Octagon Project 1: Melody Halloway

~-9-~

Zack was sitting in the living room with his fourth cup of coffee when Mel walked out of her room, fully dressed in black pants, black shirt, combat boots, and leather jacket. Her frizzy hair was pulled back into as slick of a ponytail she could manage and small dark crescents sat under her eyes from nights of restlessness.

"Did you get McHall's text?" He asked her. She held up her phone in response and grabbed a throwing knife that she left on the kitchen counter last night, shoving it into its sheath on her belt near her gun. Yeah, she was definitely ready even though it was only three o'clock in the damned morning. Seeing as Mel was ready to be on her way, Zack dumped out the rest of his coffee and grabbed the car keys off of the counter, walking towards the door. Mel was already outside by the time he closed the door behind him. She must really be having a bad day... He thought silently as they got in and began the drive towards the headquarters. A few other groups of teens were in the parking lot too, probably just getting back from a mission debriefing. As Mel and Zack stepped out of the car, three guys and two girls, all dressed in similar black clothing to Mel and Zack walked up to them, paying little attention to Zack as they eyed Mel.

"So you're the top agent we've heard about I'm guessing." One boy said, looking Mel up and down with his dark brown eyes. Mel didn't even give him a sideways glance as she continued to walk towards the building. Zack only followed next to her, knowing these guys were going to get the wrong side of her if they keep this up. A guy with curly black hair and dark skin stepped in front of her with his arms out to block her, his black eyes glistening with humor.

"We're talkin to you." He chided.

"Move. " Mel growled through clenched teeth. She wasn't in any mood to deal with a bunch of dicks that thought underestimating her would be a good idea. A strawberry blonde crooned behind her.

"Ooh, look, her fist is shaking. I think you intimidated her Jake." Mel didn't think twice. She spun around and with her calculations being right, successfully decked the girl right in the face, busting her lip. Turning just as quickly to grab the arm of the boy named Jake that stood in her way, she kneed him in the gut and knocked his legs out from under him, holding his arm up at an awkward angle as he lay flat on his face on the black asphalt, her gun pointing in the direction of the blond boy and redhead that were planning on interfering.

"Leave me the fuck alone." She spat. "Or you'll be the next bodies I drop." It was silent for a moment before the blond boy threw his head back and laughed comically. Mel's jaw ticked and Zack saw her finger starting to tighten around the trigger. He reacted. Didn't think, didn't respond, just acted. He threw his dagger at the blond, it sticking into his shoulder. The boy cried out in pain, holding his arm. Mel looked over at Zack in shock. When he gave her a quick nod, she dropped the dark-skinned boy's arm and stalked up to the boy, grabbing the handle of the knife.

"Take this as a warning." She growled, pulling it out quickly, and tossing it over to Zack, who caught it by the handle and began to wipe off the blade with the rag he always kept in his jacket pocket before sheathing the dagger again and walking into the building with Mel.

"You're welcome." Zack stated as though she had thanked him for what he did back there.

"I had it under control." She grumbled.

"But reacted instead of responding."

"And what was it you did back there?" She asked, spinning on him. Zack froze, then shrugged.

"Helping you out. " Mel grumbled under her breath and continued to walk down the hall until she reached McHall's office; stepping inside without knocking as usual. Zack followed and closed the door softly behind him. McHall looked up from his laptop screen and folded his hands.