CYOA Page 40
"Five minutes," Joel calls to you when it's clear you're going to go in no matter what he says. "If you ain't back out here then I'm comin' in after you."
"Ten," you call back -- just before disappearing inside with the kid, so there's no more time for haggling. You don't even know if it will take that long, but it's nice to have the option.
The ground slopes downward almost immediately, and it feels like the ceiling is getting higher... probably an illusion. You have your flashlight, but the kid doesn't have one and he's barreling on ahead. "How can you see in the... oh." The cave answers the question for you; there are enough openings above to provide ample natural light. You keep your light on anyway.
You reach a fork-in-the-road spot. "This way," says your leader, heading left. More light that way...
"What's down the other way?" you ask, your curiosity about the darker tunnel piqued.
"Nothing."
Maybe he just likes to go where it's lighter. It's not light enough over here that you're not at least a little creeped out, though...
"Over here." The kid gestures to a row of like... three adjacent alcoves. You see some weird shit in there... a broken lamp, a crate full of junky-looking items, a telephone, a microwave... really? A microwave?
"Hey, does that thing work?" you ask.
He shrugs... and you're not even sure he looked where you indicated.
"My name is Ellie, by the way... in case you didn't hear Joel say it." The kid doesn't respond with his own name; he doesn't say anything at all. He probably doesn't introduce himself to that many people... "What's your name?" you prompt.
He eyes you suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because... I dunno, we've been talking for a while and it's weird that I don't know it? I told you mine..."
"That doesn't mean I have to tell you mine."
"True. You didn't ask me. Look... if you don't want to tell me, just make one up. I'll never know the difference, right?"
He thinks about that for a moment, then says, "David."
You mentally groan. Of all the names in the universe! "Okay. Nice to meet you, David." You're not sure why you're trying to teach the kid manners. Or... more like hoping yours will rub off on him. He just stands there, stony-faced. You drift toward the alcove that's farthest back. It's also the darkest of the three.
"There's nothing in that one," David tells you.
"I see some stuff... oh, is that where you sleep?" Before he can answer, you gasp a little as your light lands on something you would never expect to find in a (live) kid's bedroom: two skeletons, posed in a... cuddly position, their arms wrapped around each other. They're dressed in baggy clothes that you presume fit them at one time (like, when they had flesh?). There's even a blanket draped over their laps. What the fuck?!
"That's Mom and Dad," the kid says casually.
"What?" You look at him... and obviously he's joking. Right? But he's totally straight-faced! Man... this kid shares the DARK side of my sense of humor, at least -- and he out-darks me! He could also give Joel a run for his money in the straight man department (...you're not sure why people are running for their money in the dumb expression). You force a chuckle. "Good one, dude. You had me there for a second."
He looks a little confused, though. Either he's a really good actor, or... "That's where I sleep." He points to a blanket on the ground that is way too close to the skeletons... but at least it's not the one in their laps?
"Oh," you reply. Because what else can you fucking say?
"I usually eat outside," David continues. "Except when it rains. The water will drip in here and I catch it... but not in my spot, see."
That was the most words he's strung together this whole time, but you're only half-listening because you're still stuck on "Mom and Dad." "Is that really... those are your parents right there?"
"Yeah."
"What happened?" you ask gently. You're curious, of course... but mainly you're curious to see if this kid ever shows any real emotion!
"They died," David says matter-of-factly.
Uhhh, no shit!!! You look at the corpses again. They've been dead a long time, clearly... they don't stink, although this whole cave has kind of a... musty smell to it? What's up with that blanket... does he actually SIT there, or is it part of the cozy "decor"?
This creepy kid and his dead parents are really starting to make your skin crawl. You have a sudden overwhelming urge to just run out of there as fast as you can.
If you're too freaked out to spend another minute in the cave, haul ass to page 75.
If you calm down and keep talking to David (maybe you can help him deal somehow?), turn to page 78.