Tokyo traffic -279

Tokyo proved to be quite the city for someone like Steve, who wasn't entirely used to the modern world just yet; the city was indeed as impressive as it was imposing.

Yet, it also wasn't that foreign. People were more or less the same everywhere, and here in Japan, people seemed more traditional than elsewhere.

Though it was still strange to be here, after all, in his time, they were at war with Japan, and now it was a peaceful nation that drew vast amounts of tourists from all around the world. It was nothing short of impressive how they had recovered from the twin bombings.

Yet, they weren't here as tourists; they were here on a mission to investigate the disappearances and murders.

"This city is massive." Steve couldn't help but mutter as they once again got into the car they had been given for this. The traffic they were once more joining was so horrible that he understood why so many people used trains around here.

"Welcome to the future, Steve, overcrowded roads are the norm these days. In fact, running down a car isn't that impressive a feat. Most could do it, even I likely could before the Foundation restored my youth." Peggy joked and teased.

However, while she might have just joked around, she wasn't far off from the truth. After all, when the traffic got really bad, it really got bad.

Bucky smirked as he navigated through the dense traffic, his hands gripping the steering wheel with a familiarity that hinted at his Hydra days. "I think I'd still prefer running over sitting in this car for another hour. But at least we blend in." He glanced at the endless sea of cars surrounding them. "Not that anyone is looking for three foreigners driving around the city."

Peggy, seated in the back, adjusted her sunglasses as she scanned a local map on her tablet. "We've got three main locations to investigate. The most recent disappearance site, a forested area where a body was found, and a few reports of strange sightings near a temple on the outskirts of the city. Local authorities are calling them urban legends, but I think we've learned better than to ignore those."

Steve nodded as he turned his gaze to the bustling cityscape outside the window. "So where do we start? The forest sounds like a good place, away from the crowds. If something is lurking out there, it might be easier to track."

Peggy agreed, her expression thoughtful. "I'd prefer to look into the temple first. The reports suggest something more than just disappearances—people are claiming to have seen some monster at night. Could be nothing, could be something."

Bucky glanced over at Steve before turning his attention back to the road. "Makes sense, a place like that, a temple, draws stories, and the kind of things we're looking for, they like places with history."

Steve nodded, thinking about the reports they had read before arriving. He knew that strange sightings often started as whispers and legends, but they had a habit of hiding real threats. "The forest might give us some clues, but if there's a chance someone's seen something at the temple, it's worth checking first. We can talk to any locals, see if they've noticed anything unusual."

Peggy adjusted her grip on the tablet, bringing up the local legends page and cross-referencing it with the Foundation's own files. "Reports say people have been hearing an inhuman voice, always talking about killing, and well, there have been a lot of murders."

Bucky finally navigated them out of the worst of the traffic, taking a smaller road leading out of the city center toward the hills. "Alright, temple first, then the forest. Let's hope we find more than just spooky stories."

As they left the high-rises behind, the atmosphere shifted. The road wound through older parts of the city, with wooden houses and shrines nestled between modern buildings. After about half an hour, they reached a secluded area where the urban landscape met the dense green of the forest. The temple came into view—a small, aged structure with a faded gate and stone lanterns lining the path.

They parked near the entrance, and as soon as they stepped out, the air seemed cooler, tinged with the scent of incense and cedar. Steve took a deep breath, scanning the surroundings. "Quiet. Too quiet, maybe."

Peggy checked the scanner she had brought, which could detect anomalies or traces of SCP activity. it found nothing like that, but one surprising fact, it picked up very few life signs around. "I'm not seeing a lot of people around, should be more."

Bucky scanned the area, frowning at the absence of people in what should have been a busier place. "Strange, for a temple near the city, you'd think there'd be more tourists or even locals around. It's like everyone's avoiding the place."

Peggy adjusted the scanner, recalibrating it just in case. "If what the reports say is true, maybe they have a reason to stay away. Some of the stories mention people hearing voices, feeling like they're being watched. Could be enough to scare people off."

Steve's grip on his shield tightened as he studied the temple's weathered entrance. "Or it could be something more direct. Let's not assume it's just fear keeping people away. Stay sharp."

They moved forward, ascending the stone steps that led up to the temple grounds. As they reached the top, they found the courtyard deserted, save for a few offerings left by what seemed to be the last brave visitors. The temple itself was small, its paint faded, but its architecture held a quiet dignity. A chill ran through the air, and the shadows between the trees seemed to stretch longer than they should have.

Peggy approached the entrance of the temple, glancing back at the others. "Let's split up, but keep within earshot. I'll check the shrine itself, see if there are any markings or traces of anomalies. Steve, Bucky, check the perimeter."

Bucky nodded, taking the left side of the courtyard, while Steve moved to the right, scanning the tree line. They moved cautiously, senses attuned to any sign of movement. The forest beyond the temple seemed to hold its breath, and the silence was almost oppressive.

Peggy stepped inside the shrine, her flashlight cutting through the dim interior. She ran her hand over the old wooden beams, noting some recent scratches—claw marks, she realized. Her scanner beeped faintly as it picked up a low-frequency vibration coming from beneath the shrine's altar.

Outside, Steve paused, listening closely as a faint sound reached his ears—something that didn't belong in the natural quiet of the forest. It was low, almost like a whisper, but it carried a tone that set his nerves on edge. "Bucky, you hear that?"

Bucky stopped, turning his head towards the sound. He nodded, his expression tense. "Yeah. It's coming from the trees, further in."

They exchanged a glance, then moved toward the source of the sound. The whispers grew clearer as they advanced—disjointed words, phrases that slipped through the trees like a breeze. They were close enough to make out a few of the words: "...so many humans… kill... end them all..."

Bucky glanced over at Steve, raising an eyebrow. "That sound like Abel to you?"

Steve's jaw clenched. "Could be. Or something else trying to lure us in. We need to be careful."

As they moved closer, a shadow shifted in the trees. A figure stepped into view, its outline blurred by the dappled light filtering through the branches. For a moment, it was difficult to make out the details, but then they saw it.

It wasn't Abel, or Cain, it wasn't even a human. It was a giant lizard, and it was surrounded by piles of corpses. The entire area covered in blood and guts. It was amazing they hadn't caught the scent before now, because standing there, it was overpowering.

Steve and Bucky froze for a moment, absorbing the grisly scene before them. The creature—clearly something more than just a simple predator—stood tall, its reptilian eyes glinting with a predatory intelligence as it surveyed its surroundings. The bodies strewn around were a gruesome reminder of what it was capable of, and the stench of death hung thick in the air.

Bucky's hand instinctively went to his weapon, but he held off from drawing it just yet. "That thing... It's not Abel or Cain, but it's definitely not supposed to be here." His voice was low, barely a whisper.

Steve nodded, gripping his shield tighter as he analyzed the situation. "Whatever it is, it's dangerous. We can't let it run loose." He gestured subtly with his shield hand, signaling for them to flank the creature in case it turned hostile. Bucky nodded back, beginning to circle to the left, using the trees for cover.

As they moved, the creature's head snapped in their direction, nostrils flaring as it caught their scent. It let out a low, rumbling growl that seemed to reverberate through the trees. Steve felt a shiver run down his spine—this wasn't some mindless beast. It knew they were there, and it didn't seem interested in fleeing.

From inside the shrine, Peggy's voice crackled over the comms, clearly hearing the growl. "Steve, Bucky, what's going on out there? I'm reading a massive spike in bioactivity—whatever you're facing, it's not human."

Steve kept his eyes on the creature, raising the comm closer to his mouth. "Peggy, stay where you are. We've got a situation—a big one. Looks like some kind of mutated lizard, and it's already made a mess of this place."

To their surprise, the lizard spoke. "I'm not some mutated lizard, but it hardly matters, because you will die here, all humans should just die!"