Imya crossed her arms. “Do I know you?”

“I’m your ex-girlfriend, Xiao.” Xiao had long black hair and slender blue eyes. “I see that you still self-harm frequently.”

“Y-Yeah, I… A lot is going on in my life right now…”

“And let me guess, you have another girlfriend now.”

“Y-Yeah… I hope this time there’s something between her and me.”

“That ‘something’ will, knowing you, turn out to be a wall.”

The security guard walked over to Imya. “Ma’am, I need you to explain why you’re taking a knife with you to Duke Island.”

Imya turned towards Natsumi. “A little help, please?”

Natsumi sighed, “Imya doesn’t use that knife to kill people. She uses it to try to kill herself. She kills other people with a different knife.”

They went through security to their gate and waited. While they boarded the plane, Natsumi claimed the window seat. Callie sat in the middle, leaving the aisle seat for Imya.

The plane took off and was on the ground before Natsumi knew it. She looked up at the facility. “Here we go. I’m grateful that we live in Alaska.”

“Me too. But I don’t understand what makes you people think winter here is cold.”

“You’re from Russia…” Natsumi headed towards Gate A. Imya and Callie followed. They passed a security office. There was a man with brown hair and glasses behind the desk. He wore a name tag that read, ”Michael.” He looked up “What are you doing here and are you personnel or visitors?”

“I’m Natsumi, this is Imya, and that’s Callie. Callie and I are here for job interviews. Imya’s here with us because she didn’t have anything better to do.”

“Yeah, I did!”

“Imya, we talked about this on the plane. Mutilating yourself isn’t ‘something better.’”

Michael pointed down the hall. “Your interviews will be that way. The interviewer will take Callie first.” He looked up. “Where are you headed?”

“The Heavy Containment Zone. I’m visiting a friend.”

“What’s your friend doing in the Heavy Containment Zone?!”

“Because any SCP that’s immortal is automatically classified as Keter.”

“Which SCP are you visiting?”

“SCP-20194, Itsuki.”

The man gestured toward the other end of the hall. “T-That way…”

Natsumi led Imya down the hall while Callie headed to her interview. They stopped in front of a steel door with no windows. There was a bright red sign to the right of the entry that read, “SCP-20194 - Itsuki, Object Class: Keter, Sentient and Violent Object.” Natsumi pressed the button to the left of the door. The door opened. Itsuki was sitting on the side of her bed. She had long hair that was brown on one side, pink on the other. She had a devil tail and one eye that was pitch-black. She was wearing a light blue kimono with a light pink floral pattern.

Imya went through the door. She hit her head on the top of the doorframe. “Why? Every time!” She put her hand on her forehead. “Goddammit, people who make doors need to think of tall people.”

Natsumi ran over to Itsuki. “Hi, Itsuki!”

Itsuki stood up. “Natsumi!”

“Wow. You have not gotten any taller.”

“Yep. I’m still 4’6.”

“4’6?”

“Okay, 4’5.” Itsuki glanced over at Imya. “W-Who’s your friend, Natsumi?”

“This is Imya. She happens to be a year younger than you.”

Itsuki whispered into Natsumi’s ear, “She’s cute. Is she single?”

Natsumi whispered back, “She already has a reputation to be a player. And a pervert. I’m going to go with no, but you might get her attention.”

Imya laughed, “Hey, Itsuki, did you know adult male penguins are called-”

“Don’t. I will shoot you if you finish that joke.”

Imya grinned. “Cocks.”

Natsumi briskly took a gun out of her bag and shot Imya’s arm.

“Ouch.”

“Which finger is your favorite? I’m going to rip it off.”

“My middle finger.”

“Nevermind, you can keep it.”

Natsumi turned towards Itsuki. “Imya’s a bit of a handful. And she’s extremely dirty-minded and sadomasochistic.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

One of the guards came in. “Who the actual hell are you?”

“I’m Imya. Forgive the giant bloodstain on my shirt. Murder can be quite… messy.”

“Remind me never to get you angry.”

“Damn right, you should be afraid of me.”

The guard began to back away slowly. “At least Itsuki tells you a joke before slicing you in half.”

“If I ever tell a joke, the only one getting sliced in half is me.”

Natsumi sighed, “Has it ever occurred to you that your jokes aren’t exactly… family-friendly?”

“Really, Natsumi?”

“Tell me I’m wrong. I freaking dare you.”

“In my defense, the funniest jokes are the least family-friendly.”

“No. Not by a mile.”

“You’re no fun.” Imya turned toward the door. Callie came in.

“Hi. I’m Itsuki.”

“I’m Callie.”

“Imya didn’t tell you her ‘penguin joke’, did she?”

Natsumi pointed at Imya’s arm. “She sure as hell tried.”

“Really, Imya? She used to tell that joke all the time when we met.”

Imya sighed, “I’m right here!”

“We know.”

Itsuki stared at Imya. “I’d attack her, but I can’t stop staring at her-”