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I ran down the next alley, dodging people on bikes and random goats in the middle of the narrow road. Carts were stacked along both sides of the buildings for sellers to hawk their wares. I slammed into one patron, spinning to avoid falling to the ground, but ended up running right into a stand. The merchandise crashed to the ground, causing a scene I didn’t need.
The crowds gathered around me, and that’s when I saw him just ahead. He turned for only a moment, but it was enough for me to positively identify him as my target. I jumped up on the table, shoving people out of my way in an attempt to get past the growing crowd. Baskets were crushed under my feet as I jumped from table to table.
I nearly fell as one seller tried to shove me off the table. But with nowhere else to go, I jumped and grabbed onto a beam running between the two alleys, then swung myself up, balancing on the thin board. I jumped to the building rooftop, then started my chase again, this time having the vantage point from higher up where it was less likely I’d lose him.
I spotted him just one building ahead of me, looking over his shoulder every few seconds for me as he pushed through the crowd. He wasn’t so tough without his army at his back. I leapt from one roof to the other, rolling as I landed. I jumped to my feet and chased after him again, making a hard right when he turned down another street.
I paused at the edge of the rooftop, waiting to see which direction he would go. He looked up at just the right time, then grinned at me and took another right. Bad choice. For me, not him. The road was wider, meaning the buildings were further apart. It wouldn’t be an easy jump.
But I was never one to back down from a challenge.
I ran back, stopping about halfway and faced my target. I could do this. I took a deep breath, that ran flat out all the way to the ledge, leaping with all my might to the other building. My legs cartwheeled through the air, making me grin as the other roof was in sight. But all too soon, I lost my momentum and started to fall. With a yelp, I grabbed onto the ledge. My forearms pressed against the stone, digging into my skin.
My feet clawed at the wall, trying to gain purchase so I could hoist myself up. I heard laughter from down below and took a second to glance down, which was a mistake when I saw how far I had to fall. Okay, it wasn’t that far, but I could still break something. My target was standing below me, laughing at the situation I found myself in. I might have laughed along with him if it weren’t for the fact that I was the butt of the joke.
“Great,” I muttered. I pushed off the stone again, but lost my grip on the ledge. I slipped far enough that I was only holding on by my fingers. They strained to hold onto the edge, but I wasn’t going to last too much longer, and then this mission would be over.
“It looks like you couldn’t outrun us.”
I looked up into the sun, groaning when I saw one of the men from the market. He stood tall with his hands on his hips as he took in my situation.
“You look like you could use a hand. Or do you prefer to die?”
“Ha,” I laughed. “You’re mistaken,” I said, wincing as my fingers started to cramp. “I can’t die.”
“Everyone dies.”
“Yeah, well, not me,” I said. I tried to reposition myself, but I just didn’t have enough energy to do that while holding on like this.
The man snapped his fingers and two more men appeared behind him. “Get him up here.”
“That’s okay,” I said as they reached for my wrists. “I’ve got this.”
They hauled me up, nearly tearing my arms out of their sockets with the force they used. I was tossed carelessly across the roof, rolling as tiny rocks dug into my skin. I winced, rolling to face them.
“I could have done that myself.”
The man tossed back his head and laughed at me. “I would pay money to see that. But my boss has other plans for you.”
“Oh, good. Because I was really hoping I could have a chat with him. Yeah, I saw his hat and it’s way cooler than mine. Well, the one I had. I lost it when someone attacked me for no reason.”
“We attacked you because you were following us. Now, you will pay the price.”
I glanced up at him through one eye since the sun was beaming down on me. “Any chance that price is a nice glass of lemonade?”
A low growl emanated from his throat as he hauled me up by my arms and shoved me at one of the other men. I stumbled, wishing I had my umbrella right now. I must have dropped it when I was running through the market. It was a shame. It was a great weapon.
“It is time to meet the man you are after.” He shoved me toward the rooftop door, making it clear there was only one way I was getting off this rooftop. Since I had no gun, I decided to follow his instructions. I might just get some information that could save my life and finish the job I came here to do.
The door squeaked open and I was guided down a very steep circular staircase. I stayed to the right, knowing the steps were too thin at the center. Every once in a while, the man behind me would poke me. At first, I didn’t say a thing, but by the fourth time, I lost it.
I spun around, catching him off guard. I slammed my fist into his junk since it was at just the right level. He yelped, covering his groin as he bent over and fell down the stairs. I obligingly moved out of the way, not wanting to get tangled in his feet. However, some of his comrades weren’t as lucky. The man in charge looked back up at me, shaking his head.
“This brings me great displeasure. I did not want to have to subdue you.”
“Yeah, well, you would have done the same thing if he was poking you.”
The man looked at me curiously. “He poked you?”
