Content warning
This article contains minor descriptions of body horror and gore.
It also details instances of death, blood, and sacrificial rituals.
Viewer discretion is advised.
- Unsafe and Unsecure
- Constant Human Hostility
- Presence of Hostile, Sentient Entities
Description
One of the neighborhoods.
The Dark Metro is an old industrial town stuck in a permanent nighttime. The Dark Metro is a strange level, unofficially considered by most as an “opposite level” — similar to The Whiteout and The Blackout — given its connections to the enigmatic level of a similar name, The Metro. The levels share various parallels and opposite traits. The most obvious of these is that The Metro is full of lights and The Dark Metro is borderline pitch-black; in addition, The Metro is inside and The Dark Metro is outside. Both levels are also the home of heavily misunderstood entities with anomalous abilities. The strongest piece of evidence to this theory is the inability to enter The Dark Metro without first being in The Metro. There are some more details regarding these parallels in Log DM-003.
The method of entry into The Dark Metro is heavily debated due to inconsistency of accounts, but one recurring detail among them is that it’s always done via The Metro level. A few descriptions include accidentally no-clipping through one of the ads, the lights suddenly going out in the subway station and the noise being replaced by bloodcurdling screams before they appeared in The Dark Metro, gravity in the level flipping for the wanderer as the level faded into The Dark Metro, and a loud breathing sound echoing through the whole level before the wanderer fell through the floor — just to name a few. All of these methods of entry have never been replicated, nor have any witnesses to the original events been documented at this time. Underseer Thomas Verne believes this is deliberate on the part of The Dark Metro entity in order to retrieve more sacrifices for the rituals. Many of them also reported hearing sounds of a heartbeat during the shift.
The level itself takes the appearance of a small suburban area, seemingly built in the early 1700s, yet still relatively modern. The level has not been thoroughly explored due to the borderline total absence of light, hostile inhabitants of the level, and unpredictable method of entry. Despite this, a few research missions have been successfully conducted, and all known information comes from the live camera feeds and commentary from said researchers. Information such as level size, population, objects, entity presence, and reality stability is either unknown or subject to change at any time and without major notice.
All of the neighborhoods are lined with houses of suburban architecture. The air is frigid, and wearing a jacket is heavily advised. Operatives who explored gave vague guesses of 30-50ºF judging off of experience, but nothing is confirmed as of yet. The roads and sidewalks are often cracked and bumpy, sometimes even having objects like scrap metal or loose wires scattered across. A noteworthy feature is that no sources of bright light are present anywhere: no streetlights, no light emitting from the houses, excluding red candles that line each house. There is one exception; large red streetlights that shine directly onto the railroad tracks, which are further detailed in The Railroad section.
To the benefit of the M.E.G., operatives who managed to enter the mysterious level have been able to eavesdrop loose bits of information. The most notable of these pieces of information was the discovery of the name “The Central Plaza,” which is the name of a large parking lot with a small strip mall of stores, none of which are ever open or lit. For anyone visiting the level, this area is incredibly unsafe due to the amount of people there at almost all times. For inhabitants, it’s where most people commune, trade, and perform community activities.
The Central Plaza is also where the level’s infamous sacrificial ceremonies occur. Every three days, two large, red bells at the top of the main building ring as to signify that The Dark Metro is on the way. The noise of a loud train echoes throughout the entire level during this time. The inhabitants of the level gather at the plaza to perform a ceremony where they sacrifice someone to it. They appear to meekly worship it as a deity of sorts, and perform sacrifices to keep it satiated. Proof of the ceremonies were first discovered when loose, bloodstained piece of paper was found in a mailbox of a house near the plaza’s parking lot upon initial discovery, which has been attached below in the Supplementary Documents section.
The neighborhoods themselves can sometimes hold various loose items of value, as many of the houses are inhabited by the residents of the level. Cars are sometimes possible to find but usually require major hot-wiring in order to work. Car headlights are always non-functional or shattered. Attempting to enter the houses will almost always result in capture and transferring to the Central Plaza. The roads are usually cracked and sometimes even riddled with sinkholes. Additionally, a lot of the grass is either dead or ripped out of the ground in certain places, almost as if a vehicle travelled across it. It’s recommended you use flashlights and light sources as sparingly as possible, as light could attract the attention of the hostile inhabitants.
The trees have been documented to be similar to the ones on Level 129: tall, rough, smelling of charcoal, and sometimes dead on the inside. The broken streetlights and power lines create a low hum of electricity that can be heard all throughout the level, except for when The Dark Metro arrives to drown it all out. Occasionally, distant sounds of breathing can be heard throughout the neighborhoods, but this is relatively rare. Despite this, no life has been documented in the level beyond the human inhabitants, the level’s 4 unique entities, and The Dark Metro, but studies are still ongoing.
The interior of the main building.
The Central Plaza is almost always heavily populated, however many choose to hide in their houses until the twelfth hour on sacrifice day. During these times, the Central Plaza will have the least amount of people. It is recommended that if one is to explore this area, this is when it should be done. The abandoned stores can be broken into for resource gathering, but this can also be dangerous if any of the level’s inhabitants are in the asphalt parking lots. The stores are sometimes covered with rubble or flooded with fluids like water, sludge, or even blood.
The main building resembles an old church cathedral, and has many large signs with words in Latin. Translations appear to be talking about a glorious lord of power and darkness, talking about “serving the greatest savior we could have asked for.” It’s presumed the inscriptions are referring to The Dark Metro.
The cathedral itself has various pews and royal carpets with a pulpit in the very center. This is where the sacrifices take place. Other typical church objects such as pews, various religious texts such as The Bible and the Quran, writing utensils, and hymn books in Latin can be found throughout. A lot of these objects, especially the ones near the pulpit, are stained with blood. There is also a playable church organ on the pulpit with connected pipes that surround the cathedral, but playing it is obviously not advised, as it would attract attention due to the noise. The cathedral can sometimes have people sitting in the pews, presumably doing some sort of praying or meditation to The Dark Metro, but more often than not it is devoid of people.
On the top of the cathedral is a set of two church bells that are colored a crimson red. The bells can be seen overlooking the entire neighborhood and can be seen up close if you climb the exterior of the Main Building, which one operative was able to do. These bells ring loudly and echo throughout the entire level every 3 days. The bells ring thrice every hour and 12 times during the day with a low, ominous tone of D. The 1st ring signifies when The Dark Metro has successfully arrived in the level, and by the twelfth ring, it has made its landing.
The Bells are allegedly not made of the orthodox bronze that regular bells are made out of, instead being composed of the crimson-red, metallic material displayed in the picture. Due to the previously mentioned inability to enter on purpose, no official sample studies have been possible at the current time. The operative who took the picture was able to relay a few general descriptions, however. She described the metal as cold, rough, and dimly glowing red. She described it as feeling incredibly similar to the bronze which typically makes up bells, but with very slight differences. Additionally, how the bells themselves are rung is unknown. No strings or ropes have been documented at the moment, and the bells seem to just move on their own when the time comes. The bells are also documented to ring every time someone new is registered. Other than this, the bells are entirely stationary. The exact makeup of the bells’ material is not known as no formal studies have been performed due to lack of resources on the part of the operatives.
It is imperative that any wanderer who ends up in the level keep their presence unknown to the population, or else their life will be in severe danger. Any person who is in the level that is not from it will be forcibly taken to the main building by whoever finds them. The exact process of what happens during this time is based solely off of live camera footage that was broadcasting to Base Gamma on Level 3 during the few exploration missions that occurred. The wanderer appears to be dragged against their will all the way to the main building. Attempts to escape will result in a chase that will not stop until the wanderer is caught. Upon arrival to the main building, they will be dragged into the main aisle.
What happens after this is mostly unknown due to lack of clear video angles, but one consistent detail is that this will result in the summoning of the three entities known by The M.E.G. as “The Dark Priest” and “The Shadows.” At the moment, they appear to be the only known presumably non-human life in the level. A log is attached in the Supplementary Documents section that describes the Priest’s “registration” in further detail.
The Railroad
The railroad is one of the most unsettling areas of the level. Going to this area of the level at any point is not a feat to take lightly. The operatives who explored the level reported hearing sounds of whispering, heartbeats, breathing, and train sounds. Additionally, prolonged exposure to the red light seems to cause 1st, possibly even 2nd degree burns. Streaks of blood and sometimes even entrails can be found on the floor sometimes.
The railroad is a set of train tracks that lie behind the Central Plaza. The tracks lead into a tunnel on the left, and discontinue on the right. The entire area is lit up by the previously mentioned red streetlights. Upon the first set of Crimson Bell rings, The Dark Metro can be seen soaring across the sky and slowly descending to the railroad. During this time, sounds of screeching and wailing of its wheels, its horn, and its engine are audible no matter how close or far one is from the tracks. With each bell ring, it gets closer and closer until finally reaching the ground, phasing through the tunnel effortlessly and approaching through the pitch black pit that the tunnel is. During this time, the Ritual will have commenced, and the townspeople will have gathered around the railroad.
The Ritual
Being “registered” by The Dark Priest seals your fate as a possible candidate to become the sacrifice to The Dark Metro. During the ritual, The Dark Priest and The Shadows stand at the doors of the Main Building. On the twelfth set of rings from The Crimson Bells, The Shadows will bring out a red and black box. A name is drawn at random, and The Dark Priest calls the name of whoever is drawn. The Shadows will move into the crowd, and forcibly take the person to the railroad. The rest of the inhabitants follow to witness the event.
When it reaches the ground, the doors will open, almost inviting the person in. The Priest will lead the chosen person to the train and place them inside. At this point, The Dark Priest seems to say a prayer to The Dark Metro in Latin. Then, the train will close its doors and begin riding across the ground as if there were tracks, destroying any grass or objects in its way. The Priest then dismisses everyone until the next ritual. A transcript of an excerpt from the video feed is attached below in the Supplementary Documents Section.
The ritual itself is still undergoing much study. Thomas Verne, one of the 10 members of M.E.G. team “The Underseers,” has been overseeing most of the studies regarding The Dark Metro. At the moment, he advises all people to report any and all anomalies found on The Metro to The M.E.G. immediately in hopes of finding a reliable entrance for proper study missions.
Entities
Only four entities have ever been documented on this level: The Dark Priest, 2 entities known collectively as “The Shadows,” and The Dark Metro. For more information about the former three, please view the Supplementary Documents section below.
The Dark Metro
A screenshot of Galena’s video feed while attempting to focus on The Dark Metro.
The Dark Metro as an entity is the most mysterious thing on the level. The being goes by many names in the level, including but not limited to: The Dark Deity, The Savior, The Crimson Shadow, The Train, and It, with the last being the most common of the names. Most of these names have been uttered by The Dark Priest, but some have been picked up via eavesdropping. Thomas came up with the name “The Dark Metro” after discovering its connection to The Metro, and is now The M.E.G.’s official designation for it.
Exact descriptions of The Dark Metro vary due to a strange property of semi-censorship. Attempts to photograph or record the entity in any fashion results in a false appearance. The appearance it takes in photos and videos resembles a metro car with vantablack paint, red headlights, and no ads or graffiti of any sort. The inside looks nearly identical to that of the regular Metro. Verne believes this to be an illusion in order to hide its true appearance, which has only been seen by the eye itself. Eyewitness descriptions have been difficult to obtain due to both the lack of consistent entry methods and trauma from survivors, but a consistent detail is that it is undoubtedly alive. Other relayed details include black eyes with red pupils instead of headlights, a black substance that makes up its interior which is similar to that which makes up The Shadows, seats and walls made of screaming human faces, various entrails and organs across the ground and along the walls, and even teeth.
Whether or not this is a hallucination that takes place in the level or a property of self-censorship is unknown. Verne personally believes the latter due to Galena’s body camera becoming glitched and blurry after prolonged recording of The Dark Metro. The Dark Metro, like The Metro, appears to be able to fly, however, The Dark Metro does not do so as cleanly as The Metro. While the latter moves as if it were on invisible train tracks, the former moves sporadically and chaotically, almost as if it were looking down upon the townspeople or looking for where to land. Most of the day-to-day business in The Central Plaza pauses during this time so people can hide indoors, likely out of fear.
It is incredibly noisy when it arrives, and can be heard from any point in the level during its descent. The cacophony of moving train wheels, engine noises, wheel screeching, a train horn, and other noises of the sort drown out most other noises in the level. Some operatives also reported hearing screaming and crying during this time. Galena and other operatives described it like a shooting star but only about 100 feet in the sky. The being also seems to frequently drip bodily fluids onto the level as it descends, including but not limited to blood, spinal fluid, urine, fecal matter, seminal fluid, and saliva — these are the most common. There have also been documented instances of falling chunks of bone, tufts of hair, and clothing fabric falling from it. One operative even reported overhearing whispers about an entire head falling from it. It is unknown if these are remnants of The Dark Metro’s victims or parts of itself, as Galena did report seeing various body innards lining the entirety of the train’s interior.
Bases, Outposts, and Communities
Currently, The M.E.G. is striving to form an outpost on the level, but due to the hostility of the Townspeople and unreliable entry methods, this is not in the near future.
The Townspeople
One of the Trading tents in the Central Plaza, brightened slightly for viewing convenience.
The Townspeople seem to reside in the houses of the neighborhoods, which as of yet have an unidentified number. They are rarely seen outside of their houses if not at the Central Plaza. When at the Central Plaza, many of them partake in trading and mingling in the parking lots of the plaza. Others choose to sit in the pews of the Main Building, likely praying to either The Dark Metro or a different deity for salvation. The amount of Townspeople is unknown due to the previously mentioned lack of ability to perform a census.
The Townspeople are incredibly hostile if you have not yet been registered by The Dark Priest, and will do anything necessary to get you into The Main Building. Notable documented examples include: a 5 hour and 37 minute chase through the neighborhoods before eventual capture, critical fracturing of the knees and feet via hammers to immobilize the victim, burning legs with a lighter, and binding the person to the roof of a hot-wired car and driving them to The Central Plaza. Other examples of attempts that were unsuccessful included a 9 hour and 54 minute chase that included the use of bear-traps, bloodhounds, Burmese tiger pits, flare traps, and even human net traps, a high-speed car chase through backyards and neighborhood roads that ended in the Townsperson’s car failing last minute due to poor hot-wiring, and demolition of a building by the bare hands of an estimated 128 people to get the operative off of the roof.
If the target is captured, the Townspeople become passive, but have not yet been open to any sort of formal interviews, trading, or shelter provision. Only one resident has ever agreed to a formal interview, which is attached in the Supplementary Documents. Other very loose pieces of information have been picked up through eavesdropping, but not any major revelations or noteworthy details. It is of utmost priority that if one is to find themselves in the level that they allude capture by any means necessary. This means using any and all scavenged resources to one’s advantage, staying out of bright areas, concealment with as much clothing as possible, intelligent use of the environment to gain advantages, and even murder if the time calls for it.
Entrances and Exits
Entrances
As mentioned earlier, the only known information about how to enter The Dark Metro is that it can only happen by accident on The Metro. Other possible ways of traveling here have proven to be fruitless such as usage of Level 797, The Mountain King Ritual, and most especially requesting a trip here through The Metro itself.
Exits
Exiting the Dark Metro is complicated, to say the least. If one is to exit, their best chance is to do so before they are captured. After one is captured, this method of exiting below becomes impossible. One operative who fell into the level named James Clay was able to escape the level by walking through the tunnel that the train enters through on the day of sacrifice. He emerged on Level 0 with minor burns and various injuries. This method was tried again with a different operative, which had already been captured at the time, but instead of escaping, the operative’s body camera suddenly lost broadcast. Since then, he has not been seen or heard from. This method of exiting is extremely difficult due to the amount of people in the Central Plaza, which must be passed through to reach The Railroad. Galena was also mysteriously found in a state of psychosis on Level 3, as mentioned in Log DM-002, but she said she has no recollection of how she was able to escape. This is the only documented instance of someone escaping after capture.
Currently, there is no known way to escape if one has already been captured. Even methods such as no-clipping and summoning of Entity 51 have been unsuccessful. Any information regarding someone who has escaped The Dark Metro should be reported to The M.E.G. immediately. Verne has even personally offered a reward of 50 Royal Rations for anyone who supplies the information that leads to a reliable exit.
Supplementary Documents
I’m not sure how much longer I have left. What’s clear to me is that I will not escape this wretched place. I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye to you, mi corazón.
Every three days when the crimson bells chime, we awake to the wail of Its whistle and the screech of Its wheels as It begins its journey into our home. Where It goes, where It comes from, we are not sure.
When the thunderous percussion of Its departure is far off in the distance, we must then choose an individual to carry our ticket. This is chosen at random; we would not wish upon our worst enemies a fate such as this. The rest of our day is filled with tension and unease as we wait for It to arrive under the red lights. Some have asked why we have not destroyed or subdued It yet. The answer is always the same. We have tried.
At sunset, we hear the whistle finally reach Its destination. It screeches through the skies and descends on us like an angel of death. Upon Its landing, Its doors open. The rider, chosen randomly by lottery, enters with their ticket in hand. Its doors close, and it is done. Nobody who It takes ever comes back. This is the sacrifice we must make for our safety, for Its pleasure. This is the cycle we must endure, for we fear what may happen otherwise.
I’m not sure I will ever see you again, mi vida. I have gazed upon Its hideous stature. I have heard its abominable heart. It has whispered its animosity into my mind to turn my brain into dust. This beast cannot be defeated, and my destiny is set in stone. Whatever happens, whatever my fate shall be, know that I will always love you for as long as I live.
Hasta que nos veamos de nuevo, mi amor.
- Marco
It is currently unknown who, or even what exactly The Dark Priest is. Currently, the only documentation we have of The Dark Priest is from operative Galena’s exploration in the level. Her mission has and will serve as an example of why it is imperative to remain hidden from the inhabitants of the level.
The Dark Priest is theorized to be, at least, partially human. The Dark Priest appears to speak only in the Latin language, and has not been documented speaking anything else. The picture to the right was cropped from the footage of Galena’s body camera after her original capture. The Dark Priest is always seen fully concealed under black robes. He wears a wooden cross around his neck and walks on a cane with red jewels on it. Other reports of him have described him wearing various red jewelry and having bloodstained garments. Due to the lack of significant light in the level, his face has never been photographed.
The Dark Priest is likely the only being that is in direct communication with The Dark Metro entity. He seems to be able to communicate with it and act as a mediator between it and the townspeople. He is known to organize the sacrifices that take place every 3 days by keeping a tablet of every name in the town. He is never seen outside of the main building, excluding the sacrificial rituals of course. The townspeople fear even the mention of his name. Galena attempted to inquire about him to one of the townspeople after being discovered, but they refused to speak of him out of fear.
When he makes an appearance in the main building, he enters by no-clipping through the wall, or at least that is what appears to occur. Where exactly he comes from is unknown, as The M.E.G.’s current understanding of same-level no-clipping would imply that he would have to have come from the back wall outside. Despite this, he has never once been seen coming from anywhere but inside the church. Thomas has theorized the possibility of a secret room or supernatural abilities. He is always in the company of the entities known as The Shadows, which are described in further detail in the next tab.
The Shadows are two entities that appear to accompany The Dark Priest. Unlike The Dark Priest, the shadows are not human. They have a humanoid form, but lack any visible body parts. Black shadows, hence the name, appear where their faces and hands should be. The picture of them was also cropped from Galena’s body camera footage as they stood on the pulpit of the main building after she complied to stay put.
The Shadows never speak, or even move very often for that matter. They are only ever seen in the presence of The Dark Priest, almost always standing motionless and quiet. They both wear identical clothing: a grey vest over a blue dress shirt, a long tie tucked into the vest, black khaki pants, and black dress shoes, topped with a leather fedora over their heads. Their exact height has been estimated at around 6’8” each, going off of video analysis, pixel measurements, and measurable reference points of control.
Verne predicts that The Shadows act as physical assistants to The Dark Priest. While the priest communicates The Dark Metro’s will to the townspeople, The Shadows act upon it. Documented examples that support this theory include: The Shadows being the ones to place the sacrifice into The Dark Metro during the rituals, seeking out and killing anyone who does not appear at the rituals, and restraining newly discovered people who have entered the level. Only two of these entities have ever been seen at a single time, but Verne is open to the theory that there could be many.
The following excerpt documents the events of Galena Martínez’s capture and encounter with The Dark Priest.
<BEGIN LOG>
Time: June 2nd, 2019.
Recorder: Ex-M.E.G. Field operative Galena Martínez
Leading Mission Control Oversight: Underseer Thomas Verne
Location: The Central Plaza of The Dark Metro
Thomas: Are you sure you’re unable to break off a piece of the bell? Maybe a rock or a knife?
Galena: I’m sure, Thomas. You can’t shave off normal copper like that, and most certainly not whatever this stuff is. Did you get your photos you wanted?
Thomas: Yes, you can proceed off of the building. Next, can you make your way to th-
[A small explosion can be heard in the distance, followed by muttering.]
Galena: Oh no. Sweet Christmas, this is bad.
Thomas: What?
Galena: I think they see me. Thomas… th-they’re throwing Firesalt at me.
[More small explosions can be heard.]
Thomas: Don’t you have the taser stick to deflect them?
Galena: Thomas, this isn’t fricking Star Wars. I’m not gonna deflect bits of Firesalt with a taser stick like some kind of Jedi Knight. The wall I’m hiding behind is starting to fail! Thomas!
Thomas: Galena, I have a solution. You aren’t gonna like it, though.
Galena: Hurry along with it!
Thomas: Do you have that emergency Squirt Gun of hot lava we found?
Galena: Thomas, no.
Thomas: It’s you or them, Galena. Light one of the tents on fire, and they’ll all run away in terror. You wanted to go on this mission, you need to make hard choices. When death stares you in the eyes, are you going to crumble or step up and face it?
Galena: (Galena groans) Fine, I’ll do it as long as you cut it out with the inspirational quote book.
Thomas: Fine.
[Galena shuffles and pulls out a standard Squirt Gun and mounts it onto her shoulders. She darts up from behind the wall to a barrage of mini explosions before shooting a bit of molten lava out of the gun. It falls onto one of the tents and immediately ignites it in flames, illuminating the entire Central Plaza in a bright, orange light. The Townspeople scream in terror, causing Galena to feel relieved that the explosions were stopping.]
Thomas: See? I know what I’m talking about.
Galena: Yeah, yeah. I just feel bad. These poor people are probably miserable having t-
[Galena is cut off when something blurs past the camera and seems to grab her from behind. She screams as she is dragged through the wall and forcefully thrown off the building, landing on one of the tents of wares. The people then dog-pile her and drag her towards the main building in a large group.]
Thomas: Galena?! Galena! Speak to me and let me know you’re okay!
[A loud scream can be heard as Galena passes the burning tent. Loud breathing can also be heard as the fire suddenly extinguishes itself in an instant and the noises cease.]
Galena: (Through tears) Thomas! They’re gonna kill me! They’re taking me to the church!
Thomas: Galena, stay calm. Whatever it is, please do not die on me.
[Galena is thrown into the central aisle between the pews in the cathedral of the main building by 5 Townspeople. A dark-hooded figure and two suited men emerge from the wall on the pulpit.]
Thomas: Cheese and crackers, there’s entities. (To the rest of Base Gamma control) Everyone! All hands on deck, Galena’s just discovered entities!
The Dark Priest: Quid est nomen tibi?
Galena: H-What?
The Dark Priest: Dic nomen tuum.
Thomas: It’s Latin, Galena. I think he wants your name.
Galena: O-Oh. I am Galena Martínez. P-Please, I’m sorry for trespass-
The Dark Priest: Galena Martínez!
The Shadows: Galena Martínez!
[A small stone tablet that is glowing red light emerges from the pulpit. The Priest cuts a small hole in his wrist and bleeds onto the tablet. The tablet falls back into the pulpit.]
The Dark Priest: Nunc discede.
[The Townspeople begin to drag her out. Galena pulls away.]
Galena: Woah, woah, woah! You’re gonna make a mob, drag me in here, bleed onto a rock, and then that’s it? Who even are you?!
[Galena flips on her flashlight. The Dark Priest immediately covers his face and collapses to the floor shaking. He begins to screech like an inhuman banshee.]
The Dark Priest: Lux! Mittit apostata suum prophetam! Suum frater eius non licet! Tenebrae adest! Interficiet nos sicut ante! Salva nos, Fuscus!
[Sounds of a loud breathing and a heartbeat suddenly overwhelms the room. The entire church begins to shake as if an earthquake was occurring before Galena’s flashlight suddenly shatters and becomes unusable. There is a moment of silence as order is reestablished]
The Dark Priest: Discedite a nobis!
[The Shadows suddenly animate and run down from the stage with inhuman speed. They grab Galena and drag her out of the building. The Crimson Bells chime once before The Shadows disappear. The Townspeople follow behind as Base Gamma Control watches in shock.]
Thomas: G-Galena? What… just happened?
Galena: He… I’m going to run into one of the neighborhoods. I need a moment to process.
<END LOG>
Conclusion: Log DM-001 has served as a document of high importance in the trek of discovering the mysteries of The Dark Metro. Galena later was able to give a better relay of the events. The camera was unable to pick up The Dark Priest’s face, however she informed us of as many details as she could. She described him as having his eyes gouged out. His skin was pale and cold. What little hair he had was dyed black. She also claimed that various chunks of his face were missing and what was there was hideously deformed. The exact details of the deformities were something Galena could only describe as “beyond what words can convey” and “otherworldly.” Galena has not provided any further information since the aftermath of Log DM-002.
The following excerpt documents the eyewitness account of Galena Martínez of the tri-daily rituals that occur in The Dark Metro.
<BEGIN LOG>
Time: June 15th, 2019. Twelfth Hour of the Third day.
Recorder: Ex-M.E.G. Field operative Galena Martínez
Leading Mission Control Oversight: Underseer Thomas Verne
Location: The Railroad of The Dark Metro
3 low bell chimes can be heard in the distance, along with crowd chattering.
Galena: Okay, I’m at the Plaza. Can you guys see what’s happening?
Thomas: Yep, we’re all good Galena. Please be safe.
Galena: As long as I’m not the one who gets chosen, I’ll be fine. I tried to get a spot up front to see what’s happening. It may be difficult to hear over the really fricking loud train that’s really getting on my nerves.
The Dark Priest: Welcome, followers of The Dark Deity. You all are more than familiar with this ritual we must perform every three days, including our newest resident. May the angels and the fates grant you good fortune.
The Dark Priest can be seen reaching his hand into the box and pulling out a small piece of wood with a name burned into it.
The Shadows: (In unison) Lillian McKenna.
A scream is heard from within the crowd. The Shadows become animate and speed into the crowd, forcing out a screaming, crying woman.
Galena: Oh… poor girl. I hate to say it, but I’m just relieved it isn’t me.
Thomas: What are the entities doing?
Galena: She’s the chosen sacrifice to the deity. S-She isn’t coming back. This is just… ugh. I hate this. I hope I can find a way out soon. Did you guys get the photo from the video?
Thomas: Yep. I suggest you leave now. I don’t want you going anywhere near The Dark Metro, okay?
Galena: Err… No can do, Thomas. I don’t want those creepy shadow things chasing me. I’ll just keep my distance. Plus, we want to get video of the train, don’t we?
Thomas: (inaudible muttering can be heard from the Mission Control operatives) Okay then. Just please be careful.
Galena: I’ll be alright. I’ve already seen this from the distance multiple times, but this is my first time actually being a part of it. (Galena’s breathing can be heard getting heavier as she walks towards the railroad.)
The Dark Priest: Rejoice! For our powerful master has made its descent! Be still and steadfast, residents of darkness! Our day of mercy is upon us!
(The Dark Metro can be heard riding across the tracks and screeching to a halt.)
The Shadows: (in unison) Today our holy one has arrived! Today our holy one has arrived! Today our holy one has arrived! Today our holy one has arrived!
(They repeat this constantly)
Galena: Oh my word, do you guys see this? I’ve never seen The Da- it before. It’s… horrifying.
Thomas: Er… Galena, are you seeing something we aren’t? On our side, we see a singular car that looks almost identical to the regular metro, but with a black and grey color scheme and a broken headlight. Does that sound accurate?
Galena: (she is silent for a moment) Is the camera smudged? That is… not even close to accurate, Thomas.
Thomas: W-What?
Galena: It’s… not a regular train car at all. The “headlights,” if you can even call them that are cold, black eyes. I can see its small, white pupils moving around. They’re staring directly at the one chosen for sacrifice. It’s got… teeth or something below the eyes. There’s a big yellow light above the tinted black window, and the wheels are… oh my gosh…
Thomas: Galena, what is wrong with the wheels?
Galena: They’re dripping blood. They’re leaving a whole trail of blood along the tracks, actually. The inside looks relatively normal, but the seats have… (Galena lets out a yelp) they’re made of human skin!
Thomas: Holy… Galena, I think you need to get out of there right n—
Lillian: WAIT! STOP! IT SEES ME!
Thomas: Galena, what is happening? The camera is starting to go blurry.
Galena: What? No… What do you mean I’m next?
Thomas: Galena!
Galena: Thomas… It just ate her.
Thomas: Ate her? With the teeth? From our end, she just stepped in and froze. The camera is bugging out a lot, so it’s hard to tell.
Galena: No no no no. Not the teeth. Whatever’s happening on your end is wrong. She stepped in through the doors, and they shut. The only glimpse I got was her body being twisted and changed, before it-
The Dark Priest: Another life has fallen to the dark one! Its hunger is satiated! Our lives are safe for another three days! Thank you for your mercy, oh dark deity! Be still, oh people. Its mercy is our saving grace!
[Galena screams as the train turns in her direction and begins moving towards her off of the tracks. The train makes impact and all transmission is lost.]
Thomas: Galena! Holy… don’t die on me Galena… End this log, now!
<END LOG>
Conclusion: Galena’s body was found semi-conscious with severe injuries a few miles away from Base Gamma on Level 3. Injuries included broken ribs, internal bleeding, torn off chunks of skin, large bite marks, and black splotches all over her body. The splotches were assumed to be bruises originally, but doctors have been unable to identify what they are. They have since been dubbed “dark burns,” due to displaying physical similarities to 2nd degree burns. An image of one of the dark burns has been attached below with Galena’s consent. Galena was in hysterics and in stage 2 of the wretch cycle upon awaking from her coma, screaming about The Dark Metro. Notably, she also kept repeating the Latin words “Hodie salvator aparuit mihi” under her breath. She made a partial recovery, but her right arm had to be amputated due to the dark burns and bite marks. She has since left the M.E.G. and refused to speak of her time in the level. Whether or not what Galena saw was a hallucination from shock or real is currently unknown. Currently, this is the only direct study that has been performed regarding The Dark Metro as an entity.
The following log documents a consented interview between a townsperson and an M.E.G. operative. This is the only time a townsperson has been open to any sort of inquiry or discussion and has been attached for further comprehension of reading.
<BEGIN LOG>
Time: February 10, 2020.
Interviewer:M.E.G. Field Researcher Robert Mills
Interviewee: Resident of Enigmatic Level - “The Dark Metro,” Ariana Lee
Remotely Supervising Oversight: Underseer Thomas Verne
Location: One of the neighborhood houses of The Dark Metro
Robert: Okay, I’m recording this if that’s alright.
Ariana: S-Sure.
Robert: The only people here right now are myself and my overseeing superior who’s watching for purposes of research.
Ariana: Alright. What do you want to know?
Robert: First off, can I ask exactly how you got here?
Ariana: ‘Got’ here? (Ariana laughs) I didn’t realize this was a philosophical discussion.
Robert: What do you mean?
Ariana: Well, nobody knows exactly how we got here, we just are. I-
Robert: Pardon me for interrupting, but I was referring to how exactly you got here. To this level.
Ariana: Level?
Robert: Are you aware this domain shares a space with thousands of other realities and beings of unimaginable power?
Ariana: (She chuckles) Oh, I see. Well, it all depends on your religion or personal beliefs, I suppose. Though, I’ve never heard of the religion that believes in a multiverse.
Robert: So you were born here?
Ariana: Y-Yes? I’m sorry, I’m extremely confused. You’re a grown man, how have you survived this long without appearing at the rituals?
Robert: As am I. This opens a lot of new questions. What of your parents? Are they still here?
Ariana: … Well, my dad… He, uh. He couldn’t take the horror of the rituals anymore, and he… he isn’t with us anymore.
Robert: My condolences. And your mother, if I may ask?
Ariana: It chose her.
Robert: The Dark Metro?
Ariana: Is that what you call it? Weird. Most of us don’t dare speak its name. And we must never speak of the apostate.
Robert: Are you prohibited from doing so, or is it just a social taboo?
Ariana: I-I don’t know. But I don’t plan to find out any time soon.
Robert: Understandable. And, uh, what do you mean ‘apostate’?
Ariana: It’s why It is so angry. So hungry. Any light we shine reminds It of him. That’s why we use t-the red candles. Real light is against the law.
Robert: Interesting. And what happens if you break the rule and shine a flashlight?
Ariana: Well… I’m one of the few who witnessed it firsthand. Many years ago, I was at a slumber party with some friends, and we were playing truth or dare. Eventually someone was dared to light a match of real light. After a lot of peer pressure she did and the flame burned for only a moment. And…
Robert: What happened next?
Ariana: The house itself shook and started to crack. The roof started to cave in, the windows were shattering, and all the objects in the house started to fall and break. Then all of us heard… breathing. Loud, staggered breathing. It was distressed and upset. The breathing became screaming and sobbing. All of the neighbors ran out to see what was happening. Then The Shadows came and took her…
Robert: Is she still here?
Ariana: No. I haven’t seen her since. As for the house…
[Ariana glances out her window. Robert later reported seeing an empty patch of land seemingly missing a house in the row. He understood immediately what she meant.]
Robert: I’m sorry you must go through such heartache in this pit of suffering. That monster killed your parents, your friend… it’s disgusting.
Ariana: You’re bold speaking of It like that. The only being who’s ever managed to do anything to it was…
Robert: The apostate?
Ariana: Yes.
Robert: You don’t have to go into the nitty-gritty, but can you at least explain this ‘apostate’ a little more? Is he human?
Ariana: None of us know much. We’ve only been told by our parents not to speak of him, and they were told by theirs. All I know is that It was not pure evil once. There was another. They were happy and helpful. Light and dark, dream and nightmare, brother and brother, yin and yang. Together as one. But then their paradise was shattered one day for an unknown reason. Something… someone else made a mistake. And the bond between them was broken. The light no longer wanted anything to do with the dark, and their realities were separated in two.
Robert: Intriguing.
Ariana: I-It’s probably all just an old wives’ tale that’s been changed and lost in translation after it’s been whispered down the lane too many times. At this point, it’s so vague that it could honestly mean anything, if it’s even real. Nobody really knows what the light represents or what happened between them. It’s been forgotten to time.
Robert: So how do The Dark Priest and The Shadows play into this little light and dark tale?
Ariana: They’re… I don’t know. He’s been there forever, literally. My parents, grandparents, cousins, he’s been there since their births and deaths. Few have seen his face. My parents believed he was some sort of… proxy. A physical embodiment of Its thoughts. Others say he’s a man who went mad with power.
Robert: Have you seen his face?
Ariana: Thank the maker, no. But anyone who has always states that there is no possible way he is human. If he ever was, it’s all gone now. He most certainly does not act human. I’ve seen the way he moves, the way he looks into your soul, the way his cloak moves as if it’s a dark ball of fire.
Robert: And The Shadows?
Ariana: Same deal, pretty much. They are without a doubt inhuman. They don’t move and are as still as statues. But when they do, they flash in an instant. They only speak when prompted by the priest. The Dark Priest tells us to fear the light and to fear all that produces it. He says it offers us nothing and we are to take nothing from it. We are only to continue the cycle of sacrifice.
Robert: But like, aren’t you guys aware how wrong that sacrificing stuff is? I’ve seen the rituals. Nobody wants to be there, but you all say it’s for the greater good. I don’t understand. What stops you from launching a coup or something against the ugly old man and some physical shadows?
Ariana: Well first off… we’ve tried… The loss of life is not worth it. Plus,The Shadows could tear every person in this place limb from limb in milliseconds if they wanted to. But even without that, it’s not a bad thing. We do it by lottery so no one person is responsible. If not, all of us die. It’s noble, if anything.
Robert: But… you’re literally feeding people to some horrible beast. That’s screwed up. You don’t do that to people, it’s murder.
Ariana: M-Murder?!
Robert: Yes, you’re willingly taking the life of another. I remember when I was captured. All of you ran after me with looks of both fervor and fear. I’ve heard the stories. You all will stop at nothing to be certain your chances of sacrifice are lessened by even a fraction of a percent, and you call that noble?
Ariana: Yes! By doing this, we save the lives of others who would have died if we didn’t.
Robert: But you continue to bring people into the world who must endure the cycle themselves and statistically are near guaranteed to one day be chosen. That’s majorly screwed up for multiple different reasons.
Ariana: …
Robert: Are you telling me what It thinks or what you think?
Thomas: (To Robert) Move away from the subject.
Robert: Sorry for overstepping, Ariana. I’ll save the moral quarrels for another day.
Ariana: Thank you.
Robert: Now, can you tell me anything about The Dark Metro as it appears today? I was curious, as the details about its exact description and appearance are currently quite debated. We had an operative recently go crazy after seeing it.
Ariana: Oh… I think I remember her.
Robert: Do you know what happened to her? We’re trying to figure out exactly what effect caused such a breakdown.
Ariana: Effect? Oh, no. She hadn’t seen its true form yet. Visitors are graced with ignorance. Once they’re registered, It is made aware of your presence. It slowly talks to you like a viper without you noticing. She had been here long enough that its true appearance finally broke her.
Robert: Oh my. So why don’t the townspeople have a similar reaction?
Ariana: Why is a horror movie not scary after you watch it more than a once or twice? We’re used to it. She was not.
Robert: So what exactly is It?
Ariana: It’s… I can’t explain it. Whatever you call it, The Dark Metro, is based off of your false idea of what It looks like. It’s beyond indescribable, a mangle and amalgam of torture and suffering, a deistic embodiment of pure wrath, a loathsome behemoth past what words can convey… I…
[Ariana suddenly starts crying]
Robert: Would you like a minute?
Ariana: I need you to leave…
Robert: I understand. I apologize for-
Ariana: One final word, though. Your little group has no idea what they’re dealing with.
Robert: Excuse me?
Ariana: You all live in light. You all need it to survive. Enjoy it while you can. If It ever escapes Its prison… it will be pure bedlam.
Robert: What?
Ariana: Please leave.
[Ariana forcefully pushes Robert out of her house, slamming the door in his face. No further inquiry was attempted.]
<END LOG>
Conclusion: Ariana Lee has refused to speak to any M.E.G. operative since this occasion. For ethical reasons, no further attempts to interview her are permitted. Robert Mills was reprimanded for his behavior, but The M.E.G. hopes to conduct another interview with a different townsperson soon. Verne and other high-level members of The M.E.G. have been unable to decipher her words to the point of full understanding. Despite Ariana’s warning, research will continue until most, if not all, questions are answered.
A thousand years of screams and tears.
The Darkness never stops its terror.
It knows our screams, our names, our fears.
The Light slowly fades to its scarer.
Author
The original author of this entry is an unknown Reddit User
Rewritten by 
Natedagreat563
Author Page
Credit to 
Bart0nius for writing the rough draft for that letter paragraph in chat and letting me use it.
Licensing
“The Dark Metro” by Natedagreat563 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Image Sources:
"Pasila #1" by rintakumpu is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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"Black lightning" by threefingeredlord is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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"Great Expanses of Asphalt" by cogdogblog is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Bloody Paper texture by Darkmoon_Art is licensed under the Pixabay license
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Cathedral photo by Chad Greiter is licensed under the Unsplash License
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"Church Bells" by shioshvili is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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“Dark Tunnel” by Discord user WayZ#2174 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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"My Bruised Bicep (Right Arm)" by The Roaming Picture Taker is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Dark Priest photo by mahdi rezaei is licensed under the Unsplash License
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Shadow Photo by mahdi rezaei is licensed under the Unsplash License
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Train feed photo by Raymond Wong is licensed under the Unsplash License
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"at Los Globos" by wisley is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Any edits were done by me.
