Phoenix (Action One-Shots)

Action Collection: Fearless

It was 9 o' clock in the evening. The sun had just begun to set, painting Shanghai's sky blood-orange, as if it was something out of a painting. There was an unusual silence lingering in the streets of the city, which was most ideal for the person sitting in the white Jaguar's passenger seat, as it parked in front of one of the dozens of skyscrapers. The driver stepped out of the car and opened the door.

"Right this way, Mr. Owens" he said, holding the door open.

A blond man of average height got out, holding a briefcase. His gray and green eyes, which were fixed on the top floor of the skyscraper in front of him, made his gaze even colder. Without even glancing at the driver, he straightened out his suit and quickly walked toward the entrance.

As he went up the glass stairs, along the gray walls, he suddenly sensed a presence. He froze right where he stood. There couldn't be anyone else in there, all those working in the company housed in the building had orders to leave by 8 o'clock. The only one who could be there at that time, that particular day, was his partner, but he would not waste his time by playing hide-and-seek in the shadows.

"Who's there!" he yelled, reaching for his jacket's pocket.

No reply. Not wanting to waste more precious time irritating his partner, he decided to overlook the feeling he had, and headed to the stairs once more. But before he could even take a step, a pair of hands grabbed him, violently pulled him into a small room and pinned him to the floor. The man lifted his head, still feeling dizzy by the fall. As he was trying to understand what had just happened to him and where he was, he saw a silhouette standing in front of him.

"Get up" his mysterious abductor ordered him.

He did not dare object. Trying to ignore the unstopping pain in his leg, he stood up and rubbed his eyes. To his surprise, a young woman in her mid-twenties, with dark red hair and brown eyes, which reflected dynamism and self-confidence, stood before him. The other features of her face were equally beautiful, but her expression was harsh.

"Who are you?" the man asked her.

"Your killer" the woman answered coldly.

The man reached for his gun, but as soon as the woman saw him lifting his arm, she rushed forward and punched him in the face, causing to bounce off the wall. She then pulled out her gun and pointed it towards his head.

"I know only one woman with such a gun. You're..." the man said, but he could not bear to finish his sentence, as he was in great pain.

"Rene Fox. CIA' s most dangerous spy" the woman said. "So, we finally meet, Martin Owens."

Before the man could do or say anything, the agent stabbed his neck with a tranquilizer shot and took his briefcase. Fixing her tie, she walked out and took the stairs towards the top floor. As the heels of the black, knee-high boots, which hugged the agent's legs, clicked on the glass stairs with her every step, Rene felt her heartbeat pick up pace. There was no room for failure in this mission and she knew it, but she wasn't afraid, she never was. She believed in herself and her abilities, she didn't have a fear of failure. What was constantly on her mind was the reason she was sent to Shanghai.

It had all started a week before. Her boss had learned from a very reliable source that one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world had gained access to classified files containing CIA agents' information. These files were encrypted in the Agency's main computer and were protected by complex passcodes, considered impossible to crack. The Agency's director was determined to not only get them back, but also to find out how they were stolen and by whom. He knew that not anyone was capable enough for this mission, but that's why he sent Rene.