the relief of impact

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<<audio "BG" fadein loop play>> <<timed 4s>><<audio "BG2" fadein loop play>><</timed>> <center><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/n0sehbe9eckcm3h/opening.png?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="a room in darkness."></center> <center><<timed 7s t8n>>@@.blur;the sound of it@@ @@.smear;[[wakes]]@@ @@.blur; you @@<</timed>></center> <<timed 5s t8n>><<audio "sound" play>><</timed>> <<audio "BG" fadein loop>> <<timed 4s>><<audio "BG2" fadein loop>><</timed>>

<<audio "BG" volume 0.3 play>><center><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qxt654xbu3j12z/desk.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="simple white lines on a black background delineate the computer desk and chair. a beanie baby and random objects rest on the desk alongside a wireless keyboard and mouse. the white static screen glows."></center><<timed 2s t8n>>you pry one eye open and squint at the bright computer screen.<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>> //ugh. must have forgotten to shut it down earlier.//<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>> you resolve to ignore it by sleeping on your other side, and as you stretch your legs with a yawn you notice that momo has abandoned his usual place at the foot of the bed.<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>><i>ahh, that cat. mama's melancholy little</i> <<linkappend "<i>yowler.</i>">> <<audio "sound" volume .75 play>> <<fadein 3 3>>but the noise fills your ears again. <i>that can't be momo...</i> maybe it's the computer speakers?<</fadein>> <center><<fadein 5 3>>@@.smear;[[go to your desk]]@@|@@.smear;[[opt for earplugs]]@@<</fadein>></center><</linkappend>><</timed>>

<center> <img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qxt654xbu3j12z/desk.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="simple white lines on a black background delineate the computer desk and chair. a beanie baby and random objects rest on the desk alongside a wireless keyboard and mouse. the white static screen glows."></center> <<timed 1s t8n>>you're going to have trouble falling asleep again if you don't eliminate whatever this sound is, so you wipe the drool from the corner of your mouth and roll out of bed. <</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>> your second-hand desk chair creaks as you @@.smear;[[settle into it]].@@<</timed>>

<center><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/tcqdplrrs76s5iv/alarmclock.png?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="simple white lines on a black background delineate the simple digital alarm clock that reads 4:09 AM."></center><<timed 2s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>you glare at the clock.<</fadein>> <<fadein 3 2>><i>great. so glad I get to present a project in 4 hours.</i><</fadein>> <<fadein 5 2>><i>I will actually die of a headache tomorrow if I get up right now.</i><</fadein>><</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>you swipe the foam earplugs from the nightstand-- usually reserved for the nights your roommate participates in screaming matches over skype.<</fadein>><<fadein 4 2>> they compress with a twist of your fingers and fit comfortably in your ears.<</fadein>><</timed>> <center><<timed 16s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>@@.smear;[[now you'll sleep like a baby]]@@<</fadein>><</timed>></center> <<timed 12s>><<audio "BG" fadeout>><</timed>><<timed 8s>><<audio "BG2" fadeout>><</timed>><<timed 12s>><<audio "BG" fadeout>><</timed>><<timed 8s>><<audio "BG2" fadeout>><</timed>>

<center><img src = "https://www.dropbox.com/s/6uo168dqnwi3fq3/comp1.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="glowing white screen of the computer shows a file that reads Balance and Scale (the letters B and S at the start of the words are big and exaggerated."></center> <<fadein 1.5 3>>your half-assed project on the importance of balance and scale in design is still up.<</fadein>> <<fadein 5 3>>this class is an abysmal waste of everyone's time. even the teacher knows their class is full of people just fulfilling graduation requirements. it's created a vicious cycle of disinterest.<</fadein>><<fadein 12 3>> you blink at the screen until you finally remember why you dragged your tired ass out of bed, and start trying to find the source of that<</fadein>> <<linkappend "<<fadein 13 2>>sound.<</fadein>>">> <<fadein 1 3>>a quick email ensures you that a copy of your project is ready for your class presentation, and you [[close the program.|sound]]<</fadein>><</linkappend>>

<center> <img src = "https://www.dropbox.com/s/qdahgaotri9xbh4/closed.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the document closes, the blank screen glows dully."></center> <<timed 2s t8n>><i>hm. that's... not what I</i><<linkappend "<i> expected.</i>">> <<fadein 1 3>>the cause of the sound was obviously a pop-up or a video you forgot you'd been watching, but nothing's open. you check the task manager out of mild curiosity. everything is functioning perfectly.<</fadein>> <center>@@.smear;<<fadein 5 3>>[[shut down the computer]]<</fadein>>@@</center> <</linkappend>><</timed>>

<center> <<fadein 0 3>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3bd0vsk2wgu4lu5/cuddle2.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="outline of a cat sleeping on you while you lay in bed, his tail moves lightly back and forth."><</fadein>></center> <<timed 1s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>momo returns to bed, warm and full of purrs.<</fadein>> <<fadein 3 2>>moments later the screen goes dark.<</fadein>> <</timed>><<timed 5s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>//hey, problem solved!//<</fadein>> <<fadein 4 1>> you close your eyes, and try not to think about how tired you're going to be all day.<</fadein>> <center><<fadein 5 3>>@@.smear;[[cuddle with your precious son]]@@<</fadein>></center><</timed>>

<<cacheaudio "sound" "sound.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "BG" "BG.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "BG2" "BG2.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "noisy" "noisy.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "noisy2" "noisy2.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "wnoise" "wnoise.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "laugh" "laugh.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "drip" "drip.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "stat2" "statics.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "stat3" "statics2.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "big" "big.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "big2" "big2.mp3">> <<waitforaudio>>

<center> <img src ="https://www.dropbox.com/s/elhe29p2av8fssi/shutdown.png?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the screen of the computer has gone black."></center> <<timed 1s t8n>>the sudden dark is a relief for your strained eyes.<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>> you step back to your bed, pull back your covers and nearly @@.smear;[[jump out of your skin]].@@<</timed>>

<center><<fadein 0 6>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rxk1kvztj6qtttw/cat.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="cat faces away from you, laying on a pillow. tale wags lightly."><</fadein>></center> <<timed 1s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>momo must have decided to come back to bed, because he's curled up on your pillow.<</fadein>><</timed>> <center><<timed 2s t8n>>@@.smear;<<fadein 2 3>>[[cuddle with your precious son]]<</fadein>>@@<</timed>></center>

<center><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/n0sehbe9eckcm3h/opening.png?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the room pitch black"></center> <<timed 2s t8n>>you fall asleep. for a bit. <<fadein 3 3>>then momo goes into a frenzy, launches off of your stomach with a hiss, and bolts out of the room.<</fadein>> <<fadein 6 3>>for a small cat he exerts a surprising amount of force.<</fadein>><</timed>><<timed 8s t8n>> <center>@@.smear;<<fadein 3 5>>[[a chill runs through you]]<</fadein>>@@</center><</timed>>

<center><<fadein 2 0>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/d9ayk6lq6geycn3/paralysis.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the computer is on again. fuzzy black lines travel aross the screen."><</fadein>></center> <center><<timed 2s>><<fadein 1 4>> @@.blur;the monitor flashes awake@@ <</fadein>><</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>><<fadein 4 3>> @@.smear;[[you can't move]]<</fadein>>@@<</timed>> <<timed 1s>> <<audio "sound" fadein volume .7 play>><</timed>></center> <<audio "BG" fadeout>> <<audio "BG2" fadeout>>

<center><<fadein 1 10>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/lscpjotblx18ijk/static.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the computer is on again. static moves erratically, you almost see a face emerge"><</fadein>></center> <center><<timed 6s t8n>><<fadein 1 5>>@@.blur;it pins you by the throat. each breath is a struggle.@@<</fadein>><</timed>></center> <<timed 9s>><center><<fadein 1 5>>@@.smear;[[stare into it]] | [[close your eyes]]@@<</fadein>></center><</timed>> <<audio "noisy" fadein loop play>> <<timed 3s>><<audio "noisy2" fadein loop play>><</timed>>

<<audio "sound" volume 1 play>> <center><<fadein 1 4>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ilbl2wh289mt4wq/static2.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="static. close to your face. it moves like a swarm of flies."><</fadein>> <<audio "stat2" loop play>> <<timed 3s t8n>><<fadein 1 3>>@@.blur;something lifts the pillow below you forcing the upper half of your body upright.@@<</fadein>><</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>><<fadein 2 3>>@@.blur;the ceiling fan chills the sweat on your skin@@<</fadein>><</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>><<fadein 2 4>>@@.smear;[[it speaks]]@@<</fadein>><</timed>> </center>

<<audio "stat2" fadein loop play>><<timed 4s>><<audio "stat3" fadein loop play>><</timed>><center>@@.blur;<<timed 2s t8n>>your eyes are shut so tight<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>you see stars<</timed>>@@</center> <<timed 4s t8n>><h2>@@.blur;pinpoints of imaginary light@@</h2><</timed>><<timed 5.5s t8n>><h3>@@.blur;it is so close to you@@</h3><</timed>><<timed 7s t8n>>@@.blur;you sense it the same way you can feel the body heat of a person standing too close to you@@<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>@@.blur;but there's no warmth here@@<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>@@.blur;just static@@<</timed>> <center><<timed 12s t8n>>@@.smear;[[struggle]]@@<</timed>></center>

@@.blur;<<timed 11s t8n>><center><h5>no words, but sounds</h5></center><</timed>><<timed 12s t8n>>electric in nature violence communicated in a flash<</timed>><center><<timed 13s t8n>>//<h2><blockquote>it wants to kill you</blockquote></h2>//<</timed>></center><nobr><h3><<timed 14s t8n>>//<h2>it wants to devour you</h2>//@@<</timed>></h3></nobr> <<timed 16s t8n>><right>it lurches at your face</right><</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>and rips the pillow out from under your head<</timed>> <<timed 19s t8n>>you drop<</timed>> <center><<timed 20s t8n>>but the bed doesn't break your fall<</timed>></center><p></p><center><<timed 22s t8n>>//@@.smear;[[you keep falling]]@@<</timed>></center> <<timed 1s>><<audio "noisy" fadeout>><</timed>> <<timed 1s>><<audio "noisy2" fadeout>><</timed>> <<audio "wnoise" play>> <<timed 11s>><<audio "stat2" stop>><</timed>> <<timed 11s>><<audio "stat3" stop>><</timed>>

<<audio "big" fadein loop play>> <<timed 4s>><<audio "big2" fadein loop play>><</timed>> <<audio "stat2" volume .3 loop play>> <<timed 4s>> <<audio "stat3" volume .3 loop play>><</timed>> <center> <<timed 2s t8N>><<fadein 1 2>>@@.blur;a cannonball drops onto your stomach@@<</fadein>><</timed>></center> <h1><<timed 3s t8n>><<fadein 2 2>>@@.blur;forcing you into the nothingness@@<</fadein>><</timed>></h1> <<timed 6s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>@@.blur;your teeth creak as you grind them together@@<</fadein>><</timed>> <h3><<timed 8s t8n>><<fadein 1 2>>@@.blur;every cell in your body vibrates with fear as you plummet@@<</fadein>><</timed>></h3> <center><<timed 12s t8n>>@@.smear;<<fadein 2 3>>[[you brace yourself]]<</fadein>>@@<</timed>> </center>@@

<center><<timed 1s t8n>>@@.blur;you need to move@@<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>@@.blur;but your fingers only twitch@@<</timed>> <<timed 4.5s t8n>>@@.blur;and your legs lie dormant@@<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>@@.blur;bile stings your throat@@<</timed>></center> <<timed 10s t8n>><center>@@.blur;the moment will not end@@</center><</timed>><<timed 12s t8n>><center><<fadein 2 4>>@@.smear;[[open your eyes |stare into it]]@@<</fadein>></center><</timed>>

<<audio "BG" fadein loop>><<timed 3s>><<audio "BG2" fadein loop>><</timed>><center><<fadein 2 7>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rm74hstdpocvxkp/fan.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="a ceiling fan runs above you"><</fadein>></center><<audio "BG" loop play>><<timed 4s>><<audio "BG2" loop play>><</timed>> @@.blur; <<timed 3s t8n>>your head collides against the mattress and the resulting whiplash drives a sharp pain down your neck.<</timed>><<timed 5s t8n>> the pillow is nowhere to be seen.<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>> the ceiling fan's blades circle slowly. you think of vultures.<</timed>> <center><<timed 12s t8n>>@@.smear;[[the computer is still flashing]]@@<</timed>></center> <<audio "big" fadeout>><<audio "big2" fadeout>><<audio "stat2" fadeout>><<audio "stat3" fadeout>>

<center><<fadein 0 3>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/d9ayk6lq6geycn3/paralysis.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the computer is on again. fuzzy black lines travel aross the screen."><</fadein>></center>@@.blur;<<timed 4s t8n>>you count down slowly from <<linkappend "five.">> <<fadein 1 3>><i>I can move again</i><</fadein>> <<fadein 4 4>><i>it was just a nightmare</i><</fadein>> <<fadein 7 5>><i>I haven't been sleeping enough</i><</fadein>> <<fadein 10 6>><i>the stupid computer is just updating</i><</fadein>> <<timed 13s>><<audio "sound" play>><</timed>> <center><<fadein 19 6>>@@.smear;[[go to it]]@@<</fadein>></center><</linkappend>><</timed>> <<audio "stat2" volume .25 fadein loop play>><<timed 4s>> <<audio "stat3" volume .30 fadein loop play>><</timed>>

<center><<fadein 0 4>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rxr6l6bechz9pwf/FALLING.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="you are looking at the screen. a figure falls endlessly through a field of static."><</fadein>></center> <<audio "stat2" volume .5>> <<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;and there you are@@<</timed>> <<timed 5.5s t8n>>@@.blur; you fall to your knees and crawl under the desk to@@ @@.smear;[[unplug the computer]]@@<</timed>>

<<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;spooky@@<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>@@.blurrier;SPOOOKYY@@<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>@@.smear;[[retweet|oh no]]@@<</timed>>

<center><<fadein 1 35>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/66oaug5pgi22zyk/outlet.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="a wall outlet drips with an unknown substance."><</fadein>></center> @@.blur;<<timed 2s>><<fadein 0 4>>the power cord resists unnaturally<</fadein>> <<fadein 4 4>>it takes all the strength you can muster to yank it out from the wall<</fadein>> <<fadein 6 6>>liquid seeps from the outlet and begins to puddle on the floor.<</fadein>>@@ <blockquote><center><<fadein 10 5>>@@.smear;[[back away]]@@<</fadein>></center></blockquote><</timed>> <<audio "stat3" volume .7>><<timed 6s>><<audio "drip" loop play>><</timed>>

<<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;but the relief of impact doesn't come<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>@@.blur;the force of falling is unbearable@@<</timed>>@@ <<timed 9s>><<goto "loop 1a">><</timed>>

<center><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/qucbufmf0pq7113/falling4.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the values in the black and white video on the screen you were looking at invert. the figure falls slowly. "></center> <<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;your legs give out and you collapse into the chair.@@<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>@@.blur;<i><<fadein 1 2>>how can it keep<</fadein>></i><<linkappend " <i><<fadein 1 2>>going?<</fadein>></i>@@" t8n>><<fadein 1 3>> <i>how long can--</i><</fadein>><<fadein 3 4>> <i>how long can I keep</i><</fadein>><<fadein 4 4>><i> falling?</i><</fadein>> <h3><<fadein 9 6>>vice-like hands hold your head in place.<</fadein>> <<fadein 12 5>>you succumb to exhaustion.@@<</fadein>></h3> @@.smear;<center><<fadein 14 7>>[[stare]]<</fadein>></center>@@<</linkappend>><</timed>> <<audio "stat2" volume .8>>

<<audio "noisy" fadein play>> <<timed 1.5s>><<audio "big" volume .2 fadein play>><</timed>> <<audio "drip" fadeout stop>> <center><<fadein 0 8>><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgk4jr67cafjpwl/fallingfinal.gif?dl=1" class="final-image" alt="the screen is closer. still black and white image is still inverted. the figure falls much more slowly now."><</fadein>></center> <<timed 10s>><<goto "start">><</timed>> <<timed 9.5s>><<audio "noisy" fadeout>><</timed>> <<audio "stat2" fadeout>> <<audio "stat3" fadeout>> <<timed 9.5s>><<audio "big" fadeout>><</timed>>

<<timed 2s>><<audio "laugh" fadein volume .7 play>><</timed>> <center><<timed 3s t8n>>@@.blur;it laughs at you as you finally manage a whimper@@<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>@@.blur;you know you are going to@@ @@.smear;[[die|loop 1b]]<</timed>></center>

<<timed 2.5s>><<audio "laugh" fadein volume .7 play>><</timed>> <center><<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;it mimics you.@@<</timed>></center> <<timed 3.5s t8n>><<fadein 1 1>>@@.blur;a shiver animates your body as you watch this version of yourself crash to floor<</fadein>> <<fadein 3 3>>@@.blur;again and again@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 5 3>>@@.blur;and it watches you@@<</fadein>><<fadein 7 2>>@@.blur; with dull eyes@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 9 1>>@@.blur; its grin widening with every subsequent cycle.@@<</fadein>><</timed>> <<fadein 14 3>>@@.blur;with each drop, the doppelgänger sustains more injuries--<</fadein>> <<fadein 16 1>>@@.blur;the neck snaps with a sickening crack@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 19 1>>@@.blur;the head ploughs into the corner of the bedframe@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 22 3>>@@.blur;and as it rises to the ceiling one last time,<</fadein>> <<fadein 22 5>>@@.blur;battered and dripping-- @@<</fadein>> <<fadein 24 3>>@@.blur;its eyes stare back at you, unwavering,@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 24 5>>@@.blur;behind a curtain of fragmented bone and flesh@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 27 4>>@@.blur;and dissolves into ashes which fill the air.@@<</fadein>> <<fadein 30 3>>@@.blur;you choke on them@@<</fadein>> <center><<fadein 34 3>>@@.blur;you beg to go@@ @@.smear;[[unconscious|loop 2b]]<</fadein>></center>

<<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;but the relief of unconsciousness doesn't come<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>@@.blur;the dread is unbearable@@<</timed>> <<timed 12s>><<goto "loop end">><</timed>>

<<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;but the relief of death doesn't come@@<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>@@.blur;the pressure is unbearable@@<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>><<goto "loop 2a">><</timed>>

<<timed 1s t8n>><h1> @@.rumble;FOLLOW @GHOULNOISE ON TWITTER@@</h1><</timed>>

<center><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/0vo86s28r9coo4m/pentultimate.gif?dl=1" class="responsive-image" alt="the values in the black and white video on the screen you were looking at invert. the figure falls slowly. "></center> <center><<timed 2s t8n>>@@.blur;your eyes are dry.@@<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>@@.blur;but you don't want to blink. you might miss<<linkappend " it--">><<fadein 2 3>><h1>@@.blur;the impact.@@</h1><</fadein>> <center><<fadein 4 5>>@@.smear;[[stare|you don't want to stop watching]]@@<</fadein>></center><</linkappend>><</timed>> <<audio "stat2" volume 1>> <<audio "stat3" volume 1>>

<center>@@.smear;[[click to begin|start]]@@</center>

@@.rumble;<h1>@@.blur;the relief of impact@@</h1>@@