Item#: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: Roads leading to SCP-XXXX are closed off from public access. The area around SCP-XXXX is surrounded by chain link fencing, 3 meters in height and topped with barbed wire, to deter civilian and wildlife entry. Signs warning of unsafe terrain should be maintained at intervals around the perimeter to further deter civilians. The entrance for authorized personnel is to be secured with a standard high security padlock.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a stretch of road, approximately 4 kilometers, surrounded by woodland in Northwestern New Jersey. SCP-XXXX displays no detectable differences to non-anomalous roads of similar construct. Samples taken from the surrounding woodland do not display any extraordinary properties.
When a human subject observes a carcass along the length of SCP-XXXX, it is designated as SCP-XXXX-1. SCP-XXXX's anomalous properties manifest whenever the subject enters the second stage of NREM sleep. At this point, the SCP-XXXX-1 instance will vanish from its location on SCP-XXXX and appear in the immediate proximity of the subject. This effect also applies to any carrion insect larvae feeding on the instance. No deleterious anomalous effects on subjects have been recorded. Subjects will typically react with distress upon awaking and realizing the presence of the instance.
Viewing photographs or video footage of SCP-XXXX-1 instances fail to trigger anomalous effects. In order to be exposed to SCP-XXXX's effects, a subject must take some form of "interest" in an SCP-XXXX-1 instance. Merely noticing an instance will not result in exposure. Instances have been recorded in all stages of decomposition. Fully decomposed carcasses, consisting only of skeletal structure and cartilage, are not potential SCP-XXXX-1 instances.
It is unknown if SCP-XXXX's anomalous properties developed with its construction, or has simply remained dormant in the area prior to construction due to the lack of human access to SCP-XXXX-1 instances.
SCP-XXXX came to the attention of the Foundation on ██-██-1993. Assets in the [REDACTED] Police Department responded to a call from ████ █████ when she was awoken by the presence of an SCP-XXXX-1 instance in her bed. Subject recognized the instance as roadkill she had encountered earlier while driving. She had stopped to photograph the instance "because it looked weird". The photo was confiscated and the subject administered a Class-A amnesiac. The recovered instance was revealed to be an raccoon (Procyon lotor) carcass in the second stage of decomposition. Instance was incinerated after testing revealed no anomalies. Investigation of the area where the instance was photographed confirmed its anomalous properties.
Addendum-1:
Test Log
Video surveillance was installed in the cells of D-Class personnel involved in testing. Note that the result entry indicates the point at which the subject enters the second stage of NREM sleep.
Test 1
Subject: D-XXXX-01
Procedure: D-XXXX-01 places a raccoon carcass on SCP-XXXX. D-XXXX-01 instructed to observe the carcass for 5 seconds.
Result: No result.
Conclusion: Subjects who deliberately place carcasses on SCP-XXXX will not be exposed to said instance.
Note: The carcass appeared under the subject's blanket with the head resting on the pillow. The carcass can be seen facing the subject. Could something be responsible for positioning SCP-XXXX-1 instances in this fashion? - Dr. ████
Test 2:
Subject(s): D-XXXX-01, D-XXXX-02
Procedure: D-XXXX-01 places a raccoon carcass on SCP-XXXX and dismissed. D-XXXX-02 called on scene and instructed to observe the carcass for 5 seconds.
Result: Raccoon carcass placed by D-XXXX-01 appears beside D-XXXX-02 in his bed.
Conclusion: Carcasses deliberately placed on SCP-XXXX are potentially instances of SCP-XXXX-01
Test 3:
Subject(s): D-XXXX-01, D-XXXX-02, D-XXXX-03
Procedure: D-XXXX-02 places a raccoon carcass on SCP-XXXX and dismissed. D-XXXX-01 called on scene and instructed to observe the carcass for 5 seconds, resulting in exposure. D-XXXX-01 is dismissed and D-XXXX-03 is called on scene. D-XXXX-03 is instructed to observe the carcass for 5 seconds.
Result: SCP-XXXX-1 appears beside D-XXXX-01 in his bed.
Conclusion: Only one subject can be exposed to the effect of SCP-XXXX at a time.
Note: We're gathering a fair amount of conclusions these experiments. I just can't help but wonder what would happen if a blue whale carcass was on that road. - Dr. ████
Test 4:
Subject(s): D-XXXX-03
Procedure: Instance of SCP-XXXX-01 is placed on SCP-XXXX and D-XXXX-03 is exposed. After D-XXXX-03 is dismissed, the instance is cooked and served to D-XXXX-03 during lunch period.
Result: Partially digested SCP-XXXX-01 appears next to D-XXXX-03 in his bed. Examination of the subject reveals no deleterious effects.
Note: I must say that D-XXXX-03's reaction to this experiment was the funniest thing I've seen all week. - Dr. ████
Test 5:
Subject: D-XXXX-01
Procedure: A car (customized to prevent security breach incident.) and live pig were introduced to SCP-XXXX. D-XXXX-01 instructed to impact the pig by use of the vehicle. Pig terminated successfully, and vehicle deactivated remotely. D-XXXX-01 dismissed.
Result: Pig carcass appears beside D-XXXX-01 in his bed.
Conclusion: Terminating an animal on SCP-XXXX creates an SCP-XXXX-1 instance, with the driver exposed to said instance.
Note: D-XXXX-01 woke up with quite a shock. How about we use a porcupine carcass for a future experiment? That should produce some interesting results. - Dr. ████
Test 6:
Subject: D-XXXX-03
Procedure: D-XXXX-03 is exposed to an instance of SCP-XXXX-1. Subject is instructed to sleep in a box, custom made to accommodate the subject with minimum additional volume. A lid is secured over the box and the subject is sedated.
Result: SCP-XXXX-1 instance appears within the box. D-XXXX-03 is presumed to have expired almost immediately. Autopsy reveals several ribs fractured and organs ruptured.
Conclusion: SCP-XXXX-1 instances appear in proximity closest to the subject.
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept within a Containment Locker at Site XX. SCP-XXXX is not to be connected to any electrical power sources except for testing purposes. By itself, the object is inert, and no other containment procedures are necessary.
If not connected to an electrical power source, SCP-XXXX may be handled by authorized personnel.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a black █████████ brand massage chair, identical to non-anomalous units. Object stands approximately 1 meter tall when upright. The internal components and comprising materials are not individually anomalous. A controller is present on the left side of the object allowing a user to select between four (4) massage programs. The object is observed to be capable of producing two (2) anomalies, referred to as SCP-XXXX-A, and SCP-XXXX-B. Research has not determined how or why the object exhibits these anomalous properties.
If SCP-XXXX is connected to a working power source and a seated human subject activates the object, its primary anomalous effect (SCP-XXXX-A) will manifest. Through unknown means, the subject will become adhered to the object on all points of contact. This process is painless, and affected subjects are not immediately aware of it. The object will perform the selected massage type, as expected.
Within the first minute of activation, entities (hereafter SCP-XXXX-1) resembling blowfly larvae of indeterminate species, will emerge from gaps on the seat of SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX-1 instances will proceed to rapidly feed on the tissues of the subject. The number of instances increases steadily for the duration of the massage program. Individual instances are observed to reenter SCP-XXXX after feeding, while new instances continuously emerge. SCP-XXXX-1 will attempt to [DATA EXPUNGED], but will also attempt to rupture the skin to increase surface area for feeding. Bodily fluids from the subject not consumed by SCP-XXXX-1 appear to be absorbed into SCP-XXXX. Feeding continues after the subject expires.
Feeding is recorded to end toward the last minute of the massage program, with SCP-XXXX-1 instances receding into SCP-XXXX. At this point, the corpse of the subject typically consists of desiccated tissues, skeletal structure and cartilage. Before deactivating, SCP-XXXX will force the subject's corpse into the gap between the seat and backrest, utilizing its internal motors and gears, in addition to other movable components. The corpse is effectively crushed as it enters the gap, appearing to be "dragged" in. Attempts to locate the corpse of the subject, or SCP-XXXX-1 instances, within the interior of SCP-XXXX have met with failure.
It is possible to abort SCP-XXXX-A by disconnecting SCP-XXXX from the power source provided. This causes SCP-XXXX-1 instances to vanish, and the subject to be released from SCP-XXXX's adhesive effect. Attempts at deactivating SCP-XXXX using its controller are unsuccessful. Subjects released from SCP-XXXX before expiring will experience its secondary anomalous effect (SCP-XXXX-B).
SCP-XXXX-B is the secondary anomalous effect produced by SCP-XXXX, affecting subjects that have been exposed to SCP-XXXX-A. It is assumed, that subjects become affected during the first minute of SCP-XXXX-A, or on the first sighting of SCP-XXXX-1.
Subjects under the influence of SCP-XXXX-B suffer from delusions affecting their visual, gustatory and olfactory perception. Affected subjects will consistently perceive edible foodstuff as crawling with carrion insect larvae and mildly decomposed. These delusions are also applied to pictures and depictions of edible matter. Subjects attempting to consume foodstuff reject the item, reporting a bitter taste and movement in their mouths. Subjects also display negative reactions to massage chairs in general, although it is uncertain if this is a result of SCP-XXXX-B. Amnestic treatment has proven effective in removing the effects of SCP-XXXX-B.
Further testing to determine the extent of SCP-XXXX-B on untreated subjects is pending.
Instances of SCP-XXXX-1 will ignore all organisms except for the affected subject. Instances vanish if removed from the subject or SCP-XXXX. Consumed tissue vanishes with the instance. As such, testing on SCP-XXXX-1 instances is currently unfeasible.
Interview Log XXXX-2
Interviewed: D-44126
Interviewer: Researcher ██████
Foreword: D-44126 had been exposed to SCP-XXXX 1 hour before the interview. Subject exhibited signs of extreme distress upon being released from SCP-XXXX and was administered anti anxiety agents. D-44126 was presented a chicken sandwich and a photograph of roast chicken from a magazine.
<Begin Log>
The chicken sandwich is presented to D-44126.
D-44126: What the fuck, doc. That's really disgusting.
Researcher ██████: Please describe what you see, D-44126.
D-44126: …Looks like some sandwich someone left for a week or something. Doc, why are you showing me this? The smell is making me sick.
Researcher ██████: Please elaborate.
D-44126: …There's maggots all over the meat. The meat is… I don't know… has purple spots, frothy on the sides… The bread's moldy and the salad's brown. God, those maggots remind me of… oh, God…
Researcher ██████: You mentioned smelling something making you sick. What can you tell me about that?
D-44126: It smells like bad meat, doc! The sandwich. I don't know how you can handle it, I can smell it from here.
Researcher ██████: [Presents the photograph] Please describe what you see in this picture.
D-44126: Oh, come on. More of this?
Researcher ██████: Please describe what you see, D-44126.
D-44126: [Sighs] It's some bad chicken with maggots all over it. It's got purple spots on it and some parts are like, bloated. Uh, there's some liquid around the bottom. There's like, clusters of maggots on some parts… I've really lost my appetite.
Researcher ██████: What can you tell me about the maggots?
D-44126: Like the ones on the sandwich and the… you know. Could you cover that sandwich? It really stinks…
Researcher ██████: I think we're done for now. One more thing, D-44126.
D-44126: What's that, doc?
Researcher ██████: [Begins eating the sandwich] Tastes fine to me.
D-44126: Oh, fuck- [Vomits]
<End Log>
Closing Statement: Researcher ██████ has been advised against performing similar actions in future interviews with D-Class personnel under the effects of SCP-XXXX-A.
Addendum: SCP-XXXX was discovered in the home of █████ ███, on ██-██-2011, in response to reports of the subject's unexplained disappearance. Investigation revealed that SCP-XXXX was purchased recently by the subject. The object was recovered for examination and anomalous properties were confirmed.
Item #: SCP-1708
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX-A is to be kept within a Containment Locker at Site-08. When not in testing, SCP-XXXX-A is to be sheathed. If SCP-XXXX-A is to be unsheathed for any reason, authorized personnel handling the object are to observe SCP-XXXX-B with caution.
Personal protective wear is to be made available to authorized personnel examining the object.
Description: SCP-XXXX-A is a sinuous Malayan dagger, or kris, with a carved ivory hilt. The object measures 32 centimeters, with the blade measuring 20 centimeters. The blade appears to have been forged from several layers of iron and meteorite nickel. The sheath covering the blade is non-anomalous and composed of carved wood.
The shadow cast by SCP-XXXX-A is designated SCP-XXXX-B. Anomalous effects are observed when SCP-XXXX-B is brought into "contact" with a shadow cast by biological matter, on condition that SCP-XXXX-A is unsheathed.
If the shadow of a subject is "cut" by SCP-XXXX-B, said subject experiences injuries corresponding to those of its shadow. Injuries inflicted by SCP-XXXX-B show consistency to those inflicted by a blade of SCP-XXXX-A's design. Performing accurate incisions with SCP-XXXX-B proves problematic, due to the featureless and 2-dimensional nature of shadows. No resistance is felt on SCP-XXXX-A when SCP-XXXX-B interacts with an appropriate shadow. Shadows cast by inorganic objects are not affected by SCP-XXXX-B. Use of SCP-XXXX-B in combat is presumed to be impractical, as ordinary clothing is sufficient to protect a subject's body from its effect.
Multiple instances of SCP-XXXX-B may be created at a time, if light sources at different angles are present. The severity of injuries inflicted by SCP-XXXX-B is directly proportional to the "sharpness" of its outline. Greater levels of brightness produce a "sharper" outline. SCP-XXXX-B is incapable of causing lacerations when its outline is indistinct as a result of poor lighting conditions. Subjects report feeling metal on their skin when non-injurious contact by SCP-1708-B is made with their shadow.
SCP-XXXX-A was discovered by civilians in a burial site near ████████, Malaysia. SCP-XXXX-B's anomalous effect caused minor injury to one subject examining the object. Object was taken to the national museum where it came to the attention of Foundation assets. Subjects given Class A amnesiacs and SCP-XXXX-A was recovered.
Addendum: Investigation of the discovery site recovered several documents. No additional anomalies were discovered.
Translation of recovered document, context of which is unclear:
This is the kris of Nadim, brave hero, whose wife was taken by the shadow. It is buried here with him in memory of his bravery.
The shadow came upon our village dark as the night itself. Villagers treading upon its body were swallowed, never to be seen again. The shadow came in the night, when the fires were lit. If the fires were put out, the tiger and python would come upon our village, instead. We were forced to choose between the beasts of the night and the shadow itself. The shadow took livestock and villagers as it pleased. This monster could not be driven off by fire nor weapon.
We had witnessed many of our people taken. Village elder received guidance in a dream to slay the monster. Eight (8) of our best pandai besi (iron-skilled) took upon the task of forging a kris. This kris would be capable of slaying man, shadow, and beast alike.
The forging process was hasty. The blade was finished after forty-six (46) days and nights of forging. One of our pandai besi was lost to the monster. Nadim took it upon himself to confront the shadow. When the shadow came, he attacked by surprise. The shadow, nevertheless, attacked viciously. Although Nadim claimed victory, he succumbed to his injuries.
Shadow Blade
The writing itself could use a bit of work and containment procedures also. For example you could give specific details on what kind of ambient light is to be used when the object is examined. And protective equipment does not seem necessary if normal clothes are good enough (with the condition that all skin should be covered).
I'm remaining on neutral vote for now, I think you should expand your article, add more research notes, take a bigger look at it's backstory, etc. This could win my upvote if it became a bit more interesting.
While the idea of a sword that cuts shadows is one I've seen before, I really, really liked the grounded scientific analysis. It felt novel to have something that would usually be handwaved as "works cuz its majik" treated as a definable and concrete thing. The archetypal origin story actually worked against that effect for me. It might be stronger if you made the origin closer to home.
The idea that a shadow-blade was forged to fight a terrible monster out of legend lacks the impact of the idea that someone TODAY has need for a weapon that attacks only shadows and is effectively useless against clothed targets.
I like the potential here, love the analytic writing style, and would hate to see it go. +1
Do not edit other writers' sandboxes without permission.
