Edio Yenye Shavu

Jax stands up fast. Looks around. Empty alley. Just rain drumming on metal roofs. His phone buzzes. Unknown caller. He answers. A woman’s voice comes through. Soft. Familiar. “You’re late, Jax.” His stomach drops. “Sable?” She laughs — small, sad. “You still smoke those cheap synth-sticks?” Jax gri…

Jax stands up fast. Looks around. Empty alley. Just rain drumming on metal roofs. His phone buzzes. Unknown caller. He answers. A woman’s voice comes through. Soft. Familiar. “You’re late, Jax.” His stomach drops. “Sable?” She laughs — small, sad. “You still smoke those cheap synth-sticks?” Jax grips the phone tighter. His sister. Dead six years. Corp raid. Fire. No body. He searched. Found nothing. Stopped searching. Buried the hurt. “You’re not real,” he says. “This is a hack. Someone messing.