Matt Chandler - Alcatraz: A Chilling Interactive Adventure

For the best You Choose experience,
view in portrait (vertical) orientation.

YOU are on the famous island fortress, Alcatraz. Its walls hold many secrets, dating back to its days as a military fort and then a prison. As you explore its mysterious hallways and cells, you're about to find out why so many people have found "The Rock" such a fascinating and terrifying place. Will you overcome your fear and escape the island? Or will you remain trapped within its walls forever?

Follow the links at the bottom of each page. The choices YOU make will change the outcome of the story. After you read one path, go back and read the others for more haunted adventures! Use your device's back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice to make a different decision.

Dont worry, they wont even know were gone, you whisper to your best friend Taryn as you lean out across the railing of the ferry. The idea of a class trip to Alcatraz, the famous prison in California, would be exciting enough for most kids your age. But youve always been adventurous, as your teacher Mrs. Woodford says. Shes strict, and shes leading the trip, so you know if there is going to be any real excitement on Alcatraz Island, youll have to escape her watchful eye.

Alcatraz Island has been a military reservation, a prison, and a national park.

But Mrs. Woodford says anyone who breaks the rules will be in detention until June! Taryn says stubbornly.

Taryn is the smartest student in your class, maybe the entire school. She spent two weeks reading everything she could about Alcatraz, and youll need her help to find your way around.

Come on, dont you want to see any of the really top-secret, behind-the-scenes stuff? I promise, well be back with the class before they even miss us, you say, giving Taryn a sly grin.

The ferry whistle pierces the early morning fog that hangs low over San Francisco Bay. You and Taryn look up, and in the distance is Alcatraz Federal . The main prison building, guard tower, and lighthouse catch your eye as you near the island.

As the boat docks, Mrs. Woodford gathers the students at the front and begins barking orders. You grab Taryns hand and pull her toward the rear of the ferry.

We can sneak away while Mrs. Woodfords explaining all of her rules, you tell Taryn. She pauses for a second then nods excitedly.

You tiptoe down the metal walkway. When you reach the bottom, you realize you havent actually made a plan.

We could climb along those huge boulders that line the island, you say. Taryn tenses up and digs her feet into the ground at your suggestion.

No way. It looks dangerous, she says. Lets start with the house. Everyone else will be in the main building, and Ive read some cool and creepy things about that place.

It makes more sense to stay away from the buildings until the rest of the class is inside, you say to Taryn. She looks at you with reluctance but follows as you run toward the rocky edge of the island. As you near the shore, the ground becomes increasingly muddy. With each step your feet sink in deeper, like quicksand.

With some effort you reach the rocks and find a large boulder with a big flat surface. You carefully pull yourself up and face the prison, watching your classmates file inside single file like prisoners under Warden Woodford. Out of the corner of your eye, you see movement. You look toward the water and see a man paddling on a dirty yellow raft.

Taryn, you say softly but urgently. Look!

What? I dont see anything but the water, she says.

Alcatraz is often named the United States' top tourist destination. It is also one of America's most haunted places.

I swear I saw a man in some sort of homemade raft

She cuts you off. Why would someone be in a raft way out here? Before you can answer, her voice lowers and she whispers another question. What color was it?

It was hard to see in the choppy water, and I only saw it for a second, but Im sure it was yellow, you tell her.

Taryn gives you an uneasy look. Yellow like the raincoats, she mutters. When you give her a questioning look, she explains. I read about three prisoners in 1962 who made homemade rafts out of raincoats. They escaped, never to be seen again. The raincoats were yellow. A chill runs down your spine.

The lighthouse is the tallest structure on Alcatraz Island.

Im going to check out the lighthouse, Taryn says. You can do what you want, but Im not going any closer to that water.

Okay, wait up, you yell to Taryn, who has started to trudge toward the lighthouse. You approach the imposing cylinder and reach for the rusted door handle. It creaks as it opens, and you feel a rush of frigid air even though its a warm day. You ignore it and race up the metal stairs, eager to see the view from the top.

When youre halfway up, you hear a noise a dull banging from down below you.

What was that? Taryn squeals, panic in her voice.

Probably just a squirrel or something, you say, trying to reassure yourself as much as your friend. Lets go! Were almost at the top.

At last you step onto the main observation deck and take in the amazing view. You can see across the bay, all the way to San Francisco.

Im going back inside, Taryn calls out, and you hear the door clang shut as she disappears.

As soon as she leaves, you hear the banging again, this time louder than before. You peer out toward the water, and you see the raft again! Its unmistakable from your new . The man is there too, dressed in what looks like an old-fashioned prisoners outfit. He raises what looks like a homemade oar from the water and shakes it in your direction. Your hands are clammy, and your body begins to shake. Somethings not right.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the man from the raft is up on land near the entrance to the lighthouse. How did that happen? You never took your eyes off him, but somehow he traveled hundreds of feet in a split second!

HELP! HES GOT ME! HELP ME!

Both civilians and prisoners alike have called Alcatraz Island home.

Your thoughts are broken by Taryns screams. You run to the door and yank it open. Down the short hall stands a figure in the doorway, his back to you. He has what looks like the barrel of a gun over one shoulder. His other hand is wrapped around Taryn. You freeze, unsure what to do next.

There is no way you are missing the chance to find the man in the raft. You yell to Taryn that youll catch up with her.

Ahead there is a wiry, overgrown bush jutting out of the rocky . Once you get past that, you should have a clear view of where you saw the man in the raft paddle away. Balancing on a large rock, you stretch and try to step to the next one.