11. MISSED TARGET

A young man, twenty years old, wearing a black hat, black jacket and long pants, came out of a modest apartment on the outskirts of the city.

"Going out, are you?" asked Daren, who had been there for about half an hour.

The young man's steps stopped. He widened his eyes, right after closing the apartment door. He didn't think he'd become someone's target so soon.

"Who are you?" the young man asked, simultaneously raising his guard. He lowered his head, not wanting his face to be too exposed to strangers.

"We met at the restaurant." Daren said coldly.

"What restaurant? I don't recognize you!" the young man insisted, raising his voice and waving his arms to get Daren out of his way.

He tried to dodge. However, Daren was not the type of person to be lied to so easily.

"Don't you lie! I already know everything! You opened fire in that restaurant!"

The young man looked to his right and left. Looking for an opening to escape. Lingering here for too long would leave him cornered.

Daren noticed the suspicious gestures the young man was making.

"You can't run away from me!" Daren eroded the distance that was only a few meters.

The young man took immediate action. He pushed Daren's body. His surprising movement made Daren lose concentration.

The young man, whose name was still unknown, ran down the stairs of the apartment.

"Shit! He outwitted me!" cursed Daren in irritation.

This was no time to regret what had happened. Daren hurriedly chased after the young man, before he ran further.

Outside the apartment. Joshua was waiting there, as planned.

"Shit!" The young man swore harshly. Not far from where he stood, an adult man wearing sunglasses, with a large build was waiting.

The young man could guess, the adult man there had been waiting for his arrival. He immediately thought fast. There was no other way but to run in the opposite direction.

He took the road to the right side.

"Joshua! He made it!" Daren shouted, signaling Joshua to get ready.

Joshua didn't notice the young man at first, until he realized that their target was gone.

"He ran that way!" pointed Joshua.

Daren swore again. The rat had escaped Joshua's notice.

Without wasting any time, Daren immediately ran after the young man who was already quite far away.

Joshua got into his car. Chasing while driving a car wasn't a bad way to go.

"Hey! Hey! Watch out!"

The young man entered the bicycle lane. Some cyclists who happened to be passing by were disturbed. Because he was running in the opposite direction.

He looked back. Daren was still chasing him.

"What a class head!" The young man muttered in annoyance. He had to increase his running speed or his life was at stake.

"I'll meet him there!" Joshua exclaimed from the car.

Daren only glanced at him. Whatever, Joshua wanted to do whatever he wanted.

The young man was getting cornered now. Two strangers were chasing him behind.

He jumped over a table from a cafe on the sidewalk.

"Hey, you!" shouted the woman who was enjoying a cup of coffee there. Her composure was disturbed because of the young man.

BRUGHT!!!

He knocked over the tables and chairs there, to hinder Daren's progress.

Daren, who was only a few meters away, didn't feel inhibited at all. He jumped over the tables and chairs.

Daren had often practiced this kind of obstacle as part of his daily training.

The people walking leisurely on the sidewalk became uncomfortable. There was no one who didn't stare in surprise at the young man who was running in a hurry.

There was a narrow alley ahead. The young man gave a small grin. He knew the ins and outs of this city by heart.

Running into a small alley flanked by two large buildings. He disappeared into the shadows. Daren, who had just arrived, didn't see the young man anymore.

"Damn it! He got away!" Daren couldn't hide his frustration.

Joshua had just arrived there. He got out of the car and ran over to Daren.

"Did you catch him?" Joshua asked, not yet aware of the situation.

"I lost track of him."

Daren rubbed his face roughly, regretting not being able to catch just one person. He had been very close to the man who had opened fire at the restaurant last night.

Joshua patted his partner's shoulder, "Never mind, Daren. There's no need for you to regret this failure. We should go back to the hotel and devise a new plan to recapture him."

"Next time, I won't let him get away easily. If possible, I'll even shoot him with my own hands!"

"Yes! You can do that later."

The two left immediately. Meanwhile, a few meters away from where Daren and Joshua were standing.

The figure of a twenty-year-old youth, was catching his breath. He was hiding behind a wall. The corner was smaller than the path he had passed earlier.

He looked at his left side, there was no way, it was covered by a large wall. In other words, if Daren still tried to chase him, he would surely be caught without being able to move.

"Thank you, God," the young man said. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. At least for the next little while.