Cassie's legs ached from the relentless pace, but she couldn't afford to slow down. Erik kept close behind, his eyes scanning for any sign of movement. The streets of Prague, beautiful in their architecture, felt like an unforgiving maze. Every shadow threatened to reveal their pursuers, and every footfall echoed like a gunshot in the silence.
"Over here," Erik whispered, leading Cassie into a narrow alley flanked by abandoned stone buildings. The air was cold, seeping into their bones as they pressed themselves against the rough wall. Cassie's mind raced, the mention of Devereux a constant refrain pounding in her head.
Devereux wasn't just any agent. He was the agency's insurance policy, a ghost who appeared when operations needed to disappear—permanently. The few who survived encounters with him spoke of eyes that missed nothing and an uncanny ability to anticipate moves before they were made.
"Do you think Leah's intel was solid?" Erik asked, his breath misting in the air.
"She had no reason to lie," Cassie replied, though doubt gnawed at her resolve. The memory of Leah's haunted expression lingered. Whatever had happened to her during those months off-grid had changed her. But Cassie couldn't afford to question motives now—not with Devereux on their tail.
A faint sound—the scuff of a shoe against cobblestone—made them freeze. Cassie's pulse quickened. Erik nodded once, and they moved in unison, silently shifting deeper into the alley until they were behind a half-collapsed wall. From their cover, they could see two figures at the alley's mouth, dark silhouettes against the dim streetlight.
Cassie's breath caught. The taller one moved with a feline grace that sent a shiver down her spine. Devereux. Even in shadow, his presence was unmistakable. The other agent, stockier and with a restless energy, was scanning their surroundings, fingers flexing at his side as if ready to draw a weapon.
"They're close," the stocky one said, his voice rough and impatient.
Devereux didn't reply. His silence was more unsettling than words. He stepped forward, and Cassie saw the sharp lines of his face illuminated by the faint light. There was a cold precision to his gaze, a hunter's focus that locked onto the darkness of the alley.
Cassie's muscles tensed. They couldn't stay hidden for long. Erik met her eyes, and she knew they were thinking the same thing: diversion. Without hesitation, Cassie reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin, flicking it down the opposite end of the alley. The metallic clink echoed sharply.
Both agents snapped toward the sound. Devereux's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, he signaled to the stocky agent to investigate. The agent moved, gun drawn, leaving Devereux alone. Cassie seized the moment.
"Go!" she whispered, pushing Erik toward the narrow passage on the right. They slipped into the opening, moving fast but carefully to keep their footsteps silent. Cassie didn't dare look back, but she could feel the air shift, a prickle at the nape of her neck that told her Devereux was moving too.
The passage led them to an open square, eerily quiet under the pale glow of the moon. Statues cast long, distorted shadows, and the air was thick with anticipation. Erik leaned against a pillar, catching his breath.
"We need to lose him," he said between gasps. "Fast."
Cassie nodded, eyes darting for an exit. The square was too exposed, and the faint crunch of footsteps told her they were out of time. She spotted an old church with a heavy wooden door slightly ajar. It was risky, but their only option.
"Come on," she urged, pulling Erik toward the entrance. They slipped inside, the ancient wood groaning as it shut behind them. Darkness engulfed them, the faint scent of old candles and dust filling their nostrils. Cassie's heart hammered as she listened, straining to hear beyond the rush of blood in her ears.
A moment later, the footsteps stopped outside. Silence. Cassie's fingers tightened around her pistol, ready for the worst. The door creaked open, casting a sliver of moonlight onto the stone floor.
Devereux stood framed in the doorway, eyes adjusting to the darkness. He stepped inside, each movement deliberate, as if daring them to reveal themselves. Cassie's hand was steady, finger on the trigger, but she held back. Firing now would only give away their position.
The silence stretched, suffocating. Then, Devereux spoke, his voice soft and chilling. "You can't run forever, Cassie. Come out, and I promise to make it quick."
The weight of his words sank into her bones. Erik shifted slightly, and Cassie shot him a warning glance. If they moved now, they'd be dead.
Devereux took another step, his gaze sweeping the shadows. Cassie's mind raced, calculating their odds. They needed to buy time, create distance. Slowly, she reached for a small relic lying on a nearby table and flung it across the room. It shattered against the far wall, drawing Devereux's attention.
Cassie seized the moment. She grabbed Erik's arm and bolted through the side door, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet as they raced through the back halls. The echo of Devereux's pursuit followed, closer now, his steps quickening as he realized the ruse.
They burst out into an alley behind the church, gasping for air. Ahead, a series of interconnected rooftops offered a path, risky but feasible. Cassie nodded to Erik. "Go. Up."
He didn't hesitate, pulling himself onto the first ledge as Cassie scrambled after him. The city unfolded below, a labyrinth of lights and shadows. They moved from roof to roof, each jump a gamble. Cassie's lungs burned, her muscles screaming for relief, but she pushed forward.
A gunshot cracked the air, splintering the tiles at her feet. Devereux had emerged, weapon raised, eyes locking onto hers with a predator's focus.
"Move!" Erik yelled, grabbing her hand and hauling her onto the next rooftop. The sound of approaching sirens filled the night, a cacophony that signaled they'd drawn enough attention. It was their one advantage.
Devereux paused, assessing the situation as the sirens grew louder. With one last look, he melted back into the shadows, a silent promise that this wasn't over.
Cassie collapsed beside Erik, the weight of survival crashing down on her. For tonight, they'd escaped, but the ghost was still out there, waiting for his chance to strike. And she knew, deep down, that the next encounter would leave no room for errors.