Zack got to his office in less than five minutes. Record time by his standards. Sadly, he didn't even think to celebrate.
He had awful news to share.
News that he and Jake were human vigilantes. The same ones that stopped the Miltron Labs robbery a few weeks ago.
And they were captured by the one who orchestrated it.
And the news that Zack's incompetence led to Jake sacrificing himself to defeat him.
But he still felt unsure.
He held the doorknob and squeezed it gently. He still didn't feel ready. He was shaking again. He wished he could stop, but he couldn't help but feel scared. He wanted to turn around. To go back home and forget about all this.
But just like what he did at Super Island, this needed to be done.
He turned the knob and went inside.
Silence
.
Everyone stopped everything they were doing. All Zack could hear was the steady vibrations of a nearby printer. He walked slowly across the room and gave a few waves to break the ice.
Nothing.
They just stared at him. No emotion in their eyes. Zack started shaking again, and he knew it, so he slipped his left hand into his pocket so no one would notice.
He was one of Empire City's best reporters. There was no room for fear or shivering. He always made sure no one saw him lose his composure.
But why the silence?
Suddenly, he heard his name in the distance.
It was Stella.
"Stella?!"
"Oh, Zack!" She said, running to him for a hug.
Strange.
Zack and Stella had been rivals for a long time. Up until his first major win covering the Amazo vs. Darkeen incident, which got him his new promotion. He always felt Stella was bitter over it, so receiving such a hug like this just felt odd.
And he felt disgusted.
He was responsible for Jake's death in a way. If he was stronger. More willing to kill. Less in control... maybe...
"Zack? D-did you hear?"
Zack snapped back to reality and stared at her for a moment.
"Oh, of course, you did! You two were roommates, after all. Even though you moved in with your girlfriend, you were still best friends."
Tears started to drip from Zack's eyes along with Stella's.
"Yes... I'm so sorry... it's all my fault. I..."
"Your fault? No, it wasn't! How were you supposed to know that bus would blow?"
"Huh? Bus? Blow?"
"Y-yeah. Shortly after I set Jake and Ivy on their first date, there was news of a bus randomly blowing up. Both their names were on the list of v-victims." Just like that, Stella broke into tears in Zack's arms.
Bus?
Ivy?
Date?
What?
So she doesn't know about the Animal Farm. What's worse, she has a whole different story. Or was she connecting non-existing dots?
"Wait... the list of victims... of this, uh... bus explosion... Are you sure Jake and Paulina's names were on it? How come I never heard of it?"
"Y-yeah. The list hasn't been made public yet. I did a little digging, and a friend helped me out. Oh, Zack. They said there was nothing wrong with the engine. What could this mean? Was it some kind of assassination? Was Jake the target? Was it someone else? Was he just collateral?"
This had to end.
She needed to know the truth. Then he'd deal with all the bullshit lies.
"Stella. I'm sorry, but..."
"Zack Scott!" Mr. Print exploded from his office only a few meters away.
"Uh... yes, sir?"
"Get your ass over here. We need to talk."
"But sir, I..."
"Now!"
Zack exchanged looks with Stella for a little longer and let go. He then sped towards Mr. Print's office. The crowd still silently staring as he walked.
Once inside, Mr. Print instructed him to lock the door and shut the blinds.
Mr. Print never wants the blinds shut.
Something's wrong.
"Uh... sir? Is this about the break week? I can assure you that..."
Mr. Print immediately placed his finger on his lip. Zack instinctively shut up. Mr. Print always had a way to silence people. The only one Zack knew was stubborn enough to really resist was Stella.
"Listen, kid. You're one of my best reporters, so I can't risk losing you."
"Sir?"
"Drop all relations with Stella. Now."
"Sir, what are you saying?"
Mr. Print then got up and checked the four air vents spread across his relatively small, cluttered office. After about 40 seconds, he turned back to Zack.
"Zack. That friend of yours... Stella's brother. You heard how he died, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir, but..."
"That's Stella's fault, you know?"
"What?"
"Stella poked the bear and got too close. Not realizing how big the bear is."
"What are you talking about, sir?"
"You remember the Miltron shipment robbery that happened a while ago, right?"
"Of course, sir, but what does it have to do with all this?"
"Well, you see, everyone was so busy with the robbery, no one ever stopped to think... where did Miltron Labs get that tech? But not Stella. Oh, not her. She sniffed out a good story and decided to go deeper. Not realizing the reason no one did was not because we wouldn't, but couldn't."
"Sir?" Zack said in a lowered tone.
"There are evil forces running Commonwealth, Zack. Forces that don't want to be disturbed. Stella disturbed them, and look what happened to her brother."
"Sir, it's pretty bold of you to assume..."
"Assume? He was killed, Zack! It's very, very obvious who did this. That's why I want you to stay away. Please. I can handle losing Stella, but you too?"
"Mr. Print, sir. Jake's death isn't something we should be making so much light of."
"What the hell? Letting you know your best friend was killed because a girl decided to ask one or two questions seems... like making so much light of it? Are you insane?!"
"Mr. Print..."
Suddenly, Zack's phone rang. He wanted to ignore it. To tell Print the truth. End whatever the hell all this is...
That's exactly why he picked up the phone.
It was Paulina...
"What a relief."
"Zack! Please come back home! To the roof! Now!"
"Uh... Paulina?" He was about to say he was with his boss, but he stopped himself. He was in the last place he wanted to be.
"Please, Zack! It's urgent!"
"OK, I'm on the way." Zack immediately hung up the phone and put it back into his shaking pocket.
"Anything the matter, Zack?"
"Yeah, I got an urgent call from my girlfriend. I think I need to check it out."
"Zack, are you mad? Can't you see this is some kind of ploy?"
Zack turned away from him and walked out the door.
He couldn't say anything; otherwise, he would've revealed his and Jake's identities and the incident at the Animal Farm. He couldn't have that.
Stella ran towards him at lightning speed, only for Zack to lightly push her away.
"Zack?"
"I'm sorry, Stella, but I have to go."
"What's wrong?"
"Don't worry. I'll be back. It's just some business to take care of."
Zack stepped out of the office soon after.
Once he did, the hustle and bustle returned. A few workers actively pushed Stella to the side so they could send in a few papers.
Stella just stood still.
No one talked to her.
No one acknowledged her.
All she did was stand in complete silence.
Until...
"What the hell?!"
To be continued....