Noise
Their voices hummed inside her ears, burrowing deep inside her brain until her very soul thrummed with their presence. Asha slapped her hand against her desk, scattering invoices, and glared up at the ceiling. The flies were fat and blue, their fuzzy bodies bumping against the painted wood as though they were drunk beyond reason. Another hum and thump as one bounced against the viewscreen that showed the neon-lit street above.
“I hope you die a thousand deaths, you annoying little—”
The door creaked, and Asha whipped her head forward, glare skewering the broad-shouldered figure standing in her doorway.
“Well, that’s a little uncalled for, wouldn’t you say?” Thorson said, thick brows rising into his dark green hair.
“Not you.” Asha thrust a finger upward. “Them, though after your performance the other day, I wouldn’t say it’s entirely unwarranted.”
“I won, didn’t I?” Thorson shut the door, the sleek metal fingers of his hand as gentle as flesh, though Asha had seen him tear through a steel door just the other day.
“Yes, though you were supposed to win in three minutes, not four.”
“I told you, betting is a bad habit.”
Asha shoved back from her desk and crossed her arms. “That’s the whole reason we entered you into the Blood Ring. To win.”
“And so I have.”
Asha sighed, her attention tugged by the indolent buzz of a fly passing somewhere overhead. Her eyes narrowed, her skin turning silver for one moment before a pulse of electricity crackled upward in a shimmering wave. The fly exploded with a satisfying sizzle.
“Remind me why you don’t enter the Blood Ring yourself?”
“Because you’re not supposed to kill your opponents, Thor.”
“That’s confident of you. When was the last time you fought anyone?” He gestured at the ceiling. “Barring these bloodthirsty flies, of course.”
Asha ignored the jibe and picked up one of the pieces of paper. “Listra’s making his move. He’s preparing to leave.”
Thorson straightened, eyes focusing like sharpened blades. “How soon?”
“A week? Days?” Based on the amount of supplies and fuel, Captain Listra would have a crew of five or more. Last she knew, his second in command hadn’t returned from Heldon’s Wall, and she was confident he wouldn't leave without her.
Thorson nodded. “Paradon is ready, and Kelsie and Manda won’t be hard to find.”
“Good.” Asha grinned, anticipation igniting like an engine flare. Here in the safety of the Ello Accord, Listra was untouchable, but out there? In space? Well…she hoped he hadn’t lost his edge.
Author Note: Inspired by some reaaaaally noisy flies in my office when I sat down to write today. My flash is often written in under an hour with a quick editing pass (which is why now I’d probably shorten that first line to: “Their voices hummed, burrowing deep inside her brain until her very soul thrummed with their presence.” :)
Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash