Noting (per direction from AI Team) that Leaf_Scout (account age 280 days, site membership 280 days) recently coldposted the following page, which has several indicators of AI-generation: https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-9448 page title "SCP-9448"
Revision 2
[[include :scp-wiki:component:bhl-style-collapse-source
|scp-number=9448]]
[[include :scp-wiki:component:acs-animation]]
[[include :scp-wiki:info:start]]
⚠️ **Content warning:** This article contains themes such as:
Grotesque Body Horror
Themes of Torture
[[include :scp-wiki:info:end]]
[[include :scp-wiki:component:info-cw]]
[[include :scp-wiki:component:anomaly-class-bar-source
|item-number= 9448
|clearance= 2
|container-class= keter
|secondary-class= none
|disruption-class= vlam
|risk-class= notice
]]
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**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-9448 is to be kept in its containment chamber at all times. The door to the chamber must be locked to prevent access to the active D-Class being restrained, as well as to SCP-9448 itself. The door to the chamber is to be locked behind a keycard door that can only be accessed by a member with, at minimum, restricted access.
There are to be no light sources in the containment room other than SCP-9448. There are also to be no windows into the adjacent observation room. There is to be one camera placed in the far corner of the room, facing the wall opposite the active D-Class, monitoring the active light level from a camera feed in the adjacent observation room.
Attached to the host is a tube from the ceiling running along the wall to the restraint for the host. Running through the tube is sustenance for the active D-Class to maintain the necessary physical and mental state. The access point for the tube can be accessed from the observation room.
After the light level in the room drops below the specified threshold, expiration of the active D-Class (signified "host") is imminent. At this time, the security detail is to be prepped for the transfer protocol.
Under the guidance of Dr. Maxwell, two guards will retrieve the next selected D-Class (signified "replacement") and transport them to the outside of the chamber. The guards provided will be trained with 100 hours of simulation within a replica room to conduct this transfer without sight. On retrieval of the replacement, a device forcing their eyes to remain open will be fastened to their head, a central IV line will be inserted, and an NG tube will be placed. The replacement will have their hands and feet bound to prevent attempts at escaping. The guards will be blindfolded with three layers of cloth and a blackout helmet placed onto their heads to prevent any possibility of sight during host replacement.
Upon bringing the replacement into the chamber, they will seat the replacement in the provided chair next to the host. The guards will latch and restrain the replacement into the chair, connecting the tube from the ceiling to their NG tube, permanently sealing the replacement to their chair. On completion of restraining the replacement, the guards will await instruction from the control room that the room has gone completely dark, signifying the completion of SCP-9448 cycle. During this time, the host will scream and thrash with agony, with varied additional reactions that vary among the hosts, such as hallucinations, verbal interactions with an invisible entity, or severe psychosis related symptoms. With acknowledgement of total darkness and cessation of signs of life from the host, the guards will unhook and remove the now deceased host from their restraints and remove them from the room, locking the replacement within the confines of the chamber.
The guards will be administered short-term amnestics for mental stability due to the psychological impact of the death of the host during the transfer. This procedure will be documented as a success upon observation of light within the room from SCP-9448 at sunrise the following day, signifying the completion of containment. With successful containment, the replacement is classified as the host, replacing the previous host; continue to monitor the host’s state until the light level drops below the specified threshold again.
**Description:** SCP-9448 is an orange, tall taper candle. It burns with a scent of strong vanilla, which resides in a white porcelain candlestick, housed at [*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/secure-facility-dossier-site-81 Site-81][[footnote]][*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/secure-facility-dossier-site-81 Site-81] is considered a "super-site" for anomalous activity in the U.S. midwest.[[/footnote]]. When first reformed, the anomaly stands at 30.48 cm upon reforming and relighting, and burns at a rate of .3463 cm daily when not being observed by the host, rounded to .35 cm for ease, lasting exactly 88 days.
When the host is observing the anomaly, it slows its burning rate significantly. If the host does nothing but observe the anomaly, it would burn for one full year from the day it is relit. Under natural conditions, however, it would be impossible to achieve this number due to human bodily functions, as well as the anomalous effects of SCP-9448 prior to the host's death.
SCP-9448 has no outwardly anomalous effects except on the host, other than its extremely slow burning rate and inability to be extinguished through various means; further descriptions of these attempts are listed in the addenda 9448-4. It can only affect one person at a time, deemed “the host” of the anomaly. The host is determined by the person who actively observes it as it goes out. Upon sunrise, the following morning, the wax of SCP-9448 will reform into its original shape and relight, starting the timer for the new host.
Upon completion of the cycle, signified by the anomaly completely burning out, the active host will die; the means of their death is determined by the amount of time the host observed the candle to slow its rate of burning. The longer the host observed the anomaly, the more graphic and anomalous the deaths become.
* **Not observing the anomaly at all/fleeting glances toward the anomaly**
* Stage 1 - Duration of burning: 88 days
* The host becomes highly exhausted to the point of an inability to remain awake and falls into a state of comatose, starting 10 hours before the completion of SCP-9448's cycle. Within their coma, they suffer a sudden and irreversible cardiac event that ceases all function of their heart, leading to instantaneous death.
* **Observing the anomaly irregularly**
* Stage 2 - Duration of burning: Extended to 3-6 months
* The host will suddenly go blind 5 minutes before the completion of SCP-9448’s cycle. The host will also lose all mechanical function and begin to convulse as they fall into a seizure. During which they will foam at the mouth before falling into a motionless state. At this time, their lungs will rapidly fill with blood and foam, suffocating the host.
* **Observing SCP-9448 regularly/devoting time to observing it burn**
* Stage 3 - Duration of burning: Extended to 6-9 months
* At 24 hours before the completion of SCP-9448’s cycle, the host will complain of hearing voices and seeing shadows move out of the corner of their eyes. When asked to describe, the host specified that the voices are largely incoherent, and the shadows can never be viewed directly, but are always just out of sight. At 10 minutes to the completion of SCP-9448's cycle, the host will become entirely catatonic, unable to move, as the object's anomalous effects cause the host’s body to enter an intense hyperactive state, wherein the host’s body will begin to cannibalize its muscles and skin. Active brain scans of the host show that while catatonic, they are entirely aware and alive throughout this process. In the host's final moments, the catatonia will cease, and their motor function will be briefly regained, starting at their vocal cords. The host will scream in agony, followed by a plea to what is described as a shadow forming in the center of their vision. Descriptions of the shadow vary from host to host. From pleas of the host, the shadow is presumed to speak one final time, and upon hearing its words, the host will immediately cease all cerebral function as their brain stem is instantaneously severed by an unknown force. All attempts at forcing the D-Class into relaying those final words have been met with failure. No shadows or alterations in light level are recorded within the chamber.
* **Observing the anomaly from ignition to completion**
* Stage 4 - Duration of burning extended to 1 year.
* Stage 4.1 - After one full week of doing nothing but observing the anomaly burn, the host will develop an extreme desire to divert or close their eyes to cease all contact with it. After one month, hallucinations begin pulling at the edges of their vision, described as yelling in an attempt to pull the host's attention away from the anomaly.
* Stage 4.2 - Nearing 3 months, the hallucinations worsen, beginning to manifest visually within the host’s field of view, making futile attempts at pulling the host's vision away from the object. They are described as reaching out to physically pull the host's eyes away from it. Observations from active brain scans, however, do indicate there is no physical interaction on the host while these manifestations occur.
* Stage 4.3 - Nearing 6 months, the host develops a form of fascination with the anomaly. The muscular function of any appendage below the neck entirely ceases; subsequently, any ticks, nervous coping mechanisms, or self-soothing exercises the host was able to perform in their restraints cease. Active brain scans show that the host's brain is in a constant state of hyperactivity, coupled with a lack of sleep, which causes the brain to begin consuming itself in a form of “relief.” Note this level of self-consumption would be entirely life-altering to the point of comatose or death, but it appears that at this level, SCP-9448 keeps the host not only alive, but aware and functioning enough to be able to speak ,and to some degree, think. According to the host, the hallucinations are now able to interact with the environment and communicate with one another. Supposedly casting shadows within the room. Observations of the wall where the camera in the room is angled to see show no significant change in light level that a shadow in the room would cause. Cerebral function begins to show signs of deterioration at this time, due to the host's brain's self-consumption, manifesting in incessant rambling, speaking directly to the hallucinations, dementia, perceptual reality shifts, and extreme depersonalization.
* Stage 4.4 - Nearing 9 months, hallucinations end, and the anomaly now “speaks to” the host. The host regains sudden and immediate full cerebral function, but only to hold “conversations” with the anomaly itself. In between the “conversations,” the host continues to rapidly digress mentally: their only moments of lucidity are when “conversing” with the anomaly, now no longer having any desire to look away from it. These “conversations” seem to start by ranging from topics that one would hold with friends, lovers, parents, rivals, or those that the Foundation has identified from the host's past.
* Stage 4.5 - Nearing 1 year, the “conversations” evolve into deep, philosophical questions upon the meaning of life, the purpose of humans in our relation to all life on Earth, how we fit in the universe, and if our existence is a burden to “the light that burns inside all living beings.” It is worth noting that the previous phrase is consistent between all hosts that make it to this point. Any following “conversations” with SCP-9448 exclusively surround the topic of time. The time they wasted, what they could have done instead, running through a seemingly infinite amount of possibilities, at the end of every string of thoughts, the host seemingly waits for a response back from SCP-9448. There is no noise coming from the room when the host is not talking, except for labored breathing from the host, and there is no noticeable change in light level in the room that could be interpreted as a response.
* Stage 4.6 - On the 51st week, the hallucinations seem to brutally return, as the host seemingly argues with multiple invisible shadows and SCP-9448 itself. No arguments from this point on are coherent, and any attempts at deciphering meaning from them are fruitless. The host begins to fear for their life, pleading to the anomaly. Their pleas include things like the argument that “they have done everything right” and “What more do you want from me?” The host’s emotional state is constantly fluctuating between panic, mania, and severe depression up to their final day. On the final day, the host enters a catatonic state, sitting motionless, blankly staring at the flame of the anomaly. This state of catatonia remains until the final minute of the host's life, and subsequently the final minute of the cycle. During this final minute, every symptom possible seems to hit the patient at once. Violent seizures occur, and even though the host is restrained, they tense and thrash with enough force to tear their muscles, tendons, and bones. The host’s internal organs rapidly fail and break down at a cellular level. Causing the epithelial lining protecting the esophagus, stomach, and intestines to deteriorate, its acidic contents rapidly dissolve the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to severe and intense vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The object seems to enhance the acidic quality of the host during this event anomalously, causing further erosion of all internal organs, including the skin, melting the host from the inside. These effects anomalously only alter the patient from the neck down, allowing their head, brain, and eyes to remain transfixed on the flame. The host screams in agony as they begin to "melt." Through this grueling process, the host is awake and conscious, and making every effort not to lose sight of the anomaly at any point. The host finally passes as their brain ruptures from within their skulls, ending their life. It is in these final moments of the host’s suffering that the camera inside the chamber of SCP-9448, discrepancies can be seen in the form of shadows cast upon the wall. These alterations are slight and hardly noticeable; it is unclear if they are caused by the flickering of the now-dying flame or are some anomalous force cast by the anomaly. Despite the trauma, the host’s eyes remain perfectly intact throughout this event.
**Autopsies:** Autopsies on what’s left of the now deceased hosts show a seared, inverted engraving of SCP-9448’s flame on the back of their eyes. The engraving chars through the host’s optic nerves and macula, permanently scarring the detached eye.
It is unclear to the Foundation what exactly the anomalous side effects of SCP-9448 are, what side effects are caused by the extreme isolation, prolonged viewing of one object, and the lack of sensations other than the strong smell of vanilla. It is noted that the constant viewing of SCP-9448 allows the host to survive largely unaffected by the normal effects of extreme, extended sleep deprivation, but only when consistently viewing SCP-9448.
The researchers tasked with managing the containment of SCP-9448 understand the barbarity of the current containment procedures, but have deemed it to be the most effective method of containing it currently. Efforts to find an alternative are being considered, but due to more pressing concerns, have been pushed to the back of the list of priorities in [*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/secure-facility-dossier-site-81 Site-81].
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Initial Recovery" hide="Initial Recovery"]]
On June 26th, 2007, the Foundation got notice of a supposed “crazed cult leader” that had been detained by local law enforcement. The reports claimed that an “off-the-map” village had been discovered when the "cult leader" eventually stumbled into the nearest town. Supposedly, the cult, with the exception of the leader, had all been wiped out and buried in a mass grave with bodies dating back to 1990.
The Foundation took notice of the reports as the “cult leader” claimed that the deaths had all been caused by “the candle.” He claimed “The Candle” had betrayed him and his people, and that "they had done everything right", yet "The Candle" would still take him. Upon reaching the site of the village, a small collection of seemingly poorly built houses and a church, the Foundation discovered the mass grave, where they were able to make a count of 62 bodies buried at the location, some seeming to be as recent as the past 3 months, with potential remains of others scattered near the mass burial.
Upon exploring the worn-down church in the village, the Foundation came across what they believed the cult leader was referencing by “The Candle.” On the pulpit of the church was a standard pillar-style candle. It had a deep red coloration and was seated upon a golden offering plate, likely used while the church was still in commission. It had about .18 cm of wax left and was burning at what appeared to be a significantly slow pace.
The recovery team members took the offering plate and SCP-9448 out of the building and were attempting to lock it in the back of a mock patrol car for transportation to the nearest Foundation site when one of the members of the recovery team, who was actively securing it in the back, claimed the candle ran out of wax and burned out entirely. It was later determined that at this exact time, the “cult leader,” who had moments prior gone catatonic, died in the custody of police by “rapid muscle deterioration”, screams, pleas to an entity not visible to the officers on scene, and finally followed by an instantaneous severing of his brain stem. (This death would now be classified as a stage 3 death from the anomaly) SCP-9448 was brought to [*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/secure-facility-dossier-site-81 Site-81] for further inspection. The police were administered amnestics, and the foundation wiped all records of the cult leader’s arrest as well as the village as a whole.
Once in a containment room at [*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/secure-facility-dossier-site-81 Site-81], a camera was placed in the room to observe the anomaly for further surveillance, and the retrieval team member who witnessed the candle go out was tested for potential anomalous effects, where none were found. Upon sunrise the following day, June 23, the anomaly was observed through the security camera to reform, the wax in the offering plate re-shaping into the original pillar-style candle before it had burned out. The anomaly was now burning at what appeared to be a fairly slow pace once again.
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Incident Report - Dr. Simon" hide="Incident Report - Dr. Simon"]]
On the morning of September 19, 2007, exactly 88 days after the initial relighting of the anomaly, Dr.Simon was observing the candle as it was nearing burning out. After about thirty minutes of observing the candle through the camera placed in the room and taking notes on its state every 5 minutes through audio recordings, the candle simply burned out. Its wax pooled at the bottom of the offering plate as the flame died out. Dr. Simon waited in the observation room for another 26 minutes to see if it would have any additional reaction; the only noted change was a hardening of the wax as it cooled.
After waiting in the room for a bit longer, two other researchers entered the room to speak with Dr. Simon, informing him that the transportation unit member who originally witnessed the flame extinguish had passed out and then died due to a heart attack in his unconscious state while on temporary leave due to recent lightheadedness. (Now classified as a stage 1 death from the anomaly)
At this point, Dr.Simon, as well as the other researchers, concluded via consistencies surrounding the deaths of the “cult leader” and the containment team agent related to the anomaly time of completion. Realizing that observing it as it goes out is what links a person to it, and subsequently, had placed a timer on Dr. Simon's life. After taking a week off to think, Dr. Simon requested the use of amnestics to forget about the incident entirely and was placed on indefinite leave to spend time with his family.
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Initial Containment" hide="Initial Containment"]]
Over the next two months, the Foundation prepped for a D-Class to take the place as the next host of the anomaly following Dr. Simons' death. On the day of Dr. Simons' 88th day, a D-Class was sent into the containment room and instructed to observe the candle as it burned out.
The Foundation would allow the D-Class access to entertainment in the room as well as three meals a day. The D-Class would not be allowed to directly interact with the anomaly, as it was placed on a podium in the corner of the room. Once SCP-9448 was nearing its cycle completion and the D-Class was soon to die, security personnel would escort them out of the room and into a private room. At this same time, another set of security personnel would send a new D-Class into the room to observe the candle as it burned out. Upon the re-ignition of the candle the following sunrise, containment was considered a success.
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Testing" hide="Testing"]]
The foundation attempted multiple tests on SCP-9448 over the course of the next few cycles. These tests would be run over its “safe period.” Attempts were made to alter its shape, size, burn rate, or even extinguish it entirely. Some attempts to attempt to alter the relationship between the host and the anomaly were also made.
[[table style="border-collapse:collapse; max-width: 600px;"]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-1
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold; padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver;"]]
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
SCP-9448
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Protocol
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Researchers will attempt to extinguish the flame using various methods, such as a spray bottle, pouring water from a large container onto the anomaly, and fully submerging the anomaly.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Despite the various attempts from researchers, the anomaly did not seem to be affected by any form of dousing the flame. Whether it was sprayed, doused, or submerged, it would simply continue burning. Even while fully submerged, the flame did not alter in size, shape, or change the rate of the burn, even when submerged for 24 hours.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
[[table style="border-collapse:collapse; max-width: 600px;"]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-2
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold; padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver;"]]
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
SCP-9448
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Protocol
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Researchers will attempt to completely cut off oxygen to the anomaly by placing it in a vacuum chamber on site. After placing it in the vacuum chamber, it is to be sealed and monitored through a camera also in the chamber, as well as checked for any alterations once removed.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Despite being placed in the vacuum chamber and having all oxygen stripped from its container, it continued to burn. Its flame once again did not change in size or shape, and there was no alteration in the rate of burn, whether while in the vacuum chamber or once removed.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
[[table style="border-collapse:collapse; max-width: 600px;"]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-3
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold; padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver;"]]
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
SCP-9448
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Protocol
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Researchers will attempt to extinguish the anomaly by various methods, such as blowing on it, using an industrial fan to attempt to blow it out, and finally placing it where natural wind would cause it to extinguish.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Despite researchers blowing on the object, placing it in front of an industrial fan, and even allowing it to be placed outside, all in an attempt to extinguish the anomaly before the 88 days of its natural cycle, these attempts were all met with failure. There was once again no change in size and shape, and there was no alteration in burn speed.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
[[table style="border-collapse:collapse; max-width: 600px;"]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-4
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold; padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver;"]]
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
SCP-9448's host
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Protocol
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Researchers will give amnestics to the new host of the anomaly; they will also prepare a new D-Class to take their place on the 88th day should the anomalous properties continue.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Once the host had been established, they were given amnestics to forget about the anomaly entirely. They were barred from interacting with any other testing and were monitored for 88 days, during which no anomalous effects were observed. Regular health and mental checks were conducted on the host, to which no noticeable changes were observed. On the 88th day at the end of the cycle, the host experienced a class 1 death, and a new D-Class was prepped and observed the anomaly burning out in the event that the anomalous properties continue. Upon sunrise the next day, SCP-9448 relit, and the cycle continued as normal.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
[[table style="border-collapse:collapse; max-width: 600px;"]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-5
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold; padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver;"]]
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
SCP-9448
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Protocol
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Researchers will attempt to cut pieces from the wax body of the anomaly using a scalpel, use a metal sheet to completely sever it wax body both horizontally and vertically, and finally use a D-Class to simply touch the anomaly with their hands.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
In researchers' attempts to use a scalpel to slice small pieces off of the anomaly's wax body, the anomaly would seem to form around the scalpel. Researchers documented that there was zero friction, as if they were not cutting through anything at all. Once a cut was made, that should have taken a piece off, there would simply be no change in it. Upping the measures, researchers took a larger metal sheet and attempted to completely sever the anomaly in half, both vertically and horizontally. Both of these attempts were met with a similar result to the scalpel; there was no friction, and despite being visually completely severed, the candle continued to burn as normal, and the wax body seemed to ignore the metal sheet entirely. Finally, when a D-Class was ordered to touch the object gently, having no knowledge of what it was and simply believing it to be a candle, the D-Class was actually able to touch and interact with it somewhat normally. He gently touched its waxy body, and it would rock in its place. When instructed to knock it over, however, the D-Class's hand phased through it, similar to the scalpel and sheet of metal. When the D-Class was instructed to pick it up gently, they were able to; however, when instructed to attempt to crush it in their hand, it then phased through the D-Class's hand, falling to the ground, unharmed and unaltered.
These results seem to indicate that the anomaly has some inherent knowledge of the intent of the interactions it has. If the intent is not to harm or alter it in any way, it will allow itself to be touched, moved, or even held. However, if the intent changes to attempt to alter it, it then seems to act defensively and makes whatever is going to cause the change simply phase through it.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
[[table style="border-collapse:collapse; max-width: 600px;"]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-6
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold; padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver;"]]
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
SCP-9448's host
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Protocol
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
Researchers will take a class IV D-Class that has been made host, and subject them to lethal injection, prepping another
D-Class to take their place as the next host in the event of
the anomaly extinguishes early upon the death of the host.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
[[cell style="border: 1px solid black; padding: .3em .7em;"]]
The researchers had the potential new host observe the anomaly as the final, lethal dose was given to the active host. The candle burned normally until around 2 seconds before the brain death of the host. Reported by the new host watching the anomaly, it was in these two seconds that the flame grew in size significantly, to the point that the new host referred to it as a "fireball." The flame was large enough and hot enough to melt the rest of the unburned wax in the final 2 seconds prior to the active host's brain death.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
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[[row]]
[[cell style="font-weight:bold;padding: .3em .7em; text-align: center; border: 1px solid black; background-color: silver; width: 20%;"]]
Test 9448-7
[[/cell]]
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[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; padding: .3em .7em; border: 1px solid black"]]
Subject
[[/cell]]
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SCP-9448's replacement
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
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Protocol
[[/cell]]
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Researchers will attempt to tie the "host" status to a nonsentient creature; in the case of the tests, this was a stray cat and a stray dog. This will be performed in tandem with standard containment procedures to prevent potential risks of failure leading to a containment breach.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[row]]
[[cell style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid black"]]
Results
[[/cell]]
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During the designation of a new host, another group of personnel held a stray cat up to also observe the anomaly as it extinguished. By measuring the burning rate of the candle when the cat observed it afterwards, it was deemed not to be the host, and the host had been transferred to the D-Class who observed it extinguish instead. During the next cycle, this test was repeated with a stray dog to see if the anomaly simply "chose" the person instead of the cat during the first test; however, the same results were obtained. Researchers deemed it was possible that SCP-9448 happened to "choose" the person as the host both times, and this test could result in a transfer of the host to a non-sentient animal; it was deemed unnecessary to continue trying.
[[/cell]]
[[/row]]
[[/table]]
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Inconsistencies" hide="Inconsistencies"]]
Over the next cycles of SCP-9448, a few inconsistencies were noted by research staff, specifically with the length of time that it burned before burning out.
After instructing the active host to observe the anomaly for 20 minutes daily. This resulted in it burning at a slower rate while being actively observed by the host. When another D-class was sent into the room and instructed to observe the anomaly, no change in burning rate was observed.
Since this discovery, the host was instructed to continue observing the anomaly actively for 20 minutes a day, eventually pushing his life span to 142 days. The host’s death, however, was now less peaceful, being classed as stage 2, as shown above.
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="False Positives" hide="False Positives"]]
After more cycles of SCP-9448, the Foundation continued to instruct the host to observe the candle more and more per day. The foundation managed to extend the candle and subsequently, the host's lifespan up to 232 days, which resulted in a death classified as stage 3, specified above.
The D-Class that was able to reach this length of time by becoming what appeared to be obsessed with the anomaly to some extent, actively ignoring and arguing with the visions it saw in favor of continuing to observe it. The obsession did not reach the point of ignoring meals or other human functions to observe the anomaly.
Due to the nature of D-Class being death row inmates, often of which means violent criminals, they can be hazardous to work with, which can lead to complications. While transferring an active host out of the room and transferring in the new D-Class to take their place, the D-Class lashed out and fought with the armed personnel to the point of forced submission by the security detail. It was at this point that the host had died, and SCP-9448 burned out, without a new host.
Researchers continued to closely monitor the now burnt-out SCP-9448 in an attempt to diagnose any new anomalous effects, but none appeared. The following sunrise, when the anomaly would normally reform and re-ignite, it failed to. The wax stayed pooled at the bottom, now entirely cooled on the offering plate.
After waiting for the next sunrise and continuing testing and observation of the anomaly, the Foundation had deemed this as an "accidental success,” and then changed SCP-XXXX’s classification to “neutralized.”
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Bloodline" hide="Bloodline"]]
On October 19, 2011, the Foundation received a report from one of its watchdog programs about an old woman who was placed into a psychological facility for the elderly in ███████. The woman was found in her home by a neighbor, mumbling incoherently about “a candle.” Her family all lived together in the home and had all died within 3 months of each other by what appeared to be heart attacks, even those that were otherwise entirely healthy. The list of dead family members included:
* The woman’s husband
* The woman's only child, her daughter
* The woman’s son-in-law
The woman claimed that a candle in her home was the cause as it kept coming back, even when she knew it should’ve burned out by then, and do to the mental stress of her family's untimely death, and the proximity of them all, she was placed into the care of ███████. Once the Foundation got wind of the event, they went to the elderly facility and provided the woman with amnestics, as well as sending a recovery team to the woman's house to retrieve the new instance of SCP-9448.
SCP-9448 now takes the form of a new candle, the orange, tall taper candle from the description. The previous instance of SCP-9448 was now disposed of as common waste, as it was confirmed to show no more anomalous effects.
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Procedure" hide="Procedure"]]
It was at this point that researchers began implementing stricter rules on the host. It started with the host being instructed to observe the anomaly far more frequently throughout the day, from half an hour to multiple hours a day. If the host failed to comply, they were punished by various means, such as skipped meals, stripping of the little furniture in the room, and then the stripping of entertainment.
This was met with backlash and rebellion from the hosts. Due to this rebellion, as well as the anomalous effects prior to the death of the host during a stage 3 instance, researchers decided it would be easier to simply restrain the hosts and force them to observe the anomaly, in order to delay the amount of time between hosts, subsequently lowering the amount of D-Class that would die due to SCP-9448.
The restrictions and protocol continued to progress and advance until you have the active containment procedures listed above. The Foundation has had zero incidents since implementing the most recent containment procedures.
[[/collapsible]]
##transparent| .##
[[collapsible hideLocation="both" show="Barbarism" hide="Barbarism"]]
The following is an audio recording between the lead researcher for SCP-9448, Dr. Ian Maxwell and his second, Dr. Olivia Kolumn.
[[div class="blockquote" style="border-radius: 10px; margin: 10px"]]
**Proof of Diagnostics Before Host Transition Process for SCP-9448**
**Date:** January 12, 2021
**Subject:** Ethics of SCP-9448 host transition
**Team Lead:** Dr. Ian Maxwell
**Team Members:** Dr. Olivia Kolumn
-----
[BEGIN AUDIO LOG]
**Dr. Maxwell:** Tapes rolling Kolumn, this is Dr. Ian Maxwell head of research and containment of SCP-9448. This audio log is proof of final diagnostic checks before the transition of hosts for SCP-9448. Kolumn, hand me that paper, would you?
(A few seconds pass with no answer from Kolumn.)
**Dr. Maxwell:** Doctor Kolumn.
**Dr. Kolumn:** Sorry, excuse me sir.
**Dr. Maxwell:** The diagnostics paper Kolumn.
**Dr. Kolumn:** Yes, sorry.
(Papers rustle seemingly between the two)
**Dr. Maxwell:** It's okay Kolumn. (Sigh) Vitals?
**Dr. Kolumn:** Stable.
**Dr. Maxwell:** IV, NG?
**Dr. Kolumn:** Disconnected due to impending transition.
**Dr. Maxwell:** Good. Light level?
(No response from Dr. Kolumn.)
**Dr. Maxwell:** Doctor Kolumn, light level please.
**Dr. Kolumn:** I'm sorry Doctor, this is just hard, I mean it's fucking barbaric, they're still people.
**Dr. Maxwell:** This is your sixth host transition Kolumn, you have to get used to it. They were death row inmates, they were going to die anyway.
**Dr. Kolumn:** By lethal injection, a quick painless death. Now what, they go sit and stare at that, (The sound of Dr. Kolumn choking on her words can be heard) that thing. They're gonna sit in that chair for the next year of their life, suffering the whole time, then they die so cruelly that we have to give the damn guards amnestics afterwards.
**Dr. Maxwell:** I don't enjoy it either Kolumn, but it's just us on the research team now; it's up to us to find a new way and we aren't gonna get any help. The Foundation is perfectly happy to keep throwing one D-Class a year at the thing for eternity. You saw what happens when we were more lax.
**Dr. Kolumn:** I know, that poor woman.
**Dr. Maxwell:** Exactly. Look, we've got about two hours before we have to have one ready to go for the team, we'll look through the files and pick one with some real heinous shit, okay?
**Dr. Kolumn:** Does it make a difference?
**Dr. Maxwell:** Does it feel like it does?
**Dr. Kolumn:** I think so.
**Dr. Maxwell:** Then it does. Alright, light levels please Kolumn?
**Dr. Kolumn:** Diminishing, estimated time till completion, four hours. Time to completion based off of reigniton, four hours.
**Dr. Maxwell:** Thank you Doctor, ending the log.
[END AUDIO LOG]
[[/div]]
[[/collapsible]]
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<< [[[SCP-9447]]] | SCP-9448 | [[[SCP-9449]]] >>
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> **Filename:**
> **Name:** (if different from filename)
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[[include :scp-wiki:component:license-box-end]]Excerpts of note:
Not observing the anomaly at all/fleeting glances toward the anomaly
Stage 1 - Duration of burning: 88 days
Autopsies:
On June 26th, 2007, the Foundation got notice of a supposed “crazed cult leader” that had been detained by local law enforcement. The reports claimed that an “off-the-map” village had been discovered when the "cult leader" eventually stumbled into the nearest town. Supposedly, the cult, with the exception of the leader, had all been wiped out and buried in a mass grave with bodies dating back to 1990.
The Foundation took notice of the reports as the “cult leader” claimed that the deaths had all been caused by “the candle.” He claimed “The Candle” had betrayed him and his people, and that "they had done everything right", yet "The Candle" would still take him. Upon reaching the site of the village, a small collection of seemingly poorly built houses and a church, the Foundation discovered the mass grave, where they were able to make a count of 62 bodies buried at the location, some seeming to be as recent as the past 3 months, with potential remains of others scattered near the mass burial.
This report is based on the use of a section nomenclature and phrases typical of AI-generated articles and after a check, on the content of the user's sandbox, as it shows the main content of the article with a clear AI-generated format since Revision 0.
[[>]]
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**Item #:** SCP-XXXX
**Object Class:** Euclid
**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-CANDLE is to be kept in its containment chamber at all times. The door to the chamber must be locked to prevent access to the active D-class being restrained, as well as to SCP-CANDLE itself. The door to the chamber is to be locked behind a keycard door that can only be accessed by a member with, at minimum, restricted access.
There are to be no light sources in the containment room other than SCP-CANDLE. There are also to be no windows into an adjacent observation room. There is to be one camera placed in the far corner of the room, facing one of the walls away from SCP-CANDLE, monitoring the active light level of the room from a camera feed in a different room.
Attached to the active D-class is a tube from the ceiling running along the wall to the restraint for the D-class. Running through the tube is sustenance for the D-class to maintain the necessary mechanical and mental state. The entrance and access to this tube can be accessed from the observation room.
After the light level in the room drops below a specified threshold, expiration of the active D-class (specified D-1) is imminent. At this time, the security detail is to be prepped for the transfer protocol.
Under the guidance of Dr. Maxwell, two guards will retrieve the next selected D-class (signified D-2) and transport them to the outside of the chamber. The guards provided will be trained with 100 hours of simulation within a replica room to conduct this transfer without sight. On retrieval of D-2, a device forcing their eyes to remain open will be fastened to their head, and a central IV line will be inserted. D-2 will have their hands and feet bound to prevent attempts at escaping. The guards will be blindfolded with three layers of cloth and a blackout helmet placed onto their heads to prevent any possibility of sight during D-class replacement.
Upon bringing D-2 into the chamber, they will place D-2 in the provided chair next to D-1. The guards will latch and restrain D-2 to the chair, connecting the tube from the ceiling to their IV access, permanently sealing D-2 to their chair. On completion of restraining D-2, the guards will await instruction from the control room that the room has gone completely dark, signifying the completion of SCP-XXXX’s cycle. During this time, D-1 will scream and thrash with agony, with varied additional reactions that vary among the D-class, such as hallucinations, verbal interactions with an invisible entity, or severe psychosis related symptoms. With acknowledgement of total darkness and cessation of signs of life from D-1, the guards will unhook and remove the now deceased D-1 from their restraints and remove them from the room, locking D-2 within the confines of the chamber.
The guards will be administered short-term amnestics for mental stability due to the psychological impact of the transfer. This procedure will be documented as a success upon observation of light within the room from SCP-CANDLE at sunrise, signifying the completion of containment. With successful containment, D-2 is named D-1, replacing the previous D-class; continue to monitor D-1’s state until the light level drops below the threshold again.
**Description:** SCP-XXXX is an orange, tall taper candle. It burns with a scent of strong vanilla, which resides in a white porcelain candlestick, housed at Site-81. When first reformed, SCP-XXXX stands at 30.48 cm, and burns at a rate of .34 cm daily when not being observed, lasting exactly 88 days.
When observing SCP-XXXX, it slows its burning rate significantly. If the observer does nothing but observe SCP-XXXX, it would burn for one full year from the day it is relit. Under natural conditions, however, it would be impossible to achieve this number.
SCP-XXXX has no outwardly anomalous effects other than its extremely slow burning rate and inability to be extinguished through various means; further descriptions of these attempts are listed in the addenda. SCP-XXXX can only affect one person at a time, deemed “the host” of SCP-XXXX. The host is determined by the person who actively observes SCP-XXXX as it goes out. Upon sunrise, the following morning, the wax of SCP-XXXX will reform into its original shape and relight, starting the timer for the new host.
Upon completion of the cycle, signified by the candle completely burning out, the active host will die; the means of their death is determined by the amount of time the host chose to observe the candle to slow its rate of burning. The longer the host decides to observe SCP-XXXX, the more graphic and anomalous the deaths become.
Not observing SCP-XXXX at all/fleeting glances toward SCP-XXXX
Stage 1 - Duration of burning: 88 days
The host becomes highly exhausted to the point of an inability to remain awake and falls into a state of comatose, starting 10 hours before the completion of SCP-XXXX. Within their coma, they suffer a sudden and irreversible cardiac event that ceases all function of their heart, killing the individual peacefully.
Observing SCP-XXXX irregularly
Stage 2 - Duration of burning: Extended to 3-6 months
The host will suddenly go blind 5 minutes before the completion of SCP-XXXX’s cycle. The host will also lose all mechanical function and begin to convulse as they fall into a seizure. During which they will foam at the mouth before falling into a motionless state. At this time, their lungs will rapidly fill with blood and foam, suffocating the host.
Observing SCP-XXXX regularly/devoting time to observing it burn
Stage 3 - Duration of burning: Extended to 6-9 months
At 24 hours before the completion of SCP-XXXX’s cycle, the host will complain of hearing voices and seeing shadows move out of the corner of their eyes. When asked to describe, the host specified that the voices are largely incoherent, and the shadows can never be viewed directly, but are always just out of sight. At 10 minutes to the completion of SCP-XXXX, the host will become entirely catatonic, unable to move, as SCP-XXXX's anomalous effects cause the host’s body to enter an intense hyperactive state, wherein the host’s body will begin to cannibalize its muscles and skin. Active brain scans of the host show that while catatonic, they are entirely aware and alive throughout this process. In the host's final moments, the catatonia will cease, and their motor function will be briefly regained, starting at their vocal cords. The host will scream in agony, followed by a plea to what is described as a shadow forming in the center of their vision. Descriptions of the shadow vary from host to host. From pleas of the host, the shadow is presumed to speak one final time, and upon hearing its words, the host will immediately cease all cerebral function as their brain stem is instantaneously severed by an unknown force. All attempts at forcing the D-class into relaying those final words have been met with failure. No shadows or alterations in light level are recorded within the chamber.
Observing SCP-XXXX from ignition to completion
Stage 4 - Duration of burning extended to 1 year.
Stage 4.1 - After one full week of doing nothing but observing SCP-XXXX burn, the host will develop an extreme desire to divert or close their eyes to cease all contact with SCP-XXXX. After one month. Hallucinations begin pulling at the edges of their vision, described as yelling in an attempt to pull the host's attention away from SCP-XXXX.
Stage 4.2 - Nearing 3 months, the hallucinations worsen, beginning to manifest visually within the host’s field of view, making futile attempts at pulling the host's vision away from SCP-XXXX. They are described as reaching out to physically pull the host's eyes away from SCP-XXXX. Observations from active brain scans, however, do indicate there is no physical interaction on the host while these manifestations occur.
Stage 4.3 - Nearing 6 months, the host develops a form of fascination with SCP-XXXX. The muscular function of any appendage below the neck entirely ceases; subsequently, any ticks, nervous coping mechanisms, or self-soothing exercises the host was able to perform in their restraints cease. Active brain scans show that the host's brain is in a constant state of hyperactivity, coupled with a lack of sleep, which causes the brain to begin consuming itself in a form of “relief.” According to the host, the hallucinations are now able to interact with the environment and communicate with one another. Supposedly casting shadows within the room. Observations of the wall where the camera in the room is placed show no significant change in light level that a shadow in the room would cause. Cerebral function begins to show signs of deterioration at this time, due to the host's brain's self-consumption, manifesting in incessant rambling, speaking directly to the hallucinations, dementia, perceptual reality shifts, and extreme depersonalization.
Stage 4.4 - Nearing 9 months, hallucinations end, and SCP-XXXX “speaks to” the host. The host regains sudden and immediate full cerebral function, but only to hold “conversations” with SCP-XXXX itself. In between the “conversations,” the host continues to rapidly digress mentally: their only moments of lucidity are when “conversing” with SCP-XXXX, now no longer having any desire to look away from it. These “conversations” seem to start by ranging from topics that one would hold with friends, lovers, parents, rivals, or those that the Foundation has identified from the host's past.
Stage 4.5 - Nearing 1 year, the “conversations” evolve into deep, philosophical questions upon the meaning of life, the purpose of humans in our relation to all life on Earth, how we fit in the universe, and if our existence is a burden to “The light that burns inside all living beings.” It is worth noting that the previous phrase is consistent between all hosts that make it to this point. Any following “conversations” with SCP-XXXX exclusively surround the topic of time. The time they wasted, what they could have done instead, running through a seemingly infinite amount of possibilities, at the end of every string of thoughts, the host seemingly waits for a response back from SCP-XXXX. There is no noise coming from the room except for labored breathing from the host, and there is no noticeable change in light level in the room that could be interpreted as a response.
Stage 4.6 - On the 51st week, the hallucinations seem to brutally return, as the host seemingly argues with multiple invisible shadows and SCP-XXXX itself. No arguments from this point on are coherent, and any attempts at deciphering meaning from them are fruitless. The host begins to fear for their life, pleading to SCP-XXXX. Their pleas include things like the argument that “they have done everything right” and “What more do you want from me?” The host’s emotional state is constantly fluctuating between panic, mania, and severe depression up to their final day. On the final day, the host enters a catatonic state, sitting motionless, blankly staring at SCP-XXXX. This state of catatonia remains until the final minute of the host's life, and subsequently the final minute of SCP-XXXX’s cycle. During this final minute, every symptom possible seems to hit the patient at once. Violent seizures occur, and even though the host is restrained, they tense and thrash with enough force to tear their muscles, tendons, and bones. The host’s internal organs rapidly fail and break down at a cellular level. Causing the epithelial lining protecting the esophagus, stomach, and intestines to deteriorate, its acidic contents rapidly dissolve the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to severe and intense vomiting and bloody diarrhea. SCP-XXXX seems to enhance the acid quality of the host during this event, causing further erosion of all internal organs, including the skin, melting the host from the inside. These effects anomalously only alter the patient from the neck down, allowing their head, brain, and eyes to remain transfixed on SCP-XXXX. The host screams in agony as they begin to melt. Through this grueling process, the host is awake and conscious, and making every effort not to lose sight of SCP-XXXX at any point. The host finally passes as their brain ruptures from within their skulls, ending their life. It is in these final moments of the host’s suffering does the camera inside of SCP-XXXX’s chamber sees discrepancies among possible shadows cast upon the wall. These alterations are slight and hardly noticeable; it is unclear if they are caused by the flickering of the now-dying flame or are some anomalous force cast by SCP-XXXX. Despite the trauma, the host’s eyes remain perfectly intact throughout this event.
Autopsies
Autopsies on what’s left of the now deceased hosts show a seared engraving of SCP-XXXX’s flame on the back of their eyes. The engraving chars through the host’s optic nerves and macula, permanently scarring the detached eye.
It is unclear to the Foundation what exactly the anomalous side effects of SCP-XXXX are, what side effects are caused by the extreme isolation, prolonged viewing of one object, and the lack of sensations other than the strong smell of vanilla. It is noted that the constant viewing of SCP-XXXX allows the host to survive largely unaffected by the normal effects of extreme, extended sleep deprivation, but only when consistently viewing SCP-XXXX.
The researchers tasked with managing the containment of SCP-XXXX understand the barbarity of the current containment procedures, but have deemed it to be the only effective method of containing it currently. Efforts to find an alternative are being considered, but due to bigger concerns, have been pushed to the back of the list of priorities in Site-81.
**Addendum:**
[Addendum XXXX-1: “Initial recovery”
On June 26th, 2007, the Foundation got notice of a supposed “crazed cult leader” that had been detained by local law enforcement. The reports claimed that an “off-the-map” village had all been wiped out and buried in a mass grave with bodies dating back to 1990.
The Foundation took notice of reports relating to a “cult leader” claiming that the deaths had all been caused by “the candle.” He claimed “the candle” would “wipe all of that which is impure,” and that he would “wait and watch as they extinguish like the dying flame of the eternal candle.” Upon reaching the site of the village, the Foundation discovered the mass grave, where they were able to make a count of 62 bodies buried at the location, with potential remains of others scattered near the mass burial.
Upon discovering a worn-down church in the village, the Foundation came across what they believed the cult leader was referencing by “The Candle.” On the pulpit of the church was a standard pillar-style candle. It had a deep red coloration and was seated upon a golden offering plate, likely used while the church was still in commission. It had about a quarter of an inch of wax left and was burning at what appeared to be a significantly slow pace.
The recovery team members took the offering plate and SCP-XXXX out of the building and were attempting to lock it in the back of a mock patrol car for transportation to the nearest Foundation site when one of the members of the recovery team, who was actively securing it in the back, claimed the candle burned out entirely. It was later determined that at this exact time, the “cult leader,” who had recently gone catatonic, died in the custody of police by “rapid muscle deterioration” followed by an instantaneous severing of his brain stem. SCP-XXXX was brought to Site-81 for further inspection. The police were administered amnestics, and the foundation wiped all records of the cult leader’s arrest.
Once in a containment room at Site-81, a camera was placed in the room to observe SCP-XXXX for further surveillance, and the retrieval team member who witnessed the candle go out was tested for potential anomalous effects, where none were found. Upon sunrise the following day, June 23, SCP-XXXX was observed through the security camera to reform, the wax in the offering plate re-shaping into the original pillar-style candle before it had burned out. SCP-XXXX was now burning at what appeared to be a fairly slow pace once again.
Addendum XXXX-2 “Incident Report - Dr.Simon”
On the morning of September 19, 2007, exactly 88 days after the initial relighting of SCP-XXXX, Dr.Simon was observing SCP-XXXX as it was nearing burning out. After about thirty minutes of observing SCP-XXXX through the camera placed in the room and taking notes on its state every 5 minutes through audio recordings, SCP-XXXX simply burned out. Its wax pooled at the bottom of the offering plate as the flame burned out. Dr.Simon waited in the observation room for another 26 minutes to see if SCP-XXXX would have any additional reaction; the only noted change was a hardening of the wax as it cooled.
After waiting in the room for a bit longer, two other researchers entered the room to speak with Dr.Simon, informing him that the transportation unit member who originally witnessed SCP-XXXX extinguish had passed out and then died due to a heart attack in his unconscious state while on temporary leave due to recent lightheadedness.
At this point, Dr.Simon, as well as the other researchers, concluded via consistencies surrounding the deaths of the “cult leader” and the transportation unit member related to SCP-XXXX's time of extinguishment. Realizing that observing SCP-XXXX as it goes out is what links a person to it, and subsequently, had placed a timer on Dr. Simon's life. After taking a week off to think, Dr.Simon requested the use of amnestics to forget about the incident entirely and was placed on indefinite leave to spend time with his family.
Addendum XXXX-3: “Initial Containment”
Over the next two months, the Foundation prepped for a D-class to take the place as the next host of SCP-XXXX following Dr. Simons' death. On the day of Dr. Simons' 88th day, a D-class was sent into the containment room and instructed to observe as SCP-XXXX burned out.
The Foundation would allow the D-class access to entertainment in the room as well as three meals a day. The D-class would not be allowed to directly interact with SCP-XXXX, as it was placed on a podium in the corner of the room. Once SCP-XXXX was nearing its cycle completion and the D-class was soon to die, security personnel would escort them out of the room and into a private room. At this same time, another set of security personnel would send a new D-class into the room to observe SCP-XXXX as it burned out. Upon the re-ignition of SCP-XXXX the following sunrise, containment was considered a success.
Addendum XXXX-4 “Testing”
The foundation attempted multiple tests on SCP-XXXX over the course of the next two months. Then these examinations would be run over its “safe period.” Attempts were made to extinguish the candle through various means, such as;
Dousing it with water
Initially using a small spray bottle, researchers attempted to spray the wick to soak the candle and subsequently douse the flame. After this did not work, researchers poured water over SCP-XXXX as a whole, but the candle was not wet, and the fire did not dissipate. Finally, they attempted to submerge SCP-XXXX fully within water, the candle continued to burn even underwater, and when removed, SCP-XXXX was completely dry.
Stripping all oxygen from the room
Researchers attempted to remove all oxygen from SCP-XXXX’s environment so the flame had no fuel source to burn from. Upon placing it in a vacuum seal chamber and removing all oxygen, the flame remained unaffected by the change in atmosphere.
Blowing it out
Tests in adding multiple forms of wind to extinguish SCP-XXXX by functionally normal means were also met with failure. Blowing it out via breath or by high-powered fans saw no fluctuation in the flame’s presentation.
Alterations in its size or shape
Researchers attempted to cut small pieces out of SCP-XXXX with a scalpel. As the blade would touch the wax of SCP-XXXX, it would seemingly phase through the material without any friction, causing no alteration to the candle itself. Stepping up from this test, a sharp metal sheet was to be used to fully separate SCP-XXXX into two pieces. When the sheet was inserted, it again met no resistance, nor did SCP-XXXX move as a result of a sheet bisecting it through its mid-point. Upon removal of the sheet, no wax was displaced, and neither did it have any lasting effects on the appearance of SCP-XXXX. Any attempts to physically touch or mold the SCP-XXXX would result in the candle reshaping back to its original form. Attempts to crush the candle while holding it would cause the hand to pass through it harmlessly, and SCP-XXXX would fall to the ground unharmed. This possibly shows that SCP-XXXX has an understanding of the force moving it and only allows touch when there is no intent to alter its current form.
Alterations to temperature
Researchers tried temperature changes to see if SCP-XXXX or its burning time would change when placed in a hot or cold environment. Upon placement into a controlled room at a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 full day, the candle showed no change. Further exposure to increasing temperatures, 200 degrees, 300, 400, 500, such as being placed in an oven, had no change to its waxy appearance or how long it seemed to burn. Exposure to other fire sources in attempts to increase the size of the flame upon the wick or burn SCP-XXXX also had no effect. Upon attempting the opposite and placing SCP-XXXX into colder climates, similar failures occurred. Exposing the candle to freezing temperatures did not result in any alterations to its structure. Pouring liquid nitrogen over SCP-XXXX in attempts to freeze it was equally met with its unchanging appearance.
SCP-XXXX was described as simply persisting through whatever efforts the Foundation tried.
Addendum XXXX-5: “Inconsistencies”
Over the next cycles of SCP-XXXX, a few inconsistencies were noted by research staff, specifically with the length of time that SCP-XXXX burned before burning out.
After instructing the active host to observe SCP-XXXX for 20 minutes daily. This resulted in SCP-XXXX burning at a slower rate while being actively observed by the host. When another D-class was sent into the room and instructed to observe SCP-XXXX, no change in burning rate was observed.
Since this discovery, the host was instructed to continue observing SCP-XXXX actively for 20 minutes a day, eventually pushing his life span to 142 days. The host’s death, however, was now less peaceful, being classed as stage 2, as shown above.
Addendum XXXX-6: “False Positives”
After more cycles of SCP-XXXX, the Foundation continued to instruct the host to observe the candle more and more per day. The foundation managed to extend the candle and subsequently, the host's lifespan up to 232 days, which resulted in a death classified as stage 3, specified above.
The D-class that was able to reach this length of time by becoming what appeared to be obsessed with SCP-XXXX to some extent, actively ignoring and arguing with the visions it saw in favor of continuing to observe SCP-XXXX. The obsession did not reach the point of ignoring meals or other human functions to observe SCP-XXXX.
Due to the nature of D-class being death row inmates, often of which means violent criminals, they can be hazardous to work with, which can lead to complications. While transferring an active host out of the room and transferring in the new D-class to take his place, the D-class lashed out and fought with the armed personnel to the point of forced submission by the security detail. It was at this point that the host had died, and SCP-XXXX burned out, without a new host.
Researchers continued to closely monitor SCP-XXXX in an attempt to diagnose any new anomalous effects, to which none appeared. The following sunrise, when SCP-XXXX would normally reform and re-ignite, it failed to. The wax stayed pooled at the bottom, now entirely cooled on the offering plate.
After waiting for the next sunrise and continuing testing and observation of SCP-XXXX, the Foundation had deemed this as “an accidental success,” and then changed SCP-XXXX’s classification to “neutralized.”
Addendum XXXX-7: “Bloodline”
On October 19, 2011, the Foundation received a report from one of its watchdog programs about an old woman who was placed into a psychological facility for the elderly in –Redacted–. The woman was found in her home by a neighbor, mumbling incoherently about “a candle.” Her family all lived close by, and had all died within 3 months of each other by unspecified means. The list of dead family members included:
The woman’s husband
The woman's only child, her daughter
The woman’s son-in-law
The woman claimed that a candle in her home was the cause as it kept coming back, even when she knew it should’ve burned out by then, and do to the mental stress of her family's untimely death, and the proximity of them all, she was placed into the care of -Redacted-. Once the Foundation got wind of the event, they went to the elderly facility and provided the woman with amnestics, as well as sending a recovery team to the woman's house to retrieve the new instance of SCP-XXXX.
SCP-XXXX now takes the form of a new candle, the orange, tall taper candle from the description. The previous instance of SCP-XXXX was now disposed of as common waste, as it was confirmed to show no more anomalous effects.
Addendum XXXX-8: “Procedure”
It was at this point that researchers began implementing stricter rules on the D-class, deemed as the host. It started with the host being instructed to observe SCP-XXXX far more throughout their days, from half an hour, progressing to multiple hours a day. If the host failed to comply, they were punished by various means, such as skipped meals, stripping of the little furniture in the room, and then the stripping of entertainment.
This was met with backlash and rebellion from the hosts, as well as the newly discovered stage 3 symptoms, as detailed above. Due to this rebellion, researchers decided it would be easier to simply restrain the hosts and force them to observe SCP-XXXX, in order to delay the amount of time between hosts.
The restrictions and protocol continued to progress and advance until you have the active containment procedures listed above. The Foundation has had zero incidents since implementing the most recent containment procedures.
Addendum XXXX-9: “Barbarism”
The following is an audio recording between the two lead researchers for SCP-XXXX, Dr. Ian Maxwell, and Dr. Olivia Kolumn.
January 12, 2021:
Dr. Maxwell: “Good morning, Doctor.”
Dr. Kolumn: “Morning.”
~ A 2-minute silence goes between them ~
Dr. Maxwell: “You know, we have to do it right? It’s the only way to keep it actually contained.”
Dr. Kolumn: “I know. It’s just fucking barbaric. They’re still people.”
Dr. Maxwell: “They’re death row inmates, they were going to die anyway.”
Dr. Kolumn: “By lethal injection. Quick and painless. Now what, they go sit and stare at that… thing for the next year of their life, suffering the whole time, then they die a death that’s so cruel, we have to give the damn guards amnestics after.”
Dr. Maxwell: “I don’t enjoy it either, but it’s just us on the research team for it now; it’s up to us to find a new way, and we’re not getting any help. The Foundation is perfectly happy to just keep throwing one D-class a year at this thing for eternity. You saw what happens if we don’t do this.”
Dr. Kolumn: “I know…that poor woman.”
Dr. Maxwell: “Exactly. Look, we’ve got about two hours before we have to have one ready to go for the team, we’ll look through the files and pick one with some real heinous shit, okay?”
Dr. Kolumn: “Does it make a difference?”
Dr. Maxwell: “Does it feel like it does?”
Dr. Kolumn: “I think so.”
Dr. Maxwell: “Then it does.”
~End of Recording~
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