The Mystery Agent was close behind him, her breath labored as they sprinted through the thick underbrush, and Martin could sense her growing concern. She wasn't just worried about the attackers; she was worried about him.
"We need to split up!" Martin shouted over his shoulder, his voice firm but calm, despite the growing intensity of the situation.
"Are you crazy?!" she snapped back, ducking as a bullet chipped away at the bark of a nearby tree.
Martin didn't respond immediately, leading them into a more secluded part of the forest, a place where the attackers would have to commit to pursuing them on foot.
He stopped behind a large tree trunk, handing the Mystery Agent a sleek pistol he had retrieved from one of the fallen attackers earlier.
"Take this," he said, his tone unyielding. "You need it for self-defense."
