Dossier 502-1

Dear Overseer C,

I've submitted this electronic dossier with all the evidence I could gather regarding the events of yesterday (05 Jan 2022). I urge you to analyse it and make a decision as fast as humanly possible. This situation affects the entire organization and we risk major civilian loss otherwise.

---

Apples’ Journal

Operative Apples is an expert on Level 389 and Level 389.1, surviving an astonishing four encounters with Entity 99 and greatly helping with the research of Entity 98's dolls. On 2022/01/05 he was sent to investigate what at that moment seemed to be a new stable door from level 6.1 to level 389.

2022/01/05

[Show App_Dia_22_01_05.pdf]

Today would’ve been a chilly winter day if I were back home… but I’m not.

---

I was sent to investigate this new entrance to level 389. A couple of wanderers stumbled upon a chequerboard door while dining in level 6.1. Team “Track Mappers” immediately secured it and asked for reinforcements.

Now that I am here, I need to test the entrance and prepare for an eventual encounter with her.

The door did not disappear when I entered – I actually managed to reuse it to reunite with the others. We even entered in pairs and returned just fine! Even the Wi-Fi works… somewhat. As of now, we haven’t found 99. Even so, something feels off. Not sure why…

The guys won’t go deeper in the level with me. Bunch of cowards! But at least they agreed to guard the entrance from both sides. I've decided to take some water and food and go find the Game Master. Who knows, maybe us two are going to have a little face to face chat about this new door.

Holy s***! Holy s***! I almost died to a f***ing Skin-Stealer. How the actual f*** did it get here? And where the hell is she?

I’m catching my breath in the Silken Hell. The Game Hall is infested with entities now. There are Smilers at every corner and packs of Hounds can be heard from virtually anywhere. In contrast, Level 389.1 is not as crowded, yet. This might mean that those creatures come from outside the level.

Also, the Dollmaker is missing. I know this for a fact: her endless sleeves are not covering the floor, which is actually made of rough textured ceramic tiles. Those tiles are white and ornated masterfully with teal ink.

For some reason there are holes in the walls that connect 389.1 with 389. I need to contact M.E.G. and warn the others. The “Track Mappers” are not equipped for this kind of situation!

---

Apples’ and Neĝa's Transmissions

Entries below are recordings of the aforementioned surveying mission. Apples was in close contact with operative Neĝa at base Gamma, even managing to stream live video and audio feeds from Level 389.

Initial Findings Audio

[Play Init_Find_502_1.mp4]

Apples:

Base, Apples here. Do you copy?

Base:

Copy that. Any news? Is it stable?

Apples:

As far as I can tell. We managed to use it as an exit and there is a stable-ish Wi-Fi signal, so live feed should work. We haven't seen Entity 99 so far.

Base:

Sounds like good news!

Apples:

I don’t know Neĝa. I have a bad feeling about this. What are the orders now?

Base:

You should proceed with further explorations of the level.

Apples:

Okey, but the guys don’t seem very keen on entering and I’d prefer to not go alone.

Base:

We don’t have any spare operatives for this mission. Please proceed with the exploration and keep the entrance secured. I’ll leave the details of how you do that to you guys. Contact me again when you start the feed. Neĝa over.

Apples: [groans]

Fine… over.

Exploration Video

[Play Expl_502_1.mp4]

[The usual messy rooms of level 389 can be seen. A few wooden pieces are scattered on the floor next to large boxes of unopened board games. Two consoles stay on a dusty table nearby. A smashed TV keeps watching on a chair. Archways connect the different rooms]

Apples:

Neĝa, are you receiving the visual feed?

Base:

Affirmative. What’s your status?

Apples:

Just entered. No one came with me. [muttering] As if I needed them. The level is unusually quiet, and there's clutter everywhere. As you can see.

Base:

Understood. Continue searching and keep the feed open.

[Operative Apples starts walking the halls. The content of the rooms doesn't change much. Objects that come into view seem unused for a long time. After 14 minutes of walking, the oversized chessboard can be seen on the video feed]

Apples:

I remember this… a very lengthy game. Neĝa, are you still with me?

Base:

Affirmative. This is worrying. Usually, it doesn't take this much to find her…

Apples:

What should I do now?

Base:

Let me check with the overseer. Be right back. And don't die while I am gone!

Apples:

Ha ha, you're so funny…

[A few minutes pass in silence. After a while, the operative starts fidgeting]

Apples:

Gosh, this place gives me the creeps… I can't believe I'm saying this, but It's way worse without her…

[The camera turns around until a chair comes into view. The operative proceeds to approach it and sit. The chair lets out a long squeaking noise]

Apples:

Too noisy…

Base:

Apples?

Apples [jumps off the chair]:

Jesus F***ing Christ, Neĝa! You scared the c*** out of me!

Base:

Uhhh… sorry? Anyway, the overseers seem very concerned. Proceed to search the chessboard. We need to make sure she is not on this level anymore.

Apples:

This is a waste of time. Plus, this place seems… haunted.

[Operative Apples abruptly turns towards the way he came]

Apples:

Neĝa, did you pick that up?

Base:

…No?

Apples:

Something is howling…

[Faint howling can be heard. It slowly but steadily rises in intensity]

Apples:

They are closing the distance fast. I need to break the connection and hide!

Base:

Okey, we’ll send an extraction team ASAP.

Apples [running]:

Roger, I’ll try to hide close b —

Reconnection Audio

[Play Rcnn_502_1.mp4]

Apples [catching his breath]:

Base! Do you copy? Neĝa! Are you there?

Base:

Apples? Thank heavens you are alive! Where the hell have you been?

Apples:

Seal that door! Or we will lose 6.1!

Base:

Apples… We've lost contact with the "Track Mappers". Both with the rescue team and the guards. Level 6.1 is already lost… Where are you?

Apples:

My god, Neĝa… I… I am on Level 3. It seems that there are now multiple doors to Level 389. I couldn’t find Entity 99, but I think this is the exit she and her sister used —

Base:

Yeah, about that… Entity 99 has been spotted by two wanderers close to base Gamma. Xandra and her team were sent to investigate. I think they need reinforcements…

Apples:

I see. I am not exactly equipped for a rescue mission. Heck, I am not even equipped for level 3! Why aren't you sending more people from Base Gamma?

Base:

Since we've lost track of you, there have been 4 waves of entity attacks. It's like they've gone mad! We suffered heavy casualties. We are scraping the barrel here. And you are the last scrap we've got.

Apples:

This is way over my pay grade. But fine, I'll go. First, point me towards the nearest emergency stash. I'd like to be sure I'll get to them in one piece.

Base:

Thank you. I've updated your GPS. Please be careful and bring them back. Over.

Apples:

I'll do my best. Over.

---

Xandra’s Memory Jar

Xandra, Leif, and Tania were sent from base Gamma to rescue Daniel Garcia and investigate the claim of wanderer Liam Davis that he encountered Entity 99 on level 3. Liam got separated from his companion Daniel while running from the entity.

Entity 99 Encounter Memories

[WARNING: Graphic depiction of violence]

[Remember Xandra’s memories]

[Xandra is walking cautiously through level 3, 10m (33ft) up ahead, the hall turns to the left]

Xandra:

Liam said he lost Daniel around here. He must be —

Leif [from the right]:

Over here, I found him… Jesus Christ…

[Xandra turns towards an electrical room. In the middle sits a man nailed on a chair. A pipe impales him through the mouth with a note sticking on the upper end, writing “I cheated, sorry :(” ]

Tania [from behind]:

I'm gonna throw up…

Xandra [whispering]:

Shhh! Did you hear that?

[Xandra turns her sight towards the way they were going. Sounds of dragged heavy wood can be heard from around the corner]

Xandra [whispering]:

Back… away… slowly —

[A shadow of a rag doll with threads dragging a handle of something big can be seen forming on the far wall in front of Xandra]

Entity 99 [echoing]:

Oh my oh my! New players! How exciting! [giggles] Now, what should we play… Oh, I know! Hide n’ seek! [laughs] Yeah, hide n’ seek should do. I'll go first!

[The shadow raises a hand to cover her eyes and starts playfully swaying back and forth]

Entity 99 [echoing]:

10… 9… —

[Xandra turns towards her team]

Liam [nervous, holding a handgun]:

We should run!

Entity 99 [echoing]:

8… —

Tania [tensed, holding a longsword]:

No, let that b**** come to us. I’ll cut her f***ing threads!

Entity 99 [echoing]:

7… —

Xandra [with a trembling voice]:

No. Tania is right.

Entity 99 [echoing]:

6… —

Xandra:

We have a better chance if we stand our ground!

Entity 99 [echoing]:

5… —

Xandra:

Liam, take aim. [Xandra raises her bat]

Entity 99 [echoing]:

4… —

Xandra:

Tania, with me. We —

Entity 99 [echoing]:

3 2 1!

[Xandra turns, holding her breath]

Entity 99 [echoing]:

Ready or not, here… I… Come…

[The lights around the corner turn off, leaving a black void in front of Xandra. Two piercing blue eyes appear from the dark. What seems like a 2D version of a puppet doll dashes towards the group holding a mallet. With a blow from below, she throws operative Xandra flying through the hallway she came. After a few moments, operative Xandra hits the ground with her back, leaving her breathless, breaking a few back ribs, and cracking her skull. For a few seconds no sounds can be registered as operative Xandra tries to come back to her senses]

[Tania screams in pain. Three loud shots can be heard]


[A quick swoosh — then the ground vibrates, as wood hitting concrete along with a muffled crack sounds traverse the air]

Entity 99 [angry]:

You should’ve hid when you had the chance!

[Another three loud shots can be heard, closer to Xandra. Filled with adrenaline, she tries to prop herself on her elbows and opens her eyes. Blood seems to pour over her right eye. In the corner of her blurred vision, Xandra sees Leif running with tears in his eyes. In front of her she can see The Game Master letting Tania’s body fall to the ground]

Entity 99 [gleeful]:

Finally, someone who understands! Now, let’s see what’s up with you, little girl!

[Entity 99 slowly approaches, dragging her giant mallet]

Xandra:

You… [grunt]… you’ve changed… and not for the better…

Entity 99 [curious]:

Have we met before? [giggles] Sorry, it is hard to recognize faces when they are as messed up as yours! [laughs]

[Xandra’s eyes start to water as tears form. She closes her eyes, thinking of her friends back at base Gamma, of her family back on level 11. She’ll never see them again…]

Xandra [sobbing]:

My name is Xandra. I was at your level nine months ago. We’ve played battleships.

Entity 99:

Oh yeah I remember now! You are the only visitor who has won that game so far.

[Xandra opens her eyes. The doll hovers next to her suspended by threads. The ceiling is pitch black. She holds the hammer in both hands, resting the heavy end on the ground. Behind her Tania's crushed body lies limp on the floor]

Entity 99:

It was a pleasure to see you again!

[Entity 99 raises her mallet]

Xandra:

no wai —

[The mallet falls on Xandra’s head presumably killing her]

---

Operative Leif returned terrified but unbruised. He has been diagnosed with severe PTSD.

Xandra’s memory jar was recovered half an hour later by operative Apples. Tania’s memory jar was damaged beyond usage. Apples was horrified by the scene, but otherwise he returned to base Gamma unharmed.

Photo taken in the body retrieving mission. Xandra's, Tania's and Daniel's bodies disappeared, apparently dragged away. Trails end into a wall.

As of now, the whereabouts of Entity 99 and Entity 98 are unknown.

Considering all the above evidence, I cannot stress enough that we, the Major Explorer Group, should:

• Put all M.E.G. personal on High Alert for entity 99;
• STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST travelling through Level 3 until Entity 99 is located;
• Warn wonderers TO NOT INTERACT WITH ENTITY 99 under any circumstances;
• Raise the danger ratings of levels 389, 389.1, 3, and 6.1 to 5;
• Quarantine Level 6 until we confirm that no entity has infiltrated from level 6.1;
• Proceed to quarantine Level 11's entrances from Level 6.1;
• Raise the danger rating of Level 11 to 2.

Signed,
Neĝa Benkuto

Author(s)

AppleNuke
SnowyDonut