Of Men and Monsters

Nine: Respite

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was confused for a moment, as I forgot I dyed my hair.

I went through my morning routine not bothering to use the concealer that I bought recently. Just eyeliner. Rather low-effort, as I don't feel like doing much today.

I could just hide in here-

My phone rang, and I checked the caller ID. It was Ten, I mean, who else would it be? Ignored it.

I studied 049's files like they were a study guide for a test that could make or break my final grade.
I paced the room.
I played the audio files.

My anxiety was sky-high.
Every time 049 spoke, I felt my hair stand on end.
If I want to seem even remotely calm and collected, that can't happen.

I finished the audio and went back to sitting down and I picked apart the rest of the files and built a very skeletal profile. I wrote it all down.

What can I use against it? What shouldn't I mention? What can I do to make things go my way and keep it that way? I can tear it apart, get what I need, and leave. It can't be too difficult.

I have two days until I have to be in the same room as it. I began to commit its file to memory.

I stood back up and searched through my belongings. I found sticky notes and began to write useful information on them and stick them to the wall. The silence was driving me insane. I need to have something playing in the background.

I opened Spotify on my phone and selected a song to play on loop.

I went back to work and got my thoughts back in order and onto paper. I reviewed the files several times and had over 20 sticky notes on the wall. I took a break and stretched.

I should eat, but I'm not hungry. When did I eat last?

I fell onto my bed and sighed. Maybe I should just sleep for a couple of days.

Sleep is a waste of time.

I sat up and grabbed my laptop, logging out of my work account and hopping onto my personal one. I paced my room, reciting newly memorised information.

"Description: SCP-049 is a humanoid entity, roughly 1.9 meters in height, which bears the appearance of a medieval plague doctor." I took a moment to reflect. It's like, 6'2, I'm just shy of 5'2. That makes me even more uncomfortable. Finding someone taller than me is not hard at all, although the fact that SCP-049 looks the way it does is unsettling to say the least.
"While SCP-049 appears to be wearing the thick garments and the ceramic mask indicative of that profession, the garments instead seem to have grown out of SCP-049's body over time, and are now nearly indistinguishable from whatever form is beneath them. X-rays indicate that despite this, SCP-049 does have a humanoid skeletal structure beneath its outer layer." I took a deep breath.

"SCP-049 is capable of speech in a variety of languages, though it tends to prefer English or medieval French." I hate the French language.

"While SCP-049 is generally cordial and cooperative with Foundation staff, it can become especially irritated if it feels it is in the presence of what it calls the 'Pestilence'. Although the nature of this 'Pestilence' is currently unknown to Foundation researchers, it does seem to be an issue of immense concern to SCP-049." It is because the 'pestilence' is bullshit and does not exist, and the damn thing is insane.

"SCP-049 will become hostile with individuals it sees as being affected by the Pestilence, often having to be restrained should it encounter such. If left unchecked, SCP-049 will generally attempt to kill any such individual; SCP-049 is capable of causing all biological functions of an organism to cease through direct skin contact." A polite way to say they die.