The cold night air whipped at Anya's face as she descended the fire escape, her heart pounding in her chest. The alley below was shrouded in shadow but she could hear the heavy footsteps of her pursuers gaining on her. She hit the ground running, weaving through the narrow passageways, her mind racing.
She needed to disappear, to find a safe place to analyze the data she'd glimpsed before OmniCorp silenced her for good. But where could she go? Who could she trust? Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.
As she rounded a corner a pair of headlights blinded her. A black SUV screeched to a halt blocking her path. She braced herself for capture but instead a figure emerged from the vehicle, silhouetted against the headlights.
He was tall and imposing, clad in dark clothing, his face obscured by the shadows. There was an aura of danger about him, a sense of controlled power that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Anya Volkov" he said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Get in."
Anya hesitated. Was this a trap? Another one of OmniCorp's enforcers? But something in his voice, a hint of urgency made her pause. She had a split second to decide.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
"Someone who can help you" he replied, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "But we don't have time to argue. They're coming."
Anya glanced back and saw the two figures from her apartment emerge from the alleyway, their weapons drawn. She made her decision.
She lunged for the SUV, scrambling into the passenger seat as the man jumped back behind the wheel. The vehicle roared to life, tires squealing as it sped away from the alley leaving her pursuers in the dust.
As they raced through the city streets, Anya finally had a chance to catch her breath. She turned to her rescuer, studying his face in the dim light of the dashboard. He had sharp, angular features, a strong jawline, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her.
"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice more steady this time.
"My name is Dimitri" he said, his gaze fixed on the road. "And I'm here to protect you."
Anya scoffed. "Protect me? By kidnapping me?"
"It was the only way" Dimitri replied, his voice firm. "OmniCorp won't hesitate to silence you. I'm the only one who can keep you safe."
Anya didn't know whether to believe him but one thing was clear, she was now caught in a game far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined and Dimitri was her only ally. For now.