Adrian scowled at Nathanâ€™s suggestion of a boat. Nope, not into it. Heâ€™d rather waltz into an Infected-infested building unarmed. He hated boats. While he knew very well how to drive one, he got sea sick. â€œNo boats...â€ He grunted, too low for many to hear. However, he thought he caught Rainie smirk out of the corner of his eye.<br/><br/>Rainie was frowning at his mention of being â€œout in the open.â€ She had preferred to be out in the open, once upon a time. Having room to run, being assured of having a chance of outrunning your pursuer, and knowing there wasnâ€™t going to be a dead end before you managed to get away. But sheâ€™d had to adapt after the fall of humanity. Now they had to stick to the shadows and narrow alleyways.<br/><br/>Nathan turned a laptop towards the two of them. Both kept their surprise off their faces. Neither of them had seen one still functioning since the electricity failed. And neither had had any inclination to try to make one work.<br/><br/>Nathan looked from the screen to the siblings. â€œWhere do you think our sniper friend is hiding? If he's still alive.â€<br/><br/>Rainie and Adrian went over to Nathanâ€™s computer, and bent down to look at the screen. It was a map of New York, the Manhattan and Brooklyn area to be exact, the East River running between them. Rainie frowned at the map, her eyes drawn to the highlighted bookstore. Nowhere near Crown Heights or Bushwick.<br/><br/>Rainie shot a narrowed-eyed glance at Adrian, who noticed her glare and offered an apologetic shrug. He didnâ€™t know the area as well as Rainie. She had lived in the city for six years. Him, only one. After the Outbreak.<br/><br/>Violet eyes sought out Pier one, but a sudden chill seized her. Her heart stopped, only to pick up again double time.<span style="font-style: italic">What the hell...?</span>Rainieâ€™s shoulders had tensed up, and the hands that had been resting on her knees clenched into fists. Her eyes flitted to her new companionâ€™s face, where she curiously caught him in mid-yawn. She watched him stand up, and go to the window. But she had already noticed the wary suspicion in his dark eyes.<br/><br/>She nudged Adrian discreetly. â€œSomethingâ€™s wrong.â€ She whispered.<br/><br/>â€œI know.â€ He said.<br/><br/>They straightened and watched him open the window, and the volume of the Infected outside increased tenfold, pulling a grimace from the siblings. Nathan poked his head out the window. Rainie counted to six, and he pulled his head back in. Adrian was staring at him from under his hair, his hands in his pockets, his eyes questioning. Rainie was frowning worriedly, hugging her elbows and standing absolutely motionless.<br/><br/>â€œMaybe we better think about it on the way,â€ said Nathan. They moved out of the way so he could pick up his computer and shove it in his backpack.<br/><br/>Adrian wondered if they were going to have to pry a car battery out of the first minivan they came across to make that laptop work...<br/><br/>â€œCome on. The right end of the hall has stairs that lead up to the roof.â€ he goaded, â€œThere's a long electrical cord stretching from the entryway up there to another on the CD shop, but it's a two story decent, so grab some towels from the hall to help your grip. I'll catch up in a few.â€ He smiled at them, then disappeared into the bathroom.<br/><br/>Rainie blinked, staring at the bathroom door with a baffled expression. Adrian also looked nonplussed. But Rainie tilted her head, and caught a noise that seemed slightly different to the ones sheâ€™d heard all night.<br/><br/>The Infected had made it around the bookcase, and were clamoring into the third floor room. They would have to make it up two flights of stairs before they got to their floor, but there was nothing hindering them at the moment besides their own minds.<br/><br/>â€œFigures...â€ Rainie muttered.<br/><br/>Adrian heaved an irritable sigh. â€œWell, come on...â€<br/><br/>The two of them jogged down the hall, snagging towels from the wire as they went. As they trotted up the stairs, Rainieâ€™s boots making significantly less noise than Adrianâ€™s, they bantered about who would be going first.<br/><br/>â€œIf we let the geek go last, it will probably snap.â€ Adrian was arguing.<br/><br/>Rainie scowled, not taking her eyes off the steps in front of her. â€œWhy the hell do you think that?â€<br/><br/>Adrian scoffed. â€œAre you kidding me? He just screams damsel in distress.â€<br/><br/>â€œAnd youâ€™re saying Iâ€™m<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>a damsel?â€<br/><br/>â€œWell, yes, because last time I checked, damsels arenâ€™t the ones doing the rescuing.â€<br/><br/>They reached a heavy iron door, assumingly the one that lead to the roof. Rainie rolled her eyes and grasped the doorknob. â€œFine. You go first and clear the roof, and Iâ€™ll wait for Nathan. Iâ€™ll go after he goes.â€<br/><br/>Adrian grinned ruefully. â€œSure. And if the cable breaks, you can save yourself with a grappling hook.â€<br/><br/>Rainie paused, her hand on the knob, to look at her brother incredulously. â€œAre you accusing me of carrying a grappling hook? Iâ€™m a cop, not a Men In Black.â€<br/><br/>Adrian chuckled and brushed her hand from the doorknob to open it himself. She was taking too long, evidently. The door was set into what looked like a rectangular box. They stepped out onto the roof, scanning the area with quick, trained eyes. The roof appeared to be clear. Rainie wedged a nearby brick in the door to hold it open until Nathan caught up. She would lock it before she left.<br/><br/>Rainie signaled Adrian to sweep the roof. They split up and searched every nook and cranny, checking for any zombies that could be camping out. Rainie found herself glancing up at the skyline. There really wasnâ€™t anything like it anywhere else. It had been a sight to behold before the Outbreak. Now it looked like the ruins of a metropolis, an unfamiliar jungle in what had used to be a bustling conurbation.<br/><br/>She shook her head and focused. Her gaze swept to her right, and started when she saw a figure on the opposite side of the roof, then quickly relaxed. It was only Adrian. He gave her a thumbs up, and she nodded. Together they sought out the electrical wire Nathan had mentioned.<br/><br/>â€œOkay. You go first and clear the roof. Iâ€™ll wait here.â€<br/><br/>Adrian nodded. The cable looked like it could be used as a zip line, assuming it would hold their weight. Adrian stepped up onto the ledge and threw the towel over the line, gripping both ends. He tugged it, testing it. It seemed strong enough. Gritting his teeth, he pushed off the ledge.<br/><br/>Rainie watched Adrian land on the roof of the CD store, his boots making a solid noise against the concrete. He yanked his towel from the line and turned to look at her with a grin. He flashed her a peace sign.<br/><br/>Rainie turned to watch the door, but her eyes strayed passed it, staring at the sun as it rose. The rain still hung like a mist, but no longer did the clouds pummel and drown them with rain. It left everything soggy and wet, but it seemed to have washed away the smell of death, at least it had so high up. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend that none of this had ever happened. That it had all been a dream.<br/><br/>If only she could.