DISCLAIMER: There is more creepy SCPs in this chapter.

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Your footsteps echoed through the basement while you made your way over to SCP-049's containment chamber. You had your eyes on your hands. Your left hand burned slightly from the hot coffee forcing you to need to periodically switch between holding your case and the burning liquid.

You yawned, last night you had terrible sleep. Your body was exhausted but your mind couldn't rest. The events of yesterday infested your dreams along with the familiar bright yellow eyes. You bit the inside of your cheek slightly relieving the gaping anxiety flooding your stomach. You were going to have to face those eyes in real life in only moments. Your discomfort didn't end there. Hadley had not shown up for breakfast this morning, and neither did Kayden. These thoughts clouded your mind sending the world around you into a blur. You took a quick turn almost running strait into Dr. Ogami, "Watch it." He threatened shooing you to the side with the wave of his hand.

"I'm sorry" you said in a panic barely missing his wrinkled hand.

Dr. Ogami had never told you his name, for whatever reason. You only found out from one of the guards this morning on the way down to the basement.

You continued on to your desk setting down your coffee and preparing to read up on any recent developments with SCP-049. Your desk was facing the right wall, and right next to the glass.

Turning you studied the glass chamber beside you. If you reached out your arm you could easily touch it if you wanted to.

Movement caught your eye and before you knew it you made eye contact with the anomaly locked within the chamber. He was seated on his bed. His hands folded and resting on his lap. He studied you only for a moment before turning away to instead watch the corner of his cell.

A wave of discomfort enveloped you and you quickly turned back towards your desk. Your heart was racing. You had learned very quickly that SCP-049 had that effect on you. It made sense though. It's only natural to be uneasy around a creature who could turn on you without a moment's notice.

"What do you mean he's dead? How? What kind of idiot is responsible for this!?" You heard Dr. Ogami's voice boom from outside of the room.

Your head jolted back up and your body leaned back in your chair in hopes to get a glimpse of who he was talking to.

"Sir, please call down. We had a breach-"

"What are you talking about!? Wasn't that idiot supposed to check the chamber for any signs of damage!? Was he even doing his job!?"

"He was. That's what I'm trying to tell you. The cage was open. Someone or something let them out. The cameras cut off and the next thing you knew it was too late!" The man stood his ground yelling back at Dr. Ogami.

The room went silent. Questions flooded your mind finally you stood to see what was happening. You didn't recognize him but a large guard was the man talking to Dr. Ogami.

"I'm sorry. We don't know what happened, but like I said the cage looked as if it had been tampered with." He stopped looking to Dr. Ogami's face. "I know the two of you were friends. Dr. Gold will be working on him again later if you have anymore questions you can ask her."

Dr. Gold? Gold was Hadley's last name wasn't it? You had read and reread her name tag last night while you stayed with her for dinner. You could have sworn it said Gold. The pit deepened in your stomach. Was that what she was upset about? You could only imagine the horrifying results of a breach taking place here.

"Just move." Dr. Ogami shoved passed the guard heading for the elevator.

Standing up, you hesitantly took a step towards the guard, "is everything Ok?" You asked quieter than you had meant to.

He looked at you and shuffled slightly, "Well I suppose you're going to hear about it one way or another. A scientist, Dr. Kayden Todd was found to be a host of SCP-439."

"Kayden?" Your face fell.

"Yes ma'am, you knew him?"

"Kind of." You admitted taking in the information.

"I need to go now though, have a good day ma'am." He gave you a nod before heading towards the elevator himself.

You stood quiet for a moment, your eyebrows furrowed and stomach upset. You decided that you wanted to check on Hadley for lunch today.

------

You stopped by the lunchroom in hopes to find Hadley passing through, and as you assumed, there was no sign of her. You stepped back from the lunchroom in time to notice someone taking a sharp turn. You followed after them.

"Hadley?" You called from the end if the hall.

She stoped and looked back at you. She looked defeated. You hesitated, was this too invasive? Could you even help her in anyway?

"Erm. Nevermind. I'm sorry." You recoiled and started to retreat back.

"Wait!" She called after you stopping you in your tracks.

"You already know don't you?" She asked and continued after you nodded.

"Then it would be nice to not be alone. If it's not too much for you."

"Sure, I think I'll be ok." You followed after her again.

-----

She stayed silent most of the way. Leading you far into heavy containment.

"Um just making sure, I'm allowed to be here right?" You asked her glancing at all the guards that seemed to have tripled in numbers the farther you ventured.

"Yea, you're a level 3 right? They said I could bring another personnel to assist me and it was supposed to be Dr. Ogami, but he bailed on me last minute." She explained easing your nerves slightly.

Still Something ate at your stomach. You were never one to go against the rules. The thought of getting into trouble left you trembling with millions of butterflies attacking your stomach. It always had. Nevertheless, you took a deep breath and decided to trust Hadley.

The grey walls seemed to get darker and darker the further you traveled. The foundation felt so endless to you as if the hallways never ended, and the elevator could endlessly travel down. Your mind drifted to contemplating how this place was built and how many people had to have worked to create this facility. How old was this place? You knew it was at least 60 years old because that is about how long SCP-049 has been here. You shook the creature out of your mind. He had already plagued your mind enough.

Your attention returned to the present when Hadley stopped in front of SCP-439's containment chamber.

She walked in leaving the door open for you. You followed her and took in the scene. There were caution signs covering the far wall with a tightly sealed door separating the room you were in and the room containing the containment chamber. There was a sign nailed beside the door reading, "SCP-439 and Dissection room". There was only one armed guard stationed outside the door. He stood tall with his arms crossed, staring you down while you trailed behind Hadley.

"Hey Connor. She's with me," Hadley said seemingly aloof to his presence.

He gave her a questioning glance. "I don't think so. You were allowed to bring Dr. Richard Ogami with you. She was not okayed."

"Yes, I know and he never showed up. And I need extra help in there since.. Well my partner is unable to help." Her voice wavered as she forced out that last sentence.

The guard turned to you, "let me see your ID." You uncliped the card out from the outside of your lab coat and held it out for him to see.

He eventually stepped aside for the two of you to enter. "Don't make me regret this Dr. Gold," he grumbled.

The two of you walked through into a short hallway with another door close by. Hadley stoped for a moment and red lights illuminated the hallway. 'Decontamination process initiating' an artificial voice spoke through speakers above you.

You couldn't help but jump when the doors shut on either side of you and gas was expelled throughout the room. You were not completely sure yet what the gas was made from, it didn't burn your lungs but it always made your eyes water. Perhaps it was a highly diluted form of Chlorine Dioxide? Or a Chlorine Dioxide solution?

These decontamination chambers were relatively common in the foundation particularly in heavy containment. Even so the high pitched screech of the gas expelling throughout the room never failed to startle you.

The doors screeched back open letting you and Hadley into the next room. There was a trio of labeled doors and each required at least a level 4 key card to enter. Your gut tightened. Something didn't sit right with you about this.

Hadley opened a supply closet and pulled out a couple of large airtight bags. She handed you one and unzipped one for herself. You unzipped yours to find a light blue mask, gloves, goggles, hairnet and a gown to wear.

"Go ahead and put those on. It should keep you as safe as possible. Don't take any of them off until we are done, you understand?" She demanded her eyebrows raised.

You nodded and did as you were told. After the two of you were ready she unlocked the door labeled "Dissection Room" and went inside.

You followed her and inside it looked similar to the standard containment chamber with a large lab and a glass wall separating the lab from a room with only a few cupboards and a surgical light and tray sitting next to a silver table in the center of the room. There was a light cover over top of the table covering a large lump.

You followed her towards the glass. Hadley stopped before opening the door. Her expression was cold.

"Its days like these that I wish I was only a researcher like you." Her voice came out bitter. As cold as her exterior was your heart felt as if it could break from the hurt she hid behind her facade of apathy.

She led you inside and shut the door behind you two. She brought out several sterilized sharps and tweezers and set them down on the table next to the covered lump.

The silence was unbearable as she prepared for what ever procedure she was about to conduct. You stood awkward unsure of how to help, you debated on whether you should break heavy the silence.

"There's a couple of of containers in the closet over there. Bring them here please." She said pointing to the closet.

You brought over a couple of plastic containers in time for her to take a deep breath and pull back the blanket.

Your breath caught in your throat and the sound of plastic hitting the floor was muffled to your ears.

The man on the table was barely recognizable. Small white bugs scurried across his grey skin and into the small holes that covered his body. The holes reminded you of those awful photos of trypophobia. He was tucked into a fetal position with his hands covering his face.

You felt sick. The smell of death filled the room. You snuck a glance back at Hadley.

"Do You recognize him?" She asked.

"Umm." You studied his form. Another insect crawled out of his arm only to rush up to his neck. You shook your head. Fighting the urge to vomit.

"It- It was Kayden."

Your heart stopped. You could see it now. You recognized him.

"Hadley.. I'm so sorry." You whispered. You didn't know what to do. You knew that Kayden and Hadley had been friends. You even had suspicions that it might have been more than that at times from the way Chloe had talked about them.

She stayed quiet for a while. Avoiding the scene in front of her.

"Me too."

After another moment of silence she began her autopsy.

"This shouldn't have happened. These SCP's can only enter your body while you sleep."

You gave her a questioning glance.

"He was found like this in the Containment Chamber. Which also makes no sense. It takes these SCP's at least a week to get to this point. I just don't know."

She continued to talk in random intervals as she worked. She had cut into his side and placed a small tablet that was apparently enough to kill them.

While she worked you couldn't help but glance at Kayden's covered face. You watched his fingertips and something was not right, and your gut feeling wouldn't leave until you said something.

"Hadley. Is it just me or is his he moving?"

She stopped and watched him closely. As if on cue his index finger folded down closer to his face. Was that something the SCP's could do? Or-

Hadley immediately set her tools on the try you held out for her and ran up to his face. She gently moved away his hands to see his grey face. He had a couple small holes in his cheeks, but significantly less than the rest of his body.

"Kayden?" She asked.

Your heart broke for her again.

She reached out to his face and opened one of his eyes. The pupil adjusted to the light and his dark green eye slowly moved to look up at her.

You wanted to vomit again.

She gasped and moved away from him. "He's.." She couldn't finish.

You stared at him for a while. Your eyes burned and your stomach turned. He's alive.

------

You sat focused on the papers before you. You faught back the memories from earlier trying to forget Kayden's grey, infested skin, and pushing SCP-439 out of your mind. You could feel your skin crawl.

The tears that threatened to fall never stopped. Constantly forcing you to blink them back. Kayden didn't make it. There was no way he could have. SCP-439 had already got to his brain and ate away at the organ just like they had the rest of him.

You read through the papers until your reading turned into skimming. Your vision became blurry. You sat back in your chair and took a deep breath. It's over now. There's nothing you could have done to help. The black ink on the documents in front of you blurred into faded black stripes against a pure white paper. A lone tear got its way and escaped from your eye.

It was late now almost 11:00 no one was here other than the two stationed guards outside. The room was dark and silent with one of the only lights being a small lamp beside you.

The sound of a chair sliding against the floor made your breathing catch. You wiped the tears away a second time and looked into the direction of the noise. It came from behind the glass wall beside you.

You relaxed somewhat. SCP-049 was still awake as well sitting on the chair in the middle of his chamber next to the small metal table. He had his legs crossed and was scribbling in a journal. Apparently today he finally got his way and received an animal carcass to operate on. You were surprised that Dr. Ogami okayed it.

Your stomach squeezed with guilt. You should have been in here for that. Where you were supposed to be. You knew that you had to come back after helping Hadley, but you hadn't expected it to take so long.

You continued to read and reread documents. No matter how late it was you were wide awake, and after seeing Kayden like that you had completely lost your appetite. Tonight was going to be a long night.

"You're up late." A deep metallic voice rang from across the glass.

You turned towards the anomaly the shock evident in your face. He was generally silent especially when it came to the foundation's personnel, or at least according to his documents. You glanced at the clock it was 11:57 pm. You were going to regret this in the morning.

"Umm yes. Sorry." You said out of habit.

"You do not need to apologize,"

You sat awkward facing the glass. Unsure of what to do. At least the interaction had startled your tears away. For now.

"Umm, I'm not keeping you up am I?" You asked.

"No. No you are fine, doctor,"

You stayed silent for a while.

"I see that you got your animal carcass today,"

"Yes. Despite how long they had kept me from my work, the procedure was successful," he mused waving his hand around as he spoke.

You half smiled at his enthusiasm. At least one person had a good day today.

You could hear a quiet creek as he rested back into his chair. You looked between the papers in front of you and the creature beside you. You could feel your anxiety causing thumping deep in your chest. So taking some deep breathes, you tried to soothe your racing heart.

The two of you sat in silence for a while trying to think of anything to help forget the day you had. You started to think about home, and about your mother. How you wished she could just hold you and you could cry into her shoulder. You could almost feel her warm embrace. You needed that right now, you needed a shoulder to cry on. Nothing about this place is what you had expected, and there was very little happiness here.

----

Eventually, your eyelids began to fall and you couldn't fight off your yawns anymore. Last night you got horrible sleep and you didn't think tonight would be any different. You glanced at the clock again. It was already 12:45.

Absentmindedly you slipped the papers back into their folders and grabbing your case. Groggy you forced yourself out of the warm office chair that had made you contemplate sleeping where you sat. You shivered, the air was cold around you now, and your bed was all you could think of.

You were on your way out before you decided to stop last minute. Feeling guilty for leaving without a word. You turned back to SCP-049,

"Umm, goodnight. And I'll see you tomorrow." You said. Your voice was nervous but soft.

"Yes, Goodnight." His deep voice echoed behind you.

----

Your bed felt closer and closer as you made your way through the elevators and hallways towards your room. The halls were dead silent with nothing but the clanking of your footsteps against the grated floors. The same clanking came from behind you making you jolt. You searched around the hall for the source of the noise, but found nothing. It must have been a night guard walking around or it was just your imagination. Despite your reasoning chills still went up your spine and you found yourself speed walking to the apartments.

Before you knew it you were standing In front of your door, slipping inside and tightly locking the steel deadbolt and lock. You were grateful that they provided the apartments with at least this level of security. It couldn't protect you from everything, but from most things you could find in the SCP Foundation you felt safe.

It felt like no time at all for you to get ready and crash into your bed. Sleep came to you fast and before you knew it you had left your long, hard day behind you.

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Thank you for reading my chapter! I hope you guys liked it and I'm sorry I took a lot longer than usual to post. Finals had me so behind and life got in the way, but I'm hoping to post more frequently now!