A Word From The Author [9/8/2024]

Hey Everybody! Marcus Dark here.

I know its been a while, Nearly six months according to CHYOA and I'm sorry I haven't released any more chapters or let anyone know what's been happening but I really haven't been able to. Let me begin by saying that I have started to sit down and write this message many times but I just couldn't find the words and for someone like me who prides themself on being a wordsmith that is a horrible feeling to be unable to express what I'm feeling or thinking in words.

Now given the somber opening tone some of you are probably wondering if I'm giving notice that Apex is going to be dropped but let me set your minds at ease right now. For everyone who likes Apex and wants to see it continue rest assured I plan to continue writing "The Apex of Control" even if I have to sell my soul to do it so have no worries it will continue no matter what I have to do.

That having been said now I want to discuss the reasons I've been away for so long and how things will proceed. As many of you already know this year has been far from good to me and I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment but it has made it impossible for me to function as a writer. Beginning with the last couple of months of 2023 up to now I have run out of fingers and toes on which to count all of the family, friends, and neighbors that have died, and people die I get that. I'm not a child anymore and haven't been for some time but so many so close together begins to make one wonder whether or not these people are gone because they know you or are connected to you in some way. Stupid I know but the question did cross my mind as I think it would almost anyone's and it did not help my increasingly fragile state of mind when the question emerged.... "Are these people dying because they know me or are connected to me in some way?"

Again that may be total bullshit but nevertheless there was the question staring me right square in the face and I will admit I did not handle it well. What followed was a period of profound depression and self-loathing that I will not bore you with and just as I was managing to fight my way back from the sickening apathy that was beginning to pick at what was left from the depression I began to suffer from debilitating headaches and nausea that were so severe that standing or even sitting for any length of time was draining. The resulting pain and sickness were so bad that I could barely think or even sleep. I would lay awake nights unable to do anything but concentrate on not puking my guts up and so the days passed sometimes three of four days at a time before I would finally be granted the sweet embrace of sleep only to wake up more tired than I had been before going to sleep if that's possible.

As bad as that was rejoice Brothers and Sisters because the good news is that after all that I have recovered and am beginning to feel like my old self once again and I am very eager to start writing again. Now before I tell you my plan of action I want to apologize. I've been so out of it that to me the last time I released a chapter seems like only a few days ago but then of course you all know just how long its been So I'm sorry and hopefully moving forward I can make it up to you. And I'd like to apologize to anyone who may have left a message and either didn't get a reply, got a reply that made next to zero sense, or if I was dismissive or rude in any way. I was not myself and hopefully that asshole whoever he was will not be back. If you'd like to send your messages again I will try to do it right this time.

Now for those of you who hung in there hoping against hope that Apex would be back and for those of you that have just found Apex and taken a liking to it and wondered when it will be releasing again I want to Thank You for your loyalty and your appreciation for my hard work.

My plan is simple... Because I've apparently been gone for so long I will take a little extra time and write multiple chapters and then release them together and while that won't make up for all the time I missed it will hopefully be a start in making things right.

Sincerely, Marcus Dark,

Your Humble Writer In The Shadows.