"This world is exactly like yours."
"[[Exactly the same.->Apples are blue.]]"
(set: $question to 0)[[Continue]]You are a young man who lives a [[completely normal life.]]
You collect stamps as a hobby, and you have caring friends.
You're single, but it doesn't bother you much.
You live in a small house.
You have a pet dog named [[Cutie]].Cutie is a male doberman.
He's named that because [[it fits]].[[Call cutie over]]
(unless: (history:) contains "Why does it fit?")[ '[[Why does it fit?]]' ]
You call over [[cutie.]]
Did you not [[name]] him?He comes over to you from the other room, and wags his tail in [[excitement.]][[Pet cutie]]
(unless: (history:) contains "Give treat")[ [[Give treat]] ]
[[Take outside]]Oh, [[that's right.]]
(set: $question to (it + 1))[["You didn't."->it fits]]
You pet his back, and scratch his ears.
He looks up at you [[happily.->excitement.]]You decide to go the kitchen and find Cutie's treats.
He hasn't scratched any furniture lately.
Cutie follows you, [[wagging his tail.]]You get up, and head to the front door.
Cutie's leash is hanging there.
Cutie perks up and dashes after you as he sees you [[reach]] for it.You pick up the bag of treats.
You take one, and toss it to him.
He quickly picks it up, and [[eats it.]](unless: (history:) contains "Give one more")[ [[Give one more]] ]
(unless: (history:) contains "Read bag" )[ [[Read bag]] ]
[[Nevermind.->excitement.]]You toss him another treat, remembering that he stayed calm the last time someone visited.
He eats that one [[as well.->eats it.]]You look down at the festive logo.
[["Dog treats."]]
You flip it over, and read the ingredients.
They include [[some vegetables and chicken.]]Such as celery, tomatoes, carrots, cherries, raspberries, and [[beef.]][[....->excitement.]]
(set: $question to (it + 1))You attach the leash to Cutie's [[collar]].
You head [[outside]].It's a warm day.
You walk out to the [[sidewalk.]]Cutie walks alongside you with his head raised.
You take in all of the [[scenery.]]Someone walks past.
They notice cutie, and [[stop]]."What a beautiful dog!" They say.
"[[What did you name it]]?"'[[Cutie!]]'
(if: (history:) contains "that's right.")[ '[[....]]' ]You stand there in silence.
"..What?" The person says, confused by your [[reaction]].'[[I didn't name it.]]'
(set: $question to (it + 1))"Hah! And? No one names their dogs anymore, what's the big deal?
I should have said "What did they name it" instead. [[Sorry about that]]."You stare in silence.
You decide to [[leave]].Suddenly, you actually do realize that you didn't name your dog.
You're confused.
You don't even know who [[named]] it.Even more strange, it's normal.
All dogs are named by "[[them]]", and no one really questions it.'[[Whatever]].'You turn around the block, and your house comes back into view.
It's getting a bit late, so you go back.
You walk though the [[door frame]].'[[Wait]].''[[Meh.->Don't ask.]]'
'[[Where's the door?]]'[[What door]]?"How cute! It really fits!"
They pet cutie, and then leave.
You continue [[walking.->Whatever]]
There never was a [[door]].
(set: $question to (it + 1))"[[In fact.]]""[[No house has a door.]]""[[Why,]] you ask?""[[Don't ask.]]"You go inside.
The air conditioning is very [[welcoming]].Cutie walks over to his [[bed]].
You watch him go. He seems exhausted by the walk, but happy.
You sit down in your [[chair]].
(if: $question is 4)[ [[Think]] ]
(unless: (history:) contains "kitchen")[ [[Go to the kitchen]] ]
(if: (history:) contains "kitchen")[ [[Watch TV]] ]You reach for the remote, and turn on the [[TV]].You walk to the [[kitchen]].You reflect on what has [[happened]] lately.
You're bored, so you decide to [[eat something]].You open the pantry, and grab a [[granola bar]].[[Eat]]
(unless: (history:) contains "gone")[ [[Observe other options]] ]You eat the granola bar.
You eat it in the kitchen, since it's very capable of creating [[crumbs]].You look at your [[pantry]].You finish.
You don't feel [[bored]] anymore.Every shelf is full of [[granola bars]].
(set: $question to (it + 1))You don't remember buying so [[many]].In fact, you had other foods in your [[pantry.]][[Like spaghetti.->Eh.]]But they're [[gone]] now.[[...->granola bar]]You walk back into the [[living room.->chair]]'It's [[strange]].'
(set: $question to (it + 1))'All these things were [[normal]].''Until something made me [[question]] it'"But [[don't]]."
(set: $question to (it + 1))"If you stop questioning such [[silly things]]...""You won't be so [[bewildered->chair]]."You flip through the [[channels]].They all seem very [[boring]].
Just the typical shows and commercials.... that don't seem to have any
good reason to [[be]]...Something catches your [[eye]].It's a wildlife [[documentary]].It's about [[kangaroos]].You decide to [[watch]].[[.....]]Kangaroos are very [[fast]].They can reach speeds of 70 mph over short [[distances]].This is due to their unique means of [[locomotion]]; Hopping. [[Jumping]].[[Just like-]][[......]]The show suddenly [[stopped]].The network took it down for "[[offensive content]]", it says.[[..........]]
(set: $question to (it + 1))..[[Okay]].You sit back in your chair, a bit intimidated by the [[silence]].You suddenly [[remember]].You need to buy some [[groceries]].You made a [[list]].You get up from the comfort of your chair, and walk to the [[fridge]].The list is hanging on the [[door.]]You remove it, and skim over it.
Seems easy.
You check on Cutie, who is sleeping in his [[bed.]]You walk outside, and get in your car.
You drive to the [[supermarket]].The wind in your face is quite blinding, but you're used to [[it]].Cars never had windshields, [[anyway.]]
(set: $question to (it + 1))You're [[accepting]] it now."[[Good]]."You arrive at the market.
It's getting late, so there's not as many [[people]] as usual.You walk in and look at your [[list.]]
(set: $items to 0)Shopping list:
(unless: (history:) contains "all")[ [[Granola bars]] ]
(unless: (history:) contains "Apples")[ [[Apples]]]
(unless: (history:) contains "candy isle")[ [[Chocolate]] ]
(unless: (history:) contains "dish soap isle.")[ [[Dish soap]] ]
(if: $items is 3)[ [[Sigh.]] ]You look across the isles. They [[all]] have granola bars.You go to the [[fresh fruits]] section.You walk into the [[candy isle]].You make your way to the [[dish soap isle.]]You walk into the [[isle]].The shelves are stocked with [[granola bars.]][[Buy them]]
[[Just move to next item.]]
(set: $items to it + 1)You take a box from the shelves, and put it in your [[cart.->list.]]You walk into the nearest one, and [[take->list.]] a box.There's [[nothing->granola bars.]] but granola bars in the shelves.[[Fresh granola bars->granola bars.]].Double-click this passage to edit it.You just ignore it, and see if you can find an isle with something [[other->list.]] than granola bars.
(set: $question to (it + 1))'[[Guess I should buy more Granola bars]].'
(if: $question is 12)[ [[This is ridiculous]]. ]You just [[accept]] that granola bars are the only thing there.'Why is there [[nothing but granola bars???]]'You decide to ask [[a staff member]] about this nonsense.You walk amongst the [[isles]] of granola bars.Eventually, you spot a man with [[employee attire]] restocking the shelves.You [[approach]].He [[looks]] up at you.'May I [[help you]], sir?''Why is everything [[GRANOLA BARS]]?'The man backs away a little, [[intimidated]] by your voice.'W-What's so...[[out of the ordinary]] about it?''What do you MEAN "WHAT'S SO [[OUT OF THE ORDINARY]]"?'The man backs away.
He removes a radio from his belt, and [[pushes the button]] on the side.
He speaks into it.
"CODE KANGAROO."
"[[CODE KANGAROO.]]"You're [[confused.]]'[[What are you doing????]]'
[[........]]You remember every strange thing that happened.
You remember cutie's name.
You remember his treats.
You remember the door.
You remember the TV.
You remember your granola bars.
You remember [[everything.]][[..]](text-style: "shudder")[ [[......Who are you talking to?]] ]Before you can finish, [[someone]] grabs you from behind. [[Multiple people]].[[Security guards]].You feel a sharp sting, and you go [[unconscious]].That was the last time you saw [[this world]].This [[world]].This world.
This world of lies.
[[This world of control.]]"[[This world.]]""Is [[exactly like yours]]."(text-style: "shudder")["[[Exactly the same.->just disappear.]]"]You buy them, and [[leave the store]].These strange things become [[completely normal]] to you.People don't see you so [[strangely ]]anymore.You're [[fine]] with it.You even go out of your way to shame people who [[question your ways]] of life.But it's [[okay]].[[Eventually...]]Those people [[just disappear.]]