I dramatically throw open my arms. "Do you get it now" I shout as they look around in horror. "What are those" they ask tentatively pointing at the multitude of strings crisscrossing the landscape. "Oh those are my special connections. You've heard of all roads lead to Rome. This is my version, all strings reveal everything is my fault." "That... That's not possible" They stammer. "Of course it is just watch". I walk them down the path showing how my actions or lack thereof caused everything that's wrong in my vicinity. I can see them listening intently as I make my case. I think I've proven my point when they give me a strange look. "You know none of that is on you right" I shake my head at their well intentioned nonsense. Obviously they are just trying to be kind to such a screwup. I pat them sympathetically on the back as I explain once again how I'm to blame for everything wrong in the world. Eventually I'll bring them around, one day they'll understand. Neither of us are going anywhere until I do.

I see them making their mistakes

I watch them bemoaning their fates

I witness them trying again

I notice it's the same plan

I think about saying a word

I consider what they do is absurd

I decide that I won't do it this time

I understand the insanity of sanity is mine

It's my birthday and as always I'm looking forward to it. The once yearly, single hour of my life where I am the center of my family. This year though it's different, this year will be a total surprise. Usually I tell them exactly what I want, because I want to make it easier for them. This year I never had the chance. I was ill and busy at the same time so I was to exhausted to even think about myself.

What I love the most about my birthday is getting what I want, within reason, without having to set foot in a store. This is the part that makes it special for me since I despise shopping. The big day arrives and for the first time since I was a small child there's a little bit of anticipation in my excitement. I wonder anxiously what did I get, will I like it? It's a long forgotten warm type of suspense. How well do they know me, how much do they love me, their thoughtfulness will be proven by their gifts for once.

Cash, they gave me cash.

Don't scrape off my facade

I need it

Don't look to hard

You'll see it

Don't dig to deep

They'll find it

Don't pity my truth

I don't mind it

I'm not afraid of heights, I swear, especially when there is zero chance of falling. I'm not afraid of the dark either. In fact I've always felt more at home in the glow of the moon than in the warmth of the sun. Despite that I stare down and my chest clenches. No, there's no way. It's not like it is on land where I've spent my whole life acclimating to the fears. This is different, this is something new, a deeper more primal emotion. Even though I have plenty of air, I feel it isn't enough. My light that I thought was powerful only illuminates a small circle. Below me the chasm seems like a forgotten entrance to Hell, a void with only unending terror to accompany me. No, there's no way I'm swimming into that, I'm not even willing to go over it. Even though I paid extra for this dive and my friends will mock my cowardice I start my ascent. This is a place mankind isn't meant to be and I understand that now. This is their home, whatever dwells in that darkness and I will leave them to it.

Dear Reader,

I wish I could tell you that you're going to survive this but to be honest no one has before. I wrote this to give you at least a chance of success no matter how miniscule.

First of all don't eat the purple berries, yes I know they are tempting especially after your supplies inevitably run out. Take it from someone who knows. They are delicious and you think safe because you'll see animals eating them but you'll be wrong. The animals have adapted to them, our kind, not so much. They caused our first fatalities. I won't go into details but they died writhing in pain, it wasn't pleasant.

Second warning is the trees, at some point due to the excessive damp you'll get the idea to sleep among the branches above. This works but only with certain conditions which we discovered the third night we tried it. Avoid any fruiting trees at all cost they attract the insects, not the ones you screech and brush off your clothes. These miniscule monsters will burrow under your skin and although not fatal initially they are torturous. Especially when their eggs hatch three nights later and the larva start chewing their way out. In the end what killed them was actually infection as the exit wounds refused to heal despite all our efforts.

I don't have much time left so I'll leave you with this final piece of advice. Stay away from the river. There's something there, something I haven't seen but have heard stalking us almost from the start. Eyes I have felt watching me since I stepped foot in this cursed place.

I'm the only one left now so I'm pretty sure tonight is my end. You've done well to get this far alive and I hope you can make it through this nightmare. If so as a last request, in exchange for my advice. Please tell our families that we perished quickly in an accident, don't give them the details of our gruesome fates. Thank you and good luck, you'll need it.

I read the letter taken from the corpse's hand and my blood went cold. The body was alone in the cave but what really made me shiver was seeing the evidence of the fatal blow. Obviously not self-inflicted since the blade itself was gone as was the heart.