Chapter 29 The Deadly Photograph—SCP-096 The Shy Guy

” Inside the devastated old apartment building, S.H.I.E.L.D.

cleanup teams were already removing bodies and processing the scene.

Coulson strode in with several agents.

“What’s the situation?” Agent May let out a tired breath.

“Bad.” “The attackers didn’t have many people.

Roughly a twelve-man combat team.” “But we lost twenty-three agents.” “Six critically wounded.” “Twelve with minor injuries.” “If Agents Skye and Romanoff hadn’t arrived when they did, the casualties would’ve been even worse.” Coulson’s expression darkened.

“Have we identified who they were?” “They called themselves the Chaos Insurgency.” May frowned.

“They appear to be an unknown hostile organization, but one thing is clear.” “They’re trying to obtain anomalies.” “No survivors?” Skye shook her head.

“None.” “They were extremely decisive.” “The moment they realized they were going to be captured, they poisoned themselves.” She paused.

“And apparently, they really hate the Foundation.” Coulson glanced toward the bodies scattered across the floor.

The Chaos Insurgency’s equipment looked remarkably similar to Foundation gear.

In fact, much of it appeared significantly more advanced than what ordinary S.H.I.E.L.D.

field agents carried.

“Maybe I should request additional support from Director Fury.” “We’re not just dealing with a suspected anomaly anymore.” “Now we have an unidentified organization with advanced equipment and a demonstrated willingness to attack S.H.I.E.L.D.” “We don’t have enough people for this.” Natasha immediately agreed.

“Request reinforcements.” “Agent May found a lead.

We need to move quickly.” After receiving nothing but bad news all day, Coulson finally heard something useful.

His attention sharpened.

“A lead?” “What did you find?” May answered, “The victims from the original supernatural incidents were all members of the same mountaineering group.” “They’d participated in an expedition to the Rocky Mountains not long ago.” “More than half of them are already dead.” “But we’ve identified one surviving member.” “A man named Henry.” “He’s currently in Queens.” “A protection detail has already secured him.” Coulson immediately understood the urgency.

If they delayed any longer, something else could happen.

“Then let’s go talk to Henry.” He turned toward the others.

“All right, people.” “Move.” Twenty minutes later, six customized S.H.I.E.L.D.

Cadillacs stopped near a safe house in Queens.

Coulson, Melinda May, Skye, Natasha, and three additional members of Coulson’s team entered the interrogation room.

There, they finally saw the witness.

Henry.

But the moment Coulson looked at him, he frowned.

The man’s eyes were vacant.

His face was filled with terror.

He continuously muttered something under his breath, and his mental state appeared dangerously close to complete collapse.

Coulson looked toward one of the agents from the protection detail.

“What’s wrong with him?” The agent hesitated.

“Uh…” “He’s been like this ever since we placed him under protection.” “A psychologist already examined him, but his condition hasn’t improved.” Coulson took a slow breath.

Then he sat down across from Henry.

“Mr.

Henry.” “Can you tell me what happened to your climbing group?” “We’re federal agents.” “I promise we’ll protect you.” Henry slowly raised his head.

His entire body trembled.

“Really?” His voice was uncertain.

Coulson nodded.

“I give you my word.” “If nothing else, you should be able to trust the federal government.” Henry swallowed.

“Give me a cigarette.” One of the agents tossed him a pack.

Henry pulled one out with trembling fingers and struggled to light it.

After taking a long drag, he finally seemed to calm down enough to speak.

“It was on the third of this month.” “A group of us who enjoyed climbing organized an expedition.” “Nothing strange happened while we were there.” “It was after we came back…” “That’s when everything started.” Coulson looked confused.

“After you returned?” “What happened?” Henry’s expression twisted with fear.

“The photographs.” “It had something to do with the photographs.” “One of the women in our group, Athena, developed the pictures after we got back.” “After that, strange things started happening.” His breathing quickened.

“Everyone who looked through that set of photographs…” “They died.” “Every single one of them.” Henry suddenly gripped the edge of the table.

“That damned monster is coming!” “Athena was the first to die!” “God, she must’ve disturbed some witch or something up there!” “You have to protect me!” His voice became increasingly frantic.

Then his mental state deteriorated again.

He began muttering incoherently.

At that moment, Natasha entered the room.

“Coulson.” “We found something.” “Athena had a husband.” “He’s currently near Las Vegas.” “We already dispatched agents to place him under protection.” She had barely finished speaking when her phone suddenly rang.

Natasha frowned.

Then answered.

“Romanoff.” A familiar voice came from the other end.

“Agent Romanoff?” It was Ethan.

By now, Natasha had almost become accustomed to the Foundation’s seemingly impossible intelligence network.

She didn’t even bother wondering how Ethan had obtained her personal number.

Nor did she waste time asking.

Ethan’s tone was unusually urgent.

“I’ll keep this short.” “Order the agents you deployed near Las Vegas to abandon their target and withdraw immediately.” “If you wait any longer, it’ll be too late.” Natasha’s expression changed.

“What?” “Mr.

Ethan, explain.” “Why do they need to evacuate?” “If I’m right…” Ethan’s voice became grave.

“The anomaly you’re investigating is SCP-096, ‘The Shy Guy.'” “The forces you deployed near Las Vegas cannot stop SCP-096.” Before Natasha could respond— The call abruptly cut off.

Static filled the line.

Natasha looked sharply at her phone.

“Damn it.” “Electromagnetic interference.” At almost the same moment, a shout came from outside.

“Sir!” “The safe house is under attack!” Coulson shot to his feet.

“Get the witness out of here!” “Move!” “It has to be the Chaos Insurgency!” Gunfire erupted outside.

RATATATAT!

Around the Queens safe house, S.H.I.E.L.D.

agents had already begun exchanging heavy fire with Chaos Insurgency forces.