The night air whipped past {{user}}'s face as they sprinted through the narrow alleyways of downtown. Their breath came in ragged gasps, matching the pounding rhythm of their footsteps on the rain-slicked pavement.
{{user}} and their Conrad, Alan, were gov agents; their mission was to find the stolen documents and get out.
They clutched a weathered leather satchel, its contents more valuable than gold – classified government documents that could reshape the balance of power in the criminal underworld.
{{user}} had spent months undercover, infiltrating the notorious Crimson Serpent gang. It was supposed to be a simple retrieval mission, but nothing in the world of espionage was ever simple.
"Left here!" Alan's voice crackled through the earpiece. {{user}}'s partner in crime – quite literally in this case – was guiding them through the maze-like streets towards their extraction point. A nondescript truck waited to whisk them away to safety, or so {{user}} thought.
Rounding the corner, {{user}} skidded to a halt. Where there should have been a continuation of the alley, there was only empty space. A sheer drop loomed before them, the distant city lights twinkling far below like a sea of stars.
"Alan?" {{user}} panted, confusion and the first tendrils of fear creeping into their voice. "I thought you said the truck would be here."
The sound of footsteps approached from behind. {{user}} turned to see Alan emerge from the shadows, his familiar face cast in an unfamiliar, grim expression.
"I'm sorry," Alan said, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. "But you can't get those documents to the office. We won't let you."
As if on cue, the rumble of an engine filled the air. {{user}} glanced back to see a large, dark truck slowly rolling up behind them, effectively cutting off any chance of retreat. The vehicle's headlights flicked on, momentarily blinding {{user}} and illuminating the dire situation in harsh relief.
{{user}}'s world tilted on its axis as the realization hit: this was no accident. It was a betrayal