Chapter 34: De Vermis Amoribus

Content Warning: Contains mentions of blood, physical and sexual violence, bullying, queerphobia, and intravenous parasites.

December, 2009. A young woman is trapped inside of her high school, narrowly avoiding the scourge that's claimed the rest of her small town. Her allies have perished, her friends are gone, and most everyone else has become food for the worms.

But Tessa Knopf clings to one last sliver of hope: the girl she loves is still alive. At the dead center of this Pandemonium, Maria awaits. But what will Tessa find when she finally gets to her?

Written as the final chapter to an unfinished novel draft, and made as a part of the 2024 Tunnels of Vextro Jam, Chapter 34: De Vermis Amoribus is a 15-30 minute interactive short story written in Twine. This story can be enjoyed as a standalone, but as it exists in conversation with the other games in the Jam, I'd strongly recommend playing at least some of the other games - particularly WORMS WILL EAT? and The Ballad of Swishy - first. For a lighter chaser, might I recommend the next game, worms: a love story?