I slammed my fist into his face again, only this time harder, knocking him out of the chair and onto the hard concrete floor.

Where are they?

I yelled at him.

Where the hell are they?

John Christo spat blood onto the floor and then looked up at me, defiance on his face.

Do you know what happened to your predecessor?

I asked.

After we caught him, do you have any idea what's in store for you?

Christo smiled, revealing a row of bloody teeth, several of which were bent at odd angles thanks to my punches.

Only if I fail, he said.

You will. I'll see to it that you will.

Good luck, Christo said. I thought about hitting him

again, but it wouldn't do any good. Well, it would make me feel better. But that wasn't reason enough.

So I left him on the floor and walked out of the small, cold interview room. Landry and Ross greeted me with somber faces in the

hallway. I knew by the look on Landry's face that my requests had been denied, but I asked him

anyway. What did they say? Are they granting use of an SCP on him? Landry shook his head.

You know that's not how we work.

You knew that when you made the requests.

Bullshit!

I said.

You know how many stories I've heard about agents using SCPs to subdue or kill other SCPs?

Stories are one thing, Landry said.

...