In Cold Blood

Fate vs Free Will

By: Allison Bernardino

Pick a Character

DickPerry

PerryYou are a young boy growing up without a true home. Your parents were famous rodeo stars but recently had to quit for reasons unknown to you. You have moved to Alaska and your mom is now an alcoholic. One night, your parents have a fight and your mom decides that she’s going to run away, taking you and your siblings with her. You’ve always loved your dad more but he isn’t doing anything to stop her from taking you. Do you…

Go with her willingly? ORFight her and try to stay with your dad?

You went with her willingly

She brought you to San Francisco where she neglects you and your siblings. Despite the fact that you chose to leave your dad, you find yourself wishing he would come for you. Soon, you grow tired to waiting. Do you…

Run away to look for him? OR Keep waiting for him to come for you?

You tried to stay with your dad

Sadly, your attempts are in vain. You end up with your mother. She brought you to San Francisco where she neglects you and your siblings. Despite the fact that you chose to leave your dad, you find yourself wishing he would come for you. Soon, you grow tired to waiting. Do you…

Run away to look for him? OR Keep waiting for him to come for you?

You tried to run awayUnfortunately, you got caught and dragged back to your mom. Time passes, and there’s still no sign of your dad. You go to school, but get in trouble a lot. One night, your mother dies. You get sent to a few orphanages before ending up at one led by a nurse who seems bent on killing you. She often tries to drown you, but there’s nobody who can- or will- help you. You finally get sick and go to a hospital, where your dad shows up. When you’re healthy enough, he takes you and the two of you travel together, making it hard for you to get an education. Still, you’re a lot happier than you have been. After third grade, your father pulls you out of school. Do you…

Continue traveling with him happily?

OR Argue, telling him you want to learn?

You kept waiting patientlyTime passes, and there’s still no sign of your dad. You go to school, but get in trouble a lot. One night, your mother dies. You get sent to a few orphanages before ending up at one led by a nurse who seems bent on killing you. She often tries to drown you, but there’s nobody who can- or will- help you. You finally get sick and go to a hospital, where your dad shows up. When you’re healthy enough, he takes you and the two of you travel together, making it hard for you to get an education. Still, you’re a lot happier than you have been. After third grade, your father pulls you out of school. Do you…

Continue traveling with him happily?

OR Argue, telling him you want to learn?

You continue travelingThe two of you travel for a long time. You love your dad, but whenever the two of you try to settle down, you get into fights. Your only education comes from books and music. You turn 16 and decide you can make your own decisions now. Do you…

Stay with your dad? OR Go join the merchant marines?

You argue with himBut all your arguments are futile. There’s no time for you to get an education, especially since you argue with everyone at school. The two of you travel for a long time. You love your dad, but whenever the two of you try to settle down, you get into fights, as your dad pointed out. Your only education comes from books and music. You turn 16 and decide you can make your own decisions now. Do you…

Stay with your dad? OR Go join the merchant marines?

You stay with your dadSoon, you and your dad run out of money. You need funds to carry out plans to build a hunting lodge in Alaska, so your dad convinces you to join the Merchant Marines despite your earlier choice. You go and, after finishing there, join the army. After being discharged, you decide to join your dad in Alaska to build a hunting lodge. Do you…

Get a car? OR A motorcycle?

You join the Merchant Marines

You go and, after finishing there, join the army. After being discharged, you decide to join your dad in Alaska to build a hunting lodge. Do you…

Get a car? OR A motorcycle?

You got a car

You try to get a car, but can’t find one for what you think is a reasonable price. You always liked speed more anyway, so you get a motorcycle. Unfortunately, as you’re driving one night, the weather is terrible. The motorcycle skids and you get crippled in the fall. After staying in the hospital for six months and a friend for another six, you finally join your dad. You build your hunting lodge and wait.

Continue

You got a Motorcycle

You always liked speed more than safety, so you get a motorcycle. Unfortunately, as you’re driving one night, the weather is terrible. The motorcycle skids and you get crippled in the fall. After staying in the hospital for six months and a friend for another six, you finally join your dad. You build your hunting lodge and wait.

Continue

The Lodge

Despite all your efforts, the lodge gets no business. You are low on money and your food has almost run out. Your dad blames you, and you shoulder his abuse for a while. Finally, both of you have had enough. You argue and he grabs a gun to try and shoot you. When he realizes the gun is empty, he cries. You leave to go for a walk and get some space. When you return, all of your possessions are on the ground and the doors are locked. Do you…

Leave? OR Try to get back in the lodge?

You left

You take with you only your guitar and your anger. You spend some time in prison, date but don’t marry, and get by mainly on stealing. One day, you get news from two people- one is your best friend Willie-Jay. He’s being released from prison and wants to see you. The other is a letter from a former prisoner named Dick. He needs your help with a great ‘score’, but he won’t tell you much until he sees you. Do you…

Go to Willie-Jay?

OR Go to Dick?

You try to get back in

But after a few hours, you realize that it’s futile. You grab your guitar off the ground and leave. You spend some time in prison, date but don’t marry, and get by mainly on stealing. One day, you get news from two people- one is your best friend Willie-Jay. He’s being released from prison and wants to see you. The other is a letter from a former prisoner named Dick. He needs your help with a great ‘score’, but he won’t tell you much until he sees you. Do you…

Go to Willie-Jay?

OR Go to Dick?

You went to Willie-Jay

And you miss him by a few hours. Resigned, you go to Dick instead and he convinces you to join him for a while. The two of you plan this ‘score’ and the big night finally arrives. You get there, but there is no safe like Dick promised there would be. There is no money to be found at all. Do you…

Leave? OR Stay and search the house?

You went to Dick

Dick explains the entire plan to you. You think you can get $5,000 out of his plan so you join him for a while. The two of you plan this ‘score’ and the big night finally arrives. You get there, but there is no safe like Dick promised there would be. There is no money to be found at all. Do you…

Leave? OR Stay and search the house?

You left

You sit by the car, your head pounding. Suddenly, you see a silhouette of a girl upstairs. Knowing how Dick gets about girls, you decide you are more concerned for her than you are for yourself. Besides, you have an undeniable urge to prove that you are just as manly as Dick. Reluctantly, you trudge back into the house. There, you find that Dick is herding the Clutters into the bathroom so he can search the house. You grab a chair for Mrs. Clutter, knowing that she has trouble standing. Dick stands to guard the family while you hunt for money. After an all-but-futile search, you return. Dick tells you to tie everybody up. Do you do it?

Yes OR No

You stayed

You and Dick go continue into the house where you run into Mr. Clutter. He heard you and woke up. Dick demands money, but when he finally realizes there is none, he herds the Clutters into the bathroom so he can search the house. You grab a chair for Mrs. Clutter, knowing that she has trouble standing. Dick stands to guard the family while you hunt for money. After an all-but-futile search, you return. Dick tells you to tie everybody up. Do you do it?

Yes OR No

You tie them up

You tie up Mr. Clutter and Kenyon first, giving Mr. Clutter a box to lie on and Kenyon a pillow. You can’t help but feel bad for them. You go back upstairs and tie up the women. While Dick searches the house, you talk to Nancy. Finally, you and Dick go back to the basement where Dick tells you to cut Mr. Clutter’s throat. You kneel, never intending to do so, but anger overtakes you. Without realizing you’ve done so, you cut his throat. When your senses finally return, you realize, horror dawning on you, that no matter how much you tried to stop this, you couldn’t. It was never in your control.

The End

You leave

Or at least, you try to leave. There’s a force you can’t control that seems to be holding you there. You tie up Mr. Clutter and Kenyon first, giving Mr. Clutter a box to lie on and Kenyon a pillow. You can’t help but feel bad for them. You go back upstairs and tie up the women. While Dick searches the house, you talk to Nancy. Finally, you and Dick go back to the basement where Dick tells you to cut Mr. Clutter’s throat. You kneel, never intending to do so, but anger overtakes you. Without realizing you’ve done so, you cut his throat. When your senses finally return, you realize, horror dawning on you, that no matter how much you tried to stop this, you couldn’t. It was never in your control.

The End

Dick

You are a young boy growing up in an average home in Kansas. Though you aren’t from one of the richest families around, your parents always make ends meet. You’re one of the best students at your school and you know it. You’re also a star athlete with a pretty, popular girlfriend. Life is good, though you do argue with your parents sometimes. High school ends and you desperately want to go to college, but unfortunately, your family just doesn’t have enough money. You get a job as a mechanic while dating a girl you love- more than just a high school love this time. Do you…

Save money for college? Or Save to marry th

e girl you love?

You saved for college

It’s certainly not easy, but little by little your savings grow. You continue dating the same girl, though you are both hesitant about what will happen when you go to college. Still, you know that it’s what you want to do, so when you have enough money, you apply. Luckily, you get in at a nearby college. You keep your job but cut back on hours. Four busy years later, you have steady work as a mechanic but you also know that your college graduation has opened new doors for you. Do you…

Keep your job and try to grow the business?

Or Take a risk and get a new job with more room for growth?

You saved for marriage

You put away your dreams for college, unwilling to take that risk. You dedicate yourself to your girlfriend and soon have enough money. You buy a ring, pop the question, and before you know it the two of you are in a church. The two of you have three kids, but you notice your money is getting thin. Of course, your situation isn’t helped by the fact that you’ve started seeing another woman. Do you…

Keep seeing her? Or Break up with her and focus on your family?

You kept seeing her

Your wife finds out. The two of you go through a painful divorce, but at the end you marry your mistress. Of course, this marriage doesn’t last either, leaving you broke and alone. You have no job, having lost it during the second divorce, and now, no home. Do you…

Go stay with your parents? Or Live in your car a

nd steal what you need?

You go to your parents

You stay with them while you get back on your feet. You finally get a job as a chef at a local inn. You get to stay in the hotel for free and get a meager salary. You work there, date a little bit (though you never remarry) and retire when you’re old enough. Luckily, the owner lets you live there for free for all your faithful service. It’s not much, but it’s all you have.

You survived at least. It wasn’t an amazing life, but you had some good times, some nice vacations. You did what you could.

You broke up

Your wife seems to suspect you had a secret when the money in the bank begins growing a bit quicker, but eventually she dismisses that notion. Of course, it’s not enough money for you to send any of your three kids to college, and they all desperately want to go. Do you…

Get a side job? Or Steal money?

You got a side job

It makes fair enough money. You get your kids through college, stay for another year to get money back in the bank, then quit. You keep working as a mechanic until you damage a hand in an accident. Old enough, you retire and live out the rest of your days with your wife in relative peace.

You did pretty well! Not quite the dream you wanted, but you’re happy.

You steal money

You pass bad checks and steal from stores. Eventually, you get arrested. In jail, you hear of a rich family and devise a plan to kill them. You finally get out of jail. Do you…

Go through with it? Or Try to make an h

onest living?

You tried

You manage to make an honest living. You work a few different jobs, but you always make enough money to support yourself. You see your kids a few more times, but other then that, you have no real family. You love your parents and are too ashamed to face them. You live everywhere and nowhere, unable to call anywhere home. You finally settle in Vegas.

It wasn’t a happy life. You got through on your own morals and nothing more.

You murdered

No hesitation. You recruited your old friend Perry, planned it out, and murdered. You get caught and are hung. You die regretting nothing.

No hope. The end.

You got a new job

It’s a good job in a small company. Your salary gives you steady money and you can take paid time off, which you could never do as a mechanic. You get promotions infrequently, but you do get small bonuses every year which gives you extra money in your budget. You also have to travel for your job, so you don’t see your family as much. Still, things are going well. You send your second kid to college before disaster strikes. Your company has been bought and you have been let go. There are no other businesses close enough for you to get another office job. Do you…

Get a farm? Or Start your own business?

You got a Farm

It’s not the most profitable in the area for sure, but it keeps you and your wife afloat. Your third kid, though you help pay for college, has to wait a year and get a job to pay off some of the college debt. They go, but hold a grudge against you for years. Your farm continues, some years good, some bad. You don’t get many breaks, but you and your wife are happy and you kids visit every now and again. It’s not too bad of a life, though you do regret not having enough money for your third kid sometimes. Overall, your life is good.

You did pretty well! Not quite the dream you wanted, but you’re happy.

You started a business

Business booms! Your company focuses on new technology. After sending your first kid to college, you open a few new offices in other states; though it requires you work more, you also bring in more money. Two more kids go to college, so you move into a smaller house in a bigger state. Eventually, in 1986, you sell your business for a few millions to some company called Dell. You live out the rest of your days happily with your wife, reminiscing over the hard days behind you and the happy days ahead.

You have reached the American Dream!

You kept your job

Soon, you manage to become the owner and manager of your own shop. Money is pretty steady and your marriage is going well; in fact, you have three kids. They grow up to be smart and athletic, each good at his own sport and activity. Of course, they want to go to college, but to do that, you’d either need to build your business a bit more or sell your shop and get a farm. You know you can make money off a farm if it’s successful, but you’ve never been much good at farming. Do you…

Hire an employee and expand your store?

Or Go for a farm?

You expanded your store

After all, you’ve built this store from the ground up. You can’t bring yourself to sell it. You find a trustworthy employee and your business grows a fair amount. Your first kid goes off to college, and you notice a bit more money in your bank after they leave since you no longer have to fully support them. A couple years later, the second kid and gone and the third follows before you know it. You have built yourself a life and a business from next to nothing; you and your wife are happy together. Everything in your life is exactly as you have always wanted it to be, and you take great pride in knowing you did all the work yourself.

You have reached the American Dream!

American Dream!

You are a very successful man with a wonderful wife and charming children. You hear about a murder down in Kansas of a small family who were also successful and wonder if that could have ever been you doing the murdering. Of course, you dismiss the notion swiftly. After all, how could anybody who made decisions like yours ever end up in such a bad place? You just thank God that you used free will to end up with such a loving wife and successful life and go to bed.

end

Pretty good!

It was a good life. Nothing more, nothing less. You’re pleased enough.

end

Perry

You go to trial for the murders after trying to flee for a few years. You are sentenced to death and die believing you couldn’t have done anything differently with your life. Fate has come to you at last.

end

No hopeYou know you could have amounted to something. It’s all you could focus on in jail. If only you had done something differently, you might have done something with your life. It’s too late now though.

end

The End