story

welcome, You will be playing as Claude Lavigne the "ghost". You will make desisions that will alter his future. But first you must learn about his past. [[start->intro1]]

(text-style:"italic")[November 3rd, 1941 My hand was resting on the dirty countertop, the broken tiles below my feet felt smooth. Elisa and I were having our usual conversation on what we would make for supper. It’s not like we had many options. The occupation had meant our food was to be rationed so we only had a loaf of bread and two potatoes. Still, we liked to imagine cooking glorious meals that would thrill our taste buds. We ceased our dreaming and I began to prepare the food, while Elisa went to set the table. We liked eating on the balcony, it allowed us to watch the still bustling streets of Paris while breathing the soot-filled air. It was our favorite thing to do together. I started cutting the potatoes but Elisa ran up and gave me a hug. At first, I was calm but that quickly changed. She told me to stay calm, act normal, and that they’re watching us. My heart had skipped a few beats. I asked her if she was sure but deep down I knew she was right. I told her to go, and to meet me at the Fontaine Saint-Michel tomorrow at 3:15. She reached behind and unclasped her grandmother’s necklace, she took my hand and placed it on my soft palm. She said tomorrow I would give it back to her. I smiled and acknowledged. She descended down the stairs and eventually moved out of the door, I peered through the window and saw her get far past the courtyard. Once she was out of sight I stared down and slowly brushed my finger against the cold oval locket. I remember as I heard the stomping of boots coming from the stairwell, that everything would be okay because she would be safe. ] [[continue->1]]

it's october 31st and the year is 2018, It's been 77 years since the day I died. [[flashback->1950's]]

(text-style:"italic")[October 31st 1951 I woke up from what felt like a long slumber, I did not know where I was nor did I know what I was, I looked down and all I saw was bones. All I was, was bones. I was in some sort of storage container with a label stamped on it big and bold "NEW YORK". My english skills were not so good but I knew of the city. But that didn't matter, all I could think about was if Elisa was ok. I had a lot of time to think but I had concluded even if I could find her, she couldn't see my current state and as much as it pained me I needed her to think I was dead. I later learned that I was indeed dead and it had been about a decade since my passing, but also that I was a ghost of some kind inhabited in a finicky decoration.] [[start->current time in basement]]

(text-style:"bold")[Journal] (text-style:"italic")[September 22nd 1938, today I met the most wonderful girl, Her name is Elisa and tommorow I will ask her if she'd like to go out with me. I have this whole plan to take her to the Maison Dorée and then take her dancing. Hopefully she sees me the way I see her. September 23 1938, Yesterday Elisa and I went out and had dinner. She has the most beautiful smile. We went to an upbeat elderly resturant which Elisa thought was enchanting. I had the Coq Au vin, it reminds me of my late mother and Elisa to my bewilderment said she had a similer memory with her father. September 3rd 1939, This morning France declared war on Germany, I don't know what is too come but I am ready to protect the country, Elisa wishes she could fight too. The law doesn't agree with her. I'm set to be drafted and maybe shipped out. I worry we are entering a much darker and boundless future.] [[continue->intro]]

Many years have passed since then. I have been relocated a few times over 70 years. But Now I'm in a residential home in a suburb called Verford. I have learned many things over my long afterlife. The most importent being the American tradition of Halloween, which apparently the only day of the year that I'm conscious. I have just woken up in what I can recognize is a renovated home, probably the sign of new owners. Whenever I move I always check if I still have her necklace. Thankfully I still have it, it reminds me of when living wasn't painful and fate was changable. [[look around->look around]] [[open the necklaces locket->Necklace]]

I begin to examine the room, weirdly I'm the only decoration inside. The daylight is elegantly shining through the window. There are boxes layed out on the floor messily. My head sprints up, I hear a voice. [[continue->listen]]

I open up the locket and stare into the eyes of the love of my life. She looks sad but hopeful. Hopeful that a better destiny will come to her. I never had her outlook. Looking at the locket reminds me of one of my favorite memories with her, walking through the nightime streets of Paris laughing. That was before the war and now I feel voiceless. <img src="https://d20kqt4x4odakd.cloudfront.net/unsafe/1350x1350/filters:quality(100):rotate(0)/nplat-v2-assets/xnduwm4bbxz3hoiqejbsd8t5wymz", width=300, height=300></img> My head sprints up, I hear a voice. [[continue->listen]]

I try to stay as still as possible, A young girl runs down the stairs. she begins rummaging through boxes pulling out costumes. she gets closer to me and I try to stay as still as possible. she's about a foot away from me now, it almost looks like she's sizing me up. no living person has ever noticed me, she winces and asks "how are you alive?!" [[React->react]] [[Stay still->still]]

My jaw falls to the floor, she winces a little but relaxes. she looks about ten years old, she has brown hair and dark green eyes. I can't say anything, nobody has talked to me in years. "who are you?" is her first question. [[A vision of your imagination->name2]] [[My name is Claude->name1]]

I try to act like a statue but her face tells me she's not buying my plan. She doesn't say anything for a moment but then mutters out " you're moving, stupid!" I relax my bones at take a good look at her, she looks about ten years old, brown hair and blue eyes. i relize it's my turn to respond, "my apolagizes, young girl, I was not expecting you to communicate with me." "my name is Ellie Brown mister boney" I nod in acknowledgement and utter out "my name is Claude, and you don't seem to be scared of me, may I ask why?" She simply answers with a "no" "Mister Claude, are you a real person" [[No,I'm dead man->dead man]] [[I used to be->used to be]]

"I'm just a vision in your imagination" "I don't think so, are you a ghost?" she jumps around excidingly "maybe, to be honest with you I don't know" if I could smile I would. "what's your name young girl, mine is Claude." "Ellie" My mind drifts to think what life would be if I went down a different path, maybe I wouldn't have died so young and maybe I could have a chance of a happy ending after the war. My thought train was interupted, "will you help me with my costume?" "Sure." This reminds me of my mother helping me prepare my clothes for my first day of studying. It makes me wonder where her family is. she moves back to choosing a costume She holds up the costumes, "ghost, butterfly or dragon?" [[Ghost->ghost]] [[Butterfly->butterfly]] [[Dragon->dragon]]

"My name is Claude Lavigne. Who are you?" "My name is Ellie Brown Mister Claude." There is a smile forming on her face. "are you a ghost?" she jumps around excidingly. "maybe, to be honest with you I don't know" if I could smile to reassure her I would. My mind drifts to think what life would be if I went down a different path, maybe I wouldn't have died so young and maybe I could have a chance of a happy ending after the war. My thought train was interupted, "Mister Claude would you help me with my costume?" "Sure" This reminds me of my mother helping me prepare my clothes for my first day of studying. It makes me wonder where her family is. she moves back to choosing a costume She holds up the costumes, "ghost, butterfly or dragon?" [[Ghost->ghost]] [[Butterfly->butterfly]] [[Dragon->dragon]]

"I'm a ghost I think, inhabited in a reflection of american tradition only to be alive on october 31st every year." "huh, cool" Ellie said "did you do anything intresting?"all I could say was "I was a soldier" she nodded and moved on to prepare her costume. My mind drifts to think what life would be if I went down a different path, maybe I wouldn't have died so young and maybe I could have a chance of a happy ending after the war. My thought train was interupted, She holds up to costumes, "ghost, butterfly or dragon?" I was puzzled but I figured I should answer... [[Ghost->ghost]] [[Butterfly->butterfly]] [[Dragon->dragon]]

"that was someone I used to be, I'm afraid now I can't associate myself with that man. I am some sort of ghost inhabited in this statuesque body. I don't know why but i'm only consious on this day every year." "who were you?" Ellie asks with genuine curiosity, all I can say is "a soldier" I figure this way I don't have to tell this child my battered story. My mind drifts to think what life would be if I went down a different path, maybe I wouldn't have died so young and maybe I could have a chance of a happy ending after the war. My thought train was interupted, She holds up three costumes, "ghost, butterfly or dragon?" I was puzzled to why she was still talking to a monsturaus being like me but I figured I should answer... [[Ghost->ghost]] [[Butterfly->butterfly]] [[Dragon->dragon]]

"Ghost" I say "Great!" she says as she rushes upstairs to go put on the costume. When Ellie returns she almost falls down the stairs with what I can see as a tablecloth with sunglasses draped over her head. "Bye bye mister Claude" [[Continue->next]] <img src="https://d20kqt4x4odakd.cloudfront.net/unsafe/1008x1350/filters:quality(100):rotate(0)/nplat-v2-assets/ejw4l3x1u2lkfffkanh5td6x0l7c", width=500, height=500></img>

"Butterfly" I say "Great!" she says as she rushes upstairs to go put on the costume. When Ellie returns she almost falls down the stairs with Purple Paper wings taped onto her back. "bye bye Mister Claude" [[Continue->next]] <img src="https://d20kqt4x4odakd.cloudfront.net/unsafe/900x1350/filters:quality(100):rotate(0)/nplat-v2-assets/gi37shiiqug093mk3rkjvf906os9",width=500, height=500></img>

"Dragon I say" "Great!" she says as she rushes upstairs to go put on the costume. When Ellie returns she almost falls down the stairs with a cardboard dragon head mounted over her neck, it wobbled back and forth as she walked towards me. "goodbye mister claude, cya later!" [[Continue->next]] <img src="https://d20kqt4x4odakd.cloudfront.net/unsafe/1430x1350/filters:quality(100):rotate(0)/nplat-v2-assets/23m4mqai8y9fjy990ggpmyg56ijg",width=500, height=500></img>

It's been about an hour since Ellie left, she reminds me a little bit of my younger sister, full of energy. Although I assume at this point my sister is either very old and mellow or.... I try to change the topic of thought, My mind drifts to the sound of celebrations outside, they have a certain aura pulling me in. What if I left, saw the world for once in 70 years. I wonder how it's changed. Around 10 years ago I was in a garage with plenty of travel magazines and I happened to spot Paris, it was quite shocking to see how much it changed. I learned about the Internet about 5 years ago, It took me the whole night to manuever through "google maps" but I was able to see that my own home was turned into an office building for some insurance company. It looked so different but in a way I could still see the outline of the bearer of my warmest memories. I haven't really had any significacant memories since I died. Maybe I should make some. I was leaning against the exit and stared out to see children running around with candy bags draped over their shoulders. Out of about 20 children at least four of them are dressed to be skeletons. Lucky that they don't know how it really feels. My boney hand reaches for the knob it creaks as confirmation that my actions do have consequence. I tell myself that I have the courage to live a little even if it's only for a night. I turn the knob and open the door, fresh air douses me and I feel like it's something new and irregular. Just that is enough to satisfy me, but I find myself wondering if I could continue and I decide I will. I will make a happy memory to overcome the dull ones. <img src="https://d20kqt4x4odakd.cloudfront.net/unsafe/1330x814/filters:quality(100):rotate(0)/nplat-v2-assets/7fiaa6sulg56ruai683gog89e8d8", width=500, height=400></img> [[Continue->trick1]]

I left the house about 15 minutes ago, so far no one has commented on my appearenced other than an elderly woman who commented on the realism of my "costume." It feels great to be in the world again. It's about 10:00 so most of the trick or treaters have retreated to bed but I'm just enjoying my time walking through the empty street. The street feels silent I can only hear the flickering of a light. My hearing is focusing on a certain sound it almost sounds like a siren call.' [[Follow the sound->sound]]

I am starting to walk toward the sound, it's taking me to a rustic home on the corner of the street, I can see something dancing in the wind only a few meters away. As I get closer I can see it's a ghost? Maybe a piece of decor like me. I get close enough and I greet the ghost with a "hello"... [[Continue->ghost1]]

I begin talking to the ghost, I was right he is like me, maybe I should ask him about his past. I was beaten because he had just asked about my old life. [[Tell him your life's story ->tell him]] [[Tell him you died young and unaccomplished->bad]]

I started to recap my life for him but he just smiled and nodded, "so you're a lost soul, just like me" he was laughing "I don't understand I'm not lost, I'm stuck." He was laughing even harder now, this could ruin my otherwise perfect night but is it worth hearing what he has to say after he finishes laughing. [[Leave->Leave]] [[stay->stay]]

I was telling him how I died young and unaccomplished, but he just smiled and nodded, "so you're a lost soul, just like me" he was laughing "I don't understand I'm not lost, I'm stuck." He was laughing even harder now, my night was perfect until this moment, should I stay? [[Leave->Leave]] [[stay->stay]]

I'm walking away now, I'm heading back to the home of the nice girl. I now know even though I'm not alive it doesn't mean that I can't live a little. October 31 2019 It's been 78 years since the day I died I wake up in Ellie's house, she greets me and we go trick or treating. How many more years will this go on. The end

I need to stay maybe this ghost knows more than he's letting on. I asked him what he was talking about and he started telling me his story, "I had a loved one like you, died saving them like you, but they died anyway. That is why I'm stuck here because I died in vain." It occurred to me that I've never known if Elisa got to the fountain... [[Flashback 2->flashback2]]

(text-style:"italic")[November 3rd, 1941 The stomping up the stairwell cut out, I heard a knock at the door. This was all I feared for the last year, I took a moment to orient myself, my hand reached for the knob, I twisted and the door opened. I saw three men all of which were wearing Leather coats and peaked hats, I had looked at the one in the center his face held no emotion. I knew who I was facing and I presumed they knew me. The leader's foot crossed the threshold into my apartment, he motioned to the man to his left. This sent the man rummaging through the home like it was a crime scene. The leader's hands were crossed behind his back he began to speak "Bonjour, Herr...." he waved his hand for me to answer "Lavigne" I replied. I noticed the man behind him keeping his hand near his holster. "Herr Lavigne, let us begin. You are aware of the petty insurrection caused by french Maquis, yes?" "yes" I quickly stated "new intellegence suggests they are simple civilians, you know this yes?" "no" I said blankly, I couldn't tell if he saw through my facade and saw the truth, the truth that Elisa and I have fought for the resistance for the last year. The truth that we have been close to death too many times to count. But in this moment I felt closer than ever. "Our further searches have led to the relization that certain french Maquisards retreat to this apartment within the hour that we track a them resurfacing" I sighed, they knew. "Herr Lavigne, I suspect you to be this person. Am I correct?" I had about 2 seconds to decide what I would say, I could lie, beg, claim this was all a mistake. I don't know what got into me but with an agressive tone to my voice I stepped forward looked into his dark eyes and said, "Yes" There was a gunshot and it was over.] [[find out->find out]]

I haven't thought about that moment for a long time, it was easier to just tell the ghost "the Gestapo got to me" but reliving it feels shattering I know what I need to do now, "sir, does this home have a computer" I ask with a bounce in my voice. I don't have much time it's 11:45 and I sleep at 12:00. "yes, by the windowsill overlooking the river" he answered puzzled I started to run inside, I easily spotted the computer. I got to google and I typed in "Elisa Toussaint" It's been five minutes and still nothing. My eyes are drifting to an article, one supposdley about an Ex-Maqueis fighter. I click it and a photo appears it's of a woman probably around 70 when the photo was taken but i see her eyes, those light blue piercing eyes. It's her. The website said she lived to 80 a long and happy life. I relax and lean back in the chair I look in the distance to the river, my eyes lock with the moving current. Running forward out of the back door I stop and my back arches and my arm swings as I throw Elisa's locket into the moving river. It falls with a plop and that's it. For once in 77 years I feel like myself again. This time I close my eyes and let go. I feel a bright light on my face and I can feel my fingers touch my skin. Everything goes blank. The end