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rating: +3
Credits
Original title: SCP-574-FR - On ne parle jamais tout seul
Author: Henry Von Kartoffen , Uplyx
Translator: Reyas
Published on: May 27th 2023
Images: Caveau (modifié), Ciel (modifié), Sol (modifié), CC BY-SA 4.0 ; Cimetière (modifié), CC BY-SA 2.0 ; Corps (modifié), licence Pixabay
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Item #: SCP-574-FR
Threat Level: Green ●くろまる
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: Civilians must be blocked from accessing SCP-574-FR and the location is to remain under constant video surveillance. If an unauthorized intrusion is to occur, nearby Foundation agents, under the cover of an identity check, are to interrogate the individuals and deliver Class A amnestics if deemed necessary.
No dead bodies are to be buried within SCP-574-FR. Corpses present on-site are to be monitored on a weekly basis. Any changes in their trajectories are to be reported.
SCP-574-FR, context unknown.
Description: SCP-574-FR refers to an abandoned cemetery located in the department of Pas-de-Calais, France, near the village of ██████. It spans approximately 2000 m2 and contains 423 tombs. The tombs appear greatly damaged by the passage of time. However, local records point to an even greater count of buried individuals.
It was noticed, during various exhumations performed by the inhabitants of ██████, that the graves were for the most part empty, even just a few years after the burial of the deceased person. Upon initial inspection of the anomaly, most of the graves did not contain any corpses or remains. Altogether, of the 423 identified graves, only 31 bodies were recovered, most of them from family vaults.
Due to the axial precession of the Earth, the nutation of the Moon and the location of the anomaly, the stars of the celestial sphere visible from SCP-574-FR follow unique trajectories. From the point of view of an observer located within the anomaly, the various celestial bodies follow distinct courses, each respecting the laws of celestial mechanics, but altogether forming a very precise choreography which is strikingly similar to that described in didascalia and other scenic directions in SCP-701. SCP-574-FR is therefore the only place on Earth where one can naturally witness The Tragedy of the Hanged King. This phenomenon has no influence on human life however, as the play requires 18.6 years to complete due to the velocity of the celestial bodies involved.
Popular photograph which led to SCP-574-FR's discovery.
Nevertheless, these remarkable trajectories appear to be the cause of another phenomenon within SCP-574-FR: any body buried within the location will experience a reversal of its weight, causing it to be pushed away by the earth's attraction. Concretely, the corpses begin ascending towards the stars interpreting The Tragedy of the Hanged King, at a speed of around 50 cm/s. More precise observations indicate that the bodies seem to be pulled upwards by their necks by an invisible object.
The corpses are not stopped by physical obstacles: they are able to pass through, albeit at a much reduced speed. Depending on the density and thickness of the material, the bodies may require decades to emerge through.
The corpses that have escaped from their tombs have long been lost by the Foundation's measuring instruments, while those still captive of the cemetery are currently being monitored.
Photograph from local records. Ascertainment of the disappearance of a body from SCP-574-FR, date unknown.
SCP-574-FR appears to have begun during the XIXth century, the period where numerous rumors emerged about the location's properties; it was then accessible by people coming to honor the deceased. These stories were generally not taken seriously, and had little impact outside of the village of ██████. It is not before the year 2000 with the rise of the internet and the Parawatch wiki that the story would spread as an urban legend, and would lead to containment by the Foundation.
The origin of SCP-574-FR's anomalous properties is largely unknown, although inscriptions on some graves seem to indicate that several individuals were aware of the anomaly's nature. Comprehensive epitaph records are available on request, only the most relevant are listed below:
Women and men, soldiers and outlaws, idiots and corpses. All will find their way now that the curtains are opened.
This corrupt stage is now yours, and you are bound to it.
The actor performing offbeat sheds light on the world's deceptive theatricality.
Their exact meaning is unknown.
Addendum 574-FR: Additional material from the Archives
Photograph treated for antimemes.
From: S██████p█████@scip.net
To: m███████f███████@scip.net
Object: 574-FR attachment
Sent on: 2002年03月16日
Dear colleague in charge of the SCP-574-FR folder,
During the archiving of the SCP-574-FR file, these remarkable properties reminded me of an old picture, taken by one of the first members of the Unthinkables, predecessors of the Antimemetics Division. Back then, he would have been under the influence of one of the first mnestic prototypes, the infamous X2, and was dining at a friend's house when he noticed this anomaly in the entrance hall. This was among the first occurrences of an antimeme that the Foundation managed to keep on record.
I think the connection with SCP-574-FR is quite obvious, the attached document speaks for itself: the phenomenon is not confined to the cemetery in ██████. However, and that is where SCP-574-FR's main anomaly resides, it is the only place where we can see them, and where they can get up on their new stage, as suggested by the epitaphs.
Indeed, all around the world, certain corpses do come back up to the surface. But SCP-574-FR gives us the reason: it is merely to observe. To observe the grim choreography of the stars, in this cemetery. But under normal circumstances, we are the comedians. Our brains decide to ignore them, for our own good, so that we can continue performing for them, as if nothing was wrong. Never mind the nature of this cemetery, it might be the only place where you can truly feel alone.
I will let you take the necessary precautions, but I doubt that we can completely eliminate this silent audience.
Regards,
S██████ P█████
Second rank Archivist
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