SCP Foundation's Only Hope

SCP 049 - The Plague Doctor

Once more small grey blue eyes glanced around as the small girl was escorted down another corridor, she had been prodded and poked by various doctors and nurses along with the staff of the facility where she had been found; her small form only covered in a set of pale blue pyjamas she had been given a few days before. There was little sound to indicate anyone else was close by but since she had been pulled from the dark vehicle a doctor ordered her into, she remembered the doctors speaking about sending her for another test but nothing else they said made sense to her; but then nothing made sense to her concerning these people. The only nice people were the monsters she had been put in with, even though they were scary and did things that scared her she still thought now thinking back that they were good; they didn't try to hurt her or hurt her on purpose like the doctors did. Blinking out of her thoughts as sounds got her attention the small girl looked up seeing a group of men leading another along from the intersection of corridors ahead of her and the men leading her along, most of the men looked like the ones she was with in black uniforms with odd symbols like logo's on them but the one in the centre was different; the first thing was the fact he was bound with a collar leading with chains to his bound together hands but that wasn't the oddest thing. His clothing though distinctly male were weird looking old fashioned and made of rough looking material with leather including a hood from the large almost flowing coat, but his face was hidden behind a mask with a large and long front which reminded her of a birds beak in a scary way; but when the man suddenly stopped turning to look at her the small girl shivered seeing piercing blue eyes staring back at her own grey blue ones. Within moments of the contact the man began thrashing violently his bindings seeming to give way under his strength as the men around him tried in view to keep him where he was, one of them pulling a bunch of purple flowers out of a bag and trying to push them to his masked face; she didn't understand why he had flowers but the thoughts soon disappeared when the masked man turned coming towards her and the men she was with. Absently she heard them warning the man to stop calling him a funny name like they had called the monsters before, why did they call him a number instead of a name? "049 return to your escorts!" The masked man ignored the man shouting at him and as he approached the small girl whimpered seeing the men who were at her sides a moment ago abandoning her as the masked man came closer, despite wanting to run away the small girl shiver in her place as she watched him come closer; her stomach hurting from the fear she felt as he grew closer.

When he was within arm's reach the man knelt down bringing his hands which were gloved in heavy leather to cup her face, his blue eyes wide as he searched her with his eyes moving her head as he pleased with a slight gentleness to his firm movements; clearly showing that he wasn't trying to hurt her but wouldn't take no for an answer either if she was even brave enough to try. "Parfait. Tu es tout simplement parfait, cher enfant, pas un signe de peste ne tache ton corps." The words he spoke confused the small girl and she knew he was speaking another language of some kind but she didn't know what one, but when she continued to shiver confusion clear on her face the masked man seemed to become gentler; his eyes becoming lighter as his hold on her face became so light it was just noticeable. This time his voice was quieter as if he was thinking through his words, and in english though there was an accent to it which resembled the words he had spoken before; which put the small girl at ease if only a little. "I apologise dear child if I have frightened you, I mean you no harm I was simply overwhelmed by you; you are perfection not a single trace of pestilence staining you! The realisation of my work made flesh, a speck of hope in the darkness of this disease filled world; Light " He spoke with so much passion it left the small girl unsure on what to do, he didn't seem as scary as before but with how much bigger he was than her and his appearance she was still hesitant; but when he pulled back so he was no longer touching her but still watching her from his position on her knees she slowly pulled the courage to speak up. "W-what is Pes- Pesta" Before the she could fumble over the word a third time the mask man chuckled, a warm sound which showed no harmful intention and instead showed something close to affection like a father or uncle might; his words no longer as slow but still clear for the small girl to make out. "Pestilence. It is a disease that fills this world, one I have worked a life time to rid this world of; not that my fellow doctors here have done anything to truly help me in that goal" There was a hint of frustration and anger in his tone at the last few words as the masked man turned away glancing to where he had come into view originally, but the small girl knew they were not aimed at her so she remained still waiting for the masked man to turn back to her; and she didn't have to wait long before he did seeming to have forgotten his previous anger not as he was a few moments ago. The girl opened her mouth to speak again but stopped when the masked man stood effortlessly holding out his gloved hand in a clear offer for her to take, looking between the hand and the masked man's face the small girl debated taking it but quickly looked back to the masked face again when he spoke; his eyes focused behind her rather than her this time. "I am sure the good doctors will not object should this darling child should accompany me to my new residence, after all they have denied me any materials for my research so I am sure they would allow me some company instead; I will be sure to keep such a treasure safe in my care" Blinking the small girl glanced behind her watching the men look at each other before one moved back turning away from them, she could make out the slight sound of one of them using a radio and talking but nothing else; after a minute or so the same man who had turned away turned to face them again nodding his head at the other man nodding his head silently.