So, I've been a bit cagey on how I got out of there...

...Mainly because...well.  Let me just say that this time, I did something so stupid...I'm a little afraid of everyone yelling at me for it.  But what the hell, it worked and I wouldn't have made it out otherwise.

That mist was rising faster and faster.  The first hour it was slow.  Two hours later it had made its way up about a hundred feet and was still gaining speed.  I knew I had to act quick, otherwise any plan I had would be the only one I had time for.  So.

It wasn't really that hard to determine what to do.  The Path was my only option.  Forget being the only sort of interdimensional-esque travel technique I knew, it was starting to look like the only way I could even get down from the top of that building.

But I tried it before.  All it did was send me somewhere else in the world.  And that mist was EVERYWHERE.  No matter where I looked, all I saw was a dark cloud and all the unpleasant death it was sure to bring with it.  And as I watched it...I saw things inside it.  Twisted shapes.  Writhing, twisting, changing.  I could hear things in the back of my mind - screams, warnings, threats.  And as it rose higher, out of the fog, a gnarled, withered hand emerged from it, reaching towards me, followed by another, and another.

"Okaaay, fuck that noise." I recall muttering to myself.

There was only really one thing left to try.  I walked forward and straight off the edge.

And yeah, at that point, I started to panic.  There's nothing quite like hurtling down a several hundred foot drop to put things into perspective.   Especially when the ground is covered in death mist.  I didn't have any intention of coming into contact with it, though.  Even as the voices in my head reached a crescendo of eager bloodlust, I had already opened a way into the Path, in mid-air.

...What happened next was interesting.  I made it onto the Path, sure, but I was now traveling horizontally instead of vertically.  At the same speed.  I was rocketing over the cracked streets, empty houses, and black leaves at a bird's eye view.

And it hurt.  Jesus christ it hurt.  If anything, the pressure was worse at that altitude, at the speed I was going.  Pain.  I was pretty sure that was it - I was just gonna crash into the ground and die alone in this goddamn nightmare zone.

Except then I saw that the street ended.  All there was ahead was darkness.  No ground, no...anything.  Then before I knew it, I came into contact with it.  And...I was floating.  In a black abyss.  The pressure was gone.  But...somehow, somehow this place felt even less safe.  I couldn't breathe- but I didn't need to.  It still almost gave me a panic attack, but for some reason, most of my body just...sort of faded out.  I was pushing up against something- something invisible.  There was a dark street ahead.  It looked familiar.

It made me wonder.  Does the Path have different networks, for these different worlds?  Did my stupid Portal stunt allow me to get out of the pocket dimension's network and back to my own?

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Because there was someone who wanted a word with me before I got away.  His voice was everywhere...around me, IN me...I couldn't escape it.

You claim defiance of the Pale One, yet you use his gifts to escape me?  What hypocrasy indeed.

I wanted to question him.  But I couldn't speak.  All I could do was give him some of that defiance with every bit of willpower I had in me.  I tried to...push back with my feelings, let him know I was pissed and not interested in taking his crap.

And you believe yourself above the judgement of your betters.  Such arrogance for a human.  No matter.  Take your freedom.  It will not last.  Nothing but madness and emptiness await you.

And...with that, I was on the Path again.  I stumbled, feeling weaker by the second - out the first alley I could find.  I popped out in...Wellington, New Zealand, of all places.  Lucky for me, because apparently health care is easier to get here than in my country - and because they speak english.  If I'd been really unlucky, I coulda gotten dumped in the middle of Nowhere, Siberia.

So...I'm recovering from surgery right now.  I had severe internal bleeding.  In short, not my most well thought out plan, but at least I'm alive.

I need to get back to the States, but...I also need to look into some shit while I'm here...I dunno, I'll figure something out once I'm outta here.

So much to do, so little time.  You'll get a full explanation about how I escaped from wherever I was later, as well as a recap of my current activities.

Also, is it just me or do the blogs have an increase in gawkers who like hanging around criticizing people's actions in situations they themselves were not in?  A+ guys, very helpful+supportive thing to do.

AHAHAHAHA I'M OUT!  YES!  I TOLD YOU I CAN WEASEL MY WAY OUT OF ANYTHING!

SUCKS TO BE YOU YOG'CTHULWHATEVER!  Bite my liberated, existing in reality ASS!  Or DON'T, because YOU CAN'T DO SHIT TO ME ANYMORE!

Ahahaha ooooh boy I hope I'm not crazy now.

Forget what I said about this place being safe.

Some sort of weird black mist's rolled into town. I say "town" about as loosely as possible, mind you, because it's more like a bunch of wrecked buildings in the middle of goddamn nowhere. At any rate, I'm not goin down there to find out what the happy stuff is, I'm perching my ass up here where safety is ambiguous, not non-existent.

As for a way out. Well, I broke my clause and tried the Path, once. It didn't work. All it did was take me somewhere else in this...world? If it could be called such. It's mostly just...barren. I can see some more buildings off in the distance a couple different directions, but everything is so samey it hardly even matters. I think wherever here is, it's somewhere relatively un-Slender, because whatever that THING that “rescued” me is wanted me out of harm's way for a time. It must've dropped me off here. It only just occurred to me that I could not have eaten in at least two months, so...Physics are on break out here, I guess.

Okay I just saw something move down there. Yeah. I'm just gonna be Batman for now.

Here's the thing: Cosmic Entity #2 doesn't appear thrilled that I refused his job offer. He's not been around in a while, and I think this mist may be his doing, as well. Must be trying to pressure me. Hey buddy, that's coercion and it's illegal in the US of A. Of course, I say “he” when it's more like an “it.” Whatever.

So that's its game. Leave me to die if I don't change my mind. I don't know about you guys, but I'm not happy about my chances at fighting monsters. At this point, I have enough experience with self defense to not be scared of whatever masked knife wielding joker is after me today. Hell, I did pretty damn good against those FBI guys. I do not have a good track record with monsters, though. Whether they be giant murderous trees or masquerading as businessmen.

The mist is rising. Okay, June, think. There's nothing you can't weasel your way out of.

I don't know where I am right now.  I don't even remember the last time I tried to make contact outside Here.  I don't even know whose computer this is, fuck.

What I do know is, the only reason I'm not gone (and I have a pretty strong feeling the big man wants me capital G Gone by now) is because something ELSE has an interest in me.

Even now, I feel it.  Observing.  Watching me.  Trying to determine just how much use I am.

Hey.  Hey buddy.  You see this?

Fuck you.

Fuck Slenderface and fuck all the members of your little cosmic entity social club.  If I'm not gonna work for HIM, I'm certainly not working for you, either.

Didn't I make it clear that I'm a player in this?  I might play into people's hands plenty, but no one pulls my strings.  If I'm to die, so be it.  Many have died before me.  Many will die after.  But there will ALWAYS be people who fight back against you.

For once, I understand Rhodes on something.  He was pissed that you tried to dictate his role.  Well make a note of it, cause fucking unprecendented shit is going down - I agree with him.  You motherfuckers don't have the right to pull us along for your own amusement, no less than the pale guy has any right to toy with us like prey.  You're no more welcome than he is.

Haha.  I see.  I can feel your doubt, you know.  It'd seem this place, wherever it is, is closer to you than, well, Reality.  I felt every inch of your curiosity, as well as the surprise you're feeling at me saying this.  So you're finally HEARING me?  Great to know.

You can keep your assumptions about what I can and can't do.  You think I'm desperate and bluffing, but I'm not.  I'll get out of here.  I battered down a hole in reality to save my friend.  You guys are begging for an encore performance.  I'm getting out of here, and I'm going to stop him, and I'll do it without your damn help.

Find another patsy.  This job interview is over.

Oh hey, and you guys pickin' up from sweet ole Reality.  I'm still kickin.  And it may have been a while since you heard from them, but don't count Rise and Leon out just yet.  Those two are a lot smarter than me.

Stay sharp, Rae.  I don't need to tell you this, but your dad is a bit of an asshole.  No wonder he and Rhodes make for such good company.

Alright, back to the waste.

trapped.

little time to explain.

we're trapped in atlanta.  they know we're here.  there's so many of them.  we can't leave.  they've practically put the city on lockdown.

How the hell are they doing this!?  Where the hell are the fucking POLICE!  You can't just lock down a whole city when you're, I dunno, a weird cultist group!  Why doesn't anyone NOTICE!

leon is not taking it very well.

neither am I.  they've run us down like animals.  we've lost them for now, but who knows when they'll find our cave.

It's not a cave, it's a

figure of speech.

we need to get out.  somehow.  update over, need to keep watch.

This again? Really?

Come on.  We've played this game before.  You and I know each other pretty damn well by now.

It hurts.  I won't lie, it hurts bad.  Every part of me feels like it's burning up.  But here's what you don't get, what you've never got.  It's just pain.  It can't kill me.  And it won't break me.  I don't pretend to know the reason, but you can't stay in my head.  You don't take.

But you're not really on the same level as me, are you?  You can't get that.  You're just gonna try to brute force it.

Well fine, then.  If that's how you wanna play it...