]

Billy walks behind you and cuts the rope that he tied you with. "There ya go." "Huh? Weren't you about to kill me?" "Well, I'll kill you if you keep trying to do your job. But otherwise I'll try to give you a reason not to." Mordred chimes in, "And what if Roylat finds your core while roaming your dream world?" "Heh, you're not finding my core. I make sure to change the location every 5 minutes and I've got 5 clones of myself guarding the exterior." [["That has to be against the rules. Are there any rules here?"]] [["You mentioned that you could tell I'm not rich, why does that matter?"]]

"Roylat, this is a dream. As long as he has the imagination for it, he can do anything he wants. I'm just surprised that he's creative enough to think of that. It's never happened before." "She's right. Anything I can think of," A giant worm emerges from the ground under the two of you, raising you into the clouds "can happen." <img src=https://art.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/art/pages/archives/articles/2013-2014/dec-jan/ART_120113_P07_Eyeball_MD.jpg> [["You mentioned that you could tell I'm not rich, why does that matter?"]]

"I've hated rich people my whole life. Did the detectives not relay that information to the news stations? I only killed billionaires. I thought, maybe I'd do wonders for the economy, but their kids just inherited all of their money." "There's probably just as many reasons as they have dollars, but why only billionaires?" "Roylat, was it? Be honest with me, how much money do you have in your bank account right now?" "Not including the cash I have on me, I'm worth about $1,000." "If I told you that you could solve world hunger for $100, would you do it?" [["Yes"->Yes1]] [["No"->No1]]

"Good. You'd set aside 10% of your net worth to potentially help billions. Now tell me, do you think billionaires would do the same?" The heat is starting to get to you and making it harder to reply quickly. "N-" "The answer is no. They'd be able to solve the problem with less than 10% of their net worth, but they'd rather give all of their money to their kids, who in turn will do the same things that they do." [[Your vision gets hazier and hazier until you pass out again.]] (set: $YesBill to 1)

"Just 10% of your net worth to solve world hunger and you wouldn't do it?" The heat is starting to get to you and making it harder to reply quickly. "No, I need every dollar I can get." "Understandable. A dollar for you is worth much more than a dollar for a billionaire." [[Your vision gets hazier and hazier until you pass out again.]] (set: $NoBill to 1)

You wake up in a dark alley in Roxbury. "Am I back home?" "You're from Roxbury too?! What a coincidence!" Blind-Eye Billy helps you up. "Unfortunately, this isn't the real Roxbury, you're still in my dream world. It's one of the only things from the real world that I miss." "So, for a serial killer, you seem pretty... sane." "Of course I am. People throw around words like 'crazy' and 'insane' too much. It's just how they refer to problems they don't wanna address. They called my dad insane too." "Your dad?" "Yup, William Cassidy Bateson Sr. He raised me all on his own after my mother left. He always told me that a vivid imagination was the most important thing in the world. There isn't a single day that I don't miss him." [["What happened to him?"]]

Billy takes a deep breath, "My dad ran a local soup kitchen. Everything was fine for years, but then one day, Maximillion DeLeon came along, cut the entire line, and said that he wanted to tear apart our whole neighborhood to make a casino. He didn't even offer them anything in return, claiming that the money the casino would bring to the community was enough payment, as if there'd be any community left if he destroyed half of our houses. Of course, my dad fought back, even poured some hot chicken noodle soup on his suit." Billy laughs nervously, "But then, the next day he came back with some of his friends. And a gun. He shot my dad 5 times in broad daylight in the middle of Roxbury. He died about an hour later." "What day was this?" "October 18th, 1998." "Eight days before DeLeon Day..." "Yup. They gave that bastard his own holiday for deciding to build a casino on top of my damn house. Don't get me wrong, what I do isn't right, but neither is anything they do. If I have to squeeze the life out of every single one of them to prove my point, then-" He stops himself and Roxbury melts away as you return to the desert, "So, you still wanna send me back?" [["A killer is a killer. Plus, it's my job to send you back."]] [["No, I don't see any reason to."]] [["Why did you enter the dream realm anyway?"]]

(if: $NoBill is 1)["I knew there was something off about you,"](else:)["I really liked you, Roylat,"] Billy snaps and you're in a pitch black room again. Then you see a light coming closer. And closer. And closer. "Is that a trai-" The train slams into you, pushing you forward until you realize that you're thousands of feet in the air... and in the mouth of a large dragon's skull. <img src=https://mayhemandmuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/A-brilliant-surrealism-painting-by-Jacek-Yerka-of-a-steam-engine-train-exiting-the-mouth-of-a-dragon-made-of-land.jpg> [[The train falls off of the tracks then descends over Boston.]]

"Great!" Billy opens a portal, "You can leave through here." "Thank y- wait a second, I gotta destroy this," Billy's Nightmare Box materializes and you spike it into the ground. "All right, I'm all set. Thank you, Billy!" [[You leave Billy's dream world.]]

"Did the news not cover it? They caught me! I dozed off in the police car, and poof! I was gone." [["In that case, I'm definitely sending you back."->"A killer is a killer. Plus, it's my job to send you back."]] [["In that case, I'm not sending you back. I don't think you've done anything wrong."->"No, I don't see any reason to."]]

"Man, what a nice guy." "ARE YOU INSANE?!" "Mordred, remember what Billy said about that wo-" "Roylat, you single handedly saved a serial killer from being brought to justice!" "I don't think this job is really about justice. What's even the point of bringing him back to the real world? He's not hurting anyone in here. "He would've gone to jail!" "And what happens if he breaks out of jail and kills more people?" "..." "Mordred, I'm done talking about this. I know I did the right thing back there." [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream2Complete to 1) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxDest to $BoxDest + 1) (set: $BillBoxDest to 1)

You come crashing down in Jamaica Plain just in time to catch a parade of elephants with tubas for heads. You cover your ears but it doesn't help, you can feel your eardrums rupturing as the elephants only get louder. <img src=https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f36db83341c139aa5f689295e6b0f81/tumblr_inline_nyeynb9n7x1t0u44u_500.jpg> The elephants continue to march towards you. [[Run away]] [[Hide in an alleyway]]

You try to run away from the elephants. You're outrunning them, but then you fall over. You turn around to see Maxine with her leg sticking out, flipping you off [[as the elephants catch up and stomp on you.->an elephant finally stomps on you.]]

Noting that the elephants don't have eyes or noses, you jump into an alleyway to avoid their stampede. However, they all turn towards you immediately, trampling through apartment complexes. You look up to see Billy in the sky, waving at you and smiling until [[an elephant finally stomps on you.]]

You wake up and feel hot. You're back in the desert. You look around and don't see Billy anywhere, but you notice that the sand is rising in the distance. The waves going through the sand come closer until a worm with what seems like thousands of teeth emerges from the ground. <img src=https://c.tenor.com/kiTbbnthTyQAAAAC/frank-herbert-dune.gif> The worm dives at you. [[You let out a scream, certain that you're about to die.]]

You wake up once again in your pod at Nightmare Inc. headquarters. "What happened? Is this real? Mordred, what's my favorite color on Tuesdays?" "I have no way of knowing that, nor do I have any interest in knowing that. But anyway, yes, this is real. I pulled you out before you died." "So you saved my life?" "Purely for business purposes. Anyway, you aren't gonna be able to get Billy back in the real world unless you figure out how to find the core. "Any idea how I could do that?" "Well, I do have a little information on the owner of the dream world behind door 3. Apparently she's Billy's wife." "Wait, Billy has a wife? They really need to do more research on this guy, that'd be a huge headline." "They got married in secret. Anyway, she might know how to get to his core. Maybe she knows about some sort of pattern. If you wanna send Billy back to the real world, you're gonna need to get his wife on your side," Mordred grins. "Aren't you gonna punch me?" "Shut up." [[Mordred closes your pod and you go back to the dream realm->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream2Complete to 1) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1)

"Oh," the woman scratches her chin. "Well, in that case, let's chat over some coffee." The crab morphs into a cafe and you float into a seat at a table. "What is with everyone and coffee?" "Coffee's great! It keeps you awake so you can get important things done! I'm all too used to those long work days at the hospital." "You're a doctor?" "Yes! Or at least I was. I worked at Boston Children's Hospital for 12 years." You see that she's wearing a nametag. "Melissa Bateson. Do I know you?" "You may, I was quite good at my job, if I do say so myself. Everyone who'd ever been to Boston Children's heard my name one way or another. I was the best surgeon around." [[

She jumps off of the crab and runs towards you. "In that case, would you like to help me practice something?" "Practice what exactly??" "Brain surgery. You see, I used to be a great surgeon. I worked at Boston Children's Hospital for 12 years. My name's Melissa Bateson, surely you've heard of me!" "I haven't, but why did you say that you //used to// be a great surgeon?" "Well," She straightens her lab coat. "when a doctor makes a mistake during brain surgery, it causes some... problems." "What do you mean by mistakes?" "Oh, it's nothing, dear. Let's get on with the experiment, shall we?" [["Not until you answer my question."]]

"Well if you must know, after working for 35 hours straight, I made a little oopsie during a brain surgery." "What do you mean by 'a little oopsie'?" "I messed up. The boy I was operating on died. His family sued me, I lost my house, I lost my job. All I had left was my husband, Billy, but he came here not long after I lost my job, so I followed him." The beach morphs into an operating room and she lays you down on a surgical table. "There, I answered your question, now let's get started!" "Wait no-" [[Before you can fight back, she jabs her scalpel into your head.]]

You find yourself in an empty space with stone tiles under you. You hear a squishing noise and notice you have a headache, but you pay it no mind. You step forward and more stones form under your feet. More stone tiles come towards you from the opposite direction, carrying a group of small cats eating a bear's intestines as the bear lays there, seemingly dead. [[Help the bear]] [[Let the cats eat it.]]

You approach the bear to help them, but they wake up and cut your neck with their claws before using their own intestines to strangle the group of cats. Your neck heals quickly as the bear runs off into the darkness. "Billy used to tell me that as long as people stand up for the few, the many will never overcome them." You turn around and see Melissa standing behind you. [["Who's Billy?"]] [["Where are we?"]]

The cats continue to consume the bear until he's barely anything but bones, then disappear into the darkness. "Billy used to tell me that if people stopped defending the few, the many would overtake them one day." [["Who's Billy?"]] [["Where are we?"]]

"Don't play dumb, you were talking during the surgery. You probably don't remember because you flatlined, but we talked about Billy plenty and you told me about your job at Nightmare Inc." "Wait, I what?!" You touch the top of your head and realize that your brain is exposed. "I messed up. You're not technically dead because it's a dream, but you might have some gaps in your memory," A brain materializes in Melissa's hand and she spikes it into the floor. "Ever since I came here, I haven't been able to do a single brain surgery without killing the patient! Every week they'd make me work unreasonable hours and tell me that it's 'just what you signed up for,' and 'You can take a break when we get more staff' as if anybody is supposed to be able to do surgery for days on end! We have access to all sorts of research on sleep. We know that we simply can't work properly without it, but I'm supposed to just disregard that? Then they wonder why I mess up, we're-I'm not built to do this!" "Are you-" "I'm fine," Melissa takes a deep breath. "You know, Billy used to wait for me to come home with blood on his hands, holding freshly picked flowers. Fresh off of killing somebody and the first thing he thought of was me. All along I knew it was wrong. I'm a doctor, he's a murderer. An unemployed murderer, mind you. But after those long shifts, coming home to see him was the only thing that kept me going. I kept telling myself that I had to turn him in, but I just couldn't." [["Would you turn him in now?"]]

"What's your guess?" [["The core of your dream world."]] [["Limbo."]]

"I don't think I could, no." (if: $BillBoxDest is 1)[ [["Then I guess I can't force you."]] ] (else:)[ [["Then I guess I can't force you."]] [["Well, it's either you or him."]] ]

"You want to know where the core of his dream world is, don't you?" Melissa sighs. "I'll only tell you if you destroy my Nightmare Box. Seems like a fair trade, don't you think?" [[Destroy Melissa's Nightmare Box]] [[Open Melissa's Nightmare Box]]

"Roylat," Mordred interrupts your conversation, "Open the box. Now." A Nightmare Box materializes in your hands. "Well, I guess I didn't expect you to just leave me here." [[Open the Nightmare Box->OBox3]] [[Destroy the Nightmare Box->DBox3]]

"Correct." "How did I get here?" "Well, we were having a great time during your brain surgery. We talked about Billy, and your new job at Nightmare-" "I don't remember saying any of that." "Don't interrupt, it's rude. People blab about all sorts of things when you tinker with their brain, and they can't lie," A brain materializes in Melissa's hand. She fiddles with it for a few seconds. "But I messed up again. You flatlined after about an hour. You should be fine because it's a dream, though," She tossed the brain off into the distance. "Ever since I came here, I haven't been able to do a single brain surgery without killing the patient! Every week they'd make me work unreasonable hours and tell me that it's 'just what you signed up for,' and 'You can take a break when we get more staff' as if anybody is supposed to be able to do surgery for days on end! We have access to all sorts of research on sleep. We know that we simply can't work properly without it, but I'm supposed to just disregard that? Then they wonder why I mess up, we're-I'm not built to do this!" "Are you-" "I'm fine," Melissa takes a deep breath. "You know, Billy used to wait for me to come home with blood on his hands, holding freshly picked flowers. Fresh off of killing somebody and the first thing he thought of was me. All along I knew it was wrong. I'm a doctor, he's a murderer. An unemployed murderer, mind you. But after those long shifts, coming home to see him was the only thing that kept me going. I kept telling myself that I had to turn him in, but I just couldn't." [["Would you turn him in now?"]]

"Wrong! This," The stone tiles disappear, but neither of you fall, "It's the core of my dream world." "Oh, thank God, I'm not dead!" "I never said you weren't dead." [["Huh?"]]

"Well, we were having a great time during your brain surgery. We talked about Billy, and your new job at Nightmare Inc., but then you flatlined after about an hour" "I don't remember saying any of that." "Well, you tend to forget things when you die," A brain materializes in Melissa's hand. She fiddles with it for a few seconds. "It's a dream though, so you should be fine." She tossed the brain off into the distance and groaned, "Ever since I came here, I haven't been able to do a single brain surgery without killing the patient! Every week they'd make me work unreasonable hours and tell me that it's 'just what you signed up for,' and 'You can take a break when we get more staff' as if anybody is supposed to be able to do surgery for days on end! We have access to all sorts of research on sleep. We know that we simply can't work properly without it, but I'm supposed to just disregard that? Then they wonder why I mess up, we're-I'm not built to do this!" "Are you-" "I'm fine," Melissa takes a deep breath. "You know, Billy used to wait for me to come home with blood on his hands, holding freshly picked flowers. Fresh off of killing somebody and the first thing he thought of was me. All along I knew it was wrong. I'm a doctor, he's a murderer. An unemployed murderer, mind you. But after those long shifts, coming home to see him was the only thing that kept me going. I kept telling myself that I had to turn him in, but I just couldn't." [["Would you turn him in now?"]]

You open the box and find yourself in a hospital corridor. As the lights flicker, patients crawl out of their rooms. Some are missing limbs. Some are missing everything below their abdomens. Some are trying to scoop their organs back into their body after botched surgeries. Some are leaning against the blood covered walls to keep their balance. <img src=https://i.etsystatic.com/17999342/r/il/0ba868/1586453854/il_fullxfull.1586453854_p50a.jpg> [[You see a light at the end of the corridor and head towards it]]

You squeeze Melissa's Nightmare Box until it collapses on itself. (if: $BillBoxDest is 1)["Roylat! You can't keep destroying the boxes!" "Why not?" "Because it's your job to open them!" "Well, are you gonna fire me if I don't?" "I'll decide that once you've visited all the dream worlds." "Well, regardless, I think Billy and Melissa deserve to be happy here. It wouldn't be right to make them leave." The giant crab from earlier grabs Melissa and walks into the darkness as she smiles and waves.] (else:)["Roylat! Now you can't get to Billy's core and you can't make Melissa leave! What is wrong with you?!" "It wouldn't be right to do that to her or Billy. They both deserve to be happy here." The giant crab from earlier grabs Melissa and walks into the darkness as she smiles and waves. "Roylat, you can't keep this job if you keep on doing that. Go and choose another door, now!"] [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream3Complete to 1) (set: $Dream2Complete to 2) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxDest to $BoxDest + 1) (set: $MelissaSafe to 1)

You squeeze Melissa's Nightmare Box until it collapses on itself. "Now tell me how to get to the core of Billy's dream world." "Unfortunately, I'm a woman of my word. Follow me." Melissa waves her hand and a door appears. "There's no pattern to where Billy puts his core. It's completely random. He can't even get in there himself. The only way in is through this door." [[You both pass through the door]]

"Sorry, I don't trust you." You open the box and find yourself in a hospital corridor. As the lights flicker, patients crawl out of their rooms. Some are missing limbs. Some are missing everything below their abdomens. Some are trying to scoop their organs back into their body after botched surgeries. Some are leaning against the blood covered walls to keep their balance. <img src=https://i.etsystatic.com/17999342/r/il/0ba868/1586453854/il_fullxfull.1586453854_p50a.jpg> [[You see a light at the end of the corridor and head towards it]]

As you run down the corridor, crawling patients try to grab your feet, causing you to trip. You shake them off and stand back up, but you hear footsteps behind you. The footsteps slowly speed up as you continue to run. [[Keep running]] [[Look behind you]]

The footsteps get faster and faster. Closer and closer. A claw digs into the back of your neck and pulls you back right before you reach the light. [[Turn around]] [[Go to the light]]

You turn around, but you see nothing and the footsteps stop. [[You keep running and the footsteps start again->Keep running]]

You enter a new room and immediately notice the absolutely horrid smell. "What is tha- wait," You create a torch in your hand and raise it to discover three bodies hanging upside down in front of you with their eyes slashed out. "I've been here before! If only I knew." You open Billy's Nightmare Box and the entire room disappears, leaving nothing but white and a very distant floor. You begin to fall. You see Billy falling in the distance, panicking. "Billy was always afraid of heights," Melissa starts to laugh, "But you know what's funny? There's a reason you always wake up before you hit the ground in dreams. If you hit the ground, you'll die for real along with us!" "Shit. Mordred! Pull me out!" Mordred doesn't respond, "Mordred! Mordred!" the ground gets closer and closer, until you're mere feet away. You close your eyes and put out your right arm, hoping it'll do something as it impacts the ground. You don't hear anything. You don't see anything. But you feel something. A sharp pain through your entire right arm. "Yup, that's broken." You open your eyes to see Mordred looking at you in the pod. [["What the hell took you so long? I was inches away from dying!"]]

"To put it simply, Nightmare Boxes mess with the very nature of the dream realm, so it's a lot harder to get you out of there after using one," The lights in the room go out. "It also makes the power go out." Mordred takes her phone out of her pocket and makes a phone call, "Mark! Get the backup power on now, you lazy slob... what do you mean it's automati-ohhhhh." The backup power kicks in immediately and the lights turn back on. "Now, let's get you back in there." [[You lay back down in the pod and return to the green room->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream3Complete to 1) (set: $Dream2Complete to 2) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxOpen to $BoxOpen + 1) (set: $MelissaDead to 1)

$10,000 materializes in your hand, "Actually, I lied. I do have that kinda money." The bouncer accepts the money and steps aside, "Go ahead." [[You pass him and enter the casino.]]

$20,000 materializes in your hand, "As I said before, I don't have that kinda money. I have more." You hand the bouncer the money and he steps aside, "Thank you sir, go right ahead. I'll be sure to repay you someday if you need my help." "Don't mention it," [[You pass him and enter the casino.]] (set: $Bouncer to 1)

As soon as you walk in, the casino changes into a large amusement park. To your left, you see a large group of people chasing giant piggy banks with dollar bills as wings across the tracks of roller coasters, narrowly avoiding getting hit. To your right, you see two giants sitting at a large table sharing tea. Straight ahead, you see a huge water slide surrounded by 2 pools and an ocean. In the ocean behind the water park lies a spiraling tower. Mordred creates a small hand on your shoulder and points towards the tower. "Roylat, the top of that tower should be this dream world's core." "That's great and all, but how am I supposed to cross that ocean?" "I dunno. Figure it out." [[Go to the flying piggy banks]] [[Go to the giants]] [[Go to the water slide]]

You approach the flying piggy banks, pushing your way through the crowd of people reaching for them as they stand on rows of roller coaster tracks. As you pass by, the roller coaster trains get closer and closer until they reach the crowd. Not a single person moves as the roller coaster trains hit them. Some are run over by the trains, while others are sent flying into the ocean. <img src=https://st2.depositphotos.com/1038855/11060/i/950/depositphotos_110602326-stock-photo-pink-piggy-banks-flying-free.jpg> You gag, "What is wrong with these people? It's just money." "None of them are real. Move on." Mordred groans. After passing the crowd, you see an old woman making her way across another set of roller coaster tracks as she chases a piggy bank. You quickly realize that she's moving too slowly and the train is approaching. [[Help her cross]] [[Don't help]]

As you approach the giants, the scenery changes to that of a theater, with a stage and a curtain behind the two of them. One giant has large purple eyes with a white monocle over the right one, platinum skin, and 6 arms. Each arm has one of the first 6 letters of the Greek alphabet tattooed onto it. Each hand has a mouth with a long, black tongue and a full set of teeth. However, upon closer inspection, all of the teeth are actually pure white dogs, struggling to break free. The other giant has pink eyes with a black monocle over the left one, 2 wings on each of his arms, pale skin, long, white hair, and a watch that projects a holographic display of a clock into the sky, similar to a searchlight. The second giant turns to you. "Greetings, little one. What brings you here on this fine day?" [["Who are you two?"]]

You head to the water slide and quickly notice that there's nobody there besides one young boy with frozen hair, who has just reached the bottom of the slide and is laughing in the pool. <img src=https://www.careermatch.com/job-prep/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/11/Water_Slide_Tester_Profile_Image.jpg> "Hey, buddy, is there anybody else here with you?" The boy shakes his head, "Nope, but don't call me buddy. Only my dad can call me that." "Okay, then what should I call you?" "Taylor Buzzard." [["Woah, we have the same name!"]] [["Nice to meet you Taylor, I'm Roylat."]]

You walk up to the woman and offer to help her cross, but she pushes you about 30 feet away. "How is a woman that old and slow, but that strong?" She stops, turns towards the roller coaster train, stretches her hands towards the piggy bank, and jumps. The train sends her flying through the air, but it brings her to the perfect elevation to catch a piggy bank. She reaches out and grabs one. It tries to fly away with her, but she punches it with surprising strength and slowly descends as it spews out money. "What was that?" The woman turns to you, "You seem surprised, dear. Those roller coaster trains aren't so simple. If they hit you juuust right, you can control where you go, and walk away," she looks down at her mangled left arm, "Mostly unscathed." [["How did you know that?"]]

The old woman keeps trying to cross, but right as the train is about to hit her, she turns towards it, stretches her hands towards the piggy bank, and jumps. The train sends her flying through the air, but it brings her to the perfect elevation to catch a piggy bank. She reaches out and grabs one. It tries to fly away with her, but she punches it with surprising strength and slowly descends as it spews out money. "What was that?" The woman turns to you, "You seem surprised, dear. Those roller coaster trains aren't so simple. If they hit you juuust right, you can control where you go, and walk away," she looks down at her mangled left arm. "mostly unscathed." [["How did you know that?"]]

"Oh, David told me!" "David?" "David Buzzard, the owner of this amusement park. Everyone knows him!" "You think that's the owner of this dream world?" You whisper to the hand on your shoulder, which Mordred forgot to get rid of. "No, I think he's the Queen of England- of course he's the owner of this dream world!" Mordred points forward at the old woman, who has started to walk away. "Excuse me ma'am, where could I find Mr. Buzzard?" "Well, young man, all you need to do is go to the top of that far away tower and you'll find him." "And how do I get up there?" "Oh," she looks at an oncoming roller coaster train. "I wonder how?" [[Let the train hit you]] [[Find another way]]

You stretch your arms towards the tower. "Like this?" "You got it, dear. Looking good!" "Um, so how bad does this hurt?" The old woman raises her left arm, "Like Hell." You jump right as the train hits you and immediately hear a loud crack in your chest. You can't breathe and it feels like time freezes as the old woman winks at you. Your body shoots into the air towards a piggy bank. As your back collides with it, you hear another crack. You create a pair of arms on your back and grab the piggy bank's wings, [[directing it towards the tower.]] <img src=https://morpheusgallery.com/gallery/middle/Mikhalchuk-painting-dark-tower-Morpheus-Surreal-Gallery.jpg>

"No way." "Oh, are you sure, dear? It's really not that hard. A couple broken bones is a small price to pay for transport, you know. Back in my day you had to pay an arm and a leg." "I'm good. I'll just find another way." [[Go to the giants]] [[Go to the water slide]]

You let go of the piggy bank as you approach the tower, crashing through a window on the top floor. You mouth the words "Mordred, help." as you struggle to deal with the pain. Mordred sighs, "When are you gonna realize that you can do everything I can do in here?" You stand back up as your rib cage and spine heal. "Why didn't you heal me earlier?" "Because you didn't ask." "People don't need to ask for help for you to help them." "Obviously, we were raised differently." [["Yeah, I was raised right."]] [["Whatever."]]

"Oh, that's rich coming from a deadbeat who mooches off of his parents." "Well at least I don't- I don't- dammit, give me a sec." "Just get back to work, you've already wasted enough of my time." You look around and see that you're in somebody's office. "This place is so... normal." <img src=https://www.hackrea.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/classic-ceos-office-1-768x576.jpeg> You hear the tapping of shoes behind you and quickly turn to the door. "I'm glad you like it," A tall man with piercing, yellow eyes wearing an expensive suit enters the room with two bodyguards. "I made it myself" You start backing away and trip, falling onto the desk, "Who're you?" "I, young man, am the owner of this park, David Buzzard," the bodyguard to his right opens a drawer and pulls out a bottle of wine. David sits down on the couch as his bodyguard pours him a glass. "My son always told me I should get a desk just like that, said that it fit me perfectly. That means that it's worth more than you, or any other Nightmare Inc. employee. So I recommend you remove your hand from its surface. Immediately." He glares at the hand on your shoulder. [[Move away from the table]] [[Keep leaning on the desk]] (set: $MordredArgument to 1)

You look around and see that you're in somebody's office. "This place is so... normal." <img src=https://www.hackrea.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/classic-ceos-office-1-768x576.jpeg> You hear the tapping of shoes behind you and quickly turn to the door. "I'm glad you like it," A tall man with piercing, yellow eyes wearing an expensive suit enters the room with two bodyguards. "I made it myself" You start backing away and trip, falling onto the desk, "Who're you?" "I, young man, am the owner of this park, David Buzzard," the bodyguard to his right opens a drawer and pulls out a bottle of wine. David sits down on the couch as his bodyguard pours him a glass. "My son always told me I should get a desk just like that, said that it fit me perfectly. That means that it's worth more than you, or any other Nightmare Inc. employee. So I recommend you remove your hand from its surface. Immediately." He glares at the hand on your shoulder. [[Move away from the table]] [[Keep leaning on the desk]]

"Take out the Nightmare Box." David commands as he sips his wine. "Why do you want me t-" "Now. I won't repeat myself." [[Take out the Nightmare Box]]

David snaps and a third bodyguard phases through the door, grabs you, and throws you away from the table. "Take out the Nightmare Box." David commands as he sips his wine. "Why do you want me t-" "Now. I won't repeat myself." [[Take out the Nightmare Box]]

"Well," The second giant adjusts his monocle. "don't you think it's quite rude to ask that without introducing yourself?" [[Introduce yourself]] [[Refuse to introduce yourself]]

"I'm Tay- I mean, Roylat. I'm a-" Mordred pokes your cheek, "I'm just a normal guy." "A normal guy, huh? Well, Mr. Roylat, I don't recognize you." The first giant chimes in, "Not one bit!" "From this height, we can see everyone in the park. Nobody has ever entered or left this park, they're all made from inside by the owner. While I certainly don't doubt that Mr. Buzzard would make more people as the piggy bank chasers are dying at a rapid rate, I don't suppose our old pal, David, would do so without telling us." [["I'm not from around here."]] [["Mr. Buzzard wanted to surprise you!"]]

"No, I asked first." "That, my little friend, you did. I am Ephialtes, and my brother over there is Otis. We're the Cronus twins, and this," He tears back the curtain, "Is our collection!" <img src=https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/d9c4675ff6d4bd8c6f22329819966a290116e043/store/fill/545/409/20eed89cdb2f78b196c0fd6b3ad2fb5015487437c1abd35d4d2d94744dff/Joe-Vaux-Blackend.jpg> "Now, who are you? You don't seem to be around here. I don't think Mr. Buzzard would imagine someone as," (if: $Skunk is 1)[Ephialtes bends down to smell you. "revolting as you. No offense, of course."](if: $Dog is 1)[Ephialtes looks at your shoes. "ragged as you. No offense, of course."] "I'm Tay-I mean Roylat. What is all of this?" "Well, Roylat, this is a collection of Mr. Buzzard's experiments. Things he imagined previously, while he still could imagine things." [["What do you mean, 'While he still could imagine things'?"]]

"Well that's odd. Last time I checked, you can't get into other people's dreams, unless you work for Nightmare Inc." The first giant chimes in again, "Last we checked." "So, would you like to be skinned or burned alive, little one?" [["Skinned."]] [["Burned."]]

The second giant raises his eyebrow, "Surprise us? Well, what do you offer that makes you such a surprise?" He points his watch at you and starts tinkering with it, causing it to release massive sparks that barely don't hit you. "You see, I don't like surprises." [[Give them money]] [["I lied."]]

Your hands shake as you create $100,000 and toss it up to the giants, "He wanted me to give you this, for a uh- a job well done!" Both giants laugh hysterically, spewing tea everywhere. Once they're done, the second one turns back to you. "We're just kidding, we don't care about what David thinks! Ah, but introductions," he clears his throat, "I am Ephialtes, and my brother over there is Otis. We're the Cronus twins, and this," He tears back the curtain, "Is our collection!" <img src=https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/d9c4675ff6d4bd8c6f22329819966a290116e043/store/fill/545/409/20eed89cdb2f78b196c0fd6b3ad2fb5015487437c1abd35d4d2d94744dff/Joe-Vaux-Blackend.jpg> You gaze upon the bizarre scenery, unable to find anything that looks familiar, "What do you mean your collection?" "Well, Roylat, this is a collection of Mr. Buzzard's experiments. Things he imagined previously, while he still could imagine things." [["What do you mean, 'While he still could imagine things'?"]]

"A dishonest man admitting that he's dishonest? Quite the paradox, don't you agree brother?" The first giant nods, "Quite true, bro." "Well, luckily for you, we're also dishonest men. I am Ephialtes, and my brother over there is Otis. We're the Cronus twins, and this," He tears back the curtain, "Is our collection!" <img src=https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/d9c4675ff6d4bd8c6f22329819966a290116e043/store/fill/545/409/20eed89cdb2f78b196c0fd6b3ad2fb5015487437c1abd35d4d2d94744dff/Joe-Vaux-Blackend.jpg> You gaze upon the bizarre scenery, unable to find anything that looks familiar, "What do you mean your collection?" "Well, Roylat, this is a collection of Mr. Buzzard's experiments. Things he imagined previously, while he still could imagine things." [["What do you mean, 'While he still could imagine things'?"]]

The second giant taps his brother on the shoulder "Brother, you know what to do." The first giant puts one hand on your left and one on your right. Both hands come closer and closer as dogs nip at you, eager to tear your skin. Right as they get so close that you can feel their breath, the second giant taps his brother on the shoulder. "Alright, that's enough. He didn't even flinch! Roylat, was it? Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Ephialtes, and my brother over there is Otis. We're the Cronus twins, and this," He tears back the curtain, "Is our collection!" <img src=https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/d9c4675ff6d4bd8c6f22329819966a290116e043/store/fill/545/409/20eed89cdb2f78b196c0fd6b3ad2fb5015487437c1abd35d4d2d94744dff/Joe-Vaux-Blackend.jpg> You gaze upon the bizarre scenery, unable to find anything that looks familiar, "What do you mean your collection?" "Well, Roylat, this is a collection of Mr. Buzzard's experiments. Things he imagined previously, while he still could imagine things." [["What do you mean, 'While he still could imagine things'?"]]

The second giant taps his brother on the shoulder "Brother, you know what to do." The first giant points all 6 of his palms at you. Every single one of the dogs begins to produce fire from their mouths. They then gather all of the first onto the nearest tongue, causing it to burst into flames. The first giant winds up, ready to attack with every single flaming tongue, but his brother stops him. "Alright, that's enough. He didn't even flinch! Roylat, was it? Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Ephialtes, and my brother over there is Otis. We're the Cronus twins, and this," He tears back the curtain, "Is our collection!" <img src=https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/d9c4675ff6d4bd8c6f22329819966a290116e043/store/fill/545/409/20eed89cdb2f78b196c0fd6b3ad2fb5015487437c1abd35d4d2d94744dff/Joe-Vaux-Blackend.jpg> You gaze upon the bizarre scenery, unable to find anything that looks familiar, "What do you mean your collection?" "Well, Roylat, this is a collection of Mr. Buzzard's experiments. Things he imagined previously, while he still could imagine things." [["What do you mean, 'While he still could imagine things'?"]]

"This place used to be quite different. More... childish, shall we say. I don't know the reason, but not long after it changed to what it is today, he announced that he would no longer use his imagination to change anything." "Brain shut off." Otis laughed. "No Otis, his brain did not shut off. Anyway, he's been up in his tower for the last month or so. You wouldn't happen to have business with him, would you?" [["You could say that."]]

"Well then, allow us to help you reach him," Ephialtes turns to Otis as he picks up a T-Rex with a mustache and a well groomed mullet then throws it into the distance. "His tower is just past this area, Otis can throw you there." Ephialtes lifts you on his shoulders so you can see the ocean leading to the castle. You spot the T-Rex flying through the air as they flail around their tiny arms. You're initially certain it'll make it, but it suddenly dives directly into the ocean and drowns. "Um, can I really trust Otis to throw me?" "Oh please, Otis' calculations are the correct 99% of the time!" Ephialtes watches Otis spike a giant toy bear into the ground shattering it, "Dumb dino!" Ephilates laughs nervously, "Oh please, Otis' calculations are correct 50% of the time!" "You just said 99%!" "That was my calculation of his calculation. He's the smart one, not me!" Otis opens his hand in front of you. "Please, just trust Otis. He'll get you there in three pieces at most." [[Let Otis throw you]] [[Try the water slide]]

"All right, I'll let you throw me." Otis smiles, "Thank you, good sir." "Wha- that's more syllables than normal! Did he break? Did I break him?" Ephialtes pats Otis on the head, "My brother isn't a machine. He talks how he wants... mostly in three syllable sentences. Anyway, you trust Otis, I trust Otis, Otis trusts himself. All right, all's right if we're all right, right?" Otis winds up with his lowest right arm, then tosses you, slapping his other two hands against his first one for extra force. You fly through the air relatively smoothly, leaning slightly to your right, until you can see the tower. You're still well above it, but you feel yourself suddenly drop. <img src=https://morpheusgallery.com/gallery/middle/Mikhalchuk-painting-dark-tower-Morpheus-Surreal-Gallery.jpg> "This might be a good time for you to remember that none of this is real." Mordred says. "Why is that? I'll be just fine, Otis' calculations are correct 25% of the time!" "When I write your eulogy, I'll be sure to mention your ever-present sense of humor in the face of death." [[You crash through a window on the top floor of the tower.]]

"Wait, isn't that water slide much closer to the tower?" "Yes, but we aren't allowed to leave this area, we'd trample most of the park if we did. If you want to go there, you'll have to go alone." [[Let Otis throw you]] [[Go to the water slide]]

You stand up. "Wow, that wasn't so ba-," You feel sharp pain in your rib cage and spine, along with tingling all around your body. You fall to the ground, unable to feel any of your limbs. After about a minute, you mouth the words "Mordred, help." as you struggle to deal with the pain. Mordred sighs, "When are you gonna realize that you can do everything I can do in here?" You stand back up as your rib cage and spine heal. "Why didn't you heal me earlier?" "Because you didn't ask." "People don't need to ask for help for you to help them." "Obviously, we were raised differently." [["Yeah, I was raised right."]] [["Whatever."]]

"Really?" "Yeah, my-" Mordred slaps you across the face with the hand on your shoulder, causing you to fall into the deep end of the pool, "Roylat! You can't let people know your real name!" "But he's probably not the owner of this dream world." You reply as you cough water out of your mouth. "That doesn't matter! If the owner created him, there's all sorts of ways that he can get that information from him." The boy observes the hand on your shoulder, "I'm not the owner of this dream world, but I do know him." You go over to the shallow end of the pool and get down on your knees, "Then please, don't tell him. Here," you create ten lollipops, "I'll give you these!" "I don't want candy, I want money. Give me $1,000,000 and I'll keep my mouth shut." [[Make $1,000,000]]

"Roylat? Weird name. Why're you here, anyway?" "I'm trying to get to that tower over there." "Oh, my dad's tower? All you gotta do is take the rainbow slide and it'll get you there." "Safely?" The boy clears his throat and imitates an adult, "'I, David Buzzard, the owner of this park, assure you that this method of transport is the safest there is.'" You laugh, "Wow, I thought you were the man himself for a second." [[Take the slide]]

"What're you gonna do with all of this money anyway??" "I'm getting brain surgery soon. I'm gonna pay for it myself, then buy my dad a present with the rest." "That's real nice of you, thinking of your dad like that. Anyway, I'm trying to get to that tower over there, any idea how I can do that?" "Oh, my dad's tower? All you gotta do is take the rainbow slide and it'll get you there." "Safely?" The boy clears his throat and imitates a well spoken middle-aged man, "'I, David Buzzard, the owner of this park, assure you that this method of transport is the safest there is.'" You laugh, "Wow, I've never met this David Buzzard guy, but that was impressive." "Everyone always tells me I sound just like him." [[Take the slide]]

You get on the water slide and are immediately blasted towards the tower at unfathomable speed. As you fly through the air, your clothes dry off. You land on the top floor, right outside of a window. "How do I get in?" You walk up to the window and try to tap it, but your hand goes right through it. "Woah!" You slip through the window, but right after you exit, it shatters. "I really hope this guy pays someone to fix that." [[Look inside->"Whatever."]]

"Now, open it." "Wait, why're you asking me to do that? You know what this does, ri-" "You're hesitating, why?" "Well, I think it's fair I at least hear your story first." (if: $MordredArgument is 1)[Mordred interrupts, "Roylat, I already said you've wasted enough of my time. Open. The. Box. Now!" "Ignore her, do whatever you want. You know, you're the 100th Nightmare Inc. employee to come here, and you're also the 100th one to hesitate to open the box. You want to hear my story? Well let me tell you then."](else:)["You know, you're the 100th Nightmare Inc. employee to come here, and you're also the 100th one to hesitate to open the box. You want to hear my story? Well let me tell you then. Have a seat."] [[Have a seat and listen]]

Two more bodyguards enter the room with paint rollers. They go over to the broken window and paint over it, repairing the window completely. "Thank you. It's amazing what you can do in here, isn't it. Now, let me ask you, if you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do? The same things you always do? Something you always wanted to do? Or perhaps, something you'd never do if you knew you'd have to face the consequences eventually?" [["Cry in my bed until the sun rises."]] [["All the things I always wanted to do, I guess."]]

David laughs, "An honest answer, I like that." [["Not many people do nowadays."->"I guess you're right."]]

"Oh? Like what?" (if: $didntaskout is 1)["Ask out the guy I like, quit my job and spray my manager with her pet skunk, leave my parent's house and run off somewhere where I can be alone, then sleep there and never wake up."](else:)["Quit my job and spray my manager with her pet skunk, buy some expensive clothes and see a movie, leave my parent's house and run off somewhere where I can be alone, then sleep there and never wake up."] "Hm, you're lying." "What do you mean I'm lying?" "Have you done any of those things?" "Well... no." "And that's because you know you have time, right? But the truth is, the only thing that is guaranteed about time is that you're always losing it. You never have as much as you think. You never have enough. Every single day, we think that. The sun sets too early, yet it also rises too early." [["I guess you're right."]]

"Have a drink." A bodyguard pours another glass of wine. David slides it to you as he lets out a deep sigh, "When my son was 5 years old, my wife passed away. She had breast cancer." "I'm sorr-" "Oh, if you're apologizing this early, I fear for your heart. Anyway, we reacted as any normal father and son would. We weren't okay for a while, but eventually we got back on our feet. After about a year, my business started to prosper and I had more money than I could ever spend." [["Your business? Buzzard Toys?"]] [[Let him continue.]]

"Yup, we made toys specifically for lonely children." [[Let him continue.]]

"After buying a mansion, I did what most fathers would do, I spoiled my son, Taylor, rotten. Bought him any food, toys, clothes, or shoes that he wanted. Then when he was 10 years old, we found out he had brain cancer. I mean, seriously? How unlucky could we be? There was nothing we could do but trust the doctors. They were quick to say he needed surgery, craniotomy. The night before his surgery, I told him he could eat anything he wanted. We go downstairs to talk to our chef, and he says, 'Dad, I want to eat ice cream tonight.' This was weird to me, because we had ice cream before and he hated it because he'd always get brain freezes. Our chef prepared the biggest sundae he could make, and Tay ate it so quickly that he got eight brain freezes. I asked him why he wanted ice cream and he said, 'Because if the doctors mess up, my brain will already be frozen. Then they can save it.' It was absolute nonsense, something only a child would think of." David pauses for a minute. [[Tap him on the shoulder]]

"What happened next?" "Right. The next morning we went to the hospital for him to get his surgery. We arrived around 7 am and I let the doctors do their work. Then, at 9 am... at 9 am they told me that the surgery went wrong. My son was dead. The-the first thing I asked was if they saved his brain, since he'd frozen it," David cleared his throat and rubbed his forehead. "None of them replied, but this one woman in the back of the group with bags under her eyes came up to me and kept apologizing. As-as if her apology meant anything. After that, I realized lots of things didn't mean anything. Lawsuits, my business, my house, pretty much anything connected to money. Then I realized, everything was money to me, my life was money. Maybe my life didn't matter," David gripped the couch. "And that's how I ended up here. So now, if you want to, go ahead and open the Nightmare Box." [[Ask about his dream world]] [[Open the Nightmare Box->Open the Nightmare Box David]] [[Destroy the Nightmare Box->Destroy the Nightmare Box David]]

"Why is your dream world structured like this? You have giants roaming around, then there's people chasing flying piggy banks, then there's a perfectly normal water park." "Well, the first thing I tried to do when I came here was make a place for my son, if he ever came back one day. It was a simple amusement park really. Then I made sure to fill it with people so he'd never be lonely. After a little while, I made a copy of my son to see if he'd like it, but I quickly realized that I wanted my son to like it so much that I couldn't create a realistic version of him. After waiting even longer, I realized that my real son might never come back. I slowly started changing the park into whatever came to mind, really. I was about to replace the water slide, but I realized that I'd deviated from what I wanted, what my son would've wanted. I decided to make tools that could fulfill most basic tasks for my staff and promised to never change anything again." [[Open the Nightmare Box->Open the Nightmare Box David]] [[Destroy the Nightmare Box->Destroy the Nightmare Box David]]

David stands up and leaves the room. The bouncer from earlier enters the room and creates a portal. "Well, you should get going. I'm sure you have other dreams to get to." [[Enter the portal]]

"I guess I was wrong. You aren't like the other employees." A ray of light pierces the ceiling and David starts floating upward. [[The tower starts to collapse along with the rest of the dream world, crushing you under it.]]

You push away the rubble and find yourself back in Foxborough. In front of you there's a portal, but behind you there's a large mansion. You stand up and try to walk towards it, but soon realize that you have no legs and instead have a wispy tail. "What the- did I die?" "You're fine, calm down. Seems like the nightmare just made you something similar to a ghost." Mordred explains. You float towards the mansion and look in the window. You see David crying alone in a large room, surrounded by food, televisions, cars, and rows of expensive shoes. "Mordred, I don't get it. Isn't this supposed to be a nightmare? He's just sitting in his mansion. This is just his regular life, isn't it?" "Maybe that's the problem. For some people, their regular life is a night-" Mordred pauses. "What their nightmares consist of doesn't concern you. Just get back to work." [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]] [["Mordred, why did you create Nightmare Inc.?"]] (set: $Dream4Complete to 1) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxOpen to $BoxOpen + 1)

(if: $Bouncer is 1)[The bouncer stops you before you leave, "I know it doesn't mean much coming from me, I'm not even real, but you're a good man. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." "Thanks,"] The portal takes you back to the green room. "You've been awfully quiet, Mordred. Aren't you gonna yell at me for destroying the box?" "No. You should've opened it, but I won't yell at you." "I see." [["Mordred, why did you create Nightmare Inc.?"]] [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream4Complete to 1) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxDest to $BoxDest + 1)

You find yourself on a track inside of a stadium, with 8 runners getting ready to go. "Where are we?" Mordred asks. "My college. I used to run track, the 100 meter dash to be specific. I was pretty good at it. It was fun." The runners take off, including a younger version of yourself, "But it didn't last." "What happened?" "I guess this is the day." You're in the lead by far and are about to finish, but right before the finish line, you trip. Your friends, your parents, and your coaches all scream at you to get up, but you don't. Everyone else passes you before you get up and walk across the finish line. "All sorts of scouts were there that day. Every student in that race went to the Olympics, but me. It doesn't bother me. It never did. It bothered everyone else, though. My friends, my parents, my coaches. They'd ask me what all my hard work was for, why I couldn't stand up. I told all of them that it was for nothing. Everything I'd ever done was for nothing, and I was fine with that. I dropped out of college a month later." "If it doesn't bother you, then why is this your nightmare?" "It really doesn't bother me, but I can't help but think that this moment led me to where I am now. Some days it feels like a blessing, but most days it feels like a curse." [[Exit dream]]

You spike your Nightmare Box into the ground. "Well, Taylor, I'm glad to say that you're fired. You could've lived an easy life if you just listened. So much potential, wasted." "No amount of money would make me destroy my own dream. Goodbye Mordred." You wake up in your pod and pass Mordred without saying a word, but she stops you before you leave the door, "Your payment will be transferred straight to your bank account. I'd say good riddance, but I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon." [[Go home]]

//3 weeks later// After a long day of work at the Stinky Skunk, you return to your apartment. You open the door and a raccoon comes running out. "This place is way too expensive to have these problems. I've gotta complain to the landlord." You head inside and go straight to bed. You open your eyes and find yourself in a forest with a wooden chair behind you. "My dream world? Wait, am I dreaming?" [[Leave your dream world]] [[Stay in your dream world]]

You create a portal and exit your dream world without looking back. [[Wake up]]

"This place is pretty dull. How about a bouncy house here!" You point in front of you and a bouncy house appears, "Haha! And then a water park here! And a giant cat here! And a library here!" Minutes turn into hours. Hours to days. Days to weeks. Weeks to months. No matter how much time passes, you never run out of ideas. //[[3 months later]]//

(if: $MelissaDead is 1)[//"Good morning Boston. It's 7:15 and all sunshine, but we have some mildly disturbing news for you this morning, but it is urgent. We suggest you remove your children from the room immediately. Blind-Eye Billy and his supposed wife were found dead in police custody today, seemingly having been crushed. The cause of death is unknown, but many theorize Blind-Eye Billy used his supernatural powers to commit a murder-suicide. At the moment, police have no further infor-"//](if: $MelissaReal is 1)[//"Good morning Boston. It's 7:15 and all sunshine, but we have some good news for you, for once. Blind-Eye Billy's supposed wife, Melissa Bateson, has been found in her home and taken into police custody. She recently lost her job as a surgeon after unintentionally killing Taylor Buzzard, but that's not what the police took her for. Now, we can finally get insight into the mind of Blind-Eye Billy, who is still missing. Some suspect he escaped to the dre-"//](else:)[//"Good morning Boston. It's 7:15 and all sunshine-"//] Before the news anchor can continue, you turn off the television in your room and rub your eyes. "Crap, I left it on all night again." You get dressed, make toast, and head for the door. "Another day, another $5 an hour," you groan and head off to work.(if: $TaylorJada is 2)[ As you exit the door, you feel yourself bump into something. You look down and see a young girl in sweatpants and a hoodie. She takes off her hoodie to reveal bruises and scars all over her arms and face. "Jada?" Jada reaches into her pocket as she glowers at you, "Hello, Taylor."] [[The End]]

Thank you for playing //Taylor's Reality//. I hope you had as much fun playing it as I did making it! -James Ofori

After 3 months of experimenting with your dream world, (if: $didntaskout is 1)[Sahil appears. "Sahil? Why're you here?" He doesn't reply. You create a giant birch tree behind him. "Oh, did I accidentally imagine you? That's embarrassing, let me just get rid of you really quick." You focus as hard as you can, but he doesn't disappear. He puts his hand out and a Nightmare Box appears. You sigh, "Well, Mordred, I guess you got me." Sahil's left hand morphs into Mordred's head, "I really don't know what you see in this guy. A failed entrepreneur who lied to his friends about his lack of success for years until he ultimately turned to us, at Nightmare Inc. for money." "So, this is what a dream is, huh? At least I got to experience it." [[Sahil opens the Nightmare Box->Maxine opens the Nightmare Box]] ](else:)[Maxine appears. "Maxine? Why're you here?" She doesn't reply. You create a giant birch tree behind her. "Oh, did I accidentally imagine you? That's embarrassing, let me just get rid of you really quick." You focus as hard as you can, but she doesn't disappear. She puts her hand out and a Nightmare Box appears. You sigh, "Well, Mordred, I guess you got me." Maxine's left hand morphs into Mordred's head and she smiles, "So, this is what a dream is, huh? At least I got to experience it." [[Maxine opens the Nightmare Box]] ]

//"Good morning Boston. It's 7:15 and all sunshine-"// Before the news anchor can continue, you turn off the television in your room and rub your eyes. "Crap, I left it on all night again." [[The End]]

You wake up in your pod and Mordred helps you get out, "You really are exactly who we were looking for." "So, how much am I getting paid?" //[[3 months later->3 months2]]//

You exit the cafe after sitting for about an hour, "Huh, haven't seen Sahil here at the Sugary Squirrel for ages. Wonder what happened to him." You head back to your apartment and start making dinner. You check your phone while cooking and stare with empty eyes as you realize that both Sahil and your parents haven't called in 2 months. After eating, you check your watch, "9:00 PM. Gotta get to work soon." You head out the door and [[jog to Nightmare Inc.]]

Mordred greets you at the elevator, "You ready to get to work?" "Yeah." You reply, completely lacking emotion. [[You enter your pod.]]

You head down the rabbit hole and find yourself in the green room once again, but there's only one door. "Only one dream world tonight, Mordred?" "Yup. I have some info on this guy, for a change. He's a failed entrepreneur who lied to his friends about his lack of success for years." You open the door and find yourself in a room made of various pixelated video game characters, forming a dome. In the back of the room, you see an Indian man sitting down, facing the wall. Mordred creates a Nightmare Box in your hands, "Okay, just open it and we'll be done. Seems like this dream is underdeveloped, like yours was, and only has a core." [[Open the box]]

You open the box and the dome begins to collapse. You approach the sitting man as he turns around. "Sahil?" (if: $TaylorJada is 2)[ You return to your apartment, but notice that the lock has been picked. You enter cautiously, and see a young girl wearing sweatpants and a hoodie sitting in your kitchen. She takes off her hoodie to reveal bruises and scars all over her arms and face. "Jada?" Jada reaches into her pocket as she glowers at you, "Hello, Taylor." [[The End]] ](else:)[ [[You return to your apartment and go to sleep.]] ]

(if: $BoxOpen > $BoxDest)[You did a decent job today, so all you have to do is open your dream world's Nightmare Box and you're all done." [[Open your Nightmare Box]] ](else:)[Roylat, you seem to not be so sure about this job. I understand, it's hard, especially if you get too attached. However, if you just open the Nightmare Box for your own dream world, you can keep your job. This is your last chance." [[Open your Nightmare Box]] [[Destroy your Nightmare Box]] ]

"To take people out of the dream realm." "But what's the end goal here? Get every single person out of the dream realm?" "Yes, then we get back to being a productive society." "What exactly is a productive society?" "One where everyone wakes up and goes to work at the same time, works equally as hard as their neighbors, then heads home to wind down and do it again tomorrow." [["Everyone goes to work at the same time? Is traffic also part of a productive society?"]] [["That doesn't sound fun, though."]]

You turn around and all of the lights go out completely. The light at the end of the hallway remains, but it isn't bright enough for you to see anything. You walk towards the light, but turn around one last time, expecting to maybe see a claw, but instead you see a set of fangs dripping with red fluid. Not daring to explore any further, [[you enter the light.->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream3Complete to 1) (set: $Dream2Complete to 2) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxOpen to $BoxOpen + 1) (set: $MelissaReal to 1)

You resist the pull of the claw, feeling the skin on your neck tear as you throw yourself into the light and [[returning to the green room.->Dream Choice]] (set: $Dream3Complete to 1) (set: $Dream2Complete to 2) (set: $Dreams to $Dreams + 1) (set: $BoxOpen to $BoxOpen + 1) (set: $MelissaReal to 1)

Mordred chuckles, "Traffic is a byproduct of a productive society, yes. It just means everyone is doing the right thing." "I didn't think you were capable of laughter." "That's because that was the first time you were funny." "C'mon, you know that's a lie." "Get back to work, Roylat." [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]]

"Work isn't supposed to be fun." "But shouldn't people have jobs that they like?" "Some can if they're lucky." "You've been having some fun tonight, though. Do you like your job?" "There's no need to concern myself with that question. Liking my job isn't nearly as important as being good at it." "Just say yes or no. You'd know if you like your-" "Roylat, I'd like to remind you that you're here to destroy dreams, not indulge in them. You're getting dangerously close to crossing that line. Now get back to work." [[Choose a door->Dream Choice]]