SCP: North Star: Beyond the Depths

Chapter 3: In A Flash

January, 2002

"You haven't taken any pictures yet."

Iris looked down. Tommy was staring up at her, confusion on his face.

"Nothing to take pictures of." She shrugged, gazing at the sky above her. It was bleak gray and overcast, with the winds blowing particularly chilly today. She hated days like these, not only for the cold, but because any photo she took would also be dull and somber. Why Tommy had wanted to go out on a day like this was beyond her.

"Aren't you cold?" She asked, shivering as a gust of wind pierced her thin jacket. She knew he wouldn't be, Tommy was the kind of kid to just ignore the temperature. Still, she hoped he'd get the hint SHE wanted to go home.

"Nope." Tommy replied, shaking his head. "I was actually hoping it would snow again."

Iris laughed as she thought back to Christmas morning. Tommy had barged into her room at 5 am and practically dragged her to the window, ecstatic over the white flakes falling from the sky. It was odd, considering how far south they were.

"Why don't you take more pictures of me?" He suggested.

Iris shook her head. "I've already taken several pictures of you. Besides, Dad says I need to save my polaroids for spring."

"Aww." Tommy did the thing where he titled his head and curled his lower lip. "Pleeeeeease?"

"No." She slowly emphasized.

"Fine!" He pouted, crossing his arms. Iris laughed and rubbed his short blond hair.

She took in her surroundings. They were in the middle of a gravel path that branched off in several directions. A swing set and slide sat on one end of the park, a series of benches and tables on the other.

Sitting on one of the benches was a figure that looked familiar to Iris. Taking a second glance, she realized who it was.

"Hey Tommy." She said, starting towards her brother. "I'm going to hang out over here. Come get me if you need anything."

He nodded, then trotted off in the opposite direction. Iris turned and began walking to the figure.

"Hi Anthony."

"Oh." The kid turned to her. "Hi Iris."

Anthony Baker had known Iris since kindergarten. She could recall them spending a lot of time together throughout elementary school. Sharing food at lunch, pushing each other on the swings at recess, doing their homework on the bus (sometimes in the morning rather than afternoon). Even during middle school, they still seemed to end up getting the same lunch and class periods.

He was one of the few people in Iris's life she could call a close friend.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here." Anthony remarked.

"I'm watching my brother. For whatever reason he wanted to come out here today. How about you?"

He shrugged. "Needed out of the house. Mom and Dad were fighting again. Decide to take the initiative and go for a walk instead of sitting in my room listening to them bicker."

"Oh..." Iris started. "I'm sorry to hear that."

She felt bad for Anthony. His parents were, to put it lightly, deadbeats. From what Iris heard, his dad had a horrible gambling and drinking addiction, and would spend most of his free time at the bar with his friends. His mom, on the other hand, was barely home either. Rumor had it she was a prostitute, though no one had actually confirmed it.

Anthony had practically been taking care of himself since he was 7, given how neglectful his parents were. The few times they were home usually dissolved into a shouting match between the two, with Anthony being used as either ammunition or a shield.