As you wander through the bowels of Level 3, you reminisce on your time within the Frontrooms.
You remember the feeling of wind on your skin, the freshness of the air, the chirping of birds in the sky. Just mere days ago, your life had been like that.
And now here you are. Starving. Alone. In the darkness.
...
You see a faint glow in the distance.
You slowly approach it, almost as if the window itself was beckoning you to come closer.
"Is that... light? It's been so long since I've seen the sky."
And just as quickly, the sight is gone, a hollow void standing in its place.
Only then do you see the beast behind its facade.
A single eye opens inside the void. Numerous appendages emerge from the window, grabbing hold of your arms and dragging you into it.
Entity 2, colloquially referred to as "The Windows" are sentient entities which inhabit the great majority of The Backrooms' levels.
““The window is the most important facet of a building. Rooms would be dark and stuffy without the presence of windows. Windows let the natural light of the sun into rooms. Windows let in the fresh air. Rooms lacking windows need ventilation systems and artificial light sources to compensate for the lack of light and stale air. Windows symbolize opportunity and liberation. However, windows are also associated with our fears. They will on occasion depict some creepy individual watching you from behind their thin glass barrier. Other times we will peek outside our window to stare timidly into the darkness, searching for some distant knife-wielding psycho in the distance. Windows can bring in both the light and the dark, because they serve as windows to our hearts.”
Windows are split up into two groups: Predatory Windows and Innocuous Windows.
Description
Predatory Windows are the most common types of Windows. They typically occupy indoor areas of levels, though they can be infrequently seen lurking within the outside regions.
Behavior
Compared to their counterparts, Predatory Windows provide a far greater threat. They typically reside in more confined, smaller sections of levels that aren't sufficiently sized to support dense populations. The Predatory Windows will immediately transition to their passive state and make an effort not to attack the wanderers if they get into extremely close proximity to a large gathering of people (which they interpret as being more than four individuals).
Wanderers who have looked through the curtains of the Predatory Windows have reported seeing shadow-like beings that bear close resemblance to the numerous other entities which live within The Backrooms. The entities behind the Predatory Windows usually resemble shadow-like humanoid beings, though they appear significantly mutated. For example, they might have extremely long hands, small torsos, deformed legs and et cetera. These beings have been named "Window Shadows".
A Predatory Window will attempt to attack a wanderer in numerous ways when they get within range of it. Grabbing the victim and trying to fling them through the window, lunging at them with sharp claws, hurling glass shards at them, and releasing paralyzing fumes that render their victim unconscious are the most famous attacking techniques used by the Predatory Windows.
Once a Predatory Window successfully attacks their target, they will typically attempt to bring them into a room which is located behind the Predatory Window. After the wanderer is placed in the room, the blinds will completely close and not open again until the wanderer is "exterminated". It is believed that the "Window Shadows" murder their targets in the room, though some suggest that they transform them into a "Window Shadow" explaining the rapidly rising population of Predatory Windows. The appearance of the room seems to change depending on the level; individuals which have been attacked within Level 39 have reported the room being old-fashioned, containing wallpaper from the 1930's, while wanderers that have been attacked within Level 188 have reported the rooms appearance to be that of a normal hotel room. Unlike Innocuous Windows, the rooms behind Predatory Windows are not affected by any natural disasters.
It is unclear if Windows hunt humans for food or for fun. However, Predatory Windows have been observed attacking other entities, such as Skin-Stealers, Facelings and Deathmoths, indicating that they have a digestive system and similar needs as humans.
A limited number of Predatory Windows are capable of communicating with one another in an unknown language that humans cannot understand. The Predatory Windows' voices are typically described as "feminine and charming," yet it is unclear whether Windows have genders. Some researchers suggest that Windows have a level of intelligence that greatly surpasses humans and that a complex system or hierarchy of communication among them exists.
Description
Innocuous Windows are the second types of Windows, and the direct antithesis to the Predatory Windows.
Behavior
Innocuous Windows are the second and last types of Windows. They are the opposites of Predatory Windows, as they present virtually no harm.
Innocuous Windows possess the same biology as Predatory Windows. They both contain curtains, which when looked through can display a variety of things. Unlike Predatory Windows, Innocuous Windows' curtains are safe to look through.
Similarly to Predatory Windows, Innocuous Windows feature shadow-like beings which inhabit the space behind the Window, they have been appropriately dubbed "Window Shadows". The "Window Shadows" are physically unable to attack, and will immediately disappear if an individual approaches them. A very small number of Innocuous Windows do not contain any "Window-Shadows" within them, thus they possess no anomalous properties.
Furthermore, Innocuous Windows contain rooms which are located behind them. The rooms' appearance depends on the aesthetic of the level which the Window is located in, and it is known to frequently change. Additionally, Innocuous Windows, unlike Predatory Windows, are able to be affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, et cetera.Unique Habitats
Windows rarely appear within Level 5. While they usually display a dark environment outside, they may also show complete darkness. Windows in Level 5 are unbreakable except for one variant. Very rarely, a window in the modern variation of Level 5 may display Level 188 behind it. These windows are a supposed exit to Level 188. Many wanderers have reported that these are Predatory Windows in disguise, although these claims are yet to be proven.
Level -611 contains many windows which when no-clipped through lead to a lit or dark space. It is not recommended to interact with these windows, as they have a slight chance of being sentient.
L████ -703 contains several [entities and/or objects] which allow for [a light source] to come in. There have been reports of bloody handprints appearing on the [entities and/or objects] which has made many wanderers theorize that they are predatory [entities and/or objects]. They can be easily avoided utilizing the numerous ex█ts found within L████ -703.
Predatory Windows within Level Critical exhibit anomalous behavior, and display a black void. When attacked, the Predatory Windows will shine a bright yellow color and transport the attacker to an unknown location.
Predatory Windows within Level 16 are unique due to them being dangerous and helping wanderers at the same time. They reside within hospital rooms, and occasionally hallways. A small portion of them do not attack wanderers, instead displaying completely empty voids which illuminate the interior.
Other Habitats
There have been reports of Predatory and Innocuous windows in: Level 2, Level 4, Level 43, Level 29, Level 399.1, Level -181, Level 188.8, Level 38, Level 223, Level 329, Level 292, Level -33.3, Level 207, Level 249, Level 268, Level 48, Level 26, Level 583, Level 4.3, Level 130, Level -1.3, Level -1.01, Level -333, Level 190, Level 193, Level 54, Level 398, Level -404, Level 9.6, Level 718, Level 990, Level 14 and Level 98.
There is evidence suggesting that there a window exists within Level -40, though this has not been confirmed by the entity, Amygdala, stationed there. Oddly, windows can be found in Level 990 which is a frigid and overcast series of caverns. Windows in Level 990 are frameless and dusty; these windows display large, rolling hills lush with vibrant flowers. However, these windows can't be broken down in any manner or any means to get there. Currently, no images can be captured of this variant of window. All methods of photography and video recording are compromised by some sort of interference, causing the data to only show a black screen or static when viewed. Windows in Level -4, a series of cabins all interconnected by red bridges, can rarely be found. When encountered, they display nothing but a black void. However, some of these windows can be observed laying on the ground, yet they still display a dark void. Level 188 - a famous level of The Backrooms which has been dubbed "The Windows" - is the level with the highest known population of Windows. It is unknown if these Windows are predatory, innocuous or non-anomalous.
Biology
Physical Appearance of Windows
Windows can take on the appearance of any known non-anomalous windows. Windows can either appear to be disembodied from a structure or part of the walls of a structure. These entities most commonly consist of a wooden frame but can be made of other non-anomalous materials. The known types of glass are annealed, tempered or laminated glass.
A Window's appearance is able to change depending on the level that it is located in. For example, if a level has a modern style, the Window will also appear modern; if a level has a medieval style, the Window will also appear medieval.
Physical Appearance of Window Shadows
As previously mentioned, Window Shadows are the beings that can be observed behind Windows. They have a humanoid appearance, though they possess many abnormalities in their body structure which make them unique. The most common anomalies in their body's appearance are: extremely long hands, small torsos, and deformed legs.
The severity of the abnormalities varies from one Window to another, and some Window Shadows completely lack anomalies in their body's appearance.
Function
Although you can attempt to look out these entities as if they were a regular window, doing so should be avoided whenever possible. Most attempts to interact with or open a known Window entity have been met with extreme hostility and thus should not be attempted.
Below is a list of observations that have been reported when looking through these windows:
- The true exterior or interior of a level.
- The false exterior or interior of a level.
- An adjacent level. (attempting to enter adjacent levels via windows is considered extremely dangerous and ill-advised)
- A false location.
- Shadowy figures.
- Disembodied faces or hands.
Do and Don't
Do
- Stay in groups of more than 4 people. This will make Predatory Windows go into their passive state.
- Keep quiet near Windows. Predatory Windows won't be able to spot wanderers if they do not make sounds.
- Fight back if a Window Shadow is pulling a wanderer in.
Don't
- Try to pinpoint the location of any whispering found within levels with Windows.
- Attempt to communicate with windows while they whisper. Window Shadows have weak eyesight. If they hear a sound, they will only then be sure that an individual is near them.
- Look through or enter the Windows.
Discovery
The first group of windows was discovered in Level 4 on November 12, 19██, by M.E.G. patrol operative Nathan G. Isles one night on patrol. He reported hearing a group of Windows whispering amongst themselves in an unintelligible language. He commented that the voices sounded feminine. However, it is undetermined if Windows have genders. Isles claimed that these entities stopped talking shortly after he realized the source of the whispers. Attempts to get these entities to speak or interact with humans have not been successful. All accounts of this variant of Window report an apparent timid nature when interacting with explorers.
The first incident with a dangerous Window was in Level 188 on April 28, 19██. A group of 3 explorers entered the interior corridor of Level 188. One group member noticed and commented that they saw an open Window and a field outside of the Window. Out of curiosity, this individual went into the room, and the door closed and locked. The two remaining explorers attempted to enter the door by force but were unsuccessful. All attempts at communication with the explorer trapped inside were also unsuccessful. They waited 2 hours before being forced to retreat as they spotted an unknown entity entering the hallway they were in. The other explorer is presumed lost or dead.