brutal

Chapter 5

DREAD

"Scar, where are you?" Crave asked hastily.

Heavy breaths and loud footsteps were audible through the ear piece on Scar's end of the line. He was meant to be on the north post to intercept the target, but he had gone to Glitch's post instead on the west end.

His panting felt never-ending as the target weaved through the throng of people in the raucous festival below, the patrons unaware of the danger that walked among them.

"Scar, where are you?" Crave asked again. Though I was at the far end of the street and she at the other, I knew she was fidgeting her short red nails in fear of our first unsuccessful mission.

Scar's side quieted for a few seconds, then came back to heavy breaths and lively noise. "I'm here."

"About time." Glitch commented. Scar cursed on the other end which was met with quiet laughs and equal counters. "Dread, he's coming up to you."

Blending in the crowd, I saw the man in the black suit with a red tie. "I have eyes on him."

He passed by me, and without relenting, I began following him. Lesser food carts and delicacies were stationed here by the outer portion of the street, and only those who sought breaths of fresh air or unbothered civilians haphazardly littered the area here. If he were to turn around, it would be difficult to remain undiscovered.

And as if on cue, he started walking faster. The briefcase he carried with his right hand bounced, the phone on his left pressed on to his ear.

"Glitch." I whispered into the ear piece.

After a few seconds, he responded. "His accomplice is meeting him in an alley, fifth one to your right."

I sneaked a quick glance to my right as I followed him on the pavement. We passed one alley that had nothing more than garbage bins and bags, no doubt all the others were identical.

By the time he passed the second, he had already quickened his pace. Like the adamant thought of being followed, he probably listened to his instinct to move faster.

I met his speed while making sure to maintain a safe distance. Any mistake that could happen at this point may cause the entire mission. "I think he's paranoid." I quietly joked.

Crave laughed. "You have that effect on people."

Third alley. "I can confirm that, Dread. You scare the shit out of me at times." Scar added.

I rolled my eyes even if they couldn't see it. Leave it to them to make such a serious situation into their own casual time for conversation.

Glitch was about to chime in, but the target quickly turned and spotted me immediately. His eyes widened before he broke into a sprint.

"He saw me." I ran after him, dodging all of the other people that blocked my view from him. The fourth alley was nearing, and the fifth was only a street away.

The stoplights turned green and the pedestrian sign turned red, but it didn't stop him from weaving through the loud vehicles and cursing drivers, and crossing the street. And neither did it stop me.