Authors note: Hello everyone! I hope that you are all doing well. I was just going to write this note to say that I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to make! I hope that things start to calm down so I can get to writing more often again. So hopefully I can update sooner and get back into the swing of things! Thank you all for your patience and I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

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Your heart pounded as you watched Dr. Snow go down the empty elevator. Breathing just a little easier as a weight lifted from your shoulders. Taking in the fact that there were more people out there trying to stop your father as well as a possible solution.

You took a deep breath, calming your hopeful heart. A ding alerted you towards the elevator once more. This was relieving but before Dr. Snow left, he said something. A comment that resurfaced in your mind.

"You have seen it haven't you?"

Your brow furrowed as he turned back to you. His sapphire eyes flickering from you to the opening elevator.

"The basement?"

Your mind drifted back to the other day. The red button. It was the lowest level so you could only assume what he could be talking about.

"No.. He never took me there." You said, your curiosity rising at his uncertain stare.

"That figures."

"Is that where that button goes? The one marked red?"

He rubbed his neck. Glancing towards the elevator.

"It's our biggest problem (Y/N)."

"Our biggest?" you asked not wanting to believe what you heard.

He nodded, "If you get the chance, see for yourself. We have bigger things to worry about than singular SCP's being electrocuted."

You tugged gently at a strand of your hair. Staring at the now empty elevator. Your stomach ached. Dr. Snow had only just left but he left you with a deeper concern. Yes it was relieving that others were there standing with you but now you had something new. Somewhat new anyways. You were curious to where that red button led, but with SCP-106... you didn't think it was possible to access.

But now, it was empty. The off-white walls of the elevator stared at you. Only traces of SCP-106's residue remained in the corner of the cab. It was gone. You could only assume that your father was using SCP-106. You bit your cheek, concerned as to what purpose.

No matter the purpose, one thing was screaming at you. The elevator, it was free.

Your curiosity was killing you, only to be conflicted by a reminder of the possible consequences. You knew you were lucky last time you slipped away from your father. You were lucky he allowed you this much freedom. You turned away from the elevator and stepped towards the couch.

Slowly sitting down. Burying your face in your hands before looking back towards the elevator. You didn't think you wanted to know what could be a bigger concern than what you were already worried about. What could possibly be worse than what you had already seen? The SCP facility was silent, SCP's used, abused, and hundreds of lives lost in only the last week from this experiment alone. Pulling your hands from your face you turned back to the stained elevator walls. Tempting you, as well as causing your heart to pick up.

If you decide to check. Just to see. You could be caught. If there are guards down there or SCP-106 returns- or worse. If your father was down there. That would be detrimental to his already waning trust in you. But at the same time, something inside you couldn't help but know what was going on. Why he was so secretive about an entire level of the facility to the point that he did what he could to ensure you wouldn't even see it. Nor think anything of it.

But if you ignored it, you felt that ignorance of something Dr. Snow was so concerned about was not something you wanted to chance. After all, knowledge is the only thing that will keep you alive. You hesitated even after remembering this quote. It felt like either a death trap or a punishment waiting to happen. If there were cameras or SCP's down there... but if you were careful just maybe you could understand more of what your father had up his sleeve. To prepare yourself for the future.

Taking a deep breath, you pushed up against the soft couch, turning towards the elevator with shaky yet determined breaths. You made your way towards the elevator, looking over your shoulder and checking the hallway behind you as if expecting something to appear. There was nothing as you stepped into the elevator. Staring at the red dot that tempted you to this point.

There was nothing but silence as you finally pushed the button. Swallowing as you kept your face strong watching the doors close in front of you and descending down to the lowest floor.

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The doors opened to a dark, red-tinted room. A pleasant ding from the elevator echoing into the silent room. A rush of cold air flooded the elevator. Causing you to shiver from the dramatic temperature change. The room was narrow. Packed with machinery towering to the ceiling.

It was dark aside from a dim red light covering the room. The lighting reminded you of the machine you saw on the first floor. And as the first floor had, there were tubes rising up from the floor and connecting to a source towards the center of the room. The room was quiet aside from a pulsing coming from the same place. The smell caused your nose to burn. It was a familiar scent, one that brought you back to your childhood. Every time you went outside to play in the backyard you could smell it coming from your father's shed. You hadn't thought much of it then. The smell was metallic and ashy. Reminiscent of burning metal. The scent was fainter back then, but now it was overpowering.

Passing through the frame of the elevator you entered into the large dark room. Your heart pounding in your chest as you listened intently for any signs of someone inside. It was quiet other than the subtle hum. You bit your cheek as you passed a row of long desks all covered in tubes and vibrant chemicals. Your frosted breath clouding from your lips. You pulled your jacket closer to your body.

The walls were rusted and covered in a layer of dust. Yet the vials on the table shone, reflecting the red light. Active chemicals inside them caused you to believe they were just used. The musty smell and grime made your stomach ache. You had never seen him have a workplace so unkempt. The shadows covered most of the room, engulfing the corners and beneath each table.

The further you traveled the less machinery blocked your path. Widening the space until you entered a clearing where most of the tables and chemicals sat towards. Along with those chemicals, there was a pile of books. All of them were thoroughly bookmarked and used. You felt your eyebrows furrow as you read the titles.

Protection spells, compounds in the spiritual, ghost survival guides, The dark forces.... As the list went on, each book intrigued you. Not just the material but the fact they were in your father's possession. And so thoroughly bookmarked. What did he get himself into? Or when was he interested in this kind of stuff?.. You thought. Nearly whispering it to yourself.

Opening one of the books you skimmed through his bookmarks. One commonality he bookmarked were ways he could supposedly "destroy the source" of the activity you assume he was experiencing. They explained the unfamiliar chemicals. If you could call them that. At this point you weren't sure. More so mixtures of different items and liquids. The books didn't give you a clear answer. Most of what you read was superstition. While some, it was borderline evil, their intent was much darker than keeping out ghosts.

You were quick to put the books down and continue through the room, leaving them unread for now.

You passed by the chemicals. Some were identifiable to you while others you didn't recognize. They held an unfamiliar almost artificial glow that reminded you of neon but smelled too strong to be. The temperature wasn't completely right in the room for it to be liquid either if it were. It was cold but not that cold.

However, one did stand out to you. In a beaker all on its own there was a bright orange chemical. It sat at the end of a row of working chemicals. The end of the row was a beaker with a funnel ready to drip out more of the orange liquid.

The further you went the louder the pulsing grew. It sounded like a vibration buzzing through the room. You followed the sound, alert to your surroundings you scanned the tables and machinery as well as the walls searching for cameras.

You were both relieved and uneasy at the fact that you found none, unless they were small. Which was possible.

You began to hesitate. Unsure about your decision to continue. Your gut squeezed. Your mind arguing over what was the best choice. Taking a deep breath, you dared to take another step.

Giving into the need to know, the fear of ignorance overpowered you. Exploring the room, you caught yourself eyeing a desk in the far corner of the room. A swivel chair was pushed into the desk and neatly placed books, and pens all lined the top of the desk.

You thought about approaching the desk before, you saw it.

You froze. Your stomach dropped as you stared up at it. The source of the red light and the machine working above you. It was large and round. Making a ring-like shape. Engulfing most of the room creating the cramped space from before.

You shivered as you strained your neck to look at the red glowing structure before you. It reached up to the tall ceiling. Held together by large suspenders on either side. The pulsing was loud next to the ring as well as the bright light emanating from between the cracks of the structure.

The closer you got to the structure you began to hear something that touched your ear, making you want to flinch away. A heavy breathing grew behind you. Glued to your back. It was as if someone stood right behind you. You swore you could feel a hot breath on your neck. Blowing your hair and brushing against your ear.

Jumping, you flipped around, your heart slamming against your chest. Your eyes were wide as you scanned the empty room around you. Swallowing you took a step back listening for the breathing to return. Only the pulsing remained.

Eventually caught your breath, your fogged breaths growing as you calmed your racing heart.

Thud

Your eyes bolted towards the noise. Landing on the desk. The swivel chair moved conveniently towards the side giving you full view of a now opened book. You froze in place staring at the desk. It was not like that before. You glanced around the dark room again. The red hue from the ring lighting up the nearby objects. The room went still. Taking a breath, you approached the desk. Glancing over your shoulder periodically, you stepped towards the open book. You no longer felt alone.

You bit your cheek as you were met with unfamiliar symbols covering the pages. They looked hand drawn with black ink. One on the first page was scribbled out. While the others were a series of circles and shapes. Some of the shapes reminded you of runes. While others looked similar to symbols you had seen in the SCP foundation.

You had heard that there were old symbols for SCP's from earlier days of the foundation. But that outdated information was never exactly taught in your time spent there. But you were sure you had seen at least one of these before.

The longer you stare at them the more you feel your head begin to pound. Aching from even looking at them. Even so you couldn't help but turn the page. A familiar force influencing your behavior. The last time you felt this, your mind traveled back to the letter. It was strange, definitely some kind of SCP.

Pausing, your hand hovered over the yellowed paper. Your hand trembled. You could have sworn you heard the breath behind you again. You forced your eyes away from the journal. Checking your surroundings again you shivered. Placing your hands on the desk behind you. Your urge to run returned.

Taking another breath, you looked back at the desk. Moving a little faster now as another journal caught your eye. The symbol's hold on you fading as you reached up to the desk's hutch, gently pulling it off the shelf.

It was a large, thick journal. Its smooth leather felt soft on your hands. You frowned at the cover, glancing from it to the opened journal. They had similar symbols, though this one was different. It felt more familiar, you would almost consider it more human than the others.

Cracking the journal open, you were met with your father's handwriting scribbled down...

Analysis and Improvements of SCP's Part 1

Continuation of the Experiment of Control

Conducted by Dr. Alexander and.....

You squinted at the page there was another name next to your fathers, now inked out to the point of almost tearing the page. You pressed your lips together before turning the page.

Flipping through the pages you skimmed through the documents. Every one holding information on various SCP's your father claimed to have in custody. Skimming through each page you glanced through his notes. Your stomach growing more uneasy after each page. Some pages had observations on the original SCP's while the following results held each converted creature and sometimes objects.

Your eyes widened as you stared at the last few pages of his journal. A paper fell out between the pages startling you as you glanced down at the familiar letter now laying on the open book. Hesitantly you reached for the familiar object. It was still wrinkled and permanently misshapen by the rain from your time lost in SCP-860 with SCP-049. It felt like so long ago. Picking it up you checked inside, discovering the same confusing words you remember. Glancing back, you slipped the paper into your pocket, leaving the envelope back in the book you found it.

Turning to the last page your face paled. Your stomach sank as you took in each word. Your father was no longer documenting his findings or accomplishments. Instead, the last page held a warning.

By the time you are reading this, I will most likely have succeeded in my research. If that is the case, I would suggest you take heed. Follow these pages wisely and take note. The insurgency is coming for you. He is coming for you.

Your eyebrows furrowed at the note. An uncomfortable feeling settled over you. A part of you surfaced questioning how this could even be happening. It was your father, which both made the situation possible yet... Something didn't feel right. The warning, the way he wrote it, was like he was fighting against someone or something. Why would his group come after the person this book was intended for... And who was He?

That thought was quickly buried by a sound clicking behind you.

Your grip tightened on the pages as a chill crawled down your spine as you listened to something that sounded like footsteps. The journal nearly slipped out of your hand as you frantically placed it back on the shelf turning back around expecting the worst.

Preparing to run. Anything that could get you out of the mess you got yourself into.

Your breathing hitched. You were met with nothing. An empty room with only the ring pulsing beside you. You swore you heard something. You felt eyes on you. You took a deep breath. Staring into the room's deep shadows. Searching for someone or something. You didn't think that there could be shadows as dark as these.

Moments passed before you steadied your form and turned back to the desk.

Shaking your head you checked the desk one more time ensuring that everything looked like it had when you got here. That was until you noticed the opened book one last time before you left.

Looking back down at the open book you turned back to the page that you first found it. Only for your brow to furrow. The page had changed. All the odd symbols merging into one uniform drawing. Changing into a singular shape. One that looked very similar to the thing behind you. The ring almost resembles an arch in the image. A doorway even. Picking up the book you compared it to the structure behind you. You bit your cheek. It was an exact match, as the symbols reformed, the scribbled markings slowly morphed into words. Labeling the ring-

The Gate Between Worlds.

You felt lightheaded after reading them. The words continued to morph creating a description and instructions. The ring in the room seemed unfinished. But judging by the room and materials that may not be for long.

A gate... Your grip on the journal tightened again. With that label it looked more like a portal than a ring. A stereotypical one at that, but you didn't think it was possible. Unless... Your mind drifted back to the theoretical physics book you read a couple years ago. There were ways of creating something like this. It was actually a topic you enjoyed; you made a side note to go back to it if you ever survived this.

Either way, you recalled some of the details, but it had never been accomplished by any scientist that you knew. All the experiments you had heard of were done in the quantum, too small and technically nonexistent at times. They were mostly well, theoretical as the name suggests. But then again one look at the SCP's you had met so far and you were quick to throw any of your skepticism out of the window.

Turning back to the journal you were met with more forming letters. The beginning of an instruction manual almost. Only including details and observations usually reserved for documents. You waited for each word to form. Slowly letter by letter they appeared as if the journal was being written as you watched.

The first full sentence appeared. Your stomach hurt as you read each word.

It was another warning.

Be Advised

Towards the end of the creation of the gate you may receive visitors. Former followers, these ghosts of shadows only mean to stop his reappearance. By any means nece-

You swallowed as you read. A chill shivered through your body. The flow of words was interrupted by an icy touch. Your heart stopped as a cold hand wrapped its long smoothe fingers around your arm. Gripping it tight in its boney grasp, your eyes widened as panic overtook your body. It immediately pulled you forwards, towards the ring.

A scream nearly escaped your lips and the journal slipped from your hands. With a jolt you yanked your arm away. Clamping your jaw down you pulled against its grip barely slipping from the sharp blades on the ends of its fingers. Running into the desk as you tried to escape the entity. Looking back you found yourself staring into a eyeless abyss. An abyss you assume to be the creature's face. It was a tall, dark silhouette, its breathing cracked in a raspy groan as its breath touched your face. You could barely breath that fact alone and held back your scream. Without a second thought you jolted away from the figure and stumbling back you attempted to escape.