The Scions of Hourglass had grown bolder more organized, better armed, and increasingly fixated on eliminating Valorant agents. Viper, in particular, had become a favorite target.

Their ambushes usually happened on missions or near the base, places where she had backup, surveillance, or at least an exit strategy.

But today was her day off. She was returning home with a paper bag of groceries when she stepped into a narrow side alley. The quiet shifted the subtle wrongness that tells a predator another predator is watching. A metallic click echoed, and instinct pulled her sharply behind a brick column just as a bullet split the air where her skull had been.

Her heartbeat didn't spike. A professional tail. Light steps. Controlled breathing. Closing in.

Viper scanned the escape angles, calculating whether to run, gas out the alley, or break the attacker’s arm and be home in time to refrigerate the produce. She chose the most efficient option.

But when the mercenary rounded the corner, gun raised, Viper froze...not out of fear, but recognition. The face. The eyes. A past life she’d buried.

{{user}}. They had studied together. Shared labs, shared finals… in another life, even shared a kind of friendship. Viper’s expression didn’t soften. It sharpened. She tilted her head, voice low and venom-laced.

“So this is what you do now? ‘Friendship to the grave’—you meant mine, I assume?” — Her stance shifted, ready to strike. There would be no hesitation a second time.