The tunnel was damp and smelled of earth and rust, its narrow walls pressing in as Cassie, Anya, and Erik made their way deeper into the shadows. The distant thud of boots above sent a shiver down Cassie's spine, urging her forward. Erik led the way with a flashlight, its beam cutting through the darkness, casting long, wavering shadows that danced around them.
Cassie's breath came in quick, shallow bursts as she clutched the notebook tighter against her chest. Each step felt like a gamble, the knowledge inside that leather cover both their greatest asset and the agency's biggest threat. Anya moved behind her, eyes flicking back to the entrance as the echoes of pursuit began to recede.
"We're almost at the river," Erik whispered, his voice barely audible over the trickling water that snaked through the tunnel.
A narrow staircase carved into stone appeared ahead, its slick steps spiraling upward toward a sliver of light. The group climbed, muscles burning from the effort. When they reached the top, Erik pushed open a hatch, and the cold wind rushed in, tasting of rain and river silt.
They emerged beneath an old stone bridge. The river flowed dark and deep, its current steady, carrying whispers of secrets down its length. Cassie's eyes darted across the riverbank, scanning for any sign of movement, any glint of metal or shadow that signaled danger. The city hummed behind them, a mix of morning traffic and the steady toll of church bells.
"Where do we go now?" Anya asked, her voice edged with the tension of flight.
Erik wiped sweat from his brow, eyes locked on the far side of the river. "There's a safe location on the other side, an old warehouse. It hasn't been used in years, but it'll buy us time."
Cassie nodded, swallowing her exhaustion. They needed time—time to contact allies, time to figure out how to get the list into the right hands without being cut down before they could act. But before they could plan, they had to survive the next few hours.
A sharp crack rang out, splintering the air like lightning. Cassie's heart jolted as she recognized the sound: gunfire.
"Down!" Erik shouted, pulling Anya behind a stone outcropping. Cassie dropped to her stomach, feeling the sting of gravel against her palms. Across the bridge, dark figures moved into view, their silhouettes shifting like wraiths in the early light. The agency had found them.
"Get to the river!" Cassie yelled, scrambling backward. The three of them slid down the embankment, feet sinking into the muddy edge as the sound of gunfire ricocheted off the stone above them. Water splashed around their legs as they plunged into the shallows, icy and biting.
Cassie glanced back to see an agent break from the line, aiming a rifle with practiced precision. Time slowed. The sound of the world fell away, replaced by the pounding of her heartbeat and the chill of adrenaline surging through her veins. She moved without thinking, grabbing Anya and pulling her under the water just as a bullet zipped past, missing them by inches.
Erik emerged a few feet away, gasping for air. "Keep moving! Don't stop!" he shouted, pushing against the current that fought to pull them downstream. The water clawed at Cassie's limbs, dragging her under as she struggled to stay afloat, the notebook clamped against her chest, now soaked through.
With every breath, the roar of the city above seemed to grow quieter, as if they were being swallowed by the river itself. But after what felt like an eternity, they reached the far bank, shivering and coughing up water. The warehouse Erik mentioned loomed ahead, its rusted exterior blending with the shadows of the abandoned dockyard.
They stumbled inside, slamming the door behind them and collapsing onto the concrete floor. Cassie's fingers were numb, the notebook slipping from her grasp as she sucked in deep, ragged breaths. Anya leaned against the wall, eyes closed, the lines of her face etched with exhaustion.
Erik locked eyes with Cassie, his expression both grave and resolved. "We can't stay long. They'll comb the entire city to find us."
"I know," Cassie whispered, looking down at the soaked pages now half-torn from the notebook. The ink ran in places, smearing the names, but most were still legible. "But we need to find someone who can take this from us and do something with it before we're found."
Anya looked up, determination flickering in her dark eyes. "Then we call in favors. Whatever contacts we have left, we reach out to them now."
Erik nodded, pushing himself up to stand. "I'll set up a secure line. But Cassie, this is it. If we make these calls, there's no going back. They'll know exactly where to strike next."
Cassie clenched her jaw, feeling the weight of the decision press down on her like an iron shroud. "Then we make sure it's worth the risk."
Outside, the city continued to wake, oblivious to the battle waging in its shadows. Cassie closed her eyes, hearing Adam's voice echo in her mind, a reminder of why she was here, soaked, hunted, and cornered. The agency had played its game for too long.
And now, with everything at stake, she was ready to fight back.