Per 
SCP-XXXX: Insert fun name here
Author: weizhong
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Bookstores and libraries with high potential for containing SCP-XXXX instances are to be monitored for potential signs of containment breach. Verified copies of SCP-XXXX are to be seized and remanded into secure containment lockers at Site 118's Beta Wing. SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2 are to be identified, and then physically separated from each other while further research is conducted on potential solutions to SCP-XXXX's anomalous cycle. Following expiration of either SCP-XXXX-1 or SCP-XXXX-2 as part of SCP-XXXX's primary anomaly, the corresponding SCP-XXXX instance is to be moved to Site 118's historical archives.
Following XXXX Incident Gamma, further research concerning alternative SCP-XXXX generation methods is pending review.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a collection of anomalous literature featuring a recurring prescriptive narrative cycle. Each SCP-XXXX instance presents itself as a work of fiction, but events described in SCP-XXXX are reflected in reality following their description in the work. Consequently, the progression of SCP-XXXX's narrative creates a deterministic effect on its real-life counterparts. Though the text of each SCP-XXXX is different, they can be identified by a few common narrative elements and themes:
- The presence of two main characters, designated SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2. Their interactions between each other are further detailed below.
- A few side characters, designated SCP-XXXX-3. Their roles in the story range from passive participation to active harm, but typically do not extend beyond a few pages of the story. Additionally, the deterministic effect of SCP-XXXX is less pronounced in these characters.
- Prose that has been consistently described as "dark," "evocative," and "tragic."
- Consistent, repeated references to a fear of the unknown.
- The deaths of SCP-XXXX-1 and/or SCP-XXXX-2. In 97.6% of identified cases, this is caused by the other main character.1
SCP-XXXX typically appears in printed book form, and has been found in a wide range of bookshops and libraries since its first categorization in 18██. Institutions with a high density of books relating to arcane, occult, or thaumaturgical concepts are at higher risk of SCP-XXXX infection, though size of the institution's collection has no effect.2 In all cases, employees and other individuals who would have interacted with the work do not remember placing the work, nor do there exist records of it within internal archives.
SCP-XXXX-1 typically is the instigator for the conflict that causes the deaths of both XXXX-1 and XXXX-2, and is murdered by XXXX-2 in 68.4% of iterations. Regardless of who initiates the conflict, XXXX-1 dies in 93.5% of all cases. Concurrently, the death of XXXX-1 often causes XXXX-2 to commit suicide, though in some cases, XXXX-2 is killed in retaliation by other characters. Combining all sources, XXXX-2 dies in 87.2% of all cases.
SCP-XXXX's anomalous effect starts once an individual begins reading the text associated with it. Stopping the reading process does not halt the progression of SCP-XXXX's narrative, but fully reading the text is believed to accelerate the process. Upon expiration of either/both SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2, the text ceases to become anomalous, and can be read safely.
Narrative Progression: On 03/02/19██, Foundation acquisition of a Serpent's Hand data drop included the text of A Critical Analysis of the Tragedy of the Twins, a paper written by known Serpent's Hand associate ██████ ████████,3 which was identified as a meta-critique of SCP-XXXX. Upon consultation with Researchers Andrew Zhou and Maria Fernandez,4 a consistent narrative arc was constructed:
| Narrative Act5 | Description of Events |
| Act 1: The Introduction | If not already acquainted, XXXX-1 and XXXX-2 are introduced to each other. The two establish a closer relationship with each other based upon their mutual interests, collaboration, and/or attraction. This section of the narrative features the least thematically dark elements of the work, and is often lighthearted in tone. Oftentimes, SCP-XXXX-3 characters are introduced and framed as coworkers, mutual friends, or antagonists who unite the two characters. |
| Act 2: The Conflict | After some time, a precipitating event occurs that causes a split between XXXX-1. Past examples of this include an affair by XXXX-1, financial and/or physical hardship, or a miscommunication that causes harm to XXXX-2. SCP-XXXX-3 instances often present opportunities to mend this rift between the two main characters, but a combination of stubbornness, further miscommunications, and lack of trust invariably result in an even greater divide. Tone of the narrative is often shifted into a bleaker tone, and begins to show some deterioration of style. |
| Act 3: The Downfall | The conflict between XXXX-1 and XXXX-2 fully deteriorates their relationship. Narration detailing their private thoughts begin to include thoughts of murder by one or both parties. Invariably, both parties are drawn back together by outside events, such as a need to work together, thoughts of reconciliation by one party, or simple chance. This meeting always ends with the death of at least one character, and oftentimes the death of the other shortly after/concurrent with the first. The tone of this section is extremely dark, and often features lurid descriptions of imagined torture, nightmares, and other fears that permeate the prose of the narrative, often times making it difficult to read. |
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: INCIDENT XXXX-GAMMA
On 09/16/20██, the following files were uploaded to SCP-XXXX's file by an unknown source. They are presented here in chronological order, pending further investigation. While no cognitohazardous effects have been detected, readers should exercise caution when reading the following files.
Unknown Recording 1: The following is the transcript of a conversation between co-project leads, Dr. Andrew Zhou and Dr. Maria Fernandez. The source of this recording is unknown, but was dated to 03/15/20██. The conversation is believed to have taken place in Dr. Fernandez's office.
Knocking sound can be heard.
Fernandez: Come in.
Zhou: Hey Maria. Finish annotating Iteration 366 yet?
Fernandez: Oh, hi Andy! Uh, not yet. Had to dig through the old catalog for a bit. I think 366 actually has some similarities with 346 and 353 which might lead to something. Could be a new trend. Can I send it to you to look over later?
Zhou: Sure, go for it. I'll be going over some of the field reports.
Fernandez: Great, thank you.
No sound for approximately 30 seconds.
Fernandez: Something else I can help you with, Andy?
Zhou: Well, that depends. What are you doing tonight?
Fernandez: Probably going to have a glass of wine and watch the Great British Bake-Off. Oh, god, that sounds a lot sadder than I meant it to be.
Zhou: No, not at all, haha! Well, if you're not busy with that…I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner. Just to…uh…go over reports, you know?
Fernandez: Just for reports?
Zhou: Yeah. Definitely.
Fernandez: Hmm. I was looking forward to seeing Rian sweep the competition with his tarts.
Zhou: Oh, yeah, I underst-
Fernandez: …but I guess I could clear my schedule past…seven?
Zhou: Seven. Yeah, that'll work. I'll drop by your office then?
Fernandez: I'll bring the reports.
Unknown Recording 2: The following recording was taken in Dr. Zhou's office at 9:53 PM, the same day as the previous log.
Zhou: …and somehow, miraculously, I only sprained my ankle. Swear to god.
Fernandez: [Laughing] Oh my god, that's crazy! If your mom was anything like mine, I bet you had a fun time explaining that mess.
Zhou: Oh, of course. Let's just put it this way: she had to get a new pair of sandals after she was through with me.
Both researchers laugh for a few moments before it dies down.
Fernandez: Well…thanks for taking me out to dinner.
Zhou: Yeah, of course. I…uh…I had fun tonight. Let's….do it again sometime?
Fernandez: I'd like that.
Silence for a few moments, before the sound of a kiss.
Zhou: See you tomorrow?
Fernandez: Gotta finish those reports sometime, after all. Night, Andy.
Zhou: Good night, Mimi.
Unknown Recording 3: The following recording was taken a few months after the first two recordings, and is believed to have originated from Dr. Zhou's office.
Zhou: I just don't get it.
Fernandez: Get what?
Zhou: Just…everything. We've studied hundreds of cases now. Pored over them all. And still, no reason why this is happening.
Fernandez: You work three doors down from a guy who studies spontaneously combusting frogs, and you feel like you don't have any good answers?
Zhou: Point. But this is clearly…well, something. You don't get this many books just "accidentally" doing all the same things. And you and I have read enough of these to know that it's not random.
Fernandez: I get what you're saying, babe, but I'm not sure that I have an answer for you.
Zhou: Yeah, yeah, I know. [Pauses] I wonder how they feel.
Fernandez: Loving the cryptic statements today, are we?
Zhou: The people who are in the stories. I wonder how they feel. Do they know it's happening? Or do they just think it's….normal? Do they know that their story's been written for them already, I mean?
Fernandez: Well, some people would say that everyone's story has already been written, in a way.
Zhou: You're way more Catholic than I ever was.
Fernandez: [Laughs] Not a high bar. I'm serious, though. Can you really say that people's paths aren't at least a bit guided?
Zhou: Well, no. We have free will, don't we?
Fernandez: Do we? You think a kid from the projects is gonna have the same choices that some prep school trust fund baby would?
Zhou: Mimi…if this is about-
Fernandez: It's not just about me! It's true for everyone like me. You know it's true. I didn't get to school the same way you did.
Zhou: Mimi, you know I've never cared about that.
Fernandez: I know you don't. But that's the way things are. People are the product of their environments. I don't think it's crazy to say that that means our paths are kind of set out for us.
Zhou: That's…depressing.
Fernandez: Honestly, I find it a little reassuring.
Zhou: How could that possibly be reassuring to you?
Fernandez: I dunno. I guess I've always been a little afraid of the dark, is all. I don't like losing control. I don't like not knowing what's going to happen. Knowing that there are reasons I am the way I am is…comforting. It means I don't have to worry about what I don't know, because I'm only responsible for doing what I'm supposed to do anyway.
Zhou: So that's why you read Wikipedia summaries for the movies we watch, huh?
Fernandez: [Laughs] Okay, that's too far. Let's get back to work.
Email Transcript: The following is the contents of an email that was found in Dr. Zhou's inbox, and dated to three months after the above recording.
To: Dr. Andrew Chi Zhou
From: [ERROR] UNKNOWN SENDER
Subject: Sing for me.
Let me tell you a story.
There once was a magus and his consort who lived in a white palace built upon the bones of the dead. The magus and his consort spent their days greedily divining secrets that were not theirs to take, rutting through the earth like hungry swine in search of treasures that did not belong to them. Like all wretched worms, they wriggled through the mud and dirt thinking that their lives were their own, that their stinking trails of shit were somehow special.
Such is the way of the universe that the magus and his whore would have been free to revel in the muck as is their right, but it came to pass that these creatures began to flaunt their insolence. No longer were they simply content to believe their heresies, but they began to openly espouse them, flitting about and convincing others to abandon the ordained paths that had been written for them. Moreover, they began to dig ever deeper, in search of knowledge that was never meant to be theirs, overreaching themselves when they should have been groveling at the feet of their lords and kings, begging them for forgiveness for having the audacity of reaching into things that should stay unknown.
And for their crimes, they had foolishly brought down the most terrible of furies down upon their house and their heirs. In the great reckoning that the universe had deemed to be right and good, their maker handed upon them a punishment fit for their lowborn, pathetic arrogance, that the magus was to destroy all of his heresies and spite all those whom he loved, that his whore was to slay the magus for his crimes before turning that wicked and treacherous blade upon herself as is just, but not before the downfalls of their work and their so-called truths.
You are all of you maggots in the soil who had the audacity to look to the heavens and for that, you will suffer.
Unknown Recording 4: The following was taken from Dr. Fernandez's office, shortly after Dr. Zhou received the above email and confronted Dr. Fernandez. It is unknown who or what began recording, and why they chose this specific time to do so.
Fernandez: Andy, you know what this means.
Zhou: I-I…there could be something else. It's not like the others…I mean…it could be a prank…
Fernandez: Andy. Look at me. We both know it's talking about us. We're the next story.
Zhou: [Whispered] Jesus Christ, Mimi. I mean, how did it know?
Fernandez: RAISA didn't have any info?
Zhou: No record of this email being sent…just like librarians don't remember putting books on the shelves…
Fernandez: Oh, Lord have mercy….it's all the signs.
Zhou: Okay. We…we just need to do some more research. Pore over the old accounts. There has to be an exception. There has to be a way out. C'mon, think!
Fernandez: Andy…you and I know better than anyone else that there are no exceptions. We're stuck in this story. There's no getting out of this one.
Zhou: Bullshit. Bullshit, Mimi! I refuse to accept that. I just….I can't.
Fernandez: Shhhh. It's okay.
Silence for two minutes
Zhou: I don't want to hurt you.
Fernandez: Neither do I. What can we do, though?
Zhou: Figure out where this came from, for one.
Fernandez: We're literature people, Andy. RAISA's on that. What can we do?
Zhou: I…I don't know.
Fernandez: Then until we do know, just….hold me, okay? Don't let go. I'm…I'm scared, Andy.
Zhou: Shhhh. I'm here.
The sound of light sobbing continues for 5 minutes. The recording cuts out.
Dr. Fernandez and Dr. Zhou were both removed from the research efforts for SCP-XXXX and were placed into isolation from each other, but were permitted to continue working under careful monitoring.
Security Camera Footage: The following security camera footage was taken from Dr. Zhou's office, four months after the email was received.
Dr. Zhou's office. The researcher is currently typing on his computer, hunched over the desk. There is a knock on the door.
Zhou: Come in.
The door opens, and Dr. Fernandez enters the room, closing it behind her. Zhou looks up and blinks, before shutting his laptop lid and standing up.
Zhou: Mimi? You know we're not supposed to-
Fernandez: I know. I know. I just….I couldn't help it. Can I sit down?
Zhou: Uh…yeah, yeah, of course.
Zhou pulls out a chair for Fernandez, before sitting down himself. Fernandez sits in the chair, looking around the office and wringing her hands.
Fernandez: Still got that tacky painting on the wall, huh?
Zhou: Well, someone with pretty bad taste gave it to me.
They both chuckle, but then fall quiet.
Zhou: You uh…you been busy?
Fernandez: Not too bad, I guess. Just collecting some literature on other anomalies….nothing too crazy. How about you?
Zhou: Desk work, yeah. A few translations.
Both are silent for a few moments.
Zhou: So uh, we should probably-
Fernandez: I miss you.
Silence for a few moments.
Zhou: I…I miss you too. But we shouldn't be doing this. You know we're supposed to stay away from each other until they can figure-
Fernandez: Figure something out? Andy, we both know how this ends. Until it happens, why not enjoy the time we have?
Zhou: I don't know that, actually. And I won't accept it. Not until we've tried everything.
Fernandez: It's too late, Andy! It's over! We looked into it for weeks. There's no solution. We're trapped.
Zhou: That's bullshit. I won't give up. I can't believe you would, either.
Fernandez: Oh, grow up. God, I can't believe you're this naive. Why can't you accept the truth?
Zhou: Because I'm not some fucking lemming who's following the herd over the edge!
Fernandez: Is that what I am now? A lemming? Because I've accepted what you don't have the balls to stomach? Because you're a coward at heart who can't handle ugly reality?
Zhou: YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT!
Zhou rises to his feet, knocking the chair over and sending it to the ground with a loud clatter. Both researchers flinch at the sound, and are silent.
Fernandez: I should go.
Zhou: Mimi, wait.
Fernandez promptly gets out of her chair and heads to the door. She places her hand on the doorknob, pausing, before opening it and slipping out of the office. Zhou remains standing, looking at the closed door for a few moments before he sinks into his chair. He places his head into his hands, and slumps over his desk.
Voicemail Log: The following voicemail was left on Dr. Fernandez's office phone, three days after the above security tape was recorded.
Hey Mimi.
I thought about calling you on your cell but…I guess I didn't want you to actually pick up. Sorry. I'm too much of a coward to tell you to your face.
I miss you. I really, really miss you. I know why we have to stay in isolation but…I still really miss you.
…
Anyway, I've been thinking about what you said, about destiny and our story. As a fellow professional, I respectfully disagree.
We always have a choice.
And I'm not afraid.
I don't care what's out there. I'm not afraid. I won't let this thing tell me what to do.
…There's one way out that we didn't talk about, Mimi. We didn't want to think about it at the time, but…we're running out of time. Even now, I can still feel the urges, but…for now, I'm still here.
SCP-XXXX doesn't work on one case, and one case only.
The characters can't kill each other if one of them's already dead.
I'm so, so sorry.
I love you.
