SCP-610

SCP-610 is a Keter-class (extremely dangerous) object contained by the SCP Foundation. SCP-610 is a highly contagious disease causing severe mutations to the body of the infected, which has overrun an area in Russia near Lake Baikal. SCP-610 is spread by direct physical contact with the infected, with infected in the scar tissue phase inadvertantly by seeking help, while those in later phase actively seek out uninfected. SCP-610 can infect both humans and other mammals.

The first stage appears to be a contagious skin disease, causing itching and rashes, culminating in the body becoming covered in scar tissue. After about three hours, the infected will appear to die, but reanimate shortly afterward, with the scar tissue now seeming to move of its own accord, mutating and often rapidly growing extra limbs. The infected's head will also become mishapen, or the body may split open and sprout additional limbs. At this stage, the infected are still motile, and will seek out and attempt to spread the infection to any uninfected individuals it perceives. If the the infect is still capable of sight, it will attack uninfected on sight, however, many infected are blind or lacking eyes entirely. For blind specimens, 30 meters is considered to be the minimum safe distance. At this point, infected start to display remarkable resilience- while heavy automatic weapons fire can harm the infected, flamethrowers are by far the most effective weapons.

Some mobile forms will, triggered by unknown events, become sessile and start growing massive amounts of fleshy biomass, consuming anything around them. This biomass is theorized to make the environment more suitable for further infection. The biomass will not spread the infection as the flesh of an actual infected would. In some cases, the biomass will form a large round sphere of flesh of unknown purposes, however, if this sphere is set on fire, it will explode violently, destroying above-ground infestations of SCP-610.

The center of SCP-610 infestations, however, is in a network of underground caverns. An exploration by SCP unmanned drones and assault times discovered theses tunnels consist of over 20 kilometers of underground tunnels. An entity similar to a human face, but made entirely of biomass has been see travelling through these tunnels by micro UAVs, but never was encountered by assault teams.

Over 20 kilometers into the tunnels, an SCP assault team found a village of indeterminate age, with the buildings being presumably either constructed or transported by SCP-610 infected into tunnels. Of particular interest was a church with a working clock tower. In this church, the assault time would witness a ritual that suggests that SCP-610 infected still possess intelligence and and a complex society, including a form of religion. The team discovers the church has six wooden circles hanging from the ceiling, with six humans, covered in biomass from head to neck, but still alive and capable of speech, restrained from within the circles.

A mysterious humanoid figure, apparently some sort of leader in the infected "cult" enters with a torch, then lights several candles, before tolling the church bells, prompting numerous SCP-610 to enter. At this point, the human captives are lowered and begin screaming. The SCP-610 feed on the biomass surrounding the humans, apparantly causing the causing the human captives great pain. After feeding, a tentacle of biomass appears from the hole in the floor, and direct itself towards the crowd of SCP-610, who fall silent. After ten minutes, the tentacle retracts, and SCP-610 instances leave.

At this point, the team left the church, but were soon after detected and attacked by numerous SCP-610 infected, including the "cult leader", armed with a large scythe. The team fought back with assault rifles and "personal flame units" (presumably some kind miniature flamethrower), having expended all fuel for their primary flamethrower earlier.