I was kinda torn about joining M.E.G. or not. But after they rescued me, I realized M.E.G. was super chill with wanderers. Thing is, their main gig is exploring the Afterroom. If I joined, I'd probably be sent to check out one sketchy place after another, and who knows, I might kick the bucket real quick. I wanna survive, but joining M.E.G. seems like a death wish. On the flip side, M.E.G. saved my butt and has tons of resources to help me get used to the Afterroom faster. Plus, going solo in the Afterroom is just as risky. I was stuck in a real pickle.
You Huanhuan noticed I was on the fence. She said, "Don't sweat it. You don't have to join M.E.G. right off the bat. Lots of solo wanderers are doing just fine. You can always join later if things go south. As long as you pass the test, you're in whenever you want."
That caught me off guard. So, joining M.E.G. means passing a test. And... you're part of M.E.G. Is it cool for you to be pushing me like this...
You Huanhuan read my mind. She quickly added, "This isn't just me talking. It's what the M.E.G. bigwigs think. M.E.G. was set up to explore the Afterroom and look out for wanderers. So, we give wanderers solid advice."
She took a breath and went on, "For most wanderers, it's better to go solo for a bit. That way, they can figure out which crew suits them best."
Since she laid it all out, I said, "Alright, I'll mull it over before deciding whether to join M.E.G. or not."
"Cool," You Huanhuan nodded. "M.E.G. has outposts all over. Just find one, take the test, and you're in whenever."
After that, she handed me two bottles of green almond water, a bag of jerky, and five packs of compressed biscuits.
The general look of almond water
This was M.E.G.'s way of helping out newbies in the Afterroom. But after this, if you want almond water and grub, you gotta find it yourself or trade for it.
Before she left, You Huanhuan gave me a piece of paper with the lowdown on Level 1.
Level 1 is a massive, never-ending warehouse with constant power and water. If you play your cards right, you can live there forever.
It's huge, with stairs, elevators, private rooms, and hallways.
In this level, supply boxes pop up and vanish randomly. They might have crucial stuff or just junk.
Most importantly, if the lights flicker or go out, you might run into some nasty entities. Known baddies here include the Smiling Mask and the Skin Stealer.
To get out, just find a hole and crawl through or wander down an endless hallway. The first might take you to Level 19, the second to Level 2.
After reading about Level 1, I was totally lost and didn't know what to do next.
Before she left, You Huanhuan told me that both B.N.T.G. and M.E.G. have living areas, but you gotta pay with almond water to stay there, or you can find a spot in Level 1.
I stuffed the jerky and some biscuits in my pocket, but then I felt a round glass bead. I picked it up while running through Level 0. It was glowing faintly white, looking all shiny. I had no clue what it was for, but I knew it wasn't just some trinket. I tucked it away and decided to check out Level 0 on my own. Supplies pop up randomly there, and if I can find a tent, I can set up camp near the M.E.G. base, which is kinda allowed by M.E.G.
I grabbed the two bottles of almond water and walked away from the M.E.G. base.
Around the M.E.G. base, I ran into some wanderers like me, scavenging for supplies. I wandered aimlessly, moving further from the M.E.G. base. Soon, I couldn't see the super bright light on the M.E.G. gate anymore.
Without that light, it got way darker. Sometimes I'd step in water, making a "plop plop" sound that echoed in the huge warehouse. Sometimes I'd see some creepy smiley faces drawn on the walls, and I'd keep my distance.
After wandering for about an hour, I didn't run into any trouble, but I didn't find anything useful either. Occasionally, I'd come across a room, but it was already taken by other wanderers.
I was getting pretty worn out from all the walking. I'd munched on a compressed biscuit earlier, but now my stomach was growling again. So, I pulled out some dried meat and started chowing down.
Just as I was chewing on the jerky, the lights above me suddenly started flickering. I freaked out and jumped to my feet. Without thinking twice, I grabbed the two bottles of almond water and bolted.
It felt like the flickering lights were chasing me. No matter which way I ran, the lights overhead would start flickering right away.
After running for a few minutes, I spotted this creepy black smiling face in the shadow on the wall beside me. At that exact moment, there was a loud "plop," and all the lights above me went out at once. In the darkness, I could faintly hear someone laughing.
That smiling face, in the pitch-black, its white teeth and eyes were crystal clear. It started floating towards me, all wobbly and unsettling.
I screamed, and in sheer panic, I didn't care about the almond water in my hands anymore. I chucked the bottles and took off running. I could feel that smiling face hot on my heels.
Luckily, as I ran, the lights above me started flickering back on one by one. Gradually, I was back in the light.
But that smiling face in the darkness behind me wasn't giving up. It suddenly sped towards me with this eerie grin!
At that moment, I noticed a hole in the wall beside me. I didn't care if I'd get cut up or not—I just dove into the hole.
As I tumbled into the hole, the smiling face stopped chasing me. But that familiar feeling of falling hit me again. I knew I'd been cut out from Level 1, and where I'd end up was probably Level 19, the attic!
When the falling sensation stopped, I slowly got up from the ground. Sure enough, I was surrounded by a pile of junk, with ladders and collapsed bookshelves scattered everywhere. Above me, a dim yellow light bulb swayed, casting a faint glow.
The space here was super cramped, and everything smelled musty. I took a step, and the wooden floor creaked. Every time I touched something, a cloud of dust would puff up, making me cough.
I had no clue how to get out of here, so I just kept exploring. In Level 1, it was mentioned that this place was dangerous.
**Level 19, Attic**
**Survival Difficulty:**
**Level 2**
• Unsafe
• Unstable
• A few entities
I knew there were entities here too. Running into one in such a tight space would be a death sentence, so I had to find a way out ASAP.
I moved cautiously forward. As I explored, I noticed some orange light shining from beneath the floor. It gave off a warm, peaceful vibe, and I felt drawn to it.
But just as I was about to get closer, I pinched myself hard and reminded myself that in the Backrooms, nothing is safe. The safer something looks, the more dangerous it probably is.
I'm not sure how much time passed, but I started hearing a "buzzing" sound from above, like the wings of an insect vibrating.
"Here it comes," I thought to myself. Maybe this is the entity in Level 19!
After running into several entities before, I'd gotten a bit calmer. I knew I couldn't escape in this cramped attic, so I had to hide.
I slowly crouched down and carefully hid behind a pile of junk.
I heard the "buzzing" sound fly past my left front. Even the dust stirred up by its wings fell on my head.
I didn't dare move. Only after the buzzing sound had completely faded did I slowly peek out from behind the junk. After confirming the insect was gone, I stretched my legs and carefully stepped out.
And then, I spotted a box hidden behind a pile of junk nearby.
A supply box!
I was overjoyed...