A meeting was in session.
The conference room was quiet, almost too quiet. A round table sat at the center, surrounded by supervisors from different departments. Files were placed neatly in front of them, but not many were being touched.
At the head of the table sat Sonia. She leaned back slightly, her gaze moving from one teacher to another.
"Any suggestions?" she asked. No one spoke. Some avoided her eyes. Others sat still, as if any movement would draw attention. The silence stretched.
Sonia's lips curved faintly. "At this point," she said calmly, "I hereby conclude that the meeting is over."
Chairs shifted immediately. The teachers bowed their heads in unison.
The meeting had been about the teenagers, their first mission, their readiness, and the next stage of their training. There had been different opinions. Some wanted more time. Others believed delay would only weaken them.
But Sonia had already decided. Training would increase. Pressure would increase, and the mission would begin in two weeks. Failure was not an option, nott for the students, not for the teachers. Everyone in that room understood that clearly.
Sonia stood up. Her expression softened into a polite smile as she walked around the table, shaking hands with each of them.
"Well done."
"Keep pushing them."
Her voice was gentle, but no one mistook it for kindness. Then she stopped in front of Sir Sam. Her smile widened slightly.
"Please see me in my office," she said.
No explanation. She turned and walked out.
The room slowly emptied.
Teachers gathered their files and left in silence, each heading toward their departments. There was no discussion, no complaints, only quiet understanding.
Two weeks, that was all they had. And if anything went wrong, they would be the ones to pay for it.
Sir Sam adjusted his sleeve and moved toward the door.
"Sir Sam, please wait." He turned.
Miss Stephen was walking toward him, holding her files close to her chest.
"Miss Stephen," he said, giving a slight nod.
She returned the greeting and stepped closer.
"Are you heading to Her Highness's office?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I wanted to ask… if you could request more time."
Sir Sam's expression didn't change.
"Some of my students," she continued, lowering her voice, "are not stable yet. They are still struggling with their chemical mixtures. If we push them now, we might lose more than necessary." There was a brief silence.
Sir Sam studied her.
"I can pass the message," he said slowly. "But I cannot promise her response."
"I understand," she said quickly. "I just thought it should be said."
He nodded once.
"Prepare yourself for the worst."
Miss Stephen gave a small smile, tight, controlled.
"I always do." She bowed her head slightly and walked away.
Sir Sam continued toward Sonia's office.
He rang the bell and slipped his hands into his pockets, leaning lightly against the wall as he waited.
Inside, Sonia sat behind her desk, sorting through a stack of files.
The bell rang. She glanced at the monitor in front of her. The moment she saw who it was, she pressed a button under her desk. The door unlocked.
"Welcome," she said as he entered.
She remained seated on her feathered cushion chair.
"Thank you, ma'am," Sir Sam replied.
"Give me a moment," she added, gesturing to the files. "I need to finish this." He nodded and stood quietly, His eyes moved around the room.
Near the entrance stood her desk, covered with arranged files. At the center of the room were couches and a glass table resting on a green rug. A large bookshelf covered one side of the wall, and beside it stood a shelf filled with wine bottles.
Everything was neat, everything was controlled.
Sonia looked up.
"Oh please, have a seat."
He moved to the couch and sat. She stood, walked to the wine shelf, and picked a bottle along with two glasses. Then she returned and sat opposite him, crossing her legs.
Sir Sam opened the bottle and poured the wine into both glasses. He handed one to her.
She took a sip. A faint smile touched her lips.
"It's been… how many years now?" she asked, watching him closely. "Twelve years, ma'am," he answered.
She let out a soft chuckle.
"Twelve years…" she repeated. "How time flies."
She took another sip.
"They're seventeen now, right?"
"Yes. The girls are seventeen. The boys are eighteen." She nodded slowly.
"Did you spare them?" she asked.
Sir Sam didn't hesitate. "Yes, ma'am. They are all alive."
Her smile deepened. "Good."
She stood and walked toward the window, her back facing him.
"The children are twenty-eight in total," Sir Sam said. "How many do you need?"
Sonia didn't respond immediately.
Her fingers rested lightly on the window frame. Then, "Ten." A pause.
"Five boys. Five girls."
Sir Sam nodded.
"And the rest?" he asked.
Silence.
"Should we eliminate them after the mission?"
Sonia let out a quiet laugh.
"No."
She turned slightly.
"We'll sell them."
Her tone was calm, as if she were discussing something ordinary.
"There's always someone who needs them."
Sir Sam's face remained straight.
"What about the ones in the basement?"
"Release them after the first mission," she replied. "Then dispose of their teachers."
She walked back toward him.
"I don't need them anymore."
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
Sonia picked up her glass again and took another sip.
Her eyes drifted for a moment, as if she was remembering something far away.
"Twelve years…" she murmured. Then she smiled. But this time, it wasn't soft. It was sharp. "It's finally time."
Sir Sam remained silent.
"They will understand," she continued, her voice lowering slightly. "What it means to lose something." A pause.
"To watch it struggle…" Her grip on the glass tightened slightly.
"And to do nothing." She let out a low laugh.
"This time," she said, "they will feel it."
Sir Sam allowed himself a faint smirk.
Outside, the island remained quiet. But something had already started moving.