In the Cube by Mengjie Liu

In the Cube

Played 588 times
View game source (spoilers!)
Download the .z8 file
Source Code

“the Cube”

use no scoring.

when play begins:
now the printed name of Window is "a Glowing Square"; now the description of Window is "You find out that the square thing is actually a Window.[line break]The light coming from it is too bright to see what exactly is outside the Window.[line break]However, you can hear leaves rustling, cicadas chirping, cars passing by.";
now the printed name of Circle is "Black Dot"; now the description of Circle is "You walked forward to see it more clearly. It is a completely black little hole.[paragraph break]...[paragraph break]After gazing it for a while. You realize a horrifying fact: the Dot is getting bigger![line break]It's expanding at such a subtle speed that you have to spend another minute looking at it.[paragraph break]...[paragraph break]You stepped back in horror. [line break][bold type]IT IS INDEED EXPANDING.[line break][roman type]You have no idea what will happen if you Touch the Dot-now appears to be a Black Circle.[line break][italic type]*you can go on examining other things in the Cube, or let your curiosity drive you to Touch the Circle, and then go on your searching*[roman type]";

understand "glowing square" as Window when the printed name of Window is "a Glowing Square".
understand "square" as Window when the printed name of Window is "a Glowing Square".
understand "black dot" as Circle when the printed name of Circle is "Black Dot".
understand "dot" as Circle when the printed name of Circle is "Black Dot".
understand "black circle" as Circle when the printed name of Circle is "Black Circle".
understand "circle" as Circle when the printed name of Circle is "Black Circle".
understand "black sphere" as Circle when the printed name of Circle is "Black Sphere".
understand "sphere" as Circle when the printed name of Circle is "Black Sphere".

the description of the player is "You are in the Cube."

The Cube is a room. 
"[if the Cube is unvisited]You wake up to find yourself in a room. It's a little weird to call it a room, because it is more like a Cube.[line break][italic type]*start with looking around*[roman type][end if][if Cube is visited and we have examined Window]There is nothing in the Cube except for a little Window in the middle of the wall that you are facing.[line break]With the light coming from the Square, you can see that the Cube—all its Walls, the Floor, the Ceiling—is completely white.[line break][italic type]*everything in the Cube that begins with a capital letter can be examined, and also don't forget to check your Pocket*[roman type][end if][if Cube is visited and we have not examined Window]There is nothing in the Cube except for a little Glowing Square in the middle of the wall that you are facing.[line break]With the light coming from the Square, you can see that the Cube—all its Walls, the Floor, the Ceiling—is completely white.[line break][italic type]*everything in the Cube that begins with a capital letter can be examined, and also don't forget to check your Pocket*[roman type][end if]" 

understand "look around" as looking.

the player carries a Pocket. the Pocket contains a Note. the description of Note is "A tiny crumpled piece of paper. After flattening it a little bit, you find that there's nothing written on the paper, but your intuition tells you that it must contain some information.[line break][italic type]*try holding it against a light source to reveal the information*[roman type]".

understand "my pocket" as the Pocket.

In the Cube is the Window. The Window is scenery. It is fixed in place.

after examining Window:
now the printed name of Window is "the Window"; now the description is "[if isRvd is false]You can't see through it. It is too bright.[end if][if isRvd is true]You can't see through it. It is too bright.[line break]You try to smash the Window with your fist, but it just won't work.[end if]";

In the Cube is the Wall. The Wall is scenery. It is fixed in place. the description of the Wall is "The Wall is cold.[line break]You examine carefully all of the Walls.[line break]Suddenly, a Black Dot on the Wall opposite the Window catch your attention."

understand "walls" as Wall.

in the Cube is the Circle. the Circle is scenery. It is fixed in place.

isC is a truth state that varies. isC is false.
isT is a truth state that varies. isT is false.

after examining Circle:
now the printed name of Circle is "the Black Circle";
now the description is "The Black Circle is now occupying the whole wall, and it's still expanding. It seems that the Circle extends outside the Walls and looks like a blobby Sphere, approaching you.";
now isC is true.

after touching Circle:
say "You reach out, hand trembling with fear, and swiftly poke at the Black Circle.[paragraph break]To your surprise, you don't feel any pain or discomfort.[line break]However, as you examine your hand, you almost fainted when you realize that you can neither see nor feel your finger tip any more.[paragraph break]YOUR FINGER is fading away;[line break]YOUR HAND is fading away;[line break][bold type]YOU are fading away.[roman type][paragraph break]There is no time.";
now isT is true.

in the Cube is the Floor. the Floor is scenery. It is fixed in place. the Floor can be sit on. the description of the Floor is "The Floor is cold. You can find nothing on the Floor."

in the Cube is the Ceiling. the Ceiling is scenery. It is fixed in place. the description is "The Ceiling is out of your reach. You can see that the Ceiling is the same material as the Floor and the Walls."

isRvd is a truth state that varies. isRvd is false.

holding it against is an action applying to two things.
understand "hold [something] against [something]" as holding it against.
understand "look [something] against [something]" as holding it against.
understand "examine [something] against [something]" as holding it against.
understand "hold up [something] against [something]" as holding it against.
understand "read [something] against [something]" as holding it against.
understand "see [something] against [something]" as holding it against.
understand "it" as the Note.
understand "light" as the Window.

check holding something against a second noun:
if the noun is not Note or the second noun is not Window,
say "You see nothing as you hold [the noun] against [the second noun]." instead.

carry out holding something against a second noun: 
say "You see a sentence appear on the Note, saying [bold type]'THERE IS NO WAY OUT'.[roman type]";
now the description of the Note is "it says [bold type]'THERE IS NO WAY OUT'.[roman type]";
now isRvd is true.

after holding Note against Window:
say "'No!' You cried in panic.[line break]Silence.[line break]You can't hear yourself.[paragraph break]It finally dawns to you that you are trapped [bold type]FOREVER [roman type]in this Cube, no matter what you do. [if isC is true]You turned to face the Black Circle, which is now about half of the size of the Cube. You feel oppressed, paralyzed and suffocated as you collapse.[paragraph break]'There is no way to get out.[line break]There is nowhere to escape the Black Sphere.'[line break]You say to yourself.[paragraph break]Now you can either Wait till the Black Sphere swallow the Cube, or Walk into the Sphere to end everything.[end if][if isC is false]You turned to face the Black Dot, which now appears to be a Black Sphere that is about half of the size of the Cube. You feel oppressed, paralyzed and suffocated as you collapse.[paragraph break]'There is no way to get out.[line break]There is nowhere to escape the Black Sphere.'[line break]You say to yourself.[paragraph break]Now you can either Wait till the Black Sphere swallow the Cube, or Walk into the Sphere to end everything.[end if]";

understand "sit" as waiting.
understand "sit and wait" as waiting.

carry out waiting:
say "...[paragraph break]...[paragraph break]...[paragraph break]...[paragraph break]...[paragraph break]You see the Sphere coming closer and closer.[if isT is true]Meanwhile, you see yourself dissolving gradually. You thought there was no time to waste, but now the only thing you have is time.[paragraph break]It's time. The Sphere is coming for you. You close your eye...[paragraph break][end if][if isT is false]You thought there was no time to waste, but now the only thing you have is time.[paragraph break]It's time. The Sphere is coming for you. You close your eye. You feel no pain or discomfort as it swallows you. You are just fading away...[paragraph break][end if]"

after waiting:
say "You wake up to find yourself in a room. It's a little weird to call it a room, because it is more like a Cube...[paragraph break]There is always tomorrow.";
end the story.

walking is an action applying to nothing.

understand "walk in" as walking.
understand "walk into" as walking.
understand "walk into the Sphere" as walking.

carry out walking:
say "[if isT is true]You stand up and walk closer to the Sphere. Meanwhile, you see yourself dissolving gradually.[line break]It's time. You close your eye as you walk into the dark...[paragraph break][end if][if isT is false]You stand up and walk closer to the Sphere.[line break]It's time. You close your eye as you walk into the dark. You feel no pain or discomfort as it swallows you. You are just fading away...[paragraph break]"

after walking:
say "You wake up to find yourself in a room. It's a little weird to call it a room, because it is more like a Cube...[paragraph break]There is always tomorrow.";
end the story.