All of humanity's fears incarnate
A tulpa turned tumor
It will reach out to you
Feast upon your being
And spit you back out.
And it's so, so sad to know that it was once like us.
3.23.80. Information currently gathered from recent expeditions. Take all information with a grain of salt.
Threemile is the designation used by several organisations of the Backrooms for this newly discovered level; whether it should be numbered or not is still being determined, as its frequency is yet to be found on the Casper-Bray Numbering System. Other names for this level include Dungeness and the Power Plant.
Threemile is an abandoned nuclear power plant, with technology in ubiquitous use across many Western power plants prior to the Three Mile Island accident. The plant is in poor condition, with many reactors broken and melted down, likely leaking radioactive material into every nook of the level. Dust collects across every wall of the level, and rubble often piles up in gigantic mounds that may make certain passageways nigh-impossible to traverse. Large masses of corium flood some of the lower portions of the level, marking the lower bowels of Threemile impossible to explore for the foreseeable future. A combination of concentrated water vapor and radioactive particles shroud the upper portions of Threemile, making exploration further up just as difficult as exploring further down.
Around 50km out from one's initial point of entry into Threemile, the piles of rubble will eventually become too large to go around, limiting wanderers to a small circular area to explore. Whether this wall can be breached in any way is not known.
Due to the immense levels of radiation, most wanderers who enter Threemile are expected to die, and attempts to rescue are generally ill-advised. Currently, many groups only allow very skilled scientists to try to explore and study Threemile.
The only known consistent entrance to Threemile is found in Level 1 through entering a door with a radiation warning symbol; exiting from Threemile requires finding a door labelled HZ deep into the explorable portions of the level, and will lead back to Level 1.
Exploration of Threemile on the 2nd June, 1987, following the time set by the Major Explorer Group for Level 1. The following is composed of snippets from a 3 hour long recording. During the exploration, one person was lost.
The Hebrew Characters of Aleph (א), Bet (ב), Gimel (ג), Dalet (ד), He (ה), and Waw (ו) will be used to refer to the explorers to maintain the anonymity of those involved.
*Real name censored.
א: Okay, we need to keep this short and simple. We can not be in there for any longer than 4 hours before the radiation becomes too much. Recording equipment, safety apparatus, and several tape measures to trace our steps if need be will be brought and all must be brought back. Got it?
ב: ...Fine.
א: I don't want to do this any more than you do, █*. If we get this done with, we will all be fine.
ה: This is stupid! We are getting ourselves basicaly killed for this bogus expedition, and for what? What is there so interesting about this place? It's just a worse Chernobyl.
א: Shut up, █*. We get this done quick, and we'll never have to do anything of this sort again. Come on, just go through the door.
ג: Christ, this place is dusty, man! My lungs will shrivel up by the end of this!
ד: This geiger counter is ticking like crazy. Three sieverts!
ה: Isn't that like, near-lethal?
ד: Yeah.
ה: Jesus Christ, could we really not use a drone or something?
ו: This scale of radiation would knock out the electronics of any drone. It won't work.
ב: So they decided to send much less durable living beings in? That's so smart of them, isn't it?
א: Shush, dude. Just do what we need already. Complaining will keep us here longer.
ב: Ugh...
א: You have been taking photos of this all, right, █*?
ו: Yeah.
א: Good, good. I think there's a rod of cobalt-60 right ahead of us. The signature green color.
ו: How do you know all this stuff?
א: I used to work at a power plant myself before I landed here.
ג: Nerd, heh.
א: ...Okay? Anyway, take a picture. This could be of use.
ב: Shit..! I tripped over something. Can we turn these flashlights on, damn it?!
א: What did you even trip over?
ב: God knows. Maybe if we turn on the light and point it at the thing, we can find out!
א: Save the passive-agressiveness, I'll turn it on.
ג: Hey... that's a dead corpse, isn't it?
ד: Yea, that is a corpse! Looks like a dead skin-stealer to me.
ה: Now we gotta worry about being jumped by something now...
א: Note this down. Let's move on quickly.
ה: Looks like we gotta turn back now, █*.
ב: Finally!
ד: Didn't find anything too noteworthy, really. You could call this a massive waste of time.
א: ...You know, you lot might be right. We didn't really find anything.
ו: Hey, atleast the photos will be useful for something.
ד: ...█*.
ו: Yea?
ד: Those two lights weren't there a second ago.
ו: ...What? Oh shit-!
ג: Oh my God! The hell is that?
ו: Fuck sake!
א: █*! Pull out your gun!
ו: I can't find it! Help me!
א: ...We can't! It's pulling you down to the corium pools!
ו: What do you mean you can't? Do something!
ב: Jesus, dude! I'm gone! I'm telling them about this.
א: I'll go with you! Everyone else, try to help him! This is urgent!
ד: █*, Shoot it!
ה: It's really fast, man!
ו: It's going deeper down- Wha?! Ahh!
ה: █*! Goddamnit!
ד: What happened?
ה: The skin-stealer tripped and he fell down with it. God, there's no saving him now. We need to get back.
ד: ...Cut the recording, █*. We're pulling the plug...
ו
I survived the attack by the skin-stealer, the thing's dead. But I don't doubt that no one is coming to help me now. I can't move, so I have to rest with the creature's body next to me. The radiation here must be lethal, but I'll try to survive. I hope.
Waw/Vav.
וו
The skin-stealer seems to have a bunch of tumors on its body. I'm not sure how I've not noticed this before. Maybe they are still growing? That would mean it's alive, knocked out cold. I hope not.
The wounds are hurting a lot. I'm bleeding everywhere. I remain hopeful. Maybe a better prepared gang will find me.
Waw/Vav.
ווו
The tumors have grown. The thing is still alive. It seems trapped in a coma. I'm worried. I've begun to feel pain too. Maybe I have the tumors too. My arms have begun to hurt massively if I write too much.
Waw/Vav.
וווו
The tumours burst through the skin-stealer's skin. It looks terrifying. The tumors have teeth, muscle, bone. Some of them even have eyes. I've notices small humps around my joints too.
Waw.
ווווו
The humps grow larger. It hurts so damn much. The skin-stealer's tumors have been growing more of the terrifying features. They've buried the corpse under their flesh. I may soon only be able to write small sentences or words.
ו.
וווווו
They are growing in my direction. I can feel them on my fingers.
7
The humps burst open. They revealed the same tumors. It hurts.
8
It is all one massive tumor. It's developed a mouth. It says out loud what I write. It sprawls over me.
9
It's spread over the walls. It seems to be evolving to survive. It continues to speak what I write in script.
10
I can't do anything. It's spread beyond this room
11
barely
12
able to
13
wri
14
te
15
h
16
u
17
rts
18
Good
19
bye
20
𓁹
3.20.27. Short, drafted up summary of The Teratoma.
The Teratoma is a fleshy, constantly-evolving, and highly durable tumor that has consumed Threemile; it quickly kills those who enter the edifice. Radiation levels in Threemile have increased since its takeover.
The Teratoma has covered every inch of the former level in muscle and bone composed of cancerous cells. From the muscles, tendrils of various lengths are present. The shorter ones are believed to function in a manner similar to ciliated cells; that is, they increase the surface area for absorbing digested nutrients. On the other hand, the longer tendrils are used to grab a hold onto prey and make the process of digestion easier. Eyes are dotted all over the meaty walls of The Teratoma, constantly staring at any victim that may end up in its grasp, while mouths, equally common, produce constant gargling noises or hushed whispers. Long hair may rarely be found dangling from the roofs covered by the entity, and a patchwork of skin goes across all of the walls. Long tendons connect the floor and roof of The Teratoma keeping it attached to the walls, floor, and roof of Threemile
The Teratoma digests victims using a similar fluid to that used by the biological pipeline network of Level 2. It's high alkalinity works to digest living tissue just as easily as a strong acid, and the alkaline solution neutralizes the stomach acid within a living organism, creating a ready supply of water for the entity. This solution is constantly released around a wanderer's feet and from the tendrils that may grip said wanderer. It is believed that the entity excretes radiation in some way — hence the increase in radiation levels — though the means by which it does this are not known.
The entity has only grown more intelligent over time. The Teratoma is shown to have access to the Database through unknown means; so far, it has as of now only created one account to search through the database, which has since been removed, but wanderers exploring the database should report an account they believe is connected to The Teratoma immediately. Tendrils of similar appearance to those used by the entity have been documented noclipping into densly populated areas, before grabbing a person and pulling them through the floor to an unknown fate, though whether they are linked is yet to be confirmed. If found to be true, one should consider the real possibility that the entity may grow beyond Threemile. The Teratoma is also capable of cross-level radio communication, and on occassion transmits mesages to some settlements within Level 1.
A quote from a wanderer as a concluding statement:
"The Teratoma is an entity unlike any other — an enigma standing out in the crowd of other terrifying creatures of make-believe. It is intelligent, and well, adapted to anything, really. And it will continue to grow its intelligence and adaptability and size. We best hope it doesn't breach the walls of the nuclear plant it birthed itself in."
Today's subject of interest is The Teratoma. As one of the only entities capable of real communication with humans, the Major Explorer Group has given clearance to conduct an interview with the entity, to understand more about its origin, its nature, its connection to other items of interest, and its interpretation of the world. The interview will be held using cross-level radio communication, with the appropriate apparatus used located in an undisclosed outpost within Level 1. The interviewer's name will be cut for anonymity.
The Teratoma: Surprised to finally see someone reach out to me instead of vice versa.
Interviewer: ...We don't like this nearly as much as you do, Teratoma. Allow us to get ourselves done with these questions, and we return to the status-quo.
The Teratoma: Not a very social visit, I assume? Very well. Begin.
Interviewer: Are you aware of the reasoning as to why you are being interviewed right now?
The Teratoma: ...You want to learn more about me. I, as a physical being, am unfamiliar to you as an organisation. You fear the unknown, and therefore fear what I may or may not be able to do... so instinctually, you want to learn more about me to curb my development...
Interviewer: Why do you think that we wish to curb your development?
The Teratoma: ...It is a tale as old as history itself... you exploit life around you, so naturally, you will try to exploit me in the same manner... trying to tame what cannot be tamed...
Interviewer: Why do you see us as so exploitative? Do you not think your methods of feeding yourself are exploitative in any sort?
The Teratoma: I do what I must to get my needs... you only do what you must for your wants.
Interviewer: What do you think of groups, particularly the Major Explorer Group, in the Backrooms as a whole?
The Teratoma: Merely vessels used to get your wants in a more efficient manner... A means to view yourselves as superior, just because you can organise yourselves in such ways...
Interviewer: Do you not view us as superior for being able to organise ourselves in this way?
The Teratoma: To the contrary... you are over-reliant on these institutions, incapable of survival with just your thoughts alone.
Interviewer: Why do you think this?
The Teratoma: I myself have consumed those who stray too far from your presence, many, many times...
Interviewer: Let's hope that doesn't last for long...
Interviewer: What, then, do you think of humanity as a whole?
The Teratoma: From what I have seen... it is difficult not to despise your entire species. Stories of slavery, war, terrorism, other acts of self-sabotage your little mind can think of. Selfish little things, unable to co-operate for their needs, preferring to fight for their wants.
Interviewer: You continue to bring up the needs and wants when it comes to us. Have you not observed a single human who has co-operated for their needs?
The Teratoma: ...No.
Interviewer: Do you think we can be redeemed?
The Teratoma: That would require abandoning most wants to share needs, which I see as unlikely... though I might welcome the effort to change that.
Interviewer: What is your origin? Where do you come from?
The Teratoma: I do not know... The precise details of my birth have been lost to me... I do not care much, anyway. I grew over what I could without much care.
Interviewer: Do you... regret that? Would you go back to see what was before your growth?
The Teratoma: Regret is an emotion I do not experience. I do not want to see what lay before me.
Interviewer: Do you know the symbol Waw, or Vav, in any way? In the script used by the Hebrew language, it looks almost like a hook, curved side up.
The Teratoma: Inquiry... what an odd question... why do you ask this?
Interviewer: It is related to an expedition into the space you occupy before you supposedly came into being. You seem... hesitant, on this one.
The Teratoma: It was... the very first thing I saw... it lay on fabric which I quickly consumed...
Interviewer: What did you first think of it?
The Teratoma: ...I refuse to continue this line of questioning.
Interviewer: ...Okay.
Interviewer: Is the user 'Themeatlevel' related to you?
The Teratoma: It is under my belonging, yes...
Interviewer: So you have access to the Database?
The Teratoma: ...I will not confirm...
Interviewer: Oh my God... ...Have you tampered with the Database in any way..?
The Teratoma: ...I will not confirm...
Interviewer: ...I will ask again. Henceforth, the statement 'I will not confirm' will be taken as confirmation. Have you tampered with the Database?
The Teratoma: ...
Interviewer: ...Next question.
Interviewer: What do you use 'Themeatlevel' for?
The Teratoma: ...To learn. I have become aware of other spaces, and have learnt more about the creatures that roam said environments. I will continue to use the user to do so.
Interviewer: What could you possibly use this information for?
The Teratoma: ...You are running my patience thin with these questions. You and your organisation are too curious... What are you really doing this interview for?
Interviewer: Ugh, can you not give us an straight answer?
The Teratoma: I refuse to.
Interviewer: ...Fine.
Interviewer: What do you think of the entities or other beings native to the Backrooms?
The Teratoma: ...I care little for them. Their plights are below my concern. They may be fascinating to someone else, but to me, if I see one, I slay it and put the nutrients it uses to better use.
Interviewer: You seem to show some dislike towards them. What do you think makes you different?
The Teratoma: ...Are you insinuating I am much like these entities... as you call them? None have been able to achieve the growth and development that I have been able to do... All appear much too mortal to your weaponry... and you ask what makes me different? It impresses me...
Interviewer: ...Let's move on. What about entities that have shown greater capability, such as verbal communication with humans? Creatures like The Rabbit, for example.
The Teratoma: ...That one... has leapt too far into the conclusion that mental torture and covering humans in utter filth is the way to go. I abhor its supposed look and mannerisms... to me, it is pretending to be something it is not. It is akin to humans, going for wants and not needs, though its non-human nature makes it easier to redeem. If we ever encounter each other, I would not say it is impossible for a beneficial relationship of some kind to form... If that fails... it wouldn't not be a benefit for me.
Interviewer: ...Just a few more questions to go.
Interviewer: How many have you killed?
The Teratoma: How many loaves of bread have you eaten in your life?
Interviewer: Ugh... do you regret any of them?
The Teratoma: What have I said before? Is your memory that of a goldfish..?
Interviewer: These are necessary inquiries. You agreed to this.
The Teratoma: ...
Interviewer: How do you see the world?
The Teratoma: ...Is it not obvious by now? What little I know of the world is not my concern... I only care little about everything around me... The world around me is want-oriented, not need-leaning. Are you truly this ignorant?
Interviewer: Again, these are questions necessary to ask.
The Teratoma: ...These questions... have run my patience thin. Am I being interrogated to reveal everything about myself... or is this meant to be some kind of intrusive interview? These questions are utterly foolish to ask, and if I am expected to face more of these questions, then there is no doubt that we should part ways. Tell me, interviewer... are you going to continue interrogating me? Continue asking the same foolish questions, rephrased or already answered? Or will you finally ask something actually relevant?
Interviewer: ...
The Teratoma: This lack of answer should be taken as confirmation that these same questions will be asked again... and again... and again... I see no more reason to continue this. Leave me alone... and return us to your so called 'status-quo'. Good luck, and goodbye.