Chapter 9: The Colony

 

Eli Marsh and Aleena completely lost track of time while they mingled with the locals. When they first arrived, Aleena noticed that the residents had constructed a wall around the community using metal sheets, bricks and wood. The metal sheets, standing tall at heights between 10 and 25 feet, looked like the kind used for aluminum roofing. They were supported by robust wooden poles anchored deep into the ground, with large stones stacked in front to enhance their stability. Despite their rusty and weathered appearance, they effectively formed a fortress-like barrier. The fortress had an outer ring, and then there was an inner ring before you could enter the community. Aleena noticed several towers, where there was someone standing watch.

She asked if they had ever faced any creatures trying to break in. Syra answered, “Yes, but our defenses have been strong enough to keep them away. We do get raiders sometimes, and we’ve dealt with them, even kill one or two if things get out of hand.” 

“Wow,” Aleena mused. Syra has been teaching Aleena how to handle a crossbow and a firearm. 

“We usually avoid using pistols or homemade bombs, but if it comes down to it, it’s either us or the creatures,” Syra explained while showing how to position the crossbow.

Syra mentioned, “While you might not see much action during your stay, the creatures don’t appear all the time. However, when they do show up, we’re usually ready for them, which is why we have watchers in place.”

“Watchers?” Aleena asked.

 “Yes, the men stationed in the towers, are always on alert,” Syra replied.

“Do the goblin-like creatures ever attack?” Aleena pressed.

 “Occasionally, but we usually manage to fend them off,” Syra reassured her, noticing the unease in Aleena’s eyes. “It’s uncommon for them to venture this far. We’re more likely to encounter them when we go out to gather wheat for bread.”

She gave Aleena’s shoulder a comforting pat and smiled. As Aleena absorbed Syra's words, she realized that her stay here was not meant to be permanent. Deep down, she longed to return home, missing her friends and family dearly. No matter how long it took, she was determined to find a way back.

After two weeks, Aleena started to acclimate to the rhythms of life in the community. She documents her time in a slightly weathered notebook she found, marking the weeks that have gone by. Enjoying leisurely walks, she relishes the opportunity to meet new people and engage in conversations. While she occasionally spends time with Eli, her main companion is Syra, and together they explore the abandoned houses that the community leaders have overlooked.

In one particular house, Aleena noticed a balcony jutting out from the living room wall, yet it seemed completely inaccessible. There were no stairs leading up to it, and its position was alarmingly close to the ceiling. Adding to the house's strangeness, a set of stairs were warped in an odd manner, rendering them nearly impossible to navigate without a serious effort to climb. The overall atmosphere of the house left Aleena feeling both confused and a bit on edge. 

“That’s so strange,” she mused as she gazed at the interior. It has been two days since Aleena's exploration of the abandoned houses alongside Syra. As Aleena adjusts to the community, she learned that many years ago, the first settlers of this forsaken town recognized the power of community and banded together to create a small but thriving colony. This revelation struck Aleena profoundly, as it highlighted humanity's remarkable ability to adapt to even the most unusual circumstances. She was assigned a room in a charming, vintage three-story building that exuded the character of the 1930s. The architecture, with its intricate details and nostalgic charm, made her feel as though she had stepped back in time, adding to the sense of wonder and possibility that surrounded her in this unique place.

She is living alone in a cozy studio apartment and is doing her best to adapt to the circumstances. Adjacent to the building where Aleena resides, there is another building that is used as a hospital. It has four floors and enough rooms to meet the community's needs, although not many require it unless they sustain serious injuries during their scouting missions or while patrolling the outer rim. The community is supported by two doctors and three nurses but some of the women are currently undergoing training to provide assistance at the hospital if needed but considering that almond water provides magical properties, it’s rare that anyone gets sick.

The bathrooms are quite small in the building where Aleena lives, but they come with a sink and toilet with no water running through the pipes, as expected. The tub is made of enamel-coated cast iron and somewhat clean. The room that Aleena is staying in is somewhat tidy, which made Aleena feel a bit more comfortable, but she still chooses not to sit in the tub, instead she takes a sponge bath by standing in the tub, then she pours a gallon of filtered almond water over herself while lathering up with a bar of soap. It’s the best that she can do.

 In the community, residents rely on almond water collected in large metal buckets during the rare rain showers. This valuable resource is primarily used for bathing and personal care, with each person receiving a set number of gallons to ensure everyone has enough for their daily needs. Careful management of this water reflects the community's commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness, making each drop count in their daily routines.

Almond drinking water is distributed in six packs, poured into empty glass milk bottles. Each person can only possess three packs per week depending on the amount of rain gathered in large amounts. This process not only ensures that everyone has access to almond water but also fosters a sense of community. Aleena has often pondered why almond water is the primary beverage in the Backrooms, but that remains an enigma that might never be solved.

It’s been almost a month since Aleena and Eli arrived, and both are doing well. Eli Marsh resides in the same building as Aleena, though his room is on the third floor. There seems to be quite a few people living in that building too.

Eli seems to be integrating well into the community and has no plans to return to his former life. Although he has yet to talk about it with Aleena, he will do so in time.

That day, the community threw a small party at the town hall, to welcome newcomers and to celebrate life. There was a lot of food and music. The tunes came from speakers connected to an old turntable that seemed to be from the 1950s. Aleena thought it was really cool that someone had managed to locate a turntable, speakers, and records. They probably found them in one of the houses and brought them to the community town hall. In a previous conversation, Syra explained to Aleena that when the town showed up in the Backrooms, it just came as is. She mentioned that items tend to pop up out of thin air in the Backrooms and when they appear they intend to use them. Aleena noticed that all the buildings and houses in the town appeared to be stuck in the 1950s, however some buildings look older. She found it intriguing and promised herself to dig deeper into its history later. She frequently pondered whether the town's first inhabitants were transported along with the town.

"The Backrooms," Aleena murmured softly. "I thought it was merely an online story or a creepypasta," she clarified to Eli, taking a sip of punch that had a subtle almond flavor. They observed as the people reveled in the festivities. The punch was crafted with almond water and Kool-Aid packets, Aleena made a sour face as she swallowed it. As people chatted and swayed to the music, Aleena stood out in her stunning outfit. She donned a yellow floral hippie-style blouse, elegantly tucked into a long denim skirt. Her black velvet Mary Jane shoes fit comfortably on her feet. The outfit she put together didn’t exactly scream 1950s nostalgia, but it was a spontaneous choice made from whatever she could find at the local thrift store just the day before. As she rummaged through a box of lost and found items, she encountered a colorful mix of garments from various decades. She couldn’t help but wonder who the clothes belonged to. 

She asked Syra about the clothes and Syra mentioned that when scouts go out to search for food and other necessities, some of them bring back clothes that they find in various crates and cardboard boxes. 

Eli's outfit made him appear quite dashing. He donned a short-sleeved, pastel blue button-up shirt paired with slacks and black shoes. His hair was neatly styled, though he still had some stubble on his face. Eli looked over at Aleena. "Wow, you look beautiful," he praised, admiring her appearance. She blushed and looked away. A faint smile appeared on her lips.

“I found the clothes in a huge lost and found box at that thrift store down the street.”

“Me too, I also found my clothes there. They obviously have no clue who the original owners are, but it’s great that they can provide newcomers with the necessities they need.”

Once again, Eli’s gaze roamed over her appearance, making her feel a bit awkward.

"I was curious if you’d be interested in a dance," he asked. Aleena was surprised but figured that a single dance wouldn’t harm. They swayed to an old tune called, A Summer Place. 

A young man, roughly the same age as Aleena, glanced at her shyly. However, she was oblivious to his gaze, and Eli was eager for another dance with her. 

As he mingled with the crowd, he found his way to Aleena. Hesitating slightly, he introduced himself, "Hi, I’m Brian." Dressed in an olive-green button-up shirt and black slacks, he exuded a certain charm, enhanced by his bushy brows and striking blueish-green eyes.

"Oh, hello, I’m Aleena," she responded warmly, shaking his hand. Meanwhile, Eli, who had been deep in conversation with another man, caught sight of their interaction. A pang of jealousy surged within him, prompting him to excuse himself and approached them.

"Hi, I’m Eli Marsh," he said as he introduced himself to the young man. Brian extended his hand for a shake. “I apologize, Sir, but I was hoping to speak with your daughter, if that’s alright." Eli felt a twinge of offense, and Aleena caught the look in his eyes as they conversed.

"Actually, Eli isn’t my father; we just happened to end up together." After reflecting on her words, she realized that her statement didn’t quite convey what she intended. Her cheeks turned red.

"Yep, I get it. The first time I wandered into the Backrooms, I felt completely lost, scared and alone. Fortunately, I came across a middle-aged man named Chris, who was also trying to find his way out of the yellow maze,” he pointed at the man with slightly curly salt-and pepper hair, medium built and has a five o’clock shadow. She noticed a gold wedding band on his left ring finger. His eyes are a shade of grey-blue, and he is somewhat taller than Eli.

“His story is incredible; you really should have a conversation with him,” Brian suggested. 

“What year was it before you ended up in this twisted dimension?” asked Aleena.

“I believe it was 1980. I was 16 and on my way to my friend’s house on my bike. There was a short tunnel that I had to go through before getting to his neighborhood street,” he paused. “The tunnel became dark, and it wasn’t dusk yet. When I went through, I ended up peddling straight into a wall. When I looked around, I found myself in the Backrooms.” Aleena thought about what he said for a moment. “We ended up going through a yellow door and ended up in the maze,” Eli said.

"Well, we’re still in the process of getting to know the people here, and I’m eager to learn more about the history of this town, I’ll go to the library tomorrow," Aleena remarked.

"Great, the library holds everything you need. Each of us has contributed to the town's history by documenting our personal stories," Brian shared.

"Aleena and I will join you tomorrow," Eli added. Aleena looked puzzled, her brow furrowing as she wondered why Eli appeared to be dismissing Brian.

“Meet me at the library tomorrow after lunch. I think you know where it’s at.” Aleena nodded and smiled. Brian and Aleena enjoyed a dance or two while Eli mingled with the men and women at the gathering. 

Everyone in the town is at least over 18 years old. There are no kids present. Brian is 20, and there are a handful of other young adults in their 20s as well; the majority are over 30. The oldest resident is a man in his 50s, who knows more about the town’s history than most people. Aleena remains unaware of Eli's age, but it doesn't really matter; they both found themselves in the Backrooms and journeyed together as fate intended. 

One of the men presented two bottles of wine, mentioning that he had obtained them from the wine cellar in one of the restaurants in the town.

"Let’s get the party started!" He exclaimed and gestured another man to help him with a wooden box filled with several wine bottles. The man who brought the wine bottles, is in his 30s, sporting a ruggedly handsome face, short black hair, and captivating hazel eyes. While looking around the room, Aleena sees that most of the guests are paired up, with just a few, including Aleena and Eli, still single.

"Each month, we honor Life and the fact that we've made it through another day in the Backrooms is amazing," Syra remarked as she walked over to Eli and Aleena.

“Numerous individuals have decided to stay and carry on with their lives in this location, yet just a few chose to leave,” she paused and added, “They vanished without a trace, never to be seen or heard from again.”

Aleena took a moment before asking, “Did they leave alone or in a group?"

Syra looked at her and replied, "A few went alone, but the other three set off together. There were two men and a young woman, about your age. Kyle and I were wondering if they ever made it to another colony."

"Are there other colonies in the Backrooms as well?" Aleena asked.

"Yes, there are. Kyle and I actually came from one of those other colonies. We were part of the raiders, which is how we know a lot about them and their methods. As you know, this town wasn't always here; it actually materialized out of nowhere in the wheat fields."

"What can you tell us about this town?" Eli asked. 

“Well, there is more info about it at the library if you wish to read more. There is at least one original inhabitant of the town, but he doesn’t attend the parties, he’s kind of a recluse.”

Aleena looked at Eli. “It looks like Kyle is looking for me, I’ll see you guys later,” she winked at them as she turned and walked away. 

“I am curious about this town, I wonder how it suddenly appeared and what happened to the original inhabitants,” Aleena said as she took a sip from the glass of wine that Eli and she picked up from a table where other glasses were set. A woman in her late 30s, sporting long blonde hair and brown eyes, who was a bit on the heavier side, was arranging the wine glasses on the table. 

Aleena realized that the wine had a really rich flavor to it, especially since the label indicated it was from around 1910. As the party started to wind down, Aleena and Eli exchanged their goodnights with other people and made their way back to the building where their rooms were. Eli grabbed two bottles of wine to take with him.

"What do you think? Should we enjoy a little nightcap?" he proposed with a mischievous smile.

Aleena yawned, "I’m not sure, I feel like I’ve had my fill." She chuckled.

"Oh, come on, just for a little while," Eli urged playfully.

Aleena sighed, "Alright, but only for a brief moment."

They headed to the building where they reside. As Aleena stepped into his room, he secured the door behind him.

"I can’t believe that the case of bottles Josef brought were nearly gone," Aleena said with a laugh.

"This is some great stuff," Eli added, taking a sip from the bottle. Aleena agreed, recalling the time she had wine at her cousin's wedding with her friends. They all got drunk, and the next morning, Aleena woke up nursing a hangover.

"Um, Eli, if we found a way to go back to our world, would you be interested in doing so?"

Eli pondered her question for a moment before responding bluntly, "No."

"But why not?"

"There are a few things I've done that I really regret, and I don't want to go back to that," he mentioned, gulping hard as he took another drink of the wine. The expression on his face showed his remorse. Aleena furrowed her brow and nodded in agreement.

“It appears that the others are unaware of who Eli is, so it’s understandable that he wishes to remain here, especially with all his troubles back home,” she mused. 

A moment of silence passed between them, and then she continued, “I get it,” glancing at him, she added, “But I want to return home. I can’t establish my home here. I want to be with my friends, my family, and my cat,” a soft smile grazed her face as pleasant memories surfaced of her loved ones. Eli nodded and took another sip from the bottle. He handed the bottle to her, and she took another sip. They sat on the only couch in his room, chatting. "How old are you, really?" Aleena asked. Eli hesitated before responding. 

"I’m 45,” he watched her reaction, concerned that she might reconsider spending time with him due to his age. "And what about you?" Eli swiftly redirected the focus away from himself.

"I’m 21, but my birthday is in two weeks, so I’ll be turning 22. Time here feels different compared to where we came from. I can’t help but wonder if my birthday has already passed." Her brow furrowed in thought as she pondered this idea. “I started marking down in a composition notebook the number of weeks we’ve been here.”

“Why bother,” he said.

“It matters to me,” she said as she took another sip from the bottle. They continued their conversation for a bit longer, but as they both finished a bottle, and started another one. A wave of lethargy washed over them. Aleena didn't realize she had dripped some wine on her skirt, but Eli did. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He smiled broadly and carefully picked her up, placed her on his bed before reaching for his cotton pajama shorts. He took off her skirt and dressed her in the shorts.

After that, he tucked her in with the blankets. He let out a yawn and stretched his body. He longed to lie beside her, yet he hesitated, not wanting to intrude.

 "You look so beautiful," he whispered while observing her as she slept. He made his way to the couch and laid down. It seems that this specific level of the Backrooms is only ensnared at midday, yet the body naturally knows when it needs to rest; indeed, everyone in the town follows a particular routine, which is why most are currently asleep while the guards rotate their watch with the next shift.

 (Images are for the readers entertainment)

Chapter 10