Chapter Text
The Narrator
You’re on a path in the woods. And at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of the cabin is a Princess.
You’re here to slay her. If you don’t, it will be the end of the world.
The Narrator
Uh- Yes, a Princess. Although, while it’s good to be prepared, there’s no need to spend more time outside. The Princess is not a problem for the likes of you.
The Narrator
A warning, before you go any further…
She will lie, she will cheat, and she will do everything in her power to stop you from slaying her. Don’t believe a word she says.
Voice of the Hero
We’re not going to go through with this, right? She’s a princess. We’re supposed to save princesses, not slay them.
The Narrator
Ignore him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
The Narrator
The interior of the cabin is almost entirely bare. The air is stale and musty and the floor and walls are painted in a fine layer of dust. The only furniture of note is a plain wooden table. Perched on that table is a pristine blade.
The blade is your implement. You’ll need it if you want to do this right.
The Narrator
You take the blade from the table. It’d be rather difficult to slay the Princess and save the world without it.
The Narrator
The door to the basement creaks open, revealing a staircase faintly illuminated by an unseen light in the room below. This is an oppressive place. The air feels heavy and damp, a hint of rot filtering from the ancient wood. If the Princess really lives here, slaying her is probably doing her a favor.
Her voice carries up the stairs.
Who’s there?
Voice of the Hero
She sounds… dangerous… It’s almost as if she’s the one in charge down here.
The Narrator
Don’t let it fool you. It’s all part of the manipulation.
Don’t be a stranger. Come downstairs and let me take a good look at you.
The Narrator
You make your way down the- And then you stop.
The Narrator
If you do your job right, she won’t be upset anymore.
The Narrator
You gingerly place the blade on the basement stairs, careful not to make any sound as to alert the Princess. I sure hope you know what you’re doing.
Voice of the Hero
It’s reasonable. We can decide what we want to do after we talk with her. Maybe she really is a monster. But killing someone in cold blood isn’t very becoming of us.
The Narrator
You walk down the stairs and lock eyes with the Princess. There’s a heavy chain around her wrist, binding her to the far wall of the basement.
Voice of the Hero
She’s coldly beautiful… Is she really a threat to the world?
The Narrator
Focus on the task at hand.
And there you are.
The Narrator
She squints at you.
So what are you doing here?
The Narrator
The Princess raises an eyebrow.
To…?
What?
Voice of the Hero
That seems like a pretty good compromise. We don’t have to become murderers and she gets to live.
The Narrator
Leaving her alive is too risky. If you don’t deal with her soon, she will find a way out.
One way or another, I’m going to find a way out of here. You can make it easier for both of us if you help.
And if you don’t…
I can promise that you’ll come to regret that decision.
The Narrator
You have to make a choice. Let’s hope for all our sakes it’s the right one.
The Narrator
I know you think this is a fair compromise, but it isn’t. No one wins here.
Voice of the Hero
It’s a chance we’ll have to take. We can make this work.
You’re making a mistake.
The Narrator
Regardless of any sense, you dash up the stairs and almost trip on your blade. As if on instinct, you pick it up and continue fleeing.
It won’t be long before I slip these chains. And once I’m out of here, there will be hell to pay for leaving me behind.
Voice of the Hero
‘Slip these chains?’ She can’t, right? She needed our help to get out of here. But do you hear the conviction in her voice? I don’t think she’s bluffing.
The Narrator
Either way, she dropped her mask, didn’t she? You can still turn around and finish the job.
The Narrator
You’ll be the death of all of us, but fine. Have it your way.
You close the basement door, and lock it. Then quickly make your way to the cabin door, eager to leave.
Voice of the Hero
Okay. We can make this work.
The Narrator
You settle in against the far wall to watch the basement door.
It isn’t long before you start to drift off, your eyelids heavy with fatigue. But sleep doesn’t come. Instead your rest is broken by a piercing, wailing voice calling out to you from the other side of the door.
I know you’re still there. Why don’t you make things easier on yourself and let me out?
It’s not like this little door’ll hold for very long anyways… and it’s probably a good idea to try and get back on my good side.
Voice of the Hero
She sounds… terrifying. Like she’s less of the Princess you saw and more like something out of a nightmare.
The Narrator
As she violently rattles the door, you do your best to shut her out of your mind.
When I get out of here I’m going to pick you apart piece by piece. I won’t forget what you did, and I’ll never forgive it.
You don’t know the kind of enemy you’ve made tonight.
Voice of the Hero
It doesn’t sound like she’s getting any weaker…
The Narrator
No. It doesn’t.
I’ve done my waiting. I’m not going to wait anymore than I have to.
Voice of the Hero
Just ignore her. Maybe the banging and wailing will stop if you just don’t pay attention to it.
The Narrator
You put the Princess’ threats out of your mind as best as you can and huddle up against the wall.
...
The Narrator
You jolt awake in the middle of the night to silence in the cabin. The ruckus has stopped, and the door to the basement is ajar, its lock broken and the table shoved out the way.
Voice of the Hero
Where is she?
Thanks for helping me out of that awful basement.
The Narrator
You try and stumble to your feet, but as the Princess draws near, it’s as though your body simply stops working.
It isn’t all at once. The paralysis comes in waves. First your toes go numb, and then your feet, and then your legs. You lie prone on the floor of the cabin, unable to do anything but witness her approach.
Voice of the Hero
Whose side are you on!?
The Narrator
Yours, of course. But I have a duty to uphold the truth. Lying about the facts of the situation doesn’t change them.
So helpless. I can take my time with you, can’t I?
The Narrator
She steps closer, one silent footfall at a time, cocking her head in curiosity as you feel your organs shutting down one by one.
Or maybe I can’t take my time with you. You don’t look well. A little green around the gills…
What a shame. If you’d only helped me get out of here. We could have done such wonderful things together.
The Narrator
Your lungs stop drawing in breath, and your heart freezes in your chest. You have seconds left.
I’d say better luck next time, but we both know that this is the end, don’t we?
Voice of the Hero
It can’t be. This can’t actually be how everything ends…
The Narrator
I’m sorry, but it is.
Everything goes dark, and you die.