The Hunt Begins

The abandoned subway station was eerily silent, the only sounds coming from the distant dripping of water and their own breathing.

X stood at the edge of the platform, deep in thought.

Agent Z wasn't just stronger—he was perfect.

And if X wanted to survive, he needed to find a way to turn the tables.

Raven adjusted her gear. "So, what's the move?"

X turned to Kessler. "Echelon built Z. That means they built weaknesses into him, too. What are they?"

Kessler shook his head. "There are no weaknesses."

X's jaw tightened. "Bullshit. Every weapon has a flaw. Every soldier has a limit."

Kessler hesitated, then sighed. "There's only one person who might know."

Raven frowned. "Who?"

Kessler licked his lips nervously. "Dr. Vance Mercer."

The name hit X like a punch to the gut.

Mercer.

The lead scientist behind Echelon's genetic enhancements.

The man who had overseen X's creation.

And the one who had betrayed him.

X's voice was cold. "Mercer's dead."

Kessler shook his head. "That's what Echelon wants everyone to believe. But he's alive. Off the grid."

Raven crossed her arms. "Where?"

Kessler hesitated. Then, reluctantly, he said, "Prague."

X exhaled slowly. "Then that's where we're going."

As they gathered supplies, Raven kept watch near the tunnel entrance.

She frowned. "We're running out of time. If we don't move soon, Z will find us."

X secured his gear. "Then we leave now."

But before they could move, Kessler's phone buzzed.

He went pale.

X grabbed it and checked the screen.

A single message.

"You can run, but you can't hide. – G."

X's grip tightened around the phone.

Graves knew where they were.

And that meant one thing.

Z was already coming.