mimetic response 5

you wake up in a grassy field, (click-append:"you wake up in a grassy field,")[ the field is flat and stretches out in every direction, you alone are there. you look up at the sky and see the stars for the first time. they are as fantastic as you were told. you can tell from down on the ground though, they are imitations of the real thing. where do you go?(click-append:"go?")[ [[north]] [[east]] [[south]] [[west]] . [[stay]]]]

you walk north, (click-append:"you walk north,")[ cutting through a continously thickening air. there is a barn in the distance, in the midst of the foul air. you walk towards it, the smell not fazing you as you approach the wide open door. the inside of it is as you would expect, hay, more hay, blood stains, as you would expect. "stop right there! [[don't move]]"]

from a shadow at the edge of your vision, (click-append:"from a shadow at the edge of your vision,") [ a voice cuts through the quiet, sickly air. a woman holding a hunting rifle makes herself known. she begins moving closer to you, jerking the gun upwards to signal for you to [[put your hands up]]. "who the hell are you?]

you head east, wandering down a valley and accross a massive flat field. in the distance, you see a forest that looms over the horizon, the trees as large as skyscrapers. it takes you over an hour of walking to reach the first tree, but by then your legs ache from the long walk. looking into the depth of the forest, you can see that it is dark and unwelcoming. the canopy weaved like a spider web over the whole forest, shrouding it in an eternal shadow. looking in, you can see plant life in the sparse rays of moonlight that broke through the canopy, and if plant life can survive here, why can't you? so you go in one direction, a straight path heading for the center of the forest. hours pass before you find anything of note, however water began to pool at your soles. you continue to trudge through, but in less than an hour, [[water is now at you ankes.]]

you head south, into an expanse of sparse grass, as you continue to walk, it begins to turn into a brick road. lamps adorn the sides, shining on the path in a red hue as if the light bulbs were dying for years. as you pass the next set of lights at the side of the road, the ones behind you turn off to create a wall of pitch black as if they are blocking you from going back. the moon does not shine today, the only place to walk is in the light. more lights turn off behind you as you make progress, like a runway on a tarmac for an airplane to land. as you walk you see a few sets of lamps off a figure standing in the middle of the brick road. their figure was hooded and any feature on them was undiscernable. before you were able to get close, the lamps on them turned off and back on, and the figure [[vanished with the dark.]]

you decide to go west, (click-append:"you decide to go west,")[ a drizzle of rain falling down on you as you walk. the field of grass that you were trampling on turned into a road with cracks on its like water was spilled and running over the coarse pavement. the rain began to increase in strength and thuder howled in the distance. a ways off, you see what looks to be an entrance to a small town, except... (click-append:"except...")[ the town is on fire. houses long burnt down, others still crackling. nearby you, lightning hit a tree, causing it to catch fire and fall towards you. the tree barely missed you, falling behind and forcing you to go deeper into the town. [[descend]]]]

who the hell are you? (click-append:"who the hell are you?")[ who are you? is it not obvious? you are you. no one else. there is no one that could be like you, just as you are unable to be anyone else, you can never change, stagnant, eternal, ignorant. like a piece of obsidion that shatters into tiny pieces when sculpted that is why you can never change. dying is change. you put your hands up. "who the HELL. are you?" she repeats, close enough that you can see her features and scars but far enough that you can't touch, blood-stained rags covering her left leg, a bruise over her left hand's knuckles. she fought something. "are you deaf? answer the question!" [[...->deaf]] . . . . . . [[grab it from her]]]

judging from your attempt to not even speak, (click-append:"judging from your attempt to not even speak,")[ she thinks you are deaf. how quaint. you can hear her, understand her, remember her should you part, yet you cannot talk. you never could, why would you have that freedom? unneccesary. look at her, she pities you, she thinks your situation is worse than hers, intoxicatingly selfish and grandiose. she attempts to humanize //you//. clueless. she walks closer to you, letting her guard down. she has lived like this for her whole life, it isn't impossible for a deaf person who is unable to communicate to exist. she walks over and pets your hair. it is soothing. it is infantilizing. "im sorry about earlier, but outside of this barn is an enemy much greater than any one person. so, how about we help each other?" she removes the hand from your head, and puts it in front of her, asking to shake it. [[shake her hand]] . . . . . . . [[kill her]]]

she kills you, why did you even try? it is such a stupid thing to do, she has the gun pointed at you, she is a good running distance away and you RUN AT HER??? I can't even begin to be mad, because at this point it must be some cognitive error. run the test back, [[wake up->ground zero]], fool.

you feint reaching for her right hand, (click-append:"you feint reaching for her right hand,")[ in reality, you snatch away the rifle in her left hand and aim it at her before she can react. her eyes widen and her feet shift to move, however it is too late as the rifle's roar echoes throughout the barn. the kick back is so fierce that it knocks you on your behind, the rifle flying from your hand and landing a little ways off. you get back up. (click-append:"you get back up.")[ you look down at the woman who tried to make you do her bidding, now lying lifeless and limp, a cavity dug out in her chest from where the bullet penetrated. she was fully, truly, [[dead]]]]

you reluctantly grab her hand. (click-append:"you reluctantly grab her hand.")[ her hand is grimy compared to your relatively clean hand, when the shake ends, your hand is slightly dirtied. she put the rifle onto her back and turns around, walking towards a ladder that leads upwards into the upper loft of the barn. she signals for you to follow her. [[follow her]]]

you drag yourself up the stairs, (click-append:"you drag yourself up the stairs,")[ the contents of the loft reveal themselves to you. it appears to be a living area, with cans of food stored in a pile off in a corner, a tap with seemingly working pipes and chairs. this place has been lived in for a long time, judging from the several amateur fixes in the floor and the walkways to other areas all for living purposes. (click-append:"living purposes.")[ she sits down on a chair next to a window and beckons you over. you do so and wonder what she wants. she places the hunting rifle to the window sill, pointing towards the opposite side from where you entered the barn. you can see in the distance, (click-append:"in the distance,")[ people? they look strange though. their movement looks strange, almost instinctual and non-deliberate. the foul stench which permeated the barn is stronger when you face them, it comes from them. not just a few though, it looks like a sea of just people, flowing irregularly. they fall over and many near them tumble like dominos, creating a tide aesthetic until they get back up. "that is the enemy, and I don't have anyone to have my back ever since my dad died, and it seems neither do you." she pulls the trigger and a loud bang erupts from the rifle, and one especially distinct looking "person" falls, maybe one that leads them, judging by its bloated head. it will be tough, but maybe you can make things [[work]].]]]

And, cut. date of test: january 16, 2164. test results: sociable. activity of note: headed north, met up with Dina, agreed with cooperation. further study is required. current judgment: success. CfS: ET 107-134-10

that was unnecessary, don't you think? you didn't have to kill her, you didn't need to. she was ready to cooperate and in the end you murdered her, why? did you [[hate->noted]] her? did you find her [[repulsive->noted]]? did you hate how she [[treated you->noted]]? was it [[pay back->noted]] for aiming the gun at you? was it morbid [[curiousity->noted]]? did you wonder if she would [[die->noted]]? did it feel [[good->noted]]? did it feel [[bad->noted]]? would you do it [[again->noted]]? can you do it [[again->noted]]? can you find [[good in yourself->noted]] now? was there a reason other than the [[desire to sin->noted]]? you could have been friends, and yet you killed her so easily with no resistance at all. how about you [[explain yourself?]]

noted.

And, cut. date of test: january 16, 2164. test results: sociopathic tendancy activity of note: headed north, met up with Dina, killed Dina. further study is required. current judgment: success. CfS: ZM 108-168-32

charred houses are discernable in every direction, (click-append:"charred houses are discernable in every direction,")[ the air filled with the smell of smoke and ash, and an eerie whistle filled the background whilst the crackling of flames filled the foreground. like a symphony of chaos. as you venture deeper and deeper into town, a house like no other in the area reveals itself. the road leads directly to it, as if you are meant to go there. the house is pristine, not a single sign of scorching whatsoever. [[go to the house]]]

the door to the clean house was closed, (click-append:"the door to the clean house was closed")[ you reach for the handle and turn it, causing the door to creack and swing open inwardly. the insides of the house was dark and dreary, the first thing you see is a stair case leading [[up]], and a hallway that leads ahead. (click-append:"ahead")[ you go through the hallway, the first floor seems like a much better option to explore first, maybe there is someone here. the hallway opens to a living room, toys are scattered all over the floor and there is glass and pottery shattered here and there, the couch facing the tv has been upturned as well. you look towards the kitchen, and under the dining table you see two eyes peering at you from underneath. small eyes that hide back into the shadows of the table cloth. in fear. of you. why? you have no idea what was going on here, why would someone be so scared? [[reveal who it is]]]]

you approach the dinner table, (click-append:"you approach the dinner table,")[ frightening who ever it is that is hiding underneath. you reach out for the cover and reveal who it is. (click-append:"is.")[ a little girl, staring at you with terrified eyes crawls away from you, alert of you. you don't know her, don't really need to, but seeing her alone in this burning town is strange if anything. why is she at the very center of this town? do you really need to know? no. (click-append:"no.")[ suddenly, something loud happened above you upstairs, like the sound of something incredibly heavy came crashing through the roof. This sound caused the girl to be even more scared, maybe for good reason. mere seconds after the big crash, multiple loud, thudding foot steps echoed above, aiming right towards the staircase. whatever it is, its causing your sense of danger to flare up. you need to leave. (click-append:"you need to leave.")[ [[take the girl]] [[leave her to her own fate]]]]]]

you did not think, (click-append:"you did not think,")[ but you immediately grabbed her and ran, quickly locating the back door and sprinting out. you see a large sphere made of shiny metal had crashed through the roof and something came out of it, however if you find out what it was, you wouldn't be able to know what would happen. was there a reason that you took the girl with you? no, but you made a decision. the further you got away from the house the more chaos began to erupt around you. lightning began to strike at every object in your surrounding rapidly, filling your ears with only the sound of thunder and lightning striking an object. the rain accompanying it began to downpour heavily until you can barely see infront of you. the rain despite being so rapid did nothing to quell the flames of the town, instead existing in the same instance as just another element of chaos. for what felt like far too long, the town finally opens up to spit you out, and you do not hesitate to [[leave]]. ]

you run, (click-append:"you run,")[ leaving the girl behind. whatever it was upstairs was not something to encounter, so your best option is to run. carrying someone around with you would only slow you down, or at least that is what seemed to be the reasoning. you sprint through town, trying to avoid lightning the struck at your heels. if you slow down its guaranteed for you to be hit, however you slow down slightly to look behind you. (click-append:"behind you.")[ was it out of curiosity or the need to realize the consequences to your actions? whatever the case is, the house was gone. everything that was there had vanished, leaving an empty plot as if it was lifted and taken away. standing in the middle is something that looked like a man, but it was tall, and before you turned around and picked up the pace you swore it started pointing at you. [[leave town alone]]]]

you find somewhere quiet and safe, (click-append:"you find somewhere quiet and safe,")[ resting under a large tree with plenty of cover from the rain, you and the girl recover from running away so hard, and trying to stop the ringing in your ear from the barrage of lightning strikes. you take a look at her, and she stares at you blankly. why is she staring? she begins to make strange hand movements at you, frantic, but you can't understand what she's trying to tell you. [[can she not speak?]]]

you go up, (click-append:"you go up,")[ investigating the area for a sign of anyone at all. the house is silent, and you try to be quiet too, but something feels unnatural. your feet catch on something and you look down. (click-append:"down")[ a pile of clothes laid down on the floor. they look just worn, but for some reason no is wearing them. a whistle began emenating from somewhere in the distance, like a fast object flying towards you, before you can react, it crashes through the roof above you, crushing you into paste instantly. how unfortunate, you were never meant to have that fast of a reaction time anyway, no normal human does. your mistake was being curious. let's [[reconvene->ground zero]]]]

Cut. date of test January 16, 2164. Test results: Parental instincts Activity of note: headed west, encountered Delilah, rescued Delilah. Further study into this behavior is required. Judgment: Success. CfS: PM 078-297-20

you left town, (click-append:"you left town,")[ the heat from the fire no longer making your skin feel like boiling. you stare out ahead of you, and what was the sight of an outstreching town became that of an endless field of corn. with no clue of where you will go from there, you resolve to head in one direction and keep on that path as you traverse through the field. you feel a strange feeling, was it because you left the girl behind? you do not have the luxury to dwell on past actions, nor should you ever. that is not what you are here for. you made your choice, that is all that matters in the end. whether you live or die means nothing, because in the end it was another choice. to help, or to abandon. to ally, or to backstab. to life or to drop. to go up, or to go down. in the end all you are is the product of your choices. your choice now, was [[solitude.]] ]

Cut. Date of test: January 16, 2164 Test results: Self preservation activity of note: headed west, encountered Delilah, sacrificed Delilah. more tests into this behavior is required. Judgement: Success. CfS: OC 209-156-41

you remain in place, (click-append:"you remain in place,")[ waiting to make your choice. you don't feel like making one now that you think about it, it doesn't compel you. there is nothing that could make you move from this place. what about food? or water? those essential needs don't feel essential. so you just [[wait.]]]

time begins to pass as you stare up at night sky,(click-append:"time begins to pass as you stare up at night sky,")[ and the stars begin to move in unison, marching over the horizon to bid the morning to come. time is being wasted, but nonetheless it means nothing. towards the north, a foul stench seems to be eminating, which you are down wind of. to the east, you can see the shore of an ocean that was not there before. to the south, a great inferno raged on and meteors were falling from the skies. to the west, a massive lightning storm covered every which way, striking everything under it, you could faintly see lights suspended in the sky, too far to discern their nature. you have wasted all this time, for what? did you enjoy the consequences of your inaction? you could have been a part of this, but you refuse to participate, why? was it a sense of curiosity that paws at your will? of course not, if it was, you would not be here. move, see the results of your laziness. [["north"]] [["east"]] [["south"]] [["west"]] [[continue waiting]]]

you go north, curious as to what you may find. (click-append:"you go north, curious as to what you may find.")[ you walk over the crest of the hill to finally see what you would find. that would be a barn. but this barn was filled with people, people that looked sick. they were in a large group, like they were a hive of insects. one that was stray from the group noticed you and began to approach, as it got closer you could see more of its characteristics. its eyes were bloodshot, mouth dripping with a slurry of unkown fluid. there were objects portruding from its skull, you do not know what they could be, but they looked biological in orgin. it began to get closer to you, however stumbled and fell face first into the dirt in front of you. it did not get up again. [[return->wait.]]]

you reach the shore, (click-append:"you reach the shore,")[ and it appears to span for miles and miles. in the far distance, you see the edge of what appears to be an entrance to redwood forest, the massive trees jutting out from the water's surface like sky scrapers. the waves lap at your feet, and in the middle of the horizon, you see something peak out from above the water and go back in. [[return->wait.]]]

to the south, (click-append:"to the south,")[ the air is sweltering, suffocating, hellish. anything that was in there was most likely melted down to nothing, the ground itself seemingly made from fire. the earth beneath your feet rumbles with every strike of the meteors that crash into the ground, making walking difficult. you have nothing to gain by being here. [[return->wait.]]]

you walk westward, (click-append:"you walk westward,")[ and you see a town that was turned to ashes. nothing left but the ominous view of the dark clouds and glowing objects hanging over the exitinct town. you see a figure in the middle of the road ahead of you, as you stare at it, it stares right back at you. you have no reason to be here. [[return->wait.]]]

as you continue to wait, the world warps around you. cracks begin to form under your very feet, and a void surrounds you in the spot you waited this whole time. in the end this was the result. by being unable to realize a path, everything crumbles and [[disappears.]]

End of test. Date: January 16, 2164 Test results: indecisive Activity of note: Judgement: failure The specimen will be disposed of, and a new one will be introduced to the terrarium. will require a new variable in the genome to influence decision making. current specimen actively refused to participate in the testing environment. record kept to expunge further behavior of this type. Failures: 76103452 Viable specimens: 5

you continue walking despite the rising water level, attempting to find what is hidden by the forest. the water siginificantly hampered any progress at maintaining a good pace, but it cannot stop progress. all the trees looked familiar, all the plant like grew the same way, it almost felt like it was a loop. the ground was fully flat but the water was getting higher. right now the water was up to your knees. how high will it continue to climb? suddenly, the water that went up to your knees went down to below your ankles. a loud sound like a wave pulling away could be heard. looking forward you can see what it is. the water pulled back so that it can push further forward in a wave. not just any wave but one that reached up to the middle points of the massive tree trunks. its far too late to save yourself, is it time to accept fate? "grab on!" a voice shouted from above and threw down a climbing rope. as you latch your hands to it, the rope immediately ascends, carrying you with it. you look down and your legs are dangling without being given a chance to find a foot hold on the rope, and far below, the wave wreaks havoc on the ground below, and you can feel it slap your heels in an attempt to hook you down into it. however, [[you make it.]]

as you reach the top where the voice came from, a hand grabs your scruff and hoists you on solid ground. the "ground" is made from wooden boards which were stuck into the bark of the tree. you can see that the man who grabbed you was large and had a comically large moustache on his face and wore stereotypical lumberjack clothing. he turns around and begins walking along the floor boards of the structure suspended above the forest floor. you take a look now and see that this structure is expansive, and extends for miles from the looks of it. who knows of its origins, however you can tell that the lumberjack was actively making it greater. "what brings someone all the way into the middle of the woods, not to mention on the forest floor? do you not know of the great flood?" the man asks you, but you shake your head, you don't know. "lucky for you I was doing repairs, otherwise you would have drowned. I have a boat already prepared to leave, the tide will drag us where we want." A man with no malice? or merely a trick? whatever the case, you should stay careful. [[who knows what will happen]]

you follow the man, and he brings you along to find a large boat, suspended by a pulley system with a lever to drop it down into the waves far below. you can see the moon finally getting tired of reflecting down on a forest that will never apprectiate it, and began to wane. next to the boat is a pot with some fruits, meat and vegetables stored in a box of salt. the man sits down and lights a fire to begin cooking. the man gives you some food, but you were not really hungry at all. you ate and when it was time, the man went to sleep and left you expecting you to do the same. can you still trust this man? he may have given you food, but he intended on leaving this place behind with the majority of stuff he can't bring. he may be playing the long con and waiting for the right moment to strike. he has an axe with him, and the strength to use it, strength you do not have. if there is no greater moment than now, then the best choice of action is... [[take the boat]] [[sleep till morning]]

you get up silently, and examine the boat. it appears extremely sturdy for one made of wood, and looked ready for use whenever. you made your choice, so while the lumberjack slept, you take his supplies, most of his food, and his axe and stow them into the boat. you take what little remains of the necessities and climb onto the boat. the lever is within reach from within the boat, its time to leave. "Wait! what are you doing!?" you hear the voice of the man shouting. you see him sprinting towards you at a terrifying speed. you cannot let him in the boat. pull the lever. (click-append:"pull the lever.")[ the boat immediately drops from the hold of the pulleys and plummets. you nearly are lifted from the deck but you make it inside to a seat with a belt on it. there is another seat that now must be empty, but you buckle up for the impact. as the boat falls, you see something falling above you. the man jumped. seconds pass feeling like hours, but you hit the water, the belt ensuring you don't have a hard landing. you take it off and reach for the axe, the lumberjack intends on falling into the water and climbing up onto the boat. however, [[he missed.]]]

you sleep, and are awoken by the lumberjack shaking your shoulder. you pick yourself up and you eat breakfast, once you finish you look at the waves below and see that the water rose again. while the big wave reached the middle point of the massive redwoods, the still water level with no activity reached even higher than that, if you stay, the cradle far above the ground would soon be submerged. "it is as bad as I feared. we cannot stay here, we must go or we will be drowning in the hour." the lumberjack begins packing, and beckons you over to help him. you do and in some time, you have everything neccessary packed into the boat and ready to go. he tells you take a seat and buckle up and then he punches the lever, dropping the boat into the waves. the lumberjack seems completely unfazed by the boat hitting the waves, showing no need to even right himself up. [[and then you two set off]]

the sound was sickening. the man who had been chasing you, that daringly jumped down struck the edge of the boat. from the height alone, a fall like that on any part of the body would severely injure anyone, however the man fall head first onto it and died instantly. his body slung on the boat momentarily, that was limply dragged by the licking of the waves. it was over. and now you must continue on your own. could he have been a companion you could trust? maybe. however there was risk to going with him. was it from your disturst of him, or a was it a want to not have companion ship? whatever the case, whats done is done. [[its just you and the sea now]]

Cut. Date of test: January 16, 2164. Test Results: distrustful. Activity of note: Headed east, encountered Noah, stole Noah's ship. Further study into this behavior is required. Judgement: Success CfS: AB 198-456-72

the boat travels through the red wood forest, using a strange mechanism that pushes it quickly through. before long, the boat clears the forest completely, and now leads to a wide ocean. with no significant land mark other than the forest you just came from, the lumberjack turns to wards you. "you are the only one who's been outside the woods, where to?" [[where to indeed.]]

Cut. Date of test: january 16, 2164. Test results: doesn't face doom alone Activity of note: headed east, encountered Noah, left the forest with Noah. Further study of this behavior of required. Judgement: Success CfS: LM 675-389-10

you keep going, now with whispers emerging from the shadows. hushed voices spoke rapidly with one another, either in a language you did not understand, or too quickly to comprehend. it started off a slow and almost unhearable wind, and it rapidly escalated until the sound was ear shattering, as if a whisper could achieve the same effect as a shout, as if a shout would be quieter. as the whispers turn into white noise, you find yourself at the foot of a large staircase, leading up ahead into the dark. [[ascend]]

as you head up the stairs, the voices become further and further away, until they fade into obscurity. the sound is your own footsteps hitting the next step. you contiunue up, and the space left by the whispers is taken over by the sound of chanting. the sound is coming up ahead, from the top of the staircase. the chanting is much louder and clearer, and eventually, you crest the top of the staircase and see those who have come to recieve you. [[thousands of them.]]

a shrine is all it can be called, a massive crowd of people in hoods, their arms raised and chanting. a group closer to the center drumming and playing music, and a man without a hood stands in the center at an alter facing you. "the savior has arrived! just as it was foretold!" the group of hooded people immediately ceases the chanting and drops their hands down to their sides. the silence now fills the air as the music stops too, they all look at you only, awaiting your next move. "come, savior. the time is nigh for us to save the world! come!" you go and stand in front of him on the other side of the alter. on the alter lays a blade, sharp and jagged. the man looks over it and its reason for existing, and then he looks at you, and your purpose. "savior, we have awaited you for hundreds of years, for the end of the world, and its rebirth. with you, we can finally be saved." the man grabs the dagger and checks its sharpness. "for that, we need a sacrifice." [[grab it]] [[fulfill your purpose]]

you take the knife from his hand, however he does not seem to care. he does not move to save himself, he accepts whatever happens. you stab him in the heart and he crumples forward onto the alter, letting the blood from his heart flow into the center of it so that it can begin to flow into the channels hidden below the alter. the people raise their hands and chant, with renewed vigour. [[doom has been averted]]

you let the flow take you, and the dagger is stabbed into you as you lay on the table. you are saving the world after all, what is there not to be proud of? your guts flow from the cavity in your abdomen, and blood flowing into the hidden channels below the alter. as the cold sets in the chanting begins anew, now more vigorous than ever. [[this was your purpose]]

in the end, you die. but not without having done something great. you saved them from certain doom, whether it was by prophecy or choice. you have become as you have chosen, and in the end your death meant something. [[the cold has come]]

Cut. Date of study: January 16, 2164. test results: martyr activity of note: headed south, encountered the children of Nicolaas, became a sacrifice. no further study into this behavior is possible. judgement: success CfS: JC 05-403-33

in the coming hour, the people name you their supreme leader, and name you savior. their loyalty far exceeds that of common sense, as if their sole purpose since birth was to be tools for you to use. this does not seem so bad for you. your every whim answered, your every call responded to, your every goal met. it is time for the cult to move out, time to spread the great message. with you as their leader, their savior, there is nothing to stand between you and your [[legacy.]]

Cut. Date of study: January 16, 2164. test results: pillar activity of note: headed south, encountered the children of Nicolaas, became their leader further study into this behavior is required. judgement: success CfS: PF 176-976-00