Try the demo here!
Current word count: 74k words
Word count per playthrough: 30k words
“Why am I not dead?”
“Death cannot hold you. Not yet.”
When a powerful villain threatens the safety of Metamora, you and the city’s heroes go to great lengths to stop him, and ultimately you are forced to pay the biggest price of all.
(Against all odds, the heroes win. The victory is hollow.)
The doctors are professional, if not sympathetic. They tell you that your body is in the process of slowly shutting down. No, they aren’t sure why. No, there isn’t a cure. When you ask how much time you have left, the faces grow dark. Perhaps a year, they say. Two if you’re lucky.
(You thought you could rest. You thought wrong again.)
For as threats resurge and the past rears its ugly head, you can only wonder: Do you have the strength to see things through? Will there be enough time?
And when the end comes, can you find the courage to say goodbye?
Features:
- customizable MC: name, gender, appearance, skills, and personality
- discover the truth about your powers
- find love, romantic or platonic… and then learn to let them go
- confront the past that haunts your dreams
- forgive others, and more importantly yourself
- accept your impending death or deny it till the bitter end
- let go of the past or choose the path of vengeance
Content Warnings
As suggested by the title, the main character will die at the end of the story. In addition to the themes surrounding death, others include major injury, loss, and the mental struggles that come with dealing with all of this.
(This list is likely non-exhaustive, as I come from a culture where content warnings are not the norm. Please let me know if any should be added. Apologies in advance for any omissions!)
Romance Options
The Leader | Vero Fowell
As the leader of the Blackbirds, Vero holds himself to a high standard of morals. He once believed that the pursuit of truth and justice was worth any sacrifice— but after what happened to you, he is beginning to rethink that ideology.
The Heart | Awan Naderi
As the heart of the team, Awan is a highly charismatic and principled hero. He strives to be there for those who need it most, and thus feels immense guilt for failing to uphold the same promise to you.
The Logician | Silver Reiss
The final member of the Blackbirds, Silver feels an inexplicable kinship with you, though she has never given voice to it. She deeply regrets not doing so, just as she regrets not doing more to prevent the fate that had befallen you.
The Reporter | Ezann Yang
If there is a truth to be found, you can be certain that Ezann will do her utmost to find it. But this intrepid reporter might have bitten off more than she can chew… and you are somehow one of the players in the middle of it all.
The Dreamer | Temari Mihara
There is no better one than ‘dreamer’ to describe Temari. Circumstances, however, have caused you to lose contact with her and her twin. And should a reunion be in the future, you can only wonder if the years past have changed this part of her.
The Protector | Tensei Mihara
As the older twin, Tensei takes his status very seriously. Steadfast and reliable, he can be very protective of both his sister and of you. If and when you meet again, you can only wonder if he will be just as warm.
Update Log
- 9 June 2022: demo posted, 30k words
- 12 August 2022: chapter one added, 50k words
- 28 April 2023: prologue and chapter one revised with additional content, 73k words
Hello! My name’s Anjie, and I’m trying a hand at interactive fiction. Before We are Ghosts is slated to be a standalone book. This story is very dear to me, as are its themes, and I hope you will enjoy it. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
I apologize for any coding errors, and would love if you could point them out to me. Feedback on continuity errors, or if you feel like something is awkward, confusing or missing, would be very helpful as well.
