The Scarlet Bride took a step forward—only for Luo Shu to block her path once more.
She didn't cry. Didn't rage.
Just stared at him through his obscuring helmet, her gaze piercing steel and soul alike.
Luo Shu's resolve wavered.
I'm sorry.
You shouldn't suffer like this.
If I could—
But her Keter classification anchored him.
He stood firm.
Footsteps pounded down the hall—reinforcements.
Relief flooded Luo Shu.
Then—
The girl sighed.
Her tongue darted out, depositing a grain-sized, iridescent pearl into her palm.
An SCP?
But which—
Before he could react, her fingers slithered under his helmet, pressing the pearl onto his tongue.
"Hide it. Don't swallow."
Her whisper slithered into his ear:
"I sense your kindness. Don't forget me."
"Until next time."
The Pearl's Secret
The pearl dissolved slowly, flavors cascading:
Apple (crisp deceit)
Banana (cloying trust)
Cinnamon (burning guilt)
Why didn't she use it to escape?
With this, she could've convinced anyone—
Then it hit him.
She did try.
It failed.
Because—
The Pearl's Limits:
Too small. Effects fading.
Area █████ staff wore mental shielding (SCP-148 alloy in helmets).
Her True Goal:
Not escape. Not yet.
She needed someone outside the facility.
Someone unshielded.
Someone… like Luo Shu.
The Reveal
Back in his cell, Luo Shu fished the remnant from a molar cavity.
Wrapped in tissue, it pulsed faintly.
The "Anomaly Archive" updated:
[Page: 3]
[SCP-3329 ("Rainbow Lollipop")]
[Class: Safe]
[Ability: Barnum Effect (forced persuasion)]
[Status: Contained]
[O]
So that's why she gave it to me.
Not to escape.
To recruit.
The Unanswered Question
As the pearl's last hues faded, Luo Shu realized:
She'd known about his Archive all along.
Which meant—
This was her second gift.
The first?
The whisper:
"You'll meet our daughter."