text: [Themes: modern, drama]
  
  [Author's Note: You wake up after a car crash and find yourself lost in the snow. Can you survive and get out alive? For those interested in such things, there are eight bad endings and three good endings. Sorry about that, but there are lots of ways to die in the wilderness you know. Created for January, 2017 New Frontier Contest]
  
  > The Mountain Pass
  Wow. Man does your head hurt.
  
  That was some party. When was it? But you didn't even drink this time. You kept telling them you had to drive home.
  
  You slowly open your eyes are realize that you're in a car. Why are you in a car? Well, it's your car, that you are sure of. You can smell the McDonald's fries from a few days ago. Your head still hurts.
  
  As you start to look around, you realize that you are cold. You reach up and feel a bump on your forehead. You glare at the steering wheel, apparently the cause of your bump and the throbbing headache.
  
  You try to shake your head to clear out the cobwebs, but that only makes your head hurt more, so you quickly close your eyes. With your eyes close, you grab your own arms, shivering, as you realize that you are only wearing a thin tee shirt. Now what? You keep your eyes closed and think back to last night...
  
  There was a party. It was at that new guy's house. You just went and hung out. You didn't drink or do anything. You know you left late, but everyone turned down your offers to drive them home. You remember leaving, saying you had to get over the mountain pass before the snowstorm hit. Snowstorm?!?
  
  Opening your eyes again and looking out the window you could see it: nothing but snow. It was dark and dreary and clearly still snowing. The sky was grey and the snow was grey. You could see lumps and bumps on the ground that must be bushes and things, but it was hard to tell the difference between the sky and the ground. Looking out the other windows revealed the same scene. Looking out the back window was more of the same. You couldn't even tell if you were still on the road, in a parking lot, in a ditch, or in the middle of a field. It was all just grey. Grey and cold, you realized, as a shiver went up your back. You had on jeans and sneakers last night, and you still have them on. You were not planning on getting out in this snow.
  
  In fact, at home you had prepared for the storm. You had plenty of supplies stocked up from before the party. You made sure the generator was full of gas and that there was plenty of oil and wood to keep the house warm. Of course, none of that did you any good now, while you were in the car. Perhaps you could slowly drive and find your way home?
  
  You reached out to turn the key to start the car and realized that it would not turn. It was already in the "run" position. Uh oh. That's not a good start. You turned the key in reverse to "off," then paused, before turning it to try and start the engine. When you turned the key nothing happened. No lights turned on. No little "dinging" noises. Nothing. It looks like this car is not going to be going anywhere right now. You're going to have to find your way on your own-- either that or find a way to get the car started.
  
  You felt another shiver run through your body as you realized that you had better find a way to get things going quickly, or you were going to freeze to death. You remember stories of people being stranded in the snowy passes, but they always ended with the people being found. And most of the stories seemed to have a part about people drinking their own pee. Looking down, you really hoped that it was not going to come to that any time soon.
  
  But now you had to make a decision. You needed to do something...or did you?
  
  > wait in the car. Surely help will arrive soon.
  You remember hearing back about what you're supposed to do when you're stuck. You're supposed to stay where you are. After all, staying inside the car is certainly safer than heading outside. You can see the snow blowing around outside, and you know it is going to be very, very cold out there. Forget going outside, you're staying in the car and waiting for help.
  
  You look down at the radio and press some buttons. You wish that the radio would work. It might be nice to have some music to pass the time. And maybe a weather report. Do they still do those on the radio these days? You've listened to Internet radio so much you're not sure any more.
  
  You look back out the window and see nothing but grey still. It is still darn cold out there and the cold is really starting to seep into the car. You wiggle your toes trying to keep them warm. Why in the world aren't you wearing a coat? You don't think you took one to the party, maybe you were just thinking about looking good, you're not quite sure. You wish you had one now.
  
  You look out the back window again and wonder if that the road behind you. It is so hard to tell. Surely if that's the road there will be some state trooper patrol or something coming by after some time. You wonder how often they patrol this road. Maybe a plow will come by soon and spot you. Heck, if a plow comes by, you can brave the cold to head out and get their attention. Surely the cab of a plow will be nice and warm. That will be nice.
  
  You can't really remember how long you're supposed to wait when they tell you stay in the car. You can remember stories about people going off to look for help and getting lost in the woods. That's not for you, no way. You're going to say in this car until help finds you. But it is really starting to get colder. Maybe you can take a quick nap. After all, if a plow comes, the noise of the plow will certainly be enough to wake you from a light nap, right?
  
  Still, it is pretty cold and it seems like it is getting colder here in the car. You wonder if you could even go to sleep since right now you feel like you're going to start shivering rather than falling asleep. You take a deep breath as you try and decide what you should do next.
  
  > continue to wait in the car for help to arrive.
  Whew. It certainly does feel like it is starting to get a bit colder now. You really do wish that the car would start so you could at least get a little heat going. You remember reading about people who get trapped in their cars and die from some kind of poisoning, but you're pretty sure that never really happens outside, just in the garage or something like that. Wow, it is getting cold.
  
  You can still see the grey outside. And there are still the white snowflakes twirling lightly in the gentle breezes. Your eyelids are actually starting to get heavy, but surely you can't really fall asleep in this kind of cold. You feel a shiver go through your body and you rub your arm, hoping that will somehow warm you up. A nap might be nice now, though.
  
  After all, if you can get to sleep, maybe you will feel better. You still can't believe that you can actually fall asleep in this cold, but maybe a short nap would be for the best. You can tell that nothing is going to change outside soon. Heck, you're not even sure if it is morning or evening outside it is so grey. Perhaps after a short nap the clouds will move away and you'll have some sunshine to deal with. You know you've got some sunglasses in the car, and it will certainly be warmer if the sun comes out, too. You also remember that the seat in this car reclines quite a bit...
  
  > go ahead and get up. Might as well go outside and see what you can see.
  You decide that sitting the car isn't going to help you or anyone else. You take the keys out of the ignition and press the button to unlock the door. You are glad that the doors actually unlock, you're not sure what you would have done if they stayed locked. I guess that means the battery has some power left in it, but apparently not enough to start the car. You're pretty sure you're not going to find anyone to give you a jump now, but maybe later...like when the snow melts. You reach over and pull the handle and the door opens.
  
  As soon as the door cracks open, you feel the icy cold air invade the inside of the car. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea. You shiver and realize again that all you are wearing is a thin cotton tee shirt. A couple stray snowflakes wander in through the open door and land on your arm, reminding you that it is also snowing still. You take one last look around at the inside of the car and go ahead and shove the door all the way open.
  
  You think that perhaps this is like jumping into a cold pool, so you quickly put your feet out the door and stand up. As soon as you do, you realize that the snow outside your car door is over a foot deep. How long have you been parked here? How hard is it really snowing out here?
  
  Those thoughts quickly leave your mind as the snow presses against your ankles and the cold starts to spread through your body. That snow is really cold. It is already beginning to melt on your ankles, and your socks are going to get wet soon. You've got to get moving and you have got to get out of this cold soon. Of course nearly every direction is nothing but snow right now.
  
  Looking towards the front of the car, you can see shadows and an area that looks a bit darker, like it might be trees or a forest. Over to the right side of the car is open space that looks just plain white and white. In the distance there are light shadows. Perhaps that is the road? To the left side of the car you can see a much lighter area. This might be where the sun is trying to burn through the thick, grey clouds. Behind the car is more white and white space. You are wondering if you are already starting to go snow blind.
  
  > head towards the front of the car to explore.
  You trudge through the deep snow towards the front of the car. The snow is certainly deeper this way. You hit your foot on something under the snow. Since you were acting like a snow plow, it didn't really hurt, but it stopped you from walking for a second. It feels like it might be a guard rail or perhaps just a big rock. Either way, you're pretty sure that's something that isn't part of the main road that you assume must be around here somewhere.
  
  You manage to get over the rock, guardrail, or whatever is there. The ground is a little slippery at the bottom, but you manage to move around without falling down, though you're not quite sure how. The snow here is as deep as your mid-thighs, but at least with the snow that deep, you can't feel the wind on your legs. You try not to think about the fact that since your legs are now covered with snow that they will soon be wet, too.
  
  Looking around here you see more snow and more white. It seems like it might be snowing just a wee bit less over here, but you can't really tell. What you can see is an area that is a bit darker ahead of you. It might be trees, or maybe something else. Glancing back you can see the car, but you can tell that if you move forwards towards the darkness it is unlikely that you're going to see the car again. You know that all the stories tell you to stay with your car, but right now you can't see how saying with that freezing hunk of metal is really going to help you all that much. Except, of course, that's how they always end up finding everyone who gets lost in the snow, isn't it?
  
  > head back to the side of the car.
  The snow is cold and even the very light breeze feels extremely cold as you stand outside the car. The snow is deep and even your own tracks are quickly covered by the falling snow and the gentle breeze. It is cold out here and you need to find warmth and maybe shelter and then perhaps food.
  
  Looking towards the front of the car, you can see shadows and an area that looks a bit darker, like it might be trees or a forest. Over to the right side of the car is open space that looks just plain white and white. In the distance there are light shadows. Perhaps that is the road? To the left side of the car you can see a much lighter area. This might be where the sun is trying to burn through the thick, grey clouds. Behind the car is more white and white space. You are wondering if you are already starting to go snow blind.
  
  > head to the right side of the car to explore.
  As soon as you step away from the car you can feel the wind pick up. The snow starts hitting you in the face like tiny little pin pricks. Your nose is much colder over here and you can hear the wind making noise, swirling through rocks, trees, or something else.
  
  You cannot see much over here and can just barely make out your car parked in a snowbank. You can't imagine that when you were driving that you would have parked in a snowbank, so that means that the snow has really been falling and the wind has really been moving the snow around since you got here. You're not really sure how much longer your car will even be visible at this rate.
  
  You shiver as another gust catches you and you look around. The area is still nothing but white and grey, but it looks like there is an area further away that's a slightly different color. It looks a little lighter, but you're not sure if that means it is cliffs, ice, sky, or even the abominable snowman. You would have to get closer to it to see more, but you're not completely sure you will be able to make it back to your car if you keep going in this blowing snow. It might make more sense to climb back in your car that has the nice thick blanket of snow on it now. MMmmmm... blanket...
  
  > continue exploring towards the lighter area.
  As you start to move closer to check out the lighter area, the wind buffets you from behind. It feels colder the further you move and you are so cold now that you don't really want to move any more. You keep pushing along, getting closer until you can finally see something. That lighter area? It was a rock cliff covered with ice. As you move towards it to look closer, another gust of wind hits you just as you step onto a particularly slippery area. A moment later your feet fly out from under you and you slam onto the ground on your rear end.
  
  It takes you a second to realize that you're not still on the ground! Instead, you are sliding along on some ice. You reach out to grab something to stop your slide, but your hands grab nothing but snow. You start speeding up as the ground tilts more and you realize you are sliding along towards the edge of the cliff! You try to dig your feet in, but there is nothing here but snow and ice and then nothing.
  
  You are falling through the air!
  
  > Eeek!
  A moment later your rear slams into the frozen ground. You look around and realize that you only fell a couple feet. It still hurt because everything is cold and frozen, especially your rear end. You get to your feet, still rubbing your rear where it slammed into the ground.
  
  As you get to your feet, you realize that you're not standing on ice at the moment. In fact, as you look around, you see that you are in some sort of dirt clearing that only has a few wisps of snow. At the edges of the clearing you can see large, long, strange metal strips of some kind, leading up into the sky! Wait -- as you look closer, you can see that they are supports of some kind. Sure enough, when you look up, you can see there is a tower of some kind above you! And yes, there is a ladder that leads up to the tower. This must be one of those ranger towers you've heard about.
  
  From what you remember, these are old tower that used to be used for spotting forest fires. You're pretty sure that you read on the Internet that some of them are still used, but most of the watching comes from satellites these days. Of course, even if they were in use, surely no one would be spotting fires in this storm, would they?
  
  You figure the best way to find out is to take a look. If no one is there the door is probably locked anyway. You head up the ladder and your hands close on the cold rungs again and again as you make your way up. When you start to get close, you think you can hear the sound of voices from the tower! Your hands are getting colder, but you keep going to the door. A quick look at the door and you can see there is a place for a padlock, but no lock! You are going to be saved! Just before you reach the trap door you call out, "Hello! Help! Is anyone there?"
  
  Just before you can reach out and touch the door, the trap door suddenly is ripped open! There is a bright light shining from the space above and you can see a forest ranger standing there. They have a large rifle pointed right at you and they yell out, "Graaaaag!"
  
  At this point you need to roll some dice. Oh yes, this is one of THOSE stories, did they not tell you? You know, the one that says, "Oh, if you rolled less than 4, go to page x?" Well yes, that's what we're doing now. But of course since this is a computer, I can go ahead and roll the dice for you. No, you can't roll your own dice, I don't trust your dice. And in fact, I'm not even going to show you which pages to turn to, I'm going to just show you the result of your roll and then send you on your way. But in case you were wondering, it was a 4 or lower and you get the bad result, 5 or higher and you get the good result...
  You rolled: 8.
  
  > Continue...
  You manage to just hold on to the ladder rungs, your hands almost numb, as you stare into the barrel of a rifle. A second later the rifle disappears and a hand reaches down to pull you into the tower. You land on the floor of the tower in a pile.
  
  The tower is warm and friendly. It is well-lit with a lantern of some kind. There is a small TV playing in the corner. The ranger quickly makes a cup of something and offers it to you. She says, "What in the world are you doing out here in this storm? You could die in no time in this weather!"
  
  Before you can answer or explain anything, she quickly turns to her radio and calls the main ranger station. She explains that she has a "lost person" in her station and needs assistance. A moment later she returns to you as you hold the warm cup in your hands and sip the warm chocolate. She says, "The weather is too rough for them to send out anyone now, but you will be safe here until the storm blows past. Then they'll send a crew out to help get you back to safety."
  
  She continues talking and asking questions, but you don't really hear her as you lean back into a pillow and quickly slip into a well-deserved nap. Congratulations, you have found your way safely out of the mountain pass!
  
  Good Ending #1