It's become a long-recognized fact in boxing, 'You can run, but you can't hide'.
Giuliani found this out the hard way when he was served papers for his treasonous behavior when he tried to have Trump installed as President despite losing the election.
Now the rest of the chickens are coming home to roost.
One by one the despots of Arizona and their co-conspirators are being dragged into court to account for their crimes --trying to overthrow the government of the United States -- and so the judicial process continues.
These seditionists ran and hid behind lawyers, hid behind MAGa in the House of Representatives, hid behind the very tyrant, Trump, but to know avail.
There is no hiding from justice,
See below -- italics mine.
© Provided by The Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Former Arizona Republican Party chair Kelli Ward and at least 11 other people are set to be arraigned in a Phoenix courtroom on conspiracy, forgery and fraud charges stemming from their roles in an effort to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Arizona to Joe Biden.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, though it’s unclear whether he’ll seek a postponement. Arizona authorities tried unsuccessfully over several weeks to serve Giuliani notice of the indictment against him. Giuliani was finally served Friday night as he was walking to a car after his 80th birthday celebration.
Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges last month against Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump, a Republican, had won Arizona. The defendants include five lawyers connected to the former president and two former Trump aides. Biden, a Democrat, won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes.
The indictment alleges Ward, a former state senator who led the GOP in Arizona from 2019 until early 2023, organized the fake electors and urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to declare them to be the state's true electors. It says Ward failed to withdraw her vote as a fake elector even though no legal challenges changed the outcome of the presidential race in Arizona.
Last week, attorney John Eastman, who devised a strategy to try to persuade Congress not to certify the election, was the first defendant in the case to be arraigned, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Trump himself was not charged in the Arizona case but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Arizona is the fourth state where allies of the former president have been charged with using false or unproven claims about voter fraud related to the election.
The 11 people who claimed to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and asserting that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.
Of eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in the state, one was filed by the 11 fake Arizona electors, who had asked a federal judge to decertify the results and block the state from sending its results to the Electoral College. In dismissing the case, the judge concluded the Republicans had “failed to provide the court with factual support for their extraordinary claims.” Days after that lawsuit was dismissed, the 11 participated in the certificate signing.
Those set to be arraigned Tuesday are Ward; Tyler Bowyer, an executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA; state Sen. Anthony Kern; Greg Safsten, a former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party; Robert Montgomery, a former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee; Samuel Moorhead, a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County; Nancy Cottle, who in 2020 was the first vice president of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women; Loraine Pellegrino, past president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women; Michael Ward, an osteopathic physician who is married to Ward; attorneys Jenna Ellis and Christina Bobb; and Michael Roman, who was Trump’s 2020 director of Election Day operations.
Arraignments are scheduled for June 6 for state Sen. Jake Hoffman; on June 7 for former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows; and on June 18 for Trump attorney Boris Epshteyn and for James Lamon, another Republican who claimed Trump carried the state.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/former-arizona-gop-chair-kelli-ward-and-others-set-to-be-arraigned-in-fake-elector-case/ar-BB1mKOp8?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=4e39c0e10de34740b2b3ded29dd45a85&ei=16

It's become a long-recognized fact in boxing, 'You can run, but you can't hide'.
Giuliani found this out the hard way when he was served papers for his treasonous behavior when he tried to have Trump installed as President despite losing the election.
Now the rest of the chickens are coming home to roost.
One by one the despots of Arizona and their co-conspirators are being dragged into court to account for their crimes --trying to overthrow the government of the United States -- and so the judicial process continues.
These seditionists ran and hid behind lawyers, hid behind MAGa in the House of Representatives, hid behind the very tyrant, Trump, but to know avail.
There is no hiding from justice,
See below -- italics mine.
© Provided by The Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Former Arizona Republican Party chair Kelli Ward and at least 11 other people are set to be arraigned in a Phoenix courtroom on conspiracy, forgery and fraud charges stemming from their roles in an effort to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Arizona to Joe Biden.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, though it’s unclear whether he’ll seek a postponement. Arizona authorities tried unsuccessfully over several weeks to serve Giuliani notice of the indictment against him. Giuliani was finally served Friday night as he was walking to a car after his 80th birthday celebration.
Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges last month against Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump, a Republican, had won Arizona. The defendants include five lawyers connected to the former president and two former Trump aides. Biden, a Democrat, won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes.
The indictment alleges Ward, a former state senator who led the GOP in Arizona from 2019 until early 2023, organized the fake electors and urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to declare them to be the state's true electors. It says Ward failed to withdraw her vote as a fake elector even though no legal challenges changed the outcome of the presidential race in Arizona.
Last week, attorney John Eastman, who devised a strategy to try to persuade Congress not to certify the election, was the first defendant in the case to be arraigned, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Trump himself was not charged in the Arizona case but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Arizona is the fourth state where allies of the former president have been charged with using false or unproven claims about voter fraud related to the election.
The 11 people who claimed to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and asserting that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.
Of eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in the state, one was filed by the 11 fake Arizona electors, who had asked a federal judge to decertify the results and block the state from sending its results to the Electoral College. In dismissing the case, the judge concluded the Republicans had “failed to provide the court with factual support for their extraordinary claims.” Days after that lawsuit was dismissed, the 11 participated in the certificate signing.
Those set to be arraigned Tuesday are Ward; Tyler Bowyer, an executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA; state Sen. Anthony Kern; Greg Safsten, a former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party; Robert Montgomery, a former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee; Samuel Moorhead, a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County; Nancy Cottle, who in 2020 was the first vice president of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women; Loraine Pellegrino, past president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women; Michael Ward, an osteopathic physician who is married to Ward; attorneys Jenna Ellis and Christina Bobb; and Michael Roman, who was Trump’s 2020 director of Election Day operations.
Arraignments are scheduled for June 6 for state Sen. Jake Hoffman; on June 7 for former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows; and on June 18 for Trump attorney Boris Epshteyn and for James Lamon, another Republican who claimed Trump carried the state.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/former-arizona-gop-chair-kelli-ward-and-others-set-to-be-arraigned-in-fake-elector-case/ar-BB1mKOp8?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=4e39c0e10de34740b2b3ded29dd45a85&ei=16

It's become a long-recognized fact in boxing, 'You can run, but you can't hide'.
Giuliani found this out the hard way when he was served papers for his treasonous behavior when he tried to have Trump installed as President despite losing the election.
Now the rest of the chickens are coming home to roost.
One by one the despots of Arizona and their co-conspirators are being dragged into court to account for their crimes --trying to overthrow the government of the United States -- and so the judicial process continues.
These seditionists ran and hid behind lawyers, hid behind MAGa in the House of Representatives, hid behind the very tyrant, Trump, but to know avail.
There is no hiding from justice,
See below -- italics mine.
© Provided by The Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Former Arizona Republican Party chair Kelli Ward and at least 11 other people are set to be arraigned in a Phoenix courtroom on conspiracy, forgery and fraud charges stemming from their roles in an effort to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Arizona to Joe Biden.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, though it’s unclear whether he’ll seek a postponement. Arizona authorities tried unsuccessfully over several weeks to serve Giuliani notice of the indictment against him. Giuliani was finally served Friday night as he was walking to a car after his 80th birthday celebration.
Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges last month against Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump, a Republican, had won Arizona. The defendants include five lawyers connected to the former president and two former Trump aides. Biden, a Democrat, won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes.
The indictment alleges Ward, a former state senator who led the GOP in Arizona from 2019 until early 2023, organized the fake electors and urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to declare them to be the state's true electors. It says Ward failed to withdraw her vote as a fake elector even though no legal challenges changed the outcome of the presidential race in Arizona.
Last week, attorney John Eastman, who devised a strategy to try to persuade Congress not to certify the election, was the first defendant in the case to be arraigned, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Trump himself was not charged in the Arizona case but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Arizona is the fourth state where allies of the former president have been charged with using false or unproven claims about voter fraud related to the election.
The 11 people who claimed to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and asserting that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.
Of eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in the state, one was filed by the 11 fake Arizona electors, who had asked a federal judge to decertify the results and block the state from sending its results to the Electoral College. In dismissing the case, the judge concluded the Republicans had “failed to provide the court with factual support for their extraordinary claims.” Days after that lawsuit was dismissed, the 11 participated in the certificate signing.
Those set to be arraigned Tuesday are Ward; Tyler Bowyer, an executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA; state Sen. Anthony Kern; Greg Safsten, a former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party; Robert Montgomery, a former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee; Samuel Moorhead, a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County; Nancy Cottle, who in 2020 was the first vice president of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women; Loraine Pellegrino, past president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women; Michael Ward, an osteopathic physician who is married to Ward; attorneys Jenna Ellis and Christina Bobb; and Michael Roman, who was Trump’s 2020 director of Election Day operations.
Arraignments are scheduled for June 6 for state Sen. Jake Hoffman; on June 7 for former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows; and on June 18 for Trump attorney Boris Epshteyn and for James Lamon, another Republican who claimed Trump carried the state.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/former-arizona-gop-chair-kelli-ward-and-others-set-to-be-arraigned-in-fake-elector-case/ar-BB1mKOp8?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=4e39c0e10de34740b2b3ded29dd45a85&ei=16

My son has Aspergers. He can be online gaming and chatting till 3am then fall asleep in his chair. Can anyone recommend internet blocking software that actually works? We have a tp-link router and the app. that came with it works but when he tried to connect again, there’s a connection fault which sends him into a meltdown.

I got my hands on the book this week, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the world, and concept. I know there are a lot of positive reviews online, with only some adding that a few extra pages for the ending, or even a sequel, would make it better. And I agree.
However, I re-read the book and noticed that there are two scenes (only a chapter apart) in which one contradicts the precedent that was set up in an earlier scene (a few earlier scenes actually).
It was a crucial scene in which the protagonist is learning about his identity from his mom. His two closest friends and his whole family are there with him witnessing the entire dialogue. But who are also with them are the dragons. It was established pretty early on that only his family share this secret of having dragons living with them. Not even his friends know about it (since dragons are seen as pests and vermin in this world). The dragons aren’t described as being discreet, either. They’re all out in the open, sitting on the backs of chairs, in book shelves, and even sitting on some shoulders of the group. The mom herself points them out in reference to drill her point home and the main character acknowledges them.
Two chapters later, one of the friends (that was present during the whole identity reveal scene) comes over to the mom’s house and ends up chatting with her while drinking tea. During the conversation, the mom is actively trying to hide one of the dragons from the friend. Like, the friend thinks he sees something move in the corner of his eye, and the mom conveniently blocks his view or turns his attention elsewhere. After the friend leaves, the mom scolds the dragon for being almost seen while company is over.
I guess I’m a little more than surprised that this small discrepancy passed under the eyes of editors, publishers, and anyone else that was present during the writing process. This book has been anticipated for so long though. I guess I’m feeling a little….let down? I love The Last Unicorn and Peter Beagle’s short stories. I think that’s why this threw me off a bit. I still love this book, too. It’s definitely a fun read.
That’s it. Just wanted to get this off my chest or discuss if anyone else who read the book noticed this as well.

One of the hardest questions to answer on this subreddit is when people ask what their itinerary should be, followed by questions on what an appropriate budget would be, and then suggestions on hidden gems.
The TL;DR is that all three questions need more details if you want them to be answered.
"But kmrbtravel!" you say, "I need an itinerary if I want a budget, and a budget if I want to make an itinerary! It's all so overwhelming, and I don't know where to start! Oh but I also want to find places that have little to no tourists and are your secret hidden gems, just for that variety!"
I'm hoping this post will be a good starting point for the people above but also to let people know that for the vast majority of us, the 'basic' things recommended on Google and YouTube will be perfect! Travelling Japan is fun because there are so many things to be distracted by, and you will be spending a lot of your time wandering and trying things out, even without a detailed itinerary.

About Me

I write this spiel every time, but I'm a 25F solo traveller with friends I stay with in Japan. Played a Japanese martial art for years, and I visit Japan 3-4x every year (usually 1-2 weeks in April, 1 week in September, 1-2 weeks in late Oct/early Nov, and 1 month in December).
I'm currently on a mission to visit all 47 prefectures across Japan, and I'm at 9 right now (Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Shimane, Mie, Hiroshima, Okayama, Hyogo, and most recently Nagoya). You can read about my biggest and craziest trip here (especially if you're looking for suggestions outside of Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka!)
I speak and understand very basic and noob Japanese. Enough for me to get around, barely enough for me to talk to random obaasans in the onsen who are curious about my travels. I can read hiragana/katakana, and kanji still eludes me (but we'll get there!)
One thing to note about me is that I'm mostly temple/shrine oriented when I travel Japan, so I personally cannot answer questions regarding things like museums/amusement parks/etc.

What Makes Planning a Japan Trip So Hard? (And why is it harder for us to answer your questions?)

Out of any other country that I've visited, I genuinely believe that Japan has the most variety in terms of what you can do and see and can cater wildly to different kinds of people, which sometimes makes it very difficult for us to give you detailed answers. While we all have the same goal of 'exploring Japan,' I personally want to give the best answers possible. I will have different suggestions (and routes!) depending on if you can walk 30,000 steps/day, if you have young kids, if you like anime, if you like martial arts, if you like nature and hiking, if you like shrines/temples, if you don't mind crowds, if you want to just do what everyone else is doing, if you want to do more traditional things, etc. etc. This is why general questions on 'what should my itinerary be' can never fully be answered. We are not mind readers, but we're happy to help with more information.
'They all sound good to me though, and that's why I can't choose!'
Unfortunately, the reality is that you will have to choose by some point. Japan is so much fun because there is an endless amount of things to do, and you have to pick what sounds the most entertaining to you. After 9 prefectures and multiple visits to Japan, I have very, very little things that I personally didn't enjoy. We do not know who you are, and we do not know your preferences. You need to either pick for us, or give us that guidance so we can suggest appropriate itineraries for you.
In harsher terms, for the vast majority of us, an AI-made itinerary, or suggestions from Google or YouTube will satisfy your trip. What us humans can do on Reddit, is to give you specific suggestions, but we cannot give specific suggestions if you do not provide us with (somewhat) specific questions.

1. The Budget Question

I have travelled Japan with less than ¥2000/day, and have travelled with more than ¥20,000/day. The great thing about Japan is that you have the option to do both. Are you broke after plane tickets + hotels? No worries, there are tons of free sightseeing options and you can konbini or street food breakfast/lunch/dinner for very little. Do you want to splurge because this is your 'once-in-a-lifetime-trip?' Don't worry! There are tons of ways for you to sink your money in.
But to be more helpful, I'll break it down just a bit further. After hotels/planes, these are the biggest money sinks:

• Transportation: while transit isn't groundbreakingly expensive, if you're moving a lot and jumping around stations, it can add up. I usually charge around ¥10,000-20,000 per trip (for day-to-day transportation)
  • The big bank-breaking transportation though is of course, the Shinkansen. If you are moving between cities via the bullet train, you need to keep this in mind and weave it into your budget.
  • Other options include:
    • Night bus: pros (usually cheap), cons (you basically waste a day because you're EXHAUSTED the next day)
    • Local subway lines: pros (faster than the bus), cons (do not come on with big luggage and there is a very real chance you may have to stand 3+ hours if it's a busy line—which happened to me in Hiroshima)
    • Day bus: pros (cheap and you don't have to force yourself to sleep), cons (you literally waste a day travelling to get to your location)
• Food: while I'm personally not a fan of Japanese food myself, I still find all sorts of ways to open my wallet with cool cafes, street food, AYCE BBQ, and just general meals.
  • I've found most meals cost between ¥500-2500, though you can do cheaper with konbini-only or street stall foods. Japan is great because even their cheapest options tend to be pretty high quality.
• Tickets/experiences: renting kimonos, Ghibli museums or parks, TeamLabs, amusement parks, Shibuya Sky/Tokyo ToweSkyTree, (some) temples/shrines, gardens, castles, etc. all cost money. We have no idea what you want to do, so you'd need to provide this sort of information for us.
• Ryokans: I know I said 'excluding hotels,' but if you want a traditional ryokan experience, these tend to be much costlier than most other cheap hotel options. I personally still travel like a broke university student and rarely pay over ¥5000/night for a hotel, unless it's peak travel season, so a ryokan is out of my budget. But if you want to experience one, put it in your estimate!
• Souvenirs: if you're bad with money like me, you will be purchasing a lot of souvenirs. As a Canadian, I cannot fathom what on earth people would even want from Canada minus a bucket of maple syrup, but there are tons of options in Japan, all of which adds up quite quickly.
  • Goshuin: I am writing a massive post on goshuin/goshuincho, but Himekat has some great guides if you're not sure what they are.
  • Snacks: great, cheap gifts to get for friends and family. You're lying to yourself if you say you're not going to blitz through a Donki (Don Quijote—a chain of budget/discount stores across Japan that has everything you can possible want) for souvenirs. (It is a scarring but necessary experience for all those visiting Japan).
  • Omamori/omikuji/ema: omamori are those charms (I'm personally wearing a beaaaautiful one from Asagaya Shinmeigu) that are sold at temples and shrines, omikuji are the luck/fortune draws, and ema are those wooden tablets where you can write down a wish. I personally always write one at Meiji Jingu (Tokyo) and Itsukushima Jinja (Hiroshima)!
  • I've personally never shopped at Uniqlo, but I heard it's cheaper in Japan(?). Stationery fans will also be headed towards Loft and Tokyu Hands, I'm sure.
• Arcades: In North America, arcades are those money-wasting things you take your kids to every once in a while and a sure way to lose $1-2 each time. In Japan, arcades are everywhere and you can actually win prizes (a lot of them!) I usually average around ¥2000-4000 per prize. I know some people are totally turned off by anime and don't want any figures or prizes of the sort, but many of us will find ourselves plastered between a cute plushie and the windows inside of a blinding GIGO. Plan some wiggle room, because I find this to usually be an unexpected money sink!
• Gacha: you will be spending money on some gacha machines. You've been warned.

I'm probably forgetting things (and will update as I remember them), but Japan is REALLY good at chipping away at your wallet little bits at a time. It's not like Europe or North America where your cost is just expensive food + an expensive experience. Japan is a lot of cheap, little things that adds up quickly.
Some prices are baked in/unchanging (e.g. TeamLabs tickets or Shinkansen tickets), but many of those 'smaller things that adds up' can be quite random. I always add up my expected costs, subtract it from my total budget, and divide the remainder with the days I will be in Japan for.

• E.g.: 10 day trip to Japan, total budget left: $1000 CAD (after Shinkansen, plane, hotel, Ghibli museum, USJ, SkyTree, etc.) = $100 CAD/day. I also give myself a $200 'emergency shopping fund' for something I REALLY want that's outside of my budget.

2. The Itinerary Question

There are tons of great itineraries on YouTube and Google and I promise you, most of them are good enough for you to just copy/paste and experience. Use us for specific questions you may have in regards to them (e.g. I'm planning on going to xyz on abc dates, is there anything to keep in mind?) (and then we can inform you of any closures, tips, tricks, etc.).
As someone who travels a lot, I want to point out that hotspots are hot for a reason and the ones in Japan are all worth going to unless you can somehow tell it's not going to be your thing (and that's ok!) or you have a serious aversion to crowds.
How one makes an itinerary is always varied, but as someone who's good at going with the flow when travelling (and often plans very last minute), this is how I usually rumble:
0. BRING AN EMPTY SUITCASE: I usually have a slightly smaller suitcase inside of my big suitcase, and the smaller suitcase has all of my clothes + shoes. If you do this, please cover or cushion the wheels of your smaller suitcase inside. I have no idea what happens in the cargo, but I've smashed the wheels of two small suitcases (even though they were fine when they're not inside the larger suitcase). I usually just put some shoes/scarves/dark hoodies for cushioning.

• 1. Pin your itinerary on Google Maps or My Maps: this is my #1 tip for all travellers!
  • This allows you to visualize which areas you will be staying at the most. It allows for you to group your days based on distance (excluding ticket-oriented events with specific dates), find a suitable place for accommodation, and allows you to estimate the distance for your travels.
  • Google Maps: sign into your account, go to Google Maps, and click on the location of your itinerary → Save → New List (if you want) → make a list for your trip! The points will be visible next time you open a map.
  • My Maps: I use this more for archival purposes, but can be useful too :)
• 2. Pick a hotel: your home base. I prefer accommodations that are close to a station. While I never go back to the hotel to drop things off/refresh, I've found that I really didn't enjoy walking the 10-15 minutes back 'home' after 20-30k steps. On the flip side, there are genuinely really nice and more affordable hotels if you don't mind walking that distance.
  • Architecturally, Japan's buildings tend to be much smaller (narrower) compared to North American structures. For Tokyo especially, many budget hotels have very little floor space, which can make opening your luggage and packing really difficult. I've found hotels near popular stations to be smaller and more expensive, but convenient. Hotels some 10-15 minute walk away (which may not sound like much, but I promise you will feel after travelling Japan) tend to be slightly larger and slightly cheaper, but I've also been to a few that did not have any konbinis nearby (a very first world problem, but I live and breathe konbinis)
  • Outside of Tokyo though (even in Osaka/Kyoto), I've had less issues with hotel floor sizes.
  • You should also choose a place that is close to your itinerar(ies), if possible. This is more a 'winter travel tip' than a spring/summer one, but when daylight is tight and you want to get as many things done with limited sunlight, you do not want to waste daylight commuting if you can help it. Obviously some limitations.

My itinerary recommendations are nothing special as I literally pick things off Google. But hotspots are hot for a reason, and these were some of my favourites for Tokyo and Kyoto!

• Tokyo:
  • Nippon Budokan (for my martial arts fans!), Akihabara (for my weebs!)
  • I usually lap Meiji Jingu, Takeshita-dori, Yoyogi Park, and sometimes Omotesando (for shopping) togetheon the same day as they are all right next to each other! Going from the bustling streets of Harajuku/Takeshitadori to the peaceful forest of Meiji Jingu will always give me whiplash.
  • Shibuya, Shibuya Sky, Shibuya 109, Hachiko Statue, I personally didn't find Shibuya Crossing too special but whatever, along with the Nintendo Store + Pokemon Centre + Jump Store + Capcom Store. There's also Loft/Tokyo Hands for my stationery fanatics. Shibuya is massive and can take more than a day to explore if you really enjoy shopping.
  • I also usually walk from Sensoji to SkyTree, but your feet may hate you. You'll also be able to pass by the Asahi Beer Hall (affectionately called 'The Golden Poo' by my Japanese friends).
  • TeamLab Planets was probably the one non-sightseeing touristy thing I did, and I loved it!
  • Ikebukuro: I personally don't think you need to go out of your way for Ikebukuro but if you develop a gambling addiction from the gacha machines there, Sunshine City has the most gacha capsule machines in the world! (They also have tons of other stores like a Mugiwara Store, Crayon Shin-Chan, Pokemon stores, etc.)
• Kyoto:
  • MY HOME BASE (as it is where my best friend lives) and also my favourite city as I am a shrine enthusiast!
  • Fushimi Inari: I climb this place every trip to Japan without fail. There is nothing view-worthy at the top so feel free to turn around at the viewpoint/halfway point! If you hate yourself like me, you can reach the top and pray for safe passages :)
    • This is my biggest pet peeve: PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE PATH TO TAKE PICTURES. I PROMISE you, it looks exactly the same at the bottom as it does in the middle and the top. Unless you have some sort of physical ailment that only lets you explore the bottom, PLEASE KEEP MOVING AND STOP BLOCKING THE PATH.
  • Kiyomizudera: along with Ninnenzaka and Sannenzaka is always busy and chaotic, but I still very much enjoy it and you'll definitely get the feeling of 'wow, I'm in a really traditional part of Japan!'
    • Two suggestions that I don't see as much love as Kiyomizudera, but is still close is Yasaka Jinja and Chionin. I personally think Yasaka Jinja looks stunning at night with all its lanterns. At Chionin, everything looks sarcastically large (the gate, the steps, the temple) but I still really love it!
  • Kinkakuji: I will never understand why people say it's not that great when I've seen it 3+ times and I still think the gold looks incredible. Where else are you going to see a fully gold temple?! Sure it's a little out of the way, but I still think it's worth it. The gold is beautiful on a clear blue day. I know there's 'not much else to do and the loop is short' but the gold is still amazing to me (more below)
  • Ginkakuji: a really peaceful, beautifully designed pavilion. It was actually my first time visiting in my last trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The path leading up feels like a mini-sannenzaka, with smaller stores and eateries.
  • Arashiyama: one of my favourite places of all time in Kyoto although I do not recommend the bamboo forest and it is ironically my least favourite part of Arashiyama. Instead, I recommend:
    • Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum: cute music boxes, I personally have one of Yonezu Kenshi's Lemon!
    • Nisonin Temple and Seiryoji: you may not appreciate it as much as I do if you don't love temples, but if you're not a fan of crowds I find these two way less busy (but also much more walking to get to). If you visit Seiryoji, there is a garden at the back of the temple (take the slippers and open the door). Nice cool breeze there always!
    • Monkey Park: monkeys! A bit of a hike.
    • Tenryuji: honestly not my favourite place in the world but people seem to like it
    • I usually do not have food recommendations for Japan, BUT I personally believe Arashiyama has some of the best eats!
  • Kinkakuji / Ryoanji / Ninnaji: okay I know I already mentioned Kinkakuji, but the complaint I hear the most is 'it's so far out of the way and there's nothing else there!' WRONG, if you want be stuffed full of awesome temples, I highly suggest the Kinkakuji → Ryoanji → Ninnaji route!
    • Ryoanji: is famous for its stone garden. One of my favourite gardens to study architecturally and design-wise (search up why before you go, and test it out!)
    • Ninnaji: definitely not visited as much by foreign tourists BUT I personally think it has one of the best indoor loops with long walkways and a gorgeous garden that it loops around. If I had a 'hidden gem' for foreign tourists, this would be the one I'm willing to share! (Also a 3 min bus ride from Ryoanji).
  • One place I do NOT recommend minus sakura season is Philosopher's Walk. I passed through it multiple times until someone pointed out it's actually a popular tourist attraction (??) I would not go out of my way for this at all. It looks like any other road in Japan. I don't even know if I'd recommend it during sakura season because there are so many beautiful streets for them everywhere.
  • Other places to check out are Kyoto Station (sick architecture), Tofukuji (especially during fall), Shijo-Kawaramachi (the downtown area of Kyoto), Shimogamo Jinja (another one of my 'hidden gems'—it's an extremely famous and popular shrine, but I rarely see foreign tourists for some reason), and Kitano Tenmangu (if you're a student—this is the studying god!)

3. The 'Hidden Gem' Question

If this is your first trip to Japan, you don't need hidden gems (unless they're food-specific). The major sightseeing attractions are popular for a reason and will be more than enough unless you're literally here for months.
Secondly, and more importantly, I've realized that 'hidden gems' are pretty personal to an individual's tastes. For example, I revealed a few of my hidden gem shrines and temples a few months ago, and immediately got immediately told that it's not actually very great. Well yeah, but that's why it was a hidden gem for me, because I loved it. We will not know what a 'hidden gem' means for you unless you specify the type. Are we looking for hidden gems that are about food? Temples? Specific anime references?
I can promise you that 99% of places worth going to are already spread across social media, and they're popular for good reasons. I personally don't think it's worth travelling far or trying spend so much time and effort looking for that 1%, especially on a first trip.
Lastly, I personally do not reveal my hidden gems unless I know you in person or it's a small business that may appreciate more support. While you may disagree, I think overtourism/overcrowding is pretty real in Japan right now, and I'm hesitant to put smaller places up on public platforms.
With that being said though, for tourists who have already been to Japan and want 'hidden gems' beyond Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka, I highly recommend the Kyushu/Chugoku region trip that I did back in January. I don't have specific itinerary 'hidden gems' but I definitely have 'hidden prefectures' that I loved (and even preferred) to Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka! (They're not actually hidden, just less visited compared to the trifecta).
Full itinerary/trip report here.
My itinerary for these prefectures are nothing special and none of them are 'hidden gems' as they're literally the most popular attractions for each place. But a. I think this proves that the 'top search' on Google is perfectly fine (because that's what I did, and I had an amazing time), and b. the popular attractions are very much worth going to.
There is a special promotion for foreign tourists that lets you take the bus to and from Shimane to Hiroshima for only 1000 yen, and the bus is only around 3 hrs from Izumo to Hiroshima! You can either start in Kyoto and move down, or start in Hiroshima and move up. I did all in 6 days which I do NOT recommend because I had to rush / clocked 30k+ steps in every day / thought I was going to die by the last day / was in a new prefecture every day.

1. Kyoto → Osaka → Kobe → Himeji → Okayama → Izumo → Hiroshima
2. Hiroshima → Izumo → Okayama → Himeji → Kobe → Osaka → Kyoto

Other prefectures nearby that are worth checking out are Nara and Mie.

Thanks for reading!

If you made it to the end, thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful. I definitely don't know everything about Japan and tons of people have amazing tips (that I still learn from every day). This was hopefully to help address some of the more common issues / repeated questions that people had. The TLDR is really just that we need specifics on who YOU are for us to answer your questions better, especially if you're looking for 'hidden gems' that are specific to your interests.
Have an amazing trip, everyone!

I don't know about y'all but I don't personally like eating off the ground, so why would I want my meal left on the ground... With that I'm mind, you may want to consider having some kind of table, chair, etc. for your Dasher to deliveplace your order. Even a box with a lid (plastic or cardboard). Placing an attractive sign would also be a good idea. It's also a plus not having to worry about orders blocking your door from opening.

https://www.btvignite.com/bt-innovation-fund
Remember the divisive decision to sell Burlington Telecom to Shurz?
Part of the deal was funding for community based innovation.
The link above outlines it.
I cannot find any info about how it’s been spent and it’s been years since they updated news.
I’ve inquired via the forms, and via the Btv ignite email for Adam Roof.
I looked and zero response to multiple inquiries over 4 years.
As far as I can tell I’m the only Vermonter at the smart city conventions.
I’ve asked the mayor, chamber of commerce, and it appears Adam Roof is still in charge since 2019 and doesn’t seem to even live in the state. I think I remember the job opening because I was encouraged to apply having been the representative for years. I remember it paying fairly well, I truly don’t know for sure but 75k? To do nothing at all for years?
In my opinion and according to the site and the deal with Shurz this was intended for community innovators with good purpose.
Am I out of line just asking where the money went, why, and who is actually in charge?
Right now I’m the only ambassador to the whole state. I’m presenting AI research in DC at a worlds fair innovation conference.
I have access to so much innovation money you’d think I was asking Bezos directly.
Anyone want to take a stab at this?
It could be millions to fund things like safe injection sites, practically anything.
I went above their heads and have international credentials now.
But if anyone can help I can steer innovation funding directly to those making the city smarter and safer.
Imagine investing millions in AI years ago. We would not have a budget problem.
For all I know I’m blacklisted.
Thankfully Winooski fully supported me, sent me to NC and now Winooski gets the tech
There is plenty for all. It’s 1.7 trillion dollars I can ask for at the state level.
I can’t help Burlington if blocked like this.
Any help appreciated and I’m still looking for bright ideas to fund.
Follow the money.
Edit. I contacted USignite and am asking for the termination of the current ambassador and to find one that will work. Yes I’m qualified and yes I submitted myself as candidate but honestly just have anyone smart in there. Burlington is a joke because of this non representation. You all deserve the best.
Edit 2 conspiracy boogaloo
The democratic mayor made the deal despite outcry. There were options of bidders. The mayor installed Adam Roof who was chair of Vermont Democratic Party. That way the funds are politically tied. Then you have a private advisory committee that answers to no one. Btv ignite is a non profit. Without any votes. So that committee are the stakeholders not the public. Because of privacy the group can fund their own interests without scrutiny. There is nothing stopping them from simply splitting the money. To avoid that obvious issue, I hypothesize that they invest in companies they are invested in directly. The process says to support those that need it most. That’s what we want to hear. Where is the money going? I suspect it goes to companies the advisors are board members of. Probably non profits where they consult for a fee.
I really want to be wrong here but I’m trained to consider the criminal element.
With Miro gone Adam is now Massachusetts Democrat leader. There was a huge shift in power and nobody in charge now.
This feels very wrong. I don’t have proof I’m tired and said it’s just a theory. Does it fit or not?
Every time someone can’t answer something so simple I can’t help but pull that thread.
If I’m wrong prove it. Or supply another theory.
I’m not stopping.
Edit 3 yippee? I can’t do more tonight. I uncovered about 3 million dollars worth of corruption in one session. Honestly that’s not my record but it is locally now. It’s entirely in the hands of Justice now. If I’m correct people will lose everything they have and might have to move and change names. All the info is here. Connect the dots. I found out what they tried to hide and expect retaliation and intimidation. Bring it.
If I’m wrong I’m very happy to admit it. My courtroom accuracy in this field is 100%. I want to be wrong. I want to believe people are not this greedy. I’m an optimist in a broken city. I cannot find peace and no wonder people hate it here. Old white men club.

I know there's a lot of stories of rough times with sellers. I want to give a little hope by telling y'all about our sellers.
When we did a pre-closing walk through, they left a note for us in the entry way welcoming us into our new home and hoping that we'll have lots of happy memories. But more than that, they left a list of all the paint colors in the home. But to top that off, they let us know that there are some items they aren't taking and they are free if we want them. We're talking: end tables, TV stand, bench/coat stand, as well as a lawn mower and snow blower. All of them free of charge. Since then they have also offered us a dresser, some dining chairs, an entry way table, and other things that won't fit with their move/they don't want to take.
They've hyped us up to the neighbors and let us know that they are all looking forward to meeting us (neighbors who want to be neighbors [block parties, happy hours, dog play dates] but no HOA!!!).
We paid well over asking because that's our market (and frankly, we paid what the comps said and got an appraisal waiver for our mortgage). But it's always nice to know that the money is going to good people to help them relocate.
Note: the sellers do have 2 weeks post-closing occupancy to help facilitate a cross-country move and to coordinate with the school year.

Need ko nang marunong magcollaborate using revit via Autodesk Construction Cloud? How to import cad blocks into revit without losing the quality. How to properly use a titleblock template in Revit with fields How to do Quantity takeoffs.
Optional: How to make a lighting fixture component family How to do Electrical discipline in revit
Per Hour rate. Talk via discord showing my face and showing my screen.

Hi, I 35F and my sister 32F are very very close because growing up and living with my mother was very challenging. But I feel now that my mom just went over any of my wild thoughts. Let me give a little of back story. My mom and my dad divorced when I was very little and even, thou I was like 8 or 9 I understood that was the best option for them. Their relationship it was very toxic, and I remember they use to fight all the time. Like fight fight punches and everything. I remember one time they were fighting in the living room, and one took one of the chairs and broke it and the other one took the ceiling fan and broke that too (it was very bad). After the divorce my mom didn't have my dad to fight so she uses to hit us it was just bad. But something that my mom like has been in control of our lives and we never had a close relationship because she always ditches me (like I will see her in the living room I would try to talk to her about my day or whatever and her respond was the same always "just go to your room"). Now in 2021 she stops talking to my sister just because my sister made video like she was about to have a tattoo done (it was just a joke). Just have in mind I have 6 tattoos and she didn't fight (I was married and of course couldn't say anything to me). Now after she stop talking to my sister. And she swears she was not gonna talked to her. She used to ask me about my sister all the time and made us fight because I'm very protective with my sister (I always been like that) and I told her if she was gonna call me, I would prefer just to ask about me and not my sister because the conversation will end up in us fighting over my sister (because of course I will defend my sister). Have in mind when she stops talking to my sister (my sister was 30 years old) so if she wanted a tattoo, it was up to her not my mom. One other reason for why she stops talking to my sister was because all the suddenly she didn't like my sister BFF (have in mind they been BFF since my sister was in middle school and my never had a problem with her) all that it was because my mom couldn't control me or my sister the way she wanted so she was looking for excuses to fight with my sister. The thing is on December 31, 2022, she called me because my sister made a post on Facebook saying new year, new live (BTW my sister had my mom block on Facebook so someone told me mom). My sister was in NY for a week with her BFF and I live here in the USA, and they are back in my country. So, she called and ask me where my sister was and of course because I told her I was not gonna answer any question about my sister. I kind of ignore the question and oh boy that was a mistake she starts getting super mad at me, so she said, "so you are not gonna tell where she is". Because I know she thought my sister moved with me here, but she didn't she was just enjoying her vacations. The thing is because I didn't tell her what she wanted to know she hang up the call and that was the last time we talk. That made very sad bc I always wanted a relationship with her but after that you guess it never happened. we tried to talk to my aunt (my mom's sister) to see if she would help us that didn't work (of course not surprise) I don't have really good relationship with her anyway. Now my mom's birthday is on December 24 and even though she is not talking to us I always wish her a happy birthday and to my surprise she had change her phone number, so my aunt gave me her new phone number and I called her but surprise surprise she didn't answer my call. I even send her a message and nothing (I had the flu last year for Christmas so I was not feeling good to keep trying with her. Something I forgot to mention my mom adores my BFF, my sister told me that someone told her that my mom was bragging about my BFF (because she was very proud of her son). So yeah, she loves more my bff than me but that don't surprise me actually I knew that. Now I'm going back to my country for good and I don't know if I should go and try to talk to her in person or just don't even bother to go and fix thing. Even tho I know is not my fault and I did try to reach to her the whole year last year. But no, this 2024 I got tired to try to call her and me knowing she just up to ignore me her daughter. My sister went to a mini family reunion and my mom was there, she was polite bc my mom older sister was there, so she just gave and act to my sister bc after that 0 communication again. What you guys think should I try to fix whatever she thinks I did?

Hi, I 35F and my sister 32F are very very close because growing up and living with my mother was very challenging. But I feel now that my mom just went over any of my wild thoughts. Let me give a little of back story. My mom and my dad divorced when I was very little and even, thou I was like 8 or 9 I understood that was the best option for them. Their relationship it was very toxic, and I remember they use to fight all the time. Like fight fight punches and everything. I remember one time they were fighting in the living room, and one took one of the chairs and broke it and the other one took the ceiling fan and broke that too (it was very bad). After the divorce my mom didn't have my dad to fight so she uses to hit us it was just bad. But something that my mom like has been in control of our lives and we never had a close relationship because she always ditches me (like I will see her in the living room I would try to talk to her about my day or whatever and her respond was the same always "just go to your room"). Now in 2021 she stops talking to my sister just because my sister made video like she was about to have a tattoo done (it was just a joke). Just have in mind I have 6 tattoos and she didn't fight (I was married and of course couldn't say anything to me). Now after she stop talking to my sister. And she swears she was not gonna talked to her. She used to ask me about my sister all the time and made us fight because I'm very protective with my sister (I always been like that) and I told her if she was gonna call me, I would prefer just to ask about me and not my sister because the conversation will end up in us fighting over my sister (because of course I will defend my sister). Have in mind when she stops talking to my sister (my sister was 30 years old) so if she wanted a tattoo, it was up to her not my mom. One other reason for why she stops talking to my sister was because all the suddenly she didn't like my sister BFF (have in mind they been BFF since my sister was in middle school and my never had a problem with her) all that it was because my mom couldn't control me or my sister the way she wanted so she was looking for excuses to fight with my sister. The thing is on December 31, 2022, she called me because my sister made a post on Facebook saying new year, new live (BTW my sister had my mom block on Facebook so someone told me mom). My sister was in NY for a week with her BFF and I live here in the USA, and they are back in my country. So, she called and ask me where my sister was and of course because I told her I was not gonna answer any question about my sister. I kind of ignore the question and oh boy that was a mistake she starts getting super mad at me, so she said, "so you are not gonna tell where she is". Because I know she thought my sister moved with me here, but she didn't she was just enjoying her vacations. The thing is because I didn't tell her what she wanted to know she hang up the call and that was the last time we talk. That made very sad bc I always wanted a relationship with her but after that you guess it never happened. we tried to talk to my aunt (my mom's sister) to see if she would help us that didn't work (of course not surprise) I don't have really good relationship with her anyway. Now my mom's birthday is on December 24 and even though she is not talking to us I always wish her a happy birthday and to my surprise she had change her phone number, so my aunt gave me her new phone number and I called her but surprise surprise she didn't answer my call. I even send her a message and nothing (I had the flu last year for Christmas so I was not feeling good to keep trying with her. Something I forgot to mention my mom adores my BFF, my sister told me that someone told her that my mom was bragging about my BFF (because she was very proud of her son). So yeah, she loves more my bff than me but that don't surprise me actually I knew that. Now I'm going back to my country for good and I don't know if I should go and try to talk to her in person or just don't even bother to go and fix thing. Even tho I know is not my fault and I did try to reach to her the whole year last year. But no, this 2024 I got tired to try to call her and me knowing she just up to ignore me her daughter. My sister went to a mini family reunion and my mom was there, she was polite bc my mom older sister was there, so she just gave and act to my sister bc after that 0 communication again. What you guys think should I try to fix whatever she thinks I did?

Start
Previous
It took some time to retrace her steps out of the near-maze that was the Scroll-Hive. By the time Mira was walking through the garden in the mess hall, the chime sounded again over the ship intercom, announcing that they had arrived in orbit around the second moon.
Breathless, Mira had raced to the bridge, but even as she was going to pull up the initial scan screen she could see a glowing green indicator that another radiation profile had been found, this time on the far side of the planetoid.
“How did we possibly detect-” she started to say in confusion, before the swarm began filling the space on the bridge.
“Our apologies for not notifying you earlier, caretaker. We took the liberty of calibrating the sensors to the specific radiation profile detected in the debris The Apiary detected on the first moon. We knew this would result in a more-restricted search, but also allows for a much broader and rapid scan, with the added benefit of being able to detect the radiation profile through anything not blocking the emission source. Fortunately, these moons appear quite porous, so the scan was able to detect the faint match almost as soon as we reached orbit.”
Mira pivoted the console over to her chair, keying in a series of commands as she placed a navigation marker on the detected point. However, as she reached to key in the autopilot commands, she paused as the queen landed on the back of her hand.
“Caretaker, please remember that the circumstances here suggest the wreck of the Korindax may not have been accidental. It is not unheard of for raiders and pirates of all backgrounds to lure ships and passersbys with appearances of helplessness and others in need.”
She could feel her throat starting to tighten at the thought of this all being for nothing and just another dead end, or worse. Setting her jaw, Mira tried to avoid letting herself lash out at Queen and Kin as she knew they were trying to look out for what was best for her safety, even if it felt like another barrier was being thrown in front of her and her hopes of reuniting with her missing parents.
Mira winced, realizing she had been twisting a finger into a lock of her hair so hard that it threatened to pull at the roots, and she felt the buzz as the queen began speaking personally.
”Caretaker, that this is not to say we cannot investigate, only that we exercise caution in doing so. Let's perform a flyover from orbit and capture additional data before we descend. If your parents are still surviving there, another few hours after a decade apart will make little difference.”
She wanted to race down there more than anything, but a part of Mira knew that the swarm was right. Turning back to the console, she deleted the landing instructions and instead began programming in the flyover pass grid, this time a much tighter pattern that would only take a quarter hour or so to complete.
Sitting in the mess hall, Mira did her best to avoid dwelling on the scan as she grabbed a quick bite to eat. Her stomach had protested loudly as she initially thought she could just sit and wait on the bridge itself, and she had been in the tangle of the Scroll-Hive for more hours than she realized.
Although she would never have admitted it to Queen and Kin with the way they were trying to overprotect her, she could feel a deep, bone-weary ache as she was now approaching almost a full twenty-four hours without sleep, adrenaline having provided the energy she needed at first but now demanding compensation in spades. Stifling a yawn, Mira could still feel it escaping through clenched teeth when she tried to avoid giving any visible sign of her tiredness away.
Nevertheless, she could feel as if she was going slightly cross-eyed, with food resting unchewed in her mouth, when the alert chime sounded throughout the ship. It surprised her, and Mira had to do an awkward half-cough to avoid inhaling the dried apple crisps she was eating, clearing her throat repeatedly as she stumbled her way onto the bridge.
“Caretaker, are you quite all right?”
The swarm has already pulled up the scan data and Mira waved away their concerns dismissively as her attention focused on the readout display.
“Yes yes, I'm fine. Although when this is all over, I'm going to nap for a week in that stasis pod.”
“Well, to the best of our knowledge the stasis pod does not actually result in a restful REM sleep, but rather creates a simultaneous full-body preservation in suspension, so we're not sure it's exactly-”
“Right, yeah, whatever,” she said, all of her attention focusing on the scan results as she felt the tiredness partially bleed away, although bone-deep ache of impending exhaustion was still there.
“We monitored as the results came in, and want to ensure you are prepared, caretaker.”
Mira was still only half listening as she could feel a complex churn of emotions in the pit of her stomach. The readout showed the distinct profile outline of an escape pod, intact as opposed to scattered wreckage that would have surely meant they were killed on impact, but also with no signs otherwise of life whatsoever. Giving the perimeter of the scan a quick look through, Mira punched in the landing sequence for the autopilot, shooting a sideways glance at the nearest cluster of Queen and Kin as she did so.
“I don't see any signs of pirates, raiders, or other attempts at ambush. Hell, I'm not even sure there is anything on this planetoid smart enough to string two words together, so I don't want to delay any longer.”
“Very well, caretaker, but if we may offer you some words of advice-”
“I know, I know: Keep an eye out for any signs of trouble anyways, just in case.”
This time Mira could almost hear a smile in the tone of the swarm.
“While prudent, that is not what we wished to say. Instead, we feel the need to point out that the lack of any kind of visible evidence of farming or other long-term sustainable food sourcing would likely mean little to no attempts at long-term survival were made. While the Wandering Empire’s proximity and involvement is still a possible factor, the likely outcomes for this are either that your escape pod is empty, or that it is not.”
It took a moment for Mira to realize what the hive was saying, and she could feel tears spring to the corner of her eyes that she blinked away, gritting her teeth and doing her best to take a calm breath as she said “I understand, but either way I have to know.”
As the ship rumbled and groaned on its landing vector, Mira's mind was turning over the possibilities in her head. She was trying her best to be optimistic about it, but every piece of evidence she could point to said that her parents had not scraped out an existence on this barren moon like she had desperately and naively hoped. She wasn't sure what she had expected to see: Maybe farmlands stretching across and away from their crashed escape pod site, a building built from stones or trees despite the landscape lacking much beyond scrubby grass-like plants and gravel-sized chunks of rock.
As they landed, Queen and Kin spoke as she suited up.
“The atmosphere here is more conducive to extended existence than the other moon, so for you or other humans it would be as if you were simply atop a large mountain, with air thin but breathable. Unfortunately, we will have to refrain from accompanying you as we would require our vacuum suit again, and we have other preparations to make before heading off wherever our next journey takes us.”
Mira knew that the swarm would have come with her in a heartbeat if she'd asked, but she appreciated that they had put on the appearance of being preoccupied so as to avoid her having asked them to stay behind. The planetoid was too small and sparse to support any kind of dangerous larger predators, and the all the scans turned up negative for any other signs of a trap or ambush.
Mira felt no concern for herself, at least in the physical sense, as she stepped out and onto the moon. A light breeze blew past here, and she could feel as her lungs couldn't quite capture as much air as they would prefer if she could do a deep breath, but she much preferred to be panting slightly rather than have a ventilator to deal with.
She strode to the pod, a few hundred yards away and on the same flat plane. This time there was no hill or ridges to obscure it; Instead, she tried steadily towards the silent and unmoving shape, easy to see from almost anywhere this side of the horizon thanks to how relatively featureless this moon was.
There were a few grassy indents here and there were meteoroids had shattered and punched holes in that the scrubby brush underfoot had grown back into fill. At one point, Mira stumbled and nearly felt her ankle twist in one such hole. Cursing under her breath, she climbed out of the depression and continued walking towards the pod.
Finally she was close enough that throwing a rock underhand could have hit it easily, but remembering the Queen and Kin’s warning, she paused and did a slow circle around. The view window was darkened from reentry, cracked with a few broken panels here and there but too dark and it too steep of an angle to make out anything inside. The exterior was similarly scorched but free of any clear signs of laser fire or other weaponry.
Stepping closer, she reached out to touch the pod, almost flinching as if she expected it to shake or react. Instead it was mostly-cool, warm on the highest points that were catching direct sunlight but the rest of the metal still almost icy to the touch.
She could feel her throat clench even as she forced it to obey, calling out “Hello? Is there anybody there?”
Walking up to the side and the entry doorway, she can see the doorway hung open slightly, It was bent along the edge, but not in a way that made it clear if this was damage sustained on impact, or after the fact. She rapped on it with her suited knuckles, the sharp sound echoing both within the pod and across the barren landscape.
Still hearing no response, Mira gently pushed the door open and stepped inside. Immediately, she noticed there was a musty odor within, and signs of some sort of struggle. Almost every drawer and storage container had been opened and upended, and there were several clear scuff and scrape marks along the floor near the door, as if someone had been digging in desperately with a tool or implement while another force is moving them away.
As her eyes lifted up to the quartet of seats, she saw that while three of them hung empty with buckles dangling in the still and dusty air, she could see a desiccated and half-rotted hand sitting on the other.
Every instinct in her was telling her to run to turn away, to leave and never return, but Mira instead forced herself to take a step forward, and then another towards the front of the pod.
The rotted arm led up into a pockmarked uniform, the insignia matching that of the members aboard the Glyph of Korindax. Against her wishes and hopes, Mira gritted her teeth and bit back tears at what she was about to see as she looked up to stare the corpse in the face.
If you want to read more, the novel is now available on Amazon!
Enjoying this tale? Check out DarkPrinceLibrary for more of my stories like it!
Huge thanks to all the readers for their amazing support. Got the manuscript finished editing two months to the day after the initial prompt was posted, and I'm excited to have my second 300+ page book under my belt. Regular short stories from me will resume soon!

September 25th, 2023 Phoenix, Arizona
It's been fifteen years since I made it away from the creature in Manistee National Forest. My therapist said that I need to write about it, but every time I do, I don't know how to start. She told me to go through some old things from that time in my life and see if it starts any gears moving in my mind. I found a journal I kept that I'd completely forgotten about. I flipped to that day of the camping trip 15 years ago and wrote an entry for all the days we were out there.
I'd just graduated with a bachelor's in Journalism and mass communications. It'd been years since I'd seen my best friends and we decided to go camping. I'd write in my journal every day. I would write at the end of my day or a few days later if I didn't have time the night before.
My hand is shaking just writing this part, and I haven't gotten to the actual meat of the story. Ugh, Meat. That word makes me shutter.
I'll type the journal entries here:
September 25th, 2008, Manistee National Forest, Michigan
It's a beautiful day here in Manistee National Forest. The sun is shining through the leaves of the trees, and a light breeze is rustling the leaves. The scent of pine needles is strong in the air, and the sound of a nearby creek adds to the moment's serenity.
We've set up camp, and our tents are scattered about, creating a small community amid this natural wonderland. My friends, Remy and Will, are already starting a fire, laughing and joking as they work together to build a blaze. I feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me as I watch them, remembering the countless times we've been on adventures like this one.
I look around, taking in the beauty of our surroundings. The trees are tall and robust, their branches reaching up towards the sky like reaching arms. The underbrush is a patchwork of ferns and wildflowers, swaying gently in the breeze. There's a small creek not far from our campsite, its water clear and calm, perfect for swimming or washing up.
I make my way over to the fire, joining Remy and Will. "Hey, guys," I say, my voice filled with excitement. "This place is unbelievable."
Remy looks at me, his signature grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, man. I can't believe you talked us into this. You know how Will here hates camping." We both laugh while Will just rolls his eyes.
"Well, I figured it'd be a great way to reconnect," I say, glancing at Will. "You know, since graduation and all." An awkward silence hangs between us for a moment, and I can feel the tension that's always there whenever we're together. There's this invisible barrier we can never entirely break through since I left for college.
Remy leans in close, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, Landon, have you heard from anyone else? You know, old friends and whatnot?" He glances knowingly at Will, who shifts uncomfortably beside the fire.
I feel my cheeks flush red as I look at Remy. "Well, uh, not really. You know how it is. We all sort of went our separate ways after high school." I change the subject to focus on something other than the tension between us. "So, have you guys been out here before?"
"Nah, this is Will's first time," Remy says, nudging him playfully. "But I've been wanting to bring him out here for ages. I've heard these woods are teeming with wildlife. You know, bears and shit like that." He laughs, but there's a slight edge to his voice.
Will looks unconvinced. "Yeah, right. Bears in these woods? You just want to scare me."
"No, seriously," Remy insists, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "There are black bears out here. We could even go on a hike and find some. You know, get up close and personal with nature."
I glance at Will and then look back at Remy. We should stick to the campsite for now. You know, just enjoy the weekend and relax." Will says.
"Ah, come on," Remy whines. "This is the perfect opportunity. You might never get another chance to see a bear in the wild." He looks challengingly at Will as if daring him to refuse.
I decide to change the subject again, not wanting the tension between them to ruin our weekend. "Hey, guys, you want to help me gather some wood for the fire?" I ask, gesturing toward a fallen tree nearby.
Will looks relieved at the change of topic. "Sure, I can help with that." He stands up and follows me to the log while Remy remains by the fire.
We spend the next hour chopping wood and stacking it by the fire. The air is filled with the rhythmic thud of axes striking wood and the sounds of nature around us. The sunsets cast the forest in a warm, golden light. It's a beautiful sight, and for a moment, it feels like we're all part of something larger than ourselves.
Will and I continue to work in companionable silence, our minds drifting to our thoughts. It's odd how things change after high school. We used to be inseparable, but now our lives have gone in such different directions. I can't help but wonder if we'll ever find our way back to that closeness we once shared.
As the sun dips below the horizon, we join Remy by the fire. He sees the wood we've stacked with approval and pulls a few logs from the pile to keep the fire going. The flames leap to life, casting flickering shadows across our faces and dancing along the tree limbs overhead.
"So, Landon," Remy says, his voice taking on a more casual tone now that gathering wood is done. "How's life been treating you?"
"Oh, you know. Work's been good." I pause momentarily, trying to find the words to explain how different our lives have become. "It's just weird, you know...we don't see each other as much anymore. Our lives have taken us in different directions, you know?"
Remy nods, his expression somber. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It's hard to keep up with old friends sometimes, especially when you're both so busy." He glances at Will, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But it's good to have you both here together, even if it is just for the weekend."
I feel a pang of guilt as I look between them. I've been neglecting them, focusing too much on my life and career. I've always considered them my best friend, but maybe that's changed over the years.
We decide to go to sleep after hours of reminiscing around the campfire. The stars twinkle above us, and the sounds of the forest lull us into a peaceful slumber. As I lay in my sleeping bag, I can't help but wonder about the weekend ahead. I feel a sense of camaraderie with Will and Remy, but there's also an underlying tension that I can't quite put my finger on.
Suddenly, I heard what I assumed was an animal moving just outside the campsite. I stood up quick and looked around but saw nothing. Will and Remy were asleep, their breathing slow and steady. The air felt tense, and the forest seemed to whisper secrets that I couldn't quite make out.
I decide to walk over to the edge of the campsite to see if I can spot anything. As I step carefully through the underbrush, I notice another noise like before, like something moving fast. I look up, trying to catch sight of it, but I can only get a blur moving out of sight. It moves so fast that it's hard to see where it went.
I return to the campsite, shaken by the experience. Will and Remy are still asleep. The air feels tense, and the forest seems to whisper secrets I can't quite make out.
I decided to get back into my sleeping bag and hoped it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. But as I close them, I feel the same sense of unease creeps back in. The air feels thick like something is watching us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I can't help but wonder if there's something or someone out there that we should be worried about.
I'm going to try to get back to sleep.
September 26th 2008
We woke up and made some eggs and bacon that we'd brought in a cooler. The air was cool and crisp, and the forest took on a different hue since last night. There was an edge to it, a tension that we couldn't quite shake. As we ate, we talked about our plans for the day.
After breakfast, we packed our camp and started hiking deeper into the woods. The trees grew thicker, and the underbrush more dense. The air felt heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. I couldn't tell if it was my paranoia about last night, but I could've sworn I kept seeing something darting just in the corner of my eye. I sighed in relief when Will mentioned it, too.
"Are you guys seeing that?" Will asks in a shaky voice.
My head quickly turns to him, and we make eye contact, a silent understanding of our fears.
"What are you talking about?" Remy snapped
"I keep seeing something dart out of my vision," I say
"That's what I'm seeing too!" Will says in an excited relief that quickly turns to fear once again.
We kept hiking silently as the woods grew denser and the air grew heavier. I could feel the tension in my shoulders, my muscles tensing up.
"I swear to god something is following us." Will whispers as he looks over his shoulders.
Remy laughs, trying to sound more confident than he feels. "Guys, come on. There's nothing out there; it's just nerves." But the way his eyes dart around, I can tell he's not entirely convinced.
We continue to hike deeper into the woods, the air growing heavier with each step. The underbrush is so dense that it's hard to see more than a few feet in front of us. I can feel the sweat starting to bead on my forehead.
We find a small clearing and set up camp again. We brought some firewood with us, so Remy started a fire immediately. The sun is beginning to set and I can tell Will is still on edge about what we saw while hiking. Remy keeps himself busy with the fire, and I can tell Will's uncertainty makes him weary.
"I'm going to take a shit over here so no one disturbs me," Will says as he points toward some bushes and gets up.
"Need any help?" Remy asks playfully, but Will does not react.
Remy and I silently sit by the fire before I ask, "Will seems a little on edge. Is everything okay?"
Remy looks at me, his eyebrow arches in confusion, "Do you not know?"
I stare at him in silence, shaking my head, confused.
"Dani and Will broke up last month. He's not really doing great right now." Remy informs me
The news shocks me. Will and Dani were inseparable in high school, almost annoyingly so. We would never be able to hang out with Will by himself. Dani made his way into our friend group by force through Will.
"Oh shit. I had no clue." I say
Will walks over as he rubs hand sanitizer between his hands. "What's for dinner, boys?"
Remy pulls out the cooler and opens it. He rummages a little bit before pulling out an ice pack. He looks confused and flustered as he frantically tries to find something in the cooler.
"It's empty," Remy says as he slowly looks up at us.
"Stop fucking around-" Will begins to say before we hear the rustling on the outskirts of the clearing, we all quickly turn our heads toward the direction.
There's a sudden silence as we all realize what's happening. Something, or someone, is stalking us.
Will stands up and screams, "Who the fuck is there? Come out, you fucking coward!"
Silence fills the forest as all animals and wind stop suddenly. Will's face melts into fear. We all sit in silence as we wait for something to happen. When nothing happens after a few minutes, Will turns around slowly and makes eye contact with me. Suddenly, something large, like a black wolf but far more significant and almost human as it stood on only two legs, quickly jumps out behind Will and digs its large knife-like claws into both his collar bones. It pulls Will back into the forest, and we hear his cries fade the further he is dragged.
Remy and I stare at the empty space that once held Will in horror. My heart is pounding out of my chest, and I feel like I can't breathe. Remy turns to me, his eyes wide with fear, "We have to go now. We have to leave."
I nod in agreement, unable to find my voice. We both stand up and quickly gather our things, looking around wildly as we decide which direction to go.
As we grabbed things, I heard a large thud outside the clearing where Will stood. Afraid to look, I signal for Remy as he stares at something in horror behind me. I'm still too scared to look, but I force myself. I couldn't tell what it was at first. There, tossed carelessly, lay a pile of skinned human limbs, a torso, and a head. The fleshless appendages were jumbled together in a chaotic mess, bones jutting out at odd angles and sinew glistening in the dim light. The head, stripped of its skin, bore vacant, eyeless sockets, its teeth bared in a permanent, macabre smile. The sight was horrifyingly surreal as if a butcher had gone mad in some twisted nightmare. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, a stench so overwhelming it made me gag. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the ghastly scene, every detail etching itself into my memory with sickening clarity.
Before we could say anything, a loud, lion-like roar filled the forest and echoed into my skull. I swear I felt the vibrations of the sound inside my head.
Remy grabs my arm, and we start running deeper into the woods. I can hear the beast behind us, getting closer with each passing second. My heart is racing, my lungs burning for air. I don't know what's chasing us, but I know we have to keep running.
We run for hours through dense forests and across open fields. The sun begins to set, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. I try to keep my bearings, but I'm disoriented and terrified. Remy trips over a fallen log and lands hard on the ground, wincing in pain.
"Keep going," he gasps, struggling to get back up. "We have to keep going."
I don't want to leave him to limp, but I know we can't stay here. I nod, taking a deep breath to steady my racing heart and force myself to keep running. Behind me, I can hear Remy pushing himself up, his footsteps scrambling over the leaves and dirt.
We continue through the forest, the shadows growing longer and darker around us. The trees seem to close in, forming a dense, impenetrable wall that traps us within. I try to remember the way back to the car, but I'm so disoriented now that I'm not sure I could find it even if I tried.
I stop hearing the Monster behind us, so I stop to catch my breath. Remy runs up behind me, limping. He falls onto a rock, sitting down as he struggles through wheezing breath. He pulls out his inhaler, takes three big puffs, and holds it in. He struggles until he finally releases and coughs. I look at him, and he glares back at me. He's scared.
"I don't know where we are," I whisper. "I don't know where to go."
"We have to keep moving," Remy says, still slightly wheezing from his asthma attack. He pulls himself up onto his feet and offers me a hand, but I look away, still needing to catch my breath.
"I don't know where to go," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the sound of my racing heart.
Remy hesitates for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Listen," he says, his voice quiet but steady. "If we stay here, we're dead. We have to keep moving."
He takes my hand and pulls me to my feet. I can feel the warmth of his skin, and it somehow grounds me. We walk again through the dense underbrush, our footsteps muffled by leaves and dirt. The darkness around us is almost complete now, but I can still see Remy's figure as I check on him behind me.
"Do you even know where we are going?" I ask
Remy stays silent as he continues to limp behind me. I focus on the sounds around us, hoping to find some clue as to where we are or where we should go. The forest presses in on us from all sides, blocking any possible escape. My heart is still racing, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.
"Okay, we have to stop." I hear Remy say behind me. I look back and see that he's already sitting on the ground, carefully taking the shoe off the hurt foot.
He winces in pain as he struggles to get the hiking boot off. When he finally gets it off, he peels the sock off to expose his swollen ankle.
"Ah fuck!" Remy says in pain as he realizes his injury is worse than he thought.
I walk over to him as he rests his head back onto a rock in defeat, "I can't keep going."
I sit beside him, hopefully comforting him, but he looks offended.
"You can't stay with me, Landon. At least one of us has to get out of here." Remy says between breaths.
I ignore him and rest my head on the rock next to his. Before I knew it, he was snoring. I knew the pain wouldn't let him sleep for long, but he needed it. I also drifted off eventually.
September 27th, 2008
I was awoken by Remy's winces as he tried to sleep. I looked at my watch, and it was 3am. I knew we were both exhausted, but I couldn't help but feel restless. I decided to stand up and stretch, wincing as my sore muscles protested. I looked around, trying to find some sign of civilization, but the forest seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions.
I nudged him gently. "Hey, let's keep going," I said softly. He opened his eyes blearily and looked at me. He looked around for a second in confusion and then remembered the day prior as he let out a long sigh.
I put his arm around my shoulder and lifted him so we could keep walking. The pain in his foot was unbearable, but I knew we couldn't stop. After what felt like hours, we stumbled across a dirt road. It was faint in the moonlight, but we could make out the tracks from a car or truck.
I slowly let Remy down to sit as I decided to follow the road to try and find help. It was still pitch black all around me, but the moon lit the road.
After assuring Remy that I would be back, I went on my way. The dirt road wound through the dense forest, the trees pressing in on either side like they were trying to keep the light away from me. I tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, but my mind kept drifting back to Remy, wondering if he would be okay.
I was so lost in thought for what must've been hours as the sun started rising. I didn't notice the sound of something big following me from the forest edge. My mind must've been racing so much that I didn't notice. I couldn't hear the giant footsteps when I stopped. Only when I started walking again did the Monster continue to follow from the tree line.
I turned toward it, my mind tired and exhausted as I screamed, "What the fuck do you want?! Come get me; I'm right here!" I was too tired, both physically and mentally, to fight or run anymore as I accepted the same fate as Will.
I heard it move some more, and I closed my eyes and braced myself for what was coming. I heard something quickly leave the tree line and land before my feet. I waited, but nothing happened, so I slowly opened my eyes and looked down at my feet.
I saw another human body, limbs, head, and torso torn apart. I could see Remy's shirt torn within what I can only describe as 'Meat.'
I screamed as I realized this was Remy's remains. I fell back onto my butt and frantically scooted myself backward, away from the Monster that I knew hid behind the brush in front of me.
The creature slowly stands from a squat, fully revealing itself. It must have been over seven feet tall, jet black, leather skin and fur. Its face was like a wolf, but its teeth went on forever like a great white shark. It stood there, breathing heavily, staring me down. I didn't know what to do. I sat there forever, thinking about the pain I was about to be in. I thought about Will's screams as he was yanked into the forest.
Suddenly, a loud bang from a rifle fills my ears from behind me. I close my eyes, and my ears start to ring. I've never felt more disoriented in my life. Moments seemed to slow down as I opened my eyes and saw the Monster gripping its shoulder as it roared in my direction and ran further into the forest, away from the edge.
Time is still moving slowly. I look back and see an older man with a short military-grade buzz. It was white with age, and his full but kempt beard still had sprinkles of pepper.
Suddenly, time returned to normal as I observed my surroundings. I saw the pile of meat that Remy once inhabited, and I quickly made my way to my feet, backing away from the man with the rifle.
He cocks his head, looking at me curiously as I approach him cautiously. "Are you... okay?" he asks, lowering the rifle slowly to his side.
I stare at him in disbelief, unable to make myself say anything. He looks at me with understanding eyes and then gestures for me to follow him. I do as he says, walking slowly behind him as he starts back down the dirt road.
I look behind me at Remy's pile and stop, "I can't leave him here like this." I say, "We have to at least bury him."
The man lets out a sigh of annoyance but comes around after a few seconds and helps me bury Remy off to the side of the road.
I stand in silence in front of the pile of dirt as the man waits impatiently a few feet away. I start to think of all the memories all three of us had. I wished I could return to get Will, or at least whatever remained of him, and give him a semi-proper burial like Remy.
"We'd all met in fourth grade," I say out loud to the man waiting for me.
He looks back at me in surprise.
"We had Ms. Birtch. She was so mean, we called her Ms. Bitch." I chuckle to myself.
"Look, we gotta get out of here now. I know you just lost your friend, but we can come back later to reminisce." The man says as he looks at me, annoyed.
I look up and realize he's right. I kneel and place my hand on the dirty pile before getting up and following the man further down the dirt road.
We walked for about 30 minutes, and the sun glared in our eyes as it rose. The old man's name was Steve, and he seemed to be a former soldier, but he didn't talk about it much. He had a way of making me feel safe and protected. He led me to a small cabin nestled in the trees off the dirt road. The cabin was quaint and well-maintained, with a small garden out front and a few chickens scratching around in the dirt.
"This is my home," he said as he opened the door and gestured for me to enter. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
I enter the home and immediately ask, "Do you have a phone? Mine doesn't have service out here."
He shakes his head, but I follow him as he enters the kitchen. He opens the old white fridge door and pulls out a milk carton. He places it on the dining table and fetes a glass from above the sink. He grabs another one and gestures it toward me. I look down at the milk and shake my head no. He only grabs one glass and sits at the table as he pours himself a glass of milk. He takes a long gulp and places the glass back down. He gestures for me to sit, so I do.
"I don't have a phone here," he says, "but I know where we can get to a radio to get you out of here." The man says as he takes another sip of the milk.
I look at him, confused. "What do you mean get me out of here?" I ask, still sitting down at the table.
He looks past me, so I turn around and see a picture on the wall. It's the man but much younger. He was surrounded by three children and a woman. It must be his family.
"Does your family live here too?" I ask
He stops, moves his gaze back to me, sits back in his chair, and sighs.
"They used to." He says in his grizzly voice.
I waited for him to expand, but he never did.
"Did that... monster... get them?" I ask hesitantly, not wanting to offend the man who saved my life.
He gets up from the chair and goes to the window above the sink. He stares for a long time before speaking. "I guess technically they're still here."
I get up and stand next to him, looking into his backyard. It seems overgrown, as if it has not been tended to in years. The grass was growing between brick paths, and bushes reached across the path like thick underbrush. Everything was unkempt except for one square. In that square, there were four headstones. The man's family.
"Yes," the man says as I look at him, "that monster got them."
I helped the man do chores for the rest of the day until the sun went below the mountains.
The rest of the night was spent planning how to get to the radio tomorrow morning. He said it was in an old radio tower up in the mountains.
The man told me I'd need to rest for tomorrow, but as I slept in the cot in the living room, I couldn't stop dreaming about the Monster and what it did to Will and Remy or what it would do to me.
September 28th 2008
As expected, I didn't get much sleep, but when the man shook me awake, it was still dark out. He told me to dress warm, as the radio tower was a ways up the mountain and the air would be cold. I dressed quickly in the clothes he had laid for me, and we set off into the darkness. The stars were visible, twinkling above us as we hiked through the woods. The man led the way, moving silently through the darkness, his hand resting on a walking stick.
The man was more talkative today as if he hadn't had anyone to talk to in years. I learned his name is Gary, and he and his family lived in Boston. They decided to take a no-technology vacation out here four years ago. They rented the cabin he brought me to, which Gary now owns. He came from money, so that was never the problem.
When I asked why he lived out here, he paused briefly before saying, "I can't leave my family." That was the last thing he said before we reached the tower.
It took about an hour and a half to make it to the tower. It was overgrown, and Gary told me it had been years since he'd last climbed it. When we reached the top, the first rays of sunlight began to peak over the horizon. The radio tower was ancient and rusty, and the steps leading up to it were rickety at best.
"So, what's the plan?" I asked as I carefully made my way up the steps.
The man stayed silent and kept climbing the winding stairs. Something seemed off like the man had changed.
Gary looked down at the tree line below us. I looked too and only caught a blur as the creature ran off and the bushes swayed in its place. Gary grins and looks at me, "Go down."
Surprised, I stare at him, confused. He grabs me by the shirt and pulls me closer, "Go. Down." His hot, stinky breath envelops my face. He pushes me back, forcing me to grab the railing to keep myself from falling. When he sees that he failed in pushing me, he snarls and continues climbing the stairs faster, skipping a step.
I hear the Monster's roar right below us as I see it climbing up through the metal grate. I freeze, not knowing what to do. Then I hear Gary's voice over a PA system. It rings loud into my ears before he talks, "Kid, I said get the fuck down. You don't need to be another victim of this thing!"
Still frozen, even more confused by his words, I look down again and see the Monster climbing the metal poles that held the structure up. I watched the creature scale the radio tower with an eerie, almost unnatural agility. Each movement was swift and precise, powerful claws gripping the metal rungs effortlessly. The tower seemed to shudder under its weight, a low creaking sound accompanying each ascent. I could see its eyes glowing with a feral intensity, focused on something far above. The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying, a primal fear gripping me as I watched this Monster get closer and closer to me.
Finally, I snap out of it when Gary's voice fills the sky again, "Let's fucking go, you mangey half-breed!"
The creature seemed to move faster at his voice like it knew him personally. As it finally made it to me, it leaped toward me on the stairs, but I could move to the side and almost dodge it completely. It jumped so far that it nearly flew off the side of the tower. As it reached for the railing to save itself from falling, it snatched onto my elbow, slicing it so bad I could see the bone.
Grabbing onto my wound, trying to keep my skin from peeling completely off, I started running back down the stairs. The Monster looks down at me, and I can tell it's about to pounce on me, but Gary's voice distracts it again, "You don't want that little shit, you mutt! Come get some seasoned meat!" The Monster starts climbing toward Gary again.
Gary starts laughing. A laugh only a person who has given up on everything could. It slowly turned to sobbing as I heard his last words, "I love you, Mary, Lilly, and little Amber. Margaret, I'm sorry, but I can't live without you-" Just then, the Monster made it to the top, where Gary was in a little structure attached to the tower.
Everything was silent. I started sprinting down the stairs, almost to the bottom, when my hearing went and I only heard a ringing. Again, things moved in slow motion as I looked up and saw an enormous explosion coming from the structure Gary was in. The ground started to rumble as things went back to average speed, and I tried to make it down in time before the whole rickety structure collapsed.
It must've been adrenalin that got me out in time. The tower began to crumble and toppled in the opposite direction of me.
I stood there, waiting for the Monster to emerge, but it never did. I sat down, still holding my wound as it seeped warm blood all over me. I sat there, knowing help was not coming, accepting my imminent death for what felt like hours.
I must've passed out because the next thing I remember was having water thrown onto my face as I lay on the ground. A man and a woman were tending to my elbow wound and, in my delirium, snatched my arm away and began running from the rescue team. I ran for what felt like hours before passing out. I later learned that I ran only about 50 feet before passing out. Now I'm in the hospital tending to my elbow.
How will I ever live with this? How could I go on?
September 25th, 2023
I only remember a little after that. I remember telling authorities about the Monster and how it mauled Will and Remy. I also told them about Gary, and they were able to find all three bodies, well, what was left of them. They never saw any sign of the Monster, though.
After telling them the unbelievable story, I have to admit, I would have a hard time believing I was a suspect in all their murders. After years of trying, they could never find any evidence against me.
After many attempts to end my life, I decided I wouldn't let that Monster win; even after it was out of my life, I refused to let it be the reason I go.

For context: I lived alone once before, I was freshly heartbroken and 23-25 years old. The rest of the time, I’ve lived with roommates. So, as far as furniture goes? I only have a couch and bed/coffee table.
What are things people in their 30’s keep in their apartments? I have dishes and cookware, silverware, knife block, all that. Even a TV! But I feel like I’m forgetting things. I know I need decorations and stuff but my shit has been in a 5x10 storage unit since October 2022. I’ve been living with my cousins til I could get on my feet after escaping a bad situation.
I’m looking for a comfy chair or 2, but beyond that I don’t know what to look for. It’s been so long since I’ve lived alone.

Tw: weed, vomit
On Saturday I had a weird out of body experience. I will admit we had taken an edible that day, and as a note we consume cannabis regularly and this was a familiar product for us to use.
I was sitting in a chair, having just finished lunch with my partner and suddenly I felt very.... Present.
We are chronically dissociated like 90% of the time, I struggle regularly to be 'present' and 'in my body'. It quickly became overwhelming, feeling the entire length of my arms and legs against the chair, the room swelled, things felt bigger and closer.
While seated, I felt I was going to fall. Vertigo, something I never experience. It was frightening and I remember being shoved deep down inside to be sheltered away from the oncoming panic attack, something I cannot handle. But even if I was gone, the body was still there, and someone needed to be there to be in control. So my cohost was "out".
For a bit of background, We don't have a traditional gatekeeper but we have an communications alter who mainly oversees whose internal communications can makes it outside. It regularly blocks snide remarks and inappropriate comments and also is able to hide the identity of the sender. I think of it like a terminal, or a computer.
Well the computer shut down, it went into safe mode. But my cohost, who is usually ok to handle social anxiety as he can logically reason his way through it, was overwhelmed by the sudden panic attack. I remember we were able to at least inform our partner that something was off and we were not ok. He got us standing and held us close to try and re-regulate my nervous system.
What happens next is we throw up in the sink for a bit. Extremely scary and triggering for most of us, which is why we were protected from it, but for my cohost? Something happened. He fully depersonalized and derealized and didn't know who he was or if he was still there or where there was or when here was. He was running off very basic rules built in to the system (eg. Partner is a safe person– go to him, the body is in chronic pain– be gentle, we have a bad leg– move carefully).
This needed to be taken care of because my partner has sensory issues, the fragment was squishing vomit with his hands trying to clear the sink because he didn't want "mom or dad" to find it and yell at us. (We are 28 and haven't lived with mom or dad for over a decade) he had the information about what my partner disliked and we had an earlier discussions about his dislike of junebugs that was in the "recent" section of the system computer terminal. He decided that his job was to manage whatever my partner didn't like, his name was Juney, and he was a bug so he didn't mind touching gross stuff like vomit
Unsure what happened next. I'm told we eventually made it upstairs and into bed where we slept for 3 hours and that's when we all woke back up and our archivist looked back on the records to decipher what happened. All of this retelling I got from her, because I don't remember. And also Juney, doesn't know about the rest of us, and wasn't aware of anything other than the present moments he was in. Perhaps he is a fragment that was only needed in that specific moment. Unsure if he will ever make a reappearance.
Cohost is embarrassed he got so overwhelmed and probably caused this small split. But it's not his job to handle the random and sudden panic attacks of our panic disorder, his job focuses on social anxieties.
What an exhausting experience. I'm sure it was just a bad trip, I just rarely ever get those. Vertigo and vomiting, combined with the emotional flashbacks of being a kid getting sick in the middle of the night, plus the panic from that flashback, and then the DPDR in response to the panic, it was too much for us to handle.
Thanks for reading. I just had to document this somewhere.