[ Chapter I (1): "MAN VS. WILD" ]
Finn had always been scared of roaches, even more so when they were flying. And at the moment, he couldn't believe it---even with him seeing it personally, first-hand.
A Roach. From what the magical text that suddenly flickered into existence is saying, above the said creature that is about the size of a big-fat ass rat.
And perhaps, more scary is that, it's considered "Small" by this Backroom's level's standards. Which is already telling.
[ SMALL RADROACH LVL. 2 ]
"Oh-oh GOD!" Realizing what the creature is, Finn instantly panicked as he points finger at the said Radroach---whatever that means.
In his panic, he didn't question the fact that something supernatural happened to him. Like, seeing the name of the oversized creature before he could figure out for himself.
That, or the fact that the said oversized, abomination exists in the first place. Or that, it evolved from simply being a small pest that can easily be stumped, killed... TO THAT!
About to close the door, Finn felt the weight of metal, and realized that like earlier when he opened the door.
That he wouldn't be able to close it without needing tremendous strength, or time. Both of which he doesn't have at the moment, as the Radroach opened its wings.
"IT HAS WINGS!" Now, small Roaches could fly. Yes, like a butterfly---and every time it happens, he gets traumatized.
But, that is for small 2-3 inch Roaches which don't weigh at all. The bigger variants on the other hand, you expect that they wouldn't be able to fly at all due to their weight.
That is what Finn thought. Reality on the other hand, or whatever Hell he was pulled into, says otherwise. "IT CAN FLY!!"
And when it finally did open its wings, and levitate off of the ground. Finn felt chill run down his spine, and also, the disgust. As he also almost fainted inside that metallic pod.
But he didn't, luckily. As he instead thought of closing the Preservation Shelter---but in not having the luxury to do so, he decided to run away instead. To where? He doesn't know.
Anywhere would do, as long as it's far away from the stinky, nasty, foul creature of the disorienting place he found himself in.
For a second, the thought of punching the said bug to death entered his mind. But no, it quickly left as soon as he remembered the size of the said bug. Which isn't normal.
No way. There's not enough money in the world, Finn isn't that brave, and he isn't sure he'll win a fistfight against it in the first place.
Well... fist to bites, to be precise. Really-really big bites that he doesn't want to feel even the tiniest bit of.
While running the ruined street, Finn was able to take in the surroundings more. As he passed by half-destroyed billboards promoting soft drinks, cars, and even detergents.
He also passed distinct houses crawling with either vines or the distinct taste of ruin. Destroyed, left abandoned by survivors.
Weird cars also, which he wasn't able to admire, or even looked closely. And if he had been paying attention, or had the time, he would have noticed local skeletons inside.
But he didn't, as he was more worried about outrunning the small, oversized monster behind him. Something that he could hear making weird, likely happy noises.
"O-oh GOD!" He turned around while running, and instantly regretted the decision, as he saw the said Roach flying close. Dangerously close for his liking. "It-it's still chasing after ME!!"
He ran. Kept running, but this time, using the surroundings to his advantage; as he ran in a zigzagging manner, using the cars as obstacles, or even the mail boxes.
Everything was fair game.
He was about to turn a corner, in-between one of the houses. But was jumped by the flying Roach as he does. Which was still relentlessly chasing after him.
[ SCREE-! ]
"JESUS!" Now, Finn doesn't know why he did it. But he did. His hand---in instinct---slapped the said Radroach downward like a pesky fly. Shot down, splattering some fluids while so.
And in doing so, he seems to have unlocked another feature of whatever world he was transported into. And this time, it was HP. Just right under the name of the thing.
[ SMALL RADROACH LVL. 2 ]
[ HP: 6/9 ]
Also, in instinct, he motioned closer to the said discombobulated anomaly. His good nature kicked in, as he started to apologize for hurting the said creature.
"I'm-I'm sorry, I didn-" Wait, why was he apologizing to the said monster that wanted, and STILL wants to kill him.
"Why am I even apologizing in the first place?" He eyed down the Radroach on the ground, scurrying, seemingly unable to fly anymore due to the accidental slap of his.
"I should really kill you." And he was ready to do such a thing, as he was about to slam down his shoes---the same brown pair he wore before the truck wrecked him, and also, his clothes, which he only now notices.
All that panic, taking in the surroundings, and running away from the said Radroach really did occupy the forefront of his mind. And only now did he notice what he was wearing.
Nonetheless, he did notice i- "AHH! My l-leg." Unfortunately, his mind was busy minding itself elsewhere. The Radroach was able to dodge his shoe strike, as it then bit him.
And unlike needles, which don't hurt but are feared by many. This one, it does hurt, and should be feared by all without exception. Worse yet, the pain that stuck afterwards.
[ RADS +3 ]
Oh... that's not good.
He doesn't know what "RADS" means, but it likely is poison from the Roach. Or, maybe, it means Radiation, as the said Roach is faintly glowing green after all, and bleeding the color.
He doesn't know, exactly. But what he does know is that he is annoyed, at the Radroach, as he then stumps hard onto the thing's head with all remaining strength he has left.
And, in doing so, causing the said oversized pest to shriek in agony and finally die.
But after the first stump, he didn't stop. With all remaining strength and energy of his, he stumped again at the Roach's splattered carcass, then again... then again.
Only stopping when he felt a tightening in his chest, likely the adrenaline from all the running finally fading away, as he is now safe.
With no threat in sight. That is, unless you see a pulverized Roach with its bloody green stain on the ground as a threat, then, probably, it is. "Bless my heart."
[ +5 EXPERIENCE ]
Out of breath, and out of exercise. Finn could be seen leaning on the wall while clutching his heart, all the while panting hard.
His eyes went wide eyed as he noticed a new text flicker into existence above the dead Roach---Experience. Which he knows about.
Because, as a guy born and raised in the 21st century, where games are known and rampant even to those who are uninitiated, or to people who aren't much interested---the latter of which includes him, as he prefers reading.
But, like the others. Finn knows enough thanks to the internet, some scattered personal experience with games, and in seeing it across the books that he read about.
And the terms Experience, HP (Health Points), and Lvl. (Level). All of those things came from Role Playing Games, RPG for short. Which utilizes such features for better immersion.
Experience gives more Levels, Levels in turn gives Health, skills, magic powers, so-on and so-forth. He knows enough, as his best friend is a gaming nerd of all kinds.
Though Finn never really did get involved with the whole rabbit hole, he still knows enough to get by and not be called an idiot---or, gaming illiterate by some.
But focusing back on his predicament, he eyed the wound left behind by the now-dead Radroach. Which pierced his brown pants and sunk its way into his skin.
Perhaps luckily, his pants---the cloth of it gave some sort of protection against the bite, which made the bite and the subsequent fallout of the RADS(?) manageable to some extent.
Whatever the hell RADS even mean.
He pulled up the left side of his pants, which was where the Roach bit him. And when he did, he instantly noticed the bite that the small creature caused. "What do I do?"
Something that he could still feel a tinge bit of ache still, as he worries on how to heal it. He doesn't have any background in medicine after all, or, any cure to big roach bites.
He did get bitten once or twice growing up, but with that pain, he couldn't remember. But he does remember that they disappeared after some time, so, he could only pray that this case had the same fix... "Yeah, fuck."
If not, then one of two things could happen. One, he'll be fine after some rest, after finding a safe haven in this mind-fuck of a Level and get himself proper attention if possible. Or, two, he is now officially on a time clock.
A death clock if you will. As he doesn't know if that roach bite was venomous, poisonous, radiated, or turned to worse as the time goes on. And if it does... Then, shit luck, he guess.
But in all seriousness, he needs to either find a cure or someone to remedy his said wound. As he doesn't believe he has the courage, or strength to chop off his leg if push comes to shove. And, he sure wouldn't even if it did.
As he is that, a coward, deep inside. That, or a known introvert. Pick your poison.
"God, give me strength... or something." Preferably something, like a med-kit, or an AK-47 with a full mag---plus an extra mag in case he encountered more Roaches.
Though not a devotee like some of his friends, or, at all believe in the existence or non-existence of a higher power right above. He still, did what he could, and prayed.
All the while trying his best to get away from the town/city hybrid behind him, and get himself into the clearings. He doesn't want to encounter another Radroach after all.
Or, a normal variant of it. Or, other, bigger monsters. Perhaps, a man-sized rat is unlucky, which is already scary enough as a thought.
Though, limping to some extent along the way. In his left leg which isn't that noticeable really, but to him, is achingly painful.
"This sss-zucks!" But after some time of trying, and effort, Finn was able to get away from the gap in-between the houses, and see the clearing that the level provided.
And unlike what he initially expected. Which is decay, death, and ruination. No, what he saw was peaceful, green, and ordinary wildlife. That is, if you were to ignore the debris and junks scattered about in some places.
Other than that, really. Everything looked perfectly fine. And, weirdly enough, he also noticed the fact that the thick vines and green of the town behind him, isn't prominent here.
Or even, far into the wildlife and open area beyond. Which is... surprising, as one would expect nature and nature to coincide---but, no, there seems to be another thing at play here.
And Finn, he doesn't know why exactly, or what. But he has a bad feeling about it. Though, after some back and forth with his thoughts, he decided to ultimately chuck it up to map boundaries and such---like, in games.
Perhaps the unnamed town behind him was made to look like that, and to not affect the greater map, it has a barrier for the vines, or limit to how long it could grow.
"Ok-okay, new adventure here I come-" Ready to start his adventure, Finn quickly turned tail as he noticed a two-headed creature in the distance, which jumped out behind one of the tall trees in quick strides.
"Never mind, I didn't quite like mother nature in the first place." Whistling after so.
It wasn't just the two-head mutation that scared him, what scared him was also the name of the said creature---which, he doesn't have the best first impression of.
[ RADSTAG LVL. 12 ]
[ ---------- ] [ ---------- ] [ ---------- ] [ ---------- ]
[ FUN FACT: "After the bombs fell in the world of Fallout, and after most of humanity died off. Roaches, which then evolved to being Radroaches as they get infused by radiations from the many-many bombs, survived. And due to the said radiation, they now could grow up to 2.5-3ft tall for normal variants, and 5-6ft tall for the unique, Legendary variants." ]
[ 07/25/2026 ]
[ 07/26/2026 ]