Some animal instinct in the back of your mind moves your body without your conscious thought. You turn from him and run—

—but just two heavy strides are all it takes for him to catch up to you, the sound of his booted footsteps shuddering through the floorboards. He crashes into you from behind, and you go down, landing on the floor with a painful impact.

Wes's hand is on the back of your head, shoving your face against the floor, and your panicked gasps bring in the scent of moldering hay and loose dirt with the air. You choke and sputter, writhing, but he is sitting on the small of your back, his weight holding you down.

"Let me go—" you plead, but the sound of your own voice is cut short by a cruel, tight pressure around your neck.

Wes has taken up the loose end of the horrible noose he left around your neck.

You lift your arms, scratching and scrabbling at the cord that tightens slowly around your throat, trying desperately to work your fingers underneath the slippery cord, but it is already too late.

A heavy, sinking feeling overwhelms your fear, crashing over your mind in a numbing wave, and as blackness clouds your vision, you hear Wes's voice.

"Good night, darlin'."

ENDING ACHIEVED: Good Night, Darlin' 

Want to play again? Click the Back button on your browser to return to your previous decision, or head back to Chapter 1 to start from the beginning.

If you want to achieve all 24 endings and need a little help, check out the END NOTES chapter (mild spoilers) for a story map!