text: [Themes: Mystery, Surreal, hostile NPC, teenage protagonist, lucid dreaming, strange, surreal, dream, mystery, violence]
  
  > Describe the surroundings
  This would be the dining room except that everything is packed in moving boxes. Someone is either moving in or moving out. It's all very familiar to you, somehow. A wide window lets in diffuse light from the east wall and doorways lead north and west.
  
  > Go west
  This kitchen is bare of appliances or any decorations at all; as if the moving process has moved through here already. Cupboards are above the counter and drawers are below it. The dining room is to the east and a door to a screened-in porch is closed to the northwest.
  
  > look at the cupboards
  They are empty.
  
  > open the drawers
  The only thing you find is a box cutter which you grab.
  
  > cut the boxes
  Using the box cutter, you slice open some of the boxes, looking for something of interest. At first, you find only dishes and other dining room knick-knacks, but then you find something incongruous: an old-school floppy disk for an out-of-date computer such as a Commodore, perhaps. It is labeled "Read Me" so you decide to
  grab it.
  
  > get the disk
  You already have that.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a floppy disk
  a box cutter
  a damp washcloth
  a sentient brain
  a pair of black Skechers (being worn)
  a pair of jeans (being worn)
  a black shirt (being worn)
  a hospital gown (being worn)
  
  > examine the disk
  It is an old 5.25" floppy disk that hasn't been in use since the 80's. It's black with a hole in the middle and it is labeled with a white label and black ink: "Read Me".
  
  > Go northwest
  (first opening the porch door)
  
  The smell of fresh, pine air fills your nose and a slight, cool wind blows through the screens here. This screened-porch is more dilapidated than you would think given the interior of the house. Dried, dead pine needles are strewn on the wooden floor and an old, plastic lawn chair is the only furniture, as if it was used by someone to sit and enjoy the fresh air out here. It's almost as if you remember doing it, but you also know you've never been here before. The door back to the kitchen is open to the southeast and the flimsy, exterior door is to the west. Each wall save for the east is wooden-framed screens, allowing you to see that this house sits deep in a thick, pine forest.
  
  Lying among the dead pine needles is a worn backpack.
  
  > get the backpack
  You pick up the worn backpack from the ground.
  
  > open the backpack
  You open the worn backpack.
  
  > Examine backpack
  It's a large backpack that's worn with the elements but still seems pretty sturdy. It's familiar to you, somehow, as if maybe it was the backpack you used in high school. But it's not.
  
  > examine the chair
  It is a dirty, white plastic lawn chair. It's seen better days.
  
  > sit on the chair
  You get onto the plastic lawn chair.
  
  > go east
  (first getting off the plastic lawn chair)
  You can't go that way.
  
  > look
  This screened-porch is more dilapidated than you would think given the interior of the house. Dried, dead pine needles are strewn on the wooden floor and an old, plastic lawn chair is the only furniture, as if it was used by someone to sit and enjoy the fresh air out here. It's almost as if you remember doing it, but you also know you've never been here before. The door back to the kitchen is open to the southeast and the flimsy, exterior door is to the west. Each wall save for the east is wooden-framed screens, allowing you to see that this house sits deep in a thick, pine forest.
  
  > Go west
  (press space)
  
  > press the green button
  "Benjamin?" You hear Dr. Lynch's voice.
  
  "Blech." You is all you can muster. You crack your eyes and even the dim, electronic lights seem too bright. The good doctor is behind the window in the observation room to the east. His voice is a tinny sound from a speaker somewhere.
  
  "Any initial thoughts, Benji?" He asks. It takes a few moments for you to realize what the hell he's talking about. The pill. The sleep study. The dream.
  
  "Oh," you tell him, "yes. I was in this house. There was a brain and a floppy disk." You realize you sound like a lunatic. But then again, everyone's sort of psychotic in their dreams.
  
  "Next to you, you'll find a questionnaire. I know you're groggy, but it's part of the study.
  
  You grab the sheet with the attached pen and quickly scribble through questions about your mood and other imagery from your dream. Then, you slam it down again and roll over.
  
  "Goodnight, Benji." Dr. Lynch says.
  
  "Shut up." You reply.
  
  Trees (near the screened porch)
  Pine trees surround you; their dead needles litter the forest floor. There is no yard here as the house is nestled cozily within the trunks of these woods. The house's gutters are jammed with the pine needles and its flat roof is covered by them. The door to the house's screened-in porch is to the east. The sky above, what little you can see through the canopy of foliage, is gray. Foot trails seem to lead north and south, although it's difficult to really tell.
  
  > go north
  Trees (deep in the woods)
  You wander into the forest, aimlessly. Deep in the woods, you find yourself surrounded by the pine trees, leaving visibility into the woods at a minimum. The dead pine needles crunch below your feet and the sky is gray above you, through the foliage and branches. You think the house from where you emerged is to the south. You can hear running water to the northeast.
  
  > go northeast
  Trees (near the small waterfall)
  You wander into the forest, aimlessly. You soon find yourself near a babbling stream with a small waterfall running from the northwest.
  The waterfall, only ten feet tall or so, falls from a rocky crag and creates a small pond before continuing its trek to the southeast. The pine trees are no less dense here and the sky above is gray. The only foot trail you think you see is to the southwest. Across the small pond and stream, you see a more clearly defined path leading northeast. The sound of the waterfall is rushing in your ears.
  
  > examine the pond
  There is a continuous ripple on this pond as the waterfall to the northwest empties into it. Large goldfish swim about within it.
  
  > look at the goldfish
  Sparkling goldfish swim about in the small pond.
  
  > go northeast
  You wade through the water, soaking yourself from the waist down, before exiting the stream again and heading northeast.
  
  Trees (near the overlook cliff)
  Finally, a break from the monotony of endless pine trees. You stand on the edge of a vertical cliff looking down over more forest and eventually, in the near distance, a small town. A rocky path leads down to the southeast, winding down the cliff and its various outcroppings. Another path leads back into the woods to the southwest. The cliff cuts the land here from the northwest to the southeast. The sky, unobstructed by foliage here, is still a bleak gray.
  
  > go to the northwest
  You wander into the forest, aimlessly. After an immeasurable amount of time, you are surprised to find yourself back near the edge of the cliff.
  
  > Go southeast
  You dread heading to the southeast, down the rocky path. Something stops you. Something tells you that dark entities guard it. In your mind, you see large, black rabbits. Strange, yes, but terrifying for some reason. They are in your mind only for now, but something also tells you that you will lose your lucidity and wake up screaming should you head that direction.
  
  > go southwest
  Trees (near the small waterfall)
  You  find yourself near a babbling stream with a small waterfall running from the northwest. The waterfall, only ten feet tall or so, falls from a rocky crag and creates a small pond before continuing its trek to the southeast. The pine trees are no less dense here and the sky above is gray. The only foot trail you think you see is to the southwest. Across the small pond and stream, you see a more clearly defined path leading northeast. The sound of the waterfall is rushing in your ears.
  
  > go southwest
  Trees (deep in the woods)
  Deep in the woods, you find yourself surrounded by the pine trees, leaving visibility into the woods at a minimum. The dead pine needles crunch below your feet and the sky is gray above you, through the foliage and branches. You think the house from where you emerged is to the south. You can hear running water to the northeast.
  
  > Go south
  Trees (near the screened porch)
  Pine trees surround you; their dead needles litter the forest floor. There is no yard here as the house is nestled cozily within the trunks of these woods. The house's gutters are jammed with the pine needles and its flat roof is covered by them. The door to the house's screened-in porch is to the east. The sky above, what little you can see through the canopy of foliage, is gray. Foot trails seem to lead north and south, although it's difficult to really tell.
  
  > Go south
  Trees (near the doghouse)
  You wander into the forest, aimlessly. A little further south from the house's screened porch, you find a strange tree. Halfway buried in its base is an ancient doghouse, the tree having grown through most of it. Most of its dark opening is still gaping enough to peer into. Otherwise, this part of the forest is identical to the rest; large pine trees with needles littering the ground.
  
  > examine the doghouse
  (the ancient doghouse)
  It really is your typical doghouse, as far as design goes. But it's decrepitly old and a pine tree has grown through most of it, fusing the two together forever. The opening of the dog house is still gaping enough to peer into.
  
  > look in the doghouse
  (the ancient doghouse)
  You approach the dark opening of the doghouse and reach inside. Finally, you pull out something: a spiked dog collar.
  
  > examine the collar
  It's made of worn, black leather with dull spikes on it. It must've fit a large dog, for sure.
  
  > Go south
  You wander into the forest, aimlessly. After an immeasurable amount of time, you are surprised to find yourself back near the tree growing from the ancient doghouse.
  
  > go east
  (first opening the outside door)
  
  This screened-porch is more dilapidated than you would think given the interior of the house. Dried, dead pine needles are strewn on the wooden floor and an old, plastic lawn chair is the only furniture, as if it was used by someone to sit and enjoy the fresh air out here. It's almost as if you remember doing it, but you also know you've never been here before. The door back to the kitchen is open to the southeast and the flimsy, exterior door is to the west. Each wall save for the east is wooden-framed screens, allowing you to see that this house sits deep in a thick, pine forest.
  
  > Go southeast
  This kitchen is bare of appliances or any decorations at all; as if the moving process has moved through here already. Cupboards are above the counter and drawers are below it. The dining room is to the east and a door to a screened-in porch is open to the northwest.
  
  > Go south
  You're in someone's bedroom. You've forgotten whose, however. A dim green glow illuminates the place but you cannot tell from where exactly. No matter where you look, the glow seems to be coming from somewhere near the corner of your eye. Movie posters plaster the wall and an aquarium is against one of the walls. A small television set is against another wall, and an exit is to the north. The bed, a twin-sized, glorified army cot, sits against the east wall
  
  On the television, a man in an armchair watches the camera, as if you are the show.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a spiked dog collar
  a worn backpack (open but empty)
  a floppy disk
  a box cutter
  a damp washcloth
  a sentient brain
  a pair of black Skechers (being worn)
  a pair of jeans (being worn)
  a black shirt (being worn)
  a hospital gown (being worn)
  
  > open the door
  It is locked.
  
  > ask the brain about the door
  (the small metal door)
  There is no reply.
  
  > examine the washcloth
  It's a coarse, damp washcloth. It's green in color.
  
  > Dream
  What do you want to dream?
  
  > Dream pants
  You are already dreaming that you are wearing your jeans.
  
  > wear collar
  You put on the spiked dog collar.
  
  > Dream lynch
  You try to conjure Dr. Lynch into your dream, but you feel as if you don't have enough power or something to do it yet.
  
  > Dream pill
  You try hard to concentrate on it, but you are unable to bring a sueño pill into your dream. Odd.
  
  > Dream computer
  (the computer monitor)
  Try as you might, you can't seem to bring any image of Fran Anderson or her belongings to your mind right now. Weird.
  
  > look
  Mid-Century Modern decor dominates this irregularly shaped living room. The furniture and lighting are from the stylish side of the 60's, as if the room were designed by Charles and Ray Eames or something. In fact, an Eames reclining chair sits near a fireplace with a dwindling fire. A large bookshelf covers the west wall and a bay window sits in the east wall. Open doorways lead northwest and south; the wall-to-wall carpeting runs non-stop.
  
  > Go northwest
  A room of strange architecture but you can't quite put your finger on how. The floor is thickly carpeted in beige and the air has a slightly damp feel to it, especially near the door to the east, where you can also hear the sound of a shower running. The door to someone's bedroom is to the south and this space continues to the southeast. Dim light comes in from a small window to the north.
  
  > go south
  You're in someone's bedroom. You've forgotten whose, however. A dim green glow illuminates the place but you cannot tell from where exactly. No matter where you look, the glow seems to be coming from somewhere near the corner of your eye. Movie posters plaster the wall and an aquarium is against one of the walls. A small television set is against another wall, and an exit is to the north. The bed, a twin-sized, glorified army cot, sits against the east wall
  
  On the television, security camera footage shows people at a bank doing their everyday banking routines. Suddenly, masked men rush in with guns but then the scene goes to static.
  
  > Dream knob
  You just need to switch on/off the small television.
  
  > look at bookshelf
  The bookshelf covers the entire west wall. You glance among the books and a title that catches your eye is The Mailbox Baseball
  League by Spiky Zytez.
  
  > search the fireplace
  Snug in the wall, this fireplace holds a dwindling fire of dying red embers. On the back wall of the fireplace there seems to be a small, metal door. The face of the door is filthy with soot.
  
  > clean the door with the washcloth
  You wipe the front of the small metal door with the damp washcloth. Once the soot is removed, you see four dials on the front of it.
  
  > look at the dials
  Which do you mean, the first dial, the second dial, the third dial or the fourth dial?
  
  > look at the first dial
  It can be set from 0-9.
  
  > set the first dial to 7
  You set the first dial to "7".
  
  > set second dial to 1
  You set the second dial to "1".
  
  > set the second dial to 7
  You set the second dial to "7".
  
  > set the third dial to 7
  You set the third dial to "7".
  
  > set the fourth dial to 8
  You set the fourth dial to "8".
  
  You hear a click from the safe and the small metal door pops open.
  
  > examine safe
  The safe space behind the small metal door is about a twelve-inch square space for valuables, you guess.
  
  In the safe space is a crumpled napkin.
  
  > take the napkin
  You take the crumpled napkin from the safe space.
  
  > read napkin
  It's a cocktail napkin with some hastily scrawled words on it: "remember- you are DREAMing".
  
  > dream yourself
  In a way, you are already dreaming of yourself. You'll have better luck dreaming of things you encounter along the way.
  
  > Dream doghouse
  (the dark opening)
  You close your eyes and imagine the ancient doghouse near the strange tree. When you open them again, you are somewhere else.
  
  Trees (near the doghouse)
  A little further south from the house's screened porch, you find a strange tree. Halfway buried in its base is an ancient doghouse, the tree having grown through most of it. Most of its dark opening is still gaping enough to peer into. Otherwise, this part of the forest is identical to the rest; large pine trees with needles littering the ground.
  
  > Dream fireplace
  You dream of the Cozy Study and find yourself there.
  
  Mid-Century Modern decor dominates this irregularly shaped living room. The furniture and lighting are from the stylish side of the 60's, as if the room were designed by Charles and Ray Eames or something. In fact, an Eames reclining chair sits near a fireplace with a dwindling fire. A large bookshelf covers the west wall and a bay window sits in the east wall. Open doorways lead northwest and south; the wall-to-wall carpeting runs non-stop.
  
  > Dream dog
  (the spiked dog collar)
  There's something about the dog collar you have, something you can do, you feel. Perhaps if you were in the right location.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a crumpled napkin
  a spiked dog collar (being worn)
  a worn backpack (open but empty)
  a floppy disk
  a box cutter
  a damp washcloth
  a sentient brain
  a pair of black Skechers (being worn)
  a pair of jeans (being worn)
  a black shirt (being worn)
  a hospital gown (being worn)
  
  > enter the doghouse
  (the ancient doghouse)
  You find nothing more in the ancient doghouse but dirt.
  
  > examine the dirt
  It's just the ground.
  
  > examine the collar
  It's made of worn, black leather with dull spikes on it. It must've fit a large dog, for sure.
  
  > Dream floppy disk
  This will probably be important at some point.
  
  > Dream brain
  The tinny voice from the sentient brain speaks, "But you're already dreaming about me."
  
  > Dream bathroom
  Which do you mean, the restroom door or the bathroom door?
  
  > Dream toilet
  Which do you mean, the hospital toilet or the moist toilet?
  
  > Dream moist toilet
  You close your eyes and think of the moist toilet in the steamy bathroom. When you open them again, you find yourself somewhere else.
  
  You are surrounded by hot, wet steam. It clings to your skin and clothes, and it obscures your vision. You think the door is to the west, but surely there must be more in this room. You can hear a shower in here; the source of the steam. The sonorous sound of it is almost hypnotizing.
  
  > go to the north
  You bump into the moist sink. Above it is a fogged-up mirror.
  
  > Dream bedroom
  Which do you mean, the bedroom shadows or the bedroom door?
  
  > Dream bedroom shadows
  You close your eyes and think of the shadows in the bedroom. When you open them again, you find yourself somewhere else.
  
  You're in someone's bedroom. You've forgotten whose, however. A dim green glow illuminates the place but you cannot tell from where exactly. No matter where you look, the glow seems to be coming from somewhere near the corner of your eye. Movie posters plaster the wall and an aquarium is against one of the walls. A small television set is against another wall, and an exit is to the north. The bed, a twin-sized, glorified army cot, sits against the east wall
  
  On the television, security camera footage shows you, of all people, in a post office sending out a care package. Funny, you don't remember ever living that scene in real life.
  
  > examine the shadows
  The shadows in this room seem to change and mingle with the green glow.
  
  On the television, a scene from your childhood plays out, like a silent home movie.
  
  > examine the bed
  It has a thin, bare mattress on it. The mattress doesn't look that new. In fact, it's pretty rank in appearance. How you ended up crashing on it last night is anyone's guess.
  
  On the television, security camera footage shows you, of all people, in a post office sending out a care package. Funny, you don't remember ever living that scene in real life.
  
  > look under the bed
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  On the television, a man in an armchair watches the camera, as if you are the show.
  
  > examine the aquarium
  It is devoid of any water and, instead, it seems to now be some sort of showcase or science experiment.
  
  On the television, security camera footage shows you, of all people, in a post office sending out a care package. Funny, you don't remember ever living that scene in real life.
  
  > take the aquarium
  That's hardly portable.
  
  On the television, a man in an armchair watches the camera, as if you are the show.