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⚠️ Content warning:
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Article: SCP-365-DE The Rumor of the Whisperer
Author:Dr Himy
Image:
Link: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Mariano_Rumor_daticamera.jpg
Creator: Camera dei Deputati
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]
Last known recording of Leon O., from his application documents
Item #: SCP-365-DE
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-365-DE is contained within a cell measuring 5 x 5 x 2,5 m in Site-DE18. Due to the nature of the anomaly and its inability to directly interact with physical matter, the room itself features no furniture and the like, with the only objects inside the containment area being small former possessions of the anomaly. Additionally, the walls, the floor and the ceiling are furnished with esoteric ban symbols for security, which are also covered with shatterproof glass. In order to prevent that SCP-365-DE follows a person present within the influenced area, the entrance door (Security level 3) is yet again furnished with binding runes. A communication system featuring a camera connected to the adjunctive monitoring station records any soliloquies or just attempts of contact by the anomaly, but an indirect dialogue is undesired and prohibited. Regular cleaning of the containment unit can be dispensed with; should maintenance or repair be necessary for the control system, precautions are to be taken for the treatment of the executor. Persons who came into contact with SCP-365-DE must be kept in quarantine for thirty hours; amnestization may be necessary in rare cases.
Description: SCP-365-DE is the anomalous echo of the personality and the memories of the Leon O██████, who perished on May 23, 1972 in D█████████ and was working in the editing department of a famous daily newspaper. The anomaly is invisible within the entire electromagnetic spectrum and incorporeal. Attempts to force it in a tangible form, for instance via a Type Vincio ESO Granade have failed. SCP-365-DE has the ability to articulate itself audibly and concretely with a human-like voice.
At the time of his death, the subject had only been employed for two weeks. An analysis of his curriculum vitae showed that he had perused several different professions before, but these jobs rarely lasted longer than a few months. Preceding frequent changes of schools in his youth should also be noted; Leon O██████ has apparently been categorized as a troublemaker, a claim not only supported by the teaching staff, but also by neighbors and various other persons in his immediate environment.
Such a résumé and suchlike accumulation of bad certificates of good conduct should have almost always resulted in a rejection during an application, but the subject usually found a new job quickly. During the investigation into the death, the head of the human resources department confessed that Leon O██████ had extorted him with private information that the subject should have had no knowledge of. This claim made the department head the focus of the police investigation into the later death of the novel employee for some time. It also showed that SCP-365-DE possessed at least a portion of its anomalous abilities during its lifetime and used them for a personal advantage.
During its lifetime, the presented anomaly suffered from Pseudologia phantastica (formerly "pathological lying") and consequently from the "Munchausen syndrome"1 during its childhood, which led to his parents divorcing due to psychological stress and mutual accusations. This assumption is not fully verified as such disorders were rarely identified and taken seriously at the time. A detailed outline of the curriculum vitae can be viewed within document FDE-VIT-P5901/1.1. Later the subject showed signs of hypochondria and indications of (hitherto not confirmed) more personality disorders.
The abilities of the anomaly were of telepathic and mind-bending nature, both during its lifetime and its current form. The anomaly is capable of looking into the thoughts, memories, and most probably also into the subconscious of persons in his presence. This requires no physical contact, but a certain proximity, at least visual contact, although the distance at which the effects lose their impact is unknown. SCP-365-DE is able to communicate verbally and telepathically, with the mental dialogues occurring in the form of words and sentences, but also through transmitted images and sequences of events. These are usually distorted or completely fictitious imagines that invariably provoke the subject in a malicious, malignant manner.
Another ability of the anomaly, which can certainly be considered perfidious, was the fact that the contents of the manipulations appear coherent and always truthful to the victim, independent from the possible absurdity of the things depicted. A staff member of the daily newspaper mentioned above, for instance, was thus firmly convinced that a female colleague had scratched his car, because he had not responded to her (demonstrably non-existent) advances. The bandwidth of the rumors the anomaly spread led to consequences, which ranged from rather harmless pranks to defamatory whispering and even homicidal ideation. When it appeared opportune to the anomaly, it also used the truth, but watered and prevaricated it, reinterpreted and perverted it. The absolute conviction of the truth of the claims and "whispers" lasts for around 27 hours, only then do first doubts manifest.
Two staff members discovered the mortal remains of Leon O██████ within the office rooms of his workplace in the early hours of May 24, 1972. The subject had evidently hanged itself, although some factors proved to be highly unusual and suspect. Nothing pointed towards suicidal idealization, a farewell letter was missing, and the place of suicide was chosen rather awkwardly, since O██████ could have been discovered at any time. But much more suspicious was the fact that the wrists were tied up in cable ties, additionally led through the body's belt buckle. Another very long cable tie was led led through it, which was also tightened and could have easily reached the mouth. Murder and suicide were considered; either the subject was forced to commit the act or he would have ensured that he himself could not prevent his own death if he had changed his mind after pushing the chair away. Following months of investigative work, all traces led to nothing, the police shelved the case, with the entire incident being explained as suicide.
As per usual for a daily newspaper, operation was not interrupted and the working atmosphere seemingly improved in spite of the event, until it eventually changed into mistrust, paranoia and hate. Physical altercations, psychological breakdowns, another suicide and a cascade of resignations ultimately resulted in the collapse. The company eventually filed for bankruptcy. Later, the premises proved to be unlettable, several companies withdrew from the contracts shortly thereafter, even a complete conversion to residential apartments bore no fruit, with tenants reporting "whispering, demonic" voices. Articles and reports in the media in relation to these uncertainties finally led to a complete investigation by the Foundation, starting with a first inspection on May 10, 1974.
In accordance with the protocol, two field agents were initially sent out in plain clothes. In the first two hours of their stay, no anomalous proceedings were noted, but then the behavior of Agent B████ changed dramatically. She suddenly complained of dyspnea, hyperhidrosis and tachycardia2; apparently she suffered a panic attack, an occurrence totally atypical for her. The team then abandoned the venue. Agent B████ subsequently calmed herself, but latent feelings of anxiety only dissipated after around 27 hours, whereafter she resigned from the active field service and was transferred. She firmly refused to give reasons for her breakdown. As a second measure, and following lengthy research, a ten-man division of MTF DE18-𝔏 "Lich Tamer" was detached for securing the presumed anomaly. As Leon O██████ quickly became the first suspect, a few personal objects were preemptively brought along from the private home of the deceased person to draw the attention of the anomaly in the best case scenario. The "elicitation" and subsequent transport had to be staggered, i. e. only one person had direct interaction with the anomaly, with the guard being replaced in the transport vehicle at the first sign of mental impairment, but after three hours at the latest. Full containment of SCP-365-DE succeeded on June 9, 1974.
Interview Transcript FDE/D-80842/1.1
Foreword:
This recording is a video/audio transcript. On June 16, 1974, D-80842 was transferred to the containment unit of SCP-365-DE with a previously prepared questionnaire. Apart from his criminal record that suggests cowardice and sadistic tendencies, D-80842 was chosen due to his psychological instability. The conversation was monitored under the supervision of Dr. Elmswald and recorded automatically. The D-class employee is shown here as "D8", the anomaly as "voice".
[D8 enters the room with a folding chair and the questionnaire, the door gets closed and locked. D8 takes a seat in front of the objects on the floor.]
D8: Hello?
[There is no response for around twenty seconds.]
D8: Hello? Are you there?
[SCP-365-DE responds from a corner of the room, with a voice sounding raw, whistling and higher than expected.]
Voice: Hello, my boy.
D8: [nervously] Yes, hello, I'm here to ask you a few questions. If you have the time.
Voice: If I have time …Much time, less to do.
D8: Thank you. So, what's your name? Do you know why you're here?
Voice: Please, my boy, they already told you that outside. Imprisoned. Like you, if I'm not mistaken.
D8: All right … That makes me uncomfortable … Are you aware that you're dead?
Voice: [laughs cautiously] I should be. After all, I was present when they had murdered me.
D8: You … were murdered?
Voice: By colleagues. Almost the entire editorial office. Held me still, chained me and hung me up. It seems they couldn't stand my sincerity and love of the truth.
D8: Please, don't get me wrong, this isn't my opinion … But I've been told you would spread false rumors and lie and manipu…
[D8 flinches as the voice answers directly behind him.]
Voice: Do you know how they say the truth has not yet put on its shoes, while the rumor has already moved across the country twice? Did they tell you something like that about me?
D8: I am not that well read.
Voice: Then let me enlighten you. Truth is the match between claim and reality. They say. That's their definition. But it's false, because everyone has their own truth due to having their own reality. Can you follow me?
D8: I … think so.
Voice: See. So you are a clever boy after all. Do you have any other questions by your overseers?
D8: Overseer … Why you set all those people against each other, I should ask. And … if so, you had to die as a result. Was it worth it?
Voice: Another person would probably consider themselves a martyr, but I'm too modest for that. I showed them their own truth, for their deed … Well, that's not my fault.
D8: Hmm, yes. And how – do you feel, I mean are you alright?
Voice: Fine in company. If they are no journalists. But let's talk about you. That I have a great insight into human nature is a fact I can't deny. May I ask you a good question for a change?
D8: Not really, I'm not allowed to respond, you know.
Voice: I see. Poor guy. But you don't have to tell me anything. But – is she very pretty, your fellow prisoner on convict cleaning duty?
D8: Who? I have no idea what you're saying! [D8 instinctively looks at the camera.]
Voice: Don't worry, you did nothing wrong, except for some furtive glances maybe. However, others were less reticent.
D8: What? What do you mean by that?
Voice: Do you want to know that? I only lie, as you said.
D8: Tell me, please!
Voice: Very well, then take a look.
D8: No! That can't be …
Voice: Ohhh yesssss …
[D8 leaps up and grabs the folding chair. He walks through the room and begins to wildly punch against the door.]
D8: BITCH! FUCKING BITCH! I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BASTARD!
[Malicious, giggling laughter can be heard from the center of the cell.]
Closing Note from July 7, 1979
At that time, D-80842 was removed from containment and isolated for the given period. His aggression largely disappeared, but he was transferred nonetheless. Regarding the further research of SCP-365-DE, it should be noted that the goal demanded by the superior committees to disconnect and reproduce the recognized effects of the anomaly has failed. Even an apparent cooperation of the anomaly would have been completely pointless, as distinguishing lie and truth was impossible in this case. At least that's what the employees say.
signed. Dr. Elmswald, Project lead, Site-DE18