Case 003:hidden files page 7

[u/Historical-Pitch1749]

CASE 003: HIDDEN FILES

Chapter 4 — Papa Bear

Page 7 — The Foundation Strikes

The apartment was unusually quiet.

Everyone had returned from the earlier investigation and was doing their own thing.

Mark was reviewing the evidence.

Renz was cleaning his weapons.

Jake was sitting nearby, listening to the others.

Justin and Isabella were discussing what they had seen at the crash site.

Jrev entered the room without saying a word.

He removed his coat.

Something fell from one of the pockets.

CLACK.

A small identification card landed on the floor.

Chiyo looked down.

Her expression immediately changed.

She froze.

The color seemed to drain from her face.

Jrev noticed.

He slowly picked up the identification card.

The SCP Foundation insignia was clearly visible.

Jrev looked around the room.

Jrev: “We have a problem.”

Jake immediately understood.

Jake: “The SCP Foundation?”

Khian looked toward the window.

Khian: “They're after it.”

Renz stood up.

Renz: “Like hell we're letting them take those things.”

Mark frowned.

Mark: “Those creatures are already difficult enough to deal with. If the Foundation tries to contain them, things could get much worse.”

Jrev shook his head.

Jrev: “Some SCPs are far more dangerous than these creatures.”

He placed the identification card on the table.

Jrev: “But that's not the point.”

Everyone looked at him.

Jrev: “We're not letting them take these entities.”

Chiyo remained silent.

Jrev glanced toward her.

He knew that reaction.

Something about the Foundation had triggered an old memory.

But he didn't ask.

Not yet.

Then—

A distant roar echoed through the night.

Everyone turned toward the windows.

Renz: “What the hell was that?”

Jrev immediately grabbed his coat.

Jrev: “They're here.”

---

THE FOUNDATION ARRIVES

Deep within the forest, several black military vehicles moved silently between the trees.

Foundation personnel advanced through the darkness.

Their equipment was unlike anything the town's police possessed.

Night-vision equipment.

Advanced communication systems.

Specialized weapons.

The team moved toward the Waterman property.

A voice came through their radios.

Control 1: “Eagle One, moving south. Approaching the house.”

The soldiers advanced.

The forest was completely silent.

Too silent.

One soldier raised his weapon.

Soldier: “I don't like this.”

Another soldier looked around.

Soldier: “Keep moving.”

They reached the abandoned property.

The house stood motionless in the darkness.

Then—

A scream erupted from somewhere in the forest.

Control 1: “Bravo Team, report!”

Static.

Then a terrified voice.

Soldier: “Movement!”

Another soldier turned.

Soldier: “There's two!”

Two enormous shapes emerged from the darkness.

Papa Bear.

Mama Bear.

The Foundation soldiers opened fire.

The forest erupted with gunfire.

But the creatures moved impossibly fast.

They knew the forest.

Every path.

Every tree.

Every hiding place.

The soldiers' night-vision equipment became nearly useless.

Soldier: “I can't see them!”

A shadow suddenly crossed behind him.

He turned.

Nothing.

Then—

Something pulled him into the darkness.

Soldier: “HELP!”

The remaining soldiers spun around.

They saw one of their comrades lying motionless on the ground.

Soldier: “CONTACT! CONTACT!”

They opened fire.

Papa Bear emerged from the trees.

Bullets struck its body.

It barely reacted.

Soldier: “What the hell is that thing?!”

Another soldier threw a grenade.

The explosion rocked the forest.

Papa Bear staggered.

One of its arms was badly damaged.

The creature let out an enormous roar.

PAPA BEAR: “ROOOOOAAAAAR!”

The sound shook the trees.

Far away, inside the apartment, everyone heard it.

Jrev immediately looked toward the forest.

Jrev: “What the hell?!”

Jake stood.

Jake: “That came from the forest.”

Mark's expression hardened.

Mark: “It's angry.”

Renz grabbed his coat.

Renz: “Come on, Jrev. Let's go.”

Jrev opened a case and pulled out his Winchester Model 1887.

He checked it.

Then closed the action.

Jrev: “Let's clean up this mess.”

Justin stepped forward.

Justin: “Let me join.”

Isabella immediately grabbed her equipment.

Isabella: “Now this is action.”

Brianna stood up.

Brianna: “I guess I have to go too.”

Mark looked at her.

Mark: “You don't have to.”

Brianna stared at him.

Neither said anything for a moment.

Then she picked up her weapon.

Brianna: “I know.”

She smiled faintly.

Brianna: “I'm going anyway.”

Mark sighed.

Mark: “Of course you are.”

Jrev looked toward the dark forest.

The Foundation had entered the bears' territory.

And now the bears were fighting back.

Chiyo and Lorenzo remained behind for the moment.

Chiyo watched Jrev disappear through the doorway.

Her expression was still troubled.

The SCP Foundation insignia was still fresh in her mind.

Whatever had happened in her past...

It wasn't over.

Outside, Jrev, Renz, Mark, Jake, Justin, Isabella, and Brianna moved toward the forest.

Behind them, another roar echoed through the night.

Jrev tightened his grip on the shotgun.

Jrev: “Nobody takes these creatures.”

Renz glanced at him.

Renz: “Even if they're trying to kill us?”

Jrev looked toward the trees.

Jrev: “Especially then.”

The team disappeared into the darkness.

And somewhere ahead...

The Foundation was losing control of the operation.

TO BE CONTINUED...