Liquid Pain

A secured sample of Liquid Pain held at the Challenger Deep Research Facility

Liquid Pain is a highly dangerous substance discovered within the Backrooms that gained widespread notoriety following its deployment by City in the Rain (2027). Created through a complex process of combining Cashew Water, and Royal Rations, this viscous crimson fluid exhibits unique properties that blur the line between physical and psychological effects on human subjects.

Properties and Composition

Liquid Pain manifests as a deep crimson fluid with a consistency similar to maple syrup, though its viscosity can vary depending on ambient temperature and proximity to certain Backrooms entities. The substance emits a faint phosphorescence under ultraviolet light and produces a subtle humming sound at frequencies just below human hearing threshold. When exposed to air, it releases a barely perceptible sweet aroma that survivors have described as "reminiscent of childhood memories they never actually had."

The exact chemical composition of Liquid Pain remains poorly understood, as conventional analysis equipment tends to produce contradictory or impossible results. Research conducted at the Challenger Deep Research Facility suggests the substance exists in a state of dimensional flux, simultaneously occupying space in both the Backrooms and our reality. This unique property makes it particularly effective as a catalyst for entity transformation and consciousness alteration.

Historical Development

The first documented instance of Liquid Pain's creation occurred during Dr. Malkinson's early experiments in Level 11's lower laboratories. Initial attempts to synthesize the substance resulted in several catastrophic failures, including the infamous Pain Entities.

Recovered laboratory equipment from Dr. Malkinson's original Liquid Pain synthesis facility

Dr. Malkinson's breakthrough came after discovering that the combination of Almond Water and Cashew Water created a stable base that could capture and crystallize emotional trauma. By introducing Royal Rations as a catalyst, he successfully developed a method to distill pure suffering into liquid form. The process required precise environmental conditions that could only be achieved in specific locations within the Backrooms, making large-scale production impossible without extensive infrastructure.

Effects and Applications

The primary effect of Liquid Pain exposure varies significantly depending on dosage and administration method. Small amounts typically induce intense emotional responses, forcing subjects to relive their most traumatic memories while simultaneously experiencing the pain of others who have previously been exposed to the substance. This creates a cumulative effect where each new victim adds to the collective suffering contained within the liquid.

Long-term exposure, as demonstrated in the case of Cindy Reynolds, leads to profound physiological and psychological changes. The substance gradually rewrites neural pathways, making subjects more susceptible to influence from Backrooms entities, particularly the Partygoers. This process culminates in what Dr. Malkinson termed "dimensional resonance," where the victim becomes capable of existing simultaneously in multiple levels of the Backrooms.

Role in The Backrooms Trilogy

Liquid Pain played a central role in the events of City in the Rain, serving as both a tool of transformation and a metaphor for inherited trauma. Dr. Malkinson's systematic dosing of Cindy Reynolds throughout her time in the Backrooms represented one of the most methodically cruel acts depicted in the trilogy, leading to her eventual transformation into the Party Queen.

The substance's ability to bridge dimensional barriers made it instrumental in Dr. Malkinson's ultimate plan to merge the Backrooms with our reality. By creating a network of Liquid Pain-infused individuals, he attempted to establish what he called "pain anchors" that would serve as focal points for dimensional collapse.

Containment and Safety Protocols

Following the events of City in the Rain, the Major Explorer Group (M.E.G.) established strict protocols for handling Liquid Pain samples. All known quantities are stored in specially designed containment units that incorporate materials from multiple Backrooms levels, creating a dimensional buffer zone that prevents the substance from affecting nearby personnel.

The Dimensional Containment Protocol requires at least three trained observers to be present during any handling of Liquid Pain, as the substance has demonstrated an ability to alter reality more effectively when unobserved. All personnel must undergo regular psychological screening and maintain high levels of emotional stability to prevent resonance with the stored samples.

See Also

• Party Punch
• Beast of Level 5
• Pain Entity Protocol
• Dimensional Resonance Theory

References

• M.E.G. Substance Classification Database (2028)
• "The Malkinson Papers: Collected Research Notes on Backrooms Chemistry" (2029)
• Challenger Deep Research Facility Containment Protocols v7.3
• "Understanding Dimensional Substances" by Dr. Sarah Chen (2027)