Owen hid behind a piece of furniture and seized the opportunity to return fire when the curly-haired man paused to reload. As soon as the AK's barrel shifted toward him again, Owen ducked and rolled to avoid the incoming rounds. The furniture provided little protection against the AK-47. The 7.62mm bullets tore through every obstacle with ease, shattering wooden surfaces and leaving gaping holes in walls and cabinets.
Each burst from the AK sent splinters and debris flying. Owen quickly swapped in a fresh magazine for his Glock. The Mozambique Drill he had practiced was effective but consumed a lot of ammunition—each kill required a minimum of three shots.
The AK finally emitted a dry "click." Owen saw his chance and emerged from cover just as the gunman began swapping magazines. The man used a quick-change setup, with two magazines taped together in an inverted position for rapid reloading.
"Bang! Bang!"
Owen managed to get off two shots before the gunman retaliated, unleashing a wild spray of bullets that forced Owen back behind a solid wall. The bullets sent plumes of dust into the air, and Owen instinctively shielded his head while blindly firing around the corner. The gunman's shots, fired hastily, mostly went wild and riddled the ceiling with holes. The weapon's powerful recoil made it difficult to control with one hand.
The curly-haired man, realizing the fight was turning against him, decided to retreat. Owen heard hurried footsteps and peered out from behind cover just in time to see the man fleeing. Without hesitation, Owen gave chase.
The chaos spread to the rest of the shopping mall. Shoppers who had heard the gunfire were now in full panic mode. Many ran for their lives, while others crouched behind makeshift barriers, too terrified to move. The sight of two armed men bursting out of the furniture section sent the crowd into a frenzy.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!"
The gunman fired several bursts into the air, further terrifying the already panicked shoppers. People screamed and scattered, some crying as they tried to escape. The distraction slowed Owen's pursuit, giving the gunman a chance to reach the escalator.
The man was desperate now. He had lost two accomplices and was running out of options. Killing Owen no longer seemed important—his priority was escape. He leapt onto the escalator and began ascending quickly.
Owen cursed under his breath. He raised his Glock and fired two warning shots into the air, clearing the space around him as panicked bystanders dove for cover. Taking advantage of the opening, Owen sprinted toward the escalator. Instead of following his target up the steps, he vaulted onto the space between two escalators and slid down the central divider.
The maneuver allowed him to catch up rapidly. As the gunman reached the top, Owen launched himself off the divider and delivered a flying kick to the man's back. The force sent the gunman tumbling forward, crashing into a display stand. Fortunately, the promotional area had been abandoned due to the gunfire; otherwise, the gunman might have taken a hostage.
Owen scrambled to his feet. He noticed the modified AK on the ground but chose not to retrieve it, focusing instead on pursuing the disoriented gunman.
The man stumbled toward the promotional area, where a prize motorcycle sat on a raised platform. Without hesitation, he mounted the bike, revved the engine, and performed a sharp turn, aiming for the nearest glass window.
"No, you don't!" Owen snarled.
Taking a shortcut, Owen sprinted directly toward the motorcycle. He dove with both hands outstretched, trying to grab the man before he could accelerate. The bike barely slipped out of Owen's grasp, speeding past him and shattering through the large glass window.
Owen hit the floor hard and groaned in frustration as the gunman escaped onto the street. He scrambled to his feet and bolted after him, emerging from the broken window just in time to spot Carlos across the street.
The dramatic exit of both the gunman and Owen stunned the onlookers. Owen wasted no time, shouting, "Carlos! He's on a motorcycle! Follow him!"
"I'll grab my car!" Carlos called back, running toward his vehicle.
Owen's attention was drawn to the sound of another approaching motorcycle. He stepped into the street and flagged down the rider.
"CTU! I'm commandeering your bike!" Owen yelled, pulling the rider off in one swift motion. The man stumbled to the ground in shock as Owen sprinted to the fallen motorcycle, righted it, and shouted to the surrounding crowd, "Call 911! Two officers are down inside!"
With that, he gunned the engine and sped after the escaping target. Behind him, Carlos's Chevy roared to life, joining the chase. Owen tightened his grip on the throttle, pushing the bike to its limit. He finally spotted the fleeing gunman in the distance and decided to take a shortcut through a nearby park.
The motorcycle tore across the grass, sending startled pedestrians scattering. Carlos's SUV couldn't follow, forcing him to stick to the main road. Owen's gamble paid off; he quickly closed the gap between himself and the gunman, who noticed him and swerved to change course.
The two motorcycles weaved through traffic, drawing the attention of pedestrians and drivers alike. Police sirens blared in the distance as patrol cars raced toward the scene.
Carlos, meanwhile, was causing havoc on the streets. His reckless maneuvers and multiple red-light violations led to several near-collisions, adding to the chaos.
"Mark Street intersection!" Owen barked into his headset.
"Copy that! I'm almost there," Carlos replied, his voice brimming with adrenaline.
Police reinforcements from both East and West Hollywood divisions converged on the area. Officers from East Hollywood were particularly motivated after learning two of their colleagues had been shot at the mall. Patrol cars rapidly sealed off the surrounding streets, creating a tightening net around the gunman.
The chase reached a climax as the gunman approached an intersection. Carlos's Chevy skidded into position, blocking the path ahead. The gunman slammed on the brakes, only to find himself trapped. Flashing police lights surrounded him from all sides.
Desperate, the gunman spotted an unfinished building with an open parking structure. He revved the motorcycle and sped toward it, crashing through a flimsy barrier labeled "Under Construction."
"Dammit," Owen muttered, steering his bike after him. Carlos followed close behind, with several police units in tow. The chase was far from over.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/Mutter]