[[Character one: The detective->story 1]]. ''T''hey are the classic film noir detective with the fedora hat, long coat & no friends or family to call their own. Their married to the job. They always have a drink in reach and more often than not sleep at the office.
[[Character two: The performer.->story 2]] ''T''hey are a singer at a bar in the 1940s. They are tired, worn out and at their wits end with the sleazy staff, but at the end of the day they need a paycheck and the world keeps turning.
You wake up in your office to a familiar noise: your receptionist gladys ,a short old woman with a voice that sounds like nails on a chalkboard, yelling at you to get up and do something. She's annoyed you slept here again You groggy, take your feet off the desk and tip your fedora off your face.
Do you want to [[check the mail->B1]] and get a few more moments of quiet or do you[[ open up shop->A1]] and see what the day holds.
You flip the open sign on your office door and sit back down at your desk hopeful that you will get a few more moments of rest but with no such luck the door flies open with the frosted glass loudly clanging against the filing cabinet behind it. Gladys curmudgeonly announces "you have a customer" as she blows a puff of smoke from her mouth. A short greasy haired man in a crisp button down shirt and slacks walks in. Gladys slams the door closed behind him as she continues to smoke. He proceeds to tell you that he has significant proof that the Blood Run killer has a connection to Butler's bar. You thought the cops had this one handled and are suspicious of the man's intentions in bringing you on to this case.
Dismiss this case and leave it to the blundering cops?
[[Do you accept the case ->124]] and the down payment that comes with it or [[dismiss this case and leave it to the blundering cops?->ending 5]]You go and check the mail when you open the squeaky door of the mailbox. There is a thick mailing envelope waiting for you. It smells of alcohol and stale books. It says that the sender has significant proof that the blood run killer has a connection to butlers bar. You thought the cops had this one handled and are suspicious of the senders intentions in bringing you on to this case.
[[Do you accept the case and the down payment that comes with it->124]]or [[ dismiss this case and leave it to the cops?
->ending 5]] After getting this puzzling case you come up with two plans to gather information on this apparent immoral establishment. One is to [[go there as a patron->13A]] and gather your case.or you can get a job thare and [[go undercover->13B]] and potentially witness the wrong doing first hand.
You go to the bar and as soon as you step in you feel the ambience of loud music and plenty of drinks in hand but you can tell it is all a cover for the scheme being run out of this place.
Do you [[stay in the main room->14B]] or[[ sneak in to the back->14A]]?
You go to the bar and find the owner, Skip, as he prefers to be called, he says "you're in luck because one of the show girls just skipped town and ran away with her boy off to California...good riddance to them." Skip is in desperate need of someone to replace her. California, huh, you know that he is actually referring to one of the victims. Take note & keep your eye on Skip. He leads you to the dressing room and says "Thanks to the primadonna over there your first show is in 20 minutes." as he gestures to a girl at a vanity across the dressing room. You recognise her as the lead performer. "Learn fast" said Skip as he throws the choreography sheets at you and exits the room.
Do you go [[talk to the performer->14C]] or do you [[get ready for your first show->15G]]?
You stay in the main room and there is an announcement from the stage that Mary Jane the marvelous nightingale will be beginning her performance. As this announcement happens most of the people in the main room gather in front of the stage.
Do you take advantage of this quiet moment and[[ go get a drink at the bar->15A]] or do you [[go to the performance->15B]] to see what all the hubbub is about?
You go into the back and you manage to find the owner's office. It is unlocked. Just before you go in you hear shouting from the other side of the door. It seems to be getting closer and right before a man comes barging out the door you hide in the shadows of the hallway. Him and the owner seem to be in a disagreement. As this man starts leaving the bar the owner runs after him trying to sort things out which leaves you the office all to yourself. You start rummaging through paperwork and glass bottles while wached by a small gray cat that seems to go by the name of gerald but just before you look in the owners desk you hear a scream coming from the back door of the bar.
Do you[[ go see what the commotion->15C]] is or[[ take advantage of the distraction to continue looking for clues->15D]]?
You go over to the performer and introduce yourself. She chuckles and says “ I know that's not your name. I could tell you where a detective from the second I saw you would get you killed in a place like this. You should take whatever money you have already gotten out of this and run”. You tell her that the last thing that you will ever do is run from a fight especially when it's one worth winning. She admires your stubborn bravery and decides if you aren't going to leave, the least she can do is help keep you safe.
She then asks if you want to[[ skip the performance and look for clues ->15E]] I could probably cover for you or you can[[ do the performance with me->15F]] and completely avoid suspicion.
You go over to the bar and order a drink while the bartender is turned away. You spy a drawer right behind the counter but it's locked and there's no use in trying it now with all these people around. So you decide to sneak in under the cover of night. You snake your way to the drawer and pick the lock when you open the drawer you find a ledger. It contains photos of all the victims, information on them and gruesome trophies from the victims former lives as well as at the corner of every page there is a bloody fingerprint
[[While you're here you decide to look around for more evidence.->end 1]]
You wander over to the stage as the music picks up. A woman with shiny brown hair glittering green eyes in a sparkling dress walks out on stage. She starts singing. Her voice is sharp yet sweet. As the performance progresses she walks down off stage and meanders through the audience when she walks past you she slips a note into your hand. As she walks back on stage you slip out of the performance to read the note. When you unfold the note it reads as a tip I could tell you where a detective from the second I saw you would get you killed in a place like this.
[[Do you go to the dressing room ->16B]]to get more information from her or do you [[take her advice and run->16C ]]
you open the drawer inside. All you find is a broken green glass bottle but you take note that a large shard from it is missing. Just then the door creaks open, ready to defend yourself but Gerald hops off the desk and walks over to the young woman at the door with a saucer of milk. You both look surprised to see each other but leave eachother be in your individual tasks she is the one to break your silence. By asking, are you a detective? inviting you to share your inquiries. After you ignore her she says, that will get you killed in a place like this. You should take whatever money you have already gotten out of this and run. You tell her that the last thing that you will ever do is run from a fight especially when it's one worth winning. She admires your stubborn bravery and decides if you aren't going to leave, the least she can do is help keep you safe and[[ she helps you in your investigation.->3A]]
You sprint out the back door and see the man who ran out of the owner's office hassling one of the performers and demanding that she get a drink with him. You yell at him to leave her alone he looks you up and down and says yah and what and what are you going to do if I don't. You end up needing to kick him to the curb and after your tussle the performer comes up to you and says that she could have handled him herself but thanks you for your help. She also says as a tip I could tell you were a detective from the second I saw you that will get you killed in a place like this. You should take whatever money you have already gotten out of this and run. You tell her that the last thing that you will ever do is run from a fight especially when it's one worth winning. She admires your stubborn bravery and decides if you aren't going to leave, the least she can do is help keep you safe and[[ she helps you in your investigation.->3]]
You sneak over to the bar while the bartender is turned away. You spy a drawer right behind the counter and pick the lock when you open the drawer and you find a ledger. It contains photos of all the victims, information on them and gruesome trophies from the victims former lives as well as at the corner of every page there is a bloody fingerprint. It is the curtain that the killer works in the bar. After her performance you bring the ledger to the performer when she flips through it she sees the old performer. The performer looks like she is going to be sick now she is committed to finding the killer.[[ He hurt her friend and she wants vengeance.->3]]
you quickly get ready for the performance and learn the choreography the beast you can befor you are rushed on stage. When you start your dance you are clearly a mess thankfully the main performer notices and covers for you. When the performance is over and you get back to the dressing room the performer says “so you're a detective hu? I mean your no show girl.” you chuckle and say that's for sure. She then says You should take whatever money you have already gotten out of this and run. You tell her that the last thing that you will ever do is run from a fight especially when it's one worth winning. She admires your stubborn bravery and decides if you aren't going to leave, the least she can do is help keep you safe and[[ she helps you in your investigation.->3A]]You go over to your newly assigned vanity. Even Though you need to learn the task at hand your sights are set squarely on solving this case. so when you open the vanity and see green glass and necklace beads you realize the vanity you are using must have belongs to the murder victim and this is your first clue but with little time to spare you quickly get ready for the performance and learn the choreography the beast you can befor you are rushed on stage. When you start your dance you are clearly a mess thankfully the main performer notices and covers for you. When the performance is over and you get back to the dressing room the performer says “so you're a detective hu? I mean your no show girl.” you chuckle and say that's for sure. She then says You should take whatever money you have already gotten out of this and run. You tell her that the last thing that you will ever do is run from a fight especially when it's one worth winning. She admires your stubborn bravery and decides if you aren't going to leave, the least she can do is help keep you safe and[[ she helps you in your investigation.->3A]]
You decide to snoop around, eventually you make your way to the owner's office. when you get there the door is locked. you pick the lock. When You enter you go over to the desk you open a drawer at the bottom and you find a shrine to the murder victims with blood covered jewelry, photos, newspaper clippings, and a broken green glass bottle all relating to the murders. As you look through the drawer you burn your hand on a cup of coffee that was left on the desk. Someone is here! As if on instinct you jolt around and stop skip the owner from attacking you with a shard
of a broken green glass bottle that is caked with blood. You are able to wrestle him to the ground and you restrain his hands behind him with your hand cuffs and you turn him and all the evidence over to the cops. This was all in a day's work for a detective like you and you return to your life of sleeping in the office and arguments with gladys.
[[game over->story start ]] As you have worked this case clues have been few and far between and a case that should have taken a matter of days has grown into weeaks that grew into months. As time grew so did your feelings for the performer. Today marks the second month in this case and as much as it's your job to finish it you never want to leave. You are sitting at her vanity with her having yet another bubbly conversation. As you two talk you barely can tell what blabber is leaving your mouth. You hear her laugh it makes you have butterflies in the pit of your stomach and her smile makes you melt. As you stare at her in amazement she suddenly stops talking and there is an awkward silence. She breaks this tension by telling you that she has enjoyed the last few months. You agree and say that she would make a good detective. As both your fases move closer together she retorts yah and you would make a crap perform… Suddenly you are kissing and it feels like time stops then you realize time actually stopped and cracks in reality are forming right before your eyes thare iridescent and glittering. Then you hear a booming voice coming through the cracks and it tells you to solve the case.
Do you [[search for clues->32A]]or [[go through the cracks->End 4]]?
You go into the dressing room and wait a few moments for the performance to end and the performer walks into the dressing room. She says “I thought I told you to leave”.You tell her that the last thing that you will ever do is run from a fight especially when it's one worth winning. She admires your stubborn bravery and decides if you aren't going to leave, the least she can do is make sure you don't get yourself killed.
[[ she helps you in your investigation.->3]]
You decide to go through the cracks to the voice that is beyond your reality that has been torn to shreds. When you do, your consciousness fades into the nothingness that is beyond till all that is left of you is the memory of your new kindred love and then there is nothing.
[[GAME OVER->story start ]]
trigger warning : there are depictions of substance abuse and violence.
[[Next ->story start ]] You decide to snoop around, eventually you make your way to the owner's office. When you get there the door is locked. you pick the lock. When You enter you go over to the desk you open a drawer at the bottom and you find a shrine to the murder victims with blood covered jewelry, photos, newspaper clippings, and a broken green glass bottle all relating to the murders. As you look through the drawer you burn your hand on a cup of coffee that was left on the desk. Someone is here! As if on instinct you jolt around and stop Skip the owner from attacking you with a shard of a broken green glass bottle that is caked with blood. You are able to wrestle him to the ground and you ristrain with your hand cuffs that are on your belt. In that instant the cracks expand and pop then [[there is nothing but dark inky blackness.->4]]
you dismiss the case and go back to sleep there is no use sticking your neck out on this one. you continue waiting for a better case to come along.
[[GAME OVER->story start ]]This was all in a day's work for a detective like you and you return to your life of sleepin in the office and arguments with gladys.
[[game over->story start ]] As you have worked this case clues have been few and far between and a case that should have taken a matter of days has grown into weeaks that grew into months. As time grew so did your feelings for the performer. Today marks the second month in this case and as much as it's your job to finish it you never want to leave. You are sitting at her vanity with her having yet another bubbly conversation. As you two talk you barely can tell what blabber is leaving your mouth. you hear her laugh it makes you have butterflies in the pit of your stomach and her smile makes you melt. As you stare at her in amazement she suddenly stops talking and there is an awkward silence. She breaks this tension by telling you that she has enjoyed the last few months. You agree and say that she would make a good detective. As both your fases move closer together she retorts yah and you would make a crap perform… Suddenly you are kissing and it feels like time stops then you realize time actually stopped and cracks in reality are forming right before your eyes thare iridescent and glittering. Then you hear a booming voice coming through the cracks and it tells you to solve the case.
Do you [[search for clues->32B]] or [[go through the cracks->End 4]]?
You decide to snoop around, eventually you make your way to the owner's office. When you get there the door is locked. you pick the lock. When You enter you go over to the desk you open a drawer at the bottom and you find a shrine to the murder victims with blood covered jewelry, photos, newspaper clippings, and a edger. It contains photos of all the victims, information on them and gruesome trophies from the victims former lives as well as at the corner of every page there is a bloody fingerprintAs you look through the drawer you burn your hand on a cup of coffee that was left on the desk. Someone is here! As if on instinct you jolt around and stop Skip the owner from attacking you with a shard of a broken green glass bottle that is caked with blood. You are able to wrestle him to the ground and you ristrain with your hand cuffs that are on your belt. In that instant the cracks expand and pop then [[there is nothing but dark inky blackness.->4]]
Do you[[ wake->4A]] or do you[[ sleep?->Ending 6]]
your consciousness fades into the nothingness that is beyond till all that is left of you is the memory of your new kindred love and then there is nothing you.
[[Game over->story start ]]
You wake to a blinding light. At first you think you died and then you see scientists in white coats shining flashlights into your eyes checking if you're alive. In that moment your memory comes back to you like the snap of a slingshot. You remember that you and your wife, who was the performer at butlers bar, own an alternative p.i firm in 2050. You are the test subjects of memory, a tech firm run by doctor Alan Erickson who uses proprietary v.r technology to help you solve cold cases. As you remember these facts you jolt off of the scanner table and run over to your wife across the room while she is still on her table you hold her in your arms. her embrace makes you feel safe and you look at each other with loving eyes as you say no matter what boundaries I Will always find my way back to you as tears roll down your faces she says i will always recognise you with your terrible dancing you both laugh her smile still lights up the room and you both take a breath in the relief that you are finally home. When out of the corner of your eye you see Alan Erickson walk in and say to one of the technicians “ recalibrate the miceans so we can send them back in there”. You walk over to him fuming you say “ what the hell just happened in there Alan'' he says nothing there was just a bug it's fixed you guys can go back in'' you are struggling to hold yourself back from hitting him you say there is no way me and my wife are going back in we could have been stuck in there forever. Camly says you could have died. You say “ exactly we are not risking our life to be your labrats. Call us when these things actully work for now we are going to slve cases the old fation way!
[[The end->story start ]]