The Code: An Orphan X Short Story: Orphan X

by Gregg Hurwitz

In the latest short story from bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz, discover the teenage missions of Orphan X.

Before he was the feared black ops government assassin Orphan X, operating in the shadows and spoken about in whispers, Evan Smoak was a teenager, undergoing the most rigorous of training. At 17, Evan is sent off by his handler, ex-CIA station agent Jack Johns, to take the most intense U.S. military training course. But that is only part of the challenge before him—Evan has to get there and back, safely and quietly, maintaining operational security. And along the way, facing unexpected challenges, Evan must use everything he's learned since the day he was taken from the foster home in East Baltimore, lessons that Jack Johns has drilled into him, laws of life and death that are to become The Code.

This program is read by AudioFile Golden Voice narrator Scott Brick, winner of the 2024 ITW Thriller award for his narration of the Orphan X book The Last Orphan , and the 2025 Audie Award for his narration of the Orphan X book Lone Wolf .

"Brick devotes attention to every voice.… His accents and inflections boost the listening experience.”— AudioFile on Nemesis

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

Genres: Short Stories, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Gregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 20 novels, including OUT OF THE DARK (2019). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.

He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Orphan X and I love it a tiny bit more when Scott Brick narrates it!
This was a good short story about Evan's training time with his handler Jack.
Read 9.29.25
*removed reading dates so as not to count towards my yearly reading goals.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this little glimpse into Evan's training. It's grueling for him, but so crucial to what he has to become to survive! There's a bit of humor and kindness here, too.

Plus, there's a sneak peek listen to Antihero, the next in the Orphan X series coming February 10, 2026! I'm even more excited to read it!

As usual Scott Brick's performance is perfection! He is the voice of Evan to me!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I love this series.

I absolutely LOVE being able to drop back into this world - even if we are going back in the past to when Evan was 17 years old. Even if it hurts my heart.

This is a very short story about a couple of days in the life of our favorite Orphan X during his teenage years, as he is undergoing the unbelievably awful treatment that they called training. Yes, I know that it is that training that has kept him alive for all this time and that eventually made him what he is today but man oh man is it hard to hear.

So, as much as I loved getting a glimpse of teenage Evan, I also remembered being so angry at Jack in those early books. Mr. Hurwitz is truly a genius to make me FEEL so much for a character that does not exist in real life. The mom in me wants to tell him that it is all going to be okay, while at the same time I know it is only a book. Crazy, right?

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the flashback to Evan's beginning. Saw a lot of the little things that make Evan what he is now.

[Sarah Ehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this randomly on libby, had zero expectations. It was very good!

[Charles Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great… I’ll read the rest. I know Anne Marie, I cheated to add a book to my read list. 2 hours listen..,

[Jkane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only a novella, so very little time is invested into this, but it's a nice glimpse into the training that made Orphan X into the creature he is today.