It has been three weeks since Aleena last ventured into the infinite expanse of the grocery level. While she hasn’t gone to that level lately, she has noticed several buildings have vanished, and a few homes have also disappeared, including one that was still occupied. The unsettling changes prompted the locals to organize a town hall meeting that very day, drawing a large crowd of concerned residents eager to discuss the implications of these losses. The atmosphere was charged with anxiety and curiosity as neighbors exchanged worried glances, each person grappling with the uncertainty of what these developments might mean for their community and its future.
Syra stepped up to the podium, her presence commanding the attention of the gathered crowd. With a warm yet serious tone, she began, “Hello neighbors, I realize that our town meetings are typically planned well in advance but today is different. There are pressing matters at hand that require our immediate attention and discussion.” Her words hung in the air, signaling the importance of the moment and the urgency of the issues that needed to be addressed. The audience shifted in their seats, curiosity piqued, as they prepared to hear what was unfolding in their community.
Syra mentioned that Aleena had observed some homes and buildings mysteriously disappearing. When called upon to share her observations, Aleena recounted her experiences, detailing the unsettling moments when she noticed structures that had simply vanished from sight.
After she spoke, she returned to her seat beside Brian and Mary, while Eli sat next to Rick and Molly, one row behind her. Mary then approached the podium to share her story. Once everyone had finished speaking, Syra once again addressed the audience.
“It’s hard to say what’s really happening, but if you notice anything unusual, don’t hesitate to speak up. If some of you feel the need to leave because you’re worried about disappearing, that’s your call. Just remember, if you choose to venture beyond the wheat fields, you’ll encounter challenges and hidden dangers at every turn."
Some people nodded in agreement while others remained quiet. Aleena had made her decision; the next time she visited the endless grocery store; she would find a way to slip away. In the meantime, she plans to move out of her current building.
Into a one-story house that appeared ready for occupancy, Aleena noticed no strange occurrences inside it, at least none that she was aware of. With only a few belongings to gather, she quickly packed what she could into her backpack and placed it beside the sofa. As she settled onto the sofa, lost in thought, a knock at the door interrupted her contemplation, Eli stopped by.
“Aleena, it’s me,”
he said. She recognized his voice and sighed, knowing he was likely there to
convince her to stay. They weren't married, and she had no plans on it either.
Their bond had
formed during their shared experiences navigating the Backrooms, a connection
that felt unique yet complicated. She recognizes him for who he truly is, a
stark contrast to the rest of the town, who remain unaware of his real
identity. After a second knock, Aleena stood up and opened the door. “Eli, what
brings you here?” she asked as she let out a frustrated sigh.
“Are you planning
to move out?”
“Yeah, I’ll be staying with Mary. She said she
doesn’t trust living in this building anymore.”
Eli's expression
was filled with concern as he entered the room. Aleena let out a sigh and
welcomed him in, and they settled onto the couch together.
"I
understand, but I really wish you would think it over," Eli said, gently
resting his hand on her knee. In response, she placed her hand over his,
offering a soft smile, her warm and compassionate gaze meeting his. He leaned
in for a kiss, but she instinctively pulled away after their lips met.
She reassured him,
saying, “I’ll just be down the street. I won’t be far.”
He nodded, a grin appearing on his face. Later, Aleena packed up her few belongings and moved into the house where she and Mary would be roommates. While she anticipated Eli would come by for visits, she had no idea he was considering moving in as well.
Aleena was careful
not to reveal the intimate relationship she had with Eli, uncertain of how Mary
would react to the news. She felt a twinge of concern as she subtly tried to
dissuade Mary from accepting Eli's offer to move in with them. When Mary pressed
her for reasons, asking why she thought it might not be a good idea, Aleena let
out a resigned sigh.
She replied, “I
just thought you’d prefer to live with other women.” This comment was meant to
steer the conversation away from the complexities of her own situation while
also planting a seed of doubt in Mary’s mind about the arrangement.
Mary glanced at
Aleena with curiosity before saying, “Aleena, I’m into men.” It dawned on
Aleena that her earlier remark had been misinterpreted.
“Oh, I didn’t mean
it like that,” she quickly clarified. “I’m not gay.”
Mary chuckled and
replied, “No worries, I kind of assumed you weren’t, but honestly, I’d be
flattered if you were.”
They both burst
into laughter. Mary joked about her looks, saying, “I might not be the
prettiest girl around, but I wouldn't turn down anyone who found me attractive,
regardless of whether they were a man or a woman.”
Their laughter
continued as Aleena began unpacking her things in her new room. The room felt
smaller, a stark contrast to her spacious bedroom back home in the other world,
which now seemed like a fading memory. The one-story house features three
bedrooms, a single bathroom, a kitchen, and a modest living room. It wasn’t
anything fancy or elaborate; it embodied the typical charm of a 1950s home, one
of the few still standing strong, with electricity still flowing through its
wires. It always piqued Aleena's curiosity. She often found herself wondering
how some structures in town managed to have power. It’s just another mystery
that will likely remain unsolved.
As Aleena, Mary,
and Eli enjoyed a light dinner in their new home, their conversation meandered
through various topics. Aleena, then asked, “I hope you don’t mind me asking,
but what other levels of the Backrooms have you encountered?” After a brief
pause, Mary took a sip of her almond water, nodding thoughtfully. “Before I
arrived here, I found myself in a hotel that seemed to stretch infinitely
upward, with floors that never seemed to end.” She hesitated, gathering her
thoughts before continuing. “It was a bizarre and disorienting experience. I
had no weapons, and when a death moth began to pursue me, I fled in sheer
panic. I stumbled into an empty room and quickly locked the door behind me, my
heart racing as I sat on the bed, fixated on the door, bracing for the moment
it might burst open. When the relentless banging finally ceased, I cautiously
rose to inspect my surroundings, checking every nook and cranny for hidden
threats. The thought of opening the closet door filled me with dread, as I
imagined a creature lurking within, ready to drag me into the abyss. To ensure
my defenses, I wedged a chair under the closet doorknob, ensuring that nothing
could jump out. To my astonishment, I discovered that this level had
electricity; a working phone sat on the nightstand, a rare glimmer of normalcy
in an otherwise chaotic environment. I attempted to reach out to my husband, my
heart racing with the hope that he would pick up the phone. Instead, I was met
with a disheartening click, followed by silence.”
Mary let out a
weary sigh as she recounted her experience, revealing that she had spent
several days confined to that room. “I finally summoning the courage to open
the door and peered cautiously into the deserted hallways. With each step, I
moved deliberately, avoiding the windows and remaining vigilant for any lurking
entities that might be watching me.”
Aleena, intrigued by Mary’s story, asked,
“What types of creatures did you encounter in that ominous level?”
Eli, sitting
nearby, felt a twinge of unease at her curiosity, suddenly realizing that her
interest might stem from a desire to leave her the comforts of the town. He
shifted uncomfortably in his chair, the weight of the moment pressing down on
him.
“As I stepped through the door, I found myself on the grocery level, where a group of people had discovered me and brought me here.” A distant look shadowed her face as she reflected, “It feels like ages ago.” She took a sip of her drink, while Eli and Aleena exchanged glances. Aleena considered the unpredictable nature of the doors, realizing the importance of staying alert as she navigated through the various levels. Later, after their meal, Aleena joined Mary in the kitchen, marveling at the town's enduring electricity, a sentiment that Mary readily echoed. Despite the eternal afternoon outside, and the endless fog, they instinctively knew when it was time to rest, so they settled in for the night.
Eli was on duty as
a watchguard for a few hours, unaware that Aleena had quietly slipped away,
leaving a brief note for Mary and a more detailed one for him. Her heart raced
as she approached the house with the door, a mix of fear and excitement
coursing through her. With a backpack filled with essentials, a weapon holster,
and determination, she pressed on. Meanwhile, Eli, stationed in one of the
lookout towers, felt a sense of unease wash over him. He scanned the area
meticulously, but everything seemed normal. Relaxing, he thought of Aleena, a
soft smile creeping onto his face as he reassured himself, convinced she
wouldn’t actually leave. “She won’t leave,” he said to himself.
Hours later, a new
guard arrived to take over the watch. He headed to the house where he was
staying, only to find that Mary was absent and Aleena was nowhere in sight. As
he searched the room, he examined her belongings, and just as he was about to
leave, something caught his eye, a letter resting on top of the drawer. Eli
picked it up, opened it, and began to read the message addressed to him.
He whispered a quiet "no" to himself, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. In a rush, he made his way to Mary’s room, where he found a similar envelope resting on her pillow. He hesitated, knowing instinctively that it contained a farewell message. A wave of heat rushed to his cheeks as he turned away, retreating to the living room where he hastily grabbed a backpack and a few weapons he could manage to carry. Without a second thought, he bolted out of the house and sprinted down the street, his heart racing. He paused at the Diner, where the familiar scent of coffee and breakfast filled the air.
Molly
looked up from behind the counter, her expression curious. “Eli, what brings
you here?” she asked, wiping her hands on her apron. “Did you see Aleena?” he
pressed, urgency lacing his voice. Molly nodded, her brow furrowing slightly.
“She stopped by about an hour ago, ordered scrambled eggs with toast. She
seemed a bit down, though. When I asked her what was wrong, she just shook her
head and said it was nothing.” Eli felt a surge of anxiety wash over him.
“Molly, I need to find her, and I might not come back,” he said, his voice
thick with emotion. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek, his
heart heavy with regret. “Forgive me for being an ass,” he said, sincerely.
Molly stood in the doorway, her brow furrowed in confusion as she watched him turn away, his silhouette gradually fading into the distance. He made his way back to the house where he is staying and gathered necessities for the journey. He then went to the house that marked the entrance to the grocery level a place he had both anticipated and dreaded. With each step, a sense of finality washed over him; he understood that crossing the threshold meant there would be no turning back. As he stepped into the shadowy interior of the house, his gaze was immediately captured by the eerie sight of dark vines slithering along one wall, their presence both strange and foreboding. These enigmatic tendrils seemed to emerge from nowhere, twisting and curling in a way that suggested a life of their own. The dim light cast unsettling shadows, enhancing the feeling that something unnatural was at play, leaving him with an unsettling sense of curiosity mixed with apprehension about what lay ahead. Looking around, he noticed that the structure was beginning the stages of transformation into oblivion. A chilling reminder of the house's impending fate. Despite the unease that settled in his stomach, he felt a surge of determination. “Aleena had been right all along,” he said to himself. With a deep breath, he steeled himself and pushed open the door, stepping into the unknown.
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