The Voices of the Night

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The Voices of the Night <<timed 1s t8n>>A (prototype) interactive fiction created by Kaylee Barrera for 21L.003.<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Begin?|start]]<</timed>>

<<set $score to 0>>\ It was a night in <<linkreplace "June," t8n>>June - hot and humid<</linkreplace>> <<timed 3s t8n>>It's another sleepless night. As as sleepless nights go, you go to [[write.|write]]<</timed>>

You open up your doors and windows, and take up your pen. The ink stains your hands. You were writing a very thrilling and original [[story|story]].

<<type 60ms>> //Seraphina found Theodore kissing the hand of Celeste in the woods. “Oh, Theodore!” whispered the unhappy maiden to the moaning trees. “Oh, Theodore, [[my --”|buzz]]// \<</type>>

<<timed 1s>> Whirr!<</timed>> <<timed 2s>> Buzz!<</timed>> <<timed 3s>> Swoooosh!<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>Something comes through the window. It crawls down your lamp, and squirms into your [[ink-bottle.|ink-bottle]]<</timed>>

Disgusted, you dump the ink-bottle out of the window. You close your windows and begin [[again.|story2]]

<<type 60ms>> //“Theodore,” said Seraphina. “Seraphina,” said [[Theodore--|bug-returns]]// \<</type>>

The same creature buzzes into your lap, fluttering its inked covered wings on your paper. <<timed 2s t8n>>\ What do you do? [[Crush the bug|crush_bug]] [[Leave it alone|leave_bug1]] <</timed>>

<<if visited('leave_bug1') is 0 >> <<set $score to $score + 10>> <<endif>>\ <<if visited('leave_bug1') is 1 >> <<set $score to $score + 5>> <<endif>>\ You place the bug down and step on it. It squishs under your foot. <<set $cycle to 0>>\ <<timed 2s t8n>> You go to close the window again and [[then...|10_bugs]] <</timed>>

The bug continues to spray ink across your writing. <<if visited('leave_bug1') > 1>> Its buzzing is starting to annoy you. <<endif>> <<if visited('leave_bug1') > 2>> You can't stand it anymore. <<endif>> <<timed 2s t8n>>\ <<if visited('leave_bug1') < 3>> What do you do?<<endif>> [[Crush the bug|crush_bug]] <<if visited('leave_bug1') < 3>>\ [[Leave it alone|leave_bug1]] <<endif>> <</timed>>

<<if $tried>>\ The 10 bugs still whirr around your room. <<else>>\ <<timed 1s t8n>>10 more creatures fly at you.<</timed>>\ <<endif>> <<timed 2s t8n>>What do you do? <<if visited("out_window") is 0>>\ [[Throw them out the window|out_window]] <<endif>>\ <<if visited("wash_bowl") is 0>>\ [[Drown them in your wash bowl|wash_bowl]] <<endif>>\ <<if visited("Kill_them") is 0>>\ [[Kill them in the corner|Kill_them]] <<endif>>\ <<if visited("trap_them") is 0>>\ [[Trap them|trap_them]] <<endif>>\ <</timed>>

You throw all 10 them out the window. <<timed 2s t8n>>They all fly back.<</timed>> <<set $tried to 1>>\ <<set $cycle to $cycle + 1>>\ <<if $cycle >= 4>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Continue|push_out_balcony]]<</timed>>\ <<else>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Back |10_bugs]]<</timed>>\ <<endif>>

You drown them in your wash bowl. <<timed 2s t8n>>They all sputter and flutter out of the bowl.<</timed>> <<set $tried to 1>>\ <<set $cycle to $cycle + 1>>\ <<if $cycle >= 4>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Continue|push_out_balcony]]<</timed>>\ <<else>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Back |10_bugs]]<</timed>>\ <<endif>>

You corner them in a corner and squish all of them. <<timed 2s t8n>>They all come back to life before your eyes.<</timed>> <<set $tried to 1>>\ <<set $cycle to $cycle + 1>>\ <<if $cycle >= 4>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Continue|push_out_balcony]]<</timed>>\ <<else>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Back |10_bugs]]<</timed>>\ <<endif>>

You try trapping them in your handkerchief. <<timed 2s t8n>>They all escape before you can tie it closed.<</timed>> <<set $tried to 1>>\ <<set $cycle to $cycle + 1>>\ <<if $cycle >= 4>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Continue|push_out_balcony]]<</timed>>\ <<else>>\ <<timed 3s t8n>>[[Back |10_bugs]]<</timed>>\ <<endif>>

All 10 fluttering creatures knock up against your ceiling. <<timed 1s t8n>>You finally push them off out into the balcony.<</timed>> <<timed 2s t8n>>You close your windows.<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>Something [[cracks.|cracked_window]]<</timed>>

Three of the creatures come crawling through a crack. <<timed 1s t8n>>You're tired...<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>You leave them [[alone.|head_to_bed]]<</timed>>

You check the time. <<timed 1s t8n>>Almost 3 hours have passed...<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>You crawl into bed, ready for [[sleep.|cat_sound]]<</timed>>

You hear a loud hiss outside your window. <<timed 2s t8n>>You head outside to your woodshed, and arm yourself with an oak log.<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>You scan [[around...|look_at_cat]]<</timed>>

Something hisses again.<<timed 1s t8n>>You look.<</timed>><<timed 2s t8n>>It's just your neighbor's cat.<</timed>> <<timed 2s t8n>>What do you do? [[Throw your log|kill_cat]] [[Leave the cat alone|leave_cat]] <</timed>>

You smile wickedly. <<timed 1s t8n>>and throw.<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>The cat scowls and disappears over the fence.<</timed>> <<set $score to $score +10>>\ <<timed 4s t8n>>[[Continue|head_back]]<</timed>>

You drop your log. <<timed 1s t8n>>You [[head back.|head_back]]<</timed>>

You return back to your room. [[Exhausted.|to_be_continued]]

To be continued... <<timed 1s t8n>>Your score is $score<</timed>> <<timed 2s t8n>>This interactive fiction prototype is based off Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward's story stort "The Voices of the Night." [[Explore more about the original story here.|https://skiponaship.github.io/the-voices-of-the-night/title_page.html]] <</timed>>