Shani looked down at the ground, the five-floor height appearing like a chasm. He had jumped three floors down before (a memory he didn't like to recall), but five was another story. By sheer luck, he had come unscathed from that jump. This time, luck might not be on his side.
Unfortunately, the agents regrouped quickly. The loss of their leader didn't deter them from capturing him. What had he expected? These were seasoned veterans, and even the loss of their leader hadn't affected their determination. The curtains of the window kept flapping, and in this tense situation, it was irritating him.
'The curtains?' Shani had an idea, and the thought took root in him, refusing to leave no matter how hard he tried. It was a risky plan, but given his current predicament, it seemed like his best chance to escape. He acted swiftly; another moment of hesitation, and the agents would have him at point-blank range. There would be no escape then.
With brute force, he ripped the curtains off, stood on the window pane, and held the curtain behind him. Shani postured, "Catch me if you can." After all, he was just a 16-year-old kid, and the situation was both exhilarating and terrifying.
Roy observed the culprit's daring act, understanding his intentions. It was a bold move that few in the world would dare to attempt. If Shani landed safely, he'd have an easy escape. But Roy couldn't allow that to happen; the reputation of the 'RAW' agents was at stake. Being made a fool of by a mere civilian would be a disgrace.
Shani leaped from the fifth floor, free-falling toward the ground, facing the worst possible fate. However, like the wings of an angel, the curtain flapped open against the wind, reducing his momentum. Now, there was a chance for a safe landing.
A sudden tug almost yanked him back, and he looked back in horror to see Roy clinging to the curtain. The momentum had decreased again.
"You moron, do you want to die?"
"I will catch you no matter what; there is no escape from me." Shani performed another maneuver, surprising Roy even more, as he swung back and forth before launching himself forward like a catapult. He landed safely, displaying the grace of a panther. Roy used his superior skills to land like a lion, his substantial body cracking the Super Granite roads.
Shani sprinted toward the building's parking lot, with Roy in pursuit. Roy spoke into a walkie-talkie, "The culprit is heading toward the front of the building. 'Team Red,' move to surround him, and 'Team Blue,' investigate the reason for the culprit's presence."
The reply was prompt, "Yes, Sir."
A high-speed chase ensued between Shani and Roy, both riding at incredible speeds of 300 Km/hr. For the regular passenger cars traveling at 150 km/hr, they were a blur as they raced by. Shani dodged multiple times, and the persistent pursuer continued shooting at him. Why wouldn't he give up and leave him alone? Shani was deliberately heading away from his home; the last thing he wanted was for his pursuer to discover his address. If he didn't lose him soon, he was going to be captured.
A tunnel appeared, filled with heavy traffic that blocked the road. There was nowhere for Shani to escape, and a triumphant look appeared on Roy's face.
Shani didn't brake, as the thought 'Not yet' kept echoing in his mind. Instead of slowing down, he did the opposite, accelerating even more, reaching speeds of 325, 350, 375, and 400 Km/hr. The speed was too much for the hoverbike to handle, and it made strange noises, ready to break down. At this speed, Shani utilized the tunnel's structure to climb to the topside with the traffic of cars below him.
Roy watched Shani's daring move in horror but kept his composure. He took a risk, letting go of the handle of his hoverbike to get a good aim at Shani. The previous shot had lacked accuracy, but this time it was precise, around 95%. When it came to accuracy, even elite soldiers couldn't match him. This shot was going to hit Shani, with no way for him to avoid it.
The bullet was on its way to Shani, who was riding upside down with unstable balance. Just before the bullet struck, a bird appeared, unfortunately getting shot. Now out of immediate danger, Shani controlled his landing and escaped swiftly. Roy was just in time to hit the brakes, avoiding a potentially disastrous situation.
Before parting ways, their eyes met, conveying unspoken messages.