Gunfire erupted within the East Tunnel as bullets ricocheted off concrete and metal. Fury ducked low, rolling behind the disabled SUV as more HYDRA operatives closed in from both sides. Smoke and sparks clouded the air, mixing with the acrid stench of burning rubber and scorched paint. Above the chaos, the heavy footfalls of advancing agents echoed like war drums.
He emptied his first clip, reloaded with the smooth speed of a veteran, and fired again. His shots were deliberate, precise—designed to buy seconds, not win battles. The bullets clipped helmets, struck armor joints, slowed their push. But they didn't stop coming.
The Winter Soldier moved through the chaos like a shadow of death—cold, silent, and unrelenting. He didn't speak. He didn't hesitate. Every shot he fired hit its mark. A support beam exploded behind Fury. Concrete dust rained down. Fury knew he was being herded.
He reached under the back seat and pulled a compact device from a hidden panel. "Get me out of here," he muttered, slamming it onto the side wall of the SUV. The device blinked once, then emitted a pulse. Seconds later, a false panel at the rear popped open with a hydraulic hiss.
He crawled in just as another bullet tore through the SUV's quarter panel, narrowly missing his head. The sharp crack of metal ripping metal echoed through the tunnel.
The Winter Soldier's eyes locked onto the movement. He broke into a sprint, weapon raised, footsteps hammering the pavement in rapid succession.
Fury dropped into the maintenance shaft feet first. It was narrow and claustrophobic, lined with cables and dim orange lights. The air was thick with engine oil and heat. He moved fast, elbows scraping the sides, knowing every second counted.
Above, the operatives converged.
"He's in the crawlspace," one barked. "Send two after him. The rest—secure the perimeter. No one in or out."
Back inside the jet, Alexander and the team closed in on the city's airspace. The skyline shimmered beneath them, sunlight glinting off government buildings and glass towers. From above, the capital looked peaceful.
"We'll be there in five," Vasili said, fingers flying across the console. "But Fury's already in it. His signal's faint—tracking through heat trails."
Alexander stared out the window, eyes narrowed. "No, he's already ahead of it. He knows how to survive. But not forever."
Noctis hovered beside the tactical display, studying the unfolding satellite readouts. "But the Winter Soldier isn't like the others. He doesn't miss. He doesn't hesitate. And he doesn't stop."
Alexander turned, his voice sharp. "Then we better not be late."
Below the city, Fury dropped into an access corridor, landing hard on his shoulder. Pain flared across his back, but he pushed it aside. He rolled to his feet and sprinted through the dim hallway. The emergency lights flickered. Pipes lined the walls. The hum of turbines throbbed beneath his boots.
His HUD blinked red—vitals spiking, internal bruising flagged. Still, he ran.
Behind him, footsteps echoed—deliberate, relentless.
The Winter Soldier had followed.
The assassin was fast—unnaturally so. Fury could hear the whine of his cybernetic arm propelling each movement. Every second, he gained ground.
Fury reached for a detonator clipped to his belt. "One shot left."
He spun, lobbed the charge down the hallway, and turned.
The explosion wasn't lethal—it was strategic. The concussive blast collapsed the corridor behind him in a shower of rubble and smoke, severing the path between him and his pursuer. A groan echoed through the tunnel as the ceiling caved in behind him.
For a moment, silence returned.
Fury didn't stop to look.
He pushed through a steel door, emerging into a lower-level parking garage. It was empty, dimly lit, reeking of exhaust and mildew. Oil stains stretched across the cracked concrete. A flickering fluorescent light buzzed above.
His boots echoed as he made for the nearest service exit.
And someone was waiting.
A figure stepped from the shadows between two concrete pillars, arms crossed.
Not HYDRA.
Not SHIELD.
Someone else.
End of Chapter 94
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