Item #: SCP-1751-JP
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: The guest house containing SCP-1751-JP has been acquired by a Foundation front company; the sections other than SCP-1751-JP are currently under consideration for use as a safehouse. SCP-1751-JP is locked and cordoned off to prevent access. Entry into SCP-1751-JP is restricted to a maximum of one hour and is prohibited except for research purposes.
Description: SCP-1751-JP is a room of a guest house located in ██████, ██████ Prefecture, Japan. Individuals who stay at SCP-1751-JP (hereafter referred to as 'the subject') develop a mild phobia of open spaces. This symptom often causes the subject to avoid going outside more than necessary.
In their post-exposure life, the subject frequently claims to have seen an elephant. Although no elephants have actually been photographed or sighted in relation to these claims, investigations may reveal traces of body fluids, feces, body tissues, and other evidence indicating the presence of an African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the vicinity of the subject. These traces have even been found inside the subject's food and household items, and are known to disappear after a certain period of time.
In parallel with the subject's claims, an African bush elephant begins to appear in their old photographs and videos. In response, the subject recounts their memories regarding the elephant; no events that correspond to these memories have occurred in the subject's past. It has also been observed that many of these accounts are positive about the elephant, such as being happy to touch it, or enjoying its acrobatics at the circus. The phenomenon occurs in phases from childhood to current memories, with the subject developing a phobia of elephants in addition to the above-mentioned phobia of open spaces. These phobias worsen with each successive phase, resulting in the subject's extreme avoidance of going out, confinement to their residence, and a strong aversion to the memories associated with elephants in the past. Correspondingly, the amount of the above-mentioned traces increases.
The final phase is defined as when the subject's most recent memory is altered to include the elephant. In the final phase, the subject confines themself to an enclosed space and behaves as if they are trying to hide from some entity, such as destroying all recording devices in sight while shouting "the elephant is coming".
The subject expires if they become unobservable in some manner1 during the final phase. This has been confirmed to occur in less than 0.3 seconds to date, suggesting that death occurs at the moment the criteria are met.
In all known cases to date, the subject's cause of death has been exsanguination from visceral rupture due to severe pressure on the abdomen; in addition to the above-mentioned traces, plant fragments and soil from regions inhabited by African elephants can be found in the vicinity of the subject.
Investigations have revealed that no elephant-related incidents have ever occurred in the area surrounding SCP-1751-JP.
Addendum 1: It has been observed that following the subject's death, the African bush elephant disappears from the altered photographs and videos. While approximately 90% of these are restored to their previous state, 10% are subjected to further alteration, changing the subject's facial expression to one of being frightened.
Addendum 2: Examination of the subject's corpse revealed that the cause of the visceral rupture was not contusion by a massive object, but rather an attack by the hands and legs of multiple human or other creatures with limbs similar to those of humans2. No evidence of resistance by the subject was found. There is no record of a similar incident occurring in the area surrounding SCP-1751-JP.
Addendum 3: Reexamination of the altered photographs revealed that the pupils of the frightened subject reflect an entity that roughly mimics the typical appearance of an elephant. Although this entity is indistinct, all individuals reviewing the photographs have stated that it is neither an elephant nor a human being.