Sonia turned slightly toward Sir Sam, a faint smile resting on her lips. Revenge, it had been sitting inside her for years, quiet, patient, growing sharper with time. Everything she had built, everything she had destroyed, everything she had allowed, it all pointed to this moment. And Sir Sam had always been there, before the island, before the training, before the blood. He had stood beside her when there was nothing. When she had nothing. If he wasn't the one handling things… who would? she thought.
She lifted her hand and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, tucking it neatly behind her ear. Then she tilted her head slightly upward.
The sunlight filtered through the glass and touched her face. lt reached her eyes. She closed them. A slow breath escaped her lips.
For a moment, she looked almost peaceful.
Behind her, Sir Sam watched, not casually, not carelessly, carefully.
He leaned back into the chair, crossing one leg over the other. His fingers wrapped around the wine glass as he lifted it and drank everything in one steady motion.
He didn't rush, he didn't pause. When he lowered the glass, his eyes were still on her.
Studying, measuring, waiting. The silence stretched between them.
Long enough to feel heavy, long enough to become uncomfortable.
"Are you looking forward to the mission?" Sonia asked. She didn't turn around.
Sir Sam's lips curved into a small smirk.
"More than anyone on this island," he replied. His voice was calm, even.
"After all this time… things are finally beginning to move."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"It hasn't been easy," he added. "Training them. Controlling them. Keeping them alive long enough."
Sonia nodded slowly, still facing the window.
"Good," she said. A pause.
"Then the underground children can finally come out." Her tone shifted, subtle, but sharp.
"And those fools…" she continued, her voice tightening slightly, "will learn to swallow their pride." she turned, her expression had changed, not soft anymore, focused, cold.
She walked back toward him, slow, measured steps. This time, she didn't return to her original seat.
Instead, she lowered herself beside him, closer than before.
"I hope they've been trained properly," she said, pouring more wine into her glass. "Not like the ones here."
Sir Sam tilted his head slightly.
"I handled them myself," he said. A small pause followed.
"They're different."
Sonia glanced at him.
"How?"
His eyes met hers briefly. Then shifted away.
"More precise," he said. "More obedient."
Another pause. "More effective."
Sonia's lips curved into a smile. A satisfied one.
"Then we'll enjoy the outcome," she said softly. Sir Sam did not fully return the smile.
"There are only two left," he said. Sonia didn't react immediately. She simply lifted her glass and took a sip.
"Out of five," he added. Still, no reaction. Then she waved her hand dismissively.
"It doesn't matter," she said. Her voice was calm, unbothered.
"Even if only one survives… I will still be satisfied." She leaned back slightly.
"These things take time," she murmured. "You don't build something perfect overnight." Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
"You break things first." Silence returned.
She lifted her glass slightly and tilted it toward him.
"A toast."
Sir Sam picked up his own glass.
"To what?" he asked.
Sonia's eyes glinted faintly.
"To an ending," she said quietly. Apause.
"And a beginning." Their glasses touched, a soft, controlled sound. They both drank, a moment passed.
Then Sir Sam spoke. "Miss Stephen made a request." Sonia's expression changed instantly.
A faint crease formed between her brows.
"Who?" she asked.
"The head of the explosives engineering department," he replied. "Short hair."
Recognition settled. "Oh," she said. "Her."
She leaned slightly forward. "What does she want?"
"She requested more time," Sir Sam said. "She believes her students are not stable enough yet. Their blast calculations are inconsistent."
Sonia's grip tightened slightly around her glass.
"No."
The word came out sharp, immediate, final.
"No delays," she continued, her voice lowered.
"We've spent years preparing for this. Everything is aligned."
She stood slowly, walked away from him.
"If her students are not ready…" she said, her back now facing him again, "then they will learn under pressure." a pause.
"That is the only way."
Sir Sam remained silent.
"The mission date does not change," she added.
"Understood," he replied. Silence settled again, thicker this time.
"May I leave?" Sir Sam asked after a while.
Sonia exhaled softly, as if she had just returned from somewhere far away.
"Yes," she said.
She stood, intending to walk him to the door.
But he raised a hand slightly.
"That won't be necessary."
She stopped. Then smiled faintly.
"As you wish."
She lifted her glass again and finished what remained in it.
Sir Sam stood. He took a few steps toward the door, then paused, he looked back.
Sonia was no longer looking at him, her gaze was distant, lost. Focused on something that wasn't in the room. Something far deeper, then he turned and left.
The hallway outside was quiet. Miss Stephen stood a short distance away, speaking to one of her students. Her tone was firm,precise.
"Tell the others to gather in the lab for practical," she instructed. "Immediately."
"Yes, ma'am," the boy replied before hurrying off.
She turned and saw Sir Sam.
"It's you I've been waiting for," she said.
Sir Sam adjusted his posture slightly.
"How may I help you?" he asked, feigning calm ignorance.
"The response," she said. "From Her Highness."
Sir Sam faced her fully.
"She declined," he said simply.
"No extension." A group of students passed by, greeting them quietly.
Miss Stephen lowered her gaze slightly.
She had expected it. Still, something in her tightened.
"I see," she said.
Sir Sam studied her expression.
"I hope it won't put too much pressure on your students."
Miss Stephen let out a small breath.
"It will," she admitted.
"We're working on something new. A different structure for controlled detonations. If it works, it could improve accuracy." A pause.
"But we haven't confirmed the results." She shook her head slightly.
"So we'll have to abandon it. For now."
Sir Sam tilted his head. "Don't."
She looked at him.
"You can still use it after the mission," he said. "There will be more opportunities."
His tone was calm, reassuring, almost too reassuring.
Miss Stephen hesitated. "I'll think about it," she said.
Sir Sam stepped a little closer. "Don't take this personally," he added. "You know how long she's been waiting for this." A pause
Miss Stephen's expression hardened slightly. "I understand her," she said quietly.
"Better than most." Her eyes met his.
"But this isn't about her anymore." Another pause.
"It's about whether this mission succeeds."
Silence.
Sir Sam gave a small nod. "Of course." He glanced sideways.
A group of students stood waiting, watching Miss Stephen.
"I believe your class is waiting."
She followed his gaze,then straightened. "Yes."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward them.
Sir Sam remained still for a moment, then he exhaled, softly, almost like relief.
He adjusted his sleeve and began to walk, n ot toward the main building, not toward the open grounds, but toward the lower section. The restricted area, the underground.