text: [Themes: homosexual, mystery, horror, female protagonist, psychological]
  
  > Describe the surroundings
  Marissa's bedroom is initially confusing to the eye; the walls are almost entirely covered in an eccentric display of unframed paintings and tiny mirrors in mismatched frames. Lace curtains drape over a window in the north wall, letting dappled light filter onto a white-framed bed. In the dimly-lit south side of the room is a bedside table, covered in a pale floral cloth and a reading lamp. A white wardrobe, far less intimidating than the one in the spare room, is here too. The door is to the west.
  
  > go west
  I quickly return the diary.
  
  The carpeted hallway extends away to the north and south. In the west wall is a door leading to the guest bedroom, and in the east wall is the door to Marissa's bedroom.
  
  Marissa runs past in a tearful blur, almost crashing into me as she dashes into the bedroom.
  
  > go east
  Marissa's bedroom is initially confusing to the eye; the walls are almost entirely covered in an eccentric display of unframed paintings and tiny mirrors in mismatched frames. Lace curtains drape over a window in the north wall, letting dappled light filter onto a white-framed bed. In the dimly-lit south side of the room is a bedside table, covered in a pale floral cloth and a reading lamp. A white wardrobe, far less intimidating than the one in the spare room, is here too. The door is to the west.
  
  Marissa is here. Her small frame heaves with silent sobbing, her eyes unfocused.
  
  > go north
  "Never mind," I mutter. Marissa's eyes glaze over for a moment, and then - as though I had never disturbed her - she resumes her crying.
  
  > go west
  Feeling particularly cautious, I lock the door behind me. There could be all manner of danger in this house, and I feel obliged to keep Marissa safe.
  
  The carpeted hallway extends away to the north and south. In the west wall is a door leading to the guest bedroom, and in the east wall is the door to Marissa's bedroom.
  
  > look in it
  The interior of the cabinet is stained with age, but spotlessly clean. Inside, I can see a canister of Valium.
  
  > examine the Valium
  Diazepam: anxiolytic, hypnotic. For treating symptoms of anxiety, agitation and insomnia. Take one tablet once a day as directed by doctor.
  
  > look in the vase
  In the vase is a cluster of roses.
  
  > look through the hole
  I lean in towards the hole and look through to the dimly-lit master bedroom. I can see the shadowy figure of Marissa hunched into herself on the bed, oddly silhouetted by the window behind her. Her face is flecked with reflected light from the mirrors on the bedroom walls, highlighting the tears on her cheeks.
  
  > look at the window
  The huge window could easily be mistaken for a door, only it doesn't seem to be openable. It looks out onto an isolated street.
  
  > Go south
  It's a beige little living room; the offering of pale light filtering from the entry hall to the south somehow doesn't help to shake the sleepy, lifeless feeling here. An undersized dining table forms the centrepiece of the room, with a handbag placed on top and two chairs pushed beneath it. Wedged into the northwest corner of the room is a television, an old-fashioned armchair tucked up next to it. Against the north wall to the east is an open display cabinet with a single shelf of ornaments visible inside.
  
  A door to the north leads to the hallway, a door in the west wall leads to the kitchen and a door in the east wall leads to the study. The entry hall is to the south.
  
  > look at the ornaments
  They're crude and disfigured, limbs out of proportion and faces melted into disturbing expressions - screams, sighs, grimaces. They're certainly not what I would choose to display in my own living room.
  
  > go west
  The kitchen has a dated feel to it; a laminate bench runs around two walls of the room, and white tiles line the wall above an aging sink and stove. An old fridge is tucked into the far corner of the room, and several potted plants decorate the bench around the spotless appliances.
  
  A calendar and old-fashioned cordless phone hang on the wall near the door leading east.
  
  > Go west
  There's nowhere to go in that direction. The only obvious exit is east (to the living room).
  
  > Dial 1
  (on the telephone handset)
  (first taking the telephone handset)
  I don't really have cause to call her again. Besides, that stiff voice sends a chill up my spine.
  
  > Go east
  I replace the telephone handset on the base.
  
  It's a beige little living room; the offering of pale light filtering from the entry hall to the south somehow doesn't help to shake the sleepy, lifeless feeling here. An undersized dining table forms the centrepiece of the room, with a handbag placed on top and two chairs pushed beneath it. Wedged into the northwest corner of the room is a television, an old-fashioned armchair tucked up next to it. Against the north wall to the east is an open display cabinet with a single shelf of ornaments visible inside.
  
  A door to the north leads to the hallway, a door in the west wall leads to the kitchen and a door in the east wall leads to the study. The entry hall is to the south.
  
  > examine the paintings
  A stack of old paintings. They can't have been touched for years - even inside the drawer, they've somehow managed to accumulate a thin layer of dust. Their subjects all seem to be women relaxing together in various settings - under parasols in a scenic park, by a fireplace in a cosy living room, lazing on a drifting canal boat.
  
  Another new painting. This one is so messy it's difficult to be certain of the details, but it looks to be a figure of a blonde giantess attacking a human female with a knife. The giantess figure is apparently translucent: within her, another female is visible, her mouth frozen in a scream.
  
  > examine the duvet
  Which do I mean, the blankets or the duvet?
  
  > Blue
  Dark blue. It looks warm.
  
  > think about yourself
  Why should I be afraid of whatever is inside me? I have every right to companionship. I am the only one who could possibly appreciate someone like Marissa. She needs me.
  
  > examine the mirror
  I find myself unable to focus on the mirror. My vision fills with black when I try to look at it.
  
  > examine vine
  From here, it appears that the rose vine has laid claim to the entire fence.
  
  > examine the blinds
  Plastic venetian blinds. Cream-coloured.