just a normal hike

You slowly open your eyes, your memory foggy. . . . [[Sit up]]

“Man, you must’ve hit your head too haha! Did you forget me too, your best friend?? Hahahaha come on, let's keep going.” [[...]] [[Check your phone]]

Your friend notices and comes to check on you “Are you ok? You fell pretty hard, I thought you were a goner! Well. I’m glad you seem to be ok!” [[What happened?]] [[Look around]]

You see trees all around. A few feet from you is a paved path that leads up an incline. You are dressed in athletic gear, and so is your friend. You must’ve been hiking and fallen? [[...]] [[Check your phone]]

“Let’s go!! We’ve lost enough time already, y’know with you taking a nap for a while” [[A nap?? How long was I out? How did I fall?]] [[Ok. Let’s go]]

“Uhhh I don’t know? 10 minutes?? I didn’t see, you probably just slipped. Let’s keep moving.” [[Ok. Let’s go]] [[ Keep prying for information]]

“Yesss, the reviews all said the view at the top is to die for!!” . . . You continue up the trail, following your friend who is overwhelmingly eager and energetic. “Ooh look! Wild berries!! Do you think they’re safe to eat?? Didn’t you have that foraging book with you?” [[Check backpack]] [[No, I forgot it]]

What do you mean you don't know?? I passed out and you seem very unbothered... "Dude, you're literally freaking out over nothing. Can we please keep going?" [[Ok. Let’s go]] [[No. This doesn't feel right.]]

"OH MY GOD. You're SO annoying. What do you want me to say?! I didn't see, sorry?!" [[Why are you getting so mad?]]

Your friend storms off, disappearring around a curve in the hike. Why did he blow up like that? You look around you and finally move to stand up, your head pulsing in pain and your body aching. As you get up you hear footsteps rapidly approaching. [[Look up]]

"I SHOULD'VE DONE THIS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH THIS BULLSHIT!" In a matter of seconds, your "friend" has closed the distance between you, launching a large rock directly at you. It knocks the wind out of you and sends you backwards and off the path. As you tumble down the mountain, the pain suddenly ceases to feel so painful and your vision goes black. [[Try again|Just a normal hike...]]

“Nice, let me see it!” He flips through the pages until settling on a page. "It says they're safe! You should try some!!" [[What the hell? No...]] [[Okay!]]

"Hm. Bummer. I'm pretty sure it's probably fine though. Dare you to try some!!!" [[What the hell? No...]] [[Okay!]]

"Okay, fine! Whatever... Let's go." [[Keep going]]

"Ha! Um, yeah! I heard these are really good, try a few!!" [[Try some berries]]

You keep walking along the trail. The summit is just around the corner. "Well, my friend, it's been a good one huh? We're almost done..." [[(Say nothing)]] [[Yeah, it's been a great hike]]

You eat a small handful of berries. They are like nothing you ever tasted before. Slightly acidic like pineapple, with a lightly sweet profile. They have crunchy seeds within. [[They're tasty! You should try some!]]

"Oh um.. I'd rather not! Those are incredibly poisonous. You sure made this easy for me, thanks!" [[What?!]]

"You really thought you just slipped? I pushed you! It just didn't work out as well as I'd hoped. But now these berries should take effect any moment and your heart rate will slow until you lose consciousness and go. Bye!" Your "friend" turns on his heels and begins to head down the mountain. You can't believe what you're hearing. Your mind is racing while your world starts to slow down. You feel sluggish, the weight of gravity suddenly impossible to ignore. You hear your heartbeat in your ears as your knees give out and, unable to catch youself, you fall to the ground. Your vision blurs, then darkens and after what seems like hours, you see yourself walking towards a warm, white light. [[Try again|Just a normal hike...]]

"It'll be even better when we get to the top!!" [[Hike to the top]]

"... Alright well I guess I'm the only one who's enjoying this. Fine by me." [[Hike to the top]]

You reach the final steps before the top. Your whole body shivers, excited. "After you," your friend motions for you to go first. "I've seen it many times, you should get the first look." [[Go ahead first]] [[Let your friend lead]]

"Don't be stubborn, I'm doing something nice. Go!" [[Go ahead first]] [[Insist he goes before you]]

You step up to the summit. You are blown away by the sight. [[Look at the view]]

"OH MY GOD, GO!" Your friend pushes you the final way. You stumble, suddenly very aware that your body is still in pain. You're annoyed and confused at your friends actions- but quickly forget once you notice the incredible view. [[Look at the view]]

The sky seems to go on forever. The sun shines through the few clouds that float gracefully on the breeze, and reflects off the river below. You know how large the river is in reality, but from this height it looks barely thicker than the width of your palm. A warm wind blows past you just as the cloud cover passes, allowing the sunlight to caress your skin. It's truly such a beautiful day. "It's incredible, isn't it?" [[Keep taking in the view]] [[Turn to respond]]

"You know, this has always been my favorite hike." You can hear your friend's footsteps approaching. "I'm really glad you're here with me." [[Listen and continue taking in the view]] [[Turn to respond]]

You turn you head and suddenly your friend is rushing at you. [[Hesitate]] [[Brace yourself]]

"And now, this will make it even better." Your "friend" suddenly knocks into you with full force, sending you rolling with such strong momentum that you are unable to stop yourself. You slide off the edge of the mountain, spinning and knocking into everything on the way down. As you tumble down the mountain, the pain suddenly ceases to feel so painful and your vision goes black. [[Try again|Just a normal hike...]]

Your "friend" knocks into you with full force, sending you rolling with such strong momentum that you are unable to stop yourself. You slide off the edge of the mountain, spinning and knocking into everything on the way down. As you tumble down the mountain, the pain suddenly ceases to feel so painful and your vision goes black. [[Try again|Just a normal hike...]]

Your "friend" attempts to push you, but you hold your stance. He slips, knocking both of you off balance on rolling towards the edge of the mounatin. You both struggle, wrestling eerily close to the cliff. "YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN EYESORE TO ME AND NOW YOU'RE MAKING THIS DIFFICULT TOO?! JUST DIE ALREADY!!!" [[Why are you doing this? I don't understand]] [[Try to stand]]

"Because-" He lunges to grab your arm, but misses. "You've always gotten-" You use your free arm to shove his shoulder in an attempt to get him off you. "EVERYTHING!" He loses his grip just long enough for you push him off. "And not only that," he gasps, "but you got the girl I liked too!" "GET OUT OF MY LIFEEEEE!!!" Your "friend" make one last deperate attempt to push you off that mountain, jumping at you. [[Lunge towards him]] [[Run away]]

You try to stand up but in the process your "friend" catches onto your leg and you fall. Your "friend" kicks you until you can no longer move, and rolls you to the edge of the cliff. "The best part about this- I'm gonna make it look like an accident," he maliciously whispers at you. "Get out of my sight." He push your limp body down the mountain with one final kick. As you tumble down the mountain, the pain suddenly ceases to feel so painful and your vision goes black. [[Try again|Just a normal hike...]]

You lunge at your "friend" and you collide in a mess of arms and legs. As the struggle continues, fists flying and legs kicking, you both roll closer toward the cliff. In a matter of moments- the conflict ends. The ground beneath you is no longer there. You reach for anything to grab onto, anything that will save you from a fate that seems inevitable. Your hand grasps onto a boulder that juts out of the face of the cliff, a couple feet below the edge. You swing your other arm around the boulder for a better grip, just now registering a blood-curdling scream that seems to be getting further and further from you. You muster every last bit of strength to get yourself back up, collapsing on you reach solid ground once again. The sun continues to shine, unaware, or perhaps it simply doesn't care for the events that just transpired. Somehow, you survived what was supposed to be just a normal hike. [[Play again|Just a normal hike...]]

You turn to run in the opposite direction, but your "friend" catches onto your leg and you fall. Your "friend" kicks you until you can no longer move, and rolls you to the edge of the cliff. "The best part about this- I'm gonna make it look like an accident," he maliciously whispers at you. "Get out of my sight." He push your limp body down the mountain with one final kick. As you tumble down the mountain, the pain suddenly ceases to feel so painful and your vision goes black. [[Try again|Just a normal hike...]]

No service. Figures. You scroll through your messages to see if anything or anyone sounds familiar. One unread message from a person with an obnoxious amount of heart emojis next to their name. The message reads: love you, be safe! see u tonight The back of your head throbs. What bad luck. Your body hurts, but it’s not unbearable. [[...]]