The House of Ash

(set: $typeEffect to "......Huh?") (display: "TypeWriter") (live:4s)[Where am I?] (live:6s)[[[Wake up|Intro]]]

{(set: $typePos to 1) |typewriterOutput>[] (live: 0.2s)[ (append: ?typewriterOutput)[ (print: $typeEffect's $typePos)] (set: $typePos to it + 1) (if: $typePos is $typeEffect's length + 1)[(stop:)]]}

You wake up from darkness, staring at the grey ceiling for seconds. Then you realize that you don't recognize this room. You are not in your house. Fortunately, you find your clothes are still on and feel no pain but a bit dizzy. Look around (click-replace: "Look around")[It is a grey room. Empty and quiet. Except the light bulb hanging over your head and a painting behind you, there is nothing else. Walk over to the painting (click-replace: "Walk over to the painting")[It is a painting that is as tall as you, and the canvas seems pretty old. Although there are scars of scratching all over it, you can still see what's on there. A white peace lily is surrounded by green leaves, stretching its petals towards you. ] ] (set:$thought to "I need to get out of this house.") [[Leave the room|ClockCorridor#1]]

{(set: $time to 0) (set: $beeper to "") (set: $typeEffect to "") (set: $roomColor to "") (set: $diaryPiece to 0) (set: $diary1 to false) (set: $diary2 to false) (set: $diary3 to false) (set: $diary4 to false) (set: $diary5 to false) (set: $checkBookcase to true) (set: $password to 0) (set: $bench to false) (set: $haveHairPin to false) (set: $future to false) (set: $haveRose to false) (set: $peace to false) (set: $thought to "") }

It is a long corridor with rose color smooth carpet. The wallpaper is painted in light brown. You can see a bunch of vases as decorations, but the strange thing is that there isn't any flower in them. You can hear a clock tick-tacking. There are three different doors on this corrdor, and you just walked out of the $roomColor one. [[Open Grey Door|GreyRoom#2]] [[Open Columbia Blue Door|CBlue#1]] [[Open Black Door|Darkness#1]]

The room is grey and empty. The light bulb offers the warmth in here. You feel somwhow lonely stand there by yourself. There is the old painting of peace lily. The flower is beautiful and peaceful, but makes your heart burt a little bit. This room feels usual. Maybe you can come back later. {(if: $haveRose and $diaryNum < 5)[[[Put down the rose|End#3Memory]]] (else-if: $peace and $diaryNum < 5)[[[Touch the lily flower|End#4Peace]]] (else-if: $peace and $diaryNum > 4)[[[Put down the hair pin|End#0Rebirth]]] } [[Leavet the Room|ClockCorridor#1]] (set: $thought to "The Lily here must represent something...")

The room is painted all in marine blue. It isn't as empty as the grey room that you have been through. There is a bed, a single sofa, and two large wooden bookcases, but you still have a feeling that no one lives here. Check the bed [[Rest on sofa|Resting]] [[Check Bookcases on left|LeftBookcase]] [[Check Bookcases on right|RighttBookcase]] [[Leave the room|ClockCorridor#1]] {(click-replace:"Check the bed")[It is a soft bed with clean marine sheets that match the color of this room. It seems that no one has ever slept in it, and you have no much willing to be the first one. You check the bed quickly but found nothing.]} (set: $thought to "I should check everything carefully.")

You rest for a while, close your eyes for minutes to get it together. It had been a confusing way to get here. And you still have no idea what you may run into through next door. Is there even a way back home? You wonder about it. Keep Going (click: "Keep Going")[(undo:)]

The bookcase is filled by heavy books looks like bricks. No wonder you can hit someone to coma with anyone of them, but there is nothing on the cover of these books. [[Pull out a book|EmptyBook]] (if: $checkBookcase)[Check the bookcase more carefully] (click-replace:"Check the bookcase more carefully")[Between two orange books, There is a small hair pin. (click-replace:" hair pin.")[. You pick up the hair pin. (set: $hasHairPin to true)(set: $checkBookcase to false)]] [[Turn back|CBlue#1]]

There are many video boxes. You pull out one and open it, but it is empty. (if: $diary1 is false)[But a small music box draws your attention. (click:"music box")[It has a glass shell so you can see through it. There is a folded piece of paper next to a fluffy white cat. The cat is sleeping inside a busket. Wind up Pick up the paper (click-replace:"Wind up")[It plays a soft piano song. The cat opens its eye and lift up its head while the song is playing.] (click-replace:"Pick up the paper")[It seems to be part of someone's diary. You find Diary#1. (set: $diary1 to true)(set: $diaryNum to it+1) Check Diary (click: "Check Diary")[(goto: "DiaryCollection")] ] ] ] [[Turn back|CBlue#1]]

(set: $emptyBook to true) You open the book, but it is empty. Nothing is recorded, and nothing is saved. Close it (click: "Close it")[(undo:)]

{(if: $diary1)[Diary#1 (click:"Diary#1")[: "The day that my family moved away was cloudy. I just celebrated my seventh birthday, but then I was leaving for a new town with only strangers around. My best friend gave me this music box as a present. Two of us used to laugh so much together, but at that moment we both had tears in our eyes. It was the first time that I learnt about loss."] ] (if: $diary2)[Diary#2 (click:"Diary#2")[: "I did it! I asked Ashley to hang out with me and Ashley agreed! I still can't believe it! It will be my first date. What should we do? I really need a full plan, and I feel so nervous now! I wish I won't do anything that may ruin this date. I have to show my best self in front ot Ashley!"]] (if: $diary3)[Diary#3 (click:"Diary#3")[: "I was looking at my old photos today. Ashley laughing happily at our wedding, our cat getting wet in shower, our firt anniversary spending in California...Past is always amazing. Ashley should be back tomorrow from business trip. I should go back and prepare my gift now. Surprise, surprise. I wonder what expression Ash would have on her face."]] (if: $diary4)[Diary#4 (click: "Diary#4")[: "It had been a year. 365 days of regret. I miss you, Ash, I miss you so much. It felt so silent and dead in the house after you were gone. But IT was my fault. I should have picked you up from the airport, then IT wouldn't happen. I hate myself, you are the one that deserve to stay alive, Ash, I wish..." //The rest of the diary is ripped off.//]] (if: $diary5)[Diary#5 (click: "Diary#5")[: "I'm coming to see you."]] } Get back (click: "Get back")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]

The place is filled by darkness. It feels like someone painted the whole room with ink. You can feel your hands and feet, but can't see anything on the other side due to the lack of light. [[Run directly|Darkness#2]] [[Move carefully along left wall|Darkness#3]] [[Move carefully along right wall|Darkness#3]] [[Turn back|ClockCorridor#1]] (if: $peace and $diaryNum > 3)[[[Call out her name|End#6We]]] (set: $thought to "I have no choice but go through the darkness.")

You gather your courage to move your legs. And Run-- Cold air flows down your lungs, but you feel you are close to the end. (live:5s)[[[A door knob!|PinkRoom#1]]]

You can feel the cold and hard stone under your palm. After each step, it takes away some temperature from your body, making your hands colder and colder. You start to feel the darkness becoming heavier on your shoulder. You can't even tell if it is imagination or reality moving forward. How long is this corridor? Is it a corridor or an abyss? [[Move forward|Darkness#4]]

When you are trying to move through the darkness, something just grab on your feet. What the hell is it? You can't see, you can't tell, but your heart beats like a drum. [[Run|Darkness#2]] [[Run|Darkness#2]] [[Run|Darkness#2]]

The pink carpet fill the whole floor of this room. There is a coffee table in the middle of this room, with a red heart drown on it. [[Check coffee table|CoffeeTable]] [[Walk around the room|PinkRoom#2]] [[Go through the black corridor|Darkness#5]]

The coffee table is made of glass and a huge heart is painted in the middle of it. Your hands move over the heart, feeling a little warm. Like someone put a hot coffee on it minutes ago, because you can smell the bit and strong smell of it. Is there anyone else? You suddenly gain a little more hope. Nothing else. [[Step back|PinkRoom#1]] (mouseover: "Nothing else.")[There is a piece of paper under the coffee table. Pick up (click-replace: "Pick up")[You pick up the Diary#2. (set:$diary2 to true)(set: $diaryNum to it+1) Check Diary (click: "Check Diary")[(goto: "DiaryCollection")]]]

You notice something on the wall. There is a note stuck under a keyboard. "Seven miles away from the town, there is the farm with nine barns. While two sheep are eating grasses, A cat is playing banjo on the house." Type on keyboard [[Go away|PinkRoom#1]] (click: "Type on keyboard")[(goto: "Password")] (if: $password is "7921")[(goto:"RedRoom#1")]

(live:4s)[(goto: "ClockCorridor#1")]

It appears to be a secret room. Where will it lead to? You look around, see nothing but a long iron bench. It looks as tough as rock, clearly not pretty comfortable to rest on. (link:"Sit down")[(set: $bench to true) {Rest for a while (click: "Rest for a while")[(goto:"Resting")]} (if: $bench)[There is a piece of paper stick under the bench. Pick up (click-replace: "Pick up")[You pick up the Diary#3. (set:$diary3 to true)(set: $diaryNum to it+1) Check Diary (click: "Check Diary")[(goto: "DiaryCollection")]]]] [[It is not the time for a rest|RedRoom#2]] (set: $thought to "I am feeling nervous here. I need more clues.")

(set: $password to (prompt: "It should be a password composed of four digits.", "0000")) (goto:"PinkRoom#2")

You look around the room. There are a few papers pined to one of the wall. On the other side, is a dark blue door. [[Take a closer look at the papers|Newspapers]] [[Enter the door|DBlueRoom#1]]

Most of them are cut from newspapers, reporting the same pileup car accident near the airport. You read through the news. //Four car crushed near the exit of seventh highway. Nine people were injured and two were sent to the hospital at the first time. But one was killed. The only one that didn't survive. To protect the personal information, the newspaper didn't print out the name.// There is another note, written by hand and seems familiar to you. There is a single name laying on it. //Ashley.// (mouseover: "Ashley.")[(color:red)[You heart skip a beat.]] [[Turn away|RedRoom#2]]

{(set: $choices to (array: "Memory","True love","Hope"))} Nothing in here, you feel that you are back into the empty grey room for a moment. (live:3s)[Or there is something. Another painting. The small blue petals are hands that asking for help. It is a painting of Forget-me-not. The symbole of [(display: "Cycling")]<choice|. (stop:) Touch it (if: 1st of $choices is "Memory")[ (click: "Touch it")[(goto: "YellowRoom#1")]] (if: 1st of $choices is "True love")[ (click: "Touch it")[(goto: "Forgiven")]] (if: 1st of $choices is "Hope")[ (click: "Touch it")[(goto: "GreenRoom#1")]] ] (set: $emotion to "depressed")

{ (link: (text: $choices's 1st) ) [(set: $choices to (rotated: -1, ...$choices)) (replace: ?choice)[(display:"Cycling")] ] }

It is a room with all kinds of plants. A pot of Peace lily, buskets of carnations, white roses, and bright yellow spring tulips. You step forward, and realize even the ground is covered by leaves instead of a green carpet or stone. This room is a lot diffrent comparing to those you have been through. But you feel lifeless just standing in here. Something makes you uncomfortable. [[Check Peace Lily|PeaceLily]] [[Check Carnation|Carnation]] [[Check Rose|Rose]] [[Check Tulip|Tulips]] [[Go back|DBlueRoom#2]] (set: $thought to "The flowers must mean something. I need to look through them carefully.")

The room have a white and yellow striated color, bringing you little more delight. It is an extremely small room, no bigger than a bathroom in apartment. There is (text-rotate:5)[a cushion] at the corner of this tiny room. Move away the cushion (click-replace: "Move away the cushion")[There is a handle on the floor. It must link another room to this one. [[Go down|CBlue#2]]] {(if: $diary4 is false)[(mouseover: "a cushion")[You find an oepn hole on the cushion. There is a piece of paper inside it. Pick up (click-replace: "Pick up")[You pick up the Diary#4. (set:$diary4 to true)(set: $diaryNum to it+1) Check Diary (click: "Check Diary")[(goto: "DiaryCollection")] ]]]} [[Leave the room|DBlueRoom#2]] (set: $emotion to "comfortable")

You are drown by darkness, but feel warm and safe. Where are you? You feel that there are still something back there waiting for you to remember. There is one way forward with light in the front. And one way backward, crossing the shadows of past. You feel that once you take a step forward, (color: red)[THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO GO BACK.] [[Go forward|Ashley]] [[Go backward|DBlueRoom#2]]

(live:1s)[ (if: $peace and $haveRose)[(goto: "End#5Dream")] (if: $diaryNum < 1 )[(goto: "End#1Forgotten")] (if: $diaryNum >1 and $diaryNum < 5)[(goto: "End#2Regret")] (if: $diaryNum > 4)[(goto: "End#3Memory")] ]

You lift you eyelids. They are as heavy as lead. Even moving a finger feels impossible, What happened to you? White ceiling and white floor tells you that you are in a hospital. Someone walks near you, it is a nurse. You try to turn your head and look into her eyes, but the headache stops you at the first try. You feel dizzy and disgusting. Your stomach hurts too. "Sir, you are sent here due to alcoholism, it had been six hours. Are you feeling better now?" You try to nod your head, but the diziness makes you shake your heads around in circle. The nurse signs and says:"It's okay to relax a little longer. I will tell the doctor to come and meet with you later." [[Then she walks away.]]

You wake up on the couch again. It's another night that you fall asleep with TV on and empty bottles around. The soft sunshine feels as light as cream. The smell of rotten banana draws a bunch of fruit flies. You stare at one for a while, and then wave your hand over the coffee table. You squeeze one of them in your fingers easily. Dragging the heavy body across the living room, you cross another day off from calendar, and smell to the picture next to it. "Good Morning, Ash." "Godd Morning, darling." But it is impossible to hear an answer. You know it. (text-style: "shudder")[ [[She's gone.]] ]

You wake up, find your self is laying in bed as usual. The sun is pouring inside, and the room is showing in light. What a weird dream? You think, grub your eyes to make yourself relaxed. A pair of yellow eyes stares at you while you are yawning, and then it jumps off the chair and puts its front feet on the edge of your bed. "Oh, good morning, pawny." You talk to the cat, and it jumps on the bed. You don't feel like getting up right now, the strange dream still bothers you somehow. But Next second, Pawny jumps into the air and steps over you belly. //It hurts.// "All right! All right! I know you are hungry!" [[You get out of the bed.]]

{(set: $choices to (array: "Memory","True love","Hope"))} There is the painting. The small blue petals are hands that asking for help. It is a painting of Forget-me-not. The symbole of [(display: "Cycling")]<choice|. Touch it (click:"Touch it")[(goto: "Choice")] [[Leave the room|RedRoom#1]] (set: $thought to "I think different choice lead to different place...Why would I think so?")

Henry wakes up from a weird dream. In the dream, he felt that his body wasn't his body any more, and all he did was walking through corridors and rooms, searching for a way to escape. But there was something more, Ashley, inside the dream. It had been six years since the car accident, but Henry still dream of her sometimes. He sold their old house and furnitures, moved away from the place filled by sad memories, and found a job in a small advertisement company. Henry try to bury his mind in work at first, but then he ended up in huge depression. With the support of some friends, Henry started to go to therapist and return to his daily life with white pills in his pockets. [[Henry chose to face it.]]

You wake up from the trapped maze, find yourself laying in bed. Ashley is next to you, sleeping. You can see her body waves following her breaths. Everything is a dream. (click-replace: "Everything is a dream.")[Including Ashley, the one next to you.] (click-replace:"Including Ashley, the one next to you.")[ (text-style:"blurrier")[You try to grab her shoulder, but your hand pass through her body like a ghost. [[Tears cover your eyes.]] ]]

A name drops down from your lips. "Ashley?" At first, it is only a whisper, but then you feel something. No, someone is walking towards you. You try to raise your voice:"Ashley!Is that you?" (click:"Ashley!Is that you?")[ (set: $typeEffect to "Why...") (display: "TypeWriter") (live: 3s)[ You feel that voice takes you by the throat. //It is Ashley.// ''It is Ashley!'' You feel you tongue burning: "Where are you, Ash! I can't see you in the darkness! Can you walk closer to this door?" "No, I can't, darling...Please, go back to where you belong to..." (click:"go back")[(goto:"Stay")] ] ]

It is a saturday morning, and the sunshine is flowing into bedroom through the curtains. Henry wakes up from a weird dream. It feels so real that he have to sit up to see if everything is fine. In the dream, Henry was not in control of his own body, and had to go through a bunch of rooms to escape that place. And now here he is, sitting in bed, next to his wife. Ashley opens her eyes, and looks confused while she sees him. "Darling, is everything okay?" Henry kisses her forehead, and says: "Just a nightmare with a good ending." Ashley blinks, smiling at him: "What kind of nightmare?" "I lost you in an accident...but it's so lucky that it's just a dream." "Maybe you did lost me somewhere," Ashley blinks again, "like in another timeline or dimension?" Henry shakes his head: "You are watching too many cartoons with kids. I told you it's not healthy for them, now it gets to you." "Just saying." [[She is still smiling.]]

You feel that you forget about something. The alcoholic takes part of you away. But what is it? You can't recall the loss. It feels important, so terrible and despair, sad and painful. But it is taken away. (color: black)[You feel release. Maybe it is not bad after all.] //The End--"Forgotten"//

Ashley is gone. You should never forget this truth, such reality and painful memory. You blame yourself for not picking her from the airport. If you have been there, everything would be different, and maybe the car accident wouldn't happen at all. Even though the fate wouldn't change, at least you could be with her. You could stay with her, till the end of both of your lives, hers and yours. As the vow that you made, but even more. "Even death shall not do us apart." //The End--Regret//

The room is painted all in marine blue. It isn't as empty as the grey room that you have been through. There is a bed, a single sofa, and two large wooden bookcases, but you still have a feeling that no one lives here. [[Rest on sofa|Resting]] [[Check Bookcases on left|LeftBookcase]] [[Check Bookcases on right|RighttBookcase]] [[Go Up|YellowRoom#2]] [[Leave the room|ClockCorridor#1]] (set: $thought to "It's strange. I may check the other choice for that Forget-Me-Not. Is there other flower that I may check?")

You finally wake up, with her name on your lips as a ghost. Raindrops are knocking on your window, it is a sunday morning. You turn your body to the other side, trying to comfort youself little more, and then close your eyes. It is just another dream, or maybe you can even dream about another one. A one that with her from the beginning. You pray for another dream to see her. //The End--Dreams//

(set: $peace to true) It feels familiar as you look at the single white lily with all these green leaves. And it's the only flower in this room by itself. It looks lonely. There is a sticky note on its pot, so you read it. //"Things shall end at where they start. Memory is the path of ME, but truth is the answer for YOU, SHE will wait for you in darkness."// It is some kind of hint. [[Go back|GreenRoom#1]]

The buskets is filled by different colors of carnations. Red ones, pink ones and white ones. There is a tag on one of the buskets. (click:"tag")[//Remembrance, Admiration, Love and Innocence.//] (click-replace:"Remembrance,")[Remembrance?] (click-replace:"Remembrance?")[Remembrance!] (click-replace:"Remembrance! Admiration, Love and Innocence.")[ (if: $diary5 is false)[You rip off the tag from the busket, and find a piece of diary behind it. Pick up (click-replace: "Pick up")[You pick up the Diary#5. (set:$diary5 to true)(set: $diaryNum to it+1) Check Diary (click: "Check Diary")[(goto: "DiaryCollection")] ]]] [[Go back|GreenRoom#1]]

The white roses look quite peaceful. full of energy of beauty. But they have no smells. You start to wonder if they are fake. There is a postcard stick inside one of the pots. It is a picture of two hands holding each other. You look behind it: //Take me to your grave, Or leave me in my grief.// Take a rose. (click-replace:"Take a rose.")[You take a white rose.(set: $haveRose to true)] [[Go back|GreenRoom#1]]

You believe that yellow spring tulips are a symbol of renewal and fresh starts. There is something stuck under one of the pot. (if: $haveHairPin)[ You suddenly remember that you have a hair pin, and take it out from your pocket. You stick the hair pin under the pot and reach piece of paper. And You read it: //One of us lives a pale lie, One of us is drown in past, One of us guide believers, and I am the key connects future. // (set: $future to true) ] [[Go back|GreenRoom#1]]

You fill the bowl of Pawny, and it seems to enjoy the meal. You pour more fresh water into pawny's water bowl, and clean the cat liter box. You don't like the name of Pawny, but Ashley loved it so much that you can't make her change her mind. You feel like to prepare something else for yourself. Pawny lifts its head while you walk toward the kitchen. "I don't eat cat food, and you don't eat peanut and jelly, okay?" There is a photo of you and Ash on the refrigerator. Both of you are laughing in front of a Christmas tree. Now, one has to move on with another behind memory. Time will be the best medicine. //The End--Memory//

Now, things are getting better and better. It is hard to forget about those days, so Henry decide to write them down. In his diaries, he gains the days that he lost. The happiness, the tears and the memories. Both of the pain and gain, become his treasure after years. He refuses to live under the shadow of Ashley's accident, but accept the reality that she could never go back to his side. Both of them shall feel peace now, the past one, and the living one. "Welcome back to your reality, Henry." //The End--Peace//

Your face turns red: "I'm not going back anywhere! I want to be with you, this is what I always want to do! I miss you so much, Ash, please..." "No...you shouldn't...you should never do this to yourself..." (color: red)[''"Please Take Me With You!"''] (mouseover:"Please Take Me With You!")[ You feel a soft touch from the darkness. You can hear Ashley trying her best not to cry loudly. She should be in front of you right now, but you still can't see her. (color: red)[You feel a frozen hand holds your hand.] [[Hug her|Couple]] [[Touch her face|Couple]] [[Grab her hand|Couple]] ]

You can feel her, a cold soul that still love you. (color: red)[//And you know, you love her too.//] You choose to stay with Ashley. The door closes behind you, you are drown in darkness. But you don't care about it anymore. Since she is there, with you. "Thank you, Henry." "I didn't make the choice, Ash." You have Ashley in your arms. (color: red)["I didn't, destiny did."] //The End--Couple//

"But what happened to you after you lost me? I mean, in your dream world?" "Ash, stop being so childish. You are right here with me, and I don't wanna even think about it." Henry lays back on his pillow, feeling a warm hand grabing his hand. "I'm glad that I made through that car accident near airport." Henry signs: "We are both lucky that day. There is a uber passenger didn't make through it." Both keep silent for a while. (click: "a while")[Ashley's hand becomes tighter over yours, so you lace your fingers with hers. "I don't want to lose you, Henry. Even in dreams." "Me neither, Ashley. Me neither."] (color: red + white)["We are lucky to have each other, aren't we?" "No, I am the lucky one who have you by my side, Ash."] (color:red)[//The End--Another//]

(if: 1st of $choices is "Memory")[(goto: "YellowRoom#1")] (if: 1st of $choices is "True love")[(goto: "Forgiven")] (if: 1st of $choices is "Hope")[(goto: "GreenRoom#1")]

Your head still hurts like a bull stepped on it, but you can still remember things about yourself. You are a middle aged man, who work at a newspaper office to make live. Your life is neither a lucky star nor a talented show so far. As soon as you recall your memories, the headache feels much better, but you still feel a piece of puzzle is missing. You have a wife, and you are certain about that. You know you love her than anything else in this world. Your heart loses a beat. (color:red)[//Why can't you remember her name?//] [[Open your eyes|GreyRoom#1]]

........................................................................... [[Diary Piece|DiaryCollection]] [[Henry's thought|Henry]]

$thought Get back (click: "Get back")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]