TAKE THE LONG ROUTE==>

Okay, that's a good idea. better safe than sorry, really.

The house itself makes you feel uncomfortable, in a strange way. It's set up in a strange way, clusters of rooms almost form chambers, labyrinthine halways connecting the chambers. The hallways are dark and windowless, giving off the impression of sealed tombs, or deep caverns, isolated from the world. The rooms on the other hand, have massive, almost cathedral-like windows, which show the mist filled, dark forests, which are so menacing, that they almost seem comical. 

You and Alex are walking down a corridor at present. The walls are lined with photographs of Wren's grandfather, along with two young girls, one of which was her mother. The other, you realize, must be Alex's mom. You glance at him quickly. He sees you look, and gives an uneasy approximation of a smile.

Alex: Uh... You know where you're going, yeah?

YOU: Of course. We are taking a slight detour, to avoid your grandfather. He... No offense, I am certain he is different once you get to know him. But he does actually frighten me.

Alex: No, yeah, he's terrifying. Old.. uh... Old pops is creepy.

YOU: Do you call him that?

Alex: Hmm? Pops? No... Haha. No. 

There is an uncomfortable silence.

Alex: I was actually hoping to like him. It's always just been me and my mom, I though it'd be cool to have, uh, not a father, but a kind of father-adjacent figure in my life. But he's... Basically Count Dracula, minus the charm, so that didn't work out.

YOU: You think he is a vampire? That actually makes perfect sense.

He makes a face, maybe a smile, maybe a frown.

Alex: No, I don't think he's a vampire. I don't believe in monsters. I believe that he's a bitter, miserable old man.

He spits a little while saying this, and you privately feel kind of terrible about misreading his earlier statement. A few minutes pass in silence.

Alex: So, your hair...

YOU: Green. Dyed. I thought it would look cool.

Alex: No, it rocks. It's just interesting. Striking. I like it, I'm sorry.

YOU: No, it is fine. It looks good, you are correct. Anyway, there is a few more weeks before school start, that is when I will learn what my classmates think about it. I am very afraid.

You stop. You can see Wren's door. She's probably in there, but for the first time, you realize that isn't certain.

What do you do next? 

OPEN THE DOOR==>

You slowly open the door, and then breathe a sigh of relief. She's there. 

Her room is there, almost as familiar as your own, though entirely different. Her room is, in contrast to yours, incredibly tidy. It has yellow walls, and a few posters and pictures of Wren, and a few of you, hanging on long iron nails.

She's laying on her bed, not in it, she's on top of the covers, and she has her headphones on. Her eyes are closed tight.

YOU: Hey, Wren!

She doesn't hear you.

YOU: WREN!

Oh, she's asleep. You turn to Alex.

YOU: I think she is sleeping.

Alex: Uh... Looks to be that way. Do you wanna wake her, or would that tick her off?

YOU: It would likely tick her off, but I am going to do it anyway. 

You walk over to her, and shake her arm.

Her eyes open suddenly.

Wren: Ugh... Dee? Is that you?

She looks you in the eyes. She really does look a lot like her cousin, you think. Dark brown hair, a bird-like nose. But she wears round glasses, and smiles less often. But when she does, it lights your day up. She's wearing a dark brown sweater, and khaki pants. 

You realize you've been staring into her eyes for a really long time. You stammer something inane, and look away.

Wren: Heh. Hi, Dee. I was just having a really weird dream. It felt really real.... Really real. Huh, two words that sound stupid together.

YOU: Wren! Hello, it is very good to see you! I believe you have met Alex!

You gesture weakly toward him.

Wren: Well, yes, I have actually met my own cousin. Are you feeling okay?

You realize what it is that's making you feel so weird. The same odd feelings and thoughts you were having before. Odd things that don't seem to fit into your head. Unnatural feelings.

YOU: Yes! I am okay, but I should ask you something. Was there an alien in your dream?

Wren: Hmm? No, it was actually a little man in a green suit, of all things! But... Wait, are you having the alien dreams again? I hoped you wouldn't have them again... Are you feeling okay?

What do you do next? 

EXPLAIN DREAMS==>

You tell Alex and Wren everything about the strange Alien dreams you've been having.

Wren: Wait, so... You don't remember having the dreams before?

YOU: Everybody keeps asking me that! Did I have these dreams often?

Wren: Yeah, you would have them almost every night for a month or so, and then they'd disappear.

YOU: Ugh... I do not know why I cannot remember this?

Wren: Well... I don't really believe in the supernatural, but... It could be real. I guess? More likely it's a persistant delusion.

YOU: Are you saying that I might be crazy?

Wren: I wouldn't use that word, but... 

You turn to look at Alex, who has just been staring blankly.

YOU: I am sorry Alex, this must be an awful first impression of us. We are normally much cooler, I promise!

Alex: Are you, really?

YOU: .... 

YOU: No :/

Alex laughs.

Alex: Look, this is just... Really weird. You're all really weird. Lakewood wasn't like this, something must be wrong with this town.

Wren: Oh, yeah, definitely. You know why the town's called Emerald Springs?

Alex: Why?

Wren: There are actual green rivers. 

Alex: ... What? 

Wren: It's algae, or at least that's the current theory. 

Alex: Man, I gotta see that. Hey, Diana, you wanna go check that out?

Diana: That might actually be good, Dee. Get your mind off things. Up to you.

What do you do? 

AGREE==>

YOU: Okay, sure. Let us show Alex the rivers. It will be interesting at least. 

Wren: Yeah! This'll be fun, Dee!

Wren joined your party!

Wren, Alex, and you leave Wren's room, somewhat awkwardly. The dark, barely lit hallways feel very cramped, but you continue walking anyway. Nobody is talking, and it seems kind of awkward. You decide to try and start a conversation. 

YOU: Well, uh... Alex! Did you know that there is a mysterious element to the very rivers we are going to visit?

Alex: Can't say I did.

YOU: Yes, well... Nobody is entirely sure why the rivers are green.

Wren: Ugghhh... Dee, don't spread your weird theories to Alex, please...

YOU: You see Alex, the water samples are very irregular-

Wren: Algae.

YOU: Nobody is absolutely certain what exactly makes the river water that color-

Wren: The algae.

YOU: The water is.. oddly thick, as if something other than water is in the rivers-

Wren: Right, the algae.

YOU: Drinking the water can result in erratic behaviors and hallucinations-

Wren: Because of the algae.

Wren stops suddenly. You and Alex do as well, and you hear the sound of creaking footsteps. A shadow is cast over you...

Alex: I think it's

Wren: Grandpa. He's nearby.

What do you do? 

i just accidently closed this comment, and deleted the entire turn :( 

ill write it tomorrow, im currently in mourning 

HIDE BEHIND WREN==>

You run to hide behind Wren, or really below her, because... She is tall. Wow, she's really tall. You knew that, but it suprises you anyway. She turns back, and kind of glares at you, but in her way where you know she isn't really upset. You an her devised this special glare after she realized you couldn't discern whether she was really angry or not.

Her Grandfather is rounding the corner now, and you get a good look at him. He is old, he looks almost ancient, and he's looking blankly in your party's general direction, his head tilted to the side and his eyes hidden behind the almost blank lenses of his wire glasses. His arms, thin and ropy, sway at his sides. He suddenly pulls his mouth into a ghastly approximation of a smile, and speaks in his low, leathery voice.

Grandpa: Going out? 

Wren: Yep.

Alex: ...

He turns to Alex.

Granpa: And you're going out too, boy?

Alex: ...

He makes an almost melodramatic hand gesture.

Grandpa: You don't like me? It pains my soul....  I suppose you're going out to explore, or kick stray cats, or... Do whatever it is small children do. Whatever. I don't care. 

He stares blankly, still attempting to smile. You wonder if his face got stuck like that.

Alex: ...

Grandpa: Ah, but wait. Look, there's the little one. Hiding behind Wren.

You make a kind of high pitched squeaking sound.

Grandpa: Hm. What seems to be the problem?

YOU: (you frighten me)

Grandpa: Hmm. You know what? I don't care all that much.

He smiles again, and leaves.

What do you do next? 

Nervously siddle out from behind Wren, and bolt to the front door