Chapter Text
Team B which consisted of leader Isla Balzac, Steven Huang, Laurel Snyder, Mike Bell, and Daniel Mueller, had no luck in containing any alternates. On their journey, they managed to find an alternate, but the demon was too fast for them to catch. Their guns did not affect the monster one bit, and so the monster laughing at their attempts to subdue it, simply disappeared into a black mist. The team was wandering aimlessly in the deserted streets, trying to see if they can find any anomaly. A newspaper clipping that was flapping in the wind caught their eyes, and Leader Balzac strolled towards the newspaper and picked it up. Leader Balzac then began to read the newspaper out loud to her comrades.
'Friday 13th February 1984 Daily Mandela News. Two men identified as Neil and Joseph Lopez, had been found a couple of days ago deceased in Almond Street in a house that was owned by a family The Millers that were murdered by an alternate back in 1981. Neil's death is being treated as an alternate-related incident, due to him having a self-inflicted gunshot wound, alongside a notebook detailing his torment. Whereas, Joseph Lopez's death is mysterious, as he was found tortured in unimaginable ways which cannot be described. We all know that alternates can't physically touch their victims, which means his death must have been caused by a deranged serial killer. The authorities are trying their hardest to find the serial killer behind Joseph's death'
'Joseph had it coming' Mike said, smiling a bit as he spoke. 'Im so glad karma struck that piece of shit' Steven Huang nodded in agreement and responded. 'Yeah. Like who the hell kills their whole family?'
'Enough discussion' Leader Balzac said, clapping her hands loudly to get her comrade's attention. 'We are all going to Almond Street, to that abandoned house'
'We've been searching for hours though, but still no alternate. I bet we won't find one ' Daniel said, sighing. 'Like can we at least have a short break? I'm starving' Steven Huang also added. 'Yeah, I'm tired as well. With all this walking about, it drained my energy '
'No' Leader Balzac said, again with a stern expression on her face. 'A soldier's mission always comes first, remember that comrades'
Leader Balzac then promptly turned around, and her comrades followed her in utter silence. They eventually reached Almond Street, and they saw that the street was completely empty with no sight of anyone around. The abandoned house was at the end of the street, and together they all walked towards the house.
As they were walking in silence, Laurel to her shock saw one of the house's curtains get drawn. At the window, was a confused-looking girl, the girl quickly draw back the curtains when she realized Laurel noticed her. Laurel stopped in her tracks, which alerted the attention of the other comrades whom also stopped walking.
'Someone saw us' Laurel said, pointing at the house beside her. 'That can't be avoided, walk on' Leader Balzac simply said, then continued to walk towards the house.
The soldiers stopped in front of the house and looked up. The house had green ivy climbing up its walls, and the windows looked like they'd been scraped by something. The wooden door which had to be knocked down by policemen days before, was resting against the brick wall of the house. The inside of the house lead to a pitch-black hallway, and the comrades could make out police tape in the hallway.
'So this is the house, they died in' Steven remarked, as if it wasn't obvious. 'I can tell it's haunted just by looking at it '
'If there's one thing I've learned working in the SCP foundation, is that a place where a death occurred is ten times more likely to be haunted' Mike said, looking at the house made him feel uneasy.
'Yes indeed Mike' Leader Balzac said, 'Now let's enter '
The soldiers followed Leader Balzac, into the house. They were soon enveloped by the darkness of the house, and so had to use a torch to illuminate their surroundings. 'We will split up' Balzac said.
'Laurel and Daniel will search upstairs. Mike will go to the kitchen, and Steve to the lounge. I shall search the bathroom' Leader Balzac instructed. 'If you see something, you must leave the room immediately, and alert the others. Then wait for backup. If the backup is futile, we will all wait outside and alert Team A of our whereabouts so they can help us '
'Do I make myself clear?' Leader Balzac said, with a stern tone in her voice. The comrades all said 'yes' in agreement, and they all went to their assigned places.
Mike pushed open the door and crept into the kitchen. The door shut with a loud thud, which almost made him jump out of his skin. 'Jesus Christ!' Mike yelled, looking back at the door. The door suddenly opened and Steve who was in the room next to Mike, stood at the doorway. 'Did you see anything?'
'Nope. Just the door' Mike responded. 'Ok, mate. Goodbye for now' Steve said, then left the room.
The kitchen had police tape all over, which means the crime scene possibly happened there. In the corner of the kitchen, in front of an analog TV, was a chalk outline of a person of where the body once was.
Mike walked towards the chalk outline and put a foot on the head of the chalk line. 'Kiss my feet, Joseph' Mike said, then began to chuckle to himself. 'Rot in hell, you worthless d-class'
Mike fuelled with hatred, then spat on the head of the chalk line.
Mike walked over to the kitchen counters and noticed dried blood on the counter, Mike looked back at the chalk outline and then at the counter again with a confused expression on his face. 'Huh? His body was on the floor. How did his blood get on the counter?'
Mike then took out his Samsung phone which was in his trousers pocket, and then, snapped a quick picture of the bloodstained counter.
'The serial killer must of spread his blood around, or some shit' Mike said, with disgust.
Mike scanned his surroundings, in search of any anomalies. But he was met with nothing.
'Nothing here, I suppose' Mike muttered to himself. Mike then walked over to the door, and as he was about to open the door, a robotic voice stopped him in his tracks.
'Mandela County has been taken over by an unforeseen threat'
Mike spun around. The source of the voice, was comming from the analogue tv in the corner of the room.
Mike walked towards the tv, and crouched in front of it. Mike then took out his Samsung and begun recording the tv.
The background of the analogue tv was dark blue, and there were two stick figures that appeared on the tv.
'These organisms named Alternates, who could be either aliens or demons have been terrorising mandela county'
Six stick figures appeared on the screen, each looking deformed. Either too tall, having oversized body parts, or upside down.
'These organisms take the form of their victims, often with faults. They kill using metaphysical awareness disorder, which will then end with their victim commiting suicide'
'Looks like im going to have to shoot them in their mouths' Mike said to himself.
'If you see someone that looks like you, run and hide immediatly. Lock all windows, lock every door in your house'
The screen then suddenly turned to static.
'Ok, guess that's the end of that' Mike said to himself, before getting up.
The tv then suddenly switched back on, but this time, the screen was black.
Red letters appeared on the screen, which said. 'Behind you'
Mike spun around gun in hand, and saw that there was no one behind him.
'Quit playing around shapeshifter, and show yourself' Mike said, irritated. 'Jesus I just want to go home man. Your making my mission twice as long'
Before Mike could react, two elongated black arms wrapped itself around his waist, hoisting him up. Mike's gun fell out of his hands, crashing onto the floor with a loud thud!
Mike was about to let out a scream to alert the others, then the black hand quickly covered his mouth, muffling his screams.
Tears spilled out from Mike's eyes, rolling down his cheek. Mike managed to turn his face to see the creature that was hoisting him up.
To Mike's horror, he saw two glowing eyes that were staring at him. He couldnt make out the creatures form, as it was pitch black, shadow like. It grinned and opened its mouth slightly, to reveal razor sheep teeth.
'You all let me to die but at what cost?' a mans voice said.
Mike stared at the man in fear. It was Joseph Lopez. But not quite.
The man standing before him, had pitch black souless eyes, and was floating slightly.
'At the cost of your lifes of course. I will fucking kill every single one of you, make you scream for mercy' Joseph said, with a tinge of insanity in his voice.
'Only then can I rest, when you are all dead. I want to watch the SCP foundation crumble to dust before me'
The alternate then removed its hand from Mike's mouth, to let him speak.
'I-I' Mike whimpered, his voice comming out in a whisper. 'Not my fault. L-let me go please'
Joseph Lopez cackled, and then said. 'I was watching you all the whole time. I saw how you said I deserved it for killing my family, you even spat on that chalk outline of my body. You fucking cunt'
Joseph Lopez then grabbed Mike's chin, forcing him to look up into Joseph's empty sockets.
Mike couldn't speak, as his tongue had dried up in his mouth. He was to petrified to speak.
'Oh Mike...None of you will ever leave this world, alive. I'm now going to give you a fate worser than death'
Joseph's jaw then elongated impossibly wide, down to his chest. Mike managed to let out a squeal, but it wasn't loud enough, for the others to hear him.
Before Mike could react, thick black tendrils came out of Joseph's mouth, and forced itself into Mike's mouth.
Mike blacked out instantly.