Octagon Project 3: Zachary McHall

~-20-~

After a long moment of the shock tearing through her body, Mel dashed for the front door after Zack. Roy grabbed her by the waist and dodged her flailing arms to get him to let go.

"Why don't you explain what's going on." Roy suggested as the car tore out of the driveway with screaching wheels and burned rubber. He sat Mel down on the couch and nodded for Vanessa to make her some coffee. Kaylee sat on the loveseat diagonal from her, gazing at Mel's bewildered green eyes. She'd never seen someone look so terrified before in her life.

"Melissa, what's going on?" Roy asked from where he stood with his hands on his hips. Vanessa handed her the coffee and she sat completely still, staring off into nothing ahead of her.

"Lisa," Vanessa slowly sat down next to Mel and rested a gentle, cold hand on her forearm.

"He's going to kill someone..." Mel whispered loud enough for the others in the room to hear. Her voice was foreign to her own ears; quiet and winded. Is this what she sounds like when she's scared? Is she scared? It's been forever since she's been acquainted with the feeling.

"What do you mean?" Vanessa asked, sharing a confused but concerned glance with Roy.

Zack burst through the front doors of the Octagon headquarters and didn't give the guards outside of McHall's office a second glance before entering and slamming his fist down onto the dark wooden desk. McHall jolted from his spot and met Zack's narrow, lethal gaze.

"Where is she?" He growled deeply. Clearing his throat and straightening his navy tie, McHall held up his hand to stop the guards from rushing in as well.

"I don't understand your-"

"Amber. Where? Where is Amber?" McHall observed him for a moment longer with furrowed brows.

"Ah, that blonde from your last Division. Our men found and killed her shortly after Grace's demise. It isn't easy trying to run with a child on y-"

"Stop lying to me." Zack growled. "Where is she?" After another moment of silence and observation, McHall sighed and leaned back in his desk chair.

"That shouldn't matter. She'll be dead soon."

"No she won't."

"No? Tell me, why do you believe something as ridiculous as that?"

"Because you will let me recruit her."

"Your Division has no room for another member and she has no strings to pull. She's as useful as a corpse."

"So we will build another room." Zack glowered. "You have her daughter and I know exactly where. You're probably having trouble controlling her at the moment though. So loyalty wouldn't be an issue. And your classes are too full of freshly recruited blood. You need another skilled agent out in the field, right?" McHall's jaw ticked at that.

"And how do I know you wouldn't try anything?"

"I have a bomb in my shoulder and where that little girl is right now is the only reason I haven't tortured you to death yet. What do you think I could possibly try?"

"I think it sounds like a remarkable idea." Alyssa commented from where she was leaning against the door frame. McHall rose a dark eyebrow at her curiously. "We could even do some switching about since that other freshy, Austin Lawson, isn't excelling too much in his current Division. This way we can keep a closer eye on my mischievous little brother." She reached out to pinch Zack's cheek and he swiftly grabbed her wrist, shoving it away.

"Call me that again and you will be the next person I kill." Zack grumbled; glaring at her out of the corner of his eyes. McHall shoved his phone back into his pocket after sending a text and crossed his arms over his chest.