Cassie stood in the dim light of the storage room, the air thick with tension. Anya's words echoed in her mind, reverberating against her growing sense of urgency. A bank downtown, watched by the agency. It was a daring gamble, but it was the only move left.
Anya's eyes held a mix of fear and determination as she stepped closer. "If we're doing this, we need to move now. The agency's surveillance doesn't rest, and they'll notice if either of us disappears for too long."
Cassie nodded, her pulse racing. "Do you have a way to get us inside?"
A flicker of something akin to a smile touched Anya's lips. "I've had years to prepare for this day. Follow me."
They exited through a hidden side door that led into a narrow alley. The evening had settled into a cold embrace, the cobblestones slick with rain that had begun to drizzle. The rhythmic tap of water dripping from rooftops was the only sound, masking their hurried steps.
Anya led Cassie through a labyrinth of backstreets and forgotten pathways until they reached an old stone building that stood in stark contrast to the more modern architecture around it. The bank loomed before them, its arched windows dark and formidable. Cassie scanned the perimeter; there were no guards in sight, but she knew better than to trust appearances.
"We go in through the service entrance," Anya said, her breath visible in the chilly air. "It's monitored, but I know the blind spots."
Cassie followed as Anya expertly bypassed the lock, the door creaking open to reveal a narrow hallway bathed in the flickering glow of fluorescent lights. They moved swiftly, each step calculated and silent. Cassie's heart pounded, each beat a reminder that they were on borrowed time.
They entered the main vault area, where the safety deposit boxes were housed. The walls were lined with steel, each box an anonymous keeper of secrets. Anya guided her to a numbered row, her fingers steady despite the tension thrumming in the air.
"Box 217," Anya whispered. She pulled a thin tool from her pocket, and within seconds, the lock clicked open. Cassie reached inside, her hand closing around a small, leather-bound notebook. She flipped it open to see names scrawled in tight, careful handwriting—operatives, their code names, locations, and affiliations. The implications were staggering.
A sharp noise outside the hallway jolted them both. Cassie's instincts flared as she heard the faint sound of footsteps—more than one pair, moving with precision.
"Agents," Anya hissed. "We need to go. Now."
Cassie secured the notebook inside her coat and nodded. They moved back toward the service entrance, but the narrow corridor was now bathed in the harsh beam of flashlights. Shouts rang out, slicing through the tension.
"Freeze!"
Cassie spun around, eyes locking with the dark-clad figure who emerged at the other end. There was no time to think. She grabbed Anya's arm and bolted toward the only exit left—a door marked for maintenance.
They burst through it, plunging into the icy night air of an enclosed courtyard. Cassie could hear the agents closing in, their shouts reverberating off the walls.
"We won't make it far in the open," Anya said, breathless.
Cassie's eyes darted around. The courtyard was surrounded by buildings, each one stretching up into the darkness. An old fire escape ladder hung a few feet above them. Without hesitation, Cassie leaped, fingers catching the rusted metal and pulling it down with a metallic groan.
"Climb!" she shouted, giving Anya a boost.
Anya scrambled up, Cassie close behind. Below them, the agents burst into the courtyard, beams of light slicing through the dark. One of them raised a gun, and a shot cracked the air.
Cassie felt the rush of wind as the bullet passed close, but she kept climbing, refusing to look down. The fire escape rattled as they reached the roof, breaths ragged and cold air stinging their lungs.
From their vantage point, Prague sprawled out before them, the city aglow in the night, its secrets hidden behind centuries of stone and shadow. Anya turned to Cassie, eyes wide but determined.
"You have the list," she said, her voice trembling with both fear and hope.
Cassie nodded, fingers clutching the notebook tight. Below, the agents shouted orders, their voices a chorus of frustration. For now, they were safe. But Cassie knew this was only the beginning. The agency would never stop hunting them. And now, with the truth in their hands, the stakes were higher than ever.
Cassie drew a deep breath, the chill biting into her resolve. "We need to get this to someone who can use it," she said, her eyes locked on the horizon where the first glimmers of dawn began to appear.
Anya nodded. "I know just the place. But getting there won't be easy."
Cassie's lips tightened into a determined line. "It never is."
---
The game had changed, and there was no turning back now.