The SCP Foundation

Chapter 81: SCP-040

"A-Ari?"

It was indeed Ariel Cunningham, the athlete's girlfriend, currently tied to a chair with her mouth taped shut. She was being treated terribly, and the athlete couldn't help but feel furious at however had done this.

"Oh, does she seem familiar to you?"

The athlete looked at the site director, seeing her malevolent smile as if she was mocking him. Seeing all of what was in front of him, all he could say was...

"Where is she?"

"Oh, so she does seem familiar to you..." the site director ignored the question. "Hmm, I thought as much. She returned to a site where they had gotten SCP-2662 from, and the remaining Tau-9 stationed there had apprehended her. I was going to find her myself, but she walked right to where I wanted her..."

Out of sheer anger, the athlete drew his sidearm and pointed it at the site director.

"Where is she?" he repeated, with a more furious tone.

"So it has come to this, then?" the site director continued to taunt. "Shooting me will not guarantee your partner's safety in any way. And the thought of me being killed by an SCP? How deplorable..."

The athlete weighed his options: on one hand, he could shoot the site director but if she was telling the truth, then it'll harm Cunningham; whilst on the other, he could let go of the site director and no harm will befall on his girlfriend.

After a few moments of thinking, he sighed and withdrew his sidearm.

"Fine... you win, Rosenberg..." the athlete glared at the site director. "Just tell me where she is... so I can get to her..."

"So hostile, are we?" the site director chuckled. "Anyways, she's in an abandoned warehouse right by the nearest town. You'll know when you see it."

"You mean Winchester?"

"Yes, the abandoned warehouse there..." the site director nodded. "You should hurry though, I couldn't guarantee her safety for long..."

He wished to insult the site director before he leaves, but he knew he was wasting time. He merely glared at the site director one last time then left her office.

"That will teach you not to harm any of my colleagues..." the site director muttered. "Anyways, I should return to my work..."

-----

Drista and Adrian returned inside the testing chamber, where Iris and Athena were. The tomboy wanted to know why did the teenage girl pat her on the head.

"Hey, Drista, you seemed to like that surprise, huh?" Iris smiled.

"I guess..." the tomboy answered. "But I gotta ask, why did you do that? Because I really wasn't expecting that..."

"Well, I just wanted you to see that it's okay to be short." the teenage girl answered. "I mean, if you're tall, then you wouldn't get that kind of experience..."

"Told ya, Drista." Adrian added.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I mean, Adrian here kept bringing it up so I had to calm you down somehow..." she continued. "You're feeling a bit better now, right?"

"Right..." the tomboy nodded. "Thanks, Iris."

"Anyways, I should be heading off now..." Athena spoke up, heading towards the door. "Thank you for your cooperation, Iris."