There wasn't a place in the city that wasn't littered with people.
They jumped from shops, stalls, and building tops.
Even window washers leaped down from their ladders to join the chase.
The suburbs were swarming like an anthill. Leading the chaos was their 'queen'—a boy with dark, wavy hair and a scar on his upper lip. He was locked in a chase, pursuing an older teenager whose face was a mirror image of his own.
A swarm of bees flew in between them.
'I won't make it.'
Lucas's legs felt like dead weight.
Every breath he took hurt his throat, as his heart pounded against his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
He wouldn't last long on foot.
Two people leaped out from the crowd, stretching their arms towards him. They were quite fast, appearing as blurred shadows towards Lucas.
He saw one move from the corner of his eye, his body shifting in response.
He stumbled into a parked car, caught himself against its bonnet, and pushed off before the person could grab him.
The other person pounced immediately Lucas left the car, catching a hold of his jacket.
'Shit.'
Lucas tried wiggling free from the grip, yet found it impossible.
Straining his muscles, he flung himself as hard as he could, managing to loosen the hold. A final push tore him away from the grip.
Cold air hit his back.
His jacket was torn.
He made for an alley, trying to limit the amount of people that could reach for him at a time.
The alley was only wide enough for two people to pass at the same time.
It was perfect.
The bees gathered together after him, forming a large cloud that separated the crowd from Lucas.
'Bad call.'
The boy said they wanted to catch the bees.
Chasing from behind, it would be easier to catch the bees without any hindrance.
Lucas wasn't sure if he wanted that.
'Not that me being in front of the bees would stop them from getting caught any less.'
He swiveled his head, staring at the swarm.
"Can't you move to my front!"
The bees did not change positions.
They couldn't understand him.
Lucas did not care.
"Fuck you then."
The alley still went further. He could see the street lights standing on the street in front.
They weren't turned on.
That was good.
Brightness wouldn't be doing him any favours.
Lucas took deep breaths as he moved his body, putting his strength towards a last dash out of the alley.
Fresh air met his face as he left.
There was a bit of a distance between him and his pursuers. He used it as an opportunity to look around.
High concrete walls ran along his left, while rows of houses lined his right.
At the far end stood a locked metal gate.
Another dead end.
"Shit."
Lucas pressed a hand against his knee, struggling to draw enough air into his lungs.
There was a glass door to a building further down his side. And a signboard with the words 'Gloria's Cafe' painted on it.
The cafe was familiar.
He went for the door, placing a hand on it while pushing weakly.
Luckily, the door was unlocked.
He entered the Cafe, finding it strangely empty.
'I guess they all joined the chase.'
He gave himself a small smile.
He inched towards the counter.
It was a long piece of wooden furniture, bland, and a bit tacky.
But more importantly, it was big enough to hide him.
Lucas passed his gaze over cups, pastry display cases, coffee grinders, and a register sitting on the counter.
He stopped for a bit, eyeing the register.
A part of him wanted to open it.
'It's useless here.'
He hid behind the counter, dragging his hands to his face.
They were shaking.
He watched his hands for a few seconds, before covering his eyes with them.
The bees moved towards the counter as well, hiding beside Lucas. He glimpsed at them through his fingers.
'They know how they are meant to hide?'
The bees were smart?
Yet they were still buzzing.
What use was hiding, when their pursuers would find them through the sound.
Lucas groaned.
There wouldn't be a way to know when the crowd approached.
"Shut up." he said with a scowl.
"They'll fucking hear us. You've stopped buzzing once, do it again."
The buzzing sound slowly died down, leaving Lucas staring in amazement.
Did they understand what he was saying?
'Focus…'
He paused, listening for any approaching footsteps. He arched an eyebrow when he heard none.
Had he lost them?
They were just a few steps behind him as he ran, it was almost impossible for them to lose sight of him.
Unless…
Lucas slowly raised his head above the counter's edge, looking out the door.
His stomach grew heavy.
Standing just outside the glass door was a crowd so massive that Lucas couldn't see an end to them.
'Oh…'
The boy was in front of them. He still had the same smile plastered on his face.
No one moved.
Lucas looked away.
His eyes shimmered with hope as he spotted a door in front of him.
There were two doors, with the tags 'Men' and 'Women' on them. They were the café's restrooms.
He crawled towards the men's door, unlocked it, and crawled into the room behind.
The bees followed.
He shut the door.
His gaze travelled to the window before his body followed.
It hung on a wall on the far end of the room. Barely wide enough to squeeze through, but it would have to do.
He opened the window and stuck his head out first.
He paused again.
Another crowd stood a few metres away, waiting.
They had seen him too.
Fuck!
He rushed out of the restroom with his brain working overtime.
There should be a window in the ladies room. He had never been there before, but he had seen it from when he crossed the street behind the café.
He unlocked the door to the ladies room, once again letting the bees through before shutting it.
He faltered.
Unlike the walls of the men's room, the ladies' room was different.
It was dark.
With a familiar pixelation of red and black in place of walls.
'This… is not good.'
A noise shook him from his thoughts; a door had opened .
They are in.
His eyes narrowed.
"Hullo!"
A young voice came from inside the Café. "Nice run, yes. You must be very tired."
The owner of the voice walked as he spoke, running his fingers along tables.
"Just come out, Mr. Grimm. Do us and yourself a favor and come out peacefully."
The voice belonged to the boy that led the chase.
He heard the boy stop in front of the counter, tap it slowly, and then move on to the restrooms behind.
He stood in front of the men's restroom.
He knocked on the door.
"Are you in there?" He placed an ear to the door, letting out a small laugh.
"I guess not."
Lucas heard the boy turn to the ladies room and felt his heart do backflips.
He stared at the pixelation.
Were they dangerous?
What did they do?
He stretched a hand into the black and red cubes and watched it pass through.
Cool breeze met his fingertips from beyond the pixelation.
His eyes fluttered in surprise.
There was a knock on the door, followed shortly by a question.
"Are you in here then?"
The door was slowly pushed open.
Lucas didn't wait to see it open fully, he dived into the pixelations.