SCP-818: Digging Up A Dead Subject

Content Note: Descriptions of Child Death and Self Harm as well as Discussions of Ableism and Racism.

As may be apparent at this point, I am a bit of an SCP fan. I read new articles constantly, I run a TTRPG campaign based around the lore and I’m always sharing my favourite stories with people. But having said that, I have only really been critical of SCP tales and have not yet illustrated why I love the series. So today, let’s look at another SCP from the first 1000, and examine what good horror can be.

An Isolated Event

I am not going to write another introduction about the SCP foundation as a whole. For a refresher as to its origins, see the beginning paragraphs of my first SCP-166 article. However, I will provide a bit of background on SCP-818. It was composed by user TroyL on the 9/4/2011, first being posted at 2:10 am, a time where all good writing is done.^[1] That’s not even a joke I know many sleep deprived writers who send me messages at 3 am with new lore or stories.

TroyL, also known as Troy Lament, is one of a plethora of early writers for the SCP Foundation wiki to be canonised within the world. However, unlike many his contemporaries, TroyL is not a complete sleaze-bag with the writing capabilities of a lobotomised slug. He is perhaps best known for the series In His Own Image, which is a beloved, introspective look at life at the Foundation.^[2]

However, being the fey loving queer that I am, he will be remembered by me for a single in-universe story. In it, he chases after a faerie princess that released three beasts of calamity onto the world, to curse a version of the Knights of the Round Table who lived in a sky castle.^[3] It all sounds hysterical, but genuinely SCP-4812 and the entire Knights of Apollyona series are some of my favourite stories that I may get around to talking about. Eventually. Lament also did slay one of the fey beasts though, so he’s currently on thin ice with me.

However, our focus today is one of his earlier works, and probably one of the best solo SCPs out there. SCP-818 begins with the Object Class, essentially a one word description of how dangerous the anomaly is and how difficult it is to contain.^[1] 818 was initially Keter, the medium level, usually reserved for a “could cause havoc but is pretty containable” anomaly. However, this classification is crossed out and replaced with the word Neutralised.

The Special Containment Procedures are as they sound, but are written in the past tense, bucking the trend for present tense writing in SCP files.^[1] We learn 818 is to be confined to a circular cell of no larger than 4 meters in diameter, containing a mattress, table and light fixture. An interesting addition is an explicit note that the light should never be turned off and the furniture must stay in the same place. Further adding to the mystery, no personnel are allowed within 10 metres of 818 between 8:43 am and 9:21 pm.

Subsequently, we receive this line which foreshadows multiple parts of the article:

“It should be noted the SCP-818 is a creature of precise habits.”^[1]

Next we follow a script which shows the daily routine of 818. In order, it begins at 8:43 am with a walk to the middle of the room where it stares at the light for about 40 minutes.^[4] Then, it will return to its bed and stair at the north-west curve. Colourful images are generated, which is a manifestation of its power. 818 will walk to the table and kneel, where it can be approached but should not be conversed to. This will continue for an hour, until it stands and paces around the perimeter 16 times.

Following the walk, 818 will return to the table for an hour before crying soundlessly for 45 minutes, during which it should not be disturbed.^[4] Next it will lay in bed, closing and opening its eyes rhythmically before returning to the table. There is a crossed out note that 818 is safe to approach at this point, which has been replaced with a reference to an incident report. Not at all ominous.

After this, 818 will enter a dangerous phase, which one researcher describes as it throwing a tantrum.^[4] During this, it will alter the colours of items randomly, generate new objects and just run about the room. Then, it will lay on the bed and begin crying again. 818 proceeds to walk across from the northern to southern point of the room before becoming increasingly erratic. It should be noted that SCP agents have attempted to modify this behaviour unsuccessfully.

These erratic behaviours can include: Striking its head against a table, ceasing to breath and therefore falling to the floor for 8 minutes or manifesting objects before ordering them.^[4] The lattermost portents agitation only when 818 accidentally changes the ordered quality of the objects, like making the middle object the biggest. This leads to further behavioural issues, which is honestly pretty relatable. Finally, at 9:21 pm it will return to bed and:

“Enter into a passive state.”^[4]

Otherwise known as sleep. Next we obtain the description of the anomaly itself and its history, which is where things turn south really fast.

The Innocence of Death

First we get a physical description of SCP-818. It is a young male of 7-12 years old, with signs of severe autism, though this is later changed to low functioning autism.^[1] Its physical features are mutable due to its powers. But at rest, 818 possesses jet-black hair and dark skin, suggesting they have African ancestry. Although it should be noted, no ethnicity is ever explicitly provided. 818 is mute and is seemingly unable to directly communicate. It does not need to eat or drink, but must breathe and sleep. It has never aged, though its height and weight can fluctuate.

818 is fundamentally an ontokinetic, a class of individuals within the SCP universe who can shape reality to their desires. Despite that, as the researchers suggest, this ability is:

“Severely hampered by its disability.”^[1]

More specifically, 818 only uses its ability to adjust the shape, pigmentation and sounds of objects or to spontaneously produce items.^[1] Most manifestations exist for a couple of minutes though some have last for several hours. One researcher hypothesises it is creating phosphenes, the unusual lights you see when your eyes are closed and press your hands to them. Like I did every time, I had to pray in assembly.

There is very little in terms of history, all we know is 818 lived with its grandparents until they died.^[1] The Foundation was alerted to its presence when a banker and two estate agents disappeared during an assessment of the home. So no significant loss of life there. We get an ink blot monstrosity of redactions rivalled only by the United States Government, hiding information on how 818 was captured. But suggesting a horror show.

After this is an addendum saying that due to research on 818, similar SCPs have been more successfully contained as well as a reminder of its impending neutralisation.^[1] In later revisions there is emphasis placed on the perception that 818s behaviour is becoming increasingly deadly. As well it exhibiting a:

“dangerous lack of absolute adherence to the established control script.”^[1]

Put differently, 818s schedule is not its own, but created by the Foundation to modify its behaviour. After this is a set of experiment logs, first of which, reports that its presence tends to cause distorted vision, hallucinations, uncontrollable mood and repetitive actions.^[1] These last longer after repeat exposure and change depending where in its routine you were exposed.

Then we get some specific research. D-Class, the human guinea pigs of this universe, that bare a similarity to photos of 818s family were selected for these tests.^[1] One, a nameless black woman, succeeded to elicit a response from 818. In the first, the pair engaged in a drawing session where 818 changed a yellow crayon to green, after which the D-Class reported green visual hallucinations. The same process was repeated with a paint session, though the hallucinations severity increased. To be fair, I too was a verdant fanatic as a child.

However, tragedy strikes when the D-Class dies due to another SCP escaping.^[1] In response, 818 had a breakdown, during which it killed two other research subjects. A replacement is sent who carries out similar activities with 818. Although they slowly shift into the original D-Class after each exposure, until there is no genetic, behavioural or functional distinction. In other words, 818 has the capacity to radically alter the fundamentals of human shape and behaviour but only does so for comfort.

Finally, we get to the neutralisation.

A doctor enters SCP-818s chamber as he sleeps. The room is still, and all that can be heard is the sound of a small child breathing softly. Innocently. The researcher holds a needle in their hand, that glints under the single light. They plunge the weapon directly into the child’s veins, a child who never stood a chance and did not put up a fight. The boy goes into anaphylaxis, his body choking, desperately clinging to life, before it slips from his grasp. The body is taken away from the room unceremoniously and stored in a fridge, one colder than death itself. Perhaps one day his corpse will be useful for subsequent research, in a way he never was alive.

And as his body sits there in a constant stasis, unable to be free even in death, it is then that he truly lives up to his nickname. An Abandoned Project.

Nothing Between The Lines

As with the last time we covered an SCP, I want to note some fan reactions. Both to give us an idea of how it was received, and as also an appropriate jumping off point for me to explain less academic but still valuable insights. As well as to release the rage I feel for the lack of reading comprehension by some people who frequent the forums. But you know, it’s virtually entirely…mostly…50% informational content.

The first few reactions are wild. User MrUnimport states on the 9/4/2011 that they like it but believe the termination isn’t necessary.^[5] A sentiment reiterated by NoN-101 on the 8/2/2021. Drewbear on the same day as MrUnimport does not appreciate why this is dubbed An Abandoned Project. There is a slight detour I wish to make as two people conduct a relatively ordinary conversation about the merits of this SCP before user Ninteen45 comments:

“ I’m taking a random shot at the dark and guessing either you have eyesight problems or have english [sic] as a second language. Am I correct?”^[5]

My only comment here is that it was so out of the blue, I burst into horrified laughter.

Dr_Fawkes asks on 14/4/2011 how this SCP is significantly different from another article, SCP-239.^[5] A question enforced by tunedtoadeadchannel on the same day. Unpeturbed by this, TroyL wrote on 24/11/2013 that this is one of his favourite things he has ever created and that he is glad so many have taken away the intended message. It’s just nice to see a creator enjoy the positive feedback to their work.

My final fan reaction is on the discussion of tone. User getrobo comments on the 3/9/2021 that they would have preferred some debate from the lore established Ethics Committee about the death of a child.^[5] Additionally they mention that the eugenics-like killing of a child of colour who is also autistic, with no remorse or care, left a terrible taste in their mouth. La Mettrie replies on the 29/9/2021, essentially agreeing with getrobo points.

However, The Void Engineer counters this with some deeper analysis on the 19/6/2024:

“This should bother you. This should bother everyone. This is the Foundation being the Foundation….As for accusations of being eugenics-like, I would argue that the Foundation is in fact very much in favor of eugenics. They want stasis, and that means countering evolution or at least guiding it and that means ensuring that those outside of the consensus does not propagate… And those who are physically or mentally different are always targeted under those conditions.”^[5]

But, to really tackle the ideas presented here, both the critical and the supportive, we have to examine more insight in the world of the SCP Foundation. Because for a unique entry that doesn’t get much connection or support to the greater lore, its story is deeply interwoven into the very foundations of this community.

Contextual Horror

Let’s start at the beginning. Termination or as it is termed in the SCP Foundation, neutralisation, isn’t meant to be that common. The official wiki lists 524 of the around 10,000 articles as including the neutralised tag. Meaning about 5% of them have been neutralised in some way, although this could be partial, like killing a beast but the overall effect remains. I will leave it to you decide if that is actually rare.

But in the narrative of the SCP universe, the Foundation is meant to be one of the more merciful organisations. Groups like the Global Occult Coalition regularly destroy and execute anomalies, to the point SCP-1609 exists as a counter to such ideals.^[6] The GOC, essentially the UN of the anomalous world, attempted to destroy a chair that teleports whenever someone needs to sit but has no seat available. A pretty harmless anomaly. But, the chair could not be destroyed fully. So instead, it is now a pile of sentient wood chips that teleports into people’s lungs if it senses any aggression.

The message is clear, destroying or harming innocent objects and people is a terrible idea.

So when an SCP fan reads that an anomaly is terminated, the assumption is that it must be something pretty dangerous. The Foundation’s hand was forced and there was no other option. But as some users pointed out, this doesn’t seem to be the case here. It’s almost as if the SCP Foundation was being deliberately callous for some other reason. As if a bias or prejudice led to the dehumanisation and dispensability of a living human child.

To be clear, the mercilessness of this is the entire point. Despite commentary by some SCP fans, the Foundation is inherently heartless. It detains people in tiny boxes and primarily focuses on the maintaining of the status quo above the lives of those it imprisons. We can debate the ethics of this within the world and believe me I will in another essay. But I think it is uncontroversial, or at least should be, to state the Foundation does not consider humanoid anomalies as being on par with other humans. And treats them as such.

This is never made clearer in the article than the deliberate dehumanising language used within. Throughout it, a little boy is called a “young male” replicating the adultification of black children, where they are seen as more akin to adults than white kids. He is referred to using it/its pronouns, a literal objectification that is replicated in many other SCP’s but brought to terrifying clarity when utilised for a murdered adolescent. The tying of medical racism and ableism is what separates this from stories like SCP-239.

239, equally known as The Witch’s Child, is another ontokinetic child. This time a white Icelandic girl called Sigurrós Stefánsdóttir.^[7] The story was primarily concocted by Dantensen in 2008, who regular readers may remember was killed by SCP-166 in a tale. The article was then modified by Dr Clef, whose touch you can see throughout.

To be very simplistic, like 818, Sigurrós kills some members of the SCP Foundation with her powers. Like 818, she is unable to control her powers despite modification, with her modification being convicing her she has to perform rituals to use them. And like 818, there is the implication of her neutralisation, this time by the hands of Dr Clef. Who, not happy with child sexualisation, decides to add juvenile assassination to his roster of abilities. Though assassination is perhaps a kind term for sticking a magical ice pick into a kid.

Except that it is canonical, or as canonical as you can get in the SCP lore with popular characters, that Sigurrós survives. She merely goes into a coma, then wakes up and kills some extra-dimensional beasts with her powers. The implication being that she stayed in stasis so long because she genuinely believed that’s what everyone wanted with her. In some stories she becomes friends with other SCPs. But even if you consider the file as the sole canon, there is merely the implication of death. And there is hope that Dr Clef could be foiled.

818 simply dies. That’s it, the end of his life. A nameless child, to whom we know no actual age, no idea of history, no grand stories. The difference is not merely in the fact he is black and autistic. It’s that 818 is disposable. That even in death, he is dehumanised, a creature to be studied, not a human whose demise should be respected. Who should be buried, or cremated or otherwise have what we would designate a respectable funeral. His corpse is to be utilized by the very organisation that killed him, just as so many other black bodies were and are used to this day.

I am barely going to dignify the criticism which says this is out of character for the Foundation. Not only is there no one canonical, true representation of the Foundation. But it is pretty easy to believe that a containment company for people considered too dangerous to be outside, would dehumanise it’s prisoners to the point of death. Because that’s just actual prison. It’s a thing that absolutely happens. But there is a criticism that I do understand.

The Ethics of Reality

There is a degree to which I am sympathetic to the points of getrobo and La Mettrie. I can agree that the quite frankly, disgustingly realistic representation of violent ableism and racism is difficult to stomach. Though this alone does not convince me fully enough to be a reasonable critique. However, what gives me pause, is considering the morality of representing terribly real black and autistic pain.

Now to clarify, I only belong to one of these groups. My skin is as pale as sheep’s wool and my ancestry is just a mish-mash of various parts of Britain. However, I am autistic and have even had a psychiatrist put me through the ringer of psychometric tests and the stress of Microsoft Teams to prove it. Therefore, one side of this is personal experience. The other side is formed by the academic research I am pursuing as I compose this. So do not take this as gospel.

But it is very routine for the pain of minorities to be used as a form of art. What immediately comes to mind for me is Sia’s film Music, which revealed the experiences of a non-verbal child through the lens of their neurotypical sister. To be polite, it was panned by autistic advocates and critics. To be honest it was defecated on from such a towering height it could have killed someone as it attained terminal velocity. The issues at play with Music were numerous, frankly uncountable, but one was the use of the difficulties of high support needs autism as backdrop and drama for neurotypicals. As well as the justification of brutal practices towards autistic kids to control them.

In some ways then, SCP-818 succeeds in centring the autistic child. Even though we never gain a direct perspective or communication, the fact we have a detailed script of 818’s day, how he lashes out, cries, otherwise show his hatred of the situation. As well we see he bonds with the first D-Class, how he demonstrates his version of affection. He is not mindless, nor, ironically, objectified by the meta-narrative. Instead, the reader is invited to regard him as a subject and to perceive his treatment as inhumane.

But there is a catch to this. SCP-818 is part of a broader trend in the narratives of black and autistic people, in which only their pain, only their suffering is showed in stories. I cannot blame SCP-818 for this alone. Partially because the narrative constraints of the genre somewhat demands that any character’s story generally ends with them in a horrifying scenario. And partially because it did not establish this form of storytelling nor do I think it is a form of mindless exploitation.

However, I recognise that many people with similar experiences to the story, would not want to read fantastical versions of their life. Personally, I don’t like engaging with media that showcases horrific transphobia because that has been my life since childhood. I get little catharsis or insight from it. Therefore, I would say the target audience is not people who have undergone these experiences but rather those who haven’t. Those who have not had to bear witness to the brunt of violence that medical establishments or prisons can inflict. It is a story for the privileged than for the oppressed. And does not necessarily uplift the groups it is portraying.

Furthermore, there is a degree to which this story is also spinning from the very material history of black medicalisation. I do not feel qualified nor experienced enough to comment if this is managed tastefully or respectfully without sources. Nor to give you metrics on how media should represent how black people were and are considered a medical aberration. But I do think it is worth considering as we continue this trilogy of essays, as to whether you believe the history and academia presented, is accurately and empathetically represented.

A Quick Intermission

I have engaged so many SCP’s over my life at this point. I have read the first 1000, and plan to eventually devour every single one. Which, now that I type this out, really suggests I should have got an autism diagnosis sooner. I adore this series and more than anything I cherish when SCP writers take the lore or the narrative conventions of the world-building at various times and subvert it.

In this era of the SCP wiki, and to be honest even to this day, many of the writers, the fans, the content creators, view the Foundation as purely heroic. As an organisation which can do little, if no wrong, and idolise its violence or cruelty as necessary to the containment of evil within the fictional world. I love 818, because its one of the first examples of unequivocal criticism of the SCP Foundation and its methods. Of the horror that must exist inside any organisation that seeks to categorise and imprison.

And because it does this not by offering grand narratives of the evil, of unknowable structures, a diabolic war for which the SCP Foundation must answer to. But by causing you to empathise with a child many people see themselves in and others may never fully understand. Still, as you read of a kid crying constantly in an organised manner, of them making a friend that is cruelly ripped away from, of their unceremonious empty death. I truly believe that it can be a thought provoking horror story of real life societal issues, when engaged with critically.

I hope this essay and my others, help you fall in love with the story too. Thank you so much for reading, let me know your thoughts below or on Bluesky!

If you liked this essay or any others of mine, please consider donating or subscribing to my Ko-Fi. You will get early access to my essays, as well as behind the scenes, such as cut content and analysis of academic articles I never got around to using. Thank you again and see you next time!

References

1. TroyL. (2011). SCP-818. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki
2. TroyL. (2012). In His Own Image. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki
3. djkaktus. (2018). SCP-4812. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki
4. TroyL. (2011). SCP-818 Script. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki
5. SCPWikiUsers. (2025). SCP-818/Discussion. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki
6. Rioghail. (2011). SCP-1609. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki
7. Dantensen. (2008). SCP-239. Retrieved From: SCP Wiki