Crimson Forest
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"Then" - Part One

"Do I just sit here?"

"Anywhere, Melody! My office is our space to relax right now… Don't feel pressured by this."


"Oh believe me, the last thing I feel is pressured right now? Getting away from Level 13 is a massive relief."

"It is for me too. I've never been good with field work, especially not when that work is in a field."

"Anyways, now you're sat, I think it'd be good to start at the start, right? What can you tell me about when it was first discovered?"


"Well, that was years ago, but I remember it well. It was my first ever field assignment…"


<Begin Recording at: 12:59AM>

Date: 30/01/15
Location: An unclaimed alleyway in Level 9.
Participants: Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Reid Harris, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals.

Melody Parker: Can we stop yet? My feet hurt like hell.

Reid Harris: What?

[With the rest of the group ahead of her, Melody Parker had stopped and lent herself against the wall panelling of an adjacent home to rest. Casey, Maxell, and Reid all looked over to her in some confusion, and whilst Justin did the same, he was the only one to approach her.]

Justin Zimals: Are you doing okay?

Melody Parker: Yeah! Yeah… Just not used to walking so much! I've crossed more levels than I have in… in a while.

Justin Zimals: Did you never go on many hiking trails as a kid or something?

Melody Parker: Uh… nope! I never did anything of the sort. I'm not very athletic.

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, that's pretty clear. Come on, our last expedition ended just this way.

Melody Parker: The last expedition where you got hounded at by the Church.

Casey Altman: Yeah, well this time we've got things to trade with for a safe passage!

Melody Parker: Will that work?

Justin Zimals: Well, I'm also here, to reason with them. Just in case.

Melody Parker: How do you know they won't just, like… kill you, Justin.

Justin Zimals: I have hope! Or, if I was a Church member, I have faith! Hah!

Maxwell Baldwin: Let's be honest too, if they kill Justin, they'll kill the rest of us. It won't be our problem anymore if something bad happens.

Melody Parker: Right… Lovely.

[Finding her mood suddenly changed, Melody shifted herself off of the wall and moved to rejoin with the rest of the group. Justin moved to the front of the group with Maxwell, and Casey stuck to the middle with Reid. Melody stuck to the back, holding the straps of her backpack as she tried to match their speed. As she tried to, Reid slowed himself down to match her speed and position in the group to speak to her.]

Reid Harris: Don't worry about not being able to catch up to us, alright? I'm glad we've got more varied people coming with.

Melody Parker: Yeah? Even if I'm not… the best?

Reid Harris: From what I've heard you're pretty good on the database?

Melody Parker: Oh, well… I suppose. But this isn't anything like that.

Reid Harris: Well, why did you decide to come with us?

Melody Parker: Just to try it, really? I've been helping write a lot of the levels that we discovered into proper pages or those Pending Approval things.

Reid Harris: So you wanted to see how the people on the front line actually did it, huh? Get in on the action?

Melody Parker: Yeah! Basically?

Reid Harris: Hey, that's cool! Admirable, too. I know most people take one step out of Level 1 and decide they never want to ever again, it's cool you've decided to?

Melody Parker: Oh, well um… thanks?

Reid Harris: It's just a shame it's usually not much more exciting than this. A lot of walking, with a lot of that walking being in places you already know, and whenever we find something new it's usually not long until we have to start running from it.

Melody Parker: Then… I suppose I better get my stamina up pretty soon?

Reid Harris: Tsh, don't worry about it. You'll be fine! The adrenaline'll hit if we run into an entity.

Maxwell Baldwin: That potential is escalating the more you two talk, by the way. You may want to can it before we hit a proper road again.

Reid Harris: Right, of course. Just stick with us, Mels, you'll be fine.

Melody Parker: I’ll trust you on that. Aren’t you ex-military?

Reid Harris: Heh. Sorta. Casey’s not, and I only went to a few training camp things for fun. Max is the one who’s done service. I don’t remember where.

Maxwell Baldwin: Afghanistan. I was a Lieutenant.

Casey Altman: Lovely… right where I used to live.

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, well-

Reid Harris: How about we don't do this, okay? Right, Justin?

Justin Zimals: Huh? Oh, yeah! Please don't fight, alright you guys? We're here on a mission, and we need to be at the top of our game. Let's put our differences aside.

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, so, you three…

[Maxwell's words trailed off, all while simultaneously raising both his hand and his eyebrows. His first finger met his lips, imitating a "shush" with his lips whilst giving the three a condescending look. Once he was sure they had the message, he fixed his attention back to the Justin. Casey found herself lost for words, stammering in defeat until they reached the end of the alleyway. It immediately opened out into a basic, two lane street with trees lining either side of the pavement. Behind the pavements were simple yet contemporary suburban homes with respectable enough front lawns. Of course, just like the alleyway they had come from, the sparse streetlights and pitch black sky made it incredibly difficult to see.]

Justin Zimals: So, Maxwell! Which way did you go last time, left or right?

Maxwell Baldwin: Left, the Church is down that way at the next intersection.

Casey Altman: Could I suggest going right, maybe? We don't have to speak to the Church if we don't want to.

[Silently, Maxwell Baldwin gave a cursory glance to his right, looking down the almost endless looking road that descended further and further into pitch darkness. Just out of the black, he could faintly make out a white glow, the unmistakable wicked grin of a Smiler.]

Maxwell Baldwin: Can't, no.

Casey Altman: Why not? Oh.

Maxwell Baldwin: Exactly. I don't want to use the repellent we're trading on those fuckers. Come on, let's go.

[After everyone took quick look in the same direction as Maxwell originally did, they all came to the same unanimous agreement. Having a mission, Maxwell began to walk first, taking the lead over Overseer-A and far before the others in his group, taking a small flashlight from his pocket as he did so. In a hurry, the others were quick to follow.]

Melody Parker: So, these guys, the Church… What do I expect from them? We seem to be treating them like a big deal.

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, that's because they are. They're vicious little shits when they want to be.

Melody Parker: But why-?

Maxwell Baldwin: Why is anyone? It doesn't really matter right now.

Melody Parker: You could not be more unhelpful if you tried.

Reid Harris: Well, they're… It's a little tough to explain, we don't exactly know them very well. We've bumped into them on Level 8. They speak like they're self-important, sorta in riddles, and since they're a church… they're also religious.

Melody Parker: Religious to… Who?

Reid Harris: No fucking idea.

Maxwell Baldwin: Nobody! They're ancient as anything, and just took loads of Christian terms to use them for their own purposes.

Justin Zimals: Unless you count power as a god?

Maxwell Baldwin: They're stupid, they probably do… Anyway, shut up, we're coming to their place.

[Maxwell looked ahead of him again, huffing as they turned left yet again and down another road. A few paces in front of them, the road abruptly cut off, the asphalt and paving slabs disrupted, cracked, and transitioning harshly into short and prim grass. It looks simultaneously well mowed, and like it had been slammed down onto where the road used to be. Behind the meters of well-looked-after lawn was a large mansion, taking up the entire width of the street and then some. Although it was built identically to the smaller homes around it, that being early 21st Century clapboard homes from North America, its architecture was muddled and messy, with different parts of the home painted in different colours.]

Melody Parker: …What the hell? Why haven't we found places like this before?

Maxwell Baldwin: Because this doesn't occur naturally, Melody. The Church have… "magic", as Justin likes to describe-

Justin Zimals: That's because it is.

Maxwell Baldwin: Whatever. The point is, they're able to manipulate things through bullshit, which is what they've done here. You see how the plots either side of us are empty? The homes that used to be there are now in that.

Melody Parker: That's a lot to casually drop on us.

Reid Harris: You're actually the only one who didn't know, sorry.

Melody Parker: …Oh. Fair enough.

Maxwell Baldwin: Casey, grab the Almond Water and repellent, this won't be an easy talk.

Casey Altman: Right, on it.

[Casey Altman reached into her jacket pocket, taking out a small and strange looking pendant with opal-like gemstone in the centre. Rubbing her thumb across the smooth glass of the gem suddenly summoned an Almond Water in her hand, accompanied by a smaller glass vial of Smiler Repellent between her ring and pinkie finger. As soon as the group reached the harsh divide between rock and grass, two members of the Veiled exited one of their base's many doors and approached in unison. They wore simple but thick robes, and while the lump of fabric behind their necks showed they had weighty hoods, they had them pulled back to reveal cleanly shaven heads and sunken eyes.]

Melody Parker: Oh my god…

Reid Harris: Just play it chill, okay?

[As Reid tried to reassure Melody, even putting her hand on their shoulder for comfort, one of the two members of the Veiled began to speak, looking across the group with a small scowl.]

Nox Warrior #1: Are none of you going to speak yet? What brings you to our Parish.

Justin Zimals: Ah, well!-

Maxwell Baldwin: We want passage through this area, especially after you berated us last time.

Nox Warrior #2: You're that M.E.G. lot, aren't you… I thought some of you looked familiar, you especially, Maxwell.

Maxwell Baldwin: Are you one of the people who chased off?

Nox Warrior #2: Do you not recognise me?

Maxwell Baldwin: You're all skinheads, I can't and don't want to tell you apart.

Casey Altman: Um- hey! Look, we don't want to fight, that's not our M.O. W-We actually have things to trade with this time, we've come back knowledgeable!

[Slightly nervously, Casey held out the two glass containers, one with clear fluid and one with cloudy white fluid, smiling as best as she could to the pair of Parish guards.]

Nox Warrior #1: Is that so… Purifying Water and Smiling Repeller. You think these clear you to walk through our land?

Casey Altman: We were sort of hoping, yeah-? Justin, maybe you could help me out a little bit here?

Justin Zimals: Of course! Look, guys, we're neutral explorers, we don't want to hurt you or anything, we just want to see as much of Level 9 as possible?

Nox Warrior #2: That's what you call this place?

Nox Warrior #1: They're not the only ones, I hear the GPD are adopting it.

Justin Zimals: The- the who?

Nox Warrior #2: Let's not get side-tracked, we have more important duties to attend to. You want to pass through our territory, and to convince us… You've given us bribes?

Justin Zimals: It's not a bribe? It's more an offering of good faith! Which I recognise is pretty ironic for you guys, but you know.

Nox Warrior #1: Yes… Ha ha.

[In a swift motion, the guard reached forwards and swiped the two glass containers from Casey's hand, eyeing their Pocket momentarily before she stuffed it back in her pocket. The guard twisted the smiler repellent in his fingers, watching the clear liquid inside slosh within its casing.]

Nox Warrior #1: It certainly is a good bribe… This is a lot of repellent you've gathered.

Casey Altman: It's most our stock, I-I help manage our stuff back on Level 1. We know you guys are important and… weary of outsiders, to word it carefully. We want to show our good will.

Nox Warrior #1: And how do we know that this good will is the will of your entire group, and not just… You.

Justin Zimals: Hello! Uh, I'm an Overseer of the M.E.G., I can confirm this is on behalf of all of us.

Nox Warrior #1: An "Overseer"? You oversee the entire group, do you?

Justin Zimals: I do, I've done so for the past year and a half we've been open to the public, along with my sister and my best friend.

Nox Warrior #2: You co-run it?

Justin Zimals: Sure do! I hope that doesn't decrease the value of my words, I can promise you we all talked about this.

Nox Warrior #2: Oh, I don't doubt that.

Nox Warrior #1: Me neither, if anything it makes the bargaining better.

Justin Zimals: Wait, really? That's good, right?

Nox Warrior #2: Of course, it means the group can still run without you.

Justin Zimals: I'm… sorry? What? What do you mean?

Maxwell Baldwin: I think we should go-

Nox Warrior #2: You approached us, trying to bribe us into allowing your group onto our land, and you think that's okay?

Justin Zimals: I-I think the way each of us are interpreting this is a little different-

[Wordlessly, Maxwell put his arm firmly on Justin's shoulder, beginning to drag him backwards from the two members of the Veiled, who kept on watching with widening smirks as the entire crew sheepishly shuffled backwards alongside Maxwell and Justin. As they all began to creep backwards, the two warriors glanced at each other, procuring a flintlock pistol each from within their robes. Within an instant, they had them trained on the group, causing Melody to shriek, turn, and begin a full-on sprint down the road. Seeing Melody's haste, the others began to speed up too, especially as a bullet flew by Casey's ear.]

Casey Altman: Shit! Shit!

Maxwell Baldwin: For the love of fuck, stop panicking!

Casey Altman: A bullet went past my fucking head!

[Maxwell grumbled, practically throwing Justin around the right fork of the intersection and pushing whoever else he could behind the cover of the tall wooden fence, causing Justin and Casey to fall to the floor and scrape their hands on the cold pavement. Having sprinted so far ahead, Melody had already turned the corner, but seemed too preoccupied to turn around and direct her attention to the others. Although it took Casey and Justin a moment to realise why as they got up, both Reid and Maxwell had become just as frozen as her.

Hovering only a few feet in front of Melody was a smiler, most likely the same one the group had spotted from earlier. Smiling wickedly with its row of hovering teeth that seemed to find more ways to contort into a wider grin. It was staring down at her with unblinking, bright eyes, eyes which somehow looked to focus in on everybody when they were aware of its presence.]

Justin Zimals: I've never seen one so up close before…

Melody Parker: What- what- what do we do-?

[Melody stammered heavily, her breath as shaky as the rest of her body. Tensely, Reid came up behind them, putting his hand on her shoulder whilst keeping his attention on the Smiler.]

Reid Harris: We don't panic, okay? That's step one. Remember what I said earlier? This is the part where we start to run.

Maxwell Baldwin: We can't run, idiot, it'll shred us apart.

Reid Harris: We can back slowly from it, it's still intimidated by us right now, it doesn't know we're prey yet and right now… that's good.

Justin Zimals: Just start walking backwards, everyone. Keep your eyes on it. No sudden noises…

[Despite their apprehensions, everyone looked over their shoulders in-unison to make sure the coast behind them was clear, and subsequently began taking steps backwards. They were slow, practically shuffling, with not even Maxwell wanting to expose himself to the open intersection.]

Casey Altman: What do we do when we hit the road again?

Maxwell Baldwin: We pray to God that the Church went back inside their little den.

Casey Altman: And if they're not?

Maxwell Baldwin: They'll shoot us, probably. It'll be a less painful exit then what this thing will do.

Casey Altman: Great…

Melody Parker: This can't be how I die… There's still so much I don't understand…

Reid Harris: Hey, you won't die here, okay? I've escaped worse back in my Aiding Straggler days.

Maxwell Baldwin: We're hitting the intersection, brace yourselves.

[With Maxwell stepping into it first, the entire group found their way out into the exposed road of the intersection. Although Maxwell didn't show his worry, he took a cursory glance to the right to look at the Parish grounds they were at moments ago. He, along with Casey and Justin, gave a thankful and quiet sigh when they saw it was now unoccupied. Melody was too focused on the ever-creeping-closer Smiler to look, and Reid was too focused on her wellbeing to do so either.]

Justin Zimals: Good news, you two, they're no longer at the intersection.

Melody Parker: So what do we do now-?

Casey Altman: Since I gave away the repellent like an idiot… I guess just backwards? Until this thing gives up…

Melody Parker: Which'll be when it thinks we're not viable as prey, right?

Maxwell Baldwin: Assuming it's not playing with it's food… Yes.

Melody Parker: Please don't say that.

[Maxwell rolled his eyes with an accompanying grunt, but surprisingly didn't vocalise anything more. He looked over his shoulder, making sure he made a smooth reconnection with the sidewalk which all others did afterwards, and continued walking backwards. Finally daring to look over her shoulder for once, Melody turned her head and looked down the length of the pavement they had left.]

Melody Parker: We don't have much pavement left, we can't keep doing this for much longer.

Maxwell Baldwin: I know. Can't see shit after it ends, too.

Casey Altman: Does it end in a culd-se-sac?

Melody Parker: No, it just sort of… ends, Casey. There's not even anymore streetlights.

Casey Altman: We're really going to die, aren't we.

Maxwell Baldwin: Don't you start panicking too.

Justin Zimals: Hey, we'll be fine! I just looked over myself, I think we're approaching an exit to Level 10.

Casey Altman: Hah… Thank god. I've always wanted to see that place with my own eyes.

Reid Harris: You might want to shut your eyes before we transition levels, the daylight will hit you over the head like a brick.

Casey Altman: Reid, I am not taking my eyes off of this thing until I'm in that daylight.

[Casey feigned a nervous chuckle, giving a momentary glance to her right as the wooden fence they were following abruptly stopped, replaced by an endless expanse of wild grass. Upon looking back forwards, she noticed that the tarmac of the road had stopped at the same time, leaving just the sidewalk to guide them through the grass that seemed to gradually get taller. The Smiler seemed to stop at the exact same point most of the level's features did also, eyeing them all with a shrinking, but still prominent and twisted grin. Everyone took a sigh of relief almost in unison.]

Justin Zimals: Any second now… we'll be in Level 10.

Casey Altman: Oh, good… I was really worried for a second there!

Melody Parker: Please let this be over…





"…Okay, then what, Melody?"

"Is it not… Obvious?"


"Uh, explain it simply! I want to make sure this is on video."


"Well, unsurprisingly, where we ended up wasn't Level 10."




<Begin Recording at: 1:32PM>

Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA21.
Participants: Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Reid Harris, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals.

Casey Altman: It's getting cold… is Level 10 cold? Shouldn't we be in Level 10 now?

Justin Zimals: The daylight should've hit ages ago, and the grass isn't usually this tall, I-I can't see anything.

Melody Parker: I-I-I can try and look over the top of it?

Reid Harris: Is that what you want to do?

Melody Parker: Not in the slightest, no, but someone's got to try it?

Maxwell Baldwin: Since we're not in Level 10 yet, I will.

[Maxwell, still at the head of the party alongside Justin, abruptly stopped, although it took the others a second to notice given how much the thick and tall grass obscured vision beyond what was directly in front of oneself. He raised himself up, standing on his toes and granting him just enough height to look above the surface of the plants. After just a few moments, he lowered himself back down, staying silent for a few moments.]

Justin Zimals: Well? Anything? Are we still in Level 9?

Maxwell Baldwin: I don't… know.

[Maxwell gulped to himself, quickly regaining his composition and restarting his walk, which prompted the others to follow in his trail.]

Casey Altman: What do you mean you don't know?

Maxwell Baldwin: Well what else do you want me to say? It's not Level 9, and it's not Level 10. It's all grass, it's foggy, and… there's something out in the distance.

Justin Zimals: What was it?

Maxwell Baldwin: Again… I. Do not. Know. It was big, fleshy, and at least 30 ft tall. I could only see the legs and the jaw.

Reid Harris: That sounds like a Mangled.

Melody Parker: What?? You're fucking kidding me!

Reid Harris: Hey, Mels, what did we say? No panicking…

Melody Parker: But that's a Mangled! We're so fucked if it notices us!

Reid Harris: Which it won't, at least I don't think it will. We can't see anything in this grass, but that probably means we're well protected too. It can't see us.

Melody Parker: And what if there's more than one?

Casey Altman: There can't be, I've seen these things fight each other almost every time they interact with one another.

Justin Zimals: Wait really-? We should write a page to catalogue what we know about these things.

Casey Altman: Not since most the cars were DeLorean's, but… Yeah. I've been here since the 60's, Melody.

Melody Parker: Really-?

Casey Altman: You didn't know-? I've never exactly travelled far, but most my life has been here.

Melody Parker: I… didn't know that. Could I know a little more?

Casey Altman: If we get out of this, sure?

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, save this for later won't you? I'm taking another look above the grass.

Reid Harris: Max, that Mangled is probably still out there.

Maxwell Baldwin: If it sees me, it'll only see me. I'll run towards it and keep the rest of you hidden. But I'll be fine, I'm sure of it.

Reid Harris: If you say so.

Justin Zimals: Yeah, I don't want you dying on us. You've been pretty invaluable.

Maxwell Baldwin: I try.

[Slowing his walking, Maxwell went on his toes again, his eyes just poking up above the tall greenery and granting him a much wider field of view of the level they were caught in. This time, he turned his head as far to the left as he could, pivoting slowly on his heel to get a full sense of what was around the group in all directions. Once he finished his 360, he lowered himself down and resumed walking at the group's normal pace.]

Maxwell Baldwin: There's only one Mangled, I can confirm that. From the direction we came from, and slightly to our left, there's a big… red glow. Like a sun, but it's not actually illuminating anything.

Justin Zimals: Anything else?

Maxwell Baldwin: There's a a tree to our right, that's it.

Justin Zimals: …Oh.

Melody Parker: Are we lost?

Reid Harris: I'd say so? But we'll be fine, Mels, promise. As long as we don't walk near to the Mangled, we'll keep going until we find something new.

Melody Parker: Are we back to the boring bit of level exploration?

Justin Zimals: Hah! Yes… yes, we are. Thank Christ, huh?





"How long were you guys in there for?"

"Only about an hour, I think? You have the transcript on hand, you can check yourself. I mean, we know now the place was small, especially with what's happened to it recently, it didn't take us long to find something new."




<Begin Recording at: 1:55PM>

Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA21, PA22.
Participants: Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Reid Harris, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals.

Justin Zimals: What on Earth is that-?

Melody Parker: Have you found something?

Justin Zimals: …Sort of?

Casey Altman: Oh. Oh, what the hell? Where'd that come from?

[Having shuffled to stand next to where Justin was, Casey seemed just as stunned as he was. Justin had his hand raised, twisting his wrist back and forth slowly in an attempt to understand why there was a faint, localised and orange glow illuminating from an unknown source in front of him, somehow shining through the tall grass itself. Carefully, Casey outstretched her arm and held her hand in front of Justin's, catching the odd glow on her palm. Unlike how the light interacted with the grass, this time having an obstacle in front of the glow casted a shadow onto Justin's hand.]

Casey Altman: Is that coming from the grass…?

Justin Zimals: It can't be, there'd still be a glow on the grass. Right?

Maxwell Baldwin: Probably? You can't ever tell anymore.

Melody Parker: That must mean it's coming from somewhere else then? Maybe it's just an orb of light?

Reid Harris: Let me chip in and try something.

[Without much further prompt, Reid reached forwards and brushed his fingertips across the stalks of grass in front of Justin, only after he and basically everyone else scooted to form a semi-circle behind him and Casey. Instead of his fingers pushing the stalks aside, as one would expect, his fingers slipped seamlessly between the atoms of the plants, causing Reid to shiver.]

Reid Harris: Heh. As I thought.

Melody Parker: An exit?

Reid Harris: I hope so! Maybe this finally goes to Level 10?

Casey Altman: Do exits to Level 10 usually glow like that?

Justin Zimals: …No, not in my experience, at least. Although I've only been a handful of times myself.

Melody Parker: Well, someone ought to take the dive and try it.

Justin Zimals: You're right! I'll go first, I'm the Leader here.

Maxwell Baldwin: You're the least expendable, you can't take a risk like that.

[Before Justin could offer a rebuttal, and really before anyone could even comment on Maxwell's words, Maxwell took a few steps forwards and through the grass ahead of him. Just like with Reid's hand, Maxwell's entire body phased effortlessly through the flora and vanished in the immediate moment after, engulfed in a bright orange glow.]

Justin Zimals: Oh shit he's noclipped-

Reid Harris: Yeah, you think?

Justin Zimals: Okay, yes, that was an obvious statement… But I didn't think he'd do that! That's what I was going to do!

Reid Harris: And if you died going through it?

Justin Zimals: Does that matter? If I would've died going through that, he's definitely dead.

Casey Altman: He'll come back through to tell us it's fine, right?

Reid Harris: Unless the exit's only one way, in which case he can't.

Melody Parker: Shit, does that mean he could be stuck-?

Justin Zimals: Let's not jump to assumptions! Let's give him time, maybe where it goes is somewhere really good!

. . .


Justin Zimals: Okay maybe we should go through.

Melody Parker: Yeah, you think-??

Justin Zimals: Alright, everyone, come through after me.

[Justin Zimals breathed in deeply, fixing up his jacket anxiously before shutting his eyes tightly and stepping forwards. Like with Maxwell before him, Justin was completely engulfed in a bright orange light before vanishing. Instead of panicking like the previous time, however, everyone immediately followed his lead, hauling themselves through the exit in a single file line.]


"So it happened here?"

"Sure did… and we were all terrified. Admittedly, we still were when we went through, we'd been on edge for an hour."


"I can imagine…"


"Yeah! Although obviously we now know that fear was pretty misplaced."

[Despite all coming through into the Crimson Forest one at a time, Justin, Reid, Casey, and Melody all fell into the new level at the same time, awkwardly causing a tight squeeze that knocked the group of four off of their feet and onto the strange red grass of PA22's floor. After a collective shout of confusion, and a second round of calls when everyone hit the floor, everyone began to try and re-orient themselves to get back onto their own two feet.]

Justin Zimals: Ow… did you guys all pile in at once?

Melody Parker: No? We went single file…

Casey Altman: Sorry, not sure what the hell happened there… Holy shit-!

[Once fully on her feet, Casey looked up and shouted, almost stumbling and falling over Reid a second time. She caught herself, though, finding herself transfixed on something in front of the group.]

Justin Zimals: I-Is that… alive?

Casey Altman: I- m-maybe? It does feel like it's looking at us…

[Tentatively, Casey took a step forwards, reaching her hand out towards an odd, metal street lantern that appeared to be floating just a meter or so in front of where the group had landed. Just as her fingertips were about to meet the dark, paint-flecked metal of its corners, the lantern suddenly pulled back to avoid the direct touch. Casey gasped loudly as it animated, her shock turning into confused horror as the lantern emitted a loud series of wind chime like sounds; the melody an odd mix of metal ringing and human-like hums.]

Casey Altman: …What the actual fuck?

Melody Parker: You all heard the human voices in that thing too, right?

Reid Harris: Sure did…

[As they spoke amongst themselves, the lantern suddenly emitted a loud angelic shout, sounding like a mix of mostly feminine voices and a single high pitched chime. Immediately, everyone's attention centred to the wailing metal construction, their confusion only going up tenfold as it began to spin in place with yet more wails of attention. Once it had spun a few times, it tilted itself backwards (relative from where the group was standing) and began to float away.]

Melody Parker: Do we follow it?

Justin Zimals: Do we have a choice?

Casey Altman: Technically we do, but I think it wants us to follow it, and… I say we do. Maybe it knows where Maxwell is?

Justin Zimals: Wait, yeah, where is he? We only entered this place a few seconds after he did?

Reid Harris: Speaking of… Where the hell are we?

Justin Zimals: God, so many questions… If anything this lantern has made things worse.

Reid Harris: Good thing we're in a group then, right?

Justin Zimals: Yes! Good point, actually, very good point. Uh, let's see… Casey, Reid, you two stick here and try to understand the local area. I'll take Melody with me, let her tackle a PA head on! Hah!

Reid Harris: …Sure? Just don't keep that thing waiting, it's like I can feel it's impatience from here.

[Reid raised his elbow up, pointing over at the lantern which was now in the midground of the level they'd found themselves in. It had stopped just before a line of tall pine trees, spinning slowly on the spot. From where they were stood, it sounded like it was emitting a constant series of chimes, although it was incredibly faint due to the group's distance from it.]

Justin Zimals: Don't worry, we won't. Are you alright with the plan, Melody?

Melody Parker: Yeah! Sure! We have ways to defend ourselves in case this place sucks, right?

Justin Zimals: Eh, I have Firesalt powder, that should do right?

Melody Parker: Hopefully?

Justin Zimals: Well, we'll find out won't we! Come on, let's go.

[Justin grinned to Melody excitedly, tilting his head in the direction of the lantern before twisting on his heel to begin walking towards it. Melody waved a quick goodbye to both Reid and Casey, turning afterwards to follow alongside Justin. Within a few seconds, the pair's quick walking had caught up to the hovering lantern. When they were close to it, the lantern emitted a pretty happy sounding chirrup and began to fly into the forest, beckoning the pair to follow it which they quickly did.]

Justin Zimals: So! First time getting out there doing an exploration, how are you finding it?

Melody Parker: Uh, horrifying, honestly! I can see why Casey's never explored much on her own.

Justin Zimals: I know, right? Y-You're okay though, aren't you?

Melody Parker: I feel better now we're not in immediate danger?

Justin Zimals: How'd you feel when we were in danger? Do you think you could do it again?

Melody Parker: Um… I'm not sure, actually… Looking back on it, I can enjoy the thrill of running from the Veiled, um, I didn't enjoy being stuck in the field, though. I'll admit, I thought we were dead, more than we were when we were being literally shot at.

Justin Zimals: Yeah that bit wasn't great, and stuff like that can happen.

Melody Parker: It happens a lot, Justin. You don't need to sugar-coat it. I still remember Jacob dying on Level 19, a-and as much as it's selfish to say this when he's dead, I don't want that to happen to me?

Justin Zimals: No, of course not! No one does… Jacob… Jacob knew what he was getting into, as cold as that sounds to say. The first people stepping foot in somewhere new a-are always the ones most at risk, not all come home.

Melody Parker: …Right…

Justin Zimals: Sorry, I get that that's not the best answer. I miss him too, I miss everyone that doesn't come home, it's a failure on my part way infinitely more than it is theirs.

Melody Parker: It's also not the best answer considering we seem to be the first people in this level? We are now the first ones stepping foot in somewhere new.

Justin Zimals: Ah. Okay, good point! But c'mon, look at this place, it's nice. We can't possibly be killed here!

[Rather extravagantly, Justin outstretched both his arms out both of his sides to gesture to the pine forest around them. Now having the time to finally take the time to appreciate the environment around her. They were still within a thick forest, certainly evergreen in nature, with tall and orange/red trees sat under a vivid light blue sky and a deep yellow sun. Poking out behind the treeline were mountainous inclines, some which seemed to twist at angles and form landscapes in ways that made Melody's head ache trying to understand them properly.]

Melody Parker: This place certainly is… different. I'm gonna stop staring at the sky, it's making my head hurt-

Justin Zimals: Good idea! I think there's something strange with the gravity of this place… Kinda looks like the horizon bends above us, doesn't it?

Melody Parker: Something like that, yeah… Bweh, it's strange, I'll think about it when we come to exploring it.

Justin Zimals: My thoughts exactly, Melody… Ah. Looks like that mountain will have to wait, actually.

Melody Parker: …Yeah, I think you're right.

[Suddenly silencing themselves, Melody and Justin passed through into a clearing within the forest, populated by a small collection of rustic and simply constructed wooden huts. Connecting these homes were small lanes made of upturned ground and gravel, which were being travelled across by a handful of townsfolk dressed in basic robes that seemed to overlook their sudden presence. Melody and Justin stepped onto the road closest to them, watching as the lantern they'd been following happily whizzed across the street, chirping to other lanterns it passed that were floating around much more idly. Slowly, Justin and Melody looked to each other, each looking equally as dumbfounded.]

Melody Parker: Well. I'm lost for words.





"The townsfolk didn't care you were there?"

"Well, apparently so! I didn't even think about it at the time, but seeing this log is bringing back a few memories. I guess they were all pretty familiar with us considering what we learned next."




<Begin Recording at: 2:36PM>*

Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA22.
Participants: Maxwell Baldwin, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals, Aiofe, Cian.

[Carefully, both Melody and Justin began to walk through the street, passing by side-glancing locals and the various unique buildings either side of them. Many were basic homes, wide slits for windows and curtained openings to act as doorways, and had basic sloped rooves which looked to be made of thatch and straw. The only other type of building they passed while going down their first street of the new town looked to be places of work, one of which had all sorts of tools and stations for making hand-crafted pottery products.

As Justin nor Melody even knew where to start with the town they had found themselves within, they opted to continue following the lantern instead. It took them right at an intersection, then left at an another, and finally halted outside a pretty small and (for the town) standard looking abode. The lantern stopped within the house's front lawn, emitting a light jingle as it did a momentary counter-clockwise spin. Although the pair were confused at first, their faces lit up in unison when they recognised one of two people sat at a straw table.]

Maxwell Baldwin: Well, there you are. I was beginning to think you'd all died.

Justin Zimals: Maxwell?? How the hell-?

Melody Parker: You ended up really far.

Aiofe: Ah…! These are the your people, Maxwell

Maxwell Baldwin: Mhm… That’s Justin, and she’s Melody.

Aiofe: Ah… Those are beautiful names. Come here, will you?

[The other person sat at the table smiled curiously at the newly arrived pair, gesturing for them to sit at the two other available chairs at the circular table themself and Maxwell were already sat at. They wore a basic robe like all others in the community they'd discovered, dyed in a rather vivid red with hand-stitched flower and vine patterns all across it. Disconnected from their robe, but still in the same hue as it, they appeared to wear a head scarf, not too dissimilar from Casey's hijab.]

Justin Zimals: Ah, uh, of course ma'am.

Aiofe: Oh, I'm not a woman.

Justin Zimals: Sorry, it’s just your head thing looks like… should I call you sir?

Aiofe: Don't be so tedious with gendered titles… You can call me Aiofe, now come sit!

[Melody looked to Justin cautiously, but her apprehension wasn’t something he seemed to share. Taking the invitation at complete face value, he went to sit happily at the table, scooting his chair in towards the table.]

Justin Zimals: Oh, no problem, I think I understand that! You’re like Asher! Um, I’m with the M.E.G., it stands for Major Exploration Group, we basically document places and I was hoping-

Aiofe: Oh, shush… I already know, your friend Maxwell has told me all about the M.E.G.! This is our first time getting outsider visits since The Collectives.

Melody Parker: The who?

Aiofe: Oh, nobody, don’t worry… I don’t think they’re around anymore, unfortunately.

Justin Zimals: …huh. Well, that’ll be something fascinating to talk about later! Um, how much have you been told about us?

Maxwell Baldwin: Well considering you left me here for an hour and a half, I kinda had to fill your boots and start doing the explanations and questioning.

Justin Zimals: What-?? We didn’t leave you that long!

Melody Parker: We didn’t go in immediately after you, we admit, but we weren’t any longer than a minute, I’m sure!

Maxwell Baldwin: I don’t know what to tell you two, but it’s been an hour. Fucking hell, look for yourself.

[With a grumble, Maxwell lifted his sleeve and raised his arm, pointing it across the table and holding his wrist at the middle point between Melody’s and Justin’s faces. As much it confused them both, there, clear as day, was a time on Maxwell’s analogue watch over an hour later than what Justin or Melody expected.]

Justin Zimals: No, that can’t be right…

[Justin grumbled, taking his audio recorder out of his pocket and tapping on the screen a few times. The LCD screen powered up, displaying (among other actual technical data) the time in 24 hours. Despite the different way to measure time, it was still clear that Justin’s device was over an hour behind on its clock. Seeing the strange disparity, Melody pulled hers out from her pocket, seeing an identical result.]

Melody Parker: How does that… what?

Aiofe: Ah! Right, I see what’s going on here. Sorry, it’s taken me a moment to realise what’s going on, it very rarely affects us, you see.

Maxwell Baldwin: And what would that be.

Aiofe: Have you seen the mountains, you two? I know you have, Maxwell.

Melody Parker: The ones that make my head hurt?

Aiofe: For you they might! For us they’re pretty normal. The Crimson Forest’s topology isn’t flat like most other places, it bends in various ways, sort of ripples and waves. Those ripples make time pass… different here, sometimes slower.

Justin Zimals: Is that because of gravity?

Aiofe: Possibly? If that’s something commonly understood in your culture, and gravity can mess with time, then yes.

Justin Zimals: You… don’t know what gravity is?

Aiofe: We’ve been intentionally separated from everyone else for centuries, probably even longer by your counts.

Melody Parker: Why are you isolated? Hang on, how can you understand us? We’re speaking pretty modern English.

Aiofe: Not to me you’re not, and not to anyone else here. Our Lanterns translate, it used to be a very helpful insight before my time.

Melody Parker: I-I- that’s- I-I don’t even know where to start…

Justin Zimals: I do! How about a tour of your community, Aiofe?

Aiofe: A tour? Well, why not. I’ve not even given Maxwell one of those yet.

Maxwell Baldwin: You did say you wanted to wait?

Aiofe: And part of me still does… but I’d hate to turn down two of you! Let me go get Cian, she’ll want to come.

[With a stretch, Aiofe began to right themselves, getting onto their feet and turning to begin walking towards the front entrance of their house.]

Justin Zimals: Who’s that?

Maxwell Baldwin: Their wife. Sort of.

Melody Parker: How the hell do they have marriages in a place that’s been isolated for centuries-??

Aiofe: Maxwell had the same question! The translator fills in gaps, my idea of marriage isn’t the same as yours!

[Aiofe, about to pass through the curtain into their abode, turned their head and called out to the group still at the table, grinning at them one final time before entering their home. Maxwell glanced at Justin and Melody, who looked amazed and dumbfounded respectively.]

Melody Parker: I don't think my brain has processed any of what she, er, they said…

Justin Zimals: That translator stuff even does lip sync, it's like Doctor Who!

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, I know, wild. Where's Casey and Reid? Don't tell me you left them in the goddamn field.

Justin Zimals: Hah, no! Although that would be bad, wouldn't it? Imagine how much time would pass before we'd meet them again! I told them to wait by the entrance and get a feel for the local area while we followed the lantern. Is that how you got here, actually?

Maxwell Baldwin: No…? But when I told Aiofe about you two, they sent one of those things out to get you. I guess it did.

Justin Zimals: It did, yeah… You know, the glow that we all entered was a very similar colour to the glow coming from inside those lanterns. Do you think there's a link?

Maxwell Baldwin: Probably, but also maybe not. I want to focus on the tour and understanding these people before focusing on the lanterns.

Melody Parker: Speaking of-

[Melody raised her arm, pointing over towards the door of Aiofe's house. Coming out of the door was Aiofe themselves, followed by another person who was dressed similarly. She wore a headscarf like her partner, but her robes were more free-flowing, loose, and thinner than Aiofe's. Once the married pair were close to the table, Justin got up and gave a small bow.]

Justin Zimals: Ah! This must be Cian, am I right?

Cian: Yes, that would be me… Justin, yes?

Justin Zimals: Justin indeed, Ma'am. Behind me is Melody and Maxwell. Melody's got the curly hair, Maxwell's the guy built like a brick. Figured I'd clarify in case you guys don't have gendered names or anything.

Cian: Ah! Yes, I figured as such, we do have names specific to genders. Although they're names I've never heard before until Maxwell showed up.

Aiofe: They are lovely names, though! They're like the names from old fables, but different.

Justin Zimals: That is a very nice compliment, thank you. Are you both ready to give the three of us a tour!

Cian: Yes, definitely! I can't believe I get the chance to show somebody around, I figured I'd only ever do this with future children.

Justin Zimals: I guess with us you get a good practice for your kids?

Cian: Hah! I like that… Come, come, I don't want to waste time. #

[With an over-armed motion, Cian began to guide the trio with her, taking Aiofe by the hand so the couple could lead together and side-by-side. As they walked, their lantern that had guided them here left to go on its own journey, but the countless other lanterns dotted around the level still translated the natives into English. Maxwell walked ahead first, but it wasn't long until both Justin and and Melody were at his right. As the roads of the village were wide, the three were able to walk side-by-side without obstructing the commuting of the locals.]

Aiofe: So where do you three want to go first? We have a few landmarks we could consider special that you'd want to see?

Cian: There's the temple? Maybe our market? We usually use it to trade with other towns, before you ask, it took a few tries to explain to Maxwell we don't have money.

Justin Zimals: Well, it makes perfect sense to me? You guys know about money, though? Or is that another translation thing?

Aiofe: No, it's not! Our histories and stories have money from the people who used to interact with us.

Melody Parker: Was that with the Collectives?

Cian: Mhm! They lived in the Eternal Neighbourhood in the times that it was a safer place… The stories say we never fully got along, but they respected our differences.

[As Cian spoke, Justin Zimals pulled out an A5 notebook from his large jacket pocket and flipped it open, taking the ball-point pen that was held in the book's spiral and beginning to write in shorthand what Cian was saying.]

Justin Zimals: Could you tell us some more about that, actually? Before we see any landmarks, can we know your history? Or history that you know of?

Aiofe: I don't pretend to be an expert.

Cian: Me neither!

Aiofe: We keep a lot of our written history in the temple, and a lot of our spoken history is with our historians. They have their own building.

Cian: We've been here for generations, though, hundreds and hundreds of years.

Justin Zimals: Do you have a calendar?

Cian: Calendar…? I don't know if that's translating quite right.

Justin Zimals: It means, like, cataloguing and naming the days, basically? like, today is the 30th day of our first month, which becomes the second month after 31 days, in our two thousandth and fifteenth year. A new year comes by every 12 months.

Aiofe: And is every month 31 days?

Justin Zimals: Well, uh, that's a bit of a-

Maxwell Baldwin: For simplicity, yes.

Aiofe: I see! Okay… We don't have that, really. Our day's aren't important enough to log like that. But we mark each big passing of time by first snow. Happens around every… 350 days, at a guess.

Melody Parker: That's very earth-like?

Justin Zimals: Sure is! How many first snowfall's have passed that you know of, Aiofe?

Aiofe: Hm… I think Cian and I can agree on over two thousand? That's as far as the First Fable's go?

Justin Zimals: And what are those first fables?

Aiofe: Ah, they talk of the legend of our temple's construction! As well as all other temples, too, that's where all the town's fables begin. That's this, by the way.

[Transitioning smoothly enough to make it seem as though it was planned, Aiofe and Cian stopped their walking as they approached a large roundabout in the middle of the town, a roundabout which had a large stone structure in the middle. It was a square-based pyramid of sorts, with a mini temple on the top that looked traditionally Roman whilst the base of the pyramid itself looked almost Mayan. It was definitely not as tall as a pyramid or temple from either Earth culture, but a small and fully stone temple in an otherwise rustic village looked infinitely more impressive than it would if it was anywhere else.]

Melody Parker: Oh, wow, um… This is neat? You guys can build with stone?

Cian: No, not us, these were put here by God. They were for our ancestors, a beacon to build the town around.

Justin Zimals: Fascinating… Oh, I am getting all of this down.

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, it sure is… something.

Aiofe: Isn't it just? We pray in our own times up there, just to make sure She can hear us and know she's loved and respected by us.

Cian: We also keep our written history in there, as Aiofe said earlier.

Aiofe: Yes, quite right! If you're wanting to know so much about our history, do you want to come in and read?

Justin Zimals: Does the translating work on written text, too?

Aiofe: As long as lantern is nearby, you should be able to understand it no matter the language written.

Justin Zimals: Radical.

[Cian and Aiofe looked between each other with confused but entertained looks, taking the group up the stairs with a random lantern in-tow, reaching the top after just a few seconds. The perimeter of pillars holding up a stone roof encapsulated a basic stone structure beneath with a single open archway to transition into the temple interior. Once everyone passed through, they were greeted with a dimly lit space with a series of prayer mats lined up in multiple rows, forming two grid shapes either side of the door. At the head of each mat was a little clay idol, depicting a thin woman covered in robes holding her hands forwards; a cube of shiny metal atop both her connected palms. At the back of the room was clearly a spiral staircase of some kind, presumably descending towards where the written histories were probably kept.]

Justin Zimals: Wow… Impressive!

Melody Parker: I'll say… should we keep our voices down? People are praying, it seems.

Maxwell Baldwin: …If you can call it that…

Aiofe: Oh don't worry about it, we use this place to socialise and hold our events, too. It's a pretty multi-purpose place, all things considered.

Justin Zimals: Brilliant! Love it.

Maxwell Baldwin: These lanterns… When we leave, could we take one with us? Maybe find out how you make them?

Cian: Well you definitely can't take one!

[With her comment, Cian snickered to herself, her laughter transmitting to her spouse who snickered with them. Cian composed herself first, which allowed her to speak before Aiofe.]

Cian: The Lanterns are very important to us, Maxwell. They rarely even leave villages.

Aiofe: They're our ancestors, in a way. They have these wondrous jars in them that preserve memory. With a bit of our own tinkering, they can preserve entire souls!

Cian: Mostly.

Aiofe: It's not perfect, and the more of our ancestors you put in a lantern the more homogenised their voices become. We've been doing it since our town began, which is why they sound like they do.

[As they spoke, Aiofe guided themselves, their wife, and subsequently Justin, Melody, and Maxwell (in that order) down a thin set of spiral steps. As the pair kept going and talking, they passed open doorways to other floors within the temple, but it was clear Aiofe and Cian were intent on going right to the bottom.]

Justin Zimals: You guys are… amazing.

Melody Parker: Do you really have to write these down? We record, like, everything we do. Even this.

Justin Zimals: It's good to have it in short hand! My sister and Andrew will love this, I think everyone will.

Cian: You plan on making your research on us public…?

Justin Zimals: Oh, um, yeah… That's sort of our thing. We have a database that we upload to, partly found, partly made by us. All the stuff we find goes on it eventually. If it's okay with you, I want to put this place on there too.

[Cian looked to Aiofe, who looked right back at her. They each shared a somewhat uneasy look, shrugging in unison before Aiofe looked over their shoulder and back at the group of three.]

Aiofe: As long as we get to stay mostly to ourselves, sure. You've seen how we've treated you, and how no one here has batted much of an eye or complained at your presence, I think visitors again would be very, very healthy for us. But we know the worlds outside our Forest are vast, don't bring masses to us when we're not prepared for that.

Justin Zimals: Oh, you have my word! My complete and utter word, as one of the Overseer's of the M.E.G. My sister and my best friend would say the same if they'd come with me.

Aiofe: You sound pretty sure of yourself!

Justin Zimals: That's because I know them very well, Aiofe.

Cian: Hm. Well, good. It's not like it's easy to reach us, anyway. The Eternal Neighbourhood is still incredibly dangerous, yes?

Melody Parker: Was there ever a time that it wasn't?

Cian: Bless.

[Cian laughed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as they all reached the base of the pyramid. Unlike the prayer area at the top, this area was completely unlit, but that was quickly undone as the Lantern that was still following them floated into the middle of the room. It began to spin with happy chirrups and a choir-like song, its orange glow expanding to cover the entire room. With the illumination, the group could see shelves with rows upon rows of clay pots, some looking brand new and others looking like they came out of a history museum.

Cian and Aiofe waltzed in casually, obviously being used to the large room. Maxwell fixed his composure quite quickly, strolling in to glance curiously at the pots lined in neat rows on the various wooden shelving units. After giving curious and, for Justin, excited looks between each other, both him and Melody walked forwards also. The pots had basic inscriptions on them, and while the alphabet or symbols utilised were alien to all three of them, they were still able to be read.]

Maxwell Baldwin: "The Fable of the Deer and the Mice Queen", "First Winter, Two-hundredth Snowfall"… You have a lot here.

Cian: Yes. Of course we do… Everything we've ever written is in here.

Melody Parker: Everything? You've never lost anything or not preserved anything?

Cian: Not to our knowledge? But you'd have to ask the historians, they know more than us. Any bit of writing, even scraps, we collect and archive. We have a mix of stories, notes, paper scraps, I think I already said that one.

Maxwell Baldwin: Well then, impressive… Although I think your mind's would be blown away by the Internet.

Cian: The what?





"You five seemed to stay inside this place for a while?"

"Yes, we did! Oh, we did… I miss it. They loved speaking about their fables and stuff, it was the first time anyone there had ever had the chance to."

"I imagine you're wanting to skip forwards a bit?"


"If that's okay, yes… Sorry, Melody, but the Dailyrooms want me to keep things snappy. Ihey want this out sooner rather than later."


"It's fine! I know I'm not just here to reminisce for the fun of it. Skip forwards however much you want."



"Right then, uh, okay let's see… How about when you left the village?"

"Oh, you want to skip that far? It was pretty late in the day for us, but the sun was still out. We'd left the historians about half an hour before when…"




<Begin Recording at: 6:36PM>*

Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA22.
Participants: Maxwell Baldwin, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals, Maxwell Baldwin, Aoife.

Aoife: So… You will be back? That's what I'm understanding of it.

Justin Zimals: Not just us, but other M.E.G. people, hopefully! As dangerous as Level 9 is, this place is lovely, and we want to come back.

Aoife: I see… Well, we would love that! As I'm sure the other towns would, too. Please, um, just don't all come at once.

Justin Zimals: Hah, no, no. We won't, Aoife. But we'd definitely like to know more about you, at some point.

Aoife: We don't mind when, just as long as the others who come through are as respectful as you all are. Now, go, please. You have homes of your own to go to and your friends to re-join with, and it's late in the day!

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, we will. See you people later.

[With Maxwell's sudden interruption, the group were off, surprisingly with Maxwell at the lead. It didn't take long for Justin to take the lead, though, and Melody came up to walk besides him. Maxwell stuck a few paces back, seeming a bit irritated]

Justin Zimals: I think that went well.

[Justin grinned at Melody, putting his hands into his pockets casually and straightening up his back at the same time.]

Melody Parker: Well, most of it did, it was pretty hairy before we got here. A-Are we done, though, are we going home?

Justin Zimals: With any luck, we've just got to pick up Casey and Reid obviously.

Melody Parker: Oh, shit, we've been gone for ages, we totally forgot about them, didn't we.

Justin Zimals: It… Well, I've not been checking my watch, it's pretty unreliable here, hah. But yeah, sorta, we did. We can explain to them.

Melody Parker: I hope so, feel like a piece of shit for abandoning them…

Justin Zimals: Eh, it's your first mission, you can't keep track of everything.

Melody Parker: Oh yeah? And what's your excuse?

[Melody smirks playfully and mischievously at Justin, bumping him on the arm with her elbow as he struggled to come up with a reply.]

Melody Parker: I'm playing with you, and I don't think they'd mind. Not that I know them well, but all this walking has been exhausting. Casey also got to keep some distance from Maxwell, which is… good.

Justin Zimals: What makes you say that?

[With a small gulp, Melody looked over her shoulder. Both herself and Maxwell made eye contact, to which Melody Parker smiled back politely. Knowing they were too far apart for him to hear, though, she justified her thinking.]

Melody Parker: Don't tell me you didn't see it earlier. Casey's from Afghanistan, Maxwell fought there… When did he noclip? Do you know?

Justin Zimals: Like, 2004? Oh.

Melody Parker: Yeah… I don't know much about Earth stuff, you know me, but come on. You should've done something, you're our leader here.

Justin Zimals: I know, I know… and I will! Now it's been mentioned.

Melody Parker: Right…

[Her unconvinced tone airing over Justin's head, the pair finally made their way back to the edge of the forest and out into the plains where they started. Sat together, close to where the group had entered from, were Reid and Casey, chatting idly. They stood up once Melody, Justin, and Maxwell were back, glancing between the three of them.]

Reid Harris: There you two are! Fuck, we were worried…

Melody Parker: Oh, nah, we're alright! This place is pretty safe, actually. I wish we'd come back for you.

Reid Harris: So do I… but at least Casey and myself have been okay, it's been just as safe here as wherever you three've been.

Justin Zimals: When we write our reports and get our audio converted into transcripts, we will tell you all about it… For now, I think we should get home. I don't know about you, but I'm craving damp walls right now.

Reid Harris: That just sounds weird.

Justin Zimals: You know what I mean…

Casey Altman: W-Wait, how do we get back?

Justin Zimals: …Good question.

Maxwell Baldwin: What the fuck is this thing doing back here-

[Maxwell's sudden comment, directed not at the group it seemed, caused everyone's heads to swivel in his direction. He'd craned his neck away from a Lantern that flew towards them from the direction as the village. It stopped in the middle of the spaced out group, humming a little chorused tune as it began to slowly spin and get brighter and brighter. Within a few moments, it was glowing to the point where nobody could look at its epicentre directly.]

Maxwell Baldwin: That is the brightest fucking thing I've ever seen-

Reid Harris: What is it even… doing?

Melody Parker: I think it's how we leave… It's glowing like the glow from the field.

Justin Zimals: So we were right, huh… These lanterns are miracle products!

Maxwell Baldwin: How the fuck do we use them then, huh?

Reid Harris: I think… Well, I'll just do what I did before. Worked then.

[Keeping one arm over the top of his eyes to keep them protected from the glow, Reid Harris tentatively walked towards the lamp with his other arm outstretched. With a shudder, he felt his digits pass straight through the glass, much like how they passed through the grass mere hours ago.]

Reid Harris: Right both times… Come on, let's hop through.

Casey Altman: Do you think it'll take us to Level 9 again?

Justin Zimals: Aoife and Cian made it sound that way?

Reid Harris and Casey Altman: Who?

Justin Zimals: Oh, don't worry about it, just hop through! I promise it'll take you right back to the field!

Reid Harris: I suppose I'll find out.

[Taking a deep breath, Reid pushed in more of his hand, watching as the lantern began to lower down to Reid's head height. The glow became incredibly bright, bright enough to shine through the black metal as well as the glass, casting a white sphere of light that Reid engulfed himself in. By the time it dimmed a small amount, he was gone.]

Justin Zimals: Well. It definitely worked.

Maxwell Baldwin: Sure did.

[Without gathering input from the others, Maxwell strolled purposefully towards the lantern. Its spinning and glow faltered for a moment, as if anxious by his approaching presence and his sudden reach to embed his hand into its mass. With a single step, he allowed himself to be engulfed in another bright ball of light, to which he vanished afterwards. The others all followed suit.]





"And after that everything was pretty standard, right?"

"Oh, very, yeah… We got home, files were made, transcripts written, theories made… You've got the papers on you, I-I don't know why I'm telling you."


"No, it's good you are… I think we should get a complete account of events. Actually, something I'm curious about, this probably won't make it into the Dailyrooms' report, but clearly some shit went on with its name. Can you shed some light?"


"The… name? You mean that it wasn't numbered?"



"Yes, exactly that. It's not a huge deal, I don't really care and I made such a fuss over us not using numbers for things a few years back. But I won't deny it's made archiving a bit tougher now that… everything's happened."

"Then sure! In fact, pass me your box of transcripts, I could probably find the relevant file. I had no idea they printed the stuff."


"Truth be told, they don't usually. But again, archiving and trying to understand what we can is helpful with actual bits of paper."


"Totally! Still nice, though."




<Begin Recording at: 1:18PM>

Date: 19/03/15
Location: Level 1's Base Alpha, the "Main Computer Room".
Participants: Justin Zimals, Somalia Hanks, Melody Parker.

Somalia Hanks: So, it's done?

Justin Zimals: Yes Ma'am, it's all done. I think, at least. I dunno, I've not spell-checked yet.

Somalia Hanks: You don't have to tell me that, believe me I can see you haven't.

Justin Zimals: Hah! Yes, well, probably.

[Justin cleared his throat, threading his fingers through his short hair as he shuffled his seat backwards to let the much older Somalia Hanks read what Justin had written on his screen. She side-eyes Justin with a deeply unimpressed expression whenever she snags an obvious spelling error, but chooses not to say anything about it explicitly. Once she reached the end of the page, she sighed, standing upright again.]

Somalia Hanks: Well, it's… fine, I suppose. I don't know what you want me to say other than use a spellchecker.

Justin Zimals: You really do harp on me for this, huh.

Somalia Hanks: You… run an entire group, Justin.

Justin Zimals: co-run!

Somalia Hanks: Your sister and friend can spell correctly. Look, um, the article's fine? I wouldn't know how to improve the descriptions, I wasn't there. Maybe… call your sister?

Justin Zimals: I think she's busy… I-I don't even think she's in Level 1. Ah! I'll call Melody.

Somalia Hanks: Can I make a couple of edits before she gets here?

Justin Zimals: Oh, uh, sure? I assume spelling stuff, yeah?

Somalia Hanks: Spelling and code, that's just as sloppy.

Justin Zimals: Ah… Well, feel free.

[Justin slowly got up from his chair, gesturing for Somalia to take it and sit down so she could work on the edits. Not wanting to show the blow to his pride too hard, Justin pivoted on his heel and moved to another chair in front of a different idle monitor. He took out his phone, after, using Backdoor to try and call Melody.]

Melody Parker: Ye'llo? Justin?

[Justin sat up a bit in his chair, a small smile forming on his face.]

Justin Zimals: Hey! Sorry, um, are you free to come down to the computer room?

Melody Parker: Uhh… yeah! I should be. No one else has asked me to help with anything, so I can come down. What's it for?

Justin Zimals: The uh, the forest! The Crimson Forest, as I'm calling it.

Melody Parker: The Crimson Forest?

[Melody Parker snickers over the phone, audibly leaning back into a creaking chair.]

Justin Zimals: Well, yeah! I-I mean, it's a forest, it's… crimson. It fits?

Melody Parker: No, no, I like it! It's cool!

Justin Zimals: Are you just being nice?

Melody Parker: No, dude, it's fitting, really! Look, I'll come over, give me a couple minutes.

Justin Zimals: Take all the time you need, honestly. Somalia's doing edits, she may take a while.

Melody Parker: Is that a jab at her being old or you being illiterate?

Justin Zimals: Hey!

[Again, Melody laughs over the phone, to which Justin copies and laughs with her.]

Melody Parker: Cus I'll have you know, she's good with computers! Surprisingly, good, actually. She's tech-trained.

Justin Zimals: With the enigma machine, yeah, maybe.

Melody Parker: Tsh. I'll be there soon, okay? Bye~!

[Midway through Justin giving an elongated farewell, the phone beeps as Melody hangs up. Justin pulls the phone back from his ear, and stares at the chat between himself and Melody with a slight smile. It didn't take long for him to get up, walking over to Somalia.]

Justin Zimals: Melody's on her way! She'll be here soon.

Somalia Hanks: Right… well, lucky for you, I'm almost done.

Justin Zimals: Oh, really? Was there not as much to fix as you thought?

Somalia Hanks: …No, but Andrew wants me to meet up with him about something.

Justin Zimals: What thing?

[Somalia shrugged, using the desk as a prop to get herself slowly back onto her feet. Justin presented his arms forwards slightly in an attempt to help, but Somalia either didn't notice or didn't take the offer.]

Somalia Hanks: Uh, no idea. He just said to meet? Something about a Level 7 expedition going… really wrong.

Justin Zimals: Oh! Fun…

Somalia Hanks: Yeah. So, um, I'll see you later I suppose.

Justin Zimals: Good luck!

[Somalia gives Justin something almost akin to a smile, taking her bag, fastening the buttons on her cardigan, and leaving the computer room. As she reaches the door, it opens before her, and Melody Parker bustles her way inside. Upon almost bumping into Somalia, she apologises and takes a step back into the corner of the room.]

Melody Parker: Sorry, Somalia!

Somalia Hanks: No, no, it's okay. You… got here fast.

Melody Parker: Eh, I jogged. I live nearby, but I figured I'd get here fast.

Somalia Hanks: Right! Well, uh, good on you for being proactive.

[Somalia gave a confused, slightly suspicious look to Melody, one which she also repeated at Justin. She shrugged, though, and left the room.]

Melody Parker: …That was weird.

Justin Zimals: She is in a rush, to be fair… Apparently she's got some matters to attend to with Andrew, and… oh, I won't bore you with it. Come here!

[Somewhat eagerly, Justin motioned for Melody to come over to the seat he and Somalia had previously been sat at, pulling in his office chair. Melody sauntered over curiously, placing herself beside him.]

Melody Parker: So, the forest! The "Crimson Forest", do you wanna show me what you wrote?

Justin Zimals: Yeah! hang on…

[With a smile, Justin turned to the monitor and switched from whatever tab Somalia seemed to be on last onto the document itself. Melody leaned forwards curiously, placing her elbows upon the table to listen intently as Justin read.]

Justin Zimals: "PA22 is…" wait, hang on.

Melody Parker: It's still a Pending Approval?

Justin Zimals: It shouldn't be! I changed the name to Crimson Forest…

Melody Parker: Did you do it on the document and in the internal systems?

Justin Zimals: Yeah, of course I did…

Melody Parker: Alright, well… I'll have a look and see if I can find it.

[Melody turned herself away from Justin's active monitor to an adjacent inactive one, thumbing the power button on the computer tower at her feet and waiting for it to boot up. When the monitor was on and her username and password were inputted, Melody made her way to the M.E.G.'s Database files. She clicked on the search bar, and after waiting a handful of seconds for the lag to pass, typed "level".]

Melody Parker: What's the number?

Justin Zimals: It… doesn't have one. It's just the Crimson Forest.

Melody Parker: Tsh, really dude?

Justin Zimals: What? It's a good name!

Melody Parker: No doubt, my guy! I like it, but come on… No number? Your sister's gonna shoot you.

Justin Zimals: But it fits not having a number! It's a level not like the other ones, you access it weirdly and it's already in a strange part of Level 9. It's like The Hub!

Melody Parker: That's… not smart reasoning.

Justin Zimals: Maybe think of it like Level Alpha?

Melody Parker: That's worse.

Justin Zimals: I… still like it.

[Melody scoffed playfully, chuckling at Justin's stubbornness. She backspaced the term "level" from the search bar, and typed simply "Crimson Forest".]

Melody Parker: There we go! It… got re-renamed back to PA22.

Justin Zimals: And was that recent?

Melody Parker: It happened eight minutes ago.

Justin Zimals: Man… eh, I'll change it back.

Melody Parker: I dunno, man, she's got a point? We don't really have rules on what we number and what we don't, and we don't even know that much about the Forest yet. We've only been there a handful of times.

Justin Zimals: Aw, come on, really?

Melody Parker: We do have to run this a little properly? We need rules, Justin.

[Clearly not taking it seriously, Justin scoffs, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.]

Justin Zimals: Psh. Women, huh?

Melody Parker: I'm… sorry? What?

Justin Zimals: Huh? Oh, sorry, it's just a joke.

Melody Parker: …Right. Um, anyways.

[Melody slowly pivoted to look at the screen again, opting to rename PA22 back to Crimson Forest in complete, and extremely awkward, silence.]

Justin Zimals: You okay?

Melody Parker: Yeah, just changing the name for you! I may as well.

Justin Zimals: I'm sorry for-

Melody Parker: Dude, it's fine, it wasn't even that bad, it just took me by surprise. Just be a little more sensitive, alright? Like with Casey.

Justin Zimals: Altman?

Melody Parker: She's the only Casey here.

Justin Zimals: Right! Yeah, what about her?

Melody Parker: Come on, dude. I told you about how Maxwell was treating her.

Justin Zimals: Yeah, and I talked to them. I told Maxwell what he said was wrong, and that was that.

[Melody blinked a few times in silence, sighing with a shake of her head as she turned off the computer with the end of her boot.]

Justin Zimals: What? I did good! Casey even says she's doing better!

Melody Parker: You tried. I appreciate that, and I'm sure Casey does too.

Justin Zimals: What else was I supposed to do?

Melody Parker: Reprimand Maxwell, maybe? He's judging her because she's a Muslim, and there's a word for that-

Justin Zimals: It's not that! They just clash a little, it's fine, I'll help them get over it.

Melody Parker: He's an American who was deployed in Afghanistan… in the early 2000's… Think about it.

Justin Zimals: That's silly! We're in the Backrooms, we should be worrying about getting home, finding safe places, and protecting ourselves from entities.

Melody Parker: And I would love to agree with you, but that's clearly not the case.





"Was he really like this, Melody?"

"Uhm, heh, yeah. He didn't mean it, he had good intentions. We can skip over this part, we're not talking about the Crimson Forest anymore."



"We… we should. What happened after this?"


"We went back and forth on the topic, none of it surmounted to much. Obviously he's different now-"



"I'd hope so!"

"-Exactly! No, he is, he… as I said, he had good intentions. He wanted to believe Maxwell wasn't racist."


"And did he learn he kinda was before or after he… you know…"


"Um… During."



"Oh, shit, right…"

"Yeah…"


"So it doesn't happen for a while then, is what I'm hearing?"


"Nope! Thankfully, too. I don't know if I could relive what happened yet."



"Then… let's move on to… Uh, oh, wow, quite the jump. While I try and find the transcript, what do you remember about your first time visiting Rosewood?"

"Uhm, quite a lot, actually! For… for better or worse."




<Begin Recording at: 10:02AM>

Date: 20/10/15
Location: "The Safe Route" and Base Delta/NewTown - Level 9, "The trail" - Level 9.1, Rosewood and Mach - Crimson Forest/PA22.
Participants: Melody Parker, Reid Harris, Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Diana Stewards, Ailsa Davis.

[With some speed, Melody was making her way down the streets of Level 9. Of course, it was fairly easy to traverse it thanks to the work of the previous months. Most of the level was still incredibly dangerous, and most likely always will be, but the set of roads and avenues that encircled a newly forming town made travelling from Level 8 to Level 10 easy.

Since the protected trail formed a horseshoe shape, narrowly avoiding Church of the Veiled territory, it didn't take long for the interior of the horseshoe to slowly become safe between June and October. The name was still in flux, but the two common names were Base Delta by the M.E.G., and "NewTown" by the later residents who began to move in from across the Backrooms. Was the small town exclusively an M.E.G. effort, it would probably keep the name of Base Delta, but the truth was it was a deeply collaborative project. Supplies from Emstable's stock were gifted for the surrounding walls, and the Ariane Circle also helped in providing tips and a small armoury. An armoury mostly used by residents not originally from the M.E.G.

Wanting to keep out of the way of the busy construction work being done to the home interiors, Melody followed around the original horseshoe, looking at the cars, logs, sandbags, and upturned cars either side of her that formed a safe passageway through Level 9. Upon reaching the north of the town, Melody grinned, being met with the sight of Reid Harris and Casey Altman.]

Melody Parker: Hey!

[At Melody's call, both Reid and Casey looked up from what they were busying themselves with. They were stood at opposite lengths of a large flatbed, fitted with four large wheels that, surprisingly, was fitted with a durable looking suspension system. Tied down to its top, with Casey fitting down a final rope, were various unmarked crates, stacked and layered as to not slip from the cords.]

Reid Harris: Oh, shit, hey Melody! I'm surprised you're here.

Melody Parker: Eh, I don't have a fixed job, I come and go where I'm needed!

Casey Altman: Well, I'm glad you're needed here.

[Casey hopped off from the single support step that lined the long sides of the flatbed, brushing down her jumper and making her way to Melody, hugging her affectionately. Melody, of course, hugged back.]

Melody Parker: So am I!

Reid Harris: Do you know what we're doing?

Melody Parker: Mostly! I got briefed by Kat, but you know how I am, I'll forget.

[Reid got up from his knees, having been carefully deflating the final of the large, offroad tires on the flatbed to enable it to work better on bumpy terrain. Wiping his hands on his baggy, scruffy jeans, he made his way over to Melody and gave her a soft hug also. Just like before, she was happy to reciprocate it.]

Casey Altman: Honestly, Melody… There's no need for that sort of talk.

Reid Harris: Besides, this job's so simple I don't think your shot memory could forget how to pull it off.

Casey Altman: Hey, rude.

[Casey chuckled a little bit, moving back to the cart. Instead of going to the side, though, she went to the front, grabbing one of three long handles that were all connected to a mechanism that allowed the front wheels to turn in the direction the handles were directed. Reid was just a step behind her, grabbing the handle at the other side.]

Reid Harris: It's rude… and true.

Melody Parker: Reid is right, it's very true!

[With a chuckle of her own, Melody moved to front of the wagon also, picking up the middle handle. With a look over his shoulder, Reid gave an experimental little pull, and with the help of his two colleagues alongside him the wagon began to shift forwards.]

Reid Harris: How is it for you two? It's not too heavy, right?

Melody Parker: Not for me, no. I got it…

Casey Altman: Same here, I got it too.

Reid Harris: You sound exasperated already.

Casey Altman: I only said that I got it, not that it's too heavy…

Reid Harris: Are you sure you can handle it, then?

Casey Altman: I won't be able to if we keep talking about it?

[Reid chuckled at Casey's comment, breathing in momentarily to ready himself for the walk that was to come. He began to pull the cart forwards again, with both Casey and Melody following almost immediately on towards their faraway destination.]

"Did the walk take long?"

"To 9.1?"


"Well, I more meant the Forest, actually. I was going to completely ignore the bit in 9.1 and move straight to you guys at your destination. From what I remember that's where things went a bit awry?"



"It was! We can skip straight to it, if you like."


"Hm… We don't have to. I'm noticing Casey Altman's name showing up towards the end of the 9.1 section of the transcript. Do you want me to replay it? I know you and her were close."



"I would actually appreciate that, if you don't mind. I know it's probably not what the Dailyrooms want, but-"

"Eh, I don't really care. We're already going to be here all day. Let's go from this point, shall we?"

[Due to needing to take quite frequent breaks, especially now that the three expeditioners were in the dirt of Level 9.1 as apposed to the smooth tarmac of its parent level, it had taken well over two hours to get to the point they were at. Since the discovery of Level 9.1 at the start of the year, and through much trial and error that miraculously resulted in zero deaths, a safe passage that weaved across the outskirts each Mangled claimed as territory. This passage was signified to the few people who crossed 9.1 by multiple lengths of thick ropes raised from the ground by poles they would be tied around, complete with cats-eyes to illuminate where each post was in a way that would not catch the Mangled's attentions.

Due to the soft ground and an unfortunately uneven weight distribution of the wagon's contents, both Avery and Melody had moved to the back of the wagon to push it whenever the wheels dug too far into the dirt. Although the two at the back had tried to communicate with Reid once or twice when they'd agreed on this formation, it was decided that it'd be best not to, lest they attract the level's primary inhabitants.]

Casey Altman: Do you think we're far?

[As she spoke, Casey sounded incredibly winded and generally exhausted, her breath coming in heavy heaves and grunts of effort whenever she had to push the cart out of a self-created ditch. Melody, while not feeling the effects of exhaustion to the degree Casey had been, was much the same.]

Melody Parker: I want to say we are, but… I have no idea, us going so slowly has fucked my sense of time.

Casey Altman: Me too…

[Casey whimpered as she tried, and failed, to push the cart out of yet another trough. With Melody's help, she put her shoulder against the back of the cart and pushed with all her might. With a sudden squeak of the suspension, the wheel jutted out of the ground and continued along, and Casey only found her footing again thanks to Melody catching her from falling]

Melody Parker: Careful! You know, we can ask Reid for a break, you… dude, you need it.

Casey Altman: No, really, I'm… I'm fine. We have to get this stuff to Rosewood, so I'm gonna.

Melody Parker: Rosewood better be worth the hype you're building up for it.

[Casey snickered at Melody's comment, shaking her head as she went right back to pushing the cart, having completely neglected her duty. Melody noticed at the same time, and tried not to think too hard about how much strain they'd put on Reid as they went back to pushing.]

Casey Altman: It… sort of is! I like it, and the fact we're building, like, full homes now is definitely something I find cool.

Melody Parker: Have you ever seen anything like it before? I know you've been here a while, even if you've never… moved far.

Casey Altman: Um… well, yeah, I suppose. From a distance, though. This is the first time I've ever gotten involved in development.

Melody Parker: Did the other groups just not interest you-?

Casey Altman: They… worried me, I guess.

Melody Parker: Worried you?

Casey Altman: Yeah-! I mean, god you're gonna think I'm weird, but… seeing people come to what is sometimes someone else's land or… a perfect ecosystem and, um, bastardising it into something it's not just because they could, I didn't want a part of that. Every group I saw felt like it'd become that, and fairly often I was proven right.

Melody Parker: …Do you think that'll happen with us?

Casey Altman: If you want my bleak answer… yes. Especially now.

Melody Parker: Is that why you wanted to join the M.E.G.? To make it stop?

[Much to Melody's surprise, Casey chuckled at that, shaking her head.]

Casey Altman: No… not at all. The little group of people I was living with in Level 1 merged into the M.E.G., so… pah, here I am. I didn't have a choice in the matter.

Melody Parker: You could've left?

Casey Altman: Do you wish I did or something?

Melody Parker: No, of course not, but you could've?

Casey Altman: Because I felt loyalty to my friends, and… I dunno, they trusted Justin, Kat, and Andrew.

Melody Parker: Do you trust them?

Casey Altman: I'll… see how Rosewood goes. The Overseers are well-intentioned, but… heh, well, so were the Leaders.

[Melody seemed to slow a little bit at Casey's final words, looking at her with squinted, curious eyes. She found herself now leaning on the wagon instead of outright pushing it as Reid stopped pulling, but she didn't seem to notice. Casey felt uncomforted by the look of suspicion that she didn't notice either.]

Casey Altman: Um… were you familiar with the Leaders?

Melody Parker: In a… very weird way, yeah.

Casey Altman: Yeah?

Melody Parker: It's… weird. I've not exactly told it to anyone.

Casey Altman: Why not? You… look a little young to have actually lived with them?

Melody Parker: It's a little complex.

Casey Altman: Are you affected heavily by Slowclock like I am?

Melody Parker: I… have no idea. Probably not, though?

[Although it seemed like Melody was about to say more, she was caught off-guard by the sudden calling of Reid's voice around the front of the flatbed. She jolted upright, as did Casey next to her.]

Reid Harris: Have neither of you noticed I stopped?

Melody Parker: Huh? Oh, sorry! No, we got distracted… what's up?

Reid Harris: We're here.

[Melody Parker glanced forwards, looking beyond the front of the cart and to the glowing light ahead of them. As they were all familiar with by now, the tether they were following ended in a camo-printed canopy that shielded supplies, benches, and the glowing ball of light that was used to travel from Level 9.1 to the Crimson Forest.]

Melody Parker: Will the cart… fit? It's way bigger than the light.

Reid Harris: Should do? It's fit before.

Melody Parker: Okay, good… please don't tell me Rosewood is far from where we'll be dropped off, my arms ache, dude.

Casey Altman: Oh, we won't have to move it far at all. This exit is tied to one of the lanterns we keep inside Rosewood at all times.

Reid Harris: It's for translating the locals and stuff, it serves multiple purposes.

Melody Parker: So we'll be fine! Gotcha, good.

"Are you… okay, Melody?"

"Yeah! I'm fine, don't worry. It's just been ages since I've read these and heard her voice."


"Do you need a moment?"



"I said I'm okay, but thanks… We're at the part that we wanted to be at anyways, right?

"Yeah, basically. If you say you're okay I'll just take your word for it. I'll skip ahead a bit… Uh, talking, bantering, there's Reid re-explaining how lanterns translate… here we go! Eugh, Maxwell."


"We both knew it was coming."


"Yeah…"



"Are you okay to listen? I mean, you don't have to, you're not involved for… fuck, ages now I think."

"No, it's okay. I survived listening to Casey, I can listen to Maxwell."


"Hah. That's the spirit"

[After only just a few minutes of walking the outlined pathways of Rosewood, skirting between stone brick foundations and the wooden skeletons of soon-to-be rustic abodes, the trio from Base Delta/NewTown finally found their way to where the materials were needed. It was for different building, much grander than those surrounding it if the taller framework and foundations for a second storey were any indicators. With loud panting from the three of them, Melody, Casey, and Reid all dropped their respective wagon pulleys and slumped against it.]

Diana Stewards: Yeesh, those two look in a bad state.

Ailsa Davis: Aw, don't be mean to them…

Diana Stewards: I'm not being mean, I'm being true. There's a difference there somewhere, if you care enough.

Ailsa Davis: Yeah, I… I don't think I care enough.

[Having heard the commotion and exhaustion of the new arrivals, the two people working within the building stepped out while talking between themselves. Both Ailsa and Diana were wearing denim coveralls, wearing hard-hats that hid their long, ponytailed blonde and short, dark curly hair respectively. As Diana stepped out of where the door would presumably be and towards the cart, she fitted a hammer into a toolbelt around her waist.]

Diana Stewards: Seems like you three brought everything…?

Casey Altman: Huh? Oh, Diana… hi. Sorry, this thing's heavy.

Diana Stewards: I know, I was in you guys' sorry state just last week.

Ailsa Davis: We both were, actually. Sorry you had to carry the thing up all by yourselves. If we had horses, I'm sure we'd use them.

Reid Harris: Eh, it's fine! I… I don't believe we've met, actually?

Ailsa Davis: Oh, Casey knows both of us, we kinda go way back.

Diana Stewards: "Way back" is an understatement.

Melody Parker: Is it? I… I thought Casey didn't know many people.

Casey Altman: What? No, I know people! I've been in the Backrooms for half a century, I know a few people. Diana and Ailsa were… part of another group on Level 1, once.

Melody Parker: But not part of the original three?

Ailsa Davis: I think we would've met you if we were, Melody? We know a fair bit about you.

Melody Parker: How?

Ailsa Davis: You're an original new M.E.G. recruit that's basically everywhere. Your name's been brought up.

Diana Stewards: Especially by Justin.

Melody Parker: That's… actually sorta sweet of him. It's nice to meet you two!

[Melody got up from the cart, stretching her legs with two strides and going to Diana and Ailsa. She shook both of their hands, then grinned to Casey.]

Melody Parker: You seem to have nice friends?

Casey Altman: Heh, well, I attract good people?

Diana Stewards: Wording it like that makes it sound gay-

Casey Altman: Woah! Hah, no, I'm not gay.

Diana Stewards: Then don't word it gay? Simple.

Ailsa Davis: Can we maybe not joke about this…?

Diana Stewards: Huh? oh, right, yeah. Your brother-

Melody Parker: …Um, right! Where do you need these boxes put?

[Quickly trying to dispel the awkward mood, Melody clapped her hands together and circled around to the side of the cart. She untied the ropes that secured the goods, and Reid had the initiative to do to the same on the other side. Ailsa followed behind Melody, peering around her shoulder.]

Ailsa Davis: So the littler boxes should be nails, I think? I'll drop those in the barn we're building.

Melody Parker: Barn? We're farming here?

Ailsa Davis: That's the hope, I think. I'm just following plans given to us by Maxwell.

Melody Parker: …Baldwin?

[Ailsa took a few of the boxes, balancing them in two stacks on both of her hands]

Ailsa Davis: You know him?

Melody Parker: Unfortunately…

[Just as Ailsa was about to begin leaving, she stopped herself, turning once more to look at Melody.]

Ailsa Davis: What do you mean 'unfortunately'? He's nice.

Melody Parker: Um… well, it's just… Does he ever bring up Casey?

Ailsa Davis: Should he…?

Melody Parker: I hope not, really. I don't know when they last worked together, but for me it was at the start of the year. I imagine they've bumped into each other every now and again, though. Casey's come here a few times, right?

Ailsa Davis: She's helped build things, yeah.

Melody Parker: Was she ever around at the times Maxwell was?

Ailsa Davis: Uhm… I don't know? I'm not always working on the same things as she is, but I suppose not? Do they not get along or anything?

Melody Parker: It's a little bit… deeper than that. He was a soldier in… some wars I've heard parts about, kind of involving the country that Casey's from… You know…

Ailsa Davis: Woah, woah. No. If they do squabble, it's not like that. Maxwell's brilliant.

Melody Parker: Ailsa- It is Ailsa, right?

Ailsa Davis: Yeah, it is.

Melody Parker: Ailsa, I've seen how they argue.

[Ailsa sighed, adjusting how she held the now uncomfortable boxes of nails.]

Ailsa Davis: I'm not… talking about this with a stranger.

Melody Parker: Right, right, yeah. Need me to unload anything?

[Ailsa shrugged weakly, pivoting on her heel once more to begin taking her boxes back to the barn's skeleton structure.]

Ailsa Davis: Ask Diana.

Melody Parker: Ask Dia-? no, fine, I will.


God, I feel like an asshole reading these back…

Why? None of what happened is your fault?


It still happened? I can't help but think I… put her in a sour mood.

Eh, I doubt it influenced what happened next.


Well, I do.

[After spending many hours surrounded by the half-built exoskeletons of Base Rosewood's abodes, and helping construct a handful of them to the away team's surprise, the materials brought on the wagon had finally exhausted. Although that usually meant that the group would now have to return to Base Delta, either to send up more material or swap with another team so that they could, it was clear no one had the strength left to do so. As such, the team relaxed on the sled instead.]

Diana Stewards: Okay… apparently this stuff's pretty good. Should help the sweat, at least.

[Diana spoke as she approached the group, all boiling from the heat. Even though the Backrooms had no seasons, the group had all dressed themselves in thicker clothes due to it being in the winter months and all of them originating from the Northern Hemisphere. As they fanned themselves with their hands or their collars, Diana stopped before them, a tray in her hands.]

Reid Harris: What even is the stuff?

Diana Stewards: "Crimson Ice Tea", at least that's what the lanterns translated it as.

Ailsa Davies: Don't tell me you're going to the locals and taking stuff from them. We're meant to be leaving them alone, Diana.

Diana Stewards: You know I don't listen to that dumb idea, Ailsa. They offered to make me a tea, I offered the modern glasses, and voila.

Ailsa Davies: We're supposed to be leaving them alone…

Diana Stewards: So? Law's never dictated my morality, and I'm pretty sure it never affected yours. Especially not for a drink. C'mon.

[Ailsa seemed hesitant, but after seeing everyone else reach for a glass she also took one. Melody seemed to drink first, her brow furrowing and her lips smacking from the taste.]

Melody Parker: Is it… cranberry mixed with other stuff?

Diana Stewards: Apparently it's a unique fruit off the trees. It's called… Deargthaí, or something. I probably butchered that.

Ailsa Davies: Yeah, you did. I can recognise the roots of Gaelic anywhere, I'm Irish born.

Casey Altman: Really? You don't sound Irish?

Diana Stewards: Does she have to be?

Ailsa Davies: Diana, I've heard it before, it's fine! But I am, uh, I immigrated with my brother back 1998 to New York, and my accent sorta… neutralised. His, fuck. It's horrifically American.

Melody Parker: How old were you when you did that?

[Ailsa glanced at Melody, hesitant to reply. She sipped her tart and intense iced tea, and shrugged indifferently.]

Ailsa Davies: Like… 18? Oh, no. I was 17, he was 19.

Reid Harris: You moved countries as a minor?

Ailsa Davies: I wanted to go with my brother, and my Dad was okay with it? Mom wasn't in the picture. Sheets were signed, tickets were bought, and I was off. It was pre 9/11, no one cared.

Melody Parker: So when did you noclip? Must've been long after 2001?

Ailsa Davies: Hah. Clever. 2011! Me and my brother both went together. It was late at night, we were transferring subways to meet a friend at the airport, and… Wham. Both clipped together into Level 1.

Melody Parker: Aw, you got to clip in with your brother! That's sweet.

Ailsa Davies: Yeah, yeah… Come on, when did you noclip?

Melody Parker: …Are we doing this?

Diana Stewards: I don't care if we make a game out of it? Could be fun to watch you lot guess when I wound up here.

Reid Harris: It's probably pretty obvious for me.

Casey Altman: I think everyone knows mine, I'm on the database page for Slowclock.

Ailsa Davies: Eh, we don't need a game about it. I just wanna know.

Melody Parker: W-Well, it's…

Ailsa Davies: Were you born in the Backrooms?

Melody Parker: No! God no, I wish though, would make it far easier… Uhm… 1999?

Ailsa Davies: And you know about 9/11?

Melody Parker: I hear snippets from, uh, back home? I figured everyone does?

Reid Harris: She's got you there. I hear little bits?

Casey Altman: Tell me about it…

Maxwell Baldwin: How about we don't.

[Almost cutting Casey off, Maxwell Baldwin abruptly made his presence known, skirting the side of the sled with some loud steps in the ground. Casey's arm flew over herself defensively, while Melody and Reid stared at him in disbelief, shocked at his very presence.]

Ailsa Davies: Max! Hey!

Melody Parker: You're… here? I didn't realise you were actually here.

Maxwell Baldwin: Of course I am? I'm not going to miss what's happening here, it's incredible.

Casey Altman: Is it reminding you of your war days?

Maxwell Baldwin: Got something you want to say?

Casey Altman: No, no, not at all…

Reid Harris: Do you… need us for anything, Maxwell?

[Slowly, Reid stood up, holding his mostly finished tea in both his hands just under his chest. He looked across everyone else, feeling confident he'd diffused at least some of the tension created by Maxwell's presence.]

Maxwell Baldwin: I'm coming back with you guys, obviously.

Casey Altman: You are?

Maxwell Baldwin: Is that a problem?

Ailsa Davies: Not at all!

Reid Harris: Yeah, I'm sure we can all play nicely.

[Reid's glance fixated to Maxwell, locking eyes before Reid merely tilted his head up at the older man once and put his hands in his pockets.]

Reid Harris: It should be far easier to get back? Is anyone else returning home…?

Diana Stewards: Mhm, me and Ailsa are.

Reid Harris: I'm gonna be honest, I did ask that rhetorically. But it's fine, let's uh, let's go, shall we? Do we need to bring the wagon?

Diana Stewards: Obviously we do. It wouldn't be an easy trip otherwise.

Reid Harris: You know what? I'm gonna stop asking questions.


You ready, Melody?


…No. But, uh, I don't think I have a choice, do I?

You could leave?


No, no. I'm gonna stay.

[Thanks to the mostly empty load on the wagon, now only carrying their empty glasses, the now much larger away team were well on their way back to Base Delta/Newtown. Currently, their travels had brought them back into the dark fields of Level 9.1, following the rope trail that connected where the Lantern's glow to the Crimson Forest roughly was and the edge of Level 9. Reid Harris was tugging the wagon on his own, but was not finding it a struggle in the slightest. On his left was Maxwell Baldwin, with Diana Stewards on his right flank. Trailing at the back was Melody (stood directly behind the trailer) with Casey Altman on her right and Ailsa Davies on her left.]

Melody Parker: I… there's no good time to bring this up, so I'm just gonna do it now. I'm sorry.

Ailsa Davies: What?

[Upon realising that Melody was addressing her, and not anybody else in the group, Ailsa craned her head to look in Melody's direction.]

Melody Parker: For earlier? When I made you mad about…

[Melody trailed off, pointing a thumb ahead of them to Maxwell. At that, Ailsa breathed in uncomfortably and shook her head.]

Ailsa Davies: It's… fine. Well, I mean, it's not. I saw how Casey reacted when he showed up, and I notice we're all suddenly not as chatty. I'll bet that's not because we're travelling, either.

Melody Parker: Us three were pretty chatty, yeah…

Ailsa Davies: Is he really like that, though?

Melody Parker: Military guy serving in Afghanistan in the 2000's? Yeah.

Ailsa Davies: They weren't all racists, surely.

Melody Parker: Well he is, that's the bit that matters.

Casey Altman: You know I can hear you two, right?

[Their faces immediately going pale, the two women glanced over to Casey. She met their eyes, giving a weak and not all too confident smile to the pair.]

Melody Parker: Sorry.

Casey Altman: You're apologising for everybody, huh? It's fine, honestly… I've dealt with Maxwell's my entire life, I'm used to it.

Ailsa Davies: But that doesn't make it right! He's a lovely guy- I- to… me? Us? Just not you?

Casey Altman: He's acted the same way to Melody as he has with me, just not as bad. I assume my hijab makes me a big ol' glowing lighthouse for him.

Ailsa Davies: That's… I don't even know what to say.

Casey Altman: You don't need to say anything, just… have my back if he says something, okay? I deal with him's just as much as I deal with nice people who defend him's.

Ailsa Davies: Then I have your back, Casey. I promise.

Casey Altman: Thanks…

[Ailsa looked forwards uneasily, eyeing the back of Maxwell's head. He was at the head of the group, discussing with the likes of Reid and Diana. Although she could infer through body language and the odd parse of a word it was about business, it did make her feel a bit uneasy watching him talk nonchalantly with the former military person. Not wanting to cause a scene, she silently meandered over to the trio, appearing to the left of Reid.]

Ailsa Davies: So! What are we discussing?

Reid Harris: Ailsa! Christ, scare me a little less next time, won't you?

Ailsa Davies: Oh, sorry?

Diana Stewards: Don't be, I got a laugh out of it.

Reid Harris: Eh, it's fine, I'm just jumpy. This sublevel gives me the creeps.

Ailsa Davies: Really? It's technically less dangerous than 9 itself.

Reid Harris: But it doesn't feel it… I dunno, the grass freaks me out more than buildings.

Ailsa Davies: You've been travelling this way longer than I have. you discovered it.

Reid Harris: All the more time to build up anxiety over it.

[As Ailsa snickered, both of their attentions were swiped by the grunting cough of Maxwell. Both looking at him, their gazes met his steely, tough expression, seeming displeased.]

Maxwell Baldwin: Can we get back to the topic at hand, Reid?

Reid Harris: Uh- yeah, right. We're discussing what to do when we get back.

Ailsa Davies: Well, we go home when we're back, right? Or if not home, one of Delta's Inn's.

Maxwell Baldwin: I wouldn't be so sure… We might get more orders, we're behind just about everything with the Forest.

Ailsa Davies: I… know. My brother won't shut up about it.

Maxwell Baldwin: There's not a single higherup who's shutting up about it, and it's driving me fucking mad.

Ailsa Davies: But we're heading back, surely that- Oh, no, fair enough…

Maxwell Baldwin: You've been ordered to return after empty delivery too, have you?

Ailsa Davies: Heh, yeah… More than once. Though it's not happened in a little while.

Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, that's not a good sign.

[Ailsa chuckled slightly, but felt her spine run cold like dripping ice as realisation dawned in. Though she did look over her shoulder, she wasn't at a good enough position to see Casey. She could just about make Melody's face, being turned to face Casey and her curly black hair obscuring some of her features. Before being able to make a judgement on their emotion, her foot caught stone and almost fell. Reid caught her, and after a few stumbles of her feet she realised the group were back in Level 9 proper.]

Ailsa Davies: Ah! Right… We're back.

Reid Harris: In Level 9, yeah. There's still a bit of a trek.

Ailsa Davies: Augh… please don't remind me… I can barely even walk. I've done so much today.

Reid Harris: Why not hop on the sled?

Maxwell Baldwin: She is not doing that.

Diana Stewards: Do I get to sit on the sled if she does?

[Diana smirked mischievously, her eyes darting up to spot Maxwell's growing frustrations that came vocally and visually with a grumble and wince respectively.]

Maxwell Baldwin: This feels like a fucking day-care.

Diana Stewards: A day-care you signed up to be at. The M.E.G. is nothing but babying.

Maxwell Baldwin: You don't need to tell me twice- I- hey! Get off!

[With visibly mounting anger, Maxwell dropped the handle for the flatbed and turned to watch Diana flop onto its wooden surface on her back. If her face was any indicator, she was expecting a landing or surface far smoother than what it was, but she seemed to play it casually enough.]

Diana Stewards: Onwards.

Ailsa Davies: Diana! You can't just lie there!

Diana Stewards: Sure I can, this route is safe and I'm lightweight. Hell, you could lay down too.

Maxwell Baldwin: She's not doing that.

Ailsa Davies: Exactly! Err, sort of.

[Worriedly, Ailsa cast a glance to Melody and Casey, both of which having been quiet the entire interaction. In her distraction, Diana sat up and took their wrist, pulling them into the sled to also lay on her back.]

Ailsa Davies: Diana!

Diana Stewards: What? Now you get a free ride, too.

Ailsa Davies: I didn't even want one!

Diana Stewards: Well then getting one will just feel even more satisfying. C'mon, start pulling.

[With a deliberately lazy wave of her arm, she directed the two men in front to start pulling. Sharing a look between each other, they decided to start pulling to try and not fight. Diana and Ailsa, despite the latter's unwillingness, glanced up at the dark abyss above Level 9's buildings. Because of their attention being drawn elsewhere, they were confused when the cart suddenly stopped with a rough jerk and stop as it hit the backs of Maxwell's and Reid's legs.]

Diana Stewards: Come on! Why'd we stop?

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