Once a Year

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You stand in the foyer, small particles of dust illuminated in the moonlight. <<if $stairway_explored==false and $kitchen_explored==false and $study_explored==false>> You can go to the [[stairway]], the [[kitchen|K-entry]], or the [[study|S-entry]] <<elseif $stairway_explored==true and $kitchen_explored==false and $study_explored==false>> You've already explored the stairway! You can go to the [[kitchen|K-entry]] or the [[study|S-entry]] <<elseif $stairway_explored==false and $kitchen_explored==true and $study_explored==false>> You've already explored the kitchen! You can go to the [[stairway]], or the [[study|S-entry]] <<elseif $stairway_explored==false and $kitchen_explored==false and $study_explored==true>> You've already explored the study! You can go to the [[stairway]], or the [[kitchen|K-entry]] <<elseif $stairway_explored==false and $kitchen_explored==true and $study_explored==true>> You've already explored the study and kitchen! All that's left is the [[stairway]] <<elseif $stairway_explored==true and $kitchen_explored==false and $study_explored==true>> You've already explored the study and stairway! All that's left is the [[kitchen|K-entry]] <<elseif $stairway_explored==true and $kitchen_explored==true and $study_explored==false>> You've already explored the stairway and kitchen! All that's left is the [[study|S-entry]] <<else>> You've finally obtained everything you came here for. All your items are resting in your bag. It's time for the next [[step.]] <</if>>

<<if $upstairs_hallway_entered==false and $painting_removed==false>>You head up the stairway. Family portraits hang all along the walls, sunbleached and covered in dust. Their painted eyes look sunken in but fixed in place, except for one painting. As you pass by it, you feel like it's watching you. You take a step back, move forward again, it's definietly tracking you. You should probably [[take the painting off]]. But you could also [[keep going up]] and into the upstairs hallway. <<elseif $upstairs_hallway_entered==true and $painting_removed==false>> You head up the stairway. Family portraits hang all along the walls, sunbleached and covered in dust. Their painted eyes look sunken in but fixed in place, except for one painting. As you pass by it, you feel like it's watching you. You take a step back, move forward again, it's definietly tracking you. You should probably [[take the painting off]], you've already explored upstairs! <<elseif $upstairs_hallway_entered==false and $painting_removed==true>> You've already gotten what you needed from here, but you could still go [[upstairs|upstairs hallway]] if you want. <<else>> You've already explored upstairs and gotten what you needed, there's nothing left for you. You should head back to the [[foyer]], you still have a long night ahead <<set $stairway_explored=true>> <</if>>

The bookshelves covering two of the walls opposite to eachother still have most of their books intact and in order, seemingly untouched aside from some spiders that made themselves at home. There are a lot of books; books on the law, herbs and spices, dog breeds, ancient history, all sorts of knowledge. But there are a few silly ones occasionally wedged in between all the serious topics; a fantasy romcom, a graphic novel about shapeshifters and wizards, a small booklet that looks handmade with old drawings of a familiar character. <<if $VHS==false and $hand==false>> There's an obvious [[gap]] between some of the books with a noticable space behind them, big enough to hide something. But you also suspect there's something in one of the [[drawers]]. You could also get back to the [[foyer]] <<elseif $VHS==true and $hand==false>> You already stuck your hand in the gap, you could check the [[drawers]] or go back to the [[foyer]] <<elseif $VHS==false and $hand==true>> You already got what you needed from this room, but you could still check the [[gap]] in the bookshelf if you want, or you could head back to the [[foyer]]. <<else>> You've already explored this room, there's nothing left for you here. You should head back to the [[foyer]], you still have a long night ahead of you. <</if>>

The island is covered in dust, some parts thicker than others with faint tracks and small skids of some previous life form exploring it. The knife block still has all its knives except for one. Moonlight streams in through the open, kudzu-stricken window above the sink followed by an evening breeze, the old floral curtains billowing slightly. <<if $teeth==false and $cabinet==false>> You hear something move in one of the [[cupboards]], but at the same time you hear something scurry in one of the cabinets [[beneath the stove]]. You could also always go back to the [[foyer]] <<elseif $teeth==false and $cabinet==true>> You already checked underneath the stove. That just leaves the [[cupboards]], or you could go back to the [[foyer]] <<elseif $teeth==true and $cabinet==false>> You already got the what you needed, but you could also check for that noise you heard [[beneath the stove]]. Or you could always go back to the [[foyer]] <<else>> You've already explored here and gotten what you needed. There's nothing left for you here. You should head [[back|foyer]], you still have a long night ahead of you. <</if>>

<<if $upstairs_hallway_entered==false>> You take the old painting off. There's a huge chunk of the wall missing with it's beams and wiring exposed. Within the mess, you see a single eye staring straight at you. You found one of them! You reach out and gently take it in your hand, opening up your bag and placing it in a jar of preservation fluid. <<set $eye=true>> <<set $painting_removed=true>> You can head [[back|foyer]] or continue [[upstairs|upstairs hallway]] <<elseif $upstairs_hallway_entered==true>> You take the old painting off. There's a huge chunk of the wall missing with it's beams and wiring exposed. Within the mess, you see a single eye staring straight at you. You found one of them! You reach out and gently take it in your hand, opening up your bag and placing it in a jar of preservation fluid. <<set $eye=true>> <<set $painting_removed=true>> <<set $stairway_explored=true>> You can head [[back|foyer]] <</if>>

You walk through the old hallway, several doors are locked or sealed shut. <<if $bathroom_entered==false and $bedroom_entered==false>> The only ones that you can open are the one to the [[bathroom]] and one of the [[bedrooms'|bedroom]], or you could go back to the [[foyer]]. <<elseif $bathroom_entered==true and $bedroom_entered==false>> You've already been into the bathroom, you should probably check out the [[bedroom]] or head back to the [[foyer]] <<elseif $bathroom_entered==false and $bedroom_entered==true>> You've already been into the bedroom, you should probably check out the [[bathroom]] or head back to the [[foyer]] <<else>> You've already explored the rooms up here, there's nothing left for you. You should head back to the [[foyer]], you still have a long night ahead. <<set $upstairs_hallway_entered=true>> <</if>>

You manage to pry open the door to the bathroom. You haven't been in here in a while, the old rubber duck is still on the edge of the grainy bathtub like it always is. You know it has a name, you can never remember what it was. The mirror surrounded by lightbulbs has stopped working a long time ago, but it always looks nice. You open the cabinet under the sink, amongst the rusty pipes, you find an old bottle of watermelon shampoo. The scent is still somewhat strong even after all these years. You should probably go [[back|upstairs hallway]] <<<<set $bathroom_entered=true>>

You enter the house. The old, decrepit and worn interior of the foyer greets you; cobwebs and drapped sheets welcoming you inside. The once ornate and detailed wallpaper is now faded and peeling. The wooden floorboards are old and rotting, creaking with each step. A few flecks of moonlight are scattered about from the crystals of the old chandelier hanging above you, somehow it hasn't fallen down yet. You know what you're here to do, they always hide in tricky spots every year. You have an itching suspicion that there's one in the [[stairway]], one in the [[study|S-entry]], and one in the [[kitchen|K-entry]]. <<set $bathroom_entered=false>> <<set $bedroom_entered=false>> <<set $upstairs_hallway_entered=false>> <<set $painting_removed=false>> <<set $stairway_explored=false>> <<set $eye=false>> <<set $teeth=false>> <<set $hand=false>> <<set $cupboard=false>> <<set $cabinet=false>> <<set $kitchen_explored=false>> <<set $VHS=false>> <<set $study_explored=false>>

You decide to keep [[going up the stairs|upstairs hallway]] past the paintings.

You open the door to the bedroom. A few posters of various bands, TV shows, and movies are still hanging on the walls, just barely. Some of the books are still on their shelves, along with a porcelain figure of a dog, completely covered in dust, but still looking happy nonetheless. The bed is a twin, covered with what used to be a brightly colored quilt, now worn and riddled with stains from time. It's cold from what you feel, you remember this room used to be so warm when you visited. You should probably go [[back|upstairs hallway]] <<<<set $bedroom_entered=true>>

<<if $cabinet==false>> You open the cupboard and... Are greeted by a set of teeth, chattering almost excitedly from what it seems. You found one of them! You reach out and take the still-solid jaws in your hands, and they cease chattering once you place them in your bag. Perhaps they were cold. You should head [[back|foyer]], but you could also check [[beneath the stove]] if you want. <<set $teeth=true>> <<else>> You open the cupboard and... Are greeted by a set of teeth, chattering almost excitedly from what it seems. You found one of them! You reach out and take the still-solid jaws in your hands, and they cease chattering once you place them in your bag. Perhaps they were cold. You should head [[back|kitchen]]. <<set $teeth=true>> <<set $kitchen_explored=true>> <</if>>

You check beneath the stove. A rat skitters out and runs to somewhere else in the house. The rest of the cabinet's insides are covered in cobwebs, but you spot something [[familiar]]...

<<if $teeth==false>> it's a cookbook. You've seen it dozens of times before, or used to at least. You take it out and blow back the thick layer of dust coating the cover, the warm plaid binder not as subjected to the sun. Flipping through the pages you see recipies you had eaten a long time ago, and some that were completely new. Phantoms of the tastes come to sit on your tongue as you remember. When you turn a certain page though, a card slips out. An old pecan pie recipie cut from a newspaper, a pie you have fond memories of. But just as you're getting to the bottom of the ingredients, you see that it's been chewed out. [[You should get back to what you were doing.|kitchen]] <<set $cabinet=true>> <<else>> it's a cookbook. You've seen it dozens of times before, or used to at least. You take it out and blow back the thick layer of dust coating the cover, the warm plaid binder not as subjected to the sun. Flipping through the pages you see recipies you had eaten a long time ago, and some that were completely new. Phantoms of the tastes come to sit on your tongue as you remember. When you turn a certain page though, a card slips out. An old pecan pie recipie cut from a newspaper, a pie you have fond memories of. But just as you're getting to the bottom of the ingredients, you see that it's been chewed out. [[You should get back to what you were doing.|kitchen]] <<set $cabinet=true>> <<set $kitchen_explored=true>> <</if>>

You head over to the gap in the bookshelf. You try to see what's in there, but your head won't fit. You could just...[[stick your hand in there]] if you wanted to...

<<if $VHS==false>> You go to open one of the drawers, and jump back when a hand scuttles out and runs around the room. You chase after it, lunging onto the rug to grab it when it dodges, going back and forth in what feels like a little game it dragged you into. You finally catch it, and it pats your hand gently in defeat. You got one! You should head [[back|study]] <<set $hand=true>> <<elseif $VHS==true>> You go to open one of the drawers, and jump back when a hand scuttles out and runs around the room. You chase after it, lunging onto the rug to grab it when it dodges, going back and forth in what feels like a little game it dragged you into. You finally catch it, and it pats your hand gently in defeat. You got one! You should head [[back|study]] <<set $hand=true>> <<set $study_explored=true>> <</if>>

You decide to be brave and risk the wrath of bug bites as you stick your hand behind the books. As you move your hand around and pat the area, you feel something different than the usual book covers. It's thick, but it feels hollow, and through the layer of dust you swear it feels like textured plastic. There's something else on it too, a piece of [[paper.]]

<<if $hand==false>> As you pull your hand back and take it out, you realize that what you're holding is an old VHS tape. The marker label is so worn and scratched out you don't recognize what it says. As you turn the piece of paper over though, the memories start coming back to you. It's a drawing of a squad of characters, the main one in the center looks similar to the one on the booklet. They were from an animated movie you used to watch with someone. It was your favorite movie. But you don't remember what it was, and you have a hunch the VHS tape's label would've said the name had the marker not worn off. [[You should get back to what you were doing|study]] <<set $VHS=true>> <<else>>As you pull your hand back and take it out, you realize that what you're holding is an old VHS tape. The marker label is so worn and scratched out you don't recognize what it says. As you turn the piece of paper over though, the memories start coming back to you. It's a drawing of a squad of characters, the main one in the center looks similar to the one on the booklet. They were from an animated movie you used to watch with someone. It was your favorite movie. But you don't remember what it was, and you have a hunch the VHS tape's label would've said the name had the marker not worn off. [[You should get back to what you were doing|study]] <<set $VHS=true>> <<set $study_explored=true>> <</if>>

You enter the [[kitchen]].

You enter the [[study]].

You leave the premises of the old house. It's bittersweet; it's always nice to come back here once a year, but sad to see it in such a state, abused and mistreated by time. You keep walking down the old block, the cracks in the pavement smoothing out into the sidewalks of more populated neighborhoods, illuminated by streetlights hanging overhead. Eventually, you find your way to the [[graveyard]]. There's a shovel leaning by the gate, it's waiting for you.

Shovel in hand and items in bag, you enter the cemetery. The iron angels engraved onto the entrance pass a blind eye as you're about to commit something rather taboo. The headstones pass by, some fresh and still white, some ancient and worn that you can't read their names. The one you're looking for should still be somewhat new, it's only been a couple of years. And after 20 minutes of walking you finally find it. [[The tombstone of your friend.]]

You crouch down and run your hand over the epitaph, feeling the engravments beneath your fingertips. You're not here to mourn though, you're here to dig. You take your shovel in your hands and stand back up, stabbing it into the dirt and heaving up a thick pile of soil that you toss to the side. Then you do it again, and again, you've gotten more used to this by now, so it goes by faster, but still not fast enough for your liking. Digging takes a while. After about an hour of digging yourself into a rectangular hole, you feel your shovel hit something with a solid [[thunk.]]

It's the coffin. You work quickly, and soon the top half is revealed. You take hold of the bar on the side and pull the lid up, dirt sliding off as it goes. The corpse is somewhat decomposed, with the routine exposures to air once a year chipping away at the composure. An eye is missing, so are the teeth in its mouth, and one of the arms crossed over its chest is missing its hand. The items in your bag begin to rattle and shake. [[It's time to put them back where they belong.]]

You take out the jar, reach in and remove the eye to put it back in its socket. Next is the hand, you tip over the bag and let it scurry out and reconnect back onto the hand with a soft crackle. And last is the teeth. You take the jaws, that have started clattering again, and gently shove them back into the mouth. You wait, a minute passes by, then two. You're not sure if it works until the corpse blinks. It shifts its jaw slightly and wiggles its fingers, like it hasn't used them in a while. Its eyes trail back to you as it sits up slightly, opening its mouth and says in a clear voice: [["Oh hey dude! It's good to see you again!"]]

You smile, your friend is back. "It's only been a year." They sit up more eagerly, "Yeah, but I only get 12 minutes to chat with you before I gotta go away again! Gimmie the rundown, what's the juicy stuff?" "Finished Highschool, going to that college in the west," "The one you talked about last year; nice, nice, congragulations by the way," "Lacey and Fredman broke up," Their jaw drops in comical horror, "No! I thought they were going strong!" "I thought so too!" "Alright Alright, anything else?" You stop to think for a moment, "Actually, I have a [[question]] for you." They raise their eyebrow, "Well? What is it?"

"Do you... - [[Remember the name of that rubber duck you had?]] - [[Remember the last ingredient of that pecan pie recipie your mom used?]] - [[Remember the name of that movie we used to watch?]]

They scrunch their brow in thought before a smile stretches across their face, "Steven Quackmaster the Bathlord! Tyranical ruler of the bubble realm." You chuckle, "I can't believe you turned your rubber duck into a dictator." "He was fun to play with though. I gave him a sharpie eyepatch and everything." You both share a laugh at the memory until they start coughing, [[it seems like your time is up.]]

You pull out the recipie card with the end chewed off and hand it to your friend. They turn it over to look at it better and think for a moment, their lips moving as they try to remember the missing ingredient. Their eyes shoot up as they find the answer, "Oh! I think it's corn syrup? Or dark corn syrup." You scrunch your nose, "I didn't know pecan pie involved corn syrup." They smile, "I know my grandma used a recipie with molasses." "Really?" "I mean it works! I didn't die or anything.... "...Well I mean I did but, not from molasses." You try to stiffle a laugh at the morbid joke, and you both fail as you start snickering. Unfortunately the moment is cut short when they start coughing, [[it seems like your time is up.]]

You pull out the drawing that was with the VHS tape. Your friend gently takes it in their hands, squinting at it in the low moonlight, before their brows shoot back up, "Oh yeah! It's The Journey of the Last Men, that movie where almost all of mankind is wiped out and the group of the remaining humans try to escape being put in a space zoo." You nod fondly, "You liked the dog a lot." They shrug nonchalantly, "If you don't like dogs there's something wrong with you." You share a brief moment of laughter before they cough, [[it seems like your time is up.]]

You sigh, it feels like your time gets shorter and shorter every year, and now... "Hey, I think this might be my last time in a while. I don't know if I'll be able to keep doing the ritual now that I'm going away." Your friend, despite looking tired, manages a soft and heartfelt smile, they reach out and pat your shoulder, "It's ok dude, I'm honored you spent the past few years still doing this for me. Even if it's for 12 minutes, I'm always happy to see you! "But just know that, even if you can't keep up the routine, or you can't visit me next year or the year after that, that's okay. I loved the time we spent together, and I hope you'll have that same experience with other people too." You feel your eyes watering up, and despite better judgement, you go in for a hug. Their body is bony and cold, but the emotional warmth from them hugging you back more than makes up for it. "I'll be sure to visit as soon as I can, okay?" Their eyes begin to droop, "Okay... I'm...looking forward to it..." Their body goes slack once more, but this time there's a smile on their face. You take a little longer in putting things back into place and shoveling back the dirt, but when you leave the graveyard you feel assured. You can't wait to tell them about what's happened the next time you can visit. ~Fin.