Is something lurking within, or is it paranoia? (610 words)
Info
Check your closet next time, alright.
This article is written in Briiish English in case the writing confuses you.
Written by pnn wepm.
Originally made for Return to our Roots 2024, but had to be delayed by almost 2 years :(
Check out My Author Page for more.
A huge thank you to Astryx,
DrAkimoto, and dr-swaggfield does not match any existing user name for their crit. Another thanks to
DrAkimoto for the clear.
I also want to thank ForestIsWatching for convincing me to submit this for crit after it rotted in my sandbox for a year.
The theme used is Basic Black/White made by PrinceBun.
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The strange breeze from an unknown source graces your ears. The maze of endless hallways stretched as far as the eye can see, and as you take in your surroundings, this breeze snakes around you.
Disturbed, you look around frantically, wondering whether you are alone in this unnerving labyrinth. As far as you could tell, however, nothing was nearby. It must've been paranoia. It's always paranoia. Ever since you ended up in this infinite hellhole of abandoned places, your instincts have been on high alert.
Like most indoor levels in the Backrooms, you're exploring a run-down, abandoned maze of hallways. Without access to reliable information, you have no clue what level you're trapped in. But to your already traumatised mind, that doesn't matter. You don't want to make it worse by knowing. But then again, is it really better to not know?
Your trembling body hastily musters the strength to walk. The wooden floor creaks with each and every step you take…
Continuing the walk that never ends, the sounds of your footsteps continue echoing around. But then the floorboards' creaking comes to a halt as you turn a corner and face a door. It is an ornate entryway fixed to the tattered wallpaper, its surface smooth to the touch, the wood coated in pearly white paint, and it didn't appear out of place compared to an ordinary door.
This door catches your attention like a moth finding light, as in your journey throughout this array of halls, there had been no doors up until now. Could this be an exit, perhaps? A room with helpful resources? Or is there nothing behind it? Only one way to find out.
You grip the handle and attempt to yank it open. But it refuses to budge. It just stands there, unmoved. "Of course it's locked," you think to yourself. These oddities always are. But before you leave it alone for good, you decide to press your ear to the door to hear what's on the other side. And what you hear…
Something is in there. Something that's alive. Its steady heartbeat can be heard against the smooth door's surface, unmistakable. …or was it your own heartbeat, and the paranoia just kicked in at the wrong time? Whoever it belonged to, you're convinced that it wasn't your own. Hurriedly, you walk away from that anomaly, continuing the seemingly endless journey. You worry that you could have gone insane if you stayed.
You carry on your lengthy trip, turning a nearby corner to venture elsewhere. But not long after…
The lights go out on cue with the sudden crashing sound. As soon as the darkness reveals itself, fear snakes its way throughout your body. Amidst this terror, you silently backtrack towards the door, curiosity taking hold of you as if you were a puppet. The floor continues to creak as your ever-trembling body arrives at its destination. At the door, one lone, flickering light bulb hanging overhead illuminates the scene.
The door is wide open, surprisingly still attached to the hinges. Inside is a small room, just barely big enough for two people to fit inside standing up. It's a sawdust-coated wooden interior, with rough flooring and walls. But you swear that something was lurking within a moment ago, and you don't know what.
Then, out of nowhere, the sole light bulb illuminating your view suddenly extinguishes, plunging the last remaining spot into abyssal blackness.
Fear continues taking hold of your body within these dark halls. You cannot move; you're frozen in place from the immense fear alone. Terrible thoughts come in and out of your head at an alarming rate.
You turn around.
