kangaroos

"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.]]