“The first hit is free, honey.”

Psst, my favorite reader. Red or blue? Okay, no theatrics — the blue one tastes like raspberry, and the red one will actually take you to Wonderland.

The system is pretty simple, really.

MONEY. Not literal cash, but your overall standard of living. 0 means absolute poverty; 10 means comfortable and financially secure.

WITHDRAWAL. Shaky hands? Sweaty body? This stat affects how well you handle things. At 10, even ordinary everyday tasks can become a challenge.

HIGH. Your way to feel better for a while. Ever seen a rainbow bend across the sky while the moon winks at you?

BODY. Health, appearance, and all that. Being healthy and pretty is better than being sick and ugly. Obviously.

DEPENDENCE. The sweetest one. It doesn't really affect what you do directly, but it makes WITHDRAWAL climb higher and higher. Treatment is possible. But is it worth it?

So, let me introduce you to the main crabs in this bucket.

Jasmine

“You don't have to look at me like that. I already know what I look like.”

You might have gotten to know her a little better here: smooch.

She's been at rock bottom for a long time and isn't particularly eager to climb back up. Lives one day at a time — honestly, more like two or three hours at a time. Eats whatever she can get, drinks anything that'll burn, and shares a bed with whoever offers.

Sally

“Don't make that face. We're having fun. You can be sad tomorrow.”

A kind-hearted goth bitch. Cocaine is her closest companion. She genuinely tries to help, but somehow tends to create even more problems.

Vlad

“Relax. I know a guy. He's a piece of shit, but he owes me, so that makes him a useful piece of shit.”

That guy who can sort things out. Need a job? An introduction? Something hard to get? Vlad's your man.

Scarlett

"I'm not your dealer right now, I'm your friend. The prices are different.”

Whatever flavor of poison you're after, Little Red Riding Hood has something for every taste and budget.

William

"I'm not offering you a favor. I'm offering you a door. Whether you walk through it is entirely your decision—and I do mean entirely.”

Of course this game needed a corrupt cop.

Before the hit: This misery simulator has been trained to simulate the human circulatory system so it can accurately calculate just how much shit is currently flowing through the protagonist. I strongly recommend using a proxy.

CWs/TWs: Substance Use & Addiction, Violence & Harm, Exploitation & Coercion, Poverty & Degradation.