ShapeShift

[[Shadows]]

They can't see you. Yet. [[shadowman<-a shadow goes unnoticed]] [[someone-else<-Someone else, someone safe]]

''they're here'' //It went in there// //I don't see it// //We can't lose another one. these things are too valuable// they haven't spotted you. Safety is within reach. [[up the wall/over the fence]] [[slip past them, they won't notice->they noticed]] [[wait, be still]]

A man steps out of the alley, dressed in facility uniform. Other men, dressed the same, nearly run into this man. //All clear// he says //It's not in there// The other men stare. They don't seem impressed. Neither does the bullet finding it's way into the man's shoulder. [[blood<-Fall over]] [[blood<-cry in pain]] [[blood<-Bleed out]] [[blood<-Attack them]]

The walls are so high. Higher. //There!// Higher. //kill it if it gets too close// //But-// //It ''Can't'' leave// Shots. [[Almost there.]]

Sliding past men in uniforms. Careful. A speed they won't notice. Out of the alley. They're everywhere, but unalert. The gate looms. [[The facility.]] [[a place to rest/not strong enough]] [[The gate beckons]]

//Are you certain you saw it?// //Yes! I swear!// //Okay.// a radio. whispers being passed down the line. A strange box is wheeled up. A man in Red. No one else. Danger. [[Run you fool! Before it's too late!->Late]] [[not yet. stay calm.]]

Quickly, before- [[It's too late]]

//get back. watch// He stares, barley moving. Barley //breathing// He shuts his eyes. Stone still. [[Now! change back and kill him while he's distracted!->Late]] [[slink up the wall/he cannot notice->Late]] [[silence->...]]

He opens his eyes. //You are forgiven// [[The man in Red]]

He takes the box away. Wordless as he walks out of the alley. The pursuers are gone. You are safe. [[Leave. Go home.]] [[Follow him.]] [[Follow him. as yourself]]

You wait until he is gone, then leave the alley. The facility is empty. He is //gone//. Everyone is //gone//. The gate is open. [[The End<-Leave]]

Trailing him. A shadow with no source. Into the facility. Down the stairs. An office. [[A Desk]]

Changing back. Back to your true self. You follow him. [[He Stops]]

Thank you for playing. This was a short game I made for Ludum Dare 35 as a way to vote on games. It should have been a compo game, but I'm too lame for that. Click [[Here->Start]] to play again.

[[The pain is too much.]]

A bed. Not warm, not cold. Slightly uncomfortable. //Wake up. We need to speak// Back in the inner sanctum. Restrained. The Woman in a labcoat and mask. The Doctor. Always a mask. The same mask, probably. [[stay quiet. do not speak.]] [[loosen the binds/free yourself]]

//We need you. I do, at least. You're far too// A pause //Special// The mask hides her face. //Don't you trust me?// [[She is the doctor, after all.->The End]]

Struggling. //Please stop// Is it getting looser? a sigh //I have work to do.// no //''We'' have work to do.// [[Almost...]]

The desk is empty. He sits down and looks directly at you. //Home// he opens a book. There are no words. It pulls you. //come home// [[be forgiven]] [[leave. endure the pain. Go where you don't belong. go where they won't forgive you.]]

The book is warm. Safe. It's pages carress you. [[He shuts the book]]

You turn around. You don't see his face as you leave. You don't see him shake is head in disapointment. The complex is empty. There is no one. The gate is open. [[The End<-Leave]]

There is nothing. You are nothing. [[You are home.->The End]]

He turns, reaches into his coat. A small book, bound in white. [[open it]] [[cast it down/away from you]]

The pages are written beautifly. You can't stop reading. You have to know //more//. How many pages? Not enough! never //enough// Though you never seem to finish. How small was the book? Barley a matchbox. [[Where are you?]]

The book is falling. You will never see it hit the ground. Cheetahs are fast. Falcons are faster. Over the walls. Focus on going faster. Higher. The walls are high. Not high enough. [[A Bird of prey, soaring. It looks down.->You are free. Now look down.]]

The facility is gone. Trees, shrubs, moss. The walls have fallen, overtook by decay. [[You are alone.->The End]]

Where did they all go? Your pursures. The staff. gone. No one to kill an escaping Falcon. It doesn't matter [[Leave.->The End]]

The box emits a brilliant light. So bright. so bright. Swallowed whole. Can you hear anything? Listen. //Too bad// A changing of hands. The Man in Red is gone. //who's side is he on?// //Ours, I hope.// [[The Facility. A cell]]

The box is emptied. You are you again. //Dispose of the box. Carefully!// He looks at you. //The Doctor will be here tomorrow// You are so tired. Why struggle? It is Inevitable. [[Sleep->The End]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

[[Darkness.]]

[[Perhaps their bullets relese sedative?]]

It would makes sense. [[They are careful.]]

So careful. [[Very, Very, Careful]]

The top. It hurts. A pool of blood. [[The Sun]]

It's so bright up here. Too bright. Spinning. Blurry. [[a fly will flee]] [[Be Yourself. Let Go.]] [[The sun is warm/The body tires]]

They will not win. You will not let them. [[The Air]]

A fly flees. To small to see. to small to bleed. It will be free. [[It will flee->The End]]

Perhaps a rest. The blood can wait. The chase can wait. Just a moment of peace. The sun. The warmth. The Dreams. [[Nothing->The End]]

A roar. [[It Rushes past you]]

You are not a shadow. You are you. You are free. [[The Ground is Hard]]

[[But you do not notice->The End]]

Just a moment more and... //Don't worry, it gets easier// a needle. Liquid sleep. [[so tired]]

no energy. no fight. [[stay quiet. do not speak.<-listen]]

The echo rings out. A boot brought down in an alley. would a shadow feel pain? [[Yes]]

How does one restrain a shadow? A beam of light? A fly? Water? A guard? A word? [[The Facility knows]]

//try and get some sleep// He's not bad. He just does his job //The doctor comes tomarrow// [[oh]]

[[Death]]

[[Sleep->The End]]

[[Life]]