Ninjagall: SCP-4783: It's all in your head

Item #: SCP-4783

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-4783 is to be contained within D-12646. Containment of SCP-4783 follows a strict scheduled dose of amnestics, delivered every three days two days day at 0800 hours. SCP-4783 is not to leave the cell, and is to be monitored at all times. Casual conversation with SCP-4783 is acceptable, but emotional attachment will result in transfer.

Discovery: After an outbreak in █████, caused by a large performance of The Hanged Kings Tragedy that resulted in ████ deaths, several survivors were later discovered to expire in foundation custody. Subjects deaths were seemingly unrelated, and the only connection was a series of mood swings and personality changes starting four days before death. After testing, interviewing, and applying amnestics to subjects in isolation, SCP-4783 was contained in D-class for experiments, and all remaining survivors of the SCP-701 outbreak were given amnestics and released.

Description: SCP-4783 is a term given to the infection of a subjects mind and memory.¹ Specifically, SCP-4783 will "live" inside a subjects memory, over time infecting other memories. At first, SCP-4783 infection will take the form of a humanoid the subject vaguely recollects, such as an old teacher or distant relative.

After infection, memories associated with SCP-4783 will become more clear, to the point where the subject believes they had occurred, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. If the infection is left long enough, more memories involving SCP-4783 will develop, and will be remembered as traumatic and violent the longer a subject is infected. If the infection is left untreated for four days, the subject will suddenly recall being killed by SCP-4783, go into shock, and expire.

It is important to reiterate to staff that, while none of the memories associated with SCP-4783 actually occur, the subject will believe them to be real, and may experience changes in their behavioral pattern. These include withdrawal from others, previously unobserved phobias, and mental disorders.

The severity of the abuse in memories infected by SCP-4783 seems to scale with the maturity of the subject. For example, in children, SCP-4783 may manifest as a classmate later turned bully, while adults may recall an kind authority figure who later inflicts trauma.

Examples of these altered memories include:

• A college professor that sexually abused a young girl in front of her class for years.
• A neighbor who beat and robbed the subject multiple times.
• An insane asylum nurse who shocked and over medicated the subject.

All of these examples were researched by staff, and none were confirmed to have occurred, although the subjects insisted that they had.

The end results for any age appears to be death, after which SCP-4783 will attach onto a nearby subject through unknown means, and the process starts over.

Due to its nature, communication with SCP-4783 is impossible. Subjects cannot speak to SCP-4783 directly, and are unable to fabricate memories of a conversation. Physical characteristics of SCP-4783 vary based on the subject, making it difficult to detect infection for the first two days. There are currently two popular theories, both with evidence for and against, within the research team as to what SCP-4783 is, and how it operates.

SCP-4783 Functionality Theories

SCP-4783 as an entity

SCP-4783 is a conscious entity that can only exist in a subjects mind. The increasingly disturbing memories are a side effect of the parasitic relationship between SCP-4783 the host, as SCP-4783 cannot remain in the same hosts mind for long. The more SCP-4783 stays inside a particular host, the more corruption to memory occurs, until the host rejects SCP-4783. This would explain why the host perceives SCP-4783 as a humanoid entity, specifically one they slowly recall over four days.

SCP-4783 as a phenomena

SCP-4783 is a memetic hazard that damages a subjects memory after exposure. SCP-4783 itself has no agency, and simply damages a subjects memory bank, increasing in effect over time, similar to dementia. This is why communication with SCP-4783 is impossible, as there is nothing sentient to communicate with, and why SCP-4783 appears differently to each subject.

SCP-4783 as a time traveler

Initially, SCP-4783 was believed to alter actual events, due to subjects passing polygraph tests and providing vivid details, and having altered personalities from their "experience". Examination of physical abuse, however, showed no injuries, including scars, and this theory is seen by staff as less plausible.

SCP-4783 as the Hanged King

[DATE EXPUNGED]

Addendum 4783.1:(12/14/19) The only known "cure" for SCP-4783 is amnestics, although "delay" is a more appropriate term. When amnestics are applied, an SCP-4783 infection will start over, and will be vaguely recalled as a stranger, rather than a threat. After four more days, the subject will expire, unless given another round of amnestics. Due to this, current containment involves D-12649, the current host of SCP-4783, to undergo amnesic treatment every three days, to prevent both D-12649's death and the spread of SCP-4783 infection.

+ LEVEL FIVE SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED

Data logs of SCP-4783 containment

12/14/19-12/18/19

12/14/19: D-12649, the current host of SCP-4783, was given amnestics, and the infection was reset. D-12649 did not recall any undocumented trauma or abuse, and the infection was believed to be "reset". D-12649 vaguely remembered a kind old prison guard who he had been close to, although no specific details could be remembered at the time.
12/15/19: D-12649 remembered his prison time more harshly than previously documented, claiming that one guard in particular would mock him for being an inmate.
12/16/19: D-12649 recalled the prison guard as "very rude" and claims that the guard went out of his way to make prison life worse for D-12649, by allowing other prisoners to hurt D-12649, attacking D-12649 and claiming self defense, and even organizing a prison riot centered around D-12649, where he was severely beaten, and later placed in solitary confinement. D-12639 was given amnestics later that night, and put to sleep.
12/17/19: D-12649 has no recollection of a mean prison guard, and even recalls his time served as "tough, but fair". Monitoring is ongoing to observe the new infection of SCP-4783 on the same subject.

12/24/19-12/27/20

12/24/19:
12/25/19:
12/26/19:
12/27/19:

1/15/20-1/18/20

1/15/20:
1/16/20:
1/17/20:
1/18/20:
Analysis:(1/19/20) SCP-4783 appears to be adapting to this containment, and the rate of infection is increasing, D-12649 recalling SCP-4783 abuse within 2 days. Amnestic treatment recommended to be increased to every two days. -Dr ███████

1/31/20-2/3/20

1/31/20:
2/1/20:
2/2/20:
2/3/20:

2/18/20-2/21/20

2/18/20:
2/19/20:
2/20/20
2/21/20:

2/25/20-2/28/20

2/25/20:
2/26/20:
2/27/20:
2/28/20:
(2/29/20) D-12649 now recalls severe trauma and abuse from SCP-4783 a day after amnestic treatment. It is recommended to increase security around the cell, monitor D-12649's vitals, and increase amnestic treatment to once every day.

3/2/20-3/5/20

3/2/20:
3/3/20:
3/4/20:
3/5/20:

3/27/20-3/31/20

3/27/20:
3/28/20:
3/29/20:
3/30/20:
Analysis:(3/31/20) The personality of D-12649 is virtually unrecognizable, the subject spending most days quietly sobbing in his cell. D-12649 reacts violently to staff four hours amnestic treatment, and interaction is to be limited to prevent violence or further trauma. Staff psychologists have diagnosed D-12649 with a range of severe mental disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and PTSD. It is unknown if the increase in SCP-4783 would be carried to a new host, and requests to terminate D-12649 and repeat the containment procedure with a new D-class have been denied.

Footnotes

1. It is currently unknown if SCP-4783 is an entity or a memetic agent, further research required.