Light My Way Home
by Caelyn Sandel (as Venus Hart) (2014)


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Light My Way Home

Vast metal towers stand in silhouette against the stars, backlit by the full moon. Their skeletal arms hold dozens of cables aloft between them, a dozen lines running across the sky like a great celestial loom. You feel energy play across them overhead. Little stands below. Carefully pruned vegetation, low to the ground, covers the undeveloped land beneath the towers.

There's a stump here, on which sits an old portable radio.

Suburban housing stands in neat rows to the North and South. The flat micro-savannah of the corridor gives way to a tall field of grain to the East, and to the West is a small riverside park.
action: About yourself
response: You don't know what you look like. You can't seem to see yourself.
action: You examine the stump
response: Pitted and cracked, this stump is older than many of the living trees nearby.
action: You examine the radio
response: An old radio with an empty cassette deck. It seems to be switched on, but the battery compartment on the back is missing its cover and its batteries as well.
action: You look at the tower
response: The cable towers loom above, marking the path of the hydroelectric company's power corridor.
action: You look at the moon
response: The moon is bright tonight.
action: You examine the vegetation
response: Patches of grass and vegetation grow in sparse clumps throughout the cleared space of the Hydro Corridor.
action: Go east
response: The grain stalks stand over a meter tall, allowing you only a low vantage point across them. Gentle breezes set the surface of the field rippling like cloth.

The field ends to the West, leading to an undeveloped section of the corridor. Further to the East you see a cluster of containers and haulage equipment.
action: You look at the grain
response: Tall stalks of grain, waving gently in the breeze. You can barely see over them.
action: You eat the grain
response: (first taking the grain)
You can't touch it and you're not sure why.
action: Go east
response: The grassy ground marking the hydro corridor ends abruptly at a large gravel lot within a copse of thick trees that blot out the sky. A forklift stands in the middle of the lot as though abandoned in the middle of its use. Near it is a standing floodlight. Miniature warehouses line the North side of the corridor. The trees have been cleared to the South, forming a field with several hay bales in a row. To the East, half a dozen sets of train tracks cluster together.
action: You look at the forklift
response: The forklift stands alone and still.
action: You examine the hay
response: Cylindrical bales of hay.
action: You look at the trees
response: The trees here are taller than elsewhere in the corridor, blotting out the sky.
action: You examine the floodlight
response: A pair of bright halogen lights on a stand. It doesn't appear to be plugged in.
action: Go downwards
response: You approach the tracks, but the power running through them is overwhelming. You find yourself having to turn away.
action: You enter the trees
response: You'd rather stay out here.
action: You go to the north
response: Small, makeshift warehouses stand here in a row. Most are little more than adapted shipping containers, each with heavy steel doors.

A storage unit, older and larger than the other units is here.
action: You examine unit
response: This storage unit seems older, heavier, and a bit larger than the others here. Instead of doors that swing open, the unit has a retracting shutter controlled by a switch.
action: You examine the switch
response: An electrical shutter controlled by a switch that powers it. You feel as though you can't touch the switch, but you think you could
power the shutter.
action: Power switch
response: You feed energy to the shutter, and it flies open with a loud rattle.

A huddled figure, crouched against the inside wall of the container, looks up with surprise as the shutter opens. The shutter squeals as it retracts fully, a loud buzz coming from the device.

The person unfolds themself from their crouched position and stands slowly. You watch them, entranced. They are the most beautiful person you have ever seen.

Appearing slightly dazed, the beautiful person looks around the area.
action: You examine the person
response: The most beautiful person you have ever seen.

The beautiful person flicks the switch on the inside of the shipping container and frowns.
action: You enter the container
response: You'd rather stay out here.

The beautiful person scans the area, brow knit.

A beautiful person wanders South, toward the gravel lot.
action: You go south
response: The grassy ground marking the hydro corridor ends abruptly at a large gravel lot within a copse of thick trees that blot out the sky. A forklift stands in the middle of the lot as though abandoned in the middle of its use. Near it is a standing floodlight. Miniature warehouses line the North side of the corridor. The trees have been cleared to the South, forming a field with several hay bales in a row. To the East, half a dozen sets of train tracks cluster together.

You can see a beautiful person here.

The beautiful person squints in the darkness.
action: Power floodlight
response: You feel the energy dissipate from the shutter.

The floodlight flares to life.
The beautiful person blinks, momentarily blinded by the floodlight.

After a moment, they regain their bearings and walk West, through the field of grain.
action: You go west
response: The grain stalks stand over a meter tall, allowing you only a low vantage point across them. Gentle breezes set the surface of the field rippling like cloth.

The field ends to the West, leading to an undeveloped section of the corridor. Further to the East you see a cluster of containers and haulage equipment.
action: Go west
response: Vast metal towers stand in silhouette against the stars, backlit by the full moon. Their skeletal arms hold dozens of cables aloft between them, a dozen lines running across the sky like a great celestial loom. You feel energy play across them overhead. Little stands below. Carefully pruned vegetation, low to the ground, covers the undeveloped land beneath the towers.

There's a stump here, on which sits an old portable radio.

Suburban housing stands in neat rows to the North and South. The flat micro-savannah of the corridor gives way to a tall field of grain to the East, and to the West is a small riverside park.

You can see a beautiful person here.

The beautiful person is playing with the radio, a frown marring their perfect face. They turn the radio off and on several times, sigh, and place the radio back on the stump. They stand and walk South, toward a ruined house.
action: Power radio
response: You feel the energy dissipate from the floodlight.

The radio crackles to life, crooning a quiet ballad.
action: You go south
response: Rows of houses, similar but not the same, line the edge of the corridor. Amidst the intact houses, one ruin stands out.

Little more than a burned-out husk, what was once a house is now little more than a foundation and debris, any furniture reduced to a lump of ash. A tall room fan lies on its side here.

The Hydro Corridor is to the North.

You can see a beautiful person here.

As you approach, you see the beautiful person lift the fan gingerly from the ground and set it upright. They dust off their hands, sigh, and lean on the top of the fan.

The beautiful person perks up, hearing a faint sound in the distance.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The beautiful person squints, trying to figure out whether the sound was real or imagined.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The beautiful person turns toward the North.

A beautiful person walks North toward the sound of the music.
action: You go to the north
response: Vast metal towers stand in silhouette against the stars, backlit by the full moon. Their skeletal arms hold dozens of cables aloft between them, a dozen lines running across the sky like a great celestial loom. You feel energy play across them overhead. Little stands below. Carefully pruned vegetation, low to the ground, covers the undeveloped land beneath the towers.

There's a stump here, on which sits an old portable radio. The radio plays a quiet tune.

Suburban housing stands in neat rows to the North and South. The flat micro-savannah of the corridor gives way to a tall field of grain to the East, and to the West is a small riverside park.

You can see a beautiful person here.

The beautiful person is crouched on the stump next to the radio. They take deep breaths, eyes closed, as they listen to the music.
action: You examine the person
response: The most beautiful person you have ever seen.

The beautiful person is crouched on the stump next to the radio. They take deep breaths, eyes closed, as they listen to the music.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The beautiful person is crouched on the stump next to the radio. They take deep breaths, eyes closed, as they listen to the music.
action: You examine the moon
response: The moon is obscured by thick foliage.
action: You go south
response: This field is nearly empty, save for a few scattered hay bales.
action: Go south
response: You fear getting lost if you go that way.
action: You go north
response: Rows of houses, similar but not the same, line the edge of the corridor.

The Hydro Corridor is to the South.
action: Go south
response: Rows of houses, similar but not the same, line the edge of the corridor. Amidst the intact houses, one ruin stands out.

Little more than a burned-out husk, what was once a house is now little more than a foundation and debris, any furniture reduced to a lump of ash. A tall room fan stands here.

The Hydro Corridor is to the North.
action: Power fan
response: You feel the energy dissipate from the radio.

Upright and pointed directly at the ash-covered hulk, the fan immediately kicks up a storm of gray particulate.

After only a few moments, most of the ash is gone. An end table is revealed, on which sits a framed photo and a lamp.
action: You examine photo
response: A framed photo. One of the people in the photo is the beautiful person you found. The other is familiar, but you don't know that you know them.

The photo makes you feel strange.
action: Power lamp
response: You feel the energy dissipate from the fan.
The fan stops blowing, its blades winding down to a gradual stop.
The lamp flares to life, illuminating the photo.
A beautiful person returns from the North.

The beautiful person sees that the lamp has come on and walks to the end table. They bend down slightly and pick up the framed photo. They use their sleeve to wipe some of the ash from the surface. They look at the photo for several moments.

Covering their face with one hand, they hurry North.
action: Go north
response: Vast metal towers stand in silhouette against the stars, backlit by the full moon. Their skeletal arms hold dozens of cables aloft between them, a dozen lines running across the sky like a great celestial loom. You feel energy play across them overhead. Little stands below. Carefully pruned vegetation, low to the ground, covers the undeveloped land beneath the towers.

There's a stump here, on which sits an old portable radio.

Suburban housing stands in neat rows to the North and South. The flat micro-savannah of the corridor gives way to a tall field of grain to the East, and to the West is a small riverside park.

You can see a beautiful person here.

The most beautiful person you have ever seen weeps silently, clutching a photo to their chest.
action: Power radio
response: You feel the energy dissipate from the lamp.

The radio crackles to life, crooning a quiet ballad.
The most beautiful person you have ever seen weeps silently, clutching a photo to their chest.
action: You look at the photo
response: A framed photo. One of the people in the photo is the beautiful person you found. The other is familiar, but you don't know that you know them.

The photo makes you feel strange.

The most beautiful person you have ever seen weeps silently, clutching a photo to their chest.

A beautiful person walks away to the West.
action: Go west
response: At the feet of the cable-bearing towers stands a little park, cleared grass leading to the bank of a river. The river is so slow-moving as to seem still, its glassy surface reflecting the moon.

The cables of the hydro corridor stretch West over the water, and East toward a clearing.

You can see a beautiful person here.

The beautiful person turns their tear-streaked face up toward the moon, still clutching the photo to their chest, and closes their eyes.

You feel yourself grow lighter.
action: Power person
response: You reach out to a beautiful person, but you receive no response to your energy.

You feel yourself grow lighter.
action: You look at the river
response: A still, glassy expanse of water.

You feel yourself grow lighter.

The most beautiful person you have ever seen gently pulls the photo away from their chest and sets it on the ground, face up. They lean back to lie on the ground and take a deep breath, which they let out slowly.
You feel yourself let go.
Your interpreter doesn't support sound stopping.
action: Go upward
response: You cannot cross the water.

You feel yourself grow lighter.

The most beautiful person you have ever seen gently pulls the photo away from their chest and sets it on the ground, face up. They lean back to lie on the ground and take a deep breath, which they let out slowly.
You feel yourself let go.
Your interpreter doesn't support sound stopping.