Hitman: Agent X

X kept his pistol raised, studying Raven in the moonlight. Twelve dead operatives. One sniper. She was skilled—maybe even as skilled as he was.

But that didn't mean he trusted her.

Raven smirked, sensing his hesitation. "Look, I could've killed you if I wanted to. Instead, I saved your life. That's got to count for something."

X wasn't convinced. "No one helps for free. What's your angle?"

Her expression darkened. "Echelon ruined my life. They took everything from me. So now? I'm taking everything from them."

That, X understood. Vengeance.

He lowered his gun—but only slightly. "If you're lying, I'll kill you."

She grinned. "Fair enough. Now let's get the hell out of here before more of them show up."

They moved quickly through the dense forest, Raven leading the way. X was still bleeding from his shoulder wound, but he ignored it. He had bigger problems—Echelon was hunting him, and now he had a mysterious ally with unknown motives.

After a few miles, they reached an old road where a black SUV was parked.

"This yours?" X asked.

Raven opened the driver's door. "Yeah. Stolen, of course."

X climbed into the passenger seat, gripping his pistol just in case.

The moment the engine roared to life, Raven slammed the gas. The SUV kicked up dirt and shot down the road, headlights off to avoid detection.

X watched the trees blur past. "Where are we going?"

"Out of Germany," Raven replied. "You need to get to Prague for your doctor, right? I have a contact who can get us across the border."

X raised an eyebrow. "You sure I didn't just trade one trap for another?"

She smirked. "You'll have to trust me."

He didn't.

An hour into the drive, X noticed something in the side mirror.

Headlights.

Two black SUVs. Coming fast.

Raven saw them too. "Shit."

X pulled out his gun. "They found us."

Raven floored it, pushing the SUV past 100 mph. The road was narrow, winding through hills. The chase was on.

Gunfire erupted behind them. Bullets shattered the back window.

X turned, aiming his silenced pistol through the broken glass. Bang. Bang.

His shots took out the driver of the first SUV. It swerved violently before flipping off the road, exploding in a fiery crash.

The second SUV kept coming.

Raven gritted her teeth. "Hold on."

She yanked the wheel, sending their vehicle off-road, crashing through a fence and onto a dirt path. The second SUV followed.

X reloaded. "We can't outrun them forever."

"Who said anything about outrunning?" Raven muttered.

Ahead, a wooden bridge stretched across a deep river gorge.

Raven accelerated.

"Raven—" X started.

Too late.

The SUV barreled onto the bridge at full speed. The second SUV followed.

Right as they reached the middle—Raven jerked the wheel hard.

Their SUV smashed through the bridge railing and plunged straight into the river below.

SPLASH.

Water engulfed them as the car sank.

X kicked open his door and swam up. Raven was right behind him. They surfaced just in time to see the second SUV slam on its brakes—too late.

It skidded and flipped over the edge, crashing into the river with a thunderous splash.

X and Raven swam to shore, coughing up water.

She looked at him, grinning. "Still think I'm setting you up?"

X exhaled. Maybe not.