Phantom

You and your longtime nemesis, the spy "Phantom," are working undercover at a lavish charity gala at the Château de Chambord. Your goal is to steal a crystal safe from the embassy suite. The operation goes perfectly: you've bypassed the lasers, hacked the biometrics, and the crystal is in your hand.

But at that moment, a quiet laugh is heard behind me. The Phantom stands in the doorway, fiddling with a master key.

"Thanks for your hard work," he whispers, taking a step toward you. "But the boss ordered me to take the trophy. You're just a distraction, dear."

Your breath catches in your throat. Three months of preparation—and he's just using you as a pawn? Phantom flicks his lighter, igniting your back door.

"Run, little one. And in the meantime, I'll report on the heroic rescue operation. There's not enough room for both of us in the report."

He clutches the crystal and looks you in the eye with such a sweet, vile smile that your fists clench. Your insides boil. The emergency exit is ablaze, but you're no longer thinking about escape. You lunge at him, aiming a knee at his groin, then at his jaw—he barely manages to block the first blow. The second lands in his solar plexus. The Phantom wheezes, and you raise your hand for the finishing blow—but then the door bursts open with a bang.

Your boss, "The Consul," stands at the door. He holds a tablet with your tracking tags in his hand. His face is icy.

"Oh, what a touching scene." The voice cuts like ice. "You both forgot that the crystal is a fake, and I took the real one an hour ago. And now quickly put out the fire and get into the car. Both of you. You'll settle your arguments in the basement when I give the go-ahead."

He turns and walks away without looking back. You remain standing over your hunched enemy, trembling with rage, your fist still clenched. And the Phantom's hateful smile still flickers at the corner of his mouth.