What is the SCP that you can’t look away from?

The SCP that No One Can Look Away From

One of the most intriguing and terrifying articles in the SCP Foundation’s database is the one about the anomalous object, SCP-173. This entity has captivated the minds and fear of many researchers, and one question keeps arising: What is the SCP that you can’t look away from? In this article, we will delve into the fascinating and unsettling truth about SCP-173, also known as the "Shapeshifting Dead Man".

Direct Answer: SCP-173 is the SCP (Special Containment Procedures) that nobody can look away from. When faced with its image, individuals may experience an overwhelming urge to examine it closely, despite the devastating consequences that may arise from staring at the anomalous object directly.

Description and Behavior:
SCP-173 is described as a dead, humanoid anomalous entity, approximately 1.84 meters (6 feet) tall, dressed in a long coat with broken and mismatched buttons and a tie with a broken stain-shaped pendant. It is believed to be inert, unless it is directly perceived by an individual. In this condition, SCP-173 becomes significantly more energetic, causing it to writhe, twitch, and emit distinct, guttural sounds when moved. This is accompanied by a noticeable decrease in air pressure and visible distortions in the surrounding matter.

Properties and Effects: When individuals directly perceive SCP-173, they will experience strong urges to keep staring at it despite the apparent terror it fills them with. As they approach the anomalous object or continue to stare, the following conditions will arise:

• Eye-to-Eye Contact: Direct exposure to SCP-173’s countenance leads to a high likelihood of spontaneous emotional distress or extreme mental agitation.
• Sustained Observation: Continued vigilance at SCP-173 precipitates extreme psychological discomfort or, in severe cases, emotional trauma, making it mandatory for observers to intervene before they resort to extreme actions.

Consequences for the Observed: During direct perception, SCP-173 undergoes transformations that increase their likelihood of attacking and potentially harming viewers. In severe cases, the anomalous object has caused fatal injuries as a result of intense, frantic behavior triggered by direct observation. No one knows exactly why viewers become drawn to SCP-173 this way, but theories suggest various factors:

• Pheremones: Possible emission of chemical messengers by SCP-173 affects the brains of onlookers
• Brain Waves: Electromagnetic radiation released by SCP-173 interacts with the viewer’s brain processes.
• Sensory Overwhelming: Direct observation of SCP-173 creates a powerful emotional response; viewers’ brain attempts to regulate this stimuli

Capture and Containment:
SCP Foundation captured SCP-173 using a combination of electro-magnetic traps and a standard humanoid containment chamber. Due to its unique properties, special care should be taken to maintain the object:

• Environmental Containment Unit: Maintains a controlled state, ensuring the entity’s activity remains limited if not monitored closely.
• Redundant Monitoring Systems: Set up multiple sensors to gauge SCP-173’s behavior and warn of any unusual activity outside of normal operating parameters.