Prologue: The Fall
Chapter Goal
You wake as Bernard Thorne, a 74-year-old Vietnam War veteran, after falling down the stairs. Your immediate goal is to find pain medication to ease the throbbing headache.
This section teaches you the basic controls and introduces Bernard's physical limitations. There is no combat — only navigation and observation.
Common Stuck Points
If you're stuck, click the situation that matches yours:
Stuck Point 1: Wheelchair Controls
The wheelchair controls are intentionally sluggish. Movement takes time — Bernard is elderly and disabled. Try holding the movement keys rather than tapping.
Use WASD or arrow keys to move. The wheelchair has momentum — it doesn't stop instantly. Controller users: use the left stick. Ramps require sustained forward pressure.
Keyboard: WASD or Arrow Keys to move. Mouse to look around. E or Left Click to interact.
Controller: Left Stick to move. Right Stick to look. A/X button to interact.
If the wheelchair feels stuck, you may be against furniture — back up and try a different angle.
Stuck Point 2: The Darkness
The darkness is intentional. Bernard has nyctophobia (fear of darkness). Look for light sources — lamps, windows, anything that glows.
Some light switches can be toggled. Move toward visible light sources. If the screen is pulsing or Bernard is breathing heavily, you've been in darkness too long.
From the starting position at the bottom of the stairs, there should be ambient light from a nearby room. Move toward it. If you're experiencing a panic attack (screen distortion, heavy breathing), stay still in the light for a moment to recover. You cannot "die" but the experience is intentionally distressing.
Stuck Point 3: Nothing Happening in Living Room
Progression in this game is not always immediate. Sometimes you need to be in a location, look at something, or wait. The house responds to your presence.
Look around the room carefully. Objects that can be interacted with may glow faintly or your cursor may change. Check shelves, tables, and counters for items.
In the opening section, your goal is to find scattered pain pills (codeine). Check the living room tables and kitchen counters. Some pills may be on high surfaces that Bernard struggles to reach — this is part of the experience. Continue exploring until you find enough medication or the scene transitions.
Stuck Point 4: Bernard is Panicking
Panic attacks are triggered by darkness. This is Bernard's nyctophobia — a phobia developed from wartime trauma. Return to light to calm down.
When panicking, the screen distorts and Bernard's breathing becomes audible. Move back toward any light source. The attack will subside after a few seconds in lit areas.
Panic attacks are not lethal but are meant to be uncomfortable. If you're stuck in darkness, try moving in any direction until you find light. The wheelchair can be slow — keep holding forward. Once in light, wait for the effects to fade before continuing. Plan your routes through lit areas when possible.
The prologue establishes Bernard's reality: he is alone, disabled, and haunted. The slow wheelchair movement, the cluttered house, and the fear of darkness are not game design flaws — they are the experience. Bernard's body is failing him, and so is his mind.
If you find yourself frustrated by the controls, consider that this frustration is intentional. You are meant to feel his limitations.
Self-Check: Before Moving On
Before continuing to Chapter 1, confirm you have:
- Learned how to control the wheelchair
- Understood the darkness/panic mechanic
- Found at least some pain medication
- Experienced the first flashback (Vietnam War memory)
If you haven't triggered the flashback yet, continue exploring. It will happen as part of normal progression.