Description:
Found by the Foundation during an investigation into a series of unusual suicides, murders and disappearances in a residential area in Tripoli, Lebanon, SCP-XXXX is a chest measuring 850 cm long, 450 cm wide, and 600 cm high. The chest's sides and lid are made from an unidentified species of olive wood with its feet and edges adorned with cast Rhenium-185. The interior is lined with tufted blue velvet. Decorative burns and carvings indicate that SCP-XXXX is a Hope Chest. The locking mechanism is constructed out of Rhodium-103, as are the nails attaching the interior lining to the sides. Radiocarbon dating of the olive wood place SCP-XXXX between 2,700 and 3,100 years old despite the fact that hope chests originated in the 15th century.
Contained inside SCP-XXXX is a series of valuables ranging from silk bedding and tungsten cutlery to figurines made of gold and silver. Alongside these items is the corpse of a Middle Eastern human female between five and six years of age, SCP-XXXX-1. Studies have indicated that SCP-XXXX-1 died of asphyxiation, and damage to the interior of SCP-XXXX and the extremities of SCP-XXXX-1 indicate she attempted to escape for an extended period before perishing. Though SCP-XXXX can be opened with ease from the outside, a broken steel key bit and post prevent its opening from the inside.
When SCP-XXXX is left in the sight of fewer than three individuals, SCP-XXXX-1 can be heard by those who can see SCP-XXXX to be crying from within the chest, regardless of whether SCP-XXXX-1 has been removed from the chest. These individuals, now instances of SCP-XXXX-2/A, will attempt to call for help but will not leave SCP-XXXX's immediate proximity. If the number of individuals who can see SCP-XXXX reaches or exceeds three, all perception of crying will cease, and instances of SCP-XXXX-2/A will return to a normal condition. However, if no help arrives after two hours, SCP-XXXX-2/A will devolve into an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B (see below).
If SCP-XXXX is not within sight of any individuals, the individual nearest SCP-XXXX, now an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B, will hear banging and screaming from within SCP-XXXX regardless of distance, position, the hearing ability of SCP-XXXX-2/B, or media between SCP-XXXX-2/B and SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX-2/B will make every physically possible effort to reach SCP-XXXX (see logs for Test F). If the number of individuals who can see SCP-XXXX reaches or exceeds three, all perception of SCP-XXXX-1 by SCP-XXXX-2/B will cease, and instances of SCP-XXXX-2/B will return to a normal condition. Conditions which would otherwise create an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/A when an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B is active will not create an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/A.
If an individual whose range of sight includes SCP-XXXX speaks about SCP-XXXX when the conditions for creating an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/A or SCP-XXXX-2/B are not met, that individual, now an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/C, will perceive the nearest individual to be the cause of death of SCP-XXXX-1 and attack him/her. Upon termination of all others within five meters of SCP-XXXX, SCP-XXXX-2/C will devolve into an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B. If an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/C is rendered unconscious while the conditions for the creation of SCP-XXXX-2/A or SCP-XXXX-2/B are not met, SCP-XXXX-2/C will return to a normal condition.
If a prior instance of SCP-XXXX-2/C speaks about SCP-XXXX in any environment, that individual will devolve into an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/D. SCP-XXXX-2/D is behaviorally identical to SCP-XXXX-2/B, but SCP-XXXX-2/D has the deactivation conditions of SCP-XXXX-2/C.
If successful, upon reaching SCP-XXXX, any above instance of SCP-XXXX-2 will open SCP-XXXX to reveal the corpse of SCP-XXXX-1 to be freshly deceased within the chest, regardless of removal. SCP-XXXX-2 will then attempt to revive SCP-XXXX-1 and, upon acceptance of failure, self-terminate.
If an individual thoroughly acquainted with SCP-XXXX is within five meters of a surface with an area greater than 10 cm by 30 cm having an illuminance below 50 lux, crying will be heard from the center of this shadow. The individual, now an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/E, will approach the shadow and enter it. At the point SCP-XXXX-2/E has fully entered the shadow, life functions cease. The location of SCP-XXXX-2/E instances which have entered these shadows is unknown. SCP-XXXX-2/E can be deactivated by illuminating the shadow's area above 250 lux. If SCP-XXXX-2/E has extended a body part beyond the shadowed surface prior to illumination, that portion of the body will be severed.
SCP-XXXX Addenda
Test A - January 29, 1965
Procedure: All guards were instructed to look away from SCP-XXXX.
Results: No effect was observed. Test was repeated thrice to confirm consistent result. Guards no longer required to stare at SCP-XXXX.
Procedure: Guards were removed from SCP-XXXX's containment chamber one at a time until an instance of SCP-XXXX-2 manifested.
Results: When two guards remained, neither would exit, instead insisting that someone come help. Other guards returned to the room, and the distressed guards calmed. Post-test interviews indicated that SCP-XXXX-1 could be heard from inside SCP-XXXX. Test was repeated with identical results.
Test C - February 14, 1967
Procedure: Autopsy of SCP-XXXX-1
Results: SCP-XXXX-1 died of asphyxiation with extensive signs of struggle. Vocal folds were heavily damaged, likely from extended screaming.
Test D - February 15, 1967
Procedure: Monitoring equipment was added to SCP-XXXX-1 prior to returning to SCP-XXXX's interior. Forced manifestation of SCP-XXXX-2/A was initiated.
Results: No activity was detected from SCP-XXXX-1. SCP-XXXX-2/A was permitted to devolve into SCP-XXXX-2/B. No activity was detected. SCP-XXXX-2/B was permitted to open SCP-XXXX before deactivating SCP-XXXX-2/B. Monitoring equipment was observed to be intact on SCP-XXXX-1.
Procedure: SCP-XXXX was placed on a 1 m by 1 m lead plate. A lead container was lowered atop it.
Results: Upon loss of line of sight, the nearest guard entered a sprint and attempted to lift the container (now an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B). At failure to lift, SCP-XXXX-2/B attempted to use his armament to open the container. Surrounding guards were ordered to remove SCP-XXXX-2/B's weapons. When SCP-XXXX-2/B was disarmed, he lunged at the guard taking his weapon and was neutralized. Immediately, the next nearest guard became an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B.
An unarmed and unclothed D-Class, D-38420, was sent into the containment cell and ordered to sit atop the lead box while the guards removed SCP-XXXX-2/B from the containment cell and doors were shut. Due to the struggle exerted by SCP-XXXX-2/B, this took approximately three hours and cost the lives of eight guards. Upon sealing the containment cell, SCP-XXXX-2/B was terminated, and D-38420 became a new instance of SCP-XXXX-2/B.
SCP-XXXX-2/B spent the next five days attempting to claw his way through the lead to SCP-XXXX. During this time, SCP-XXXX-2/B wore his fingers such that only knuckles remained. Upon reaching SCP-XXXX, SCP-XXXX-2/B struggled to open the lid due to the damage to and wetness of his hands. Eventually, SCP-XXXX-2/B emerged from the lead box dragging SCP-XXXX-1 and attempted to revive her for one hour. SCP-XXXX then calmed, stood up, and self-terminated by sprinting head-first into the nearest corner of the lead box.
Incident XXXX-1 - February 1, 1965
While on watch, one of SCP-XXXX's guards, D-30023, a former Alamo Scout, asked what was inside SCP-XXXX. Immediately, the guard became an instance of SCP-XXXX-2/C, attacking the nearest fellow guard, D-30048. The resulting exchange was recorded on video. Video log is transcribed below. After the incident, D-30023 was administered Class E amnestics to await questioning.
Incident Transcript XXXX-1
Date: February 1, 1965
Location: SCP-XXXX Containment Chamber
Personnel Involved:
D-30023 (Stanley Friedrich)
D-29987 (Kyle Marks)
D-30048 (Harold Parsons)
D-28501 (Katsuki Yamashita)
D-30023: Hey, Kyle?
D-29987: What's up, Stan?
D-30023: What do you suppose is actually inside XXXX?
D-30023 immediately turns toward D-30048 and begins charging toward him.
D-30023: You killed her! You trapped her in there!
D-30048: What?!
D-30023 reaches D-30048 and uses his hand to guide D-30048's head sideways and down into the ground. D-30048's head is crushed. D-30023 stands and starts toward D-29987. D-29987 tackles D-30048.
D-29987: Stan, what the fuck?! Kat!
D-28501 engages the alarm and rushes to restrain D-30023. D-30023 repeatedly attempts to choke D-29987 as D-29987 pushes D-30023 to the ground.
D-30023: How could you?! She was your daughter!
D-29987 (Choking): The fuck… are you… talking… about? I never… had a… kid.
D-30023: You monster!
D-30023 successfully terminates D-29987. D-30023 shifts his focus to D-28501, and the two begin wrestling about on the ground. The sound of gas hissing can be heard over the two. D-30023 and D-28501 lose consciousness before either is terminated. Immediately, the containment cell door is opened, and eight guards in gas masks enter. Two pairs of guards remove each unconscious figure. Two minutes later, four more guards enter to remove the corpses of D-30048 and D-29987 and retrieve the new standing guards' gas masks.
Incident XXXX-2 - February 2, 1965
Note: Incident transcript has been corrupted. A summary has been provided while data is being recovered.
Summary: D-30023 was interrogated by the senior researcher accompanied by the assigned physician and psychologist. D-30023 initially behaved normally. Upon speaking of SCP-XXXX, D-30023 stood and ran for the door, making his way to the containment chamber. Attempts to stop D-30023 were met with violence, and D-30023 was terminated.
Incident XXXX-3 - February 3, 1965
After Incidents XXXX-1 and XXXX-2, a meeting was arranged to discuss revision of containment procedures for SCP-XXXX. The meeting was recorded by camera and is transcribed below.
Incident Transcript XXXX-3
Date: March 3, 1965
Location: Site Security Office Conference Room
Personnel Involved:
Gregory Ford, Security Director
Dr. Micah Sallis, Containment Zone XXXX Medical Officer
Dr. Penelope Nikolaidis, SCP-XXXX Lead Researcher
Stefan Green, Containment Specialist
Three individuals are seated around a table in a small, dimly lit conference room. Each has a blue folder at hand.
Mr. Ford: Well, I think we can all agree this situation is a complete disgrace. Where is Professor Nikolaidis?
Dr. Sallis: She should have arrived before me.
Mr. Green: We should move on. She knows enough about the incident. It's fine if she's late.
Mr. Ford: Agreed. Now then, what the hell made a Pacific front Army vet murder his best friends?
Dr. Sallis: Well, sir, I reviewed the recording from yesterday's… interview, and I'm pretty sure it had something to do with asking about SCP-XXXX.
Mr. Ford: What is XXXX, anyway? It wasn't in my list of keters or euclids.
Mr. Green: Well, sir, that's because it was classified as safe prior to Monday. As long as enough guards were kept in the room, there had been no incidents. We'll probably be changing that to euclid after the past couple of days. As for what it is, I'm afraid that everyone who knew exactly what XXXX is was injured or killed yesterday. Well, except for Professor Nikolaidis. As a containment specialist, I receive amnestics after every visit. Where is she?
Mr. Ford: I'm sure she's just in the restroom, Mr. Green. Alright, well, since we're all in the dark, let's take a look, I suppose.
All three open their folders and begin reading.
Mr. Green: Item SCP-XXXX… Containment class safe… disruption dark, risk caution… containment procedures sound pretty standard. Keep it in sight, keep enough guards in the room… don't describe it out loud when working with it… Here we are: description.
Dr. Sallis: SCP-XXXX was found in Tripoli… string of murders… it's a chest… Hmm?
Dr. Sallis looks to the nearest corner, which is shown on camera to be empty.
Mr. Ford: Looks like it has a dead body in it. Holy shit!
Mr. Ford whips his head around to look at the corner immediately behind him. Dr. Sallis stands up and walks to his corner. Mr. Green shakes his head rapidly and sets down his folder. Mr. Ford and Mr. Green stand up and look at the same corner.
Mr. Ford: Is that—?
Mr. Green: Crying. She needs help.
Dr. Sallis walks into the corner and passes through the wall. Mr. Ford turns around to face Mr. Green, who is walking toward the shadow.
Mr. Ford: Stefan, it's in your head! It's XXXX!
Mr. Green: In my head… But she's so scared…
Mr. Ford reaches out to grab Mr. Green, but Mr. Green passes into the shadow. Mr. Ford's right hand enters the shadow.
Mr. Ford: Containment breach! Containment breach!
The door opens, and two security officers run into the room, weapons raised.
Mr. Ford: Listen up! You're going to incapacitate me and take me to the best lit room in this facility! You're going to destroy the folders on the table without so much as peeking at them! Then you're going to contact the Director and tell her to get a set of containment specialists and Eta-11 to me immediately! Have them bring Class Bs. I'm not going to be able to leave the light while it's in my head. And find Professor Nikolaidis!
The guards pull Mr. Ford out of the room. His right hand is missing, and his arm is bleeding profusely.
Note: Dr. Nikolaidis's lower left leg was found ten minutes later in the corner of a restroom below a fluorescent fixture with a malfunctioning ballast.