Chapter 6: Into the Suburbs

 

Aleena has made her way through various areas of the Backrooms and has now found herself in a strangely familiar suburban neighborhood. She can't recall how she got here, but she vividly remembers being pursued by one of those terrifying Eldritch Horror creatures.  

She quietly pondered, "I wonder if anyone else is nearby." Pausing for a moment, she strained to hear, convinced she detected footsteps echoing in the distance. As she turned, she narrowed her eyes and peered down the street, searching for any hint of activity.

 She was alone, but her experiences in the previous levels had put her on high alert. The challenges she faced in those places had significantly eroded her trust in others. One location featured a labyrinth of tunnels constructed from bricks and cement, with each room housing an electrical device that Aleena believes powers the other levels she has navigated through. Additionally, there was a maze of deserted offices, filled only with emptiness, yet within it lurked another strange entity. Lurking behind the windows, the entity is ready to snatch up anyone naive enough to believe they can escape by opening the windows. She saw through its trickery and steered clear of the windows. Then there was the ominous hotel, filled with its own set of bizarreness. The death moths were challenging, yet she successfully evaded them, as she flung open a door and dashed through. The scenery transformed, and she suddenly found herself on a quiet neighborhood street. "Where am I now?" she wondered, inhaling deeply. The night air was refreshing and brisk, and with each step, her feet crunched over the brittle leaves scattered on the ground. The asphalt beneath her was worn and fractured. 

Aleena moved forward carefully, gripping the knife tightly in her hand. Her eyes were wide and vigilant. She donned the olive-green bomber jacket she had discovered earlier. The white blouse she had been wearing was ripped in multiple spots, so she opted for a slightly damaged white t-shirt she found instead. It had been days since her last shower, and she probably wouldn’t get the chance to clean up unless she stumbled upon a secure location with running water. She has several bruises on her arms and one on her cheek, but fortunately, none are severe. She accidentally made a deep cut on herself. To control the bleeding, she ripped a piece from an old shirt and wrapped it around her arm just above the wrist, as the blood was starting to attract attention. 

After sipping the almond water, she noticed about an hour later that the bleeding had stopped. When she took off the bandage, she discovered that the cut was beginning to heal. It intrigued her, but she didn’t dwell on it. She viewed it as a quiet blessing. She discovered a note tucked away in a desk at the office maze, which said: don't drink the water unless it's almond water. Although she wasn't entirely sure what it meant, she decided to follow the advice. As she moved along, she wished to find something to munch on. The almond water was getting low too. She thinks that every level has a knack for crafting situations that force travelers into tough choices between life and death.

"Day or night," she said, taking a moment to breathe. "How can anyone really tell what time it is here?" Even though it feels like night where she is, she’s fully aware that every location she’s been to has its own set of eerie challenges ready for the next visitor. She fears that this level is no different. She carefully stepped into one of the houses. She thought about calling out to see if anyone was hiding inside but chose not to, fully aware that making any noise could lead to a deadly encounter with some unexpected creature lurking within. She glanced around the living room before heading into the kitchen. The space was a bit messy, but not overly dirty. When she opened the fridge, she discovered it was completely bare. “What do I expect?” she thought to herself as she kept searching through the house. Then, she stumbled upon something unusual. 

In a room on the house's lower level, she discovered a dagger in its sheath. Next, she stumbled upon a flashlight and turned it on to check if it functioned. It did, but the light was weak. "Damn," she muttered quietly. "Maybe there are batteries around here." She searched frantically but found nothing. Suddenly, she heard what sounded like chanting. A look of confusion flashed across her face. She sprinted out, leaving her backpack behind, but the dagger she had found was securely fastened to her belt. As she got closer, she saw a crowd gathered, cheering for a picture that one of them was proudly displaying. She moved in a little closer and gave a timid smile.

 “Hello?” But they didn’t see her, so she took a small step back. Their behavior seemed off. “What’s up with them?” she wondered. Just then, a woman with wide eyes and a crazed look on her face, held up an 11 by 14 picture of a blue parrot and exclaimed, “Praise our glorious God, our savior Polly!” Aleena slowly backed away, her heart racing. “Something’s wrong with these people,” she mused. From a distance, she spotted two horrid creatures sprinting in their direction. A gasp escaped her lips, and her eyes grew wide with terror as she dashed back to the house where she had left her backpack, which now belongs to her. She took refuge behind a curtain, peeking through a narrow gap to observe the approaching creatures. 

As they got closer, she noticed their unusual shape. They resembled a giant eye supported by optic nerves that twisted into spider-like legs. It was a sight straight out of a nightmare, and they could move with astonishing speed. She felt an urge to scream at the crowd in the street, but she feared that doing so would reveal her hiding spot, prompting the creatures to pursue her. From her vantage point, she witnessed the horrifying scene as those monsters decimated some individuals while the rest fled in panic. 

 One of those creatures was pursuing the ones that had fled, while the remaining one, scanned the street with its large eye. She inhaled deeply and cautiously ascended the stairs, her hand resting on the dagger's sheath. She had left her backpack on the couch. As she peered into each room, she discovered nothing of significance. She suddenly heard a noise. Gingerly, she made her way to a room with a closed door. A floorboard let out a soft creak beneath her feet. Pausing, she held her breath and twisted the doorknob. As she pushed the door open, she spotted a man sprawled out on a twin bed. Glancing around, she realized it was a child's room. 

She approached him and took a position next to him, gripping the dagger tightly looking down, curious about his identity. "How can anyone possibly sleep here?" she wondered. Pulling up a chair beside the bed, she settled in, her gaze fixed on him, debating whether to rouse him.

 "How could he have slept through the screams from outside? He must be completely worn out," she thought. As she gazed at him, he seemed oddly familiar to her. He shifted to his side unexpectedly, and she hoped he would awaken, but he remained asleep. Gently, she touched his forehead. "He feels warm. I wonder if he has a fever," she pondered. Recalling the almond water she had packed; she quietly made her way downstairs to retrieve it. The vast, dark night outside filled her with dread.

“I’m not sure dawn is ever going to arrive,” she murmured, concern etched on her face. She picked up her backpack and headed upstairs. As she stepped into the room, she saw him gradually waking up.  

“Hey,” she said gently, catching him off guard. He sat up and asked, “Who are you?” His voice was faint and filled with apprehension. She paused for a moment, let out a sigh, and said, “I’m not one of those crazy people, so don’t worry.” He propped himself up and looked at her intently. She settled into the chair beside the bed and rummaged through her backpack, pulling out a half-full bottle of almond water. That was the last of her almond water stash. He hesitated for a moment when she handed him the water bottle but eventually took it from her. After a sip, he grimaced and asked, "What is this?"

 “It’s almond water; it should make you feel better,” she replied. He rolled his eyes and finished it off, leaving the bottle empty. Aleena was naturally kind, but sometimes it was a bit much. “Do you have any more?” he asked.

"Not enough, we need to look for more," she said softly. He attempted to get up but felt a wave of dizziness. Aleena supported him until he steadied himself. "We should get out of here," she proposed. He agreed with a nod. They made their way downstairs and took a quick look out the window. "It seems like the coast is clear for now, but I really think we should stay close," Aleena suggested.

The man then asked, "How did you end up here?"

She replied, "I was at Comic-Con when I stumbled upon this ordinary yellow door, and after stepping through, I found myself in a," she hesitated, recalling her journey through the terrifying yellow maze. "Let’s just say I’m thankful to have made it this far." He asked about the water, and she explained, "I discovered some bottles in a wooden crate." The dim light in the house, mostly from the fading streetlights, made it hard for her to see his face clearly, but she was sure that once she did, she would recognize him. They cautiously stepped out of the front door. She mentioned that she had only encountered the terrifying one-eyed creatures wandering the streets, but she suspected there were even more horrible ones lurking around. As she recounted how one of those odd creatures had tugged at her hair while she peered into a puddle, he listened intently. He then admitted he had never ventured into that level before, having only explored the yellow maze, and a brick-and-concrete labyrinth filled with electrical devices in the rooms before arriving here. Although she was curious to learn more about him, she decided to hold off on further questions until they were in a safer place, as an unsettling feeling crept over her, making her sense they were being watched.

 "I can't help but wonder if that one-eyed thing is keeping an eye on us," she pondered aloud. In the dim light, she caught a clearer glimpse of his face; he had a five o'clock shadow, pale skin likely from being sick, and was dressed in a black blazer and matching pants, suggesting he had come from a meeting or maybe a party. His hazel eyes radiated warmth, almost relieved to find someone to talk to amidst the madness of the suburbs. They continued walking down the street, the eerie silence occasionally broken by distant sounds of creatures, prompting them to dash away from the noise. "This dreadful place seems to stretch on forever," he remarked.

 "It’s similar to the other levels, but I’m sure there’s an exit somewhere," Aleena said, taking a moment to catch her breath. She drew her dagger from its sheath, catching the man's attention. "Where did you get that?" he asked.

 "I found it, and it’s quite useful. Without a weapon, it’s much tougher to fight your way through," she replied. He nodded in understanding, and she smiled as they continued their journey. Suddenly, they heard a howl from behind that sounded like a wolf but had a strangely human quality to it.

As they turned, a horrifying creature that seemed to be a mix of human/wolf, almost looking like a werewolf, but not quite. It lunged at them. Aleena madly stabbed at it a few times with her dagger, kicking at it too, causing it to hesitate for a brief moment. Seizing the opportunity, the man fiercely kicked the beast away and grabbed Aleena's hand, urging her to run.

 “It won’t be long before it catches up!” he yelled as they dashed toward a nearby house, slamming the door behind them. Leaning against the door, they suddenly felt a strange shift in reality, their bodies spinning as they squeezed their eyes shut. When they opened them again, they found themselves standing in a vast wheat field, the door nowhere in sight. They tried to balance themselves as the ordeal made them feel dizzy. Staring at each other in disbelief, Aleena finally recognized him. “Eli Marsh,” she muttered, her voice filled with surprise.