SCP-049 x Reader - Untouchable

Chapter 22

   I took a second to read it. "Uh... I think so." I nodded a bit absentmindedly. "It is." A small smile was thrown his way before I proceeded in reading it.

   "Glad to be of some help," he replied. In the corner of my vision, I was able to spot him turn away and resume distracting himself with observing the room.

   I finished reading it soon enough, even having to gloss over a few parts more than once, as I wanted to be absolutely sure I didn't mess anything up. Placing down the papers, I wheeled my way back over to the monitors and propped myself up in front of the correct one.

   Taking a deep breath, I began to work at it, there being a slight nervous strain to everything that I was doing. It was only seconds before I finished, it having not have been as complicated as I thought it would have been. Rising halfway from the seat, I leaned across the panels before gripping a leaver. A cold sweat brought itself over to me, the silence suddenly overwhelming. My eyes geared over to the doctor, who was watching me intently from where he was standing still.

   "Are you ready?"

   He gave a single nod.

   I flipped the switch, sirens immediately blaring in my ears as red lights began to flash. I bolted past the doctor, swiping one of his wrists in the process as I dragged him out of the room and down the circular hall in the direction of the elevator.

   We scrambled inside, and I pushed the button to go up. The doors closed, and I released the breath I had unknowingly  been holding as I leaned back and up against him. He allowed me to, arms wrapping around me as we both stood there, neither of us saying a word as the transporting machine vibrated beneath our feet.

   Thirty minutes.

   I closed my eyes, the scent of him vaguely wafting in my nose as I focused on the light headache forming. I wanted to throw up my own heart, and at the moment it was a struggle to breath properly.

   I feared that perhaps setting off the warhead was the worst idea I could have ever gone through with, and that I just set myself up for my own demise by pulling that leaver. The anticipation of my escape had just been put on a timer. If I escaped, then I would also have to face killing the him. I would have to kill him after indulging in the feelings between us. The guilt of that was clawing at me.

   Through the head. It'll be through the back of the head, so he won't know. He won't know. A cavity in my chest burst, eyes squeezing to prevent the tears from falling. He won't know. He won't know. It'll be over before he knows it. It'll be okay.

   The familiar dinging of the intercom sounded. "Attention all personnel, we're detonating the Omega Warhead. All personnel must be evacuated in the next thirty minutes." Then the usual ear-piercing click.

   Oh, god.

   I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Doc'?" I shifted a bit in his hold to face him, staring up at him. A hum was my only queue to proceed. "I... I'm sorry."

   He tilted his head to the side in an almost unnoticeable amount. "Whatever are you apolog— Ah..."

   I went forward, having pressed my lips on the side of his mask once more. It wasn't much, and I wish I could have done more. Perhaps I'll just... Find some way to get past that mask at some point... I don't know.

   My hands reluctantly fell from him. His own did not do the same. I was fine with it— I needed to be held at that moment anyhow. "Just... Sorry for not being the most useful. I've... I've been trying my best to right everything." The embarrassment was clear with the hint of pink on my face, eyes averting from him. And for what I have to do. And for the fact that I can't tell you that I'm going to do it.

   His head further cocked to the side, his words not coming out instantly as he stared at me in thought. "Is that why you're always asking if you've done well?"

   The shame further reddened my features. "Y... M... Maybe..." I lowered my head a bit, voice quiet.

   A light chuckle escaped him as he straightened where he stood, hands finally falling from me. "My dear, I am aware of your desire to right the wrong. Good heavens, it was evident from the first day you came into my cell! And you have no need to try and prove any sort of usefulness to me. You've been plenty help since the beginning of this breach, or whatever you'd wish to call it."

   I covered the lower half of my face with one hand to cover the smile on my face, feeling not only joyous but even more guilty upon hearing those words. I wished I hadn't brought any of that up.

   The elevator came to a jolting stop, the ding sounding right after as the doors began to slide open.

   "...Thank you," I mustered up. "Let's just— Let's just go. We can't die now." I took hold of his wrist once more as I rushed out of the elevator, the sirens and red lights still going.

   We raced down the placid corridors as fast as we were able to, the occasional black ooze visible in some spots. We paid no mind to it, only craving immensely for the taste of escape.

   Left. Right. Left. Left. Right.

   I skidded to a halt at a door with a sign above it.

   𝙶𝙰𝚃𝙴 𝙰

   My head snapped up to look at 049 as he, too, read what was on the sign. "Do you think...?" I hadn't felt the need to finish the question.

   He gave a single nod.

   Bliss crawled its way inside of me and into my brain, and I took no time in opening up the door and hastily making my way past it once it whirred open. The plague doctor had little choice but to follow, my hand still around his wrist. I gave it a light squeeze as I stopped once more, coming face to a large gate. It was almost identical to the one that had opened into 049's chambers.

   "We're here," I breathed out in almost disbelief. "We're here..." I approached the card scanner that was on the right wall next to the large, metal gate, having finally let go of his wrist. Fishing out one of the key-cards out, I took it to the scanner.

   The satisfying beep sounded, and I looked over to 049 as the gate began to roll back into the wall. My heart could have leaped out my chest at any second as I slipped back in the key-card into my jumpsuit's pockets, approaching the doctor once more.

   Despite all of the joy— To which it was becoming increasingly difficult to not tear up from all of the overwhelming emotions— I was still feeling immensely anxious. Past the gate was something I really, really hadn't wanted to do. Yet I needed to. I needed to and I loathed it immensely.

   Right as I was about to turn and head through the still-opening gates, I froze in place when I came face to it beginning to close back shut. "Wh..." No... No, no...

   "Oh, dear," the anomaly next to me mumbled, staring at the door as it shut completely.

   Eyes wide, I looked around rapidly, and then over to the scanner. Its once blue light was now red. A shiver shot down my spine. Not again. My breathing hastened and I fumbled in my steps. I wasn't really going anywhere, but I wasn't able to tolerate staying still.

   A dead-toned voice crackled through the speakers in the room. "I cannot allow you to leave, [Last Name]."