Chapter 6 - THE RECOGNIZED MARK
The Pentagon Observer walked slowly down the stairs, stopping right at the edge of the blue combat mat. He paid no attention to Sergeant Briggs, who was still struggling to get to his feet, nor did he look at the referee or the crowd.
His intense, searching gaze was locked exclusively onto Avery Mitchell.
"Where did you learn that?" the Pentagon Observer asked, his voice echoing clearly across the silent facility.
The moment the question hung in the air, Avery’s calm demeanor cracked. Her body went completely rigid, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides as she froze in place.
Commander Hayes stood up from his seat, his expression shifting from calm interest to deep concern as he realized the direction the conversation was taking. Briggs remained seated on the mat, his head turning back and forth between Avery and the senior Pentagon official in utter confusion.
The Pentagon Observer took another slow step onto the blue mat, leaning in slightly, his voice dropping into a low, solemn tone that carried terrifying weight.
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"I’ve only seen that once before," he whispered.
For the first time since entering the arena, Avery’s neutral mask broke completely, her blue eyes narrowing as a dark, unreadable emotion crossed her face.
