Natural phenomena or portal to netherworld? Still undetermined.
I don't wanna alarm anyone or anything, but a 250-foot-diameter gaping hole with scorched edges had recently appeared on the Yamal peninsula in northern Russia. Also, you should probably know that in the Nenets language of the region's indigenous people, "Yamal" means "End of the World." But that's probably just a coincidence.
Just like the many scientists who are currently studying this mysterious phenomena, I can't say with any certainty how or why this enormous, carbon-blackened maw opened up in the face of this desolate landscape. Nor can I guess what kinds of otherworldly, eldritch behemoths will or will not come dragging themselves forth from its unforgiving, unrelenting blackness. Maybe—like some people who think they're so smart with their college educations and their notebooks are speculating—it was just "a result of an explosion when a mixture of water, salt and natural gas exploded underground." Or maybe it was the first sign that the Cosmic Others are waking from their aeon-long slumber and are preparing to cast this world into an epoch of darkness and misery. Could be either. Who's to say?
Anyway, my point is this: Don't worry. This is probably nothing. And even if it's not nothing, it's too late. They're awake. They can smell your soul.
(by Dennis DiClaudio)