The Laboratory — Challenge #1

(set: $numberVariable to 5) (set: $hasKey to "false") (set: _textVariable to "The values") (set: $playerhealth to 20) (set: $bittenhealth to 20) (align:"=><=")[*(text-colour:red)[For Those Bitten]* contains themes and scenarios that may be distressing to some players. Proceed at [[your own discretion.->Introduction]] ] (align:"=><=")[//(this is a *extremely* paired down version of a much longer scene shifted from ChapBook)//] ---- (align:"=><=")[<sub>an *interactive experience* by Christian Husband</sub> ]

**Darkness.** | [[Next->In Lab]]

Only **darkness.** [[[Open your eyes.->In Lab2]] ]

As your vision sharpens, you can hear the buzzing of exposed wires as you attempt to get your bearings. A headache begins to form. You straighten, rising from a cold, metal table. You can feel the edge of a blade in your pocket. It is a *dagger*—rusted at the tip. Questions you are not sure you can answer come racing into your mind. | [[Next->In Lab3]]

You can see shards of glass scattered on the floor and half-filled vials left on racks. On the ceiling, the light fixtures have completely come undone, hanging by wired threads and flickering weakly. | [[Next->In Lab4]]

(if: $hasKey is "true")[You reach two massive steel doors, preventing your exit. There is no way to barge through by brute force—you'd surely break a few bones to no avail. However, you do see that there is a rusted keyhole on the right panel—and you have **the keys.** You jingle the chain of keys—there is an *iron one*, a *copper one*, and then a *strange pronged one*. Which one is it? [[Iron Key]] [[Copper Key]] [[Pronged Key]]] (else-if: $hasKey is "false") [You reach two massive steel doors, preventing your exit. There is no way to barge through by brute force—you'd surely break a few bones to no avail. However, you do see that there is a rusted keyhole on the right panel—but you possess **no keys**. Nothing to do here now but [[**turn back.**->In Lab4]] **Tip**: You cannot leave this location without satisfying the requirement. In this case, it is finding keys. Continue to explore!]

You cry out for help. Screaming until your voice goes raw. You hear the pleas reverbate through the laboratory, bouncing off the gray walls. There is no answer. But then you hear something—a weak groan, coming from the floor. [[Investigate the noise.]]

(if: $sawDaniel is "true")[You peer to find where the noise is coming from. Your blood runs cold. With horror, you realize that the bloody badge belonged to this corpse. And then another chilling fact sets in—*Daniel Garcia* had died long ago. This is a *Bitten* now, freshly turned. Wet blood and bile stains their blue polyester. When it notices you, it rises slowly, bones snapping and popping into place. Arms extended, the *Bitten* lumbers towards you, drool running down its chin. There is a glimmer in the dimly lit room—a set of keys dangles from the *Bitten's* belt loop.] (else:) [You peer to find where the noise is coming from. Your blood runs cold. It is a *Bitten*, freshly turned. You can tell that they used to be a guard of some sort—wet blood and bile stains the blue polyester. When it notices you, it rises slowly, bones snapping and popping into place. Arms extended, the *Bitten* lumbers towards you, drool running down its chin. There is a glimmer in the dimly lit room—a set of keys dangles from the *Bitten's* belt loop.] [[ ⌂ Attack]] [[Run away]]

You push in the //iron key// and turn the lock. Nothing. [[Try another key->❂ Leave the laboratory]]

You push in the //copper key// and turn the lock. Nothing. [[Try another key->❂ Leave the laboratory]]

You push in the //pronged key// and turn the lock. You hear a click. You walk through the metal doors and find yourself faced with darkness in both directions. Clearly, whatever power was left in the previous room didn’t extend here. Steeling yourself, you wade into the darkness, hoping to find your way out of this labyrinth and into [[fresh air.->End]]

(if:$bittenhealth > 1 and $playerhealth > 1)[The *Bitten* has $bittenhealth health. You have $playerhealth health. [[Use *Fists.* (60%)->Use Fists]] [[Use *Dagger.* (50%)->Use Dagger]]] (else-if: $playerhealth < 1) [You have lost aganist the *Bitten.* | [[Combat End->CombatEnd]]] (else-if: $bittenhealth < 1) [You brace yourself, winding back and delivering a final blow that sends the *Bitten* crashing onto the ground. Your foot comes shortly after, the heel of your shoe squishing its rotted skull. It was something you just *knew* somehow—destorying the brain would destroy the creature for good. [[Inspect the fallen Bitten.->Inspect the fallen Bitten]]]

(if:visits is 1)[You furrow your eyebrows, straining your mind to remember anything that could have led to you ending up here. You get nothing.] (if:visits is 2)[You furrow your eyebrows, straining your mind to remember anything that could have led to you ending up here. You see shadows. Not clear—but you see them.] (if:visits is 3)[You furrow your eyebrows, straining your mind to remember anything that could have led to you ending up here. You see shadows. Now they are more clear. They shift in the darkness, calling to you. One sounds soft. Familar. Family?] (if:visits > 3)[A clear memory becomes present in your mind. A looming figure in a spiral mask, reaching out to lift you up. Beckoning to you. As soon as it's there, the memory dissipates.] [[Try Again.->Try to remember how you got here.]] [[Give up.->In Lab4]]

You peer around the laboratory, searching for anything that could give you some insight as to how you got here. And *anything* that could help you escape this place. You see a desk covered with [[stacks of inked papers]] and a [[manila folder.]] You see a [[blood-stained badge]] and a [[foul-smelling body]] on the floor. [[I've searched enough.->In Lab4]]

(set: $numberVariable to 5) (set: $hasKey to "false") (set: _textVariable to "The values") (set: $playerhealth to 20) (set: $bittenhealth to 20) You’re in some sort of laboratory. Abandoned. You rub your wrists—they feel sore. [[Try to remember how you got here.]] [[Call out for help.]] [[Search the room for clues.]] [[❂ Leave the laboratory]] **Tip**: The ❂ allows you to leave a location/end a conversation in *For Those Bitten*, assuming you have met the proper requirements.

You attempt to run away from the *Bitten*, flinging items onto the floor to try to impede its progress. The *Bitten* seems completely unfazed, continuing its slow walk forward. You suddenly realize that the room is enclosed. And there is nowhere left for you to run. [[Accept your fate.]]

You scan the papers. They are an assortment of different things—stamped reports, diagrams, printed memos, and a sealed letter. There is a diagram of a //Bitten// and their internal organs. Then of a diagram of a human with the nervous system outlined. Scribbles—some crossed out—are all over them. ~~cure?~~ fixed? new human? ~~need more tests~~ ~~upping the dosage? ~~Adverse effects, lowering [[Return to searching.->Search the room for clues.]]

You rummage through the folder. Most of it is gibberish to you—a series of outlined tests and patient infromation—but one particular document catches your eye. A sealed letter.(click-append: "letter.")[ You pry it open and unfurl it. //Vanessa, I’m writing because I don’t know how else to reach you. I know I’ve been gone longer than expected. Things at work are getting hectic. There are whispers of strange, strange things. I wish I could describe it, but I don’t even know if you’ll believe me if I did. Just hurry and get yourself and little Ashley safe. Get out of cities. Get on the water. Get far away from people. I’m enclosing some money because I don’t want them tracking my bank statements. I’ll meet you all as soon as I can.// Strangely enough, no name is enclosed. //Who// wrote this letter?] [[Return to searching.->Search the room for clues.]]

(set: $sawDaniel to "true") You inspect the badge. You can see that this belonged to someone who presumably worked here—the blood feels fresh and you can see *Crescent Labs* scrawled across the badge. And then their information. *Daniel Garcia.* *12/31/2052.* Judging by the picture, Daniel looked barely older than twenty-eight. Your eyes are drawn over to the body laying still nearby. Could it be... [[Inspect the body.->foul-smelling body]] [[Return to searching.->Search the room for clues.]]

You walk over to the foul-smelling body and crouch down. Your blood runs cold. (if: $sawDaniel is "true")[With horror, you realize that the bloody badge belonged to this corpse. And then another chilling fact sets in—*Daniel Garcia* had died long ago.] (else:)[This is a *Bitten* now, freshly turned. Wet blood and bile stains their blue polyester. When it notices you, it rises slowly, bones snapping and popping into place. Arms extended, the *Bitten* lumbers towards you, drool running down its chin. There is a glimmer in the dimly lit room—a set of keys dangles from the *Bitten's* belt loop.] [[ ⌂ Attack]] [[Run away]]

(set: $damagechance to (random: 1, 100)) (set: $fistdamage to (random: 1, 4)) (if: $damagechance> 39)[ You strike the *Bitten* with your fists for $fistdamage[[ damage->PlayerDamage]].] (else:) [You miss. | [[Bitten's Turn->PlayerDamageMissed]]]

(set: $damagechance to (random: 1, 100)) (set: $fistdamage to (random: 1, 8)) (if: $damagechance> 49)[ You plunge the dagger into *Bitten* for $fistdamage[[ damage->PlayerDamage]].] (else:) [You miss. | [[Bitten's Turn->PlayerDamageMissed]]]

(set: $hasKey to "true") You crouch down, inspecting the fallen *Bitten*. Noticing the dangling keys off its waist, you grab it, the rusted ring nearly snapping from the sudden force. [[❂ Leave the laboratory]]

You stumble, blood leaking from every orifice. You are dying. It was never predicted or wished for, but you can already feel the blackness creeping into the corners of your vision as your consciousness begins to slip away. Cold builds—your life is coming to an unfortunate end. [[Try Again->In Lab4]]

(set: $playerdamage to $fistdamage) (set: $bittenhealth to $bittenhealth - $fistdamage) (set: $damagechance to (random: 1, 100)) (set: $edamage to (random: 1,4)) (if: $damagechance> 49) [ The *Bitten* hits you for $edamage [[ damage->EnemyDamage]].] (else:) [The *Bitten* misses. | [[Next Round-> ⌂ Attack]]]

(set: $damagechance to (random: 1, 100)) (set: $edamage to (random: 1,4)) (if: $damagechance> 49)[ The *Bitten* hits you for $edamage [[ damage->EnemyDamage]].] (else:) [The *Bitten* misses. | [[Next Round-> ⌂ Attack]]]

(set: $playerhealth to $playerhealth - $edamage) | [[Next Round-> ⌂ Attack]]

(align:"=><=")[(text-colour:red)[For Those Bitten]] (align:"=><=")[<sub>an *interactive experience* by Christian Husband</sub> ] (END)

Your mind races but no solutions rise to the surface. There is no escape from this. You close your eyes, accepting your fate. You feel the *Bitten* grab your neck, sinking its rotting teeth into your flesh. Try as you may, this bite spells an end to your journey. Whether the chills grip you immediately or the fever saps your strength over the next few days, there is only one outcome—a transformation into a rotting creature, solely sustained by a need to feed on human flesh. [[Try Again->In Lab4]]