Entry 734: Initial Observation
The first registered observation. Timestamp: 14:27:11. Designated Sector Gamma-9. Subject: A localized area exhibiting a consistent, pale blue luminescence. The air felt…attenuated. Not absent, merely… thinner. As if attempting to escape. There was a faint, metallic tang, like old coins submerged in rainwater. I noted a distinct lack of insect life. This, coupled with the luminescence, suggested a fundamental disruption of the atmospheric equilibrium. I attempted to take spectral readings, but the instruments consistently returned erratic data. The luminescence intensified momentarily, accompanied by a brief auditory hallucination – a single, sustained note, reminiscent of a muted cello. I logged the event as potentially linked to the “Shift.”
Entry 812: The Echoes
Further investigation into the “Shift.” The luminescence is now consistently observed during periods of heightened atmospheric pressure. It appears to resonate with subterranean tremors. I’ve begun to record what I term “Echoes.” These are not audible in the conventional sense. They are… impressions. Fragments of thought, emotions, and visual data coalescing within my consciousness. They are overwhelmingly melancholic. Recurring images of vast, empty landscapes, perpetually shrouded in this blue light. I believe the Bleachground is a repository for lost memories, not just of individuals, but of entire epochs. The notes I’ve transcribed from the lower levels – the ‘Stilled’ – speak of a time before the Shift, a time of immense technological advancement and horrifying artistic expression. They describe structures of impossible geometry, fueled by… something. I'm hesitant to elaborate. The information feels… destabilizing.
Entry 951: The Cartography
I’ve developed a rudimentary mapping system based on the ‘Echoes.’ The Bleachground doesn’t appear to be a static entity. It’s… flowing. The luminescence shifts, expands, contracts. The mapping is imprecise, but I've identified recurring patterns. Certain areas seem to attract ‘Stilled’ individuals – those who have been caught within the Bleachground’s influence. They don't seem to recognize me. They are frozen in moments of intense emotion, perpetually reliving their final experiences. I attempted to establish a persistent connection, hoping to understand the mechanics of the Bleachground. I was met with a wave of pure, unadulterated terror. It’s as if the Bleachground itself is aware of my presence, and it doesn't wish to be studied. The data logs from the last few days are corrupted. Significant portions are simply… missing. I believe I was observed.
Entry 1017: The Key
I’ve discovered a recurring symbol within the ‘Echoes’ – a spiral contained within a square. It appears in the architecture of the ‘Stilled’ structures, etched onto their clothing, even imprinted onto the very air. I believe this is the “Key.” The Stilled, it seems, were attempting to manipulate the Bleachground, to control its expansion, to… return to something. I've started experimenting with resonance frequencies based on the symbol. The luminescence fluctuates. There’s a feeling of… invitation. I’m increasingly uncertain about the purpose of this archive. Is it to document the Bleachground, or to become another fragment within it? The lines are blurring. I'm recording this entry with a growing sense of dread. The metallic tang is stronger. The silence is deeper.