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Life in Kansas City, especially in my small neighborhood, is pretty much a synonym for boring. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and the few friends I have here, but excitement, adventure?

Those words felt like they belonged in another universe.

That's me, by the way, Alex, a 19-year-old who dreams big but lives in a world that's way too small.

My life's highlight reel includes reading about cryptids and monsters.

You know, creatures that people swear they've seen, but nobody can ever prove exist.

Wendigows, dogmen, you name it.

I've read about them all.

I've always wanted to see something like that, to have my own story to tell.

I figured it would never happen, though.

Stuff like that doesn't happen to people like me, or so I thought.

Most of my evenings are pretty routine.

I come home from work, grab some dinner, and then it's straight

to my room. My sanctuary. It's where I draw, losing myself in sketches of fantasy creatures

...