the_maze

<h1 class="txt_center" onclick="window.ya.grantAchievement(0)">The Maze</h1> <h2 class="txt_center">[[Play->quoteScreen]]</h2>

<h2 class="txt_center txt_middle">"In each of us there is another whom we do not know."</h2> <script defer> $(".txt_center").hide() $(document).ready(function(){ $(".txt_center").fadeIn(4000); }) setTimeout(()=>{$(".txt_center").fadeOut(4000)},5000); setTimeout(()=>{window.story.show("introSequence")},9000); </script>

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<span.s1> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I entered the maze.":""%> <%=!window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I found myself in a dark room in total disarry. The smell of a damp basement I'd become so acquainted with I barely noticed it was, as always, there. Wallpaper was falling off of the walls. Wallpaper that felt strangely familiar, but that couldn't be. What would wallpaper from my childhood room be doing in that place?":"I was again in the dilapidated room with the wallpaper fallling off of the wall, I still didn't understand how it had got there."%> <%= !window.story.state.readableRead["s1"]?"On a strangely familiar desk there was an old newspaper.":"The newspaper with the article about my father was still on the strangely familiar desk." %> <span.s2> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I found myself in the dilapidated room with wallpaper falling off of the walls. I was confused by the encounter I'd just had. I wondered if my choice even mattered. The desk that was in the room before was nowhere to be seen, nor was the newspaper there . The room felt much less significant than before.":"I found myself in the dilapidated room with wallpaper falling off of the walls again. The desk that was in the room before was still nowhere to be seen, nor was the newspaper there. The room felt much less significant than before"%> <span.s1> [[Go Left->S2]] <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('s1')">Read the newspaper [[Go Right->S3]] <span.s2> [[Go Left->S2]] [[Go Right->S3]]

<span.s1> I entered a weird room. Its walls were covered with photos. I could see myself in every one of those photos and while I was familiar with many of them, some I didn't recognise. One of the photos especially caught my attention, as it showed me with a woman and two little kids. But I didn't have a wife, nor children, so who was that? <span.s2> I entered the room with the photos all over the walls again. What was weird, now all the photos had changed. Faces were distorted, colors were washed out. On some of them, people had been crossed out. What could that mean? [[Go Left->C1]] [[Go Right->S1]]

<span.s1> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I entered a strange room. I knew there was furniture, I could see the green walls and yet everything was blurry, as if my eyes didn't want to focus. The room felt insignificant at that time. ":"" %> <%= window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I entered the strange blurry room again. I was still aware of the furniture, I could see the green walls but I just couldn't make out anything specific. The room still felt strangely insignificant. ":"" %> <span.s2> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I entered the room which earlier felt insignificant. It wasn't blurry anymore. I knew exactly where I was, I wondered how I hadn't noticed it earlier. I saw the Victorian bookshelf filled with only the finest of British literature. I saw the mahogany desk, I immediately recognised the deep green of the walls. I was in my study, but how? Hadn't I just visited my childhood room?":"" %> <%= window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I found myself in my study again. The walls were still green, the furniture was in place." : "" %> <%= !window.story.state.readableRead["s3"]?"On the desk there was a hastily opened envelope with a letter inside. " : "The letter from my mother was still on the desk. " %> <span.s2> <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('s3')"> Read the letter [[Go Left->S1]] [[Go Right->C4]]

<span.s1> When I entered the room, my head was flooded with thoughts, to the point where I didn't know where I was. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. <span.s2> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"Entering that room made me feel fear even deeper than before. I was able to stomach the amalgamation of different pictures from my life, personal life, but not this. Whatever made me suffer that nightmare had crossed a line there. I found myself in my office at the university, the blank white walls stared down at me. The blinds shut, just as they had been for the enirety of the last few weeks. One question rung out in my head: why bring my professional life into this?":"" %> <%= window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I was again in my university office, the blinds were still shut. I still didn't understand why I was seing that place.":"" %> <%= !window.story.state.readableRead["c1"]?"On a shelf in the corner I noticed a very familiar container.":"The pills were still on the shelf" %> <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('c1')"> Examine the shelf [[Go Forward->W1]] [[Go Right->S2]]

<span.s1> I entered a dark room, lit up only by some torches on the walls. The walls were made of giant, lightly coloured bricks. I felt as if I had entered an ancient pyramid or temple. And the damp smell again, it was overwhelming. A torn out page was attached to the wall. <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('w1')">Examine the page [[Go Left->W2]] [[Go Right->C1]] <span.s2> I entered the ancient dark room with the page stuck to the wall again. Unlike most other rooms, it seemed unchanged after the encounter with the strange man. Maybe it had something to do with the room's ancient feel, it didn't seem to fit the other rooms. A torn out page was still attached to the wall. <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('w1')">Examine the page [[Go Left->W2]] [[Go Right->C1]] <span.s3> As soon as I entered the room, I heard a loud noise behind me. It was the entrance through which I had just gone through collapsing. I found myself in the ancient room, now even darker than before as only one of the torches lighting it up had stayed on the wall. Amazingly, the torn out page remained attached to the wall. <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('w1')"> Examine the page <span.interactionDisabled> Go back [[Go forward->C4]]

<%= window.story.state.previousPassage == "s1EncounterConfirmation"?"I walked away from the phone and decided to have another look around the maze.":"" %> <span.s1> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"When I entered the room, I felt a shiver go through my entire body. I knew exactly where I was - the walls, the furniture, the neatly stacked envelopes of due bills. It was her flat. In the center, there was a rocking chair. There was noone to move it, and yet it kept on slowly rocking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth... On the chair there was an old-fashioned phone with a rotary dial. It was ringing.":"I entered her room again. I twitched again when I saw the walls, the furniture, the stack of bills. The chair was still rocking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth... The phone on the chair was still ringing."%> <p.s1.interactionText onClick="window.story.show('s1EncounterConfirmation')"> Pick up the phone <span.s2> I found myself in her room again. This time, though, there was no phone. The room felt strangely quiet and irrelevant. [[Go Left->W3]] [[Go Right->W1]]

<span.s1> When I entered the room, I was shocked at how cold it was compared to the other rooms. Its walls were bare, I could see the red brick that made up the walls. I was intrigued by some of the exits, which seemed to have been sealed up. [[Go Left->C2]] [[Go Right->W2]] <span.s2> When I entered the room, I was shocked at how cold it was compared to the other rooms. Its walls were bare, I could see the red brick that made up the walls. I was intrigued by some of the exits, which seemed to have been sealed up. [[Go Left->C2]] [[Go Right->W2]] <span.s3> After wandering in the dark for a while, I found myself in the cold room, which used to have some of its exits sealed in. Not anymore, though, as the entire maze appeared to be shaking. I could hear thuds of walls falling, thick dust was floating in the air. There was only one opening through which I could procede, as all the other ones had already caved in. [[Traverse the opening->W1]]

<span.s1> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"Upon entering the room, I was hit with nostalgia. It looked exactly like my room in the flat we had to move into when they threw us out of the previous one when I was ten. The green walls, old desk she found for free on the street. I liked that room, it was the place where I first discovered my love for learning. I read so many books there.":"I entered my second childhood room again. I was hit with another wave of nostalgia, I indulged in the memories of all the books I had read there, the knowledge I gathered." %> <%= !window.story.state.readableRead["c2"]?"On a shelf in the corner I saw something shimmer.":"My first reward for my academic achievements still shimmered on the shelf." %> <span.s2> I found myself in my second childhood room again. The shelf with my first award wasn't there anymore and the room felt much less important than before. <span.s1> <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('c2')"> Examine the shelf [[Go Forward->N1]] [[Go Right->W3]]

<span.s1> <%=!window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I entered a strange room. I could feel the wind blowing, I heard the birds chirping, I felt the warmth of the sun on my face. My eyesight, though, refused to function - I saw darnkess. I only instinctively knew where the exits were.":""%> <%=window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I was in the strange room again. I still could feel the wind blowing, I still heard the birds chirping, I still felt the warmth of the sun on my face. My eyesight still refused to function, making me rely on my intuition to find the exit.":""%> <span.s2> When I entered the room, I was taken aback. I was no longer in any sort of a building, I was outside. The sky was beutifully clear, sun was shining. In the middle of a serene clearing full of different flowers, carpeted with vibrant green grass, there was a mailbox. I felt strangely attracted to it. <span.s2> [[Examine the mailbox ->s2EncounterConfirmation]] [[Go Right->C2]] [[Go Left->N2]]

<span.s1> I found myself in a room so light, that I wasn't sure if there even were any walls. The weirdest thing about that room, though, was that the more I squinted to save my eyes from the burning light, the more I could hear children laughing. I had no idea where the voices were coming from. [[Go Right->N1]] [[Go Left->N3]] <span.s2> I found myself in a room so light, that I wasn't sure if there even were any walls. The weirdest thing about that room, though, was that the more I squinted to save my eyes from the burning light, the more I could hear children laughing. I had no idea where the voices were coming from. [[Go Right->N1]] [[Go Left->N3]] <span.s3> I entered the room full of light. I squinted, but now instead of happy laughs, I could hear terrible cries. That combined with the roaring of the maze that was clearly falling apart made me want to leave that place immediately. <span.interactionDisabled> Go back [[Go forward->N3]]

<span.s1> Unlike most other rooms, that one felt totally unfamiliar. I was surrounded with heavy brick walls, with the only source of light being old candle holders attached to the walls. I could see the candles' shadows dancing around this ancient space. On one of the walls was a giant stone door. It was closed, on it there were four symbols engraved. All of them seemed as if they could light up: <span.s2> I was again in the unfamiliar room with heavy brick walls. On one of the walls still was the giant stone door. It remained closed, on it there were still four engravings: <span.s3> I entered the room with the giant stone door. At this point, the maze was shaking uncontrollably, I was barely able to keep on my feet. The stone door was open, on it remained the four engravings: <%= window.story.state.s1ChildKilled?"A smiling face which was lit up in bright red.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"A smiling face which was lit up in pleasant blue.":"" %> <%= !window.story.state.s1ChildKilled&&!window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"A smiling face which remained unlit.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.stage<2?"A photo which remained unlit.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.stage>1&&window.story.state.s1PhotoKept?"A photo which was lit up in pleasant blue.":""%> <%= window.story.state.stage>1&&!window.story.state.s1PhotoKept?"A photo which was lit up in bright red.":""%> <%= window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt?"A book which was lit up in pleasant blue.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.s2BooksSaved?"A book which was lit up in bright red.":"" %> <%= !window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt&&!window.story.state.s2BooksSaved?"A book which remained unlit.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.stage<3?"A document which remained unlit.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.stage>2&&window.story.state.s2ContractSigned?"A document which was lit up in bright red.":""%> <%= window.story.state.stage>2&&!window.story.state.s2ContractSigned?"A document which was lit up in pleasant blue.":""%> <span.s1> [[Go Right->N2]] [[Go Left->C3]] <span.s2> [[Go Right->N2]] [[Go Left->C3]] <span.s3> [[Go through the door->s3FinalEncounter]]

<span.s1> I entred a big space. I knew that only because of the echo that carried the sound of my every step, my vision went crazy - I saw flickers, colours, stars. I could only find the exists by following the wall with my hands. <span.s2> <%=!window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I entered a large room. It took me a while to realise I was in a lecture hall and that it wasn't a random lecture hall. It was the hall I'd given so many lectures in, place I cherished and yet felt an inexplicable animosity towards. Place which made and broke my life. Its eerie silence, the empty rows of seats had something ominous about them.":"I found myself in the lecture hall again. I was still filled with ambigous feelings and its eerie empitness still filled me with dread."%> <%= !window.story.state.s2BooksSaved&&!window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt?"In the center there was a bin of books, all of which I recognised. I felt a strange desire to do something with those books.":""%> <%= window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt?"I was the only person in the room again, the bin with the pile of ash remained in the center.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.s2BooksSaved?"I was the only person in the room again, the empty bin remained in the center. In the corner, I could see the books arranged neatly on the bookshelf. ":"" %> <%= !window.story.state.s2BooksSaved&&!window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt?"<span.interactionText onClick=\"window.story.show('c3s2booksBurnt')\">Burn the books":"" %> <%= !window.story.state.s2BooksSaved&&!window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt?"<span.interactionText onClick=\"window.story.show('c3s2booksSaved')\">Organise the books":"" %> [[Go Forward->E1]] [[Go Right->N3]]

I reached a dead end. It seemed weird for the maze to end so abruptly, maybe something that should be there was simply never created? [[Turn Back->C3]]

<span.s1> I found myself in a crammed room, its walls were made of crude brick, crumbling at the lightest touch. Shivers went down my spine when I noticed what appeared to be human bones on the floor. Was I in some sort of catacombs? On the floor among the bones there was a modern encyclopedia with a page marked. <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('c4')"> Check the encyclopedia. [[Go Left->S3]] [[Go Forward->E3]] <span.s2> I entered the crammed room with brittle brick walls again. The bones on the floor still terrified me, the room's unchanging nature only added to the horror. Among the bones, there was still the encyclopedia with the marked page. <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('c4')"> Check the encyclopedia. [[Go Left->S3]] [[Go Forward->E3]] <span.s3> I entered the room with the bones on the floor. The encyclopedia was still there, but all the walls had severely cracked. It didn't feel safe to stay there for long. <span.interactionText onClick="window.ya.showReadable('c4')"> Check the encyclopedia. <span.interactionDisabled> Go back [[Go forward->N2]]

<span.s1> <%= window.story.state.previousPassage == "e2s1childSaved"?"I couldn't get myself to push through the suffering, I walked away from the crib.":"" %> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name] ? "I entered a strange room. The walls were pitch black. No, there were no walls - only darkness. In the middle, in a spotlight which had no apparent source, there was a crib. Inside it was a whimpering baby, his cries were like nothing I'd heard before. He was covered in a rubble of books, many of which I knew very well. The longer I stayed in the room, the more unbearable the cries were becoming. I felt a sudden urge to silence him." : "" %> <%= window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name] ? "I was in the strange room again, there were still no walls, only darkness. The crib was still there.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]&&!window.story.state.s1ChildKilled&&!window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"The baby was still there, still crying. I still felt the urge to silence him":"" %> <%= window.story.state.s1ChildKilled?"The lifeless body of the baby was still in it, making the aura even more ominous. I had not made a good choice.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"The baby was still in it, full of life, smiling at me, finally quiet. It was worth the suffering. I had made a good choice.":"" %> <span.interactionText onClick="window.story.show('e2s1childNeckTwisted')"> <%= !window.story.state.s1ChildKilled&&!window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"Twist the baby's neck.":""%> <span.interactionText onClick="window.story.show('e2s1childSaved')"> <%= !window.story.state.s1ChildKilled&&!window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"Free the baby from under the books.":""%> <span.s2> <%= !window.story.state.passageVisited[window.passage.name]?"I found myself in the room where I'd seen the baby. Now, there was no crib, only darkness was left.":"I was again in the room made of darkness, still the crib that used to be there was nowhere to be seen." %> <%= window.story.state.s1ChildKilled?"Even though the body wasn't there anymore, the cracking sound of the baby's neck still rung out in my head.":"" %> <%= window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild?"I wandered where the baby I had saved had gone, it couldn't have just disappeared.":"" %> [[Turn Back->C4]]

[[Leave through the passage->S1]]

My name is Frank Einstein. I decied to write this autobiography as a means of documenting my journey of recovery from severe insomnia and paranoia. What follows, is a faithful recollection of the events that took place the night I decided to take my life back. It all started with this entry in the journal I kept at the time: [[Flip page->journalIntro]]

March 11, 2022 It's now been weeks since I got a good night's sleep. The nigthmares, they almost feel… real. Not a lucid dream kind of real, something much more ominous, almost as if they were more real than normal life. I am so sick of this labirynth, of being made to traverse it again and again… And it's not a normal labirynth, oh no. It's constantly changing, the walls are shifting. No matter the turn I take, no matter how convoluted the space appears to be, I always end up in the same rooms. And the worst thing, the THING. I know it's there, I constantly feel it watching me and yet, I can never catch a glimpse of it. I've had enough, this night I will fight it. I don't care if it ends me or I end it, I just want it to STOP. [[Enter the maze->S1]]

I walked up to the crib and looked at the child. Only then did I realise I was about to end a living creature's life, but it was too late. I took his head in my hands and aggresively twisted it to the left. I heard a loud snapping sound and the cries stopped. I felt terrible. [[Go away from the crib->childNeckTwistedConsequence]] <script> window.story.state.s1ChildKilled = true; window.story.state.badChoicesMade++; </script>

I went up to the crib<%= window.story.state.s1HasAttemptedChildSave?" again":"" %> and tried to pick up one of the books in the crib. As soon as I touched the book, I felt a burning sensation in my fingers, as if the book were a hot coal. I flinched and quickly took my hand away from the book. [[Try again->childSaveStage2]] [[Twist the baby's neck->e2s1childNeckTwisted]] [[Go away from the crib->E3]] <script> window.story.state.s1HasAttemptedChildSave = true; </script>

Only when I lifted my head from the crib, did I look closer at the plaque on the crib. Frank Einstein I killed an infant version of myself. What could that mean? And how is this even possible? [[Go away from the crib->E3]]

I built up courage and removed the books one by one. My fingers were burning and I had to fight the strong urge to stop. But I went on and finally, there were no more books squishing the baby. The baby stopped crying. [[Go away from the crib->childSaved]] <script> window.story.state.s1HasSavedChild = true; window.story.state.goodChoicesMade++; </script>

Only when I lifted my head from the crib, did I look closer at the plaque on the crib. Frank Einstein A shiver went down my spine, as I imagined what would've happened if I had killed the baby. [[Go away from the crib->E3]]

I walked up to the phone and reached my hand out for the earphone, when I had a shiver of doubt go through my entire body. Picking up the phone felt strangely important. Was I sure I was ready to do so? [[Yes->s1EncounterMain]] [[No->W2]]

I picked up the phone. Suddenly, I felt an aggresive draft go around my body. Distracted, I didn't notice when everything around me disappeared, leaving me floating in nothingness, with only darkness surrounding me. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. "Welcome, Thquire" I was sure I'd never heard the voice before and yet, it wasn't totally unfamiliar. I turned around and saw an old man, dressed like a clown. His clothes were all torn, his face covered in dirt. And on that face there was this constant, innocent smile, which at the same time looked so tired, experienced. He didn't look like he belogned in my times, he must've been from the past, maybe even an alternative reality. But how was that possible? [[Listen to the strange man->s1EncounterConvo]]

The man enthusiastically continued, "It'th been a while thince you vithited her, Thquire. She'th been mithing you, Thquire, but she ain't tell a word. She underthtandth, Thquire, more than you think. But she'th been crying, oh there'th tho much crying. Deep inthide, Thquire, I know you don't want her hurting, I feel that. But that's not enough, Thquire. She ain't got much time left, Thquire. You have to make your choice." "Here, do what you want with it." The man reached out his hand toward me and gave me a photo. A photo I immediately recognised. Me and my mother at the science fair when I was 9, things were so much simpler back then. <span.interactionText onClick="s1mainChoice(false)">Tear up the photo <span.interactionText onClick="s1mainChoice(true)">Keep the photo <script> function s1mainChoice(photoKept){ if(photoKept){ window.story.state.goodChoicesMade++; } else{ window.story.state.badChoicesMade++; } window.story.state.s1PhotoKept = photoKept; window.story.state.stage = 2; window.story.state.passageVisited = {}; window.story.show("S1"); } </script>

I went up to the bin, took the gasoline jug that I found next to it and poured it all over the books. Then I took a lighter out of my pocket and set fire to the bin. I watched the books burn, the flames' shadows danced on the walls. I bathed myself in the warmth of the fire. After a while, there was only a pile of dust left in the bin. [[Walk away from the bin->c3s2boooksBurnConsequence]]

I went up to the bin and one by one took the books out of it and arranged them neatly on a nearby shelf. Each book I put on the shelf seemed to suddenly turn to stone, not being able to be moved anymore. After the while the bin was empty and all the books were netaly stacked on the shelf. I looked at my work and felt disgusted, once again I became a servant of those paper monsters. [[Go away from the bin->c3s2booksSavedConsequence]]

Only when I lifted my head from the bin, did I see the hall was all of a sudden full of people. Every single seat was taken by a colleague of mine, they were livid. They were shouting, waving their hands. They clearly didn't enjoy what I'd done and yet I felt a strange sense of serenity. I had spent my entire life appeasing them, maybe it was finally time to end it. <script> window.story.state.s2BooksBurnt = true; window.story.state.goodChoicesMade++; </script> [[Go away from the bin->C3]]

Only when I lifted my head from the bin, did I see the hall was all of a sudden full of people. Every single seat was taken by a colleague of mine, they seemed satisfied. They must've liked what I'd done with the books, they were silently smiling and waving at me. Even so, I still felt disgusted at myself and couldn't help but wonder how they would've reacted if I had burnt the books. <script> window.story.state.s2BooksSaved = true; window.story.state.badChoicesMade++; </script> [[Go away from the bin->C3]]

I was about to approach the mailbox, when I was hit again with the feeling of hesitation. Approaching the mailbox felt important. Was I sure I was ready? [[Yes->s2EncounterMain]] [[No->N1]]

I approached the mailbox. The moment I got close, the sky changed. It turned dark, the birds stopped chirping. In the distance, I could hear thunders. I noticed an elegant woman standing next to me, she wasn't there a second ago. "Welcome, Mr Einstein" "It has come to my attention that you haven't yet responded to my offer. I do realise it is quite the decision to make, but I am afraid that the time is running out. Please, don't take any longer and decide. I do believe it would be quite the waste for you to reject it, but then again, the decision is yours to make." She handed me an ellegant folder with a ready to sign contract inside. I had been postponing that decision for a few weeks, because while signing that contract would give me a substantial advance in my career, it would also mean moving to the other side of the country. I would have to move houses, I would have to leave her behind. [[Sign the contract->s2EncounterContractSigned]] [[Tear up the contract ->s2EncounterContractTorn]]

I took the contracted, signed it and put it in the mailbox. "Very well", I heard the woman say. After that, I lost sight of her. I wasn't sure if I'd made the right decision. When I looked around, I found myself enshrouded in darkness. [[Navigate the darkness ->W3]] <script> window.story.state.s2ContractSigned = true; window.story.state.stage = 3; window.story.state.badChoicesMade++; </script>

I ripped the contract out of the woman's hand and furiously tore it to pieces. Never again would my career dictate my entire existence. I was happy with my decision. When I looked around, I found myself enshrouded in darkness. [[Navigate the darkness ->W3]] <script> window.story.state.s2ContractSigned = false; window.story.state.stage = 3; window.story.state.goodChoicesMade </script>

I pushed the heavy door and walked through it. A soon as I set my foot on the other side of the door, I heard a loud, almost inhuman, laugh. It's nice to see on the flipside, Thquire! How did you enjoy my little playground, Mr. Einstein? I walked farther, approaching a strange figure, which gradually emerged from the shadow. It was like nothing I'd seen before. It's body was that of a lion, but it had a pair of wings on it's back and, most terrifyingly, its head looked like me. I stared at the creature, unable to utter a word. [[Listen to the creature->s3FinalEncounterMonologue]]

>I watched you very closely Frank, I scrutinised your every step in this labirynth. Why are looking at me like that, do you still not understand? I amyou Frank, you have been torturing yourself all this time. But let's not make this longer than it needs to be. You've made some choices along the way, haven't you? Well, I have one last question to ask you and I'll leave you alone. How many legs do you have, Frank? <p.interactionText onClick="howManyLegs(4)"> Four <p.interactionText onClick="howManyLegs(2)"> Two <p.interactionText onClick="howManyLegs(3)"> Three <script> function howManyLegs(amnt){ switch(amnt){ case 4: window.story.state.goodChoicesMade++; break; case 2: break; case 3: window.story.state.badChoicesMade++; break; } if(window.story.state.goodChoicesMade > window.story.state.badChoicesMade){ window.story.show("endingGood"); } else if(window.story.state.goodChoicesMade < window.story.state.badChoicesMade){ window.story.show("endingBad") } else{ window.story.show("endingMediocre"); } } </script>

That was the last time I ever encountered the Sphinx or the maze. After I woke up from the heavy, pill-induced sleep I decided to take my life back from the claws of pride and ambition. I realised my mother had only ever meant well for me and so I decided to be present in her life. With my academic work put to the side, I had time to find a loving wife. I am now happily married and have two kids, I hope this book will be an inspiration for anyone who suffers with similiar problems. The one who survived the Maze, Frank Einstein Nowhereville, 2022

The Sphinx suddenly leaped at me, with a wild craze in his eyes. His laugh, the maniac movements of h Frank Einstein was found dead, with his wrists sliced open, leaning on his typewriter. The book you have just read was his last work and has been published as a memoriam and a warning to those blinded by their ambition. In loving memory of Frank Einstein, 1977 - 2022 Nowhereville, 2022

My heart dropped when I saw where I was. I again that room, the wallpaper, the smell. WHY, I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO END Frank Einstein was found in a lethargic state, drooling over his typewriter. The sentence you have just read was the last sentence he has ever written. He was placed in a mental hospital and has stayed there until today, with no signs of improvement. This book has been published as a warning to those tempted to sacrifice everything for their carrers. Nowhereville, 2022