Nicolae: Is it love - The original story (Game walk through)

Chapter one part one

I feel something wet touching my ankles. I look down and see that my feet are tangled in some wet grass. I probably stumbled without realizing it, because I am lying on a bed of ferns. The night is dark, and I am in the middle of the forest. I can hear a wolf howling in the distance. A light but steady rain keeps falling down on me. A sense of imminent danger comes over me, like a feeling of anxiety that's just waiting to paralyze me. But I can't let these strong emotions get the better of me. I try to sit up and rid myself of these ferns around my ankles, so I can run as fast as I can, far from this sinister forest. My nails are now black with mud but now's not the time to worry about it.

The rain quickly turns into a drizzle that soaks all my clothes making them stick to my body, which is far from pleasant. I finally manage to get up and start running as fast as possible. Terror spreads through me because I have the horrible feeling I'm being followed. I move forward with difficulty. I can't see much in the dark. Plus, my clothes are getting in the way, they're making any sort of movement very difficult. Even if I've always loved vintage clothing, I'm really wondering what on earth I'm doing dressed like this. It's not the ideal thing to wear if you're running through the woods. And it's preventing me from running as fast as I'd like to. I lift my petticoats as high as possible and stick them in my corset because whatever is chasing me, is rapidly closing in on me. I'm trying to guess what, or who, it may be. Is it a man or an animal? I can only see a shadow.

In my race, my bun's fallen out of place. Wet locks of hair fall in front of my eyes, preventing me from seeing well. The branches of the trees are scratching my arms and face, but I can't stop. I have to run, flee whatever it is. I feel the shadow's approaching. It's the figure of a man, I'm sure of it now. I turn to try to catch a glimpse of his face but can't see anything. It's just a dark shadow in the blackness of the night. I think my imagination is playing tricks on me. The rest of his figure is clearly distinct, but not his face. As if he were wearing a kind of veil to hide his features. It's as if I were in front of a supernatural creature. I can only distinguish his long dark coat sweeping the floor. And its gold gilt buttons shining in the night. I start running again, and suddenly I notice some light. It's coming from a house which I can see in the distance. For some unknown reason, it gives me courage. I manage to outrun the man who's pursuing me. What does he want from me? What does he want from a poor little unknown student from London University? I don't understand. As I ask myself this question, I look at my locket, which I'm clutching tightly as I run through the night. Strangely, I feel that this jewel made of fine gold, engraved on both sides, is a talisman and is protecting me. It's hard to explain but this locket around my neck is the only thing that's giving me the strength to keep running. The man is nevertheless closing in on me again and I can almost feel his breath on my neck. A cold icy breath that's giving me goose bumps. I have to do something because I won't manage to keep running much longer. I feel like my legs are about to give way, I have to act.

At first, I think of climbing up a tree to protect myself. I've always been pretty good at climbing, but the wet trees would probably make it difficult, and I'm not sure that I could get there. My eyes then focus on the faint light flickering in the window. Taking refuge there seems like my only option. But I can't slow down. The distance between the shadow and me is reducing. He'll almost be able to touch me any minute now. He's so close to me but I still can't see his face. Yet, I get the feeling that he knows exactly how I am. How can that be? It's a very strange and unpleasant feeling. Maybe he's mistaken me for someone else? I should perhaps try and talk to him and get him to listen to reason. And most of all, ask him what he wants from me. But as I open my mouth, no sound comes out. As if my fear had sucked the voice out of me, literally making me mute. I hold on to my locket even harder as if for dear life, imploring it to give me enough strength to reach the house, whose light seems to be my last hope. I feel my strength leaving me and the man's hand is approaching dangerously, ready to grab my arm at any moment. I'm done for.