The SCP Experience - The Anomalous Merry-Go-Round | SCP-2041

Episode Date: February 16, 2024

Want to listen ad-free? Try it FREE for 7 days here: patreon.com/TheSCPExperience SCP Foundation SAFE class object, SCP-2041: The Anomalous Merry-Go-Round This story was derived from https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-2041 and is released under Creative Commons Sharealike 3.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Author: Cyrus Spears * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #thescpexperience #scp #scpfoundation #scpencounters #securecontainprotect #scpstories #scpexplained #whatisscp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason looked over at his brother. A lot had changed since Eugene had hit 18. His little brother had shot up like a weed and joined the Marines as fast as he could. The thermal printing on his new driver's license hardly had time to cool. Eugene had been gone for months and returned just in time for Christmas

as an entirely different person. They had shaved him down like a sheep and all that training had bulked him up. Although not by much, He was still lean and wiry and as mean as ever, which made moments like this awkward. Jason sat next to him at the family dinner table while trying to enjoy some lukewarm spiral ham and saltless mashed potatoes. Eugene stared at him, unblinking. There was no light behind his dull blue eyes.

Do you remember the old playground we used to go to? Jason shrugged. He shoveled a forkful of canned beans into his mouth and let him see. self-chew before answering. Sure, Jason said. It's still there. I figured, Eugene smirked. I've been thinking about going back and checking it out.

Jason cocked an eyebrow. Why? he asked. Aren't we a little old to be playing around on a playground? When guys our age hit the wood chips without kids in tow, people tend to think that's a little weird. Eugene let out a hard puff of air. Do you remember the carousel that was there? Jason blinked. He didn't remember any kind of carousel.

He remembered a blue seesaw and an orange plastic elephant that looked like it had major depression. He remembered a metal slide that burned his legs, and he remembered the monkey bars where he had broken his arm that one summer. But a carousel? No. That sort of thing he was used to seeing at carnivals

and traveling state fairs. Nothing like that was lurking around the edges of their shitty small-town playset. I think you've got your wires crossed, Jason said. You are misremembering. There is no carousel out there. Who the hell stands there all day at a playground operating one of those things? There was definitely a carousel, Eugene insisted. It was red and gold, and all the horses had faded eyes. It was creepy as hell. How do you not remember?

Jason shrugged. I only remember. remember things that are real, he said. He stabbed the yellow center of a deviled egg. You clearly only recall things that are imaginary. Eugene's lip curled. He drank from a tall glass of milk and did not stop chugging until it was all gone. Then he slammed the glass down and wiped his hand across his upper lip,

pointing his finger at Jason almost accusingly. I think you're scared, he said. Scared? Jason was puzzled. I haven't left this town in 23 years, and you are telling me I'm scared? I pass that playground every damn week. I have never seen a carousel, and I don't remember there being one. What did they give you at boot camp anyway?

Pills that make you stupid? Tequila, Eugene flashed a smile. Lots of tequila. That, I would believe, Jason shook his head. Why do you want to see it so badly anyway? If it even existed, which it doesn't, It's just a dopey carousel. Go to the state fair in a few months and you will see another one.

No, you don't get it, Eugene leaned forward. This one was special. His breath hit Jason's face and made him grimace. Okay, Jason said. Special, how? You lose your virginity on it or something? Eugene made an awful hacking noise in his throat. No, Eugene said.

I'm not sure how it was special, but I know. it was. It keeps popping up in my dreams. Ever since I left town, it's all I'd been able to see when I close my eyes. I don't know why. They're sending me overseas in a few days, and I... He paused, trailing off. Jason waited patiently for him to finish, but the silence lasted a bit longer than it was probably meant to. Eugene stared right through him with his mouth hanging open and a muscle twitching in his throat, as if he had been stopped mid-swallow. His left eyelid drooped down, and whatever words he was trying to say seemed stuck on his tongue as it bucked in his mouth and made a wet, flopping sound. Jason looked around.

There was no one else at the table. Everyone else had gone into the kitchen to get some pie or cake. He reached out and grabbed his brother by the shoulder, giving him a good shake. Eugene? He asked. Eugene's eyelid sprang back up, and his gaze snapped back forward. He closed his mouth and swallowed, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth again. Sorry, Eugene said.

What did you say? Jason stared at him and did not release his shoulder. You were talking, Jason said. About the carousel. Right, Eugene told him. So, are we going to check it out tonight? I guess so, Jason said. The eerie moment had rattled him.

His brother had been pretty healthy all his life. The military wouldn't have taken him on if he hadn't been. He had never had a seizure or anything like that, and he seemed just fine now. Eugene had already turned back to his food and was gulping down the rest. It was his second or third plate. Knowing him, he might go back for fourths before even diving into the dessert table.

There wasn't a carousel. He had no idea what his brother was talking about. Yet, if going back to the old playground in the middle of the night was what it took to pump the brakes on Eugene's nightmares, then he supposed that he could do that for his brother. Jason picked up his napkin and crumbled it up before tossing it down onto the center of his plate. Suddenly, he had lost his appetite. The playground was typical for a small town. It was located next to a school that had been abandoned since before Jason was born.

But they had kept the play area. open. It was pretty large, all things considered, although not very exciting. The ground was covered in wood chips, the sort that snuck into your sandals and speared the tender parts of your foot when you weren't looking. It was winter, so Jason was wearing his boots. But he regarded those wood chips with a long fostered resentment. A swing set's steel frame stood out proudly above everything else. It was rusted at the bolts and creaked when it was used. The frame rocked dubiously whenever someone swung above a certain height. But it had six swings in total, which was a big deal when they were kids. Beyond that, there were a few things

he had forgotten about. There was a racing horse on a spring next to a big green plastic turtle that was meant for climbing. Beyond that, there was a red steel merry-go-round with half the paint chipped off, and there was a stubby orange tunnel that went nowhere. Jason could smell the funky plastic that a thousand feet and hands had touched. And he could already feel the crackling static going up the back of his sweater, even though he had not tried going through anything. Jason stuck his hands into his pockets and looked around. See? he asked.

No carousel. He barely got the words out of his mouth before Eugene cut him off. His younger brother reached out and seized hold of his shoulder, shaking him excitedly until his head snapped back and forth. There it is! pointed. I told you it was here. He crowed victoriously and kicked up a batch of wood chips. Jason frowed his brow and squinted. No, Jason said. There is no carousel over there. He smiled as he came to a realization.

Do you mean the merry-go-round? He pointed to the steel contraption. Eugene looked at him like he was stupid. Oh. He mocked Jason's condescending tone. You mean the carousel? He walked over to the merry-go-round and reached out to set his hand against one of the arched steel bars. Are you telling me you don't see this? Oh, I see it.

Jason said joining him. I just don't think you do. Or else, this is a joke. He looked at Eugene. A dumb one. Lazzang sur-gillet, puissance-moyance-moyant for 15 minutes.

We're like to dojo. Fere to play the pleasure with the Ojo. The casino in line who propose the most recent machine-a-sou and the game of casino in direct. Profite of 50 tours gratu on Big Bas Bonanza without exigance of mise

and with the payment instantane. Hey, I've gained. Woo-hoo! Sentire the pleasure. Play-O. Joe. 108 and plus, 1, 1,000,

expanse in Ontario. 50 tours on the machine-a-soules Bikbas Bonanza. Deposmineum of $10. Veilatheuio to pay to fashion responsible. The conditions

can't apply. Beaveree at board via Rai. Embarqued and profited. Embarque and relaxed. Cirote, book, booquin, Oh, that also.

And profite. Via Rai, the voice that we love. Eugene looked like he was going to spit. This is not a joke, he said. Look! He set his hand against another steel bar. This is the one I always rode. I think I named him Jasper or something like that.

He stroked his hand up and down the steel affectionately. And see what I mean about the eyes? The paint is all faded. It looks even worse now than it did when we were kids. Jason rubbed his face. He was even more worried about his brother now. Maybe the next stop before home would be a trip to the ER, just to get Eugene's head scanned or something.

Clearly, his time at training had knocked something loose in his noggin that hadn't quite bounced back. I mean, stuff gets older, he said, feeling defeated. We certainly do. I wonder if it still works. Eugene placed both hands against the bar and swung his leg over it like he was mounting a horse. It was amazing to see.

The childlike wonder had returned to his eyes, and he was grinning from ear to ear. I guess I'm a bit taller now. Wow, I feel like a kid again. Jason's stomach was twisted into knots. I bet, he said. Why don't you get down now? I don't trust this old thing.

Chicken! Eugene laughed. He patted the steel bar, and it rang as if, class ring smacked against the metal. Come on! There's a big old Clydesdale over there that I think you will fit on. Jason rolled his eyes.

The merry-go-round was too small for a full adult to be dicking around on, much less too. He grabbed onto one of the steel bars and placed his foot against the edge. Someone was going to have to propel it anyway. I like that one, Eugene said with approval. Yours has eyes at least. Does it? Jason asked dubiously. It was dangerous to indulge in this level of lunacy.

Yet, for the same token, if it got Eugene out to the car any faster, he was willing to play pretend for a few minutes. All right, you ready? Don't be too disappointed if it doesn't run. He wasn't sure the old thing would turn while bearing both of their weights. I'm ready. Eugene hunkered down excitedly. Jason sighed and dug his toes into the ground,

pushing with all his strength. The merry-go-round. groaned, creaking on rusted springs, and then it began to turn. Jason kept pushing for a few rounds, hoping that it would pick up some speed. It was depressingly slow at first, although Eugene whooped and hollered like he was having the time of his life. Jason broke out into a sweat, but he kept going, despite the way the strain made a muscle twinge in his back. Then, all of a sudden, the merry-go-round spun out of his control. It went from barely creaking by, just spinning as though it was brand new and freshly greased.

The world went by at a breakneck pace. Jason yelped and surprised as his foot lifted off the ground. He thought that he was falling. He leaned forward and caught himself on a pole. It took him a whole three seconds after wrapping his arms around it to remember there had not been a pole there before. He was moving. He was not simply spinning with the merry-go-round.

He was moving up and down with his hands sliding over the pole. His legs straddled the seat of a painted on saddle, and beneath him was a copper-colored carousel horse with faded blue rains and white pits for eyes. Although, just like Eugene had said, there was some faint black irises where the paint had managed to cling. Eugene was just a couple of inches ahead of him, whooping and leaning forward against his horse's pole like he was a jockey in a race. He squeezed his heels against the horse's rump and bowed his neck until they were almost streamlined as one. The carousel kept going faster. The world around them was reduced to nothing but sound and motion, and all the lights from above their head made everything else around them appear that much darker.

But there was no music, only silence, except for Eugene yelling at the top of his lungs. Jason's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong. Something was horribly wrong. Eugene! He felt like his voice wasn't loud enough, but he was afraid to raise it, because he felt like he was going to vomit. Eugene, we have to get down. Eugene didn't hear him.

Or, if he did, he was ignoring him. Jason sat up a little straighter, still gripping his horse's pole and glanced around. There were a dozen more horses, but all the seats were empty. He wanted to get off. He wanted to go home. The ground was going by too fast, but he thought about jumping.

He was going to jump. Thunderous steps shook the round platform that the carousel horses were bolted down to. Jason whipped his head around so quickly that he almost knocked his temple into the metal pole he was holding. Red and gold and Baroque-style paintings flashed by. At the center of the carousel there were mirrors, and reflected in their surfaces he could see the spinning world. And then something else. A man, at least, that was what it looked like. It was a man with a big white beard and a dark black coat walking towards him. His eyes were small, angry, dark beads in his face, and his mouth was obscured by all the hair.

But Jason could tell that it was twisted. The man looked so familiar, although Jason could not place him at all. Hello? Jason called out. The man took another step forward and shook the platform again. Jason clung to his pole for dear life. Hey! He called out again. Stop that! This shit isn't built for your stomping! The man stopped again. The whole carousel rocked. The platform ground, and Jason's horse tilted away. Jason tried to cling to the pole, but his finger slipped off.

He went sailing from the side of his horse and ended up in the ground with woodchifts stabbing him in the arms and in the ribs. Jason nearly bit his tongue in half on the impact. His mouth filled with a salty taste of blood, and he spat a glob of it onto the ground. He glanced up again, not sure if he was going to see the merry-go-round or the carousel. The carousel loomed over him like the sinking Titanic. massive and bent. All the horse's heads would turn towards him now, and they stared at him with empty white eye sockets. Eugene wove his way through them, climbing down the platform with long, military-homed limbs. Although something was different in his face, childlike wonder had been

swept away, and now there was only anger. His blue eyes had gone completely dark, goolishly concealed by shadows as the lights of the carousel started to flicker. He looked like a monster looming in the dark, grabbing onto the muzzles and tails of brightly colored plaster horses. I see you, Uncle Martin, Eugene's voice sounded like it came from another mouth. It was deep and growling, angry and hurt. Jason had never heard him sound like that before. Jason raised his hand defensively. The arm he had landed on was in pain, just like it had been when he had fallen off the monkey bars and felt it snap underneath his weight. Eugene, I'm not Uncle Martin, He cried out.

Eugene, it's me. It's your brother, Jason. Don't lie to me. Spit flung out of Eugene's contorted, miserable mouth. I knew you would be here. I remember what you did to me. Eugene, I didn't do anything to you. Jason tried to sit up, but his broken arm would not support him.

He cried out in pain and sank back down against the wood chips. Oh, God! He choked. Eugene, you're not in your right mind. Don't tell me that, uncle. You know. He choked on his emotion, grinning maniacly at the same time. Mama said that to me too.

She said I wasn't thinking clearly. You gave me a bloody nose, and she said I was lying, because I didn't want to get in trouble. I had blood in my underwear, and she said I did it to myself. No one ever believed me. He left from the carousel and landed on top of Jason, driving his hand down into his shoulder and pinning him to the ground. Jason gagged on his pain. Vomit, surged up his throat, and came spouting out his nose.

and yellow streams. Eugene, I swear to God, please, Jason gasped. Just look at me! Eugene raised his hand. He was gripping something so tightly that his knuckles were pale. He tilted it towards the light, and Jason saw that it was a blade, a four-inch pocket knife or something like that. Eugene gripped it in his fist and drove it down.

Fire erupted across Jason's ribs and blood shot from his open mouth. More blood, more bile, more vile, more vines. while, more vomit, all on the wood chips, lit up garishly by the flashing carousal lights. How does it feel? How does it feel? Eugene kept plunging his knife again and again into Jason's ribs and stomach. Each jolt from the blade made Jason's entire body jerk, but he was pinned so tightly against the ground that he could not even rive. Eventually, he stopped moving. All the heat was gone from his body, coming off his steam from the blood underneath. him. He watched it rise, unable to move. The carousel lights had gone dark.

SCP 2041 is a playground-style merry-go-round, approximately 2.3 meters in diameter. It is composed of galvanized steel and coated in red acrylic paint. It was discovered in a playground at a school in Denmark. The school itself had closed years previously due to budget cuts, but children in nearby neighborhoods still used the playground equipment. regularly. Numerous reports of children in the area disturbed by hallucinations led to the recovery of the object, which was in notably better condition than the other equipment. It is suspected it was added to the playground after the school shut down. SCP 2041's effects are not experienced unless it is used outside and uncovered. If a person has been spinning on it for a duration of

10 seconds or more at a speed of at least 9 kilometers per hour, they will begin to experience hallucinations.