⛌ bluff ⛌

[SHIVERS]

▶ Forget-Me-Not
Nolan Brewer

No one took your ticket, you realize.

No front desk, not even a turnstile or other automated system.
Perplexed, you fish in your pocket for the ticket.







It's gone.

You find the meal coupon for the bar,
but the ticket is nowhere to be found.






mustve

dropped it somewhere


You don't linger on the thought,
instead perplexed as the labeling of the floors.

Considering how far down you traveled,

Maybe it's only to prevent labeling every floor deep in the negatives.
That'd be pretty awkward, wouldn't it?
All labels of 'Floor -7', 'Floor -5', that kind of thing.

It's silly.





Somehow, this thought process makes you feel a tiny bit less anxious.

Imagining this building as something created with intention makes it feel more real.
There are reasons for what you've seen. People made decisions.







You use this to steady yourself.
A proper deep breath this time.



okay

im good
mostly good


feeling better with time
just like i thought

nothing to worry about
nothing Much











There's one more thing you want to investigate.

Finding answers to the lighting mystery.
That'd help you feel better, too, you imagine.





You check the bottom and top of the pillar, where it meets the floor and ceiling.

Surely there should be shadows there.







Nothing.

no dice





hmmmm






You slip off your windbreaker and wield with both paws.

With a grunt, you sit down on the floor.



You drape the jacket over your head and stretch it out flat with your paws, as if you were using it as a makeshift umbrella.

With that done, you bend your back to sink lower, looking for shadows on the floor.


It's still as brightly lit as ever.



how?


what




You do your best to shift even lower, struggling, but-



Wait.








THERE





You spot it.

The faintest hint of a shadow when you crane your neck downward and look back;
behind you, in the vague shape of the side of your torso.



so it must be
the pillar! its coming from the pillar itself


of COURSE thats what it is!
ive only been standing between the pillar and the stairs i came from
which are Very Dark
so i wouldnt spot my shadow behind me

god i got SO WORRIED over Nothing
stupid... oh well


You find yourself excited at the discovery.
Your neck hurts when you return it back to its natural position.

But it was worth it.






You slide your windbreaker back on,
and strain your aching knees as you stand back up.


just a really, Really weird place
but it makes sense! i can make sense of it

time to confirm the theory





You stretch first, feeling almost smug,
but relieved more than anything.


You wonder what material the pillar is made of as you begin to circle around it.




You turn your head to the side, looking at the walls,
looking for your-





















You stop.


Your shadow isn't there.





No matter where you walk around the pillar,
how close or far you are to it,
your can't find your shadow.





hang on
no-

then what did i see before?











You walk to one of the outer walls, getting close to it.

You hold your arms and paws up, covering your face,
only looking through the thin gaps between your claws-


THERE IT IS!

With your limited vision in this position, you can see the shadows of your arms.



so it Is coming from the direction of the pillar?
then why did-

i can check if i just--


You swivel, keeping your arms up,
ready to see the-




















The shadow of your arms




moves with you as you turn



as if there were a flashlight right behind them.











You stop moving.












With a shaky paw,
you pull the side of your jacket up



covering over half of your face with it
looking out only from your left eye

its vision partially obscured as well.














You observe









a large shadow






in the shape of the side of your jacket






covering most of the right side of the room that you can see.





















You bring your paws up



lightly covering your face again


looking through your fingers.





Paw-shaped shadows appear along the walls
or floor
or ceiling


depending on where you turn.
















As if












as if the light source




were coming from your own head.
































Dread creeps in.



Your stomach hurts.




The room suddenly feels crushingly empty,
and far too large,
like a wide, open field.

Your neck is throbbing, feeling worse than when you got out of bed.














didnt help
did Not help

just pick one and Go already
i need out of this room










You hurriedly glance at the options.


No to weapons.

Out of film or computers-
You think of your laptop and speed-walk to the green ramp.





computers are interesting
fun

itll be fun ill feel better


You feel paranoid.


Your legs move faster

















At the top of the ramp is a doorway.

You step through into a relatively small room.



It's briefly almost as bright as the previous one -
no visible source, once again -
but you watch it dim before your eyes, settling to something more 'comfortable'.

if Anything in this godforsaken place could be called that





You don't test the source of the light again.

You don't think about it.






This room is carpeted; thick, with a dark, almost brown green hue.
The walls and ceiling are a more forest-y tint of green, with visible texturing, splotchy texturing. It'd been painted.

The detail doesn't make you feel better at all.

















Just as with the previous room, there seem to be three paths to take in cardinal directions,
each obscured with a floor-to-ceiling black curtain.






Each path has a simple silver placard on the wall, as one would see in an art gallery.

You walk around the room, reading each.








The left placard:

LJ Attention C07 Radio-computer with Oscilloscope Display

Computer system used for engineering and especially telecommunications purposes. C07 model created to sweep and track
for radio signals, and display them when located. Additionally, as with all C-Line LJ Attention Radio-computers, can be utilized
to troubleshoot malfunctioning electronics.
Unit reportedly discovers and plays back radio signals unable to be detected by other equipment. Attempts to track these
radio signals allegedly resulted in various physical ailments, some of which resulted in hospitalization.
Located on a public beach along the southern Eva Sierra coastline.





The placard opposite the ramp:

TOLA-4 Personal Computer with Data Cassette Reader Attachment

Computer system previously used in businesses and as a home computer, though the model is now considered outdated.
Cassette Reader Attachment used to read and write cassettes, allowing easy loading and saving of computer data. Widely
used only for a small span of time before being superseded by "floppy" diskettes.
Instances of unit disappearing have been reported. Extensive search is always unable to locate the unit, only for it to return
to where it had been previously, hours, days, or even weeks after disappearance. Further investigations allegedly described
disappearances of individuals, memory alteration, and amnesia.
Acquired from repossession auction lot in Hoopla, Taverne.





The right placard:

Pentafield 225 Custom Analytic Computer

Computer system normally used in conjunction with medical and survey equipment. Custom modified with various
attachments, including an RF meter, Geiger counter, and video security recording device of unknown make and model; likely
custom built.
Reports indicate that video feed displays objects and phenomena unseen by the naked eye. Long exposure to video feed
allegedly causes hallucinations, anxiety, and other unwanted symptoms.
View video feed with caution.
Located in abandoned church in Elegy, Idyth.










You can't properly draw up much curiosity.
Your body is quickened, primed to bolt for the exit.

You're shaking.



You'd like to look at one or two and then leave.