The cold night air burned in X's lungs as they sprinted through the alleyways, Widow's presence still lingering in his mind.
She wasn't just another assassin. She was bait.
They weren't running. They were being led.
And that meant—this was a trap.
Raven kept pace beside him, breathing heavily. "Tell me you have a plan."
X's mind was racing. No weapons, low ammo, a sniper on overwatch, and an elite assassin hunting them.
Kessler, gasping for air, barely kept up. "We—can't—outrun them."
X knew that.
They needed a way out. Fast.
Ahead, the alley split into two paths. Left or right.
X stopped, scanning the area.
No sounds. No movement.
Too quiet.
That's when he noticed it.
A small red light blinking on the wall.
A surveillance drone.
They're watching us.
Raven saw it too. "Damn it. We're already tagged."
Kessler's face went pale. "They're herding us like animals."
X clenched his jaw. He had two options.
1. Keep running—and fall deeper into their trap.
2. Turn the tables—and fight back.
His eyes darkened. "We stop running."
Raven blinked. "Wait, what?"
Kessler panicked. "No, no, no—bad idea! We'll die!"
X ignored him. They needed to change the game.
X grabbed a rusted metal rod from the ground. It wasn't much, but it would do.
"We take the right alley," he said. "Find cover. Set a trap."
Raven nodded. She trusted him.
Kessler, however, was shaking. "I—I'm not a fighter."
X stared at him. "Then don't get in the way."
Kessler swallowed hard but nodded.
The plan was simple: make it look like they were still running—then strike first.
They darted down the right alley and quickly took cover behind an old, abandoned delivery truck.
Then, they waited.
Footsteps.
Soft. Precise. Deadly.
Widow.
She moved like a shadow, stepping into the alley with effortless grace.
She knew they were hiding.
And yet—she kept walking.
She was toying with them.
X's grip tightened around the metal rod.
Then—she spoke.
"I was expecting more from you, X."
X didn't hesitate.
He burst from cover, swinging the rod—
Widow dodged effortlessly, bending backward like a gymnast.
CRACK!
Her foot snapped up, slamming into X's ribs.
Pain exploded through his side.
But X was already moving.
He twisted, bringing the rod around—
Widow caught it mid-air.
She smirked. "Predictable."
X let go.
Widow's eyes widened—just as Raven fired.
BANG!
Widow dodged, but the bullet grazed her shoulder.
A flicker of annoyance crossed her face. "Clever."
X lunged. This time, she wasn't ready.
His fist slammed into her jaw.
Widow staggered back, shaking her head.
For the first time—she looked irritated.
Widow touched her bleeding shoulder and sighed.
"Interesting."
Then—she pressed a button on her wrist.
A distant beeping sound echoed through the alley.
X's stomach sank. Explosives.
Widow smiled. "You should start running again."
BOOM!
A fireball erupted in the alley, the shockwave slamming into them.
X hit the ground hard, ears ringing.
Smoke filled the air. Widow was gone.
Raven groaned, pushing herself up. "She's really starting to piss me off."
Kessler coughed, eyes wide with terror. "She could've killed us!"
X wiped blood from his lip. "She didn't want to."
Because Widow was still playing.
And that meant—Echelon wasn't done with them yet.