The shadow invading Luo Shu's mental space was slightly smaller than his own consciousness.
When it realized its disadvantage, it froze, then immediately tried to flee.
No doubt—this was the entity bound to the Voodoo doll, the source of its anomalous properties.
Judging by its psychic presence, it was strong, roughly on par with a Tier-4 Reality Bender.
But today, luck wasn't on its side.
First, it had run into the silicon-based truck—a mindless machine immune to its influence.
Now, it faced Luo Shu.
Trying to run?
Where to?
The doll's physical form was still clutched in the truck's grip. It could escape mentally, but not physically.
Luo Shu pondered his options:
Destroy it, adding another entry to his Anomaly Slayer Milestone.
Repurpose it.
Sensing his murderous intent, the shadow dropped to its knees.
"Spare me! This Loa will serve you!"
Hmm.
Not a bad offer.
His Anomaly Lord Milestone (Tier 2) allowed him to harness 10% of his followers' mental strength. This "Loa" was weaker than him, but not by much—an 8% boost, at least.
"Fine. Betray me, and..."
He flipped open the Anomaly Compendium, showcasing Cupid's Arrow and Defender's Might.
The shadow shuddered, kowtowing furiously.
At that moment, a new page appeared:
[Page 135]
Designation: Unnumbered (Foundation rights reserved)
Title: Voodoo Doll (Named by Luo Shu)
Object Class: Euclid
Description:
A doll inscribed with "Vive le Voodoo." Due to cognitohazards, its size/mass cannot be measured by those below Tier-4 reality-warping potency.
Effects:
To ordinary humans, it manifests as a Voodoo deity, its perceived size scaling with their fear/devotion.
Sight/smell/sound contact induces worship.
Physical contact floods the brain with dopamine-like compounds, inducing euphoria and mental control by the entity within.
The entity identifies as Loa (e.g., BonDie, Erzulie, Legba—Haitian Voodoo spirits) or unnamable deities (knowledge of which causes death).
Special Containment Procedures:
Must be housed in an SCP-148-lined safe.
No unprotected personnel in its chamber.
Anomaly Ability: "Voodoo Faith"
"A parasitic faith—worship empowers it. But you? You're a better cult leader. Don't waste time on this relic."
Status: Subjugated
The Plan
The shadow—a Haitian Loa—was pitifully weak, its power stunted by dwindling worship.
(No wonder it looked so small in Luo Shu's mind.)
Its "Voodoo Faith" ability? Pathetic, per the Compendium's own disdain.
But it had uses.
Originally, Luo Shu considered leaving the doll in Site-167, letting the Foundation relocate it to Site-17 (Florida)—where "The God" resided.
An inside agent, via "In the Name of the Father."
But after tallying Site-167's survivors—7 anomalies found, 2 destroyed—he reconsidered.
The Bermuda Vortex couldn't be moved, but the rest?
Take them all.
Scatter them across states, let the Foundation recontain them locally, and infiltrate every site.
More entries. More信徒 (followers). More power.
With that, he packed the remaining anomalies (sans the Vortex) and tossed them into the Photo Portal, sending them to Yunni Valley Cave—under the watch of SCP-3125's Defender.
Let's see who dares mess with that.
The Rising Water
As Luo Shu suited up to dive into Level -4, he paused.
"Truck. The water's rising."
"Confirmed, Master."
When he'd first arrived, the floodwater lapped at the third stair. Now? The second.
A 10 cm increase.
Not trivial.
If this kept up, Level -2—and the Bermuda Vortex's pool—would be submerged.
But then he recalled the navy soldiers' chatter earlier:
"High tide tonight."
A natural explanation. At this rate, the water wouldn't breach Level -2 before he finished looting Level -4.
No need to panic.
With a final check, Luo Shu dove back in.