With his Perception Block timer running out and the Site Director stubbornly refusing to leave, Luoshu desperately scanned the office for alternative exits.
Ventilation ducts?
He almost laughed. Movies lied. No facility would install ducts large enough for human infiltration—let alone in a high-security office like this. Even cockroaches would struggle to squeeze through.
After a fruitless search, only two options remained:
Break through the door
The handle wouldn't budge, secured by some advanced locking mechanism.
His newly acquired Skeleton Key ability could solve this... but wasting a precious charge just to exit felt irresponsible.
Worse, the unauthorized access would trigger security upgrades, potentially getting SCP-005 relocated.
Smash the window
The bulletproof glass facing the corridor was impenetrable.
But the atrium-facing window...
Idiot! He smacked his forehead.
The panoramic view revealed two guards stationed near the Sublevel-2 stairwell—perfect teleportation targets. Without hesitation, he activated SCP-173's ability and vanished.
Freedom.
As for IR1901 still waiting outside the office?
Screw that moron.
02:17 AM
A sharp knocking jerked Luoshu from sleep.
"Who the hell—?"
IR1901's voice echoed through the door: "You made it back. Good. We proceed tomorrow night as planned."
"Figure out how we communicate when neither can see the other," Luoshu snapped, unwilling to repeat tonight's fiasco.
"Leave that to me," came the confident reply.
The Next Night
IR1901 produced military-grade bone conduction headsets—throat mics that allowed silent communication.
"Tonight's target?" Luoshu whispered, testing the device.
"Something monumental," IR1901's voice crackled with manic energy. "If you're prepared."
Curiosity piqued. Most major SCPs were already cataloged:
Keter-class: 055 (Anti-Meme), 035 (Possessive Mask)
Euclid: 173 (Sculpture), 049 (Plague Doctor), 076-2 (Able)
What remained worth the risk?
IR1901 led him to Sublevel-4's Artifact Storage Wing—home to SCP-012.
The Unfinished Composition.
Luoshu's pulse spiked. He knew the lore:
A fragment of "At Mount Golgotha" (Christ's crucifixion site)
Viewers become compelled to complete the score using their own blood
All attempts end in suicide or insanity
Research terminated after Class-D fatalities
"Another test?" Luoshu challenged.
IR1901's grin was audible. "You claimed even 035 didn't frighten you. Surely some sheet music won't?"
Bastard. But pride won. "Let's go."
The containment chamber sat isolated in the wing's deepest recesses—no staff, but requiring Level-4 clearance.
As Luoshu approached the door, IR1901 abruptly retreated.
"Activate when ready," his voice chirped from a safe distance.
Coward.
The Catalog updated as the door swung open:
[New Entry: SCP-012]
[Threat: Cognitohazard]
[Effect: Compulsive Creation - Forces completion through self-harm]
The parchment glowed faintly. The music began playing in his skull—