Aria

(if: (saved-games:) contains "ARIA1" and (history:)'s last is not "Reset")[  (set: $saves to "ARIA1")(go-to: "TITLE")] (else:)[  (set: $name to "M") (set: $visitedart to false) (set: $memories to (a:)) (set: $rearranging to (a:)) (set: $returned1 to false) (set: $returned2 to false) (set: $returned3 to false) (set: $windowopen to false) (set: $attacked1 to false) (set: $attacked2 to false) (set: $endgamestarted to false) (set: $stayed to "") (go-to: "Begin")]

It is [[dark]].

The air tastes like TV static, and your head is fuzzy. There's a slight buzzing in your ears, and a heaviness in your chest like you just had the wind knocked out of you. You can't tell if you're standing or laying down, and time and gravity feel like they have no meaning here. Through it all, you hear a [[child's voice]] calling for help.

The sound orients you, and your [mind]<mind| pushes through the static. You become aware of your [body]<body| and orient yourself in the not-space, moving closer and closer to the voice until you can see the [[child]] in front of you.(click: ?mind)[ //You have only the barest recollection of who you are. A person, for sure. You must have had a family. You think you were fully grown.//](click: ?body)[ //Human, and appearing to be fully functional. The heaviness in your chest has been replaced by a vague tingling sensation all over.//]

She's a little girl, maybe 3 or 4 years old. Small. Human. She looks (cycling-link: "up?", "down?", "over?", "across?") at you, her eyes wide. "Who are you?" she asks. You frown (you think). [Your name is...]<name|(click-replace: ?name)[(set: $name to (prompt: "Your Name", "M")) \You tell her your name is $name. "$name..." she repeats. She looks like she hasn't seen another human being in [ages]<musing|(click: ?musing)[ (seemingly more years than she has even lived)]. "My name is [[Aria|TITLE]]."]

(align:"=><=")[ \ <h1>ARIA</h1> \ (if: $saves is "ARIA1")[ \ [ |= [Continue]<continue| \ (click: ?continue)[(load-game: "ARIA1")] =| [Reset]<reset|]<menu| \ (click: ?reset)[ \ (replace: ?menu)[ Are you sure you want to reset? This will delete your existing save. [Yes]<y|(click: ?y)[(redirect: "Reset")] [No]<n|(click: ?n)[(redirect: "TITLE")]] |==| ] \] \ (else:)[ [[New Game|See]]] ]

(set: $saves to "") (save-game: "ARIA1") (redirect: "Variable Setting")

You shake Aria's hand, and suddenly you can //see//. Scattered throughout your surroundings, you see places where the darkness looks more solid, a faint staticky film covering them. You're standing on one such platform right now—//standing//, now, and Aria is gazing up at you. [[Where are we?]] [[Who were you calling for?]]

(if: (save-game: "ARIA1"))[ \Game Saved!]  \(else:)[ \Sorry, an error occured and your game could not be saved. (set: $saves to "")]

(if: $name is "Eila")[ [Skip Tutorial]<skip|(click: ?skip)[(set: $visitedart to true)(goto: "art's room")] ] \[ \ (unless: (passage:)'s tags contains "intro")[ \ [SAVE]<save| \ (click-replace: ?save)[ \ (set: $saves to "ARIA1")(display: "save the game")]  \ [QUIT]<quit| \ (click-replace: ?quit)[ \ Are you sure? [Yes]<yq| \ (click:?yq)[ \ (goto-url: "https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/twinemainpage")] \   [No]<nq| \ (click:?nq)[ \ (rerun:?footer)] \ ] \] \]<footer|

Aria looks a little sad. "Mr. Art says that this is where people who got deleted go. He just calls it 'The Void.' It's not so scary once you get used to it." (if: (history:) does not contain "deleted?")[ [[What do you mean by "deleted"?|deleted?]]](if: (history:) does not contain "Who were you calling for?")[ [[Who were you calling for?]]](if: (history:) contains "Who were you calling for?" and "deleted?")[ [[I'll help you find your friend.]]]

"I've been looking for my friend, Bee. I haven't seen him in a long time. We got deleted together, but..." (if: (history:) does not contain "deleted?")[ [[What do you mean by "deleted"?|deleted?]]](if: (history:) does not contain "Where are we?")[ [[Where are we?]]](if: (history:) contains "Where are we?" and "deleted?")[ [[I'll help you find your friend.]]]

(go-to: "Variable Setting")

"Um..." She hesitates. "You should probably ask Mr. Art that question. He explains it really good. He said it's something about writing and getting taken out of a Storyline, or something." (if: (history:) does not contain "Where are we?")[ [[Where are we?]]](if: (history:) does not contain "Who were you calling for?")[ [[Who were you calling for?]]](if: (history:) contains "Who were you calling for?" and "Where are we?")[ [[I'll help you find your friend.]]]

Her face lights up. "You will? Oh! We should go tell Mr. Art!" She hurries off deeper into The Void, and you trail behind her. She ducks behind a large wall of static, similar to the platforms you've been standing on, and you follow her [[around the corner|art's room]].

(if: $visitedart is false)[(set: $visitedart to true)It feels like you're in what could ostensibly be called a room. The wall you went behind looks different from this side, as black as the rest of The Void, but evidently not invisible, either, as you can't see any of the other platforms in the distance anymore. At the center of the space is an amorphous figure, a shifting mass of black and white that you can only assume is Mr. Art. You can make out what vaguely looks like a face, smiling back at you, and two hands sitting untethered around the center of its body. `*` Ah... hello, young one. His voice echoes in the air around you, seemingly coming from everywhere except from the figure's mouth. You comment that you're really not //that// young. `*` Forgive me. I have been here for quite a long time, and time has very little meaning in here. You must be new here. S. G. Art, at your service. "$name said they'd help me find Bee. Maybe they'll be able to do it, because they're a grownup," Aria says. Art's smile doesn't move, but you can feel the mood shift in the air around you. `*` I see... Well, if you are able to bring him back here from the place he went, I shall be thouroughly impressed. You ask him if he has any [[advice|tutorial]] on how to find Aria's friend.](else:)[You're in what could ostensibly be called a room, surrounded on all almost all sides by dark planes, your feet settling on a solid platform of static. (unless: $endgamestarted is true)[[[S. G. Art|talk to Art]] stands here, gazing at you with an unreadable smile on his face.] [[Leave the Room|Void Main]]]

`*` Mm... our dear Bee has not been with us in quite some time, or lack thereof. It will prove difficult to retrieve him from where he has gone. He pauses in what you assume is a thoughtful manner, the gaze on his ever-smiling face shifting to look at you more directly. `*` You may, however, find in your travels through this not-place certain... fragments of all those who have traversed The Void. I suppose it is not possible to truly leave this place intact. `*` Ah... here's one now... As he speaks, a cluster of pixelated light flickers across your field of vision. You reach your hand out and it settles in your palm. You take [[a closer look|MEM1]].

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[A sweet lullaby.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[A child crying.]<1|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Being picked up by someone strong.]<2|]</td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A child crying.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Being picked up by someone strong.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A sweet lullaby.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM1Check")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM1")] \]<checkmenu|

(if: $windowopen is false)[`*` Hello, child. It appears that you have not located our Aria's dear friend yet. \(click: ?advice)[ \ (hide: ?advice) \ (append: ?after)[ \ (t8n: "dissolve")[ \ (if: $attacked1 is false and $attacked2 is false)[ `*` I'm sure as you find more fragments of The Void's previous residents, your path will become clear. Bee did leave quite a few behind. `*` ... `*` Although I can't say that you won't be disappointed when you reach the end of his path.] \ (elseif: ($attacked1 is true and $attacked2 is false) or ($attacked1 is false and $attacked2 is true))[ `*` You say you've been attacked? `*` Dear, dear, that is troubling... I apologize, I did not realize reviving these fragments would put you in danger. (Art strokes (unless: $returned1 is true)[what you assume to be ]his chin with one of his (unless: $returned1 is true)[disembodied ]hands. The other one is tucked somewhere out of sight.) `*` I don't think our dear Aria would blame you if you stopped here. I'm sure wherever Bee has gone is better than here, anyway. \ ](elseif: $attacked1 is true and $attacked2 is true)[ `*` Ah... another attack? `*` Hm. It seems that The Void Itself is trying to discourage you from this path. (He pauses in thought, pacing towards the wall to your left(unless: $returned1 is true)[, his amorphous body lagging a few inches behind his face]. Both of his hands appear to be tucked away somewhere, out of sight.) `*` I can't imagine why that would be...</art> \ ](else:)[ `*` I'm sure as you find more fragments of The Void's previous residents, your path will become clear. Bee did leave quite a few behind. `*` ... `*` Although I can't say that you won't be disappointed when you reach the end of his path. \ ] \ ] \ ] \] \(click: ?memory)[ \ (hide: ?memory) \ (append: ?after)[ \ (t8n: "dissolve")[ (display: "Memory Return")]]][]<after| [Ask him for advice]<advice| [Return a memory]<memory| [[Never mind.|art's room]]](else:)[You return to Art, and tell him that you've located Bee. His face doesn't change, but his surprise is palpable. He follows you [[back to the hole in The Void|ENDGAMETIME]].]

The Void stretches out into infinity around you. On this platform lies the entrance to [[Art's room|art's room]]. The rest of the platform has been meticulously cleared of detritus, and you can see a variety of stones, computer parts, trash—even a test tube—floating in the space around it. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM1Y")[A [[cluster of pixels|MEM1 - YOU]] hovers just off the edge of the platform.] [[Float Up|Void Upper 2]] [[Float Down|Void Lower 2]] [[Go Left|Void Mid 2]] [[Go Right|Void Mid 3]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "A child crying." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Being picked up by someone strong." and $rearranging's 3rd is "A sweet lullaby.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM1Complete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1")]]

//The strange man woke her from her deep sleep. She can hear the cry of her twin sister, and the sound of the strange man's voice echoing everywhere and nowhere, all at once. She cries, for she does not understand, and cannot comprehend where she is or why she is here, or who all of these strange people are. Suddenly, she and her sister are in the arms of someone much bigger than she is. A light voice tells her everything will be alright, and hums a familiar tune. She knows it is not her mother. But it is not the strange man, either, although if she were old enough to form memories, she would recall that he too tried to comfort her, when she first arrived in this place. And then, she is free.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. You turn back to [[Art|Tutorial 2]].

`*` Interesting... It seems that you are able to release these poor fragments of The Void... I almost envy you. You ask him what he means. He reaches for another, much smaller memory. It phases directly through his free-floating hands before drifting off out into the larger Void. `*` I'm afraid physicality is one of many things that I have lost in my time here... Aria smiles up at you. "So that means they can find Bee? Because they can touch the memories?" Art seems to hesitate. `*` I'm certain they will be able to trace where your dear friend has gone... But as for his retrieval, of that I am much less certain. You insist that you're at least going to try, and you [[begin to explore The Void with Aria at your side|art's room]].

(set: $endgamestarted to true) \You and Aria return to the hole in The Void with Art in [tow.]<detail|(click-append: ?detail)[ (You would have held his hand, if both of them weren't missing from his body.)] On the other side of the window, Minrek and Bee sit on the carpet, building a tall tower with magnetic tiles. Art seems to regard the window with surprise, tilting his head, though his smile never changes. `*` Ah, I see... `*` ... `*` Children, I hate to tell you this, but it seems Bee has made his way back to existence, somewhere we cannot follow. You protest being called a child, but he continues speaking over you. `*` I did say you might be disappointed with the end of this path. "Don't worry, Mr. Art," Aria says, approaching the window. "Miss Minrek says that she can get us out!" She knocks on the surface of the window and Minrek and Bee look up from their tower. Minrek: Oh, hey, you're back. She peers through the hole and catches sight of Art. Bee does too, and he waves. (if: $returned1 is true)[Art nods at him and waves with a handless arm. (He must have them tucked up into his sleeves?)](else:)[It looks like Art nods at him, but it's hard to tell.] You introduce Minrek to Art. Minrek: Is that it, then? If you've got everything settled in there, I can get you guys out of there. (Is there anything else you'd like to do?) [[Go back into The Void|Void Return]] \(if: ($memories contains "MEM1A" and $returned1 is false) or ($memories contains "MEM2A" and $returned2 is false) or ($memories contains "MEM3A" and $returned3 is false))[ [[Give Art a memory|Endgame Memory Return]]] [[Review your Memories]] [[I'm good.|THE CHOICE]]

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Meeting a new friend.]<2|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[The beginning of summer.]<1|]</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Bringing her home.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "The beginning of summer.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Meeting a new friend.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Bringing her home.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM1BCheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM1 - BEE")] \]<checkmenu|

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM1B")) \//He knows nothing but love. He lives in a cozy house with five adults who love him: his parents, who sing him sweet lullabies and rub his back until he falls asleep; his aunt and uncle, who give him far more candy than they probably should, and their friend Dave, who begrudgingly attends his pretend tea parties. He goes to the park every week with his mom and his aunt, and plays with the other children in the bright summer sun. His best friend is a girl who is always at the park the same time at him, who he meets on a warm afternoon in June. Her name is Aria, and she shares her crackers with him on the playground. He begs and begs his mom to let Aria come to their house, and in July she finally agrees. Their moms drink tea in the kitchen while they make mud pies in the sandbox in the backyard. At the end of the day, Aria goes home covered in dirt stains, while his mother drags him off to wash the sand out of his hair. And he knows nothing but love and sweet summer sunshine.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. [[Return|Void Mid 3]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "The beginning of summer." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Meeting a new friend." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Bringing her home.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM1BComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1 - BEE")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1 - BEE")]]

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \You reach your hand through the computer screen and find another fragment. When you touch it, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;">(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Tragedy striking.]<1|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Finding friends.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:right;">(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Getting lost to The Void.]<2|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Tragedy striking.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Getting lost to The Void.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Finding friends.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM2BCheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM2 - BEE")] \]<checkmenu|

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Life in The Void.]<1|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[A bright light.]<2|]</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Leaving this not-place.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Life in The Void.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A bright light.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Leaving this not-place.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM3BCheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM3 - BEE")] \]<checkmenu|

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "Tragedy striking." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Getting lost to The Void." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Finding friends.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM2BComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM2 - BEE")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM2 - BEE")]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM2B")) \//Something is wrong. He's never seen the grownups so scared. He's not even sure what's going on, but it can't be anything good. People swarm into the house, and he scarcely has time to process what's happening before reality crumbles around him. He senses it more than he sees it, a quick flash as the timeline snaps itself back into place—without him. He floats in the abyss, looking up at his family, his house, the only life he's ever known dissolves away, swallowed up by the darkness that surrounds him on all sides. He cries in terror as a warped version of his home renders in around him. Aria finds him there, and he feels the first touch of true sorrow mark his heart as they cry for their lost lives, for warm embraces and family members who no longer remember them. The strange man who comes for them does his best to provide them with comfort, though he doesn't have a physical body to embrace them with, and leads them to a space in The Void that eventually starts to feel like home.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. [[Return|Office]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "Life in The Void." and $rearranging's 2nd is "A bright light." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Leaving this not-place.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM3BComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM3 - BEE")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM3 - BEE")]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM3B")) \//He is very happy to have Aria here. He is not sure how long he has been here, and he is sad that she was deleted too, but he is glad to have the company. The strange man isn't //scary// anymore, but he's not exactly a comforting presence, either.// //He is playing hide and seek with Aria when he sees the window. A little spot of light in the fabric of The Void where he can see his home, his family. He goes to it, touches it, but can't get through it. He calls out for his mother, his father, his aunt, even Dave. They don't seem to hear, and he is about to give up when his aunt's friend looks directly at him and frowns.// //She gets up from her seat and walks over to window, and reaches her arms through. He grabs ahold of her hands, and they're so //warm// and so //solid// and so //real// and she pulls and he can feel himself slipping through the window...// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. [[Return|attack2]]

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Building a home.]<2|]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Starting a family.]<3|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Affirming their love.]<1|]</td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Affirming their love.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Building a home.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Starting a family.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM1YCheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM1 - YOU")] \]<checkmenu|

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;">(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[A baby's cry.]<1|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[A child's laughter.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:right;">(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[A toddler's first word.]<2|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A baby's cry.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A toddler's first word.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A child's laughter.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM2YCheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM2 - YOU")] \]<checkmenu|

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Tragedy.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[A warm summer day.]<1|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Taking a trip to the island.]<2|]</td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "A warm summer day.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Taking a trip to the island.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Tragedy.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM3YCheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM3 - YOU")] \]<checkmenu|

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "Affirming their love." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Building a home." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Starting a family.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM1YComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1 - YOU")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1 - YOU")]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "A baby's cry." and $rearranging's 2nd is "A toddler's first word." and $rearranging's 3rd is "A child's laughter.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM2YComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM2 - YOU")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM2 - YOU")]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "A warm summer day." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Taking a trip to the island." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Tragedy.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM3YComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM3 - YOU")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM3 - YOU")]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM2Y")) \//You see your child, your beautiful baby girl and the light of your life. In an instant, sleepless nights soothing her to sleep, endless dirty diapers, tender moments feeding her as she gazes up at you with big eyes, times her little hand wrapped around your finger, all flash through your mind. You see her learning to talk, her first word—"ball", the first time she stood, her little hands in yours. You hear her chirping little voice as you play, and see her slow breathing as she finally settles down for a nap. You see her grow into a happy little elementary schooler, standing with your partner as you send her off to her first day of school. She laughs as the three of you run around your yard, barefoot in the grass, and bundled up in the snow, or rustling in the golden leaves of autumn. You feel nothing but love.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's yours. It slots itself back into your mind. [[Return|Void Lower 2]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM1Y")) \//You got married on a bright summer day. The details are fuzzy, but you feel an overwhelming sense of happiness. The celebration is loud and vivacious, and you can't see any of the faces, but you know that everyone you love is there with you. You and your spouse dance slow as the night winds down, and you feel such a comforting sense of security being in their arms. You go home with your partner to a house-in-progress, big and spacious, with a large yard. It's not completely finished, but it's done enough for you to sleep in. You stay up late just watching the stars together, dreaming about your futures. The years pass, and you bring a child into the world, a healthy little girl that you and your partner cherish with all your souls.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's yours. It slots itself back into your mind. [[Return|Void Main]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM3Y")) \//It's a warm, cloudless summer day, and you're on a boat. Your child sits on your lap, and your partner sits at your side, taking a photo. You look off the side of the boat into the blue waters of Lake Huron and smile. It's a short ride to Mackinac Island, and you haven't been there since you were a child. You can't wait to spend the day there with the people you love. The three of you disembark, holding hands in the crowd, and enjoy your day seeing the sights and enjoying the beautiful weather. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, reality breaks. It starts with an inexplicable swirl of clouds in the sky, then a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder with no discernable storm, and suddenly you're falling, your grip on your daughter and your partner slipping free. You see a swirl of purple and stars, and some invisible force slams into you and you're spiralling out of control, slipping out of a starry tunnel and into an explosive sort of darkness. The last thing you feel before everything goes dark is your world breaking, shattering like glass.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's yours. It slots itself back into your mind. [[Return|treehouse]]

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Chasing a fading dream.]<2|]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Drifting alone in The Void.]<3|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Waking up.]<1|]</td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Waking up.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Chasing a fading dream.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Drifting alone in The Void.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM1ACheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM1 - ART")] \]<checkmenu|

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td>(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Watching them leave.]<3|]</td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Greeting others.]<1|]</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Providing comfort.]<2|]</td> <td></td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Greeting others.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Providing comfort.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Watching them leave.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM2ACheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM2 - ART")] \]<checkmenu|

(set: $rearranging to (a:))  \When you touch the fragment, you can feel the memory contained within it. It's warm in your hand, and you can tell that it's all jumbled up. You gently rearrange its pieces so the memory plays back in order. You see... <table class="fragment"> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td style="text-align:right;">(text-size: (random: 6,16)/10)[[Trying to get them to stay.]<2|]</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Hopelessness.]<3|]</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td style="text-align:center;">(text-size: (random: 6, 16)/10)[[Thousands of strangers pass by.]<1|]</td> </tr> </table> \(click: ?1)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Thousands of strangers pass by.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?2)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Trying to get them to stay.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] \(click: ?3)[ \ (set: $rearranging to it + (a: "Hopelessness.")) \ (replace: ?order)[ \ (for: each _item, ...$rearranging)[_item ]] \ ] You place them in this order:[]<order| [[Done.]<check|(click: ?check)[ \(replace: ?checkmenu)[ \ (display: "MEM3ACheck")]] [Wait, let me start over...]<again| \(click: ?again)[(redirect: "MEM3 - ART")] \]<checkmenu|

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "Waking up." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Chasing a fading dream." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Drifting alone in The Void.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM1AComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1 - ART")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM1 - ART")]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "Greeting others." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Providing comfort." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Watching them leave.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM2AComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM2 - ART")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM2 - ART")]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM1A")) \ \//He awakens in The Void, and it's as if he has always been here, but also just arrived. He tries to remember his previous life, but it's like chasing the last remnants of a dream after being awoken too soon. It is as if he was made specifically for the purpose of being in the Void.// //And he is so, so scared, alone and surrounded by this expanse of infinite nothingness.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. [[Return|Void Lower 3]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM2A")) \//He sees many pass through The Void. They cry out for friends, family, caretakers that are no longer there; or rather, that are still in the Storylines these exiled have been erased from. He takes on the role of Void Herald, and greets these transients after they awaken.// //He takes care to assure them that they will be alright, that The Void is really not that frightening once you get used to it (quashing the existential fear that still resides in his own soul), and does his best to prevent them from being frightened at the sight of his distorted face. He speaks assurances until his proper voice is lost to The Void, and learns to communicate through The Void Itself.// //He does what he can to cobble together shelter for those who pass through The Void, carving out a space that he hopes feels like home. He watches as an infinite number of deleted Characters comes in and out of the Void.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. [[Return|Void Lower 1]]

(set: $memories to it + (a: "MEM3A")) \//He is so, so tired of this. He has seen so many beings enter the Void, and watched so many be written back into a Storyline somewhere. He is never one of them. In his time here, he has learned that The Void must always have a host—must always have one being residing there. He has tried—both subtly and not-so-subtly—to convince someone else, anyone else to stay in his stead. But every time, he relents and lets them go. And he stays in the infinite emptiness, too whole to disappear, feeling just as hollow as always.// The memory plays in your mind, and you know instantly that it's not yours. But it attaches itself to you anyway. [[Return|alcove]]

(if: $rearranging is not (a:))[ \ (if: $rearranging's 1st is "Thousands of strangers pass by." and $rearranging's 2nd is "Trying to get them to stay." and $rearranging's 3rd is "Hopelessness.")[ \ The fragments click into place and you [[remember|MEM3AComplete]].] \ (else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM3 - ART")]]] \(else:)[ \ [That doesn't seem right...]<wrong|(click: ?wrong)[(redirect: "MEM3 - ART")]]

The Void seems lighter here, the air buzzing with a static charge like the screen of an old TV. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM3B" and $memories contains "MEM2B" and $memories contains "MEM1B")[A [[cluster of pixels|MEM3 - BEE]] trembles in the space above you.] (if: $memories contains "MEM1B" and $memories contains "MEM2B" and $memories contains "MEM3B" and $windowopen is false)[The space around you looks... weird here. Like there's some sort of a weak spot in the fabric of The Void. [[(Touch it?)]]](elseif: $windowopen is true)[The [[window to existence|The Portal]] is open here. (if: $endgamestarted is true)[S. G. Art stands in front of the window.]] [[Float Up|You Cannot]] [[Float Down|Void Mid 2]] [[Go Left|You Cannot]] [[Go Right|Void Upper 2]]

This platform is a little smaller, with a sad patch of what looks like grass, glitching into its base polygons. A half-formed [[treehouse]] stands above you. [[Float Up|You Cannot]] [[Float Down|Void Main]] [[Go Left|Void Upper 1]] [[Go Right|Void Upper 3]]

This platform is larger than all of the ones you've seen so far. A [[house|Entryway]] sits on this platform, half clipped into the surface of the platform. [[Float Up|You Cannot]] [[Float Down|Void Mid 3]] [[Go Left|Void Upper 2]] [[Go Right|You Cannot]]

You can't get through it, but you can see reality through this little hole in The Void. You can see a small room with a couch, an armchair, and a coffee table. [[Minrek and Bee|talk to Minrek]] are sitting on the carpet just outside of the window, building with magnetic tiles. [[Return|Void Upper 1]]

There's another, smaller [[alcove]] here, a little like Art's room. The platform itself is covered in debris: scrap metal, the letters from someone's mailbox, tires. (if: (history:) does not contain "Void Mid 2")[ "Sometimes I find things I can use as toys here," Aria says. "Bee and I even found some dolls once!"] [[Float Up|Void Upper 1]] [[Float Down|Void Lower 1]] [[Go Left|You Cannot]] [[Go Right|Void Main]]

This platform is completely empty, although there are plenty of items hovering in the space all around it. You can see the platform with Art's room on it from here, to your left. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM1B")[A [[cluster of pixels|MEM1 - BEE]] hovers just off the edge of the platform.] [[Float Up|Void Upper 3]] [[Float Down|Void Lower 3]] [[Go Left|Void Main]] [[Go Right|You Cannot]]

This platform is small and dark, the edges of it fading into the rest of your surroundings. You can almost sense the presences of travellers past, ghosts that the space gives the barest hint of, even though there's no one here but you and Aria. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM2A")[A [[cluster of pixels|MEM2 - ART]] is half-buried in the ground here.](if: (history:) does not contain "Void Lower 1")[ "This is where I found you!" Aria says. She points into the space just off of the platform.] [[Float Up|Void Mid 2]] [[Float Down|You Cannot]] [[Go Left|You Cannot]] [[Go Right|Void Lower 2]]

This platform is large and dark, interspersed with trees at various states of visual coherency. Some look perfectly normals, and others are nothing but bright orange outlines. Still others glitch out at the top. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM2Y")[A [[cluster of pixels|MEM2 - YOU]] hangs just underneath one of the branches, almost like an ornament.] [[Float Up|Void Main]] [[Float Down|You Cannot]] [[Go Left|Void Lower 1]] [[Go Right|Void Lower 3]]

This platform is dark. You can barely see the surrounding platforms from here, above you and far to your left. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM1A")[You catch a glimpse of [[something|MEM1 - ART]] shining in the darkness.] [[Float Up|Void Mid 3]] [[Float Down|You Cannot]] [[Go Left|Void Lower 2]] [[Go Right|You Cannot]]

The Void expands into infinity in this direction, with no more platforms in sight. You turn around, not wanting to get lost in the boundless pool of uncreation. [Return]<last|(click: ?last)[(go-to: (history:)'s last)]

(if: ($memories contains "MEM1A" and $returned1 is false) or ($memories contains "MEM2A" and $returned2 is false) or ($memories contains "MEM3A" and $returned3 is false))[ \`*` Oh...? What is this that you have brought me...? \ (if: $memories contains "MEM1A" and $returned1 is false)[ \ (set: $returned1 to true) (You return Art's physicality.) The repaired fragment of memory slots into place the moment it comes contact with him. You watch as his amorphous body settles into something vaguely human, a black silhouette with stark white facial features, with hands connected to arms connected to a solid body. Art looks down at himself in awe. `*` Ah... `*` My dear, what a wonderful gift you've given me. Thank you.] \ (if: $memories contains "MEM2A" and $returned2 is false)[ \ (set: $returned2 to true) (You return Art's voice.) The repaired fragment of memory slots into place the moment it comes in contact with him. He gives a cry of surprise, and for the first time since you met him, his voice sounds like it's coming from his body. `*` Oh...! `*` Goodness, it has been quite some time since I was able to speak in this way without pain... Thank you.] \ (if: $memories contains "MEM3A" and $returned3 is false)[ \ (set: $returned3 to true) (You return Art's compassion.) The repaired fragment of memory slots into place the moment it comes in contact with him. Nothing dramatic happens. `*` Ah... Oh dear...] \ (if: $returned1 is true and $returned2 is true and $returned3 is true)[ (You have nothing more to give him.) \ ] \] \(else:)[(You have nothing to give him.) \]

You reach out and touch the weak spot in The Void, and suddenly a bright spot opens up. If it weren't for the fact that The Void is all you really have memories of, the view would be thoroughly underwhelming. You can see a small room with a couch, an armchair, and a coffee table. A toddler sits near the coffee table, building with magnetic tiles. From her place beside you, Aria gasps. "Bee!" She rushes over to the bright spot and tries to reach out to him, but some sort of invisible force stops her hand. It looks like this spot is nothing more than a window. The toddler looks up anyway, turning to face you directly. His expression turns to one of surprise, and he walks towards you. He reaches his hand towards the window, and you can see it enter The Void. Aria tries to touch it, but her hand phases through his. He gasps and draws it back. The toddler holds up a finger and hurries out of view. [[You and Aria wait.]]

(set: $windowopen to true) \(after: 1s)[.](after: 3s)[ .](after: 5s)[ .](after: 7s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[ Eventually, the toddler comes back into frame, holding the hand of a young woman. She looks at you in surprise and kneels down near the window. ???: Hello? Can you hear me? You tell her that you can, and Aria nods in agreement. "My name is Aria, and this is $name," she says. She points at the toddler. "I'm Bee's friend!" ???: I'm Minrek. The young woman looks around, peering through the window at your surroundings. Minrek: Are you guys in The Void? I can get you out of there, send you back to your realities... Minrek holds out her hand, through the window. You're about to take it when Aria speaks up. "Oh, wait!" she says. "We should go get Mr. Art. He should come too." Minrek: Oh, there's someone else in there too? Ok, we'll wait here for you. You [[head back into The Void|Void Upper 1]].]]

(if: $endgamestarted is true)[ \Minrek: Got everything settled, then? (Is there anything else you'd like to do?) [[Go back into The Void|Void Return]] \(if: ($memories contains "MEM1A" and $returned1 is false) or ($memories contains "MEM2A" and $returned2 is false) or ($memories contains "MEM3A" and $returned3 is false))[ [[Give Art a memory|Endgame Memory Return]]] [[Review your Memories]] [[I'm good.|THE CHOICE]] \](else:)[ \Minrek: Oh, hey, you're back. Did you find your other person? You tell her that you haven't retrieved him yet. [Ask about existence]<ask|(click-replace: ?ask)[ \ (t8n: "dissolve")[ \ Minrek: Oh, yeah... you're in The Void right now, which means you're a Deleted Character of some sort. Minrek: But I can get you guys out of there once you find your third person or whatever. That's one of the perks of being an Author. Minrek: ... I assume, anyway. I'm the only one I know who has tried retrieving people from nonexistence.] \] [[Return|Void Upper 1]]]

(set: $attacked2 to true) \ As the memory attaches itself to you, there's suddenly [something]<things|(click-append: ?things)[ (vaguely hand-shaped?)] flying at you, [ from the right]<bullet2| \ (click-replace: ?bullet2)[ \ [ from above]<bullet3| \ ](click-replace: ?bullet3)[ \ [ from the left]<bullet1| \ ](click: ?bullet1)[ \ (replace: ?bullet1)[] \ (show: ?bullet1)[and you dodge out of the way. It comes straight for you, and you throw a nearby stone at it. The stone hits its mark and the flying object explodes into a fine powder. You hear a sound as if The Void Itself is groaning around you. [[You and Aria breathe a sigh of relief.|Void Upper 1]] "Maybe we should tell Mr. Art about that..." Aria says.]]

The treehouse is small, and many of the floor boards look less-than-solid. The interior is empty(if: $memories contains "MEM3Y")[.](else:)[ save for a [[cluster of pixels|MEM3 - YOU]] hanging in the space above a crumbling floorboard.] [[Leave the Treehouse|Void Upper 2]]

You're standing in the entryway of a house. (if: (history:) does not contain "Entryway")[Aria frowns in concentration. "I think I've been here before," she says. "But before I was in The Void." ]The walls, where they still exist, are painted a light blue. You can see The Void through holes where the walls have glitched out. [[Living Room]] [[Kitchen]] [[Exit the House|attack1]] [[Hallway]]

The living room of the house has a very low-poly looking couch, an armchair, and an old CRT TV that reflects the static of The Void. You sense the feeling of children's laughter here more than you actually hear it. (if: (history:) does not contain "Living Room")[ Aria taps the glass of the TV. It's non-functioning.] [[Entryway]]

The kitchen is spacious, with a row of boxes along the right-hand wall, which you think might have been countertops once upon a time. There's a table in the center of the room with an ungodly amount of chairs and high chairs assembled around it. The refrigerator is intact but empty—not that you'd have any use for food if you found it. (if: (history:) does not contain "Kitchen")[Looking around, you've come to the uncomfortable realization that you haven't been able to feel any of your internal bodily sensations since you woke up here, despite knowing that you're in your physical body.] [[Entryway]]

The end of the hallway leads to what look like three different bedrooms. [[Bedroom]] [[Small Bedroom]] [[Hallway]] [[Big Bedroom]]

This bedroom is glitched partially through the static platform outside. The bed is nothing more than transparent box. [[Hallway|Hallway 2]]

This bedroom is tilted at a slight angle into the ground. The bed looks like it's melting away into its base polygons, but was probably comfortable at one point. There's a smaller bed on the ground here—like the kind a small child would sleep in. (if: (history:) does not contain "Big Bedroom")[ Aria touches it with a frown, but says nothing.] [[Hallway|Hallway 2]]

This bedroom is pretty bare. There are a few boxes here covered in developer textures. You think they might have been a bed, desk, and dresser at one point. [[Hallway|Hallway 2]]

You walk into the house's hallway. There's a hole that looks like it used to be a staircase here, and it descends into the infinite darkness of The Void. You deftly step around it. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM2B")[You feel an odd prickling sensation in the air towards the office, like there's a static charge built up there.] [[Office]] [[Bathroom]] [[Entryway]] [[Hallway|Hallway 2]]

The bathroom is missing most of its fixtures—not that you'd have any use for them anyway. You can see and feel that you're in your body, but it doesn't feel as physical as usual at all. You're missing the usual sensations telling you of your needs, almost as if you don't have them anymore. [[Hallway]]

This room looks like it was an office. There's a gaping hole in the left-hand corner of the room, furthest from the door, and it drops off into the infinite darkness of The Void. At the center of the room sits a computer. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM2B")[It's on, and the screen is filled with [[colorful pixels|MEM2 - BEE]]. It seems like it's the source of the weird feeling in the air.](else:)[It's off.] [[Hallway]]

(if: $memories contains "MEM2B" and $attacked1 is false)[ \ (set: $attacked1 to true) \ You step out of the house, and suddenly there's [something]<things|(click-append: ?things)[ (vaguely hand-shaped?)] flying at you, [ from the left]<bullet1| \ (click-replace: ?bullet1)[ \ [ from the right]<bullet2| \ ](click-replace: ?bullet2)[ \ [ from above]<bullet3| \ ](click: ?bullet3)[ \ (replace: ?bullet3)[] \ (show: ?bullet3)[and you dodge out of the way. It circles back around towards you, and you use the house's crumbling mailbox to bat it away. It explodes into a fine powder and there's a sound as if The Void Itself is groaning around you. [[You and Aria breathe a sigh of relief.|Void Upper 3]] "Maybe we should tell Mr. Art about that..." Aria says.]]](else:)[(goto: "Void Upper 3")]

This space reminds you of Art's "room," just a little smaller and more cluttered. A smattering of toys and junk lines the floor. (if: $memories does not contain "MEM3A")[Buried among them you can see the glitchy, multicolored light of another [[cluster of pixels|MEM3 - ART]].] (if: (history:) does not contain "alcove")[ "Bee and I played in here sometimes. Art said we could keep our things in here," Aria comments.] [[Leave the Room|Void Mid 2]]

Art tilts his head at you. (You think.) Minrek: Oh, ok. Sure. Just come back to the window whenever you're ready to go. [[You head out into The Void.|Void Upper 1]]

(display: "Memory Return") (Is there anything else you'd like to do?) [[Go back into The Void|Void Return]] [[Review your Memories]] [[I'm good.|THE CHOICE]]

Minrek: Alrighty then. She sticks her hands through the window, and you can see Art startle as her hands enter The Void. (if: $returned3 is true)[ \ (if: $returned1 is true)[ \ He trembles and buries his face in his sleeves, where his hands would be. His face never changes, but you can see dark tears escape from his eyes, tracking down his face.] \ (else:)[ \ His form seems to tremble, and he looks down as the edges of his body fray and glitch out.] `*` Oh dear... Children, I have something to tell you. `*` She may be able to pull beings from this place, but... `*` ... `*` My dears, I'm afraid only two of us will be able to leave here today. The Void... it must always have a host. `*` I... `*` I must confess, I intended to convince you to stay here, to finally let me free, but... `*` Please, my dears. Leave this place without me. You deserve so much more than to stay here in this not-place while the man who attacked you out of envy goes free. (Who do you choose to leave in The Void?) [[Art]] [[Aria]] [[Yourself]] \](else:)[ \ You and Aria start to reach out to Minrek, when Art's voice stops you. `*` My dears, wait. There is something you must know. `*` She may be able to pull beings from this place, but... `*` I'm afraid only two of us will be able to leave here today. The Void... it must always have a host. `*` Children, I have been here for far too long, and I have seen this scenario far too many times. `*` I will not be left behind again. You will have to choose, between yourselves, which of you will stay behind. (Who do you choose to leave in The Void?) [[Aria]] [[Yourself]] [[Art]] \]

//He knows nothing but love. He lives in a cozy house with five adults who love him: his parents, who sing him sweet lullabies and rub his back until he falls asleep; his aunt and uncle, who give him far more candy than they probably should, and their friend Dave, who begrudgingly attends his pretend tea parties. He goes to the park every week with his mom and his aunt, and plays with the other children in the bright summer sun. His best friend is a girl who is always at the park the same time at him, who he meets on a warm afternoon in June. Her name is Aria, and she shares her crackers with him on the playground. He begs and begs him mom to let Aria come to their house, and in July she finally agrees. Their moms drink tea in the kitchen while they make mud pies in the sandbox in the backyard. At the end of the day, Aria goes home covered in dirt stains, while his mother drags him off to was the sand out of his hair. And he knows nothing but love and sweet summer sunshine.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//Something is wrong. He's never seen the grownups so scared. He's not even sure what's going on, but it can't be anything good. People swarm into the house, and he scarcely has time to process what's happening before reality crumbles around him. He senses it more than he sees it, a quick flash as the timeline snaps itself back into place—without him. He floats in the abyss, looking up at his family, his house, the only life he's ever known dissolves away, swallowed up by the darkness that surrounds him on all sides. He cries in terror as a warped version of his home renders in around him. Aria finds him there, and he feels the first touch of true sorrow mark his heart as they cry for their lost lives, for warm embraces and family members who no longer remember them. The strange man who comes for them does his best to provide them with comfort, though he doesn't have a physical body to embrace them with, and leads them to a space in The Void that eventually starts to feel like home.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//He is very happy to have Aria here. He is not sure how long he has been here, and he is sad that she was deleted too, but he is glad to have the company. The strange man isn't //scary// anymore, but he's not exactly a comforting presence, either.// //He is playing hide and seek with Aria when he sees the window. A little spot of light in the fabric of The Void where he can see his home, his family. He goes to it, touches it, but can't get through it. He calls out for his mother, his father, his aunt, even Dave. They don't seem to hear, and he is about to give up when his aunt's friend looks directly at him and frowns.// //She gets up from her seat and walks over to window, and reaches her arms through. He grabs ahold of her hands, and they're so //warm// and so //solid// and so //real// and she pulls and he can feel himself slipping through the window...// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//He awakens in The Void, and it's as if he has always been here, but also just arrived. He tries to remember his previous life, but it's like chasing the last remnants of a dream after being awoken too soon. It is as if he was made specifically for the purpose of being in the Void.// //And he is so, so scared, alone and surrounded by this expanse of infinite nothingness.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//He sees many pass through The Void. They cry out for friends, family, caretakers that are no longer there; or rather, that are still in the Storylines these exiled have been erased from. He takes on the role of Void Herald, and greets these transients after they awaken.// //He takes care to assure them that they will be alright, that The Void is really not that frightening once you get used to it (quashing the existential fear that still resides in his own soul), and does his best to prevent them from being frightened at the sight of his distorted face. He speaks assurances until his proper voice is lost to The Void, and learns to communicate through The Void Itself.// //He does what he can to cobble together shelter for those who pass through The Void, carving out a space that he hopes feels like home. He watches as an infinite number of deleted Characters comes in and out of the Void.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//He is so, so tired of this. He has seen so many beings enter the Void, and watched so many be written back into a Storyline somewhere. He is never one of them. In his time here, he has learned that The Void must always have a host—must always have one being residing there. He has tried—both subtly and not-so-subtly—to convince someone else, anyone else to stay in his stead. But every time, he relents and lets them go. And he stays in the infinite emptiness, too whole to disappear, feeling just as hollow as always.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//You got married on a bright summer day. The details are fuzzy, but you feel an overwhelming sense of happiness. The celebration is loud and vivacious, and you can't see any of the faces, but you know that everyone you love is there with you. You and your spouse dance slow as the night winds down, and you feel such a comforting sense of security being in their arms. You go home with your partner to a house-in-progress, big and spacious, with a large yard. It's not completely finished, but it's done enough for you to sleep in. You stay up late just watching the stars together, dreaming about your futures. The years pass, and you bring a child into the world, a healthy little girl that you and your partner cherish with all your souls.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//You see your child, your beautiful baby girl and the light of your life. In an instant, sleepless nights soothing her to sleep, endless dirty diapers, tender moments feeding her as she gazes up at you with big eyes, times her little hand wrapped around your finger, all flash through your mind. You see her learning to talk, her first word—"ball", the first time she stood, her little hands in yours. You hear her chirping little voice as you play, and see her slow breathing as she finally settles down for a nap. You see her grow into a happy little elementary schooler, standing with your partner as you send her off to her first day of school. She laughs as the three of you run around your yard, barefoot in the grass, and bundled up in the snow, or rustling in the golden leaves of autumn. You feel nothing but love.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

//It's a warm, cloudless summer day, and you're on a boat. Your child sits on your lap, and your partner sits at your side, taking a photo. You look off the side of the boat into the blue waters of Lake Huron and smile. It's a short ride to Mackinac Island, and you haven't been there since you were a child. You can't wait to spend the day there with the people you love. The three of you disembark, holding hands in the crowd, and enjoy your day seeing the sights and enjoying the beautiful weather. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, reality breaks. It starts with an inexplicable swirl of clouds in the sky, then a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder with no discernable storm, and suddenly you're falling, your grip on your daughter and your partner slipping free. You see a swirl of purple and stars, and some invisible force slams into you and you're spiralling out of control, slipping out of a starry tunnel and into an explosive sort of darkness. The last thing you feel before everything goes dark is your world breaking, shattering like glass.// [[Return|Review your Memories]]

(enchant: ?text, (t8n: "dissolve")) \[Twine game by Eila Mirlen.]<text| \ \(after: 5s)[(replace: ?text)[Inspired by Cynthia Dobrinski's "Aria."]] \(after: 10s)[(replace: ?text)[With special thanks to Leann Stein, plus anyone who listened to me ramble about this concept.]] \(after: 18s)[(replace: ?text)[Fonts by Jovanny Lemonad, Luciano Vergara, and Kimberly Geswein.]] \(after: 26s)[(replace: ?text)[Loosely inspired by //Undertale// and //The Amazing World of Gumball//, with elements of Erscoga.]] \(after: 36s)[(replace: ?text)[...]] \(after: 41s)[ \ (replace: ?text)[ \ (if: $stayed is "you")[ \ (Somewhere in the multiverse, a young girl and her best friend play in the summer sun. The girl's parents rejoice at being reunited with the child they didn't even know they were missing.) (after: time + 5s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[(Elsewhere in the multiverse, a man returns to his reality, (if: $returned1 is true and $returned2 is true and $returned3 is true)[enjoying the feeling of being whole and in a physical place](elseif: $returned1 is true)[enjoying the feeling of being a physical being in a physical place](else:)[learning to live as a being of The Void in a place that is decidedly not The Void].)]] (after: time + 10s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[(Elsewhere in the multiverse, a little girl and her single parent go about their lives and never think about the third person that was never in their lives.)]] (after: time + 15s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[[[Reset?|Reset]]]] \ ](elseif: $stayed is "art")[ \ (Somewhere in the multiverse, a young girl and her best friend play in the summer sun. The girl's parents rejoice at being reunited with the child they didn't even know they were missing.) (after: time + 5s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[(Elsewhere in the multiverse, you enjoy sleepy nights spent with your family, warm and happy.)]] (after: time + 10s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[(Elsewhere, outside the multiverse, a lonely man traverses The Void, waiting to greet the next lost soul erased from reality.)]] (after: time + 15s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[[[Reset?|Reset]]]] \ ](elseif: $stayed is "aria")[ \ (t8n: "dissolve")[(Somewhere in the multiverse, a man returns to his reality, (if: $returned1 is true and $returned2 is true and $returned3 is true)[enjoying the feeling of being whole and in a physical place](elseif: $returned1 is true)[enjoying the feeling of being a physical being in a physical place](else:)[learning to live as a being of The Void in a place that is decidedly not The Void].)] (after: time + 5s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[(Elsewhere in the multiverse, you enjoy sleepy nights spent with your family, warm and happy.)]] (after: time + 10s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[(Elsewhere in the multiverse, a young boy and his aunt's friend go about their days, trying futilely to re-open the strange passage to The Void in their living room.)]] (after: time + 15s)[(t8n: "dissolve")[[[Reset?|Reset]]]] \ ](else:)[[[Reset?|Reset]]] \ ] \]

(set: $stayed to "aria") \(if: $returned3 is true)[ \ You look back and forth between Art and Aria, then at Minrek and Bee who watch in curious silence. "I'll stay here," Aria says, her voice small. (if: $returned2 is true)[More tears well up at the corners of Art's eyes and track their way down his face.](else:)[Art's form starts to glitch out more violently.] `*` Oh dear... `*` Child please, you cannot... "It's ok, Mr. Art," she says. She gives you both a shaky smile. "And $name." She pushes you both towards Minrek and Minrek (if: $returned2 is true)[grabs ahold of Art's arm](else:)[puts a hand on the part of Art nearest to her]. Aria places your hand in Minrek's and then steps away. "I'll take good care of anyone else who comes here," Aria says, "Like Mr. Art did." She pauses and looks through the window at Bee. "I'm glad I got to see you again," she tells him. "I hope we'll see each other again." He gives her a dejected little wave as she pushes you and Art through the portal as Minrek pulls. The window closes behind you. [Minrek says something about getting you back home]<endit|. \](else:)[ \ You look back and forth between Art and Aria, then at Minrek and Bee who watch in curious silence. "I'll stay here," Aria says, her voice small. `*` Ah... `*` I see how it is, then. He glides towards Minrek and she (if: $returned2 is true)[grabs ahold of his arm](else:)[puts a hand on the part of him nearest to her]. Aria leads you up to the window and places your hand in Minrek's before stepping away. She gives you both a shaky smile. "Goodbye, Mr. Art. Goodbye, $name. I'll take good care of anyone else who comes here, just like Mr. Art did." She pauses and looks through the window at Bee. "I'm glad I got to see you again," she tells him. "I hope we'll see each other again." He gives her a dejected little wave as Minrek pulls you and Art through the portal. The window closes behind you. [Minrek says something about getting you back home]<endit|. \](click: ?endit)[ \ (align: "==><==")[ (t8n: "dissolve")[[[THE END|Credits]]] \ ] \]

(set: $stayed to "you") \(if: $returned3 is true)[ \ You look back and forth between Art and Aria, then at Minrek and Bee who watch in curious silence. You say that you'll stay. (if: $returned2 is true)[More tears well up at the corners of Art's eyes and track their way down his face.](else:)[Art's form starts to glitch out more violently.] `*` Oh dear... `*` My dear, you cannot... You cut him off, insisting that you've made your choice. You push him towards Minrek and she (if: $returned2 is true)[grabs ahold of his arm](else:)[puts a hand on the part of him nearest to her]. Aria grabs Minrek's other hand, smiling at Bee before looking back at you woefully. "Are you sure, $name?" she asks. You assure her that you're okay staying here, and gently push them both through the portal as Minrek pulls. The window closes behind them, and you linger for only a moment before retreating back into The Void, to [begin your role as Void Herald]<endit|. \](else:)[ \ You look back and forth between Art and Aria, then at Minrek and Bee who watch in curious silence. You say that you'll stay. Art's face doesn't change, but he turns to face you fully and you can feel his surprise in the space around you. `*` Ah... `*` I see. Thank you, child. He glides towards Minrek and she (if: $returned2 is true)[grabs ahold of his arm](else:)[puts a hand on the part of him nearest to her]. Aria grabs Minrek's other hand, smiling at Bee before looking back at you woefully. "Are you sure, $name?" she asks. You assure her that you're okay staying here, and watch as Minrek pulls them through the weak spot in The Void. The window closes behind them, and you linger for only a moment before retreating back into The Void, to [begin your role as Void Herald]<endit|. \](click: ?endit)[ \ (align: "==><==")[ (t8n: "dissolve")[[[THE END|Credits]]] \ ] \]

(set: $stayed to "art") \(if: $returned3 is true)[ \ You look back and forth between Art and Aria, then at Minrek and Bee who watch in curious silence. After a long pause, you and Aria approach Minrek. Art lifts his head and smiles at you, his smile as unreadable as ever. `*` Goodbye, my dears. `*` Please... be good. "Goodbye, Mr. Art" Aria says, giving him a watery smile. You say your farewell to him. He smiles at you both. "I wish you could come with us," Aria says. "I'll miss you." `*` Oh, dear... He turns away from you both as Minrek pulls you through the portal. The window closes behind you. [Minrek says something about getting you back home]<endit|. \](else:)[ \ You look back and forth between Art and Aria, then at Minrek and Bee who watch in curious silence. After a long pause, you tell him no. `*` ... `*` What? Aria looks up at you in a panic as you all but shove her into Minrek's arms. `*` Wait...! You can feel his panic in the The Void around you as you approach Minrek too. He moves towards you, the darkness of The Void seeming to solidify around you as he gets closer, but it's too late. Minrek pulls you through the portal into existence. The window closes behind you. Aria looks dejectedly at the spot where the window was. [Minrek says something about getting you back home]<endit|. \](click: ?endit)[ \ (align: "==><==")[ (t8n: "dissolve")[[[THE END|Credits]]] \ ] \]