The safe house Cassie and Anya had secured was nestled within the winding streets of Prague's lesser-known district, away from the predictable checkpoints and monitored areas. The old building had the scent of damp stone, its history apparent in the worn wooden beams that creaked softly above. Cassie paced in the dimly lit room, tracing her path along the fading pattern of the rug, the fabric a reminder of more innocent times.
Anya sat at the edge of a wooden chair, fingers methodically working the edges of a cigarette she never lit. Her sharp eyes followed Cassie's movements, watching for a break in composure. The room was filled with silence, interrupted only by the muffled sounds of the city outside—car horns, distant laughter, the constant hum of a place never truly at rest.
"How long do you think we have before they realize what we took?" Cassie asked, pausing to glance at the folded map and encrypted USB drive on the table.
"Not long," Anya replied, exhaling a breath that seemed to carry the weight of years spent dodging shadows. "The agency is efficient. They don't rest until their threats are neutralized."
Cassie met Anya's gaze. The exhaustion was mutual, mirrored in their bloodshot eyes and the tension that tightened their shoulders. But giving in to the fatigue would mean surrendering, and that was not an option.
Anya leaned forward, her voice lowering as if the walls themselves were agents of betrayal. "There's a train heading west tonight. It's our best chance to cover ground before they tighten the net. We need to move."
Cassie nodded, slipping the USB drive into her coat pocket. "We'll need disguises. They'll be looking for two women. We have to make them think we've split up."
The older woman's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Clever. The trick isn't just running; it's making them doubt what they see."
Cassie began to rifle through the old chest near the window. The clothing was outdated, but she managed to piece together a believable ensemble—a pair of work overalls and a woolen cap. Anya did the same, slipping into a faded dress that gave her the appearance of a vendor heading home after a long day.
With their new identities, they left through the back exit, slipping into the labyrinth of alleys that branched out like veins. The cold nipped at their skin, but the adrenaline surged warmer than any coat could offer. Every shadow held the potential for betrayal, every stranger a possible informant. The air buzzed with an unspoken urgency.
As they approached the station, Cassie's eyes scanned the platforms for signs of trouble. The crowd moved in chaotic harmony—travelers clutching bags, children tugging at their parents, and guards who loitered with trained disinterest. It was the perfect place for agents to blend in, eyes watching from behind mundane masks.
"There," Anya whispered, nodding subtly toward a carriage at the far end of the train. "We board separately. You take that one, and I'll join further down. Don't look for me until we're far from here."
Cassie's pulse quickened, not at the thought of splitting up but at the realization that this was one of their last opportunities to outmaneuver their pursuers. "Understood."
She moved with calculated ease, blending into the stream of passengers until she reached her designated carriage. The inside of the train was dim, smelling faintly of oil and stale bread. Cassie found a seat near the window and settled in, trying to calm the thrum of nerves under her skin. The lights of the station blurred as the train lurched forward, the gentle rocking a strange comfort amid the uncertainty.
Minutes passed before she felt a shift in the air, an unexplainable prickling at the back of her neck. A man in a dark coat had entered the carriage, his eyes sweeping over the passengers with practiced efficiency. Cassie's heart thudded against her ribs as she shifted her posture, pulling her cap lower over her face. She reached into her pocket, fingers grazing the edge of a small knife.
The man's gaze passed over her, lingered a fraction too long, and then moved on. Cassie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. But relief was short-lived.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the adjacent carriage. A shout, followed by the sound of bodies colliding and a muffled curse. Cassie's stomach dropped as she rose from her seat, peering through the narrow pane of glass in the door. Two agents had cornered someone—a woman in a faded dress.
Anya.
Cassie's pulse roared in her ears. Acting purely on instinct, she slid the door open and stepped into the next carriage, her presence unnoticed in the frenzy. One of the agents grabbed Anya's arm, trying to pin her against the wall.
"Tell us where the drive is, or this ends badly for you," the agent snarled.
Anya's eyes met Cassie's for a fleeting moment. It was enough. Cassie moved swiftly, striking the nearest agent across the back of the head with the hilt of her knife. He crumpled without a sound. The second agent spun around, surprise giving Cassie the moment she needed to lunge, her fist connecting with his jaw.
The agent staggered but recovered quickly, drawing a weapon. Anya didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, she kicked the gun from his hand, sending it skittering across the floor. Cassie followed through, knocking him unconscious with a precise blow to the temple.
They exchanged a breathless glance as the train continued its steady pace. The passengers in the adjacent car sat wide-eyed, too stunned or too smart to intervene.
"We need to go," Anya whispered, her voice hoarse with urgency.
Cassie nodded, helping her to her feet. They moved toward the back of the train, slipping out onto the small metal platform between the carriages. The wind lashed against them, cold and unforgiving.
Cassie turned to Anya. "Next stop, we vanish."
Anya's lips quirked in agreement, her eyes fierce with determination. "Into the abyss, then."
The train rolled on into the night, carrying them deeper into the unknown, where safety was a distant hope and the truth a blade they would wield, no matter the cost.