Ohhhhh this was absolutely CHILLING! The writing is incredibly raw and visceral - I really felt every sensation in Keith's body as he was going through this harrowing ordeal! I also really liked the set up of the visuals - with the almost NOVL format of the text on the right, framing the eerie fire looming in the distance (I really liked the fire animation, it was so creepy and atmospheric!) The VA sent absolute CHILLS down my spine when it appeared - the audio design was really well done - staying completely silent until things start to go "wrong," and then you are hit with the creepy sound effects!
I really like all of the different text effects (the colors, the use of italics/bolds, the different text sizes, etc.) - they add so much color and dynamicism to the text. (For instance - the slight orange tinge you used to highlight "decimation," "seared," and then all the different instances of "melted" - it really made the fear and threat of danger so real and immediate!)
SPOILERS
Now for that PLOT! Ohhhhh there's so much to unpack! I think the events were a bit ambiguous, and I think deliberately so - was this real? Was it a dream that Keith had in in the hospital? The story starts off feeling very "real" and yet after Otis charges into the fire, it starts to feel very surreal. Who was the person lying on the ground? Who was telling Keith to "run"? Did Otis survive?
I'm still not quite sure, but my theory is this: the entire game was a dream that Keith had while in his hospital bed. The person that Otis runs to save in the fire is actually Keith himself - and he is saved, hence why Keith ends up in the hospital, safe and sound at the end. The card that Keith receives - "Stay safe" - was written by Otis.
Alternatively, Keith runs in to save Otis - and Otis the person lying on the ground. And his inner battle between deciding to flee or run into the fire was literal at the time - and he ultimately decides to save Otis, ending up in the hospital. (In which case Otis may or may not still be alive?)
Regardless, I do think that the story is meant to applaud the "valor" - and that the person who runs in to save the victim does end up alive at the end? Since the flower that appears on the title screen/in the ending - the tiger lily - symbolizes courage.
This was a head-puzzler for sure, and I'm still not certain about my interpretation of the ending, but this was SO INTERESTING! Really good job, snixiy!!