Humanities weakness.
You decide to ignore the unsettling noises echoing through the damp cave, not wanting to encounter whatever monstrous creature might lurk in the shadows. Your flashlight flickers weakly, barely holding on, casting erratic beams of light that only make the cave seem more terrifying. Every shifting rock sends a spike of fear through your chest, and each tremor in the cavern makes your heart pound violently against your ribs.
Reaching a fork in the cave, you hesitate before taking the tunnel to your left, hoping it leads to an exit. The passage is narrow and suffocating, forcing you to squeeze through tight gaps as you push forward. Just as you spot a small crack ahead, a glimmer of hope forming in your mind— BANG!
A massive, flesh-covered spike suddenly slams through the opening, stopping just inches from your face. The end of it is a jagged, exposed bone, sharp like a spear. Through the crack, a monstrous figure looms—brown-skinned, with an eyeball dangling sickeningly from its socket. It lets out a guttural roar, its deformed mouth stretching open as it violently claws at the crack, trying to pry you out.
Panic floods your body. You push yourself backward, squeezing out of the tight passage as fast as you can before turning and sprinting toward the other tunnel. Unlike the first, this one is much wider, allowing for easier movement, but its walls are lined with small openings—cracks just large enough for something to reach through. As you dash through, you catch glimpses of the beast darting between the rock formations, keeping pace with you.
Your lungs burn, your legs ache, but just as you near the tunnel’s end, the beast is already there. It lunges at you, its bone-tipped arm stabbing forward in a blur of motion. You barely twist out of the way, feeling the rush of air as its attack misses you by mere inches. The jagged limb impales a rock wall behind you, embedding itself deep. The creature snarls, struggling to yank its arm free. Without hesitation, you bolt forward, sprinting deeper into the cave as you hear a sickening crack behind you—the beast has broken free and is coming after you again.
Up ahead, a sliver of moonlight shines through a small crack in the cave’s ceiling. Without thinking, you scramble up a pile of rocks, desperately clawing your way toward the opening. Just as you wedge yourself into the narrow gap, sharp pain explodes through your leg. The beast has caught you, its claws tearing into your calf. You scream in agony, kicking wildly until you finally pull yourself through. You roll onto the frozen ground above, clutching your wounded leg as blood seeps into the snow. The pain is unbearable, but you’re alive.
Shivering against the icy wind, you push yourself up, eyes locking onto a structure in the distance—a large satellite station. Maybe you can find help. Maybe even answers.
The Fire in the Distance
Limping through the thick snow and silent woods, you press on, determined. But in the distance, a plume of black smoke rises into the cold night sky. You hesitate, fear and hope warring within you. Could it be another monster? Or maybe—just maybe—it’s a sign of other survivors.
Moving cautiously, you approach the smoke, your breath hitching as you spot a lone figure sitting beside a crackling fire. Your heart pounds in your chest as you step closer.
“Hello…?” you call out, ready to run at the first sign of danger.
The figure turns, and your breath catches in your throat.
It’s Mary.
“Mary? Mary, are you okay?!” you shout, rushing toward her.
She stares at you, wide-eyed, as if she can’t believe you’re real. Then, slowly, she shakes her head.
“Frank…? You’re… alive?” Her voice trembles, filled with disbelief.
You drop to your knees beside her, scanning her face. She looks pale, her skin slick with sweat, her hands trembling violently.
“I—I don’t know how, but I found this food…” she gestures weakly to an open can beside the fire. “I was so hungry, I—I ate it, but… something’s wrong, Frank.” Her voice cracks, her breath ragged. “It did this. It changed them. It made them into… into those things.”
A shiver runs down your spine as you watch her clench her jaw, her body shaking uncontrollably.
“I can feel it, Frank,” she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s inside me. It’s changing me.” She grabs your arm, her grip weak but desperate. “Please… before I become one of them—” she swallows hard, “kill me.”
Your stomach drops.
Mary stares at you, pleading, her breath uneven as she struggles to keep herself together.
Do you kill Mary and out her out of your misery?
Reaching a fork in the cave, you hesitate before taking the tunnel to your left, hoping it leads to an exit. The passage is narrow and suffocating, forcing you to squeeze through tight gaps as you push forward. Just as you spot a small crack ahead, a glimmer of hope forming in your mind— BANG!
A massive, flesh-covered spike suddenly slams through the opening, stopping just inches from your face. The end of it is a jagged, exposed bone, sharp like a spear. Through the crack, a monstrous figure looms—brown-skinned, with an eyeball dangling sickeningly from its socket. It lets out a guttural roar, its deformed mouth stretching open as it violently claws at the crack, trying to pry you out.
Panic floods your body. You push yourself backward, squeezing out of the tight passage as fast as you can before turning and sprinting toward the other tunnel. Unlike the first, this one is much wider, allowing for easier movement, but its walls are lined with small openings—cracks just large enough for something to reach through. As you dash through, you catch glimpses of the beast darting between the rock formations, keeping pace with you.
Your lungs burn, your legs ache, but just as you near the tunnel’s end, the beast is already there. It lunges at you, its bone-tipped arm stabbing forward in a blur of motion. You barely twist out of the way, feeling the rush of air as its attack misses you by mere inches. The jagged limb impales a rock wall behind you, embedding itself deep. The creature snarls, struggling to yank its arm free. Without hesitation, you bolt forward, sprinting deeper into the cave as you hear a sickening crack behind you—the beast has broken free and is coming after you again.
Up ahead, a sliver of moonlight shines through a small crack in the cave’s ceiling. Without thinking, you scramble up a pile of rocks, desperately clawing your way toward the opening. Just as you wedge yourself into the narrow gap, sharp pain explodes through your leg. The beast has caught you, its claws tearing into your calf. You scream in agony, kicking wildly until you finally pull yourself through. You roll onto the frozen ground above, clutching your wounded leg as blood seeps into the snow. The pain is unbearable, but you’re alive.
Shivering against the icy wind, you push yourself up, eyes locking onto a structure in the distance—a large satellite station. Maybe you can find help. Maybe even answers.
The Fire in the Distance
Limping through the thick snow and silent woods, you press on, determined. But in the distance, a plume of black smoke rises into the cold night sky. You hesitate, fear and hope warring within you. Could it be another monster? Or maybe—just maybe—it’s a sign of other survivors.
Moving cautiously, you approach the smoke, your breath hitching as you spot a lone figure sitting beside a crackling fire. Your heart pounds in your chest as you step closer.
“Hello…?” you call out, ready to run at the first sign of danger.
The figure turns, and your breath catches in your throat.
It’s Mary.
“Mary? Mary, are you okay?!” you shout, rushing toward her.
She stares at you, wide-eyed, as if she can’t believe you’re real. Then, slowly, she shakes her head.
“Frank…? You’re… alive?” Her voice trembles, filled with disbelief.
You drop to your knees beside her, scanning her face. She looks pale, her skin slick with sweat, her hands trembling violently.
“I—I don’t know how, but I found this food…” she gestures weakly to an open can beside the fire. “I was so hungry, I—I ate it, but… something’s wrong, Frank.” Her voice cracks, her breath ragged. “It did this. It changed them. It made them into… into those things.”
A shiver runs down your spine as you watch her clench her jaw, her body shaking uncontrollably.
“I can feel it, Frank,” she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s inside me. It’s changing me.” She grabs your arm, her grip weak but desperate. “Please… before I become one of them—” she swallows hard, “kill me.”
Your stomach drops.
Mary stares at you, pleading, her breath uneven as she struggles to keep herself together.
Do you kill Mary and out her out of your misery?