agent [ reader x zussman ]

• vi •

The plan was simple, at least until you got there. You managed to sneak through Marigny, not getting spotted in the process. You recorded a few conversations into your notepad, your brain working into overtime to attempt to translate on the spot. A difficult task to say the least, but your training pulled through and you managed.

The church comes into view, standing tall and beautiful amongst smoke and gunfire. Surprisingly, its tall tower is still intact and looming like a watchful eye over Marigny. You nibble your lip in worry. The amount of snipers probably camping at the top just waiting to put a bullet in your brain makes you shiver, but does not deter you from your mission. 

The plan was simple on paper, not so simple in execution. Sneaking through the outer layers of soldiers was simple enough. Being small, it is easy to sneak through tiny holes in the wall, dodging out of sight like a shadow. However, that tower of the church was about to make your life much more difficult.

Getting inside wouldn't be easy. Intel told you that there was an opening around the back of the church, easy access to the lower levels. However, now standing in front of the exact location given to you, there is nothing but brick. The dirt in the cracks, the fading of the once coloured stone makes it obvious to you that there was never an entry point here. Did you get double crossed? 

Boots on pavement begins to ring through the still air. The voices of two- no, three- men banter with laughter, rounding the corner. Shit, you think to yourself, no place to hide. I'm caught in the open!

Your eyes dart around, looking for any possible escape. You'd never make the sprint to the other corner of the church without being seen or heard! Instinctively, you look up. An open window, a window large enough that you could squeeze through, but it isn't open enough nor do you have enough time to fully get into the building. You'd have to blow the rest of the glass out, but how would they not hear the window shatter? Your cover would be effectively blown and you would be captured.

The steps get closer, the voices get louder. Your hand reaches for your pistol. The last resort. Never shoot unless fired upon or if entirely necessary, now is one of those times. You quickly walk backwards, maybe able to gain some distance to the nearest cover. You see the toe of a black boot peak around the corner, then the muzzle of a rifle. Your brain rushes into fight or flight mode. There's nowhere to run, you're backed into a corner, you'll have to fight them off. Even with the silencer on your pistol, they'll likely still hear you. 

A knee follows the boot, a hand perched on top of a hip flask after that. You lift your pistol, ready to fire.

BANG! 

You jump, the sudden explosion rattling your bones. A few moments later, the sound of gunfire accompanies screams and howls of anger and attack. Had the Americans begun their attack? The men rounding the corner stop their movement, obviously intrigued by the gunfire. It was unmistakable, that first sound was a grenade. 

Radios crackle to life all around you, German voices frantically calling to each over the lines. You only catch a few words through the scratchy static, the words "attack", "bastards", and "frontline". The group of men pick up their weapons and retreat from the church to where the original grenade explosion had been heard, leaving you by yourself in the small corner of the church. Your heart pounds in your chest, sweat forming at your brow. That was too close.

The sound of retaliating fire can be heard loud and clear along with the sounds of shouting voices and shuffling inside of the church. Your friends had begun their push on Marigny earlier than expected. On the bright side, their attack had saved your life and your cover. However, from the sounds radiating from inside the church, it's obvious that you'll have less time to search then previously expected.