In her dazed state, Iris took a single step beyond her containment unit's threshold.
Breach achieved.
"Mission accomplished. You can go back to sleep now," Luo Shu said cheerfully.
Iris blinked, suddenly feeling like a rabbit cornered by a wolf. Despite Luo Shu's youthful, harmless appearance, an instinctive dread prickled her skin.
"What do you really want?" she whispered.
What do I want?
Your ability, obviously.
But he couldn't say that.
"Just looking for an assistant now that Cain's gone. Interested?"
Iris recoiled. To her, his smile was the kind that belonged on a child-luring predator.
"No. I'm useless in a fight. And I want to sleep."
Luo Shu wasn't after combat prowess. Iris's true value lay in her unique skill—the ability to manipulate reality through photographs. A power so rare he'd trade half his lethal abilities for it.
"Fair enough. Sweet dreams!" He waved her off.
Iris hesitated. "That's it?"
"Of course. Door's all yours."
She edged backward into her unit, watching him until the door sealed shut.
The Bitter Truth
Luo Shu's grin faded as he checked the Anomaly Catalog:
[Page: 33]
[Item #: SCP-105]
[Designation: Iris]
[Object Class: Safe]
[Anomalous Properties: Photo Pathway. Incomplete. Requires SCP-105-B (a specialized instant camera) for full functionality.]
[Status: Recontained]
[Interaction Log: Access Denied]
Damn it.
Iris's ability was split. Without the camera—stored at Site-19—her power was neutered.
So close.
Divine Intervention
A voice rasped behind him:
"Iris is busy, but I'm free. Need company?"
Luo Shu turned to see an old man in 19th-century attire—top hat, tailcoat, crimson cravat, cane.
SCP-343 ("God").
A self-proclaimed deity with reality-warping tendencies, classified as Safe purely because the Foundation couldn't be bothered to take him seriously.
"An honor!" Luo Shu bowed. "With your wisdom guiding me, my work will flourish!"
The old man's lips curled. "Flattery won't fool me, fox."