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Info
SCP-9742 - Actual Vampire.
Author: GwenWinterheart
Content Warning: Body horror, medical abuse, parasitism.
Or: The Many Short and Wretched Lives of Countess Valentina De La Rosa. 1000 words.
Anatomy of larval phase.
Item #: SCP-9742
Object Class: Diogenes
Special Containment Procedures: Following emergence from pupal phase, item SCP-9742 is to be housed in a medium-security detention cell for 5 days. During this period, it is to be fed 1 L of fresh human blood twice daily and provided with basic amenities. Its cell is furnished with a selection of horror and mystery novels; these are sufficient to provide diversion for the full life cycle of most adult phase iterations. Direct physical contact with the object is forbidden. Limited, indirect social interactions are permissible as a form of enrichment.
Once 5 days have elapsed, SCP-9742 is to be restrained and transferred to a medical wing for vivisection via remote surgical tools. At this point in the object's life cycle, a variety of organs can be safely extracted for use as material in other projects. It is imperative that SCP-9742 remains alive during this process. Rations of blood are to be drip fed into the upper lumbar cortex during this period.
Once SCP-9742 enters the larval phase, as indicated by calcification of extremities and independent movement of neuromuscular tissue, 100 mL of human cerebrospinal fluid are to be directly injected into the posterior cortex. Larva is then to be released into the operation room, and transported to its detention cell once a pupa has formed.
In the event that SCP-9742 expires, daily searches of nearby detention and residential areas are to be conducted. New iteration is to be transported to its detention cell upon discovery.
Description: Item SCP-9742 is a exoparasitic organism with a three phase life cycle. This cycle repeats over the course of 9-10 days.
The adult phase of SCP-9742 is the most complex and long-lived of the three phases. It possesses the following physio- and psychological characteristics:
- Superficial physical resemblance to a young adult human female.
- Ability to speak fluently in Spanish, English and French.
- General knowledge of human culture and social customs.
- General familiarity with historical events and famous persons dating back to the 1700s.
- Self-identification as "Countess Valentina De La Rosa," a "vampire" originally hailing from the Spanish peninsula.
- Elevated, but not superhuman, physical strength and speed.
- Strong interest in detective stories and tales of the occult.
- Moderate aversion to sunlight, possibly psychosomatic. Despite this, SCP-9742 is primarily diurnal.
- Need to consume about 1.5 L of freshly drawn human blood per day. Underfeeding leads to gradual shutdown of neuromuscular tissue; in case of complete starvation, will expire within about 16 hours.
- Alien internal physiology, parasitic behavior. More details below.
- Life span of 6-7 days.
When outside containment, SCP-9742's adult phase hunts by establishing transient intimate relationships with human prey. It relies primarily on pheromones to induce feelings of trust and affection; individuals not exposed to these pheromones typically describe the object's manner as off-putting.
When presented with an opportunity, SCP-9742 will place its mouth on the prey's neck and pierce a blood vessel using a long, thin, fang-like proboscis which extends from the back of the throat. Numbing agents in saliva prevent prey from perceiving this act. About 750 mL of blood is typically extracted at a time; feeding occurs 2-3 times per day.
As it nears the end of its lifespan, adult phase will attempt to isolate a single human target through seduction or other means. If successful, it will inject a paralytic agent through its proboscis and firmly embrace the target from behind.1 Skin will then rapidly calcify into a rigid shell, restraining the target. Central nervous system of the adult phase will develop into the new larval phase, becoming independently mobile. The larva's feeding organ (see diagram) will then be used to puncture first the hardened abdomen of the adult phase, then the spinal column of the target.
SCP-9742 uses this organ to siphon cerebrospinal fluid. Siphoning occurs very slowly over the course of approximately 10 hours, allowing the target time to replenish fluid as it is drained. After this period, larval phase will use its anterior horn to crack open the skull of the now-deceased adult phase and crawl free.2
SCP-9742's larval phase is composed of modified muscle cells which also transmit nerve impulses, similar to the arthropod tissue found in SCP-8546. Moves via slithering. Typically remains in larval phase for 1-5 hours; during this time it will find a dark, isolated area and construct a large pupa out of a waxy substance resembling keratin.
If SCP-9742 expires at any point during its life cycle, a small, soft organic growth which gradually secretes a clear, protein-rich gel will appear within a nearby unoccupied human dwelling. Growth will remain in its initial state for about 5 hours, at which point secretion will cease and it will begin to expand and harden. Within 2 days, growth will have developed into a typical SCP-9742 pupa. Life cycle will then proceed as normal.
SCP-9742 will remain dormant in pupal phase for approximately 2 days, after which the pupa will crumble. New adult phase will emerge fully dressed in formal attire. Clothes are woven of a substance resembling spider silk.
Iterations of SCP-9742's adult phase possess neither personal memory of past iterations nor knowledge of their own life cycle. Instead, they possess varying sets of false memories — including interactions with other vampires and accounts of how they came to be in containment — and believe themselves to be immortal. Most iterations express confidence that they will soon be rescued by powerful relatives or allies. Contradicting these beliefs prior to the 5th day after emergence is discouraged, as it leads to unnecessary distress and unpredictable, uncooperative behavior.
Presently, it is unknown whether further instances of SCP-9742 exist or could be produced. Research on this front is to be prioritized, as increased access to the unique biological resources which can be extracted from SCP-9742 is considered extremely desirable.