Level 88 : "**Muted** Lake"

Addendum April 25th, 2025

An M.E.G. exploration log has been recovered recently. It can be found below.

Description

The Muted Lake is an eerily still, lifeless body of water that maintains a frigid temperature regardless of the warmth of the surrounding level. Further reports on the lake have documented a strange metallic smell emanating from it.

When within an, as of yet, unknown radius of the Muted Lake, as its name indicates, all forms of vocal communication become extremely difficult. The lake acts as a black hole of sorts for it, “siphoning” any sort of sound into its depths. Anyone who has lingered around the Muted Lake for extended periods of time has noted an acute loss of speech, with this partial or complete mutism lasting anywhere from several hours to several months. In rare cases, individuals developed aphasia-like symptoms or reported dreams in which their own voices were used against them.

If one is to submerge themselves in the water of the lake, vibrations under its surface have been described to affect the individual; in rare cases people have noted whispers and myriad other noises "to travel up their bodies," which has been ascribed to the vibrations. As one approaches the center of the lake, these whispers and ripping become louder and louder.

Submerging oneself entirely in the Muted Lake is strongly advised against, as their ears will be flooded with a cacophony of screeches, whispers, and miscellaneous noises all seeming to be sourced from the surrounding area.1

[BEGIN LOG]

Agent Bennete adjusts her body camera’s focus.

The camera jitters, before stabilizing.

Agent Bennete: There, finally.

Agent Bennete: I'm here to document one of the abandoned towns of Level 445.

Agent Bennete: Not sure why, but HQ sent me down to document their possible existence, and that’s all they said.

Agent Bennete: Conditions are currently standard for the level; the air is slightly chilly and moist, but no visual on any of the reported landmarks.

Agent Bennete advances through the forest, brushing past sparse foliage that covers the camera briefly.

Agent Bennete: I'm not exactly certain of what I'm looking for, but so far it seems as though someone could have trekked through this path at some point. The forest is much less dense — it gives me the vibe that someone has been here befo–

Agent Bennete is unable to complete her sentence. As visibility opens up and the foliage has been cleared, Agent Bennete adjusts the focus on her camera, revealing a large open lake.

Agent Bennete: …Alright, that’s new.

The sounds of scribbling can be heard off screen.

Agent Bennete: It is currently Thursday April 10, 2025 at 8:29 a.m., and I have visual of a new landmark i-

Agent Bennete’s voice is cut off.

Agent Bennete: I said, It is currently Thursday April 10, 2025 at 8:29 a.m., and I have visual of a new landmark i-

Agent Bennete: Alright… the hell is going on?

The sound of further scribbling can be heard.

Agent Bennete begins attempting to speak, her voice being cut off at infrequent intervals.

Agent Bennete: Sound appears to be pulled towards the lake area… I'll investigate further.
 
Agent Bennete approaches the lake, and upon reaching the shore she kneels down, taking three small glass jars from her bag, filling them with water.

Agent Bennete: Alright… that should be en–

Agent Bennete hesitates, before taking off her glove and putting her hand in the lake water.

Towards the edge of the frame, ripples can be seen spreading across the lake. Agent Bennete either does not notice or pays no mind to them.

Agent Bennete pulls her hand out of the water and pulls out her pen and notepad.

Agent Bennete: [It appears the closer I get to the water, the more potent the voice altering effects are. I’m not sure if it’s an effect of the water or the area itself. I’ll do some field testing and report my findings. Water is also unnaturally cold.]

Somewhere off screen a large splash can be heard. The camera jerks to the direction of the sound

Agent Bennete: [I don’t think I’m alone here.]

The camera jerks to the right, before Agent Bennete “dives” into the lake.2

Screeching, pleading, crying, and a plethora of other noises ensue as Agent Bennete attempts to swim to the surface.

The camera pans down, revealing a black, amorphous mass underneath Agent Bennete.

A mangled hand appears from the mass and grabs Agent Bennete’s leg.

Agent Bennete attempts to swim away but is dragged further down.

Agent Bennete’s camera becomes dislodged, but begins to float to the surface.

[END OF TAPE]

Note: This log was recovered by a passerby on the lake's shoreline. Agent Bennete is currently MIA.

M.E.G. Notice

In accordance with the discovery of this tape, Level 88 has been deemed uninhabitable. Avoid at all costs.