Crowded by Fire

Annalise's heart froze as she watched Ethan disappear into the chaos of flames and smoke. The explosion echoed in her ears, a sharp reminder of just how close they were to death.

"Keep moving!" Cole barked, his grip tightening around her wrist as they darted deeper into the forest.

"But Ethan—" Annalise began, her voice cracking.

"He knows what he's doing," Cole said firmly. "If we stop, we die. Don't waste his sacrifice."

The woman who had stumbled into their path earlier gasped for air as she struggled to keep up. "There's a clearing up ahead," she panted. "I think we can lose them there."

"How do you know this forest?" Annalise demanded, narrowing her eyes at the stranger.

The woman didn't answer, her expression tight with fear—or perhaps something more.

"Keep an eye on her," Cole muttered under his breath.

"I already am," Annalise replied, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right.

The Clearing's Deception

They burst into the clearing the woman had mentioned—a wide, moonlit expanse surrounded by dense trees. Annalise stopped abruptly, her breath catching in her throat.

Something felt wrong. The air was too still, the silence oppressive.

"This doesn't feel right," she whispered.

Cole scanned the perimeter, his gun drawn. "It's too exposed. We're sitting ducks out here."

The woman stepped forward, turning to face them. For the first time, her fearful demeanor was replaced with something else—calculated calm.

"I wouldn't worry about exposure," she said, her voice icy.

Cole raised his gun instantly, but it was too late. The sound of boots crunching against the earth echoed as figures emerged from the shadows, weapons trained on them.

"You led them right to us," Annalise hissed, glaring at the woman.

The woman shrugged, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Apex doesn't like loose ends. And unfortunately for you, they're paying me very well to make sure you're one of them."

Captured

The Apex agents surrounded them, their faces hidden behind masks and their movements precise. One of them, a tall man in a black suit, stepped forward.

"Annalise Crane," he said, his voice cold and formal. "You've caused us quite a bit of trouble."

"Funny," Annalise snapped, masking her fear with defiance. "I was about to say the same thing about you."

The man ignored her, turning to the traitorous woman. "You've done well, Kara. Your payment will be wired immediately."

"Pleasure doing business," Kara said with a smirk.

"You'll regret this," Annalise snarled, her hands clenched into fists.

"Doubtful," Kara replied, her tone dripping with mockery.

The agents moved in, binding Annalise and Cole's hands behind their backs. Despite Cole's attempts to resist, they overpowered him with ease.

"You won't get away with this," Cole growled, glaring at the lead agent.

The man smirked. "That's where you're wrong."

Ethan's Gambit

The agents began to lead them deeper into the forest when a sudden, deafening sound split the night. The whir of helicopter blades filled the air, accompanied by the sharp crack of gunfire.

"Get down!" one of the agents shouted, but it was too late.

A figure dropped from the sky, landing in the center of the group with lethal precision.

"Miss me?" Ethan said, a cocky grin on his face as he took out two agents with swift, brutal efficiency.

"Ethan!" Annalise cried, relief flooding through her.

"Thought I told you to keep moving," he said, cutting through her bindings with a knife.

"You're insane," she replied, though there was a hint of admiration in her voice.

"Insanity's a survival skill," Ethan quipped, tossing a gun to Cole, who immediately sprang into action.

The Battle in the Woods

Chaos erupted as Ethan, Annalise, and Cole fought back against the Apex agents. The forest became a battleground, the sounds of gunfire and shouts echoing through the trees.

Annalise ducked behind a fallen log, her adrenaline surging as bullets whizzed past her. She fired back, her aim surprisingly steady for someone who had never held a gun before.

"Stay low!" Ethan called out, taking cover beside her.

"You came back for us," she said, her voice almost lost in the din.

"Of course I did," Ethan replied. "Can't let you have all the fun."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips.

Cole, meanwhile, was a force to be reckoned with, taking down agent after agent with calculated precision.

Kara tried to slip away in the chaos, but Annalise caught sight of her. "Not so fast," she muttered, giving chase.

The Betrayer's Reckoning

Annalise tackled Kara to the ground, pinning her with surprising strength.

"You betrayed us," Annalise spat, her voice venomous.

"It's just business," Kara replied, smirking even as she struggled against Annalise's grip.

"Then let me make this personal," Annalise said, raising her fist and landing a punch that wiped the smirk off Kara's face.

Kara's head lolled to the side, and she stopped struggling.

"Nice punch," Ethan said, appearing beside her.

"Thanks," Annalise said, breathing heavily.

They bound Kara and left her for the authorities. The remaining Apex agents retreated into the woods, leaving the group bloodied but alive.

A New Threat

As dawn broke over the forest, the three of them collapsed against a tree, their exhaustion palpable.

"This isn't over," Ethan said, breaking the silence.

Annalise looked at him, her expression unreadable. "What do you mean?"

"Apex won't stop," Ethan said. "Victor is just a pawn in their game. If we're going to survive, we need to take the fight to them."

Cole nodded, his face grim. "Then we'd better start planning."

Annalise stared at the horizon, her mind racing. Apex had underestimated her once. They wouldn't make that mistake again—but neither would she.

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, she made a silent vow: she would expose Apex, no matter the cost.

But deep in the shadows, a figure watched them, a sinister smile playing on their lips.

"It's only just begun," the figure whispered, disappearing into the trees.