The thief, a nimble girl with bright eyes and a mischievous grin, weaved through the crowded market. Alex followed, dodging stalls and customers as he tried to keep up. "You can't just steal like that!" he yelled, panting.
"Why not? It's just a game!" she replied, her laughter ringing in the air.
"Game or not, you can't take other people's stuff!" Alex protested, gaining ground on her. He felt the adrenaline surge through him, and suddenly, the chase felt exhilarating.
As they rounded a corner, the girl ducked into a narrow alley, but Alex was right behind her. She leapt over a stack of crates with ease, while Alex stumbled, barely making it over.
"You're pretty fast for a high schooler!" she taunted, glancing back with a smirk. "But you'll have to do better than that!"
Alex pushed himself harder, adrenaline fueling his every step. "I can do this!" he thought, channeling his training as he picked up speed.
Just as he thought he'd lost her, the girl abruptly stopped, turning to face him. "Alright, alright, you caught me!" she said, hands on her hips. "But I'm not giving it back!"