Retrograde Motion [SCP X Reader]

Chapter 22: Spilt Blood

More prepared the fifth time around, you faced 076 in the hall again.

You kept your footing steady as he swung at you. Duck out of the way, step back, move to the left, lean back and step back again. To 076, you were probably just a particularly annoying human who was just barely avoiding his attacks but to even be able to survive for a second longer was an achievement to you.

One step away from the door, he aimed for your legs, slashing the bad leg where 106 had grabbed earlier. You gasped, breathless as you crumbled to the ground. In a single smooth motion, 076 stabbed through your heart.

You would have been impressed by his strength to cut to the heart (considering he aimed for going through the sternum rather than between the fourth and fifth rib) had it not been your heart he was stabbing through. You could commend him for being the first to reach your heart though, literally.

076 removed his sword. You bleed out quickly, the ground once again painted in red. It was a pretty colour to spill from a wretched being like you.

You had done better that time around. You just needed to pay more attention to 076's movements and be more careful. He was fast and far stronger than you were but even if you were brought back in time, you needed to go forward to move on. Ugh, fighting and running was such a pain. Would it be too much to ask for a break for once?

Knowing the world you were in, the answer was probably yes.

X.x.X

Although you theoretically knew you had to be better at dodging, it was so much harder in practice. 076 killed you four more times before you got through the door. Upon rolling through said door, it immediately closed shut, no doubt the work of 079. The barrier between you and 076 gave you a brief reprise from dodging.

It was like you were burning from the inside out. Every breath was fire in your lungs and your knees were shaking as you stood up to begin running again. If it weren't for the adrenaline kicking everything into overdrive, you would've collapsed already.

As expected, 076 tore through the door easily, sparks flying as the metal caved in on itself. He growled something in Ancient Sumerian you couldn't understand. Still, it briefly caught your attention as he lunged toward you. You cursed as you ducked under his swing. You knew he was fast but clearing the hall this quickly had to be unfair.

This time you died to a clean and simple beheading. It only took a single slip up for you to lose your head and for time to return once more. Of course, it hurt every time you died, it was as though your gaze was permanently drowned in blood as your body was caving in on itself each and every time. But, it was just adrenaline and pain and death, again and again. The feeling rushed past you so quickly that it just blended together.

Living was so hard. Or maybe it was survival that was difficult. You might go insane if you continued at this for too long.

Then again, has insanity ever mattered to a world like this one?

X.x.X

You reached the second hall again on your next try. The door shut behind you and you didn't even bother trying to catch your breath before rushing to the other end. Just as before, 076 came barging in and he murmured something in ancient Sumerian. You ignored him and ran into the next room. The door shut. All the repetition was familiar in a terrible kind of way.

There was a large stack of boxes on one side of the hall, blocking one of the three paths. Neither of the other two doors was open. You could only conclude that 079 wanted you to go through the door blocked by the boxes. You hoped he was actually guiding you in the correct direction. If he wasn't... Well, that would be a problem for future you.