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joemystic · 5 days ago

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How to Lactate

HOW TO INDUCE LACTATION ( INFO )

I have done this myself and many women world wide for some reason or another have also induced lactation. Its a fairly simple process that just takes time.

Inducing Lactation

The technique for inducing lactation without being pregnant is exceptionally simple: physically stimulate the nipple and areola, and the body will respond by making milk! Forget about milk inducing drugs and exotic techniques: all it takes is stimulation!

The best and most reliable way to induce lactation is to dry breast feed your nursing partner for 20 minutes, eight times each day. Don’t let your partner suck just on the nipple; make sure he or she is latched on in the same manner as a nursing infant would latch onto it’s mother’s breast. In the beginning, even without milk, relax and breast feed your partner, just as you would as if you breasts were full of milk. In time, your body will respond to the suckling by producing milk.

If your schedule won’t permit eight nursing sessions each day; reduce the number of sessions to what you can comfortably handle. Women have successfully induced lactation with as little as two breast feeding sessions each day; however, the sessions do need to be at least 20 minutes long. Keeping in mind: the closer to eight nursing sessions each day you are able to have, the better the results will be.

If you do not have a willing or reliable nursing partner, you may substitute suckling with hand massage of the breast, and finger stimulation of the nipple and areola. You may use a breast pump if you wish; however, hand expression will work just as well. Eight, 20 minute stimulation sessions each day is still optimum for inducing lactation, even without a reliable nursing partner. If your schedule will not permit eight sessions each day, you may reduce the number of sessions to what you can comfortably handle. But again, the closer to eight nursing sessions each day you are able to have, the better the results will be.

DO NOT OVER COMPLICATE THE TECHNIQUE! Quite simply put: your body will respond to the need for milk by producing milk! It is a mistake to overcomplicate your method of inducing lactation. Keep it simple!

If you are breast feeding your nursing partner to induce lactation, his or her mouth should provide enough lubrication to prevent chaffing of the nipple and areola. If you are inducing lactation by using hand and finger stimulation, you may need to use a lubricant to prevent chaffing. There are several products on the market specifically for lubricating and protecting the nipples and areolas of women who are breast feeding. A warm shower is a good time to stimulate; the water will help lubricate and the warmth will help relax your breasts.

In the beginning, expect your breasts to swell and become sore. To lactate, the lymph system in your breasts have to undergo certain changes; the result is temporary soreness. You may notice soreness particularly around the outer edges of the breasts, near your armpits. Even though the soreness is temporary, the increase in cup size will likely remain as long as you are lactating.

If you have never been pregnant, and never had milk, the process may take a little longer. Even though mammary glands mature during puberty, the glands have to undergo minor changes before they will actually produce milk: this will add time to the process of inducing. Once mammary glands have produced milk for the first time, they never go back to the way they were. Mammary glands of a woman who has breast fed in the past are always be ready to produce milk again. After breast feeding for the first time, some women never completely dry up. It is not unusual for a woman to be able to express a drop or two, even years after she has breast fed.

Don’t look for drugs or exotic techniques to inducing lactation: this simple technique of physical stimulation is all there is to successfully inducing lactation. Once past puberty: as long as a woman’s mammary glands are healthy and have not been altered or surgically removed, a woman’s breasts are completely capable of producing milk! This is true for women who have never been pregnant, women who have gone through menopause, and even women who have had a hysterectomy. The presence of a uterus, and/or ovaries, is not required for a woman to lactate: the only thing that is required is healthy breasts and a desire to lactate.

This really is all there is to the physical technique of inducing lactation; HOWEVER, there is one more factor involved: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON!

As long as healthy mammary glands are supplied with body fluids, the hormones Oxytocin and Prolactin, and stimulated electrically, they will produce milk indefinitely! The main obstacle that prevents a woman from producing milk when inducing lactation is not physical technique; it is psychological! The brain has to send an electrical signal, via the nervous system, to stimulate the mammary gland before the mammary gland will make milk!

Mammary glands, like every other part of our body, is controlled by the brain, particularly, a subconscious portion of the brain. If the brain perceives nipple and areola stimulation to be sexual only, the brain will respond by creating a feeling of sexual pleasure only. If the brain perceives nipple and areola stimulation to be the need for milk, the brain will respond by sending an electrical signal, via the nervous system, causing the milk to letdown and the mammary glands to produce milk. The breasts will continue to make milk as long as the brain continues to send electrical signals, stimulating the mammary glands. Also if the brain perceives nipple and areola stimulation to be for both sexual pleasure and the need for milk, it will respond by creating both.

When a mother begins to breast feed her child, she automatically focuses her subconscious mind on making milk. It is this subconscious mental image that causes her brain to send the signal to her mammary glands to letdown and make milk! In addition to sexual arousal caused by nipple stimulation, a woman who inducing lactation must also create the mental image of making milk, in the same manner that a nursing mother would.

The physical technique of inducing lactation is very simple, (physically stimulate the nipples and areolas), however, creating the mental scenario that results in the brain stimulating the mammary glands into milk production is a little more involved. At the same time, once the subconscious has been trained to correctly respond to stimulation, little else matters: you will be able to letdown when you need, and produce milk in whatever quantities needed. As we can see in the example of spontaneous letdown and leakage: when a woman is properly stimulated mentally, she will letdown and produce milk. All physical stimulation does is tell your brain, when and how much milk to make!

Whether dry nursing your partner to induce lactation, or hand massage, finger stimulation and breast pumping, choose a physical technique you are comfortable with and enjoy: then focus on training your subconscious to respond to making milk instead of, or in conjunction with, sexual arousal. The secret to inducing lactation is creating a proper mental state that will cause the brain to stimulate the breasts to letdown, and mammary glands to make milk. How long it takes to lactate, depends entirely on how long it takes you to decide to create the proper mental state! How much milk you will be able to produce will depend on how much milk you want.

If this fails there is drugs that can be used to increase prolactin levels and are fairly safe. Herbs can also be used to help with lacatation.

Herbs

In addition to the medications described above, the following herbs have been found to be helpful in increasing milk supply for women on the protocols:

Fenugreek seed - 3 capsules (580-610 mg each) 3 times a day with food

Blessed Thistle herb - 3 capsules (325-390mg each) 3 times a day with food

These dosages were arrived at through a review of the available literature, a review of the recommendations of several herbal companies, and anecdotal evidence. Many women on the protocols have found that Fenugreek taken alone may cause stomach upset but when it is taken in combination with the Blessed Thistle the stomach upset is reduced or nullified. Taking these herbs with food seems to help as well and is recommended by most of the herb suppliers. Women often report that they smell like maple syrup or curry while taking fenugreek. Many women have found these herbs to be most effective if they are begun after completion of the necessary time on the birth control pill – domperidone combination, and once the women have started to pump. Also, many women have reported feeling nauseated when starting the herbs too early. For this reason it is not desirable to take the herbs while taking the birth control pill and prior to pumping.

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joemystic · 6 days ago

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Highway 134 - A Thriller Short Story

Trigger warning: blood, body horror, language. Recommended age 14+

It all started this morning on what should have been the beginning of a new career, and more importantly, a new life. I woke up, got ready, and slid into the driver's side of my car─ coffee in-hand. I have my first team meeting today, so I am leaving earlier than usual. So early in fact that it’s still quite dark outside. I haven’t been this excited over a job in years─ a new town with a new job, for more pay and far less hours? I was ecstatic. If that wasn’t incentive enough the salary they offered was way more than I could have hoped for. I was suspicious at first during my interview but after looking it up, I found out they were legit. Most of the employee reviews were positive aside from the usual disgruntled employees. I even got a great deal on a place that's less than fifteen miles from the city. For the first time in my life, everything seems to be falling in place. If you asked me just a year ago if I thought I would have a great job and bought a house, I would have laughed it away.

I pull out of my driveway, spirits high with the possibilities. It's quiet out where I live and I'm nestled behind a patch of woods. The neighbors are just a few minutes apart and the amenity centers are centralized. I chuckle at how boring I've become. I had taken the time over the weekend to get to know the city, so it is with confidence that I make a left turn onto the main road. I even find myself humming along with the music. I'm aware that I have to drive for several minutes before I hit the main highway, but after fifteen minutes I begin to second guess my turn. The trees haven't grown any less sparse, in fact they look incredibly dense. I entertain the idea of turning around for a moment but decide to stay the course. Maybe it just seemed to take longer than I remembered. I shrug it off and crank the music up, there's still plenty of time left. The road twists and bends, I don't remember it being hilly either. It's become narrow and to my surprise, the trees have cleared to reveal that I am on top of a steep hill. I need to turn back but quickly realize there isn't even enough room to do so. There doesn't seem to be anyone in the area so I put my car in reverse and slowly back down the hill, steering it into the middle of the road so that someone would have the chance to swerve if they needed to. The road swells a tiny bit and I am finally able to turn around. All too soon, I find myself at the end of the road. It's a T intersection with only left and right. I frown, confused at my predicament─ I hadn't made a turn, I just followed the main road all the way here. Upon closer inspection I notice the pavement has turned to dirt. Odd. Completely flustered at this point, I pull out my phone. There's barely a bar on my connection and it keeps changing between the edge network and one bar. I call out to my phone assistant to open maps, but the only thing that pops up on my screen is 'lost connection'. I inch forward onto a patch of grass to get out of the way, cut the engine, and then step outside. Maybe I'll get a better connection if I wander around. The air hits me like a blast chiller, a wall of freezing winds beating against my face and skin. My teeth chatter as I glance at my phone.

The second bar pops up and I quickly dial my work number to let them know I will be running late. After several rings I get a hold of an admin at the front desk and then I am transferred over. After what feels like an eternity, the line clicks and my manager picks up. They immediately sound confused. I hastily apologize, explain what's going on, and that I'm running behind. There's a pause on the other end and then they ask, "who is this?" My face grows warm as I realize they probably haven't memorized my name. I explained that I just started and wanted to let someone know that I am coming in but got a little lost on the drive up there. There's another long pause and then, "I think that you have the wrong office." I frown and repeat the phone number back to them and then give them the name of the company. "Yes, that's correct and you have the right office─ but no one works here by that name." Maybe my paperwork was shifted around. I said to them that we were having a meeting this morning to go over progress on our projects. This time they sound irritated, "Look, I don't know who this is but we don't have a new employee. If you actually worked here you would know that the meeting was rescheduled for next week." No one told me, I responded, starting to get a little miffed myself. I told them to ask Ben and that there was probably a little mix up. In any case, I will be up there as soon as I can. He says nothing and the line goes dead. I stare at my phone now more confused than ever. What the hell is going on?

I can get a signal at least but I still can't open my maps. I’m beginning to really worry, I haven’t spotted any road signs and I have been driving for at least twenty minutes.The road has become so bad that I worry I might blow out a tire. My shoulders sag in relief as I spot the dirt road converging with pavement. Thank god. I continue down the rest of the dirt path until it finally gives way to pavement. The familiar noise of tires on pavement instantly makes me feel better. Civilization means more signal and more signal means I can open my maps. I slow as a stop sign appears in front of me. Shit, another two-way divide. I purse my lips and look in both directions tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. If I don't remember turning down the road to begin with, how in the hell would I know which way to turn? I glance out across the field to get some sort of idea of where I am, but all I can see is slow, creeping fog. My attention turns to the left as I spot flashing yellow lights. It could be worth driving toward the lights, I reason. Maybe there are construction workers that could help. On the other hand, it could just be caution lights on the road warning people about the construction─ or a yellow flashing light at an intersection. But, it was a much better option than turning down the darker, foggier road to the right. I make my choice and turn left. The distance to the lights is much further than I anticipated. How many miles have I gone? It feels like I have been driving for hours. The lights had only seemed to be fifty feet away at most. I let out an audible sigh as the lights came into view. A construction vehicle sits on the side of the road and there are several construction cones and lighted traffic drums spaced evenly down the road. I’m sitting in front of the entrance to a long, dimly lit tunnel. My brakes squeak softly as I come to a complete stop. The end of the tunnel isn't in sight but it does look vaguely familiar. I may have driven past it when I turned onto the street to my new place. I squint at the tunnel, trying to see if anything rings a bell. It just looks like any other tunnel you would see, there’s nothing special about it. It’s odd that I couldn’t see the end, but it could just be an underground highway. I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white from the pressure. Maybe there is a hill blocking the view and I just couldn’t see it. I look around, searching for the owner of the truck but no one can be seen. Maybe they are inside the tunnel or checking on the traffic barriers. In any case, this is looking like my best option. I press down on the gas pedal and slip into the cool, dark tunnel.

I drive down what feels like the longest tunnel in history but still can't see the end. I’ve given up on finding the worker in the construction vehicle, if they were actually inside the tunnel I would have spotted them by now. Whoever it was must have gotten into a co-worker’s truck and went to a different location. This town is small but it's beginning to dawn on me that I haven't seen a single car on this road, or anyone for that matter. I glance at the time and frown, it’s after 8:00 a.m. people should definitely be out on the roads by now. The sickly yellow lights flicker on the wall every hundred feet or so casting an eerie twilight. The abysmal amount of light they put off barely illuminates the wall, let alone brightening the tunnel. Even in some of the darker tunnels on the roads from my old city I was able to see some sort of light. Something isn’t sitting right with me. I become more and more apprehensive the further I go. My eyes are struggling to adjust. Am I being paranoid or is it getting darker? The lights have now taken on a faint green hue. My foot eases off the gas pedal and I slow to a crawl. The green-lit area continues for quite a way down. I'm in a straightaway, no more bends, and an end still isn't in sight. Ok, maybe I should turn around. I do a three point turn and steer my car back toward where I came from. My jaw drops.The road is nearly pitch-black. I need to think.

There is nothing here but what appears to be miles and miles of tunnel. I can’t be going in the right direction, there’s no way. I’ve passed the main road and probably the entire city by now. To top it off there still hasn’t been anyone driving through here and a construction area was just outside of it. Maybe it’s completely blocked on the other side and I won’t be able to get out anyway. It’s just my mind playing tricks on me, I reassure myself. All the rationalizing in the world, however, can't make me shake the feeling that I need to get out of here as soon as possible. Even through the car I can tell that the air is stagnant. It has a distinct musty odor and I can't put my finger on it, but the primal part of my brain is in full force, screaming to run away. I accelerate a little more when I finally see the beginning of the yellow lights. I sigh and my shoulders relax a degree. Thank god. I can go back out into the daylight and try to get my bearings again. It’s later in the morning so hopefully the fog has lifted by now. As soon as my car crosses over to the brighter, yellow lights my car sputters and then dies. I look down at my gas tank meter and see that I still have plenty of gas. Maybe the air down here is causing issues? I know it's total b.s. but at this point it has to be something non-gas related and I don't even want to think about the possibility of being stranded here. I try starting it up again, but nothing happens. Not even a click.

My heart races as it fails to start again and again. I glance around nervously to see if anyone is here but only the ghoulish green glow of the lights and silence greet me. Taking a deep breath I grab the door handle and push. I wince at the noise echoing down the tunnel, sure that at any moment something horrible would rush toward me from the shadows. The air feels heavy in my lungs and I struggle to draw breath. It actually feels damp with the scent of moldy old bread. Several labored breaths later I am able to roll down my window, put the car in neutral and push the car back toward the green lit area of the tunnel. I jump back and scream as the car instantly roars to life. Thank god. I reach over, put it in park and hop inside─ eager to get back on the road. I put it back into gear and push down the gas pedal. But just like before, as soon as the front end crosses the threshold it dies. I’m shaking as I put it in neutral, get out of the car, and push it back toward the direction that I was coming from. It again fires up. My chest tightens as it slowly dawns on me there is no going back the way I came. Whatever this place is, I am stuck here. Unless. I turn to look at the invisible divide between the green and yellow lights. Even if my car doesn’t work, I could walk back. It’s not ideal but better than sitting here. I take a few cautious steps and then hesitate. I get closer to the spot and inspect the space between. There is a distortion, almost as if the light is bending inward toward me. My eyes widen as a small ripple dances from the top of the tunnel to the ground. It is so small that I question whether it was even there. Maybe I’m just tired. But if that were true then why can’t I see anything beyond the lights on this side when only a handful of moments ago they were visible. Then something even more disturbing occurs to me. It isn’t just that the space on the other side is pitch black, no, the disturbing part is the gap between me and the other side has grown smaller.

I know for a fact that I have not moved an inch from this spot and even if I have, my car would have been further away from me. But it isn’t. It is the exact same distance it was moments ago. A foul, horrible odor emanates from the inky-black distortion now closing in at an alarming rate. It’s as if it has just now taken notice of me. My breathing comes out so labored that I feel if I don’t get out of this vile air I will suffocate. The tunnel shifts as I turn back to my car. I have been so stupid, opening myself up for whatever this is. Every single step is a new agony. My chest screams in pain, as if I am under water desperately clawing my way to the surface. My heart roars in my chest, frantically pumping blood throughout my body in an effort to keep me going. The room pulses from light to dark, light and then dark. It becomes darker each time that I manage to gain an inch forward. At some point I feel myself fall and my knees and hands connect painfully with the ground. I know that if I don’t get to the driver's side door very soon I will succumb to the crushing weight of the abyss as my lungs collapse. I can see the car door, it’s less than four feet away. I crawl painfully slow on all fours, panting as my breaths become more and more shallow. Don’t give up. Just two feet away. Don’t give up, don’t give up, don’t you dare fucking give up! I chant to myself. Finally, my body brushes against the car door and I cling for dear life as I pull myself over to the driver’s side chair. I don’t stop when I feel the fabric on my seat beneath my hands, I don’t stop as I scream pulling my body into the car─ my legs paralyzed from the pain, I don’t stop as I claw at the door handle and pull with all my might until finally it latches securely in place. Then suddenly, my lungs are filled with blessed pure air. Several moments pass as I greedily gulp lungful after lungful of air. When I’m finally able to move, my eyes snap open and I frantically look around me─ mortified at what my respite may have cost me. I nearly cry in relief as I see the wall has stopped just in front of the bumper. Not needing any more convincing, I start the car, slam it in reverse, and then flip it around to face the other direction. The gas pedal touches the floor and my engine revs to life, struggling to keep up with what I am demanding of it. It finally catches and I don’t slow until I’m sure that I’ve put several miles between myself and the portal to hell.

I have traveled several more miles in the milky-green twilight when a blue light catches my attention on the left. I slow down and stare in disbelief, not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me. Several gas pumps are lined up in front of a well lit convenience store. I sit on the main road for several moments debating on the best course of action. But more importantly─ it is a real life gas station. I pull into the parking lot and slowly drive to the nearest gas pump. I cut the engine and slump back into the seat. Jesus, what the hell was that back there. I nervously pull at the ends of my hair, running my fingers through the strands like a comb. I really hope that they have a working phone, and if not at least a public restroom and some type of real food, not just candy bars and chips. The store looks empty but it’s well-lit and clean as far as I can tell. I hesitate but decide to reach for the car door. My hands tremble, hovering by the handle. I’m terrified to go back out into the tunnel. What if that thing has caught up to me? Did I put as much distance as I thought between me and it? Fuck it, I need food and I’m probably low on gas. I might as well try. I brace myself, expecting the worst and that I might need to slam the door closed again. My hands wrap around the handle and I push open the door. I’m pleasantly surprised to find that not only is the air breathable but it smells quite nice─ like freshly made bread. My stomach is quick to remind me that I haven’t eaten in a while and it isn’t happy about it.

The soft chime of the door sounds as I walk into the store. My stomach growls as all of the good smells hit me at once. First thing’s first, I walk over to the restroom and realize that I had to go way worse than I thought I did. I barely make it to the stall before the flood gates open. I had no idea that someone’s bladder could hold this much water. After what feels like a lifetime I’m able to finish up and then walk over to the sink. I am pleasantly surprised that a convenience store is so clean. The whole place reminded me of Buc-ee’s, even the awesome bathrooms but this place was a little smaller. Feeling much lighter I wandered back out into the store and stretched. Man it feels good to get out of the car. It has to be pretty late since no one is around. I haven’t spotted the employee yet, but it’s just me so they are probably grabbing stuff to restock the shelf in the back. I glance out at the parking lot, my car is still sitting there with no sign of the primordial portal of doom nearby. Still, I shouldn’t sit here too long. I have no idea how fast it can move. The colorful shelves look so inviting, it’s going to be hard to choose. I should probably get some road trip food too in case I can’t get to a closer town. After scanning the isles, I grab a few bags of candy, chips, beef jerky, and some gatorade. I was determined to only get real food, yes, but it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t plan ahead right? Fresh food goes bad. At least, that’s how I’m justifying it anyway. I look over the half sandwiches, salad’s, corn dogs, and mini-pizzas. I decide on a pepperoni pizza, box it up and grab a bunch of napkins.

Satisfied that I have more than enough to eat, I walk up to the counter and place everything on the countertop. I drum my fingers on the counter as I wait patiently for the cashier to come around the counter. They could be in the restroom or possibly back in the walk-in cooler. While I’m waiting I look closer at the counter, mesmerized at how immaculate the surface is. The more I look around, the more I find that not even a speck of dust can be found. I reach into my pocket, fish out my wallet and turn back toward the register. I jump and gasp─ nearly having a heart attack when suddenly someone has appeared behind the counter. A towering, thin man with platinum blonde hair wearing a red vest and black slacks now stands there, his back turned to me. He is quietly re-stocking shelves with vape refills, cigarettes, gum, and scratch-offs. His attire reminds me of something that you would see at a fine dining restaurant. It seems really out-of-place in a convenience store of all places. I exhale, shaking my head. “Hey man, you scared the crap out of me. I didn’t even hear you walk up.” He bends down, grabs more boxes, and continues to replace all of the empty slots. It’s as if he didn’t hear me at all. I don’t want to be rude, but start wondering if maybe he really hasn’t taken notice of me. I softly clear my throat and call out to him a little louder, trying to make myself known. He still doesn't respond. I’m torn between calling out louder or maybe just setting money on the counter. There’s something unnerving about him that I hadn’t noticed before. His movements are completely silent. I can’t even hear his clothes rustle as he bends down. And that’s just it, as I get a better look at him I realize he isn’t bending right.

Suddenly I am very aware that it is just the two of us. I dig through my wallet and fish out a few twenties. I’m on the edge of bolting but just in case I’m being paranoid, I don’t want to steal from him. I quickly grab my items, lay the money on the counter, and then turn to leave. I’m halfway across the store when I freeze. In my haste to get out of here I have forgotten that I need to get gas as well. I take a deep breath and turn back toward the counter. Because I have no idea what else to do, I try talking again, "Um, sorry to bother you. I also need gas, I think. How much is it per gallon?" My eyes raise up but I'm surprised to find that the attendant is gone. I spin around quickly but there is nothing there either. I sigh in frustration and try to find any price stickers, when I don’t find any, I peer out to the gas pumps. I can clearly see them, but there are no prices listed on their sign. What should I do? I need these things, but I can’t even find what I need to pay for any of it. I try to think back to the last time I bought gas and how much it cost per gallon. I have a sixteen gallon tank and worst case scenario if it is six dollars a gallon I could safely place a hundred dollars on the counter and leave the three twenties for good measure. I’ll just make sure to stop at sixteen gallons. Thankfully I prepared for any situation that I needed cash and made sure to grab a few hundred dollars. I spin back, expecting him to be right behind me again but only the same empty counter with the twenties greet me. I rummage through my bag, locate the pocket with my spare cash, and place an additional hundred dollars on the counter. Feeling confident that this should be enough, I walk as fast as humanly possible to the doors. I reach for the handle and freeze. My breath catches in my throat as I stare at the movement in the reflection behind me.

The blood drains from my face─ I can't move. A sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach forms as I realize that there is definitely something very wrong with the store clerk. His reflection sits unnaturally tall, so tall in fact that the ceiling is less than a few inches from his head. To my absolute horror I see his head is bent at a 90° angle. His face is distorted, I can't make it out but his body reminds me of the daddy long legs I used to play with as a child. My legs won't move, I'm stuck staring at the abomination─ fascinated at my impending doom. Insect-like noises fill the space, like a loud brood of cicada's calling for their mates. But this is different, it's paired with a static-y type sound that vibrates through my body. I stagger back, clutching at my head. The movement wakes my body and I snap into action. I shove the door and bolt outside to my car. The food spills everywhere as I shove the key into the ignition and lock the doors. My car roars to life and I slam it into drive, shove my foot on the gas pedal, and peel out of the parking lot.

I haven’t stopped moving. I just keep driving forward, constantly checking the rear-view mirror. I let out a long shaky breath, my hands trembling as I grip the steering wheel. What the hell is all of this? Where the fuck am I? I breathe deeply in an effort to somehow steady my breath. My heart beats so hard and fast I can feel the blood rushing behind my eyes and chest. On the positive side, in my haste to get away I hadn’t noticed that the tunnel had grown lighter. Relief washes over me as I can finally see an opening not too far ahead.

I’m so terrified that this will be a trick, that maybe I won’t be able to drive through it just like the last barrier. I could be trapped here forever. You have to try, I tell myself. I can hardly believe it when my car clears the exit and I am thrust into the beautiful night air, beneath the blessed open skies.

I pull onto the shoulder and rest my head on the steering wheel. Please, let this all be over. Tears spill down my cheeks as I take a moment to process what just happened. What the fuck was that guy? It’s bad enough that I can’t go back the way that I came, but after being inside that gas station─ this isn’t a dream, I’m not tired or high, I am in a real-life nightmare. After a few minutes, I straighten up and wipe the wetness from my cheeks with my sleeves. I look up at the stars, they are so calm and beautiful. I have been gone so long that an entire day has passed. It’s several hours past sunset since the moon is nearly midway in the sky. I just want to get home, curl up on my bed, and forget that today ever happened. Don’t get me wrong, I really hope that I still have a job tomorrow considering I failed to show up today. My eyes drop from the sky back down to the ground and I focus on the road in front of me. My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. No. No, no, no. It can't be, my mind screams. It's not possible! This can't be real. My lip quivers and more tears stream down my face. I press my eyes together and inhale several times. When I open them, it's still there. The entrance to another tunnel stares back at me.

The small patch of land between the tunnel I exited and the tunnel in front of me is no more than 500 ft away. The stars twinkle above me and the surrounding area is lush and green. It would be beautiful if it weren't for the fact that another fucking tunnel waited for me at the end of the road. I want more than anything for this day to be over. It started out so wonderfully─ a new job, a new life ─ I had even left early to make sure that I was on time. Not only had I been lost to the tune of twelve hours, but when I finally managed to get a hold of someone at the office, they told me that my job didn't exist. That could all be chalked up to a clerical error but─ this? Where the hell am I and for that matter, how the hell do I get out of here? Why is this happening to me?

I can feel my chest tightening, I’m on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. Is there any end to this, or will I simply stay here trapped forever? I nearly jump out of my skin when my phone rings next to me. I snatch it up and look at the screen. The text display just says 'unknown'. Probably spam, but hell maybe there would be a salesman on the line─ someone that can help. I answer quickly and wait for sound on the other end. I hold my breath nervous that it may just be a computer on the other end. "Hello, are you there?" The man asks. "Yes," I reply "I'm here! Please help me, I'm lost and my phone is barely getting a signal." The caller pauses for a moment, "I’m sorry, did you say that you are lost?" My shoulders sag in relief that a real person is on the other line. "Yes, I am. Please, could you call someone to come and get me?" His voice is soothing, like butter coating a warm pan, "Of course I can. What was your last known location?" I pause thinking about how many turns I had made. My voice shakes as I reply, "I was on highway 134 going toward I-35 when I somehow got turned around onto a mountain trail." My chest relaxes a degree as I try to remember more, "there was a point on the path that got too small so I had to turn around. I somehow spilled out onto a T in the road, then I turned around and made it back to what I think was highway 134 again. I took a left at that T and went through the entrance of an extremely long tunnel."

"Mm hmm," he said, sounding as if he were filing his nails on the other side, already bored with the conversation. I'm angered by his shitty attitude, but keep it to myself knowing he is my only option to get out of here. I stutter but continue "I-I'm not sure where I am, but I know for a fact that I am now outside and there is another tunnel ahead of me. Please, please help me." The man on the line sighs, "and have you tried driving through the other tunnel? I’m sure someone can help you once you get closer to a city." My temper flares, "I can't drive anymore, my car is probably close to being out of gas and I don’t want to risk it. Please, can you call emergency services and give them the general area? I have a signal now, but I may not again and I don’t want to risk wasting battery to do that. These calls are recorded right?" He chuckles, "yes, something like that." I can't believe how much of an asshole this guy is being but I take a deep breath and try to let it go. "You don’t need to worry about either of those things where you are heading. Everything is fine. Go through the tunnel," he states. His demeanor has changed, almost threatening. "Didn't you hear me, I’m almost out of─" “I won’t repeat myself again. Go through the tunnel." My face grows hot as anger flashes through my body. “Why are you being so awful to me? I’m lost, I may run out of gas or battery for my─” I stop mid sentence as I realize something I hadn’t thought of before. I have not turned my phone back on since earlier in the day to search for a signal. His voice rasps on the line, “You shouldn't have taken what wasn’t yours." My blood runs cold, my hands beginning to shake uncontrollably. "Please," I pleaded. “Who is this?” He laughs on the other line, his insect-like laughter grating on my ears. "Go through the tunnel" he yells. The line goes silent and I stare at it for several moments. The phone falls from my hand as I stare at the tunnel entrance. I can't bring myself to go back into that tunnel, I just─ can't. There has to be a better way. I tap the screen on my phone in hopes that maybe the phone had just restarted and it was in fact on. It stays dark, it is not on. I hold in the button to try and turn on the phone. It turns on but my battery is dangerously low. The car charger would work, but not nearly enough to charge it in time. If only I had remembered to bring the portable charger with me. I stare outside at the woods and open road. Even if something else happens, it has to be better than driving through the tunnel of terror. At least I would be outside where I could breathe.

I can do this. I’ll be cautious, exit the car and then search the area. What could it hurt? Maybe it will help clear my mind. I slip out of the car and then gently shut the door─ just in case there is a murderous entity nearby. The air is magic against my skin. A warm breeze caresses me gently and for a moment I’m lost to the deliciousness of the fresh air. I inhale deeply several times and then venture out on the road. I look to the left and then to the right of the main road. There are no streetlights. The only visible light was the moon’s glow and the dimly lit tunnel. I look out to the trees and realize that no city lights are visible, which means either there are no houses or cities nearby or I am so high up that I cannot see them.

But if that were true, I’m in a more elevated area so I would be able to see for miles. I am pretty high up considering I can see that I am surrounded by hills and mountains. The most disturbing part is that from my vantage point there are no signs of civilization. There is only me, nature, and this road of never-ending horrors. Everywhere I look it’s the same. I mean exactly the same─ even the trees look as if they have been copy-pasted on top of one another. The only difference seems to be the number of hills I can see from here. My pulse quickens as I realize that I will have to guess which route I will go─ a choice that could easily end my life. But how long could I sit here and decide? Considering I have absolutely no idea if the abyssal wall is nearby, or if that creature lies in wait to pounce at any moment. Maybe I would die of natural causes, but would that really be so bad now? Don’t think that way, I say to myself, that is the old you talking.There is a small part of me that wants to believe I can make it out of this alive. But no matter how much I encourage myself to stay positive, a part of me knows that I won’t leave this place alive.

My options are looking pretty grim but ultimately, anything is better than driving into another tunnel. Earlier when I got that call, there was something bothering me about what the man had said. If I could even call him a person. Why were these snacks and drinks worth so much? Come to think of it, I just realized that I hadn't had a chance to open any of them. I open the driver's side door and slide in, pulling the door closed. I search the floorboard of the passenger seat until my hand connects with something crinkly. I fish it out from under the seat, flip the chip bag around, and scan the entire package. Odd. I can't find anything out of place. A line creases between my eyebrows as I search. I’m able to find a candy bar but it just looks and feels like a normal candy bar. I reach again and find a drink. It's not very cold, but is still covered in a dewy condensation. I hold the bottle up to the dim light and my eyes grow wide. It drops from my hands and lands onto the passenger seat. My lips tremble as I fight to keep it together, I want to scream my lungs out but I know better. Something inside my head is warning me to stay quiet. No, I try and rationalize, no way, that’s not what is in that bottle.

Bile rises in my throat as I look down at it again. But the contents have not changed, No. No, no, no, no! Inside the bottle, almost perfectly preserved is a fetus. Then, I look again. No, it isn’t preserved─ it’s moving. I hang my car out of the car and retch uncontrollably but only bile manages to come up. No way. There was absolutely no way I would drive through that tunnel, or any tunnel for that matter ever again. I climb out of the car and pace back and forth. Had there been any turns? Had I just gone straight? If I had continued west after my turn it would mean that the way back to the main road I came from is to the south. The problem is, I’m not sure if I’m able to go that way since all I can see is the moss covered tunnel. Which leaves either north, or further west paralleling the tunnel but not going into it. I decide that my best bet is to travel north and put some distance between me and the tunnel. It is going to take everything in me to travel through these woods alone. I can’t even see what is beyond these trees or if there is any sign of civilization to be found. As far as I can tell, I’m in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing in sight. Why couldn't there be a road? I sigh in frustration and look back longingly at my steel chariot. It is probably for the best anyway, my gas tank is probably sitting on empty or close to it. I rummage through the car and grab a backpack and a jacket thrown in the back seat.

Thank god for small miracles, I open the trunk and find a few bottles of water rolling around in the back. Who knows how they are─ but hey, it has to be better than fetus water. I shutter even thinking about its blank, black eyes. After securing all of my belongings I head into the woods, carefully making note of the stars just to be sure I am heading north. My spirits lift a bit as I travel further from the road. Even if it takes me further into the wild maybe I can get a signal. My spirits, however, begin to dwindle as I gain ground. It feels like hours and my body is on fire. I pause and take a small sip of water from my bag, glancing around to make sure that I am alone. Satisfied that I am, I rest on a nearby rock. I turn my phone on and wait for it to start up. After a bit my home screen lights up and my eyes squint from the brightness. After several minutes I still have no signal. I run my hands through my hair, my panic rising. After waiting another couple of minutes, I shut it off and decided to try my luck again later. I needed to conserve as much battery as I could. I look up at the sky and frown, surely it has to be close to morning, yet there is no light.

As a matter of fact, it looks darker. I look up and stare in confusion, the sky has disappeared. The only thing visible is a thick canopy of leaves. I could have sworn it was clear just a few moments ago. The trees bend and creak as their leaves rustle in the wind. The air is wrong, something doesn’t feel right. I quickly stand and start walking again, eager to keep moving. The trees have become wider and taller, so tall that I can't see any of their branches through the darkness. Loud, alarming groans fill the air. It reminds me of the sounds you hear in movies when the characters dive deeper in a submarine. And it’s just as disturbing. I rub my arms and shiver, it's freezing out here. I've attempted to go the way I think is north, but at this point I’m not sure. I’m desperate to find some sort of opening within the canopy, any glimpse of something other than the criss-cross of tightly woven limbs. But only the darkness greets me. The landscape has changed right before my eyes and the grass is growing taller─ by nearly two feet. It's becoming harder to breathe, the air feels thinner and my limbs feel like noodles. Despite the height I can't see anything, no sign of life or lights. The only sounds that exist are me and the wind combing through the trees. Nothing else. A low droning noise begins to fill the air. The wind slows to a crawl before dying completely. I wince as I hear every crunch and crack of leaves beneath my feet. Dry laughter like the sound of logs crackling in the fire rolls through the woods from every direction. I know this laugh─ it’s the man or creature or whatever he was from the phone call earlier. He has found me.

I’m so tired. I'm so very tired of running. I drop my bag and ready myself for a fight. I can’t see him but I know he is here. His presence is agitating, like thousands of wriggling insects beneath my skin. The ground shifts beneath me and in seconds I’m pulled down into the dirt. I dig my fingers into the dirt, clawing my way toward the top in a desperate attempt to pull myself out. I'm unable to tear myself away from its death grip. I sink helplessly, weak from fighting all the way down until finally the earth stops at my shoulders. I twist and pull my body, but only manage to sink further down with every struggling movement. There is nothing that I can do. Nowhere that I can go. Dry, cackling laughter envelops me from every direction. I squeeze my eyes shut, my lips trembling in fear. There are skittering footsteps and then an insect-like chitter permeates the space. It's the only noise that exists.

A gust of wind whips my hair back and then calms as my hair falls back into place. Suddenly, I feel the kiss of his breath against the top of my head. His joints pop and I hear each and every movement as if he were a marionette dangling from its strings. "Open your eyes." He rasps, leaning close to my ear. I keep them sealed shut as tears stream down my face. An arctic blast rips into me, biting into the exposed flesh. The air calms and then a long, spindly appendage curls around my shoulders. He brings his face within inches of mine. I breathe in shallow bursts, my chest seized with fear. I can't move, can't scream. I am completely at his mercy. "Look at me,” he says soothingly, “Open your eyes." He talks to me as if I am a child, it’s so warm and inviting. My mind screams at me to keep my eyes shut. I don't need to have my eyes open to know that he is less than a handful of inches from my face. Suddenly, there are no crunches of dirt or leaves beneath him. Somehow his silence is way more disturbing. It's not just the eerie quiet but his entire existence that commands the very air around us. It's as if nature itself has bent the knee to his every desire. He is everywhere, he is madness, and he is death. I can feel his gleeful vibrations emanating from his body as he hovers closer to his prey. He has all but consumed me, his breath seeping into every single one of my pores. Secretly I knew that from the moment I fled that store, I was his. I may have run from him but I will never get away. My body trembles uncontrollably as my tears wet the ground. The clicks and pops sprinkle along my face as spittle trickles from its maw. The sounds bathe my skin and seep slowly into my bones. A sickening, grating noise like metal ripping into metal stripping away my will to live. He does this agonizingly slow as if savoring every morsel of my disgust and fear.

"You know,” he whispers, “you are only putting off the inevitable.” He says this not as a threat but a fact that both of us know is true. How long can I keep my eyes pressed together? Hours? Days? This is a losing battle. The only power I have is how quickly I will end my suffering. He leaves me to my final thoughts as if realizing that he has already won. There is an eerie calm to it all. The air is pregnant with silence, even the gentle brush of leaves has gone. "Open your eyes, see me" he purrs. I feel myself sink further into the soil─ my body ready to let go. I take one final breath and release the pressure that is keeping my eyes closed. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the twilight. The canopy has disappeared and the stars fill the sky once more. So beautiful. So, so beautiful. Why had I not taken more time to look at them before? A darkness curls into the corners of my vision, tinting everything in a deep blue. Suddenly there is only me and his swirling abyss. There is only the single thread of light that halos the all-consuming well of darkness. I stare at its captivating beauty and the purity of its unimaginable perfection. His presence reminds me of the event horizon on the cusp of a black hole as all of us watch helplessly at the inevitable death of our universe. He does not co-exist, he only exists to devour.

The darkness ripples and undulates around him, and all I want to do in this moment is to be swept up into his arms. I am home, destined to become a part of him like many before me. Suddenly I am ready, and the fear has all but disappeared. My eyes raise so that I can gaze upon him in all of his beautiful glory. My eyes find him and I scream uncontrollably. Horrible─ horrible. It's all that I can repeat in my head over and over again. God jesus his face. Blood spills from my eyes bathing my vision in red. I sputter and choke as blood pours from every single orifice of my body. My bones crunch and pop as the dark wraps and then squeezes my body. My bones shatter in sequence as if I am nothing but a tube of toothpaste in his grasp. Somehow I am alive. I can still feel every grind of my bones, I can still feel as my organs are squeezed from my body. Inhuman, animalistic noises gurgle from my throat as my own stomach and intestines spill from my mouth. And yet none of this can compare to the absolute horror of looking upon the face of this god that stands before me. I can't look away even as I feel the last burst of pressure cave in my skull. A gaping, black, impossible devourer of everything consumes me whole. And he is hungry, so very hungry. He is everywhere, he is madness, he is death.

Source: Highway 134 - A Thriller Short Story

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