The box in the woods

A warm liquid drizzles down your forehead like a snail, slow and precise. You open your eyes hesitantly, chest rising and falling slowly. //Where am I?// You are flat on your back, slowly you curl your finger inward. Grating at the soil, you are laying on a patch of grass. The area around you is an old enclosed building, it smells like firewood and smoke. Also, a hint of old people soap. Odd. You are in pain, certain areas of your body hurt more than others. Wincing, you reach up and wipe the liquid. Dark red blood smears on your skin, you have some sort of head trauma. Maybe you hit your head. Maybe..you were assaulted. You slowly sit up and try to get your bearings. Enclosed around your ankle is a cool metal shackle, two links chain it to a stake in the center. Ouch, is all you can think. [[Hope ]]

You jump as a piercing scream can be heard in the distance. That cry sounds different...like an anguished mother who cannot find her child. You look around, trying to stay calm. The shack you are in is damaged; wood eaten up and holes almost everywhere. Very distinguishable. You look behind you at the sound of a door creaking, it blows back and open at the mercy of the breeze. To the right of a door is an old looking chest. You glance down at your foot, trying to determine if you could get out of this device. Maybe the link is long enough to get to the box. Do you try to get to the box, or wait for help? [[Get to the box->Get to the box]] [[wait for help->wait for help]]

You lie there, cold and shivering. Uncertainty lingers, sending a cold chill down your body. You are still trying to piece together what happened, who that person who screamed was. Nothing comes about it. Suddenly, you hear a voice. //follow the light// "God?" You say out loud, sounding crazy to yourself. //no...a friend// "Where is the light?" You ask softly. //here...friend, right here// A warmth cascades over your body, a sudden feeling of strength revitalizes you. You sit up and look around, your hands are glowing now. Not bright like a flashlight, but subtle enough for you to see. //touch the chain// the 'friend' whispers. You reach forward and touch the chain, it instantly snaps leaving you free. Curious, you brush your hand over your body, and it begins healing itself. //reach into your pocket// You obey, as everything the voice has said so far has been true, and you fumble around your tattered pocket, surprised to find the key. //the creature outside can hear even the slightest sound if you open the box with anything other than the key, with that key, it will remain deaf. open the box// You tiptoe forward, freezing as the door blows wide open. A grotesque looking creature is chasing another person around with a chainsaw. You see warts oozing a disgusting smelling goo coming from his body. //they did not listen// the voice explains. They do not see you, and seemingly do not hear you as you ease your way to the box in the corner. "Can I open the box now?" You ask softly. //yes friend, join me now// You place the key in the lock and the box opens, revealing a bright light. You look outside at the other person who is at the mercy of the creature. "What about them?" You ask the voice. //they disobeyed me...they did not listen// "I can't just leave them here..." You trail, feeling guilty over your assumed escape over their peril. //join me now// ''Do you obey the voice or try to reason with them save the stranger?'' [[obey the voice->obey the voice]] [[try to save the stranger->try to save the stranger]]

You crawl forward, slow and weak. Pain motivates you to keep crawling like a baby. Inching slower and slower towards the crate. //stop! you are not ready for the box!// What? You pause, assuming you have officially gone crazy. "Nah son...I need to get out of here." You keep crawling but an unknown force halts you in your steps. //Stop! Final warning...do not go to the box.// ''Do you either listen to the voice or keep going?'' [[wait for help->wait for help]] [[keep going->keep going]]

You ignore the voice, assuming you have gone crazy. The voice goes silent, as if waiting to see your failure. You are mere inches from the box, body in full stretch. Your ankle is pulling away, and you reach out to touch the box. As soon as your fingers brush wood, the door slams open. A giant, grotesque looking creature glowers down at you menacingly. //I said don't touch the box...// You freeze in horror, the creature slowly stomps towards you. Blood covers it's entire body, while warts oozing a goo cover his entire body. In his hands, a giant chainsaw, which he begins pullin at the chord to get started. //I told you// "Shut up!" You yell, petrified in fear, your lip quivering. The creature finally gets the machine running, and you shut your eyes. It's over. //goodnight// the voice says.

You shrug, you listened. They didn't, and now they would pay the price. With a strong sense of faith you jump in the box, holding your breathe out of fear. You feel a familiar warmth from earlier, and shut your eyes as a blinding light overwhelms you. //follow the path// After opening your eyes, you see a brilliant forest unlike the terrifying one you were in earlier. You look at the ground and see that it lights up as your feet touch it. Releasing a breathe you didn't realize you were holding, you run forward. A sense of relief and joy overwhelming your body as you rush down the path. Light following your steps as you run and run. Through the trees and busches you see deer are following you as you jump and skip down the path. //join me// the voice urges happily. You see trees lined down surrounding a gate, upon reaching it, it opens to you. //welcome home// Your steps slow as you walk through the gates, meeting a small light that is flickering about. //you have passed your first test, congragulations// It's over.

"Please," You beg, "I can't just leave them." You almost hear the voice thinking to itself. //you are a good person...// it speaks aloud. //look in your hand, friend// In your hand is a lantern with a pastel blue light beaming from it. //go outside and hold it up, it will blind the creature. the creature will not see or hear you for one minute. use the key I gave you to open the box and jump through// Quickly you dash forward, holding the light up as instructed. You see the light flash like a beam and point directly at the creature. "This way!" You yell, "Hurry!" The person rushes towards you, knowing better than to disagree. As soon as they approach you drop the lantern and run for the box, fumbling as you try to put it in the key hole. Once you finally get it in, and twist the box opens revealing a blinding light. //jump// the voice urges. You motion for the person to jump first. "I can't!" They say panicked, "This is insane!" Before you can try to reason with them, the creaky door slams open and the grotesque creature sets its ugly eyes on the both of you. Without a second thought you jump with faith, looking up through the portal to watch as the killer approaches the person you had just attempted to save. //rest in peace// the voice says. //don't feel remorse...// //you are a good person you tried// //their lack of faith got them killed// You have many questions. [[the end->the end]]

//follow the path// After opening your eyes, you see a brilliant forest unlike the terrifying one you were in earlier. You look at the ground and see that it lights up as your feet touch it. Releasing a breathe you didn't realize you were holding, you run forward. A sense of relief and joy overwhelming your body as you rush down the path. Light following your steps as you run and run. Through the trees and busches you see deer are following you as you jump and skip down the path. //join me// the voice urges happily. You see trees lined down surrounding a gate, upon reaching it, it opens to you. //welcome home// Your steps slow as you walk through the gates, meeting a small light that is flickering about. //you have passed your first test, congragulations// It's over.