You darted forward, the pavement beneath your feet a blur of cracked stone and faded lines. The uneven surface made your steps feel jagged, forcing you to adjust your footing with every hurried stride. The faint sound of your boots tapping against the ground was drowned out by the chaotic symphony of the street—a mix of chatter, car horns, and the faint hum of street vendors calling out for business.

The thief was weaving through the crowd ahead of you, pushing past a group of tourists gathered by a street performer. You followed, skidding to the side to avoid an elderly man holding a cane. Your shoes scraped against the cobblestones, almost sending you tumbling as you regained your balance.

The sun glared down, casting long shadows from the awnings overhead, and the city seemed to blur around you. You had to keep up. You had to get your wallet back. The street narrowed, and you found yourself dodging a cluster of bicycles locked to a rusted fence, your shoulder brushing against the stone wall of a café.

Just as the distance between them seemed insurmountable, a sudden crash rang out—a biker had collided with the thief. Both hit the pavement, tangled in a mess of limbs and metal. The thief scrambled to his feet, dazed but desperate, and with a hasty glance back, he dashed down an alleyway, disappearing from sight.

You stopped, panting, staring at the empty street. Your wallet was gone—your heart sank.

But then, the sound of a cheerful voice broke through your thoughts. You turned, catching the sight of the biker dusting himself off. With a playful grin, he held up your wallet between his fingers.

“Is this yours?” he called out, his tone light and playful, as though none of this had been anything more than a game.