The corridor seemed to close in around you, dark and crowded; it reeked of gunpowder and burning metal. Rugged guards surrounded you as you followed your father up to another exit. There was a long stairwell in front of you lit up by a line of ceiling lights that dimly lit the dark stairwell. You could hear the roaring jet above you waiting for you to begin your father's so-called mission. He had made his intentions of this 'mission' very clear as well as your role very clear. You were only to watch, participate only as far as to show him where you saw SCP-035. Your father had repeated to you many times that he wanted you to be close. Interacting with any potentially dangerous anomalies were again out of the question. Even with SCP-049, your father seemed weary. Then again, that was for good reason. SCP-049 was not someone to be messed with.

No matter how comfortable you had begun to feel around him. It was something that you found yourself mulling over in your mind. A war waging inside you, fighting with the decision to trust or not to trust him, it was something that you again decided to suppress for the time being. Holding it inside until you had the time to settle the waves.

Your eyes traveled up to your fathers back. His black suit was straight and sharp as he walked with confidence. Now that you thought about it you were surprised how easily your father gave into having SCP-049 take the role as your 'bodyguard' so to speak. As much as he seemed to worry for your safety. You guessed that SCP-049's mannerisms most likely had something to do with that, as his usual docile and calm nature worked in his favor in this situation. You pulled your jacket closer to yourself, something that you were instructed to wear instead of the usual lab coat because it was cold.

The sound of clanking metal whispered from behind you, a small sound rising over the roaring jet just beyond the doorway. Glancing back, your eyes tailed over SCP-049's chains, even if he was wearing a collar, for transportation it was still safer to keep him restrained just in case. You had mixed feelings about them as well. You were thankful for the restraints, not as you once were, but in this situation you were from the fact that physically he and everyone else would be safer. Although in some strange way you also began to dislike them. Seeing them as something that restrains someone who now felt like a person to you. More so than he ever had.

And now he was going to be going to Andset with you. That idea made your thoughts pause for a moment. In fact, the more you pondered that the more you questioned your father's intentions. Taking an SCP out into civilization? How was that supposed to work? The moment people witness an SCP or many SCPs, wouldn't that result in mass hysteria? If they even had a clue about SCP's. Wouldn't that do more harm than good? But that was also assuming that the people of Andset hadn't already seen an SCP. It was definitely possible since they were closest to site 19 and would probably be the first to be affected if something were to happen. Sure, it was true that you were only bringing SCP-049 and he could potentially pass as human in the worst case scenario. You hoped at least.

You felt a chill run down your spine. Just knowing that there was a possibility that the city had already met an SCP by now. The city was only a few hours away from the foundation, an SCP wouldn't have to travel very far before they hit it. It was still unlikely saying that an SCP would have to get past the MTF, Ninetailed foxes, and your father. But then again, SCP-035 did. Although you were still uncertain as to how.

Your mind wandered to the thought of an SCP escaping. It set off a dark feeling inside as it crawled up inside your chest. Causing your heart to pound and your stomach to twist at the thought of what kinds of destruction that could cause. That nearly any SCP could cause. Even if they weren't violent, it could end badly. The thought of potential mass hysteria from people finding out how many things in this world are actually real.

With that fact lingering in the back of your mind, you looked forward through the guarded corridor to the stairs leading to the outside world. An uncomfortable buzz began in your heart. It had been so long since you had been outside. As in actually in the outside world as opposed to an alternate reality. As SCP-860 was.

Your eyes widened as a guard unlocked the door leading to the rooftop. Releasing you back into the outside world after months of nothing but being trapped inside grey walls and the mansion.

You couldn't help but take in a deep breath after you left the stairwell. Out on top of the facility it felt freeing in a way. A place where you could breath even if there were guards on either side of you.

The top of the building was large and a light almost cream color with a short lip surrounding you. You were high enough to see a split second as to where you were. But unfortunately all you could see were the tops of trees and a bright blue sky up above with little to no indication as to where you actually were.

It gave you both a sense of freedom and restraint as even while you stood outside of the facility you were still held tightly in your father's clutches. As was SCP-049, who had already been led to quickly board the back of the jet. Disappearing inside a heavy silver door leading to what you could only imagine to be another containment chamber. Something that you were both concerned and thankful for. Yet another contradiction lingering in your mind. As your thoughts traveled to worrying for SCP-049's safety, yet you stayed thankful that everyone else's safety could be assured.

Not that the majority of the people here needed your concern. Judging by the ridged and scarred faces of most of the guards, they seemed very capable of taking care of themselves. They were intimidating that was for sure. Intimidating enough to lead you to worrying more for SCP-049 again. Even if deep down you knew he was capable of taking care of himself, you still allowed yourself to be there just in case.

___

Loading up on the jet you were met with a well furnished interior. White walls and cushioned seats with brown accent lines traveling across the top and bottom of the jet walls. There were tables sat in front of each row of seats each decorated with silverware, porcelain bowls and glass cups. It was warm inside. It's walls and floors had white smooth paint and the floor was covered in dark wood until you reached an entertainment area. Where a large flat screen TV sat.

You made your way through the entrance and ventured past all the tables and into the entertainment room. Your eyes trailing across a long shelf holding up rows of books. Some were new to you while most others you had read before. A few guards could be heard boarding behind you. Tailing in after a heavy cane whose owner you already could assume.

Your eyes glanced towards the room in the lower end of the jet. You had assumed there was going to be safety precautions from bringing SCP-049 or any SCP for that matter. He was placed in the back room locked inside a cage until he would be needed again. You understood, but at the same time you caught yourself fidgeting at the reality that every guard in here was equipped with a remote. Each armed and itching to fire. It made you uncomfortable to think about, as your mind was quick to imagine all of the worst possible situations. However, you were quick to push those thoughts aside, trying to keep yourself thinking positively.

You made yourself turn back to the rows of books to do so. Keeping your mind preoccupied until you needed to think about things like that.

"I see that you found my collection."

Your father was quick to sit down on the couch, seated in front of a coffee table. Setting his cane to the side. He gestured to the rest of the long couch inviting you to sit down.

"Oh. Yea." you sat down shifting yourself over the cushion. It was softer than you thought it would be as you sunk into the couch slightly.

"It's not all I have either, I'll have to show you back at the facility."

You smiled slightly at his offer. Normally you would jump on the opportunity, but you weren't sure what your father had in mind was something you wanted to see.

____

"You remember what you are to do right?" He repeated himself once more. A question he had brought up repeatedly throughout the flight.

"Yes.. But-"

"You need me to go over it again? Which part are you unsure of?"

You shifted in your seat. Pulling your jacket sleeve to rest further down your arm.

"I brought your journal if you need it."

You shook your head. "No, but that's just it."

"You seem very confident in this..." You began, your father raised his brow at your question as he poured himself a drink.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Your lips pressed together as you traced the smoothed corners of the table in front of you.

"Well, it is something that is debatable in accuracy."

"Did you write down the inaccurate information? As in were you uncertain or dishonest about what you saw?"

"Well no. But that isn't what I'm getting at.".

"So, you don't believe it is accurate?"

You hesitated before you replied. You believed that your information was accurate, and in the world you lived in you believed it was possible for someone to possibly see into the future. Believing something beyond your understanding, human understanding at least. Your brow furrowed up at your father. You believed it possible but this talk... This confidence. It was coming from a man who insisted that you back everything you say, everything you think and feel with evidence of some sort. Forcing you to find some kind of argument to even have a chance at having an opinion worth being heard.

And even now that you know SCP's exist still, in most cases you feel alone in your ideals. Particularly in your field of work. And especially when speaking to your father. In fact, his disbelief and rejection of any anomaly without evidence may be partially why he had it in his mind the urgency to control them.

"Well I guess what I am really saying is I'm surprised you are so certain about something we have no real proof of."

"Well perhaps I have changed. A lot has happened since I left."

You pressed your lips together at him. That feeling of a reopened wound resurfacing in your heart.

"Or maybe it is something I am experimenting with?"

"So, you are just experimenting?" you asked, feeling even more uncertain about the idea.

"I wouldn't call it just experimenting, (Y/N). I have plenty of reasons to want to explore this possibility.

"But that is none of your concern." He stated before you could reply.

"Ok..." You began your brow furrowing. "Why not?"

He raised one brow at you, obviously irritated by your question. Looking to the side he seemed to debate before continuing.

"There are some things you do not need to know (Y/N)."

Your stomach pinched at his reluctance to explain. He has told you so much already but now you sensed that what he had told you is only the tip of the iceberg.

"So you are going with me to reenact what I did in my dream?"

"Oh no. Well yes but no. I won't be going.

"Oh?"

"That is why I ensured you had plenty of security. That's why I brought that SCP to go with you. And a few of my men will be accompanying you." he explained.

"So yes, you will be 'reenacting' in a sense but not with me. Not in person at least," he looked over to you apparently interpreting your inquisitive eyes as concern.

"But no need to worry, (Y/N)! You will have one of my best men with you. He will not only ensure my plan is carried out, but your safety as well. It will be as if I'm there with you." He smiled as he pat your head. You bit your cheek, keeping yourself from cringing at his gesture. He treated you as if you had not aged a day since he left. As if you were still 9 years old.

"Yeah, I'm sure it will be."

____

"Beginning departer towards Andset city."

You lifted your head at the sound turning back towards the group of scientists seated behind you. One caught your eye. Hadley sat on the left side of the jet, her blonde hair trembling as she stared out her window. Your brow furrowed as an anxious sensation in your gut began. Something felt wrong.

You listened to your gut and stood. Ignoring the confused glance from your father as you made your way over to her seat. Your breath caught in your lungs when you got to her window; she barely reacted when you sat down next to her in the booth.

The world fell silent around you. Even the sound of the voices around you began to dull as you stared through the tinted window. Your lips pressed tightly together and your eyes studied the ruble before you... Was this?... It had to have been. It was close to flat, nearly all the large buildings that once stood high now only held rows of stronger buildings. Surrounded by rubble and ash. The city that once was beautiful and proud now lay in a crumbled mess of rocks and dust. There were some walls and pale remnants of buildings still standing. Andset was far from recognizable.

A sharp knife found its way inside your heart and stomach. You leaned closer to the window placing a hand on the table beside you. That knife mercilessly twisted and stabbed into you as you searched for any sign of survivors. You couldn't find a thing. No movement other than faint pillars of smoke and ash rising from multiple remains of buildings. Pluming up large enough that you knew they couldn't be signs of life. They weren't man made fires. Your breathing felt weak in your throat, this was recent. The land was completely still aside from those smoke plumes. A faint gush of wind blew through. Blowing the dark ashy smoke to the side.

That knife in your heart seemed to stab through with its now serrated edges. You turned to the woman next to you. Your eyes ached as you turned towards her. She was frozen. Staring still at the rubble beneath you. Her face blank as if she had trouble responding to the scene before her. Swallowing, you gently put your hand on her arm, a tight thorn grasping at your chest as you watched Hadley's face contort into one that couldn't begin to express the terror she was experiencing. She looked towards you with wide eyes, her arm trembled beneath your hand as the jet began its descent.

"Damn." Your father mumbled. "We must have missed it." your head snapped back towards him. A boiling pit begins to surface in your stomach as he stared out at the same horrific scene.

His voice was disappointed at best. It kept your attention, away from the trembling woman beside you. His face was hard as he seemed to be clenching his jaw. For a moment you thought you caught a glimpse of remorse. As he closed his eyes, taking in a breath. It was short lived however, as the next thing you knew his posture changed. He held his head high and turned away from you. Passing by his embroidered, heated seats up to the front of the jet where Vincent and the other guards sat.

You felt that hint of surprise for his initial facade of concern. Though, it was quickly replaced with a feeling you could only describe as a deep, bitter acid melting through your veins.

You heard Hadley sniff beside you, her expression was dark. You opened your mouth only to close it. You couldn't find words. You felt your throat close.

"(Y/N)." you bit your cheek at his voice. Suppressing the emotion "Come now I need to make sure you know what you are to do now."

______

The landing was soft, and silent. The side conversations around you coming to a close as you arrived at the once busy city.

When you stepped off the jet you began to smell it. A stench that was like no other as it sent chills down your spine. The smell of burning flesh singed your nose as well as smoke and gasoline. It filled your nostrils as you stood unmoving facing the destruction. There were tracks on the ground. Deep and large they were scattered through the city's remains. Trees were splintered as they lay dying on the rigged grass floor. The line of toppled trees led to the city.

Whatever did this. It was gone now.

The soft grass dipped behind you as you stood. Catching your attention, you glanced back only to be met with a pair of golden eyes. You couldn't read them. Not fully at least. They seemed to hold their usual cold exterior, as if they were only yellow stones in his skull. They were still as they looked from you to the destruction before you. You had seen this look all too often from him. His cold expression seemed to falter a bit the longer you watched but not enough to be noticeable to anyone not paying attention. Months ago you would have seen this response as nothing less than apathy. But from what you had seen in the past month it was usually a mask. Something to cover everything he secretly held underneath.

"Oh my.." He finally spoke, his voice was hushed as he scanned the city.

Normally his reaction would spike a curiosity in you. But in this situation, you felt too heavy to do so. Your eyes trailed over the edge of the city, stopping at a pile You were quiet as you recalled your instruction from your father... Your stomach felt sick.

He insisted that he did not cause the breach, but you couldn't help but feel this was his doing. That he was responsible for this somehow. The way he looked when he first laid eyes on the destruction. He barely batted an eye.

Sure he seemed surprised it happened, but he didn't seem to care.

Your eyes drifted down to the ruined streets. Staring at a large, crushed car that now lay squashed inside what looked to be some kind of footprint.

There were so many people here once. You remember coming here a few times in your teenage years and once while you were working towards your PhD. There was a huge lab here. Accompanied by a bigger and much more beautiful library.

You had plans of going back there. But now it was gone. Up in flames and crushed to ruble.

You swallowed. Your mind pounding as you tried your best to stay strong despite the carnage you were seeing. Your heart ached, it was so... Still. The once bustling, sleepless city now was barely a shadow of its former self. Finally, a voice broke the silence as the last few people stepped off of the jet.

One of them, Vincent, was quick to step off and immediately go into a straightened pose. His arms at his side. He had an AK-47 strapped to his back as he shot you a stern glare.

"I hope you know where you are going, woman." He grumbled.

Your jaw clenched slightly at his tone. Though you instead chose to focus on what your father asked of you. Keeping that fresh in your mind to keep from the emotional stress building inside your chest.

Taking a step back you hesitantly turned away from the city. That heaviness continued to weigh on you as you stepped through the green grass. It was not as bright and beautiful as it was in your dream. It was bright but not to the extent you remember.

But that felt small, the less vibrant grass wasn't the fact that was creeping through your mind. The unnerving fact that was currently attempting to crawl up your spine. Was that every tree, rock, even the sticks on the forest floor were the same as in your dream. It was as if you had walked through here in your sleep.