Act 3

  Setting: Unknown

  Date: Thursday, May 4th, 1995?

  (Alex and John walk cautiously through the endless halls, the damp carpet squishing underfoot. The hum of the lights grows louder, almost suffocating in its monotony.)

  Alex: How long do you think we’ve been walking for now? This place kind of makes me miss the office. At least there we had a clock that told us when it was time to go home.

  John: There’s monsters down here, and we have no food. Last thing I care about is how long we’ve been walking for.

  Alex: Speaking of food, there’s something we need to discuss. If one of us starves to death do we give permission for the other to eat the other?

  John (frustrated): How the hell can you joke right now?

  Alex: What if it all goes wrong John? I thought you were the one that told me I have to realize what my options were, and to stop being unrealistic?

  John (shaking his head):

  That was specifically for your “Cindy Crawford is going to be my wife” phase. Not for you to justify your next cannibal one.

  Alex:

  You know what they say John. It takes a wise man to come up with a solution to a problem, but it takes an even wiser one to steal that solution and apply it to something completely unrelated.

  John:

  No one in the world has ever said something that stupid. I bet-

  (Suddenly they hear a sound that causes them to freeze. A low, distorted sound echoes through the halls resembling heavy breathing. Followed quickly by the sound of deep claws scraping against carpet.)

  Alex (whispering):

  What was that?

  John (quietly):

  Trouble.

  (John looks around, searching for a place to hide… Nothing. John curses under his breath as he yanks Alex by the arm. Dragging him along.)

  John: Move

  (The sound of their footsteps seems to set off the creature as it lets out a screech, before charging at them, slamming itself against the wall.)

  (Suddenly, Alex stops)

  John (looking back):

  What are you doing?

  Alex (yanking his hand free): If we stay together we’re as good as dead. Keep running, I’ll down that hallway to the left to distract it.

  John (shaking his head): I’m not going to leave you behind are you crazy?

  (The sound of the approaching monster grows louder; a loud, irregular shuffling accompanying its deep growl. A shape crawls from the dark. A short coat of fur covers its twisted body, matted in dark, wet patches… a grim reminder that they were not the first victim to come across its path. Its limbs stretched too long, bending at wrong angles, like something broken and reassembled the wrong way. Its face… missing, swallowed by a shifting void. It moved… but not on its own. Something unseen pulled it forward, like a puppet on frayed strings.)

  Alex (tense): Wait… why isn’t it charging?

  (As the creature approaches it slowly tilts its head. A rattling clicking sound coming from its mouth. After a few moments, it stops in place. Tapping one of its claws onto the ground, before tilting its head sharply, like a dog. Then it jerks forward again, repeating the process as it lumbers in their direction.)

  John (quiet):

  What the hell is it doing?

  Alex (softly):

  Shhh. Don’t move.

  (The creature’s head jerks up at the sound of their voices. A deep growl bellows from it as it looks in their direction.)

  John (alarmed):

  We have to-

  (Alex silently signals John to stay quiet, raising a finger to his lips. Before grabbing a piece of shattered glass sitting on the ground next to him. Alex’s hands shake with fear. It’s a gamble… one that could get them both killed. But with each step the monster took towards them, their chances of escape dwindled. He looks at John, and then at the monster, who takes another stiff step in their direction. One wrong move… he palms the glass in his hands, gripping it tightly enough to cut a shallow gash into his hands, causing blood to slowly drip down his hands, but he doesn’t flinch. Slowly, he steadies himself, before hurling the glass off into the distance. It crashes against the wall, shattering loudly on impact. The creature jerks upwards, its head pointed directly towards the source of the sound, before it howls. Quickly moving towards the glass at an inhumane speed.)

  Alex (quietly):

  It’s fast… but I don’t think it can see us.

  John (breathing heavily):

  Is it gone?

  Alex:

  It'll catch on soon. We need something that'll keep it distracted for a bit longer than that to escape.

  (The monster, now realizing the glass was not prey, starts to make its way back. John stares at Alex, stunned, as the creature edges closer, its jerking motions erratic but clearly attuned to the faint noise of their breathing.)

  (Alex spots an air vent nearby, the grille loose and slightly ajar. He motions for John to follow and leads him to the vent. The creature’s growls return, closer this time, heading back in their direction.)

  Alex (to John, hurriedly):

  Help me.

  (Alex digs into his pocket, pulling out a quarter. He grips it tightly, his fingers still trembling.)

  John:

  What are you doing?

  (Alex crouches low, trying to steady his breath, before flicking the quarter towards the vent. It hits the metal grille, nearly bouncing off. Alex’s stomach twists, but then it drops through, spinning and rattling as it makes its way down the shaft.)

  (The creature stiffens. Its entire body twisting unnaturally. With an ear-splitting screech, it jerks its head in the direction of the vent, before taking off down towards it. Following the sound of the receding quarter.)

  Alex:

  Come on.

  (Alex says, panicked, as he runs in the opposite direction)

  (They move away, carefully stepping over debris to avoid making noise. The creature thrashes at the vent, its claws digging into the ground as it tries to get to the source of the sound. The distant sound of metal screeching fills the hall. An agonized, mindless thrashing that slowly disappears into the distance. The two of them continue running for what seems like thirty minutes past the last sounds of the monster.)

  John (breathless):

  How’d you even get that thing to roll so far?

  Alex (also out of breath):

  I told it “I love you”, and like everything else… it ran.

  (Alex stands up. Deep breaths of the stale, musty air seemingly helping him regain his composure a bit.)

  John (still shaken):

  Let’s save this talk for your therapist. For now, let’s focus on getting the hell away from that thing.

  (Alex and John walk cautiously through the endless halls. The flickering lights buzz louder than before, adding to the suffocating atmosphere. The tension from their encounter with the entity still lingers. Suddenly, a soft, rhythmic humming sound starts to faintly echo in the distance.)

  Alex (dryly):

  Well, that’s not unsettling at all.

  John (quietly):

  That sounds like a little girl, but this easily could be another trap. I'm not sure what to believe anymore after that.

  Alex (casually):

  Could be. But if she’s real, leaving her there makes us the jerks of this weird nightmare.

  (They move forward carefully, rounding the corner to find a young girl sitting on the floor. Hugging her knees to her chest, her messy hair hangs over her face as she sits in the middle of a poorly made camp, with black, ashy carpet in the middle that suggests a failed attempt at starting a fire. She looks fragile, lost. But when she hears their footsteps, she flinches violently, scrambling until her back is pressed against the wall.)

  Young girl (voice trembling, eyes darting wildly):

  Stay away! I… I don’t have any supplies left.

  John (gently, raising his hands in a calming gesture):

  We’re not here to rob you. We’re just lost, and looking for a way out.

  (The girl doesn’t answer. She just stares at the two of them, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her hands grip her arms tightly, like she’s bracing for something worse to happen. She looks between the two of them, a terrified look crosses her face once the realization dawns that escape is no longer possible.)

  John:

  My name’s John, and my friend over here’s name is Alex. Don’t worry, he doesn’t smell nearly as bad as he looks.

  Alex (rolling his eyes at John, before looking back at Lily) I don’t know who you’re talking about. But with how terrified you look, I can promise you that we’re nothing like them.

  (She hesitates, her body tense like a coil, as if ready to bolt at any second as her gaze flicks between them. Finally, she lowers her guard slightly.)

  Young girl:

  They all say that. “We’re not like them”. Then they get desperate. Please, I just… I’m tired of running.

  John (looks around, seeing no one else around before speaking):

  I promise you, we’re nothing like whoever those people were.

  (She shudders, pulling her knees tighter to her chest.)

  Young girl:

  I was with another group before they-

  (her voice cuts off as she breaks into a sob)

  (Alex looks over at John. He has a soft look in his eyes, as he tries to calm the girl down, but Alex sees the subtle signs of anger on his face. The clenched jaw, the furrowed eyebrows. Alex sighs. She’s already won him over. Alex walks over to her, causing her to tense up. Alex puts his hands up in a non-threatening way, before kneeling next to her. She looks at him apprehensively, coiled like a snake ready to strike at any moment.)

  Alex:

  What’s your name sweetheart?

  (The girl pauses for a moment. Looking between Alex and John as if wondering if she should still try and run. Finally, her shoulders deflate, as she looks resigned to her fate.)

  Young girl (still trembling):

  My name is Lily.

  Alex (grinning):

  You’ve got a pretty sweet setup for someone your age. (He says as he looks at her makeshift camp.) How long have you been down here to learn how to do that on your own?

  Lily:

  I... I don't know anymore. It feels like I’ve been down here forever.

  John (still watching her carefully):

  Speaking of down here. What is this place? And there are others besides us?

  Lily:

  The Backrooms… I think that’s what I heard some of the others call it.

  (Lily’s eyes are still focused on John, and Alex’s movements. But her breathing seems more relaxed as she starts to realize they no longer pose a threat.)

  Lily:

  It’s like a maze that never ends. No doors. No way out. Just… monsters. And people. And sometimes, they’re worse.

  (Lily’s words cut off. A pained expression on her face.)

  Alex (comforting): Or maybe there’s no way back in, so those that make it out can’t tell the others. Plus, if it is really endless with no exits, then I guess there’s no such thing as a wrong turn down here.

  (Wiping away her tears, a slight smile appears on Lily’s face.)

  John:

  How did you end up here, Lily?

  (She hesitates. Her hands twisting at the corners of her torn shirt nervously.)

  Lily:

  I… I was at school. I was talking to some friends when, I just tripped down the stairs, but, I didn’t hit the ground. I just kept falling… Then I woke up down here.

  (Alex and John exchange glances, their expressions grim as Lily continues. Her voice softer now.)

  Lily:

  I thought, maybe I was dreaming. Spent my whole time sitting in place, not moving. At least, until I saw them…

  John:

  The creatures?

  (She nods quickly, her eyes wide, brimming with fear.)

  Alex:

  Surviving down here at your age is impressive Lily. How’d you even manage it?

  Lily (looking down):

  I just run and hide. The scary ones won’t usually find you unless you’re too loud. All I do is hide in the corners until they leave.

  (A look flashes across her face. As though she’s recalling a nightmare, she tried to forget.)

  John (interrupting her thoughts):

  You’re doing better than most down here. If you’re up for it. We could use someone resourceful like you in our group.

  (Lily looks up at him, her lip trembling.)

  Lily (whispering):

  You… You’re not leaving me?

  John:

  Of course not. We’re sticking together now.

  (Alex exhales sharply, standing up and dusting himself off.)

  Alex:

  Well, now that it’s all settled. How about we try and find somewhere we can eat, and sleep without getting eaten.

  (Lily hesitates, glancing nervously down the hall behind them.)

  Lily:

  I... I think I remember a safe spot. It’s not far.

  (Lily stands shakily, brushing dust off her clothes before walking. There’s a soft sweet scent coming off her, as she walks past Alex.)

  Alex (jokingly): Smells like you’ve got some candy you’re keeping to yourself. Do I need to say trick or treat, or are you gonna be stingy?

  Lily (nervous): Oh I… it’s my last one, but if you really want it…

  (Lily starts to fumble around in her bag for a few moments. Her hands shaking as she reaches in it. Tears welling up in her eyes making the scene look more like a robbery than an exchange. Alex looks panicked after seeing this, and looks to John who shakes his head in disappointment.)

  Alex (hands raised in resignation): Alright. Alright… You win. Keep your candy secrets for now. Just promise me I get first dibs on any snacks we find from here and we’re even.

  Lily (wiping her eyes): Alright, I promise.

  (The three of them walk off into the distance, leaving the remnants of Lily’s camp behind. The soft smell of charred fabric lingering behind as they make their way towards their destination.)