Midnight Letter: When the Lights Return

About Midnight Letter: When the Lights Return

Midnight Letter: When the Lights Return is an illustrated interactive story set in Kalamu Bay, a coral-coast town whose only radio station went quiet three weeks ago, when a storm brought the mast on Signal Hill down. That same night the fishing boat Dorado was out past the reef with no way to be warned, and still came home. Four people were there, and each of them tells it differently: Lucía Varela, who runs Radio Kalamu from her kitchen; Benji Tau, twelve, who was flying a kite on the hill that afternoon and is sure it was his fault; Captain Raf Mendes of the Dorado, who heard something on channel nine he will not explain; and Mayor Imogen Prest, who has a sea wall to finish and an election in spring. A new mast arrives in three nights, and the first thing on air when the lights return will be the town's own account of the storm. Each midnight you write one letter in one of their voices, choosing what that person admits and whether the letter goes into the station's box or stays in a drawer. One voice will go unwritten. Posted letters are read by the others and change what they write next, so the versions contradict each other in ways that depend on your order. Two papers found in two honest letters, laid side by side, show what really happened. Five endings, two of them hidden. A new twist each night and a daily challenge keep it fresh. You can go back to an earlier choice, every line is announced to screen readers, and the text goes up to Largest.

How to play

Press Write on or tap the letter to continue, and tap a choice (or press 1 to 5) to answer. Z or the Back button returns to your last choice.
Each of three nights, choose whose letter to write: Lucía, Benji, Raf or the Mayor. The fourth voice is never written, so choose who you leave out.
In each letter, choose what the writer admits: what they believe, what protects someone, or what protects themselves. Then post it to the station or keep it in a drawer.
Posted letters are read by the others. A later letter answers, doubts or uses what an earlier one said.
Papers found in honest letters go on the board (E, or the Papers button). Pick two to lay side by side; a pair that fits can open a hidden ending.
Change the text size with T or the Text button. Your story saves as you go, and Restart begins three new nights with a new twist.

Controls

Tap the letter, or press Enter, Space or Ⓐ — write on
Tap a choice, or press 1 to 5 — choose
Z, Backspace or Ⓑ — go back to the last choice
E or Ⓨ — papers board; L or Ⓧ — letters so far; T — text size
P, Escape or Start — pause

Frequently asked questions

How long is a story?

About fifteen to thirty minutes for three nights. There are five endings, two of them hidden, and leaving a different voice unwritten changes what you can find.

Is there a right version?

Each writer tells the truth as they see it, or protects someone, or protects themselves. Some of them are simply wrong. Two papers from two honest letters, laid side by side, show what really happened.

Does it matter whether I post a letter?

Yes. Posted letters are read by the others and change what they write next, and only posted letters can be read on air when the lights return.

Can I take a choice back?

Yes. Press Z or the Back button to return to your last choice with everything as it was, as often as you like.

Can I play with a keyboard or a screen reader?

Yes. Every line, choice and paper is announced, every button works with the keyboard or a controller, the text goes up to Largest, and nothing is timed.

Does it save?

Yes, in this browser: the night you are on, the endings you have heard and your settings. Nothing is uploaded.