'' (text-colour:#DCD598)[The Sting of My Eye]''
The devestating war that struck the world shocked everybody. Leaving cities in ruin, half of the world presumably destroyed.
Little did humanity know, there were 5 cities that emerged amongst the rubble of the deceased.
[[Who am I?]]
[[Where am I?]]
The City of the Hive is a unique one. The social heirarchy was extreme, with the higher class being those that were apart of the (text-colour:red)[[Hive]]. You remember your time there, but it has been too long since you held it with any affection. You never liked the city much, even before your (text-colour:cyan)[rift].
Now, you live on the outskirts of this city. Outside the ruined walls, struggling in the small group that has formed.
This environment is strange. Nothing is as it seems, and neither are you.
Go Back to(text-colour:blue)[ [[The Beginning]] ](set: $name to (prompt: "What is your name?", "Evian"))
You, (print: $name), have abandoned the city that you hated. Roaming the outskirts of the wall with the group you helped form some time ago.
But you aren't safe outside the wall. Creatures lurk in every shadow, and (text-colour:purple)[nothing] is as it seems.
[[Continue]]
Back to [[The Beginning]] The higher class of your former society. Their memories interlinked, all acted as one entity. Yet, they each had their own vessels, their own body. Those not included in the Hive were treated as less then dirt.
...You know better then to trust any of them. You all do.
Go back to (text-colour:white)[[Where am I?]]You open your eyes groggily. Your body feels...stiff. The tree you leaned against is rough, and your back feels as though its been pierced by a thousand toothpicks. You look up, and see the rest of the group standing together.
You look to your side and see (text-colour:purple)[[Essentia]] by your side. When she notices you're awake, she nuzzles your hand gently, purring.
[[Talk to the group]]
[[Pet Essentia]]
[[Listen quietly to the surroundings]]You stand, giving Essentia one final pat before walking over to the group. There are 3 people standing in front of you.
(text-colour:blue)[[Voss]] is vaguely gesturing as he speaks, pausing when he notices you.
(text-colour:#6448F7)[[Bai]] listens intently, barely registering your presense, her focus on Voss.
(text-colour:lime)[[Arrow]] glances at you, and gives a small, nervous wave.You pet Essentia on the head.
She purrs, leaning into your touch. The soft noise envelops you, and you feel calm. Your mind feels clearer, and you feel the stress lift from your body.
...How long has it been since you've felt this calm?
[[Continue]] back.The surroundings are eerily quiet. The rustling of leaves is the only noise that can be heard, but you're left feeling tense. A strange feeling bubbles up in your chest- it's better to ignore it.
[[Continue]] back.The cub you raised after (text-colour:white)[[finding her]] when you first began roaming the outskirts of the wall.
Essentia is now an adult, but when you look at her you cannot help but see the small baby you raised.
She's the one stable piece of your life.
If anything were to happen to her, (text-colour:gray)[you don't know what you'd do with yourself.]
[[Continue]] Bai was the third to join, and is 27. Despite her general unawareness of her surroundings, she's capable of holding her own during a fight.
Her personality is akin to that of a ray of sunshine piercing through stormy clouds.
She's the type of person that you know you can rely on.
[[Talk to the group]] The newest and youngest member of the group at the age of 17, you were the one that found him wandering outside the wall. Ever since, you've helped him adjust to the new enviornment, teaching him the skills necessary to thrive. He's a fast learner, and has picked up the basic skills of combat using a bow and arrow.
He reminds you of someone you knew a long time ago, back in the city.
...you wonder if that person is still alive.
[[Talk to the group]] .
.
.
You know well that you didn't find her.
.
.
.
.
.
You remember the feeling of blood seeping into your clothing, your hands shaking as you took the life of the creature that attacked you.
You hear the soft growling behind you.
You see the young cub staring at you, oblivious to what you (text-colour:grey)[did to her mother.]
You touch the cubs head, and pick her up.
(text-colour:gray)[You don't look back.]
(text-colour:grey)[[Essentia.]]The cub you raised after (text-colour:red)[killing her mother.]
Essentia is now an adult, but when you look at her you can't help but see the small baby you raised and whose mother you (text-colour:red)[killed.]
She's the only stable piece of your life.
If anything were to happen to her,(text-colour:grey)[ you don't know what you'd do with yourself.]
[[Continue]] One of the first people you met outside the walls.
When you met, you'd already been outside the walls for about a year. He was 25 when you met him, but he's 29 now.
You taught him everything he needed to know, from the poisonous plants in the ground to the savory fruits above your heads.
You'd think of him as a younger brother if you didn't know better.
(text-colour:white)[Right, $name? You know better now. You know not to trust someone you've known for so long, not when you haven't told them your whole story.]
.
(text-colour:#FFB0AE)[.]
(text-colour:#FF7875)[.]
(text-colour:#FF4F4B)[.]
(text-colour:red)[[...Right?]]
You're snapped out of your thoughts by Voss.
"$name? Are you alright?" His eyes hold nothing but concern, but you can still feel your stomach twist.
Arrow and Bai are watching you with the same look in their eyes.
...you feel sick.
(text-colour:white)[
[["...Yeah, I'm fine."]]
[[Nod.]]
[["Yeah. Continue with what you were saying."]]]Voss stares at you for a moment, before nodding.
"Alright, if you say so."
"We were talking about moving locations. This area feels too...eerie to stay. There's no sounds at all. No animals, no hissing of the poisonous gysers...what do you think? Should we move?"
He looks at you expectantly, clearly wanting you to make the final decision.
Will you (text-colour:white)[[look at your map]] and make a decision?
(text-colour:white)[
Or will you [[consult the others?]]]Voss stares at you for a few moments, before slowly nodding.
He gives you a strange look, but you shrug it off.
"...Okay. We were discussing if we wanted to leave the area...I wanted to ask you what you thought."
(text-colour:white)[
Will you [[look at your map]]?
Or will you [[consult the others?]]?]
Voss nods.
"Okay. We were discussing moving locations. This place is eerie, too eerie...there's no sounds at all of anything. No animals, no poisonous gysers hissing their poisonous steam...what should we do? Should we move?"
Will you (text-colour:white)[[look at your map]] and make a decision?
Or will you (text-colour:white)[[consult the others?]]You look at your map.
To the right of the area you're in, are the (text-colour:#7e874b)[poisonous gysers]. While they aren't the most dangerous area, it's difficult to tell when they become active and erupt. You'll have to keep a close eye on (text-colour:lime)[Arrow] and (text-colour:#6448F7)[Bai].
To the left, is the (text-colour:green)[forest]. It's much more dangerous then the gysers, but you're used to fighting the creatures in there, and you know the warning signs of getting attacked. You'd have to protect (text-colour:blue)[Voss].
Above you, is the outskirts of the (text-colour:#c9c6cc)[wall]. While it's relatively safe, you risk sealing the rift in your mind. You have to protect (text-colour:navy)[yourself].
You think for a moment, before deciding.
"Let's go to..."
(text-colour:#7e874b)[["...the poisonous gysers."]]
(text-colour:green)[["...the forest."]]
(text-colour:#c9c6cc)[["...the wall."]]You turn and look at Arrow and Bai.
"I'm not sure." Arrow shakes his head, and begins scratching his arm. "...I'm not as used to this place as you all are."
Bai shrugs. "I don't know. What's around here?...How'd we even get here?" She laughs a little, and Arrow stares at her.
"Haven't you been with $name and Voss for like...a few months now? Shouldn't you know that?"
Bai shrugs yet again, and you have to stop yourself from rolling your eyes at her nonchalant answers.
"I'm not the one with the map. Besides, I'm not good with that sort of thing, I'm much better at finding resources..."
Arrow and Bai continue talking, but at this point you're already tuning them out.
They act like (text-colour:grey)[[your]] siblings.
Will you (text-colour:white)[[look at your map]]?Your siblings?
Silly, you've NEVER had siblings.
.
.
.
.
What do you mean you remember them?
No, you (text-colour:red)[[don't.]]You turn and look at Arrow and Bai.
"I'm not sure." Arrow shakes his head, and begins rubbing his arm. "...I'm not as used to this place as you all are."
Bai shrugs. "I don't know. What's around here?...How'd we even get here?" She laughs a little, and Arrow stares at her.
"Haven't you been with $name and Voss for... 8 months? Shouldn't you know?"
Bai shrugs yet again, and you have to stop yourself from rolling your eyes at her nonchalant answers.
"I'm not the one with the map. Besides, I'm not good with that sort of thing, I'm much better at finding resources..."
Arrow and Bai continue talking, but at this point you're already tuning them out.
They act like siblings.
...(text-colour:white)[[Look at your map.]]You stare at the map.
Your mind wanders.
You never had siblings, so why would you think you did?
...It seems like your rift is trying to close itself up.
.
.
.
.
You can't let that happen, $name.
The Hive will find you. They will kill you. They will kill them. They will kill Essentia.
You'd rather kill yourself then let that happen.
...(text-colour:white)[[look at your map]].Voss grimaces, and nods.
Bai and Arrow pause their bickering, looking at you.
"...Are you sure?" Arrow's voice wavers.
You nod silently.
Your choice is (text-colour:grey)[final.]
.
.
.
(text-colour:red)[[You can't go back now,]](text-colour:red)[ $name.]You and the group begin the long trek to the wall.
You can't help but wonder why you're drawn back here, after all these years.
Do you remember when you first exited the walls?
Do you remember the excruciating pain of your rift?
[[I will remind you.]] The same way that you remined yourself of those siblings, who did not belong to you, who did not know you, ''who would not recognize you.''The rift occurs only in those who are apart of the Hive. You remember, right? You were once one cog in a machine that ran endlessly. Your memories shattered and distorted, unsure if they were your memories or just another who was in the Hive.
When you rifted, those memories from thousands of our Hive members, they shrank in your mind, leaving your own memories front and center.
You were devestated by this, remember? But look where you are now. ''Look where I got you.''
[[Accept me.]]
[[Refuse.]]You accept the strange voice in your mind, and you can feel your senses slowly slipping away.
.
.
.
.
''You failed to protect them.''
Go back to [(text-colour:#C9C6CC)[["...the wall."]]]
Back to [[The Beginning]]