Inconstant, everchanging, barren. You find tranquility in the silence, yet feel unsafe at the same time. Welcome to the Hub.
The Hub
THREAT INDEX
Class Nexus
Exit: 0/5
Guaranteed Exit
Environment: ?/5
Everchanging Environment
Entities: ?/5
Diverse Entity Count
The Hub is an anomalous location within The Backrooms.
Description
The Hub is a sprawling subterranean complex of brick tunnels, serving as a nexus between Backrooms levels. The Hub is known to contain entrances to a vast majority of levels, locked behind scattered steel doors which appear at inconstant, everchanging positions. The entire level is illuminated by orange-yellow lights, evenly spaced throughout the tunnel. It is worth note that these lights may shift hue on occasion, turning a striking shade of red or orange[1]. Whilst this phenomenon is inherently harmless, it is disorienting to most.
A smooth asphalt road lines the bottom of the tunnel, with a thin sidewalk on either side of it. Large concrete slabs make up the vast portion of the walls and ceiling, broken up only by the occasional sign or door. In certain areas, large metallic pipes line the roof of the tunnel, filled sparingly with a mixture partly composed of various liquid substances found throughout The Backrooms[2]. The tunnels twist and bend in various directions, creating a confusing, winding layout. Geometry is shifting and inconstant[3], much like Level 0 and the like; making it difficult for one to properly map The Hub.
Doors within The Hub appear at irregular positions - some may be adjacent, whilst others could be hundreds of miles apart. Each door is made up of an indeterminable metallic substance[4], marked with the number or name of the level, as well as a small engravement which represents the level the door corresponds to. Entering a door requires one to unlock it with a Level Key. Upon opening said door, the individual will be transported to the level the door correlates with. Whilst most doors express a gray metallic color, many doors are discolored or have patterns which correspond with the designated level - for example, Level 0's doors have a faint tint of yellow, whereas Level 37's doors have a tile design strikingly similar to it.
The temperature within The Hub is below-freezing, measuring at around 25°F (-3.8°C) on average. For an indeterminable reason, however, liquids and other substances which would normally freeze under said temperatures do not do so. The level is cooled by a massive grid-like array of ventilation fans, creating a sprawling system which keeps The Hub constantly cooled at all times. Despite there being no cars whatsoever, and therefore no traffic, the level contains many neon signs to indicate the flow of traffic. In addition, TV screens are mounted on the walls at inconstant intervals, playing news channels which shift between languages every few minutes.
It is theorized that The Hub has a substantial connection to A Long Ride, with some sections either mimicking or resembling it proper. Along with this, there are multiple exits in The Hub which lead to A Long Ride, and vice versa. It has also been shown to have connections to Level 154 and Level 37 for the same reasons. The Neon Express and Sublimity also have sections which directly resemble The Hub, and vice versa. In addition, Level 154 and Level 37 are among the only levels to have a custom design on their respective level door.
Due to the shifting, inconstant geometry of The Hub, it is possible for tunnels to split and create several intersections and forks, each splitting off in a separate direction. Conversely, tunnels may fold in on themselves and create dead-ends. It is also seldom possible for tunnels to be vertically or horizontally slanted, creating a twisting network of uneven tunnels. Intersections may appear in any location within the tunnels, which, in some cases, intersect with doors, signs, and even other tunnels, creating wider passageways as a result.
It is worth note that objects such as Almond Water, Liquid Pain, Chocolate Sludge, and similar substances which would commonly appear across The Backrooms are entirely absent here. This also goes for most bacteria and other microorganisms, with the level being abnormally clean and polished to such an extent that most of the level has the faint smell of bleach, window cleaner, or other cleaning chemicals. Despite the toxicity of said chemicals, they pose no immediate harm to the wanderer. Further inspection has revealed the existence of an anomalous substance which keeps The Hub constantly clean at all times, with liquids, wastes, and filth absorbing and disappearing into the ground in mere seconds.
Addendum
Sentient Presence
Entity Activity
Numerous entities inhabit The Hub. Strangely, however, there is a notable absence of Smilers, Vulpes Lumina, or other dark-dwelling amorphous entities. Entities which are commonplace include Skin-Stealers, Hounds, and Deathmoths - male and female. Despite this, encountering entities within The Hub is rare, due to its immense size.
Entrances and Exits
Entrances
- Following a specific sequence of corridors and stairwells within Level 1 is the most well known and documented entrance to The Hub.
- Various factors within Level 2 and A Long Ride may cause the tunnels to fade into this level.
- Level 37 and Level 154's hallways have sections which resemble The Hub - which may take one to this level.
Exits
- Unlocking and entering a door with a Level Key will take one to that respective level.
- As listed in the Entrances section, several factors may cause The Hub's tunnels to fade into Level 37 or Level 154.
- In addition, tunnels resembling said levels may lead there as well.
References
Footnotes
- ↑ In rare cases, the lights have been shown to turn a shade of purple or green. Despite this occurrence, it is seldom for this to occur.
- ↑ This mixture is composed mainly of Almond Water, with Liquid Pain, Backsack fluid, and other liquids being prevalent as well.
- ↑ It is theorized that this is due to an instance of Shifting Geometry, albeit much more stable.
- ↑ The doors are presumably made up of iron, titanium, or a similar material.
Author: Aria
Greenlit By: Eggy
Images 1-3: the r/LiminalSpace subreddit.
| Levels | The Sewers │ Antiquity │ Grayscale Halls │ The Hub │ Electrical Station |
|---|---|
| Objects | Nuclear Infection │ Liquid Pain |
| Phenomena | The Flicker |
| Joke | Mickey |
| Levels | Station 154 │ Umbral Light |
|---|---|
| Objects | Kalthoff Rifle |