At this moment, I feel full of unsaid thoughts. Like there’s a storm living in my chest, and no one can hear it but me. Every day swings between highs and lows, so violently, so suddenly, that I can’t remember the last time I felt anything without immediately questioning it.
Somewhere along the line, I stopped believing in the version of life that felt easy. Now it’s just... pushing. Dragging myself forward through noise and fog, hoping something on the other side will finally make sense. I had planned my escape a long time ago. Not out of impulse, but with precision. Like I always do. My mind demands order but life keeps handing me chaos. And if things don’t align perfectly, there’s no moving forward. “It has to be this year,” I told myself….three years ago.
Time bent. Froze. Looped. I lost count of how many times I almost broke free.. Each time, something pulled me back. Perhaps a memory, or a question that I couldn’t answer: Can you hate someone for what they did, and still love them for who they had been?
And yet the sun rises again, no matter how dark the night was. I keep moving forward. Not because I’m healed, but because something inside me refuses to stop. And now.. I can feel it. The end of the beginning. The shift. The unraveling. What is it going to feel like once all of this is over? The only thing I know for sure is that the search won’t stop. The search for something real beneath all the illusion.
Новый герой.
Have you ever managed to foresee certain events in the future? To calculate at least a small part of your life like a chess game - the maneuvers of other drivers in traffic, the movements of currency exchange rates, or the price of oil futures? I’m sure many of us have tried to predict something at least once in our lives… But what about missions? I felt like I had already lived multiple versions of this day long before it happened.
What should I have replied to my close friend’s congratulations on “successfully closing a chapter of my life”? “Well, what’s next? I guess I can finally retire now…”
I won’t hide it - painting on the metro is a sport for the main players in the scene. Complete the program - 100 panels, chasing a number of systems, tunnels, yards - whatever you can do. In order to stay active without being busted, you’ve got to anticipate some situations: everyone has their own way. And really, what’s next?
August 2025 Moscow, Russia.
We burst into the apartment with powerful energy, carrying a borrowed Makita grinder from Saint Petersburg, with some sort of tape that’s holding the switch from falling apart. Mr. Wassup was already laying out all the other tools in the kitchen. The countdown had started. Contrary to my initial plans, the entire city knew we were here and what we were planning to do, thanks to some previous run-ins with the locals.
“Well, try it” one of them said, disbelief heavy in his voice, as if he were certain we’d fail or get busted. Yeah, the odds were not in our favor with the current political situation, but there was no room for hesitation.
“I want to keep doing this even when no other players are left and actions will be considered suicide,” said Mr. Wassup, surveying all our gear. Only one thought was in my head: “Today is either going to be the best or the worst day of my life.” I tried to act normal, but the stress was eating me alive. The songs “Новы герой” and “Not Gonna Get Us” had been playing on repeat all week. Our team was small, and to be honest, none of us were at our best, but that day, one thing united us - the crazy idea to paint Belorusskaya layup in Moscow. (Continued in the comments)
Brr brrr
A: Hello. B: It’s been a while… Now that it’s finally over, did something change? A: Man, after all the bullshit these past few months, I’m more than ready to never come back. B: Where are you? A: Paris. Been travelling for a few months, but I’m getting ready to do something really crazy this summer. B: You know you’ve gotta come back, right? What we discussed - it’s happening. A: Hate to hear it. When’s it opening? B: Tomorrow. A: … B: Does anyone else know about it? A: You know this city, man. People have been crying about the book - like they were just about to smash the metro, but now, because of our project, they can’t. B: Ha-ha. What about all those years we didn’t post a single photo and kept everything a secret? Where was everyone? A: I mean.. So what are you worried about? I’m sure nobody knows. The first day of the spot is tomorrow - it’ll take time before anyone finds it. After all, someone has to spread the rumours. B: Yeah, I know… but this is something we’ve never seen before. If anyone sees this, they’ll fuck it up. A: So what now? B: Who knows. Maybe things have changed. Maybe after us, people are more motivated. We might even meet someone at the spot tomorrow. One thing’s for sure - let’s not miss it. I saw it with my own eyes… you have no idea. A: Imagine how crazy it is to try something that soon. They’re on us, but you’re right - we’ve always dreamed of an opportunity like this. Ahhh. B: When are you coming? A: Fuck it, bro. I’m leaving everything here. Taking the first flight back. Pick me up from the airport and we’ll go straight to the spot. By the way - there’s this young explorer, really motivated. Maybe we can bring him with us. B: What? Are you sure? We’ve played this game a few times. Ha-ha. A: Yeah. You know how careful I am. He’s solid. Maybe there’ll finally be someone to keep pushing after us. B: Okay… let’s see. A: The show must go on.
Least criminal minds in the city of questionable activities. Just using the chaos to our advantage, while the rest are too busy trying to get noticed. Precision beats presence - that’s the rule. But the real secret? Never let the game get to your head.
All the easy choices are in the past. Locations keep changing. People keep talking. Everyone wants to be on top, but the pretenders will fall first. Time exposes who you are. Only the strong will continue. Good luck.
What do you really know about dedication? Some talk about it, some say they’ve lived it. But the real question is… Do you have it in you? Are you willing to sacrifice the comfort, the opinions around you, everything that’s not letting you out? The game is to be played, by those who truly can.
It’s always interesting to hear all the stories about who did what, how everyone has an opinion about everything. Here in Bulgaria, people made a culture out of second-hand stories. But when you’re actually doing something… nothing makes sense. Crazy to imagine that even after 2020 we are still opening spots and doing things for the first time. Where is everyone?
But I can’t complain.. those are the moments that keep us hooked. It feels like you’ve finally accomplished something real. We also started relatively late, many years after the spots were already known.. So we definitely missed the so called “easy times”. From the very beginning, one thing was clear: If you’re local, a single mistake and it’s game over…
It’s always important to respect your opponents. Keep calm. Lead the way and try to be one step ahead. Forget about your ego, accept that you’re nobody, that almost every mission will be a fail, and still, keep pushing. Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. (:
Good luck to the next 🦥
Ай чао.
