They walked down to the alleyway, where they've seen the thief.

  "Do we even know what he looks like?" Matthew asked Zack.

  "I couldn't get a description but a cloak." He answered.

  Max stared straight ahead, until suddenly, something caught his eye. Someone in a dark cloak was walking some distance ahead of them. In the background, he could hear the guys talk back and forth.

  "Hey, shut up!" Max ordered. The boys looked in the same direction.

  Suddenly, Matthew shot out from behind Max and took off, running after the thief.

  Zack groaned as he chased after him, and so did Max

  Then the thief took off like a bolt of lightning, and left Matthew panting. Zack and Max caught up to him.

  Max folded his arms and growled. "You are so FUCKING retarded! Why did you do that?" He exclaimed.

  But Matthew ignored him and looked straight at Zack. "I was so close!"

  Zack groaned. "We won't get it back unless we start working together!" He turned to face Max. "Agreed?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Pff...whatever..." Max then wandered off. Zack tilted his head.

  "Where are you going?"

  "To grab a drink! I'll be about an hour or so." He answered.

  "Seriously? We need to catch him!" Zack retorted.

  "Yeah, don't worry. I'll be back in a bit."

  Zack looked down at a frustrated Matthew. He looked back in Max's direction. "Let's go follow him..."

  "WHAT?"

  "We need to find something to eat anyway."

  Matthew smacked his lips. "Yeah, I could go for some clam chowder."

  Zack sighed as he smiled at the thought. "Me too."

  ...............................

  Inside a nearby tavern, Zack and Matthew found Max sitting alone, swallowing his liquor. Zack looked at Matthew, but the curly haired boy shook his head.

  "Please tell me that we're not sitting over there! Please?"

  ............................

  The boys ate in silence. Zack bought food for Max, but the drunken boy scowled.

  "Why did you just order this? I got myself covered!"

  Zack scoffed. "On what? THAT? You won't live to see next MONTH if you just keep drinking. Go on, eat! That has more nutrients than the bottle!" Max clenched the bottle and glared at Zack. "Fuck you!"

  The blond boy shrugged. "Whatever."

  Max then slowly picked at the food given to him.

  Afterwards, the boys continued their quest. Zack broke the silence.

  "I think we should ask around." Max then laughed.

  "How unintelligible ARE you? That will take ages!"

  Zack then retorted. "You got any BETTER ideas?"

  "I do actually....and that is to go back to the place where we'd first seen him....before THIS jackass chased him off!"

  Matthew clenched his fists and step towards Max.

  "Shut the fuck up!" He demanded. Zack got in between them.

  "Guys, we only got four days left...let's make them count!" Matthew growled as both him and Zack followed Max back to the site.