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SCP-5033 prior to a detonation.

Item #: SCP-5033
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5033 is to be contained within a large flame-resistant animal containment cell at the Biological Containment Wing of Site-432. The cell is to be outfitted with multiple stress-reducing amenities, including but not limited to the following:

A stereo system playing slow, classical music
An automatic feeding system stocked with hay, sticks, and twigs
Stacked blocks and plastic balls for climbing

Upon the detection of a 5033-IGUSHA event, a sleeping gas is to be administered to the cell. If necessary, SCP-5033 is to be sheared at this time.
A safe testing area is currently under construction, as SCP-5033 is suspected of having additional anomalous abilities.
Description: SCP-5033 is a Valais Blacknose sheep1.
When stressed, SCP-5033 will go into a 5033-IGUSHA event. During a 5033-IGUSHA event, SCP-5033 will detonate with an energy equivalent to that of a kilogram of TNT every ten seconds. Notably, SCP-5033 is unaffected by the force generated by these detonations. The detonations are also not a stressor to SCP-5033. Upon significant relaxation, the 5033-IGUSHA event will then conclude.
Discovery: SCP-5033 was discovered in the Valais region of Switzerland after a number of reports concerning multiple explosions in the mountains. MTF Zeta-35 ("Mountain Goats") was dispatched to the location, at which SCP-5033 was contained through the use of a tranquilizer.
Near SCP-5033 was a charred human corpse carrying a rifle, later identified as Helmut Hammerschmidt, who was associated with a poaching organization dedicated to the hunting of potentially anomalous animals.
A notepad was discovered on Hammerschmidt's body, which contained data tracking certain animals and reports. The following entries were legible:

Schmid's getting closer and closer to his so-called 'big discovery,' and everyone is on his dick about it. He hasn't even revealed anything yet, I bet that fucker doesn't even have anything, just like all the other fakes. They're all just here for attention.
But I'm gonna be going out to the mountains tomorrow. People have been talking about some interesting things up there, and my rifle's itching for some action.
I'll show him what a real 'big discovery' is. Can't wait to see the look on his face.

I hate climbing. All this goddamn equipment is heavy as hell.
Every time I feel like giving up, I think about Schmid. About his dirty smirk. About everyone congratulating him. About how I can't let that happen.
And I keep going. Fuck him.

The target is in my sights. A little sheep. It reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
It's eating sticks. Are animals supposed to eat sticks? Maybe it acts as fuel for its… powers? Still not sure what it does.
I'm gonna watch it for a bit. See if it does anything interesting. My camera is set up to track it.

It's been a few hours, and I can't get Schmid out of my mind. Fucking asshole.

I shot at the sheep. A warning shot. It started fucking exploding.
I've struck gold. I bet it'll wipe Schmid's grin right off his face.
Just gotta shoot this thing dead. It's a shame, it's actually pretty cute. Maybe I can get it stuffed as a little trophy.

The bullets aren't doing anything. I've shot it five fucking times. I think it's invincible to bullets.
I should get backup. But also… I don't want to go back. I bet Schmid would make fun of me for being a coward, or something idiotic like that.
I'm gonna stab it. It only explodes every ten seconds, and the range isn't that far… I might be able to get up close and kill it.
Then I'll come back with its corpse, and I'll be a hero. I'm so close…
I can't fucking wait.

Despite multiple bullet shells littering the ground and other evidence that Hammerschmidt had been firing at SCP-5033, no bullet wounds were found on the entity. Investigation into the poaching organization, as well as SCP-5033's suspected invulnerability to harm caused by hostile actions, is ongoing.

Footnotes
1. Ovis aries

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« SCP-5032 | SCP-5033 | SCP-5034 »


NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION DEPARTMENT OF MISCOMMUNICATIONS
Analysis of this file has confirmed it displays no unusual properties. All information present in it can be taken as a literal statement of fact.
— Eli Forkley, Director, DoMC

Item #: SCP-5034
Object Class: Tiamat
Special Containment Procedures: Due to budgetary concerns1, it has been determined that containment of SCP-5034 is not currently possible. When SCP-5034 is discovered in an antique store2, Agents are to immediately proceed to said store and begin experimentation.
Use of standard testing equipment is authorized in regards to SCP-5034. All tests must be approved by the Foundation Experimentation Committee3.
Description: SCP-5034 is the collective term for a china bowl4 containing seven red marbles5.
At all times, SCP-5034 will consist of the china bowl and the seven red marbles within it. If a marble is destroyed or removed from SCP-5034, it will disappear and a new one will reappear inside the bowl. Attempts to contain marbles outside of SCP-50346 have similarly failed. All attempts to interfere with these marbles have had an extremely negative impact on the Foundation's budget7.
SCP-5034 exhibits a secondary anomalous effect. All individuals who observe SCP-5034 will be aware that it is a china bowl containing seven red marbles, even if they lack prior context8. However, this awareness does not appear to directly impact information one step removed from SCP-5034. For example, an individual observing SCP-5034 will be aware it is a china bowl, but an individual observing evidence left behind by SCP-5034 will not9.

Addendum 5034-1 (Experimentation Log):
The following is a log of all experiments conducted with SCP-503410.

Experiment 5034-1
Conditions: Upon discovery of SCP-5034, Foundation personnel attempted to remove and contain three marbles from the bowl11.
Result: When removed, all marbles disappeared and reappeared inside the bowl. Containment failure12. Foundation budget severely impacted.

Experiment 5034-2
Conditions: Upon rediscovery of SCP-5034 in an antique store in Chennai, India, Foundation personnel attempted to remove one marble from the bowl and smash it with a sledgehammer13.
Result: Following successful destruction of the marble, it reappeared inside the bowl. Destruction failure. Foundation budget severely impacted.

Experiment 5034-3
Conditions: After tracing the sale of SCP-5034 through a number of private collectors, Foundation personnel attempted to contain one of the marbles while keeping it within the bowl.
Result: Containment successful for six days. However, on the seventh day, Security Officer enters the containment chamber and accidentally releases the marble from the bowl14. Containment failure. Foundation budget severely impacted.

Experiment 5034-4
Conditions: Upon rediscovery of SCP-5034, all available Foundation personnel attempt to smash the marbles with sledgehammers.
Result: Five marbles successfully destroyed15. However, they subsequently reappear inside the bowl. Destruction failure.

Experiment 5034-5
Conditions: Upon rediscovery of SCP-5034, all available Foundation personnel16 attempt to smash the marbles with sledgehammers.
Result: Six marbles successfully destroyed. However, they subsequently reappear inside the bowl. Destruction failure17.

Experiment 5034-6
Conditions: Upon rediscovery of SCP-5034, all Foundation personnel attempt to destroy the marbles with whatever tools are on hand.
Result: All seven marbles successfully destroyed. They subsequently reappear inside the bowl18.

Addendum 5034-2:
As the Foundation budget is now approaching bankruptcy, further experimentation is not possible19.

Footnotes
1. See Containment Attempt 5034-17 for more details.
2. Criteria for likely attack sites is currently undetermined.
3. Formed following initial commencement of hostilities on 15/09/2020.
4. Although this planet-wide range has been confirmed, it is currently unknown whether it extends beyond that.
5. Individual appearances variable. Refer to sighting logs for a full description of SCP-5034 appearances.
6. Use of the prototype Adaptive Containment Chamber (ACC) was approved for this purpose.
7. Full casualty reports are not yet available due to lack of up-to-date information.
8. Attempts to directly breach metaphysical camouflage have thus far been unsuccessful.
9. For full information on asynchronous war planning, consult the Foundation War Committee.
10. A full list of engagements is available in the Site-19 Site-37 Site-22 Site-92 archives.
11. Operation conducted in cooperation with the Global Occult Coalition.
12. BK-Class scenario officially declared one hour later.
13. Constructed via a conjunction of several requisitioned anomalies.
14. See Autopsy Report 5034-29331 for full details.
15. Partial destruction of the sixth entity insufficient due to regenerative capabilities.
16. Operation conducted in cooperation with all remaining world governments under the Pangaea Agreement.
17. Current hypothesis is that all seven entities must be eliminated to ensure successful termination.
18. In accordance with joint EC and O5 ruling, mass euthanasia options are currently being considered.
19. Burn our bodies.

« SCP-5033 | SCP-5034 | SCP-5035 »


by J Dune

Item#: 5035

Level3

Containment Class:
euclid

Secondary Class:
none

Disruption Class:
keneq

Risk Class:
danger

link to memo

@
@

SCP-5035, photographed in stasis inside its containment chamber.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5035 is to be kept in a specially designed containment chamber located 5 km below sub-level 9C at Area-179. The chamber is outfitted with a Chalmez-Forte Matter Stabilizing Stasis Gate.
Following Incident I5035-A, access to SCP-5035 for any purpose is denied to all personnel.
Access to SCP-5035 is limited to members of Project CHARON.
SCP-5035-A and SCP-5035-B instances are to be collected and held in Dangerous Goods Storage Block 17C according to the Biosafety Level 3 standard.
In the event of a containment breach, all museums and institutions falling under Protocol 5035-CB are to be put under Foundation surveillance until SCP-5035 can successfully be contained. MTF Beta-7 ("Maz Hatters") are assigned to the recapture of SCP-5035 due to the risk of hazardous materials potentially manifested by SCP-5035-A and SCP-5035-B.
Description: SCP-5035 is a plaster and cloth statue depicting an African-American male wearing 19th century period accurate clothing. Attempts to remove SCP-5035's clothing have proven futile, as the anomaly is capable of quickly generating a new set using its own internal materials to enact SCP-5035-B.
SCP-5035 spontaneously appears in museum diorama scenes relating to the American Civil War. This begins a process observed to take from one hour to seven months in completion- termed an "Infestation Event"- that results in the creation of SCP-5035-A and SCP-5035-B. Those observing the diorama prior to the completion of an Infestation Event do not notice the presence of SCP-5035 unless explicitly told to.
SCP-5035 will change the physical properties and appearances of objects making up the diorama to that of their real life counterparts. These transformed objects are referred to as SCP-5035-A. SCP-5035 also has the ability to modify existing objects in mass and position- taking on the appearance of entirely new objects. Modified objects are referred to as SCP-5035-B. For examples of these instances, refer to “Infestation Events Log” below.
Following a transformation, SCP-5035 will cause the object to rapidly decompose. An Infestation Event is considered complete when SCP-5035 stops creating instances of SCP-5035-A and SCP-5035-B. Upon completion, SCP-5035 will remain in the diorama until its effects are observed by a certain number of persons. The criteria- if any- for how SCP-5035 decides this is unknown, but can be inferred that it is based on the size and scale of the Infestation Event.
SCP-5035 transforms and manipulates a diorama as an apparent form of communication, and the object appears to identify itself with an African American freedman. The end result is that of a calculated work intended to be interpreted by the observer. Upon the completion of an Infestation Event, SCP-5035 will manifest itself at a new location to repeat the process. Despite appearing only in the United States, studies show no discernible travel pattern.

► Access Document 5035-II-40022 – Infestation Events Log

▼ Close

Notable Infestation Events

Location
Date
Description of Diorama Scene

Manassas, Virginia
5/30/2019
A contingent of Union soldiers suffering heavy casualties at The Battle of Shiloh. A commander on horseback points forward. Soldiers load an artillery cannon. Several injured soldiers lay propped against trees, clutching their bloodstained uniforms. A soldier kneels and mourns the loss of a dead comrade.

Description of Infestation Event

Soldiers appear posed on opposite sides of the diorama- pointing their firearms at themselves. All soldiers' faces have been changed to an unrecognizable mixture of heavily damaged organs and muscle tissue. Uniforms are unaffected except for a small, cleaved hole in the chest of each soldier, where the heart would be located. The horseback commander appears face down in a pool of blood, laying atop of his fallen horse. His arm is still outstretched forward. The horse's innards are exposed, with patches of rotting skin still attached. The skin around the torso of the animal is arranged in a pattern that appears to spell the word 'SLAVES'. SCP-5035 stands in the center of the scene.

Location
Date
Description of Diorama Scene

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
6/10/2019
A diorama depicting the signing of the Treaty of Appomattox. Union General Ulysses S. Grant shakes the hand of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Behind them stands a troop of Union soldiers and a few Confederate officers. A desk and a fireplace are present as scene dressing.

Description of Infestation Event

The entirety of the scene has been encompassed into a single, rectangular mass- in the shape of a "stainless banner" confederate battle flag attached to a flagpole. The pole is made of the scene's furniture and flooring, while the flag consists entirely of skin, wrapped around the collective innards of the statues. The flag's stripes are composed of the statue's cloth uniforms, with the word 'SKIN' carved into the design. SCP-5035 stands in the center of the scene. Upon further examination, the flag's innards were found in a state of decay, and were harboring a colony of maggots- sustaining themselves on the rotting organs and tissue.

Location
Date
Description of Diorama Scene

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
6/28/2019
A group of Union soldiers occupy a camp. Several men are standing at attention before a commanding officer. Others are sitting fireside, making rations. A drummer boy observes his instrument near a tent. The American flag stands in the rightmost corner of the diorama.

Description of Infestation Event

All soldiers are kneeling in a line, chained to one another by a rope tied around each statue's neck. Uniforms and clothing have been removed, and modified into head-wraps, covering the face of each soldier. The back layer of skin of each statue has been exposed, with flaps of skin still hanging. The extraneous material from the rest of the camp has been modified into a large wooden cross, stationed at the back of the diorama. The outlines of faces in various states of distress are carved into the wood of the cross. SCP-5035 stands in the center of the scene, holding the rope connected to the chained soldiers. Drops of blood run down the face of SCP-5035, resembling tears. In front of the statue is the drum, positioned on it's side. The words 'POWER' are carved into the skin of the drum.

Location
Date
Description of Diorama Scene

Foundation Area-179, Standard Containment Testing Floor
2/29/2020
Lab 3F contained all standard-issue lab equipment found under Test Protocols V2.331-S. Lab had been properly cleaned and prepared since last usage. SCP-5035 had been compliant in testing for six hours and thirty six minutes before triggering an infestation event.

Description of Infestation Event

Three personnel were mutilated and killed. The innards of two were used to create sculptures that roughly resembled Area-179's senior staff. The third personnel's internal organs were compressed and removed from the body through a laceration made on the wrist- causing the personnel to appear as if they were deflated. Wasps began to manifest out of SCP-5035's form, and quickly filled the testing lab. Blood and bodily fluids from the killed personnel was collected and made to spell the word 'MASTERS' on the room's back wall. Infestation Event was stopped before completion. (See Incident Report I5035-A)

► Incident Report I5035-A

▼ Incident Report I5035-A

Date Filed: 3/1/2020
Date Of Occurrence: 2/29/2020
Location: Area-179, D-Wing, Standard Containment Testing Floor, Lab 3F
Anomaly Involved: SCP-5035
Personnel Involved: J. Martinez, C. Smith, R. Davies, Security Team 179-B9, E. Dune
Report Filed By: E. Dune
Priority: Keneq

Safe. That's what SCP-5035 is classified as, and for the past seven months- that's what it was. Our tests were proving successful, and there was a certain refinement to the scenes it created- regardless of their undeniably disturbing content. This object wasn't just rotting corpses for no reason- when it altered a scene it knew what it was saying. We came to this conclusion months ago. We also came to the conclusion that- because the object was clearly fixated on visual metaphors for unpaid reparations and the sociopolitical ramifications of slavery in the United States- keeping it locked in a cell unattended with zero non-standard containment procedures was probably a shit idea. We were right.
Around 19:00, Junior Researcher Martinez, Officer Smith, and Lab Assistant Davies were performing tests on SCP-5035 in Laboratory 3F. Security feeds show that at 19:23, SCP-5035 began manifesting its anomalous effects in the form of a SCP-5035-A instance that resulted in Martinez's scalp suddenly tearing itself open, exposing her cerebrum. Smith attempted to reach for his firearm, but SCP-5035 had elongated and twisted the officer's digits, rendering them useless. Mass began to rapidly generate in Smith's hands, forcing him to the ground. Davies was able to sound an alarm, but the doors to Laboratory 3F were unable to be opened. The footage shows what appear to be string-thin veins exposed from the wrists of Davies being pulled across the laboratory floor and into the door's vacuum duct, clogging and sealing the door shut. Davies was repeatedly slammed against the door, pulled by his veins. The security team was unable to access the door to Laboratory 3F. At approximately 19:28.32, the security feed cut out, presumably due to an unseen SCP-5035-B instance interfering.
For the next thirty minutes or so, the security team tried to cut into Laboratory 3F. Then, I showed up. The team had already gotten in, so I was able to see the monstrosity SCP-5035 had created using the remains of the testing group- which now resembled crude depictions of Area-179's staff. That fucker even had the gall to make a sculpture of me out of Martinez‘s muscle tissue, complete with a bottle of brand name in one hand, and a noose in the other- funny joke. As I anticipated, my [DATA EXPUNGED] proved useful in dealing with the anomaly, and was able to keep it occupied until we were able to retrieve a Stasis Gate from offsite. Why we didn't have a spare in storage or for emergency purposes is beyond my understanding. Such is the state of Area-179. Regardless, it's secure now.
Special containment procedures update and object reclassification to Euclid pending.

@

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ADDENDUM IS LEVEL #4/5035 CLASSIFIED

ANY ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THIS FILE WITHOUT LEVEL 4/5035 AUTHORIZATION WILL BE LOGGED AND WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

                                                    ID

        bd694afdec5b43978a08fc866cc1fe85_1706539141

                                                    PASSWORD

        dd19dd41a33bb53b39c052fbd33c25c7_1706539141

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FROM: Dr. Edward T. Dune
TO: Director Roman Barrow, Area-179
SUBJECT: Neutralization Appeal re:SCP-5035

Director Barrow,
You're damn lucky we caught that thing when we did, Roman. You can give Martin's team shit for whatever you'd like, but when someone flies a jet out to Site 89 to get a goddamned Stasis Gate and a CPR approval in under twelve hours, they're doing a fine job in my book. Yes, I know I'm making you look incompetent. Yes, I'm aware this will show up in the Level 4 file and potentially cost you your position. No, I don't care. I mean, we hypothesized that the object could potentially redirect its effects towards Foundation containment months ago. Christ, Roman- take one look at how it reacted to plastic- all because it was dressed up in a fucking Union outfit. You and the entire financial committee let our Beta-Urgent Update proposals collect dust in document-limbo for months. A budget cut cost Julie her life. Let that sink in for a second, you twat.
However, I didn't write this just to berate you anymore than I usually do, Director. I'd like you to consider something. This object, while successfully contained now, is clearly capable of understanding subtext and loves analogous symbolism so much that I originally figured the thing belonged to those Are We Played Out Yet? fuckers. It's been redirecting its attention from the Civil War and the injustices of slavery to a different form of enslavement- the containment of anomalies.
Consider the scene it had been constructing before we put a stop to it.
Consider that, while the object is in motion stasis, it still may be capable of "thinking".
Consider- assuming the above is true- how pissed off it is right now.
Director, that thing is sitting in stasis thinking about all of the different ways it can kill us. Want to see an entire site turned into a piece of social commentary? How about a security team's insides turned out? Crude drawings of the O5 Council carved into your goddamned chest with a knife fashioned from your toenail? The second a containment breach occurs, or we deactivate that stasis gate, that thing is teleporting the hell out of Area-179, and manifesting itself at another Foundation establishment. I do not think that's a situation you want on your hands.
We can't experiment with it anymore, it's just learning to hate us, it's a massive liability to keep around, and it's utterly pointless to pour resources into it. There's no tip-toeing around it- SCP-5035 must be neutralized. Need I say more?
Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Edward T. Dune

FROM: Director Roman Barrow, Area-179
TO: Dr. Edward T. Dune
SUBJECT: DENIED- Neutralization Appeal Re:SCP-5035
Dr. Dune,
I have worked with The Foundation for exactly 30 years. I've met minds more brilliant than I could ever hope to be, learned more about the true nature of this reality than I could ever have imagined, and experienced countless horrors untold.
I have never been more disrespected, belittled, and humiliated than from the verbal abuse you continuously hurl at me with zero discretion. If not for reasons clear to both you and I that do not need restating here, I would've had you terminated years ago. That being said, Doctor- I reject your neutralization appeal.
Now, before you call the state of my hair to attention and accuse me of sexual relations with someone's mother- as you've done oh-so-many times before- allow me to elaborate.
SCP-5035 is not averted to the Foundation as much as it is to the idea of containment. Look around you- The Foundation is far from the only group interested in anomalies. SCP-5035 appears to possess some sort of cognizance- so why not attempt to communicate with it? Imagine redirecting that resentment away from ourselves and towards a more deserving target. Provided we crack the code, the nature of SCP-5035 may prove advantageous for us in the future.
The existence and growing influence of groups of interest is impeding The Foundation's mission heavily. We've grazed conflict far too frequently as of recent. We live in a world of ideological struggle, and we are rapidly accelerating towards the collapse. Mark my words, Doctor- there will come a tipping point, and it's our job to be prepared. I reject your appeal, and in place issue an official Directorial Order for an immediate project planning meeting regarding a new testing program to be enacted on SCP-5035. You and your team are to await further details. I'll be seeing you soon, Doctor.
Regards,
Director Roman Barrow, Area-179

« SCP-5034 | SCP-5035 | SCP-5036 »


Item #: SCP-5036
Object Class: Safe (initially presumed Neutralized)
Special Containment Procedures: Each of the eight pieces of SCP-5036 is to be kept in a separate container, each at a minimum distance of 6 meters from the others. If during a breach of containment the pieces are brought together, they must be separated during the week following the Nμ-Event; during this period the anomaly is inactive and it is safe to handle its parts.
Description:

SCP-5036

SCP-5036 is a Campbellian archetypal attractor token, taking the form of a silver Real de a ocho coin minted in the late 17th century in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The token has been radially cut into eight segments of roughly equal size, which segments are designated SCP-5036-1 through SCP-5036-8.
No anomalous effects result from assemblages of fewer than five of the segments.
If five or more of the segments are brought within a volume of space corresponding to a sphere with a radius of 15 meters, an archetypal narrative event (Nμ) will commence, affecting individuals who are then in or who subsequently enter into the area of effect. The intensity of the event increases as more of the segments are introduced into the area.
Most individuals affected by the Nμ-event experience a psychological compulsion to adopt certain behavior and mannerisms, such as:

Assumption of an accent and speech patterns resembling those prevailing in Bristol, England and the West Country in the early 18th Century;
Unusually intense interest in maritime matters, including the use of nautical terminology to describe non-nautical subjects;
Excessive consumption of alcohol;
Fixation on the acquisition of shiny metallic or crystalline objects, even if those objects are of nominal value such as costume jewelry, bits of foil glitter or sequins, or loose change; and
Flamboyant bravado.1

Some affected individuals may also seek to change their physical appearance or apparel such as by removing their footwear, covering a healthy eye with a patch, brandishing baton-shaped objects, and simulating prostheses for missing limbs or extremities.
Other affected individuals, while not exhibiting the same behavior described above, may also adopt altered behavior so as to adopt the personas of supporting characters in the narrative.
Addendum #1:

MTF AFTER ACTION REPORT 5036-C-1
SCP Involved: SCP-5036
MTF Involved: MTF Tau-10
Date: September 19, 1995
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Background: Command receives report of erratic and presumptively anomalous behavior aboard Chicago Transit Authority public bus. MTF Tau-10 is dispatched to area and ordered to observe and await further instructions.
At 08:22, MTF Tau-10 arrives on scene, disguised as road crew and firefighters. CTA bus with driver and passengers aboard is observed parked in bus lane of public road. Driver and passengers are provisionally designated CV-01 through CV-47. While maintaining minimum 50 m distance from bus per Command instructions, MTF commences the erection of "Road Closed" signs and barriers to limit further civilian exposure to possible threat. Sun glare on windows of bus inhibits observation into interior cabin of bus. Bus motor is running but passenger door is closed.
At 08:28, MTF members bring specialty optics and long range surveillance microphones on line. Command instructs MTF to continue to maintain distance from bus.
Annotated transcript of sound recording from interior of bus.
CV-01: (Middle-aged Caucasian male wearing business suit) "Dangerous shoals, these be. No more than two fathoms."
CV-02: (African-American youth) "Run aground, have we? Surely we will perish. The Royal Navy gives no quarter to scallywags such as we."
CV-03: (Middle-aged African-American woman wearing hotel maid uniform) "Avast, ye swabs. Out sweeps to starboard. We'll push our way free of these shoals."
(Various passengers hold umbrellas, canes, and in one case a baguette from a grocery bag, out of the windows on the right side of the bus and mime a pushing or rowing motion)
CV-03: "Heave! Heave, ye scurvy dogs!"
CV-04: (Elderly Asian-American woman who has apparently spotted a MTF member across the street on the left side of the bus) "Captain! Sail! Three points to larboard! Spanish colors!"
CV-03: "'Vast heaving! Crews to the larboard guns! We'll take that Spaniard a prize, or the devil have me. Broadside at the ready, fire as she bears!"
(Various passengers hold umbrellas, canes, the baguette, a bouquet of flowers and various other objects out of the windows on the left side of the bus, mime the discharge of naval guns, and shout "Bang." Command instructs MTF members to retreat 20 further meters from bus and assume prone position.)
CV-05: (Middle-aged African-American male wearing bus driver uniform) "Ha ha! A clean sweep of their decks! Will they strike their colors?"
CV-03: "Close for boarding. A sweet, fat prize, lads. All the riches of the Indies, and the pearls of Araby."
At this point, to avoid the risk of self-injury on the part of affected individuals or other civilians, MTF deploys anesthetic gas grenades, successfully disabling all individuals aboard bus. In adherence to Command instructions, while continuing to maintain distance from bus, MTF deploys miniaturized flying drones to enter bus through open windows for closer inspection. Four components of SCP-5036 (subsequently designated SCP-5036-1 through -4) are observed scattered on floor of bus, identified as potentially anomalous, and retrieved by drones for containment and further study. Civilians on bus are retrieved without further incident.
The four components of SCP-5036 that had been retrieved by the drones, after preliminary analysis, were initially determined to be non-anomalous, and SCP-5036 was then designated neutralized. Subsequently, when cataloging those components for disposal, Junior Researcher Mgbede inferred from their morphology that additional, as-yet undiscovered components might still be in the bus or on the person of individuals who had been on the bus. After this suggestion was forwarded to Command, a second sweep was performed and recovered the remaining four SCP-5036 components from CV-03's coin purse, together with a crumpled note (see Exhibit 5036-C-1-A). Analysis resumed, whereupon SCP-5036 was redesignated as Safe. The civilians who had been aboard the bus received medical clearance and were then amnesticized and released.

Addendum #2:

+ Exhibit 5036-C-1-A: Note found in coin purse of CV-03 during Incident 5036-C-1.

- Exhibit 5036-C-1-A: Note found in coin purse of CV-03 during Incident 5036-C-1.

Note found in coin purse of CV-03 during Incident 5036-C-1

Addendum #3:

Citation of Distinguished Service Medal presented to Dr. Wilbur Mgbede
The Director of Site 146, on behalf of the Foundation, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. Wilbur Mgbede, Deputy Project Leader of Nμ Archetypal Attractor Project, for conspicuous ingenuity and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
On June 28, 2003, a security breach occurred at Site 146. The incident involved infiltration of the site by operatives of a rival GOI which evolved into combat between the infiltrators and Foundation security forces. Due to the chaos, several hostile sapient entities also escaped Foundation containment and roamed freely within the facility, resulting in additional casualties.
When advised that the loss of the western and southern wings of Site-146 were imminent, Dr. Mgbede declined to retreat to Security Bunker 146-E with other personnel, and instead, contacted Col. Choi Too-Kwon of the Foundation Security Force to propose a novel defensive strategy and to volunteer to implement it. Following Col. Choi's approval of the plan, Dr. Mgbede gallantly and single-handedly retrieved four segments of SCP-5036 from their respective separated receptacles, suffering a gunshot wound to the foot and a mauling by an escaped containment specimen that resulted in the loss of his left arm. Following this, ignoring his own serious injuries, Dr. Mgebde intentionally attracted the attention of several enemy operatives and uncontained SCP entities so that they would pursue him, then unhesitatingly led the hostiles to his own laboratory where additional segments of SCP-5036 were temporarily stored. Once Dr. Mgbede and seventy hostiles had entered the laboratory and Col. Choi could observe by means of the security system that they had ceased belligerence,2 the security team was able to disarm and incapacitate the infiltrators and re-contain the SCP entities.
Dr. Mgbede's quick thinking and bold initiative reflect great credit upon himself, the Nμ Archetypal Attractor Project Team, and the Foundation.

Addendum #4:

Archetypal Attractor Project - Status Memorandum dated April 8, 2009 (excerpt)
To: Dr. Mortimer Hall (Administrator, Division of Applied Patapsychology)
From: Dr. Wilbur Mgbede (Nμ Project Head)
Re: Status of Reverse Engineering Initiative
I wish to report the highlights of the project team's results from the last quarter.
In accordance with your directive last year, our team has been examining SCP-5036 with a view toward reverse engineering the Campbellian archetypal attractor functionality embodied in the object. The results of this initiative have been fruitful. While we do not yet have a comprehensive model for designing and producing attractor tokens for any arbitrarily selected Campbellian archetype, we appear to have succeeded in reproducing and copying a token that duplicates SCP-5036's archetypal attraction effects.
We are proceeding with a trial-and-error program of testing the token design and manufacture process with alternative configurations. This program has indicated a number of promising leads, including the potential development of archetypal attractors for the "sidekick", "grande dowager," "artful dodger," "chooser of the chosen one" and "temptress" archetypal roles.
While none of those archetypal roles are particularly interesting in themselves, I believe that the progress to date supports the view that the allocation of resources to additional exploration in this direction is merited. The utility of developing suitable archetypal attractor capabilities to fill certain roles needed in the course of the Foundation's operations should be obvious, especially in cases where specialized training is uneconomical or where it is difficult to staff particular positions on a voluntary basis.
Respectfully,
Dr. Mgbede

Footnotes
1. It should be noted that a Nμ-event does not imbue affected individuals with any particular skills such as seamanship, navigation or personal combat. For example, when affected individuals experience a narrative episode featuring combat, they tend to engage in stage-fighting or simulated gunplay with pointed index fingers accompanied by oral sound effects.
2. Col. Choi reported that Dr. Mgbede, the enemy infiltrators, and the uncontained SCP entities had commenced singing sea shanties while engaging in a rum-drinking contest.

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« SCP-5035 | SCP-5036 | SCP-5037 »


Note recovered from SCP-5037-7

Item #: SCP-5037
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Foundation elements embedded within police and emergency services are to maintain surveillance for and investigate potential SCP-5037 instances.
Upon formal identification of an SCP-5037 instance, the Foundation is to assume full situational control. Amnestics are to be administered as necessary, media coverage is to be preempted or suppressed, and a suitable cover story that describes alternate circumstances for the SCP-5037 instance is to be developed.
Social relations of and individuals proximate to the victims of the SCP-5037 instances are to be taken in for questioning and monitored thereafter. The properties in which SCP-5037 instances occur are to be purchased or otherwise acquired by the Foundation and kept under surveillance.
Foundation web crawler "ERIKA" is to scan for key words indicative of online discussion of the first three SCP-5037 instances, which is to be examined and intervened in as necessary to ensure informational security for the remainder of SCP-5037 instances and the Foundation.
Description: SCP-5037 is a series of 'locked room' murders committed via anomalous means, localized to residential properties within the city limits of Lubbock, Texas and occurring approximately once a month. All SCP-5037 instances have occurred within rooms that were locked or otherwise unable to be accessed from the outside, with no means or signs of entry or exit detectable by conventional means.
SCP-5037 instances have invariably occurred when there are no other persons within the residence, typically only discovered when social relations of the victims enter the residence and discern the person within the 'locked room' is unresponsive, followed by alerting authorities. No pattern or connection between the victims of SCP-5037 has been determined. They differ in age, gender, ethnicity, and occupation and have not been determined as ever having met or corresponded with each other.
The circumstances of SCP-5037 have proven identical across all instances. The victim is discovered lying in the approximate center of the 'locked room', facing upwards with their hands clasped over their chest, legs straightened, and their eyes closed with visible tear stains. They are always smiling.
The cause of death for all victims has been determined as identical to the effect of a fatal benzodiazepine1 overdose. The central nervous system was subject to severe depression, resulting in coma followed by death. However, forensic examination has consistently shown no traces of drugs within the body, and additional examination has determined the physiological alteration and ensuing death were near instantaneous to an extent not possible by conventional means.
All victims have had clasped within their hands a blue Post-It brand sticky note, with text identified as being written with a BIC Atlantis Comfort pen. A transcript is available below.

This is a suicide note
Please send a detective
We are sorry
We don't want to die

History:
The first known instance of SCP-5037 occurred on 1/9/20██, when a man named Charles Martin was found deceased within his locked windowless 'man cave'. As a result of the circumstances he was found in and his cause of death being insufficiently examined, foul play was not suspected and it was reported as a suicide.
The second known instance occurred on 2/7/20██, when the corpse of a woman named Debra Becker was discovered in the locked bedroom of her apartment by a neighbor. Though also reported as a suicide, the identical circumstances of the two deaths resulted in significant media coverage and speculation of a potential 'suicide cult', with some also theorizing the possibility of foul play.
The third instance, occurring on 3/3/20██ with a young child named Wayne Roberts found dead within his dedicated room for play, was deemed foul play and garnered national media coverage. The deaths were now regarded as part of the "Triple Locked Room Murder Mystery", prompting a large scale police investigation.
Foundation assets in Lubbock stepped in and assumed situational control. The anomalous nature of the deaths was discovered and they were retroactively declared instances of SCP-5037. Though it was no longer possible to prevent public knowledge of the first three murders and their similarity, targeted suppression and monitoring of coverage and discussion was put into place to maintain informational security.
Eleven further instances of SCP-5037 occurred over the next ten months and were successfully kept from public knowledge, with minimal new information gleaned. Due to the investigation stalling and in an attempt to satisfy the second line of the notes found with SCP-5037, which requested a 'detective', the personnel assigned to investigate SCP-5037 have become subject to regular rotation.
On, 1/3/20██, Investigator Isaac Acharya and Agent Audie Pallas of the Department of Analytics were assigned to the investigation of SCP-5037.

Investigation Log 5037.1

Investigation Log 5037.1

Preliminary Meeting Transcript
Date: 1/3/20██
[BEGIN LOG]
Investigator Acharya: I suppose I should start this audio log with an introduction, since there is something of a need to contextualize my presence. My name is Isaac Acharya, former private eye and a Foundation employee for… a number of years now. I hold the somewhat unique position within the Foundation as an investigator with… well, Level 0 security clearance. I promise that isn't a joke, though I'll admit I'll probably make a few since we're in the informal bit of things.
Agent Pallas: I've known him for around ten minutes, and I can already tell he's going to.
Investigator Acharya: The vote of confidence is appreciated, Agent Pallas. Now, I have Level 0 clearance since my primary role within the Foundation has nothing at all to do with the anomalous. It's my job to investigate crimes committed against or by Foundation employees via conventional means. I've run the gamut from theft and blackmail all the way to homicide. In practice though, I spend most of my time finding… lost items and pets.
Investigator Acharya pauses for around ten seconds, presumably for comedic effect
Investigator Acharya: Setting that awkward pause aside, I genuinely do enjoy my work. I'm the kind of guy satisfied by putting smiles on people's faces. Aside from that however, I'm occasionally called upon in another capacity.
Another, slightly longer pause
Investigator Acharya: There are particular anomalies that sometimes need a fresh eye from someone used to investigating but who knows nothing about anomalies, and thus has no preconceived notions. There are some anomalies that are so mundane in nature that it's best to hit them from that angle. And there are probably some anomalies that you just need someone who knows nothing about anomalies to tackle, like if they, I don't know, shapeshift into the worst thing you've ever seen or something. Though, I only know that secondhand.
A quiet laugh
Investigator Acharya: To maintain that handy dandy Level 0 clearance, I get hit up with amnestics after every time I work with anomalies. Until then though, I'm here assigned to SCP-5037, because it barely qualifies as anomalous and because this investigation's hit so much of a brick wall they might as well scrape the bottom of the barrel and give me a try.
Agent Pallas: clears throat And I am Agent Audie Pallas, of the Department of Analytics. I am to serve as Investigator Acharya's liaison with the greater Foundation due to his unusual clearance situation and provide him whatever classified information I am capable of giving him. I am also only somewhat begrudgingly to serve as his assistant and bodyguard for the duration of this investigation.
Investigator Acharya: It's much appreciated Agent Pallas. I don't expect this investigation to get dangerous, but my aptitude for combat is roughly equivalent to wet tissue paper, so please do save the sobbing mess I'll be if things get rough.
Agent Pallas pauses and sighs
Agent Pallas: Please do expect the investigation to get dangerous. It will make my life easier. Now then, fun first day of preschool introduction time is over. Investigator, what is your preliminary assessment of SCP-5037?
Investigator Acharya: That's the million dollar question, isn't it? What to make of suicide themed murders of people with no history of suicidal behavior and no connections to each other? Murders with no known ritualistic element, occurring seemingly painlessly behind closed doors and going out of their way to give any potential suspect alibis, continuing despite not being properly reported and getting notoriety?
Agent Pallas: The operating theory of the investigation thus far is that it's an anomalous entity that can phase through walls or teleport or some such but only under particular conditions, and that it derives either sustenance or pleasure simply from killing with no additional frills attached. In this scenario, the note is pure nonsense it leaves mockingly or a cryptic riddle of some sort.
Investigator Acharya: … What would your own personal theory be, Agent Pallas?
Agent Pallas: I am disinclined to share theories I'm uncertain of because of a certain traumatic incident involving a phone game, but… I think the note is pretty important.
Investigator Acharya: We're of one mind. The operating theory certainly ticks all the boxes… but that doesn't make it the answer. It's perhaps an attitude inappropriate for dealing with an anomaly, but I'm positive there's a higher purpose and logic to these murders, and the notes indicate it. The locked room and the method of death are important of course, but there's nothing in particular that can be deciphered about them just yet. The note is the key to this.

Agent Pallas: Well then mister brilliant detective, what have you parsed from the note?
Investigator Acharya: Let's begin with the assumption that the culprit is speaking for itself in the notes, considering it presumably wrote them. The culprit says this is its suicide note; it's announcing it's going to die by its own actions. Skipping the second line for now, it's apologetic. It says it doesn't want to die right afterwards… it can be read as it being apologetic that it doesn't want to die. This might mean the murders are necessary for it not to die, and it feels sorry for that. Of course, that it's written in first person plural might be of note. It might be the intent of multiple culprits, or multiple minds, or a collective.
Agent Pallas: Hell of a contradiction, isn't it? Saying it's going to commit suicide but that it doesn't want to die… though that might mean it's not committing suicide of its own will.

Investigator Acharya: That's certainly one interpretation, and likely correct, but as well it's true that people rarely commit suicide solely because they want to die. It's because they want to stop their own suffering. It certainly lines up with this entity demonstrating the capacity for remorse. It doesn't want to die, but it's suffering, and it regrets.
Agent Pallas: Empathizing a bit much with something that's killed over a dozen people, aren't you? I'm not gonna say you shouldn't because it's inhuman, but it's still a murderer.
Investigator Acharya: Maybe so, but perhaps that perspective might be just what's necessary to solve this mystery. If you're worried about my resolve, don't be. I may feel for it, but I'm not going to let it keep killing people.
Agent Pallas: As long as you get the picture.
Investigator Acharya: Picture gotten. Now, as for the second line, that's what's most intriguing. It's requesting a detective. If it was because it wanted to lure in and kill that which could jeopardize it, we would have Foundation casualties by now. No, it wants a detective because it wants to be solved. It wants to be found out. There's no other reason to request a detective to come to a crime scene. Isn't that something? An anomaly that wants to be solved… do you know of any?
Agent Pallas: You could probably count them on your hands. Generally anomalies abhor being solved, being made to conform to a single answer or framework. It's why they're anomalous. Each and every one of them are mysteries that refuse to be solved.
Investigator Acharya: And yet this one, for some reason, wants to be solved. If we consider the lines as connecting to each other, then perhaps a detective is a requisite component, necessary to it not wanting to die. Perhaps the detective is part of its suicide.
Agent Pallas: We've had over a dozen different investigators assigned to this case, and the contents of the note haven't changed once. Maybe its request won't ever be satisfied, or can't be satisfied. Anomalies don't operate on logic. You can't always answer them.
Investigator Acharya: And it's exactly that attitude I can't accept. That we haven't figured them out yet doesn't mean we never will. I'm sure there's some theoretical upper limit to human knowledge, but I don't give a toss. All I know and all I care about is that I have been presented with a mystery, that my presence as a detective has been requested, and that the lives of innocent people are at stake. I will find the truth. I've failed as a detective the moment I think I can't. I'm not going to stop until the mystery is solved.
Agent Pallas: … Well, here's hoping that attitude gets us somewhere.
Investigator Acharya: Again, appreciate the vote of confidence. Speaking of confidence, going back to the note, there is one last thing I noticed and am confident about.
Agent Pallas: Let's hear it.
Investigator Acharya: Between the blue sticky note and the kind of pen you'd get in the school supplies section of a store, the quality of the handwriting itself, and the lines themselves… I would say the note feels like it was written by someone in middle school, maybe in high school at latest. A teenager. A kid.
[END LOG]

Addendum.5037.1:
On 1/9/20██, SCP-5037-15 occurred in a locked walk-in closet with a woman named Dorothy Walker. While all other circumstances remained identical to previous SCP-5037 instances, the contents of the note found with SCP-5037-15 had changed. A transcript follows.

This is a suicide note
Please solve us
Please don't solve us
We are sorry
We don't want to die

Investigation Log 5037.2

Investigation Log 5037.2

Meeting Regarding SCP-5037-15
Date: 1/9//20██
[BEGIN LOG]
Investigator Acharya: We were too late. We couldn't figure it out in time to save her.
Agent Pallas: Investi-… Isaac, it isn't your fault. People a hell of a lot more qualified couldn't figure it out. It comes with the job. Sometimes, there's nothing you can do. But now something's changed, thanks to you, and because of her sacrifice we'll solve this.
Investigator Acharya: You don't get to call it a sacrifice. This woman didn't agree to be sacrificed. She didn't want to die.
Agent Pallas: … You're right. I'm sorry.
Investigator Acharya lets out a drawn out sigh
Investigator Acharya: No, I should apologize. That was too harsh of me. You're right that her death won't be in vain. We might not have been able to save her, but we're not going to let anyone else die. I've been recognized as the detective. I will solve this mystery.
Agent Pallas: And I'll be there to assist. I'm not about to give up, not when mister Level 0 here is refusing to.
Investigator Acharya: Heh. Honestly, you're a pretty damn inspiring liaison, assistant, and bodyguard yourself. With the two of us, I'm sure we can do this. Let's get to it.
Agent Pallas: The changed wording… again there's that contradiction. It wants to be solved, but it also doesn't want to be solved. Still a suicide note, but still not wanting to die.
Investigator Acharya: The order, I think, is important. It wants to be solved, but then it doesn't want to. That suggests a limit or threshold. It wants to keep being solved, but past a certain point it doesn't. It wants us to eat away at this mystery, but it doesn't want to be completely solved.
Agent Pallas: There's that plural being emphasized again as well. Solve us… it's an odd wording. You'd think the culprit would ask to be caught, or figured out. Normally I wouldn't think twice about odd wording with an anomaly, but it seems to think your detective style suits it, so.
Investigator Acharya: They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so much appreciated. As it happens, I agree. If we consider the wording to be important, it is odd that it'd ask us to 'solve us, the culprits'…
After around a minute's silence, Investigator Acharya audibly bolts up from his seat.
Investigator Acharya: That's it! Damn it, it all makes sense now! Agent, you're brilliant!
Agent Pallas: Compliment bashfully declined, but what do you mean?
Investigator Acharya: We've been operating under the assumption that the 'we' and the 'us' could only ever refer to some culprit, but a key component of some locked room murders is that there isn't always one. Someone accidentally sets off an elaborate trap, or indeed commits suicide that becomes mistaken for homicide. We're not being asked to solve a culprit or culprits that don't necessarily exist. We've been asked to solve a mystery, a mystery made up of…
Agent Pallas: … murders. That's why there's been a note attached to every murder. It's that absurdly literal. The mystery, speaking in plural because it's made up of multiple murders, requested a detective to solve it. The mystery is keeping itself from dying by adding to itself, and that means adding more deaths that are clearly part of the same mystery. It's a sapient abstract concept, a living mystery actualizing itself in reality.
Investigator Acharya: Can't say I fully understand what you just said, but I do get that the note is written from the viewpoint of a mystery, and that being investigated and speculated about is what gives a mystery its meaning as a mystery. To that end it wants to be solved, but once it's completely solved it ceases to be a mystery. That's why it wants to be solved but also doesn't want to be. It's killing itself in parts just to stay alive.
Agent Pallas: This is some fucking painful hindsight. Hell, the database page itself says 'SCP-5037 is a series of murders', and that's quite literally what it is in its entirety. But… knowing what it is won't stop it. There's nothing to stop it from continuing to add to itself.
Investigator Acharya: We haven't fully solved the mystery just yet. You said that the plural in the note was because it was made up of murders, yeah?
Agent Pallas: That would be the seeming conclusion, yes.
Investigator Acharya: Then why was it plural in the note found with the very first?
Agent Pallas: … Oh goddamn it, the hindsight just got even more painful. I can't believe we didn't catch this. No, I can. Of course the Foundation overlooked this.
Investigator Acharya: Now it's your turn to clue me in?
Agent Pallas: One month before the first instance of SCP-5037, there was a prominent locked room murder right here in Lubbock. The Foundation looked into it at the time, and looked into it again after SCP-5037 was designated, but dismissed it as unrelated. All the teens and pundits salivating on the Internet about the 'Triple Locked Room Murder Mystery' considered it related, and we encouraged that to get them farther from what we thought was the truth.
Investigator Acharya: Why was it dismissed as unrelated?
Agent Pallas: Because it wasn't anomalous at all fucking whatsoever… and because it wasn't a closed room murder like it was reported to be.
Agent Pallas pauses and sighs
Agent Pallas: It was a suicide.
[END LOG]

Addendum.5037.2
On 1/10/20██, Lubbock police chief Carson Grimes was induced by the Foundation to confess to the crime of falsifying police records in order to report the suicide of his 15-year old son Nelson Grimes via sleeping pill overdose as a 'locked room' murder. He was additionally made to confess that the first three instances of SCP-5037 were also suicides he falsely reported as 'locked room' murders, produced via fabricated evidence and coercion of witnesses.
After three months following this course of action without additional SCP-5037 instances, SCP-5037 is pending reclassification as Neutralized.
Addendum.5037.3
On 4/9/20██, former Lubbock police chief Carson Grimes committed suicide in his prison cell, having overdosed on sleeping pills he requested in order to deal with recurring nightmares featuring his son.

Footnotes
1. A class of drugs typically known for sedative effects, often simply referred to as sleeping pills

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Image Sources:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_a_suburban_home,_by_James_G._Lock.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2011-12-17_12.06.08OldPC.jpg
All modifications to these images were done by me.

Your name is Michael Welsh, you're 28-years-old, and you've been recently assigned to a newly formulated project with the intent of finding the true nature of an anomaly that in your opinion, you find quite mundane. You also find it strange that anything more than just locking the SCP in a box and forgetting it would be a massive waste of the Foundation's resources.

SCP-5039 they call it, and you're on your way to the para-media archival center to retrieve information on it. This is because a new experiment is underway and you're the only one with a memetic resistance high enough to view it.

At this point, you've finished walking down the bleach-colored corridor of Provisional Site-76, finally reaching your destination. The large metal doors seem cold and uninviting, but you persist, swiping your keycard and walking through the security doors.

Stepping through, you're unimpressed by the generic office-like setting with the indistinguishable scent of mold, dust and rotting wood assaulting your nose as soon as you take your first breath.

Despite this, your main point of attention is that you're completely alone. Nothing but you and the persistent buzzing noise, its origin completely unknown to you.

For some odd reason, you have a strange feeling of importance, but you just attribute this to your loneliness in this massive database. Making your way to the partially molded desk, you see a file waiting on it. You hesitate for a moment for reasons unknown before taking a seat and opening the file.

Item #: SCP-5039
Object Class: Euclid

A still taken from SCP-5039 found in the same location as the VHS tape in which it was discovered. How the still was initially created is currently unknown.

Special Containment Procedures: All instances of devices displaying either portions of SCP-5039 or the object entirely, are to be confiscated from the owner and destroyed via conventional means. Should an individual view SCP-5039, they are to be quarantined for a minimum of 72 consecutive hours in order to determine if the individual has been contaminated by the memetic agents present in SCP-5039.
In instances where subjects have shown symptoms of memetic contamination, they should be held within Provisional Site-76 throughout the process of decontamination. Should subjects display levels of contamination exceeding that of which an individual could recover from, they may-be terminated humanely per standards set in place by the Ethics Committee on July 25, 1975.
Concerning the continued research of SCP-5039, a standard MP4 file of the anomaly is to be stored in a secure SCiPNET database only accessible to personnel possessing a security clearance at or exceeding Level-3/5039. Researchers working with SCP-5039 are forbidden from directly viewing the object, in exception to those possessing a memetic resistance at or exceeding 5.5 and directly authorized to do so.
Possible revision to these procedures in light of new information is currently being reviewed between the SCP-5039 research team and the Classifications Committee.
Description: SCP-5039 designates an MP4 based video file, transmittable between all forms of media capable of displaying such an item. The video contains numerous memetic properties related to memory as well as other abstract concepts. This will commonly cause auditory hallucinations of music, though this varies between individuals viewing SCP-5039. These symptoms primarily manifest in individuals who have had a previous history of lucid dreaming. Current research into these relations is currently ongoing.
Information obtained during subsequent viewings of SCP-5039 has concluded its contents to be a video-based diary created by an unidentifiable individual between the ages of 15-17 designated SCP-5039-1. This consists of events commonly attributed as typical to events in education-based facilities throughout the mid-western United States such as conflicts between groups, foil, and other related topics. Other topics include the individual's daily routine, outings with peers and other social gatherings typical of the mid 20th Century.
Conclusive documentation of the length of SCP-5039 has thus far been impossible, primarily due to events in SCP-5039 changing or becoming completely absent from the film between viewings. The only known portion of the video proven to be consistent is the beginning and conclusion of SCP-5039 always starting in a recreational room of a building resembling that of a public school, while the ending always results in—

"Wait, that can't be it?"

You turn the file over hoping to see the document entirely but there's nothing. You don't even actually know what the object does or why you of all people were sent to this dingy site in the middle of Indiana just to read this seemingly meaningless article.

Thinking to yourself, you assume that it may have just been a misprint, a slip-up, a mistake. Standing up, you produce your Foundation issued cell phone and attempt to call the head researcher of the SCP.

"Hmm, no signal."

You find yourself confused, as this has never happened before. Your phone was always in working order and you've never seen an incomplete document, especially one that had caught the interest of a few of the higher-ups.

You're turning to leave as you have no other choice, but something catches your eye. A small VHS tape placed carelessly on a desk with an archaic computer terminal atop of it.

You try to ignore it and continue your leave, but every thought you attempt to conjure keeps leading back to that seemingly old and worthless tape.

Finally you give in, cautiously stepping towards the metal desk, an intangible fear gripping you for unknown reasons as you do so.

Picking up the decrepit tape you read the label: "JUST ME, SENIOR MEMORIES OF SHIRLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1976" written in all capitals, seemingly in a hurry.

You have a strange compulsion to watch the tape but no. What if this is SCP-5039, and this is a test or some form of discipline for your misacting? But wait, the article said that all of the copies were destroyed and the one that remains is a digital file.

It's done, you're going to play the tape and hope for the best. You rush over to the storage closet retrieving a VHS player and an adapter to use on the terminal monitor.

After fumbling around for a few minutes, you finally have everything in working order and slide the tape into the machine.

The video opens with static but after a few seconds, the screen slowly begins to fade in and shows a cafeteria full of students and a couple of teachers maintaining order.

"There, now it should work." is audible in a female voice coming from off-screen.

The camera pans around showing a young female 15-17 years old with dark blond hair and green eyes.

"Hello world, or well in better terms, hi viewer I'm [DATA CORRUPTED] and I'm currently a senior at Shirley High School in Colton, Indiana. Ms. Clarkson recommended that I make a video journal to document all of the memories of senior year for when I'm older and want to look back. Well, this is just a test for now and biology class is about to start so bye everyone."

The camera then appears to be set on pause resuming some time later in an outdoor setting.

"Hey Tammy, do you think the test on the Han Dynasty is gonna be hard or easy like the one on the correlations between music and human sacrifice?"

"[DATA CORRUPTED] what? We never had a test like that, what are you talking about?"

"Oh yea that's right."

"[DATA CORRUPTED] is everything alright today you've been acting screwy?"

"I'm fine, I'm just a bit stressed out that's all."

"O-oh, ok."

The two individuals continue walking silently down the path and several houses become visible in the distance.

The two diverge with the one identified as Tammy turning right and entering the small house located in the previously stated position. While the one holding the camera enters the two-story house on the left.

Fuck fuckfuckfuck! You know that's SCP-5039 but you can't move anything: your arms, legs and even your eyes are completely still and fixated on the screen. You pray that someone, something will come through the metal doors and save you from the memetic clamp that's sprung upon you.

The camera goes quiet once again before cutting to what can only be assumed to be several days later. A bowl of cereal is visible and 3 other individuals can be seen. The one holding the camera begins to speak.

"Dad, I had a nightmare last night and I was wondering if I could talk to you about it?"

"Sure KW, what was it?"

"I was walking through a place that looked like the food store downtown, but things were wrong. See, you were all there but without faces, and when I tried to go to you guys, I saw 9 girls I guess? Well, that's what they looked like. Before getting stabbed with music notes coming from some hole."

"Hmm KW, just remember, all of that isn't real so you don't have to be afraid. Look, when you grow up you'll realize that you won't have to worry about such nonsense and finally realize that sleeping isn't real either."

"What?"

The adult male figure stares blankly before the camera cuts out with a loud hiss.

The scene becomes visible, the camera-woman and three others at a social gathering akin to a party. Three including the one holding the camera are sitting on a somewhat dilapidated deck while the others are visible playing in a pool which constantly shifts from being clean to having a black sludge with snails arranged in a fashion to form whole notes.

"[DATA CORRUPTED] don't worry I'm sure you can convince them to stay here with us so you don't grow-up go away."

"Innocence, I'm not sure, they're really persistent about moving on. Like what's the point of 76?

Trust joins in.

"Well at age 75 everything died, even innocence and me. Maybe it's just the symphony trying to get back what was lost."

[DATA CORRUPTED] chimes in one last time.

"Well, when you put it that way, I guess it's just one big cycle into syncope. Thank you two for coming back one last time."

The two speak.

"Don't mention it."

The individual holding the camera beings to spasm before presumably vanishing with the camera falling to the ground facing Innocence and Trust.

At once.

"I can't wait to see Michael again."
[Video Ends]

Back in the archival center of Provisional Site-76, Kellie Welsh, now able to stand does so, and he she slowly makes her way out of the site to resume her work with what she thought were her friends.

SCAN COMPLETE

As initially theorized, upon further review it has been discovered that the previously viewed document was the result of data corruption from an unknown source. A revised document has been made available here.

« SCP-5038 | SCP-5039 | SCP-5040 »


⚠ content warning

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⚠ Content warning: This work of fiction involves scenes which depict or allude to topics which may be particularly distressing for some readers. Please scroll for a list of such topics contained in this piece.

Blood
Body horror
Death
Dental trauma
Forced captivity
Gore
Hostages
Kidnapping
Misogyny
Murder
PTSD
Self-harm
Sexism
Torture
Violence

Readers with particular sensitivities should also be aware that this story also depicts or alludes to the following subjects which are less prevalent among content advisories, but nevertheless have the potential to be disturbing:

Facial mutilation
Ocular body horror ("eye scream")
Violence against women
Violent treatment of women in media

PeppersGhost

More by this author

A reminder from the Records and Information Security Administration
Unauthorised personnel are not permitted to rename secure documents. Mr. Rubber, the junior research intern responsible for changes to SCP-5040's code name, will continue to serve our organization by maintaining the cleanliness of the subfloor restrooms.
If you wish to edit this file, please contact your IntSCPFN server administrator.
— Maria Jones, RAISA Director

Item#: 5040

Level2

Containment Class:
euclid

Secondary Class:
{$secondary-class}

Disruption Class:
keneq

Risk Class:
notice

link to memo

Special Containment Procedures: Foundation web crawler Kappa-08 ("CINEGAMI") is to seek and suppress all references to SCP-5040 in online discussions and entertainment news. Antimemetic inoculations against the propagation of SCP-5040 are in development.
Description: SCP-5040 is a nonexistent Japanese horror film entitled 血の涙 ("Tears of Blood")1 which spontaneously manifests in human memories. Those affected by SCP-5040 will remember going to see the film even when their supposed attendance would contradict empirical evidence. SCP-5040 afflictions may occur in any place where movies are shown, including cultures where its content would usually be prohibited. Subtitles and/or dubbing will be used when appropriate.
Descriptions of the film are always similar in nature, as are the circumstances and events surrounding the viewing. However, reports of SCP-5040's story and characters are never fully consistent, and the film's setting, subplots, character names, and much of the dialogue will be different for each viewer.2 Casting also varies and appears largely arbitrary; a broad variety of Japanese performers and entertainment personalities (both living and deceased) have been said to star in the film, even when the actor in question has no real-life associations with the horror genre. Despite these differences, the film's beginning, climax, and ending consistently hew to the same general plot (see Doc. 5040-Prime).
After conducting more than three hundred interviews, researchers have constructed a detailed synopsis of SCP-5040's most consistent story elements and the most common sequence of events associated with the viewer's memory of their screening attendance (see Doc. 5040-Prime).

Addendum 5040-Prime:

Screenings always begin at sunset. If a subject had prior commitments for that day and time, they learn that the commitment was abruptly cancelled or resolved through unforeseen circumstances. The subject decides to spend their free time by seeing a movie at a local theater.
Upon arrival, they see a large crowd gathered at the box office and learn the entire theater has been reserved for a special event: a one-time-only screening of a rare, critically acclaimed film. Admission is free. Drawn in by the excitement, the subject indulges their curiosity and gets in line for a ticket.
Most seats are already occupied when the subject reaches the auditorium, but they find an empty space in the back. They notice that a large number of people throughout the audience wear disposable face masks, even if this practice is not common in the local culture. The woman who takes the seat next to the subject wears one such mask, as does the woman beside her.
The remaining seats are quickly taken, but patrons continue to file in. By the time the lights dim, the audience completely fill the aisles and stairs, leaving the areas around the exits standing room only. An IV pole carrying a bag of unknown fluid may be seen protruding from the crowd, but with no clear indication who it is connected to. The subject might also notice that elsewhere in the theater, one of the masked audience members wears a hospital gown.
There are no trailers or advertisements before the film. The theater goes silent when it begins.

The film opens with the female protagonist going about mundane activities in her day-to-day life. She is interrupted by a phone call from an unknown party who tells her that a loved one has been hospitalized. When the protagonist leaves her apartment to go to the hospital, she is attacked by a male assailant and loses consciousness.
When the protagonist wakes up, she finds herself in an unfamiliar building with her arms and legs bound. She is accompanied by a number of other female captives, some of whom still remain unconscious. The women briefly discuss the possibility of an escape, but are interrupted when the kidnapper appears. He sees one of the women crying and kills her without hesitation. The kidnapper explains that he intends to release the captives after 24 hours, but only under the condition that they do not cry.
Throughout the film, the kidnapper exacts various forms of physical and psychological torture on the group. Despite their best efforts, captives prove unable to hold back their tears, and they are murdered one by one until only the protagonist remains. Frustrated by the protagonist's resolve, the kidnapper gradually escalates her torture; however, the protagonist only responds with rebukes, which angers the kidnapper even further.

As the protagonist makes a speech against the kidnapper, the subject notices what seems to be a slight echo to the dialogue. They eventually realize that the two masked women sitting beside them are softly repeating every line of dialogue as it occurs. If they look further, they will see that the lower half of the women's masks are saturated with saliva and their hands are clasped together so tightly that their fingernails have begun to draw blood.

At the film's climax, the kidnapper approaches the protagonist with a double edge razor blade and announces that even if she is freed, she will spend the rest of her life horribly disfigured. This leads to an argument between the two which touches on themes such as the nature of inner and outer beauty, the value of women in society, and the societal stigma against expressions of vulnerability. Eventually, the kidnapper loses patience, throws the protagonist to the floor, and grabs her face.

From this point onward, the subject hears groans from unidentified members of the audience.

Gripping the protagonist's lower lip between his thumb and forefinger, the kidnapper takes the razor blade and cuts a deep fissure from the corner of her mouth to her chin. He works the blade across her face using a rough sawing motion until her lower lip is partially amputated. He pauses to mock the protagonist and she uses the opportunity to grab the razor from him with her teeth. Before the kidnapper can react, she slices his left eye open.
The kidnapper screams as blood and vitreous humor spill from his face, allowing time for the protagonist to maneuver the razor to her fingers and cut through her bindings. Enraged and half blind, the kidnapper grabs the remaining flap of the protagonist's lower lip and pulls sharply, tearing it from her face along with a large strip of her right cheek. As the kidnapper expresses his satisfaction, the protagonist finishes freeing herself and slits the kidnapper's throat with the razor.

Whereas the film's previous murders often differ between manifestations, all interviewees gave consistent descriptions of the violent climax and displayed a greater degree of clarity in their recollection of this scene than at any other point in the film. ~80% of subjects also reported that the movie's climax was accompanied by a profound sense of dread, but did not attribute the feeling to the movie itself.

The protagonist hurries to the exit as the kidnapper bleeds to death on the floor. Although her speech is impeded by her injuries, she pauses before leaving to mock the kidnapper one last time, calmly telling him that he "cried tears of blood" and therefore had to die according to his own rules.
The film abruptly cuts to an unspecified point in the future. Now wearing a face mask to hide her disfigured mouth, the protagonist walks down the street to her apartment, indifferent to the crowd of paparazzi that follows her. When she finally reaches her bedroom, the protagonist slowly takes off her mask and looks at herself in the mirror. She stares in silence at the missing lower portion of her face and sheds a tear. Over the course of several minutes, her weeping gradually builds into frenzied sobs and shrieks. The film cuts to black and the credits roll, but the sound of the protagonist's cries continue to play with no other audio until the credit reel ends.

The other audience members largely remain silent after the movie ends, exchanging only whispers as they exit the theater. Subjects have claimed to have seen small red puddles and stains on the theater floor on their way out. Those who remain past this point will experience an escalating feeling of unwelcomeness until they are driven to leave.

Footnotes
1. Sometimes reported as simply "血涙".
2. Researchers familiar with paramedia should note the contrast with nonexistent works of anafabulaic origin, which are generally described with consistent details.

« SCP-5039 | SCP-5040 | SCP-5041 »


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Thanks to MaliceAforethought for looking this over. His crit prompted me to go in a vastly different direction from my original drafts, which I was much happier with.
Thanks to The Pighead for help with French translation.
Additional thanks to my other critters: DrAkimoto, Oboebandgeek99, Anxiety Incorporated, MalyceGraves

View more of my articles here.

For the benefit of translators and editors, here are links to the individual offsets:

First Page
Second Page

by stormbreath

Item #: SCP-5041
Object Class: Keter-provisi
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5041 is to be contained within Specialized Containment Cell-01 at Site-Aleph. It is not to be removed from SCC-01 at any time, and SCC-01 should not be accessed by any individual outside the specific provisions allowed by the containment procedures.
SCC-01 is the top story of Building-01 within Site-Aleph. It consists of four rooms: a main chamber, a bedroom, a bathroom, and an antechamber. The only room into which containment staff are allowed to enter is the antechamber and only to deliver food or other provisions to SCP-5041. Containment staff are to ring a doorbell to give SCP-5041 time to vacate the antechamber before they enter. All rooms of SCC-01 have been soundproofed. SCC-01 is to be outfitted with furniture as appropriate.
The roof of SCC-01's main chamber is a skylight, which is cleaned by automated mechanisms. All Foundation satellites that pass over SCC-01 have been set to automatically censor photographs of SCC-01. Under no circumstances should the interior of SCC-01 be viewed; immediate amnestic treatment is required if this is violated. If it is necessary to access the roof of Aleph-Building-01, automated shutters have been installed to close the skylight. SCP-5041 should be notified in advance that the shutters are to be used.
SCP-5041 has been granted Grade-A Humanoid Amenity privileges. In addition to receiving three Grade-A meals each day, it is to be given two bottles of wine and a Grade-A dessert package every week. Entertainment media given to SCP-5041 should not contain depictions of any individuals or characters, real or fictional.
SCP-5041 may make requests to the containment staff of any nature, by writing on a slip of paper and putting said paper into a slot in the antechamber of SCC-01. After these requests are read and denied/granted, they are to be incinerated.
Description: SCP-5041 is a humanoid. As SCP-5041 is still alive after three hundred years of continuous containment it is either immortal, of a greatly extended life-span, or is non-human. SCP-5041 is believed to have other anomalous properties. No details of these additional properties are known.
It is not known why SCP-5041 is in containment.

+ Personal Logs of Doctor Clouzot, SCP-5041 HMCL Supervisor

- Close Logs.

June 8th, 2020:
First day on the job as acting HMCL Supervisor for SCP-5041. It's a Keter, unlike my previous assignments (all Safe) — guess that it's being treated at a lower level than the Object Class would indicate. Previous HMCL Supervisor had been on the job for nearly forty years, it looks like, before retiring. It's a stable job — some might say a dead end.
I do find it troubling, however, that there isn't any proper information about the anomaly itself. That's a little worrying, if you ask me. This thing has apparently been in Foundation containment since the beginning, and we don't know anything about it. Containment Procedures forbid almost any kind of testing, so I'll have to be digging into the archives for the investigation. Won't be able to get an amendment if they're stable (as it would appear).
Let's see what I can scrape from the Con Procs and Description:

Hazardous to perceive? Extends to all forms, apparently — sight and sound both potential vectors. Cognitohazard or memetic likely.
Notes can be read, but only once — effect extends to materials produced by the entity, but not significant? Not automatically lethal or not that dangerous
Immortal, 300+ years old. Unclear if this property relates to main sensory anomaly.

Look into specific times for initial containment. Contained in oldest building at first French site.
Still requires food/drink to live? Is food actually necessary or has other purpose — as suggested by dessert/wine privileges. Why does it get those?

June 9th, 2020:
Investigation starts at the beginning. Information about SCP-5041 from the time before it came into the Foundation is sparse, but we do know a little. It was originally contained by the Estate noir (French Foundation precursor, although more of an Insurgency precursor in all honesty), beginning in 1713. We've got this document from them:

To the honourable Jailer of Avignon,
Delivered unto you in one weeks time shall be a prisoner of most unusual quality. You are to guard him until such time as further instruction is given; however, it is unlikely he shall ever be fit for release from captivity. It is the belief of the Estate noir that the prisoner shall never be released, and that he shall be held till the end of days.
During the time of which he shall be rendered unto you, outfit a cell with the following specifications to hold him. The prisoner is not to be released from this cell, nor should the cell be modified in any way — the following requirements have been determined to be the safest method of holding the prisoner, for both himself and others.

The cell should be constructed so that prison is neither able to see any individuals of the outside world, nor should any individual of the outside world be able to look upon the prisoner. To this end, it is recommended that the prisoner be placed in a high tower, with windows angled up towards the sky.

It is imperative, however, that the prisoner is allowed access to natural light. Do not put the prisoner in a room without a window of any form, but allow him his daily light.

There should be an antechamber between the cell holding the prisoner and between the general corridors of whichever prison is holding him. The antechamber should have locked doors on either side.
The cell should be protected against sound as well as possible, so that no sounds penetrate the interior chamber in which the prisoner is kept, and so the prisoner does not hear any of the ongoings or discussions of his jailers.
The door between the antechamber and the cell is to have an angled slot in it, that allows for the prisoner to slip a note through the door and into the antechamber.

Once the prisoner has been delivered unto you, and is kept within the cell, he is to be treated in the following manner. Be sure to do so with great respect and civility, for while the prisoner is responsible for terrible acts, he is repentant of his sin.

Like the famed prisoner held by Bénigne d'Auvergne de Saint-Mars, the prisoner has been given a mask of black velvet to wear at all times. The prisoner shall be delivered to you wearing this mask, and he will wear it all times, should the unlikely situation require him to appear in public. Do not force him to remove it.
No contact should be held with the prisoner. He is not to be spoken to nor exposed to the outside world, and should spend the rest of his days in isolation.
So that the mind of the prisoner remains sane and does not decay, he is to be provided with various forms of entertainment and engagement:

The prisoner may be allowed books and poems, but none of these are to reflect the lives of individuals or their stories. He may be given paintings to decorate the cell, so long as these paintings do not depict any individuals.
The prisoner is to be allowed the materials with which to write and paint. Should he place any in the antechamber, it is to be destroyed without inspection.

The prisoner is to be fed well each day, with three proper meals given to him. He is to be afforded two bottles of wine per week, of whatever vintage that is readily available.
Finally, the furnishings of the prison cell should be finely done and crafted. The cell that holds the prisoner should not be sparse of comforts, for it shall be his home for eternity.

The prisoner was responsible for the disappearance of a rather large number of victims, some leagues south of Mende. As a result of his nature, the names of these victims have been forgotten, and they have vanished from all accounts. Nonetheless, the Estate noir is certain that he is responsible for this, as—

There was evidently a second page/more to this letter, but it was completely absent from the records. Unclear if it was lost before or after the Foundation formed, or if the Estate noir lost it in the past. Possible it was destroyed in the Foundation Civil War. Either way, we don't have it, and only have the first half of the letter.
Salient points:

Estate noir didn't expect the prisoner to be able to be released. Implication that this is distinct from the reason it's in containment/any sense of justice/punishment for actions.
Killed(?) a lot of people in the south of France, almost totally — antimemetic in some capacity, it seems? Not certain about that (can still remember it myself).
It looks like most of the food provisions are because the Estate noir were being polite, and the Foundation simply kept up the traditions when they inherited the object. No real reason to have them, most likely.

Sunlight is set apart from the rest and called out as being more important. Seems key?

Reference to the historical Man in the Iron Mask — some of the containment might be a reference to that, not because it was specifically tailored to 5041 itself? Need to review the history of that case, see if there's any reasoning I can't scrape out of it.
Interesting note that stories can't have people in them. Weird that's the biggest/only concern (although exceedingly broad).
Key points as I see them here are the mental state of the prisoner — keeping him alright — and making sure he has almost no contact with the outside world. Not just about making sure we don't know about him, but that he doesn't know about us either.

June 12th, 2020:
Was digging late last night into old records and the like (lead about the Man in the Iron Mask didn't go anywhere — that case is too much of a mystery itself). Lots of old records, most of it unhelpful. Almost passed out from low blood sugar — feel like I might be putting myself on the line here. Warnings about infohazards are also in that vein. But still! I have to do this for myself the Foundation.
Went for a review of more information, and was able to find the following interview log from 1988. It's the work of old Doctor Lebeau (now retired with a dose of amnestics) and was buried under a mountain of paperwork (what he had to go through to get it approved). Took him over a year to do that — I'll start the processes but it'll take a while to do it myself.

Doctor Lebeau: Hello. Are you inside?Doctor Lebeau: We are the group holding you, and we just want to know a little more about you. Our records are not very complete, and we want to know who you are and why you are here.Doctor Lebeau: No, the Estate noir has not existed since the year 1900. We are the Foundation, and we are the successors to the Estate noir.Doctor Lebeau: Now, may we ask your name?Doctor Lebeau: Might we call you SCP-5041, in that case?Doctor Lebeau: That's what we currently refer to you as. It doesn't truly mean anything itself, it has no inherent meaning to you.Doctor Lebeau: Noted, SCP-5041. We would like to speak to you about your unusual properties.Doctor Lebeau: Then, can we ask why the Estate noir initially jailed you, in 1713?Doctor Lebeau: Our few records indicate that you complied with the Estate noir at all times. Is this all out of penitence for your crimes?Doctor Lebeau: And your crimes are linked to your unusual properties?
SCP-5041 does not respond.
Doctor Lebeau: SCP-5041?Doctor Lebeau: We simply wish to know what you are.Doctor Lebeau: Very well, SCP-5041. We'll be ending this interview. Do you have any other requests?
He deleted the actual audio but left this translation lying around. Not sure if that was intentional, but I have it now. I'm not sure what to make of it other than the emphasis that the prisoner wants to be left alone (can't have that as a standard and unchallenged practice). It rejected/denied any attempts to learn anything about it, and just told Lebeau to fuck off. That's not the way anomalies talk to us.
I feel like I'm getting close to cracking this thing. I can imagine where it might take me. Nice reward for all my troubles.

June 15th, 2020:
The following note was dropped out of the dropbox today, into the antechamber.

Veuillez calmement cesser votre plan d'action actuel, Monsieur.

Translated from the original French: "Please cease your current course of action, sir."
Decided not to listen to this warning (has to be a warning, given effects). Too close to stop now. I'm almost there. I'm getting to the bottom of this, even if it kills me. We need to know.

One scrap of information I realized from this: it's been aware of me investigating. There's been no contact with it in the slightest since I started this whole investigation. It has to have a precognition of the outside world somehow… And it somehow learned that I was a man? Could just be an assumption, can't make any assumptions based on that.

June 17th, 2020:
I've got it!
I figured it all out, every last bit. A theory that explains just about every last detail of the anomaly. I've written up a new draft of the description, and I'll be submitting it to the Site Director tomorrow. It's flawless, and we should be able to test it without much consequence.
And like I expected, much of the current containment routine is unnecessary! So we'll be able to make some significant revisions to that (no need for all the expenses that we're currently dealing with) to bring it in line with the standards for humanoids. Nothing too special about this one that needs to get dessert on a weekly basis. That's way out of line.
So not only am I the one to figure out an anomaly that's had us stumped for three-hundred years, I'm the one who refines the containment procedures for it! This is perfect, I couldn't have asked for a better assignment. Doctor Lebeau was a "genius" but he never even came close to figuring this thing out. (Guess I'll have to thank him for what little research I got from him, but whatever.)
So much for a dead-end career — I'll be able to leverage this hard. Promotions, advancement, it's all opening up now for me.

June 20th, 2020:
Well.
I've had a rough few days.
Thursday — I woke up to find out that SCP-5041 wasn't taking breakfast in the morning. Nothing too unusual and no alarm was raised — it had done that before. But then it didn't take lunch either, and I began to suspect something was wrong. It took until nearly dinner time (also rejected) before I got a solution in place.
Lowest grade .aic we have, installed into the automated roof cleaner. Scan the containment cell for signs of life, tell us on the status of SCP-5041. Got the following result back:

Date: 18th June 2020
Location: WELL-FURNISHED APARTMENT in BELLE ÉPOQUE FRANCE (63% certainty)
Type: FULL COLOR PHOTOGRAPH
Subject: The image contains twelve (12) PIECES OF FURNITURE in various locations. In the center of the photograph is one (1) ADULT PERSON lying down. With 100% certainty the PERSON in the image is DEAD.

I didn't make up the mind to break containment and enter the cell until a few hours after that. Sent a low-risk D-Class (former medical practitioner — rare resource) into the cell to give an autopsy and verify the death. Came back to confirm the .aic's conclusion (and no sign of infohazardous contamination either).
Got the body extracted from the containment cell and sent it to the morgue for a full inspection. Didn't hear back from them until yesterday, when they processed the autopsy. Cause of death was diabetic ketoacidosis of all things, dated to occur around the time of evening on the 17th. Incredibly bizarre — it must have developed that recently since it hadn't been treated in the past and made it this far. Makes me worry about myself.
I spent today trying to clean out the cell and perform a thorough investigation of the contents, or at least planning to do so, when my clearance got abruptly shut off. Locked out of nearly everything, and my office door isn't opening. I've been trapped in here, remotely. But there's one thing that really worries me.
There's an unopened email from the Ethics Committee in my inbox.

This file has been updated.

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