Carriage Returns
by David Good (2014)
Genres: Horror


action: %
response: Give yourself over to a bite of cheesey horror. The sharp cheddar kind. Just make sure you have correction fluid handy!

Ectocomp 2014 entry, ©2014 by David Good.
duodave@gmail.com
First Release Version 1.0

Press a key to continue...
It's a brisk November morning, and you're out to get coffee and breakfast at your favorite diner, like you do every day...

The parking lot for the diner is unremarkable. It's paved with cold, cracked blacktop, painted in fading lines to indicate parking spots. The street is west of here, and your favorite diner is to the south.

You can see a car, some motorcycles, and a vending machine here.
action: About yourself
response: As good-looking as ever.
action: You examine the machine
response: This newspaper vending machine contains the "Cleveland Plain Dealer". Cleveland isn't the closest city, but you prefer it to the "Columbus Citizen-Journal" or the local small town rag. Looking through its glass window you see a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.

In the vending machine is a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.
action: You buy the newspaper
response: You put a coin in the vending machine and buy a newspaper.
action: You read the newspaper
response: This is your favorite newspaper, the "Cleveland Plain Dealer". It's dated Friday, November 1, 1974. The front page has a picture of boxer Muhammad Ali with the caption "RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE: HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ALI WINS IN 8 ROUNDS: Foreman winning streak broken".
action: You examine the car
response: The unfamiliar green Ford station wagon has faux wood panels on the sides. It appears to be a year or two old, and judging by it's condition you're guessing it's maybe a '73, so it's probably a Ford Country Squire.
action: You examine the motorcycles
response: There's a couple motorcycles here you've never seen before. You're no expert, but one appears to be made by Harley-Davidson, and the other looks like it might be a Ducati. The bikes appear to be immaculately cared for, and look like they're about the same age as the car.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: The parking lot for the diner is unremarkable. It's paved with cold, cracked blacktop, painted in fading lines to indicate parking spots. The street is west of here, and your favorite diner is to the south.

You can see a car, some motorcycles, and a vending machine here.
action: You go to the south
response: This town diner has had a few names over the years as its passed from owner to owner. The floors and countertop are linoleum and guests mostly sit on chrome & leather stools at the counter. A few red upholstered booths fill out the place.

You can see a waitress and a couple here.
action: You examine waitress
response: The waitress has unusual red hair that clashes with the teal uniform she's wearing. In her frequently-bleached apron you spot a variety of pencils, pads of paper, and the bulge of a pack of cigarettes. An unfiltered cigarette is tucked behind her left ear and a plastic nametag is pinned to her breast pocket.

She's chewing gum and looks at you expectantly.
action: You look at the nametag
response: The nametag reads "Columbia".
action: You buy the breakfast
response: You order some food.
The waitress brings over a slice of apple pie with a piece of cheddar cheese on top, and pours you a cup of black coffee.

"Here you go sweetie," she says with a wink. "Your regular."
action: You examine the couple
response: The man extends his hand and says "I'm Brad Majors. This is my girlfriend, Janet Weiss."

Janet extends her hand and cheerfully says "Hello."

"Please excuse our attire," Brad says. "We're on our way to a friend's wedding."
action: You eat the breakfast
response: It's delicious. The sharp cheese really accentuates the sweet apples. Just like Grandma used to make.
action: You examine the couple
response: Brad is dressed in a black tuxedo with a red and black plaid cumberbund, and matching bow tie. The "Buddy Holly" style glasses perched on his nose make him look very nerdy. He is currently carrying nothing.

Janet is dressed in a lavender jacket and matching skirt. A white hat with an upturned brim is perched on her head. You're not sure what a cute girl like her is doing with such a square. She is currently carrying nothing.
action: You look at Brad
response: Brad is dressed in a black tuxedo with a red and black plaid cumberbund, and matching bow tie. The "Buddy Holly" style glasses perched on his nose make him look very nerdy. He is currently carrying nothing.
action: Look around
response: There is no reply.

This town diner has had a few names over the years as its passed from owner to owner. The floors and countertop are linoleum and guests mostly sit on chrome & leather stools at the counter. A few red upholstered booths fill out the place.

You can see Janet, Brad, a cup of coffee, a slice of pie, and Columbia here.
action: You drink the coffee
response: Mmmm... Nice and hot, a refreshing nutty flavor.
action: You examine the pie
response: In front of you is a warm slice of apple pie with a slice of cheddar on top. Next to it is the best cup of coffee in town.
action: Look around
response: This town diner has had a few names over the years as its passed from owner to owner. The floors and countertop are linoleum and guests mostly sit on chrome & leather stools at the counter. A few red upholstered booths fill out the place.

You can see Janet, Brad, a cup of coffee, a slice of pie, and Columbia here.
action: You take pie
response: You've already got pie and coffee.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper
action: You drink the coffee
response: Mmmm... Nice and hot, a refreshing nutty flavor.
action: You enter the car
response: It's a bad idea to mess with someone else's car.
action: You read the newspaper
response: This is your favorite newspaper, the "Cleveland Plain Dealer". It's dated Friday, November 1, 1974. The front page has a picture of boxer Muhammad Ali with the caption "RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE: HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ALI WINS IN 8 ROUNDS: Foreman winning streak broken".
action: You examine the Columbia
response: Columbia has unusual red hair that clashes with the teal uniform she's wearing. In her frequently-bleached apron you spot a variety of pencils, pads of paper, and the bulge of a pack of cigarettes. An unfiltered cigarette is tucked behind her left ear and a plastic nametag is pinned to her breast pocket.

She's chewing gum and looks at you expectantly.
action: You take the nametag
response: That seems to belong to Columbia.
action: You show the newspaper to Brad
response: Brad is unimpressed.
action: You show the newspaper to the columbia
response: Columbia is unimpressed.
action: You give the pie to Janet
response: (first taking the slice of pie)
You've already got pie and coffee.
action: Look around
response: This town diner has had a few names over the years as its passed from owner to owner. The floors and countertop are linoleum and guests mostly sit on chrome & leather stools at the counter. A few red upholstered booths fill out the place.

You can see Janet, Brad, a cup of coffee, a slice of pie, and Columbia here.
action: You sit
response: (on the copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper)
You can't sit on the copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.
action: You ask Janet,  to go north
response: Janet has better things to do.
action: You examine janet
response: Janet is dressed in a lavender jacket and matching skirt. A white hat with an upturned brim is perched on her head. You're not sure what a cute girl like her is doing with such a square. She is currently carrying nothing.
action: You look at Brad
response: Brad is dressed in a black tuxedo with a red and black plaid cumberbund, and matching bow tie. The "Buddy Holly" style glasses perched on his nose make him look very nerdy. He is currently carrying nothing.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.
I beg your pardon?
I beg your pardon?
action: Look around
response: This town diner has had a few names over the years as its passed from owner to owner. The floors and countertop are linoleum and guests mostly sit on chrome & leather stools at the counter. A few red upholstered booths fill out the place.

You can see Janet, Brad, a cup of coffee, a slice of pie, and Columbia here.
action: You eat the pie and the coffee
response: slice of pie: It's delicious. The sharp cheese really accentuates the sweet apples. Just like Grandma used to make.
cup of coffee: Mmmm... Nice and hot, a refreshing nutty flavor.
action: You eat the Columbia
response: She's plainly inedible.
action: You take the pie
response: Brad has better things to do.
action: You say the cheese
response: Whom do you want to say that to?
action: You give it to Brad
response: "Why, thanks," Brad says to you. "I really enjoy reading the day's news. Oh, look at this headline. Ali won that title match in Zaire."

Suddenly a window of the diner shatters. You look up to see that a manual typewriter has come through the window. It rears up and its keys clatter meanacingly at everyone.

Janet screams, and the waitress takes cover behind the counter.
"I'll protect you, Janet," Brad shouts. He throws the newspaper at the typewriter, which shreds the Cleveland Plain Dealer with its horrible mechanics.

Suddenly, the typewriter is upon Brad. His tuxedo is soaked with blood.

"Oh no," cries Janet. "We'll never get the deposit back now!"

As the last of Brad's life eeks out of him, he reaches for Janet and says "I was going to ask you..." and then he expires. Janet reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a ring box and starts to weep. She looks up - but it's too late, the cursed typewriter is upon her.