Camping Trip 1

You and your buddies finally decided to pack up your trucks and take the camping trip you've been talking about since graduating college. You and your friends - Sean, Owen, Jake, and Mitch - met each other in pee-wee football, and are now returning to your old stomping grounds, since your hometown turned the park you used to practice at into a local campsite. By the time you all arrive to your campsite, you don't even recognize the (link:"(text-colour:#13a413)[park]")[(text-colour:grey)[you used to know this place like the back of your hand... what happened?]] anymore. [[Unpack and set up]]

As Jake finishes emptying out his truck, you and Owen are on tent set-up. Mitch and Sean start looking for firewood while there's still daylight. You take this opprotunity to take in the park around you and familiarize yourself with your campsite. From where you are you can hear birds chirping and wind rustling through the woods. The skinny trees loom over you as their trunks (link:"stretch")[(text-colour:grey)[like that one kid from //Charlie and the Chololate Factory//]] up towards the sky, swaying and creaking in the breeze. You've never been on this side of the park before, although you're unsure if this even //was// a side of the park before. Realizing how unfamiliar with the area you really are makes you feel unsettled, but then again, you've never really been much of the outdoorsman, so you chok it all up to first-time camping jitters. [[Next]]

You and Jake finish the first tent in record time, so you guys make quick work of the other two. By this time, Mitch and Owen have returned, carrying armfuls of broken sticks and branches. They're shirtless, revealing the thorn scratches on their arms and the dirt stuck to the sweat on their skin. Despite only being gone for 30 minutes, they look like they just finished a season of //Survivor//. [[Make a joke]] [[Continue]]

You jokingly size-up Mitch, then dramaticly bite your lip. "If you wanted my attention pookie, you could've just said that. Didn't have to strip for me." "Shut up, Tyler, you know you like it" Mitch snaps back, a smirk across his face. "Isn't that what your ex said when she made you get a manicure with her that one time?" Owen asks, and you all lose it. "BRO!! DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT!!" Mitch whines, punching Owen in the arm. Suddenly all the guys start heckling each other about their... previous poor decisions, and laughing harder than you had in years. [[Continue]]

As the night goes on, you guys start unpacking your food and beverages: hot dogs, s'mores, and two 30-racks of Busch Light. [[Delicious.]]

As you guys knock back a few beers, you decide to play a little pick-up game of football in the small clearing just passed the campsite. Dirt is flying, shoes are scuffing, and you don't think there's a full 5 minutes where you all stay on your feet. You keep playing until Jake says he needs [[another]] beer.

As you guys make your way back to your (link:"campsite")[(text-colour:grey)[a cloud of dust following you from your friendly competition]], your stomach grumbles so loud Owen snaps his head up to look at you. "Damn Tyler, didn't you eat breakfast?" "No?" "Dumbass," Owen says as he turns towards the others. "I guess we gotta feed the baby." "I am not a baby," you scoff. "Then why can't you feed yourself?" "I CAN feed myself! I just DIDN'T! I had my coffee, I was good." Sean rolls his eyes and claps you on the back. "I hope you shit your pants in the middle of the night." "Aye! Don't say that, you don't have to share a tent with him!" Jake calls from the bed of the truck. You turn to flip him off right as he cracks open his beer. He shotguns it in 4 seconds. "Little slow today?" you ask him. "I'd like to see you do better." He challenges. [[Accept]] [[Deny]]

You smirk as you grab yourself a can. He has no idea what he just did. You've been drinking up north with your cousins all summer, so you //know// you can win this. You position the can in your hands and wait for Jake to give you the signal to start. As you lean back and let gravity to it's job, you count the seconds in your head: //1... 2... 3...// DONE! You drop your can, throw your hands up and look up to see Jake's awestruck expression staring back at you. "3.62," he says. "New record," you reply. You turn away from a complaining Jake, and smile to yourself as you begin grabbing logs from the (link:"pile")[(text-colour:grey)[now that you're looking at it again, you don't think this will be enough wood for the night]] Mitch and Sean made earlier. "Anyone bring [[matches]]? A lighter?" You ask.

You know you could take him, but the guys are probably right. You //should// eat something before you shotgun with Jake. You don't leave this campsite until tomorrow morning, so you're not too worried about showing him up right now. "I'll let you have your moment for now," you respond, "I think we should probably get a fire started. Sun's going down." "YOU JUST KNOW I'M GONNA WIN AND YOU DON'T WANNA LOSE BECAUSE YOU'RE A LOOOOOOOOOSERRRRRRRRRRRR," Jake calls to you, but you ignore him. He'll tucker himself out the fastest out of all of you guys, so you're not too worried about his threat. You smile to yourself as you begin grabbing logs from the (link:"pile")[(text-colour:grey)[//now that you're looking at it again, you don't think this will be enough wood for the night//]] Mitch and Sean made earlier. "Anyone got a [[lighter]]? Any matches?"

"Yea I got you!" Owen calls back, tossing you his box of strike-anywhere matches. You arrange the logs and strike a match against a rock around the fire pit. [[SNAP!]]

"I think I got one around here somewhere" Mitch says, riffling through his backpack. He tosses you a yellow Bic lighter and you put it in your pocket while you arrange the logs. You find some dry leaves and twigs to use as kindling, and soon enough you got a strong flame going. As the fire catches, you grab out the hotdogs, buns, and condiments you guys brought. "Aww, Mom's making dinner for us" Jake [[sings]] as he passes behind you, grabbing another beer.

You grab a second match and strike it against the rock again. [[SNAP!!]]

You roll your eyes and grab a third match, striking it. [[SNAP!!!]]

You shut the match-box forcefully and toss it back to Owen. "Your matches suck. Anyone got a lighter?" "Yea, I got one" Mitch says, tossing you a yellow Bic lighter from his backpack. As the fire catches on the dried leaves you used as kindling, you grab out the hotdogs, buns, and condiments you guys brought. You grab another beer and call the guys over so you can start [[cooking your dogs]].

You find the perfect roasting stick on the (link:"first try")[(text-colour:grey)[well... first try //enough//]], and begin roasting your dog. It cooks a little faster than you expect and soon enough, you're kicked back in your lawnchair munching on your hotdog. As you're munching, Sean sits down next to you and pulls a bottle of [[honey]] out of backpack.

You pretend to go in for a punch and Jake flinches so hard he drops his beer. "Dude, jumpy much?" Owen says. "HE WAS GONNA HIT ME" Jake whines back. "No he wasn't, you're imagining it" "SHUT UUUUUUUPPPPPP, NUH UH!!!!" You all watch as Jake pretends to throw a tantrum and run around the campsite. You're looking around at the others and your eyes land on Mitch. He's rubbing his forhead with his head in his hands. "This is why we've never done this before. This is why we can't have nice things." Jake [[haults]].

He pulls his hand up to his chest, obviously offended. "How. DARE YOU!!" he exclaims. "After all I've done for you, //this// is the thanks I get? I do NOTHING but entertain and be pretty and yet //I'm// to blame??" "Yes, Jake, yes you are." you say, and turn back to your actively roasting [[hotdog]].

You look at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?" he says. "Nothing." [[make a comment]] [[say nothing]]

You guys all finish up your dinners and toss the leftover garbage in the fire. You really liked how the plastic bag shrivled in the (link:"flames")[(text-colour:grey)[You all shared a moment of awe]]. You've finished one of the 30-racks, cracked the second, and are all feeling (cycling-link: "(text-colour:red)[great]", "(text-colour:orange)[good]", "(text-colour:yellow)[buzzed]", "(text-colour:green)[it]", "(text-colour:cyan)[tipsy]", "(text-colour:blue)[schloshed]", "(text-colour:navy)[drunk]", "(text-colour:purple)[krunk]", "(text-colour:magenta)[delightful]")! "In the mood to lose again?" you ask Jake. He turns to you with the most pure, drunken smile you've ever seen. "I thought you'd never ask" "Mitch, [[beer me]]"

As you all roast your hot dogs and finish up your s'mores, the second 30-rack is looking pretty good now. You didn't shotgun with Jake earlier, so you're //significantly// behind the others on alcohol intake. You walk over to the truck, grab two more beers and give Jake a look. "Ohhhhh Jakeyyyyy!!!" you call, waving the cans like bait in front of his face. "OOOOOOOO YOU'RE ON!" He jumps up from his chair and leaps over into the clearing where you're standing. Owen tosses his paper plate into the fire, and joins you guys too. Suddenly, everyone's in a little circle, and bets have been placed. "Alrighty boys, you know the drill. First one to toss their can wins," Owen says. "Only a winner? No loser?" Jake slurs, "What happens to the [[loser]]?"

"OOOOOOOO!" Jake hums. He jumps up from his chair and leaps over into the clearing where you're standing. Owen tosses his paper plate into the fire, and joins you guys too. Suddenly, everyones in a little circle, and bets have been placed. "Alrighty boys, you know the drill. First one to toss their can wins," Owen says. "What happens if you're not the one guy who does the wins?" Jake slurs, "What happens to [[that guy]], huh?"

"How about we throw the football into the woods, and the loser has to go find it?" Sean suggests. Jake's eyes light up like a Christmas tree, and he jumps up and down excitedly. "OOOO FETCH!!!" "Fetch?" you say. "Fetch." Sean replies. You shrug your shoulders and prepare your can. "Alright boys," Owen recenters, "Shotgun in [[3...]]"

You look across the circle at Jake, who's buzzing like a chiuauah. He's bouncing from foot to foot, and for a second, you question if you'll actually beat him. "[[2...]]"

Sean and Mitch look like they're (link:"deep in thought")[(text-colour:grey)[This is probably the biggest gamble they've been able to make since their girlfriends told them they couldn't go to the casino anymore]]. You're in the zone. "1..." (link: "You got this")[(text-colour:grey)[//You think//]]. "[[GO!]]"

Lids crack open, drinks get chugged, and in a fraction of a second a can hits the dirt with a clank. "[[WOOOOOO!!!]]"...

You look around the circle and you see Owen and Mitch elbowing each other, rubbing their chins. They appear (link:"deep in thought")[(text-colour:grey)[This is probably the biggest gamble they've been able to make since their girlfriends told them they couldn't go to the casino anymore]]. Jake is buzzing and bouncing from foot to foot like a boxer. A boxer who was gonna [[LOSE]]!

"1... GO!!" Lids crack open, drinks get chugged, and in a fraction of a second a can hits the dirt with a clank. "[[FINISHED!!!]]"...

You hear Jake's can clatter to the ground and you feel froth drip down your sideways cheek. You lost. You actually [[lost]].

Your can clatters to the ground as Jake's beer spills out the side of his mouth. "Read it, and, WEEP!" you yelled, taking a victory lap around the firepit. Jake finishes his beer, and chuks it into the woods, "YOU'RE SO MEAN" he yelled, plopping down in his chair. "If I'm mean then you're a sore loser" you reply. "Piss off Tyler, I have to fetch now!" he whined, flinging his arms around like limp noodles. "What happened to all the excitement, buddy?" Mitch pipes in, clapping Jake on the back in the process. Jake side eyes Mitch with the fire of a thousand suns before Sean grabs the football from the bed of the truck. "Doesn't matter where it went, just as long as he [[brings the ball back]]," Sean says.

You take a moment to take in the space around you again. It's been a few hours and few beers since the last time you did that and you hadn't realized how dark it really had gotten. The only light that stretched across the clearing into the treeline came from the (text-colour:#f3c33f)[glowing campfire], slowly dying in the night. You take note of the lack of how much (link:"(text-colour:green)[firewood]")[(text-colour:grey)[//not a lot//]] is left. You take note of how full the second (link:"(text-colour:green)[30-rack]")[(text-colour:grey)[//there are 6 beers left//]] is. You suddenly get hit with an emotion you're unsure how to explain... Is it [[anxiety]]? Or was it [[excitement]]?

The more you think about it, the more you're sure that this is a bad idea. "Guys, I don't think it's a good idea actually" you say. "AWW C'MON DUDE" Owen complains, , "that shit was gonna be so funny!" "okay, you tell me you can see 50 feet into that treeline and then we'll talk" Owen turns to you with a cocky smile and whips around to look into the clearing. The smile dissipates immediately though once he realizes how dark it is. "[[Oh shit]]"

You think this will add another layer of advanture to this evening's festivities... You're [[so in]].

"Yea. That's what I'm saying," you reply. "Ooooookay, I guess we're not doing that" Owen calls back to the group. The vibe from that moment on was a bit duller, but you felt content knowing that you prevented a potential injury. You know that you were probably being overly cautious, but you also know how roudy some of those college nights had gotten, and how close to trouble you all had been several times before. It's not your job to take care of everyone in the group - even though they do call you "Dad" jokingly sometimes - but in that moment you didn't want to run the risk. [[Next.]]

"Chuck it, QB!!!" you chant. Just as fast as you chugged your beer, the ball flies from Seans's hands into the night and disappears into the black. "Oh shit" Jake says as he watches the speck arc across the sky. "Good luck, brother" Mitch says, him and Owen raising their right hands in a salute. You watch Jake drunkenly size up the challenge before him, take a deep breath, and jog off. [[....]]

15 minutes go by and Jake still hasn't come back. "How's it goin out there Jakey??" Owen yells, only silence in reply. "Should someone go look for him soon?" you ask. "Maybe in like 5-10" Sean says, cracking another beer. You agree with the 5, but you're not sure about the [[10]]...

After the 5 minutes go by, Jake still hasn't come back "I'm going for him, you guys can come if you want" you say to the guys, but no one follows. You head off to look for Jake [[alone]].

After you get passed the clearing, you start calling for Jake. "Jake!! Jake!! JAKEEEEE!!" you shout, but no answer. You're freaking out now a little, Jake usually isn't a (link:"runner")[(text-colour:grey)[//sober, or drunk//]], so him to go this far over a (link: "football")[(text-colour:grey)[//even if it was Sean's//]] doesn't make a lot of sense to you. Football might've been the thing that brought them all together but it couldn't be the only thing keeping them together? Could this all be over something [[more]] than just a shotgun?

Just as the thought crosses your mind, you hear a snapping of branches. "Jake?" you call, "That you buddy?" (live: 5s)+(text-colour:grey)[//[Silence.]//] [[What the hell?]]

You try and turn around, but your palms collide with the dirt as you trip over a gurthy root. The skin on your hands is scratched raw from rocks and covered in dirt. You wipe them off best you can and take in your scene again. Everything is pitch black. All you hear is your own heartbeat in your ears. All you feel is the dry grass prickling your ankles. (live: 5s)+(text-colour:grey)[(text-style:"blur")[//What direction did you even come from?//]] You're starting to lose hope at this point, both of finding Jake and the football. Do you go [[keep looking]]? You kind of [[want to go back]]...

You can't. Jake is honestly your best friend out of these guys, you can't just leave him. So you call his name [[again]].

(text-style:"bold","emboss")["JAKE!"] (text-colour:grey)[//"Tyler?"//] It's faint, but it's so quiet around you you can tell what direction it's coming from. You know there's roots now, so you're a little more cautious as you start running towards his voice. Within a few seconds, you collide with something a lot softer and a lot more wobbly than a tree. "This is //not// the nearest bathroom." Jake says, coughing a little as he regains his balance. "You piss yourself?" "No... [[I yaked]]"

You shake your (link:"head")[(text-colour:grey)[//of course he threw up, Jake had never been able to handle his alcohol well//]]. You can see Jake has the football in his hands, so you grab him by the back of his neck to guide him in (link:"the direction")[(text-colour:grey)[//you think//]] of the campsite. Soon enough, you can see the (text-colour:#f3c33f)[campfire glow] illuminating your tents, and truck. Mitch and Owen are still deep in conversation, so they don't notice you two aproaching. Sean looks like he's pacing around the fire, but is the first to see you two through the clearing. "Bout damn time" he says, crossing his arms [[disapprovingly]].

"You were too much of a whimp to go yourself" you say, shrugging as you release Jake into the safety of the campsite. You make sure he gets into his tent before you even start getting ready for bed yourself. It's been a wild night, and truthfully, you'd rather go to sleep last than go to sleep worrying about anyone else wandering. As you watch everyone else turn-in for bed - Owen and Mitch in one tent, Jake and Sean in another, you in a single - you [[recap the night]] in your head.

(live: 2s)[//getting the guys back together//] (live: 3s)[//playing football again//] (live: 4s)[//roasting food over the campfire//] (live: 5s)[//shotgunning with Jake//] (live: 6s)[//losing Jake...//] (live: 7s)[//and finding him...//] (live: 9s)[you really did miss these guys, but definately didn't miss this level of chaos. As you head into your own tent to get ready for bed, you sigh to yourself contently, grateful to have had this trip.] [[Story 2]]

You and your buddies finish out the night, watching the fire die out, emptying the last cans of beer into the few remaining spaces in your bellies. After packing up the campsite for the night, you all head to sleep, and in the morning you all pack up everything and head off to your next stop. [[Story 1]]

(display: "Title")

"Talked all that game just to choke" Mitch says with a smile, elbowing Owen who's shaking his head is in his hands. Obviously, (link:"Owen lost the bet")[(text-colour:grey)[and you're a little bitter Mitch bet against you]]. Jake does a wobbly victory lap around the campfire, nearly tumbling into it as his circles tighten. You're laughing in disbelief as Sean approaches, palming his football and looking longingly into the open field. It's like he //wants// to lose this ball. "You ready dude?" he asks, and you take a second to [[take in the clearing]]:

You take a moment to take in the space around you again. It's been a few hours and few beers since the last time you did that and you hadn't realized how dark it really had gotten. The only light that stretched across the clearing into the treeline came from the (text-colour:#f3c33f)[glowing campfire], slowly dying in the night. You take note of the lack of how much (link:"(text-colour:green)[firewood]")[(text-colour:grey)[not a lot]] is left. You take note of how full the second (link:"(text-colour:green)[30-rack]")[(text-colour:grey)[there are 6 beers left]] is. You suddenly get hit with an emotion you're unsure how to explain... Is it [[actual nerves]], or could it really just be [[adrenaline]]? Maybe you're [[excited]]?

The odds may not look like they're in your favor, but honestly, you've seen worse. You are //incredibly// confident about this, and just as this confidence sets in, you watch Sean launch the ball... into the pitch black... and immediately (link:"disappear")[(text-colour:grey)[much like the grin on your face]]. "[[shit...]]"

You realize that maybe drunk you shouldn't be making this decision right now... But if you chicken out, they'll never let you live it down... And you guys never get together anyway? You migth as well do it... [[Right...?]]

This DEFINATELY is not stacked in your favor, but you really don't care. You came here to have fun so that's what you're going to do. "Don't get lost, be sure to come back now, buddy," Jake says, pretending like you're a dog he's talking to. Mitch and Owen offer an absent wave, no doubt making //another// bet on your performance in this challenge. Sean just looks at you with his arms crossed, tapping his foot on the dirt, pretending to check his watch almost as if to say "we don't have all day". You look around the campsite and decide to grab another beer before you go. Maybe the loss of coordination when you already couldn't see might play to your advantage? [[CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!]]

As you venture off into the clearing, you're unsure of which way the ball actually went. It kinda looked like it flew right, but maybe there was wind you forgot about and it took it left? You're not really sure what direction you're even going in either, as the (text-colour:#f3c33f)[campfire glow] doesn't even reach your feet anymore. Feeling around as you walk, you struggle to find footing on the incredibly rocky (link:"path")[(text-colour:grey)[//if you could even call it a path//]]. It appears to be declining, and you think you can hear a (link:"river approaching")[(text-colour:grey)[//you didn't even know there was a river around here//]]. Keeping in mind the reason you're in this situation in the first place, you [[follow the sound]] of the river, and just hope to come across the football at some point.

You're barely 10 steps closer to the river, but it feels like you're right next to it. You can't even see it yet, or even a reflection of the moon against any water. The light from the moon does illuminate the trees above a little, but that only casts more shadows on the ground. The shadows mixed with the lack of (link:"(text-colour:cyan)[balance]")[(text-colour:grey)[//kinda important//]], (link:"(text-colour:cyan)[coordination]")[(text-colour:grey)[//also kinda important//]], and (link:"(text-colour:cyan)[clear vision]")[(text-colour:grey)[//probably the MOST important, if you had to argue//]], made it incredibly easy for you to step on a loose stone in the path and S (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[L] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXX====")[I] (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX=======")[D] (align:"<==")+(box:"==XXXXX===")[E] [[Right down the riverbank]].

The decline is far steeper than you thought, and you're unable to catch your balance on the ground. You desperately grasp out for any branch or tree-limb you could to stop yourself, but they are all too fragile in this part of the woods, and they slip from your fingers the second you reach to grab them. You're falling (text-colour:red)[''too fast''] to [[catch yourself]].

The river is moving (text-colour:red)[''too swiftly''] for you to gain control once you've [[submerged]].

And the pitch blackness surrounds you as you're(text-style:"blur")[ taken [[downstream]]].

//Back at the campsite// <hr> 15 minutes pass before any of the guys think something is off. [[Sean]] [[Mitch and Owen]] [[Jake]] [[.....]]

Mitch and Owen had, in fact, (link:"placed a bet")[(text-colour:grey)[//their last bet, ever, actually//]] on you, but it was only to see who could more accurately guess how long you would be. [[Return]].

Sean commented first. "Tyler sure is taking his sweet time. By this rate the sun will be back before he is!" [[Return]].

Jake seemed the most antsy first. He was very nervous when you didn't come back soon afte you left, but he didn't share that with the others. Jake was always a little closer to you than he was the other guys anyway. He never forgot all those days you'd spend with him during his parents divorce in middle school, or his dad's death in high school. The fact that Tyler wasn't back already //really// wasn't sitting right with him. (text-colour:red)[Tyler had (text-style:"underline")[always] been there.] [[Return]].

(text-style:"blur")[(text-colour:red)[30 minutes pass by and Jake decides to go out searching for you on his own. He finds the football within the first few minutes, but he travels in a direction that you did not, so he doesn't even find the river. Your body isn't found until a few days later when it washes up in a neighboring town. ]] [[Story 3]]

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"I HAVE A QUESTION!!!" you say, raising your pointer finger to the sky with an incredible passion. "What is your question?" Sean asks, crossing his arms. You glance around the group and realize you really only have one option here, if you want to make this work. You grab Jake by the shoulders and push him towards Sean. "[[Hey!]] What in the - "

"Seany boy!" you grunt from behind the squirmy, string bean you're shoving. "Can I take him with me?" Sean raises one eyebrow and rolls his eyes. Gesuturing to Jake, he asks, "what do you need //him// for?" You just shrug your shoulders and smile. "[[A worthy sacrifice?]]"

"I thought you're only supposed to sacrifice virgins?" Owen chimes from over by the fire, "sacrificing Jake would be the stupidest shit ever. Wouldn't that... like... cancel out the sacrifice... if you don't do it right?" [[You:]]

"No no, I don't think it would //cancel// it, persay, but it definately wouldn't work right if we need one of those virgin people. Do we even know any virgins anymore?" [[Mitch:]]

"No for real, I think Jake might be the closest thing to a virgin right now..." Mitch says, looking at the dog tags his girlfriend had made for them, longingly. "I mean look at him!" he says, gesturing his arms up and down the visual sight that is Jake, "He's //looks// like a virgin sacrafice." [[Jake (oh boy):]]

(live: 9s)+(text-size:.7)+(align:"==>")+(box:"=======XXX")[(text-colour:#0c0c88)[.[[hang on]]...]] "WHY DO WE THINK WE'RE SACRIFICING ME??" Jake screams, "AIN'T NO WAY!!" He taks off into the clearing all on his own yelling "PLEASE NO I'M JUST A LITTLE BOY"... (text-colour:grey)[(live: 5s)[And that...] (live: 7s)[Ironicly enough...] (live: 8s)[Would in fact have made him the //perfect// sacrifice...] (live: 11s)[If it were true.]] [[So run, Forest, run!]]

You run after Jake and together you quickly find Sean's football. You, of course, wrestle each other for custody of it on the walk back to the others, the (text-colour:#f3c33f)[glowing campfire] illuminating your path. You all sit back down around the fire to finally catch up on each other's lives. By the time you have finished the last of the beer and conversation, the fire has died out, only a thin line of smoke rising from the embers. You can't believe it's taken so long for you to get together with these guys after graduation. [[Story 4]]

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(go-to: "downstream")

Critiques: - more significant choices - more spooky - more variety in endings General Writing Suggestions: Jocelyn - write about a WOMAN's anguish/inner struggle

You're sure Jake will be okay on his own. He usually finds ways to entertain himself at the most inconvienet times. You start making your way back to the (link: "campsite")[(text-colour:grey)[what you //think// is the campsite, anyway]] when you start to hear a [(text-style:"shudder")[rustling noise]] coming from your left. [[Walk towards it]] [[Ignore it]]

(align:"==>")+(box:"=X")[ (text-colour:#90771d)+(text-size:.7)[[Player Info]]] (text-size:2)+(text-colour:#257e34)[Camping Trip] (text-size:.5)[(text-colour:#90771d)[Emily Krawczyk]] <hr> [[Start]]

Hey Player! Thanks for playing my game! It's simple, but I had a good time with it, so I hope you do too! I made this story in Twine, and added some fun little surprises along the way. While you're reading keep an eye out for any ''bolded '' text, it just might be a secret pathway! <hr>''//This story also contains the following potentially sensitive topics://'' (text-colour:#b31e1e)[alcoholic intoxication strong language peer pressure suspense death] You know yourself better than I do, so//'' please take care of yourself''//, Player. I hope you enjoy the (text-colour:#257e34)[Camping Trip]! [[Back]]

(go-to: "Title")

You're very bold, and you take a few steps towards the rustling. The only light around you is coming from the moon and few stars coming through the clouds, but it's just enough to barely make out a black figure shuffling around on the ground. Do you [[approach the blob]]? Or should you [[leave it be]]?

nah, it's not worth it to go chasing silly sounds when you can't even find your silly friend. you start yelling for Jake again. (text-style:"bold","emboss")["JAKE!"] (text-colour:grey)[//"Tyler?"//] It's faint, but it's so quiet around you you can tell what direction it's coming from. You start running towards his voice and within a few seconds, you collide with something a lot softer and a lot more wobbly than the trees you were worried about running into. "This is //not// the nearest bathroom." Jake says, coughing a little as he regains his balance. "You piss yourself?" "No... [[I yaked]]"

You quickly realize that the blob is getting bigger... and coming closer... and hiss- oh shit, that's a [[raccoon]]

Nah, it's a bad idea to go //towards// the silly dark blob when you can't even find your silly missing friend. You start yelling for Jake again. (text-style:"bold","emboss")["JAKE!"] (text-colour:grey)[//"Tyler?"//] It's faint, but it's so quiet around you you can tell what direction it's coming from. You start running towards his voice and within a few seconds, you collide with something a lot softer and a lot more wobbly than the trees you were worried about running into. "This is //not// the nearest bathroom." Jake says, coughing a little as he regains his balance. "You piss yourself?" "No... [[I yaked]]"

You've pissed off a (link: "25 lb")[FAT-ASS FUCKING] RACCOON. and suddenly, you have this insatiable urge to [[run]]...

You start running, not really paying attention to direction or how you're getting from the demon on your tail. As you're running, you realize you don't really remember why you came out here anymore... and you kind of want another beer... You should probably find your way back [[to the campsite]] (text-size: .5)+(text-colour:#1c1c1c)+(text-style:"italic","fidget")[I [[Remember]]]

''Hold on...'' (live: 3s)[You don't remember which direction you came from.] (live: 4.5s)[Or what direction the campsite is in.] What direction do you go? [[North]] [[South]] [[East]] [[West]] [[Around]]

HOLY SHIT, HOW COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT JAKE???? THAT WAS THE WHOLE REASON YOU CAME OUT HERE! You start yelling his name as you're running. (text-style:"bold","emboss")["JAKE!"] (text-colour:grey)[//"Tyler?"//] It's faint, so you can't tell what direction it's really coming from, but you keep running (link: "towards")[//(text-colour:grey)[maybe?]//] it. Thankfully, you don't have to wonder for very long, because within a few seconds, you collide with something a lot bigger and a lot more wobbly than the raccoon. //What in the [[hell]]?//

"This is //not// the nearest bathroom." Jake says, coughing a little as he regains his balance. HOW COULD FORGET ABOUT JAKE AND THEN PROCEED TO ALMOST KNOCK HIM OVER?? You are a questionable friend in this moment, but you now have more questions for Jake after what he just said. "What do you mean, you piss yourself?" you ask. "No..." Jake pauses," hanging his head a little, "[[I yaked]]".

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You point your finger outward and spin around until you're not even sure where your feet are. This. This is the way. You can //feel// it in your soul. The ground beneath your feet is getting a bit rockier than you remember it being... but then again you could be coming from a completely different side of the park for all you know! Can you hear [[water]]?

''Pause:'' <hr>(live: 2s)[Player...] (live: 3.5s)[Sweetie...] (live: 5s)[Tyler doesn't even know why he's out here right now...] (live: 8s)[...] (live: 10s)[He definitely doesn't know what direction that is...] <hr>(live: 13s)[Lets try this again...] [[Resume:]]

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You don't remember there being a river this close to the park, but soon you are certain you hear the rushing water of a flowing river. You can't even see it yet, or even a reflection of the moon against any water, but the roar of the current alone is enough to identify it. The light from the moon does illuminate the trees above a little, but that only casts more shadows on the ground. The shadows mixed with the lack of (link:"(text-colour:cyan)[balance]")[(text-colour:grey)[//kinda important//]], (link:"(text-colour:cyan)[coordination]")[(text-colour:grey)[//also kinda important//]], and (link:"(text-colour:cyan)[clear vision]")[(text-colour:grey)[//probably the MOST important, if you had to argue//]], made it incredibly easy for you to step on a loose stone in the path and S (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[L] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXX====")[I] (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXX=======")[D] (align:"<==")+(box:"==XXXXX===")[E] [[down the bluff]].

The decline is far steeper than you thought, and you're unable to catch your footing on the ground. You desperately grasp out for any branch or tree-limb you can to stop yourself, but they are all too fragile, and slip from your fingers the second you reach to grab them. You're falling (text-colour:red)[''too fast''] to [[save yourself]].

The current pulls your tumbling body into the water and moves (text-colour:red)[''too swiftly''] for you to gain control once you've [[gone under]].

(text-style:"blur")[(text-colour:red)[It's been hours since you left the campsite, and eventually Jake finds his way back to the others. After exchanging puzzled looks, they all decide to go out searching for you. They leave the campsite from the opposite side you did, so they never even find the river, much less you. Your body isn't found until a 2 days later when it washes up in a neighboring town. ]] [[Story 5]]

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You: "that's the nastiest looking thing I've ever seen" [[Sean:]]

Sean throws the whole honey bottle at your chest. Who knew plastic bears could bruise your sternum? Definitely [[not you]].

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Looking out into the clearing

Pause: <hr> Player, think about this for a second, just for fun: Out of the 5 boys, which one would //you// sacrifice? [[1. Tyler]] [[2. Jake]] [[3. Mitch]] [[4. Owen]] [[5. Sean]] [[6. All of them]] [[7. None, killing is wrong]]

UGH... lame. you can go back to where you were; no further questions. <hr> [[Back to the Story...]]

(text-size: 4)+(text-color:red)[**NO**] (text-style:"bold","emboss","rumble")[(text-color:red)[**WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT???**]] [[next]]

Little did you know, Owen placed a bet with Sean that something would happen to Mitch on the trip. Owen won $20 because of you. <hr> You can go back to [[where you were]] now, Player!

Honestly, this would be my choice so lets [[roll with it]]...

Mitch kills him. You'd never guess it but Mitch has a Concealed Carry license, and he's always got that thang on him, you know? This time, Owen was a little //too right//... shocker... it //was also// over a bet. RIP Owen [[Back to my story!!!]]

I like you. Let's [[try that]]...

With all the boys gone, all that's left is 6 beers and some camping gear. I think I saw a chunky raccoon around here somehwere, maybe he'll come by. I'll set up some chairs for us, do you wanna hang out for a bit? [[No thanks]] [[Absolutely]]

Well Tyler //is// you... in case you forgot... So if he's dead, so is your story. Kowa-bummer :( [[Story 6]]

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Fine, be that way. More beer for me. <hr> I'll just put you back where you were [[in the story]].

OH MY GOSH YAY!! This is so exciting!! On a scale of (link: "1")[(text-colour:grey)[//I am the rock that Patrick Star lives under, I have no emotion//]]-(link: "10")[(text-colour:grey)[//you've never been more excited for anything in your whole life//]] how excited would you say you are right now? [[1.]] [[2.]] [[3.]] [[4.]] [[5.]] [[6.]] [[7.]] [[8.]] [[9.]] [[10.]]

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there is no way you're that excited for a random game. [[I am]] [[I'm not]]

See, now why would you stay and hang out if you're not excited about it? I feel like that's unkind, and because of this, you are being banished back to the part in the story where you would've gone to next if you didn't take this detour. That means you'll have to do the whole story again to get here, if you remember it. You should've been more excited. [[I'm sorry]]

Yea, you should be. <hr> [[#You'veBeenBanished]]

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he is a BABY boy and should be protected at all costs. I feel it is my creative responsibility to end your story after that decision actually. You're done. [[Story 8]]

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I guess I'll take it. I mean I havent even talked about any activities we could do or anything... and now I'm kind of rambling... oh goodness... Do you still want to [[stay]] and play a game? Or would you want to [[leave]] and go back to the story?

Ahh!! I'm so glad you're so excited!! (display: "game info")

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Okay, onto the game! Just a super quick one to see if we're on the same wavelength. I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 10, do you think you can guess it? [[won]] [[too]] [[tree]] [[fore]] [[hive]] [[sticks]] [[heaven]] [[ate]] [[nein]] [[TEN]]

That's okay, I'm glad you stopped by anyway :) I'll put you back in the story where you would have gone next! <hr> [[Let's resume]]

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Let's see what's going to happen... "With Sean out of the picture... (link: "What Happens??") [the evening goes perfectly.] [[You're kidding..]]

**Events That Do Not Occur Without Sean** <hr> // - Jake Gone Missing - Tyler Dead River - Loser Drink Lost - Last Last Bet - No No Honey // None of these are good options. You made the right choice. [[Story 18]]

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THE NUMBER WAS 2!!! (LIVE: 2S)[GOOD JOB!!] )(LIVE: 4S)[YOU'RE SO SMART :)]

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WOMP WOMP you didn't guess it :( that's okay though, you have a story to finish! Let me put you back where you should be... <hr> [[Let's go!!!]]

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okay, okay... cool your jets man. <hr> (display:

(live: 2s)[Oh...] (live: 3.5s)[Well alrighty then I guess...] (live: 5s)[Okay, onto the game! Just a super quick one to see if we're on the same wavelength. I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 10, do you think you can guess it? [[won.]] [[too.]] [[tree.]] [[fore.]] [[hive.]] [[sticks.]] [[heaven.]] [[ate.]] [[nein.]] [[TEN.]] ]

OH (LIVE: 2.5S)[OKAY :D] (Live: 4s)[go be a liar somewhere else, we're done here.] [[Story 12]]

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I liked tree. Good job. This is a very random storyline to add in, so lets get you back to your place in your story <hr> [[back to your place]]

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Okay, onto the game! Just a super quick one to see if we're on the same wavelength. I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 10, do you think you can guess it? [[Won]] [[Too]] [[Tree]] [[Fore]] [[Hive]] [[Sticks]] [[Heaven]] [[Ate]] [[Nein]] [[ten]]

That wasn't the number i was thinking, but I'll let you think you were close. I'll let you go back to your story now... [[sad day]]...

WOOOOOOOOOOO You got it!!!! That's delightful :) I hope you enjoyed the little game! It's time for you to finish your story though, so lets get you [[back to it]]...

That wasn't the number i was thinking, but I'll let you think you were close. I'll let you go back to your story now... [[sad day]]...

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<hr> You run after Jake and together you quickly find Sean's football. You, of course, wrestle each other for custody of it on the walk back to the others, the (text-colour:#f3c33f)[glowing campfire] illuminating your path. You all sit back down around the fire to finally catch up on each other's lives. By the time you have finished the last of the beer and conversation, the fire has died out, only a thin line of smoke rising from the embers. You can't believe it's taken so long for you to get together with these guys after graduation. [[Story 15]]

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okay so picking numbers isn't your strong suit, that's okay i guess... We'll just put you back where [[you belong]] in the story (live: 2.7s)[that might be better]

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