SCP-046 - "Predatory" Holly Bush
Object Class: Euclid
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The dense Kentucky woodland is eerily quiet. A perimeter fence surrounds a lush, green clearing, marked with signs warning of danger. Inside, Dr. Carter and Agent Liu stand at the edge of SCP-046-2, observing the area with caution.
Dr. Carter: (adjusting his glasses) You know, I still find it hard to believe this is actually safe. The reports say people are drawn to it like moths to a flame.
Agent Liu: (nervously) Yeah, but the Foundation's been monitoring it for years. No one's ever been hurt—except those who voluntarily walk into it.
Dr. Carter: (frowning) That's exactly what worries me. The fact that it's voluntary doesn't mean it's harmless. We've seen how dangerous these things can be when they're not fully understood.
Suddenly, a faint hum begins. Vines—similar to Bermuda grass—sprout from the ground and begin to creep toward the two researchers. They step back quickly.
Agent Liu: (alarmed) Sir, the plants—they're moving.
Dr. Carter: (holding up a hand) It's just growth. But… wait. Look at that.
The vines seem to pulse softly, as if alive. A figure appears, lying prone in the grass, face turned upward. It's a person, seemingly relaxed, eyes closed.
Agent Liu: (whispering) They're… lying down? Like they're sleeping?
Dr. Carter: (studying the person) They look peaceful. But that's dangerous. We need to get closer and examine.
As they approach, the person's skin is covered in the grass, but they remain still. Their breathing is slow and steady.
Dr. Carter: (softly) Sir, I want to remind you—these individuals are alive when they enter the grass. We've seen them describe feelings of calm and happiness before they… decompose.
Agent Liu: (nervously) And you're sure they're dead? Or just… absorbed?
Dr. Carter: (grimly) The reports say they fully decompose within two hours. But I wonder—what if this isn't just a natural process? What if it's something more?
He kneels and carefully pulls some grass away from the person's face, revealing a peaceful expression.
Dr. Carter: (muttering) 'Happy to die,' they say. It's like they're finally free… but at what cost?
Agent Liu: (clenching fists) So… you're saying this thing isn't just a benign plant. It's a predator that feeds on suffering.
Dr. Carter: (nodding slowly) The evidence suggests that. But the conflicting reports—some say it's harmless, even beneficial. The Foundation's been trying to downplay that side.
Agent Liu: (hesitant) Should we… intervene? Or just observe?
Dr. Carter: (sighs) We're supposed to contain. But I can't shake the feeling that we're missing something—something vital. If these people choose this… maybe we should respect that. Maybe it's not the monster they paint it to be.
From behind, a voice crackles over the radio.
Operator: (voice distorted) Dr. Carter, this is Command. We've received reports of increased interest in SCP-046 from personnel. Please advise.
Dr. Carter: (to radio) Understood. We're monitoring. But as of now, I believe the risk is overstated. This… grove is not the menace we've made it out to be.
Agent Liu: (quietly) Or perhaps we're just afraid of what it represents—the unknown.
They stand in silence, watching a person's body slowly succumb to the grass's embrace. The peaceful expression remains, and in the distance, the faint rustling of leaves echoes softly.
Dr. Carter: (softly) Sometimes, I think… the most dangerous thing isn't what we see. It's what we refuse to understand.
The grove remains still, holding its secrets in the quiet shadow of the trees.
End.