Upon hearing the Site Director's concerns, Loshu couldn't help but scrutinize the description on Page 14 of the SCP Encyclopedia.
According to the records, there was no evidence that SCP-101 ("The Mimic Bag") possessed intelligence comparable to or exceeding that of a human.
Its ability to shapeshift and lure people in was merely a predatory instinct.
Yet today's behavior was unprecedented.
The most terrifying part? Loshu wasn't the first to inspect the unit—security personnel had already entered and even approached the disguised SCP-101.
But despite this, the Mimic Bag had suppressed its predatory urges and flawlessly impersonated a document case.
This was not normal.
It was almost as if... someone had coached it.
If that were true, what was the mastermind after?
Did they covet SCP-101's one-way dimensional disposal ability?
Loshu doubted it.
If someone could infiltrate Site-19 undetected, why settle for a glorified trash compactor?
With that kind of skill, why not aim for a Keter-class anomaly?
Like SCP-055... or SCP-035...
The moment these two numbers crossed his mind, Loshu froze.
(If SCP-101 were really stolen, the biggest impact would be on SCP-035's containment.)
Today was the biweekly glass-container replacement for the Possessive Mask. The security team handling SCP-035 would already be stretched thin.
Add the chaos of SCP-101's "theft," and personnel would be distracted and delayed.
Meanwhile, the rest of Site-19's security would be mobilized to hunt down the Mimic Bag.
So the real target was...
SCP-035 itself.
(A classic diversion tactic—lure the tiger away from the mountain!)
Loshu quickly shared his theory with the two Level-4 officials.
The Site Director's face lost all color.
A Keter-class breach—this was no joke.
Even if SCP-173 escaped every day, the damage paled in comparison to a single SCP-035 breach.
The Director, who usually brushed off SCP-173 incidents with a casual "It's just Euclid," now leaped to his feet, grabbing the comms and shouting:
"Patch me through to Area-Below Site-19 surveillance—now! Authorization Level-4!"
(Area-Below Site-19?)
(An original designation?)
This was the first time Loshu had heard of this area. Apparently, it was a dedicated containment zone for SCP-035, located beneath Site-19 itself.
(Another Sublevel-5?)
Dozens of surveillance feeds flooded the screen. In one, a masked figure shuffled down a hallway—a security officer, now fully possessed, his body already rotting despite being healthy just an hour prior.
The possessed man reached an elevator and pressed the call button.
Loshu recognized it—the same elevator he'd tried to use when SCP-166 first arrived at Site-19.
(So Area-Below Site-19 is below Level-4, a separate Sublevel-5 from SCP-055's.)
(Two underground layers beneath Site-19: one forgotten (055), one restricted (035).)
The two Level-4 officials relaxed slightly as the possessed man entered the elevator.
(They think it's trapped down there.)
(But they're wrong.)
Loshu knew SCP-035 was far smarter than that.
When the elevator refused to move (due to weight discrepancies), the mask didn't hesitate.
Acidic secretions corroded the control panel.
Then—
It pried open the ceiling hatch and began climbing the shaft.
The Director lost it.
"Jack! Quit gawking—move your ass and stop it!"
Loshu gulped. "Do I... have to go?"
Facing a Keter-class entity was not on his bucket list.
SCP-035's mental domination was legendary—it could brainwash bystanders into suicide or servitude within minutes.
Loshu had read the files.
SCP-035 had once turned researchers into traitors, leading to mass executions.
Even after recontainment, its influence lingered—bloody sigils appearing on walls, driving personnel to suicide, corroding containment cells from within.
Only SCP-148 shielding had finally stabilized it.
(Going face-to-face with that thing is suicide.)
But before Loshu could protest further, Jack barked:
"Damn right you're going! You're Nine-Tailed Fox now—act like it!"
(He's scared too. He needs me to think while he shoots.)
Loshu shot the Director a pleading look, but the man ignored him.
With no choice, Loshu followed Jack out.
(Another Keter. Just what I needed.)
---
The Descent
As they rushed toward the elevator shaft, Loshu's mind raced.
(How do we stop something that talks people into killing themselves?)
His milestones offered limited help:
- Anomaly Discoverer/Namer: Useless here.
- Containment Specialist: Duration boost for abilities.
- SCP-055's antimemetic effect: Could shield him from mental influence... if he stayed unnoticed.
(Persuasion won't work—035's better at it than I am.)
(This is gonna suck.)
The elevator shaft loomed ahead, acid dripping from the torn hatch.
Somewhere above, the mask was climbing toward freedom.
(Time to see how smart it really is.)