first post

This should be bold:

this should not be bold

This should be blue:

this should not be blue

This should be both bold and blue

what is this

[@what is this]

@offxthexclock

there should be a picture of a cat

@offxthexclockwhat is this test test

[h1]but what happens if i do this

test test test

[h]does this do anything[/h]

• test
  
  
  
  • let's practice
  • making
  • a list

* another list but different

After dinner, Adam returned to the cabin and unpacked the rest of his luggage. The sun had started to set outside by the time he was finished. Later that night, he sat at a desk in the bedroom, watching a movie on his laptop.

It was the first movie in a popular series, which had initially been released as a series of novels. He had read the first book in the series out of curiosity more than anything else. Despite his efforts, he had barely been able to finish it. He had expected the movie to be just as awful as the book and was actually surprised to discover that it was even worse. Halfway through the movie, he realized it was finally late enough to sleep. He abruptly stopped the video and closed his laptop.

In the middle of the night, Adam woke to a strange sensation. It felt like the bed was shaking. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the ceiling above him, wiggling. He sat up and realized that his bed was convulsing violently. The whole room was shaking.

He sat there for a few seconds, considering the possibility that it was a dream. Something in another room of the cabin fell, causing a distant shattering sound. His laptop was trembling on the desk across the room, inching closer and closer to the edge. He shoved the comforter aside, scrambling up from the bed. A strange thumping noise could be heard from outside. He quickly hobbled across the rumbling floor and lunged to save his laptop from falling off the desk. A digital clock was shaking on the shelf near the window, the glowing red numbers looking fuzzy from the erratic movement. He could just barely make out the time before the clock fell off the shelf and hit the floor. It was 3:21 am.

Gradually, everything stopped shaking. He stayed still, feet planted against the floor between the bed and the desk. When he felt certain the shaking had stopped for good, he made his way to the window, carefully stepping around the random objects that had fallen. He pulled the drapes aside and peered outside.

The world outside was quiet and still, bathed in moonlight. Adam rubbed his eyes and withdrew from the window, kicking something as he moved backwards. He crouched down and picked up the small digital clock that had fallen to the floor. He turned it over to see the time in bright red digits. 3:22 am.

Suddenly he heard a thud and looked up from the clock face.

Atam stirred in his sleep. Someone was shaking his shoulder.

It was dark, and when Atam opened his eyes he could barely make out a face looming over him. Before he could make any noise, he felt hands clamping over his mouth. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he realized it was Juhn. Juhn removed one hand and raised an index finger to his mouth, his eyes warning Atam to keep quiet. Atam brushed Juhn's hands away and sat upright, sighing sharply.

"What's going on?" he whispered. Juhn gestured around the room. Atam noticed the other beds were empty.

"They dared Silomon," Juhn said. "They dared him to climb the clock tower."

Atam blinked. "And so what? What's going on?"

Juhn huffed, frustrated. "So he's doing it! Now!"

For a second, Atam was absolutely motionless. Then he shot up from the bed and grabbed Juhn by the collar, his fist flying into the air. Juhn squirmed, his arms flailing in front of his face.

"You need to stop him!"

"Shit," Atam hissed, shoving Juhn away. He grabbed his jacket and threw it on over his pajamas.

Atam and Juhn ran down the staircase. They ran through the halls until they burst through the heavy double doors, the cold night air hitting their faces and seeping through the thin material of their clothes. They circled around the side of the building, weaving through a line of rosebushes. Thorns snagged at their pajamas and Atam kicked his legs through a stubborn patch, tearing the fabric. His heart was pounding faster and faster as they moved. They trampled through the bushes before rounding a corner, stopping when they finally saw the others.

The other boys were crowded outside in front of the fountain, huddled under the shadow of the old clock tower. They were staring up, their faces highlighted by the moon. Their expressions varied. Some were gaping in amazement, while most of them looked nervous. Atam recognized Devid, who looked struck by terror. He felt Juhn jabbing him in the side, pointing up to where they were all staring.

Atam felt a chill run down his spine when he looked up at the clock tower. Silomon was up there on the roof of the turret, clinging to the cross that extended from its peak. Atam shoved past the other boys until he was standing directly below.

"Get down from there!"

Silomon shifted, taking one hand off the cross, waving. Suddenly, a large cloud moved across the sky, blocking the moonlight for a moment. There was a terrible scream as Silomon lost his grip and fell. The scream was followed by another sound, one that Atam would never forget, as Silomon reached the ground.

Small droplets of water splashed over the edge of the boat and clung to his skin. They were sailing by a small floating town. Market stalls of prepared food items as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, and spices lined the banks of the river, filling the breeze with delicious smells. The boat continued down the river until it reached the dock where the other small boat was docked.

Frinn got off the boat and walked across the wooden boards to where Valens was standing, looking at a map. Valens pointed to a spot marked in red ink.

"Is that where the Lord lives?" Frinn asked.

Valens nodded, tucking the map away and already starting to move. "He should be expecting us. We shouldn't keep him waiting."

Frinn quickened his pace, trying to keep up with Valens. They were making good time when a street stall suddenly collapsed, causing fruits of various sizes and shapes to roll into their path. Valens sighed impatiently before turning to where a young woman was yelling at a couple large, shady-looking men.

"That's 200 coin for those fruit, you bastards! How do you expect me to pay the Lord back when you keep ruining my merchandise!?"

"We don't give a shit about your fruit. If you don't have the money by dusk tonight, we're dragging you to the House."

"That's impossible! I keep telling you! How do you expect me to have the money when you keep sabotaging my business?! Are you too stupid to understand?"

One of the thugs suddenly grabbed the woman's arm, jerking her mercilessly. She yelled. Valens took a step towards them, when a small, shiny apple suddenly flew across the path and hit the man's bald head. It bounced off the back of his tattooed skull and he turned around, releasing the woman. Frinn flinched and dropped the pear he had also been getting ready to throw.

Valens sighed. "Well that's one way to get things started."

As soon as he said that, the thugs were charging towards them. Valens dodged the tattoo-headed man's swing and easily restrained him from behind, bringing him to his knees and twisting his arms behind him. Frinn was less successful, taking a blow to the cheek from the other man, who was tall and lanky, not as stocky as his partner. Frinn groaned as he stumbled backwards from the impact of the punch, slipping on a piece of fruit and landing on the ground. As the man drew closer, Frinn grabbed a wooden plank from the disheveled fruit stand. When his opponent was close enough, he lurched forward and shoved the end of the plank into the man's knee. The man yelped out in pain, stumbling forward. He let out a growl and lunged. Frinn ducked and used the plank to hit the man again, this time in the groin. The man shouted as he grabbed his crotch, rolling onto the ground.

Valens released the tattoo-headed guy, who spat on the ground between them before turning towards his thug partner. The short, stocky man slung the thin man over his shoulder before leaving, disappearing down an alley.

Valens began collecting the fruit and putting the stand back together. Frinn approached the young woman cautiously. "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine," she mumbled. She noticed Frinn's cheek starting to puff up and placed her fingertips on his chin, turning his face to get a better look. She winced. "Looks like you're the one who's hurt. Wait here."

She jogged across the path to a fish vendor, who had laid out his fish on a bed of ice. She came back with a small ice pack. Before Frinn could protest, the woman grabbed his face again, pressing the ice to his cheek.

"Ugh," he groaned. "Thanks for the help. But could you be a bit gentler?"

The woman rolled her eyes as she let go of his face. "There. You're fine. Now go and be on your way."

Valens came over, rolling the cart of fruit. "You don't sound very scared for someone who was attacked by some dangerous men just now."

"I could have handled it," the woman muttered. "Thanks for the help. Now good day."

Valens reached into his pocket for the map, but it wasn't there. He turned around and saw that it had fallen out during the commotion. He went to retrieve it right as a mule carrying goods passed by, kicking it into a puddle and trampling over it. Frinn walked over to the puddle and fished it out, grimacing.

"The ink is all blurry," he complained.