Elliot Zink is a US-based author, scriptwriter, and gamedev currently working on Greenwarden, a Twine-based interactive novel. He specializes in character-driven narratives, intricate worldbuilding, and horror.He also makes a mean martini.

The Dredged

A sailor-smuggler navigating Cold War tensions bites off more than he can chew when his friend dredges something up from the deep.

If I Die, Consume Me

A Twine-based interactive prose poem, written for Neo Twiny Jam 2023. When your companion passes away on the arctic, you're faced with a rough choice.

The Interrogation of Aliya Eliana

When the teenaged messiah is the only survivor of a 40-person massacre, you -- the player - are tasked with her interrogation while the world ends.

Greenwarden: Book One

A Twine-based interactive novel. When a teenager goes missing in a mysterious mountain town, the player is called in to investigate. Dealing with workplace drama would be bad enough if you weren't halfway insane already.

THE DREDGED

The sun on the bay is bright, light bouncing off the pretty blue waves, white sails bobbing up and down in the water, the ocean and sky the same shade of cornflower. Too bright, Carlos' hangover reminds him. Too damn sunny for ten in the morning. The piercing headache smacks him between the eyes. The more he has to glare through his Wayfarers at the lacquered wood of his deck, soaked to a fine shine by sea spray the worse it gets. Wet, cold, and miserable. Same shit, different day.They've been sailing since six, since before daylight. They're deep into the Chesapeake now, far, far away from the other boats. Carlos will keep sailing until the one other person on his ancient fishing trawler tells him to stop, which could be now, and could be four hours from now. Sometimes he wonders if his navigator throws darts at a map and decides where to go.The hand that thumps between his shoulder blades nearly makes him hurl. He can feel the bruise starting to settle beneath his skin, moving into the neighborhood with all the others.Speak of the devil.Rubbing his aching spine (aching everything — his whole body just hurts) he turns. Simon grins. Sometimes he reminds Carlos of a shark — all teeth.Most times he draws a comparative line that's closer to seagull.”I'm dropping the net — should be some good schools around here somewheres.“ Somewheres. Carlos just stares at him. Not just because he talks so loud it makes Carlos want to kill himself — the fake Curtis Bay lexicon Simon puts on is grating. Simon isn't even from Baltimore -- as far as Carlos knows, Simon isn't American, his accent completely unplaceable. Carlos has grown up here his whole life, and he still doesn't say somewheres.”Great,“ and that's Carlos’ whole reply, focusing on driving the boat and trying not to throw up. Simon flashes him a two-finger salute before he grabs the net. It's heavy, weighted, black braided nylon. He loops the half hitches like a machine, dragging lengths of damp, limp cord. It thumps in tandem with Carlos' headache.Simon was the one who woke him in a hurry this morning. Something about “feeling good about today's catch.” Like he had the right after keeping Carlos out so late the night before, dragging him up and down Fells Point. He never knocks, either -- always from the window. Carlos is pretty sure he threw his bedside clock at him when he saw the time, and then -- fool that he is -- he threw on the first pair of shoes and boating shorts he could find in his pile of unlaundered clothes, because Simon is never wrong. In terms of fish, anyway.Annoying as he is, Simon is an invaluable employee. Not many grown men could handle a net that heavy by their lonesome — Carlos can barely do it, and this boat is like an older brother to him. He's got a sixth sense for where the fish go and where the currents carry them — and for trouble. Carlos only half-regrets fishing him out of the ocean.

THE INTERROGATION OF ALIYA ELIANA

The door opens.

CHIEF OF POLICE
Detective? Can I talk to you for a minute?

The Chief of Police is not usually one to interrupt interrogations. He's a results man.The look on his face is inscrutible. I can't tell if I'm in trouble, or if there's a new break in the case I should know about.

INTERROGATOR
Wait here Aliyah. I'll be back in a second.

FADE TO:

INT. HALLWAY, DAY

(Aliyah sits in the center of the screen, with the Chief of Police off to the side.)INTERROGATOR
What's going on, sir?CHIEF OF POLICE
I really don't think there's anything we're going to get out of her. She's probably innocent.(The lights flicker. Aliyah is now looking directly at the player, as if she can see them.)INTERROGATOR
You're joking, right?INTERROGATOR
She's the only suspect, and she's incredibly suspicious.INTERROGATOR
You don't think there's anything going on there?CHIEF OF POLICE
I think you're overreacting about a weirdo kid who's got nothing to do with this.CHIEF OF POLICE
We need to let her go. There's no probable cause.INTERROGATOR
You haven't cared much about probable cause before.(The lights flicker again. Nothing happens. Yet.)INTERROGATOR
How much is Michael Gujic paying you to get his daughter out of here without any charges?(There is a beat of silence. The lights flicker. For the briefest moment, it almost looks as though Aliyah has a halo, before the lights go on again.)CHIEF OF POLICE
You're overstepping, detective.CHIEF OF POLICE
You've got 36 hours to put together a solid case or I let the girl go, and I take your badge.(The lights flicker. They stay off for a suspiciously long time.)INTERROGATOR
You can't do that!(The lights come back on. Aliyah is standing there, looking at the Chief as though she can see him.)INTERROGATOR
Jesus!

She's looking as if she can see us. Her mouth moves.I can almost hear the words, like -- like she's in my head.She's in my head.

ALIYA
You will be with me in paradise.

END SCENE