Level 997

Level 997 is the 998th level of The Backrooms, and the antepenultimate level of Cluster I.
==Description==
Level 997, also referred to as the "Vaporwave Mall Complex", is a near-endless dead mall. The walls are mostly white, and the floor tiles form interesting retro patterns. The level is entirely still and devoid of most of the ambience one would expect to hear within a mall. The only sounds are ones produced by the wanderer, and speakers playing vaporwave music across the whole level, despite other machinery that normally produces sound being present. The plants on this level can range from what one would usually find in a mall, to potentially deadly ones such as giant Venus fly traps. In addition, some plants have not been identified thus far.
This level has an abundance of neon lights, being its defining characteristic. They can be virtually any colour, however the most common ones are purple and yellow. They are the main source of light within the level. One can also come across large areas of the level devoid of any light, which are hotspots for various entities and are therefore unrecommended to enter. These are referred to as "Dark Zones". However, these areas do tend to have more supplies than usual. Therefore, if one is prepared to fight, exploring these Dark Zones could prove to be beneficial.
The stores on this level have bright neon signs, as well as posters saying things along the line of "CLOSING SALE" and "50% OFF". Many stores, however, do not contain any products or are completely barren. Stores that do contain products do not require any form of payment - wanderers are able to take products as they wish. It should also be noted that stores will restock from time to time. There is currently no rational explanation for how this happens.
Level 997 is split into three floors, which wanderers can travel between via the occasional escalator (which, as previously mentioned, are strangely silent despite their functionality). Elevators are present within the level, but they lack buttons and are therefore useless, being merely stationary metal compartments. Wanderers will always enter the level from the third floor, which is the safest of the three floors. Most stores on the third floor are closed, or are empty. The second floor is comparable to the third, except entities are more abundant. In addition, wanderers can find stores which still have products more frequently. The first floor has the most supplies, but is also by far the most dangerous due to the abundance of Dark Zones.
==The Neon Light Effect==
Staying under a neon light for long enough can cause various effects on wanderers, however the effect the wanderer receives is entirely dependent on the colour of the neon light. These effects can range from being extremely beneficial, to being very harmful. The time it takes for the effects to set in is estimated to be around 30 minutes - 1 hour. The longer the wanderer has stayed under the light, the longer it takes for the effects to wear off. All light sources native to Level 997 are colored; purely white lights are never present. A table of the effects is provided below:
Colour of Light	Effect 	Threat Index (0 is least harmful, 5 is most)
Red 	Fills wanderers with an intense bloodlust. 	4
Orange 	Makes wanderers more lethargic. 	1
Yellow 	Makes wanderers more energetic, acting as the total opposite of the orange lights. 	0
Green 	Slowly heals any injuries wanderers have received. 	0
Cyan 	Induces a paralyzing fear into wanderers. This can potentially drive a wanderer insane.	3
Blue 	Puts negative and potentially harmful thoughts into a wanderer's mind. 	2
Navy Blue 	Induces suicidal thoughts into the wanderer. This is very hard to overcome. 	5
Purple 	Greatly increases a wanderer's perception of time. 	1
Magenta/Pink 	Makes wanderers feel more relaxed and calm. 	0
==Sub-areas==
Various extra sections of the level, called "sub-areas", have been documented as well. These sub-areas vary heavily in safety, and can sometimes be the most dangerous areas of the level.
===The Neon Section===
The Neon Section is considered to be one of the safer sub-areas of Level 997. It is characterised by an abundance of neon lights compared to the rest of the level. In this section, the music is louder and the level feels more open. It should be noted that neon lights of blue and pink appear here far more often than any other colour. The Neon Section is not limited to 3 floors, but can extend infinitely upwards and downwards. Therefore, it is easy to get lost in this sub-area.
Some believe the Neon Section shares a connection with Level 399, due to them reportedly hearing the music one can hear in said level off in the distance. Despite this, no entrance to the level has been found as of now. There is still more evidence to support this theory, such as toppled over arcade machines being found in neglected corners of the sub-area, and faded posters depicting Level 399 scattered randomly.
Overall, this is the safest of the 4 sub-areas.
===The Night Section===
The Night Section is a moderately dangerous sub-area of Level 997. In this sub-area, the level is significantly darker, making it appear as if it is night time. All external light sources break instantly upon entering this sub-area, leaving the neon lights as the only remaining light source. Architecture wise, it is identical to the main level. The music is much more faint than usual, and all stores are closed.
It is possible this is an area of Level 997 partially affected by The Flicker. However, there is not much evidence to support this theory, as the neon lights still work. Due to this, many believe that another external force has caused the existence of this sub-area.
The only hazard present in the main area of this sub-areais the occasional Duller. However, in the deeper zones of this sub-area, the neon lights will start to malfunction. This area is called "Blackout". In Blackout, entities are far more common, with species such as Smilers being reported. In addition, the entities will usually travel in packs to catch any unfortunate wanderers easier. DIsregarding Blackout, this sub-area is easy to survive. Due to the presence of Blackout, it is advised to not venture too deep into the sub-area.
=== The Desolate Section===
The Desolate Section is an extremely dangerous sub-area of Level 997. In this section, the mall is significantly damaged and in a state of decomposition. Many sections of this sub-area go without light, and some sections are completely blocked off by rubble. Regarding the stores, many of them have been completely emptied of all products. Additionally, it is inadvisable to consume any remaining products in this sub-area, due to the possibility of them being expired, and/or having dangerous side-effects.
There is no music in this area, with the only sounds being ones that the wanderer themselves makes. This section is also infested with various types of entities, making it easy for them to hear any nearby wanderers. Additionally, there is a level exclusive entity known as the Ceiling Mimic. It will disguise itself as a portion of the ceiling, and drop down on unsuspecting wanderers, crushing them in an instant.
In conclusion, no wanderer should ever step foot in the Desolate Section, due to the numerous environmental hazards and entities.
===The Mall Basement===
Below Level 997, a 4th sub-area called The Mall Basement can be found. It is vastly different from the main level and the other three sub-areas architecture wise. It takes the form of various gray rooms with seemingly no purpose. For example, some rooms may have supplies randomly scattered, while others are strangely shaped for no reason. The walls occasionally have graffiti on them, and chunks of them may even be destroyed. The music of Level 997 can still be heard, but very faintly.
In this sub-area, entities called The Mannequins will attempt to stalk the wanderer. They will try and convince the wanderer that they can only move when not being looked at, however after following this rule for a while, they will suddenly break the rule and give chase. This entity can reach a top speed of 35 mph (15 m/s), so it is recommended to use ranged weapons if it is necessary to kill one. However, killing one will alert all nearby Mannequins. Occasionally, one will take a detour to lure the wanderer into a false sense of security, before appearing minutes later.
The only way to enter this sub-area is to pry open an elevator door in the main area to access the elevator shaft. Then, one must drop all the way down. It should be noted that wanderers can only leave The Mall Basement by entering another level.
==Entities==
As previously mentioned, Level 997 is home to various entities, some of which remain unidentified to this day. While it does have some common species of entities, such as Smilers or Skin-Stealers, the level houses multiple new types of entities.
===Ceiling Lurkers===
*Habitat: Desolate Section
A Ceiling Lurker appears as an insect like creature, with 3 horns along its back. It has a sticky substance on its belly which allows it to stick to the ceiling. It will usually hide in the ceiling of the Desolate Section, and wait for an unsuspecting wanderer to pass. Then, it will start rapidly vibrating, which will cause the ceiling to fall, and crush wanderers underneath. However, if this fails, the Ceiling Lurker will be unable to retreat back up into the ceiling and will die.
Overall, Ceiling Lurkers do not present much of a threat if one knows how to avoid them. To avoid a Ceiling Lurker attack, do the following:
* Look up.
* Run as soon as a piece of the ceiling starts shaking/vibrating.
=== The Mannequins ===
* Habitat: The Mall Basement
The Mannequins, as previously mentioned, are malevolent entities that attempt to stalk wanderers who enter the Mall Basement. They also attempt to convince wanderers that they follow a specific set of rules (e.g: moving when the wanderer is looking away, or not being able to go through doors). However, after a Mannequin has stalked a wanderer for long enough, it will suddenly break said rules and start chasing wanderers.
Overall, the goal of The Mannequins is to kill the wanderer by lulling them into a false sense of security, then striking suddenly.
== Survival Guide ==
For a wanderer to survive in Level 997, they should do the following:
# Immediately gather necessary supplies. Supplies such as rope, traps and weaponry are absolutely essential to survive in this level. They can occasionally be found in run-down stores, usually in dark zones.
# Only enter sub-areas if prepared. With the exception of Neon Zones, all sub-areas are quite dangerous. One should only enter these areas after gathering supplies.
# Stay away from lower floors unless supplies are needed. Due to the high amount of Dark Zones on these lower floors, it is recommended to stay away from these. However, they can be used to gather supplies.
== Entrances and Exits ==
=== Entrances ===
==== Confirmed Entrances ====
These entrances are confirmed to exist within the levels they reside in.
* A submerged escalator going downwards, found in Level 699.
* A door placed randomly in Level 33, adorned with neon lights.
* A rainbow door in Level 179 with various neon signs placed around it. This door can only be found deep into the level.
==== Unconfirmed Entrances ====
These entrances are just rumours, with no real proof of their existence.
* A seemingly unreachable neon room in Level 2. A rope/ladder is required to access this entrance if it exists.
* Simply walking far enough along Level 154's train and no-clipping into the floor.
=== Exits ===
==== Confirmed Exits ====
These exits are guaranteed to exist, and will likely always work.
* Finding a food court, and attempting to order from a restaurant called "Ice Cold Ice Cream" will lead one to Level 329.
* A strangely placed door in The Mall Basement leads to a variety of levels. Recorded levels are:
** Level -32
** Level -9
** Level -4
** Level -1
** Level 3
** Level 26
** Level 129
** Level 888
* Noclipping anywhere in a store called "Delta's Emporium" leads to Level Delta.
* Noclipping into a blue neon light leads to Level 998
==== Unconfirmed Exits ====
These exits are mysterious, and may not work or even exist.
* No-clipping in a fountain will lead to Level 583.
* Accessing the vents and crawling through them until they get too small to crawl through leads to Level 2.
* Finding a flooded portion of the mall and going as far down as possible leads to a hole. This hole leads directly into Level 37.
Category:Levels
Category:Cluster I
Category:Safe
Category:Dangerous