
The Never-Ending Feast
By Storybird

19 Aug, 2023

Inside a secret facility governed by the SCP Foundation lies a peculiar entity known as SCP-871. Not a creature of the unknown nor a supernatural force, but a cake that's endlessly fascinating and terrifying its observers.

The immensity of SCP-871's peculiarity lies in its ability to replicate itself. If the cake is not fully consumed within a day, it multiplies, creating an identical cake beside it.

An incision made into SCP-871 does not halt this replication. Even the smallest crumb left unnoticed can evolve into an entire cake again within 24 hours, making it impossible to permanently destroy.

This unnerving ability is not limited to natural decay. Even if SCP-871 is burnt, crushed, or consumed by any means other than eating, it will still reform in its entirety, at the same place.

The reconstitution is uncontrolled and unobserved. No matter how meticulously the process is monitored, SCP-871's reformation always occurs off-sight, leading to more questions than answers.

Varieties of SCP-871 have ranged from standard flavors such as chocolate and vanilla, to the more exotic flavors like durian and salmon, each tasting as expected.

While a cake that continuously multiplies might seem benign, the potential consequences are dire. If not kept in check, it could lead to an uncontrollable outbreak of cakes.

Given SCP-871's voracious multiplication, it's crucial to consume each instance of the cake before it multiplies, a task that falls to the Foundation personnel assigned to it.

To manage the consumption, the Foundation imposes strict rules. Each cake must entirely be eaten by one or more individuals within 24 hours. Any remaining parts, regardless of size, initiate replication.

The daunting task of continuous consumption also poses health risks to the personnel, making it only a matter of time before the cake's numbers increase, potentially overwhelming the facility.

Furthermore, it is inherently difficult to maintain a perfect record of consumption, with human error being an unavoidable factor. Even a minor slip-up can lead to an uncontrollable surge in the number of cakes.

SCP-871's relentless multiplication poses a potential Keter-class threat, a term used by the Foundation for anomalies that are exceedingly difficult to contain and pose a significant danger to humanity.

The potential for unchecked growth of SCP-871 is a chilling prospect. Left unchecked, it could theoretically cover the planet in an unending sea of cakes within a matter of years.

The Foundation, committed to guarding humanity from such anomalies, diligently maintains the containment procedures for SCP-871, ensuring the world remains oblivious to the lurking danger.

SCP-871 represents the Foundation's primary purpose—to protect. It is an embodiment of the old adage, "not everything that glitters is gold". Or, in this case, not every cake is a treat.

Despite the looming threat, the Foundation also uses SCP-871 for research purposes, hoping to unravel its secret and perhaps harness its replication for beneficial purposes.

The study of SCP-871 has also led to the development of refined containment strategies, which are often applied in handling other SCPs with similar self-replication characteristics.

The story of SCP-871 is a testament to the inscrutable wonders and threats that lie beneath mundane realities. It underlines the importance of vigilance even in the face of the seemingly harmless.

The tale of SCP-871 is a beacon of knowledge in the abyss of the unknown. It's a testament to human resilience and the unending quest to tame the uncanny.

Every day at the Foundation, the tussle against SCP-871 continues. Its containment is a constant task, an unending feast, and a stern reminder of the delicate balance of normalcy.

With every passing day, personnel at the SCP Foundation continue their relentless battle against SCP-871, one cake at a time. It's a tense routine marked by bite after bite of diligence.

Despite its seemingly harmless nature, SCP-871 reminds us of the lurking danger that can be hidden beneath the most delightful things, teaching the Foundation that every anomaly, no matter how delightful, requires constant vigilance.

So, let the story of SCP-871 serve as a cautionary adage. Behind every decadent slice might lie an anomaly capable of challenging human comprehension and survival.

And while we remain blissfully unaware of the cake that could inundate the world, there are relentless guardians tirelessly preserving our reality. One cake, one day, at a time.

Amid the shadows of the unknown, the story of SCP-871 continues to unfold, its mysteries deepening with each passing day, its existence reminding us of the untamed wonders of our wondrous world.