Just another sandbox. Current SCP: The Spice of Life
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Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be contained in a standard high-security lock box in site-██. Access is forbidden except for experimental purposes. SCP-XXXX is not to be opened outside of experiments. Standard hazardous imagery protocols apply to the contents of the SCP-XXXX.
Valuable personnel affected by the artifact are to undergo psychiatric counselling to cope with the effects and are to avoid contact with other SCP items to avoid cross-contamination.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a book with 'Diary' written in bold type on the otherwise blank cover. The diary is ordinary in all but the following aspects: The pages are divided into units of 5 (five) days instead of 7 (seven), and each of the five days is marked with a name applicable to the gender and culture of the reader. Apart from the words “The Factory” on the first page the contents are different for every person viewing them, and will appear blank when viewed indirectly. Whenever a person reads a page within the diary, they will see an account of a day of their own life written in their own handwriting. Subjects incapable of writing will see highly elaborate cursive script. Accounts of days that have already occurred will be accurate and use wording consistent with what the viewer would have used on that day.
On the pages detailing future events, the accounts of a given named day appear to only remember events from before opening the diary and from other days of the same name after opening it. Over time, the mannerisms, wording, handwriting and apparent personality begins to notably diverge, with each of the five 'days' becoming significantly different persons from each other. The events described in these pages are plausible, but not necessarily accurate. Notable is that each of these split persona are aware of their amnesia, often leading to paranoia or obsession with the diary.
After exposure to SCP-XXXX, most subjects will read it extensively, it is currently believed there is no psychological control involved in this, merely normal interest and curiosity. Unless a subject is exposed for only a very short time (Exposure of under 3 (three) minutes has so far not resulted in manifestation of the effect) they will begin the display a form of multiple personality disorder and selective amnesia consistent with the pattern of the 'future' pages in the diary. Affected subjects will only be capable of remembering events from before reading the book, and events from one out of every 5 days since. This essentially creates 5 separate personalities, each in control for 24 hours at a time. Personalities will respond to the name the diary used for their day as well as their initial name, and each will diverge from the initial personality in one important trait, varying from subject to subject.
As noted, the diary does not appear to have any psychological or memetic anomalous properties outside of creating the five day cycle. However, most subjects will experience the effect as distressing, citing loss of control over their lives, decreased sense of self and other such consequences of the cycle. Affected subjects may become violent or otherwise dangerous to others and themselves in the absence of psychiatric aid.
Research into the item is currently focussed on allowing more efficient, specific amnesiacs, potentially with temporary or time-delayed effects.
Addendum SCP-XXXX-A: Acquisition
The Foundation was alerted to a wave of anomalous psychological illness in █████████, ████████, United Kingdom. Investigation quickly revealed the book. [REDACTED] Affected subjects were taken in for questioning and study due to lack of cure. Standard coverup protocol CP-59-B was successfully employed afterwards.
Everybody has their own story of how horrible their job is.
Agents will tell you of people getting torn to shreds trying to secure an item. Of others being driven stark raving mad trying to contain it. Then they'll point to the higher ups and their wounds, with fear for their own future.
Researchers will tell you of how, at any moment, an item might decide it has more to it than we thought we knew, and explode in their face. Of the most routine of experiments being a life-threatening nightmare on the nerves. Then they'll point to the higher-ups and their disregard for the lives of others, with fear for their own future.
Hell, even the networking crowd will tell you of how, every single day, they're all exposed ever so slightly and indirectly to SCP items and knowledge that is anomalous on it's own, and how, over the years, it build up. Of how everyone just keeps on bending because breaking is the only other option. Then they'll point to the higher-ups and their inhumanity, with fear for their own future.
And no, those catagories don't include me. All those people will tell you about things going wrong, how it happens all the time.
Me? I carry the blame for it going wrong.
And when I look at my superiors and see how those who care have all broken down, I fear for all our futures.
You know the stories of the intel people, discovered by what they spy on, the eternal reality of never knowing things soon enough.
You know the stories of the agents, torn to shreds by the monsters they hunt, the eternal reality of never being prepared enough.
You know the story of the guards, smashed to pulp without warning, the eternal reality of never containing them well enough.
You know the story of the scientists, forgetting their own wives and children ever existed, the eternal reality of never knowing when you're being exposed.
You don't know the story of us. Failing every time to get people through in one piece, the eternal reality of always knowing that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, it won't be enough.
And soon, nobody will remember the ones they lost.
Because it's easier that way.