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Mad Science

Options at Dusk

added by AndreaFlameFox A year ago O

You decide that there's certainly not going to be anything of value left in the 300-year-old lab, and decide to head straight for the exit. Going as fast as you possibly can -- some kind of monster may have taken up residence here, and you are not ready for any encounters.

Your sense of unease abates as you enter the front lobby. The place is trashed, looking like a violent struggle -- or several -- took place here. But the way to the doors is clear, at least. They open outward, manually, made of thick glass in steel frames. Apart from a spiderweb of cracks in the left door, they're still in working order and open easily at your touch.

And now you're outside, breathing deeply of the cool breeze; it blows from the north with a strangely sweet scent. At least you're free of the stale, musty air of the lab, and of the sense of being watched. It seems to be dusk -- at least you hope the long shadows and red sky are not permanent features of this strange new world. In front of you is a wide street, with ruined buildings across it and to your left and right. However, you also notice a couple of things of interest.

To the north -- your left -- the street climbs a shallow incline. In that direction, you believe, is a park, and it seems almost to be invading the city -- increasingly thick ivy covers the buildings; grass is eating the asphalt; bushes and a few young trees push out of split sidewalks. A billboard has been propped against a ruined storefront, crudely painted over with an arrow pointing up the street towards where the sweet scent is blowing from. It is partially covered by vines, allowing you to only read part of it.

D - N G E - !
A - R - - N E

On the other hand, to the south several blocks down, you can see what looks like a makeshift barricade on the far side of an intersection. Torches burn atop a wall of rubble and smashed cars. More torches top the roofs of fortified buildings to the left and right. You're not sure, but you think there are human figures moving up there.

Should you explore in either direction? The scent on the wind is sweet, almost sugary, and very enticing; but there's a chance that if those are humans to the south you could find shelter with them. Alternatively, one of the buildings across the street from you is much taller than the rest and seems to be in good condition. Maybe you could climb up it to get a good view of the area.

And then again... the lab's basement is pretty secure, with electricity and food enough to last a while. Maybe you should just stay here? At least set up a proper base camp before you go exploring. Although you did get an eerie feeling in there, it might have just been nerves. Nothing has attacked you yet, after all.

You take a deep breath, trying not to let the desperation get to you. If you're going to survive, you need to keep a cool head.


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