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Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Eclectic Narratives - The Last Break

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No matter how wonderful it may be.

No matter how much longer you wish it to be.

No matter how bright the sun shines or how loud the water calls to you.

The break must end, the time of relaxation is over.

Recharged and revitalized, you face forward to the next chapter.

Long days of rest, indulgence, and merriment have reached their conclusion.

Work is at hand once more, and you must acquiesce.

Do not regret what is now over.

Do not fret over how much more could be done.

Delight in what was, in what did happen.

Celebrate your rest, your journeys, and your enjoyment.

While it may be all over now, the memory is imperishable.

The next one may be weeks, months, or even years away.

But at this moment, it matters little.

Enjoy these last few moments of peace before diving back into the deep end.

Don’t let the stress of the rat race drag you under.

Take your own first step back in with renewed strength and energy.

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Vacations are important, but they also must come to an end.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Night of One Hundred Horrors - Exploration Log #2

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Data File 348403$%69F Accessed…

Document Title: UAL-6^1-Realm of           : Exploration Log #2

Warning: Level-2 Access Required To View This Document…

Reminder: Viewing Secure Documents Related To A            Level Anomaly Requires Approval From Level-1 Personnel

Open Log-

Begin Entry #4:

               The site’s entrance has been successfully secured, and the risk of further civilian interference (and therefore civilian casualty) has been reduced to less than 1% and falling. The underground location proved helpful in closing off the site since our only concerns were random homeless people, bored teenagers, investigative journalists, and urban explorers.

               On a related note, the three remaining civilians are still missing. However, civilian #5 has been retrieved from Area #7 and transported to a              Society hospital. His injuries are significant but not life-threatening. Full physical recovery is expected, but full mental recovery is questionable, even with the application of memory erasers.

               Investigation Team #2 has yet to return from their expedition to the lower levels, will update in next entry.

               Investigation Team #3 has completed its analysis on the mysterious liquid running through Area #4, henceforth designated by Investigator #3-B as “Blue Water.” What we initially believed to be a naturally occurring liquid that bared a similarity to heavily chlorinated pool water has quickly been deduced to be something far worse. Testing has confirmed the acidity of this liquid is dangerously high, enough to melt flesh off bones. However, testing with metals and other inorganic substances has shown that “Blue Water” does not affect them to the same extent. Further testing is required as human bones are also unaffected (they are simply bleached white). Investigator #3-D theorizes that the water has some hazardous interaction with the contents of flesh and meat, but that is purely speculation at the moment.

End Entry #4…

Previous Entry -> Entry #3 -> Entry #2…

Begin Entry #2:

               Investigation Team #1 has successfully penetrated the anomaly’s perimeter. I joined them for the first expedition into the site proper. As typical for anomalous locations, the site’s geography and spatial location were nonsensical. The dark, damp sewers gave way to something resembling the entry hall of a small mansion (herby dubbed Area #1), albeit one that had not been cleaned in decades. Paradoxically, the location showed no sign of decay, just a build-up of dust and spiderwebs (Note #3: No spiders have been discovered within the anomaly).

               The first thing Team #1 noticed was the collapsed remains of a giant grandfather clock at the back of the room, blocking a passage forward. It was quickly concluded we would need specialized equipment to clear the way. The second thing the team noticed was the very fresh corpse of Civilian #2 (Adrian Banner, Age 31), seemingly dead from exhaustion (will investigate further). Oddly, despite the fact the body appeared to be no more than a day old, it was covered in a layer of dust.

               Civilian #2 was quickly retrieved and studied to ensure it carried no anomalous properties while the rest of the team began setting up the forward base camp. With no immediate sign of hostile entities, we are cautiously optimistic about locating the rest of the missing civilians and securing the site before any further anomalous interactions occur.

               However, in keeping with proper procedure, I will wait one week before composing a third entry. That will give Investigation Teams #2-4 enough time to assemble, enter the anomaly, and conduct preliminary investigations.

End Entry #2…

Previous Entry -> [ERROR: Data Not Found, File Corrupted]

Next Entry-> Entry #3

Being Entry #3

               Investigation Team #2 quickly discovered this anomaly goes far deeper than initially theorized. At least three passages to lower levels of this place have been found. Concerningly, each passage goes in a different direction and has clear signs that whatever is down there is significantly different for each passage.

               One passage was reached by going up a flight of stairs, and a short hallway pointed east (Area #2). It seems it was initially barred off, but the bars have since rusted and given way to rampant plant growth originating further down the passage. The thickness of the plant growth has prevented further progress.

               The second passage was located down a flight of stairs and through a set of double doors facing south. This area consisted of a single waterway (Area #4), filled with a strange bright blue liquid, running west to east. At first, we believed it had doubled back into the sewers. However, we quickly realized that this was a unique waterway. The stench of chlorine hanging in the air hinted as much. Civilian #4 (Madeline Wharf, Age 19) was found collapsed along the side of the waterway, covered in burns of unknown origin. She was determined to be alive but in critical condition and was whisked away for medical treatment and research.

               The third passage was found to the west through several sets of snaking hallways (Area #7) and random doors. It appears to have a theatrical bent, perhaps leading to some kind of abandoned entertainment center (Area #8). Alas, the door forward is locked and barred from the other side. In addition, Civilian #5 (Jonathon Avery, Age 17) was discovered trapped within Area #7 within a                               . Efforts to retrieve him have begun.

               Investigation Team #2 has since begun an expedition down the waterway past Area #4, the only location where the remaining civilians are likely to have gone. Investigation Team #3 has been collecting samples from all areas, including the plants at Area #2 and the waters at Area #4.

               Investigation Team #4 is testing various methods to cut through the plant growth in Area #2 in the off chance a civilian forced their way deeper into that area.

End Entry #3

Next Entry -> Entry #4 -> Entry #5 -> [ERROR: File Corrupted, recovering…]

Begin Entry #5%

               Investigation Team #2 returned after $#@%@%%#%!##!%!#%%!!%%#%#!

30% survival rate, further expeditions halted#@$%!!#%!#%!#%%!##%

               Testing on Area #2 plant growth has confirmed it is of 3%#@#!!~#!#%#!!#% origin, highly volatile, growth rates beyond @#%!#%#%!#%#!#%!%. Further investigations in the area confirmed evidence that Civilian #1 (#@#%!#!#%!#%!%) proceeded through this area before the plant growth began.

@E%!#%#~@~%~@$@~%~@$%!#%~@%~Chaos@$!#%~%!%!#%!#!#%53!#%#%#!!#

[ERROR: Entry Corrupted]

Next Entry -> Entry #6 -> [ERROR: File@!$!#%#%%!#!#]

Begin Entry !@$#%!%!#%#

               Investigation Team #4 attempted to !@$!#%@##% Area #2 and $!##%%!%@!#%##%, survival rate 0%. Civilian #1 determined to be a lost !$@#!%~%!%@#. In light of this, efforts to locate remaining civilians have been halted, !@$!#%@#%#@%@%.

               Remaining personnel have begun evacuation procedures from this location. Whatever Team #2 found is no longer content with remaining in #@$@%%##@%, it is coming1$!#%!~!%#%!#.

End Entry #@!%#!##%!#%

Next Entry -> Entry #1@%#!@%!#%#%

Begin`@$!%!#!#%!#%!#

[DATE CORRUPTED -> Recovering…]

@!$!#%!%@!#%@%~~@)#%!)*%*)!#**)~@*)@)*~*%~*)*@~*%~@*)~*%)~)*@%)!*)*~@)*%*)#*@*)$**~*)%*)%#*)!#*!#*)%)*%)!*%)*!%#*%)!#

~!@$@##%)%~)~)%#*T$)#%*%~_~@$(@*%!#)%284$^@^!031i42!%#()%!()!#%()!#)kfdsj0932j013u0m9r31c931ru9339u3913u19j9mrf0-10-`,wl11

-10-91-0524~@$()%!#o,d-1iopkr3F...

~$@%#!#%%%!#%%#%!%#Survival Rate 1%...

Ennnnnnn1$%%!N%~J#!)#)D@)TJ)$#FF)#YYMH)M%#h

[ERROR: File System Corrupted -> Shutting Down…]

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There is no Exploration Log #1

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.



Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Maid in Fantasy - Hungry Hungry

Story Hub: [link]

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            “I’m hungry,” Princess Irene whined. The child curled up her body, attempting to impart the impression she was nothing but skin and bones.

            “Princess Irene, dinner isn’t for another 3 hours,” Serena reminded. The maid was used to Irene’s odd demands, but it was rare for the child to ask for something so mundane.

            “But I’m hungry now,” Irene huffed.

            “You just had your second-afternoon snack 30 minutes ago,” Serena pointed out.

            “Yeah, but that was in the past,” Irene argued in a way only she could. “I want something more, bigger...no bigger than that!”

            “Princess Irene, according to your dietary restrictions, which have been dictated to me by Lady Aprhos,” the maid recited, “you are to receive three square meals a day, personally tailored for you by the palace kitchens. The combined nutritional contents of which are calculated to keep you at a healthy weight and a balanced level of vitamins and minerals. It would be a blatant disregard of my duty to feed you anything more than a small snack.”

            “But when has that stopped me before?” Irene countered.

            ‘Clever little…’ Serena cut her thoughts short with a deep breath. “Regardless, it is not within my authority to accommodate that request.”

            “I want a pizza with anchovies, peanut butter, clams, and chocolate,” the Princess demanded.

            “Princess Irene, before I even entertain this notion,” Serena rubbed her forehead, “is that what you actually want? Or are you just saying the first words that come to mind?”

            “I guess you’ll have to find out,” Irene hummed.

            “Or I can just take you to your etiquette lesson and forget this little conversation,” Serena rolled her eyes.

            “But I’m hungry,” Irene huffed and stared at Serena with her puppy dog eyes.

            “Princess,” Serena sighed. “Two toppings.”

            “Hm?” Irene cocked her head.

            “I can get you a small pizza with two toppings. Choose,” Serena declared.

            “Anchovies, peanut butter, clams, and…” Irene began to repeat herself.

            “Two toppings,” Serena cut her off.

            “Peanut butter and clams,” Irene quietly answered.

            “Very well, but you must eat the whole things,” Serena turned to lead Irene towards the kitchens, “or else I shall never entertain these mid-afternoon food requests again.”

            “I’m a princess. You can’t deny me anything,” Irene declared.

            “By the limited authority invested in me by Lady Aphros, yes, yes I can,” Serena replied as the two walked down the hall, hand in hand.

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A well timed meal is an important aspect of the workday, it gives you the energy to push through to the end of your shift.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.