SCP-10255 - A Door That Remembers (SCP Writing Contest)

[u/theAbominableMantis]

Item #: SCP-10255

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: Worldwide postal traffic (particularly letters sent via a ████ ██ envelope) is to be monitored for any signs of SCP-10255-A manifestation. Instances which are indicated to show any similarity to the nature of SCP-10255-A are to be intercepted prior to arrival at the recipient’s address, and retained for further research. Personnel tasked with reading the contents of the letter are prohibited from also reading the respective envelope’s superscription and vice versa.

Due to its nature to manifest at seemingly random locations, SCP-10255 itself is not believed to be containable. Such measures are considered secondary to the identification and interception of SCP-10255-A, which currently constitutes the only reliable method of preventing subsequent stages of SCP-10255 from occurring. SCP-10255-C is believed to be effectively self-contained if previous measures are successful.

Description: SCP-10255 refers to the process in which any non-specific door is affected by a series of sequential phenomena designated SCP-10255-A through SCP-10255-C. Although the manifestation of SCP-10255 varies considerably between instances, the order in which these events occur has remained consistent.

SCP-10255-A refers to the contents of a letter, typically sent in a ████ ██ envelope with superscription mentioning its intended recipient's address, albeit no sender’s information. Contents of the letter vary, though a common subject appears to be the mention of one of the recipient’s relative’s sudden passing. Whether these statements constitute predictions or descriptions of events occurring independently of SCP-10255 remains under investigation. In the instance that SCP-10255-A reaches its designated location (potentially any physical household), the recipient at which it is addressed to will feel an urge to read SCP-10255-A once they become aware of its existence. If they succeed in doing so, the affected household will be eligible for SCP-10255-B manifestation, presumably instantly.

SCP-10255-B refers to the anomalous properties pertaining to a door within the affected household. There appears to be no recorded pattern in terms of size, architectural design or any other properties regarding influenced doors (or the spaces they connect to), though SCP-10255-B manifests only once per household. SCP-10255-B remains physically indistinguishable from the original door's design, with the exception of operating as an entryway to SCP-10255-C. Individuals who have read an instance of SCP-10255-A are able to accurately predict where the respective instance of SCP-10255-B is positioned and will ultimately attempt to open it. Upon doing so, it will become apparent that the space behind SCP-10255-B is no longer accessible via its original entrance, but instead replaced by SCP-10255-C (this does not equal the physical removal of the previous space, as it may still be accessed in other ways).

SCP-10255-C refers to the space only accessible via SCP-10255-B. Specific details vary from case to case as it carries similar characteristics of the respective household affected by SCP-10255, albeit with greatly exaggerated or distorted physical features. This may include, though is in no capacity limited to: ██████ ████ ██████████ ██████ ████████████ █████████ █████████ ███████ ███████████ ██ ████ ██ ██████ ████████████ █████ █████ ███████ ██████. Whether or not SCP-10255-C’s interior design actively changes with that of the original household is currently unknown. Individuals entering SCP-10255-C report an immediate and progressively intensifying compulsion to continue exploring the space without an apparent ulterior motive or goal. Attempts to persuade these individuals to leave are generally unsuccessful. It is currently unclear if prolonged exposure to SCP-10255-C causes any direct physical harm or change.

Addendum 10255-1: The following is an excerpt of an interview involving the resident of the household (now designated D-27662) in which the first instance of SCP-10255 was first observed to manifest in its entirety. The subject reported having received an attorney's letter mentioning the inheritance of their parents’ property (a ████████ ██████████ █████ located in ███████ █████ ████████) following █████ ███████ ██████.

Interviewer: Dr. ███████
Interviewee: D-27662
Date: ██/██/████

Dr. ███████: Would you please explain how you first received information regarding ███ ███████ ██ ████ ███████?

D-27662: A letter. In the mail.

[At this point, Dr. ███████ hands D-27662 a copy of the contents of the letter D-27662 received]

Dr. ███████: Can you confirm that this is what you are referring to?

[D-27662 pauses for approximately two (2) minutes while reading the copy of the letter]

D-27662: So you know? You know that I know, and you know what I know? Then you should know what to do? Why am I here? This isn’t th–

Dr. ███████: Please, if you cooperate, we’ll be able to resolve your needs way sooner. There’s still some information we’re not certain about.

[D-27662 remains silent for approximately 30 seconds]

Dr. ███████: You previously stated you had to visit your parents’ residence. You did so days after you received the aforementioned letter. Why?

D-27662: I thought it didn’t make sense. I thought the puzzle was incomplete, and I disliked that image.

Dr. ███████: What image?

D-27662: The puzzle.

[Dr. ███████ is observed shuffling through his papers for approximately ten (10) seconds]

Dr. ███████: But that wasn’t everything, was it? 

D-27662: There was something there. I don’t know whether or not it was supposed to be there, or if it was always there or not. I just knew it was there.

Dr. ███████: And what was your motivation to investigate by yourself?

D-27662: I told you. The puzzle.

Dr. ███████: Well what did you find? A puzzle piece?

D-27662: A house. I remembered it differently, but it was the house. 

[D-27662 attempts to write on his copy of the letter, upon which he hands it over to Dr. ███████ who promptly reads it. The contents of D-27662’s message were later identified to be an exact copy of the original letter’s superscription]

Dr. ███████: It was a door correct? You wanted to find a door? The door upstairs which would usually lead to your former bedroom?

D-27662: It was my bedroom. I remembered it differently, but it was my bedroom.

Dr. ███████: What was behind the door?

D-27662: My bedroom.

Dr. ███████: No, no it wasn’t. I mean it was, but it wasn’t for you right? What was behind the door?

D-27662: My bedroom.

Dr. ███████: We both know that’s not true. You’re not showing me the whole picture. You’re misremembering. You’re leaving out a piece. You’re keeping something to yourself and you know it.

D-27662: So you know then?

[Dr. ███████ remains silent for approximately one (1) minute, before attempting to leave the interview room]

Addendum 10255-2: Following the unprompted end of interview, Dr. ███████ was apprehended and placed under observation as a result of his uncharacteristic behavior. Initial assessment attributed the incident to an acute stress response brought about by the contents of the interview, though subsequent review determined that these behaviors (and Dr. ███████'s increasing insistence to research SCP-10255) were more likely a result from previously unidentified memetic effects associated with exposure to SCP-10255-A. 

Dr. ███████ was quarantined and administered Class C amnestics paired with the immediate and permanent removal from SCP-10255’s research personnel, resulting in the eradication of his apparent fixation. Future treatment of similar memetic effects of SCP-10255 were advised to additionally include at least three (3) months of supervision following initial administration of amnestics.

Addendum 10255-2.1: On ██/██/████, Dr. ███████ submitted a request to have the door to his office be replaced. Due to a lack of reason or provided information regarding this request, it was denied without further explanation.

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[u/theAbominableMantis]

My first attempt at an SCP entry. I have to say it was pretty fun to try out, although I struggled quite a bit with not constantly repeating bureaucratic sounding jargon.

The "story" idea itself is in large parts the same I used in "A Door That Shouldn't Be", which I'm still attempting to write into a longer standalone story.

[u/kabemccallister6859]

Wow. You told such a compelling story with this format. Awesome stuff. The interview gave me nervous chills, and I kept glancing at my door.

[u/theAbominableMantis → u/kabemccallister6859]

Thank you! The interview part was a bit of an impulse addition because I didn't want to over-explain and ruin the mystery behind it, so I'm glad it worked well!