The Backrooms: Descent into Madness (REWRITE IN PROGRESS)

Chapter XI - I'm On Mission.

When I arrived back at camp, my mind was still a flutter with thoughts of Tahlia. I shook her out of my mind for the sake of moving forward, still hoping I would see her again sometime soon. The town was less busy today, supporting my belief that yesterday everyone was busy worrying about the supply issue. I entered the Expeditions Tent, revealing Judy and a few other Expeditions operatives getting ready for whatever Expedition was ahead. Doc was also present, packing medical supplies and food. Judy approached me with a serious look on her face.

"We're going to Level 0, read up on it. We're going to perform scientific testing on the liquid in the carpets, break a few walls to see what's inside, and figure out if the mold is potentially killable. For the record I don't trust you, I've lost many friends to Smilers and I'm not totally convinced that Logan is the one in charge anymore." Without another word, she turned and went back to packing.

I clipped my utility belt around my waist, checking my 1911, and I strapped the gas mask around my belt as well. When we were prepared to leave, Judy held a hand up and thereafter made it into a fist. We all then set out, catching many stares from the citizens of Camp. Some saw that I was with the seven-man squad and cheered, "Logan's going with them! The mission is an assured success!" They had so much belief in me. I can't let them down.

We walked into the halls, slipping on our gas masks and holding our firearms pointed at the ground. I was worried about Judy and her position regarding me being on the team, but I didn't let it bother me. The officer who confirmed I was sane was with us too, and he seemed to have taken a liking to me. We chatted and joked as we walked through the halls, reminiscing in what little memories we had of our past lives. It was as if talking about it made the past seem more real, and your grasp on your old life could remain even if you'd never get it back. I don't know why, but I had taken to the belief that this place had no exit. Hell, even if it did, what were the chances of it ever being found?

Eventually, we came across a metal doorway that led to an observation chamber for some kind of experiment room. Down below the observation deck behind the bulletproof glass was a metal panel connected to some kind of massive array of magnets and wires. I looked at my CPS, which displayed instructions on how to activate it, calling it a "Threshold." I walked forward and carefully dialed in what my CPS displayed, flipping switches and turning diodes. Judy went to stop me, but the Officer held out a hand. "He knows what he's doing." Judy looked defiant, "That's what I'm worried about! What if he's dialing in coords for Level 2 or Level 7? Hell even Level !" The Officer looked at her with serious eyes, "Are you questioning my judgment?" Judy went silent. I finished dialing the coordinates and pulled the lever to the side of the console in front of me.

Down in the chamber, the lights went out. Red lights began flashing and the sound of pressurized hydraulics began to whir. Wires turned red, to orange, to yellow as the temperature of the assembly rose drastically. One side of the assembly burst into flames, sending me into panic. "I did it correctly though!" The central metal panel began to glow white and rippled, and a pure white hole appeared in the center. The hole widened as the glow increased in intensity. The room began to shake as a loud beeping began to ring out. Suddenly, that hole widened to the size of the whole panel, and the shaking stopped. The lights went out and the whirring slowly decreased in pitch until it ceased. The white panel settled into a clear doorway, revealing yellow light from beyond.

"Thank god, usually these rickety things rip themselves apart." The Officer said with relief. I looked at him with a sweat drop, "Could have said that earlier when I was freaking out." He laughed and patted my shoulder, "Let's get down there." We left the observation deck from a service elevator to the left of the console I used. When the doors opened, we were in the chamber that housed the Threshold. We all stood before it, checking our gear for a final time. I looked into the yellow hallways beyond the threshold and felt a serenity. Even through the hum buzz of the ridiculously loud lights, the yellow hallways seemed welcoming as if they had been expecting me. Or maybe the housed someone who was expecting me.

I was the first one through the threshold, immediately bombarded with the aroma of mildew and damp carpet. The loud buzz of the lights seemed incessant, and the lighting was inconsistent, with many dark areas being present along with the light ones. Its was a perfect place for an ambush predator, that was what came to my mind first. I looked at my CPS as the other six came through the wall the Threshold was set in, looking carefully at the log of Level 0. This is apparently where most people end up after falling. "Ahh home sweet home." Doc jested as the other five laughed in agreement. "Did ya miss me you shit bag?" The Officer called out into the hallways. I found their antics amusing.

We walked a little ways into Level 0 after placing a beacon in front of the threshold, before making a stop in the middle of a "clearing" where there was a wide gap in the walls sort of like a glade in a maze. Doc and the other three who I didn't know the names of set about taking samples of the carpet using vacuums and by cutting away parts of the carpet that revealed the moldy but strangely hardy wood beneath. We took a sample of the wood as well which oddly revealed even more wood. Me, Judy, and Officer Aiden, as I had learned was his name, patrolled the area to maintain security. We rinsed and repeated this process many times. The sampling took most of the day since they wanted a large variety which meant large distances of travel. I felt very uneasy due to the low visibility of anything from a distance, but I got over it eventually by simply accepting it as a feature of this place. It's designed against us, so we have to compensate. That night, we set camp on the moist carpet in one of the dark zones.