The Demons of Fuller-State Academy

This podcast takes you on a journey through the SCP Foundation archives, where strange anomalies,

“secret experiments, and unsettling mysteries collide.”

Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Be sure to search for the SCP Experience wherever you get your podcasts. Dr. Naysley Jamie and West parked on a dirt road half a mile from the school, tucked behind a stand of pine trees that blocked the car from view.

Not that anyone was likely to come by. They were 40 minutes outside the city, in a part of a county that was mostly farmland and forest, and the occasional collapsed barn. People out here minded their own business, because there wasn't any other business to mind. Jamie quickly hopped out and grabbed his back back from the trunk.

Inside were flashlights, batteries, a six pack of PBR, a first aid kit he'd never used,

and a granola bar he'd forgotten about three weeks ago, all important supplies. West stepped out and was already on his phone, scrolling intently. "Listen to this," West said. He was already walking away from the car, not waiting for Jamie to catch up. Classic West.

This guy on Reddit says he went to fuller state last year and heard crying coming from the basement, like actual crying, a kid crying.

“"Sick," Jamie replied. He didn't mean it.”

"And then, this is the best part." He says he went down to check it out and there was nothing there, just empty rooms. But when he played back the video he'd been recording on his phone, you could actually hear the crying on the audio. And did he post the video? Nah, that's the thing. He says the file got corrupted.

Convenient.

Chill with the skeptic stuff, dude. It kills the vibe.

The night was clear and cold, autumn settling into the valley. The moon was a sliver, barely there. You could see your breath a bit if you stood still long enough. Jamie could hear their footsteps crunching on gravel, the distance sound of a truck on a highway somewhere. Nothing else.

Fuller state school sat at the end of a long road that had been reclaimed by weeds and saplings. Its dark, monolithic silhouette rising against the sky. Three stories of dark brick, the windows bordered up or broken, the roof sagging in places.

It looked exactly like what it was.

“A building that had been left to rot for 30 years.”

"Okay, okay, here's more history." West said, still scrolling. Fuller state approved school. Founded in 1952 by Harold Fuller and Raymond State. No state affiliation. It's just their names.

Which is actually kind of genius marketing if you think about it. Made it sound official. Jamie raised a eyebrow. What was it approved for? Bridge people dumping their problem kids, I guess.

Listen. West's voice mimicked a documentary narrator. Students came from extremely wealthy families who had the means to essentially wear houses that mentally ill children without formal diagnosis. The school operated with minimal oversight until 1987.

When it was abruptly shut down following allegations of abuse. Allegations, eh? That's what it says. Forget this. When the Fuller state approved school closed,

some parents never came back for their kids.

The ones who couldn't be rehomed in other facilities were just... released, just opened the doors and sent them on their way. And it's believed some of the students never really laughed. Jamie fell to familiar tightness in his chest. This was the part he didn't like.

The part where the history got dark and the building stopped being just a building. West loved this stuff. He fed on it. In West's eye, he gave urban exploration more stakes. But that kind of defeated the purpose of urbex in Jamie's eyes.

It's about appreciating what was left behind. Not celebrating whatever fucked up shit did or didn't happen. Plus, Jamie didn't exactly have nerves of steel like West. You good? West asked.

He stopped walking and was looking at Jamie. Half with concern and half amusement. Jamie was used to that look. Yeah, I'm good. You've got that look.

Dude, come on. You've got to look like you're about to suggest we turn around and go home. I wasn't going to say that. Good. Because we're here now.

And that chat says there's a ladder around back that goes to the roof. West held up his phone to show Jamie the discord chat. Their urbex group. A couple hundred people who shared tips and locations and occasionally organized group trips.

Jamie had joined because West had joined. Same as everything else. The message on screen was from someone called "Leave my son alone for 20."

Later on northside, door at top, usually unlocked.

See? West said, "We got this." He turned back toward the school. And his phone screen went black. What the hell?

West tapped the screen. Pressed the power button. Helped it down. Fuck! My phone died.

I still had like 15%.

“That's what you get for buying a phone off eBay.”

It was refurbished. West shoved the dead phone into his pocket. Whatever. Check the chat for me on yours real quick. Jamie battered his pockets.

Empty. His stomach dropped. I left it in the car. Your phones in the car. On the charger.

I think. Maybe in the cup holder. Dude.

That's gonna completely fuck my car's battery if you left it on the charger.

I know. I'm sorry. West stared at him for a moment. Then shrugged. Doesn't matter.

We've got flashlights. That's what's important. Why don't I just go back and get it? Forget it, man. That's a ten minute walk.

And we're already here. West was walking again. Heading around the side of the school. Let's go!

“People explored buildings for years before phones existed.”

We'll survive for an hour. The latter was right where the chat said it would be. A rusted metal thing bolted to the brick, leading up into darkness. Jamie's flashlight beam barely reached the top. Three stories looked a lot higher when you stood at the bottom looking up.

I'll go first. West said he was already gripping the rungs, testing his weight. Give me a minute to check things out. Then come up. What if it's not safe?

Then I'll fall and die. And you can tell my mom I loved her. West grinned, his teeth catching the flashlight beam. Relax, Jamie.

You always act like it's your first time doing this stuff.

And then you end up loving it. He started glimbing. Jamie watched from below. Tracking West's progress by the sound of his hands and feet on metal. By the occasional grunt of effort.

The rungs were spaced far apart. And more than once, Jamie heard West's foot slip before catching hold again. Then West was at the top, pulling himself over the edge onto the roof. Jamie saw his silhouette against the sky, saw him stand and brush off his jeans.

Holy shit. West announced. What? There's a sleeping bag up here. And a pause.

Damn. That's a lot of syringes. syringes? But needles? Oh yeah.

Someone shooting up up here. And is that a box cutter? Yeah.

“Looks like someone's definitely been camping out.”

Jamie's chest clenched tighter. Maybe we should. Well, hot damn. West's voice echoed through the night. Looks like we might not be alone tonight.

Jamie was about to respond when he heard another voice call out. Not West's. Deeper. Ruffer. Coming from somewhere on the roof.

He's right. An unknown voice called out from the roof. Jamie's blood went cold. You're not alone. West whipped his head around to the source of the voice.

Then scurried off the ladder and onto the roof. West! Jamie called out. No response. His mind raised for a moment before he resigned to his fate.

Jamie climbed the ladder. As he crested the top, he could hear West talking to someone. And when he peered over the edge, Jamie spotted a figure. Tall and broad.

Standing near what must have been the door into the building. West stood beside the man. Laughing about something said. He turned to Jamie. Yo!

West called out. Come here. It's cool. Jamie paused. Considering what to do here.

Dude's name is Maddie. He's chill. West continued. Come up. Jamie didn't move.

Every instinct and his primitive lizard brain was screaming at him. But West seemed fine. He pulled himself onto the roof and saw what West had described. A sleeping bag unzipped. Spread out near the ladder like a welcome mat.

A scattering of syringes, maybe a dozen, and a box cutter. The blade extended. West stood a few feet away. Next to a man who was easily the biggest person Jamie had ever seen in real life. Six-four at least.

Maybe more. He had appeared that hadn't been trimmed in months. And eyes that caught the flashlight beam and held it. Jamie. This is Maddie.

West said. Maddie. Jamie. Nice to meet you all. Maddie's tone was surprisingly soft for a man his size.

He extended a hand. And after a moment, Jamie shook it. The grip was firm but not crushing. Maddie's been staying up here for a few months. West explained.

He's a train hopper. Telling what you were telling me about riding from Portland.

It's not that interesting. Maddie said. But he was smiling. Please to be asked. Just a long trip.

Plenty of time to think. Yo. Jamie's got beer in his backpack. West said. You want one?

Jamie opened his mouth to object. But West was already looking at him with that expression. One that said. Come on. Don't be weird.

Just go with it. So Jamie unslung his backpack and dug out the six pack. And a moment later, they were all sitting on the roof of an abandoned school. Drinking PBR with a homeless man they just met. An hour passed, maybe more.

Jamie had lost track. Maddie was a good storyteller. That was the thing Jamie kept coming back to. Even as the unease and his gut refused to fully dissolve. The man had a way of spinning a tail that made you lean in.

Made you want to hear what happened next. Stories about hopping freight trains through the Midwest.

“About the secret camps along the Mississippi.”

About the people he'd met who lived entirely off the grid. The thing about riding freight.

Maddie crapped open his second beer.

Is that time stops meeting anything. You're in the car. The world's going by outside. And you don't know what day it is. What time it is.

Nothing. Just the sound of the wheels on the track. It's like being in between places. In between lives. Had you get into it.

West asked. He was on his third beer. Loose and curious. All the earlier tension drained out of him. Maddie fell silent.

His eyes stared blankly into the distance. Beyond Jamie and West. I was in a bad situation. He said finally. When I was a kid.

I needed to go. Didn't really get a choice to be honest. And trains just seemed the fastest way to get somewhere. What was bad about the situation? West asked bluntly.

In between ships. Just bad. Maddie's voice grew solemn in that moment. Then just as quickly the warmth returned. But that's all in the past now.

Point is. I got out. I found a different way to live. Most people don't even know it's an option. You know?

They think you've got to have the job and the apartment in the car.

But there's a whole world out there that most people never see.

That sounds kind of nice honestly. West said. Being like invisible. It has its moments. Maddie took a long drink.

His eyes, Jamie noticed. Never quite settled on anything. They moved constantly now. Scanning. Watching.

Even when he was in the middle of a story. Part of him seemed to be somewhere else. But he gets lonely. You'd be surprised how much he missed just. Talking to people.

Regular people who don't know you. Who don't want anything from you. He looked at Jamie when he said that last part. He held the look just to beat too long. What about you, too?

Maddie asked. What are you all doing here? Your friend here is telling me this is what you all do for fun. West got me into it. Jamie said.

A couple years ago. Jamie's being modest. West grinned. We've been exploring shit together since we were kids.

“Remember the drainage tunnels behind the millbrook?”

Tones don't count. Jamie left. They absolutely count. We were like 12 crawling through storm drains with those professional ass flashlights. We took from your dad's tool shed.

That's exploration. Maddie left. But it felt forced. His eyes stayed watchful. A hint of skepticism existing somewhere behind his gaze.

Jamie noticed he'd positioned himself between them in the ladder. You two remind me of some guys I used to know. Maddie said. Brothers. I met them so many years ago.

They were always getting into shit.

Sneaking out, getting into all kinds of trouble. Said it made them feel alive. What happened to them? Jamie asked. Maddie said.

One of them fell through a floor in an old textile mill. Broke his back. The other one. He trailed off, shook his head. Doesn't matter.

And the best, like I said. I'm sorry. Jamie said. Shoot. Don't be.

Wasn't your fault. Maddie finished his beer and crushed the can in his fist. You got another one of those? Jamie handed him another beer. As he did, his flashlight beams swept across the roof.

Illuminating the sleeping bag, the syringes the box cutter. Which wasn't there anymore. Anxiety washed over Jamie.

“He tried to remember when he'd last seen it.”

Before the first beer, after he couldn't be sure. So then why are you up here? Jamie blurted out. The words came out before he could stop them. Instead of, like, a train or a shelter or something.

No trains right now. And shelters have rules. He paused before adding. I don't do well with rules. Heard that.

West chimed in. Lifting his beer in agreement. Plus, it's quiet up here. Peaceful. Nobody bothers me.

He smiled.

“But something unreadable lurked behind it.”

You two must be the first normal folk I've seen in months.

West leaned forward. How long you've been staying here exactly? This time around? Shucks? About three months, I think.

But it's not my first visit. But you'll move through Jamie. You stayed here before? Sure, on and off over the years. When I'm passing through the area,

I know I can come here and nobody all hassle me. It's reliable. Maddie picked at the label on his beer can. I know this spot pretty well. It's got, uh, I don't know.

A familiarity to it. Like an old friend. Once you've been here, you keep coming back. Like it draws you in. West said.

Exactly.

Maddie pointed at West with his beer.

Exactly like that. You feel it too, don't you? Jamie didn't feel anything except a growing desire to be somewhere else. But West just smiled and nodded, caught up in the moment. And Maddie watched him with an intensity that made Jamie skin crawl.

“So you must know the building pretty well.”

West said. Like, the inside I mean. Maddie considered West's statement. I know it well enough. He said.

Have you ever been down to the basement? They're supposed to be. I don't go on the building much. Maddie said bluntly. I stay on the roof.

Why? Maddie took another long pause before answering. He stared at his beer pulling at the tap. Because I feel something in there. He said quietly.

Feel it every time I go in there.

It's like someone stuck inside, trapped even. He looked up and his eyes were glossy. I even hear them sometimes. I swear, at night, crying. The roof was very quiet.

Somewhere in the distance, in owl called. That's heavy. West said. It's the truth. Maddie wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

This place, I can feel it. It's not good. You can't just walk in here and pretend it doesn't. He collected his thoughts. Just reminds me of when I was a kid.

What I went through. West clanced at Jamie, oblivious to the tension. Still writing the buzz from the beer and the thrill of the night.

“Speaking of which, do you know what this place used to be before it closed?”

A school, right? I saw the classrooms and all that. Maddie said. Yeah, but like a specific kind of school. West launched into the history.

The wealthy families, the children who had been sent here to disappear. The abuse allegations, the closure. Jamie watched Maddie's face as West talked. Watched Maddie's expression drift into one of deep thought. A sport kids.

Maddie said quietly. They didn't deserve that. No. Jamie agreed. They didn't.

And you didn't already know that? No. Maddie shook his head solemnly. Been here so many times before, but I had no idea. This mundane revelation left Jamie quietly stunned.

Whatever hunch he had about Maddie was thrown out the window. He looked over at West, who awkwardly lifted his eyebrows and raised his beer once more. Maddie sighed, leaning forward a bit. Kids. Left alone by their own families.

By people who were supposed to protect them. Maddie's hands had curled into fists. And the people who ran this place. The ones who heard them, they just got away with it. Close the school, walked away.

Live their lives like nothing happened. Yeah. It's fucked up. West said. For sure.

Demons. The word came out of Maddie's mouth sharply. That's what they were. Demons. Dress like you and me.

Jamie's eyes briefly went back to where the box cutter had been lying. He'd hoped he just missed it in the dark. It really was gone. West crushed his beer can, deciding now was the moment to take an exit. Yo, Maddie.

West said carefully. I think, maybe. You know how you can tell a demon from a man. Maddie stood up. Not looking at them anymore.

He was looking at something they couldn't see. Something passed the roof's edge. Passed the school. Beyond the horizon line. They look like people.

They act like people. But it's just a costume.

These demons feed on suffering, you know?

That's what they do.

“They find the innocent, the vulnerable, and they feed.”

Yeah. We should probably get going. Jamie stammered. This is getting late. The people around the school were demons.

Maddie continued. As if Jamie hadn't spoken. And the people who sent their kids here. Demons too. All of them.

Every single one. Walking the earth and their skin suits. Pretending to be good people. Well, inside there. He stopped.

His eyes focused. On Jamie. On West. What did you come here? Maddie asked.

His voice changed. Flat. Calm.

That storytellers warmth flipped off like a switch.

Erbex, dude. West said. Erbe and exploring. We do this for fun. We just.

Fun. You chose to come here. To this hellish place. Where children suffered. Maddie stood up slowly.

He was even bigger standing. A wall of shadow against the night sky. Why would anyone choose to come here? Unless they were drawn to it. Unless.

Maddie trailed off. Maddie. We're just some guys. Jamie said. We go to fucking community college.

We don't. You can form me, demons. Maddie's hand went to his pocket. The box cutter came out. The blade catching the light from Jamie's flashlight.

Wearing that face. Looking all innocent. But I can see through it.

I've always been able to see through it.

We're not lying. West had his hands up now. Poms out. The universal gesture of surrender. Swear to God.

We're just two guys wanted to look at an old building. That's it. That's all. God. Maddie laughed.

Tapping the box cutter on his chest. I was born into a house of God.

“That's how they tried to raise me at least.”

But them. They were lying. God told me the truth. Whispering it right in my ear. They were the first demons I ever saw.

And it taught me what to look for. And when I was finally brave enough to peel back their skin suits. All I saw was red underneath. Nothing human under there. That told me I was right all along.

That God was right all along. So I got out of there and got on that train and learned real quick. Just how many demons there are in the world. And I got to find as many as I can. So what happens when you find one?

Jamie asked. He didn't know where the words came from. Maddie paused. Then. I've killed demons before.

Three of them. In Denver. They were wearing the skin of a family. Mother, father, daughter. Living in a nice house.

Driving a nice car. Pretending to be nice people. But I could see what they all really were. I could see the hell inside them. A dark hole where their soul should be.

Maddie. West Quivered. Trying to put on a convincing voice. Maddie. Listen to me.

We're not demons.

“I don't know how to prove that to you but we're not.”

We're just a mediates who made a stupid decision to come out here in the middle of the night. That's all. It's just me and Jamie. Same guys you've been talking to this whole time. You're not going to let us leave.

Jamie interrupted. Is that it? Maddie's eyes moved to the ladder. To the only way down. A three story drop on all sides.

I can't let demons walk the earth. He said. Not when I have the chance to stop them. God told me you were coming soon. I had to be ready.

Maddie spun the box cutter in his hand easily. We're not demons. West said again. His voice cracked. I can prove it.

Just tell me what you want and I'll prove it. Maddie's face shifted. Interest maybe. Or amusement. Perhaps a predator recognizing that its prey was panicking.

Prove it. He repeated. You want to prove you're not a demon? Yeah anything. Whatever you need.

Jamie looked at Maddie's face and a thought dawned on him. Maddie paused. Then extended the box cutter toward West. Andle first. Show me what's under the skin suit.

He said. Show me what you really are underneath. You demons all look the same underneath. When I see that red that devilish red. I'll know what you are.

West stared at the box cutter. At the blade still extended gleaming in the flashlight beam. You want me to cut myself open? Doesn't need to be a lot. Just enough for me to see.

Maddie's voice had gone soft again. Almost gentle. Like he was explaining something to a child.

You've got nothing to worry about. And I'll see the truth. And I'll know you're clean. And you can go. But if you're not.

He stood up straight. Pulling his shoulders back. Jamie's stomach dropped.

“He already knew the outcome of this sick test.”

This isn't saying. Jamie said. West. You don't have to do this. You don't.

Do you have a better idea? West's voice cracked on the last word. Because I'm open to suggestions, Jamie. I'm really fucking open to suggestions right now. Jamie didn't have a better idea.

Jamie didn't have any ideas at all. They were stuck on the roof of an abandoned school in the middle of nowhere. Helped captive by a delusional behemoth of a man. I. Jamie began.

But the rest of the words never came.

Fucking. Fine. I'll do it. West said. He took the box cutter from Maddie's hand.

I'll do it. And then you'll see. And then we can all just walk away from this. West. It's fine, dude.

West's hands were shaking. His voice was shaking. Nothing about him looked fine. It's fine. It's fucking fine.

He'll just be a little cut. I've had worse. West rolled up his sleeve.

“His forearm was pale in the flashlight beam.”

Then blue veins visible just beneath the skin. He pressed the blade against his flesh. Took a breath. And cut. A small square shape.

Maybe half an inch across. Not deep. But big enough.

Blood welled up immediately.

Dark and wet. Running down toward his wrist and thin streams. There. West wins. Voices tight with pain.

Look. See? West even tried wiping the blood away. Put more welled up in its place. Am I good?

Maddie leaned in close. His face was inches from West's arm. He studied the wound. Studied the blood. Studied it with the intensity of a scientist examining a specimen.

His freehand came up. And gently, almost tenderly. Slipped. The box cutter from West's fingers. Jamie briefly wondered why the ever-confident West didn't just take a stab at Maddie at that moment.

He just let the guy take the blade. He was still just holding his arm out. For a moment. Jamie dared to hope. Maybe this was it.

Maddie would see what he needed to see. And they could all walk away from this.

“And in the morning, he would be nothing but a crazy story they tell each other.”

Maddie grabbed hold of West's arm and pulled it even closer. What the fuck dude? Ow! West protested. Maddie's face twisted.

Red. He proclaimed. Red like the devil's own hide. What? Maddie.

It's just fucking blooddude. It's regular. Maddie bored. And he was on West before either of them could react. They went down hard.

Maddie on top. His wake crushing West into the roof's tar paper. West screamed. A shriek of primal terror and tried to push him off. But Maddie was too big to heavy too strong.

Maddie effortlessly yanked the box cutter from West's hands. I'll cut the demon out of you. Maddie pressed the blade against West's throat. I'll send you back to hell. I'll.

Jamie didn't think. He grabbed a syringe from the ground. Lunged it, Maddie's back. And plunged the used needle into his eye. Maddie roared and thrashed.

But Jamie managed to pull the needle out.

Then drove it into the man's eye a second time.

Maddie screamed. His hands went to his face. And West scrambled out from under him. Gasping and coffee. The box cutter clatter to the ground.

Jamie grabbed it. Maddie turned toward him. Still screaming. And Jamie drove the blade into the side of his throat. The blade went deep.

Deeper than Jamie intended. He felt it scraped against something hard. Maybe bone or cartilage. And then he got stuck. He couldn't pull it out.

He let go and stumbled backward. Maddie gurgled a series of wet, strangled sounds. His hands potted the box cutter jutting from his neck. But he couldn't grip it. Couldn't pull it free.

Blood poured down his chest. Black in the flashlight beam. Go! Jamie said. His voice didn't sound like his voice.

Fucking go West! Go! The ladder. The ladder was clear now. Maddie was on his knees sway.

The syringe still bouncing and bottling from his eye. West ran for the ladder and swung himself over the edge. Jamie followed. Not looking back. His hands slick with something he didn't want to think about.

He half climbed, half felled on the wrongs, landing hard on the earth at the bottom. West was already running. Jamie sprinted after him. Behind them on the roof. Maddie stumbled to his feet.

He couldn't speak. He snatched the syringe from his eye. A strange pain shocked him at that moment. The blade had severed something vital. And every breath came out as a bubbling weasel.

But he could still see with his one remaining eye. And what he saw was his own hands. Covered in blood. Red. Like the devil's hide.

The truth hid him like the trains he'd been riding.

God told him that.

“But he never thought that he was one too.”

Maddie brought himself to his feet and walked to the edge of the roof.

He looked down at the ground three stories below. And stepped off. Jamie and West didn't stop running until they reached the car. West fumbled with his keys. Drop them, pick them up, drop them again.

Jamie grabbed them out of his hand.

“Unlock the door and shoved West into the passenger seat.”

His phone was thankfully in the cup holder.

Not on the charger. Eating up the car's battery. Jamie got in the driver's seat and started the engine. They drove. Fast.

Need to rip them spoke. West cradleed his arm. The cuts still bleeding sluggishly. Staring out the window at nothing. Jamie kept his eyes on the road.

“His hands at ten and two, his mind carefully blank.”

They were almost on the highway when West finally said something.

Jamie? Yeah. Jamie said. What the fuck was all that about? Jamie didn't react.

I don't know, dude. West was silent for a moment. Ben. Jamie? What's up, West?

This urban exploring shit is so fucking dumb, dude. Jamie nodded slowly. Yeah. He agreed. It is.

Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow or subscribe and share the show with a fellow horror fan. I'll see you in the next one.