BACKROOM: The Wanderer's note. Chapter 1: Chapter 1 : Won’t know ‘til you walk it.

Read chapter 1 of BACKROOM: The Wanderer's note. by SuVeryLong on NovelPedia.

—— A Northern village White sky. Clouds caged the earth with a white sky. Fogs blurred the horizon. Mountains encircled a small village. Cabins trapped warmth and light. Only the smoke escaped through the chimney and billowed through the air. The chill permeates everywhere. Snow falls like scattering feathers. The mountains, forests, grounds and the roofs are blanketed in layers of snow. On the ground, a trail of footprints originates from the village to the foothill of a nearby mountain. On the head of the trail and the foothill— two hikers walk. A gust of snowflake filled wind swayed a young man’s ushanka. His dark eyes scrutinised the map. Skin pale as snow. He is Owen, covered in layers of clothing. Each exhale is turned into a fog of steam. The wind dries his eyes, young Owen squints. There are 2 routes in front— Forward : A forest curving onto the slope, a shortcut, though rocky. Right : LONG and circuitous but manmade. An old man approaches from behind and grabs him on his shoulders. “Owen, why haven’t you decided yet?”, the old man’s breath billowed like fog in the bitter cold. He is a big man, with an empty, thus swollen bag. Young Owen doesn’t need to look. He knew the voice. “I- I don’t know which I should pick… It’s like… umm, how do I put this…?”, his words shivered, laced with nervousness, uncertainty, and cold. “Just pick a route and walk. Simple.”, the old man answered. … “Grandpa, your body is getting weaker and weaker, you just fainted yesterday. You don’t have much energy. That’s why I gotta pick a better route.” Well, yes. He’s old… However, aside from the white hairs and wrinkles, he seemed muscular. His tanned skin contrasts with Owen’s. In this snowy place, how could someone get such tan? The most iconic trait he has is that scratchmark he got on his eyelid, which is seemingly from a bear. Grandpa, being reminded of his condition, narrowed his eyes, and sighed. His exhale— a billowing smoke. Owen tries to take a peek of where the path goes. However, it’s always the issue of perspective and fog. “Ugh… If only I knew which path is the most efficient…” “Won’t know ‘til you walk it” , from the Old man. Owen took the first step forward, then the second felt easier, the third was effortless. Now, he fades into the forest. “Fine.” He had finally made the decision, he continued forward. ——— Fooooooshhhh— ... Where am I...? … why am I falling?... Waking up, his eyelids trembled before prying open. Piercing through the nothingness, clashing through the air. It was too dark. He couldn’t see his body either. ‘...It was just a dream?’ The ground emerged—a vast concrete plain stretching endlessly in all directions. It slowly approaches… why am I here?... Owen closes back his eyes. Accepting that he’s falling. His subconsciousness thinking that it is just a dream. ‘I can’t remember…’ … BUZZzz——— The hum-buzzing sound of the light drills into his eardrums. ‘...ugh, my head hurts...’ He rolls up with sore legs, then kneels. He begins to observe the unfamiliar surroundings. He knows. GASPS , ‘WAIT— this is…’ The office tile-grid roof. The hum-buzzings from the fluorescent light. The mono-yellow wallpaper and the worn-carpet. Segmented rooms and corridors create a large maze. “B- Backroom?…”, With wide eyes. This is level 0. He froze, unable to accept this fact. Being thrown in this place all of a sudden, he didn’t know what to do. ‘Calm down. Calm down…’ Owen pinches himself, making sure it is reality. If it hurts, it is reality. It’s real. ‘So this place really existed?...’ Rumors said the rise in the number of missing people is due to people accidentally falling into this place. ‘I guess the rumors are right?’ Owen never believed in rumors, it feels too superstitious. Other people would definitely think that he was stupid. … ‘Can’t say…’ While kneeling, Owen skims the surrounding warily, however, calmly. Hmm… ‘When I was a child, I was immersed in mysterious stuff like this, but.. Never interest in this… I heard the bac