The Backrooms: Descent into Madness (REWRITE IN PROGRESS)

Chapter XXIV - You go and I stay.

We were caught in our tracks between the controlled Smiler and the demonic SADIST. I quickly put myself between Morgan and SADIST, enveloping myself in Smiler Mass with a signature chuckle. "I FINALLY found you." It said with satisfied malevolence. I glared at the creature menacingly, but its grin didn't falter. It seemed genuinely happy to see me. "YOU ALMOST outran me... BUT COMING HERE?" It mocked. "YOU know THAT I LURK in Level 2. BUT YOU chose to come HERE?" I grit my teeth. It was right, I was stupid to come here. The Smiler behind us stood like a statue, waiting for its next command from SADIST. "You are not incorrect. You may have me, but you will not be leaving with Morgan." I said as my arms formed blades. SADIST's eyes narrowed in glee. "I AM the one MAKING THE terms." Its arms extended into blades and two shorter arms that also ended in blades extended from below its main arms. "Morgan, dodge the Smiler and run. Partygoers can't stand against Smilers, so for my sake and yours, run." She hesitated for a moment but nodded reluctantly. "I won't ALLOW IT," SADIST interjected.

The other Smiler leaped at Morgan, but she managed to roll under it and began to follow the exit signs with the Sprinter close on her tail. "Let's dance," I said raising my bladed arms. SADIST smiled unnaturally wide and laughed. "Let's." It dashed forward at speeds that rivaled my own, sending a spinning slash at my neck. I blocked it with my right blade and kicked it down the hall. It spun around and dug its four blades into the carpet, slowing its flight to a halt. I charged forward and sent a piercing thrust aimed at its head. It dashed out of the way and rebounded off of one of the hotel doors, mirroring my attack. With no time to dodge or deflect, I braced for the damage. Its blade plunged through my agape mouth, to the back of my head. When it pulled back I punched it in the face and sent it down the hall with a shockwave. Black Ichor spilled from my jaw, but it was already beginning to repair. "This is a fight I can't win." I realized, now knowing my only option was to run. Down the hall, a bright red light glared from the rubble of the wall I kicked SADIST through. My blood ran cold as the light grew in intensity and suddenly vanished. A moment seemed to pause like space itself couldn't keep up. A trail of black. A resounding slice. My torso, severed from my legs, fell to the ground. And in an instant, my face turned red. A black sphere materialized around me, a temporary defense, while I tried to reattach my legs. Desperate scrapes and scratches echoed across my temporary shield, but it held long enough. I leaped out of the dome and slashed upwards into SADIST's arm, severing one of its blades. I caught it before it hit the ground and kicked SADIST back down the hall. Without a second thought, I opened my mouth to an impossible angle and swallowed the blade. My mass pulsed as two more arms appeared at my sides, but unlike SADIST's they were full length. I didn't give him time to recover as I dashed away from the hall, giving chase to Morgan and the Sprinter.

I heard SADIST giving chase, it was screeching in anger. I could hear the walls beginning to crack, and the ceiling was creaking and groaning. It aimed to bring this level down on top of us! I stopped for only a moment and ducked, allowing SADIST to leap over me. I grabbed its legs and slammed it down onto the ground, before ripping off another of the smaller arms and swallowing it. SADIST once again swung in fury, sending its right arm through my chest. I ripped it out and leaped off of it, continuing my sprint down the hall. I was becoming faster and stronger, I could feel it. "Is this what you did SADIST? Did you eat your own kind?" I asked under my breath as my chest recovered. I turned a corner and saw the Sprinter rounding another corner in the distance. Filled with renewed vigor, I used two tendrils and slingshot myself down the hall and around the corner. Stabbing two blades into the back of the Sprinter, it screeched and fell forward on its face. I looked forward and saw... no. No.

She stood in a forest, by a tree with a small grave next to it. Perhaps a grave for an object. Her Partygoer tentacles retracted into her back, and she stood dumbfounded in the morning dew. I couldn't believe my eyes. The hallways seemed to abruptly open into the forest. I stood and reached my hand out of the hall, but I pulled away in fear. My Smiler mass began to dissolve. If I left the Complex, I would die surely. I looked at Morgan, and she looked at me. "Live for me, Morg." She looked at me with misty eyes but nodded slowly. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a quick drag. Suddenly, the hole disappeared, and I was once again left in the halls.

I turned and faced SADIST, who stared at me with a sickening smile. "NO reprieve FOR YOU." I laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it." Sadist went to slash at me again, but I warped away. I could hear its screech of anger for a split second before I reappeared in Camp. Alone. Again. I didn't speak to anyone and immediately went to my spot, finishing off the Newport while staring at the stars. With a final puff, I flicked the cigarette into the abyss and let the Smiler mass recede. I didn't cry, I had no more tears to shed. But really? This is the hand I must be dealt? The exit, waved before my face, and my best friend was allowed to leave with no consequences but I was so far beyond broken that I could not. I'd surely die... would that be better? To feel my organs be stripped of what held them together, to bleed out and end my misery in the cool morning dew? Perhaps. Perhaps not. I walked into the main chamber of the camp and found the assigned tent that I never used, and curled up in the fetal position inside it weeping silently.