Hatching Evil | SCP-3199 (Part 1)

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It even helps you make sense of risk and return. Monzo, the bank that gets your money moving. You could get back less than you invest. Monzo current account required UK residents 18 plus T's and C's apply. The sound of men shouting brought me out of my cell. Since I had been assigned to a cell on the first floor of the two floor holding facility, I couldn't at first see what was going on. I only saw a cluster of prisoners gathered in the middle of the common area, in between two sets of bolted down picnic style tables with uncomfortable metal seats. All the prisoners wore the ubiquitous orange jumpsuits, but some of them had tied their sleeves around their waists, only wearing white undershirts or no shirts at all. Bright halogen lights shown from high above as more and more prisoners approached to see what was going on. It didn't take a genius to know there was a fight brewing. Some instinct told me to leave it alone, to go back to my cell. God, I wish I had listened to that instinct. If I had gone back to the cell, I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in now. But I was still getting to know the players here and trying to find my place in the pecking order so I sauntered over to the gathered men. I'm not very tall, so to see what was happening, I stepped onto one of the metal picnic table seats and peered over the heads of the gathered, shouting men. One guy I recognized. He wasn't hard to spot because he was the only prisoner not wearing an orange jumpsuit. Instead, he wore a silk Hawaiian shirt, board shorts, and flip flops. When I had asked Kasim, my new celly, what prisoner ran the cell block, his answer was Tanner. What does he look like? I had asked. He's the only guy around here who dresses like an asshole. Kasim said from where he lounged on his bunk. Suddenly, his dark eyes widened as he met my gaze. But don't tell them I said that. Please, he's not someone you want to fuck with. Just stay out of his way. Tanner looked like he had been a wrestler or MMA fighter before ending up in prison. He had the cauliflower ears, the scars in his eyebrows, and the physique. He was facing off against a skinny, bespectacled guy I recognized, but whose name I didn't know. I had only been here two days, and I hadn't learned all the names yet. The skinny guy looked like he was trying to surrender. He had his palms held out and a terrified look on his face. His mouth moved speedily, but I couldn't hear what he was saying over the shouts calling for a fight. He tried to back out of the circle created by banging prisoners, but the guys around the edges wouldn't let him. They kept pushing him back toward Tanner. I peered over the crowd at the guard station. Two guards sat behind the reinforced glass at their desks, looking bored. Apparently, they weren't going to do anything about this. Tanner seemed to love all the attention. He grinned as he glanced around, crooked yellow teeth on full display. After a minute more of toying with the guy, he punched him in the face, shattering his glasses and knocking him unconscious. He fell for my view as he collapsed. I figured the fight was over, but many in the crowd kept screaming for Tanner to hit him again. From the big man's body language, I could tell his second hit was a kick. He paused and looked around at his adoring fans, still grinning. They wanted more. This time, Tanner stomped on the guy. Even above the shouts, I could hear a sickening crunch. Unable to take it anymore, I jumped down off the seat and shouldered my way through the crowd. I had to see what was happening. Some guys got mad and elbowed me in the ribs, but I ignored them. Although I'm short, I'm also stocky and in shape. I've been in my share of fights, but even so, I knew Tanner would absolutely obliterate me. Maybe that's why I pushed my way through the crowd. Maybe I saw myself in the skinny guy. Maybe I knew it could easily be me on the floor, unconscious, getting stomped on. By the time I reached the center of the crowd, Tanner had hit him twice more. The man's jaw was broken, hanging at an odd angle. Blood leaked from several wounds on his head. Tanner played up to the crowd and then stomped on the man's face again, collapsing his left eye socket. He was killing him. Why weren't the guards doing anything? I couldn't understand it. When Tanner went in for another hit, I stepped halfway out into the circle and yelled, I think he's out enough. Tanner swung his huge head in my direction, looking at me like I was a dog who just nipped his ankle. The crowd quieted for a moment. Still looking at me, Tanner raised one foot. He was barefoot, I could see, having slipped his flip-flops off and slammed it down into the man's throat, collapsing his windpipe. There was no doubt in my mind the man would die, but my concern was now more for my own safety. Sorry, I said idiotically. None of my business. As I turned to leave, Tanner moved toward me, much faster than his bulk should have allowed. His fist connected with my face and my lights went immediately out. When I woke up, I was surprised to find I wasn't dead. I was equally surprised, once I realized where I was, that I hadn't been taken to the infirmary. A lockdown announcement had brought me around, and as I tried to sit up from where I'd fallen after Tanner hit me, a stab of pain went through my head. The cell block spun, and I nearly passed out again. In a daze, I looked around to see that the man Tanner had been beating on was still lying on the concrete floor. My left eye was swollen almost shut, half my vision blurry, but I could see him clearly enough. Everyone else was gone, and half the lights were out, signaling that the nightly lockdown was imminent. Fighting the pain and nausea, I crawled on all fours to the man. Before even touching him, I knew he was dead. Still, I felt for a pulse anyway. His skin was cold, the blood that had pulled under his head nearly dried to a dark, gummy consistency. Baze up! What the fuck are you doing out of your cell? A guard screamed at me. You've got three seconds to get to your bunk, or I'll shut my foot up your ass! What the hell is this place? I thought as I lurched to my feet, using one of the bolted down tables to keep from falling over as I headed toward my cell. As I went, I glanced up toward Tanner's cell on the second level. He stood in his open cell doorway, grinning down at me. Before I lost him from view, he licked his lips and raised his eyebrows, still staring into my eyes. I lurched into my cell with barely a moment to spare before the doors to all the cells rolled shut with a headache worsening clang. I collapsed onto the lidless, stainless steel toilet and looked up at Kasim, who was pointedly ignoring me from his bunk. A book in hand. What the hell is this place? I asked as the rest of the lights went out, plunging us into darkness. And why does it feel like Tanner runs it? Kasim snorted in the darkness. If you're not far off. My eyes were still adjusting to the sudden darkness, so I couldn't see Kasim's face. Okay, so why? Does he have dirt on the guards or something? Is he a drug dealer paying them off? How can they just let him kill a guy and do nothing about it? What the hell did they tell you to get you to transfer here? I hesitated. My lawyer said it was an experimental kind of prison, like the ones they have in Europe. They teach you a skill so you can get a job on the outside, that kind of thing. Was this your lawyer or a lawyer? I could now see Kasim through the gloom. He had put his book down and was staring at me, expectantly from the top bunk. I cleared my throat. He... I think he said he was mine. Or maybe he implied it. But you never saw the guy before that. And you never signed any papers saying he was your legal counsel, right? No. I guess not. It was all a lie, man. This place is more fucked up than you can imagine. And Tanner isn't even the half of it. What do you mean? I'm snorted. Your guy said it was experimental, huh? Well, I guess that's right. There's experiments, alright? Half of them are getting to see if you can kill something, or if something can kill you. That's why Tanner can do whatever he wants. Because he's good at killing shit. My head was hurting more and more as the conversation continued. What the hell does that mean? You're not making any sense. Can't explain it, man. You'll just have to wait and see. You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway. I never wondered if your hearing is still up to scratch. R&ID's free online hearing check means you don't need to wonder anymore. Take a three-minute interactive test in the comfort of your own home. All you need is your phone and some headphones, which there's a strong chance you have with you right now, and you get a result straight away. Do it now and your ears will say thank you. Visit rnid.org slash check. With one hand, I touched my swollen left eye, feeling the tight, sensitive skin. Then I touched a painful area on the back of my head, probably where I'd hit the concrete after Tanner punched me. As I touched that area, feeling dried blood there, a bright flash of pain sliced through my head. Growning, I crawled onto my bunk and shut my eyes against the pain, praying for it to go away. After about an hour, it had faded enough for me to fall asleep. I hadn't been unconscious long before I heard my cell door opening. I looked up in time to see a guard reaching toward me. Get up, Mesa. He growled, yanking me off my bunk. What's going on? I asked as he shoved me out of the cell, past another guard. Shut up, move over there. He pointed to where three other men stood. One of them was Tanner. He was smiling, now dressed in black clothes and boots. It was still dark, but the light from the guard station illuminated the area enough for me to see clearly. When I resisted, the guard took out his nightstick and whacked me in the back of the knee with it. I cried out and went down on one knee. Go, or so help me, I'll hit you again. He said, the other guard hadn't spoken at all. I got up and limped over, and we joined the trio standing around the man Tanner had stomped to death. The other two guys with Tanner were known to me only by their faces. One was a shy-looking black guy with a short beard and a bald head. The other one was a white guy with big arms and a barrel chest. They both stared at me with a look asking, do you know what the hell's going on? I'm sure I had the same look on my face. As I closed in, Tanner stepped back and pointed at the dead man. Pick Barraza up. We're taking him with us. All three of us looked at the two guards. The one who'd done all the talking said, do what he says. After a moment of conferring and exchanging names, we picked Barraza up off the floor. I took one arm, the black guy Denson took the other. The white guy, Amrik, took the dead man's legs. Tanner and the talking guard led the way while the silent guard followed behind. Tanner joked with the guard, and they picked up a name as the two of them talked, Scofield. We went through a series of locked doors, unlocked by Scofield, until we came to a part of the prison I'd never seen before. As we continued down wide, windowless hallways lined with large, reinforced steel doors. I started to doubt we were in a prison at all. If it was one, it was unlike any I'd ever seen before. My head throbbed and my knee ached with each step. Barraza grew heavier until I was sure I would drop him, but we got a moment of respite outside one of the massive steel doors at the end of the long hallway. Scofield used an intercom built into the wall to communicate with someone. We're here. The staticky reply came back momentarily. Yes, I see you. We're ready to start. One moment. I looked around and found a camera in one corner. The hum of machinery sounded from the door, which opened, two halves sliding opposite directions on a track. Beyond the doorway was a small room about the size of a hospital elevator, ones designed to fit gurneys into easily. Another door, equally heavy duty, stood closed on the opposite side. The two guards ushered us inside, corpse and all. They stayed outside, watching as the door closed on the four of us. Tanner grinned at me. You're one dumb son of a bitch. I can't wait to see the look on your face when you realize what's in store for you. I said nothing and kept my eyes on the floor. Can we put this guy down or what? Hammering asked. Shut up. Tanner snapped. The door we hadn't come through slid open. A breeze swept through the slowly opening door, bringing with it cool air and the scent of trees and dirt. For years, I had only been outside in an exercise yard. I had long ago given up yearning to go walking in the woods, but now here I was. Although I couldn't see very far thanks to the darkness, I knew we were going outside. Outside. Good fucking luck. Tanner said, darting through the door and disappearing at a run into the darkness. My excitement deflated as I looked at Denson and Hamrick. Take the body outside. Announced a voice from a nearby speaker. The three of us walked the body out. Sure enough, we were outside. I could see a dark mass of trees off in the distance. Clouds skittered past in the sky, illuminated by weak starlight. Behind us, the door closed. I looked over my shoulder to see that the two very tall concrete walls stretched off in either direction. There would be no climbing them, that was for sure. Let's put him down. Denson said in a soft voice. We put Barajas down and then looked in all directions. What are we supposed to do? Hamrick asked. A freakishly high-pitched scream erupted from somewhere in the trees ahead. The thought that Tanner had made this noise to scare us came and went almost instantly. It was no noise Tanner could have made, much less any human. I was still frozen in place on high alert, wondering whether fight or flight would be my next move when the disembodied voice spoke from the speaker behind us. Kill all the adults and the eggs and you can leave. Oh, and I guess you'll need to survive Tanner too. These two sentences were spoken with mirth. At the end of the second, the man actually laughed before letting go of the transmit button. I wanted to throw a tantrum to scream about how unfair this was, but another high-pitched scream, like some combination of a rooster, a howler monkey, and a murder victim erupted from the woods. It was louder, the source growing nearer. And as I peered that way, a massive whitish figure raced through the trees toward us. From a distance, its body reminded me of an upside-down light bulb with thick black legs and long, spindly arms. As it broke from the trees, I glimpsed a freakishly human face at the top of its long upper body, its two wide eyes glowed faintly white under a bald bulbous head. It had two slits for nostrils and a lipless mouth with black gums and sharp teeth, creating a constant sneer. Two long chicken legs with black talons gouged at the earth as the creature raced towards us. It struck a fear so deep in me I couldn't breathe. Then hemorrhage darted away, bolting to the left along the concrete wall. I felt a hand grip my arm, yanking me to the right. It took me a moment to realize it was Denson pulling me along. Forcing myself to breathe, I got my legs working, so he didn't have to pull me along anymore. We ran, glancing over our shoulders at the creature. It moved with a head bobbing strut of a running chicken. But despite all its ungainliness, it moved fast. Its head turned toward us as it ran, but its body didn't change direction. It was headed for the door we'd come through. And as we kept moving, soon angling away from the wall and toward the woods, its eyes kept on us. Head turning so far, its neck should have broken. It slowed as it reached the door. I figured it was going to attempt to break out of the enclosure, but instead it stopped beside Barajas. Finally taking its eyes off us, its head whipping forward like it was on a swivel. It bent over to inspect the corpse we had carried into the place. The same instinct that had led me into the crowd of prisoners hours earlier now compelled me to stop as we reached the treeline. Earlier, I had waited into the shouting men to learn something about the pecking order in the prison. And I had learned something the hard way. Now was my chance to learn something about what we were up against. If the only way out was to kill this creature, then we needed to learn as much as we could about it. What are you doing? Dense and hissed, still vibrating with sickening fear. I crouched behind a tree and looked toward the creature, which was engrossed in inspecting the corpse. I'm gone, he said. I reached out and grabbed his wrist. Wait, we need to know what it's doing. We need to know what we're up against. The freaky ass human chicken thing with no feathers, that's what Denseon said, staring at the creature. It must be 10 feet tall. I've never seen anything like this, not even in a horror movie. I turned my attention back to the creature, letting go of Denseon's wrist, because it seemed he was going to stick with me, at least for now. Although the creature had long arms that ended in three thick clawed digits, it didn't use them as it prodded the corpse. Instead, it used one of its feet, slicing open the skin over the stomach with one huge claw. After a bit more prodding and slicing, it doubled over, sneering mouth, stopping within two feet of the corpse. Its body spasmed, waves rolling along its faintly wet-looking, dirty white skin. After gagging like a cat trying to cough up a hairball, it puked a lumpy red liquid onto the corpse's chest, where it had split the skin with its talons. The red liquid steamed as it ate into the corpse's flesh like some kind of acid, but the creature wasn't done. It stood back up and faced skyward, before letting loose another clamorous scream. Whereas the other screams seemed to be something like a rooster's crow, this one was laden with pain. Again, the creature spasmed and shook, looking like it was going to vomit more red liquid out. Instead, a bulging lump emerged at the bottom of its long throat and then traveled up toward its mouth, stretching its strange white skin as it went. Its jaw dislocated like a snake's a moment before the lump protruded from its mouth. Ah, what the hell, man? Tenzin exclaimed. The bulbous-shaped orb of yellow-white that came out could only be one thing, an egg, like the laughing guy on the intercom had mentioned, that same red liquid oozed down its smooth sides as the creature settled it in the half-melted torso of the corpse. Once it was done, it backed away, turned around, and then stood guard, swiveling its head this way and that. You think it'll stay there until it hatches? Tenzin asked. Probably. You think it's the only one? I thought about what the guy on the intercom had said. He had used the plural, creatures. No, I don't think so. Me either. I guess we need to find something to use as a weapon. I nodded. My thoughts exactly. The enclosure was large, but it didn't go on forever. We found the back of it, and my guess put it at about 10 acres. As Tenzin and I moved through the woods, we saw no sign of any more creatures, nor of Tanner or Hamric. Not until we came to a long wooden structure, about 10 yards from the back wall of the enclosure. It wasn't like any structure I'd seen before, being long, windowless, and about 12 feet tall. I figured it had been designed for the creatures, kind of like a nesting box for them. The only door we saw was on the side nearest us, and it was wide open. Both Tenzin and I had picked up a rock and a stick to use as weapons, but we now stopped outside the structure, looking at that dark, open doorway. A board with nails sticking out on one end would be ideal, he said. You think it's worth the risk? Tenzin shrugged. If you make it out alive, yeah? It was worth the risk, if not. I guess that's one way to look at it. I peered around, straining my ears for any sign of Tanner or more creatures. The night was currently quiet, save for the sounds of crickets and the occasional nocturnal bird. I'm going to try the outside, I said. You got my back? Tenzin nodded. We ran to the back of the structure, where I started searching for a loose board while Tenzin kept his head on a swivel. I found one, and as I started prying it off with my fingers, another worldly shriek sounded from inside the structure. Scared but determined to get the board off, I braced my foot against the wall and used my body weight to yank on the warped two by eight. The nails protested as they came gradually free. I had pulled the board away enough to create a gap to see into the structure. Movement caught my eye in the dark interior, a split second before a white arm shot out, hitting the board and knocking it loose before the three digit hand gripped my face. The claws pierced my scalp in one ear. Unable to see anything, I was helpless, but Tenzin smashed the arm with his rock three quick times. The hand loosened enough for me to shove backward, using my leg against the wooden wall. I fell back, the claws opening gashes on the sides of my head as I went down. The hand pulled back into the gap and was quickly replaced by a sneering white face identical to the creature we'd seen. I scrambled up and gripped my prize, ready to swing the nails into the thing's face. But it darted away before I could, clearly headed toward the doorway. Run! Tenzin said, darting down the back of the long structure. I followed him, blood streaming down my face, my left eye even more swollen than before. After only a few strides, another of those ungodly screams erupted from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I saw the creature barreling toward us with its ungainly chicken-like run. There was no way we could get away. To our left, the long wooden structure stretched at least 100 yards. The concrete wall on our right blocked any potential escape in that direction. I was no sprinter and neither was Densen. We were already slowing down. The board I was carrying didn't help. It was three feet long and heavy. We have to fight! I gasped, hearing the creature grow closer as its taloned feet crushed fallen leaves, twigs, and dried pine needles under them. Densen glanced over his shoulder but kept running. It was clear I had to do this alone. I came to a quick stop, spinning around and holding the board in both hands over my shoulder, ready to swing the protruding nails into the creature. This close, its lower body resembled a giant, hairless chicken. Its upper body was more humanoid, but its long, spindly arms crooked at the elbow as it ran, like wings. Recalling how the other creature had only used its feet to gouge Baraha's corpse, I hoped this one wouldn't use its arms to defend against what I was planning. If it could snatch the board from me, I would be in trouble. As it closed in, I realized Densen was right. The thing had to be nearly 10 feet tall. Its faintly glowing eyes stared out of its gruesome, sneering face, fixed on me as it lunged forward, not slowing. I shifted my feet, backing and angling away. But as it neared, I lost my nerve. Panic took over, and I slung the board at the creature from eight feet away, regretting it, even as the wood left my hands. The two by eight whipped through the air and crashed into the thing's legs. It made a sound halfway between a squawk and a scream as it tripped and went down, shaking the ground with its weight. It tried to cushion its fall, but its weak arms were so small compared to the rest of it, they didn't help much. I contemplated running again, but I doubted I would get far. And even if I did, I had given up my weapon. I wouldn't last long. Acting on impulse, I leaped onto the thing's back as it got to its feet with surprising speed. Its skin was clammy and covered in bumps with tiny translucent hairs sticking out of them. The stiff hairs dug into my skin as I wrapped one arm around its long neck. The thing squawked again and spun around, trying to throw me off. It raised its arms, but I quickly wrapped my legs around its tapered body, pinning the weak arms to its sides. Now I was riding it like a kid piggybacking an adult. As I squeezed its neck, the flesh shifted under my arm. The head spun completely around on its rubbery neck, surprising me even though I had seen the other one do something similar. Our faces inches away, the thing screamed, a putrid stench erupting from its rotten mouth. I let go of its neck, bringing both hands up to its face and digging my thumbs into its eyes. It screamed again, only this time in pain. It tried to spin its head back around, but I held it in place with all the strength in my upper body, digging my thumbs deeper into its eye sockets. The delicate orbs squelched and collapsed wetly under my nails. It screamed, running around in circles, trying to get its arms out from under my legs. I kept digging, thumbs disappearing to the first knuckles. Reddish black blood sprung from around the digits, and I felt a kind of sick satisfaction. It had made me bleed, and now I was paying it back. My hands aching, muscles screaming, I forced my thumbs deeper into its humanoid skull, up to the second knuckles. I worked the tips of them around, feeling what I assumed was brain ripping to shreds. The creature spasmed and squawked, only this time not as loudly. With one final effort, it spun and threw itself into the wooden structure, smashing me back first into the wood. I shouted in pain, but the impact only helped my thumbs sink the rest of the way into its skull. It spasmed violently as it rolled off the wooden structure and fell to the ground. It was only luck that it didn't fall on me. Its weight would have crushed me. I panted on top of the creature as it went perfectly still. I kept my thumbs in its eye sockets, moving them around to destroy whatever brains it had, just to be sure. When I was certain it was dead, I pulled my thumbs out with twin squelches, and stumbled away from the thing until I fell on my ass a few yards away. Huffing, I stared at it, and it started to move. No! I groaned, lurching to my feet and running over to snatch the board. As I turned back to the creature, board held ready, an egg traveled up its throat and plopped out of its mouth. It rolled a few feet before coming to rest and a divot in the ground. The creature didn't move again. The egg must have been propelled by some kind of automatic process triggered at death. Kill all the adults and the eggs, and you can leave, the man had said over the intercom. Fine, I thought, stepping over to the beach ball-sized egg. I raised the board, nails down, and slammed it down onto the egg. It bounced off the yellow-white surface, leaving behind not a scratch. Brows furrowed, I looked at the nails. They were flattened, as if I just slammed them down into concrete. Holding the board aside, I reached down and touched the surface of the egg. It was rubbery and thick, not like a chicken egg at all. What the hell? I muttered, how am I supposed to kill the eggs if they're made of some goddamn wonder substance? Wow! A familiar voice called from nearby. Startled, I looked in that direction to see Tanner and Denson coming toward me. Tanner was the one who'd spoken, and he was grinning as he neared. Denson looked like he was going to vomit. I could see why. Tanner had a fucking flamethrower, complete with fuel pack worn on his back. In one hand, he held the nozzle, pointed at Denson's head. The pilot flamed danced at the end of the nozzle, ready for fuel to turn it into a geyser of fire. With his other hand, Tanner gripped the collar of Denson's orange jumpsuit. I quickly flipped the board around, so the other set of nails was at the end. Not that it would do much good against a flamethrower. You actually killed one. I'm impressed. Didn't think you had it in you. Especially after I knocked you out with one punch. What the fuck is going on here? I asked, backing away as Tanner dragged Denson closer. Stop moving, or I'll fry your little friend here. Go ahead. I said, still moving back, calling his bluff. Tanner smiled wider and then twisted, shoving Denson's head down, even as he brought his knee up to meet the smaller man's face. I winced at the sound of Denson's nose shattering. He went limp and collapsed to the ground, out cold. I stopped moving. Denson seemed like a good enough guy, despite him taking off on me. I didn't want his death on my conscience. Okay, okay, just what do you want? Tanner, once again pointing the flamethrower at Denson, said, I want you to figure out how to destroy the eggs. Just use your flamethrower. He shook his head. Already tried it. Something about the heat makes them hatch faster. We don't want that, do we? The little ones are fast and ferocious. Plus, whenever you kill one that was hatched, they lay another egg. We don't want that either, do we? What the hell is this place? Why do you get a flamethrower? What the hell is going on here? Too many questions, not enough destroying. Get to it, or I'll set him on fire. I looked down at the egg and then back at Tanner. Any suggestions? I don't know. Smash it. Pick it up and throw it against the wall. Just try something before more of them show up. I glanced at Denson, seeing that one of his eyes was open. He stared at me and then flicked his eye to Tanner. He was faking, trying to tell me something. Apparently, I had been looking at Denson for too long, because Tanner whipped his head that way. Denson closed his eye an instant before Tanner looked at him. OK. I said, stepping to the egg. Here goes nothing.