Work Text:
> climb stairs
You make your way up the stone staircase. Suddenly, the steps dead-end in front of you. The staircase hangs impossibly in mid-air, jutting out into empty space. From here, you have an elevated view of the maze.
> inspect maze
The maze sprawls below you, above you, on either side of you. There are endless passages to explore. Endless doors to open.
> descend stairs
Your teacher has asked a question. The class is staring at you. What do you say?
> ?
Invalid response. What do you say?
> this isn’t a game
Invalid response. Your teacher is looking at you pointedly.
> what was the question
Invalid response. Several seconds have gone by. Someone behind you is giggling.
> check notes
In front of you is a green spiral-bound notebook. The open page contains several squiggles, a row of indents poked with a pencil, and a doodle of the main character from popular arcade game Road Rumbler.
> inspect classroom
To your left, Joey is making wild hand signals under his desk. Circle? Chicken flapping its wings? Conducting a symphony? YMCA?
To your right, Téa is grimacing with pity.
Your teacher is disappointed in your life choices. “Since Mr. Muto wasn’t listening, does anyone else—”
> dialog: “3”
The class explodes with laughter. Your teacher is disappointed in her own life choices. “The answer to ‘name a property of a solid’ is…three?”
> shit
Invalid response.
At the end of the corridor, you encounter two doors: one to the left, and one to the right.
> open right door
Are you sure you want to open the door?
> yes
Oh no! You’ve activated TRAP: WILD BEAST. A tiger’s arm lunges out of the doorway and swipes at your face, its claws missing you by inches.
> not again. at least be original
Invalid response.
> back away
You back down the corridor. The tiger prowls slowly after you, growling deep in its throat.
> cast SHADOW MAGIC: SQUEAKING SWARM ILLUSION
The tiger bats at your swarm of shadow mice in confusion. They throng around its paws, racing past it, through the doorway. It turns to chase them.
> close door
You slam the door shut with all your might. The rodent illusions melt away. Your ears ring with the sudden silence.
> open left door
Are you sure you want to open the door?
> yes
OPPONENT presses the gun to Téa’s temple. Her jaw is clenched. Her back is ramrod straight.
> inspect diner
Under the table to your right, Joey’s hands are balled into fists. They’re shaking. You can’t see his face.
Overhead, the fluorescent light flickers.
Behind you, someone is weeping softly.
> ch
> cgeck
> check inventory
In your pockets are house keys, a Domino Metro Pass, a crumpled 1000-yen bill, and a 12-sided Monster World die. In your hands you hold a plastic tray, containing a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, a bottle of vodka, and one Round-the-World Burger.
> inspect vodka
> open middle door
Are you sure you want to open the door?
> yes
Oh no! You’ve activated TRAP: MEMORY ROOM.
> cancel
The sun is setting. It’s strange to see the classroom this empty.
OPPONENT’S eyes have gone vacant.
> exit
OPPONENT’S mouth works silently. He begins to thrash in his chair.
> go back
OPPONENT’S legs kick at nothing. His desk tips over. His cards scatter across the floor.
> stop
OPPONENT is screaming.
> please
The dragon is in your hand. Isn’t that what matters?
Why didn’t you expect that there’d be screaming?
You reach a fork in the path. Do you go left or right?
> left
You encounter two stairways. Do you go up or down?
> down
You reach a fork in the path. Do you go left or right?
> why am i here
Invalid response.
> i don’t understand how to win this game
Invalid response.
> can i win this game
Invalid response.
> how do i stop playing
Invalid response.