Chapter 3: "Sinner's Tango"
#13
. . . take the mysterious man's hand.
Derrick lifts his hand and accepts the mysterious man's help. He grips his hand and lifts him to feet. He feels strength rushing back into his body. Hunger disappears. Thirst evaporates. His tattered skin heals, his clothes are mended... Derrick looks into the man's face with horror. His grin widens and a soft laughter escapes his lips. He tries to free his hand, but the man holds on tightly. Broken memories flash in his mind, familiarity, regret...anger. Derrick violently rips his hand free and backs away.
"Oh, is something the matter?" The sinister man laughs more loudly, his tone becoming condescending.
"What the hell is this place, and how the hell do you know my name? Who are you? Dammit, I want some answers now!" Derrick holds up his flashlight, threatening to attack.
"Or what? Are you going to attack me?" He holds up his fists, mockingly. He chuckles, turns around and heads back down the fire-lit corridor. "If you come with me, maybe I'll give you some." Derrick wants to protest, but the situation feels hopeless. And he truly feels this man has answers for him. Hesitantly, he follows him through the curious pillars.
"Where are you taking me?" he asks.
"So many questions, like a child," the man teases. He stops and offers his hand for a greeting. Derrick refuses. "Heh. My name is Reginald Francis Halgravi the Fourth, but you already know that." He resumes his steady pace toward their destination. Derrick stops in confusion.
"That's...but I don't remember you. I don't remember anything. Please fill in some blanks," he begs.
"Do not fall behind. We are going to my home, of course. As for where we are," Reginald pauses, "well...that is hard to say." He snickers. "Did you hit your head? Really now, how embarrassing."
"I don't know what happened! Are you going to help me or not?"
"Of course, Derrick. You should show some respect--I am the only friend you have right now, after all. Will you not come inside?" Reginald gestures in front of them. Countless more flames burst to life, bringing a giant mansion into view. Its scale is breathtaking. "My humble abode. Please, you are most welcome." He opens the grand front doors and directs his guest inside. Derrick gasps upon setting foot in the majestic foyer. A macabre chandelier hangs from the monstrous ceiling, accenting the regal winding stairways to the upper floors.
"You have...interesting taste. This can't be real..."
Reginald closes the doors and walks to the center area, drawing attention to the elegant and bizarre design on the floor. "Oh, I assure you it is quite real. My labor of love." He walks over to a door on the ground floor, pausing with his hand on the brilliant doorknob. "Now then, if it is answers you desire, it is answers I will grant. But a conversation between gentlemen would not be right without some tea. Please, make yourself at home while I prepare us some." His faint laughter disappears behind the door, leaving Derrick alone in the overwhelming presence of the mansion. Countless doors lie before him. He decides to . . .
---
A) Wait patiently for Reginald to return.
B) Explore the doors on the ground floor.
C) Explore the doors on the second floor.
D) Explore the doors on the third floor.
E) Flee the mansion.
---
[SPOILER=Author's comments]
Anything you miss is permanent, of course. Sometimes maybe it would be better to pick the stranger or riskier choice. You can always restart from a DEAD END, but you can't learn the clues one may hold if you successfully pass it. Or maybe you want to try reaching the end without dying. Doesn't matter to me. Most have been pretty obvious, I think. At least one I was certain you'd take because it wasn't risky at all. But you guys have surprised me on multiple choices, like this recent one. I totally thought you'd go for the red light. It wasn't even dangerous! I like this better, though.
Always planned on introducing Reginald, I just didn't think it'd be so early.
Yeah let's just stick with five.
#13
. . . take the mysterious man's hand.
Derrick lifts his hand and accepts the mysterious man's help. He grips his hand and lifts him to feet. He feels strength rushing back into his body. Hunger disappears. Thirst evaporates. His tattered skin heals, his clothes are mended... Derrick looks into the man's face with horror. His grin widens and a soft laughter escapes his lips. He tries to free his hand, but the man holds on tightly. Broken memories flash in his mind, familiarity, regret...anger. Derrick violently rips his hand free and backs away.
"Oh, is something the matter?" The sinister man laughs more loudly, his tone becoming condescending.
"What the hell is this place, and how the hell do you know my name? Who are you? Dammit, I want some answers now!" Derrick holds up his flashlight, threatening to attack.
"Or what? Are you going to attack me?" He holds up his fists, mockingly. He chuckles, turns around and heads back down the fire-lit corridor. "If you come with me, maybe I'll give you some." Derrick wants to protest, but the situation feels hopeless. And he truly feels this man has answers for him. Hesitantly, he follows him through the curious pillars.
"Where are you taking me?" he asks.
"So many questions, like a child," the man teases. He stops and offers his hand for a greeting. Derrick refuses. "Heh. My name is Reginald Francis Halgravi the Fourth, but you already know that." He resumes his steady pace toward their destination. Derrick stops in confusion.
"That's...but I don't remember you. I don't remember anything. Please fill in some blanks," he begs.
"Do not fall behind. We are going to my home, of course. As for where we are," Reginald pauses, "well...that is hard to say." He snickers. "Did you hit your head? Really now, how embarrassing."
"I don't know what happened! Are you going to help me or not?"
"Of course, Derrick. You should show some respect--I am the only friend you have right now, after all. Will you not come inside?" Reginald gestures in front of them. Countless more flames burst to life, bringing a giant mansion into view. Its scale is breathtaking. "My humble abode. Please, you are most welcome." He opens the grand front doors and directs his guest inside. Derrick gasps upon setting foot in the majestic foyer. A macabre chandelier hangs from the monstrous ceiling, accenting the regal winding stairways to the upper floors.
"You have...interesting taste. This can't be real..."
Reginald closes the doors and walks to the center area, drawing attention to the elegant and bizarre design on the floor. "Oh, I assure you it is quite real. My labor of love." He walks over to a door on the ground floor, pausing with his hand on the brilliant doorknob. "Now then, if it is answers you desire, it is answers I will grant. But a conversation between gentlemen would not be right without some tea. Please, make yourself at home while I prepare us some." His faint laughter disappears behind the door, leaving Derrick alone in the overwhelming presence of the mansion. Countless doors lie before him. He decides to . . .
---
A) Wait patiently for Reginald to return.
B) Explore the doors on the ground floor.
C) Explore the doors on the second floor.
D) Explore the doors on the third floor.
E) Flee the mansion.
---
INVENTORY
[SPOILER=Author's comments]
Anything you miss is permanent, of course. Sometimes maybe it would be better to pick the stranger or riskier choice. You can always restart from a DEAD END, but you can't learn the clues one may hold if you successfully pass it. Or maybe you want to try reaching the end without dying. Doesn't matter to me. Most have been pretty obvious, I think. At least one I was certain you'd take because it wasn't risky at all. But you guys have surprised me on multiple choices, like this recent one. I totally thought you'd go for the red light. It wasn't even dangerous! I like this better, though.
Always planned on introducing Reginald, I just didn't think it'd be so early.
Yeah let's just stick with five.