The Spider Cliff Mysteries

The Spider Cliff Mysteries
   ▷ Story 4: The Wednesday that Wasn't
      ▷ Chapter 7: Things we do for friends

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Transcript of this chapter:

crystal: It's a little late for coffee, don't you think?
barlow: I have to stay alert... lots of work to do tonight.
barlow: I gotta meet Alex after midnight. We're going to set some traps for that zombie or whatever is stalking about. I'll be up all night.
crystal: Oh. Is that so? We'll see about that...
barlow: You have that look... What is it? What do you know that makes you so smug? What do you know?!
crystal: I don't know anything...
barlow: Demon-girl! If I find out that you're hiding something about this...
crystal: What would I be hiding?
barlow: You always get so smug when you think that you know something I don't. I KNOW you think you know something.
crystal: I know you'll never stay up all night.
barlow: Oh, so you're so smug because you think I can't do it? Ha!
crystal: You should just leave this up to me.
barlow: Oh, so you think that just because you're a demon you know how to handle this? You shouldn't be so smug about that... after all, I AM a trained demon-hunter!
crystal: Don't rush into things before you know what you're dealing with!
barlow: So you think you know better than me?
crystal: Well, duh.
barlow: I'll have you know that I won't rest until this new villain has been properly dealt with. What do you have to say about that?! Not so smug now, are you?
crystal: That's not what's making me smug.
barlow: Then what is it?
crystal: Well... as it turns out...
crystal: I put a sleeping potion into your coffee. This is not a night that I want you roaming around and setting up dangerous traps. Someone's liable to get hurt...
crystal: ....you're liable to get hurt. I hope you won't be mad at me in the morning... but hey, you're going to wake up feeling great.
crystal: And it looks like I'm going to be the one who doesn't get any sleep.
crystal: Well, things certainly look quiet out there. I saw Turnip go by a few minutes ago, but that's the only movement out there for the last hour.
crystal: So... sleepy...
crystal: But I have to stay alert. This is important. If Annabelle doesn't come out tonight, I know that she can be trusted. And I've got Barlow safely tucked in so he won't feel obligated to kill her.
crystal: I guess it's just a matter of waiting...
turnip: Hi Crystal. Is Barlow still up?
crystal: Uh... no, he turned in a bit early tonight.
turnip: Alright. I won't trouble him...
turnip: So what are you watching for?
crystal: I'm waiting for a friend...
crystal: .... or actually, I'm hoping my friend to DOESN'T show up. It's kind of complicated.
turnip: You don't want to see your friend?
crystal: Not right now. I need time to figure things out... how to keep her as a friend. If I see her tonight, I know she'll betray me.
turnip: Betray you?!! That don't sound like something a friend would do. What makes you call her a friend?
crystal: Nothing! It's just such a beautiful night tonight.
turnip: So you're not waiting up for some specific reason?
crystal: No... not really.
turnip: I don't believe you.
crystal: What makes you think I'm waiting for something?
turnip: You're not the only person staring out windows tonight. Rebecca is doing the same thing right now. I wager you're waiting for something to happen.
crystal: She's not really a friend yet... but she needs to have a friend.
turnip: Don't you mean YOU need to have a friend?
crystal: Yes, I guess that's what I mean. There are not many people here that I can be friends with, and I'm starting to get lonely.
turnip: Well, I know how you feel...
crystal: Well... we have a similar background... but there's not much else that we have in common right now.
crystal: It's just that there's not really anyone else here who's got the same background, the same outlook, even if we aren't a lot alike right now.
crystal: I don't know how to explain it so that you understand.
turnip: Oh, I understand...
turnip: Barlow has always been my best friend... but lately we haven't been so close. There's not a lot that we have in common anymore. I hang out with him, but it's not the same.
turnip: I guess in the future, I might not be able to depend on him like I used to.
turnip: I hope that you can depend on your friend.
crystal: If she stays put tonight, I know I can depend on her.
turnip: You shouldn't let your friendships hinge on tests like this. People change, you know. She may be a friend to you now, but will she always be?
crystal: I... I really don't know.
crystal: Well, I don't know how dependable a friend she would be, anyway.
turnip: Friendships do take effort, you know. But you have to know when to let them go. Maybe things will work out okay for you.
crystal: In any case, my problems will be over tomorrow morning.

General information on The Spider Cliff Mysteries

To fully enjoy this mystery series, you might need the latest version of the Flash plug-in. This comic operates in a manner reminiscent of adventure games, although the gaming aspect is far over-shadowed by the story. Basically, you experience the mystery through the viewpoint of the two protagonists. You can press the spacebar or click on the little arrows to progress through the conversation. At several points in the conversation, you will have several options for progressing through the branching storyline. Important clues (and false leads) are indicated by a clue icon that appears in the corner. These clues might or might not be important, but if you are a registered member, your account will keep track of your clues and your progress through the mysteries. Take it at your own speed, and have fun!