SCP-048 - The Cursed SCP Number
Object Class: None
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In the Foundation's archives room, Dr. Mitchell flips through the latest batch of SCP designations on his tablet. He pauses, frowning at a file titled "SCP-048," which has been marked as retired and removed.
Dr. Mitchell: (muttering) The cursed SCP number again. No wonder everyone avoids it.
He looks over to his colleague, Agent Ramirez, who is sipping coffee nearby.
Dr. Mitchell: You know, I've been thinking — maybe all this superstition is just in people's heads. I say we bring back 048. Let's see what happens.
Agent Ramirez: (raising an eyebrow) You're joking, right? That number's been responsible for more accidents than a malfunctioning robot.
Dr. Mitchell: (smirking) Come on. It's just a number. No such thing as curses.
He pulls up the files, smirking mischievously.
Dr. Mitchell: I'll just reassign it to the new experimental drone. No big deal.
Suddenly, his tablet flashes with a warning message:
System: [DATA EXPUNGED] has been reassigned to SCP-048.
He freezes, eyes wide.
Dr. Mitchell: Uh… wait. Did I just…?
The lights flicker. A loud clang echoes from the hallway. Then, a disembodied voice echoes over the intercom.
Intercom (voice distorted): Welcome back, Dr. Cortez.
Dr. Mitchell: (stammering) What the—? Who's—?
The voice continues, oddly cheerful.
Voice: You've summoned me again, foolish mortal. Or perhaps just a little too curious.
Agent Ramirez: (alarmed) Did you do that?
Dr. Mitchell: (nervously) I… maybe. I was just joking about 048. I didn't think it was real.
Suddenly, a pile of papers and broken coffee mugs fly across the room as if thrown by an invisible force.
Voice: (mocking) You mock superstition, but I assure you, I am very real.
Dr. Mitchell: (panicking) Okay, okay! We'll fix this. Just… don't do anything crazy!
The voice chuckles.
Voice: Too late for that. I am already free.
The room begins to shake. A faint, ghostly outline of a boat appears floating in the air, flickering between reality and illusion.
Agent Ramirez: (shouting) Is this… the "Vampyre Boat"? Is that what this cursed number was about?
Voice: (mocking) You've finally uncovered my true identity. I am the Vampyre Boat, the vessel of superstition and chaos.
The boat wavers, then suddenly bursts into flames, leaving behind a faint, smoky residue.
Dr. Mitchell: (desperate) We need to shut it down! Now!
Agent Ramirez: (grabbing a containment wand) I'll try to contain the residual energy.
He waves the device. The ghostly boat flickers and fades, leaving the room eerily quiet again.
The lights stabilize. The voice whispers one last time.
Voice: Remember, the number is cursed because you believe it is. Perhaps it's time you all stopped giving it power.
Silence. Dr. Mitchell looks at his tablet, trembling.
Dr. Mitchell: (muttering) I think we've learned our lesson. Never mess with SCP-048… or the superstition surrounding it.
Agent Ramirez: (smirking) Yeah, or next time it might just sink the whole Foundation.
They exchange nervous glances as the room settles back into normality, but the lingering feeling of unseen eyes remains.