Info
Author: Sky3
A Level 4 rewrite draft repurposed into another page.
I said I wouldn't post this without explicit permission but the jammies said otherwise.
This page is dedicated to the people who said I butchered Level 4.
If you don't get it, I'd suggest reading it a second time, but pay attention to the fine details while keeping the ending in mind.
SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY:
Class 0
- Guaranteed Exit(?)
- No Environmental Hazards
- No Hostile Entities
The Office, more officially titled as Level 684, is a shell of its former self.
Description
Level 684 upon first discovery. The level no longer looks like this.
Level 684 is composed of two parts: the accessible office area and the inaccessible outside world. The office area is a decrepit 200-square-meter room. Its appearance is generic and monotonous — grey carpet, white plastered walls, clear windows, and tiled ceiling lights1. The lack of ventilation renders the air incredibly putrid and in some cases nauseating2. On the east wing of the room, there are two metal elevators positioned next to each other — the only known ways of entering and exiting the level. They are known to creak and heave, but no malfunction has ever been reported.
Though the level is presumed to be part of a multi-story building, no one has successfully managed to access any areas above or below the level's main floor. Human voices can be heard through the floor and ceiling, speaking in English about uninteresting topics such as weather, salaries, and broken coffee machines. Occasionally, deafening sounds of shattering glass, aggressive shouting, and industrial drilling can also be heard, followed by unusual moments of silence that can last several minutes3. Attempts to escape or communicate out of this floor have all resulted in failure.
The windows are a focal point of the level, providing a clean view of the outside world, which is decorated with pine trees, a ground-floor parking lot, and an unidentified city skyline. There is a regular day-night cycle in the level, as evidenced by the presence of a sun and a moon. In the early mornings, cars fill the parking lot — humanoid entities wearing business casual attire can be seen exiting the vehicles and walking toward the building4. In the late afternoons, these entities start to walk back to their vehicles, eventually driving out of sight. Once the last vehicle departs the parking lot, all the lights automatically shut off until an entity enters the parking lot the next day. Attempts to grab their attention have been made to no avail5.
Though most wanderers tend to exit the level shortly after entry, some wanderers prefer to stick around for reasons unknown. Abandoned settlements are all too common in the level, and the status of their residents is unclear6. Trash and other items, presumably belonging to these individuals, tend to litter the area, including but not limited to:
- Handwritten signs with bold lettering that say "THUMBS UP IF YOU CAN SEE THIS", "LET US OUT!", or "CALL FOR HELP". Many of these signs have smudged ink, small rips, and blood stains.
- Industrial tools whose sharp edges have noticeably been worn down or bloodied.
- Illegible handwriting and abstract diagrams on the west wall.
- Metal shavings and ashes on the windows and the carpet.
- A tally count written in black chalk that takes up nearly half of the north wall7.
Advice
Wanderers who enter the Office are encouraged to pay no attention to anyone currently in the level, let alone make eye contact with them. Immediately enter the other elevator and close the doors promptly. If entering in a group, make sure a head count is done before entering and after leaving, especially if the level is in complete darkness. If the two counts differ, attempt to convince the person in charge that they miscounted8. Last but not least, do not underestimate the allure of freedom.
