SCP: North Star: Beyond the Depths

Chapter 6: Knife Edge

April, 2003

"What time is Anthony coming?"

Iris looked up at her mother. She was standing in the doorway of Iris's room, wearing her office clothes and tying her hair back in a bun.

"You're going to work?" She asked with a frown. Her mom usually had Saturdays off.

"Derek called in sick. Stacy wants me to take over. Shouldn't be too long, a few hours at most."

Iris nodded in response. "He said he'd be here around 4. We were going to grab a bite to eat first, since the movie doesn't start until 5:30."

"Theater food right? I heard their hotdogs are superb."

Iris nearly gagged.

Her mom smiled. "At least you don't eat like your father."

She placed her hands on her hips and looked Iris over.

"Come here." She said, approaching her daughter and embracing her in a hug. "I'm really happy about you and Anthony. You really needed someone like him in your life."

Iris nodded and returned the hug.

She was right. The months following Tommy's death had been hard, to say the least.

She thought back to his funeral, how she had ran off and hid in a corner to cry. No one found her, or at least no one bothered her. No one besides Anthony. He spent six hours sitting there with her, comforting her as she grieved over her dead brother. After that…

"Ok." Iris's mom said, pulling away. "I'm heading out. Be home by 8, don't spent too much money, and don't do anything with Anthony you wouldn't do in front of your grandmother."

Iris smiled. "Alright mom. I love you."

"I love you too." Her mom replied as she left the room.

Iris leaned back into her bed and looked at the clock hanging on the opposite side of the room.

3:37.

Anthony wouldn't be here for another 20 minutes. So, Iris turned to her book and continued reading the semi-fantastical story. She lost herself in the words and pages, so much so that the clock said 4:18 when she looked back up.

Iris frowned. In the year they had been dating, Anthony had never once been late.

Strange. She thought. I'm sure he'll be here soon.

She turned back to her book and continued reading. The next time she looked up, the clock said 4:29.

Iris was starting to grow anxious.

Where is he?

She closed her book as her mind fixated on why he'd be so late.

This isn't like him. He's never late. Or at the very least, he would've called. But I didn't hear the phone ring.

Iris bit her lower lip.

I'm going to call him. She thought, jumping off her bed.

Walking quicker than usual, Iris made her way out of her room, down the stairs, and into the living room. The landline was off in the corner, sitting on a small table.

Iris reached for the phone and dialed the number to Anthony's house. It rang 8 times before going to the answering machine. She hung up and pondered on what to do now.

He isn't home, which means he didn't forget. So where could he-

Iris was interrupted as a thought popped into her head. A thought that felt so real, it might as well have been a memory.