Cassie could feel exhaustion gnawing at her bones, but there was no time for rest. The safe house where Anya had hidden her was sparse, with cracked plaster walls and a single dim bulb swaying from the ceiling. Outside, Prague's streets were a blend of ancient charm and modern chaos, echoing with the occasional laughter of late-night revelers unaware of the deadly game unfolding around them.
Anya sat across from Cassie, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of the situation. She pushed a steaming cup of tea toward Cassie, who took it without a word, letting the warmth seep into her chilled fingers. The silence between them was filled with unsaid things: guilt, fear, trust, and desperation.
"We need a plan," Anya said, breaking the quiet. Her voice was sharp but carried an undercurrent of worry. "They know you're in the city. Every hour we wait, they close the net tighter."
Cassie took a long sip of tea, its bitter taste grounding her. "We can't just run. We need to get to the safety deposit box and secure that list. Once we have it, we can make them answer for everything they've done."
Anya's brow furrowed. "And do you trust Nikolai to keep his word? That he'll be there when it matters?"
Cassie's eyes met Anya's, her determination unwavering. "I don't know if I can. But right now, he's the only one who has as much to lose as we do."
Outside, the wind picked up, rattling the windowpanes. Anya rose to check the locks again, her movements fluid and deliberate, a reminder of her training. The two women had been brought together by circumstances that were far from ideal, yet they shared a single purpose: survival and justice.
Cassie stood, setting down her cup. "We need to move before dawn. If we're going to get to the bank, we need to stay ahead of them."
Anya nodded, her eyes narrowing as she considered their next move. "There's an underground network—tunnels beneath the city that lead closer to the district where the bank is. We'll use them. It'll buy us some time."
The plan was set. The next hour was a blur of preparation: weapons checked, routes memorized, disguises donned. As the first hint of dawn paled the horizon, Cassie and Anya slipped out of the safe house, blending into the shadows of the ancient city.
The entrance to the tunnels was hidden beneath an old stone bridge, a relic of centuries past that Prague's city planners had forgotten. Anya led the way, lifting an iron grate that groaned in protest. Cassie slipped inside, the cold, damp air of the tunnel rushing up to meet her. Anya followed, pulling the grate closed behind them.
Their footsteps echoed as they moved deeper underground, their flashlights casting thin beams of light that illuminated jagged walls and the occasional scuttling rat. The tunnels smelled of earth and mold, each turn a reminder of how easy it would be to get lost down here.
After what felt like hours but was only minutes, Anya stopped abruptly, raising a hand. Cassie stilled, listening. Voices echoed faintly from up ahead. The agency? Cassie's pulse quickened, adrenaline surging through her veins.
Anya motioned for Cassie to follow as she crept forward, each step as silent as a predator's. They reached a bend in the tunnel and peered around the corner. Two men stood there, their faces shadowed, but the dark suits they wore were unmistakable. Agency operatives.
Cassie exchanged a glance with Anya, who gave a single nod. There was no way to avoid them; they had to go through them. With a silent signal, the two women moved. Cassie lunged first, slamming one of the men against the wall before he could react. Anya's knife flashed as she disarmed the second, the sound of metal clattering to the stone floor echoing like a warning bell.
The fight was quick, brutal, and efficient. Within moments, both operatives were on the ground, unconscious. Cassie wiped her brow, heart racing as the silence returned.
"We need to move," Anya whispered, urgency clear in her voice.
They pressed on, navigating the labyrinthine tunnels until the cool air began to change, carrying with it the faint, metallic scent of the city above. A shaft of light pierced the darkness up ahead, signaling an exit. Cassie climbed the rickety ladder first, pushing up the manhole cover with caution. The street above was quiet, the early hour ensuring most of Prague was still asleep.
Anya climbed up after her, and they quickly merged into the street, appearing like nothing more than two locals heading to work. The bank was only a few blocks away, its grand, stone façade standing like a fortress against the morning light.
Cassie felt the weight of what they were about to do settle over her. This was it. One shot to get the list, one shot to end the agency's reign of secrets and betrayal. She turned to Anya, a spark of determination in her eyes.
"Let's finish this."