The old man's expression flickered—a momentary crack in his divine facade—before settling back into grandfatherly warmth.
"Young man, you're not from Site-17, are you? First time I've seen you."
Unaware that "God" had been observing him, Luo Shu repeated his cover story, laying the groundwork to recruit SCP-343 as a Friend of the Anomalies.
But the entity pressed further: "You're Epsilon-11, yet you roam Sublevel-4 alone. Aren't you afraid?"
"I had an escort. And Cain," Luo Shu replied, eyeing him warily.
SCP-343 didn't wait for permission. He strode ahead, leading Luo Shu down a corridor.
A trap.
Luo Shu's mind raced. What's his angle?
SCP-343's file was a mess of contradictions:
A reality bender warping perceptions.
A lesser deity beneath a true Supreme.
A shattered entity (per SCP-3812), now manifesting as SCP-239.
But one fact stood firm: Safe-class.
Too harmless—or too trusted?
The Trap Sprung
SCP-343 stopped at a door, flung it open, and vanished into the wall.
Inside: a little girl.
Instinct screamed: Danger.
Not SCP-239 (the comatose "Witch Child").
This was SCP-053 ("Young Girl")—a three-year-old with a lethal aura.
Luo Shu's skin prickled. His temper flared—unnaturally.
Mental influence.
He triggered Mind-Shielding Alloy just in time.
"You scheming bastard," he hissed.
Without protection, he'd have attacked her—and died of cardiac arrest the moment he did.
SCP-053 giggled, clutching toys as she toddled toward him.
"Bad man! 'God' Grandpa said you're mean!"
Luo Shu blocked the doorway. "Sweetheart, stay inside. There's a nasty old man out here who eats children."
"Liar! 'God' Grandpa is nice! He gives me candy!"
Of course he does.
Luo Shu forced a smile. "If I'm the bad guy, shouldn't you hide?"
"No! I'll chase you away!"
SCP-343, you're using a toddler as a hitman?!
The Ultimatum
Luo Shu scanned the hall. No sign of the old man.
Fine. Play dirty.
He activated Possession Mask's Domination—targeting SCP-053.
Not to harm her.
To borrow her voice.
Through her lips, he hissed:
"343. Show yourself. Or I'll tell the Foundation exactly how you 'play' with her."
A beat.
The wall shimmered. SCP-343 stepped out, face ashen.
"You wouldn't."
Luo Shu's smile was glacial.
"Try me."