SCP-XXXX - Shadow Parasite Draft by SaintJimmy

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX should be kept in a 3m by 3m by 3m cell. The entirety of this cell should be illuminated using LED light bulbs producing at least 2500 lumens of light. The cell should not contain any transparent surfaces which allow light to pass through them to and from surrounding rooms; this means that observation of SCP-XXXX can not be conducting using a window. Video cameras must be fitted inside the cell which provide a live feed of SCP-XXXX to foundation personnel.

SCP-XXXX’s cell should also contain an electronic, sliding door leading to a 0.5m by 0.5m by 0.5m compartment not lit by any source of light. This door is to be closed unless SCP-XXXX is being provided with D-class personnel.

Each week, SCP-XXXX must be provided with a single D-class personnel to sustain it’s basic needs. This must be conducted through the following procedure:
- The door to the compartment adjacent to the cell must be opened.
- SCP-XXXX must enter the compartment before the procedure can continue.
- When SCP-XXXX has entered the compartment, the sliding door must be closed behind it.
- Foundation personnel can now enter the cell. They will carry an unconscious D-class into the cell and remove the now deceased D-class used for conducting the process during the previous week from the cell.
- Once foundation personnel have completed the previous step, they must leave the cell; closing the cell door behind them.
- SCP-XXXX can now be allowed back into it’s cell. When it leaves the compartment it entered at the beginning of this procedure, the door leading to the compartment must be closed.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a non-corporeal, parasitic lifeform which, when not infecting a human, appears as an amorphous absence of light (a shadow without something to cast it) approximately 0.2m by 0.2m in size.

SCP-XXXX is capable of locomotion through an unknown method. However, it’s movement is limited to the same constrictions that a shadow has. It cannot detach itself from appearing flatly on a solid surface, and cannot move through gaseous or liquid mediums. SCP-XXXX is also capable of moving through transparent solids.

Experiments have also shown that SCP-XXXX is capable of hearing and sight. The methods in which it does this are currently unknown.

SCP-XXXX appears to have an instinctual attraction to surfaces with an absence of light, presumably because detection of SCP-XXXX is difficult to impossible on these surfaces. SCP-XXXX will, unless a human is within visual range, always move to these surfaces even when it is obvious that it will not be able to leave once it moves to them.

When SCP-XXXX is within visual range of a human, it will quickly move towards the subject and infect them; it does this without exception unless it is already infecting a human. Once infecting a human, SCP-XXXX will then drain the intelligence of the subject until the subject loses the ability to breath. This process has been observed to take anywhere from 2 to 6 days, always depending on the IQ of the victim. Infection of SCP-XXXX can be detected by observing the suspected victim’s shadow. When a human is infected, their shadow will darken by approximately 3.4 lx1. SCP-XXXX will only leave an infected human when they are terminated, either through asphyxiation due to SCP-XXXX’s effects or through other means. It should be noted that terminating SCP-XXXX’s victim does not terminate SCP-XXXX.

SCP-XXXX has the ability to control the bodies of it’s victims. When the victim’s intelligence has been reduced to the point where reaction to danger is impossible, SCP-XXXX is capable of moving it’s victim out of any dangerous area. However, in most circumstances, SCP-XXXX will allow its victim to control it’s own body. It should be noted that, at present, the only times when SCP-XXXX has been observed controlling it’s victims is in the aforementioned scenario; so, the full extent of SCP-XXXX’s ability to control it’s victims is unknown.

The intelligence of SCP-XXXX’s victims appears to sustain it. After 2 weeks without infecting a human, SCP-XXXX will begin to move slower than usual. Presumably, this is due to malnourishment.

Victims of SCP-XXXX have been observed panicking when they realize that their level of intelligence has decreased. In most victims, this panic is observed through vocalizations of distress until the victim becomes incapable of assessment of it’s own intelligence.

Addendum: Interview Log

On the ██/██/20██, SCP-XXXX was observed controlling D-43458 when there was no danger present. At the time, SCP-XXXX had infected it’s victim for approximately 3 days. The subject began with an IQ of 124, at this time it is estimated that the subject’s IQ was around 50-602.

SCP-XXXX made the subject face the camera and began to make vocalizations. Dr. Armstrong, the lead researcher on SCP-XXXX used a microphone to communicate with SCP-XXXX.

Interviewer: Dr. [REDACTED] Armstrong

Interviewee: SCP-XXXX, while infecting D-43458.

[Begin Log]

SCP-XXXX: Why… keep… me here?

Dr. Armstrong: I’ll be asking the questions, SCP-XXXX.

SCP-XXXX: Why… call… me that?

Dr. Armstrong: Please stop asking questions. But, you are kept here because you are a danger to innocent people. And, we call you that because that is the designation that you have been given by the foundation.

SCP-XXXX: (SCP-XXXX is silent for several seconds) I’m… dangerous?

Dr. Armstrong: Yes… but more on that later. Have you always had the ability to make vocalizations?

SCP-XXXX: I… do not… know… that mean.

Dr. Armstrong: How long have you been able to speak?

SCP-XXXX: I… listen… to… you… I… learn.

Dr. Armstrong: You listen to what we say to those people you infect and you’ve learnt to > speak from that?

SCP-XXXX:(SCP-XXXX is silent for several seconds) Infect?

Dr. Armstrong: (Dr. Armstrong sighs in frustration) Do you understand what you do to the people we give you?

SCP-XXXX: Yes…

Dr. Armstrong: So you understand that you kill them?

SCP-XXXX: Yes…

Dr. Armstrong: Then why do you do it?

SCP-XXXX: I… must…

Dr. Armstrong: Or what?

(SCP-XXXX is silent for 30 seconds, eventually Dr. Armstrong asks another question)

Dr. Armstrong: Do you feel bad about the people you kill?

SCP-XXXX: I… think so… but… you… do… too.

Dr. Armstrong: We do what too?

SCP-XXXX: You… eat… too.

Dr. Armstrong: (Dr. Armstrong is silent for a few seconds) I see. Why do you go to dark places?

SCP-XXXX: There… friends… there.

Dr. Armstrong: There are things like you in the dark?

SCP-XXXX: I… think… so… (SCP-XXXX pauses for a few seconds). I… sorry… I… rest.

Closing Statement: SCP-XXXX did not respond to any further questions. The D-class regained control of its body. When questioned, the D-class claimed no knowledge of SCP-XXXX’s conversation with Dr. Armstrong.