Grief

Alice awoke in a cave, a lit candle sitting a few steps from her serving as the only source of light. She tapped the gray stone beneath her a few times, flinching at the echoing clacks her action caused, before picking up the candle. ''She felt as if the candle was vitally important somehow.'' [[Look at self|FirstGlance]] [[Look around|StartRoomLook]] [[Look at the candle|CandlePure]] (set: $end1 to 1) (set: $end2 to 1) (set: $end3 to 1) (set: $arm to "false")

Alice took one hand off of the candle before fishing around in her pocket a bit. Surely it would be... "Aha!" she whispered into the deafening silence, pulling her trusty compact mirror out of her pocket. She opened it and observed herself as thoroughly as she could in the candle's light. Alice was wearing a sleeveless white dress that barely stood out from her ghostly pale skin, matching her long and neat snow-colored hair. Her reddish-pink eyes practically shone in comparison to all of those pale tones. Underneath the dress, she wore her usual white tights, which she had specially asked for. That's how they had two side pockets, after all! Adorning her feet was a pair of white socks and some simple black Mary Jane shoes. Alice wasn't sure who Mary Jane was, but Mary had to be someone with good sense to like the same shoes she did. Satisfied, Alice stowed the mirror before... [[... looking at the candle|CandlePure]] [[... looking around at the room|StartRoomLook]]

Holding the candle higher, Alice stepped in a slow circle, taking in the area around her. The ceiling stretched up far beyond the candle's grasp, vanishing into emptiness. The walls around her, meanwhile, were dark gray, as was the floor beneath Alice's feet. As she watched the walls, she noticed that the bumpy rocks jutting out of them were spaced perfectly. Not a crack was out of place, and that realization sent a stab of unease through Alice. Eager to avoid dwelling on the walls, Alice turned her attention to a singular hole in the circular cavern's walls. Its edges were smooth, and it was just small enough that she'd have to crouch a little if she wanted to walk through it. Faced with this situation, what did Alice do? [[Go through the hole|ToTheCliff]] [[Check her appearance|FirstGlance]] [[Check the candle|CandlePure]]

Adjusting her grip on it slightly, Alice squinted and took a look at the candle. It was a thin cylinder of white wax that seemed to glow in its own light, held aloft by an ornate golden stand with two small handles. Testing them, Alice realized the handles matched her hands perfectly, leaving it very comfortable to hold. As Alice's eyes drifted upward, she marveled at the candle's flame. It shone pure white, not a fleck of the usual red or orange intruding upon it. Something about watching the flame made Alice feel briefly at peace... Eventually, she tore her gaze away from the candle, turning her attention to... [[... herself.|FirstGlance]] [[... the room around her.|StartRoomLook]]

Keeping a careful grip on the candle, Alice crouched down and stepped through the hole. The tunnel was featureless, lacking any defining texture or imperfections. Nothing else was around, so Alice took comfort in the uniform flickers of the white flame she held. She lost track of just how long she had been walking, but Alice eventually emerged into a far larger room. Her candle's flame showed little of the surrounding area, save for the fact that the floor dropped off into a yawning abyss about ten steps away from the tunnel's exit. The floor and walls were made of the same dark gray stone, though there was also a large pallid lump resting upon the floor's edge. [[Check the lump.|MeetGrief]]

Alice approached the lump with one plodding step at a time, flinching away when she got a better look at it under the light of her candle. The fleshy-textured mass was quivering faintly, shuddering as if it was breathing. Captured by a sudden instinct, the pale girl crouched and slowly reached toward it. Before she could make contact, it gave a particularly violent twitch, causing Alice to fall back with a brief shriek. As the girl scrambled back to her feet, more of the gray mass slid upward from the pit, followed shortly thereafter by numerous other tubes of the substance. No... Not tubes, Alice realized. They were finger-esque masses of gray flesh, joined together at an equally pallid and massive palm. A deep, slightly gravelly chuckle filled the cavernous chamber as the //hand// settled, something lifting itself into view. [[Alice watched, a mixture of fear and awe freezing her in place.|GriefIntro]]

The entity that lifted itself from that pit was, in a word, wrong. It bore a humanoid head, arms, and even the top of its torso was familiar in shape. However, the bottom half of its chest stretched downward into the abyss, tapering at a rate that made it seem ready to snap somewhere along its unknown length. Furthermore, the creature //towered// over Alice. While its crooked posture made its true height difficult to gauge, its hand alone was far larger than she was. As the pale girl's petrified gaze crept upward, she noticed that the entity's features were all emphasized just slightly too much. The fingers were too long, the palms too wide, the arms too long. Not even its face was spared that distortion, as its eyes were tall enough to fill half of its face while its mouth stretched far enough to wrap around to the sides of its hairless head. Its mouth twisted into a smile, revealing surprisingly normal- albeit wide- teeth. "Ah, you've finally arrived," the entity spoke. Its voice was simultaneously suave and gravelly, carrying the faintly strained edge of someone barely holding back laughter. It stooped further toward Alice, locking its moldy green gaze upon her. "Won't you introduce yourself, dear? And do be proper about it, give a little bow," it... requested? Demanded? She wasn't quite sure where its tone fell. Alice decided to... [[... introduce herself as requested.|Trial1G]] [[... introduce herself normally.|Trial1W]] [[... refuse the entity's request.|Trial1B]]

Alice already knew that following what was asked of her was the best policy. She performed a deep, clumsy bow before the entity. "My name is Alice," she spoke, loudly enough to be heard but quiet enough to not anger it. The pallid giant gave an indulgent chuckle, prompting Alice to slowly stand out of her bow. "A well done introduction, dear Alice. I am Grief, and here, I am your trusted guide," it introduced itself. "Speaking of here, ''keep an eye on your heart.''" (set: $end2 to it + 1) [[Alice followed its gaze to her candle.|candleg]] (set: $candle to "gray")

"Um, I'm Alice," the pale girl greeted. She refrained from anything more than those words and a simple wave. The odd entity before it was a stranger, after all. "Alice," the entity tested with a faint laugh. "Alice, Alice, Alice. Your manners are passable, at least." "I am Grief, and here, I am your guide," it introduced itself. "Speaking of here, ''you would do well to watch your heart.''" (set: $end1 to it + 1) [[Alice followed its gaze to her candle|candlew]]

Fixing her best glare upon the towering entity, Alice frowned and remained silent. The seconds stretched onward before the pallid creature let out a low chuckle. "Now now, Alice, it's //horribly// rude to ignore a question," it chastised, amusement dripping from every word. Alice flinched, shocked by its nonchalant familiarity as it smiled slightly wider. "I am Grief, and here, I am your only guide," it introduced itself. "Speaking of here, ''you had best keep an eye on your heart.''" (set: $end3 to it + 1) [[Alice followed its gaze to her candle.|candleb]] (set: $candle to "black")

The pale girl followed Grief's eyes to her candle, watching its writhing black flame for a few moments. It lashed around defiantly, as if attempting to escape its confines. Slightly unsettled, Alice turned her attention back to the self-proclaimed guide. She found it just in time to see it tearing part of a wall away as if it was tissue paper, revealing a stone door. "Come now, Alice. Let's find your true heart," it prodded. "Unless you would rather talk first?" The candle-bearing girl thought for a few moments, shifting in place in the inky ambiance around her. [["What are you?"|GQ1b]] [["What is this place?"|GQ2b]] [["Why are you talking about my heart?"|GQ3b]] [[She decided to remain silent.|Trial2g]]

"What am I?" Grief echoed, lethargically gesticulating with one pallid, misshapen arm. "As I said, I am Grief! A guide to the heart, the one who knows what could be needed, the one and many!" It let out a faintly manic laugh as it performed a slow spin in place, bringing its green gaze back upon Alice as she frowned back at it. "Did that answer your question?" it asked, mirth smoldering in its eyes. [["What is this place?|GQ2b]] [["Why are you talking about my heart?"|GQ3b]] [[She decided to remain silent.|Trial2g]]

"Ah, this place, my lovely home," Grief began, a hint of mockery serving as the only color in its tone. "It has no name, it has never needed one. I believe you can call it Wonderland?" Alice met its cheshire grin with the surefire combination of a sigh, a frown, and a shake of her head. "Don't," she asserted, frowning harder as Grief laughed at her. "Do you have any more questions, Alice?" the entity moved on. [["What are you?"|GQ1b]] [["Why are you talking about my heart?"|GQ3b]] [[She decided to remain silent.|Trial2g]]

At Alice's question, Grief's grin faded somewhat, as if her words had sewn its lips together. It leaned closer to her, filling the stagnant air with a miasma of old fish. "It's why you're here, Alice," it intoned, all playfulness absent from those five words. As suddenly as Grief's joy had left, it returned as it rose back away from her. The pale girl coughed lightly, waving her free hand about to clear the rancid fishy scent from the air. "Any other questions, Alice?" Grief prompted as if nothing had happened. [["What are you?"|GQ1b]] [["What is this place?"|GQ2b]] [[She decided to remain silent.|Trial2g]]

On cue, Alice looked at her candle. Alarm briefly cut through her as she noticed that its flame had gone from a vibrant white to a wavering gray flame. It looked to Alice as if it was only staying lit due to the wick's support. Letting out a hum of mild discomfort, the pale girl turned her attention toward her gray guide, finding it gesturing toward a stone door in a hole that had opened within one wall. "Come along, Alice, your true heart awaits," it urged. "Unless you would rather talk first?" The candle-bearing girl thought for a few moments, giving Grief a few worried glances. [["What are you?"|GQ1g]] [["What is this place?"|GQ2g]] [["Why are we talking about my heart so much?"|GQ3g]] [[She remained silent, approaching the door as Grief directed.|Trial2g]]

"What am I?" Grief echoed, lethargically gesticulating with one elongated arm. "As I said, I am Grief! A guide to your heart, the one who knows what could be needed, the one and many!" It let out a joyful laugh as it performed a slow spin in place, bringing its green gaze back upon Alice as she silently watched it. "Did that answer your question?" it asked, mirth smoldering in its eyes. [["What is this place?"|GQ2g]] [["Why are we talking about my heart so much?"|GQ3g]] [[She silently shook her head before approaching the door as Grief directed.|Trial2g]]

At Alice's question, the joy in Grief's grin faded somewhat, as if it was trying to figure out how to tell her something sad. It leaned closer to her, filling the stagnant air with the scent of fish. "It's why you're here, Alice," it intoned, all playfulness absent from those five words. As suddenly as Grief's joy had left, it returned as it rose back away from her. The pale girl held her breath for a few moments to ignore the fishy stench. "Any other questions, Alice?" Grief prompted as if nothing had happened. [["What are you?"|GQ1g]] [["What is this place?"|GQ2g]] [[She silently shook her head before approaching the door as Grief directed.|Trial2g]]

"Ah, this place, my lovely home," Grief began, a hint of pride woven into its words. "It has no name, it has never needed one. I believe you can call it Wonderland?" Alice met its cheshire grin with a plastic one of her own. "If you'd like me to," she murmured to appease it. "Do you have any more questions, Alice?" the entity moved on. [["What are you?"|GQ1g]] [["Why are we talking about my heart so much?"|GQ3g]] [[She silently shook her head before approaching the door as Grief directed.|Trial2g]]

As Alice approached the stone door, she internally admired its design. It stood just barely taller than her, flawless and smooth. The stone composing it was dull gray, yet it seemed to light up with a silvery gleam as her candle's light struck it. It was utterly unadorned save for a single slot in the center, slightly taller and thinner than her thumb. She glanced at Grief, hiding her alarm at finding two hands on the floor next to her. Both hands were large and pallid, curled up into smaller versions of Grief's titanic fists. Each hand terminated in a tapered lump, one which was held in the strained grasp of an identical hand, which in turn was held by another identical one. Both hand chains trailed downward into the same abyss in which Grief "stood", stretching down far beyond where Alice could see. [[Grief began to speak.|DCg]]

"The next step you must take is opening this door," the gray titan explained, pointing down at the chains of grasping hands. As Alice looked down at them, their fingers flopped lifelessly open, revealing an object upon each palm. "On your left, there is a small key. A stone key for a stone door, is it not fitting? Ah, but who's ever heard of a stone door opening with a key?" Grief elaborated as Alice studied the object. It was a piece of blackened stone carved into an odd, jagged shape. It certainly looked like a key, and it looked to be about the right size to fit in the door's slot. "On your right, I managed to find a hammer. It might be a bit heavy for you, but it will //definitely// do the trick... if you don't mind opening someone's door with a hammer, of course," it spoke further as the pale girl looked into the other palm. Sitting upon the gray flesh was a scratched-up sledgehammer, its handle bearing specks of red paint. The head was partially rusted, yet it still looked hefty enough to break through the door. "You can only pick one option, though. You can't open this door twice, after all," Grief warned, gazing down at Alice as she thought over her options. She lifted one hand away from her candle before pointing at... (if:$end1 > 1)[[[... the key.|KeyW]]] (else:)[[... the key.|KeyElse]] (if:$end3 > 1)[[[... the hammer.|HamB]]] (else:)[[... the hammer.|HamElse]] (if:$end2 > 1)[[[... Grief.|GriefG]]] (else:)[[... Grief.|GriefElse]]

Nothing special happened when Alice pointed at the key, but it felt like a fitting gesture somehow. She crept closer and gingerly snatched the jagged stone from the cold, limp hand, backing away and turning toward the door immediately afterward. Alice slid the hunk of stone into the gap in the door with little hesitation, letting out a faint gasp of surprise as it clicked into place. Without any further noise, the stone door swung slightly open. (set: $candle to "white") ''In the corner of her vision, Alice saw her candle's flame flash to white.'' She turned her pink gaze toward Grief, faintly pleased to see that the massive entity was smiling still. (set: $end1 to it + 1) "It seems you were right to trust it," it commented. As it spoke, the chains of hands slid backward, flopping into the yawning abyss without a sound. "Now, Alice, shall we?" Grief suggested, gesturing to the open door. [[Alice slowly pushed it open, stepping past the threshold.|Trial3]]

Alice forcefully pointed at the hammer before striding upon the hand to pick it up. Grief let out a low chuckle that she did her best to ignore as she hefted the weighty object. With a defiant shout, Alice took a clumsy swing at the stone door... only for her eyes to widen in shock as that single swing utterly shattered it. (set: $end3 to it + 1) "Ah, it's so hard to get quality stone these days," Grief lamented. As Alice set the hammer down, ''she was dimly aware that her candle's flame had turned black.'' (set: $candle to "black") "Well, Alice?" Grief jabbed. [[Without a word, Alice stepped over the rubble she had created.|Trial3]]

Alice hesitated before pointing at Grief itself. It remained utterly still for a few moments before letting out a mad, joyous laugh. "My, Alice, asking me for help? Believe it or not, that's quite the brave thing," it told the quivering girl. Both ropes of chained hands suddenly twitched to live, dropping their respective objects into the yawning chasm below Grief before stretching their way toward the stone door. They flattened upon contact with the door, the malleable flesh writhing its way into every gap it could find before slowly pulling back. With a weighty grinding noise, the stone door slid out of its housing before being dragged into the pit by the hand chains. (set: $end2 to it + 1) Grief performed a mock bow, causing Alice to politely applaud. ''A quick glance confirmed that her candle was still gray and wavering.'' "Now, dear Alice, shall we?" it suggested, pointing to the empty frame. [[Alice stepped across the threshold.|Trial3]]

Alice glanced at the candle she was holding. It still burned with a stark white flame, the odd fire gently dancing upon its wick. Its glow felt calm and peaceful, a welcome contrast to her surroundings. Reluctantly, she tore her gaze from the candle to watch Grief again, only to find it patiently pointing at a stone door nested within a hole in the wall. "Now, Alice, shall we find your true heart?" it asked. "Or shall we talk first?" The candle-bearing girl thought for a few moments, warily watching Grief. [["What are you?"|GQ1w]] [["What is this place?"|GQ2w]] [["Why are we talking about my heart so much?"|GQ3w]] [[She remained silent, approaching the door as Grief directed.|Trial2g]]

"What am I?" Grief repeated, lethargically gesticulating with one slick, pallid arm. "As I said, I am Grief! Your guide to the heart, the one who knows what could be needed, the one and many!" It let out a laugh as it performed a slow spin in place, prompting a matching laugh from Alice until its green gaze fell back upon her. "Did that answer your question?" it asked, pride coloring each word. [["What is this place?"|GQ2w]] [["Why are we talking about my heart?"|GQ3w]] [[She shook her head, she had heard enough.|Trial2g]]

"Ah, this place, my lovely home," Grief began, a hint of sadness serving as the only color in its tone. "It has no name, it has never needed one. I believe you can call it Wonderland?" Alice met its cheshire grin with one of her own. "But you're not a rabbit!" she mock protested. She laughed at the entity's equally false momentary pout. "Do you have any more questions, Alice?" the entity recovered. [["What are you?"|GQ1w]] [["Why are we talking about my heart?"|GQ3w]] [[She shook her head, she had heard enough.|Trial2g]]

At Alice's question, the joy in Grief's grin faded somewhat, as if it was trying to figure out how much it could say. It leaned closer to her, filling the stagnant air with the scent of lukewarm fish. "It's why you're here, Alice," it intoned, all playfulness absent from those five words. As suddenly as Grief's joy had left, it returned as it rose back away from her. The pale girl subtly coughed to clear the lingering stench. "Any other questions, Alice?" Grief prompted as if nothing had happened. [["What are you?"|GQ1w]] [["What is this place?"|GQ2w]] [[She shook her head, she had heard enough.|Trial2g]]

Nothing special happened when Alice pointed at the key, but it felt like a fitting gesture somehow. She crept closer and gingerly snatched the jagged stone from the cold, limp hand, backing away and turning toward the door immediately afterward. Alice slid the hunk of stone into the gap in the door with little hesitation, letting out a faint gasp of surprise as it clicked into place. Without any further noise, the stone door swung slightly open. ''In the corner of her vision, the white flame of Alice's candle remained utterly unchanged.'' She turned her pink gaze toward Grief, faintly pleased to see that the massive entity was smiling still. (set: $end1 to it + 1) "It seems you were right to trust it," it commented. As it spoke, the chains of hands slid backward, flopping into the yawning abyss without a sound. "Now, Alice, shall we?" Grief suggested, gesturing to the open door. [[Alice slowly pushed it open, stepping past the threshold.|Trial3]]

Alice forcefully pointed at the hammer before striding upon the hand to pick it up. Grief let out a low chuckle that she did her best to ignore as she hefted the weighty object. With a defiant shout, Alice took a clumsy swing at the stone door... only for her eyes to widen in shock as that single swing utterly shattered it. (set: $end3 to it + 1) "Ah, it's so hard to get quality stone these days," Grief lamented. As Alice set the hammer down, ''she was dimly aware that her candle's black flame continued to writhe, utterly unchanged.'' "Well, Alice?" Grief jabbed. [[Without a word, Alice stepped over the rubble she had created.|Trial3]]

Alice hesitated before pointing at Grief itself. It remained utterly still for a few moments before letting out a mad, joyous laugh. "My, Alice, asking me for help? Believe it or not, that's quite the brave thing," it told the quivering girl. Both ropes of chained hands suddenly twitched to live, dropping their respective objects into the yawning chasm below Grief before stretching their way toward the stone door. They flattened upon contact with the door, the malleable flesh writhing its way into every gap it could find before slowly pulling back. With a weighty grinding noise, the stone door slid out of its housing before being dragged into the pit by the hand chains. (set: $end2 to it + 1) Grief performed a mock bow, causing Alice to politely applaud. ''A quick glance confirmed that her candle's flame had turned gray, the fire itself wavering as if it was about to go out.'' (set: $candle to "gray") "Now, dear Alice, shall we?" it suggested, pointing to the empty frame. [[Alice stepped across the threshold.|Trial3]]

As Alice stepped over the threshold, she found herself in what looked like the living room of a log cabin. The entire room was somewhat desolate, cobwebs clinging to the ceiling and a moderate amount of dust clinging to nearly every surface. Furthermore, the only light in the room came from the candle Alice held. She took a few more steps into the room, only to suddenly turn back around as she heard the creak of poorly-maintained hinges behind her. There was now a wooden door behind her, one which was nearly closed. There was nothing out of the ordinary with it, save for the fact that there was no doorknob on the interior side. Through the remaining crack in the door, she could see Grief's moldy green eye as it stared through her. "Alice, there is something I need to find before I can guide you further. Be a dear and sit right there, won't you? And don't touch anything," the titanic creature requested. Before she could reply, the door creaked shut the rest of the way, sealing Alice in the room. [[Alice decided to search the room.|T3Search]]

Grief had guided her well so far, so Alice decided to sit down on the spot and simply wait. A moderate amount of dust coated the hem of her dress, but she sat nonetheless. The room remained utterly silent as she glanced around. Despite the room's apparent age, nothing creaked and nothing disturbed the tomb-esque peace that had fallen over the scene. ... Maybe she should do something? No, Grief has led her right so far. [[Wait as requested.|T3W2]] [[Try to clean up the room.|T3CleanW]] [[Sit down and eat a cookie.|T3SitB]]

You know what? Alice had the supplies, she had the time, so she might as well fix up the room. While Grief said to not touch anything, surely it didn't mean she shouldn't do //anything// the entire time she was waiting. It was definitely slow going at first. Many of the cobwebs were obscenely thick, while some of the stains- especially the ones on the couch- lingered with the tenacity of a hungry cat. Yet she did indeed make progress. By the time the door creaked open, the room had been rendered relatively usable again. As she set down her cleaning supplies and picked up her candle, ''briefly admiring its calm white flame.'' (set: $end1 to it + 1) The room on the other side felt subtly different somehow. Was the pit wider? Was Grief taller? Or... no, the difference was that there was a small black blanket on the stony ground. [["Come have a seat, Alice," Grief requested.|Trial4]]

The wooden room around her was clearly very old from what she had already seen. What drove the point further, though, was the room's furniture. A sunken blue sofa and a short yet wide table were the only pieces of actual furniture in the room, though there was also a small metal dining cart in the room that sat laden with a feather duster and a half-empty bottle of unlabeled cleaning spray. The couch was empty, albeit dusty and bearing some mild coffee stains. The table, meanwhile, was split almost completely down the middle and held a single off-white plate, upon which rested a set of five pale cookies. Presented with this situation, Alice made a choice about what to do. She decided to... [[Wait as requested.|T3W1]] [[Try to clean up the room.|T3CleanW]] [[Sit down and eat a cookie.|T3SitB]]

There are unattended cookies right there and Alice was thrust into this situation with basically no information. A snack was the least she deserved. She carefully sat down on the couch, pausing for a moment when it gave a warning creak beneath her miniscule weight. Once the springs settled, she reached forward and picked up a cookie, biting into it with no fanfare. Her pink eyes bulged as she gagged, immediately lapsing into a coughing fit. The cookie had dissolved into fine stale crumbs the moment she bit into it, as if the entire thing was made of sand. She bent over as she kept coughing. By the time she recovered, the door had creaked open. She picked up her candle, ''barely processing its black flame'' as she gave a few final coughs and left the room. (set: $end3 to it + 1) The room on the other side felt subtly different somehow. Was the pit wider? Was Grief taller? Or... no, the difference was that there was a small black blanket on the stony ground. [["Come have a seat, Alice," Grief requested.|Trial4]]

Alice elected to continue waiting. Grief had, again, yet to lead her wrong thus far. ... It was almost relaxing to sit there in the near darkness. Perhaps it was the fact that she knew she was alone this time? [[Wait as requested.|T3WaitG]] [[Try to clean up the room.|T3CleanW]] [[Sit down and eat a cookie.|T3SitB]]

How long had it been? Alice wasn't sure, but eventually, the door creaked open again. The pale girl snapped to attention, barely paying attention to the fact that ''her candle's flame remained gray'' before she stood and made her way out of the room. (set: $end2 to it + 1) The room on the other side felt subtly different somehow. Was the pit wider? Was Grief taller? Or... no, the difference was that there was a small black blanket on the stony ground. [["Come have a seat, Alice," Grief requested.|Trial4]]

"We're ready to proceed now," Grief proclaimed, still lounging in the middle of its pit. "But first... You must be tired, yes? How about something a little more simple." Alice gave its suggestion a hesitant nod, prompting it to grin slightly wider. Three arms descended from the hidden ceiling above, each one capped not with a hand but with a metal basket suspended from each arm by hooks embedded in the flesh. As the gray limbs got close enough to the ground, they unceremoniously dropped the cargo. One set down a brazier that burned with green flame, while the others dropped a pair of sack dolls. One of the dolls resembled Alice herself greatly, down to the pair of pink buttons that served as its eyes. The other, meanwhile, didn't ring any bells... Maybe it looked like an old classmate? It was hard to focus on it for long. "The fire must be tended for a later task. Pick the one you most think deserves it," the pallid titan informed Alice. She hesitated for a moment before... [[... burning the doll that looked like her.|Trial4g]] [[... burning the indistinct doll.|Trial4b]] [[... burning both dolls.|Trial4bad]] [[... knocking over the brazier.|Trial4w]]

Alice carefully picked up the doll resembling herself. It was clearly lovingly crafted, as if assembled by someone who truly cared. Yet all she could see was... (after:2s)[//"You little pale freak!"//] (after:4s)[//"What's with those devil eyes of yours?"// ](after:6s)[//"Why couldn't you just be normal??"//] "... This one," she spoke, the emotion in her tone withering into a heap of slag before it could even leave her. With no further ceremony, she dropped the effigy of herself into the fire. After a moment, it burst violently into green flame with a noise resembling a whimper. The pink-eyed girl looked to Grief for her next instructions. The pallid titan's ever-present smile was gone, though it quickly regained it when her gaze fell upon it. (set: $end2 to it + 1) "Your choice is made. Wait here, then, dear Alice," it stated in a mild hurry before ducking down into the abyssal chasm below. All Alice did was sit down, staring at the green flames, not even acknowledging ''the gray flame shuddering atop her candle.'' [[Eventually, Grief returned.|Trial5]]

Immediately, Alice picked up the nondescript doll, plunging it into the emerald flame with zero thought. "A hasty decision, child," Grief noted with an amused chuckle. (set: $end3 to it + 1) "Well... if it's me or someone else, it has to be them that goes, right?" Alice replied, doing her best to sound certain. Really, she just didn't want to think about- No. No. Bad thoughts. Bad head. She watched as the verdant flames intensified, neither focusing on Grief's temporary departure nor ''the black flame adorning her candle.'' [[Eventually, Grief returned.|Trial5]]

Without a second thought, Alice plucked both dolls off of the floor and hurled them into the fire. The green flames seemed to die down, prompting the pink-eyed girl to lean in slightly. This proved to be a grave error. Both dolls exploded into a verdant inferno as a tall column of flame roared upward. Alice was just close enough to be caught in the crossfire, letting out a tormented shriek as agony washed over her. She could feel her face begin to melt, she could no longer see, and the lingering flames felt as if they were burrowing through her in an attempt to reach everything deeper in her head. "Make it stop!" she wanted to scream. But she couldn't. Her tongue was already gone. Alice lunged in the direction she had last seen Grief, intent on whatever unnatural help the entity could provide. Unfortunately, she overshot. Or undershot. She couldn't quite tell, all she knew is that the wind began to whistle past her as she fell for a long long long time. Alice wasn't sure when she landed, or if she even did. All she knew was that awareness left her eventually. ''Dead End: Feed The Fire''

Rather than burn a doll, Alice scowled and kicked the base of the brazier. While she wasn't very strong, the brazier wasn't exactly on level ground. The metal stand skittered backward, falling over the chasm's edge. Grief stared at where it had fallen, its usual smile absent in favor of absolute confusion, before it looked back at the pink-eyed girl. "That is... //quite// the solution. I have a few spare flames, at least," it remarked, letting out a shocked laugh. "Wait here while I bring the materials for the next thing we need." (set: $end1 to it + 1) With that, Grief dove down into the inky abyss, leaving Alice with two abandoned sack dolls and a ''candle burning with white flame in her grip.'' [[Eventually, Grief returned.|Trial5]]

In one of Grief's oversized hands, a doll sat. With a start, Alice realized that the doll looked almost identical to her mother, save for the fact that it was made of wood and not flesh. "I can see that the last part was... uncomfortable for you, so here's an easy one. An arm is required to open the way ahead, so I'll take it from this doll," Grief declared. "Does- does it //have// to be that one?" Alice murmured, her quiet question managing to still reverberate around the chamber. Grief paused. "No, not in particular. It can be any arm," it replied. As Alice hesitated, Grief moved its free hand toward the doll. She had to do something! [[... Except, no. She didn't.|Trial5g]] [["Wait!"|Trial5w]] [["Just use one of yours!"|Trial5b]]

Yeah. That's right. She- she //didn't// have to do anything. She took a calming breath as Grief reached toward the doll, only to choke on thin air as it grabbed the doll's arm and began to yank at it. That wouldn't have been a concern, save for the doll letting out a pained scream. Alice's mouth opened and shut soundlessly as Grief slowly pulled the arm from the doll, its screams fading to hoarse whimpers as the seconds stretched on. She wanted to say something. She had to say something. ... But no. She chose this. //Alice// had chosen this. //This is what happens when I make decisions,// she half-consciously reminded herself. ''The gray flame atop her candle flickered, as if in agreement.'' (set: $end2 to it + 1) After Grief removed the doll's arm, it dropped the rest of the doll, holding the limp limb in his grasp. [["They always scream when you least expect it," the green-eyed titan lamented.|Trial6]]

Alice's declaration caused Grief to flinch in place, as if she had slapped it. As those moldy green eyes fell upon her, she blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Use me instead!" Silence fell over the cavernous chamber as Alice immediately regretted her words. She opened her mouth to speak again, only for Grief to beat her to the punch. "Very well," it uttered, dropping the doll into the abyss below it. Far faster than she expected, it grabbed Alice in one massive hand, leaving only her arms and head poking out from its colossal grip. She could only watch as the entity's other hand came up, clamping her left arm in its clammy vice. She wasn't even afforded the room to shudder, much less the space to fight back. (set: $end1 to it + 1) [["It will be quick," Grief announced.|Rrrrrip]] (set: $arm to "true") [[(This option is for those that just realized what they did and don't want to read this bit.)|RipSkip]]

Grief suddenly paused at Alice's words, fixing a rare glare upon the small girl. "What a thing to say..." it mused aloud, letting out a scoff tinged with equal parts annoyance and amusement. "Not only would my arms not //fit//," it began, roughly grabbing the arm of the doll in his hand. "But telling someone to give up a limb in place of a //doll//," it continued, squeezing the artificial limb. Without warning, Grief whipped its hand to the side, a loud crack filling the air as the doll- now missing one arm- careened into the cavern's far wall, shattering on impact. Alice flinched before fearfully locking eyes with Grief. (set: $end3 to it + 1) [["... is a new breed of selfish entirely," it finished.|Trial6Angi]]

Alice felt somewhat numb as Grief ducked down into its chasm. She had allowed that to happen, all because she made a dumb choice. She seemed to make a lot of those... She was snapped out of her thoughts when Grief came back. This time, as it returned, several marionettes descended from the ceiling. Their strings stretched into the sky above, attached to seemingly nothing. [["Now, dear Alice... how about a story?" Grief suggested, its usual mirth back in full swing.|TheStory]]

The cruel, colorless world around her faded entirely for a few moments, replaced by the aching void of sudden absence and the sound of snapping flesh. It was followed by a burning sensation near her left shoulder, though it was nothing compared to the //absence//, the //emptiness// at her side. When Alice came to awareness, her entire left side was faintly slick with half-dried blood, while her arm was- Her arm. //Her arm//. (text-colour:red)[(after:8s)[Herarm](after:10s)[herarm](after:12s)[herarm](after:14s)[herarm](after:16s)[herarmitwas](after:17s)[gone](after:18s)[gone](after:19s)[gone](after:20s)[gone](after:21s)[sitting](after:22s)[inhispalm](after:23s)[itwasgone-]] Alice took a shuddering gasp and tore her gaze from what was dangling from Grief's grip, focusing instead on ''the white-flamed candle sitting beside her'' and the faint burnt scent from her left side. [["I am truly sorry, but you asked for it," Grief apologized.|Trial6NA]]

''Author's Note:'' Yeah, so! I realized that this scene came slightly out of nowhere. I know it's Spooky Month but I don't want to make people nauseous. As such, here's a little synopsis and a squick skip. Basically, Alice loses her arm. She has a very bad time over it. At least her wound got cauterized. Oh, and her candle flame is white if it wasn't already. [[Next.|Trial6NA]] (If it's any consolation, I felt like a monster just writing it. Poor Alice.)

Eventually, Grief returned. Alice was hardly aware that it had left. She was too focused on her lack of an arm. It wasn't bleeding, at least. Maybe that's why it smelled like it was burnt? Did Grief burn the wound shut? She was snapped out of her thoughts when Grief came back. This time, as it returned, several marionettes descended from the ceiling. Their strings stretched into the sky above, attached to seemingly nothing. [["As a break from your pain... how about a story?" Grief suggested, its usual mirth back in full swing.|TheStory]]

The pink-eyed girl shook in abject fear as Grief slowly sank into its abyss. Had- had she really asked it to give up a limb for her? Mild concern shot through her being as she sank into wordless thoughts. She was snapped out of her thoughts when Grief came back. This time, as it returned, several marionettes descended from the ceiling. Their strings stretched into the sky above, attached to seemingly nothing. [["Now then... how about a story?" Grief suggested, its usual mirth back in full swing.|TheStory]]

The marionettes in the air began to dance, settling into place to match Grief's words. //"There was once a little village, a town of seven, where everyone lived in peace."// True to its words, there were seven marionettes, all dressed with slight differences. The only difference was a single puppet that performed a jerky wave to Alice. It was coated entirely in short gray hair, to the point where not even its eyes were visible. //"But, like all good things, the village soon encountered some trouble. One member, the town's baker, suddenly grew hair like a dog!"// //"The baker tried to act as if everything was fine, but the rest of the little village was afraid of her. They thought her a monster, a wolf turned human that had come to eat them all."// At Grief's words, the six other marionettes all ran on thin air, placing a substantial gap between themselves and the hairy baker. The gray-haired puppet slumped as if sad. //"Nothing the baker tried would rid her of the hair. It just kept growing back again and again and again... so she came up with a compromise."// The baker slowly drifted toward the other marionettes. One by one, it grabbed each other marionette, dragged them up into the air, then came back down with whatever it had grabbed. This time, though, the other puppet was covered in thick gray hair. [["Yet the baker still wasn't happy, and neither were the village folk."|Story2]]

//"The baker still felt like an outsider, while the other village folks were horrified at the sudden hair they had sprouted. Both groups felt as if they had been wronged by the other..."// As Grief trailed off, all of the marionettes- which had been flailing about in place until that moment- suddenly stopped moving before turning to face Alice. "... And so they turned their attention to an outsider, a little girl with pink eyes and long white hair. Now you get to judge them, Alice. Who is wrong here?" Grief asked. Alice took a breath, thinking over the story before slowly responding... [["... Nobody."|Trial6w]] [["... The baker."|Trial6g]] [["... The other townsfolk."|Trial6b]] [["... Everyone."|Trial6bad]]

"Hm?" Grief uttered, amusement and excitement oozing from its tone in equal measure. "Nobody is guilty here?" Alice nodded, taking a shuddering breath before continuing. "Well... they're all doing their best, right? It's not the baker's fault that she's hairy, and it's not the townsfolks' fault that they can't tolerate her. Sometimes, things just... don't work together," she explained. Grief remained silent for a moment before applauding, the marionettes all slowly rising up into the empty sky. (set: $end1 to it + 1) "Bravo, once more I find myself astounded by the innocent heart of a child," the entity remarked. ''Alice's candle flared with intense heat, resolving into a white flame afterward.'' [["Well, time to go now," Grief commented.|Trial7]]

Grief silently stared at Alice, prompting her to continue. "I... she could have just been different, right? She could've... shaved the hair. Or gone somewhere else. She- she made everyone else uncomfortable," she haltingly spoke. As Grief gave a solemn nod, the marionette representing the baker burst into green flame. It fell into the yawning abyss below Grief as the other marionettes rose slowly upward. (set: $end2 to it + 1) "An answer I expected from you," the titan noted, briefly glancing at ''Alice's gray flame.'' [["Well, time to go now," Grief commented.|Trial7]]

Grief silently stared at Alice, prompting her to continue. "Well- seriously, they should've at least tolerated her," she burst out. "They didn't even get afraid for a reason that makes sense, she- she just //existed// there." As Grief gave a sharp nod, the marionettes representing the townsfolk- save for the baker- burst into green flame. One by one, they fell into the yawning abyss below Grief as the baker rose slowly upward. (set: $end3 to it + 1) "An answer I expected from you," the titan noted, briefly glancing at ''Alice's black flame.'' [["Well, time to go now," Grief commented.|Trial7]]

"They're all wrong, just like everyone always is!" Alice suddenly snapped before flinching at her own ferocity. The resulting silence her remark brought about pressed against her like a large hand. "I suppose you //would// think that, wouldn't you?" Grief mused aloud. The marionettes all spontaneously burst into green flame, hanging limp as the flames raced up their strings to parts unknown. "You've been hurt by oh so many people..." the titan continued. Green flame burst from the walls, prompting Alice to fall backward in shock. "Family. Friends. Classmates. The very sun. Even yourself," the pallid entity spoke as if the very stone around it wasn't beginning to burn. It fixed its gaze upon Alice, the pity within its eyes causing them to shine brighter than the flames popping up all over the cavern. The girl began to feel an uncomfortable warmth beneath her skin. "The thing about universal guilt... is that it marks the accuser as equally condemned. May you find peace somehow, you pitiable soul," Grief concluded. With that, the warmth finally burst outward. Her body ruptured in dozens of uneven spots as green fire roared out. The final thing she saw was Grief staring at her, all emotion absent from its eyes. ''Dead End: Witch Trial''

Grief laid out one hand, its palm open, upon the stone a few feet to Alice's right. "Climb aboard. It will be safe, I promise," Grief assured. With a shaky breath, Alice stood and climbed onto its hand. It had the same consistency as a partially dried-out fish, slimy and clingy while also not sticking to you as well as it feels it should. Without another word, Grief cupped its hand slightly and began to rise. As they slowly climbed upward, Grief looked down at Alice. "Now, to open the way, I need you to do one more thing. I need you to think about your mother. The best times, the worst times, I don't quite care. Just think about her," Grief requested. Alice obliged, closing her eyes to shake off the fear from being so high up as she started to think. [[Mom...]]

Alice's mother. She had black hair, the opposite of Alice's white hair. She also had green eyes, a more vivid shade that was the actual opposite to Alice's pale pink. Just like the different colors, Alice and her mother seemed to stand on different sides of a canyon at times. Her mother kept the pale girl locked inside most of the time, only taking her outside to play at night. Her mother enrolled her in a special school, too, once she realized she was getting bullied. And yet... //"Why couldn't you just be normal??"// ... Some part of her mother hated Alice sometimes. Facing the summation of her memories, Alice... [[... focused on the good times.|Trial7w]] [[... focused on the bad times.|Trial7b]] [[... pushed everything away.|Trial7g]]

Yeah, that's right. Alice's mother wasn't perfect, but to the pale girl, she was still a figure to aspire to. Alice recalled nights spent stargazing and playing silly games in an otherwise empty park, times where she found her mother napping so she could stay up extra late with Alice, and all the ways her mother had protected her from the world. She definitely wasn't perfect... but, then again, neither was Alice. "You seem to have found your answer," Grief commented, causing the pale girl to open her pink eyes. ''White light briefly flared before her.'' (set: $end1 to it + 1) (if:$end3 is $end1)[(set: $end1 to it - 1)] (else-if:$end2 is $end1)[(set: $end2 to it + 1)] (else-if:$end3 is $end2)[(set: $end3 to it + 1)] (if:$end1 > $end2 and $end3)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7wEnd]]] (else-if:$end2 > $end1 and $end3)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7gEnd]]] (else:)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7bEnd]]]

Her mother was horrible. She was kept locked away from the world every day, only allowed out when nearly everyone was fast asleep. Her room was the only one in the house without windows, she had no friends of her own, and her mother clearly hated her deep down. Well, the feeling could be mutual. Alice... //hated// her mother. She //hated// her father. She //hated// them with a passion she had never dredged up before. "It seems you've made your choice," Grief spoke up, breaking Alice's concentration. Her pink eyes flew open, ''only to be met with a billowing mass of inky smoke.'' (set: $end3 to it + 1) (if:$end3 is $end2)[(set: $end3 to it + 1)] (else-if:$end2 is $end1)[(set: $end2 to it + 1)] (else-if:$end3 is $end1)[(set: $end1 to it - 1)] (if:$end1 > $end2 and $end3)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7wEnd]]] (else-if:$end2 > $end1 and $end3)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7gEnd]]] (else:)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7bEnd]]]

No. She couldn't. Alice couldn't bear to think about her for long. She'd just end up getting someone hurt again if she let herself dwell. "You seem to have made your choice," Grief remarked with a sigh. Alice kept her eyes obediently shut, ''oblivious to the gray miasma that covered her.'' (set: $end2 to it + 1) (if:$end3 is $end2)[(set: $end3 to it + 1)] (else-if:$end2 is $end1)[(set: $end2 to it + 1)] (else-if:$end3 is $end1)[(set: $end1 to it - 1)] (if:$end1 > $end2 and $end3)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7wEnd]]] (else-if:$end2 > $end1 and $end3)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7gEnd]]] (else:)[[[After a moment, Alice opened her eyes.|T7bEnd]]]

The room wasn't too special, consisting of little more than white brick walls with no windows. The special part, however, was located in the center of the room. It held a large bird cage, which contained a beating heart the size of Alice. The heart glowed a radiant white, beating and pulsing with a calm, even rhythm. An odd peace filled Alice as she looked at it. (if:$arm is "true")[This peace intensified when she noticed her arm had returned!] "That, Alice, is your true heart," Grief's voice rang out from nowhere. "And what a forgiving heart it is. Now that you know who you are..." The faint outline of an arm fell into the cage from above, causing the heart to let out a flash of brilliant light as it made contact. [["It's time for you to face the world."|AwakeW]]

The room was identical to the one in which she had first met Grief. Well, identical save for one feature. Off to one side was a large bird cage, a lump of dark gray flesh within it. With a brief start, Alice realized that it was a heart nearly her size. Its beats were weak, as if it was about to fail at any moment. "Child, this heart of yours..." Grief spoke up from its usual pit, drawing Alice's pink gaze to its own moldy green. "You fear your choices that much? Then I fear waking up is a choice that would hurt you even more. So I have an offer for you, dear Alice..." It set one open hand, even larger than usual, palm up upon the ground next to Alice. "Climb into my hand. You won't have to wake up. You won't have to make any more choices." [[Alice needed no further prompting.|In Grief's Hands]]

The room wasn't too special, consisting of little more than black brick walls with no windows. The special part, however, was located in the center of the room. It held a large bird cage, which contained a wildly beating heart the size of Alice. The heart was an inky black that seemed to morph as she stared at it, while the heart's fierce beats caused it to slam about in the cage with every shuddering contraction It was as if it was a wild beast trying desperately to break free. (if:$arm is "true")[The return of Alice's arm was a moot point by comparison] "That, Alice, is your true heart," Grief's voice rang out from nowhere. "Oh, how it struggles... By the time you wake up, it may even break free. Whether it does or it doesn't..." The faint outline of an arm fell into the cage from above, causing the heart to shudder as it oozed thick black smoke. Alice could simultaneously hear and feel the moment the cage snapped open. [["It's time for you to face the world."|AwakeB]]

Alice, age fifteen, looked out at the shaded park with a sigh. While that would have been a sigh of disappointment long ago, now, it was one of peaceful relief. Six years ago, she had finally confronted her mother, telling her about how unwanted the pink-eyed girl felt deep down. Horrified, her mother had finally given her a proper explanation of her health condition. Albinism. A rarity, she soon learned, especially to the degree she had it. It wasn't some demonic curse like other children had led her to believe. It wasn't due to something horrible she did. She was simply born different. Everything her mother did to her was an overreaction, an attempt to keep her safe from the world by refusing to allow it to touch her. Working together, she and her mother had found other ways for Alice to protect herself from the sun and environment. Specialty lotions, supplements, and- the albino girl's favorite- parasols for short walks. Alice stood from the old wooden bench she preferred most, pausing to pick up her green parasol. She didn't open it just yet, instead watching the horizon. As the sun rose on a fresh new day, she silently thanked the odd creature that helped her find her heart. ''Ending 1: Dawn''

As if dazed, Alice slowly climbed into the entity's massive palm and sat down. She neither smiled nor frowned, though a sense of deep contentment filled her as the hand cupped around her. Grief backed away from the floor's edge, ensured he had a proper grip upon Alice, and began to sink down. Down. Further. Alice didn't know how long she went down. She didn't care. She was no longer afraid. She was no longer a bad girl. She would no longer take risks. She knew that nobody would worry, and that the only one who truly understood her had her well within their grasp. ''Ending 2: In Grief's Hands''

Alice sat in her new upstairs bedroom, grinning from ear to ear. She twitched her left arm a few times, gazing expectantly at the door as her mother plodded inside. "Hi mom! The neighbors sure were nice to send us another casserole, right?" the pale girl piped up. A twitch of her hand caused her mother's head to tilt forward before bobbing back upright. "Good, good! And is new papa doing well?" Alice continued, jerking her right arm. She winced slightly as one wire cut slightly into her hand. She'd have to fix that later. For now, she turned her attention to the postman as he also drifted into the room, only for the girl to frown. "Oh, //papa//, not again!" she whined. She deftly bound her mother's wires to the bed to keep her from falling, striding over to where the formerly curious man's left arm had fallen. She had roughed it up a bit too much with the front door, but it's okay, it was nothing Alice couldn't fix! "A little wire~ to save the world~ to keep you all~ from being bad~," Alice sang happily as she ever so slowly stitched the half-rotten shoulder back into place. At this rate, she'd need to find a different papa. "A little wire~ stuck to the bone~ makes dear Alice~ super glad!" she finished her little tune. Satisfied with her repairs, Alice let out a giggle as she skipped off to check her wire stocks. The neighbors were complaining too much about the smell lately. But Alice could fix that too. ''Ending 3: A World of Dolls''

Alice's eyes slowly fluttered open as she took in the area around her. Wooden walls with no windows, well-maintained black carpet, and a hot pink blanket graced her vision, causing her to quickly sit up. She looked around with a faint smile. She was awake. She was //home// again. Grief's moldy green eyes briefly flashed across her imagination, only to be replaced by the wild struggles of that black heart. Alice felt deep down that she had to live up to it, to its struggle to change the world around it... [[... and she knew just how to start.|A World of Dolls]]

Alice's eyes slowly fluttered open as she took in the area around her. Wooden walls with no windows, well-maintained black carpet, and a hot pink blanket graced her vision, causing her to quickly sit up. She looked around with a faint smile. She was awake. She was //home// again. Grief's moldy green eyes briefly flashed across her imagination, only to be replaced by the serene beat of that white heart. Alice felt deep down that she had to live up to that heart... [[... and she knew just how to start.|Dawn]]