Disclaimer: Okay, so apparently, I'm not allowed to post song lyrics in the disclaimer.
AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. School just started for me. But I'll try to get at least two updates out a week.
Michael Speir (15)
The day started with two gallons of water to the face. It continued with the realization that I am currently in the basement. This is not where I fell asleep.
I rub the water out of my eyes and sit up. I'm not even going to bother with the door. Long ago, she made sure it would be inaccessible, after she welded it shut. I have to admit, she got me this time. It takes skill to drag someone out of bed, open the trap door, descend fifteen feet down a rope ladder while carrying said person, drop him on the floor, and rig a bucket of water to splash down at exactly at 7:00. While the victim is asleep, I should add. Better start looking for the note.
After a thorough search of the 25-square-feet basement, I notice a strange feeling on the bottom of my foot. I yank off my shoe. Yep, there it is. A white, slightly crinkled, perfectly dry piece of paper taped to the sole of my sneaker. Genius. She even made sure it wouldn't get wet. Come to think of it, I didn't fall asleep wearing shoes. My sister is very efficient. I unfold the note and began to read.
Haha, I bet you're soaking wet by now. By the time you read this, the ladder will be hidden and I'll be out of the house, so I won't be there to let you out. Hidden around the room are various helpful objects, but good luck finding them on your own. The only way to find them is by following a series of clues I've left around the basement. Each item will have a note with further instruction on it. Good luck!
P.S. I've confiscated your phone, so you can't contact your friends. This is one journey you'll have to take by yourself.
Wonderful. It's one of her scavenger hunts. Well, better start looking. If this sides the note, then the first clue should be on the other side.
Checked out the crates lately? There's metal on the insides!
Metal on the insides? I glance over at the giant stack of crates. They've been there since before I was born, and are so weak a toddler could snap the wood in half. They don't look like they've been touched, but then, I never underestimate my sister. Did she really reinforce them with metal?
Under closer examination, the wood hasn't been reinforced at all. One kick was all it to shatter a crate to pieces. So what did she mean? Hmm… I give another experimental kick to one of the boxes. This time, I smash my foot into something hard. The wood doesn't even crack. I kick it again, and this time the wood splinters, revealing an iron chisel, hidden between two boards.
Oh. That's what she meant.
A second note leads me to a pile of ropes in the corner, with one trailing up to the ceiling. Under the note's instruction, I give a sharp tug on the rope. The trap door opens, and a hammer falls to the ground. It's good that I got the door open, but it's still useless without the ladder. I find the third note wrapped around the hammer's handle.
Good, you're almost done! Now use the items you have to find the ladder and climb to freedom!
P.S. Don't even think about using the ropes to climb back up! I've made sure each one can't support your weight. But maybe they can help you in another way!
Well, there goes that idea. So I'm supposed to use the hammer and chisel to find the ladder? How exactly are they supposed to help? Unless she wants me to… she wants me to break the wall, doesn't she. Damn it.
I inspect the wall for any sign of damage indicating where she hid the ladder. There's nothing. The wall hasn't been touched. But still, what else could she want you to do? And how are the ropes supposed to help? I give the rope another tug. This time a small block of wood drops from the ceiling and hits me on the head. Carved into it are the words North Wall, left side, three bricks from the left, ten up. Well, better get started.
Breaking the wall was not fun. It took a good fifteen minutes before I could make even a small hole. But eventually, I make a large enough opening to reach my hand through. I can feel a rope with several knots in it. I pull it out to check. Yep, this is the ladder all right. A final note rests in middle of the mess of knots.
Looks like you found it! I guess we have to fix the wall now, huh? Oh well, you can do that later. Lasso the hook and climb up!
P.S There's breakfast waiting on the table. Aren't I nice?
After a few tries, I manage to attach the rope to the hook. I brace my feet against the wall and climb up, emerging out of the trap door into the kitchen. True to her word, she did leave out breakfast. From creating scavenger hunts to making pancakes, my sister is a true perfectionist.
My phone is also on the table, and apparently, someone has been pestering me.
-trueDivination [TD] began pestering enigmaticInferno [EI] at [8:52] –
TD: hey!
EI: sup
TD: watcha doing?
EI: eating breakfast
EI: i just woke up
EI: kinda
TD: funny, the same thing can be said for me as well.
TD: i just woke up for the second time today.
TD: with a tranquilizer stuck in my back.
EI: …
EI: care to elaborate
TD: i was just sitting in my desk, on my computer, and i was about to message CS.
TD: and then I blacked out.
TD: i woke up about an hour later, and found a tranquilizer stuck to the back of my shirt.
TD: CS started messaging me as soon as i pulled it out, and she told me to check to see if my game arrived.
TD: and it did!
TD: she gave me the all clear to run the game.
TD: so then i tried pestering maddie, but she says our dad confiscated her computer, so she couldn't play right away.
TD: so i decided to ask you instead.
TD: want to play?
EI: before i give my answer, i have a few questions for you
EI: first of all
EI: this may just be me but if i were tranquilized i would at least sort of question it instead of immediately messaging a friend for a chat
TD: i did! i was freaking out at the time!
TD: but CS told me not to worry about it.
TD: believe it or not, she can be very soothing if she needs to be.
EI: i guess
EI: next question
EI: why is maddie out of commission
TD: she said she's grounded because she took a leaf blower to the living room.
EI: …
EI: why
TD: she says she was mad at dad because of an argument they had.
TD: she doesn't want to talk about it.
EI: whatever
EI: knowing her she'll have a computer in her hands in about an hour
TD: hopefully she will. i was looking forward to playing with her.
TD: in the meantime, want to play with me?
EI: its nice to know that im your second choice for a server player
TD: oh stop being so dramatic!
TD: you weren't my second choice. we're all going to play together, aren't we?
TD: this means you'll be the second to start playing! you should be happy!
EI: im never happy
TD: :(
TD: do you want to play now or not.
EI: fine
EI: ill go get my disc
TD: :D
My bedroom is in the attic of the small house my sister and I share. It originally had two bedrooms, but she claimed the bigger one and converted the other into a movie room. She was nice enough to have it painted, even though I had no say in the color. Whenever the early morning sun hits the bright, shiny, and highly reflective gold walls and nearly blinds me, I remember what it means to be ruled by her.
I install the client disc in my computer and watch as the application downloads. All it takes is a tap on the enter key and the game begins.
The first thing I see is a view of Molly's room. It's pretty cool, the walls painted a nice shade of grey, and white shelves running along them. The bed's also made of white wood, and is complete with blue covers and pillows. The second thing I see is Molly.
She's sitting at her computer, resting her face on her hand. She's using a really old-fashioned computer, with a really clunky monitor under the desk. She's wearing a knee length white skirt with blue socks and white shoes. Her white shirt also has a teal picture of a star on the front. Molly's hair is a deep golden-blonde color, and is a little shorter than shoulder length.
Come to think of it, this is the first time I've actually seen her.
TD: k i've installed the disc!
TD: it says we've connected.
EI: yep
EI: your room is pretty neat
TD: what?
TD: wait…
TD: CAN YOU SEE ME?
EI: yes
TD: HOW!
EI: i think its part of the game
EI: calm down and stop running away from the computer
EI: it wont accomplish anything
EI: i can see your whole house
TD: i was not informed of this!
EI: neither was i
EI: i have to admit its pretty impressive technology
EI: there must be like a satellite camera focused on your house or something
TD: stop complementing the creeper technology!
EI: creeper technology
TD: i'm sorry if i'm a little uncomfortable with a guy hundreds of miles away staring at me when i am unaware of the fact that i an being spied upon!
EI: youre not being spied upon
EI: and you called me dramatic
EI: would you have freaked out this much if maddie were your server player
TD: uhhh…
TD: i guess not?
TD: that's different. she's my sister and it used to be her house!
EI: im going to ignore your overdramatic teenage hissy fit and start installing stuff in your house.
TD: what stuff?
EI: the game requires me to drop some stuff into your house
EI: hold on your room isn't big enough
EI: there we go
TD: DID YOU JUST EXPAND MY FLOOR!
EI: yes
EI: i needed room for this alchemiter thing
TD: hopefully i won't get in trouble for this stuff being in my house…
EI: your moms not in your house so she shouldnt figure out for a while
EI: im going to use your roof for the cruxuder
EI: get up there and take the lid off while i install the totem lathe in the kitchen
TD: i can't get the lid off. i think it needs something heavy to hit it.
EI: got anything heavy
TD: i have a big metal box in my room. try using that.
TD: umm, do you see that? that yellow glowy thing?
EI: yes
EI: that's your kernelsprite
EI: im pretty sure youre supposed to throw something in
EI: its supposed to become your guide
EI: so what do you think we should prototype it with
TD: oh! i know exactly what to get!
EI: what is it
EI: molly whats that
EI: oh no not that
EI: you do not want your guide to be so inaccurate
EI: are you listening
EI: NO STOP
EI:…
EI: damn it
AN: Okay, that chapter's done. Hopefully I can get another out soon enough. Until then, review!