This choice: Take the quick way home | Go Back Chapter 25: Take the quick way home (ID #1241130) an addition by: David Argall ![View davidargall's Portfolio. [Offline / Private]](http://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/costumicons/ps-icon-regular-2.gif) More by this author "Let's try to get past that computer." you decide.
"Ah John." Omar laments, "Always I tell you to think carefully and always you make snap decisions that get you in grave trouble. Well, none of your folly has killed you yet. We can at least hope this won't either."
"Are you sure you don't want to come home with me?" "John" urges, "I will keep you in every comfort and you will be my first."
"No doubt." you scoff, "you won't be able to pull off pretending to be me unless I help you."
"Oh, I think he can manage it." Omar breaks in, "It may not be easy, but he needs only a little advice from me to have a decent chance..."
"You would help him rob me?" you object.
"No, you are throwing all away." Omar explains, "So why shouldn't I make sure some of it ends with me? Especially since I will go to some trouble to allow you to return home?"
You glower, but Omar has a point. You are indeed "throwing away" everything. What does it matter who gets it? [And you are still are not convinced this is a real world, so none of it may exist anyway.] "I suppose... Let's do it."
"Not until I explain the risks to you better." Omar insists, "I may not be able to persuade you not to try this folly, but let it not be said I let you try it without knowing the risks." He settles into a sitting position and prepares to start a long speech. So you also sit and prepare to listen.
"Know that neither you nor I know what will happen." Omar begins, "Anything may happen, and almost all results will be bad. I will change you to look like yourself again. That will work, temporarily. Right away there is a danger. The curse you are under is powerful and it will eventually change you back to pony girl. I think I can hold the curse at bay for more than long enough. But you may be in the town square when you suddenly become a ponygirl again. And the punishment for a pony girl pretending to be human ... Well, let us not speak of that...
"Then you may not fool the golem into believing the lie that is the truth. It may still insist you are not John. Perhaps that will be the best, or least worst, result as we can then try something else, probably.
"But if you do make it home, the dangers do not end. You believe there is no magic in your world and you might be right.Perhaps you will just wake up and all this will be a dream to you. But I do not think so. The magic will follow you or be present when you arrives. You might possibly remain John instead of taking your true form..."
For a moment that appeals to you, But then you remember all your prize money, That will not be paid out to John. In fact nothing you own would belong to John. Could you convince people you and John are the same? Maybe, but it won't be easy, and may not be possible at all. You recall that treatment you were given when you entered this game. It gave you a great amount of knowledge you needed here, but it made so many facts from back home so hazy. You are not even sure of your mother's name. You were assured it was only temporary and would end when you got out of the game, but if the magic changes your form, it might also leave you unable to speak English. You would be broke and out of a job, and maybe worse...
"Now as I said, the curse on you is powerful. That means it may transform you back to pony girl after you get home. I don't know how your people will treat a pony girl..." You don't either, but you can think of several terrible possibilities. A lot of money is riding on this game and if you suddenly turned into a ponygirl, all that investment would be at risk. Not hard to think that somebody might panic and try to "eliminate the problem"... Or you might end up in a zoo, or some experimental lab, or ... Definitely not a result you would like.
Omar lists several other risks, but eventually winds down. He looks at you, and sighs, "I knew I should have just saved my wind, Never have I managed to talk sense into you. Ah well, let us get started...
"John, lie down in this magic circle. "John", you will enjoy this part. You are to make love to her."
"And if I refuse?" "John" asks, "Can we persuade her to be sensible?"
"I have never managed," Omar confesses, "and I did drive him to trying worse ways at times. If you will not, I fear she will find a more dangerous way to try this."
"Very well," "John" says reluctantly, tho not all of him is reluctant, a fact you can see as he strips. "Girl, I did promise you I would let you go, and so I will. Now let's give you a great parting." Where will this story go next? Your choices are below...
* indicates the next chapter is blank and needs to be created. |
© Copyright David Argall (UN: davidargall at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved.
milida has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com.
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |