BattleSarge

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept within a 10m x 5m x 2.5m storage unit at Site-28, accessible only to personnel with at minimum Level 3/2000 clearance. SCP-XXXX itself is to be contained within a rectangular reinforced steel case, its dimensions being slightly larger than the canvas. Due to the objects cognitohazardous properties, the side of the case containing the up-facing side of the object is to be clearly marked as to prevent any accidental viewings of SCP-XXXX. To further prevent any accidental visual contact with SCP-XXXX, the object is to be encased within a smaller, black aluminium metal case which may only be opened by access of Level 3/2000 clearance or higher.

A black fabric cover is to be placed over SCP-XXXX through a ceiling-mounted electronic pulley system during any periods when the object is removed from containment casing for testing purposes, to prevent any risk from accidental viewings before or following testing. The cover may be unhooked from the system to prevent accidental viewing during re-containment.

Any images or video of SCP-XXXX are strictly forbidden, including for surveillance reasons. Approval from a member of the O-5 Council must be obtained before creating any photographs or video recordings of SCP-XXXX.

When contained, however, the containment chamber of SCP-XXXX is to be kept under 24-hour video surveillance, with monitors being manned at all times. Prior to removal of SCP-XXXX from containment, video surveillance equipment is to be manually disabled, with power to the video surveillance equipment being removed. Any video recordings, images, or unintended sightings of SCP-XXXX are to be immediately reported to supervisors and are to be considered a Γ-Gamma level containment breach.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a Realist painting completed by English artist █████ ██████ on ██/██/20██, recovered by Foundation personnel 6 days later on ██/██/20██ after the suspicious deaths of both the painter and his spouse. The canvas measures 50 centimeters high and 23 centimeters across.

When an individual makes visual contact with SCP-XXXX, including by photo or video (hereafter to be classified as the “target”), they will observe a Realist painting depicting the death of an unknown, and to all current attempts, unidentifiable individual. In all cases, male individuals observed the death of a male, and females observed the death of a female. Scenes observed on SCP-XXXX are often described as gruesome and disturbing.

Individuals viewing SCP-XXXX with poor eyesight or through a very low quality medium of SCP-XXXX, to the point that not even an estimate can be drawn as to what is displayed on SCP-XXXX, are found to not become a target of SCP-XXXX. It is hypothesized that to become a target, a individual must be able to cognitively recognize the scene of a death on any instance of SCP-XXXX. Thus, security surveillance in any room where a image of SCP-XXXX no larger than 15cm x 15cm is present is permitted.

All targets will observe a different scene depicted on SCP-XXXX, regardless of how many targets observe SCP-XXXX at once or if targets observe the same photograph or video recording of SCP-XXXX.

All targets who have viewed SCP-XXXX have died in a fashion nearly identical to the scene the target describes having seen. All deaths have occured in a period ranging from 5 minutes to 9 days from the initial viewing of the object, and any efforts to safeguard the target or to prevent the events depicted on SCP-XXXX have thus far failed. Deaths of targets are often just as gruesome as described by the target when questioned.

Following Incident XXXX-031, all testing on SCP-XXXX is to be indefinitely suspended as it is now confirmed that additional casualties may be produced in the death of the target of SCP-XXXX.

All requests to develop a image copy of SCP-XXXX for potential use as a Foundation administered cognitohazard have been denied.

+ Abbreviated SCP-XXXX Incident Log 

Incident #	Target	Target Description of SCP-XXXX	Result
001-A	Agent J████ ██████	Target described having seen the upper body of a man, seemingly forcibly severed from the lower torso by a garage-type door.	Upon entering Site-29 5 days after viewing SCP-XXXX, automatic doors suddenly shut with violent force as Agent J████ ██████ was passing through, severing his torso just above the femur. Post-incident inspection of the automatic door showed no manual inputs, nor any technical faults. It is unknown how the door in question shut with the force to sever a human torso, or why pressure sensors did not detect the resistance caused by the targets body, and thus retracting the door.
001-B	Agent R██████ ███████	Target described viewing a man, face down on a paved surface with blood seeping from underneath the man.	Four days after viewing SCP-XXXX, the target was assailed by unidentified gunmen on the driveway outside his home in [DATA EXPUNGED]. Four 9mm bullets entered the targets chest, rendering the target unconscious immediately. The target was found laying face first on his driveway in a pool of his own blood by paramedics, and was declared dead on the scene.
001-C	Agent L████ ████	Target describes seeing a man in the process of burning, charred, yet still alive and seemingly making flailing motions. Background of the image was only described as "A burning room".	Following the deaths of Agents J████ ██████ and R██████ ███████, the target was put under protective containment until further notice, in attempt to thwart the death caused by SCP-XXXX. 8 days after the target viewed SCP-XXXX, at ██:██, natural gas pipes in the walls behind the targets containment cell inexplicably combusted, causing a violent explosion that created a 38cm x 26cm hole in the concrete wall. Surveillance of the targets containment cell showed flames swiftly engulfed the room. Automatic systems detected this burst and disabled natural gas pipes in the area within 23 seconds, however by this point the target was completely aflame. The target would flail around aimlessly in what appears to be desperate attempts to escape the flame for 1 minute and 13 seconds following the explosion, after which the target collapsed to the floor, presumably dead. On-site fire crews would respond within two minutes and twenty eight seconds, and recovered the heavily charred corpse of Agent L████ ████ after extinguishing the flames.
017	D-3587	Target was displayed a photograph of SCP-XXXX, followed by a video, and finally a live viewing of SCP-XXXX. Target sobbed uncontrollably with increasing intensity after each viewing, and refused to disclose what she saw.	During the live viewing of SCP-XXXX, after six demands to describe what was seen on SCP-XXXX, the target refused to comply. SCP-XXXX was then covered, and the target was promptly terminated. It is theorized that the target recognized herself in the scene depicted on SCP-XXXX, however no other targets were able to identify those depicted in SCP-XXXX. Another likely theory is that the target observed the termination of a unidentified female D-Class personnel on SCP-XXXX, and was thus overtaken with fear. Further targets of SCP-XXXX are to be restrained forcibly if needed, but termination of SCP-XXXX's targets is now forbidden.
031	Dr. ████████ █████	Unable to question Dr. ████ ████████ before his death.	Surveillance footage records show the target handling a case containing a photograph of SCP-XXXX, presumably in preparation for testing with D-Class personnel scheduled for 4 minutes after the viewing incident. The target proceeds to carelessly remove the photographic copy of SCP-XXXX, allowing the photograph to fall from containment and onto the desk, with the image facing upwards. The target becomes visibly distraught, and proceeds to stand rigid, staring at the photograph of SCP-XXXX. After remaining stationary for approximately 1 minute, the target proceeds to remove a pocket lighter from his laboratory jacket, and sets the image of SCP-XXXX alight. The target is then seen visiting the offices of Dr. ███████ ██████ and Dr. ████████ █████. The two are seen leaving Site-29 with the target via automobile. Efforts to locate the three failed. Dr. ███████ ██████ and Dr. ████████ █████ were found dead along with the target 2 weeks and 3 days later by the New York Police Department in an abandoned warehouse in █████ █████████, all three men with severe lacerations on the neck. The time of death was estimated to be six days prior to their discovery.