Unfortunately, Dr. Selkie’s perilous actions went unrewarded. They failed to bring about the desired results.
“It ended with a horrible flop. Rather than give me the brilliant mind I wanted, The Clockworks toyed with my insides and called it a day. I won’t know exactly what it changed until I undergo a proper exam,” Dr. Selkie said with a dry smile as she gripped her abdomen. “As far as I can tell from my self-examination, it seems like the thing just damaged some of my organs. I should consider myself lucky it didn’t instantly kill me…”
Coughing up more blood, she began to tremble, as if she were suddenly freezing. “No, I suppose you could say I got off quite lucky, seeing as I could have been turned into a ludicrous monstrosity. Certainly that would be consistent with the results that made us discontinue biological testing… But now I’m essentially up the creek without a paddle.”
Her face suddenly went frighteningly blank as she stared at us. “Listen, after you gather the things spread across the room, I want you to temporarily take them out of here. They are what Dr. Goldman turned into. So long as we have these items, it might be possible to revert him. No matter how small, the possibility is still there,” she said, resolute.
Hearing Dr. Selkie reminded me of the lady soldier I encountered in that terrifying Carnival of Horrors. She wore the proud expression of a determined adult.
“Once you’re done, I’ll go back into SCP-914’s booth, even if I have to crawl to get there. I’m betting all my chips on the improbable… I might die this time, or face a fate worse than death, but I’m betting everything on the hope that this time I will receive a wonderful brain capable of resolving this.”
With a gentle smile, she looked us square in the eyes and continued. “The Clockworks is a strange and mysterious SCP object in its own right. I don’t know how this will end, but chances are it won’t end well. So before I change, please run as far from here as you can.”
At the end, Dr. Selkie gave Iris and I each a gentle pat on the head. Perhaps due to severe dehydration and blood loss, her fingertips felt cold as ice. But strange as it might seem, there was still warmth to her touch. It was the warmth of her love and affection. I bet she put her heart into that pat…
“And then I want you to pass on everything you’ve seen and heard here to the Foundation’s higher-ups. Submit it as a single report compiled on the events concerning The Clockworks. That will pave the way for the future,” she instructed.
She sounded as if she were praying as she said, “No matter how great the sorrow or pain, no matter the accident or tragedy, we can confront it if we have the knowledge. Why, that is how we humans have isolated the threats posed by SCP objects so far, all to protect our peaceful daily lives.”
Having confronted these strange and bizarre SCP objects unknown to the masses, Dr. Selkie proclaimed proudly, “This case is no different. At the very least, I hope you put my failure to good use. Otherwise I won’t be able to pass on. My soul won’t be able to rest in peace.”
“Dr. Selkie,” Iris called to her, a serious expression on her face.
Seeing Iris grow tense, Dr. Selkie jumped to the conclusion the younger girl was filled with pity for her, or stiff with terror over the perilous situation, and so she offered a brave smile as she said, “Don’t worry; I don’t intend to die. The odds aren’t very favorable, but I’m certain I’ll come back reborn more wonderful than I am now. I’ll be remodeled by SCP-914’s incomprehensible clockwork hand of God.”
“No, uh, Dr. Selkie… I don’t think you need to go to such drastic measures.”
“…Why not?” Dr. Selkie asked dubiously, feeling she was no longer on the same page as the dazed Iris. Noting the other girl’s eyes were focused elsewhere, Dr. Selkie followed her gaze. Her whole body went taut as if struck by lightning.
“Wh-Wha… Wh-Wh-What?!” Dr. Selkie jumped to her feet as if she completely forgot all about her damaged internal organs.
Swinging her arm up and down countless times like a little girl, she shouted, “You! Why are you alive, Dr. Goldman?!”
At the receiving end of her angry glare… Someone suddenly popped his face out from the shadows of the massive SCP-914’s main body. He was a tall man I had never seen before. He wore a pure white lab coat that perfectly matched Dr. Selkie’s. His facial features were extremely well defined and his fingers were long. His beautiful blond hair seemed to emit an inner light.
This man—probably the very same Dr. Goldman we’d so long discussed—quietly looked around, as if disoriented. Then, in calm contrast to the practically hysterical Dr. Selkie, he winked. “Philosophy? That was never one of your strengths, my darling Selkie.”