ashes of sable

on the sidelines

Sable lay fast asleep, her bruises now tended, ribs tightly wrapped in fresh bandages. Across the room, bathed in the pale glow of the window light, Synn sat quietly—fingers dancing across the keyboard as lines of code flickered on the screen before her.

She scrolled through the file that had just landed in her inbox, eyes scanning the lines with practiced focus. Then her phone buzzed—a low hum slicing through the silence. She picked it up.

"I've sent over some files. I need it handled ASAP," came a woman's voice, cool and commanding.

"Got it," Synn replied.

"And bring Sable up to speed," the voice added before cutting off.

Synn lowered the phone slowly, then turned her gaze toward the bed—Sable was awake, eyes open, quietly watching her.

Synn rose from her seat and crossed the room, her boots echoing softly on the floor. She stopped beside the bed, eyes locked with Sable's. For a moment, neither of them spoke—just two storm fronts staring each other down.

"I think I deserve an explanation for yesterday," Synn said, her voice low but sharp.

Sable looked away, jaw tight. "What do you expect me to say?"

Synn scoffed, folding her arms. "Oh, I don't know… maybe a little gratitude? I risked my life dragging you out of that hellhole."

"Excuse me for going after the one person who slaughtered my family," Sable snapped. "I didn't ask you to come for me anyway."

A cold laugh slipped from Synn's lips. "Wow. That's really nice to hear after I nearly got killed saving your stubborn ass. If it weren't for the condition you're in, I'd be tempted to shove my blade right through your throat."

The room went quiet—words lingering like smoke.

"You're just so damn stubborn," Synn muttered. "You're so blinded by revenge that you can't even think straight. One day, that obsession's gonna get you killed."

Sable's eyes burned as she faced her. "I lost everything, Synn," she said, voice hollow. "Death doesn't scare me anymore. Whether I live or die—it's none of your business. It's not like you care. Isn't that what we were taught? No attachments, no emotions."

Synn clenched her jaw. Her voice trembled, heavy with meaning. "I do care, Sable. If I didn't, I wouldn't have dragged myself through fire to get to you. Maybe the old me would've let you die—but I've seen too much death to stay numb."

She took a step closer. "I told you about Ethan because I wanted you to know who destroyed your family—not to push you into suicide by vengeance. We need time. You can't take on someone like Ethan alone. He's ruthless, calculated."

Synn's voice dropped. "You were lucky yesterday. That's not gonna happen twice."

Sable didn't respond. But the silence wasn't defiance. It was the quiet of someone finally listening.

Her mind replayed the clash with Ethan—his hits, his eyes. Cold. Calculated. She wasn't ready.

"How much did he get out of you?" Synn asked, calm but tense.

Sable blinked. "Nothing. I told him nothing."

"About us? The organization?"

"Not a word," Sable said. "He tried to inject some kind of serum to make me talk, but that's when you showed up."

Synn's expression darkened. She knew Ethan's methods.

"Good," she murmured.

"There's a new target," Synn shifted. "A congressman. Also a senator. Bishop Wells. We're to retrieve a file he's keeping close."

"You can sit this one out," she added. "Heal up. I've got it."

"No. I'm coming," Sable said, swinging her legs over the bed with a wince. Pain flared in her ribs, but she stood.

Synn didn’t argue. She nodded, quiet understanding in her eyes.

"Then we move at nightfall."

Together, they approached the desk. The computer screen cast a blue glow.

"His name is Bishop Wells," Synn said.

Sable leaned in, studying the image.

Synn brought up another file—a blueprint of a sprawling estate. "This is where the file's kept."

"Any idea what's in the file?" Sable asked.

Synn shook her head. "Just retrieve it. That's the order."

Sable strapped on her gear, movements tight and practiced. "So, what do we know about him?"

Synn tapped her fingers. "He's an attorney. Going after O'Reilly Thrift in court—human trafficking, rape scandals, all of it."

Sable's brow furrowed. "Guess I've been preoccupied."

It was 9:45 PM. The street outside was quiet. In the car, silence.

Sable sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed.

"Shouldn’t I be getting my own missions by now?" she asked softly.

Synn turned her head, eyes catching Sable's.

"I've been ready. You know that."

Synn said nothing. Just turned the key. The engine hummed.

Waving her off, Synn pulled the car farther down the block, into shadow.

Sable sighed. "Hellooo?"

Synn shot her a look. "I said something just now."

"You know I'm not gonna comment on that," Synn said, pulling out her binoculars.

The mansion's gate was ajar. Suspicious.

"Come on," Sable pressed. "I'm ready to do this."

"No," Synn said. "You're not. You act on impulse. That gets you killed."

Sable clenched her jaw. "You think you're protecting me. Like I'm still a rookie. But I don't need your shadow."

Synn laughed bitterly. "Yeah? Like you protected yourself at Ethan's? He whooped your ass. You'd be in a body bag if I hadn't come."

That hit.

Synn leaned in. "Next time it's someone like Shadow, one of Ethan's own? You think they'll wait for you to figure it out mid-fight?"

Silence.

Synn's voice softened. "Look, you'll get your mission. Beat me in sparring without breaking a sweat—then you're ready."

She smiled.

Sable nodded, silent.

Synn leaned forward. "Keep watch. I'm going in."

"Wait—I'm not going in with you?"

"Someone's gotta watch the perimeter. If anything's off, radio me."

Frustration curled in Sable's gut.

Synn gathered her weapons, strapping her holster tight.

"Stay put. I'll be back in a jiffy."

She slipped out, vanishing into the night.

Sable sat, fingers drumming the wheel.

10:28 PM. Too long.

Her gaze locked on the mansion. The night was still. Too still.

Then—

BOOM!

An explosion tore through the quiet. Fire lit up the sky. The car shook.

"No… no—no! Synn!"

She flew out the door. Smoke bled from the mansion. Flames roared.

Her breath caught.

"Synn…"

Everything inside screamed to run in.

But what if it was already too late?