>What's the Deal with Spooky Girl Quest?
https://pastebin.com/k14PSj93

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Spooky+Girl

>QM Twitter
https://twitter.com/timekillerqm

>QM Discord
https://discord.gg/WMEDDgX


I allow between ten and twenty minutes for voting depending on the importance of the issue and how divided the vote is. If the vote is tied up, I usually allow an extra five minutes for a tie breaker, and if no one votes, I roll for the tie breaker.

I always try to incorporate (and encourage!) write ins if they don't violate the spirit of voted decisions, though I may edit or tweak them to fit better.

Vignettes

>All for Blood (Alice losing her parents)
https://pastebin.com/2ZNcarjJ

>Memories (Some memorable events of Alice's past)
https://pastebin.com/yptkkkQX

File: NightBeach.jpg (377 KB, 864x506)

377 KB JPG

You call to Baphomet, your thoughts somehow echoing through this place.

{Hello, Alice.}

You turn to see the slender silhouette of the Goatman, Baphomet, half-hidden in the shadows of the jungle, the outline of his head partly visible and the pale skin of his chest. His eyes are like small azure diamonds hidden in the darkness of his face. Above his goat-like head, you see the twisted branches of horns or antlers, uncountable somehow, either two or two dozen. Their number defies being nailed down in your mind somehow.

You realize that your head isn't pounding after he spoke. "You turned down your voice finally?"

The eyes sparkle, he's laughing. {No. You're stronger now. My voice cannot hurt you anymore.}

You look around the starlit beach again, eyes lingering on the storm out to sea. "What is all this? Did you make this for me?"

Goatman hesitates, his fingers pressed together as he slowly walks toward you, leaving no footprints in the sand. {I was trying to help you rest. You needed it and I felt this might relax you.}

A bio-luminescent wave crashes, warm water racing over your bare feet. "You felt like a dream might help me sleep better?"

Baphoment tilts his head. {You think this is a dream?}

"What else would it be? It's not real."

{Alice, this place, it was never a dream. Not really. It's a creation, a manifestation of our power.}

"Our power?"

{I am the builder, but you are really the architect Alice. I took components from you to make this place. I thought you might like it.}


>I do like it
>I don't like you meddling with my mind
>Write in

>>2739701
>So it's sort of a magical realm I can shape to my whim?
>It's nice. Is it alright if I fiddle with it?

>>2739701
>"We'll have a chat about you making me your architect without my consent"
>Forget quickly about anger then this
>>2739735

>>2739744
>>2739735
These are pretty good guys

>>2739735
>>2739744
>>2739749

>Writing

This is good stuff.

"We'll have a chat about you making me your architect without my consent."

{Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean any intrusion. I suppose the good news is that son I won't be able to read your desires so easily.}

"We'll add it to the list of things you don't think are creepy," you say as you look around the beach again, quickly forgetting your anger.

"So it's sort of a magical realm I can shape to my whim?"

{Something like that. It's a world of its own in a way. Think of it as a blank piece of paper. You can take notes, you can doodle, but for something more complex you will need more talent or patience.}

You look back at Baphomet. "It's nice."

{Thank you.}

"It doesn't have a moon though," you say.

{A moon would overpower the stars. I felt you’d rather see them.}

"A thin crescent moon wouldn't," you counter.

Baphomet's expression, or lack thereof, doesn't change.

"Do you mind if I fiddle with it?"

Again, that twinkle, an intrigued cock of the head. {Please do.}

You look around the world again, suddenly so full of possibility, pregnant with unrealized potential. If you were to be a god, you had to create something, right?


>Hang a crescent moon in the sky
>Create a small sea bird to chase the surf
>Create a structure on the beach
>Write in

>>2739783
Make the stars twinkle and shine a million different colors that reflect off the water.

>>2739783
>Hang a crescent moon in the sky
>Create a structure on the beach
Make some chairs to sit in.

Hey TK! How's life been?

>>2739794
This

>>2739794
>Hey TK! How's life been?
Always good my dude. But hella busy. Yourself?

>>2739783
>Hang a crescent moon in the sky
>Create a structure on the beach
Some beach chairs on the sand facing the surf, a small cabin, and a changing room and shower off to the side.

File: 8d8e45bcfdabfe13b50cec963(...).jpg (37 KB, 400x300)

37 KB JPG

>>2739817
And of course I forgot the picture...

>>2739794
This is fine

>>2739793
>>2739794
>>2739801
>>2739817
>>2739823

>Writing

>>2739804
Dealing with circadian whiplash from having to cover co-workers and switching between incredibly early and incredibly late shifts. Other than that pretty good.

A bit bittersweet thinking about how close this is to ending.

File: PorcelainCresent.jpg (192 KB, 1200x800)

192 KB JPG

You raise a hand to the sky, focusing on the nuclear pin pricks high above you, reaching out to them with your mind and feeling them, coursing with fire and energy. You're surprised to discover they are not really stars, not like you know them, they're far too small and close. They're stars the same way holes in a roof that let in sunlight are.You give Baphomet a shocked look.

The goatman shrugs as if to say 'why bother?'

You focus on the 'stars' again and touch them, brush them and watch the colors change and cycle, the rainbow 'rotating' and the spectrum dancing across the waves.Easy.
Fake stars may be enough for Goatman, but you were going to make a real moon. You feel it coming from you, almost naturally, like an emotion comes without effort. The massive orb floats into view, rising into the sky. Strangely, the faux-stars hang in front of the moon.

The radiant surface of the orb turns the night to day, or something like twilight until a vast, black shadow creeps across its surface, willed into position by you, leaving a rough approximation of a crescent strip lit. You exhale a breath you didn't realize you were holding. The moon is now hanging above the water, close enough to make out details, if there were any. It's surface is perfect. Too perfect, like it was carved out of porcelain.

You open your mouth to comment on it when the crashing waves on the beach fall silent and then the tide starts rushing out, like a draining bathtub.

(1/2)

"What?"

{It's good, Alice . . . But . . . }

The beach is nearly silent, lifeless wet sand stretches away a few dozen meters now.

You have to laugh at your own mistake. "The tide's gone out."

{Your moon's gravity drew it out.}

You shake your head. "No wonder you cheated with the stars."

{I'm not much of an artist. A world builder. It takes a tremendous amount of effort. To create a world like yours would take more effort and skill than I think any single god has.}

"Well presumably one of you did it at some point. Or some of you."

{Presumably.}

You shake your head, something easier then. You turn to face the jungle, Goatman turning to follow your gaze. You visualize your creation as you call it from the aether. A small wooden cabin with broad, fire-lit windows. A cozy bungalow facing this alien beach. You envision the small porch, the French doors, the quiet sitting area, the kitchen, the plush furniture, the beach chairs, even the small shower beside it.

{The ocean is lifeless, Alice. And fresh water.}

"Well my beach cabin has a shower anyway," you say.

{Very well.} You sense Goatman is pleased.

The two of you walk to the chairs on the beach and you plop into one, Goatman sits in his beside you. You both watch the lack of waves in silence for a few moments.

"Can you bring the tide back?"

{I might be able to. I would have to think about it. I dabble in this, I am hardly an expert artist. I think you'll be much better than me. I'd prefer to leave it for now, if that's okay with you. I like the silence.}

"Okay."


>I'm scared about my fight with Rot
>Do you have your own world like this?
>Are you still protecting the town?
>You don't have to do all this for me
>Write in

>>2739854
>Do you have your own world like this?
>Where will you go once rot is dealt with?

>>2739864
This
Plus >I'm scared about my fight with Rot

>>2739854
>I'm scared about my fight with Rot
>All these "what if's" keep floating through my mind... What if he takes Zack hostage to coerce me? What if he invades my sister's mind and tries to strangle me and Mark in my sleep? What if he made a deal with Cthulhu and has him drown Roselake in a huge rainstorm, then invade it with his fishman pals?
>Yeah, I know Cthulhu is made up, but there's got to be some sort of similar entity that might take him up on his offer.
>So, if we do come out of this alright, do you think I should try to tell Grace and Mark about... my situation?

>>2739864
>>2739874
>>2739877

>Writing

"Do you have your own world like this?" you look at Baphomet who looks utterly ridiculous awkwardly perched on a beach chair that seems too small for him.

{I've made worlds for myself. I retreated to one for a long time after I gave up power. As you can see, I am not especially good at it. I find your world- the one you were born in, far too interesting to abandon. It's a true work of art.}

You shrug. It's okay. But you know behind that complexity and beauty is a lot of cruelty. This world you and Baphomet made, it's mostly dead, but there's no suffering here.

You lean over the arm of the chair and trace a fingertip through the soft sand. "I'm scared about my fight with Rot."

Baphomet looks at you, face unreadable, but says nothing, inviting you to continue.

"All these 'what if's' keep floating through my mind . . . What if he takes Zack hostage to coerce me? What if he invades my sister's mind and tries to strangle me and Mark in my sleep? What if he made a deal with Cthulhu and has him drown Roselake in a huge rainstorm, then invade it with his fishman pals?"

{Alice, Cthulhu isn't-}

"Yeah, I know Cthulhu is made up, but there's got to be some sort of similar entity that might take him up on his offer. Right?"

{Rot is not, and was not popular among his own kind. I don't believe that any other than you and I, and our followers, truly know he's alive. Those that suspect don't care enough to investigate. We have our own problems you see? Rot is without friends. Besides which, he has nothing to offer any who would seek power. As for Zack and your family, they will be safe until Rot is dealt with. I won't allow them to come to any harm. Sam was nearly . . .} he pauses and looks out toward the moon. {I almost wasn't quick enough for Sam. I won't make another mistake.}

"But . . . What if we lose? What if I lose?"

{Then I hope a god powerful than myself does something before worse comes about. I can't promise you we'll succeed Alice, but . . . I will fight to the last to protect you and to stop this thing from happening. To stop my mistake from becoming catastrophic.}

(1/2)

"You think imprisoning Rot was a mistake?"

{Being a god . . . } Baphomet looks up at the moon and shifts it out of position, lifting it higher in the sky until it passes over your heads and sets behind the jungle. As he moves it, the waves steadily come back in with the tide. {Being a god is hard, Alice. I have no guarantees that what I do is good or bad, right or wrong, or even just practically the best decision. Killing Rot might have led to other consequences I didn't foresee. Things may have become worse. I tried to mitigate damage by doing as little as possible. This had consequences as well.}

He adds nothing further.

"So, if we do come out of this alright, do you think I should try to tell Grace and Mark about . . . my situation?"

{That much is up to you. If you choose to become like me, you will indefinitely outlive your foster parents, your friends . . . They wouldn't ever need to know. There are ways of hiding the truth. Personally, I don't believe you should hide the truth, but . . . In their eyes you will become something else. Something Other. You will change to them, you understand?}

You nod.

{They will love you for as long as they think of you as a human, but that will be a façade. One day, they will awaken to the realization that you are not a human. That could be quite painful Alice.}

"I guess I'll worry about that when the time comes. What about you? Where will you go once Rot is dealt with?"

Baphomet looks surprisingly bashful suddenly. {That depends on you, Alice. I would like to be with you, to get to know you, to learn what you can teach me, and to teach you what I know. To be . . . Partners. But, I understand that I can't make my wishes into reality simply with willpower, not where a sentient mind is involved. If you wish it, I will leave and not come back. Where I go- well, that will not be important. I'll go somewhere that interests me.}

A silence settles over the two of you again, broken only by the muffled crash of waves on the shore.

{Would you like to walk with me?} Baphomet stands suddenly and offers you his hand to hold.


>Take the hand
>We can walk, but I'm not holding your hand.
>Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think that's a good idea.
>write in

>>2739927
>Take the hand to pull yourself out of the chair
>No hand-in-hand beach walk, though

>>2739927
>I'd rather keep enjoying the view a bit longer, if it's all the same to you.
I can not get this out how I want without it rhyming or sounding clunky.

>>2739927
>Take the hand
Beach walk

>Beach walk. No hand holding.
>>2739940

>No beach walk
>>2739941

> Beach walk/w hand holding
>>2739965

Well shit guys. Gonna give a minute for a tie breaker.

>>2739987
I'll switch to >>2739940 to keep things moving.

>>2739940
>>2739996
>Beach walk. No hand holding.
>Writing

You take the hand to pull yourself up out of your seat and then slip your fingers away to brush your hands off.

To his credit, Baphomet hardly reacts, instead the two of you start meandering along the sandy coastline, the jungle to your left, the cabin behind you, the glowing sea and storm to your right and endless beach ahead of you.

"How far does this beach go?" you ask.

{Far enough. We won't lose your cabin.}

You walk in silence a few minutes, enjoying the tranquility around you and glancing at the rumbling storm that has come no closer. "Did you used to try to help people? I mean, before you abandoned everything."

{Yes. Sometimes. I found that when I tried to do too much though that I trampled countless lives in the process. TO better the many, sometimes you end up harming the few. You can't make miracles for everyone. People just hope they aren't the ones that get trampled.}

"And you couldn't take it, huh?"

{I grew tired of it, yes. Rot was different. He only ever sought more. Lives are inconsequential to him. All but perhaps yours. For now.}

"I don't think I'll remain important to him for long."

{Don't be afraid, Alice.} He says suddenly, startling you. {I know you are. I'm afraid too. But more than afraid, I'm determined to do something good. It's hard to do good in the world, but I think that killing Rot will be good. I hope that you'll make better use of your power than I have. Once you fully attain it.}


>I will. I'll try my best.
>It's not too late for you to use your powers for good. You can come back.
>I don't know if I want power. I just want a normal life.
>Write in

>>2740011
>I don't know if I want power. I just want a normal life. Well, normal for me anyway.

>>2740011
>I will. I'll try my best.
I kinda want the adventure to continue...

>>2740018
>>2740022

>writing

You shew your lip a moment. "I will. I mean I'll try but . . . I don't know if I want power like that. Maybe I just want a normal life. Well, normal for me I mean."

{If you want my advice, Alice, I think you should take the normal life if that's what you prefer. Take it while you can.} There's something sad in his tone, but he doesn't give you time to question it. {I would love to stay here with you, Alice. But I have to focus on protecting Roselake and watching for Rot. Besides which, you need rest. You have a lot to do.}

"Okay," you say, though there is a part of you that wants to ask him to stay, if only so you're not alone here.

{Goodbye, Alice. Sleep well}

"Night."

Baphomet is gone.

You look back out over the sea in time to see a distant flash of lighting fork across the sky. Idly, you lift a hand and a stone monolith rises from the surf, water crashing around the new obstacle. You stop it in place and smile to yourself.

***

You and Sam wake early, and perhaps unsurprisingly, you feel well rested. You and Sam don't talk about last night or anything else strange. You're not sure if she's afraid or trying to keep your mind off the coming storm, either way she seems in much better spirits than last night. Instead you make final touches to your costumes. The prosthetic fangs you have look great on Sam and the red contacts don't hurt either.

Later tonight you'll go to the school dance with Sam and meet Zack there. Do you need to do anything else before you go?


>Yes (Write in)
>No, let's go

>>2740055
>Yes
Do we still have the knife I can't remember but if we do bring it

>>2740055
>No
Time for the first night of the rest of our lives. Hopefully it won't also be the last.

>>2740066
>The Knife
Yes, you have the Loss Knife.

>>2740071
Rip knife

File: DeusVult.jpg (32 KB, 330x498)

32 KB JPG

Even in the parking lot outside the gymnasium you could hear the thudding bass of pop music coming from the dance floor.

"Zack meeting us here?" Sam asks after Grace drops the two of you off outside.

"Yes," you say, surveying the other scattered groups entering the building, catching sight of two separate Harley Quinns and one Dark Knight Joker alone.

"Good call on the 80s vampire thing," Sam says, seeing what you see.

"Yeah, no kidding." Your eyes fix on a bulky figure in white approaching, light glinting from metal around his head. It takes you a second to recognize him. "Oh my god."

Sam gasps and laughs. "Zack!?"

Zack's smile falters and becomes a frown. "What?" He's dressed in a white cloak with a red cross on it as well as a white tunic and a chain mail hood. A Templar Knight.

"I thought you didn't dress up?" you reply.

"I thought you might like it," he says, exasperated.

"Someone is gonna thing you're supposed to be the KKK and make you leave or change or something," Sam laughs, covering her mouth.

"Right, like I'd listen to some hopped-up math teacher." he holds out his arms and looks at his costume, "Well now I feel like a fucking idiot."
>No, it's kind of cool
>It's fine
>Yeah, you should probably change
>write in

>>2740084
>No, it's kind of cool
RECLAMATION OF THE HOLY LAND

>>2740084
>Maybe change the tabard?

>>2740084
>No, it's cool. It really suits you!
Also, are we in our costume yet? Because if we aren't, we should get changed.

>>2740095
>>2740097
>>2740121

>Writing

>>2740121
>Also, are we in our costume yet?
You are. That said, your costume doesn't really hide anything, so the knife is wedged in your purse.

"No," you say, studying the detailed costume. "It's cool. I mean, it really suits you!"

Zack smiles, "What can I say? Deus Vult, baby."

"Maybe um, change out of the shirt part though?"

Zack scoffs. "What are they gonna do? Make me leave?"

Sam speaks up, "That . . . Seems like what they would do."

"Bah," Zack says. "Whatever. They can try. That's why I brought, this-"

His hand goes to his scabbard and wraps around the hilt of a sword.

Your eyes widen in shock. Oh god, Zack, don't-

He tugs uselessly on the handle. "Nah, just kidding. It's a prop. I'm not bringing a sword to a school dance. Well, shall we?" he gestures to the doors to the gym.

***

https://youtu.be/KFPI9b9N6CQ

Once inside the gym, the music is much louder and the three of you have to stand close together to be heard. You stand center, Zack to your left and Sam to your right as you survey the crowd.

You don't have any urge to talk to any of your other classmates really so you let it slide, content to just watch everyone else dance or loiter awkwardly like you. You see Holly and Chad out on the dance floor, violating every possible meaning of the "acceptable dancing" rules for the school. Across the floor you see Franz and another girl from Drama, but he pretends not to see you. Just as well.

"You girls want some punch?" Zack says, jerking a thumb toward the refreshment table while ignoring the looks other people were giving him, alternately impressed and amused. "I figured I could go get some."

"Um, sure!" Sam replies.

"Please," you add.

Zack spreads his arms and bows. "It would be a pleasure-"

"If you say milady, we're done," you say.

He freezes, hesitates and straightens back up. "I'll be right back."

Sam giggles at Zack's odd behavior.

"He's acting up because you're around," you say, "I think. It's making him goofier."

"Me?" Sam asks.

"Well, anyone. He's a show off."

Before Sam can reply, another voice interjects. "Alice, it's Halloween. The one time a year when you fit in. Must be nice."

You're surprised to see Mr. Cook, your history teacher nearby. He smiles, indicating he's just having a bit of fun.


>Every day is Halloween to me
>Mr. Cook, I just wanted to say that your class always was my favorite.
>What about you? Do you like Halloween?
>Thanks
>write in

>>2740143
>Every day is Halloween to me
>Mr. Cook, I just wanted to say that your class always was my favorite.

>>2740143
>Every day is Halloween to me
>Mr. Cook, I just wanted to say that your class always was my favorite.

>>2740143
>Every day is Halloween to me
>Mr. Cook, I just wanted to say that your class always was my favorite.
>What about you? Do you like Halloween?

>It's near midnight and I still haven't eaten yet because of quest

>Again

Back in a bit, need to get food before I starve.

File: Survive.gif (3.1 MB, 480x242)

3.1 MB GIF

>>2740153
>>2740157
>>2740161

>Writing

>>2740169
>starve
Pic related.

"Every day is Halloween to me," you say with a grin.

Sam nervously falls silent when Mr. Cook steps closer. You still find it amusing how she clams up around new people before opening up in a dramatic burst.

"Oh, that much I could tell," Cook replies. "You've got guts, Alice. And brains. Don't forget that those are your two most important qualities."

You laugh nervously, "Um, okay."

"Ah, just an observation," Cook says.

"You know, Mr. Cook your class always was my favorite."

He seems taken aback, "Really? Well, then my work is done. Personally I don’t care if you learned anything, just if you liked my class." He smiles again. "A History Major in the making maybe?"

You liked Cook's class more for his personal style and predilection toward the morbid than any strong attachment to history. "Maybe."

"And knock off this 'was' stuff. The school year isn't over yet, huh?"

"Right," you say, feeling stupid. "Um, what about you? Do you like Halloween?"

"Love it! People let their true colors fly. We've got . . . Vampires," he gestures to you and Sam, horribly misunderstanding your costume, "Holy warriors," he gestures after Zack and then adds "Quite a couple you two must make, by the way. I have to imagine that your kind offend his religious sensibilities. "And of course, we also have boring history teachers," he taps his chest and laughs at his own joke. "Stay out of trouble, okay? Don't make me separate anyone."

"We will," you say, "I mean, won't."

He laughs again and looks up to see Zack returning. "I'd better not embarrass you in front of your date. Take care."

"You too."

Zack returns with the drinks, handing one to Sam and one to you.

"Oh, Zack, where's yours?" Sam asks.

"Ah, only two hands," he holds them up like he needs to prove he still has them, "I'm not thirsty anyway."

"Well, you can have mine if you want," she offers, shoving her drink at him.

"No, it's fine, I'll share with Alice."

"Okay," Sam says, clamming up.

There's another minute of awkward silence and bobbing to the music before Zack whirls on you. "Alice, do you want to dance?"


>Yes
>I don't feel like dancing
>Let's bring Sam
>You and Sam should dance
>write in

>>2740201
>Why don't we check out some now costumes first?
Don't make Sam the third wheel.

>>2740201
>Yes
>Let's bring Sam

>>2740205
It's not Zack said he has two hands

>>2740208
>>2740212
I know it's a pipe dream but just once I'd like to avoid that shit.

>>2740215
You have your dreams and I have mine.
I can respect your opinions

>>2740228
I don't have anything against harem type stuff but I was hoping we could have a more definitive choice of sticking with a normal relationship or gambling on something we've never even thought about before.

Maybe my main problem is that I don't like Zack much either.

Anyway I've got to call it a night. See you next time TK!

Yeah, I'm gonna stop the game here for now then. We're at am impasse, player count has ticked dangerously low, and I need to handle IRL commitments.

I'll ask that other SGQ players vote on this most recent choice overnight.

We'll pick up in Thursday, 7 EST, 11 UTC.


Be sure to come by the Discord to complain about my self insert characters.

https://discord.gg/WMEDDgX

Thanks for playing guys!

>>2740273
Hey, I'm ba- oh...
Dang it.

Well, put me down for >>2740205. Let's make Sam and Zack more comfortable with each other before we start dancing.

Goodnight, boss!

>Go with Zack
>Extend a hand to Sam
>Addd a "come hither" jesture if she doesn't get it

>Why don't we check out some now costumes first?
>>2740205
>>2740303

>Let's bring Sam
>>2740208
>>2740598

Come on guys. Why are we like this?

>>2743537
I don't want to third wheel Sam or try to add her to the relationship. Especially since she would probably be worried about is thinking she's stealing our bf again.

"I don't want Sam to feel left out," you say.

Zack looks at Sam like he hadn't considered it, "Ah-"

"No, it's okay, you guys can go dance!" Sam insists. "I'm fine."

You happen to know that this went directly against your promise that she wouldn't be a third wheel. You consider asking her to dance with you and Zack, but you're not sure how Zack would take it, or how Sam would take it for that matter.

"How about we look at some costumes instead?" You suggest.

Zack and Sam look at one another.

"I mean, it's Halloween," you add, offering your hand to Zack.

He takes it.

You offer your other hand and to Sam which she laughs and takes as well.

The three of you slide through the crowd, looking at your classmate's costumes, with your own getting lots of appreciation in return. Occasionally Zack will give your hand a squeeze, his thumb running across your first knuckle

Only a few minutes later you spot a pair of faces that sours your day.

It was weird seeing Holly (Cheerleader, how original) and Chad (A guy in a black cape and a sharpie goatee? Honestly you're not sure.) Granted, you saw them basically every day at school but, they seemed so small to you now. Holly had been an imposing figure to you. A friend gone bad at some point. Chad had been the affection of girlish attraction. Now they seemed like ants. You could break them with ease. It was kind of scary.

Holly looks over at you and makes a face because you were evidently staring. You smile, and not a friendly smile.

She turns away.

"Friend of yours?" Zack asks.

"Who, Holly? God I hope not. What a bitch," Sam interjects.

Zack laughs, "Oookay, a sentiment I guess you share Alice?"

"I think Sam said it best," you reply.

"Hey, Alice?"

You turn around and see Franz as Edward Scissor Hands, that really shouldn't be surprising.

"Sorry to interrupt but, can we talk a sec?" he asks.

You look at Zack who is sizing up Franz, already making assumptions, probably correct ones.

"Um, okay," you look at Zack, "Be right back."

"Right."

You follow Franz a short distance away, just out of earshot of Sam and Zack. "What's up?"

"I don't want to keep you," he says, "I just . . . Wanted to tell you that I've got accepted."

"Accepted?"

"Ah, I thought you knew. I applied to the New York Film Academy. And I got accepted, I just need to graduate in good standing."

"Congratulations."

"I uh. . . Just wanted to let you know so if you wanted to stay in touch. I don't want us to be strangers, you know? I mean, even after everything I'd like to stay friends."


>We're still friends
>I'll stay in touch
>Enjoy your life, Franz
>Write in

>>2743884
>We're still friends

>>2743884
>Enjoy your life, Franz
Go away Franz only TK likes you

>>2743884
>Enjoy your life, Franz
Franz is just another failed high school romance. They fucked for awhile then he cheated on her. Not exactly friends for life.

>Enjoy your life, Franz
>>2743910
>>2743918

>writing

"Sure," you say, nonplussed. Franz's fragile feelings or residual guilt about what he did years ago where the least of your problems. "Enjoy your life."

He hesitates, like he wants to say more. "Okay. See ya later."

You watch him leave and return to his date, a girl from the drama club you recognize. She gives you a look of barely concealed jealousy before turning away.

You return to your own party.

"What did Franz want?" Sam asks.

You notice that Zack is especially attentive.

"He told me he got accepted to some film school," you say, "In New York."

"Wow!" Sam says, "That's great! I know he really wanted it."

Zack's expression sours slightly.

"What about you Alice, have you applied anywhere?" Sam asks.

"It's a little early for that," you say, knowing the truth was that you'd been too overwhelmed to, but now were wondering if you would even bother. A college degree didn't seem so important suddenly.

"What about you, Zack?" Sam asks. "Are you going anywhere?"

"I've got a job lined up," he says.

"You do?" This was news to you.

"Yeah, my dad pulled some strings and got me a job at the lumber yard as a machine operator. I just need to get licensed and I'll be ready to go."


>That's great!
>Why don't you go to school for history or something?
>What about you, Sam?
>Write in

>>2743943
>That's great! Do you want to do anything after or are the benefits that good?
>What about you Sam?

>>2743943
>Why don't you go to school for history or something?
>What about you, Sam?

>>2743943
>Why don't you go to school for history or something?
>What about you, Sam?

>>2743950
>>2743952
>>2743955

>Writing

"That's cool do you have plans afterward or does it have really good benefits or something?"

Zack seems surprised by your follow up questions. "Well I mean, for supervisors and stuff the pay is better. Plus equipment operators can make bank if they really get into it. Realistically in a few years I might be making okay money. For like . . . A house and stuff."

"Have you thought about going to school for history or something?"

"Never wanted to. Seems boring as fuck. I like hitting shit with swords, I don't like reading about it."

You roll your eyes. "What about you, Sam?"

Sam gives a light laugh. "I dunno, my grades aren't really good enough to get anywhere decent. I could probably go to Mason Community College but, I think I might like to do cosmetic school. Makeup and hair and stuff."

"You should! You'd be good at it," you say.

"I'll think about it," Sam says. "There's no rush, right?"

"Right," Zack agrees.

You and Sam trade a look. She knows that you're not so sure of that fact.

You make a complete lap of the gym, admiring the care (or lack of care) put into the costumes present. You and Sam have a running game counting Jokers and Harley Quinns. (Seven total). You finish your punch and both you and Sam get to laugh when Zack tries to do the worm in full chain mail armor. (It doesn't work well). You even manged- just for a bit- to forget about the coming decision.

Do you have anything else you want to do before Zack drives you and Sam home?


>Yes (write in)
>No, let's go

>>2744013
>Yes
Get some pictures and stuff

>>2744020
This picture time

>>2744020
>>2744027

>Writing

"Pictures!" Sam says. "We need pictures!"

You and Zack don't object and proceed to take a few pretty good ones.

>Templar Fighting Vampire
>Morticia using Templar as a foot rest
>Morticia and Vampire holding hands

You also take a selfie as a group, Your arms around Zack and Sam while Zack holds out your phone.

With photos secured, the three of you leave when the dance winds down for Zack to take you home. He stops to drop Sam off at home before taking you to your own house. "I had a good time," he says as you round the bend.

"Me too."

"You look . . . Really stunning. The look suits you."

You look over at his armor-clad form, "You too," you can't help but laugh.

"Maybe next time you can crusade with me?"

"Maybe," you say, wondering what next time might be like, if anything.

It's after dark when his car's headlights wash across your lawn. "Well. Goodnight, Alice."
>Can you take me to Foster Bridge instead? (tell him about your parents)
>Why don't you come in and meet my family?
>Good night Zack [Smooch]
>write in

>>2744064
For reference, the top greentext is NOT a vote

>>2744064
>>Why don't you come in and meet my family?

>>2744064
>Good night Zack [Smooch]
Still don't like Zack that much.

>>2744064
>Good night Zack [Smooch]

>>2744064
>Why don't you come in and meet my family?

>>Why don't you come in and meet my family?
>>2744074
>>2744104

>Good night Zack [Smooch]
>>2744086
>>2744090

I sweat to Christ you guys.

>writing

>>2744144
>I sweat to Christ you guys.
Praise Jesus, amen.

"Why don't you come inside and meet my family?" You suggest.

Zack looks hesitant, "Ah, now? Don't you think there's a better time than when I'm not so . . . Deus vult?"

"What's better than this? What if there is no better time?" You say, frowning.

Zack sighs, "Alice-"

"No. You're right." You're being a bit silly to want Zack to meet Grace and Mark dressed like this.

"I didn't mean-"

"It's really okay," you say before leaning over the center console to give him a long kiss. When you break it, Zack has no more complaints.

"Goodnight."

"Night, Alice. See you later."

(1/2)

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Time after the dance is a blur to you. Grace thought you were sick and let you stay home from school on Monday. On Monday night, you can't sleep, not really. Instead you spend the night in your beach side cabin, curled in the bed you made for yourself, lying in the dark.

This place doesn't change, not really anyway, but the storm out to sea is closer now. Close enough to drive large waves crashing onto the beach and rain to lash the windows of the cabin while the wind roars. You sense that somehow you've done this, but on a subconscious level. Truth be told, you appreciate the chaos because it matches what you feel within you. Nervous tension, fear, a question about what the future holds.

You'd been alone before all this began, after you'd lost Franz, but you'd gotten used to that isolation. Now, all you wanted was for your Friend to be back, or Ellie, or anyone. Anyone who might sit in the dark under the covers with you and listen to the storm.

You open your eyes when your phone starts buzzing. You're in your bedroom in Roselake and you are getting a call from Michael. You see the time and date.

12:01 PM Tuesday October 31st, 2017.

"Hello?"

The voice that answers you is not Michael's, it's female. "Come outside. It's time." The call goes dead.

Your hands shake a little as you dress and get ready. You have an overwhelming sensation of time running short, though you know everything is waiting on you. Once dressed, you pick up your knife from your desk and study the flat of the blade. You see your own reflection, hard eyes looking back and think of Friend. The blade is tucked carefully into your pocket and you go downstairs quietly.

Mark and Grace are sleeping, the house is silent. You consider waking them up to say goodbye, but decide against it. Instead you open the door to your house and are startled to see two people standing on your front porch waiting.

One is in white robes white with a deer skull mask, the other in black with a black, gauzy veil covering on their face. A cultist of Baphomet and a cultist of Moloch you suspect.

They stare at you for a moment before the Moloch cultist gestures you toward a waiting car parked on the road, one you hadn't seen before. You don't recognize it.

You walk for the car with the two cultists following you. The one in white opens the back passenger door for you and you climb in, careful not to stab yourself with the knife in your pocket.

The one in white gets into the driver's side and the one in black on the passenger side.
>Someone going to tell me where we're going?
>Baphomet and Moloch I presume?
>Say nothing
>Write in

>>2744196
>>Say nothing

>>2744196
>Say nothing

>>2744196
>Say nothing

>>2744199
>>2744208
>>2744232

>Writing

File: 1528689302322.gif (3 MB, 540x468)

3 MB GIF

>>2744196
>Say nothing
Time for the end.

File: Spoiler Image (187 KB, 540x720)

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After driving for nearly fifteen minutes in silence, you've left Roselake behind and only dark, foreboding woods surround the road, lit in the passing headlights of the car and the waxing, gibbous moon overhead. The cultists don't say anything until they coast the car to a stop at the edge of an old logging road.

"We walk from here," the Baphomet cultist says, a female voice you don't recognize. The other figure looks at her but says nothing.

The three of you exit the car and start walking into the woods, loose gravel rolling under your boots. Soon, other figures emerge from the woods wearing the robes of Baphomet and Moloch. They fall in line behind you and your guides. The mood gets increasingly tense as your posse grows and you start getting the sensation of two armies under a truce.

You're about to ask how much further you have to go before you see a structure looming from the woods. You can tell from its shape that it is- or was- a church, but it's exterior is black, like it was burnt almost. It's the Dark Church you'd heard rumors about.

The group fans out behind you, Baphomets to once side, Molochs to the other.

"Wait." The head Moloch cultist says, the first thing he's said since this adventure began. He pulls open the door to the church, giving you a glimpse of some tattoos on his fingers before he enters.

You're left alone with the head Baphomet cultist.

"This is an unclean place," she says. "This is their realm."


>What do you mean? How is it unclean?
>You guys are all the same to me
>I can imagine
>Say nothing
>Write in

>>2744260
>>Say nothing

>>2744260
>(noncommittal “Hmm”)

>>2744260
>Say nothing
Words don't matter right now.

>>2744267
>>2744295
>>2744302


>Writing

You stare fixedly ahead, words have lost meaning for you. Nothing you say will change any of this.

The Priestess stares at you for another moment before adding, "Good luck."

The Moloch priest emerges again. He looks at the Baphomet priestess and you imagine a glare behind his veil before he turns to you. "Come in. It's time." his breath reeks of cigarettes. He holds the door open for you and you enter the shadowy interior. The church itself has an ashy, waxy smell that you associate with candles. Almost immediately you see clear evidence of rituals being conducted here. Strange figures, sigils, and runes are marked in chalk across the floor, grotesque mounds of wax dotting the perimeter where candles have melted down.

You see a scattering of bones across the floor. They might belong small animals, and you normally would be able to convince yourself of that if you didn't accidentally kick a fist-sized human skull away with your toe. The interior of the church is also cold, almost unbearably so, your breath plainly visible.

A number of cultists from both sides file in and line either wall, leaving you standing in the middle of a large room with no furniture. At the far back of the room is a wide stained glass window that's too dark to make out. Either side of the building is flanked with windows that similarly reveal only darkness.

You aren't sure what to do, so you stand still instead, shuffling anxiously, feeling out of place as the only one without a mask.

Before you can't ask someone what you're supposed to do, a sudden bit of movement catches your eye.

Baphomet in his full form, glowing, black, and semi-translucent, strides through the read wall of the church, passing through the stained glass window like it wasn't there.

The cultists in white robes immediately drop to one knee, heads bowed so the antlers of their deer-skill masks nearly touch the ground.

Goatman surveys them before his gaze falls on you, his eyes hidden, features unreadable. After a moment, he looks away, to the center of the room. You follow his gaze and see the strange sigils on the floorboards light up with unearthly energy.

The black-clad cultists prostrate themselves as Moloch, Rot, Moloch boils out of the floor as a cloud of stinging flies that coalesce into something greater than themselves, buzzing, ringing, screaming and burning orange. They create a form that is maddeningly hard to make out, clearly solid yet unclearly shaped.

<Hey babe. Good to see you. Good to be free. I hope you been thinking about what I said. About what we stand to gain.>

The cultists look from the floor, eye-less mask holes and blank veils turning to face you in unison.

Even Baphomet is looking to you, his face a black mass.

The question is blunt, and not at all as grandiose as you'd imagined, but there it was.


>I'm not here to help you, I'm here to kill you
>What you want with the Goatman is none of my business
> Tell me about your offer, what am I getting?
>Write in

>>2744330
>I'm not here to help you, I'm here to kill you

>>2744330
>I'm not here to help you, I'm here to kill you.
I have no idea how rot had any followers. He's the worst salesman ever. "Hey I killed your parents, killed your Friend, tried to rape another, and tried to kill your surrogate family. But if you help me you'll have all this power you won't want and I totally won't stab you in the back." How did he honestly expect this to go down?

>>2744353
Finally, someone who understands
I agree with this

>>2744330
>>I'm not here to help you, I'm here to kill you
Before you continue, I'd like to inform you that you are, frankly, the worst salesperson I have ever had the misfortune of interacting with.

>I'm not here to help you, I'm here to kill you.
>>2744341
>>2744353
>>2744368
>>2744369

>Writing

>>2744353
Pretty much this.

"Hey, I'm going to make your life miserable, kill your parents, try to molest your best friend, and probably try to make you play out my incest fetish fantasies, if I don't decide to kill you first and wipe your hometown off the map. Could you do me a favor and help me get out of this hole?"

>>2744377
>try to molest your best friend
He was probably gonna rape her until he fucked her soul out of her body and turned her into a puppet
But the point still stands

You narrow your eyes. "I'm not here to help you," you say. "I'm here to kill you."

The cloud jerks as if a current of electricity ran through it.

"I also want to add that you are, frankly, the worst salesperson I've ever had the misfortune of interacting with. Did you really envision this going down any other way? You killed the people I love, you threatened me and others, the only thing you have to offer is power that I don't want, and don't trust you to turn over."

The insect cloud rumbles, and whatever is within it shifts toward you. <You're an upstart bitch.> That orange glow flickers red and you feel heat was across your skin. <You're mine you bitch. You're going to do what I say and you're going to do what you were meant to do.>

The insect-covered thing swells and looms over you, heat starting to sting your face.

You take an unconscious step backward in mounting fear, gripping the handle of your knife and drawing it.

Rot's attention shifts down to the small knife you hold, humming with light. The insect cloud parts enough for you to make out a twisted wolfish grin within the swarming mass. Lips peel back and jaws extend while you watch helpless with fear.

Baphomet lurches from the shadows behind Rot and dives in to grab the cloud of insects, or rather, something within the cloud that now boils and swarms around him. He pulls Rot away from you, the two of them letting out an unearthly scream as they fight. You see this is an opening for you to attack.


>Attack Moloch
>Wait until they weaken one another
>See who survives
>write in

>>2744388
>>Attack Moloch
With knife

>>2744388
>Attack Moloch
The insect cloud is a distraction. Find his core.

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>>2744388
Forgot.
The glimpse within

>>2744388
>>Attack Moloch
Aim for the closest thing we can equate to eyes, Boo!

>>2744388
>Attack Moloch

>Attack Moloch
>>2744393
>>2744396
>>2744398
>>2744405

>writing

You race forward, your feet not touching the ground and plunge your singing white knife into the cloud, feeling it strike something semi-solid within, carving a gash out of Rot. Again he lets out a horrible scream and throws you back with a thrash of an appendage, though you manage to keep a firm grip on the knife. Recovering your balance, you see Rot hurl Goatman backward, crashing into the flimsy wooden wall of the church which partially crumbles under the force, a stray wooden board whipping out to strike a Baphomet cultist in the face, leaving them either dead or unconscious on the ground.

The cultists on both sides stand and take steps backward, most clearly confused.

Rot swings to focus on you again, you spot multiple, hate-filled eyes within the cloud fixed on you.

<Bitch.>

He comes forward on six legs, jaws wide open.

You fade to intangibility right as his teeth slash through the air where you had been, leaving you eye to eye with him. You don't hesitate to plunge your knife into one of the large black orbs, ichor and viscera bubbling out.

Rot howls and thrashes his head, staggering back.

Your arms are swarming with the insects that cover his body, a few you see preparing to drive their oversized stingers into you before you blow them off your arms with force you didn't know you had. Perhaps some offshoot of your invisible helper.

You fly back and land, breathing hard and trying not to let your hands shake from adrenaline too much.

One of Rot's eyes is gone, sliced out, the others are looking wildly in all directions until they fix on a number of panic-frozen cultists. In a flash, he lashes out and smashes one of them- a Baphometist- into a meaty pulp. He turns and snatches a Molochist before they can flee and drags them into his maw with a root-like appendage.

You can see their souls consumed by him with sight you didn't know you had.

He's using those present as ammunition for himself, as free energy.

You look to Baphomet who is regaining his feet, still shaken by Rot's attack. You don't think Baphomet is capable of this kind of ruthlessness.

But maybe you are.

You feel something stirring within you, power you didn't know you had. Somehow you can feel all the life, all the people in this building, their lives like slender threats waiting to be cut. You can cut them with just a whim and claim all the human souls, denying them to Rot and taking them for yourself.

Of course, you can't tell them apart in this state, you can only tell they are humans and they are alive. Claiming one means claiming all, at least until you get a better grip on your powers.


>Kill all the cultists
>Try to get Rot's attention with another attack
>write in

>>2744420
>>Try to get Rot's attention with another attack

>>2744420
>Kill all the cultists
They all knew what they were getting into. And if they didn't, they are stupid

>>2744420
>Try to get Baphomet's crew into the fight. Surely they didn't come here to just watch and die.

Plus if rots cultists beat them then we can do a mass culling.

>Try to get Rot's attention with another attack
>>2744428

>Kill all the cultists
>>2744433

>Try to get Baphomet's crew into the fight.
>>2744435


>writing

>>2744420
>>Try to get Rot's attention with another attack
Try to beat Moloch to the closest group, then slash his claws off.

>>2744455
Witnessed

You turn to the nearest Baphomet cultist. "Did you come out here just to die? Do something!"

The cultist looks at you in what you imagine is shock before being speared by one of Rot's limbs and drawn, screaming, into his mass.

It seems they were simply unprepared to deal with a god. That said, you see some of them are fighting Rot cultists. One is plunging a blood-slick dagger into the black robs of a Molochist with vigor, another has drawn a pistol and is taking shots at fleeing enemies. It still won't be enough.

You turn to face Rot again, setting your stance and attacking. You swipe at Rot's body though he rolls away from you and deflects with a cloud of bugs. You land and hiss in pain, noticing a gash running the length of your forearm, a gift from Rot. Your arms are also sore for attacking and warding off attacks like this. It was starting to take a toll on you.

While Rot is distracted, Baphomet charges into him again, his whole body radiating light that seems to kill the flies swarming across Rot. You watch them dropping by the hundreds, creating a crunching carpet of black carapaces and giving tantalizing glimpses of the tattered, piebald flesh beneath.

The two gods struggle a moment while you try to align your next attack.

The church is collapsing around them, the aging wooden structure incapable of withstanding this kind of abuse. You have to phase through the roof as it comes down around you, leaving the two of them struggling on a small mound of debris and half-standing walls. Surviving cultists are fleeing into the woods now, leaving their dead and dying behind as their gods destroy this small building.

(1/2)

Baphomet drops a powerful, resonating blow onto what you think is Rot's head, causing him to reel away, though in return Rot slashes Baphomet with some kind of appendage you don't get a good look at. The Goatman goes down with a mournful wail and Rot takes a few paces back to recover, giving you the perfect opportunity to strike.

Again, you close quickly and swipe at Rot's leg, drawing fresh blood and causing him to collapse and whirl around like a wounded animal. No longer are the insects flying, now they are crawling across . . .Something. Something with too many limbs and digits to be recognizable as anything of this earth, it heaves with unfelt breath.

You take a step forward, ready to finish him off.

<Fine, you're not satisfied? Fine. But guess what I got? I got your parents in here.>

You freeze.

<That's right. Mom and Pop Cherna.>

You feel Rot smile somehow.

<I got others too, sure, but I held your parents when I snatched them up for trying to double cross me. I can let em go for you if you let me go. Seems a fair trade. Otherwise, you kill me now and they're gone forever though. They'll die with me.>

You feel your blood run cold in your veins.

<They won't live, but you'll have a last chance to say goodbye. Don't you want that, babe? A second chance to say what you never could?>

"You're a liar," you say in a voice that doesn't sound like yours anymore.

<I am. Oh yes, I am. But not about this.>

Even as you stare into one of its quivering eyes, you can tell he's telling the truth. Your parents are somewhere within this shuddering hulk. Held in a death grip, one that Rot alone can ease it seems.

You might try to trick him, make him release your parents and then kill him but . . . If you know Rot, he'll be prepared for your attempt to double cross him. If you make a deal, you'll have to mean it.


>Fine. Let them go and leave. (Release him for your parents)
>I've already said my goodbyes (Kill him)
>What if I make you let them go? You're mine to toy with now. (Torture him)
>write in

>>2744489
>>I've already said my goodbyes (Kill him)

>>2744489
>My parents have been dead for a long time, you saw to that.
>My only regret is that i cannot kill you twice.
(Finish him)

>>2744489
"Goodbye, Mom. Goodbye, Dad. I love you." (Kill him)

We never had a chance to tell them goodbye before they passed.

>>2744489
Seconding >>2744504
He is literally the worst salesman. We know that he would just hold on to them if we let him go and keep using them.

>>2744496
>>2744504
>>2744514
>>2744532

>Writing

Your chest rises and falls with labored breath, blood running down your arm to drip off your hand and onto the ashy ground.

"My parents have been dead a long time," you say. "You saw to that."

<That will make a reunion all the sweeter!>

You shake your head. "If they're within you somewhere, then they can hear me probably. They know what's happening. Goodbye mom," you choke back tears, "Goodbye dad. I love you both. I miss you."

<Alice->

"My only regret is that I can't kill you twice."

<Alice-!>

You raise your blade and drive it into one of his remaining eyes eliciting shrieks of agony.

Dying bugs roll off his body to land on the ground around him forming a pile.

You bring the knife down twice more before the screaming stops and fades to nothing.

It starts to rain, the leaves of the trees around you rustling with the sound.

Rot's broken breathing ceases and his body starts to sag and deflate, like a time-lapse of a decaying animal carcass. The smell is unimaginably horrendous and you physically turn away from it. Rot is dead. The thing that damaged your life more than anything else has been killed, though it won't ever bring your parents back.

Once it's over, a small orb hangs in place above him. You feel that it's tremendously power.

{A god's soul.} Baphomet steps beside you, gazing on the soul.

"Rot's?

{Yes. And it's yours to have, should you want it.}

"Why wouldn't I want it?" you ask, looking to Goatman.

{If you take that soul, you will take more power than you have, maybe more than you've imagined. You won't be a demigod anymore. You'll be a goddess.}

The word hangs with you. "A goddess?"

{You will achieve all that entails, most specifically, immortality. Right now, Alice, you can still live a normal human life. You can spend with Zack, or Sam, or whoever you choose, you will live and die with them. If you take this soul, you will not. You will suffer.}

"Suffer? What, more than I already have? What do you mean?"

{It will hurt, Alice. Worse than you know. You will see everyone you love age and die, and it will feel as if no time at all has passed. You will wake up one day alone. You will see them all go. You'll live with the pain of knowing what you lost. You may eventually find a new life as a god, but you will hurt every day you forget them.}

You stare at the orb.

{The choice is yours. Alice, I warn you, if you take this soul and try to remain as a human, you will feel pain that you can't imagine yet.}

"Isn't that my pain to experience?" you demand.

{Yes.}

You stare at the orb. You try to imagine watching Zack get old and die. You imagine watching Sam fade way until she's gone. It's hard, you can't imagine what that would be like. But all the same, wasn't it really what you were meant to be/ Couldn't you use this power for good?


>Take the soul and become a Goddess
>Leave the soul and remain closer to human

>>2744554
>Take the soul and become a Goddess

>>2744554
>Leave the soul and remain closer to human

>>2744554
>Stare at Baphomet
>"It is not the first time i've experienced loss. You probably forgot humans deal with death evey day of their lives. Some more than others"
>Take the soul

>>2744554
>Leave the soul and remain closer to human.
After everything that has happened being normal doesn't seem so bad anymore.

>>2744554
>Take the soul and become a Goddess

>Take the soul and become a Goddess
>>2744557
>>2744565
>>2744586

>Leave the soul and remain closer to human
>>2744564
>>2744582


>Take the soul and become a Goddess
>Writing

You draw in what had been Rot's soul, though you feel none of his presence left in it, it's pure potential now. It feels unlike every other soul you've claimed. It doesn't feel good in the same way, it feels simply right. You don't feel much different although you do sense two things. The first is potential. There's a quiet potential within you. You don't fully understand it, but if your beach world was a blank piece of paper, this is an empty novel.

More importantly, you feel a light caress within you. An echo within your own soul. It only takes you a moment to realize it's your parents. Your mother and your father reaching out to you. They love you. They're sorry. They miss you. And they're so proud of you.

A tear rolls down your cheek as you feel them slip away from your tenuous grasp, their souls freed, along with the others in Rot's grip, to pass on to whatever may be next.

Goodbye, Alice. We love you.

{Are you alright, Alice?}

"I will be."

You look up at Baphomet and see that the rain isn't touching him somehow, but falling perfectly around him.

{Come with me, Alice. Come with me and learn to be a God. I know you're apprehensive and I know I am not perfect but . . . We could learn so much from one another. We could get to know one another. We could spend time together and grow fond of one another.}

"Michael-" you say the name automatically. "Uh, Baphomet-"

{Michael is fine.}

You pause, "Michael. I have a whole life ahead of me. I mean, I've only been on this Earth 18 years. You expect me to walk away with no other worldly experiences?"

{No. I expect us to make new experiences together. I'm not asking you to give up your humanity. I'm asking you to share it with me. I love that about you, I want to have it with you.}


>I'm sorry. I'm not ready.
>It will take some getting used to, but I'm willing to give you a shot.
>write in

>>2744599
>I'm sorry. I'm not ready.
This is something I'm going to have to learn on my own.

>>2744599
>I'm sorry. I'm not ready. I still have much suffering left to feel as a human. I don't want you out of my life, but i can't give it to you either.

>>2744599
>It will take some getting used to, but I'm willing to give you a shot

>>2744599
>Live with me as a human for a while It might help you gain some humanity back

>>2744637
Gonna try this, if this doesn't work, i go back to my other vote

>>2744637
Definitely this

>>2744637
>>2744641
>>2744647

>writing

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v9OtinHt68

"I'm sorry," you say. "I'm sorry but I'm not ready. I still have so much suffering left to feel as a human." You give a half smile, you're only half joking after all. "After all, it's not the first time I've experienced loss. You probably forgot humans deal with death every day of their lives. Some more than others. This is no different. It's one more thing for me to experience. It's a part of being human, I'll just be more aware of it than others."

He sags slightly{You really are an amazing person, Alice. I understand, of course. It may sound pathetic, but I know you have an eternity to change your mind.}

"Why don't you change first?" you say.

{What?}

"You've been human with me. I liked you as a human. Why not live with me as a human for a while. It might help you gain some humanity back after all."

The black-faced entity stares at you. {As a human? As Michael?}

"Yes." You smile.

{Maybe I can. Maybe I will. I would like to share in that humanity with you.} he looks up. {But it will have to wait a while. They're right on time. Goodbye, Alice. Please take care.}

He disappears before you.

"Alice!"

You turn and squint through the rain to see two figures running toward you, one anachronistically dressed as a Templar Crusader.

"Alice! Are you alright?" Zack asks.

"I'm sorry, Alice," Sam blurts "I got this weird dream with the Goatman in it and he told me that you needed us so I told Zack, I told him everything."

You throw your arms around Zack and marvel at how warm he feels, even in the rain. "Zack. Sam." You start sobbing and Zack puts an arm around you.

"Come on, let's get you back to the car."

He leads you back down the mud-slick logging road toward his car's headlights. Sam following along behind, holding your hand tightly. You see that in Zack's other hand he carries a pistol, finger carefully off the trigger. You squeeze your eyes closed.

{I am proud of you as well, Alice.}

You snap your eyes open and look around.

{I'm so glad you made it and I'm so glad to see you've done well. I don't want you to worry about me. I'm sure we'll meet up again, Alice.}

"Friend?" you ask the rain around you.

"Hmm?" Zack looks at you.

You make no reply.

The two of them help you into the back seat and Sam sits beside you. The interior of the car is warm and dry.

Zack gets into the driver's seat and closes the door, the only sound the quiet idle of the engine and the drumming of rain on the roof. "Alice, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

You shake your head. "No. Not anymore." You smile.

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That's it for Spooky Girl Quest.


10/06/2017 - 7/20/2018
35 Sessions total

Thanks so much for playing. It really means a lot to me everyone who stuck through the ups and downs of this quest. Especially staying up late on a Thursday. I cannot overstate how much that means to me. I hope that SpookyQM (wherever he is) will be proud of what his quest became. I learned a lot about characterization, plot, and especially pacing while running this game.

Thanks so much to everyone for having patience with me and reading along. I hope I'll see you all in my future projects!

If you want to hang out and chat, please come by my Discord and stay in touch.

https://discord.gg/WMEDDgX

Thanks for playing!

>>2744661
Thank you TK,
Not just for running the quest but for doing it decently well.

>>2744661
Thank you for running, TK
I am glad you decided to run this quest, i enjoyed it a lot

>>2744661
Glad to have been a part of this, boss. I'm going to miss Roselake and Alice. You wrote them really well, and I'm glad I stayed to the end. Thanks.

Also, did you watch Creepshow yet?

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>>2744675
Thanks for saying so! I had a lot of hurdles to clear, so I did better than others. Thanks for playing, Anon.

>>2744678
Thanks for playing! Glad to give you some enjoyment.

>>2744684
I'm glad you were part of it as well. Roselake and Alice will live on . . . somehow. And Thank you for saying I wrote them well, I really tried my best.

>Spoiler
Pic related

>>2744661
Missed the end of it and I only got caught up a little while ago but it's been a fun ride. It's still pretty nuts that you picked it up after it died and actually finished it.

Thanks for running TK. I'll keep an eye out for whatever you get up to in the future.

>>2744701
>I'm glad you were part of it as well.
Since thread 1, in fact. It's been fun seeing Alice evolve from a reclusive Wednesday Addams expy to the gutsy, craft-minded teenage goth girl she is now. Congrads.

>Roselake and Alice will live on . . . somehow.
Ooh, any chance of an epilogue? Maybe where Alice tells Grace and Mark about her situation?

>Pic related
Good man. Hope you like it.

Also, just curious, but was Lilly aware of the supernatural side of life, or was she just a bit out there? And what would have happened if we told her we had spooky death/ghost powers? Would she have made a good first priestess of our cult? I've no doubt she would have made for a pretty fun one.

>>2744715
Thanks for playing!

Yeah, I still don't know why I wanted to save this quest, I guess I saw potential. I hope to see you in my future games!

>>2744728
>Thread 1
Oldtimer. What a ride, huh?

I love that Alice got to evolve and change over time. She's certainly much more confident and much less afraid than she was at first.

>Epilogue
Maybe. Not sure. Right now I'm enjoying being finished. I don't think Alice will ever tell Mark and Grace. They likely wouldn't understand.But I would love to write more in this setting. Especially with Michael now in the mix.

>Lilly
She is aware of the supernatural, more than she lets on. If you had told her she would have tried to encourage you to take the side she supports.

>Spoiler
No, probably not. But she was actually present during the final battle.