Disclaimer in the first chapter.
SCP Containment Breach: Nightmares Unleashed
Chapter 10
A Dark Future
Keith's mouth hung open in a frozen expression of both shock and confusion. He traveled back from the future? But why? Staring hard at his own face, Keith could see the marks of a hard life he had ahead of him, and the pain it would cause after. He saw the scars of a harsh battle that lied ahead in his future… as memories of the past… Keith's head stung. The future version of himself was old. Keith could hardly venture a guess at his age, but he could definitely tell that he was old. Completely bald except for thin eyebrows and a curled, greying goatee, his skin was fairly clean outside of a few natural blemishes on his cheeks and head. Beyond all that, he actually looked pretty fit, too. There was a large scar over the right side of his face, leading from his cheek to over his head. It looked as if a wild animal had landed a harsh scratch on him, with one claw mark beginning at the corner of his future self's mouth. Yet he could still see the striking, uncanny resemblance between them. Keith couldn't deny that he was looking at himself.
"M-Me…" Keith mumbled, shocked to his core. "You-You're…"
"Me?" The future Keith raised an eyebrow. "Makes sense now, doesn't it?" Keith nodded, unable to respond to his future self. "Alright, this is going to get weird. I'm going to talk about future events as if they're in the past."
"Really not the strangest thing at the moment…" Keith blurted out.
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet." The older Keith smirked, lacing his hands together.
"So… Why did you come back?" Keith asked himself, staring straight into his own eyes. "What happened? What are you trying to change?"
There it was. The older Keith's eyes darkened. Reminiscing on memories that had yet to be formed. Pain yet to come… Keith forced his eyes away. Seeing the future as the past definitely couldn't be good for one's health. The future version of himself stayed silent for a moment, as if considering what to reveal to his younger self.
"Crystal dies. Jessica dies. Wi-A man you befriend named Will dies, a man named Vincent, and the same thing with a woman named Erica. Your future is grim, and the world is in chaos." The older Keith explained in grim tone. "All that you love is torn away from you. We… I wasn't strong enough to protect them…"
"So, you stole the clothes of a time revenant and went back in time to eliminate the threat?" Keith guessed. "Why even involve me then?"
"I'm not here to change the outcome directly. I can't." The future version of Keith shook his head. "No. My goal is to guide you. You are strong. Stronger than you realize."
"Why guide me? Why not just kill the threat or prevent whatever happens from happening yourself?" Keith narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Time Paradoxes are still a thing. These robes can negate some of the effects like us meeting, but… a big enough change can still affect me." The future Keith told his past self. "One wrong move, and at best, I fade away. At worst… well… I think you get the hint."
"I do." Keith nodded earnestly. His older self did have a valid point. "So, what ARE you doing?"
"Rather than eliminating the threat, I'm trying to give you the power you need to protect your future and your friends." The older Keith told him. "Well, more like awaken… The plan was for me to just guide you in the background, and that book to do the rest. I had not calculated the time revenants to move in so fast."
"Meaning?" Keith asked himself quizzically, suddenly, his head stung.
"The plan has changed. I believe that when I arrived here, I may have brought something back with me." The older Keith sighed tapping his pointer finger on the table. "It would explain the… oh, sorry. The plan has changed."
"You said that already." Keith told himself flatly.
"Yes, I know. All you need to do for the time being, is follow the book, keep it from the time revenants, and try not to die." The future version of Keith raised an eyebrow. "That black book contains instructions that you will need to follow in order to both change your future, but preserve yours and possibly every timeline."
"I got it." Keith nodded. Now he could get down to business. "I shot you a decent amount you know."
"Yes, shooting myself was a pain to deal with." The older Keith shrugged. "As I said before, these robes allow me to control time. I was able to skip time for a tenth of a second."
"Skip time?" Keith wondered.
"I like to call it that. It's complicated really." The future Keith smirked to himself. "I am able to move forwards in time at a rapid enough pace that, to outside observers, I disappear the moment I do it, and reappear somewhere else - as I am skipping that moment. With this, I can temporarily create a parallel universe bubble, where the bullets went to. I had to feel them first, why my body moved, but I escaped mostly undamaged."
"So, you're saying you can store the time you've skipped to create a separate space where you can't be touched?" Keith attempted to understand, and his future self shook his head.
"Exactly." The future Keith held up his finger. "It's a product of the coat. It's how most time revenants can escape damage. Any other questions, comments, or concerns?"
"Good to know," Keith noted, before taking a drink of his soda, "and yes, there's more."
"Ask away then." The future Keith chuckled.
"That time revenant, the one interrogating me…" Keith started, realizing that he had tapped his finger on the table.
"Ah, her." The future Keith said in a dark manner. "She likes us, yes. She is the most emotional of the time revenants. Her emotions clouded her judgement, and she spared you, when the easiest solution would have been to just erase you."
"She had no form, but, could she have…" Keith went red, remembering how seductive the time revenant was.
"No idea." The future Keith shrugged. "They're somewhat hard to predict. The only reason they haven't come here right now is because they think I have something up my sleeve, and am waiting for them to come to us."
"Do you?" Keith raised an eyebrow to his statement.
"Maybe." The future Keith answered in a coy manner.
"Next question." Keith sighed, that got him next to nowhere. "There was this alien looking robot with two other cyborgs in the lower tunnels. What were they? A time revenant?"
"I still don't know. I tried looking into what that thing was, but…" The future Keith lightly shook his head. "It's best if you avoid her for now."
"Her?" Keith raised an eyebrow, and the future version made a not-so-subtle gesture indicating that he and the person had sex. "Oh…"
"Yeah… trust me… alcohol does terrible things for you." The Future Keith grumbled, which made Keith giggle.
There was one last question that he needed to know the answer to. "Did we get jetpacks in the future."
The future version of himself stared blankly for a moment, before bursting out into good-natured laughter. Keith however, felt embarrassed.
"We do. Plus, we have prototype lightsabers. Well, not really lightsabers, but… too similar to care." The future Keith grinned. "And we had some fun times with them. I won't say too much, but, we had to try it."
"Get the hint." Keith snorted, making a note to do whatever he did in the future. "Any chance?"
"Next time we meet, then." The future version of Keith chuckled lightly. "I'll get you one."
"Awesome." Keith stood up, he knew that it was time to go find his friends. "Are you coming with me? Or do you…"
"Hold on a moment." The older Keith held up a hand. "Take these."
The future version of Keith handed his past self a neatly folded pile of black clothing that had been sitting next to him. They were the robes of a time revenant. Just looking at the clothes, Keith felt… off. He didn't like the aura they were giving off.
"What…" Keith began.
"They will help conceal you from the revenants." His future self quickly explained. "Remember. The book will guide you, but only in times of crucial moments. Follow the book, and be careful." The Future Keith pointed to the door. "Go. Now. More are coming. Your friends took the same elevator you rested from. If you sprint, you can meet up with them right about now."
Keith put on the robes and ran, his muscles eagerly reminding him of the last time he had to run. The robes felt slightly heavier than cloth, but nowhere near as heavy as leather. It felt disconcerting, but he guessed that he would have to get used to the clothes. Careening around the corner, Keith sped through an open door. Left, right, straight, Keith remembered the way back. Just up ahead, the path branched in two directions. Pain seared his forehead and an invisible shockwave suddenly passed through him. Keith's vision swam as he stumbled about in a drunken manner, unable to properly see. Not again… His head hurt so much, that he collapsed and planted his hand onto metal grating.
He sprang back up, and whirled around. Keith was in a laboratory… Did he accidentally teleport? Or was this like before when he had a weird vision? Looking around, Keith noticed that the laboratory was in a state of disarray, equipment strung everywhere, and notes flung about. There were corpses in the area… they had all be merged together through unknown means. Clothes looked organic, and had fused to the skin. Multiple human bodies formed grotesque amalgamates, their faces twisted looks of agony and their bodies contorted into perverted, abnormal positions. A voice caused him to jump.
"My god…" Beltway shuddered, the whole sight was something out of a sick nightmare.
"Command is definitely going to want to know about this." Jessica told them, she kept her eyes on the distorted bodies, hoping nothing would come alive, "Keep your guards up and search around for anything, but do NOT leave this room."
"What… what is going…" Keith bare managed to sputter out before reality blinked.
Another wave of energy slammed into Keith, roughly pushing him back. He felt a wall behind him stop his fall, and a saw a very familiar face. One that caused his heart to stop.
"So… what now?" Keith asked the fox woman, who was staring at him. The words came out without warning.
"First, you're going to take your clothes off. Second, I'm going to take my clothes off. Third, we're going to get on the bed, then I'm going to fuck you like there's no tomorrow, and you're going to like it." The fox woman narrowed her eyes at Keith. "Any questions?"
"C-can I say no?" Keith spoke again without meaning to.
"Do you really think that's going to stop me?" She replied back.
Keith gulped as the fox woman started advancing on him, which Keith began to back up, and had unintentionally backed into a corner. There really seemed to be no way around this. Another wave of energy slammed into Keith. He slammed to the ground, bolting up as it seared his cheek. Keith was now standing on a tiny island of cooled lava, alone… A hand erupted from the lava, nearly spattering him with the molten liquid. Keith's eyes snapped open and with a large gasp of air, he sat up immediately. He was back in the facility… What was that? What was going on? Keith remembered his urgency not a moment later, scrambling up and racing down the hallway. He whipped around the corner and straight into a waiting fist. He went down hard, groaning.
"Holy shit, sorry!" Jessica panicked, but Keith got up without a problem. "Wait… why are you—"
"Long story, how safe are we?" Keith asked frantically.
"Safe enough." Beltway shrugged, and Crystal nodded.
"Alright, long story, go." Keith began with a big sigh. "So, you know that shady figure we encountered in the cafeteria? The one who gave me the key as a reward?"
"Yes?" Jessica nodded in agreement.
"He's me." Keith dropped the bomb, and then adding the second. "From the future." There was silence. Stunned silence. From everybody. "Yeah, that's just about the same reaction I had."
"After all I've seen, and I'm still surprised." Beltway grumbled, and Keith nodded.
Ifrit handed Keith the book back and he launched into his explanation after Crystal took a look at what the man looked like. Not even she would deny the eerie similarity. Keith told them that the figure they had fought was a "Time Revenant", a sort of police officer for time itself. He told them why the future version of himself had come back, telling Keith that Crystal, Jessica, someone named Vincent, someone named Will, and someone named Erica would die, and that the world would be left in utter chaos. Keith noticed that Beltway seemed perturbed by the news. Continuing his explanation, Keith told them about the mission, and the book.
"So what you're trying to say, is that this book, is wanted by the time revenants, who want to stop your future self from slightly changing the past?" Ifrit spoke up for the first time in a while. It seemed he had a quiet streak.
"The one we encountered has taken a liking towards me, so I'm told." Keith explained, and then he had an idea. "Maybe, I can talk her down if we meet again and…" But then immediately after, Keith felt bad. "No… I, I can't just play with someone's emotions…"
"Good man." Beltway nodded. "Still. You may have no other choice."
"I can't…" Keith shook his head vehemently. There was a line he would never cross.
"Guys…" Jessica warned.
"He's right." Crystal backed Keith up. "It's wrong, no matter how you see it."
"Guys!" Jessica shouted to the two, and then the realized the problem.
Their breaths were misting. Madeline was back. Crack! Lights began to flicker, and a warped voice began to become more prominent.
"Run!" Crystal shouted to them, and the team sprinted off.
Keith, unfortunately, couldn't carry on. He let out a pained gasp and stumbled to the floor, his chest seizing up. Jessica stopped, and the others turned back for him. Screaming could now be heard over the radios. Even with the heavy armor on, Jessica began to have goosebumps and the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up. They kept moving. They had to. Keith froze. Something was calling for him. His eyes stung. For a brief moment, he saw another vision. He was back with his future self.
"Ah, her." The future Keith said in a dark manner. "She likes us, yes. She is the most emotional of the time revenants. Her emotions clouded her judgement, and she spared you, when the easiest solution would have been to just erase you."
"She really, actually likes us?" Keith spoke, it felt as if words were being forced to come out.
He didn't remember this part of the conversation… it… never happened? Something was amiss. Something Keith couldn't place his finger on. This conversation felt so similar to him…
"Yes. She does." The future version of himself nodded. "And we can use that against her. Make her lower her guard, and deliver a finishing blow."
"I can't… not like that." Keith admitted, shaking his head. The idea felt wrong.
The future Keith guffawed, his uproarious laughter shocking Keith. Was it something he said? Keith, shamefaced, stared at his food. The future Keith quieted down.
"Of all the things she could do to you, and the harm… and you would feel bad for using someone's emotions." The future Keith smiled kindly. "Hold onto that spark of light. You'll need it."
Keith's eyes snapped open and he found Crystal guarding him. Gunfire blasted out, and Keith struggled to move. Everything seemed… stifled… Keith knew Crystal was trying to contact him, but her voice was muffled. One look at the monster however, and everything rushed back.
"What the fuck is that thing!?" Keith shouted to everyone, whipping up and pulling out his handgun.
"Aim for the brain!" Jessica yelled back. "I'll explain later!"
With a demonic roar, the monster charged straight for them. Bullets sailed through the monster with no effect. Suddenly her form became more transparent. For a split-second, the group could see a brain with severe structural damage to the skull. The left hemisphere of the brane was missing, and most of the bone structure of the skull, including the mandibles, was dissolved or splintered. Connected to the brain was a partial spinal cord, housing a full cervical set and two remaining thoracic vertebrae, and portions of the peripheral nervous system and blood vessels. Her normal smoky form returned a split-second later. Keith instinctively fired the handgun, and it barely grazed Madeline's brain as she glitched out. She roared out in pain.
"Insolent little brat!" Madeline screamed to Keith, and his body froze in terror. "You will suffer a thousand deaths, each more painful than the last!"
Keith had felt fear so many times by now, almost nothing truly scared him. This, was different. Fear hit him like a physical blow, making his knees buckle and his body shake. This was more than pure terror. It was irrational, stripping away any and all mental defenses. The fear intensified even more, steady and relentlessly.
"Keith! Run!" Crystal shouted, but Keith was lost in fear. "Run now!"
"You can hear my voice, can't you little one…" Madeline leered down to him.
Keith tried to call out for help. His lip twitched, but no sound came out. This terror surpassed the fear of death. Death would be a mercy if it could make this feeling go away. Madeline stalked over to Keith, oblivious of the gunfire. His mind had retreated, the voice of Madeline was pure darkness. It screamed ancient terror, it cried unending pain, and most of all, it sung of torment. Keith was brought back to reality with a harsh slap from Jessica.
"Get ahold of yourself!" Jessica panicked, and Keith's eyes went wide.
Keith shoved Jessica out of the way and prepared to dodge, but another hand picked him up and held him in front of a red eye. Fear took over once again, palpable, suffocating… irresistible…
"You, your family, everyone, will die. Over and over. Mountains of broken bodies beneath me." Madeline's voice pierced Keith's ears. "Those you love will suffer first, and then your family…"
That snapped Keith out of the fear. "My family is already dead."
Madeline's eye widened as Keith pressed the barrel of the handgun directly to it, and squeezed the trigger right as she began to glitch out. This time, the bullet met its mark, and buried into her brain. Madeline screamed, phasing in and out of reality. She threw Keith against the wall and clutched her eye. The monster became an amalgamate of glitches and disappeared completely. This time, she had stayed in their dimension much longer than before.
"I think that she's unable to stay for long." Beltway noted, keeping his gun trained on the spot. "Time may also be against her at the moment, as well as her own biology."
"Wh-What was that thing?" Keith shivered, the air only recently warming back up. "Her voice was like pure death…"
"Voice?" Jessica asked him curiously, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"You didn't hear her?" Keith asked everyone, but they shook their heads. "She… she spoke to me."
The conversation died almost immediately after, as Keith remembered Madeline's voice. It was something not meant to be heard. Tugging at primal emotions…
"As much as we're disturbed," The commander called out to them. "We need to keep moving…"
They explained to Keith that the back-up generators were online, but the elevator directly to the main generator was too damaged to use. That meant only one thing.
The Commander cursed as she turned to Jessica and Keith, "The only operational elevators—"
"Take us down through the Specimen Experimenting wings, in there, is an operational elevator to the backup generators." Jessica finished, and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Let me guess, this wing has some skeletons in the closets?"
The Commander nodded. Great. Keith sighed, shivering. He couldn't force the monster's voice from his head. The memory stuck like glue, nagging at the back of his mind.
"Let's go." Keith told them in a determined tone.
The group once again set off, this time, straight to the bowels of the facility. Heading straight for danger, and darkness…
Alright guys and girls, I know I promised the Monster girl Quest fanfiction, but the chapter it ended on left me with some writer's block. Anyways, to the guests that ask questions, it is best if you make a profile. A somewhat instant answer is much better than waiting at most, a couple of weeks... As to answer your question, the Resident Evil fanfiction is currently down and will be re-written at a later date to make it a better read. Now then, get ready for the re-write of the Undertale mini crossover! Agent Archangel, singing out.