INTERVIEWER: Doctor B. Bishop
INTERVIEWEE: Mr. ███ ██████ (designated as PoI-3749)
Dr. Bishop: Greetings, Mr. ██████, do you know why this interview was conducted?
PoI-3749: Honestly? No idea.
Dr. Bishop: Alright, I'll share some information with you. As you're probably aware, right now this place is going through a very tough time. Usually, the door would be guarded by at least two armed personnel whose goal would be to instantly react if you attacked me or decided to leave this room. Currently, it's not the case as they're needed elsewhere. But I'd like to clarify that since the whole facility is under lockdown, it would be even harder for you to escape if you tried.
PoI-3749: Oh, save your bragging for someone who cares. Even if I wanted to escape, I don't have enough energy to do so. I don't think there is even a point now. What's the use of leaving this place, if those awful feelings will haunt you anyway? Listen, I feel like a pile of shit right now, can we please postpone this interview?
Dr. Bishop: Unfortunately we can't do that, there is very little time left. I know how you feel right now, trust me. I'm infected too, but I can't let this temporary difficulty distract me from my work.
PoI-3749: Well, since I have no choice whatsoever… Go ahead I guess.
Dr. Bishop: Let's start with the most important one: do you know what exactly is happening to the facility personnel?
PoI-3749: No… What makes you assume that?
Dr. Bishop: Well, there were some strange coincidences regarding the current situation and the last mission of the Mobile Task Force which brought you here. Firstly, SCP-4241 started spreading shortly after your arrival at the facility.
(Sound of paper rustling)
Dr. Bishop: Secondly, the first people to exhibit symptoms associated with SCP-4241 were the MTF members, the Site's medical expert, and her assistant who examined you.
PoI-3749: And?
Dr. Bishop: Also, some of the items we found at your location are exhibiting minor anomalous properties. I find it more than believable that those facts are more than just mere coincidences, Mr. ██████. If you truly can't answer my previous question, then let's start from the very beginning: what exactly were you doing prior to the arrival of the Mobile Task Force?
PoI-3749: I don't know what you're… Oh, fuck it. I don't think it really matters anymore. First of all, I'd like to say that nothing that happens right now is my… Our fault. I mean, what kind of person in their right mind would bring this "infection" upon themselves?
Dr. Bishop: I'm not accusing you of anything. Now, please answer the question.
PoI-3749: Well, most of the time we slept. And I mean it. You see, somewhere around three months ago we really got into all this dream stuff. Lucid dreaming, what dreams can say about your mental state, OOBE and things like that. After finding some material on this topic, we decided that we're ready to try ourselves. Rented a quiet small apartment so no one from the outside world would bother us and the rest is history. It was just lucid dreaming and some fun experiences at first, but then… We wanted something more. So we started our tries to enter the dream plane.
Dr. Bishop: Dream plane? Could you please elaborate?
PoI-3749: Oh God, do I really have to explain it all? I mean… You know what "Astral" is, right? There is a huge number of newbies who'll read a bunch of useless books about it and believe that they understood every aspect of it and became "enlightened" or something. Especially on the internet. You should've heard this term before.
Dr. Bishop: You're right, I did. Now, please continue.
PoI-3749: Okay, I'll keep it simple. So, the Astral is considered to be accessible through dreaming. Lucid dreaming, I mean. The idea is that your consciousness leaves your physical body and travels in that other realm, but returns when you wake up. There is even a huge collective whose members are fully aware of how Astral functions. It doesn't matter much how you call this place. The thing is, to even reach it you'll have to practice for weeks.
Dr. Bishop: So, you were practicing before the MTF raided your den, is that it? And for how long?
PoI-3749: Yeah, obviously we were. For long enough to reach the Dream plane and to one-up all those normies from the Astral-related websites.
Dr. Bishop: So, I imagine you do have at least some knowledge regarding this phenomenon.
PoI-3749: I mean, if I had to guess… Probably predators.
Dr. Bishop: Excuse me?
PoI-3749: You know how almost every species has at least one predator to keep things balanced? The physical world isn't the only place where this concept works.
Dr. Bishop: Are you trying to say that Dream plane has predators too?
PoI-3749: Yeah, a whole bunch of them actually, different shapes and sizes. And you probably figured it out already…
Dr. Bishop: We are their prey?
PoI-3749: Yes, at least to an extent. They can't attack our physical bodies though. They can do something to us only when we're trying to enter their world or just having lucid dreams. I mean, the chances that you'll come in contact with one of those creepy shits while having fun in your own little "universe" are pretty slim, but it's possible. Those worlds are a single whole after all.
Dr. Bishop: Any additional information about what we're facing?
PoI-3749: Not much. I really have no clue who or, rather, what exactly is responsible for all this shit. I've entered Dream plane for about a dozen times myself but didn't observe those creatures long enough. But from what I heard of… The nightmares, the malaise, and this fucking feeling that I can't get rid of…
(PoI-3749 raises his voice)
PoI-3749:I'm sure it's related! Fuck. Now when I'm thinking about it… Charging into Dream plane like that was such a retarded decision.
Dr. Bishop: Please stay calm. We will resolve it… I hope. Why would you even try to access this "plane" if it's so dangerous?
PoI-3749: Why would anyone do anything? Curiosity. You know, I'm something of a scientist myself… Or something, I don't remember how this saying goes. By the way, those tapes you stole from us were supposed to improve our results.
Dr. Bishop: I don't think "stole" is the right… Oh, doesn't matter. Could you please specify in which way those tapes helped you in your practice?
PoI-3749: As you say, Mr. Doctor. There isn't something super-special about those tapes, but they are helpful. In fact, they just make you remember your dreams.
Dr. Bishop: This effect seems very interesting.
PoI-3749: Yeah. When one of us would drop off while listening to the tape, they'd remember all their dreams after awakening. I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about, but for someone practicing lucid dreaming, it's very important to remember or to write down the dreams. Those things really helped a lot, and I was asked to protect them. But well… Looks like I'm just fucking awful at my job. At least I'm glad others managed to escape before your goons came in. Even though… Right now they're probably affected too.
(Pause)
PoI-3749: Now that I think about, it's a possibility. And some of them might be already in the same condition as I… Or even worse. That's all because of this stupid idea to enter this plane without good preparation. All because I told them to do it. I told them. That was my idea!
(PoI-3749 is visibly hyperventilating)
PoI-3749: Why did I insist on doing it?! None of this would've happened!
Dr. Bishop: Calm down. I understand how you feel right now. And I can assure you that even if your friends are affected, we will find a way to save them. Right now we have to understand how to oppose this… Phenomenon.
PoI-3749: No, it's just… Sorry, it happens. (Sigh) Anything else you wanted to know?
Dr. Bishop: I have to ask one final question: you told me that the tapes will make you remember your dreams. So, does it work with every dream?
PoI-3749: As far as I can tell. I've yet to face a situation where they wouldn't leave you with a crisp and clear image of what you saw while napping.
Dr. Bishop: Thanks, that's all I needed to know.
PoI-3749: Glad to help. Now could you just leave me alone?
Dr. Bishop: Yes, I'm gonna leave you now. This interview is concluded. I thank you for the information you provided, it will be helpful.
PoI-3749: I fucking hope so.