(An excerpt from Chapter 15: Vanishings & Other Revelations)
Aleena is keeping a detailed journal of her experiences
in the colony, meticulously noting the passage of days and weeks as she settles
into this new environment. As she writes, she can't help but observe a peculiar
phenomenon: some of the homes around the town seem to be vanishing without a
trace. At first, she thought it was just her imagination playing tricks on her,
but as time goes by, she becomes increasingly aware of the empty spaces where
houses once stood.
The quiet disappearance of these homes adds an unsettling
layer to her daily routine. While she shares her thoughts and observations with
others, she keeps this particular concern to herself, feeling a mix of
curiosity and unease about what might be happening to the colony, in general. The
house that the Hound bolted from weeks ago, has vanished without a trace.
Strangely, no one seems to recall it ever being there, yet they all remember
the man who was attacked by the Hound. She asked Molly if she recalled the
events, and Molly replied that the Hound somehow breached the fortress around
their town and attacked Will. Aleena looked at her, puzzled, but chose not to
argue, as her memories differed from others. So, she decided not to mention what she had been witnessing,
even Eli doesn’t know.
Their relationship has been marked by his relentless pursuit
since their first intimate encounter. Aleena often tries to distance herself from him,
yet there are times when she finds it impossible to do so. He sometimes waits
outside her door, and while she occasionally lets him in, she makes a
deliberate effort to keep their discussions from becoming too personal. Still,
there are moments when intimacy feels inevitable. Although she could refuse
him, an unspoken obligation complicates her choices. It's difficult for her to
understand this feeling, especially since their only connection stems from the
Backrooms; before that, they were strangers who likely would never have met.
This unsettling reality lingers in her mind, especially when she recalls their
first intimate moment together, which was not only her first sexual experience
but also left her with a lingering anxiety about the possibility of pregnancy. Since
stepping into the Backrooms, she has noticed something unsettling: her
menstrual cycle have completely vanished. This absence raises a troubling
question in her mind, could she possibly be dead? However, she quickly shakes off that dark thought,
realizing it’s not a conclusion she can accept.
Instead, she resolves to bring
up her missing periods with Syra, hoping that she might have some insight or
explanation for this bizarre phenomenon. In her mind, she sees herself as a 21-year-old
woman, however, the peculiar nature of time in the Backrooms leads
her to suspect that she has aged. Even though her reflection remains unchanged,
she feels the same. It’s a strange dissonance; an unsettling
awareness lingers in her mind, hinting at the passage of time that seems to
operate differently in this strange dimension. She suspects that others have
also stopped aging. After having lunch with Brian, Aleena stopped by the Diner
to see Syra. She found her mingling with other local women, as two tables had
been pushed together to accommodate everyone. The table was adorned with plates
of food and glasses filled with rich red wine, creating a lively
atmosphere.
The women were laughing and chatting, clearly having a great
time, and Aleena was no exception, she was enjoying herself too. Molly was part
of the group, but Aleena felt a bit uneasy around her. It wasn't that she held
any grudges about Eli; rather, it was the fact that Molly was unaware of the
intimate history between Aleena and Eli that made things feel awkward. She
suspects that Molly, who is a few years her senior, might actually have
feelings for Eli, but she could be mistaken in that judgment. As for her own
emotions towards Eli, she’s uncertain. She’s hesitant to get too close to
anyone since she plans to leave eventually, and the thought of saying goodbye
to friends is something she finds hard to bear.
As
the party ended, Aleena learned that the women in town gather once a month to
discuss issues that affect them.
While not every woman participates, a significant
number do show up for these meetings. The town has a population of about 150
residents, which is notable but still far fewer than the number of people who
once lived in Ashley before the town was split and one half sent to the
Backrooms. After the women departed, leaving only Molly and Syra, Aleena seized
the moment to ask about the missing menstrual cycles.
They lounged together, savoring the last
bottle of wine, the dim light casting a warm glow around them. Aleena took a
deep breath, her mind racing as she contemplated how to broach a sensitive
topic.
“Syra, I’ve been meaning to ask you
something,” she began, her voice tinged with hesitation. “Ever since I ended up
in the Backrooms, I’ve noticed that my period has completely stopped. Do you
have any idea why that might be happening?”
Syra, seemingly unfazed, shrugged her
shoulders and let out a dismissive scoff, as if the question was trivial in the
grand scheme of their bizarre reality.
“I'm
not entirely sure, but I've heard other women here are going through the same
thing.”
Molly chimed in, “it's probably a good thing,
especially since getting pregnant in this place is the last thing anyone
wants.” Syra opened up about her situation, revealing, “My periods have also
ceased, but at my age, it hardly makes a difference.” Aleena, intrigued by this
revelation, asked, “Do you have children?” With a heavy heart, Syra responded,
“Yes, I have children back home, but they were already in their
twenties when I went missing.” As she spoke, a wave of sorrow washed over her,
and her expression shifted, reflecting the painful memories of her family that
she left behind.Molly
said, “My periods have stopped too, and the concept of aging is a thing of the
past here. I’m 30 years old, but I appear somewhat younger than my actual age
because this weird dimension seems to cancel aging.”
Aleena looked at her
perplexed. “How old were you when you came to the Backrooms?” she asked.
“I
was 23,” Molly responded.
“Oh,
wow, time is different here,” Aleena said. Molly continued talking. Aleena
listened intently, as she processed Molly's words, perhaps reflecting on her
own perceptions of age, the changes that come with it and how she too will not
age at all, so long as she is in the Backrooms.
“Maybe
Molly’s not so bad,” Aleena thought, as a soft smile grazed
her lips. Later, Aleena excused herself and made her way back to her room,
her expression a mix of contemplation and sadness. As she climbed the stairs,
thoughts of her family filled her mind, wondering if they were searching for
her. She pictured them putting up flyers with her face on them, declaring her
missing. With a heavy sigh, she reached her door and opened it. As she pondered
on her return home, a swirl of questions filled her mind. Would she step
through the door only to find that time had slipped away from her, leaving her
to confront a version of herself that felt foreign and aged? How long has she
truly been in the Backrooms? The uncertainty gnawed at her, making her
wonder if the price of her journey would be a dramatic transformation, a stark
reminder of the time that had passed. Would she return to a world that has moved on without her, or would she find that she had changed in ways she
couldn't yet comprehend? She entered her room and shut the door behind her,
assuming Eli was preoccupied with another woman since Molly was out with Syra.
Honestly, all she wanted was to unwind, be alone for a while. She quickly
changed out of her clothes and put on a nightgown she had found in the lost and
found box. It was made of delicate lace and smooth satin, featuring a soft
pastel mauve hue reminiscent of styles from the 1950s and early 60s. After
brushing her hair and washing her face, she collapsed onto the bed, letting her
eyes flutter shut. A haunting silence surrounded the building, with the streets
outside devoid of any sound, no birds, no sounds of cars, etcetera, it seemed
eerie to her. Soon, she would venture to the seemingly endless grocery level,
hoping to discover a door that might lead her back home.
( I will share more excerpts from my books in the coming month. Images are for the Reader's visual entertainment)
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