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|| The thumping of your heart stopped. ||

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Had you ever mentioned how much you hated walking? Finding 106's chamber wasn't all too difficult as you had seen it earlier but just walking back and forth was tiring. You were pretty sure whoever built the facility wanted to make the place as difficult to navigate as possible and as annoying as possible to go around.

Okay, you were being a bit dramatic, you would admit that. Even so, that didn't prevent you from cursing out whoever the architect was. All the halls looked the same and could anyone really blame you for getting lost a bit? At least you weren't the only one with that issue. In the game, on one of the monitors, there was a conversation between two personnel, one of which was complaining about the layout of the site.

You were sure you spent way too much time on the wiki.

You managed to pass through the tesla gate you had been through earlier without much fanfare and checked the S-Nav as well. You were a bit surprised you hadn't ended up accidentally messing up the timing for the tesla gate and died though you were sure you would jinx yourself later.

Eventually, you got to 106's containment chamber. It was a good thing 106 wasn't harassing you throughout your time. You guessed it was probably because he was busy torturing some other poor person in the facility. You were sure he had lots of prey.

You skimmed over the little poster outside of the door. Yup, looking as creepy as ever. You were glad you didn't encounter 106 this time. You inserted the keycard into the door and it opened up to the catwalk that oversees the chamber itself. You, of course, closed the door behind yourself just in case.

Checking the S-Nav, you were relieved to find 173 wasn't down here. You walked leisurely across the catwalk and chose not to get too close to the sides. You did, however, glance over the right side of it to look at the containment chamber for 106. It would be pretty nasty if you fell so you decidedly scampered quicker to the end of the metal catwalk.

You walked down the stairs, not holding the sidebars. Getting to the bottom, you walked straight into the room. Your footsteps echoed different on the ceramic tiles compared to the metal grates. Ignoring the control panel for now, you went right to the back of the room where the shelf was to pick up the level 5 keycard.

You inspected the red card for no real reason and pocketed it. Technically, you could leave now. You didn't have to recontain 106 but... Ah screw it, maybe it'll save some other poor bastard's time later and maybe save someone's neck now. You heaved a sigh and scanned the control panel. You knew how to do this, probably. Besides, the worst possibility would be you failed and 106 would be free to continue roaming.

From the table closest to the panel, there was a sheet of paper. You picked it up and quickly read over it. Yup, yup, just procedures to recontain 106. Nothing you didn't already know. You put it down and looked at the monitor attached to the panel. Squinting a bit as you tried to make out the fuzzy footage of inside the chamber, you were happy to report there was already an unfortunate D-class in the femur breaker.

Humming a little tune to yourself, you almost pitied the D-class that was about to die. Oh well. You flipped the "Elo-Ild Electromagnetic Manual Reboot" switch from "On" to "Off". The strange little sound effect signalled it doing what it was supposed to. Then, you turned the sound transmission on. A fuzzy noise came over the intercom and the sound of the D-class sniffing.

The normal voice lines in the game came from them as they begged to be let out. Sucked to be them, you wouldn't be able to get them out even if you wanted to. Huh. You supposed you could just press the femur breaker button, couldn't you? Your hand stilled as you hovered over it. This was reality. Could you really just doom someone?

You blinked. It would be really cold of you to just press the button just like that, wouldn't it? Maybe you could have convinced yourself it would be for the greater good if it were any other day of the week. Callously, you pushed the red button and waited. The hydraulic press was loud but the sound of the bone cracking and the D-class screaming was louder. Oh wow. That was loud as f*ck. They cried and wailed and you were almost sorry. Almost.

You waited several seconds and soon, the corrosion sound could be heard. Your heart beat heavily against your chest. Exhaling, you barely noticed how sweaty your palms felt. Looking at the monitor, you confirmed that yes, indeed, 106 was in there. Ah. You didn't like how he was staring at the camera.

Quickly, you flipped the switch for the magnets and the intercom. You didn't want to continue to hear the screams. Hopefully, you successfully recontained the SCP. You wiped your palms on your jacket. Somewhat nervously, you glanced at the glass window before preparing to leave. On your way out, you checked out the desk closest to the exit. The spinny chair was tucked in and the monitor was completely black. You picked up the sheet of paper beside it.

A note from Dr. Allok. If you remembered correctly, the original text for this note was from a tale on the SCP wiki. You read over it quickly, gathering what it was about. Paraphrased, it was just regarding that 106 was a sentient being rather than a basic predator. Quite fascinating, actually. You set the paper down.

You were pretty much ready to go now. You ran back up the stairs, your heart still beating heavily. Maybe when you leave the containment chamber it would stop. You walked over the catwalk again and exited the containment chamber. The thumping of your heart stopped. You took it as a signal that you successfully contained 106.

Alrighty then. Now, you needed to go to Entrance Zone and disable remote door controls. Afterwards, head back to Heavy to talk to 079, go all the way to the remote controls again and enable them before you could head to one of the gates. Maybe you'd linger around Entrance Zone for a bit. It was comparatively safer depending on where you were.

You did a few quick stretches before starting the trek to find the checkpoint room. There were only really 3 other rooms in Heavy containment that you hadn't explored yet. The Alpha Warhead room, 035's room and 966's room. You definitely weren't going into 966's room. They were quite a nuisance and generally did not provide a good time. You didn't necessarily have to disable the warheads and maybe, if you came across it, you could visit 035's room.

Going to 035's room wouldn't be very productive, would it? Being one of the more popular SCPs, you knew of his nature. Manipulative, sadistic... not a very good track record. There was a good chance you would be manipulated, a very good chance. There was also a good chance that you would piss him off. He was classified as Keter for a reason.

You knew you didn't have to go in there but well. Maybe you'd just drop by, for the experience. You weren't going to let him out, you weren't going to turn on the gas valves and you didn't necessarily have to go to the storage room but maybe you would. You'd decide on the way there.

And so, came the tedious task of trying not to get lost again. You ran into Peanut several times though managed to not die again. You doubled back and checked the S-Nav so many times, it was a wonder that the MTF weren't here already. It was what it was though you supposed it was a good thing they weren't here as it would make navigating the facility so much harder. But, being late meant they were doing a pretty bad job.

You passed by several rooms, opening and closing them to see what was behind. While the S-Nav was incredibly helpful, it, unfortunately, didn't display which rooms were which. While you were pretty sure this place was basically hell, if someone didn't get killed by an SCP, you were certain they would have died from dehydration or starvation after getting lost.

As it were, you stumbled upon 035's chamber before you found the checkpoint. Good luck, bad luck, who knew? The door slid open upon the press of the button and the poster of 035 greeted you first. It had a mostly red background, the colour of all the Keter class posters, with a picture of the SCP on the right and a symbol with the words "sentient object" on the left.

You pressed the button and closed the door behind you. There were two rooms, the left one being a small hallway to a closed door that was 035's actual containment chamber. The right one was to the control panel and sub-area in front of the chamber. Technically, this was the last chance to just exit the chamber but, you chose not to.

Taking a deep breath in, you inserted the level 5 keycard and the door opened up. It looked as you expected. A filing cabinet and locked door on the right and the control panel and glass window on the left. Two light bulbs were on the ceiling though only one of them seemed to be functioning. Very ominous. The decor was terrible.

You stepped forward a few steps. The control panel had two switches, one for the door and the other for the gas valves. You had already made the decision not to touch either of them. There were also other smaller buttons on the panel but you had no idea what they did. One more step in front of the glass and there would be no turning back.

This was unnecessarily dramatic. You walked until you were in view of the window, almost imagining the overly dramatic dissonant sound effect when you did so. Inside the containment chamber, was the hole in the wall, the glass display case 035 should have been in, along with the blood-covered walls. It looked very unsanitary. The red light within the chamber cast an ominous glow upon everything and oh right, you forgot about 035.

As portrayed in the game, a scientist was wearing the mask, sitting against the wall before you arrived. You wondered which scientist was stupid enough to actually go in there without precaution and put the SCP on. Perhaps they had been manipulated but you didn't know, maybe they deserved it.

He stood up as soon as you walked in front of the glass. The standing up motion was far smoother than in the game which was to be expected. This was reality after all (or was it?). There was black goo all over his shirt. You were pretty sure it wouldn't ever be clean again. As he saw you, you could see him sort of curiously tilting his head.

"Oh thank god! Someone actually found me, I thought I was done for a moment there," he said, chuckling.

The voice came out staticky due to it being picked up from within the chamber and out from a speaker on the control panel. 035's voice was much more... expressive than you anticipated. Strangely human despite the whole being a porcelain mask that's sadistic and manipulative thing. Oh well. You guessed it was easier to manipulate people when you seemed human enough yourself.

"I can get us both safely to the surface, just find the control panel in there and open the chamber doors for me."

You weren't going to do that, of course. You didn't answer him, instead, choosing to pick up the paper on the table. Addendum 035-08 and 035-09. They were from the wiki and they were what you expected them to be. In the locked room, you knew there was an actual main document about 035 but the one out here was about the usage of SCP 148 to block out the high amounts of negativity emitted by 035. He paced around his containment cell. Your face was carefully blank as you waited for his next few words.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

Now, 035 was much milder in the containment breach game than the article and tales. He couldn't exactly hurt you in the game other than going into the cell and getting attacked by tentacles but in the article? Anything goes. You had to be conscious of whatever he said to you otherwise you may end up dead again.

You watched as he grew impatient.

"What, do you not... Alright, I admit it, I wouldn't blame you if you don't think I look trustworthy, but please. I need your help and quickly, the mask has been stuck to my face for some time now, and I think I need medical attention or it might kill me from the inside. Just let me out and I can find us an exit in a matter of time."

You waited for him to finish his spiel, originally intending to leave sometime around this point. Having the foresight of this really was useful. You were sure if you didn't know of his nature, you would have been manipulated easily, however...

"You liar." You smiled. "You're already dead."

He didn't outwardly react. "What? You... you must be mistaken."

"SCP 035 appears to be a white porcelain comedy mask," you droned, "although, at times, it will change to tragedy. Subjects within 1.5 to 2 meters of SCP 035, or in visual contact with it, experience a strong urge to put it on. When SCP 035 is placed on the face of an individual, an alternate brain wave pattern from SCP 035 overlaps that of the original host, effectively snuffing it out and causing brain death to the subject. Subject then claims to be the consciousness contained within SCP 035."

You tilted your head. "Sound familiar?"

He laughed quietly but it gradually got louder. "You already knew who I was before you even came here, didn't you?"

"Deception is such an ugly mask. It suits you quite well."

He didn't seem too insulted. "Tell me, you aren't a D-class nor are you a scientist, right?"

"Why would you ask if you already know the answer?"

Was it just you or were there starting to be whispers at the back of your mind? Ominous and fitting but ultimately useless considering there were too many voices overlapping and you really couldn't understand what they were saying. The whole unintelligible whispers thing was cool, you supposed but what were you supposed to do about it?

"Interesting," 035 muttered, leaning closer to the glass window between the two of you.

Decidedly, you took this as a bad sign. You took a step to the left. "Uhuh, yup. Nice talk. See you hopefully, never." Then, you awkwardly shuffled out of the room. Upon exiting the containment chamber, you heard him chuckle. A chill crawled up your spine as his voice grew more demonic and echoey. You slid the keycard into the slot and watched as the room closed.

You'd give the experience an 8/10 with the added bonus of getting out relatively unscathed. You really hoped you wouldn't come across 035 again anytime soon.

Well, at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. You didn't feel particularly inclined to let 035 out, you weren't visibly harmed, you didn't die this time and you had all your body parts! That meant you could go find the checkpoint to Entrance Zone. Cool. You checked the S-Nav and also ensured you had everything in your pockets. Oh good, you hadn't dropped anything on your trek around the facility.

You squinted at the map on the S-Nav. Where the hell was the checkpoint. You glanced up at the ceiling and sighed. Looked like there would be more walking for you. Better sooner than later, you supposed, plus, you had no idea where Peanut was. You went through several twists and turns, attempting to find the checkpoint. You had encountered Peanut a couple times more which led to one more death to add to your counter.

You stepped past a body at one point that was wearing a white lab coat. The fact that it was a body didn't catch your eye in any way, rather, it was the amulet around the body's neck that caught your attention. It was ornate, with 13 diamonds surrounding a large oval-cut ruby. It was connected to a long chain.

'Oh, sh*t.' You stared at the amulet. 'That's 963.'

That meant that body was Dr. Bright's. Guess you weren't going to touch that amulet no matter how pretty it was. You didn't want to think about what would happen if you came in contact with it. A whole other soul taking over your body? No thanks. You happily stepped around the body and continued on your way.

Several minutes later, you came across the checkpoint. It looked the same as the one from Light to Heavy which was to be expected. You checked the room and was glad there was no Peanut or Plague Doctor in sight. You inserted the keycard and the door beeped loudly as it opened up. Finally, Entrance zone! You pressed the button to open up the next room. You stopped in your tracks as you stared at what was on the other side.

What were some of the SCP 408s doing here?

New SCPs in this chapter:

SCP 035

SCP 966

SCP 963

SCP 408

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Published: December 31, 2020

Word count: 2,971

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I just wanted to get out one last chapter before 2020 ends even though I haven't written in the past month. To people in different time zones, happy new year! I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with the plot of this fic so, uh, yeah. Thanks for reading!