It's kinda funny that you mention the ending choice in 2nd Shift, cause as I digested this story more, the more I thought that if the story had set it up that you choose at the final moment which direction to start walking, that would've actually really worked well. Something not having the family fight prior to driving off and having it so Redmond calls both Grace and Jacob to pick him up and neither one coming, thus leaving it even more ambiguous which direction to go. Its interesting that you mention paranormal bits, cause I didn't pick up on those at all, I was experiencing them in a sort of 'liminal space atmosphere metaphor' kind of way, so if there was any intention of the space actually being paranormal, that went right over my head. I feel ya on the time constraint thing but this is still really well crafted and love the angle you were going for (Redmond and his little cap with antler holes is probably my favorite deer this game jam).