How could he? How fucking could he?
Iwas his supposed brother’skid sister! And all he had cared about was saving himself. The same went for Emma. They’dprobably offered her acouple of hundred to tell them where Iwas, and she’ddone it. Icouldn’teven blame her, because seeing how little she had and that she had Kiki to support, that made sense. But it still hurt. But Gauge?
The realization that Iwas totally alone hit me like asledgehammer and Istaggered back from the force of it before righting myself. No, it didn’tmatter. Iwould save myself. That was who Iwas and how Ilived. Fuck everyone else.
Iran back to the roof door, hoping to maybe get back down the stairs and knock on someone'sdoor so Icould hide out before anyone realized that this was the only way out, but from the other side, Icould hear voices growing closer. Iquickly scanned the rooftop, finding along piece of wood that Iwedged under the handle of the door. It wouldn’tlast long, but it might buy me acouple of minutes, for what it was worth. Glancing around again, Ilooked over to the building on the left, its roof as empty as the one Iwas on. Despite the desolation, Icould see quite clearly that there was aladder down from that one.
Running over, Ichecked below to see what was in the alleyway between the two buildings, seeing only overfilled black garbage bags. They wouldn’tbe enough to break my fall if Idid in fact fall, but they were better than nothing, at least. Because there was no way Iwas waiting for those guys, whoever they were, to corner me up there. No, getting off that roof, by any means necessary, was definitely the better of two evils. Iwas afighter and I’dgo down fighting.
Looking at the distance between the two buildings, it felt like amillion miles and it felt like adeath wish.
Ilooked back at the door in panic as someone tried to turn the door handle. Banging ensued as they tried to push it open with force, and Iknew that Ihad no choice.
Iwas out of time, but God Ihoped Iwasn’tout of luck.
Istumbled backwards, my muscles tensing, ashiver of fear moving through my muscles, before taking adeep breath and running toward the ledge. As my feet left the roof and found air, Istretched my arms and legs toward the other building and prayed with everything Ihad that Imade it.
