The bedroom is smaller than you expected, from the pictures Aurelie sent you, but you suppose it probably doesn't matter. At least you're here. There was an accident on the motorway; the journey was long enough that being here is a tangible relief. (live: 8s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
The bed is a lonely-looking single, probably so Aurelie had more room for painting equipment; amongst the paint splashes there are dark spots on the floor where an easel might have been.
The room is mostly empty now, starkly lit by the one huge window. You're not sure where exactly Marnie is going to stay once she gets here.(stop:)]](live: 9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
[The annexe, maybe?]<c1|(stop:)]](mouseover:?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[
It seems a little silly to be sleeping in essentially different buildings when you're meant to be on holiday together. Maybe you can both just forget the bedroom altogether and sleep in the living room or the annexe.
For now, though, you should get yourself organised.](live: 8s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
[[‣ Unpack.]]](stop:)]]Aurelie's studio bedroom takes up the entire top floor of the house. It's deserted but somehow still messy, as well as the only place with a bed inside the house.
When Aurelie left, she must have taken all her art equipment with her. All that's left to furnish the room is an old wooden bed, and a huge wardrobe with a mirror on the inside door.
(live: 4s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
You take a good long look at the wardrobe. Then back at your suitcase.(stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
You are going to be here for [two weeks]<c1|. (stop:)]
(mouseover: ?c1)[(transition:"dissolve")[
[[‣ that probably isn't happening.->languorous]]
[[‣ Nothing better to do.->upright]]\
]]]]you tip your suitcase onto its back, but forget to put the handle down. it glances off the wall and settles on the floor. (whoops.)
[open it]<c1|
(click-replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[the case is pretty full. you really did bring a lot for just two weeks. although between the full first aid kit (mum's insistence), and the laptop and the hairdryer (your insistence) not much of it is clothes. it'll be fine; this place must have a washing machine.
for now, though, you don't seem to have much use for the wardrobe. you take the tech out, piling it near the plugs, and leave the clothes in the case.
[all finished!]<c2|]
(mouseover: ?c2)[(transition: "dissolve")[marnie should be here soon.
[[‣ you'd better figure out where she's going to sleep before she arrives.->landing]]\
]]](set: $condition to "upright")You lie your suitcase on its side and unzip it. It all but springs open.
Your first post exams celebration is this two week trip, without adults. And the bay is in a weird dip in the land which causes signal fluctuation, so it's pretty cut off from the outside world. Or so you've heard. (The cliffs rising either side of the village seemed imposing enough, either way.) You've packed enough to hopefully avoid having to figure out the intricacies of the ancient washing machine you saw in the annexe.
This means you have a lot of clothes to put away.
[Open the wardrobe.]<c1|(click-replace: ?c1)[There are no hangers on the rail in the wardrobe. Neither are there shelves, nor drawers. It's essentially a cube with doors.
[Aurelie must have really stripped this place. You'd better improvise.]<c2|
]
(click-replace: ?c2)["..."
[[‣ Pile up your clothes on the bottom of the wardrobe.->upright2]]\
](set: $s to (text-style: "condense"))\
That will probably do it, for now, or at least until you can come up with a better system. Your backpack still needs dealing with, though. Won't take too long - it only has a few books and your charger in it, as well as your phone.
Actually, you'd better plug that in before anything else. Marnie will be here soon, you think, and she will almost certainly get lost. She could get lost in her own house if she tried hard enough. If your phone is dead you are certain she will end up drowning, or something.
[There's a plug next to the bed.]<c1|
(set: $charge to 0)\
(click: ?c1)[(font: "Calibri")[$s[<div align = "center">(text-style: "fade-in-out")[Charging]\
\
(text-colour: "blue")[(css: "font-size: 75%")[|percent>[$charge]%]]]]\
{(live: 3s)[(set: $charge to it + 1)(replace: ?percent)[$charge]
</div>\
(if: $charge is 100)[(stop:)]]}
(live: 8s)[
This might take a while.(stop:)
(live: 2s)[
[[‣ Kill some time exploring the house. ->Uhasty]]
[[‣ Wait. ->Umethodical]]](stop:)]]The key is in the key bowl, and your shoes are by the door. Your phone ran out of charge on the long coach here. Marnie is due to arrive later this evening. You are alone, and you are tired.
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[The house is quiet, save for your quick breaths from heaving your suitcase up the long flight of stone steps that lead to the house. You can't even hear the sea since you closed the door behind you.]<c2| (stop:)]\
]
(mouseover: ?c2)[(transition: "dissolve")[
\[Take a breath.]<c1|]
\]
(click-replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[Exploring, for now, can wait.
[[‣ Get settled in.->1]]\
]](set: $c1 to "‣0.") <div align = "center">
<h3><u>(text-style: "bold")[$c1] </u></h3>
(mouseover: $c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[[Turn the key.]<c2|\
(mouseover-replace: ?c2)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[*Enter.*->doorway]]]]\
]\
]\
<div>(print: window.setBodyClass((passage:)'s tags))(font: "Courier")[(css: "font-size: 75%")[**Darling H.,
I'll be on my way by the time you arrive, so I thought I'd better give you something in writing for when you get there. Don't lose this!
Most importantly, the key is a little tricky to find. One can never be too careful, even in a parochial place like the bay. It's at the bottom of the tool box in a shoe polish tin, inside the cubbyhole with the blue door below the annexe. The door is only latched so you shouldn't struggle to get in, but mind the boiler; it should be on, and it can be very hot to the touch.
I know you're a very capable young lady. However, you can never be too prepared, especially for your first holiday alone! Some sticking plasters and antiseptic may come in useful.
Do bring your phone, but don't expect too much - the whole town is in a valley and the signal is unreliable at best. I'd advise meeting that friend of yours at the top of the hill and walking down from there. For such a small town it's easy to lose yourself.
Be good, don't destroy the house, and have a lovely time.
Lots of love,
Auntie Aurélie
P.S. Details about the house on the back. Please do not lose this letter!**]]{(live: 1s)[(transition: "dissolve")[\
[(display: "letter")]<1|](stop:)]\
(live: 12s)[(replace: ?1)[
[(display: "letter blur")]<2|\
]\
(live: 9s)[(replace: ?2)[(display: "letter blurrier")]]
(stop:)]}(font: "Courier")[(css: "font-size: 75%")[(text-style:"blur")[**Darling H.,
I'll be on my way by the time you arrive, so I thought I'd better give you something in writing for when you get there. Don't lose this
Most importantly, the key is a litt e tricky to find. One can never be too careful, even in a par chial place li e the bay. It's at the bottom of the tool box in a shoe polish tin, inside the cubbyhole with the bl e door below the annexe. The door is only latched so you shouldn't strug le to get in, but mind the bo ler; it should be on, and it ca be very hot to t e touch.
  know you re a very cap ble young l dy. Howe er, you can never be too prepared, especially for your first holiday alone! Some sticking plaste s and antisep ic may co e in useful.
Do bring your phone, but don't expe t too much the whole town is in a valley nd the sig al is unre iable at best I' advise meeting that friend of you s at the top of the hil and walking do n from there. or such small to n it's easy to lose yourself.
Be good, don't destroy the house, and have a lovely time.
Lots of love,
Auntie Aurelie
P.S. Details about the house on the back. Please do not lose this letter!**
]]](font: "Courier")[\
(css: "font-size: 75%")[\
(text-style:"blurrier")[\
**Darling .,
I'll be n my way by the time you arrive, so I thought I'd better give you something in writing for when you get there. Don't lo e this
Mo t importantly, the key is a litt e tricky to find. ne can never be too careful, even in a par chial place li e the bay. It's t the bottom of the tool box in a shoe polish tin, inside the cubb hole with the bl e door below the annexe. The door is only latched so you shouldn't strug le to get in, but mind the bo ler; it hould be on, and it ca be very hot to t e touch.
  know you re a very cap bl young l dy. Howe er, you can never be too prepared, es ecially for y ur first holiday alone! Some sticking plaste s and antisep ic may co e in useful.
D bring your phone, but don t expe t too much the whole town is in valley nd the sig al is unre iable at est I' advise meet ng that friend of you s at the top of the hil and walking do n from there or such a small to n it's easy to lose yourself.**
[[Be good, don't destroy the house, and have a lovely time.
Lots of love,
Auntie Aurelie
P.S. Details about the house on the back. Please do not lose this letter! ->0]]
\]]]
(if: $history is not "yes")[you bypass the main room of the ground floor and shove your feet into your shoes.] (else:)[your shoes are still laced where you left them, so you just pull them on.]
[take the keys from the keybowl and go outside]<c1|(click-replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[you can feel the weight of the atmosphere on leaving; it will rain soon. the roof of the annexe doubles as the front terrace, and the entry is off the stone steps leading to the front door.
it's dark red, and the paint is recent. aurelie used to rent this place out.
[unlock the annexe door]<c2|](click-replace: ?c2)[(transition: "dissolve")[you're struck by the must of a long-closed room as the door opens. where the house was deliberately vacated, the annexe seems abandoned. you can't help but feel like you're intruding.](live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
all the lights are off and the curtains are drawn. it's cold. tucked in shadow between buildings, the sun doesn't hit the annexe at all, and the terrace will only get sunlight in the early morning.
you notice that the bed is unmade. although whoever last slept here has left no personal belongings, the bathroom door is open and the fan is still on. [it rattles]<r|. (stop:)
(mouseover: ?r)[ (transition: "dissolve")[it's as if the room is waiting for someone to return.
out on the counter of the kitchenette, there is a red mug with a thin coating of dust.
[[‣ leave.]]]]\
]]\
\]](set: $history to "yes")you turn right in the hallway, into the downstairs room. it's as empty as the stairway and the bedroom. no sofas or anything. you suppose that answers your question about whether you could sleep in there. idly, you pass into the kitchenette and [open a drawer]. (mouseover: "open a drawer")[(transition: "dissolve")[
nothing in there, either.](live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
passing through the kitchen towards the deck, you open the top partition of the pale wooden back door and look out over the bay. in the distance, slate cliffs peak either side of the inlet, and after that the grey sea disappears into the horizon. for the first time, [you feel like you are really here.]<c1| (stop:)]](click: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[
the doorway leads out onto the back terrace, which finishes in a vertiginous hill down to the flood wall and, a steep drop below that, the beach. when you lean over the fence, you can just about see the sand.(live: 6s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
[[‣ take a step back. go and see the annexe.->annexe]]]
(stop:)]]]]You walk down the narrow stairway to the ground floor. Whoever designed this house was very committed to a nautical theme; the windows on the landing and down the stairs are all portholes, and the stairway carpet is clearly intended to look like net.
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
There is a model life ring on the door to the wetroom halfway down the stairs. The wetroom itself is the size of a broom cupboard and about as conducive to bathing: anyone using it would have to shower toe to toe with the toilet. Nasty. (stop:)]]
(live: 8s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
On each of the wood-panelled walls of the stairwell, there are rectangular shadows where picture frames were. Aurelie must have gutted the house when she left. She left it completely blank.](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
[[‣ Go into the main room. ->u.h. living room]]\
(stop:)]]Your phone buzzes to life after a couple of minutes. You forgot to pack your battery charger or you wouldn't have let it get so low. [If Marnie arrived while your phone was flat, you might be in trouble.]<c1|
(click: ?c1)[(transition:"dissolve")[You have a lot of unread texts.
[Open Marnie's texts.]<c2|]
\
(click-replace: ?c2)[(text-style: "condense")[<div align = "center"><style>
.bordered {
background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
width: 400px;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #91bfff;
border-radius: 8px;
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</style>\
<div class="bordered">(font: "calibri")[\
<div align = "center">(background: "#dbeaff")[**bread gremlin #1**
]\
(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[14:25]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[ Train was rlly delayed 🙃 so Im gonna be kinda late sorry!!!!😔 
]]<div align = "center">(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[16:32]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[ Heather I did catch my bus so Im almost here! 
]
(background: "#c6f0ff")[ This journey has been so long 😪😪😪 
 I cant wait to see u ]]
(css: "font-size: 70%")[(background: "#ddf6ff")[<div align="center">**15+** new messages]]<div align = "right">(css:"font-size: 70%")[Received 17:49 (text-colour: "#edeeff")[hh]
(background: "#fff")[(text-colour: "#686868")[\
*Start texting* (text-colour: "#fff")[h]
]]]]]]\
</div></div></div></div>\
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[‣ Scroll all the way down.->U.M.phone2]](stop:)]]]you wander down the narrow stairway to the ground floor. whoever first designed this house was very committed to a nautical theme; the windows on the landing and down the stairs are all portholes, and the mat runner is rough and beige enough to remind you of net.
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
there is an a red and white wooden life ring on the unpolished wooden door to the wetroom halfway [down the stairs.]<c1| it's the size of a broom cupboard and a little impractical since anyone using it would have to shower toe to toe with the toilet, which strikes you as unpleasant. (stop:)]]
(mouseover: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[
on each of the wood-panelled walls of the stairwell, there is a descending line of rectangular shadows where picture frames were. aurelie gutted the house when she left. she left it completely blank.]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
[[‣ investigate the annexe ->annexe]]
[[‣ start with the main house ->living room]]\
(stop:)]]]you take a step outside of the annexe and pull the door shut firmly, leaving the key above the door frame. no way are you going to leave marnie sleeping alone in there. it spooked you, and you're not even that superstitious a person. marnie would lose her mind staying in there. if everything she says about house spirits is true, then you've never been in a place with less welcoming ghosts.(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
nonetheless, you're probably going to have to share the annexe(if: $history is not "yes")[, unless there's a sleepable sofa upstairs]. you couldn't take the mattress up to the bedroom - it's a sofa bed and you doubt you could coordinate lifting the whole thing upstairs between the two of you. (stop:)
](live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
that won't be so bad, probably. you can top and tail, and the sofa bed is pretty big. not like you have many options, anyway. you can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be to both sleep in a single bed for two weeks. you pause where you stand for a second, puzzling it out.](stop:) (live: 7s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
it's getting kind of late.(live: 3s)[
(transition: "dissolve")[you think, anyway. you haven't seen a clock in the amount of time since your phone died. marnie still isn't here. she was supposed to be here at... five, maybe?](stop:)]](stop:)
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
(if: $history is not "yes")[you'd better figure out the sleeping arrangements before she arrives.
[[‣ go and check the living room for a bed ->lhlivingroom]]]\
(else:)[it feels later than that. but you find it hard to say for certain - the long midsummer day means there is a finer line between afternoon and evening.
maybe you should check the bus stop.
[[‣ wander up the hill to check for marnie -> hill walk]]
]](stop:)]]]\
\](text-style: "condense")[<div align = "center"><style>
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<div class="bordered">(font: "calibri")[\
<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:17]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[  Ok Im here + off the bus finally 😌 this place is really  pretty 🌊✨
]]<div align = "center">(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:26]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[  Im by the big church at the top of the village rn 
  Where do u wanna meet me??  ]]</div>\
<div align = "center">(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:34]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[ Heather if u dont have ur phone on u.......... 
  GOD 
  Pick 
  Up 
  Ur 
  Phone!!!!!! Pls!!!!!!! ]]\
<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:48]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[   AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  
]<div align = "right">\
{(css: "font-size: 80%")[\
Received 17:49(text-colour: "#edeeff")[hh]
(background: "#fff")[(text-colour: "#686868")[ [*‣ Start texting*]<c4| (text-colour: "#fff")[h]]]]}]]]
</div></div></div>
(mouseover: ?c4)[(go-to: "reply")](css: "font-size: 75%")+(background: "#ddf6ff")[<div align="center">**15+** new messages]<div align = "right"> (text-colour: "#686868")Double-click this passage to edit it.(set: $t to (font: "calibri") + (css: "font-size: 80%"))(set: $x to (text-style: "condense"))(set: $s to (text-colour: "#686868") + (css: "font-size: 90%"))(set: $n to (font: "georgia") + (css: "font-size: 100%")) (set: $y to (css: "font-size: 90%") + (text-colour: "grey"))\
You type and run. You should probably pay more attention to where you're walking because the cobblestones are damp, but Marnie's been here for about half an hour already and she is absolutely not going to let this go.
(live: 2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[About five minutes up the hill you give up on the run and settle on a power walk. It's pretty steep.] (stop:)
=><=
\
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$t[$x[\
[(background: "#fff")[  *‣ Start texting*   ]]<c1|]
(stop:)]\
](mouseover-replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[ $t[$x[\
[\
(background: "#fff")[\
(text-colour: "#fff")[hhhhhh] omw rn phone was dead :C i'm so sorry (text-colour: "#fff")[hhhhhh] ] ]<c6|] ]\
(mouseout-replace: ?c6)[<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:53]]</div>\
<div align = "right">\
(background: "#6ea9c1")[(transition: "dissolve")[ $t[$x[(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhhhh] omw rn phone was dead :C i'm so sorry(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhhhh] (live: 1s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$s[Sent]] </div> (stop:)
=><=
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$y[*breadfan69 is typing(text-style: "fade-in-out")[...] *]]]]]]]]]]]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[\
<div align = "right">\
$n[[[‣ You'd better keep running, actually. ->m.response]] ](stop:) \
</div> \
]]]](set: $title to "SIREN SONG")(set: $c to (text-colour: "white"))\
(set: $style to (text-style: "expand") + (text-colour: "white"))\
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<style>
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padding-top: 100px;
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</style><div class="bordered"> (css: "font-size: 150%")[\
(live: 1s)[\
(transition: "dissolve")[$style[$title (stop:)]\
]]][]<c1|
</div> (css: "font-size:100%")[\
(live: 3s)[(replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[$style[
by alice wilks]]](stop:)]]</div><div align = "right">\
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[ [[restart ->0]] ](stop:)]</div>(live: 1s)[(transition: "dissolve")[i(transition: "dissolve")[m(transition: "dissolve")[ (transition: "dissolve")[s(transition: "dissolve")[o(transition: "dissolve")[ (transition: "dissolve")[s(transition: "dissolve")[o(transition: "dissolve")[r(transition: "dissolve")[r(transition: "dissolve")[y(transition: "dissolve")[ (transition: "dissolve")[p(transition: "dissolve")[h(transition: "dissolve")[o(transition: "dissolve")[n(transition: "dissolve")[e(transition: "dissolve")[ (transition: "dissolve")[w(transition: "dissolve")[a(transition: "dissolve")[s(transition: "dissolve")[ (transition: "dissolve")[d(transition: "dissolve")[e(transition: "dissolve")[a(transition: "dissolve")[d(transition: "dissolve")[ o(transition: "dissolve")[m(transition: "dissolve")[w(transition: "dissolve")[ (transition: "dissolve")[r(transition: "dissolve")[n(stop:)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]](set: $t to (text-style: "condense") + (font: "calibri") + (css: "font-size: 80%"))(set: $s to (text-colour: "#686868") + (css: "font-size: 90%")) (set: $y to (css: "font-size: 90%") + (text-colour: "grey"))\
You're nearly at the top of the hill! Over the houses you can just about see the church spire, around the corner.
=><=
(live: 2s)[$t[(background: "#c6f0ff")[<div align="left">(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hhhh] How r u so Awful(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hhh]</div>]\
<div align = "right">(live: 2s)[(background: "#6ea9c1")[(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhh] it's a gift :/ (text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhhhh](stop:)](live: 2s)[<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[18:04]]</div>(background: "#6ea9c1")[(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhh] also i didn't know u got train tickets! (text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhh]
thought u would b here later! (text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhh]](stop:)]</div>(stop:)]]\
(stop:)]
<==
(live: 9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You round the corner at speed to see Marnie leaning up against the churchyard wall on her phone.
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
She looks up and you wave quickly. You can see her crossing her arms at you as you're speed-walking towards her.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
A sudden tide of relief hits. She's here. You're here. [[Everything is going to be okay. ->Title page]]](stop:)](stop:)
\ ] ]the faded blue front door seems more imposing that it did five minutes ago. you push through it and [head into the living room with deliberate steps.]<c1|(click: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[
it's as empty as the rest of the house. no sofas, no chairs, just the discoloured patches where they might have been. you suppose that answers your question about whether you could sleep in there. you walk into the kitchenette and open a drawer.]] (click: "open a drawer")[(transition: "dissolve")[
empty, too.](live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
you open the top partition of the pale wooden back door and look out over the bay. ascending cliffs peak either side of the inlet, and after that the grey sea disappears into the horizon. (stop:)]](live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
the doorway leads out onto the back terrace, which finishes in a vertiginous hill down to the flood wall and, beneath that, the beach. if you lean over the fence, you can almost see the sand. (stop:)(live:4s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
something about the sharp drop makes you nervous. [you hastily return inside]<c4|].(stop:)(click: ?c4)[(transition: "dissolve")[
on the wall above the front-facing bay window, opposite the back door and the kitchenette, there is a clock in the shape of a ship's wheel (or perhaps a wheel made into a clock). it reads five forty.
marnie's coach was supposed to get in at five.](live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
[[‣ run back to the coach stop. ->marnie l.h.]]](stop:)]]]]]]at the bottom of the steps down from your house to the main road is what you initially thought was an ice cream kiosk but on closer inspection is in fact a massage parlour. you take a leisurely pace up the steep hill, past the antique book seller and the obscenely priced independent boutique. (live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
the evening is a bright one, despite the heaviness of the air. the pub halfway up has a few patrons out on the terrace. you watch a few gulls harrass them for peanuts.
you know you've got time. marnie would let you know if she'd arrived.](stop:)(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
she definitely has your number. she'd text you. (live: 5s)[
<div align = "center">your phone is in your bag at the house. (live: 2s)[flat.](stop:)](stop:)</div>(live: 10s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
you start walking faster.](stop:)(live: 2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
as you reach the top of the hill the church spire looms into view to your left; the coach station is just beyond that.](stop:)(live: 2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
[[‣ turn the corner. quickly.->marnie l.m.]]](stop:)]]]](stop:)]]you round the corner at the top of the hill and a few hundred metres down the road you can see someone sitting on the churchyard wall. the sun is directly behind them, but you're pretty sure it's marnie.
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[they glance your way and then turn fully to face you, crossing their arms.](stop:)
(live: 2s)[okay, it's definitely her.](stop:)
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[you wave at her briefly but she stays standing, arms still crossed. you break into an awkward half-jog and she relaxes, waving back.](stop:)
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[eventually you can tell that she realises there's still a pretty awkwardly long distance between you and her: she picks up her case and starts walking towards you. up closer she still looks kind of angry, but you're so relieved she's here that you smile back at her anyway.](stop:)
[[‣ she's trying to stay looking cross, but it's not working.->end dialogue lm]]]]]she keeps walking back towards the town once you meet, so you turn and walk with her.
you break the brief silence with, "Thank god you made it okay! It's so good to see you."
(live:2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
"Yeah, the journey was no problem." marnie shoots you a frustrated look. "I've literally been sat on that wall texting you for like an hour, though, god. [What happened?"]<c1|](stop:)
(click: ?c1)[you suck in a breath through your teeth; you had no idea you were that late.
<div align = "right">"I'm so sorry, I got so lost on the way to the house and then forgot to charge my phone."</div>\
(transition:"dissolve")[she looks at you despairingly. "It's okay, but you definitely said you'd send me directions once you got [on the coach]<c2|."
(click: ?c2)[<div align = "right">"I mean, it's probably a good thing that I didn't, to be fair."</div>\
(transition: "dissolve")["Yeah, probably. [How did you even get lost?]<c3| I had maps up on my phone and this place has like one road."]
(click: ?c3)[<div align = "right">"I'd say I don't know but I swear there are at least twenty identical little streets that aren't the one the house is on."</div>\
(transition: "dissolve")["You can show me [on the way home]<c4|. But I think you're actually cursed. Like, you say you'll be outside your house at one in the afternoon and you'd walk out the wrong door and be late by half an hour."
(click: ?c4)[<div align = "right">"Okay, yeah, that's pretty much true."</div>\
(live:2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[she stops after a second and turns to you. "C'mere, hopeless." suddenly you find yourself in a tight one-armed hug. after a beat, you return it. "It's good to see you, too." the words are muffled by your shoulder; you always forget she's few inches shorter than you.
(live: 7s)[<div align = "right">"So, is this you being nice?" </div>\
she backs off and starts walking again."I can stop if you want."
<div align = "right">"I can leave you on a corner and run off, if you want."</div>\
"Wouldn't work, I can outrun you."
<div align = "right">"That's just a lie and you know it."</div>] (stop:)\
(live: 11s)[(transition: "dissolve")[you feel a lot less weird about everything now she's here. in spite of strange town and the stranger house, it seems like [[everything is going to be okay ->Title page]]](stop:)\
\
]]] ]]]\
\
\]]]]sweaty from the humid summer afternoon and out of breath from the hill, you round the corner at the top of the hill. as you pause for breath you notice that a few hundred metres down the road you can see someone sitting on the wall of the churchyard at the top of the village. the sun is directly behind them, but you're pretty sure it's marnie.(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
they glance your way and then turn fully to face you, crossing their arms.](stop:) (live: 2s)[
okay, it's definitely her.](stop:) (live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
you wave at her briefly but she stays standing, arms still crossed. [you break into an awkward half-jog]<w| and she relaxes, waving back.](stop:)(mouseover: ?w)[(transition: "dissolve")[
eventually you can tell that she realises there's still a pretty awkwardly long distance between you and her: she picks up her case and starts walking towards you. up closer she still looks kind of angry, but you're so relieved she's here that you [smile back at her anyway.]<v|](mouseover: ?v)[
[[‣ she's trying to stay looking cross, but it's not working.->end dialogue lh]]]]]]she keeps walking back towards the town once you meet, so you turn and walk with her.
you break the brief silence with, "Sorry, I came as quickly as I could."(live:2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
"I can see that. You're kinda sweaty." marnie breaks into a grin but then looks sceptically at you. "I've literally been sat on that wall texting you for like an hour, though, god. [What happened?"]<c1|](stop:) (click: ?c1)[
you suck in a breath through your teeth; you had no idea you were that [late]<r|. (mouseover: ?r)[(transition: "dissolve")[
<div align = "right">
"I'm so sorry, I got so lost on the way to the house and then forgot to charge my phone."</div> ](live: 5s)[\
(transition:"dissolve")[
she looks at you despairingly. "It's okay, but you definitely said you'd send me directions [once you got on the coach."]<c2|(stop:)(click: ?c2)[
<div align = "right">"I mean, it's probably a good thing that I didn't, to be fair."</div>(transition: "dissolve")[
"Yeah, probably. [How did you even get lost?]<c3| I had maps up on my phone and this place has like one road."] (click: ?c3)[
<div align = "right">"I'd say I don't know but I swear there are at least twenty identical little streets that aren't the one the house is on."</div>(transition: "dissolve")[
"You can show me [on the way home.]<c4| But I think you're actually cursed. Like, you say you'll be outside your house at one in the afternoon and you'd walk out the wrong door and be late by half an hour."(click: ?c4)[<div align = "right">
"Okay, that's pretty true." you pause, and smile. "It's good to see you."</div>\
(live:2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
she stops after a second and turns to you. "You're gross and terrible, but-" suddenly you find yourself in a tight one-armed hug. after a beat, you return it. "It's good to see you, too." the words are muffled by your shoulder; you always forget she's few inches shorter than you.](stop:)(live:5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
<div align = "right">"Was that you trying to be nice?"</div>\
she backs off and starts walking again."I can stop if you want."
<div align = "right">"I can leave you on a corner and run off if you want."</div>\
"No way, I can outrun you."
<div align = "right">"That's a blatant lie and you know it."</div>](stop:)\
(live: 8s)[(transition: "dissolve")[
you feel a lot less weird about everything now she's here. in spite of strange town and the stranger house, it seems like [[everything is going to be okay. ->Title page]]](stop:)\
\
]]] ]]]\
\
\]]]]]](set: $history to "yes")You turn right in the hallway, into the downstairs room. It's been emptied, just like the rest of the house. There are no sofas, nor a chair or table. You'd wondered whether Marnie could sleep in here; this answers your question decisively. You walk into the kitchenette and [open a drawer].
(click: "open a drawer")[(transition: "dissolve")[It's empty as well.]
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You open the top partition of the pale wooden back door and look out over the bay. Cliffs peak either side of the inlet, and after that the grey sea disappears into the horizon. For the first time you can smell the salt in the air. You take a step out onto the back terrace. (stop:)]]
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[It finishes in a steep hill down to the flood wall and, beneath that, the beach. If you were to lean over the fence, maybe you could see the sand. (stop:)
(live:6s)[(transition:"dissolve")[Better keep looking around. Marnie has to sleep somewhere.
[[‣ Go and see the annexe. ->u.h. annexe]]](stop:)
]]]]You take a moment to put your shoes back on before going outside.
[Pick up the keys from the keybowl and head to the annexe.]<c1|
(mouseover-replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[You can feel the weight of the atmosphere on leaving; it might rain overnight. The roof of the annexe doubles as the front terrace, and the entry is off the stone steps leading to the front door.
It's red, and the paintwork looks clean. Aurelie used to rent this place out.
[unlock the annexe door]<c2|](mouseover-replace: ?c2)[(transition: "dissolve")[You're struck by the must of a stagnant room as the door opens. Where the house was deliberately vacated, the annexe seems abandoned.]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[All the lights are off and the curtains are drawn. It's unusually cold, although you suppose the sun doesn't hit the annexe at all. Even the terrace will only get sunlight in the early morning.
The sofa bed is unmade. Whoever last slept here has left no personal belongings but the bathroom door is open and the fan is somehow still on. Where the house is silent, it noisily rattles away.
There is a mug out on the counter of the kitchenette, collecting dust.
[[‣ You'd better check your phone.->u.h. phone]] (stop:)]\
]]\
\]When you enter the house you close the door behind you.
Up in the bedroom, your phone has turned on and charged to about 30%. There are a lot of notifications on your lock screen.
Open your phone.
(click-replace: "Open your phone")[(text-style: "condense")[<div align = "center"><style>
.bordered {
background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
width: 400px;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #91bfff;
border-radius: 8px;
}
</style>\
<div class="bordered">(font: "calibri")[\
<div align = "center">(background: "#dbeaff")[**the yellow tellytubby**
]\
(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:17]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[  Ok Im here + not on the train finally 😌 this place is really  pretty 🌊✨
]]<div align = "center">(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:26]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[  Im by the big church at the top of the village rn 
  Where do u wanna meet me??  ]]</div>\
<div align = "center">(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:34]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[ Heather if u dont have ur phone on u.......... 
  GOD 
  Pick 
  Up 
  Ur 
  Phone!!!!!! Pls!!!!!!! ]]\
<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 70%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:48]]</div>\
<div align = "left">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[(background: "#c6f0ff")[   AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  
]<div align = "right">\
{(css: "font-size: 80%")[\
Received 17:49(text-colour: "#fff3f8")[hhhhhh]
(background: "#fff")[(text-colour: "#686868")[ [*‣ Start texting*]<c4|(text-colour: "#fff")[hhhhhh]]]]}]]]
</div></div></div>
(mouseover: ?c4)[(go-to: "uh reply")]](set: $t to (text-style: "condense") + (font: "calibri") + (css: "font-size: 80%"))(set: $s to (text-colour: "#686868") + (css: "font-size: 90%")) (set: $y to (css: "font-size: 90%") + (text-colour: "grey"))\
You type and run. Marnie's been here for about half an hour already and there is no way she is going to let this go, considering the shit you give her whenever she's late.
=><=
$t[
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[ [(background: "#fff")[  *‣ Start texting*   ]]<c1|
(stop:)]\
](mouseover-replace: ?c1)[(transition: "dissolve")[[(background: "#fff")[\
(text-colour: "#fff")[hhhhhh] sorry omw rn phone died b right there (text-colour: "#fff")[hhhhhh] ] ]<c6|]\
(mouseout-replace: ?c6)[<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[17:53]]</div>\
<div align = "right">\
(background: "#6ea9c1")[(transition: "dissolve")[(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhhhh] sorry omw rn phone died b right there (text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhhhhh]]] (live: 1s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$s[Sent]] </div> (stop:)
=><=
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[$y[*the yellow teletubby is typing(text-style: "fade-in-out")[...] *]]\
]]\
\]]]
<==
(live: 17s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[‣ You pocket your phone and keep running. ->h.response]] (stop:)]](set: $t to (text-style: "condense") + (font: "calibri") + (css: "font-size: 80%"))(set: $s to (text-colour: "#686868") + (css: "font-size: 90%")) (set: $y to (css: "font-size: 90%") + (text-colour: "grey"))\
You're nearly there. Over the houses you can see the spire of the church around the corner, where the bus stop (and hopefully Marnie) is.
=><=
(live:1s)[$t[(background: "#c6f0ff")[<div align="left">(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hh]How r u so Awful™(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hhh]</div>]\
<div align = "right">(live: 3s)[(background: "#6ea9c1")[(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hhh]it's a gift(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hh]
also ur the 1 who didn't tell me u would b there early(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hh](stop:)](live: 5s)[<div align = "center">\
(css: "font-size: 85%")[\
(text-colour: "grey")[18:07]]</div>\
<div align = "left">(background: "#c6f0ff")[(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hh] I literally texted earlier and told u!!!! Awful.(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hhhh]</div>(live: 3s)[
<div align = "right">(background: "#6ea9c1")[oh didnt see that whoops my bad :/(text-colour: "#6ea9c1")[hh]](stop:)]</div>(stop:)]\
(live:7s)[(background: "#c6f0ff")[<div align = "left">(text-colour: "#c6f0ff")[hh] 😡😡😡😡😡😡</div>](stop:)]\
(stop:)]](stop:)]]
<==
(live: 22s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You round the corner at speed, stumbling slightly, righting yourself in time to see Marnie, as promised, leaning up against the churchyard wall on her phone.
She looks up and you wave frantically. You can see her crossing her arms at you as you're jogging towards her. A sudden tide of relief hits. She's here. You're here. [[Everything is going to be okay. ->Title page]](stop:)
\ ] ]