On some level, you probably know that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are far more common than your middle school sex ed teacher led you to believe. But get ready for a stat attack: Every day, more than 1 million STDs are reported worldwide, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Wowza!
What's more, experts say that they're likely even more prevalent than these numbers suggest, because the numbers reported above are only confirmed cases — meaning that someone got tested and was positive. Cases that aren't reported only add to the tally.
"While it's best practice to get tested every year or after every new partner — whichever comes first — most folks with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) don't have symptoms and most folks don't get tested unless they have symptoms," explains Sherry A. Ross, M.D., an ob-gyn and author of She-ology. Hey, there's no way for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or WHO to know if you have an STI you don't even know about!
There's also the chance that you think something is up, but you decide to wait it out and see if it'll "take care of itself." But can STDs go away without medical attention? Here's the thing: While STIs are definitely not a death sentence for you or your sexcapades, if left untreated, they can cause some serious health conditions.
Below, experts answer all your questions about whether STIs can go away on their own, the risks of leaving an STI untreated, how to get rid of an STD if you have one, and why regular STI testing is so important.

I'm nearing the end of tutorial mode and about to graduate high school, and it dawned on me that I should probably fix a couple flaws I've got and I was hoping for some insight into what other ENTPs had to say.
There will be some off loading of trash that has been in my head for a while and just going to be honest with all the ugly thoughts I have, as ruminating with these thoughts without ever sharing them and letting them run rampant is going literally make me insane, probably.
CONTEXT(maybe important, maybe not. probably just skip to SITUATION ):
family is screwed(immigrants). somewhat desensitized but I can still recognize how dysfunctional my parents are. I've watched my parents fight and wreck the house for as long as I can remember once a week. one time I said to my mother after a particularly retarded fight and she was also in the wrong, If she called my dad a bastard but then does the exact same type of behavior she is no better and wouldn't she be calling for self a bastard also? I was only thinking that by using her own words and thinking, she could have no logical counter argument to this and concede. instead she tried to kill herself by popping 20 pills and sent to a psych ward and blamed me afterwards :) I've never been able to hold an intelligible conversation with them either, they make statements and claims without proof or any critical analysis.
I can't thank my family for anything except feeding and clothing me, at least I'm not in some temu factory so i guess it could be worse.
I wasn't really socialized, so I had a difficult time in school. I'm probably a tad on the spectrum so it didn't come natural either. the one friend a had, his mum only felt bad for me, which everyone knew. I was bullied for most of primary school but its probably good at that point considering how many issues I had. I was in between being a people pleaser for people who showed me a drop of kindness, and acting out because "since no body like me why should I like them".
during high school I think i gained self awareness and realized I can't keep blaming the world, (like my parents) and by critically thinking about what other may considered common sense, I somewhat domesticated myself and stopped acting out and learnt how to socialize and not polarize everyone. I stopped debating and using mental gymnastics to mess with people as payback and mocking people. No longer a social pariah and most people like me (as long as I my distance) and not get close.
people who know me before I changed think I'm smart but an asshole. people new people I've met think quiet and reserved.
SITUATION
I'm about to graduate and I've gone a long way to solve several glaring problems but they are mostly behavioral but not mental as I still think the same way. I'm always playing devil's advocate in my head for literally everything, which makes me think I'm quite objective, but I also not because I don't even have opinion anymore, just perspectives.
My main issues I've been using a persona for a long time. I don't debate people or argue with them. I barely even speak and I'm mostly reserved. however its impossible to form a relationship under the pretext of a persona, as the relationship is with the persona not me. I want to be able to integrate who I am and what i really think with a set of behavior patterns that is socially acceptable. I crave interaction with people and it is not lost of me it's because I'm always pretending so I'm dissociated and not actually getting interaction and its all a game in my head, but if I drop it I'm not ever sure what more "natural" personality is anymore. (advice)
Most conversations to me seem meaningless and It's not that I don't like to talk i love to. I love debating and exploring ideas, even if arguing just for the sake of entertainment, but people don't. most conversations around me that I have to engage have no substance. people say "how are you" even though they really don't care (believe me when I first was learning how to socialize I took this as face value, they in fact do now what to know how are you). how do I talk with people naturally, especially small talk when it a. confuses me and b. bores me unless the conversation has a purpose or topic?(advice)
I'm probably also somewhat narcissistic. I don't think I'm are narcissist because I don't wish harm upon others, at least not anymore, but I can't help but see what people do with first intention in mind. its like I think everyone else is a narcissist, which probably means I am a narcissist who's just projecting. I can't tell when people are being nice to me and why. To appear altruistic so others treat them better, because that definitely works I've noticed, or to satisfy their own ego as a "good" person so by being nice they affirm themselves. A lot of the time, after interactions with people I automatically start assuming the worst of intentions they have just to be safe. The things they say I analyze in more perspectives that I can count but settle with the worst just to be safe and not get screwed over. what is actually going on?!(advice)
Now to a somewhat comical issue, I had no idea how to talk to girls. There has been multiple times I've fumbled relationships served to me on a silver platter catastrophically. every conversation I've had with a girl has mean drier then the Sahara desert. "wyd", "doing anything this weekend?", "do you have siblings?", "you hair is soft, can i touch it?!?!". like what am I even supposed to response with, or they realistically expect me to say? "nothing", "yes", "yes", "no...?!". I know Its probably over for me, but I can't even talk to a girl in general its like they operate on a different social system. Sometimes they just get angry at me and yell at me. I don't even know anymore.(advice)
I make fast friends with people all the time (guys), but they always vaporize after a while when I get tired of saying the right things and playing my cards to their interests, so I'm acquaintances loads of people but none close.
As I've said I've mostly taught myself how to appear "normal" but It is not in fact normal, and I'm probably going to give myself schizophrenia if I don't learn to fix these problems. I don't want these issue to compound and try to fix them when I'm 30 and my find is not plastic enough to make these changes, so any honest and object advice, or even different perspective would be appreciated. I don't want to turn into my parents.

DISCLAIMER: am new to outlier
i have been trying to write a justification for 4 hours in the training task and no matter how much i stick to the rules of making a "good justification" i still get linter error and am really disappointed and frustrated and idk what am doing wrong or its a bug idk.
my question might seem naive or dumb but trust me i did it in the best way possible and still i get this ****** dumb error.
pls if i you can help don't hesitate

On antoheer post someone was complaining about the kicstand being too short (https://www.reddit.com/NitroDeck/comments/1d8f92s/my_only_real_complaint/).. and I agreed. and in my mind I have been thinking of a new kickstand idea, so that post just solidified it more.
As per that post:
So I managed to prototype extendable kickstand. it would take up the same closed space as the original yet when pulled out, you can extend it 3cm extra which is bascially to the bottom of the deck. it's a ratchet design, so you can have different lengths in between or the original length.
This is literally the first print after designing in in tinkerCad but it works, but I will make adjustments to the 'lever' in the ratchet system to need a bit more force when adjusting as well as making the lever notch curved and not pointed, to not 'stick' a bit when adjusting
Collapsed - https://imgur.com/Xb1v0NB
Extended - https://imgur.com/zW0sZP1
Deafult against OG Deck one - https://imgur.com/tpX4S5b
Collapsed against OG Deck one - https://imgur.com/lB4p5kG
Ratchet mechanism - https://imgur.com/ngw2SdK
As of typing this, I have already made these changes.. and some cosmetic ones, will update once they are printed.
PS, I have seen a few videos of peopel tearing down the ND, but has anyone actually removed the kickstand?

I (31, m) have an older sister who's 38. She's lived 500 miles away ever since she turned 18 and started a life there with two kids. M(14) and F (16)
These kids have always been very detached and almost impossible to engage with. My sister makes good money and as such, she's been able to give the kids a pretty nice life with 4 big trips every year and takes them to concerts nearly every other weekend. They've never had to want for anything and it makes me happy my sister has given them a nice upbringing. My issue comes however in that whenever they visit my mother , they're severely detached . My mom will ask them about how schools going and they give her shit responds like "Mehhh"
These kids aren't special needs. But my mom and I recently came to visit a sick relative in another state and my sister decided to tow her kids and husband out as well as a surprise. The thing is- they've been sitting there and didn't even say hi to my mom until prompted. The relative were all staying with tries to talk to the kids and they don't really respond with anything more than 1 worded dry answers before walking away unenthusiatically. They've been this way with the entire family and will sometimes laugh if I tell them jokes or say something funny but I can't help but feel sorry for my mom who wants to engage with and have conversations with them. We went to a party today and they sat by themselves, didn't talk to anyone and it makes me really worried as this has always been how they have acted. It isn't a sudden shift, I made the mistake of thinking several years ago that they just hadn't come out of their shell and they were little kids but they're both teenagers now and really don't talk to anyone except amongst themselves.
I've been wanting to have a talk and sit them both down and find a way to tell them "hey you know , your grandma won't be here forever and I feel like you guys are kinda cheating her out of experiences . She tries to engage with you all and you give her one worded answers and walk away"
But my sister is very protective of them. She likes to give them everything and I haven't been able to bring it up to her as she sees nothings wrong. This pains me to no end in that while My sister is very very outgoing - I don't understand why her kids are so standoffish.
Does anyone have any pointers ? Is anyone else dealing with something similar and how do you cope with that?
Were staying at a relatives house and they likely said "hi" when they arrived at her house but haven't spoken since and even my relative found it to be really rude. What can I do?

I just got a awesome deal on two Kioxia KXG8AZNV1T02. And because I had my first dying HDD in my NAS and was thrilled how easy it was swapping out the HDD, let it resilver and done (without any downtime) - I now want redundancy on my PVE. But now I read that ZFS just eats through consumer SSDs (I know, to late). Since I’m pretty new to RAID and such: is there any chance on getting redundancy in PVE without getting my consumer grade XG8 destroyed by ZFS? Or is the only way to keep them alive sticking with LVM? Buying new/used enterprise SSDs is not an option for now, I would like to use what I got.

So I work for a company that you really have to try to get fired from. My boss and I had a great relationship until one event. He sent me and a coworker out on a road call. Prior to a very important union voting meeting, which he knew about aslo my coworker brought up at the job briefing. He gave us a go-ahead to go to the meeting before the road call.
Long story short, upper management found out about the one hour delay before we made it to the road call. I, being me, owed up to the going to the meeting during the investigation. My coworker and my former boss blamed everyone under the sun. Still got 30 demerits, you need 60 to get fired, my union rep said we would have got none if my coworker during his meeting would have just followed his advice and agree to owning up to his mistake but he went on a hour tirade and f-ed everything up.
Anyways, me and my coworker got f-ed... My former supervisor got delayed a literal month before getting promoted to assistant manager. Which he held over me unit he got fired. I never understood why he blamed me, I never thought him under the bus my coworker did, and he (supervisor) threw me under the bus during the investigation. My coworker even admitted to him later on that I took full responsibility for the delay, and he threw the supervisor under the bus. But he didn't care. Apparently, I was the reason he took the one month delay on getting a promotion.
He targeted me for everything, but thanks to my reddit reading, I started recording everything. My companies coveralls have a great front pocket that lets a cell phone sit perfectly for recording. I recorded a job briefing that he called everyone racists (he's mMiddle Eastern) for over a rumor that he hired his wife's cousin company over the companies listed contactors. Which was true, and he got demoted for!
I hadn't submitted the video. He got demoted on his own accord for the beach of ethics. As a supervisor harassed me all the time, he gave me the shittiest of jobs, followed me everywhere, wrote me up for everything and anything. I noted everything, recorded what I could, and submitted it to my union rep, which I found out afterward was one of his best friends. So, the targeting and write-ups got worse.
Luckily on one particular day, I recorded a job briefing, another coworker filled a harassment claim against him, it was that coworker day off and this shitty supervisor decided during the job briefing went on a tirade about the harassment chain and that he'll go out of his way to get this person fired or quit!
I held on to this video because I know my company needed more to get rid of him. I don't wait long. I found out again that was under investigation for breach of ethics and apparently fraud form when he was an assistant manager. One of my managers told me he'll probably keep his job and just get an unpaid suspension. At this point, I knew I had him, so I not only sent the videos, I also sent my harassment complaints to HR and the union president not including my union rep in the emails.
My supervisor took 6 months of stress leave before getting fired, got no charges put against him for fraud, and my company is weak as shit. My union rep got booted off the council... and filed a harassment claim because all the union members call him a rat and a management suckup, many posters and stickers float around our shop with his Pic on his knees in front of the former supervisomanager. Wish I had the photoshop skills for that, but it wasn't me. The company actually brought in the police to take fingerprints, but the new union rep stepped in and shu down.
It's be a year since everything went down, found out it was another supervisors wife that made the posters and stickers, apparently she went to high school with the former union rep and hated him from then!

So I’m completely new to IB and starting with DP1 next school year, but I have absolutely no idea what I am supposed to do for CAS and TOK. Can someone please explain? Thanks

(Sorry if I broke any rules I’m new please tell me if so) TW: mention of weed and SA
To start i f21 and a friend Jake ftm21 had a sleepover 3 months ago with another friend, Isabel. I have known of Jake since elementary and we got closer in the last year of high school. I had always been more comfortable around him and he was just a really touchy feely person. Holding hands, hugging, leaning his head in my shoulder, etc.
I was a bit worried about his girlfriend, especially with her being a close friend, seeing us like that so I would jokingly push him away but he never got the message. I will admit I’m the type of person to worry if I bring up something like that I would ruin the relationship, so I never did.
So at this sleep over we all got a faded, we watched movies and played games, it was all fun till it came to actually sleeping. I was in the middle of them on the bed because I had this funny ASMR video for them to watch and Jake just laid his head on my shoulder and his hand went under my shirt, touching my side, back, and stomach. I tried to tell him to stop moving his hand and to watch it sense he was touching my lower stomach and close to literally touching my chest.
He gave me a ‘why’ or ‘I’m cold’ but after a few times he stopped. Later in the night I woke up to him saying something and taking my face to make me look at him in the pitch black room. He was so close out lips actually touched. To add to that his hand started to move and move up to my chest and he ended up actually touching it. I had to move his hand away and just went back to sleep.
He did the same thing the next morning (still not sober) and when he got to close again I told him to move it and he did, by moving it the smallest amount. That night when I got home I cried the hardest in my life and I could still feel his hands.
That was a few months ago, but I’ve told one person and she’s my best friend. I haven’t said a word to him or his girlfriend, no one else. I think about that night literally everyday and I have to physically pause what I’m going to try and stop thinking about it. I feel like it’s too late to say anything to him. I’m still confused why I didn’t move or do more to stop it.
I’m thinking about telling my sister just to have someone to actually talk to, and Jake. I’m still not sure of what to even say to him. Do I tell his girlfriend? I don’t wanna start drama, but I do feel like she should know, I would wanna know?

So for the past 2 years I was positive I must have ADHD, the symptoms were always there but I thought it was caused by my anxiety -I was diagnosed with GAD few years ago, and I’m off meds cuz they couldn't help much-
A little while ago i was diving into adhd because of my study and was pretty sure i have it, it would be a mild form of it but tbh it could get really disabling sometimes. I went to my psychiatrist afterward and told him about it and he told me that there was no way I had it (he said you’d be struggling in school since earlier years in childhood and there was no way I would make it this far academically), for the context I’m 23 and in my final year of med school. it could get really challenging for me to focus sometimes, but my grades are fine. My pachaytric said it’s just because of your anxiety that you're feeling this way. He told me to stick to my meds but i refused cuz they’ve never helped me. I told my boyfriend about it last night and he told me you’re just bored and distracted and he also thinks it’s all anxiety. He said everyone is distracted nowdays and i’m being a bit dramatic about it.
I was thinking of getting a second opinion because I’m really struggling especially in my daily life, i keep forgetting stuff and my mind just shuts down sometimes, it’s getting so hard for me to start things and i just hate being this way.

As if in response to his words, the rain began to pour down in torrents. I scanned the area frantically, searching for shelter from the deluge. My eyes landed on a nearby gazebo, its roof providing a semblance of protection from the elements. I pointed it out to Lily and Mark, and without hesitation, we hurried over and huddled together beneath its flimsy shelter.
As we stood there, trying to formulate a plan, I couldn't help but notice the water cascading down from the mountaintop, converging into streams that flowed ominously toward the town below.
"It's going to flood," I stated, my voice trembling with uncertainty. I racked my brain, desperately trying to devise a course of action in the face of impending disaster.
Lily shot me a look of concern, her brows furrowed with worry, while Mark's head whipped around in my direction, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"What? How do you know?" Mark demanded, his voice cracking with anxiety.
"Look," I replied, pointing towards the only road leading in and out of the town situated atop the mountain.
As Lily and Mark turned to follow my gaze, their eyes widened in horror. The road had transformed into a raging torrent, resembling more of a waterfall than a thoroughfare.
"Fuck," Mark muttered under his breath, his voice heavy with dread.
"We have to find somewhere elevated, away from the ground," I insisted, scanning our surroundings for potential refuge.
"There!" Lily exclaimed suddenly, pointing towards the Library, which was not far in the distance. Perched on the side of the mountain, it was accessible only via a flight of stairs. Its elevated position promised some degree of safety from the rising waters, and its sturdy roof offered protection from the relentless downpour.
"Okay, let's go!" I declared, breaking into a sprint towards the Library. The building was within reach after just a few minutes of brisk running. As I reached the steps, water cascaded down from above, creating a makeshift waterfall that made the climb treacherous but manageable. Determinedly, I ascended the stairs, each step bringing me closer to safety.
As I reached the top of the stairs and glanced back down, my heart sank at the sight of Lily and Mark still struggling to reach safety. "Let's go! Hurry!" I shouted over the din of the storm, my voice barely audible amidst the howling winds and pounding rain.
Lily dashed towards me with determination, but Mark remained rooted in the spot, paralyzed by fear.
"Mark, come on! Let's go!" I urged, my voice tinged with urgency. But just then, a deafening roar echoed through the valley, freezing us all in our tracks. It was the same roar we'd heard earlier. Still, now it was closer and had a chilling amalgamation of animalistic cries and human-like roars, resonating with an eerie intensity.
Breaking free from the spell of terror, I shouted again, "Come on, Mark! You're almost here!"
As Lily struggled against the rising tide of the cascading water coming down the stairs, I reached out to her, my hand extended in a desperate attempt to pull her to safety. She stumbled, but I managed to grasp her arm and haul her up the rest of the steps.
Glancing down, I saw Mark finally lurch into motion, his movements labored as he fought against the now ankle-deep water. With every step, he seemed to expend what little energy he had left.
"Mark, you can do it! Just a little further!" Lily's voice echoed through the storm, urging him on.
But as Mark neared the stairs, the water flowing down the steps surged with newfound force, threatening to sweep him away. With a burst of adrenaline, he pushed himself forward, his fingers grazing mine for a fleeting moment before the current overwhelmed him.
Helplessly, Lily and I watched as Mark was carried downstream, his screams of terror echoing through the valley. And then, as if summoned by the chaos, a monstrous figure appeared out of the shadows in the street.
Standing tall and menacing amid the storm, it was like something out of a nightmare. A grotesque fusion of man and beast, its black fur matted and patchy, its human-like face contorted into a snarling, canine visage.
As the creature locked eyes with Mark, it lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive form crashing down upon him in a flurry of claws and fangs. Mark's screams pierced the night air, a haunting symphony of agony and despair that sent shivers down my spine.
Unable to bear the horror unfolding before us, Lily turned away, her face twisted in anguish as she fought back tears. As the creature dragged Mark into the darkness, I felt a cold chill run down my spine, a chilling reminder of the darkness within the heart of the Raven's Nest.
As I watched in horror, the creature tore into Mark's body with savage ferocity, reducing him to nothing more than a bloody mass of flesh. Its eyes met mine for a fleeting moment, sending a chill down my spine as it snatched up what remained of Mark and vanished into the darkness.
With trembling hands, Lily pulled me into the Library and hastily barricaded the door with a bookcase. My mind reeled with shock and disbelief, unable to process the gruesome scene that had just unfolded before my eyes.
"Rory, Rory, snap out of it!" Lily's voice pierced through the fog of my mind, her words a distant echo as I struggled to regain my composure. Her soothing touch and gentle words slowly brought me back to reality, the weight of what had just transpired crashing down upon me like a tidal wave.
I found myself hyperventilating, gasping for air as panic threatened to overwhelm me. Lily held me close, her arms a lifeline amid the chaos, calming my racing heart and guiding me back from the brink of despair.
It wasn't the first time I had experienced such a paralyzing reaction to trauma. The memories of our parents' passing flooded back, the pain and grief still raw after all these years. And now, faced with the brutal reality of Mark's demise, I felt myself slipping into that familiar state of shock once again.
Lily's tears mingled with mine as we huddled on the cold library floor, seeking solace in each other's embrace. The distant sounds of the monster devouring its prey served as a grim reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond our makeshift barricade.
In that moment of despair, all we could do was hold onto each other, finding strength in our shared grief and determination to survive. But deep down, I knew that the nightmare was far from over and that the horrors of the Raven's Nest had only begun.
Lily drifted off into sleep relatively quickly. She needed the rest; despite being twenty-seven, she was still young, and the day's events had taken their toll on her. I couldn't help but reminisce about our childhood memories when I used to affectionately refer to her as "Lil Sister." Those memories brought a sense of comfort amidst the chaos, and as I dwelled on them, I felt myself being pulled into the embrace of sleep.
Before long, I, too, succumbed to exhaustion, the weight of the day finally catching up with me. As I drifted off into slumber, memories of simpler times danced through my mind, mingling with the events of the present in a surreal dreamscape. And as the tendrils of sleep enveloped me, I found solace in the fleeting moments of tranquility amidst the chaos of the Raven's Nest.
I bolted awake at the sound of crashing, instantly alert and searching for Lily in the darkness. My eyes hadn't yet adjusted, so I fumbled in my bag for a flashlight, my heart pounding with anxiety. As the beam of light pierced the darkness, I swept it around the room, desperately seeking any sign of my sister. Then, another crash echoed from the direction of the basement stairs, labeled ominously in the dim light.
Normally, I'd have hesitated to descend into such a foreboding place, but with Lily missing, I had no choice. Slowly, cautiously, I made my way down the stairs, the beam of light casting eerie shadows on the damp walls.
The sound of running water grew louder with each step, and when I rounded the corner, I was met with the sight of the flooded basement. Something stirred in the murky depths, a figure moving in the dim light at the room's far end. My heart raced as I approached, the water sloshing around my ankles with each step. And then, in the faint glow of the flashlight, I saw her: Lily, struggling against an unseen force, her movements frantic and desperate.
I waded through the waist-deep water, my movements sluggish against the pressure, trying to reach Lily as she struggled against something unseen. The rustling and grunting ceased as I pushed forward, the urgency building with each step.
"Lily, what's going on?" I called out, my voice strained with concern.
"Rory?" Lily's voice came from the other end of the room, surprisingly calm.
Finally reaching her, I found Lily hidden behind a stack of boxes, her attention fixed on a metal ammunition box she'd uncovered.
"What the hell are you doing?" I whispered urgently.
"Maybe there's something in here we can use against... whatever the fuck that thing is," Lily replied, her voice tinged with desperation as she attempted to pry the box open, to no avail.
"Bring it upstairs, and maybe we can find something to open it," I suggested in a hushed tone, my nerves on edge as I scanned our surroundings for any sign of danger.
Lily's frustration seemed to dissipate into resignation as she met my gaze. Together, we began to wade back through the flooded basement, our senses heightened by the impending danger. Suddenly, the tranquility of our surroundings shattered as the front door upstairs, our only means of escape out of the building, sounded like it was violently torn from its hinges, the sound echoing through the basement like a harbinger of doom.
The heavy, ominous footsteps of the creature reverberated through the air, accompanied by the unsettling growl of its breath. It was clear that our presence had been detected, and the beast was now descending into the basement, drawing closer with each passing moment. Panic seized me as I realized the gravity of our situation - we were trapped, with nowhere to run and the relentless pursuit of the unknown closing in on us.
"Shh..." I hushed urgently, motioning for Lily to hide behind the boxes with me as the ominous sound of the creature's approach grew nearer. Despite the impending danger, Lily remained fixated on the ammunition box, her determination evident in her efforts to unlock it quietly.
"Stop," I whispered with growing frustration, attempting to draw her attention away from the futile task. However, it seemed as though she was wholly absorbed in her mission, impervious to my attempts to redirect her focus. Desperation gnawed at me as I realized the precariousness of our situation, with the creature closing in and Lily oblivious to the imminent threat, likely due to the shock of the day's events.
The monster's presence in the basement sent a chill down my spine as I peered cautiously from behind the boxes, taking in its imposing figure. Despite the water being waist deep for me, the creature waded through effortlessly, its massive form towering over us. Its keen senses were evident as it sniffed the air, detecting our presence with unsettling accuracy.
As Lily's persistent efforts finally paid off and the box squeaked open, her triumphant expression quickly shifted to one of realization and dread as the monster roared in response. The deafening sound reverberated through the basement, causing me to instinctively cover my ears in a futile attempt to block it out. Amidst the roar, I could discern an underlying tone that chilled me to the core—a human-like cry buried within the beast's primal roar, as if someone were pleading for mercy.
With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I lunged to the side, pulling Lily with me as we narrowly avoided the charging monster. For a moment, I thought we had escaped unharmed, but my relief turned to horror when Lily's scream pierced the air. Glancing down, my heart sank as I witnessed the gruesome sight—her leg had been violently torn from her body, leaving a trail of blood that tainted the water around us, a vivid crimson. The agony etched on her face mirrored the shock and helplessness I felt at that moment.
The sight before me was a nightmare made real. My mind recoiled at the grotesque spectacle unfolding as the monster tore into Lily's severed leg with savage abandon. Blood sprayed in every direction, mingling with the water to create a chilling tableau of horror. Each crunch and tear of flesh echoed in the cramped basement, a grotesque symphony of violence.
For a moment, I was frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the sheer brutality of what I was witnessing. It felt like time had slowed to a crawl, trapping me in this macabre scene of primal savagery. The monster's inhuman appetite seemed insatiable as it devoured Lily's flesh from her forcefully amputated leg, indifferent to her screams of agony as she lay not even fifteen feet away from it, screaming in pain.
As I watched in horrified fascination, a sickening realization dawned on me: we were not dealing with a mere beast but a predator driven by an insatiable hunger for flesh. And if I didn't act fast, Lily wouldn't be the only victim of its ravenous appetite.
With grim determination, I focused on the task at hand. Ignoring the nauseating sight of Lily's mangled leg, I reached for her, gripping her arm tightly. She cried out in pain as I hoisted her out of the water, her screams echoing in the basement.
"Come on, Lily, we need to go," I urged, my voice tinged with urgency. Ignoring the searing pain in her eyes, she nodded weakly, her face contorted in agony.
Together, we staggered towards the stairs, every step a Herculean effort against the overwhelming tide of fear and despair. The monster continued its grisly feast behind us, the sounds of its feasting driving us forward with a renewed sense of urgency.
I stumbled over an unseen obstacle beneath the water's surface, sending Lily and me plunging into the cold, dark depths. The shock of the fall stole my breath, and for a moment, disorientation clouded my senses as we struggled to regain our footing.
Frantically, I reached out in the darkness, my hands grasping for Lily's form as water rushed into my nose and mouth. With a surge of panic, I managed to find her, clutching onto her tightly as we resurfaced, coughing and sputtering.
As we gasped for air, I felt the weight of Lily's body in my arms, and with every ounce of strength I could muster, I began to drag her toward the stairs as she floated.
Struggling to hoist her up, I noticed the severity of Lily's injury more clearly. Her left leg was missing from the knee down, torn off in a gruesome manner. Each time I dragged her up a step, her bloody stump thudded against the hard surface, eliciting agonizing screams from her. Finally, we reached the corner of the stairs, where I adjusted her position to navigate the new angle.
As we turned the corner and I struggled to hoist Lily onto the first step of this new and longer set of stairs, the thunderous approach of the monster echoed through the basement, intensifying with each passing moment. Though I couldn't see it, the sound of its sprinting footsteps through the water and heavy breathing grew louder, signaling its imminent arrival. Fueled by adrenaline, I tugged harder on Lily's collar, the urgency of escape overriding any concerns about her injury. All that mattered now was getting her to safety before the creature reached us.
As we ascended, almost halfway now, I caught sight of the creature turning the corner. Its rapid pace caused it to collide with the wall, the force denting the cement as it rebounded. The sight filled me with a surge of terror, propelling me to pull Lily with renewed urgency. For a moment, she felt weightless in my grasp as I almost dragged her completely up the stairs, driven by sheer determination. Yet, as my grip faltered, I felt her slipping from my hold.
The moisture from the rain and flooding had made my hands slippery. Everything seemed to unfold in agonizing slow motion as Lily tumbled down the stairs, her descent helpless and inevitable. In the blink of an eye, the monster pounced upon her, its ferocious hunger driving it to begin devouring her without hesitation. Frozen at the top of the stairs, I watched in horror, my gaze alternating between the gruesome spectacle unfolding below and my wet, pruned hands, feeling utterly powerless to intervene.
The monster's gaze briefly flickered toward me as if acknowledging my presence for the first time since it began its grisly meal. Another thunderous roar erupted from its throat, prompting me to instinctively cover my ears. Again, I could have sworn I heard a desperate man screaming when the thing roared.
With a surge of adrenaline, I dashed up the final step and slammed the door shut behind me, shutting out the horrifying scene below.
As I fled through the unlit and dark town, I encountered areas still very submerged by the flooding, forcing me to swim through the murky waters in a desperate bid for escape. As I sprinted through the town, the absence of rainfall struck me. How long had it been since the downpour ceased? How long had I been asleep? Time seemed distorted, the day's events blending into a surreal blur. I pressed on, my only focus now: finding a way out of this nightmare.
After what felt like an eternity of navigating through the flooded streets, with every step weighed down by the relentless rainwater, I finally reached the end of the main paved road, where it transitioned into the dirt path leading to the mine—the sole exit out of town. The dark, murky, muddy path stretched ahead, promising a treacherous journey. The thick sludge threatened to swallow any misstep, making each footfall precarious.
As I stood there, catching my breath and surveying the daunting path ahead, the distant echo of the monster's roar pierced the eerie silence. It was a chilling reminder that danger lurked nearby, urging me to push forward despite the obstacles ahead.
By the time I reached Lily's jeep, I had lost both my shoes to the road and was caked in the thick, clinging mud. I swung open the jeep door, my heart racing with the anticipation of escape, only to be met with the realization that I didn't have the key. Frustration boiled over, and I cursed loudly, slamming the door shut in a fit of anger.
Then, a flicker of memory illuminated my mind: Lily's old jeep, a '95 Jeep Wrangler. We had discovered soon after she bought it that, true to its shoddy nature, it could be started with nothing more than a screwdriver in the ignition.
In a frantic search, my eyes darted around the muddy surroundings, desperate for any sign of a tool or implement that could help me start Lily's jeep. The sound of the monster's roar reverberated in the air, closer now, sending shivers down my spine. Every second felt like an eternity as I scoured the area, my heart pounding with fear and adrenaline.
Peering down the muddy road, I spotted the lumbering figure of the monster struggling to ascend. Its massive form sank into the mud with each step, hindering its progress as its feet and hands became mired in the thick, sticky terrain. Relief washed over me as I realized this bought me precious moments, a brief respite in my frantic escape.
I decide to look inside the car as I frantically rummage through the cluttered middle console of the car, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Every second felt like an eternity as I searched desperately for anything that could start the engine. Amidst the chaos of scattered items—a map, an old CD case, a jumble of charging cables—I felt my fingers close around something solid.
Pulling it out, I found a weathered Swiss Army knife, its metal casing worn and scratched from years of use. I unfolded the blade with trembling hands and positioned it carefully within the ignition. The familiar weight of the blade grounded me amid panic as I turned it, hoping against hope that it would work.
The engine sputtered to life after a few tense moments, its roar filling the confined space of the jeep. Relief flooded through me, mingled with uncertainty about what lay ahead. As I glanced up, I caught sight of the approaching monster, its massive form looming closer with each passing second.
With a quick intake of breath, I slammed the car into reverse, the tires spinning in the thick mud before gaining traction. The jeep lurched backward, leaving deep tracks in its wake as I raced away from The Raven's Nest.
The memories of that fateful day haunted me for years, a constant reminder of the horrors that lurked within The Raven's Nest. I tried to seek justice and warn others of the danger lurking in that cursed town, but each attempt fell on deaf ears.
As the years passed, I became increasingly disillusioned with my futile attempts to bring the truth to light. It wasn't that no one believed me; I knew too much. The secrets of The Raven's Nest ran deep, intertwined with the very fabric of the town's existence.
Authorities dismissed my claims as the ramblings of a troubled mind, unwilling or unable to acknowledge the darkness that permeated every corner of that forsaken place. And so, I resigned myself to the fact that some truths were better left buried, that the secrets of The Raven's Nest were meant to remain hidden.
In the quiet moments of solitude, I ponder the events of that harrowing day, eight years distant yet still vivid in my memory. I often wonder about those cameras we had installed, silent sentinels bearing witness to the horrors of The Raven's Nest. Do they still perch in their hidden alcoves, their lenses trained on the dormant secrets within those cursed streets?
The temptation to return, to retrieve that footage and unveil the truth to the world, is a constant tug at the edges of my consciousness. If only I could lay my hands on that evidence, undeniable proof of the malevolent forces that lurk in the shadows. But with each passing thought, a shiver courses down my spine, a reminder of the dread that still clings to the very mention of that forsaken place.
And so, the footage remains abandoned, lost to time and neglect, much like the town itself, swallowed by the unforgiving embrace of the valley. Perhaps some mysteries are best left buried, their secrets guarded by the silent guardians of the past.
I find myself consumed by a profound sense of guilt, particularly regarding Mark's tragic fate. I remember vividly the day we met at the museum, his genuine curiosity and eagerness to explore the town's history. Little did he know the peril that awaited us all. I can't help but feel responsible for leading him into that nightmare. It was a gruesome scene, etched into my memory with agonizing clarity. I watched in horror as the creature pounced on him, its razor-sharp claws tearing through flesh and bone with merciless efficiency. The sound of his screams still echoes in my ears, a chilling symphony of agony that pierces through the silence of my nightmares. At that moment, I was powerless to save him, gripped by a paralyzing terror that rendered me immobile. His death is a burden I carry with me always, a heavy weight that serves as a constant reminder of the price we paid for venturing into the heart of darkness.
I often find myself wondering about our parents' untimely departure, leaving behind a chasm filled with unanswered questions and aching longing. In the quiet of the night, I ponder how they would have reacted to my tale—of Lily's tragic end, of the nightmares we encountered in that desolate town. Would they have believed my words? Would they have comprehended the depth of my sorrow, the burden of guilt for failing to shield their cherished daughter?
In my heart, I carry the weight of my dear sister Lily's untimely demise. Her laughter, warmth, and unwavering spirit are now lost to the darkness that enveloped that cursed town. Each day, I long to see her smile once more, to hear her voice echoing in the halls of our shared memories. Yet, I know she is gone, forever lost to the merciless jaws of that insatiable beast. The memory of her screams, the sight of her torn body, they etch themselves into my soul, a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the cruelty of fate.
Lily's injury and her agonizing screams echo incessantly in the corridors of my mind, haunting me like a relentless specter. The memory of that moment is etched into my consciousness with vivid, excruciating detail—the sight of her torn leg, the gushing crimson of her blood staining the murky waters, and the raw, visceral sound of her screams reverberating through the air. Each time I close my eyes, I am transported back to that harrowing scene, unable to escape the overwhelming sense of helplessness that washed over me. Her pain, her fear, her desperation—all of it lingers like a scar on my soul, a constant reminder of the horrors we endured in that forsaken place.

I swear his W is the most archaic, boring, bullsht ability in the game and deserves some kind of rework
Either it gets buffed that he's killing people by standing on them afk or it does tickle damage cuz riot nerfed the fk outta it cuz he's 70% winrate in wood elo in south africa
Instead, if Amumu got a well deserved mini rework to his spells, what cool new ability would he get that would help his gameplay as a tank?
Skarner got wall traverse, Tahm kench got his ultimate shifted to his W, Volibear got turret turn off + lighting strike (and now he can build any item in the game apparently), Udyr's got way more options with his stances with awakened abilities etc
Just curious to what you guys think would be a cool new ability he could get instead of his current W

My name is Rory Fars, and my little sister, Lily Fars, is the last family I had left.
A heavy sense of dread settled over me like a suffocating blanket as I sat in the worn leather seat of Lily's old jeep. The car, a relic of our happier days, seemed to groan under our shared sorrow. Beside me, Lily, my best friend, and confidante, absentmindedly twirled a strand of her long, dark hair, which swayed gently in rhythm with the haunting melodies from the oldies station on the radio. This car had seen us through countless joyful journeys when our family was whole. Almost three years had passed since that fateful Christmas trip in Texas when our parents were tragically killed in a horrific multi-car pileup. The memory of their loss was a constant ache, a wound that never fully healed.
My dad was from Amarillo, Texas, so my parents often took trips down there, visiting the places that held so many memories for him. During one of these trips, just before Christmas, a sudden blizzard struck while they were on the freeway. The snow fell in blinding sheets, making the world outside a disorienting white blur. As they tried to slowly pull to the side, their vision obscured by the relentless storm, they never saw the car barreling toward them at least forty miles an hour. The impact was devastating, an abrupt and brutal end to their journey and, in many ways, to our lives as we had known them.
My parents were always sticklers for safety, insisting on seatbelts every time we got in the car. So, of course, they had theirs on during that fateful trip. The initial impact wasn't what killed them, the coroner explained to me. Not even the first hit from behind, which was going at least fifty miles an hour, was fatal. I had to practically shake the information out of him—they were so resistant to tell me anything at first. By the time the third car hit, with an unknown speed, their survival was already in jeopardy. The coroner said that by the fifth car, they were likely dead. But it didn't end there. Another twenty-three vehicles slammed into the back of the pile, each collision further crushing their bodies, reducing them to a horrific, unrecognizable state. Each jarring impact pushed my parents deeper into a gruesome amalgamation of twisted metal and shattered lives.
I don't know why I felt compelled to demand those details at the time, but I deeply regret it now. I wish I had never asked. Almost every night, unless I drink myself into oblivion, I am haunted by nightmares of what they endured. I dream of driving up to save them, only to be caught in the same deadly barrage of cars, ending in a twisted metal tomb for all of us.
Lily is never in those dreams. Even in my most horrific imaginings, I can't envision her being hurt. Lily is my little sister, younger by eight years and three months. Whenever I mention our age difference, I see the judgment in people's eyes, but what can I say? Our parents never stopped loving each other. They had Lily late in life; she became our shared joy, our living reminder of the love that had bound our family together.
Lily wasn't my twin in the literal sense, but ever since she was born, it felt like we shared the inexplicable connection that twins often describe. As she grew up, our bond only deepened—we acted, sounded, and even looked remarkably alike. She became my rock, especially after our parents' tragic deaths. We leaned on each other, cried into each other's shoulders, and somehow found the strength to move forward. We eventually moved in together, finding solace in a two-bedroom apartment that became our sanctuary.
Lily seemed to handle our parents' deaths better than I did, or maybe she was just better at distracting herself with technology. Even before their passing, Lily was addicted to any kind of digital screen she could manipulate. Her ability to navigate the digital world was unmatched; she was the most intelligent person I had ever met. Her intelligence was a beacon of light in the darkness that had enveloped us, a testament to her resilience and brilliance.
After my parents' death, I embarked on a quest to find my spirituality by delving into paranormal investigations. I hoped these pursuits would bring me closer to my parents in the afterlife, spiritual realm, or whatever you want to call it. Instead, it created a chasm between me and any sense of spiritual existence. Each investigation seemed to push me further from the answers I sought, leaving me feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever.
I had hoped that by exploring these paranormal claims, I would discover a way to reach out to my parents and feel their presence again. Yet, as the years have passed, this endeavor has only deepened my loneliness and sense of loss. Despite knowing how detrimental it is to my mental health, I can't bring myself to stop. The hope that the subsequent investigation will be the one that proves the existence of an afterlife and that I'll find a way to contact my parents keeps me going. It's a desperate, unrelenting pursuit for a connection that remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
I should have accepted their death and moved on like any sane person would. Instead, I let my grief fester and dragged my sister and a stranger, Mark, through my obsessive quest for answers. My relentless pursuit of the paranormal didn't just alienate me; it consumed us all, leading to their untimely deaths. My name is Rory Fars, and I am here to confess my side of the story about the missing case of Lily Fars and Mark Lawrence.
This is the truth about how my desperate search for a connection with the afterlife led to a nightmare from which none of us could escape.
To start off, no, Lily was not a student of Mark's who fell in love with him and then got jealous of me hitting on him, leading her to kill him and herself. I know that sounds ridiculous, but given some wild theories circulating online, I need to address this one specifically since it seems to be the most popular.
First and foremost, Mark Lawrence was not, nor has he ever been, a professor at a university. Lily and I met Mark at the Local Museum in Redlin, a town nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains. He was the curator of an exhibit showcasing the history of Raven's Nest, a forgotten mining town that neither Lily nor I had ever heard of. This is where our story begins, in a place steeped in history and mystery, far removed from the convoluted theories that now cloud the truth.
We were constantly searching for new ideas for our podcast about paranormal claims. Each of our twenty-five episodes so far had concluded with a rational explanation, so when Mark told us about the curse of Harper, I was immediately intrigued.
Mark was an older man, likely in his mid-sixties, with a full head of silver hair and a beard that stubbornly clung to its youthful color, only lightly dusted with grey. He had a presence that commanded attention, and his stories about the curse were delivered with an intensity that drew me in.
On the other hand, Lily was always more interested in the technical aspects of the paranormal. She had her own theories and was determined to debunk every claim we investigated. She wasn't easily swayed by Mark's tales about the curse of Harper, but she was willing to listen and give him a chance to prove himself. Her skeptical mind constantly checked my enthusiasm, and together, we hoped to uncover the truth behind yet another paranormal mystery.
"Hello ladies, care to hear about the mysterious town of Raven's Nest?" Mark asked with theatrical enthusiasm.
Lily and I exchanged a knowing glance, trying to stifle our amusement. Despite our attempts to remain composed, a smirk played at the corners of our lips.
"We're all ears," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
He sighed, almost as if he was disappointed that we said yes. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to steel himself for the task ahead. "Well, you see," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "in the early twentieth century, a man named Harper Franstein exploited many men and children in the coal mines. By the mid-1920s, he had established his own settlement in a secluded valley, which he dubbed 'The Raven's Nest.' It was never officially recognized as a town, but that's the only name we have to go off of."
I could see the beads of sweat forming on Mark's brow as he struggled to recall every detail. Despite his initial enthusiasm, he now appeared flustered, his confidence waning. Eventually, he resorted to consulting his damp and crumpled notes, a sign of his growing unease.
"Um, anyway, yeah, um," he stuttered, audibly gulping as his nerves got the better of him. Lily couldn't contain her laughter, emitting a snicker that earned us a glare from Mark.
"Hey, just relax," I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're not here to judge or intimidate you." With a gentle touch on his forearm and a chuckle, I attempted to reassure him, hoping to ease his obvious discomfort.
He paused, sharing a chuckle with me, while Lily struggled to suppress her laughter and eventually excused herself, leaving just Mark and me. Evidently, he felt more at ease with fewer listeners, so he pressed on with his narrative.
"Anyway," he resumed, "Harper held complete control over the town and the mine, and he made sure everyone was acutely aware of that fact. When the disappearances began, he tried to sweep them under the rug, attributing them to anything but his own negligence in mining practices."
"What do you mean by 'negligence in mining practices'?" I interjected, eager to delve deeper into his intriguing tale.
He looked up, clearly pleased by my question. "Yes, exactly," he affirmed. "Harper adhered to a mining technique outlined by Dwight Brunst in the mid to late nineteenth century. This method mandated only one entry and exit point into the mine."
"Wait, so they were forbidden from creating additional exits?" I pressed for clarification.
"Not explicitly," he explained. "The practice advocated for just one entry and exit as it was believed to minimize the risk of cave-ins, at least in theory. However, there were instances where miners, feeling uneasy about this restriction, took matters into their own hands and carved out what they called 'Emergency Exits' for themselves. After about half of the town started going missing, Harper couldn't take criticism about how he responded, but most people say he was losing money quickly and didn't want to live in a world where he was poor. He walked into the mine, never to be seen again, much like the cave's past victims. Visitors report seeing and hearing Harper, trying to get them to leave."
As I stood there, listening to Mark's enthralling narrative, I found myself captivated by the mysterious allure of Raven's Nest. Unable to contain my curiosity, I decided to pose a question.
"So, what does the town look like now?" I inquired, eager to learn more about the present state of this enigmatic place.
Mark's demeanor shifted slightly as he rifled through his notes, a subtle indication that he didn't have a straightforward answer to my query.
"You've never been there?" I asked, my tone softening with genuine curiosity.
He flinched as though my question had struck a nerve. "Shhhhhh... shut up," he demanded, his voice tinged with unease.
Suppressing a chuckle, I leaned in closer and whispered, "Okay, hear me out. My sister Lily and I are investigating paranormal phenomena. Your story about Raven's Nest sounds like the perfect addition to our podcast. What do you say we compensate you for your guidance? Let's say, three hundred bucks?"
He straightened up, contemplating my proposition for a few moments. Without uttering a word, he extended his hand, and I met it halfway with my own, sealing our agreement with a firm handshake.
Our journey to Raven's Nest was no easy feat. Situated a good twenty miles from town and nestled deep within a dense valley. After all of the tight turns, narrow dirt roads, and steep inclines, it took us a grueling two and a half hours to go twenty-something miles, but we finally reached the outskirts of the infamous settlement. As we stood at the edge of the "Nest," anticipation mingled with trepidation, setting the stage for the eerie exploration that lay ahead.
I glanced at my phone; the time read 11:56 pm, signaling the late hour. Sensing the exhaustion weighing heavily, I suggested we catch a few hours of rest in Lily's jeep. Mark, though visibly unsettled, remained silent from the back seat, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he slumped against the window like a sulking child.
Drifting asleep in the passenger seat, I soon found myself ensnared in a nightmare. In my dream, Mark was being dragged away into the darkness, his desperate attempts to claw his way back to safety only resulting in broken fingertips. Despite his struggles, he was powerless against the unseen force pulling him inexorably into the abyss. Suddenly, I was alone, engulfed in utter darkness, my heart pounding with fear as I ran blindly from an unseen terror that seemed to pursue me relentlessly, its malevolent presence palpable but unseen.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart racing as the remnants of dread lingered in the pit of my stomach. It was morning, and I was struggling to adjust my vision. Lily's frantic but comforting voice broke through the haze of my terror, grounding me in reality. With her comforting embrace, I gradually calmed my racing thoughts, drawing deep, steadying breaths.
As we sat there, enveloped in each other's embrace, Mark approached the driver's side window with an unexpected question, "Alright, what's for breakfast?" His nonchalant tone and casual demeanor were a stark contrast to the harrowing nightmare that had just consumed my thoughts, momentarily dispelling the lingering specter of fear that had haunted my dreams.
Lily and I both look up at him and back at each other as we burst out into laughter.
Amidst our shared laughter, Lily and I exchanged amused glances before turning our attention back to Mark.
"Ha...ha, yeah. No, but seriously, what's for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, toast, at least?" Mark pressed, hoping for a more substantial response.
His earnest inquiry fueled our laughter further, our giggles echoing through the quiet night air. Eventually, we regained our composure and stepped out of the jeep, stretching our limbs after the cramped confines of the vehicle.
Mark awkwardly moves to the side, still waiting for an honest answer. Lily tossed him a granola bar, eliciting a bemused chuckle from him. With a shared understanding, we set off on foot, embarking on the hike into the town.
The path ahead was clear: a single dirt road that wound its way from the abandoned coal mine into the heart of the small settlement. The road, now overgrown and muddy from years of disuse, bore the marks of neglect and isolation. Wary of the treacherous conditions, Lily opted to forgo the risk of getting stuck, steering clear of the decrepit road that likely hadn't seen a traveler in at least half a century.
We parked Lily's jeep at the entrance to both the mine and the town of Raven's Nest, opting to proceed on foot from there. Standing at the mountain's peak, gazing down at the desolate town below, I couldn't help but ponder the history beneath the dilapidated structures. I imagined how this valley must have once been a pristine landscape cherished by the indigenous people who roamed its lush terrain.
"Jesus, this place is more like a shit nest," Mark muttered in disgust, his disdain evident in his tone.
Lily shot me a knowing glance, silently communicating her skepticism toward Mark's assessment of the town.
Deciding to put Mark's knowledge to the test, I casually inquired, "So, what year was this area founded?"
Mark's reaction was almost defensive as if my question had caught him off guard. He hesitated momentarily before fumbling for his note cards in his pocket, a telltale sign that he wasn't as knowledgeable as he let on.
Before he could respond, I interjected with another question, "Mark, how long have you worked at the museum?"
As Mark froze, his gaze locking onto mine like a deer caught in headlights, I watched him closely, waiting for any sign of hesitation or discomfort. My narrowed eyes bore into his, silently urging him to be honest.
Finally, breaking the tense silence, Mark confessed, "Look, this is only my first week. I... I haven't had the greatest time lately, and I really need the extra money. I'm sorry I lied, but I'll help however I can."
I met his gaze unwaveringly, sensing the sincerity in his words. Clearly, he was a man in need of redemption, grappling with his own personal struggles.
"Alright, alright, don't cry too much," I teased lightly, trying to ease the tension. Gesturing towards Lily, who was busy preparing her wireless motion cameras in her backpack, I continued, "Lily and I already figured that was the case. Honestly, we're surprised you agreed to come along."
Mark remained frozen, but the tension seemed to melt away from his expression, replaced by a tentative smile. It was a moment of shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that he was still welcomed into our expedition despite his initial deception.
"Alright, I have the cams and portable batteries to make sure the cameras and anything we have with power can last," Lily said, her voice brimming with determination.
We began our descent into the town, our hiking boots struggling against the thick, clinging mud produced by the constant light rain and years of disuse. Each step was a battle, the mud threatening to swallow our boots with every move.
After an eternity of trudging through the muck, we finally reached the town's only paved road—the main road. It had taken us only about fifteen minutes to hike down, but navigating the muddy slope had sapped our energy. We paused for a break, taking a few minutes to clean off our boots and catch our breath.
As we rested, I noticed Lily rummaging through her bag with a focused intensity. Curious, I asked, "What are you looking for?"
"I brought five motion-detecting cameras that I want to set up strategically throughout the town," she replied, pulling out one of the cameras. She walked over to the nearest building, a structure that served as a post office, police station, and fire station. She positioned the camera outside the building so it was pointed at the only road leading in and out of the town.
"We need to cover all potential points of interest," she explained, securing the camera in place. "This one will monitor any activity on the main road. We should place the other cameras around key locations like the mine entrance, the town square, and some more intact buildings."
I nodded, appreciating her thoroughness. "Good idea. We need to make sure we capture anything unusual."
Mark, having finally caught his breath, joined us. "Alright, let's get these cameras set up and see what we can find," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Look," Lily said, turning her tablet screen toward us. She waved her hand in front of the camera she had just placed. The tablet displayed five squares on the interface, each meant to show a feed from one of the cameras. Since Lily had only set up one camera so far, only the bottom right square showed any footage pointed at the road leading out of town. She stopped waving her hand, and the feed went to a blue screen.
"What happened? Did we lose connection?" Mark asked frantically, his eyes wide with concern.
Lily cackled, struggling to contain her amusement. Composing herself, she waved her hand in front of the camera again, and the bottom right square showed her hand waving once more. "It's motion-activated. It's the best way to save on battery life," she explained.
Mark seemed to relax, though he was still catching his breath after the brief panic.
I glanced at my watch, noting the time. "It's 8:30. We're behind schedule. If you want to place the rest of your cameras, we better move now," I said, walking down the street.
Lily immediately got up and followed me, with Mark struggling to keep pace behind us. We reached the market building, and Lily positioned her second camera on the side of the road, pointing up at the market.
It's not much longer before we make it to the Town Hall. I suggest Lily place a camera nearby. She nods and heads into a building across from the Town Hall labeled, "Slaughterhouse: LOCAL ANIMALS ONLY."
As Lily explores the building to find an adequate spot for the camera, I wait for Mark to catch up. While I wait, I can't help but imagine this town in its prime, picturing the streets filled with families who loved each other.
My thoughts are abruptly cut off by a sound echoing in the distance—a roar unlike any I've ever heard. It was a mix of a human screaming in pain, the roar of a lion, and, near the end, the howl of a wolf. The chilling sound sent shivers down my spine.
I jump to my feet and immediately call out, "Lily, you okay?"
There's no response from Lily, but I'm interrupted by Mark finally catching up, panting heavily.
"Holy... shit... did you... hear that?" Mark said frantically between breaths.
"Yeah, we have to find Lily," I say, bolting into the slaughterhouse. I glance back to see Mark bracing himself on the steps of the Town Hall, struggling to keep up.
As I enter the building, the stench of rotting flesh hits me like a wave, causing me to gag. The smell is too fresh to be decades old.
"Lily? Lily, where are you?" I yell, using my shirt to shield my nose from the overwhelming odor.
"Rory, I'm in here!" I hear Lily yell from a room two doors down. I pass the first door, peeking in to ensure I hadn't misheard, but I wish I hadn't looked.
Inside the first room, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a pile of animal carcasses, their decayed bodies arranged in a grotesque display. The sight is horrifying, the flesh still disturbingly fresh. The bile rises in my throat, but I force myself to focus on finding Lily.
I rush to the room where her voice came from, pushing the door open. Lily is there, setting up the camera, seemingly oblivious to the horror in the adjacent room. Relief floods through me as I see she's safe.
"Lily, did you hear that roar?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I heard it," she replies, her eyes wide with concern. "I was just finishing up here. Let's get back to Mark and figure out what that was." She had placed the camera in a window, pointing directly at the Town Hall.
We hurry back outside, where Mark still catches his breath as we meet between the buildings. "We need to stay together from now on," I say firmly, looking at both of them. "Whatever that noise was, it's not something we want to face alone."
"Let's check out the Town Hall!" Mark says excitedly as he slowly clambers through a broken window.
"Did he not just hear what I said?" I mutter under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
Lily gives me a shrug, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Guess we're heading into the Town Hall then," she says, adjusting her backpack and walking towards the broken window.
I sigh and follow suit, hoisting myself up and carefully maneuvering through the jagged glass. Inside, the air is musty, filled with the scent of old paper and decaying wood. Dust motes float lazily in the beams of sunlight streaming through the cracked windows.
The main hall is vast and eerily silent, with rows of empty chairs facing a stage draped in tattered curtains. The walls are lined with faded portraits and yellowed maps of the town, remnants of a time when this place was alive and bustling.
Mark is already at the front, examining a large, decrepit desk. "Look at this," he says, his voice echoing in the empty space. "It's like stepping back in time."
I walk over, glancing at the old papers scattered across the desk. Most are mundane—meeting minutes, maintenance logs—but one catches my eye. It's a letter dated June 1925, addressed to Harper Franstein.
"Harper, the disappearances are becoming more frequent. The townsfolk are getting restless, and I fear they may take matters into their own hands if we don't act soon. We need to find out what's causing this before it's too late."
I read the letter aloud, and the room fell silent. "Sounds like things were getting pretty tense," Lily remarks, her voice subdued.
As I'm distracted by the time capsule in front of us, Mark sneaks off.
I'm not sure how long it was before she noticed, but I saw Lily looking around before saying, "Where the hell did Mark go?" breaking me out of my trance.
I look around, turning my head in all directions, and shrug at Lily. I hear shuffling in the second room down the hall, so I slowly walk toward it.
"Mark?" I call out.
Just then, a loud crash reverberates through the building, making it sound like the whole place was about to come down.
We run in and see Mark struggling to keep himself from falling into a giant hole that must've broken under his weight. Trying not to laugh, I glance at Lily. We help him up as he dramatically falls onto his back, wheezing as he catches his breath.
Lily and I can't contain our laughter anymore as we bust out laughing hard. Startled by our sudden outburst, Mark jumps in fear. He looks around, confused for a few seconds, before realizing that we are laughing at him.
"Jesus, thanks, I guess," he says, clearly thankful but annoyed by our reaction.
After we contained ourselves, we headed back outside, exiting through the window Mark entered through. He struggles to climb out, but after Lily gives him a hand, he is safely out of the Town Hall.
"Alright, Ror, where should we put the next camera?" Lily asks me.
I stop to think momentarily, trying to picture the town's layout. "I think the only place left is the neighborhood," I respond confidently. I always talk like that with Lily. Over the years, I've realized she is the only person I can have that much confidence around. With anyone else, I'm worried about saying something stupid or wrong or how they'll view me, but with my sister, everything is easy.
As I look at the replica map of the town in its heyday from the museum, I determine that the neighborhood is to the East. "Okay, looks like we head East past the Library. Let's go." I say, walking away.
It only takes about eight minutes to get to the long strip of road that housed the town's workers. According to the map, there were fifteen houses along this strip of road.
The houses stand eerily silent, their wooden frames weathered and decayed by time. We walk down the road, our footsteps crunching on the gravel and echoing in the stillness. The air feels heavier here like the past is watching us, waiting to reveal its secrets.
"Let's put the last cameras on that house at the end of the road," I suggest, pointing to a house that looks slightly less dilapidated than the others, "another one at the last house on the other side, and the last we can save for a spot you choose."
Lily nods and heads toward the first house, pulling another camera from her backpack. She sets it up on the porch, positioning it to capture the entire street, and does the same in the opposite house. As I stand with Mark breathing hard, still unable to catch his breath since we first got here, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. I glance around nervously but see nothing out of the ordinary.
"All set," Lily says, breaking my reverie, "Still no ideas for the last cam?" Lily asks me.
"Like I said, wherever you think it would be best. I feel like we have enough good spots and angles, so go wild with that one," I told her.
She smirked and kept walking next to me. Mark was still struggling behind, but after the town hall mishap, he was trying his best to keep up. I looked at my watch, and it read '12:30 pm'.
"Holy shit, it's already 12:30," I said in amazement, but no one else seemed fazed. It felt like we'd only been here thirty minutes, not almost four hours.
We walked back down the street. Lily and I had been discussing on the walk that she should put the last camera at the town's only stoplight in front of the Library.
As we made our way to it, I could have sworn I was seeing something moving fast past my vision in the corner of my eye. Every time I turned to look, it was gone. I chalked it up to being my imagination until Lily and Mark both experienced the same thing.
"What the fuck was that?" Mark asked as he ducked, bracing for something terrible to happen. Lily and I looked back at him and then at each other as we shrugged. It was after that that I started seeing things, too.
I confided in Lily about the unsettling visions and sounds, and she admitted she had experienced the same phenomena but had kept quiet, fearing Mark would dismiss her as paranoid.
"Well, it's probably just a cat or something," I said, attempting to downplay the situation, but neither seemed convinced.
We continued our trek, and I noticed that the more we walked, the more frequently I caught fleeting glimpses of movement in my peripheral vision. It was beginning to grate on my nerves.
Finally, we reached the light in front of the Library. As Lily mounted the camera, I felt a sense of satisfaction. We were making good progress, and it seemed like a suitable moment to start exploring the town more freely. We decided to split up and cover different sections of the town.
"Wait, we have to go alone? Why can't we stay together like you said?" Mark asked frantically, but Lily and I ignored him as we headed in separate directions. He continued to protest, but we paid him no mind. Eventually, I was either far enough away to not hear him anymore, or he had given up. Either way, I was happy to enjoy the eerie silence of the town.
As I wandered, the stillness of Raven's Nest enveloped me. With its decrepit buildings and overgrown streets, the town exuded an unsettling charm. It was as if I had stepped into a forgotten world, a place frozen in time with secrets waiting to be unearthed. The ambiance reminded me of an amusement park's haunted town section—artificially eerie yet irresistibly intriguing. Despite the creepiness, the mysterious vibe of the town kept me engaged and eager to explore its hidden corners.
I glanced at my watch again, only to find the time glaring back at me: 3:19 pm. It couldn't be right. There was no way it had been that long since I last checked. Panic seized me, and I called out for Lily, my voice tinged with urgency. She appeared beside me in a matter of minutes, her expression mirroring my concern.
"What's up, Ror? You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"How long would you say it's been since you put the last camera down?" I inquired, my heart pounding in my chest.
Lily's brow furrowed as she struggled to come up with an answer. "Uh, I don't know, thirty minutes?" she hazarded a guess.
I held up my watch, displaying the time: 3:20 pm. Lily fell silent, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was never great with time, but missing almost three hours of our memory was unprecedented.
"There's no way. Your watch must be—" Lily began, her voice trailing off as she checked her own watch, only to freeze in shock when she found it displayed the same time as mine.
"Lil, something is going on," I stated, my voice tight and apprehensive. I glanced up at the sky, my stomach churning as I noticed the clouds darkening and rolling in from all sides of the valley.
The sky closed rapidly, ominous clouds obscuring the sun as thunder rumbled ominously against the mountains.
"Mark? Mark, where are—" I began to call out, but before I could finish, Mark emerged from behind a wall, appearing as if he'd been too frightened to venture far on his own.
"We have to get inside!" Mark exclaimed urgently, his voice tinged with fear.

Ok so i don’t know if I’m just stupid or if this is a reference that blew over my head but when Myrtle gives Cordelia the councils eyeballs and Fiona walks in, Fiona tells Myrtle something along the lines of “Paramus New Jersey, toxic waste and outlet malls”
What does this mean?? I’ve already tried looking it up but nobody else seems to know the answer.

Hello guys. I have been part of this community for quite a while now and really believe your support and feedback is more beneficial than 1000 doctors (or at least in my country). I am 40 year old male that has been probably suffering from low T since I can remember. I used to be a semipro athlete but it wasn't until my late 20s that I had blood work and saw that my T levels where very low with respect to my lifestyle. (In the low end of the standard 18-64 year old baseline used.) Because I was an athlete and "within" range no doctor agreed to prescribe trt. It wasn't until a 2 years ago where I couldn't take it anymore since it started affecting my Libido and every aspect of my life. I am 204 cm was 120kg throughout my sports career. Rose up to 140kg prior to covid. Post covid I hit new high of 185kg. Thats when I knew I need to get my shit straight. Started carnivore diet May 2023. Was life changing for me. Lost around 20kg first 3 months. Then got on trt in July 2023 . And that was a game changer. Initially my doctor told me to use 1mg/250ml Testoviron once every 2 weeks. But I knew that would suck ( thanks to this subreddit) so I started with 0.5ml every 7 days. Huge change in libido and overall wellbeing but after 3 months felt that a day or 2 prior to injection was feeling low. Also bloodwork on through day showed an ok level of testo but not what I expected. So I shifted injections to every 5 days. I have blood work done every 4-6 months and will share below. My issue now is I have had low platelets throughout my life. (Some autoimmune issue.) My range is usually between 85-110 where baseline is 150-400. So since November my hematocrit levels have surpassed 50% ( 51 in nov23 53 in Feb 24 and 54 june24) Due to my low platelets doctor has refused to allow me to draw blood. And all facilities as well do not accept to donate blood with high hematocrit levels unless with doc prescribed. I have seen another doctor who also refused due to my low platelets count. So now the issue is the doctor wants me to stop trt for a few months to recover my hematocrit levels and then we may restart with much lower doses. I believe this is crazy because it has been really life changing for me in every aspect. But I also feel some side effects of high hematocrit (red face, low energy levels) I am not sure what to expect or what to do next thinking of dialing down my injections or increasing frequency maybe. I hydrate well and been on good diet. But I really don't want to stop trt. I need your help and experience since I can't seem to get any proffesional help in my country since trt is relatively taboo.
Jun2023 ( prior to trt ) -Hematocrit: 43 - glucose 110 - testo 7.08 nmol/ml - platelets 98
Nov 2023 (1 injection/ week 0.5ml) - hematocrit:51 - glucose 100 - testo 16 -platelets 110
Jun 2024 ( every 5 days ) - hematocrit : 54 -glucose : 91 - test 26 -e2 : 74 pg/ml -Platelets : 89
I am sorry for the crazy long post but I have been following almost every subreddit here for over a year to get all information needed but I never found anything that has to do with low platelets.
My current body weight is 140kg I know I have at least 15- 20kgs I need to get rid of. But I have packed a good amount of muscle and strength .

For 30 years (to my knowledge) my mother has been pining after this one man. I'll call him Adam. Adam was married with kids but was seeing my mother on the side. He would visit every so often when I was around 7 or 8 years old and he was this fun, mysterious dude who'd always bring mountains of junkfood. He would never say what his actual name was. Eventually he stopped visiting and my mother said he'd moved interstate. This was a lie. He was still visiting my mother but decided it was best to be sneaky about it.
As the years passed, I learned that he was still in the picture. I would hear them having sex, which was traumatic. What I hated the most was how it affected my mother. She never had his phone number (because he was married) so she'd wait for him to call her at any given time. She'd have whispered phone calls with him and then it'd be a coin toss of whether she was going spend the next few days being pathetically giddy or enraged. Most of the time it was enraged. It was fine for Adam, he didn't have to deal with her horrible mood. She'd bite my head off, mutter to herself, stare into space for hours all because it was yet another week or two before she and Adam could be "together forever" and she happened to say the wrong thing to him on the phone which prevented this.
Through my high school years my mother would point to the fancy new houses being built and tell me that Adam is building one just for her and we were going to be better off soon. It was always soon. Soon never happened. When I was 22, my mother told me she was done waiting for Adam. That lasted a few years until they spotted each other at a restaurant and he started calling her again. It fizzled into nothing. A few years ago my mother found out he had separated from his wife. She went and hand-delivered a love letter to his mailbox the following day. The entire time I voiced my disapproval. I hated Adam. I hated his ethics for cheating, I hated that he didn't live through the bad moods he caused, I hated how much of a hold he had over my mother's heart, I hated seeing her pain if he didn't call, visit, or keep a promise and I hated how she blamed herself for all of this. Once again, Adam did not come running to sweep my mother away, even though he was now free to do so. I held in my great big "told ya so" and cheered internally.
Fast forward a few more years and they recently bumped into each other again. This time my mother thinks it's going to happen because he's called her and they are talking again. She's told me about how they are going to travel the country. (I don't think they have discussed this) She says she is going to invite him to our family dinner night and he'll "totally show up". Based on his track record, I'm not holding my breath. She also said she wants to bring him to stay at mine and my fiances new house in the country. She knows how I feel about Adam. I tried to tell her a normal relationship should not be this hard, one-sided, or dysfunctional. She blamed herself yet again. I really deeply doubt that he's finally going to step up but if he does, I truly do not want this man in our house. I want my mother to finally be happy but WIBTA if I decide he's not welcome to visit and crush my mother in the process?
TLDR - My mother was having a on-again off-again relationship with a married man for decades. He's now single and they are reconnecting but I don't want him in our house.