Small Blessings

config.header.left: "Ammo: {bullets}" config.header.center: "Health: {health}" config.header.right: "Herbs: {herb}" health: 15 bullets: 0 grenades: 0 gun: false glauncher: false herb: 0 nemesis: false floorBasement: false floorLobby: false floorFirst: true floorSecond: false floorThird: false floorRoof: false keyParking: false -- A zombie attacks you. [[Fight]] it or [[run]]?

health: health - 5 bullets: 0 grenades: 0 gun: false glauncher: false -- You are [[bitten.]]

health: health + 0 bullets: 0 grenades: 0 gun: false glauncher: false -- You run from the zombie. You make it to the [[next room.]]

health: health + 0 bullets: 0 grenades: 0 gun: false glauncher: false -- Bleeding, you run to the {link to: 'next room.'}

The door knob rattles and before you can move to stop it, the zombie bursts inside. [if gun; append] You draw the gun and [[fire.]] [if !gun; append] You back up, unsure what to do. Without a weapon, you are [[trapped.]]

health: health + 0 bullets: 0 grenades: 0 gun: false glauncher: false -- The room is a small office with a [[desk]] and a [[filing cabinet.]] Maybe you can find an herb hidden in one of them?

health: health + 0 bullets: bullets + 0 herb: herb + 1 grenades: 0 glauncher: false -- Behind the desk, tucked in a corner, is a potted herb. [[You take it.]]

health: health + 5 bullets: bullets + 0 herb: herb - 1 grenades: 0 glauncher: false -- You stuff the herb in your mouth and chew. Feeling better, you take that moment to {link to: 'breathe.'}

health: health + 0 bullets: 6 grenades: 0 gun: true glauncher: false -- You do not find any herbs hidden in the drawers, but you do find a revolver. After taking it, you decide to see if the {link to: 'desk'} has anything useful.

[if random.coinFlip] {embed passage: 'one shot'} [else] {embed passage: 'two shots'}

The zombie shuffles forward, hands outstretched. There is a window behind the desk, you could, if you are fast enough, open and [[climb out | death 1]] of it, or you could try [[rushing]] the thing for the door.

Here goes nothing. Screaming, you rush the zombie and ram it, shoulder first, out of the way. It goes spinning and you a hear wet crack. The creature's decayed ankle gives way and it falls to the floor, groaning. You watch it pathetically try to stand only for it to stumble and fall back down. The urge to put it out of its [[misery|stomp]] is strong, but it might be wiser to [[leave.]]

You raise your foot and bring it down on the zombie's head. It grunts, dented head twitched as it fumbles to rise. You stomp it again and its head pops. Chunks of brain, red as the flesh of a watermelon, splatter across the floor. "Fuck you," you mutter. The power flickers. Maybe it's time to [[move on.]]

health: health - 5 -- While you pity the thing, you cannot waste the time killing it, so you head for the door. A dirty hand catches you by the pant leg, yanking. Hard. You struggle to shake the zombie off, but it holds fast and bites deep into your calf. Left with no other option, you {link to: 'stomp'} its head.

health: 0 -- Rushing it would be foolish. It might bite you. You leap over the desk for the window and yank at the frame. The frame sticks - locked! You struggle to open the locks and just as you have them, the zombie has you. Its teeth sinks deep into your neck. {restart link, label: 'You die screaming.'}

health: health + 0 bullets: 0 grenades: 0 gun: false glauncher: false -- You stumble inside and slam the door. [if health === 10; append] You're injured, you need to find an [[herb.]] [else; append] You are safe for now. Time to [[breathe.]]

The hallway is free of zombies as far as you can see. Above you, the lights dim. [if gun; append] You check your gun. You have {bullets} bullets left. That number does not fill you with confidence. Nether the less, you need to push forward and find a [[way out|exit.]] of this hellhole. [if !gun && health === 15; append] That is not a good sign. You better hurry and find a [[way out|exit.]] out of this place before the power blows. [if !gun && health === 10; append] You leg aches in response. You could really use a first aid spray right about now, even an herb would do. Fingers crossed you can find one while you search for an [[exit.]]

You sneak down the hallway, alert. Every muffled groan, every dragging footstep makes you want to jump out of your skin. [if health === 15; append] You will be out of this hell soon, you tell yourself. Keep calm and carry on and you will be okay. The hallway bends [[left.]] At the corner is an open window and beyond the window, as you draw closer, you can see a [[fire escape.]] [if health === 10; append] Your itching, burning skin. How long do you have until infection takes? Minutes? Hours? You *need* to take care of this bite before you turn. The hallway bends [[left.]] At the corner is an open window and beyond the window, as you draw closer, you can see a [[fire escape.]]

_caution: !herb && health === 10 _fine: !herb && health === 15 -- [if gun && herb] Back in the hall, you confidence starts to return. You have a gun and you have medical supplies, you can do this. You carry on, following the hall left and then right. At the end is an elevator. [[You step inside.|elevator.]] [if gun && !herb] There is no need to waste your time with the fire escape. You are armed and you are healthy, and you plan on staying that way. You continue left, gun in hand, finger on the trigger. The hall turns right and you come upon an elevator. [[You step inside.|elevator.]] [if !gun && herb === 2] Back in the hall, you confidence starts to return. You have herbs. You are still unarmed, but if you are cautious, you should be fine. And if you do get injured, you can heal yourself. Things are looking up, keep going. You carry on, following down the hall until you are forced right. At the end of the corridor is an elevator. [[You step inside.|elevator.]] [if !gun && herb === 1] Back in the hall, you rub at your mending leg. You have one herb left. Which is a hell of a lot better than you were doing a minute ago. You carry on, limping down the hall until you are forced right. At the end of the corridor is an elevator. [[You step inside.|elevator.]] [if _caution] With your current injury, you cannot risk taking the time to check out the fire escape. You limp on, following the hallway left and then right until you reach the end. There is an elevator. [[You step inside.|elevator.]] [if !gun && _fine] There is no need to waste your time with the fire escape. You are healthy and if you are cautious, you will stay that way. You continue left. The hall then turns right and you come upon an elevator. [[You step inside.|elevator.]]

[if gun && health === 15] You draw your gun and lean out the open window. There are two herbs on the platform. You would have to [[climb out]] to get them. But do you need them? Wouldn't it be wiser to keep going {link to: 'left.', label: 'down the hall?'} [if !gun && health === 15] You lean out the open window. There are two herbs, a green and a blue, on the platform. You would have to [[climb out]] to get them. But do you need them? Wouldn't it be wiser to keep going {link to: 'left.', label: 'down the hall?'} [if !gun && health === 10] You lean out the open window. There are two herbs, a green and a blue, on the platform. You have no choice, you must [[climb out]] and get them. Your life depends upon it.

You climb out onto the fire escape. The night is in chaos: bright with fires and police lights, ripe with smoke and death, and screaming with sirens and death cries. You sit, dumbstruck, and stare at the skyline. "It's the end of the world," you whisper. Is there even a point in trying to escape? [if gun && health === 15] You look to your gun. Maybe it would be better to [[end it all|death 2]] now than to [[run around|pick up herb]] and risk turning. A bullet to the brain is better than becoming one of those things. [if !gun && health === 15] You look over the railing. Maybe it would be better to [[jump|death 3]] now than to [[run around|pick up herb]] and risk turning. Splattering on the ground is better than becoming one of those things. [if !gun && health === 10] You look down at the herbs. You have been biten, give up now and you will turn. You could always [[jump,|death 3]] but what if that doesn't kill you? You might break your legs instead. Then you would be trapped on the ground, unable to do more than scream as you succumb to the infection. [[You don't want that.|pick up herb]]

health: 0 herb: 0 -- You slip the barrel into your mouth. This is the right thing to do. Better to die with dignity than to walk the streets as one of those things. Those fucking zombies. *Goodbye, Mom. Goodbye, Dad. See you on the other side.* And with that, {restart link, label: 'you pull the trigger.'}

health: 0 herb: 0 -- You stand and lean over the fire escape railing. This is the right thing to do. Better to die with dignity than to walk the streets as one of those things. Those fucking zombies. "Goodbye, Mom," you say. "Goodbye, Dad. See you on the other side." And with that, {restart link, label: 'you fall.'}

herb: herb + 2 -- [if health === 15] The world is not over yet, you still have a chance. You rip the herbs out by the roots and tuck them into your jacket. There has to be a way out of this city and, goddamn it, you will find it. {link to: 'left.', label: 'You climb back inside of the building.'} [if health === 10] {embed passage: 'take herb'}

health: health + 5 herb: herb - 1 -- The world is not over yet, you still have a chance. You rip the herbs out by the roots and stuff the green one into your mouth. There has to be a way out of this city and, goddamn it, you will find it. {link to: 'left.', label: 'You climb back inside of the building.'}

[if gun] The doors cycle shut. As you adjust your grip on your gun, you check out the buttons. There are four floors: [[the lobby]], the [[first floor]], the [[second floor]], and the [[third floor]]. There is also the underground garage, but you need a special key to access that. You are on the first floor. [if !gun && health === 15] The doors cycle shut. You slip your hands in your pockets and check out the buttons. There are four floors: [[the lobby]], the [[first floor]], the [[second floor]], and the [[third floor]]. There is also the underground garage, but you need a special key to access that. You are on the first floor. [if !gun && health === 10] The doors cycle shut. Leaning your shoulder against the elevator wall, you check out the buttons. There are four floors: [[the lobby]], the [[first floor]], the [[second floor]], and the [[third floor]]. There is also the underground garage, but you need a special key to access that. You are on the first floor.

floorLobby: true floorFirst: false -- [if !nemesis] You hit the button for the lobby and stand back. The elevator lurches and descends, pulley squealing. Under your breath, you make your pleas to a god that may or may not exist, asking him to deliver you unscatched to the next floor. The elevator stops and the doors slide open. [[Someone is waiting in the lobby.|nemesis 1]] [if nemesis]

[if floorFirst && health === 15] You second guess leaving the first floor. You could always backtrack and try taking the [[fire escape|death 4]] down to the street level. The climb should be easy in your condition. [if floorFirst && health === 10] {embed passage: 'button chance'} [if floorLobby && nemesis] You return to the first floor. Now what? You could try heading up to the {link to: 'second floor', label: 'second'} or {link to: 'third floor', label: 'third'} floor. Backtracking and taking the [[fire escape|death 4]] down is a possible option.

Double-click this passage to edit it.

nemesis: true -- A giant clad in black stands in the lobby. Back to you, it watches the entrance, fingers tensing and flexing like an impatient divorcee waiting for their ex to come pick up the kids. Loops of fleshy, purple tubing portrude from the giant's exposed neck and shoulder. They pulse and contract, they *undulate.* You cover your mouth to silence a gasp. [[*Those are tentacles.*]]

[if gun] You raise the gun with one hand and, still holding your breath, retreat to the back of the elevator. Once the doors shut, you sink down to the floor and hug your legs to your chest. You exhale a curse. What is that thing? The lobby is a bust. You lean towards the buttons and hit the one for the {link to: 'first floor'}. [if !gun && health === 15] Hand still over your mouth, you retreat to the back of the elevator. Once the doors shut, you sink down to the floor and hug your legs to your chest. You exhale a curse. What is that thing? The lobby is a bust. You lean towards the buttons and hit the one for the {link to: 'first floor'}. [if !gun && health === 10] Hand still over your mouth, you retreat to the back of the elevator. Once the doors shut, you sink down to the floor and hug your legs to your chest. You sob with pain, "Fuck!" What is that thing? The lobby is a bust. You lean towards the buttons and hit the one for the {link to: 'first floor'}.

[if gun] Fire escape. That might work. You crack your neck and shake out the nervous tension in your limbs. Jitters somewhat assuaged, you jog out of the elevator, gun at the ready, and head back towards the fire escape. Something raw and red tackles you when you round the corner. The gun flies from your hand as the creature knocks you over. Teeth, so many teeth, you scream and shove at its flayed chest. Your fingers sink into its exposed muscles. Shrieking, it raises its claws and {restart link, label: 'slashes open your throat.'} [if !gun && health === 15] Fire escape. That might work. You crack your neck and shake out the nervous tension in your limbs. Jitters somewhat assuaged, you jog out of the elevator and head back towards the fire escape. Something raw and red tackles you when you round the corner. Your head cracks against the floor as the creature knocks you over. Teeth, so many teeth, you scream and shove at its flayed chest. Your fingers sink into its exposed muscles. Shrieking, it raises its claws and {restart link, label: 'slashes open your throat.'} [if !gun && health === 10] Fire escape. That might work. You limp out of the elevator and head back towards the fire escape. Something raw and red tackles you when you round the corner. Your head cracks against the floor as the creature knocks you over. Teeth, so many teeth, you scream and shove at its flayed chest. Your fingers sink into its exposed muscles. Shrieking, it raises its claws and {restart link, label: 'slashes open your throat.'}

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[if keyParking] [if !keyParking] The elevator goes down, further down than you thought possible. You watch, confused, as the lights switch from L to P. But how, you don't have the key. The elevator must be malfunctioning. Lucky you. As the doors open, you step back. [[The garage is silent.|explore garage]]

You lumber out of the elevator, foot dragging. From where you stand, you can see the garage entrance. The gate is open. Sweat runs down your brow. You untuck your shirt and wipe your face off with the hem.

You second guess leaving the first floor. You could always backtrack and try taking the fire escape down to the street level. What the hell are you thinking? Climbing down ladders with a bad leg? It would be suicide to do that. Sighing, you punch a [if random.coinFlip; append] {link to: 'garage', label: 'random button.'} [else; append] {link to: 'the lobby', label: 'random button.'}

bullets: bullets - 2 -- First shot nails the zombie between its collar bones, dead center in the notch. The zombie pitches back, rotting limbs jerking, and groans, stunned. You fire once more, this time nailing it in its clouded eye. The zombie falls. The power flickers. Maybe it's time to {link to: 'move on.'}

bullets: bullets - 1 -- Bang! You nail the zombie it in its clouded eye. It slumps to its knees and then flops down onto its side. Pinkish fluids ooze from its socket. The power flickers. Maybe it's time to {link to: 'move on.'}