Chapter Text
"Why are you here?"
SCP-004's cell seemed like its own pocket dimension, to be honest Cross wouldn't be surprised if it was.
The cave walls were a dark shade of purple, almost black in the low light. Bioluminescent plants shined colors of purple, blue, and green, the crystals that accompanied them creating a gentle light show for its dweller.
Or dwellers, as it happened to be.
In the distance, covered in dark, the lights highlighted angles of SCP-004, gazing at him with that seafoam eye. Tentacles, perhaps 30 of them down his spine, all swaying as ghostly wisp flew from them.
Digitigrade legs, claws, narrow skull, and horns... Cross would have identified the entity as a Manidracid.
Or perhaps a large raptor, stalking in the dark.
Just waiting. Watching.
"Everyone comes here for a reason." He could see the light reflex off of every tooth, and the seafoam glow of the tongue in the eldritch's maw. "So tell me Cross. What's your reason?"
SCP-004 inclined its head, and Cross answered accordingly, "My superiors have questions they would like you to answer."
"No, none of that." He shook his head, stepping further into view, four clawed toes carefully stepping around plants as not to crush them. Even though it looked as if he wasn't necessarily paying attention to the ground, eyelight glued to Cross's form. "Not their reason... yours, young one."
The closer the entity got the taller it looked, Cross had been told 8ft was the maximum height recorded, but even at the much shorter stature 004 was at now made it seem much larger.
Cross gave his feet a glace, realizing that his left foot was pressing up against an amethyst flower, forcing it to lean from the pressure.
He adjusted his foot away, carefully as not to hurt it, and the eldritch tracked the movement.
"Curiosity." Cross didn't give the answer much thought, it was the truth after all. But when the being in front of him raised a brow, Cross told the second truth. "Answers. 002 said you had answers for me."
SCP-004 was right in front of him now, towering over. The mass of tendrils behind it almost blocked out the view of the cavern behind it. The swirling eyelight bore down on him, and Cross fought to keep contact.
Then the SCP let out a small chuckle, smirking in approval. "Of course." The look it had was almost fond, and Cross didn't know if the expression promised any of the outcomes he desired.
Suddenly all of its tentacles disconnected, wiping away like smoke into the air, blending with the darkness as they faded. 004 turned around, beckoning him to follow. "Come along little guard, we have much to discuss."
"Oh and please, do call me Nightmare. Numbers make for such boring titles, wouldn't you agree?"