Kidnapped

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Monsters are made, and they are born. First by the world, and second by the womb. Most will never see themselves turn into one. They are blind to their folly. You are blind to the world, and born by the womb. We are all monsters of circumstance. Usually, nobody gets to decide anything in their lives. Today, you get to decide something that will impact nothing. Luckily, you also don't understand the concept of something, or nothing. You are only three years old and you have just become conscious of this fact. [[I was a boy.|Intro][$sex to "boy"]] [[I was a girl.|Intro][$sex to "girl"]] <<set $storyprogress1 = 0>> /* Only use this variable when entering rooms at the start to track story progression for when the men arrive in the house */

Strange hands wrap around your tiny body, bringing you to the floor inside the white castle on wheels. The sensation of being lifted in the air is a familiar one. The hands don't hold you as gently as your parents, but the sight of candy keeps panic at bay. You almost miss another man at the front of the castle, holding a wheel. In the middle of the black leather seat, a rainbow of cheap, chalk-like candy, safely wrapped for consumption. The white castle gates shut as you grab the candy. Clumsily, you twist yourself, back to the seat. As you struggle to remove this crunchy, terrible tasting transparent shell hiding the candy, the man presses a cloth to your face. Discomfort and panic are your only means of survival, triggering a crying response. Giants usually come to save you but this time they have come to take you. The scent of a thousand roses, sweet innocence, fills your nostrils. The crunchy shell of the candy scratches at your face. A hand presses hard into your mouth. Sleep. A kind of sleep where no dreams exist. A kind of sleep you cannot remember. No lullabies. No bedtime stories. No gentle swinging in the air. Lost. [[Wonderland]]

Your face awakes to the feeling of leather. A TV is on in front of you, a newsman discussing the weather. Sunny, with a chance of rain in the evening. You lift up your little head, sitting in a strange place. This is not your home. <<if $sex is "boy">> First, you ask, "Dad?" No response. Second, you yell, "Dad!?" Daddy isn't here. <<else>> First, you ask, "Mommy?" No response. Second, you yell, "Mommy!?" Mommy isn't here. Barbie is still with you though. She tells you, "Let's go explore!" <</if>> Lying on your belly, you scramble off the couch feet first, sliding down the leather. You're in the living room. Curiousity combines with caution. The perfect mixture for a child in danger. You could stay and look around or begin exploring the rest of this strange place. Something tells you, in time, your captors will return. I suggest you escape before then. [[Living room]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]]

<<if $storyprogress1 >= 4>> [[Listen to breaking news]] <<else>> A rubbery leather couch sits behind you. A coffee table in front of it, with a newspaper, and a <<if $mugbroken == true>>broken<</if>> mug. A man in the box is talking about lotto numbers. There's a bookshelf holding books the size of your head. The front door teases you with the idea of escape. If only you could reach the handle. [[Look at the newspaper]] [[Look at the mug]] [[Listen to the man in the box]] [[Look at the bookshelf]] [[Look at the front door]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]] <</if>> <<if $lr == true>> <<else>> <<set $storyprogress1 += 1>> <<set $lr = true>> <</if>>

<<if $storyprogress1 >= 4>> [[Listen to breaking news]] <<else>> The kitchen floor is a cold, white tile. The ceiling and walls a pale white paint. Wooden counters and cabinets line the walls. A fridge and stove nestled at each end of the counters. The walls are barren, a not a photo of a family to be found in the entire room. Your parents told you the kitchen is a dangerous place. A table with three chairs is lined up against a wall. On top of the table is a napkin holder, a bottle of glue, and maybe other things. You're too short to get a good look up there. There's a back door to the yard. A means of a escape. If only you could reach the handle. [[Open the cabinet under the sink]] [[Pull out a chair]] [[Open the fridge]] <<if $chairback == true>> [[Backdoor->Fiddle with the numbers]] <</if>> [[Living room]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]] <</if>> <<if $ki == true>> <<else>> <<set $storyprogress1 += 1>> <<set $ki = true>> <</if>>

Standing at the precipice of suspense, a room to the left, and a room fo the right. Above you, a ceiling string dangles, taunting your little mind. "Pull, pull," it says. [[Room on the left]] [[Room on the right]] <<if $ladder == true>> [[Climb ladder]] <<else>> [[Dangling ceiling string]] <</if>> [[Downstairs]] <<set $ds == false>>

This door holds a great force behind it, you can feel it. Call it child-like intuition. Anxiety swells in your chest. That little heart of yours, unknown to you, but very much felt. There's an intricate set of chains and handles on the door. You're not so sure what it all does. You just know you cannot open it, despite all your innocent strength. Don't worry, you'll be behind it soon enough. [[Living room]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]]

<<if $storyprogress1 >= 4>> [[Listen to breaking news]] <<else>> While most of this house has bare to the bone, this room seems most familiar to you. A bed for someone of your size rests in the corner. An end table next to it, The Hulk flexing on it. A little button on the base of the action figure calls to you. A book shelf with all the classics. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And last but not that, The Cat in the Hat. The room has a few decorations. A rug, blue, with a race car on it, going vroom. The ceiling covered in glow in the dark stars, keeping the nightmares away. <<if $hulk == 7>> <<else>> [[Pick up The Hulk]] <</if>> [[Read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] [[Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar]] [[Read The Cat in the Hat]] [[Upstairs]] <</if>> <<if $rl == true>> <<else>> <<set $storyprogress1 += 1>> <<set $rl == true>> <</if>>

This room has a bed, a desk, a chair. It is bare of anything else. Someone survives here. <<if $storyprogress1 >= 4>> [[Listen to breaking news]] <<else>> [[Drag chair to ceiling string]] [[Upstairs]] [[Room on the left]] <</if>> <<if $rr == true>> <<else>> <<set $storyprogress1 += 1>> <<set $rr == true>> <</if>>

[[Living room]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]] <<set $ds == true>>

Far above your tiny head, a lone string hangs from the ceiling. It teases your tiny mind, "Pull me, pull me," it says. It is far out of your reach. [[Upstairs]]

Who am I? I am your circumstance. I will follow you from womb to tomb. I will be the whisper in your mind, the intuition that you see, and I will be the only friend you can trust. <<if $sex is "boy">> Your father cheers you on, "Get him, son!" The boy in front of you is some stranger, someone's little angel. The game of tag is a game of prey and predator. The most ancient of animalistic training games for survival. Your earliest memories are beginning to form. The scent of fresh cut grass. The sound of wind howling in your ear as you run, jump, all around the dirt, and sand. Every inch of this world is new to you. Every hole, a door to wonderland. The boy evades you effortlessly but you are too naive to recognize futility. You believe in the strength of will. Your body eventually gives out, frustrating your ever willing mind. You turn to where your father sat. The wooden bench, with two knotches of wood missing on the right side. Green stuff grows on the metal frame below. Every detail of survival remembered carefully. Yet, all for nought. Confused, you circle the playground. The twisting slide of excitement, swinging seats of thrills. All the children screaming pure joy, now background noise, to the pulse of anxiety. Thump. Thump. "Hey little guy, would you like some candy?" You twist your head in a snap, only at the sound of sugar. "Yeah," you say, the only word you need. "Well come on, I've got all kinds of candy in my van." The strange towering creature points to a white castle on wheels. Colorful designs, like your cartoon shows, are painted across the frame. The lure of sweet fun is too tempting to say no. No child can ever really say no. <<elseif $sex is "girl">> "Barbie doesn't do that," the older sister says. The words you want to say are trapped inside you, frustrated. You want to use your imagination. You want to play your way. You want to hit the older girl. Smack. Startled by your swipe, tears quickly get turned on. "Mom!" she yells, running off to tattle on you. Finally, free from all restriction, you imagine barbie sailing the seven seas. Treasures to be found, pirates to kiss, and other meaningless nothing, that to a child, is everything. The sun peeks out from the shade of the tree leaves above, piercing your young eyes, and blinds you. This world is a strange one. Some things hurt you, some things love you. It's all so confusing. Getting back to the important things in life, you smash plastic dolls together, making all manner of odd noises. In your head, these dolls are alive. They sing, they cry, and sometimes you make them die. Every ruler of humankind shares in your fantasy. "Hey little girl, could I join your tea party?" Your twist your head in a snap, only at the sound of a tea party. Every little girls' weakness. A man much older than you joins you on the blanket. He giggles and laughs at your shared smashing of dolls. Even Mommy never shows this much enthusiasm. "You know what every tea party needs?" You shake your head. "Candy!" he yells, excitedly. Candy! Yes! Why didn't you think of that? "Do you have any?" he asks. Again, you shake your head. "Well," he jumps to his feet, "let's go get some from my van!" offering you his hand, the other pointing to a white castle on wheels. It's covered in color, just like your cartoons. The lure of sweet fun is too tempting to say no. No child can ever really say no. You make sure to take your Barbie doll with you. Sharing is caring, you remember that. Before getting to the van, you turn your head. Your mother is with your sister, at the empty blanket. You hear the faint whispers of screams far away. <<set $barbiedoll = true>> <</if>> Gently, he takes your hand, to candyland. Off we go, with the candyman! [[Candyman]] <<set $hulk = 0>>

<<if $tvoff == true>> A man starts talking in the house. Pangs of anxiety fill your chest for a moment. They fade once you realize it's the talking man in the box. The remote must be on the fritz. In the living room, you listen to the man. <<else>> Whatever you were doing is interrupted by the man talking in the box, in the living room. You listen to the man. <</if>> His words call to your attention. "In breaking news, young <<if $sex is "boy">>Matthew<<else>>Emily<</if>> of the McClement family was last seen playing at Ridgefeld Park. <<if $sex is "boy">>His father<<else>>Her mother<</if>> gave us this interview in the past hour, concerning the event. <<if $sex is "boy">> "One minute, your son is playing tag with some other kid, and the next, he's gone." Your father, shaking his head dismissively, "It could've been that other boy...Please, give me my son back." <<else>> Your sister stands next to your mother. A look of sullen fear across her face. Your mother's lips move, "I don't know what monster just takes my little angel. Alex turned her back for one second and this freak takes her away. If they find..." she chokes on her words, "When they find him, I hope he hangs." Alex cries into your mother's shoulder. A wonderful scene for the camera. <</if>> A new sound steals your ears. The front door knob squeeks, opening just as suddenly. A man you don't recognize enters. In his arms, a little boy around your age. Shutting the door as quickly as it was opened, his vision meets yours. "Shit." He places the other child onto the floor and makes his way to you. Like a deer in headlights, you stand there, until you're in the air, in the bear trap. <<if $hulk == 7>> The Hulk falls into the sound of a loud bang on the wooden floor. The little minion picks up his toy that you stole.<</if>> The man marches with you to the closed door. One arm tight around you, that you dare not squirm. The other unlatches the chains and locks. His little minion watches. The door opens, pitch black, stairs into the abyss. A flick of a switch and the grey prison reveals itself. You begin sinking down into this place, humid with fear. Your feet hit the stone floor gently, but quickly, without love. "Stay here, and don't make a sound," The man commands, as he marches back upstairs at a speed matching your heart. The door shuts, jiggling chains locking it from the other side. There is only one thing for a helpess child to do. Cry, where the adults can hear you. [[Climb the stairs]]

Big, inked gibberish at the top, little inked gibberish at the bottom. You've seen these symbols before, in the books your parents read to you before sleepy time. The words "Father" and "Mother" are understood by you. There's pictures of a building on fire, fire fighters unleashing a torrent of salvation upon it. There's a man and woman in the next picture, crying. "Thomas was only three years old," written in the final block of gibberish. You're name isn't Thomas, they can't be talking about you. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, sweetly, "I hope Thomas is okay."<</if>> [[Turn the page]] [[Look at the mug]] [[Listen to the man in the box]] [[Look at the bookshelf]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]]

<<if $mugbroken == true>> A broken mug. <<else>> The mug has a white outer border. A blue square design wraps around the mug. Circling the entire mug, in the bold white letters, "Best Dad Ever!" It's empty. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, "Our dad would never have this mug."<</if>> This isn't your dad's mug. <</if>> <<if $mugbroken == true>> [[Try to put it back together]] <<else>> [[Pick up the mug]] <</if>> [[Look at the newspaper]] [[Listen to the man in the box]] [[Look at the bookshelf]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]]

"Today we have sunny skies and rising temperatures. As we move into that summer fun be sure to wear sunscreen and stay hydrated!" [[Try to change the channel]] [Look at the newspaper]] [[Look at the mug]] [[Look at the bookshelf]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]]

Spider webs and dusty tomes lined up to the ceiling. Each volume a mess of words you don't yet understand followed by a number. The numbers go from one to fifty but you can't count that high yet. You attempt to pry a book from the shelf. Your brow furrows in frustration as you realize just how heavy these books are! You won't get anywhere with this. Not yet. Not now. Maybe when you're older. [[Look at the newspaper]] [[Look at the mug]] [[Listen to the man in the box]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]]

Just more gibberish and pictures. A picture of a main in a suit, standing at a table, is yelling into a black sphere. He looks angry and scary. "President," another word you recognize, is written in big letters at the top. <<if $sex is "boy>>Daddy says the president is smart.<<else>>Mommy says the president is stupid. <</if>> You don't get it. Why do adults like to look at newspapers? [[Listen to the man in the box]] [[Look at the mug]] [[Look at the bookshelf]] [[Kitchen]] [[Closed Door]]

The remote lays innocently on the coffee table. You've never been allowed to touch it until now. You're hands tingle at the excitement of breaking the rules. [[Press the red button]] [[Press random numbers]]

With a sudden electric pop, the TV turns off. [[Press the red button->turn on]] [[Press random numbers]] <<set $tvoff = true>>

<<if $tvoff == true>> The blank screen doesn't respond to your number crunching. <<else>> A woman standing at a podium appears on the screen. A crowd of people shout at her. The room is in complete uproar for a few moments, then quiets as she places her mouth to the microphone. "I'm going to say twelve, seventy-five." "Twelve hundred sevently-five dollars." "And I say the actual retail pri-" You dial in more random numbers. A rotund man wearing a suit reads from a small card. "Whose line is it anyway? Different countries." The show cuts to a tall skinny man. "Ching a nai a ching a, ching a ling ding don." Crowd laughter fills the room, then quiets after a buzzer sounds. The tall skinny man leaves from view. A black man taking his place. "Bzzt, chop a la malay nina wa, oola sin malay." Your fingers randomly find you back at the news station. <</if>> [[put the remote down->Living room]] [[Press the red button]]

An electronic click, satisfying to your ear, as the screen shows the words "Video 3." Then the man in the box appears, talking about the same things, over, and over. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, "Let's watch cartoons!"<</if>> [[Press the red button]] [[Press random numbers]] [[put down the remote->Living room]] <<set $tvoff = false>>

<<if $mugfixed == true>> Carefully this time, you pick up the once shattered mug. With all the tape on it, only the words "Be, eve" can be read. <<else>> Being a clumsy creature, you drop the mug, and it shatters in a crash of sharp ceramic pieces. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie comforts you, "It's okay, we can fix it, good as new!.<</if>> <<set $mugbroken = true>> <</if>> [[Living room]]

<<if $tape == true>>\ With tape and scissors in hand you "fix" the mug. You hope whoever's Dad owns it won't be too mad at you.<<set $mugfixed = true>> <<set $mugbroken = false>> <<elseif $cuthand == true>>\ Thankfully, you have enough of a memory not to cut your hands twice. You'll need something sticky to put the mug back together. <<else>>\ The few pieces you manage to hold together at once just won't stick. You cut your hand on one of the pieces, a tiny trail of blood flows out from your pinky finger. The pain isn't enough for you to break down in a crying fit, at least. <<set $cuthand = true>>\ <</if>>\

In the dark cabinet caves, colorful potions line the walls. Packets of candy in boxes you've never tasted before. Nobody is around to stop you. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, "I bet they taste sweet!"<</if>> [[Eat the candy and drink the potions]] [[Close the cabinet->Kitchen]]

The chair wobbles in your tiny hands. Could it really support your tiny, fragile legs? Where do you bring your improvised step stool? <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, "Be careful!"<</if>> <<if $chairfront == true>> <<else>> [[Bring to front door]] <</if>> <<if $chairback == true>> <<else>> [[Bring to back door]] <</if>> <<if $hungry == true>> [[Bring to the fridge]] <</if>> <<if $tape == true>> <<else>> [[Climb up to the table]] <</if>> [[Put the chair back->Kitchen]]

<<if $hungry == true>> Emptiness resides in your stomach. Best to think of a way up if you want to fill it. <<else>> The tall container full of forbidden snacks! Your stomach growls at the thought of ice cream. Unfortunately, you're far too short to reach those handles. Perhaps one day when you're taller. Or one moment, when you use some creativity. <<set $hungry == true>> <</if>> [[Kitchen]]

Draggin the chair from the kitchen to the living creates a great deal of noise. Enough to know that you are truly alone in the house. The chair gets stuck over the little metal bump connecting the tile floor to the carpet. [[Force it]] [[Bring the chair back to the kitchen->Pull out a chair]]

Clever <<if $sex is "boy">>boy.<<else>>girl.<</if>>, No bumps to get in your way, this time. Rising to the knob, a red thingy wrapped around it, with six numbers in the middle of it. "173926." The knob doesn't twist or turn. [[Fiddle with the numbers]] [[Kitchen]] <<set $chairback = true>>

Clever <<if $sex is "boy">>lad<<else>>girl.<</if>> The table has napkins in a hold and some sticky tape. The strong kind, not for your little school projects. A pair of scissors lies next to the tape. [[Take the sticky tape and scissors]] [[Put the chair back->Kitchen]]

You pull and pull to no avail. At least, until the chair topples backwards onto you. A wooden pole of the chair smacks you in the forehead. Scrambling out from beneath the chair, you rub your head. There's a tiny bump forming in the middle of your forehead. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, "Mommy isn't here to kiss it." Barbie's plastic mouth taps the bump with a pang of pain. "There, all better!"<</if>> In good news, there's a few more chairs to try some childish plan on. <<set $foreheadbump = true>> <<set $chairfront = true>>

Carefully climbing the bundle of sticks, you wrap your tiny handle around the cold handle. It takes some effort, but the door opens, and the bright light fills the dingy room. All your hopes and dreams light up in this moment. Ice cream, sugary soda, all ripe for the taking. As quickly as they came, so too did they vanish. The fridge is empty. Your young stomach howls. [[Return the chair->Kitchen]]

The taste is bitter, sour, and sweetly sickening. Each swallow of a color and crunch of a powdered tablet are met with a rising dizziness. Soon, sooner than you could possibly imagine, the world goes black. You take a nap. You're no longer kidnapped. [[Return to the moment before->Kitchen]]

The front door, entrance to wonderland. The window inside the door is boarded up, along with the rest of the house. The inside is lit only from the table lamps on end tables around the room. There's two knobs protruding from the door. You're too short to reach either of them. <<if $chairfront == true>> The fallen chair between the kitchen and living room taunts you with freedom. You're too weak and tiny to pick it back up. Hopefully, you're not too stupid too. <</if>> [[Living room]]

You pluck the tape and scissors from the table. Ready to do all manner of good deeds with naughty tools. [[Kitchen]] <<set $tape = true>>

A green, burly toy, nearly the size of your head! A button at the base, red, calls to you. <<if $sex is "girl">>Barbie says, "What a man, can I kiss him?"<</if>> <<if $sex is "girl">>[[Let Barbie kiss The Hulk]]<</if>> [[Press the red button->Hulk]]

Fine illustrations line the cover and pages you finger. A rabbit in a suit, an old man in a hat. A cat, grinning like a clown. Such madness to be found in those childish eyes of yours. The words are nonsense to you, of that you know is true. Puzzled, you place the book back upon the shelf. Perhaps what you saw was all a dream. [[Pick up The Hulk]] [[Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar]] [[Read The Cat in the Hat]] [[Upstairs]]

The book is missing pieces. Eaten holes like swiss cheese. You question how your <<if $sex is "boy">>father<<else>>mother<</if>> could even read it to you. The colorful pictures catch your eye, unsurprisingly. You could almost taste them, so you do. Licked ink doesn't taste as good as you might have thought. Children are such unusual creatures. Born, then transformed. <<if $hulk == 7>> <<else>> [[Pick up The Hulk]] <</if>> [[Read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] [[Read The Cat in the Hat]] [[Upstairs]]

You know you can't read and that you are in danger, still no less curious than that of a stranger. Cats with hats are such a delight, that you forget you're filled with fright. You should not be here, no you should not. You should be at home, underneath a cot. <<if $sex is "boy">> Father does wish for you to be home, he cannot scream at himself alone. <<else>> Mother dear, filled you with fear. Her only outlet, you, did disappear. <</if>> While the book did not help, at least it kept you from letting out a yelp. <<if $hulk == 7>> <<else>> [[Pick up The Hulk]] <</if>> [[Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar]] [[Read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] [[Upstairs]]

With a smooch, Barbie kisses her newfound love. The Hulk remains unammused. [[Put down The Hulk->Room on the left]] [[Press the red button->Hulk]]

<<if $hulk == 0>> Hulk shouts, "Hulk smash!" <<elseif $hulk == 1>> Hulk shouts, "I'm always angry!" <<elseif $hulk == 2>> Hulk shouts, "Puny God!" <<elseif $hulk == 3>> Hulk says, gently, "Everything's going to be alright now." <<elseif $hulk == 4>> Hulk shouts, "No Banner, only Hulk!" <<elseif $hulk == 5>> Hulk shouts, "You're Banner's Friend!" <<elseif $hulk == 6>> Hulk shouts, "Big Monster?!" <</if>> <<if $hulk ==6>> <<set $hulk = 0>> <<else>> <<set $hulk += 1>> <</if>> [[Press the red button again->Hulk]] [[Take Hulk with you]] [[Put down The Hulk ->Room on the left]]

<<set $hulk = 0>> [[Hulk]]

<<if $sex is "boy">> You could use a friend like The Hulk. <<else>> You could use a man like The Hulk. Barbie says, "My hero, Hulk!" <</if>> <<set $hulk = 7>> [[Room on the left]]

<<if $foreheadbump is true>> Unlike before, the bump in the floor gives you no trouble. Still, your head lets out a tinge of pain as a reminder. <</if>> You drag the chair out beneath the string. Climbing the chair, you're tiny hand can just barely tug at the teasing tassle. It doesn't take much force to let a sudden ladder fall on top of you. You fall on your butt, which now has a sore bump. [[Climb ladder]] [[Room on the left]] [[Room on the right]] [[Downstairs]] <<set $ladder = true>> <<set $buttbump = true>>

Curious hands grab onto each rung of the ladder. Little feet following in their steps. The spice of surprise tingling in that tiny skull, which could break at any moment. The attic is finished, child-safe. There's a circular window, just below the lip of the ceiling. You could reach it, if you weren't three years old. Even then, it's quite a drop. One that legs could snap on. The scent of musty dust causes you to sneeze. A place of old memories and frightful imagination. [[Look inside cardboard boxes]] [[Look at the window]] [[Look into the standing mirror]]

Memories in mold are found inside the boxes. The roof above has a leak. Photos of a man, a woman, both smiling. The woman's belly is swollen. In only a few years, memories begin to rot. Numbers in the bottom corner of the photo are circled in red ink, 12/20/31. [[Look at the window]] [[Look into the standing mirror]] [[Upstairs]]

High above, the light of heaven shines. Where birds fly, children lie. Except for you. You might very well die. [[Look inside cardboard boxes]] [[Look into the standing mirror]] [[Climb down the ladder->Upstairs]] <<set $window = true>>

<<if $sex is "boy">> You recognize the boy in the mirror. It is you, Matthew. He's wearing a blue shirt, the letters "B R A V E" applied to it, with an exclaimation point at the end. His eyes, brown, darker than usual in the dim light. His hair, brown. Not a particularly unique combination. A little button nose, dried boogers resting beneath the nostril. He plucks the green delicacy, eagerly placing it on his tongue. Tasty. You lift your hand and say hello to the boy. Then, you pose like a muscle man, then superman. You imagine yourself more important than you are. You laugh. <<else>> "Hello, Emily," the girl in the mirror says. Her brown locks of hair are dishelved, and frayed. Her pink shirt has the letters "P R I N C E S S" applies to it. Her brown eyes, on the brink of tears. She wipes her hand across her eyes and the wetness is dry for now. You wave to the little girl. Then, Barbie waves at her. Barbie asks if the little girl is okay. Little eyes watch the mirror for an answer that remains unseen. <</if>> <<if $foreheadbump == true>> A large bump, now starting to blacken, sits at the center of your forehead. You tap it gently, a dull, aching pain lingers past the touch. <</if>> <<if $cuthand == true>> Your hand has a small cut on it. Smears of dried blood dot around your arm. <</if>> [[Look at the window]] [[Look inside cardboard boxes]] [[Upstairs]]

Little scrapes and scratches mark your legs as you scramble the unfinished stairs. The door is locked and you hear two men talking. "You left <<if $sex is "boy">>him<<else>>her<</if>> alone!? What were you thinking?" "I was thinking, we can't order delivery with a kid on wanted posters in plain sight. I bought groceries." "So lock <<if $sex is "boy">>him<<else>>her<</if>> in the basement!" The front door erupts into a series of bangs. The men hush their voices. "It's the police. Don't open the door." "LIPD, we're just here to ask about a missing <<if $sex is "boy">>boy<<else>>girl<</if>>. Anyone home?" "They already heard you yelling, I'm opening the door." A few steps later, the front door opens. "Hello sir, may I come in?" A little boy says, "Hello officer! Can I see your badge!?" "Hush Danny, let the adults talk." The basement is close to the front door. Now, now is your chance! Cry! Cry! [[Cry]]

<<if $storyprogress1 >= 4>> [[Listen to breaking news]] <<else>> The bathroom door creeks as it makes way for you. [[Living room]] [[Kitchen]] [[Upstairs]] [[Closed Door]] <</if>> <<if $br == true>> <<else>> <<set $storyprogress1 += 1>> <<set $br = true>> <</if>>

First, it comes with sniffles, then a few lone tears. Shortly after, the huffing, puffing, and whining. "I'm sorry officer, Dan and I, we're in the middle of cleaning, can't you just tell me what this about here?" Louder! Cry louder! "We're looking for a little <<if $sex is "boy">>boy<<else>>girl<</if>>. Brown hair, brown eyes, three years old. They were just kidnapped from a park nearby an hour or so ago. We're asking the neighborhood if anyone saw anything." You let out the shrillest screams. Still, they are muffled between layers of drywall. "Sorry, that's my other little one, they're a sore loser when it comes to video games. Hey Tom, can you go calm him down for me?" Footsteps thump closer to the prison door in front of you. "Sorry officer, I haven't seen anything. And as you can tell, I can barely hear anymore between my own little angel." The door before you opens and you are locked in a vice again. Cloth suffocating your lungs. The scent of roses tickle your nose. "Well, if see anything, give us a call." The door shuts and all goes black. Dreams die. In a moment you cannot feel, you awake again. [[Awake]]

Your eyes open to ripped fluff from the mattress you lie on. You're still in the dungeon, still locked away from the world you once knew. In a chair, one of the men who stole your life from you. The one with the little minion, whose footsteps you hear above you. <<if $mugbroken == true>> <<if $mugfixed == true>> The man holds the mug you fixed, fiddling with it, testing your repair job. "Quite a smart little <<if $sex is "boy">>guy<<else>>girl<</if>>, aren't you?" <<else>> Pieces of the shattered mug you broke lie on the floor between you and the man. His face squirms with annoyance. <</if>> <</if>> <<if $foreheadbump == true>> "Here," the man says, handing you an ice pack. Taking it, he smiles, and mimes placing the pack on his forehead with his hand. You giggle and follow his lead. The cold eases the thumping back in the front of your skull. <</if>> <<if $scratch == true>> The man places a large band-aid on a patch of skin, torn apart by the scuffle outside. The wound is only on the surface. "That lock must be broken." Adults do love to underestimate children. <</if>> <<if $buttbump == true>> Now a little more aware, you shift, and rub your bum. Remembering the pain of your fall from the chair. "You sure know how to get around. You're lucky you fell on your butt." <</if>> He sighs, "Look kid, your mommy or daddy just need to give us some money, and we can all put this behind us." He stands, "What do you want for dinner?" [[McDonalds->Dinner]] [[Burger King->Dinner]] [[Wendy's->Dinner]]

Fed and put to bed. You sleep on a filthy mattress, half torn to shreds. A dripping drop sound pops once every five minutes, enough to keep you aware of this place, and not enough to annoy you. Drip. Years pass like days in this place. Time always seems at a standstill when it moves so fast. You are only six years old and you have just become conscious of this fact. The sound of steps, lighter than the others, rouses you awake. "Hey." [[Rise and shine]]

Six numbers and you could be free. <<numberbox "$lock" 173926>> [[Enter the code]] [[Kitchen]]

<<if $lock == 122031>> The box opens, revealing a key. You've seen your <<if $sex is "boy">>father<<else>>mother<</if>> use this before. [[Open the door]] <<else>> The numbers do nothing. [[Fiddle with the numbers]] <</if>>

The scent of fresh air, still new to you. Waddling down the steps, you find yourself in a backyard of brown grass. Surrounding you is rotten fencing, with holes small enough to fit through. A sound of terror fills your ear, the front door is opening. A frozen moment passes. Hurried footsteps of larger beings than you stomp through the house, sending earthquakes in your feet. You run, run, to a jagged hole in the fence. "Shit." You snap your head back, body partway in the wood. In your eyes, a strange man, running to you. Planks pluck away at your fresh skin, as you struggle to fit through the edges. Then, a tug. A brutish tug, which rips away flesh scraping against the wood. "Gotcha." <<if $hulk == 7>> The Hulk falls into the dirty below. A little minion, older than you, picks up his toy that you stole.<</if>> You're in the air, in the bear trap. The man marching you back into the house. One arm tight around you, that you dare not squirm. The other unlatches the chains and locks of the dungeon door. The TV is on and hear a familiar voice. "In breaking news, young <<if $sex is "boy">>Matthew<<else>>Emily<</if>> of the McClement family was last seen playing at Ridgefeld Park. <<if $sex is "boy">>His father<<else>>Her mother<</if>> gave us this interview in the past hour, concerning the event. <<if $sex is "boy">> "One minute, your son is playing tag with some other kid, and the next, he's gone." Your father, shaking his head dismissively, "It could've been that other boy...Please, give me my son back." <<else>> Your sister stands next to your mother. A look of sullen fear across her face. Your mother's lips move, "I don't know what monster just takes my little angel. Alex turned her back for one second and this freak takes her away. If they find..." she chokes on her words, "When they find him, I hope he hangs." Alex cries into your mother's shoulder. A wonderful scene for the camera. <</if>> The door opens, pitch black, stairs into the abyss. A flick of a switch and the grey prison reveals itself. You begin sinking down into this place, humid with fear. Your feet hit the stone floor gently, but quickly, without love. "Stay here, and don't make a sound," The man commands, as he marches back upstairs at a speed matching your heart. The door shuts, jiggling chains locking it from the other side. There is only one thing for a helpess child to do. Cry, where the adults can hear you. [[Climb the stairs]] <<set $scratch = true>>

The little minion, now nine, has decided to pay you a visit. He is, after all, the only peer you know. Your kidnappers feed you, clothe you, and you've learned to keep quiet. <<if $sex is "boy">>\ Unfortunately, Barbie is worse for wear. She's missing a leg. "Stop looking at it," Barbie yells. <</if>> <<if $hulk == 7>> "I brought you this, you can have him, if you want." The boy holds out The Hulk. You're still young enough to enjoy toys, aren't you? <<if $sex is "boy">>\ <<else>>\ Barbie begs you, "Please, I could use a new friend!" <</if>>\ <label><<checkbox "$hulk" false true>> Take The Hulk</label> <</if>>\ The boy makes his way to your bed, and he seats himself on the opposite end. In his lap are two games you've played before. The little minion stole them from school. A game you've never played before. Guess Who, the game of elimination. Scrabble, the game of gab. "Did you wanna play?" [[Play Guess Who]] [[Play Scrabble]] [[No]]

Four rows of six funny faces. Each a distinct character. Some creep you out, some make you smile, and others are just plain ugly. Your character is a red haired white man. His cheeks are rosy, his smile upside down. His eyes are blue and his name is Robert. /* The minion will ask specific questions dependin g on the variable game. You can determine if the player is cheating or not by that. Use variables in links to track whether they are cheating or not */ [[Play->Play1]]

The game is arranged and your words provided. Soon you will know that they were already decided. DMSDOMA <<textbox "$scrabble" "" autofocus>> <<link [[Check Your Word|Check Your Word]]>><<set $scrabble to $scrabble.toLowerCase()>><</link>> [[Give up]]

The only word in the world that can end anything. The boy slams the games in his lap. "You're no fun!" He stammers, rushing his way back upstairs. The door slammed as quickly as it opened. Latches locked. Now, with the peace and quiet, you can enjoy your only friend. The man in the box. He tells you all about the world you never knew. [[Turn on the TV->TV]] <<set $nogame = true>>

A smile stretches across the boy's face. He's ready to play. "Is your character a boy or a girl?" Your character is a red haired white man. His cheeks are rosy, his smile upside down. His eyes are blue and his name is Robert. You could always not play fair. Just like your kidnappers. Maybe one day, you could do even worse. [[Boy]] [[Girl|Boy][$lie == true]]

"Your turn," the boy says. You don't yet have much to go on. [[Ask if boy or girl]] [[Ask if they have brown hair]] [[Ask if they are old]] [[Ask about freckles]]

"You little copycat," the boy heckles at you. "My character is a boy." It could have been <<if $sex is "boy">>that other boy sitting here right now.<<else>>your sister sitting here right now.<</if>> [[Continue]]

"My character has brown hair." You eliminate about a third of the cast. You remember the brown hair of your <<if $sex is "boy">>father.<<else>>mother.<</if>> [[Continue]]

"My character is old." You eliminate half of the cast with an obvious approach. You wonder how old your <<if $sex is "boy">>father<<else>>mother<</if>> is now. [[Continue]]

"My character does not have freckles." You eliminate a lot of characters in one not so obvious question. You recall the <<if $sex is "boy">>freckle your father had, just under his left eye.<<else>>freckles your mother had across her entire face.<</if>> You'd recognize them anywhere and remember <<if $sex is "boy">>him<<else>>her<</if>> forever. Despite how short of a time you had together. Childhood memories are forever. [[Continue]]

The boy's face drops with your question. A sullen, sour look. He says to the floor, "I don't know." Then, he perks up. "Let's see what's on the TV. You still like cartoons, right?" The boy doesn't wait for your response. A flick of a switch, a static line flickering on the screen, and the same man in the box is saying something. Something you never should have heard. [[TV]]

"You're so quiet," the boy says. He gets up for a moment and twists the nob on your TV. They figured with enough distraction, they could stop the crying. They were right. All the goings on in the world can make you forget about yours. "In today's weather..." the news channel rambles on. The boy, now satisfied with the background noise, continues on. <<if $sex is "boy">> [[Ask where your daddy is->I Don't know]] <<else>>\ [[Ask where your mommy is->I Don't know]] <</if>>

"<<if $sex is "boy">>His son<<else>>Her daughter<</if>> was kidnapped three years ago. Kidnappers asked for a ransom of ten thousand dollars. The single <<if $sex is "boy">>father<<else>>mother<</if>>, too poor, too distraught with the loss of their child, committed suicide last month. Their body was found by a neighor who noticed a smell from the next door apartment. A picture of your parent widens your eye. <<if $nogame is true>> [[Grow up]] <<else>> You ask the boy what a "suicide" is. He's older, wiser, more knowing of the way of the world. He chokes on feelings for a moment, trying to find words to explain. "It means they go to sleep, for a long time." You ask the boy if you can see your <<if $sex is "boy">>father<<else>>mother<</if>> after they wake up. Failing to understand the importance of the word "ransom" or "kidnapped." "No," The boy says. "You can never see them. My father will get taken away if you do." Confusion, rage, at a world you can't understand. A tired world of slaughter and subjugation. A world of circumstance. The boy packs up the game in a hurry, leaving you, not answering anymore of your questions. "What's a ransom?" "Why?" "Please?" Words have never worked to change the world. Violence. Violence has always been the secret ingredient of any good book. Time passes. Your body grows hair in new places. Your skin pale as silk from the lack of sun. Your belly still full but your heart is empty. Burning with desire of something, anything, to fill the void. It is time to grow up, little one. [[Grow up]] <</if>>

<<if $scrabble is "mom">> <<if $sex is "boy">> You remember the sounds of screaming. Mom left your father before you were three. But the body remembers all manner of trauma. You score seven points. [[Round 2->Play Scrabble 2]] <<else>> Your mother left your father before you were three. You only know her and her stories. They are so distant to you now. You score seven points. [[Round 2->Play Scrabble 2]] <</if>> <<elseif $scrabble is "dad">> You body remembers the slaps and the hugs. The love and the hatred. It is still strange to you that someone you love can hurt you. Everyone does their best. You score five points. [[Round 2->Play Scrabble 2]] <<elseif $scrabble is "sad">> Sad, an emotion you have long since known as your baseline. Understimulated and unloved. You score four points. [[Round 2->Play Scrabble 2]] <<elseif $scrabble is "soma">> A word beyond your years. The boy asks, "What does that word mean?" You're not so sure yourself, being only six years old. The boy, being a stickler of a player, demands you make a different, more age-appropriate word. You would of scored six points. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble]] <<elseif $scrabble is "mod">> Clever, but your character doesn't play video games, and would not know what a "mod" is. Consider this your easter egg. You would of scored six points. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble]] <<elseif $scrabble is "sod">> A poor sod you are. Or maybe you think yourself a farm hand. Either way, no six year old who is kidnapped would think of this word. You would of scored four points. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble]] <<elseif $scrabble is "mad">> In anger or in sanity, you are certainly mad. Your life was stolen from you. Rage has begun flooding your veins as the awareness and age of your situation grows. You score six points. [[Round 2->Play Scrabble 2]] <<else>> That is not a word. [[Try again->Play Scrabble]] [[Give up]] <</if>>

Your little brain can't figure it out. You cross your arms frustrated, the boy in front of you appeases you by giving you a new set of letters. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble 2]] <<set $skip = 1>>

The boy scores the word "Happy," earning fifteen points. A new set of letters has arrived. LKLEDVI <<textbox "$scrabble" "" autofocus>> <<link [[Check Your Word|Check Your Word 2]]>><<set $scrabble to $scrabble.toLowerCase()>><</link>> [[Give up->Give Up 2]]

<<if $scrabble is "live">> Between four concrete walls and dim light is the only way you've known how to live. Sometimes, if you hold your face up to a small crack, you can smell the scent of leaves. You score seven points. [[Continue]] <<elseif $scrabble is "die">> You're still too young or inexperienced to understand what it is to die. Still, you've heard the word on the television. The man in the TV says that people die from all kinds of things. Mostly other people. You scoure four points. [[Continue]] <<elseif $scrabble is "ilk">> A word beyond your years. The boy asks, "What does that word mean?" You're not so sure yourself, being only six years old. The boy, being a stickler of a player, demands you make a different, more age-appropriate word. You would of scored seven points. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble 2]] <<elseif $scrabble is "lie">> A little lie never hurt anybody. A big lie could hurt a lot of bodies. Not the lie itself, that's always harmless. The aftermath of someone enraged or someone caged, well, that could be dangerous. You score three points. [[Continue]] <<elseif $scrabble is "dive">> While this is definitely a word you could spell, I couldn't come up with anything to write about it. You would of scored eight points. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble 2]] <<elseif $scrabble is "kill">> The man in the TV uses this word a lot. You wonder why someone would kill another. You're not yet old enough to understand. Still, a word you see a lot is a word you learn to use. You score eight points. The boy calls you a weirdo. [[Continue]] <<elseif $scrabble is "like">> You consider scoring the word "like." You realize you don't like it. Something else speaks to you. You would of scored eight points. [[Try Again->Play Scrabble 2]] <<else>> That is not a word. [[Try again->Play Scrabble 2]] [[Give up]] <</if>>

<<if $skip == 1>> You know, if you didn't want to play, you could of told the boy. <<else>> The set of letters turns out to be a bit too hard for your tiny mind. The boy shrugs, unsurprised at such a fact. <</if>> [[Continue]]

The world is so much smaller now, so much simpler. I, your circumstance, have grown quieter. You have power now. Power to change your life in ways you couldn't have possibly imagined as a child. You were too weak, pathetic, and innocent. Sweet <<if $sex is "boy">>boy<<else>>girl<</if>>, show me your newfound strength. Show those who have taken your life what it means to die. Or leave. Leave this place and never come back. Either way, I remind you, that you have no home to return to. No family to call your own. Only one you can take away. You can never change what I was to you. You open the prison door. The TV is on. The man on the TV is talking about the weather. Sunny all day Saturday. One of your kidnappers is on the couch. He didn't hear you leave your cell. The boy should be upstairs, in his room. You know their schedules well. Every sound of their footsteps timed to the rhythm of your little life. [[Take the knife from the kitchen]] [[Sneak up on the kidnapper]] [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Head to the attic]] [[Leave the house]]

This time, you have no need for tape or scissors. This time, you need a knife. You take one. [[Sneak up on the kidnapper]] [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Head to the attic]] <<set $knife = true>>

The front door is right there. The knob is the perfect height for you now. You look to your kidnapper, sitting there on the couch. Unaware of his mistake, for now. Unaware of the monster he has made in you. Unaware of his fleeting life. The TV won't mask the sound of this old creaky door. You will have to kill him to leave this way. [[Take the knife from the kitchen]] [[Sneak up on the kidnapper]] [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Head to the attic]] <<if $kkill == true>> [[Leave]] <<else>> <</if>> <<set $door = true>>

You carefully avoid every creak of the floor. Not a sound is made before you are behind the man who took your little body so long ago. His neck is much smaller now. [[Choke him]] <<if $knife ==true>>\ [[Slit his neck]] <</if>>\

You stand before the boys door. <<if $knife == true>>[[Run in and stab him]]<</if>> <<if $gun == true>>[[Open the door and shoot him]]<</if>> [[Attempt to talk to the boy]] [[Head to the attic]] [[Leave the house]]

As you enter the living room

The prison door slams. Breakfast is served. Bacon, burned to a crisp. Eggs, scrambled like the mind. With the last bite, something hard crunches your teeth. Metal. They gave you a metal fork. You hold it to your eyes. You admire its elegant shine. You ding it against the plate, a metal resonance echoes for a second long song. <<if $sex is "boy">> <<else>> "Quick to the door!" Barbie screams with such joy! <</if>> You clamber quietly up the stairs. You've seen so many movies, so many shows. Your entire life has been a fiction. You twist the rose of the door knob, revealing its cold innards. Pressing the fork against the pin. Jiggling, jiggling. The sound of metal releasing screams in your ear. The door opens. The chained latch has been gone for a while. Your kidnappers have gotten complacent, careless. [[Open The Prison Door]]

You shut the door of the prison behind you. <<if $gun == true>> You hide the gun away from this beautiful day. <</if>> Standing the curb, someone on a jog runs past you. "Good morning," they say, passing you by. <<if $dan == true>>\ You ask them which way Memphis street is. Where the glass factory is. Where Dan is. "Friend of Dan, eh? Great guy, swell guy. He should just be getting into work. Man's a machine." They check their watch, "Well, have a good day neighbor!" <</if>>\ <<if $blood == true>> "Ketchup stains, huh?" he asks, pointing at the blood stains on your shirt. "A little vinegar and lemon juice will take that right out." He waves at you, "Or maybe just don't be so messy next time!" he calls, having run further away now.<</if>> Shades hide their eyes. You watch them run to the end of the street, turning right. The neighborhood is quiet. You walk down the same sidewalk. You keep walking. You walk until your legs hurt, which isn't very far. You're not used to freedom. You sit at the curb, <<if $knife == true>>playing with the <<if $blood == true>>wet<</if>> knife,<</if>>thinking about what you want to do next. <<if $dan == true>>\ You think about shattered glass. <</if>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">> <<else>> Barbie says, "Let's go cry." <</if>> [[End]]

Flashes of thrillers and horror movies make their way down to your hands. You grab his neck in your arms and lift him slightly from his seat. Muffled gargles of air escape his mouth. His hands slap and grab at your arms. You don't give him an inch. Slowly, longer than in the movies, his body slows down. He's passed out, his struggle over. You make your way to the other side of the couch, dragging his body onto the floor for an easier time of it. A thump sounds, louder than flesh on wood, a pistol is attached to his hip. Quick or slow. [[Quickly]] [[Slowly]]

<<if $fix == true>> Unhurried footsteps begin clambering down the stairs. "Dad? You called m," the boy spots you, a gun is trained on him. <<else>> You know to lower the safety on the gun before you shoot it. Movies can teach you so much about life. You aim at his head. There's nothing in yours. Pop. One down, two to go. Blood seeps into the wood floor. For a moment, silence. In another moment, footsteps upstairs are heard crashing down the hallway, now down the stairs. By the time the boy arrives, you have your gun pointed at him. He raises his hands, surrendering. <<set $kkill2 = true>> <<set $gun = true>> <</if>> He's about to speak. You can't let him. [[Shoot]]

Lowering yourself, your hands tightly gripping his neck. The air grows tighter and tighter as you tighten, tighten. Now, his breath slows, slower. Every remaining ounce of his life is fading into silence. A moment of doubt passes your mind but it is quickly forgotten. His breath stops, forever. The house is still quiet. You take his pistol as a souvenir. [[Take the knife from the kitchen]] [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Head to the attic]] [[Leave->LTH2]] [[Call Cunt]] [[Call Dan]] <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ [[Call Son]] <<set $kkill = true>> <<set $gun = true>> <<set $fix = true>>

His lips part the moment a bullet hits his eye. He crumples to the floor. You listen. For a whole minute you listen to the sound of nothing. There's nobody else home. The other kidnapper isn't here. You have no clue where he could be. Perhaps the two corpses on the floor knew. You realize the gun was loud. Somebody else could of heard the killing. <<if $fix == true>> [[Leave the house->LTH2]] <<else>> [[Search the kidnapper]] [[Leave the house->LTH2]] <</if>>

The kidnapper has a strange shell in his pocket. You flip it open, revealing rows, colums of numbers. The screen black and green. You're smart. You figure out how it all works with your young mind. A phone without wires. [[Contacts]]

<<if $door == true>> The front door is right there. The knob is the perfect height for you now. You flick the deadbolt quickly. The knob twists and the scent of grass stings your nose. The sun burns your eyes. <<else>> You return to the front door. The scent of grass and the sight of the sun are less surprising to you now. Amazing how quickly the human adapts to their environment. <</if>> [[Leave]]

Thank you for playing Kidnapped! There's still more to discover. There's a lot of contextual differences based on your choices. This was at least a two-month project and easily my most intricate interactive fiction yet (as of August 2025). You can enjoy 99% of my writing for free on Patreon right now. Even if you only join as a free member, I love the support regardless! I release one poem a week and one short story of at least 1,000 words every month. I also am working on interactive fiction of course. https://www.patreon.com/Cleril If you prefer, I sell a book of 10 short stories of mine on Amazon, with more to come: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJNJS5HJ Thanks again!

A list of names is revealed in alphabetical order: Cunt Dan <<if $sex is "boy">>\ Dad <<else>>\ Mom <</if>>\ Son You recognize a name. Dan. You swear you heard that name before. [[Call Cunt]] [[Call Dan]] <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ [[Call Son]] [[Leave->LTH2]]

The phone rings twice. A woman's voice pierces your ear. "I told you to stop calling me! I'll see you and my son in court, dumbass!" She hangs up. <<if $fix == true>>\ <<if $dan == true>> <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $mom is true>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>>\ [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Leave->LTH2]] <<else>>\ <<if $dan == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $mom is true>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>> [[Leave->LTH2]] <</if>>\ <<set $cunt = true>>

An angry man picks up the phone. "Look prick, I told you I'll bring the chinese tonight," Dan snaps. A sigh breathes through the speaker. "Look, we can't keep that kid locked up much longer. We already didn't get the money. I can't keep working double shifts. The cops aren't looking for them anymore. It's been years. What do you say I get you a job at the glass factory on Memphis and you come outside?" Memphis. The man in the TV talks about that street sometimes. "Adam? Hello?" You hang up. <<if $fix == true>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $mom is true>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>>\ [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Leave->LTH2]] <<else>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $mom is true>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>> [[Leave->LTH2]] <</if>>\ [[Head upstairs to the boy]] <<if $knife == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Take the knife from the kitchen]] <</if>>\ <<set $dan = true>>

Calling...Calling... A voice you haven't heard in a lifetime picks up. "Hello my darling, I'm so glad you called. Oh, here, Alex wants to say hi." "Hey little sis! Guess what I got you. A brand new barbie!" "We love you!" They cheer. You hang up. <<if $fix == true>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>> <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>>\ [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Leave->LTH2]] <<else>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>> [[Leave->LTH2]] <</if>>\ <<set $mom = true>>

<<if $fix == true>> The phone rings. You hear footsteps upstairs before the line is received. "Dad? What's up?" You hang up. [[Await his arrival->Quickly]] <<else>> You hear two different rings in each ear. The dead boy is ringing. You hang up. <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>> <<else>> [[Call Dan]] <</if>> <<if $mom is true>> <<else>> <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>> [[Leave->LTH2]] <</if>> <<set $son = true>>

Calling...Calling... A voice you haven't heard in a lifetime picks up. "Hey son, big man of the house now, huh? I tell you boy, I'm proud of you. Your old man is real proud of you." You hang up. You drop the phone and it breaks easily. <<if $fix == true>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>> <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>>\ [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Leave->LTH2]] <<else>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>> [[Leave->LTH2]] <</if>>\ <<set $mom = true>>

<<if $kkill == true>> While one is dead, you hear the boy in his room moving about. Unaware of the killing, yet still aware of sound. You realize the attic would definitely be too noisy with living ears nearby. [[Head to the boy->Head upstairs to the boy]] <<if $knife ==true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Take the knife from the kitchen]] <</if>>\ [[Leave out the front door->LTH2]] <<else>> You pull yourself up the stairs, quietly. You realize the attic would definitely be too noisy with living ears nearby. [[Head to the boy->Head upstairs to the boy]] <<if $knife ==true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Take the knife from the kitchen]] <</if>>\ [[Go back and sneak up on the kidnapper->Sneak up on the kidnapper]] <</if>>

Opening your arms wide, as one would prepare for a hug, you plunge a knife into the mans neck. He immediately lets out a groan of pain. His hands instinctually grab to your arms, failing to grip a few times, before tightly, as if grasping for life, holding onto you. You hold him close so that the struggle is contained. He rocks back and forth as the knife slowly inches through his flesh. Red liquid pools over your arms. Some spurts out onto the floor and table. After some time, his body grows slower, weaker. You release him as he goes limp. His heart continues pumping blood, which falls out through his neck. While is struggle is over, his life will last for a few more minutes. You find a gun on him and take it. You also find a cell phone. You've seen them on the TV, a relatively new device. You easily figure out how to use it. The house is quiet. The front door could be used now. Still, the sounds of a familiar boy can be heard upstairs. [[Leave->LTH2]] [[Head to the attic]] [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Call Cunt]] [[Call Dan]] <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ [[Call Son]] <<set $kkill = true>> <<set $gun = true>> <<set $blood = true>> <<set $fix = true>>

<<if $fix == true>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>> <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $mom is true>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>>\ [[Head upstairs to the boy]] [[Leave->LTH2]] <<else>>\ <<if $cunt == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Cunt]] <</if>>\ <<if $dan == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Dan]] <</if>>\ <<if $mom is true>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">>\ [[Call Dad]] <<else>>\ [[Call Mom]] <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $son == true>>\ <<else>>\ [[Call Son]]\ <</if>> [[Leave->LTH2]] <</if>>\

With a loud bang of the door, the book is stricken with shock. Stunned at the sight and the sound, you easily run to the boy, and find your mark in his neck. His hands hold onto yours, for a moment strong. In another moment, they are weak. He yields his life easily, his expression softening. <<if $kkill == true>> Silence fills the entire house now. [[Leave]] <<else>> "Everything alright up there?" The kidnapper calls from down the stairs. How foolish you are. You stand in silence of your mistake. "Son?" he calls again, footsteps walking up the stairs. Faster now. [[Quickly shut the door and surprise him when he opens it]] [[Wait and talk to him]] <</if>> <<set $kson = true>>

You open the door, aim, and shoot. You miss. The boy is stricken by shock. "What the fuck!?" he shouts. You take aim again and shoot. He doesn't make another sound. Silence fills the entire house now. [[Leave]] <<set $kson = true>>

You open the door to his room, gently, holding a finger to your mouth. The boy is quietly surprised, sitting on his bed. "How did you get out?" he asks. You shake your head, asking him for help. Help to leave this place. You promise him that his father won't be punished. <<if $blood == true>> At least, not more than he already is. The boy looks you up and down. "What did you do to him?" You urge him that you don't want to hurt him too. Rage fills his eyes. He climbs out of bed and begins rushing you. Taking a swing, he misses. "Please!" you shout. "What did you do to my father!?" the boy screams. Nobody but you can hear him. He takes another brazen swing and loses his balance, falling to the floor. You realize what you must do. You quickly place yourself on top of him and pick his head up. Wet tears fill your palm. Your knife finds its way into his neck, as your eyes beging to water. You never wanted this. Never wanted any of this. Such is the circumstance of your life. [[Leave]] <<else>> After all these years, the boy realizes that nobody is looking for you. Your parents, dead, <<if $boy == true>><<else>>your sister moved on a long time ago,<</if>> and the cops have long since given up on one small child. "Okay," he says, leading you to the attic. "Hey Dad," he calls out, "I just need to get something from the attic." His father makes no response, <<if $kkill == true>>unsurprisingly to you.<<else>>the TV too loud to hear<</if>>. He lowers the attic, urging you to climb up first. Upon entering the attic, the boy leads you to a window. <<if $window == true>> The one from so long ago.<</if>> He lowers himself, kneeling, offering you support, though your new, larger body can reach the window easily. You open it. The space is big enough to still fit you easily. "I'm sorry," the boy says, as you clamber over the sill. <<if $nogame == true>><<else>>"I'll miss playing games with you."<</if>> <<if $kkill == true>>You let out a "Sorry," before heading off. By the time he realizes his father is killed, you'll be long gone.<</if>> <</if>> [[Leave->Leave2]]

You shut the door as he clears the stairs. Confused, he braces against the door. "Son, everything alright? Open up." You stay quiet. "I'm coing in," he opens the door before the sentence finishes. Your knife just catches the edge of his throat before his hand finds your wrist with his back pinned to the wall. "You?" he asks, a look of confusion, and surprise. His eyes catch a glimpse of his son, weakness finding his body at the sight. You plunge the knife into his neck. "Son," he growns, his back sliding down the wall. Weak, he begins to choke on blood. Soon, he sleeps. [[Leave]] <<set $kkill = true>>

You stand frozen. Maybe in fear, maybe in the soon to be cartharsis in seeing the son of your kidnapper lose their child, just as your parents did. He arrives at the doorway, mouth agape at the sight. His eyes look to you, then his son, and back to you. "You son of a-" he says, before you no longer hear him. The last thing you saw was his hand reaching in his coat pocket, pulling out a gun. The last thing you heard was the sound of fireworks. [[End]]

You hop down, quietly, from the roof. Making your way around cautiously to the sidewalk. <<if $gun == true>> You hide the gun away from this beautiful day. <</if>> Standing the curb, someone on a jog runs past you. "Good morning," they say, passing you by. <<if $dan == true>>\ You ask them which way Memphis street is. Where the glass factory is. Where Dan is. "Friend of Dan, eh? Great guy, swell guy. He should just be getting into work. Man's a machine." They check their watch, "Well, have a good day neighbor!" <</if>>\ <<if $blood == true>> "Ketchup stains, huh?" he asks, pointing at the blood stains on your shirt. "A little vinegar and lemon juice will take that right out." He waves at you, "Or maybe just don't be so messy next time!" he calls, having run further away now.<</if>> Shades hide their eyes. You watch them run to the end of the street, turning right. The neighborhood is quiet. You walk down the same sidewalk. You keep walking. You walk until your legs hurt, which isn't very far. You're not used to freedom. You sit at the curb, <<if $knife == true>>playing with the <<if $blood == true>>wet<</if>> knife,<</if>>thinking about what you want to do next. <<if $dan == true>>\ You think about shattered glass. <</if>>\ <<if $sex is "boy">> <<else>> Barbie says, "Let's go cry." <</if>> [[End]]