Netherworld

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You’re falling. Falling through an endless dark void. And yet your body feels so buoyant and weightless that, for a moment, you wonder if perhaps the void is really falling around you instead. Then the small hairs at the back of your neck start to bristle, and you sense that the end of whatever you're falling down - or whatever is falling around you - is coming closer and closer. There is something written at the bottom, but before you can reach it, your body yanks itself upward. Towards the light. [[. . .->Awake]] <<set $countdown to 35>> <<set $initialNum to 83478>> <<set $awakeNum to $initialNum - 1>> <<set $finalNum to $initialNum + $countdown>> <<set $steppingOutside to "beforeKids">> <<set $handyMan to "undiscovered">> <<set $counter to "undiscovered">> <<set $waitingRoom to "firstVisit">> <<set $pepper to "firstVisit">> <<set $stall to "firstVisit">> <<set $trade to "firstTrade">> <<set $outside to "firstVisit">> <<set $criminal to "firstVisit">> <<set $restroom to "firstVisit">> <<set $kidfort to "firstVisit">> <<set $cafe to "firstVisit">> <<set $intern to "firstVisit">> <<set $oldlady to "firstVisit">> <<set $cassetteSale to "firstShow">> <<set $handymanTicket to "stillForSale">> <<set $criminalStabbing "notDone">> <<set $panicAttack to "false">> <<set $teddybear to "forSale">> <<set $sunglasses to "forSale">> <<set $cassette to "forSale">> <<set $keychain to "taken">>

You awake with a startle. Your ears are buzzing with the sound of a hundred different voices weaving in and out of each other, and the glare from the fluorescent lights makes your vision dance with tiny white spots. As they slowly dissipate, you begin to take in your surroundings. You take a second to marvel at the sheer size of the place you're in. You appear to be in some kind of waiting hall, but you don’t believe you have ever even been in an airport with a waiting lounge this big. Around you, there are rows and rows of chairs, most of which are occupied by people of varying shapes and sizes. At the very end of the room, there is a counter with a large electric sign hanging above it. It reads: <div align='center'>Now serving: <span class="redtext">$awakeNum</span></div> The neon red numbers flicker ever so slightly, and as you watch them, the number displayed ticks up. A man sitting in a nearby chair jerks up and grabs his suitcase, eagerly pushing people aside, as he hurriedly makes his way to the counter. You look to your left and discover a stack of pamphlets lying on the small table next to you. The cover of the topmost pamphlet immediately grabs your attention. [[Read the cover of the pamphlet->The Netherworld Pamphlets]]

The layout of the pamphlet's cover page appears to be indistinguishable from that of an ordinary gossip magazine. The contents, on the other hand, are another matter entirely... “Welcome to the Netherworld: How to Make the Most Out of the First Day of the Rest of Your Afterlife” “Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Life as a Ghost (number 7 will surprise you!)” “The Woman Behind the Monster: An exclusive post-mortem interview with Mary Shelley” “Shedding Your Mortal Coil: A useful guide on how to maintain a healthy relationship with your earthly habits” “Keeping it Classy: How NOT to Approach Your Deceased Celebrity Crush” [[Wait...->Meeting the Old Lady]] [[Wait.->Meeting the Old Lady]] [[Wait!->Meeting the Old Lady]]

You don’t want to alarm her, so you try to straighten out your face and tell her that you're fine. The old lady purses her lips as if she’s not quite convinced. “It’s just that... well, you seemed to be quite in a tizzy just now. You were positively shaking all over.” You assure her that you’re perfectly fine. She briefly closes her eyes and shakes her head in a way that tends to grant old people an air of sagely wisdom. “Well, no matter. I know you young kids are always trying to put on a brave face - even in the face of your impending doom. I suppose it’s different when you get to be my age. Most of us old folks have learned to make our peace with the fact that death would come a-knockin' sooner rather than later.” She smiles at you, reassuringly. “But don’t you worry. I’ve heard that it’s going to be the most wonderful adventure.” She takes out a small slip of paper from her purse and waves it around excitedly like a kid going on a long-awaited school trip. [[Ask her about the paper->The Ticket]]

The old lady gives you a look of great sympathy. “I’ll say. Oh, you poor thing. I suppose it’s different when you get to be my age. Most of us old folks have more or less made our peace with the fact that death would come a-knockin' sooner rather than later.” She smiles at you, reassuringly. “But don’t you worry. I’ve heard that it’s going to be the most wonderful adventure.” She takes out a small slip of paper from her purse and waves it around excitedly like a kid going on a long-awaited school trip. [[Ask her about the paper->The Ticket]]

You ask her what the slip of paper is for. “Oh, this?” she says, “This is the ticket for the ferry. Well, I really shouldn’t have to tell //you// that. You have one as well. We received it in the waiting room just before this one.” You stare blankly at her. You don’t remember any such ticket. In fact, you don’t remember anything from before waking up. You tell her that you’re not quite sure what she means. For a moment, she looks worried, and the wrinkles in the middle of her brow deepen. Then she casually swats the air with her ticket as if to ward off any potential signs of trouble. “Well, you know - some folks are quite in a state of shock when they get here. Quite understandably so. Do you think there is a chance that you might simply have forgotten about it? I’m sure they wouldn’t have let you into this room without a ticket. Have you tried looking for it in your pockets?” [[Check your pockets->The Ticket 2]]

<<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> <<if $waitingRoom is "firstVisit">>You anxiously glance around the waiting room. In front of you, you see the counter with the electric sign hanging above it. Despite the old lady’s explanation, it might be worth it to drop by and try to explain your situation. To your left, you can see a pair of large glass doors that lead to an outside area. You can just barely make out a piece of the sky from where you're standing. Getting some fresh air might help you think more clearly. Behind you, you see the old lady. You suppose you could always try talking to her again for some more information. Further behind you, there is another set of doors that lead to a café area. A woman enters through them and a strong smell of ground coffee beans wafts in your direction. Next to the café area, there is a door, which has a sign that simply says “Grief Counseling” hanging next to it. At the far end of the right side of the room, there is a door marked with a restroom sign. The electric sign above the counter tells you that there are <span class="redtext"><b>$countdown</b></span> numbers left before it's your turn. [[Go to the counter->The Counter]] [[Escape to the restroom->The Restroom][$panicAttack to "true"]] [[Go outside->The Kid Encounter]] [[Go to the café area->The Coffee Area][$cafearea to "drinksFirst"]] [[Go to grief counseling->Grief Counseling]] [[Talk to the old lady->The Old Lady]] <<set $waitingRoom to "default">> <<elseif $waitingRoom is "default">> <<if $scaredycat is "pursued">><<set $scaredycat to "default">>As you re-enter the waiting room, you manage to see the suspicious man slip into the restrooms. The electric sign above the counter tells you that there are <span class="redtext"><b>$countdown</b></span> numbers left before it's your turn. [[Follow the man into the restroom->Restroom with Scaredy Cat][$scaredycat to "pursued"]] <<if $coffeemachine is "fixed">>[[Go to the café area->The Coffee Area FIXED]]>><<else>>[[Go to the café area->The Coffee Area]]<</if>> [[Go to the counter->The Counter]] [[Go outside->The Outside]] [[Go to grief counseling->Grief Counseling]] [[Talk to the old lady->The Old Lady]] <<if $steppingOutside is "afterKids">>[[Seek out the kids->The Kid Fort]]<</if>> <<if $handyman is "aided">>[[Look for the man sitting outside the restroom->Handyman 2]]<<elseif $handyman is "done">><</if>> <<else>> You anxiously glance around the waiting room. The electric sign above the counter tells you that there are <span class="redtext"><b>$countdown</b></span> numbers left before it's your turn. [[Go to the counter->The Counter]] [[Go to the restroom->The Restroom]] <<if $steppingOutside is "beforeKids">>[[Go outside->The Kid Encounter]]<<else>>[[Go outside->The Outside]]<</if>> <<if $coffeemachine is "fixed">>[[Go to the café area->The Coffee Area FIXED]]<<else>>[[Go to the café area->The Coffee Area]]<</if>> [[Go to grief counseling->Grief Counseling]] [[Talk to the old lady->The Old Lady]] <<if $steppingOutside is "afterKids">>[[Seek out the kids->The Kid Fort]]<</if>> <<if $handyMan is "aided">>[[Look for the man sitting outside the restroom->Handyman 2]]<<elseif $handyMan is "done">><</if>> <</if>> <</if>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

<<if $counter is "undiscovered">>The clerk behind the counter glances up from her computer as you approach. She looks completely fed up with everyone around her - including you. "Your ticket, please." [[Slam your hand into the table and demand satisfaction->Counter Rant 1]] [[Explain your situation - calmly->Counter Calm]] [[Explain your situation - less calmly->Counter Nervous]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<set $counter to "discovered">> <<else>> The clerks sighs in exasperation as you approach. "What is it now?" [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>>

<<if $restroom is "firstVisit">><<set $restroom to "default">> <<if $panicAttack is "true">><<set $bathroomstall to "nextto">> You decide to go to a place where you can properly panic, and you know that the bathroom is the most auspicious place to do so. As you hurry inside, a somewhat peculiar thought suddenly occurs to you. Do ghosts even need bathrooms? You have a look around. It certainly looks like a normal public restroom. Maybe a bit nicer than most. There are seven stalls and seven sinks. The air smells faintly of lavender, and you hear the soothing sounds of celestial music being played from a pair of speakers in the ceiling. Well, you’ve already decided to have a proper breakdown, and these surprisingly pleasant surroundings are certainly not going to deter you. You lock yourself into one of the stalls and curl up on the toilet seat with your arms around your legs. Maybe they won't find you in here? You sit for a moment and listen to your own breathing, feeling the hot, humid air of your breath against your knees. Suddenly, you hear a loud sniffle coming from the stall next to your own. <<if $handyMan is "undiscovered">> [[Investigate the noise]]<<elseif $handyMan is "discovered">> [[Talk to the crying man]]<</if>> [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $panicAttack is "false">> As you walk inside, a somewhat peculiar thought suddenly occurs to you. Do ghosts even need bathrooms? You have a look around. It certainly looks like a normal public restroom. Maybe a bit nicer than most. There are seven stalls and seven sinks. The air smells faintly of lavender, and you hear the soothing sounds of celestial music being played from a pair of speakers in the ceiling. You catch a glance of yourself in one of the mirrors. You look the same as you always do. Maybe a bit more unhinged than usual. Suddenly, you hear a loud sniffle coming from one of the stalls. <<if $handyMan is "undiscovered">> [[Investigate the noise]]<<elseif $handyMan is "discovered">> [[Talk to the crying man]]<</if>> [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<elseif $restroom is "default">> You enter the restroom. There are seven stalls and seven sinks. The speakers in the ceiling are playing celestial music. <<if $handyMan is "undiscovered">>Every now and then you hear a loud sniffle coming from one of the stalls.<<elseif $handyMan is "discovered">>The man in the stall is sobbing uncontrollably.<<elseif $handyTicket is "gone">>The man in the stall is sobbing uncontrollably.<<elseif $handyMan is "aided">><</if>> <<if $handyMan is "undiscovered">> [[Investigate the noise]]<<elseif $handyMan is "discovered">>[[Talk to the crying man]]<<elseif $handyMan is "aided">><</if>> [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

<<if $outside is "firstVisit">><<set $outside to "default">> You step outside. The air is just slightly too cool for comfort and so damp that it immediately clings to your skin like a sticky, wet film. As you look up, you notice that the sky is an ambiguously bleak shade of grey that makes it impossible for you to tell what time of day it is. Despite the less than ideal weather conditions, a few people have decided to venture outside and are strolling about in small, huddled groups. In front of you, you see a metal railing that separates the platform you're standing on from a dark, unknown sea. You gaze out towards the horizon, but your line of sight is cut short by an impenetrable fog that rises like a pale barrier a few feet into the murky waters. You walk to the railing. Below you, waves are lapping gently up against the side of the building. The water appears to be pitch black, although you can’t really tell whether it is caused by a trick of the light or not. Further down the platform, you see a dark, hooded figure standing with his back against the railing. He is watching his surroundings warily with his hands hidden in his pockets. You're not able to see his face clearly from where you're standing. As you look back towards the entrance, your eye is drawn to a little stall that is located in one of the corners lying against the building. There's a makeshift sign above it that simply says "Forever Open For Business". [[Approach the hooded figure->The Criminal]] [[Visit the stall->The Stall Guy]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $outside is "firstCriminal">><<set $outside to "default">><<set $scaredy to "spotted">> As you turn away from the hooded man, you lock eyes with another figure who has just stepped out on the platform. You see panic spread across his face, as he immediately turns around and bolts inside the building again. [[Follow the suspicious guy into the waiting room->The Waiting Room][$scaredycat to "pursued"]] [[Visit the stall->The Stall Guy]] [[Talk to the hooded man again->The Criminal]] <<elseif $outside is "default">> You step outside. The air immediately starts to cling to your skin like a sticky, wet film. <<if $criminal is "firstVisit">>A dark, hooded figure is leaning against the railing further down. He is watching his surroundings warily with his hands hidden in his pockets. You're not able to see his face clearly from where you're standing.<<else>>The hooded man is leaning against the railing further down. He is watching his surroundings warily with his hands hidden in his pockets.<</if>> There's a stall located in the corner. It's forever open for business. [[Approach the hooded figure->The Criminal]] [[Visit the stall->The Stall Guy]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $outside is "afterStabbing">> The air is clinging to your skin like a sticky, wet film. There's a stall located in the corner. It's forever open for business. [[Visit the stall->The Stall Guy]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $outside is "afterConvo">><<set $outside to "default">> The damp air is clinging to your skin like a sticky, wet film. <<if $criminal is "firstVisit">>A dark, hooded figure is leaning against the railing further down. He is watching his surroundings warily with his hands hidden in his pockets. You're not able to see his face clearly from where you're standing.<<elseif $criminalStabbing is "done">><<else>>The hooded man is leaning against the railing further down. He is watching his surroundings warily with his hands hidden in his pockets.<</if>> There's a stall located in the corner. It's forever open for business. <<if $criminalStabbing is "notDone">>[[Approach the hooded figure->The Criminal]]<<elseif $criminalStabbing is "done">><</if>> [[Visit the stall->The Stall Guy]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

<<if $cafe is "firstVisit">><<set $cafe to "default">><<if $cafearea is "drinksFirst">><<set $cafearea to "default">> Your mouth suddenly feels very dry, and you're not sure if that's a thing that normally happens to ghosts or not. You decide that you need something to drink, and head for the café area. <</if>> Comfortable-looking armchairs and couches have generously been spread out across this room, which is much smaller than the waiting hall, although still pretty sizable. To your right, you see a counter with a hot water dispenser and a coffee machine. Next to the machines, there are miscellaneous boxes of teabags, towers of napkins, and stacks of plastic and styrofoam cups. In the corner of the room sits a lone water cooler, drops of condensation are dripping down its sides. A woman is standing by the coffee machine. She is angrily pushing the buttons and intermittently banging the top with her fist. It doesn't seem like you will be able to get a fresh cup of joe anytime soon. [[Have some tea->Calming tea]] [[Have some water->Water Please]] [[Approach the agitated woman->The Intern]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $cafe is "default">> To your right, you see a counter with a hot water dispenser and a coffee machine. Next to the machines, there are miscellaneous boxes of teabags, towers of napkins, and stacks of plastic and styrofoam cups. In the corner of the room sits a lone water cooler, drops of condensation are dripping down its sides. A woman is standing by the coffee machine. She is angrily pushing the buttons and intermittently banging the top with her fist. It doesn't seem like you will be able to get a fresh cup of joe anytime soon. [[Have some tea->Calming tea]] [[Have some water->Water Please]] <<if $intern is "firstVisit">>[[Approach the agitated woman->The Intern]]<<elseif $intern is "default">>[[Approach the agitated woman->Talking with Intern]]<</if>> [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $cafe is "done">> To your right, you see a counter with a hot water dispenser and a coffee machine. Next to the machines, there are miscellaneous boxes of teabags, towers of napkins, and stacks of plastic and styrofoam cups. In the corner of the room sits a lone water cooler, drops of condensation are dripping down its sides. A woman is standing by the coffee machine. She is smiling happily and clutching a styrofoam cup in her hands. [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

Wait, wait, wait. What is going on? Are you... <i> Dead?! </i> All of a sudden, you feel incredibly light-headed. The words on the page begin to blur, the room starts spinning, and your heart is beating so fast that you think it quite likely that it might actually explode. Wait. Your heart! It’s still there. It’s still beating. So it can’t be real. You can’t be dead. It's impossible. Whoever heard of a dead person with a beating heart? The pamphlet is starting to crumple at the sides, and you realize that you’re gripping the paper so tightly that your fingernails are making indentations in the cover. Suddenly, a gentle voice asks: “Are you alright, dearie?” It belongs to an old woman sitting in the chair next to you. She’s wearing a floral-patterned dress and fuzzy, purple slippers. Her hair is neatly curled at the ends. Her concerned look slowly coaxes you out of your catatonic state. [[Say you're alright->Alright]] [[Say you're definitely not alright->Not Alright]]

YOU RAN OUT OF TIME! <center>[BAD END]</center>

You violently slam your fist into the table. The impact sends the papers on the desk flying for a moment. The clerk glares at you and her frown deepens. She's clearly unimpressed by your display of strength. “No ticket, no access.” It doesn't seem like she can be reasoned with. [[Continue ranting->Counter Rant 2]] [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]]

You calmly start to explain your situation to the clerk. However, you barely make it through the first few sentences, before she decides to cut you off. Her words are cold and clipped. "No ticket, no access." It seems like there is no more room for discussion. [[Get mad->Counter Rant 1]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You nervously start to stumble your way through an explanation of what has occured. You have barely made it through the first few sentences, before she decides to cut you off. Her words are cold and clipped. "No ticket, no access." It seems like there is no more room for discussion. [[Get mad->Counter Rant 1]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You yell at the clerk and call her incompetent. You insult the clearly broken system that they're employing, and you wonder aloud how anything gets done in the afterlife, if this is how they’ve decided to run things. The clerk merely sighs. “Please leave, or I’ll call the guards.” [[Persist->BAD END: Too Much Ranting]] [[Give up->The Waiting Room]]

<<if $bathroomstall is "nextto">>You try to hold your breath, as you listen intently for the sound to reappear. A shuddering sob echoes throughout the restroom. You decide that there is definitely somebody in the stall next to you who is barely keeping it together. <<else>> You try to hold your breath, as you listen intently for the sound to reappear. A shuddering sob echoes throughout the restroom. You decide that there is definitely somebody inside one of the stalls who is barely keeping it together. <</if>> [[Say something->Just fixing the toilet]] [[Not your problem->The Waiting Room]]

Things are getting too heated. You can't stop. As you continue ranting, the clerk taps a button behind her desk. Suddenly, you feel two strong pairs of hands grab you from behind and slam your body to the floor. You manage to catch a brief glimpse of the stone-faced guards, as they drag you kicking and screaming through the waiting room. Nobody else seems to notice what is happening to you. The guards push you through a strange door that you haven't noticed before and slam it shut behind you. As you get up from the ground, you notice that you're standing in a grey, rocky tundra, surrounded by a thick fog. You look back only to find that the door behind you is gone. As your anger slowly recedes, you realize your mistake and begin to look around your surroundings in despair. There is no way back and after walking in the impenetrable fog for what feels like days, there appears to be no way forward either. As time passes by, you slowly feel your sense of self slipping away until there isn't anything left of //you// at all. [BAD END]

<<if $oldlady is "firstVisit">><<set $oldlady to "default">>The old lady has picked up a set of sharp-looking knitting needles and is eagerly working away on what appears to be a mustard-colored tea cosy. You spot two bags sitting next to her. A small quilted purse, which she is using to store her yarn in, and a travel-sized bag that you notice is shifting slightly around every now and then. She looks up as you approach. "Oh, hello, dearie. What's on your mind?" [[Ask her if she's seen anybody suspicious around->Old Lady Suspects]] [[Ask what's in her bag->The Mystery Bag]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Old Lady Accused]] [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]] <<if $pocketWatch is "aquired">>[[Ask to borrow one of her knitting needles->Knitting Needle Solution]]<</if>> <<elseif $oldlady is "default">> The old lady is still working away on her mustard-colored tea cosy. There are two bags sitting next to her. A small quilted purse, which she is using to store her yarn in, and a travel-sized bag that you notice is shifting slightly around every now and then. She looks up as you approach. "Oh, hello again, dearie. What's on your mind?" [[Ask her if she's seen anybody suspicious around->Old Lady Suspects]] [[Ask what's in her bag->The Mystery Bag]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Old Lady Accused]] [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]] <<if $pocketWatch is "aquired">>[[Ask to borrow one of her knitting needles->Knitting Needle Solution]]<</if>> <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

The old lady shakes her head. “I’m afraid not, dear. Had I known this would happen, I would have watched you like a hawk. But...” She glances around, then leans forward conspiratorially and whispers: “If you ask me, well.. I don’t want to talk ill about any of these lovely folks, but... I bet somebody must have taken it from you while you were sleeping.” [[Ask her something else->Old Lady Convo CONT]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You tell her that her frail old lady act isn't fooling anybody. You know she's had ample opportunity to steal it from you while you were sleeping. She looks deeply hurt and her eyes turn more watery than usual. "I don't understand. Why would you say such a thing? Why would I want to take a ticket from you? I already have one. I even showed it to you." [[Tell her you're sure she did it->Old Lady Affronted]] [[Uhm, uh...->Old Lady Affronted]] <<if $pets is "not allowed">> [[Tell her you know she's trying to sneak an extra passenger on board the ferry->An Extra Passenger]]<</if>>

Your words fall flat. The old lady picks up her knitting and stuffs it hurriedly into her purse. Then she grabs the travel bag and slings it over her shoulder with a surprising amount of ease for a woman her age. "I can't believe you! I won't stay here and listen to your lies anymore. I hope you find your ticket. Good day." She gets up from her seat and totters away from you with hurried steps. [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]]

She looks up as you approach. "No. Go away, please. I'm not going to talk to you again." [[Accuse her with new evidence->2nd Old Lady Accused]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You tell her once more that you know she's the one who did it. Her face turns ruddy with rage. "Why, I never... If you don't stop harassing me this very instant, I <i>will</i> call the guards." [[Keep pressing->BAD END: Harass]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You're about to open your mouth to sling some more accusations at the old lady, when she starts screaming for help at the top of her lungs. Suddenly, you feel two strong pairs of hands grab you from behind and slam your body you to the floor. You manage to catch a brief glimpse of the stone-faced guards, as they drag you kicking and screaming back through the waiting room. Nobody else seems to notice what is happening to you. The guards push you through a strange door that you haven't noticed before and slam it shut behind you. As you get up from the ground, you notice that you're standing in a grey, rocky tundra, surrounded by a thick fog. You look back only to find that the door behind you is gone. As your anger slowly recedes, you begin to look around your surroundings in despair. There is no way back and after walking in the impenetrable fog for what feels like days, there appears to be no way forward either. As time passes by, you slowly feel your sense of self slipping away until there isn't anything left of //you// at all. <center>[BAD END]</center>

<<if $criminal is "firstVisit">><<set $criminal to "default">> You decide to approach the stranger. As you get closer, you manage to sneak a peek at the face under the hood. It belongs to a young man in his twenties. His features are twisted into what appears to be a permanent scowl and as he notices your approaching footsteps, his steely grey eyes snap up to meet yours. He sneers at you derisively. "What are YOU looking at?" [[Ask him what he's doing->The Criminal's Doing]] [[Ask him if he's seen anybody suspicious->The Criminal Suspects]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Criminal Accused]] <<if $scaredy is "spotted">>[[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]<<else>>[[Take your leave->The Outside]]<</if>> <<set $outside to "firstCriminal">> <<elseif $criminal is "default">> The hooded man scowls at you as you approach. [[Ask him what he's doing->The Criminal's Doing]] [[Ask him if he's seen anybody suspicious->The Criminal Suspects]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Criminal Accused]] <<if $scaredy is "spotted">>[[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]<<else>>[[Take your leave->The Outside]]<</if>> <</if>>

<<if $stall is "firstVisit">><<set $stall to "default">> As you get closer to the stall, you see another sign that's stuck to one of the pillars holding up the roof. It proudly proclaims that the store has some "Bone-a-fide deals!" on offer. For a moment, you grimly wonder if anybody made those kinds of jokes at your funeral. The man inside the stall smiles broadly as you approach. He seems to be just short of thirty and is wearing a scruffy, grey overcoat that looks like it has undoubtedly seen better days. There is a small pin attached to the lapel of the coat. It has a silvery shimmer to it and is shaped like a Pac-Man ghost. The shopkeeper looks positively drenched from standing outside. Despite the roof hanging over the stall, it looks like the humidity in the air has proved sufficient to turn his hair into a complete matted mess. You watch as a dewy droplet trickles down the side of his face. Or maybe he's just really sweaty... As you contemplate whether ghosts are still capable of performing this bodily function, the shopkeeper shouts a jovial greeting at you. "Hullo there! What can I get you?" [[Ask what he's selling->Purchase Options]] [[Ask if he's seen anybody suspicious around->Stall Guy Suspects]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Stall Guy Accused]] [[Look somewhere else->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<elseif $stall is "default">> You approach the stall and the shopkeeper greets you with a friendly smile. It seems like he is only getting more and more moist-looking each time you drop by. "Ah, you again. Let me know if anything strikes your fancy." <<if $trade is "firstTrade">>[[Ask what he's selling->Purchase Options]]<<else>>[[Make a trade->Default Trading Dialogue]]<</if>> [[Ask if he's seen anybody suspicious around->Stall Guy Suspects]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Stall Guy Accused]] [[Look somewhere else->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<if $photograph is "acquired">>[[Ask him about the photograph]]<</if>> <<elseif $stall is "culprit">> You approach the stall and the shopkeeper smiles sardonically at you. "You're back." [[Attack him->BAD END: Attack him]] [[Back out]] <<if $taser is "acquired">>[[Taser him->GOOD END: Taser him!]]<</if>> <<if $knife is "acquired>>[[Stab him->BAD END: Stab him!]]<</if>> <</if>>

The shopkeeper grins. "Well, it's really more of a bartering situation. You offer //me// something new, and //you// get to take your pick of any of these old items," he says, as he gestures towards the selection lying on the counter in front of him. You study each object carefully and find yourself particularly drawn to three of the available items. There's a fluffy old teddy bear, which looks like it has taken quite a beating. It has a torn ear and a hole in its right side, which has been haphazardly stitched back up to keep the stuffing from falling out. It's a garish purple color, which makes you think it might once have been won as a prize at a carnival. There's also an old cassette player. It still seems to be in working condition, and when you click open the compartment, you find that there's still a tape inside marked "The Greatest Hits of the 80s". Finally, you spot a pair of novelty sunglasses. The rims have been decorated with tiny unicorns, rainbows, hearts, and pink glittery letters that spell out "You Go Gurl!". As you finish examining the items, the shopkeeper returns to check on you. "Anything tickle your fancy?" he asks. [[Tell him yes->Making A Trade]] [[Tell him no->Stall Questions Continued]]

The shopkeeper grimaces slightly and gives you a knowing look. "Well, I think you'll find plenty of suspicious people in this place. But my advice is to watch out for the little ones around here. Sure, they might LOOK all cute and innocent, but that kind of wears off after they manage to rob your store for the umpteenth time." He sighs. Wearily. "Just watch your back, that's all I'm saying." [[Ask something else->Stall Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<set $schemingKids to "known">>

The young man's scowl deepens. "Are you trying to be funny or something?" [[Ask him something else->The Criminal Questions Continued]] <<if $scaredy is "spotted">>[[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]<<else>>[[Take your leave->The Outside]]<</if>>

<<if $pepper is "firstVisit">><<set $pepper to "default">><<if $grief is "first">><<set $grief to "done">>You decide that the best course of action is to speak to a professional and head for the door marked "Grief Counseling".<</if>> As you enter the room, you feel a sense of calm envelop your entire being. The atmosphere in here distinctly reminds you of a spa. The walls at the back of the room are lined with shelves of books. In front of the shelves are two plush armchairs, one of which is currently being occupied by a woman in a white labcoat. She is holding a notepad, which rests lightly on her lap. There is a small pin attached to the lapel of her labcoat. It has a silvery shimmer to it and is shaped like a Pac-Man ghost. The woman looks up eagerly as you enter. "Well, hello there, friend!" You can't help but feel that your perfect sense of calm is thrown slightly askew by this overly effervescent greeting. "My name is Pepper," she continues and gives you a smile so vibrant that you feel like it might as well belong in a toothpaste commercial. She gestures towards the empty chair. "Would you like to talk about how you're feeling?" [[Accept grief counseling->A Session with Pepper]] [[Ask her if she's a "Dr."->Dr. Pepper]] [[Accuse her of having stolen your ticket->Pepper Accused]] [[Politely excuse yourself->The Waiting Room]] [[Hurry back outside->The Waiting Room]] <<if $handyManGuilt is "discovered">> [[Tell her about the man crying in the restroom->Counsel for the Handyman]] <</if>> <<elseif $pepper is "default">> Pepper smiles brightly at you as you enter, and gestures towards the empty chair. "Hello, you. Would you like to talk about how you're feeling?" [[Accept grief counseling->A Session with Pepper]] [[Ask her if she's a "Dr."->Dr. Pepper]] [[Accuse her of having stolen your ticket->Pepper Accused]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<if $handyManGuilt is "discovered">> [[Tell her about the man crying in the restroom->Counsel for the Handyman]]<</if>> <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "Ending">><</if>>

You sit down with the therapist and have a long chat about your feelings surrounding your recent demise. You now feel invigorated and validated. But still no closer to finding your ticket. [[Ask her something else->Pepper Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

"I don't know, what- what you're talking..." As if on cue, a befrazzled red tabby pops its head out of the travel bag. It's coat is stained with grey and it gazes at you with a sleepy stare. [[Aha!->The Red Tabby]] [[Cross your arms expectantly->The Red Tabby]]

You approach the woman and, as you do, you note that she is wearing a conference tag, which is hanging from a lanyard around her neck. Her clothes seem very stylish and corporate, and she is wearing a pinstripe blazer and a modest pencil skirt. Her auburn hair is cut short and falls in wild curls around her round face. She is muttering under her breath and giving the coffee machine a violent beating. "Stupid thing. Why. Won’t. You. Work!" You barely manage to get out your first syllable, before she yelps in surprise and whips around to face you. You stumble slightly back as you notice that she is thrusting a small metal object towards you. A taser. The ends sparkle and crackle, and you can feel the small hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Then something in the woman's eyes seems to shift and she immediately lowers it. "It's..." she begins, but then shakes her head, before quickly turning off the taser and looking at you apologetically. "Sorry. I live in a bad neighborhood. Used to, I mean." [[Tell her it's fine->Talking with Intern]] <<set $coffeemachine to "broken">>

She nods her head in acknowledgment, as you explain the situation. "Hmm. I see. And you wish to help this friend of yours?" You think calling him a friend might be an overstatement, when your only interaction has been pretty one-sided. Pepper taps the silver pen against her pointed chin. "Guilt, you say?" She gets up from her chair, and walks to one of the shelves, briefly letting her hand move across the backspines of a row of books, before pulling down a thin booklet with a blue cover. She turns and hands it to you. "Here, this should do the trick. Just read the first passage on page 32, and he should be right as rain in no time." [[Question the logic behind this solution->Question Guilt Book]] [[Take the book immediately->Guilt Book Received]] [[Back out->The Waiting Room]]

For a brief second, you see an overbearing smile cross Pepper's face, before she manages to compose herself. She idly twirls the pen between her fingers. "I don't mean to sound condescending, but we've got experts in the afterlife, who have pretty much got the human psyche mapped down to a T." She nudges the book towards you. "Trust me, it'll work." [[Take the book->Guilt Book Received]] [[Back out->The Waiting Room]]

You take the booklet and slide it into one of your pockets. Pepper winks at you, before repositioning herself in her chair. "Is there anything else you would like to talk about?" [[Ask her something else->Pepper Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<set $book to "received">>

You decide to make use of the passage that the therapist recommended to you. As you read aloud from the booklet, you find yourself nodding along to the sage advice contained within. Maybe she wasn't kidding about them having figured out all the odds and ends of the human psyche. When you reach the end of the passage, the lock on the stall door clicks open and the man steps out. "I-I'm sorry, you're totally right. Even if I don't believe myself capable or worthy, I should still try to do good." He looks down at the slip of crumpled paper in his hand. "I'm not sure what I should do about this now." [[Ask to see the ticket->Handyman's faux-ticket]]

He's absolutely inconsolable. <<if $book is "received">>[[Read the self-help book]] <</if>> [[Ask him if there's anything you can do to help->Offer help to Handyman]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Handyman accused]] [[Take your leave->The Restroom]]

You tell the man that it's YOUR ticket and that he'd better come out //right// now and give it to you. His next words are tinged with utter humiliation and dread. "Oh no... you're going to report me, aren't you? I... I can't... they'll..." He stops talking. A foreboding silence ensues. [[No, wait! Don't!->(Fake)Ticket flushed]]

You hear the toilet inside his stall flush and gurgle. If that man truly had your ticket, there is nothing you can do about it now. [[Return to the waiting room->The Waiting Room]] <<set $handyTicket to "gone">> <<set $handyMan to "invalid">>

You tell the sobbing man that everything is going to be okay and that you want to help. He continues crying loudly. "I-it's not going to be okay! I d-don't deserve any help. I'm a m-monster! Just leave me alone!" Seems like there isn't much you can do for him right now. [[Return to the waiting room->The Waiting Room]]

Pepper leans forward in her chair. Her eyes are sparkling with amusement. She clicks her pen and brings the notepad closer to her face. "Oh, how fascinating. What makes you say that?" [[Uhm uh...->Pepper "affronted"]]

You fumble around with your words, not quite sure how to make your case. Pepper lets out a small giggle, before scribbling something on her notepad and then shaking her head. "Oh, you humans. So adorable." Well, that was embarrassing... [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

She laughs. "Lonely??" "I'm sorry, I didn't plan to steal your ticket, so you couldn't leave like the others, that's... that's..." she trails off, and her eyes glaze over for a moment. "Actually, not a bad idea." She gives you a saccharine smile. [Uh, oh...]

<<if $intern is "firstVisit">><<set $intern to "default">>"Sorry about that. I'm a bit on edge today..." she groans in frustration, "Can I even say today? I swear, it's so hard to keep track of the time here." You really wish you could say the same. She heaves as sigh and gives the coffee machine another half-hearted bang with her fist. The machine responds to her abuse by emitting an aggressive bleeping sound. "Anyway, I just wish I could get this stupid machine to work. How //dare// they lie to us about complimentary coffee?" [[Ask her if ghosts can get addicted to caffeine->Ghosts & Caffeine]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Intern accused]] [[Take your leave->The Coffee Area]] <<elseif $intern is "default">> The woman manages to wrestle her gaze from the coffee machine as you approach. "Oh, hello again. Is there something you need?" [[Ask her if ghosts can get addicted to caffeine->Ghosts & Caffeine]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Intern accused]] [[Take your leave->The Coffee Area]] <</if>>

"Well, that's a little personal, don't you think?" She looks at you quizically. But then she seems to relent. "I guess we're all kind of in the same boat here. Or will be soon enough, anyhow. So I guess there's no harm in it." She taps her finger on the hood of the coffee machine. "I'll give you the short version. I used to work as an intern at this big media corporation, and one day when I was getting coffee for the team, I got hit by a car on the way back. That's it. The end." [[Give your condolences->Intern Backstory End]] [[Taunt her->Intern Backstory End]]

The woman shrugs. "I know as little as you do. But there must be a reason why they decided to provide the people waiting here with an unending supply of free tea and coffee." She scowls at the coffee machine and then points accusingly at the piece of paper hanging above the self-serve area. "Or at least that's what this //sign// led me to believe. I mean, come on! I really ought to sue them for false advertising, right? One thing is being alive and without a freshly brewed cup of cappuccino, another thing is..." She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, as if to center herself. Then she turns to you and continues: "Anyway, all I know is that I get super jumpy if I <i>don't</i> get my fix of coffee. I don't think being a ghost has changed that, considering how I reacted when you approached me." She gives you an apologetic smile. "Again, really sorry about that." [[Ask her something else->Intern Convo CONT]]

"Thanks. And thanks for not laughing at it. I know it's not the most glamorous way to meet your end."

She stops messing with the coffee machine and looks at you with contempt. "What?! Why on earth would I do that?" [[Because you look guilty->Intern affronted]] [[Uhm, uh...->Intern affronted]]

You fumble around with your words, not quite sure how to make your case. The woman scoffs and crosses her arms in a defensive gesture. "Urgh, whatever. Look, just leave if you're going to be nasty. And if you bug me again, I won't hestitate to //really// use the taser on you." She returns her attention to the coffee machine and seems intent on ignoring your presence. [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<set $intern to "affronted">>

<<if $kidfort is "firstVisit">><<set $kidfort to "default">>You find the group of kids hiding out in a corner of the waiting room. They've managed to create a fairly sizable makeshift fort out of chairs and blankets. You can't help but admire their ingenuity. As you approach the fort, you spot the young girl that you bumped into earlier. She gives you a timid wave. <<if $schemingKids is "known">>[[Tell her you know about their little "business scheme"->Scheming Kids]]<<elseif $schemingKids2 is "known">>[[Tell her you know about their little "business scheme"->Scheming Kids]]<</if>> [[Ask the girl where her parents are->No parents]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Kid Accused]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $kidfort is "default">> As you approach the makeshift fort of chairs and blankets, you spot the young girl that you bumped into earlier. She gives you a timid wave. <<if $schemingKids is "known">>[[Tell her you know about their little "business scheme"->Scheming Kids]]<<elseif $schemingKids2 is "known">>[[Tell her you know about their little "business scheme"->Scheming Kids]]<</if>> [[Ask the girl where her parents are->No parents]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Kid Accused]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<elseif $kidfort is "done">> As you approach the makeshift fort of chairs and blankets, you notice that many of the kids have left. You can't see the girl with the braided pigtails anywhere. [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

As soon as you finish your sentence, the girl's whole demeanor seems to abruptly change. Her timid smile is replaced by an impish grin and she confidently places her hands on her hips, stretching forward on her toes as she bounces lightly up and down. "Oh, you do? Well, are you interested in making a trade?" [[Tell her yes->Make An Offer She Can't Refuse]] [[Tell her no->Come back soon]]

As you approach, you get a closer look at the clerk sitting behind the counter. It's a rather plump-looking woman with jetblack hair tied up in a tight bun at the back of her head. She is wearing a grey suit that has a small pin attached to the lapel. The pin has a silvery shimmer to it and is shaped like a Pac-Man ghost. The woman is busy looking at her computer. To the left of the counter, a series of rules have been posted on the wall. [[Talk to the clerk->The Counter Clerk]] [[Read the rules->Counter Ruleboard]] [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]] <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

You walk over to the wall and look at the posters. Some look new, while others are almost torn from age. Just like the old lady's ticket, these posters have timestamps marked in the righthand corner. No matter how hard you try, however, you still can't make out the symbols. "Efficiency is key" Please do NOT approach the clerk without a valid ticket. Even in the afterlife, time is a resource that should not be needlessly wasted. "All good dogs go to heaven" Due to health and safety regulations, pets are NOT permitted onboard. Rest assured that you will be able to reunite with all your dearly departed furry friends by the end of your voyage. Please note that due to the popularity of this reunification scheme, the application process is estimated to take at least three millenia(as measured by the standard concept of time employed in the living world). "Calling on guards" Guards may be called upon in emergencies and to resolve disputes. However, due to recent events, guards are not qualified to solve any disputes pertaining to morally grey matters. All guards employed by the Netherworld will always adhere strictly to the official guidelines. [[Talk to the clerk->The Counter Clerk]] [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]] <<set $pets to "not allowed">>

Realizing that she's caught, the woman hurriedly begins to explain herself. "Alright, alright. Yes, I'm trying to bring him with me. B-but I don't need an extra ticket for that! It's already illegal for me to even bring him on board, you see. So why would I need an extra one?" [[You have to admit, she's got a point->The Red Tabby 2]]

"See? So just please... please, don't tell anyone about this." She looks at you pleadingly. "Mr. Mittens and I have been together all throughout the years, and we even departed the world on the very same day. That must mean we're destined to go on this journey together, right? Don't- don't you believe in destiny? Please don't tell on us. Please, I beg of you!" The old woman is practically sobbing at this point, and the people passing by are starting to give you strange looks. [[Promise not to tell]] // [Tattle on the old crone]

You promise her that you won't say anything. The old lady looks at you with undying gratitude. The cat looks at the both of you with a disinterested gaze and then ducks back down into the bag again to sleep. "Oh, bless you. God, bless you!" [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You tell her that rules are rules and you're just about to turn around to head for the counter, when you hear her start to scream loudly behind you.

"Take a look," she says and draws aside a red blanket hanging between two chairs, revealing a tiny treasure trove of miscellaneous objects. Your gaze is drawn to two objects in particular: a small tin case filled with ticket stubs and a mysterious old pocket watch. [[Investigate the small tin case of ticket stubs->Tickets for sale]] [[Investigate the old pocket watch->The Old Pocket Watch]] [[Buy the valid ticket->"GOOD" END]]

You get on the ferry with the valid ticket. But it isn't yours. Some other poor soul is probably trapped here now. Oh, well. <center>"GOOD" END</center>

"I'm sure this will make for a wonderful present," he says, as he hands you the teddy bear in exchange for <<if $keychain is "taken">><<set $keychain to "forSale">>the keychain<<elseif $sunglasses is "taken">><<set $sunglasses to "forSale">>the sunglasses<<elseif $cassette is "taken">><<set $cassette to "forSale">>the cassette player<</if>>. Then he gives you a teasing smile and adds: "Unless it's for personal use, of course." [[Ask him something else->Stall Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<set $teddybear to "taken">>

"Oh, I'm sure you'll look pretty hip in those," the shopkeeper says as he hands you the sunglasses in exchange for <<if $teddybear is "taken">><<set $teddybear to "forSale">>the teddy bear<<elseif $keychain is "taken">><<set $keychain to "forSale">>the keychain<<elseif $cassette is "taken">><<set $cassette to "forSale">>the cassette player<</if>>. [[Ask him something else->Stall Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<set $sunglasses to "taken">>

"Ah, this old thing?" He picks up the cassette player and looks at it for a moment with nostalgic eyes, before handing it to you in exchange for <<if $teddybear is "taken">><<set $teddybear to "forSale">>the teddy bear<<elseif $sunglasses is "taken">><<set $sunglasses to "forSale">>the sunglasses<<elseif $keychain is "taken">><<set $keychain to "forSale">>the keychain<</if>>. [[Ask him something else->Stall Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<set $cassette to "taken">>

You flicker through the tickets, trying to read the numbers as fast as you can. <<if $handymanTicket is "stillForSale">>Unfortunately, none of them are yours. You do, however, find a ticket with a higher number than your own, which is still valid. <<else>> Unfortunately, none of them are yours. <</if>> [[Look at the other items->Browse the shop CONT]] <<if $handymanTicket is "stillForSale">>[[Trade for the valid ticket->"GOOD" END]]<</if>>

"Oh, that one?" she glances nervously at the travel bag. "Just bits and bobs. A lady never tells, you know." She smiles stiffly and starts to increase the speed at which she is knitting the tea cosy. [[Rudely demand to see what's in the bag->Bag Accusations (affronted)]] [[Leave it be and ask her something else->Old Lady Convo CONT]] <<if $pets is "not allowed">> [[Tell her you know she's trying to sneak an extra passenger on board the ferry->An Extra Passenger]]<</if>>

The old lady huffs angrily, picks up her knitting and stuffs it hurriedly into her purse. Then she grabs the travel bag and slings it over her shoulder with a surprising amount of ease for a woman her age. "Well, I simply can't believe it. I've never been spoken to in such a rude manner in my entire life. You don't have any right to access my private property, and I won't stay here and listen to you anymore. I hope you find your ticket. Good day." She gets up from her seat and totters away from you with hurried steps. [[Follow her->2nd Old Lady Accused]] [[Time to look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]]

His eyes narrow in suspicion. "That's none of your business. Now //beat it//." [[Ask him something else->The Criminal Questions Continued]] <<if $scaredy is "spotted">>[[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]<<else>>[[Take your leave->The Outside]]<</if>>

"What did you just say to me?!" The young man takes a step towards you. His eyes are burning with pure, unadulterated anger. [[Tell him he looks guilty]] [[Try to back out]]

You tell him he looks awfully suspicious, but then your words run dry and you're not sure how to continue your accusations. The young man is staring at you with a dangerous look in his eyes. [[Uh, oh...->Stab Scenario]]

You frantically apologize and tell him that you must have been mistaken. Then you slowly back away until you feel like you're at a somewhat safe distance, before turning around and breaking into a full sprint. You hear his voice calling out behind you. "Yeah, you better run!" [[You don't stop until you're inside again->The Waiting Room]] <<set $outside to "default">>

You find yourself strangely drawn to the old watch. It's made of solid silver and polished to a furious shine. There's a small compartment hidden on the back, which could probably be pried open with a sharp object. You show it to the girl, who merely shrugs. "Sure, it's very shiny - but that's about it. It doesn't even go anymore." Then she looks up at you, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Why, do you want to buy it?" [[Buy the pocket watch->The Old Pocket Watch GET]] [[Look at something else->Browse the shop]]

"Well, of course you can. Here you go," the old lady says and hands you one of the knitting needles. You stick the end of the needle into the small gap on the back of the pocket watch. After a moment of fiddling, the compartment clicks open and a small piece of paper falls to the ground. You pick it up and turn it around. It's an old black-and-white photograph. It features what seems to be a mother and father with their teenage son. They're dressed in their sunday best and are looking at the camera with somber faces. The son is sitting on a chair between his parents while the father, a middle-aged man with a great big mustache, is resting his hand on his shoulder. There is something hauntingly familiar about the boy's face. He is holding the silver pocket watch in his hands, tilting it slightly towards the camera as if to show off a present. Then it hits you. His clothes may be spiffy, and his hair tidy and dry, but the boy in the picture is unmistakably a younger version of the man in the stall. You're sure this means that he isn't just an employee of this place. He must be waiting to enter the Netherworld, same as everyone else. But for how long? [[Return the needle and take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<set $photograph to "acquired">>

He gives you an incredulous look. "What are you talking about? Why would I need a ticket?" [[Uhm uh...->Stall Guy Affronted]] <<if $photograph is "acquired">>[[Confront him with the photograph->Culprit found]]<</if>>

You fumble around with your words, not quite sure how to make your case. The shopkeeper shakes his head. "Look, do you want to trade or not? I don't have time for this." [[Ask him something else->Stall Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]

You explain that the photograph must mean that he once lived as a human and therefore has been here for a very long time. You think that gives him a pretty good motive for wanting to steal a ticket and leave. The shopkeeper smirks. "Well, aren't you quite the detective?" Actually, you're a bit surprised that he'd be willing to admit to it so easily. He shrugs. "Well, I'm tired of lying. I've been lying for so long, I... it's honestly quite liberating to finally not care anymore. So let me fill in the blanks for you. Do you know how unbearable it gets out here? It's like-" he starts to laugh deliriously, "some kind of Chinese water torture. Somehow, however, it's //even// worse having to watch those blissful fools as they each take their turn boarding the ferry to fairyland." The shopkeeper's voice is thoroughly dripping with venom. "Nevertheless, every so often, I take a walk inside, just to dry off, and that's when I saw you..." He smiles as if remembering a fond memory. "And you were just lying there. Mouth open. Golden Ticket practically slipping from your meaty little fingers already. So I took it. I //deserve// it. I've waited long enough!" His last words are enveloped in a kind of righteous fury. "Anyway, there's nothing you can do about it. What are you going to do? Call the //guards//? Good luck with that. Those drones only care about those who actually HAVE tickets." This can't be it. You have to do something! You're so close to getting it back. [[Attack him->BAD END: Attack him]] [[Back out]] <<if $taser is "acquired">>[[Taser him->GOOD END: Taser him!]]<</if>> <<if $knife is "acquired">>[[Stab him->BAD END: Stab him!]]<</if>>

You're so angry, you can't think straight. You throw yourself over the counter and try to wrap your hands around the shopkeeper's slimy neck. He slips out of your grap and begins to yell at the top of his lungs. "Guards!" Suddenly, you feel two strong pairs of hands grab you from behind and slam your body you to the concrete ground. You manage to catch a brief glimpse of the stone-faced guards, as they drag you kicking and screaming back into the waiting room. Nobody else seems to notice what is happening to you. The guards push you through a strange door that you haven't noticed before and slam it shut behind you. As you get up from the ground, you notice that you're standing in a grey, rocky tundra, surrounded by a thick fog. You look back only to find that the door behind you is gone. As your anger slowly recedes, you begin to look around your surroundings in despair. There is no way back and after walking in the impenetrable fog for what feels like days, there appears to be no way forward either. As time passes by, you slowly feel your sense of self slipping away until there isn't anything left of //you// at all. <center>[BAD END]</center>

You decide that you can't do anything about the situation right now. The shopkeeper smirks triumphantly, as you reluctantly turn to leave. "Don't worry. It's not so bad here.. for the first few decades." [[Continue walking away->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]

You reach into your pocket and pull out the taser. As it pops and crackles to life, you jam it directly into the shopkeeper's neck. His eyes widen for a moment in sheer surprise. Then his body starts to jolt and convulse as the electricty surges through it. Finally, he falls limply to the ground. You jump over the counter and search his coat. In one of his pockets, you find a ticket - your ticket - and you hurriedly stash it in your pocket for safekeeping. With the triumph of victory coursing through your veins, you run back into the waiting room and look up at the electric sign over the counter. It says: <div align='center'><span class="redtext">$finalNum</span></div> You proudly show your ticket to the sour-faced lady at the counter and she lets you through. <center>Netherworld, here you come!</center> <center>[GOOD END]</center>

With a swift move of your hand, you quickly grab the dagger from your belt and plunge it deeply into the shopkeeper's ribcage. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to react nor care about the weapon currently sticking out of his chest. You try to pull it back, but its stuck. He grunts at your attempt and then sighs in disappointment. "Do you //really// think I haven't tried that already? Guards!" Suddenly, you feel two strong pairs of hands grab you from behind and slam your body you to the concrete ground. You manage to catch a brief glimpse of the stone-faced guards, as they drag you kicking and screaming back into the waiting room. Nobody else seems to notice what is happening to you. The guards push you through a strange door that you haven't noticed before and slam it shut behind you. As you get up from the ground, you notice that you're standing in a grey, rocky tundra, surrounded by a thick fog. You look back only to find that the door behind you is gone. As your anger slowly recedes, you begin to look around your surroundings in despair. There is no way back and after walking in the impenetrable fog for what feels like days, there appears to be no way forward either. As time passes by, you slowly feel your sense of self slipping away until there isn't anything left of //you// at all. <center>[BAD END]</center>

Frantically, you start patting yourself and searching through your pockets. Unfortunately, the only thing you manage to find is a keychain attached to a bundle of keys and a sad old crumpled piece of candy wrapper. The old lady leans over and offers you a closer look at her own ticket. “Here. They're supposed to look like this. You must have gotten one, I’m sure of it.” You stare at the small piece of paper caught between her wrinkly fingers. It looks like an ordinary ticket stub, not very different from the ones that you’d get at the post office or at the pharmacy. Except... the number written on it //is// quite high. Your brow furrows. And what is with these timestamps? Are those real numbers? They look all messed up. [[Suddenly, something stirs within you->The Ticket 3]]

As you examine the ticket, the numbers from the end of your dream suddenly come flooding back to you. <div align='center'><b>$finalNum</b></div> They come to you so naturally that you can’t help but wonder how you could have forgotten them in the first place. If the old lady asked you now, you’re sure that you would be able to recite them both backwards and forwards. You quickly glance over at the electric sign above the counter. It says: <div align='center'>Now serving: <span class="redtext">$initialNum</span></div> Your stomach drops as you do the math. There are only <span class="redtext"><b>$countdown</b></span> more numbers to go before it’s supposed to be your turn. With a sense of foreboding, you ask the old lady what happens if you miss your spot in the queue. She nervously scratches the back of her hand. “Oh, I... Well, now, I’m not completely certain, but I’ve heard that they’re very strict when it comes to how they handle issues like that around here. They don’t want people holding up the flow, you see? Apparently, it causes all sorts of problems down the line. So if you don’t make it on time, I suppose... well, I suppose you wouldn’t be able to move forward.” You stare at her in disbelief. Does that mean you could be trapped here forever? The thought chills you to the very bone. You have to do something! [[Look around the room->The Waiting Room]]

Just as you're about to reach the exit leading outside, the large glass doors swing wide open, and a big flock of kids come charging in. One of the kids in front, a young girl wearing a pink hoodie, accidentally bumps into you as they rush by. She manages to blurt out a quick "sorry!" before dashing ahead, her brown, braided pigtails swinging wildly to and fro. You watch them, half-dazed, as they continue their wild stampede across the waiting area, darting over and under any rows of chairs that stand in their way. You're not quite sure how to feel about seeing kids in a place like this. [[Continue outside->The Outside]] <<set $steppingOutside to "afterKids">>

"Oh, you want to get it back?" He hands you the keychain back in exchange for <<if $teddybear is "taken">><<set $teddybear to "forSale">>the teddy bear<<elseif $sunglasses is "taken">><<set $sunglasses to "forSale">>the sunglasses<<elseif $cassette is "taken">><<set $cassette to "forSale">>the cassette player<</if>>. [[Ask him something else->Stall Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<set $keychain to "taken">>

You feel something sharp push into your chest, as the young man bolt towards you and knocks you to the ground. All the air is pushed from your lungs and you start to helplessly gasp like a fish on dry land. For a moment, you're completely disoriented. Then you start to notice the people around you congregate and gasp as they discover you lying on the concrete with a dagger sticking out from between your ribs. The young man is nowhere to be seen. For a moment, you think you're going to die. Then you remember your current predicament. Obviously, you can't die, when you're already dead. At least you hope so. At any rate, you don't appear to be bleeding at all. It still hurts, though, and you can't move. The whole scenario makes you feel oddly like one of those pinned insects. [[Pry it loose->Dagger Get]]

You manage to pry the dagger out of your body. Despite the lack of gore, you can't help but feel incredibly sick. You get up and awkwardly pat the bloodless blade against the fabric of your jeans. Then you stick it into your belt. <<set $knife to "aquired">> [[Look around->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]] <<if $pocketWatch is "aquired">>[[Use the knife to pry open the compartment on the pocket watch->Knife Photograph]]<</if>> <<set $outside to "afterStabbing">> <<set $criminalStabbing to "done">>

She makes a face and begins to drum on the back of the notepad with her fingers. "Weeell... Technically //not// a doctor. But definitely qualified to assist you in your grieving process." Then she makes a grin like a chesire cat and adds: "Though I //do// like to think of myself of sweet, bubbly, and full of secrets." [[Ask her something else->Pepper Questions Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

She smiles brightly at you. "Of course, what's on your mind?" [[Accept grief counseling->A Session with Pepper]] [[Ask her if she's a "Dr."->Dr. Pepper]] [[Accuse her of having stolen your ticket->Pepper Accused]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<if $handyManGuilt is "discovered">> [[Tell her about the person crying in the restroom->Counsel for the Handyman]]<</if>>

"Wonderful! Do you have anything you would like to trade with?" [[Trade your keychain->keychain trade]] <<set $trade to "default">>

You hand the keychain to the shopkeeper. He measures the weight of it in his hands. "Hmm... does it do anything special?" You tell him that it has a built-in flashlight that turns on if you press the button on the side. He follows your instruction and grins. "Ooh, how gimmicky. I like it." He then puts the keychain in a small box on the counter. "Now. What do you want to trade it for?" <<if $teddybear is "forSale">>[[The fluffy old teddy bear]]<</if>> <<if $cassette is "forSale">>[[The old cassette player]]<</if>> <<if $sunglasses is "forSale">>[[The pair of snazzy sunglasses]]<</if>>

What do you want to trade your current item for? <<if $teddybear is "forSale">>[[The fluffy old teddy bear]]<</if>> <<if $cassette is "forSale">>[[The old cassette player]]<</if>> <<if $sunglasses is "forSale">>[[The pair of snazzy sunglasses]]<</if>> <<if $keychain is "forSale">>[[Your old keychain]]<</if>> [[Don't buy anything->Stall Questions Continued]]

The shopkeeper observes you with keen eyes. "Please, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions." <<if $trade is "firstTrade">>[[Ask him what he's selling->Purchase Options]]<<else>>[[Make a trade->Default Trading Dialogue]]<</if>> [[Ask if he's seen anybody suspicious around->Stall Guy Suspects]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Stall Guy Accused]] [[Look somewhere else->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]

The girl crosses her arms defensively. "Well, I don't know. A-Anyway, that's none of your business." Despite her standoffish tone, she suddenly looks a bit forlorn. You instantly feel pretty horrible for even asking the question. [[Ask her something else->Kid Convo Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

Her brown eyes widen and she looks genuinely frightened. "Please don't yell at me. I don't know what you're talking about." [[Keep accusing her->Kid Accused 2]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

<<if $scaredycat is "pursued">><<set $scaredycat to "default">> <<if $restroom is "firstVisit">> You slam the door open and enter the restroom. There are seven stalls and seven sinks, and you can hear the soothing sounds of celestial music being played from a pair of speakers in the ceiling. The suspicious stranger is standing right in front of you with his back pressed against one of the stalls. "P-please! Don't hurt me!" <<else>> You slam the door open and find yourself face to face with the suspicious stranger. He's standing with his back pressed against one of the stalls. "P-please! Don't hurt me!" <</if>> [[Ask him why he's running->Scaredy Cat explains]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Scaredy Cat Accused]] <</if>> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "BAD END: Time's up">><</if>>

The man is shaking so badly that you're sure you could make his legs collapse underneath him by merely breathing hard enough in his general direction. "You- you were talking to that guy," he squeaks, "That dangerous-looking fellow. W-weren't you planning to kill me?" [[Remind him that he's already dead->Already dead]]

His eyes grow wide with terror and confusion. "Wh-what? No! I haven't stolen anything. I swear! You can search me!" [[Ask him to explain why he was running->Scaredy Cat explains]]

You tell him that you have no plans to kill him and that he is, in fact, already dead. "Oh..." The man looks a bit taken aback by this information. Then recognition starts to slowly spread across his face. "Oh..! That's- that's right. Still, I suppose one can never be to careful, eh?" He lets out a painfully awkward laugh. Then he clears his throat and looks at you apologetically. "Terribly, terribly sorry for the misunderstanding," he says and starts to make his way towards the door leading back into the waiting hall, making sure to keep his front facing you at all times, as if he's not quite convinced that you won't try to jump him after all. You groan. Well, this was an absolute waste of time. [[Return to the waiting room->The Waiting Room]]

"Please stop. I'll scream. I'll scream if you don't stop bullying me right now." She looks terrified. And dead serious. [[Keep pressing->BAD END: Bullying kids]] [[Back out->The Waiting Room]]

You feel like you're so close to getting the truth from her. You can't possibly stop now. As you continue your accusations, the girl makes good on her threats and lets out a blood-curdling scream. Suddenly, you feel two strong pairs of hands grab you from behind and slam your body to the floor. You manage to catch a brief glimpse of the stone-faced guards, as they drag you kicking and screaming through the waiting room. Nobody else seems to notice what is happening to you. The guards push you through a strange door that you haven't seemed to notice before and slam it shut behind you. As you get up from the ground, you notice that you're standing in a grey, rocky tundra, surrounded by a thick fog. You look back only to find that the door behind you is gone. As your anger slowly recedes, you realize your mistake and begin to look around your surroundings in despair. There is no way back and after walking in the impenetrable fog for what feels like days, there appears to be no way forward either. As time passes by, you slowly feel your sense of self slipping away until there isn't anything left of //you// at all. [BAD END]

For a moment the noises stop. Then a man speaks, his voice a deep timbre that sounds like it has been ground down even further since he started crying. "W-who? No, go away. I don’t need any help. I’m just trying to fix the toilet." [[Say it doesn’t sound like he’s JUST fixing the toilet->A Terrible Liar]] [[Decide to leave him be->The Waiting Room]]

"No, I am! I-.. oh, who am I kidding. And now I'm lying to people too!? First the ticket, now this? I’m a t-terrible, TERRIBLE human being. I d-don't deserve to go to //any// type of heaven." He lets out a pitiful wail as he continues crying, now at an increased volume. [[Ask him what’s the matter->Guilt uncovered]]

"I’ve done something t-terrible... something unforgivable. I’m despicable! You shouldn’t e-even waste your breath talking to me." You tell him that you really do want to know. "I met one of those kids running around. They find and sell things, you know? So when they offered to sell me a ticket... I- I didn’t want to wait. When I died, she- my girlfriend.. I promised that I would find her as soon as possible. I //promised//. So I thought, w-why not? Seems like a great deal! But I didn't realize... I didn't realize that- that I would be stealing it from someone else. How... how could I be so thoughtless??" His voice breaks and he dissolves into another bout of uncontrollable sobs. [[Tell him it's going to be okay->Offer help to Handyman]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Handyman accused]] [[Leave him be->The Restroom]] <<set $handyMan to "discovered">> <<set $handyManGuilt to "discovered">> <<set $schemingKids2 to "known">>

"Of course. Here." He hands you the ticket and you eagerly examine it. Much to your dismay, however, you quickly realize that it isn't yours. In fact, it doesn't appear to be anybody's. One of the numbers have clearly been altered with a black sharpie pen. You hand it back to him, disappointment plainly showing on your face. "It's a fake?" he tugs at his hair in frustration, "Ughh.. I should have known. //Those kids//." His face suddenly grows stern and he looks at the door with determination blazing in his eyes. "Just wait here a moment," he tells you and disappears into the waiting room. You're clueless as to where he suddenly got all of that courage from. That book really must have done wonders on him. After a minute or two, he returns, waving a new ticket at you. "They gave it back after some... persuasion..." he tells you and smiles triumphantly. You notice that his digital watch has gone missing. He regards you with a mixture of sympathy and gratitude. "Look, I really do hope you find your ticket. If there is anything I can help with, just ask. I'll be sitting on one of the chairs just outside of here." <<if $coffeemachine is "broken">>[[Tell him about the broken coffee machine->Coffee Aid]]<</if>> [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room][$handyNotInRestroom to "true"]] <<set $handyMan to "aided">> <<set $handymanTicket to "notForSale">>

You ask him if he can do anything to help out with the coffee situation. He looks relieved to be able to pay you back for all your troubles. "Oh, well, of course. I wasn't completely lying when I said I was fixing the toilet. It was my job before I... well, you know." Yes, you know. "Coffee machines, though..." he says and seems to trail off for a moment. Then he gives you an encouraging nod. "I'm sure they're not so different. I'll go have a look at it immediately!" <<if $handyNotInRestroom is "true">>Without further ado, he gets up from the chair and heads towards the café area<<else>>Without further ado, he heads out of the restroom.<</if>> [[Return to the waiting room->The Waiting Room]] <<set $coffeemachine to "fixed">> <<set $handyMan to "done">>

You fill a styrofoam cup to the brim with steaming hot water. Then you select a teabag with the flavor "In a better place" from a brand called //Deepest sympathies//. You take a sip and, for a moment, you imagine that you're a lotus flower floating in a clear forest pond. The waters are gentle and calm. Then the woman gives the coffee machine another violent bang with her fist and you're cruelly thrust back into reality. You'd better get a move on. [[Approach the agitated woman->The Intern]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]]

You grab a plastic cup and use a nearby water cooler to pour yourself a cold glass of water. You feel invigorated. [[Approach the agitated woman->The Intern]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]]

The young man scowls at you. "Piss off." [[Ask him what he's doing->The Criminal's Doing]] [[Ask him if he's seen anybody suspicious->The Criminal Suspects]] [[Accuse him of stealing your ticket->Criminal Accused]] <<if $scaredy is "spotted">>[[Take your leave->The Outside][$outside to "afterConvo"]]<<else>>[[Take your leave->The Outside]]<</if>>

You take out the photograph and show it to the shopkeeper. He looks at it for a moment. "Huh. Sure haven't seen that in a long time." An unnerving smile crosses his face. "So you figured it out, eh?" [[Tell him yes->Culprit found]]

As you step back into the café area, you see the man from the restroom standing next to the woman by the coffee machine. He is gently patting the top of the machine, which almost seems to be purring as it pours a steady stream of black liquid into one of the styrofoam cups that has been placed underneath it. The woman is already holding a cup, which she is blissfully taking long sips from. As you approach, she immediately begins to hurry towards you with a huge grin on her face, making sure not to spill any of her coffee on the way. "I heard you're the reason this got fixed. Thank you so, so much!" She looks at you with reverence and bows her head in gratitude. Then she takes another sip and lets out a happy sigh. "Ahh.. you've got no idea how much I've missed this. I feel like I can conquer the world!" She fistpumps into the air a couple of times for good measure. Then she turns to look at you earnestly. "If there is anything I can do for you, anything at all, all you have to do is ask." [[Ask to borrow her taser->Get Taser]] [[Nothing right now->The Coffee Area]] <<set $cafe to "done">> <<set $countdown to $countdown - 1>> $countdown <<if $countdown lte 0>><<goto "Ending">><</if>>

Her smile broadens. She looks like the cat that ate the canary. "What do you got?" <<if $teddybear is "taken">>[[Offer her the teddybear]]<</if>> <<if $sunglasses is "taken">>[[Offer her the sunglasses]]<</if>> <<if $cassette is "taken">>[[Offer her the cassette player]]<</if>> <<if $keychain is "taken">>[[Offer her the keychain]]<</if>> [[Decide not to trade->The Kid Fort]]

"Aw, really?" she says, disappointment plain in her voice. [[Ask her something else->Kid Convo Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You show her the teddybear. She looks at it with thinly veiled disgust. "Ew. A teddybear, really? What do we look like, children from the 2000s?" [[Offer her something else->Make An Offer She Can't Refuse]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You show her the novelty sunglasses. She scoffs and nonchalantly waves your hand away. "We have plenty of those already. You'll need to come up with something more original." [[Offer her something else->Make An Offer She Can't Refuse]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

You show her the cassette player. <<if $cassetteSale is "firstShow">>"Huh..." she says, before eagerly grabbing the item out of your hands and turning it around in her hands. She prods the buttons and makes a startled face as the compartment pops open. Then she props the cassette player under her arm and looks at you with an almost bored expression. "Cool. Looks retro. Like something out of //Stranger Things//. I guess we can take it off your hands." <<elseif $cassetteSale is "nextShow">> "So you've decided to trade it to us anyway?" <</if>> [[Agree to trade->Browse the shop]] [[Decide not to trade->No cassette sry]]

You show her your keychain. She barely takes a look at it, before breaking into a sarcastic laugh. "Pfft, we don't want your janky keychain. Try to sell it to somebody with less standards, please." [[Offer her something else->Make An Offer She Can't Refuse]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

The girl looks at you expectantly. <<if $schemingKids is "known">>[[Tell her you know about their little "business scheme"->Scheming Kids]]<</if>> [[Ask the girl where her parents are->No parents]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Kid Accused]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

The woman blinks at you in surprise. Then she smiles. "My taser? Why sure! I don't feel like I'll need it anymore at this point." She hands you the taser and you slide it into your pocket. [[Take your leave->The Coffee Area]] <<set $taser to "acquired">>

The girl is unable to hide her utter disappointment. "Wha-.. urgh, okay, whatever. Fine. Take it," she says and shoves the cassette player back into your arms. "Come back when you //actually// want to do business." [[Ask her something else->Kid Convo Continued]] [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<set $cassetteSale to "nextShow">>

You're gaze is drawn to two objects in particular: a small tin case filled with ticket stubs and a mysterious old pocket watch. [[Investigate the small tin case of ticket stubs->Tickets for sale]] [[Investigate the old pocket watch->The Old Pocket Watch]] [[Buy the valid ticket->"GOOD" END]]

She hands you the watch. <<if $knife is "aquired">> [[Use the knife to pry open the compartment->Knife Photograph]]<<else>> You wish you had something to try to open the hidden compartment. [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <</if>> <<set $kidfort to "done">> <<set $pocketWatch to "aquired">>

You grab the dagger from your belt and stick the pointy end into the small gap on the back of the pocket watch. After a moment of fiddling, the compartment clicks open and a small piece of paper falls to the ground. You pick it up and turn it around. It's an old black-and-white photograph. It features what seems to be a mother and father with their teenage son. They're dressed in their sunday best and are looking at the camera with somber faces. The son is sitting on a chair between his parents while the father, a middle-aged man with a great big mustache, is resting his hand on his shoulder. There is something hauntingly familiar about the boy's face. He is holding the silver pocket watch in his hands, tilting it slightly towards the camera as if to show off a present. Then it hits you. His clothes may be spiffy, and his hair tidy and dry, but the boy in the picture is unmistakably a younger version of the man in the stall. You're sure this means that he isn't just an employee of this place. He must be waiting to enter the Netherworld, same as everyone else. But for how long? [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]] <<set $photograph to "acquired">>

The woman regards you somewhat impatiently and idly scratches the inside of her wrist. "Yes? Is there something else you wanted to talk about?" [[Ask her if ghosts can get addicted to caffeine->Ghosts & Caffeine]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Intern accused]] [[Return to the waiting area->The Waiting Room]]

"Of course, dear. What do you want to talk about?" [[Ask her if she's seen anybody suspicious around->Old Lady Suspects]] [[Ask what's in her bag->The Mystery Bag]] [[Accuse her of stealing your ticket->Old Lady Accused]] [[Look somewhere else->The Waiting Room]] <<if $pocketWatch is "aquired">>[[Ask to borrow one of her knitting needles->Knitting Needle Solution]]<</if>>

The man from the restroom is sitting on a chair just outside it. He looks up at you, as you approach. "Hey, buddy. Is there anything I can do for you?" <<if $coffeemachine is "broken">>[[Tell him about the broken coffee machine->Coffee Aid]]<</if>> [[Take your leave->The Waiting Room]]

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