Synopsis: An adventure guided by you, the reader, about amnesiacs stranded on mysterious mountains. You choose what will happen next.
(NOTE: IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME READING MOUNTAIN CASTAWAYS, PLEASE START ON PAGE 1 BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK.)
Chapter 1, Page 4
You (LUMA LUMBA) decide to INVESTIGATE THE SMALL COTTAGE IN FRONT OF YOU.
You peer through the windows of the house and see a bedroom inside. To your shock, you see posters containing dolphins and your favorite inspirational quotes! You take a step back and gasp when you read the letters on the door: LUMA’S HOUSE.
“Is everything alright?”, says the man who was harvesting crops. He walks towards you, and bears a reassuring smile.
“I think so,” you reply. “I’m just very confused. I’ve never lived here before! How can this be my house?”
“So you must be Luma!”, says the man. “Nice to meet you, I’m Albert.”
“Yes, I’m Luma,” you say, “and nice to meet you too.” (You don’t introduce yourself as Lulu because you’re not sure whether this man will become your friend.)
“You’re probably wondering what’s going on here,” Albert says as you prepare yourself for a long explanation. (Time to focus!) “Like the rest of us, before getting here, you lost your memories. But that doesn’t matter once you realize how many new happy memories you’re going to make here in the mountains! All you have to do is continue your job here! In your case, you’ll be working with me to harvest crops.”
Albert pauses. He seems self-satisfied, as if he believes this short explanation answers all your questions. But it really doesn’t.
“So I’m just supposed to live up here now… like forever?”, you ask frustratedly. “Do I ever get to leave? Maybe go back to my actual home? Who am I even working for? Why would I ever agree to this?”
“I know it seems limiting,” Albert replies, “but you’ll grow to love it! Your home is personally tailored to your preferences and interests, and while you yourself can’t leave this mountain, if you ever need anything you can just ask our boss the Mountain Manager! He’s the guy who dropped you off in that helicopter, and he’s the only one allowed to travel between all nine of these mountains at will. But he’s very nice and he’ll bring us anything that we need! You’re gonna love it here, trust me!”
You DO NOT trust him. This whole situation seems very much like a CULT to you. There’s a chance he could be right that you’d end up liking this new life, but that chance is slim. And even if you ended up liking this new job working with new people and living in a new home… something about the idea of, I dunno, NEVER BEING ABLE TO LEAVE makes you feel really confined and despondent.
You feel like one of those people who gets stranded on a deserted island… what was the word for them, again? Although that metaphor isn’t perfect of course, since you’re not on an island but on the upper surface of a mountain. Wasn’t there a term for that kind of place too? Why can’t you remember it? Wow you’re so forgetful, but you’re sure the words will come to you later.
What will you do next?
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