text: [Themes: horror, horror]
  
  [Author's Note: You and a group of friends decide to go camping for a week shortly after you graduate high school. Everything starts without a hitch as your adventure begins, until you arrive at the town that you will be camping on the outskirts of. Things feel off about the town, and you even get warned away by the gas station clerk, who tells of people disappearing lately. Though a little put off, your group decides to stay anyway thinking the man is just a paranoid old goat. Little do you know, there is in fact danger lurking in this little town. And one particularly evil man now has his sights squarely on you and your friends... Will you survive this trip, or will you and your friends disappear never to be seen again? WARNING: This story has some scenes that are graphic, sexual in nature, and very descriptive. It also contains language and violence some readers may not care for. Please do NOT play if you can't handle all of the above. Author's Note: Your comments and feedback are much appreciated to help me create better story games in the future. Please be honest and tell me what you really thought. Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy playing! Special thanks to BradinDvorak for helping me with the scripting and answering my many questions...]
  
  > Start
  In this game, you play as Nicole; a short, petite structured, 19 year old girl; who is a quiet/shy sort of person. She is smart, pretty, loyal, and well loved by all of her friends. She is also the backbone that holds the friendship between the group together, as everyone within the group has varying personalities that sometimes tend to clash. She brought them all together with her accepting and overall friendly personality. The group became even closer after Nicole lost her boyfriend, Cody, the year before this story takes place. They have all tried and failed to bring Nicole out of the depression brought on by his death. During gameplay, Nicole makes different choices that lead to many endings for the story. This story is depicted almost entirely from Nicole's perspective, with a few glances at some of the events that happen to her friends throughout the story. I also added an optional page that you can read to learn about each of your friends, if you want to know who each of them are. You can meet them by clicking the link on the next page, but as I said this is completely up to you.
  
  This story has MANY possible endings. There are some endings that can end the story before it ever really begins, some random death endings but not often and not every page, there are good endings where you escape, and there are bad endings where you are killed. There is only one "best" ending, but it is very hard to find and not one many people would choose. This ending is just my own little twist on the story that I think will make it unique and memorable. Tip: there are a couple "true" endings that have an epilogue, but you will know you got the best ending if the final scene shows where your character is "one year later..." Even after you finish playing and rate the game, feel free to come back and explore the many different endings. Also, if your game ends soon after you begin, please restart and try to get further into the game before you rate it. Thanks! I hope you enjoy playing my game. :P
  
  > Begin
  Your friends are gathered at your house one day, about a week after graduation, just hanging out. Everyone begins discussing their various plans for the immediate future. Davis plans to try his luck in the big city, hoping to become an actor or male model. Although he tends to be negative and can even come across as harsh at times, you don't doubt that he could in fact become famous as he is rather good looking. Your best friend, Sarah, who is dating Davis, plans to attend community college in the next town. She wants to stay close to home and has no other aspirations in life than to begin her own family in the town she grew up in. She recently confided in you that she believes she is pregnant, but that she doesn't know yet for sure.
  
  You share with everyone your own plan to also attend the community college, but that you are planning to take night courses instead, so that you can keep your current job at the local grocery store. Although several of your friends try to persuade you otherwise, you remain firm with your decision. You don't feel like sharing with everyone in the room the real reason for your decision, not wanting to sour everyone's good mood. The real reason you are staying so close to home, rather than attending the state college you had originally planned to attend, is due to your father's recent diagnosis of cancer. Although the cancer is still in its beginning stages, your father is the only family you have; you do not want to leave him living alone as he undergoes treatment for the cancer.
  
  As Michelle launches into another spiel as to why you should try to get into a Bachelor's degree program rather than attend night classes, Steven tries to get her to leave it be. Michelle is the smartest among your friends and tends to be bossy. She is planning on attending one of your state's most accredited schools. Her boyfriend, Steven, is exactly the opposite. While he isn't very bright, he is very laid back and tries to be the peace maker whenever Michelle becomes too aggressive or bossy.
  
  Mark suddenly sits up from where he is reclining on your sofa, and asks the group at large, "Why don't we have one last adventure together before we all go our separate ways?" You glance up from your conversation with Michelle, mostly to see if Mark is being serious or not. Mark is the stoner of the group and known for blurting out random comments, just to get a reaction.
  
  "Because you're not, technically, a part of our group.... You're only even here because you're boning Heidi. You aren't even our age, loser..." Davis bluntly points out, in typical Davis fashion. Mark is Heidi's boyfriend and much older than everyone else, having graduated two years before. Davis is oblivious of anyone else's feelings except his own and tends to be an ass, in your opinion.
  
  "And because some of us have packing to do and real jobs waiting for us," Michelle tacks on, in a superior tone of voice she sometimes uses that you can't stand.
  
  > continue the Story
  "I'm being serious this time, swear. We can go camping or something. It will be fun. Do you really just want to leave and go to college and not have one last fun time together with your friends? Think about it, please. Let's do something. Just for a week. What do you all think?"
  
  "Sounds like the best thing you have ever suggested, Mark," Sarah blurts out. "I was going to suggest something like that myself..."
  
  "Sounds awesome to me," Amanda tacks on. Amanda is the youngest of your friends, and her response surprises you. She and Robbie had just broken up a few days before, and she had seemed to be depressed in the days since. Maybe she wanted to go as a final chance to get back with Robbie. Who knows?
  
  Heidi, Mark's girlfriend, agrees that the trip sounds fun. She and Mark have been dating several months, and Mark has begun hanging out with your group of friends more and more ever since.
  
  After much debate, everyone finally decides to go on the trip. "Alright, Smartie Pants, where exactly are we going?" Michelle questions. "It was your idea, so what do you propose?" she continues in a snide little voice, obviously upset everyone is agreeing with Mark's plan.
  
  "I have the perfect idea. We can go camping for a week at my dad's old hunting cabin. We used to stay there every summer before my parents got divorced. It will perfect. And it has three bedrooms, so there will be plenty of space for everyone. It's only about a three hour drive from here."
  
  With the destination decided on, everyone makes plans to meet back at your house the next morning. Everyone slowly leaves, until only Sarah remains. Sarah thanks you for agreeing to go on the trip. She tells you that she is indeed pregnant and that she plans to share the news with Davis during the trip. You congratulate her, knowing that this is what she's always wanted, although you don't agree with starting a family so soon. You also fear that Davis' reaction won't be the one Sarah is hoping for.
  
  When you are finally left alone in your house, you realize you have a decision to make. When should you pack for the trip?
  
  > pack Now
  Wanting to hurry up and get the packing out of the way, you hurry upstairs to your room. You pack all of the essentials and even grab your toothbrush from the bathroom. Then, you zip your overnight bag and place it at the foot of your bed. That done, you go back downstairs and begin fixing a meal for you and your dad. Knowing you will be gone for a week, you even fix extras and put them in the fridge, after sealing them in Tupperware containers. You eat your dinner at the table and try to think of anything else that needs to done before you leave. You go ahead and clean the kitchen. You even fix your dad a plate of food and put it in the microwave, knowing he will find it when he gets off work in a few hours.
  
  That done, you look around to make sure everything looks good. You realize you forgot to let your dad know where you are going, and scrawl him a quick note that you attach to the refrigerator door with a magnet. Confident that you are as ready as you possibly can be, you head upstairs again and dress for bed. You set your alarm and find an old horror flick on the television to watch. You watch the movie as your eyelids begin to droop. The last thing you remember is the woman in the film screaming as she is brutally stabbed to death in a hotel bathroom.
  
  > The Next Morning
  You wake up to your alarm clock''s insistent beeping. You reach over to shut it off and sit up in the bed, wiping sleep from your eyes. You feel like you haven't slept at all, like you only seconds before had fallen asleep. Hoping it will refreshen you, you decide to take a quick shower, while you wait for your friends to arrive. The shower does help some. You enter your bedroom after your shower and quickly towel off. You slip on your undies, a pair of blue jean shorts, and a cute black tank top, with a pink bunny figure being sarcastic on the front. You then slip into your sneakers, grab your bag, and head downstairs.
  
  Entering the kitchen, you set your bag down and grab a cereal bar out of the cabinet. As you are finishing your quick breakfast, the doorbell rings. Standing on the doorstep when you open the door is Sarah, grinning broadly.
  
  "You all set?" Sarah asks. "I'm about to explode; I'm sooo excited! You better be ready, Nicole, or I'm gonna strangle you," she giggles.
  
  "Yes, I'm ready. Just let me grab my bag and lock up," you reply, feeling your own excitement beginning to build.
  
  You hurry back inside, grab your bag out of the kitchen, grab your cell phone and keys from the foyer bar, and pull the door shut, locking it as you go. Everyone except Davis is standing between your truck and Mark's beat up van. A couple of your friends are loading their luggage into the back of your truck. You realize that apparently you are going be driving. Davis is impatiently leaning against his motorcycle, having a smoke and scowling at everyone, with his foot tapping a mile a minute. Finally, everyone has their luggage packed and quickly divide up between the vehicles.
  
  > Start Trip
  And so, your adventure begins. Mark leads the way in his van. Riding with him are Heidi, Michelle, Steven, and Robbie. You follow in your extended cab pickup. Riding with you are Amanda and Ben, who are in the back seat, and JR, who is sitting beside you in the passenger seat. You smile shyly at him, as you pull out of the driveway. Following your truck are Davis and Sarah on the motorcycle.
  
  The hours pass slowly as you travel, only stopping once for gas. The three hour drive feels more like six, as you finally near your destination. Entering the small town of Moody, it seems abandoned at first sight. Shops that face the main street that you are driving down, all look abandoned and neglected almost completely deserted. Some even display hardwritten signs hung on the doors, exclaiming the businesses within are out of business. It has the feel of a ghost town, and the whole scene is starting to give you the creeps. You follow closely as Mark enters the parking lot for a gas station, and slowly pulls to a stop at the curb in front.
  
  Mark climbs out of his van and hurries over to your vehicle. He leans into your window and says he is going inside to ask for directions. The camp site is apparently on the outskirts of town, and he doesn't recall exactly how to get there. The town of Moody has nine camp grounds to the north of town. Your destination is Site 59. You decide to follow Mark inside, and as you leave your vehicle, you ask JR to let Sarah and Davis know why you have stopped. You and Mark, meanwhile, head inside.
  
  > The Gas Station
  You enter the gas station behind Mark and follow him to the counter. Seeing no one anywhere in sight, Mark impatiently hits the bell on the counter to summon the attendant. He taps it several times in succession, as you finally hear footsteps approaching from the doorway at the back of the shop.
  
  "I'm a'coming. Hold your gosh darn horses. I swear if this is another fricking prank, I'ma kick your rearend, Pete." The weathered old man finally steps into view and approaches his side of the counter. "Ah hell. My 'pologees folks. A youngen from town has been playing pranks on me all darn week. Can I help you's with anything?" The man is wearing blue coveralls covered with grease stains, and his hair stands up at all angles, like it hasn't seen a comb in ages. He has filmy, grayish eyes, a scraggly beard, and a pointed, sharp nose; but also a kind, shy smile. His hands shake a little, as he reaches for a rag and begins wiping the counter.
  
  "Yes, we need directions to Site 59 please," Mark responds. At these words, the old man's eyes get big and his hands begin to tremble even harder than before. He swallows hard before answering, his eyes darting around nervously.
  
  "Ya mean you aren't just passing through? Ya'll don't wanna stay in these here parts. You should try Miner's Hill instead. It's about an hour south of here..."
  
  "I asked how to get to Site 59. We've already been driving for three hours. We are planning on staying at my dad's old cabin. He used to camp and hunt up here, before my parents divorced. I just don't remember how to get up there. Can you help us or not?" Mark asks impatiently.
  
  "But you don't understand, " the old man insists. "The town here isn't safe. Not like it was when you visited last. Young people are disappearing left, right, and sideways. Just this year, eight youngens were taken. Most were about your age, I suppose. This town is cursed. People have moved off, afraid for their youngens. Please camp somewhere else. For your own safety." The old man's eyes fill with tears. "My grandson, Mikey. He's been missing a year and a half now..."
  
  You and Mark exchange an uneasy glance. Finally, Mark explains to the man that you have a large group of friends with you. He tells the man he will warn everyone about the danger, and then everyone can decide as a group whether to stay or not. The old man urges you to leave the town once again as you are leaving, but Mark doesn't seem to be paying him any mind.
  
  Finally, Mark cuts the man off. "Sir, if you would, could you possibly draw me a map? I know we can't stay right now, but one day I need to come visit my dad's cabin. I need to clean it up, so that it can be sold. My mom could really use the money."
  
  Mark sounds so sincere, you almost believe him. But you know he is lying, just to get the directions. It makes you uncomfortable. On your way out of the store, Mark asks you not to tell anyone about the strange encounter just yet. He wants to at least look at the cabin before you tell everyone else about the old man's warning. Then everyone can decide what they want to do.
  
  > warn Everyone Now
  You decide not to do as Mark instructed. Everyone needs to know the danger that could possibly lie ahead. After all, you are all fairly young and someone was obviously killing off teenagers in the area. If the old man is to believed, that is. Even though you sense he was being honest, he could also be mistaken. You tell everyone what just occurred inside. Mark and Sarah argue that he is just a paranoid old man trying to scare teenagers away. Probably doesn't want drugs, sex, or booze mucking up his precious town, they argue. Finally, you make a choice as no one else can seem to decide.
  
  > Camp Elsewhere
  No one wants to give up on the trip, so you finally manage to talk everyone into camping at a safer site. You have a rather uneventful trip, aside from almost everyone getting a rash from exposure to poison ivy. Returning home itchy as hell, you look up the town of Moody on the web. A police investigation is ongoing, reads the top story, as investigators continue the search for 16 young adults who remain missing from the area...
  
  Holy hell! That could have turned out very bad, if you had decided to stay. Guess you lucked out!
  
  The end.... or is it??
  
  > Next
  Your score was: -5!!!
  
  > END GAME
  Congratulations! You got one of the few good endings!
  
  Feel free to play again, anytime! There are 16 total endings. Try to find them all!
  
  Thanks for playing! Scare ya later! XD