Per 
Believed to be a
highly viewed media depiction of an SCP-####-1 instance; efforts are being made to determine the origin and potential connections to the source of SCP-####
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures:: SCP-####-1 is to be kept in a modified version of a standard humanoid containment cell. The first modification is that the cell shall be void of all furnishings. The second modification is that the standard containment cell door shall be replaced with an electronic 500-kilogram containment door with no locking mechanism. The weight of the door itself is sufficient to contain the instance. No physical human needs are to be provided to instances. 1 instance is to be contained at a time and terminated after a period of 24 hours via incineration. Anything said by instances of SCP-#### is to be documented and cause for immediate contact of the onsight director.
It should be noted that instances of SCP-####-1 are unable to be rendered unconscious, even after the use of tranquilizers meant for much larger animals or blows to the head. Rope, nets, handcuffs, cages, muffles, and/or nerve toxins are needed for transportation to permanent containment.
Triangulation of ongoing infection events should be commenced. Once an average radius of the event is determined as accurately as possible the use of controlled explosives is recommended to assure death to the SCP-####-1 and the target. This is the safest way to assure the new instance won’t escape and is considered humane to the current target.
MTF Theta 70 (“Seekers”) are dedicated to constant collaboration with other Foundation branches, undercover personnel within local law enforcement, and media/news outlets to find reports of unusual child deaths or disappearances within the 4-14-year-old age range, to hunt down potential SCP-####-1 instances, contain them when necessary, and to administer amnesiacs/develop cover stories for anyone who interacted with an instance.
Description:: SCP-#### is an anomalous phenomenon that occurs in human children between the ages of 4-14. SCP-####-1 are instances of humans affected by SCP-####.
It is currently unknown where instances of SCP-#### originate from but its effects on instances of SCP-####-1 are clearly visible in the anatomy of the affected humans. SCP-####-1 instances infected with SCP-#### have altered physical characteristics and brain wave activity. The dopamine reward center of the brain is highly stimulated along with high levels of serotonin and many other odd neurotransmitter levels that vary case by case. The instance’s corneas change color to black and the iris changes to white through a chemical process caused by SCP-#### that is poorly understood.
Instances of SCP-####-1 lose all interest in everything except for “infecting” other humans with SCP-####. SCP-####-1 instances have no apparent pattern or criteria when choosing someone to pursue apart from those outside the ages of 4-14 and those with mental or physical disabilities/injuries. If no human that meets its criteria for infection are within roughly two kilometers, then it will merely wander around, loosely toward the most populated area around it. It is currently unknown how instances are capable of knowing this.
While searching, instances will be smilingly childishly and seem to be “browsing” anyone they happen upon. Instances will search any building or structure for targets and will ignore any outward stimuli with the exception of self-preservation or if a potential target is seen. If an instance comes upon a locked door that a potential target is behind or blocking its way then the instance will knock twice and say either “knock, knock” or “ding, dong” or equivalent in its native language. If the door isn’t opened within ten seconds then the door will unlock. To date, this method has never been observed to fail and any type of lock seems to be affected, including doors with multiple and/or electronic locks. While the lock is disengaged, instances have no special strength in opening severely rusted, welded, blocked, or heavy doors. However, instances have been seen capable of opening electronic locks that are powered off. Power will suddenly be overridden and applied to unlock the lock.
Once a target is selected, SCP-####-1 will lose all interest in other humans and focus only on the infection of its selected target. The instance’s irises now turn to dark red. The instant will start to grin maniacally and unceasingly and start to sprint after their targets. Instances run remarkably faster than children of similar ages due to heightened adrenaline and endorphin levels and also seem to ignore all pain and symptoms of exhaustion. Instances of SCP-####-1 will pursue its selected target until either it catches its target, its target dies before being captured, the target is taken a distance of at least five kilometers from the instance, or the instance in pursuit dies, usually of dehydration or cardiac arrest from overworking its heart.
In the case of a target either dies or leaves the five-kilometer radius, the instant of SCP-####-1 will pause abruptly. The instance will stand motionless for exactly 3 minutes 43 seconds and the instance will whisper, “You win,” in the instance’s native language. Next, the instance will self-terminate from asphyxiation by simply ceasing to breathe. To date, this is the only time SCP-####-1 instances have been observed to speak apart from when instances open locks.
Targets universally fail when trying to hide from an instance. Instances seem to know exactly where targets are while within range. Due to the nature of the infection period, it is unknown exactly what transpires at this point. It is imperative to prevent instances from infecting targets as the event cannot be stopped and the target will ultimately be lost.
Any human who views the infection phase will lose the ability to see until observation of the event ceases. The cause of this vision loss is unknown but leaves no harm to the individual’s eyesight. Eyesight is instantly restored when individuals look away. Even peripheral planes of sight are enough to cause the vision loss. Nonhuman viewers lose sight as well. Technological means of observation universally fail. Attempts to view the event through cameras, aerial surveillance, magnified sight through binoculars or scopes (distances of 10 kilometers documented), observation with mirrors or reflective surfaces using either eyesight or camera/video, or viewing even the shadows of the event all result in vision loss/total corruption and malfunction of recording equipment. Analog cameras using chemical based light and photography have revealed [REDACTED] but misinterpretations from heavy distortions cannot be ruled out. Anyone who goes within two meters of SCP-####-1 during the infection phase will be violently [REDACTED] and inevitably bleed to death. Due to this effect, coupled with sight loss, rescue becomes impossible. This infection phase can last anywhere from three minutes to two hours. Sounds of screaming, crying, incoherent mumbling, retching, laughter, beating/scratching of flesh, splattering of fluids, bone breaking, [REDACTED], heavy breathing, and silence occurring in no apparent/consistent order during the infection phase are to be considered normal.
Once the infection is “complete”, the previous instance of SCP-####-1 will be lying dead next to their target who has themselves become a new instance of SCP-###-1. Despite obvious sounds of harm occurring during the infection phase, neither the previous or new instance of SCP-####-1 will show any signs of internal or external harm. Postmortem examination has revealed no apparent cause of death. This new instance will immediately begin searching for its own target, and the cycle continues.
It is unknown how SCP-#### came into existence, how many instances of SCP-####-1 exist, if more instances of SCP-#### are being “produced”, or if there are a finite number. See Addendum
Addendum: Routine digital surveillance by MTF Theta 70 (“Seekers”) uncovered several versions and translations of the same video on several social media platforms. The video depicts a short animation of what appears to be an instance of SCP-####-1 pursuing a target. A song with simple lyrics plays during the video describing the intentions of the SCP-####-1 instance while chasing a young boy. What is especially disturbing is within the very beginning of the video where the instance of SCP-####-1 is seemingly a normal young girl “possessed” by an older woman with dark hair, dubbed SCP-####-3, before becoming an instance of SCP-####-1.
While never observed by family or friends of targets or any members of the Foundation, targets universally claim having seen SCP-####-3 at some point during pursuit, most commonly right at the beginning. The targets usually describe SCP-####-3 as “shadowy” or “dark” and is always seen looming over new instances of SCP-####-1 or some deviation of this theme, but all targets describe SCP-####-3 as a tall, middle aged lady of undefined ethnic background with dark hair.
Efforts to contain SCP-####-3 are deemed impossible as only targets have been able to see it. While nothing is certain, several researchers have theorized SCP-####-3 as the progenitor of SCP-####. Some theroies even go as far as to say that SCP-####-1 are simply puppets for SCP-####-3 who is the source for all anomalous phenomena associated with SCP-####. MTF Theta 70 (“Seekers”) are dedicated to finding and questioning all persons who posted such a video in hopes of finding the original creator in hopes of finding the source of the anomaly.
Dr. Ireman, head SCP-#### researcher, Note: Anomalies affecting children have always brought with them their own difficulties. Yes, at times it can seem impossibly unfair. Some of you might have sympathy for SCP-####-1 instances. Questions might be raised at the modified containment and disposal techniques for these instances. Allow me to clarify: instances of SCP-####-1 are no longer children. It doesn’t matter who they were before. It doesn’t matter what they knew, who they knew, their mannerisms, or even their humanity. The Foundation expects faculty to understand this fact for all SCPs but I add this note in sympathy to even our own this curse has befallen. I remind SCP faculty parents of instances of SCP-####-1 that nothing can be done for them. There is no cure, there is no bringing them “back.” We cannot treat these instances any different when they are unfortunately the prior children of faculty. I will not acknowledge any more personal pleas and favors when this happens to be the case. All I can offer you is the solace that the Foundation is dedicated to eradicating this plague and to keeping as many children as we can safe from these instances. Amnesiac requests will be considered if the pain is too great. We have to remember our purpose at the end of the day: Secure, Contain, Protect.
