I imagine you've asked yourself at some point: what is the worst monster the Foundation keeps? Some specimens are certainly disturbing, either because they enjoy the evil they do, or because we don't have the capacity to understand them. But never, never forget this: the worst monster... is the one you carry inside. Everything you've said, everything you've done. You think you have that venom locked away, and you feel safe because of it. Now, the question is... what would happen if you find something with the right key to open it?
The Bronze Bust
The first time you observe it, it doesn't seem so threatening. Just an old Roman bronze bust with a good patina on its surface. The research team couldn't agree if it's a woman, or a man with feminine features. It's also not hard to imagine it gathering dust in some museum, but now that we know its effects, the consequences would be devastating. The last thing that bust needs is to be in public or have an audience.
The Foundation managed to make the bust feel 'at home'. That means its containment space was decorated following ancient Roman patterns. Don't ask me why, the bust can't speak or move, but everyone who worked near it insists that... it prefers that style. If it were up to me, it would be covered or locked in a box. They repeated to me ad nauseam that that would make things much more complicated.
The Memory Unleashed
The real problem begins when you look into its eyes. There's something in that silver shine that... is not right. And that's when memories flood out. Small memories, details that make you feel shame, guilt. Nothing too serious at first... but the effect continues if you stay in the bust's field of view, and if you look into its eyes again, it's even worse. As you can imagine, the Foundation didn't hesitate to evaluate its limits with some Class D...
The memories become more intense, painful. It's as if they relive those moments in their own flesh. With just thirty minutes of exposure, memories become hallucinations. Victims lose the ability to separate the present from the past, and the real world from their imagination. We've also seen personality regressions, they retreat to the moment when the memory happened. Some became children again... and never returned.
Any victim exposed to the bust for 60 minutes or more will be trapped in their hallucinations. It's an almost catatonic state, impossible to break. They don't respond to external stimuli, and if it weren't for intravenous feeding, they'd starve. The only thing that comes out of them is a murmur, barely a verbal reflection of their minds turned to mush.
The Consequences
When exposures are shorter or the remembered event is relatively minor, those affected by the bust often try to 'repair' the situation. In fact, the members involved have shown greater unity at work, and try to balance their guilt with positive actions. But they are the exception to the rule. The majority fall into a deep depression, self-harm appears... and they commit suicide.
The Verdict
The rest of the details are in the file, designation SCP-146. All your shame, all your guilt, exposed, amplified. Before continuing... ask yourself if you're ready.
