The apartment was dark when I stepped in, the kind of dark that felt planned. I wore my cap low and the mask tight against my face, my breathing slow and quiet. This was routine. In and out. No noise. No mistakes. I moved along the wall, scanning the space, listening carefully. My fingers brushed the comm.
"Inside," I whispered.
"Any movement?" Ethan asked.
"Too quiet," I replied. "Feels staged."
"Proceed," he said. "Fast."
I took two more steps when a scream ripped through the building. Female. Sharp. Cut short.
I stopped.
"Ethan," I said quietly.
"I heard it," he replied. "Stairwell."
"I'm checking."
The stairwell door burst open before I reached it. Two men dragged a woman out between them. She was stumbling, hands tied behind her back, breath coming out in panicked gasps. Her white coat was half torn, slipping off one shoulder.
"Move," one man snapped at her.
"Please," she cried. "I didn't see anything, I swear—"
That was enough.
I stepped out of the shadow.
"Let her go."
They turned, surprised.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them asked.
I didn't answer.
I moved.
The first man went down fast. Wrist twisted. Elbow to the throat. He dropped with a choking sound. The second man reached for his gun.
"Don't," I said calmly.
He didn't listen.
I knocked the weapon away and slammed him into the wall. He hit the ground hard and didn't get back up.
The woman stood frozen, staring at me. She couldn't see my face. Only the mask. Only my eyes.
"W-who are you?" she asked, voice shaking.
"Someone who's getting you out," I replied.
I cut the rope on her hands.
"Can you walk?"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes. Yes."
"Good," I said. "Stay behind me."
She stayed close, almost stepping on my heel.
Gunshots echoed from below.
"Andrew," Ethan's voice came sharp. "You engaged?"
"Yes," I said. "Civilian involved."
A pause.
"Get out," Ethan ordered. "Now."
We ran toward the stairs.
"I can't run fast," she said, breathless.
"You don't have to," I replied. "Just don't stop."
Men appeared below us, shouting.
"Go back!" one yelled.
I stepped in front of her.
"Stay behind me," I said.
A shot fired.
Pain burned through my shoulder.
She gasped.
"You're shot!"
"Not important," I said. "Look at me."
She looked.
"Breathe," I said. "Slow."
She nodded, trying.
"Run when I say," I added.
More shots.
"Now!" I shouted.
She hesitated.
"I won't leave you!"
I turned slightly, my voice firm.
"You will. And you will not look back."
She swallowed hard.
"Promise you'll come?"
"I promise," I said.
She ran.
I followed after creating space, my movements sharp despite the pain. We burst into the alley, cold air hitting us hard. Sirens wailed in the distance.
"Police," she whispered.
"Yes," I replied.
I pulled her behind a dumpster.
"Stay here."
She slid down, sitting on the ground, shaking.
"I thought I was dead," she said softly.
"You're alive," I replied. "That's what matters."
She looked at my shoulder.
"You're bleeding a lot."
"I've had worse."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "Sit."
"I don't—"
"Sit," she said firmly.
I paused.
Then sat.
She tore a piece of cloth and pressed it to the wound.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Good," she said. "That means you're still awake."
I let out a quiet breath.
"You're a doctor," I said.
"Yes."
"That explains the confidence."
She almost smiled.
"Why did you help me?" she asked after a moment.
"You were there," I replied.
"That's it?"
"That's enough."
Sirens were very close now.
"You need to go," I said, standing. "Tell them you escaped."
"What about you?"
"I won't be here."
She looked up at me, trying to see my face.
"I don't even know who you are."
"That's safer for you," I said.
She hesitated.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
I nodded.
"Don't come back here," I added. "Go straight to the police."
She stood, then paused.
"Will I ever see you again?"
I shook my head slightly.
"I hope not."
She looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because if you do," I said, voice low, "it means you're in danger again."
She didn't reply. Just nodded slowly and walked toward the lights.
I turned the other way.
"Status?" Ethan asked in my ear.
"Civilian safe," I replied.
A pause.
"Good work," he said.
I pulled my cap lower and disappeared into the dark, the pain finally settling in. She didn't know my face. She didn't know my name. And that was the only reason she was safe.