The Ghost and the Vixen

The Ghost

The rain fell steadily, creating a soft hiss as it hit the empty streets of Prague. The city slept, unaware of the predator moving silently in its shadows. Perched on the rooftop of an old apartment building, Kade watched through the scope of his sniper rifle, his eyes calm and focused. Beneath him, the target moved inside a brightly lit hotel room—oblivious, vulnerable.

Kade’s breath was steady, his finger resting lightly on the trigger. The cold air did little to unsettle him; he was a master of stillness, patience his closest ally. Tonight’s mission was simple: eliminate Maxim Kovac, an arms dealer who had made too many enemies in too many places. The client, anonymous as always, had wired half the payment already—the rest would come after the job was done. Kovac had been holed up in his penthouse for weeks, guarded by an army of thugs, but Kade didn’t need to breach the building. One shot. That was all it would take.

Through the scope, Kade could see Kovac pacing back and forth, yelling into his phone. “Careless,” Kade thought. A man like him should know better than to stand in front of a window, especially after double-crossing some of the most dangerous people in the world.

Kade inhaled slowly, letting the crosshairs settle on Kovac’s chest. As his finger began to tighten on the trigger, a voice crackled in his earpiece.

"All clear on the north exit," came the whisper of Zara, his handler. She was calm, methodical, just like him—a perfect partner in his work. "No movement from the bodyguards. You’re good to go."

Kade didn’t reply. He never spoke during a kill, not even in acknowledgment. His focus was absolute.

He squeezed the trigger.

The sound of the suppressed rifle was barely a whisper in the night. Through the scope, Kade watched as Kovac stumbled backward, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. Blood began to pool on the floor beneath him.

“Target down,” Kade finally whispered into the earpiece, his voice emotionless. He slung the rifle over his shoulder and stood, stepping back from the ledge. The job was done.

“Good work, Ghost,” Zara’s voice came through again, this time with a hint of satisfaction. “You’ve got five minutes before Kovac’s men realize what happened. Extraction point is still clear.”

Kade moved like a shadow, slipping down the fire escape at the back of the building. He blended into the night, unseen by the few passersby wandering the narrow streets below. His black tactical suit and hood made him nearly invisible, and his footsteps were silent, even on the wet pavement. He earned the name "The Ghost" for a reason.

He navigated the back alleys with ease, his mind already shifting to the next step—exfiltration. Kade rarely stayed in one place longer than necessary, and Prague had been home for too long. After tonight, he would disappear again, leaving no trace of his presence. That was his gift.

As he rounded the corner, he heard Zara again. "There’s a car waiting at the corner of the square. Black sedan. Get in, and we’ll take you to the safe house."

"On my way," Kade muttered, quickening his pace as he slipped into the crowded square. The cover of civilians made him blend in seamlessly. He spotted the sedan parked at the far end and approached without hesitation. The driver, a man he didn’t know, nodded as Kade slid into the back seat.

"Nice work back there," the driver said, pulling away from the curb. His voice was casual, as though they were discussing the weather, not a murder.

Kade didn’t reply. His eyes scanned the streets as they sped through the city, checking for tails, though he knew there wouldn’t be one. Zara had handled the logistics perfectly, as always.

"You know, I heard Kovac had some pretty powerful friends," the driver continued, filling the silence. "This might stir up some heat."

"It won’t matter," Kade said coldly. His voice was low, devoid of emotion. "By the time anyone connects the dots, I’ll be long gone."

The driver chuckled nervously, unsure if Kade was joking or not. He glanced in the rearview mirror but quickly averted his gaze when he met Kade’s icy stare.

They rode in silence for the rest of the trip, the rain tapping rhythmically against the windows. After fifteen minutes, the car pulled into an underground parking garage beneath an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Zara was waiting by a plain, unmarked door, her sharp eyes scanning the area as they pulled in.

Kade stepped out of the car without a word and approached her.

"Clean," Zara said, giving him a once-over. She was a tall woman, dressed in all black, with short dark hair and an air of authority about her. "No heat on you, and the transfer’s already in progress. You’ll be getting the rest of the payment by morning."

Kade nodded. "When’s the next job?"

Zara raised an eyebrow. "You just finished this one."

"Doesn’t mean I’m done," Kade replied, his voice clipped. "What’s next?"

She sighed, folding her arms. "There’s always something with you. No downtime, no rest. You ever think about what happens if you burn out, Ghost?"

"I don’t burn out," he said simply, his tone making it clear the conversation was over.

Zara watched him for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. I’ll have something for you in a few days. But for now, lay low. We don’t know if Kovac’s people will try to retaliate. Even ghosts can be caught if they’re not careful."

Kade turned away without responding, heading toward the stairs that led to the safe house. He paused briefly before entering, glancing back at Zara. "I’m not worried about them."

As he disappeared inside, Zara shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You never are."

—

Inside the safe house, Kade stripped off his tactical gear, setting it down on the table with meticulous care. The room was sparse—bare walls, a bed, and a table. It was all he ever needed. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the gun in his hands, his mind drifting to the next job, the next kill.

But for a brief moment, a question flickered in his mind, one he hadn’t asked in a long time: How much longer could he keep doing this?

He pushed the thought away. There was no place for doubt in his world. There were only targets, contracts, and the cold, detached precision he had mastered. And as long as the jobs kept coming, he would keep killing.

For Kade, there was no other life. Not anymore.