The (Mis)adventures of Jyl: [REDACTED] BONUS EDITION

Jyl takes us to [REDACTED] for the experience of a lifetime for this bonus edition!

Welcome back, misadventurers! When word spread that the newest print issue of Memento Mori Ink Magazine was cryptid-themed, it seems the cryptids themselves were delighted. So excited, in fact, they decided the occasion called for a celebration. When they reached out with an invitation to attend, I couldn’t turn it down. Opportunities for immersive journalism are rare. Opportunities for immersive journalism hosted by legendary creatures of folklore are even rarer.

The gathering took place in a forest located in [REDACTED] that looked ordinary enough at first glance, but by nightfall had been transformed into a surprisingly lovely event space. Lanterns hung between the trees, a long table had been set up with snacks and drinks, and the guest list included some of the biggest names in cryptid lore. I’m not going to lie; it was a little bit scary. But like any good journalist, I pushed past the fear so I could come back to give you the inside scoop.

Bigfoot had exactly the presence you would hope for. He was quiet, a little elusive, and yet unmistakably kind. He brought a huge container of homemade trail mix and seemed happiest hovering near the food table, casually making sure everyone had enough without ever trying to become the center of attention. Meeting him felt a little like meeting a famously private actor who turns out to be thoughtful, grounded, and faintly embarrassed by his own fame.

Mothman was far less composed. He arrived with red velvet cupcakes and a twelve pack of Mountain Dew, but any attempt at a polished entrance was quickly undone by his complete fascination with the lanterns strung through the trees. He kept drifting toward them, circling them, and occasionally lingering a little too close, as though he couldn’t quite decide whether he wanted to admire them or become one of them. Mothman is dramatic, distracting, and impossible not to watch. He was the guest everyone kept an eye on, just in case.

Loch Ness, or Nessie to her friends, brought cucumber sandwiches and Irish breakfast tea, which suited her perfectly. She had a very queenly presence, calm and graceful without seeming stiff or uptight about it. She moved through the evening with an easy confidence, and people seemed to make space for her without even thinking about it. She didn’t say much, but she didn’t need to.

Perhaps the most surprising guest there was Squonk. He seemed almost surprised to be included. Sweet, shy, and visibly overwhelmed, he arrived with a tin of cookies, you know, the kind of cookie tin your grandmother kept sewing supplies in. He had the unmistakable energy of a wallflower, the kind of guest who would absolutely be crying in the bathroom if there had been one. Even though he kept to himself, he was very memorable.

Other notable guests included the Jersey Devil, the Wendigo, the Dover Demon, the Hopkinsville Goblin, the Loveland Frog, the Flatwoods Monster, the Beast of Bray Road, and Gef the Talking Mongoose. Unfortunately, photos and videos were not allowed, so I have no proof to offer beyond my notes, which include several details I could not possibly have invented for entertainment purposes.

Jyl Glenn is a writer, editor, formatter, anthologist, poet, and a medical-legal writer and consultant. Her lifelong love affair with horror began at a very early age when she was left unattended on the weekend Poltergeist debuted on HBO. And then she figured out she could read any horror book she liked as long as she hung out at the public library, even if the librarian deemed it not to be age appropriate. Jyl was born and raised in New York and now lives in Tulsa with her dog and kitten. She loves creepy art, dark poetry, and pink dinosaurs. When she isn’t dabbling in the macabre—she’s most likely asleep.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.