Jackie and Lenz sprinted until their lungs burned, finally collapsing in a narrow alleyway between buildings.
"Lenz - stop -" Jackie gasped, doubling over with hands on his knees. "I need...to breathe..."
Lenz slammed his back against thewall, chest heaving as he scanned their surroundings.
Jackie wiped sweat from his brow. "Where...where do you think the others went? Henry's group, I mean."
"Probably took the east pass," Lenz said between gulps of air. " there are Two routes to the temple." His fingers tapped nervously against his axe handle.
A heavy silence fell between them, broken only by their ragged breathing. Finally, Lenz turned to Jackie, his voice low but firm. "Jackie...no more crying. Be a man now. Accept her death...so you can save others when it counts."
Jackie's hands trembled as he wiped his tear-streaked face. "Okay...sure." The words came out hollow.
As Lenz peered down the alley, his body went rigid. "Shit."
A dozen motionless bodies lay sprawled ahead .
Jackie's breath hitched. "You think they're...infected too? Like Zuck was?"
Lenz's grip tightened on his weapon. "If they are, they'll turn any second." He grabbed Jackie's arm, voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "We run. Now. Straight to the temple - no stopping until we reach Paulie."
---
Paulie looked at Furio as he was coming closer
Paulie raised his crossbow as he shoved Lili behind him with his free arm. "Get behind me. Now!"
The bolt remained leveled at Furio's chest as the man slowly raised his hands. "Whoa there, Paulie boy!" Furio's chuckle sounded forced. "Acting like we're the monsters here?"
Paulie's finger was tightening on the trigger.
"Look, about earlier—" Furio took a careful step back, "—maybe taking a hostage wasn't the most... Lupper-approved method—"
"Give me one reason," Paulie spat, "one fucking reason not to put a bolt between your eyes right now."
Lili grabbed Paulie's arm. "Stop! The past's done. We either work together now or we all die here!"
Paulie's aim faltered. "But they—"
"I mean it, Paul." Her nails dug into his sleeve.
Furio smirked. "Listen to your girlfriend, Paulie. Maybe we can all hold hands and friendship-circle our way out of hell?"
Ramsey shoved between them. "Enough! Do you actually have a plan or are we just doing target practice?"
With a disgusted grunt, Paulie lowered the crossbow. "Temple's our only shot. There's an old war tunnel beneath it—leads straight out of town."
Ramsey's eyes lit with recognition. " you're right. The emergency evacuation route from the siege."
"Alright then,"Furio clapped his hands together, his smirk not quite reaching his eyes. "Once we're out of this mess, you and me, Paulie. A fair fight—no weapons, no tricks. We settle this properly."
Paulie's grip on the crossbow tightened, but after a beat, he gave a stiff nod.
"Now, can you drop that thing?"Ramsey said, eyeing the weapon.
"Not a chance," Paulie shot back. "This stays with me."
From the back, Joe shifted uncomfortably. "Boss… maybe we should tell them about the infected. You know, to build some trust?"
Furio waved him off, leaning against the rooftop ledge as if the conversation was already boring him.
Joe glanced at Michael, who gave a slow, reluctant nod.
"Right," Joe began, rubbing the back of his neck. **"Before we met up with you all… me, Michael, and Buffon were trying to reach the temple. We got cornered near the market. Buffon… didn't make it."
Michael's jaw clenched, his fingers picking at a loose thread on his sleeve. "The weird part? Every infected we'd seen before had bite marks. But these ones… they didn't just attack Buffon. They went straight for his chest."
Paulie's brow furrowed. "His chest?"
"Yeah,"Joe's voice low. "They tore right through his clothes. And then… we saw what they were after."He tapped his own chest. "His heart. One of them just… swallowed it whole."
Lili's breath hitched. "But why would —?"
"No idea," Joe cut in. "But after that, they just… walked away. Left him there. And Buffon?"He looked at each of them, his expression grim.
"He never turned."
"But that's—"Paulie started, only for Ramsey to cut in.
"Yeah, but this whole virus was a mystery from the start. This just adds a new layer to it."
Then Michael yelled, "everyone look down below!"
Paulie's breath caught in his throat. The infected weren't just gathering—they were climbing over each other, limbs tangling as they scaled the building like a grotesque, twitching ladder. Their hollow groans carried up the walls, fingers scratching at the brick.
Ramsey's voice turned desperate. "Guys, we don't have enough time—we need to think of a plan!"
Furio scoffed. "But how? We're fucking trapped up here, and it's not like we can jump off the roof onto another roof ahead!"
Lili's eyes darted across the gap. Then, quick as a spark, she pointed. "But maybe we can get over there!"The neighboring rooftop was far, but not impossible.
Joe frowned. "What do you mean? How?"
She gestured at the old clothesline rope, sun-bleached but still sturdy. "We can make a big enough loop and throw the rope on the small brick structure on the roof to climb across."
Furio rolled his eyes, his voice dripping with mockery. "Look, guys, the rich girl is already ordering us around like one of her slaves."
Paulie stepped forward, his voice sharp. "What the hell is wrong with you? Can't you see she's helping?"
Ramsey quickly moved between them, hands raised. "Let's go with her plan, Furio. Now is not the time."
Furio scoffed and turned away, his jaw clenched.
Without hesitation, Joe grabbed the rope, testing its weight. "Alright, let's do it." His eyes scanned the group before landing on Michael. "I think you're the best person for this."
Michael exhaled hard but took the rope. With a single, practiced throw, he looped it securely around the brick chimney on the opposite roof.
Lili immediately went to work, knotting their end tightly around the ledge. "There. It should hold."
Furio crossed his arms, his smirk returning. "Hold up—how do we know we won't just fall right into their hands and become a free meal?"
"Because if we go one by one, it won't break," Lili countered, her voice steady.
Furio's grin widened. "Okay, if you're so confident… you go first."
Paulie tensed. "Lili, you don't have to—"
She stopped him and said "Don't worry, Paulie. I'll make it."
Lili looked down, and her stomach lurched. Below her, dozens of infected had gathered, their rotting arms outstretched, fingers twitching as if already tasting her flesh. They waited, hungry and still, for the moment she might fall.
She shook the feeling off, gripping the rope until her knuckles turned white. With a deep breath, she stepped onto it, her entire weight now suspended over the churning sea of monsters.
The rope shuddered slightly, swaying under her movement. Behind her, every pair of eyes was locked onto her progress—Paulie's the widest, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Lili moved slowly, hand over hand, the coarse fibers biting into her palms. Beneath her, snarls and wet growls rose up, but she refused to look down. Only forward.
Seconds stretched like hours. Then—her fingers scraped the opposite roof's edge. With one final heave, she pulled herself up and over, collapsing onto solid ground.
Paulie let out a sharp breath, his shoulders sagging in relief.
"I made it!" Lili called back, voice shaking but triumphant. "It's safe!"
The group exchanged glances, nodding in silent agreement—all except Furio, who just rolled his eyes and scoffed.
Alright, I guess it's my turn now," Paulie said, stepping toward the rope.
Just as he reached for it, Michael's voice boomed behind him. "Woah! Hold on there, friend!"
Paulie turned, his expression hardening. "What do you mean?"
Michael crossed his arms, his stance wide. "I think you know exactly what I mean. I did all the hard work, and I don't even get to go first?"
Ramsey quickly stepped between them, hands raised. "Well, look, Michael—you weigh a lot with all your muscles and body. It's safer for Paulie to go first."
Joe nodded vigorously."Yeah, man, he's right. If the rope breaks, we have no way of surviving."
Michael's face flushed red. "Oh, so I'm the only fat person here now?"He jabbed a finger at Joe.
Ramsey sighed. "Look, Michael, I don't know why you're making a big fuss about this. Just wait till your turn."
Michael's voice exploded. "I don't give a shit about turns! I did all the hard work, so I should be the one to go first—and I'm damn sure none of you can stop me!"
The rooftop air turned to ice as Furio stood abruptly. "Michael—SIT THE FUCK DOWN."
Michael closed the distance in two strides, his nose inches from Furio's. "What are you gonna do if I don't?" His whisper carried more threat than a scream, breath hot against Furio's face.
Furio didn't flinch. "I'm your leader. Don't you ever forget that."
A muscle twitched in Michael's jaw.
"My only leader was John... who died by your hands."
A collective gasp rippled through the group. Ramsey's hand drifted toward his knife.
Michael's voice dropped to a venomous calm. "Don't think you can fool me with lies. John never died from some rival gang, right? That day—" He stepped closer, crowding Furio against the ledge. "—we were supposed to negotiate together. Last thing he said? 'I'll be back after I talk to Furio at the orphanage.'"
Then, quietly Furio said: "Yeah. I killed him."
"And I'd do it again."
Furio's fingers twitched at his sides. He knew the truth—in a straight fight, he couldn't take Michael. Not when the man stood a head taller, his shoulders blocking out the sun.
Michael chuckled, the sound dripping with contempt. "All because of that whore?"
Furio's entire body went rigid. "What did you just say?"
*"You heard me." Michael's grin widened, cruel and knowing. "Sorry for the bad news, Furio, but you weren't wanted. In fact, your birth was a mistake in the first place." He leaned in, voice taunting. "Think about it—Eve Roose probably got drunk somewhere and decided to get a taste of some rich folk while she was at it."
Ramsey's shout cut through the air.
"Alright, Michael, that's enough!"
But Michael wasn't done. "Who knows how many other half-brothers you might have?"
Ramsey's voice turned thunderous. "MICHAEL—I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Michael ignored him. "Y'know what'll happen when you meet her someday?"His smile turned venomous. "She'll say…" He dropped his voice to a mocking whisper.
"' I Don't know you!,Get out of my face, you filthy peasant!'"
The words struck Furio like a crossbow bolt to the chest.
For a heartbeat, his expression twisted into something inhuman—a storm of rage so deep it hollowed out his features. His teeth clicked once.
Then— he smiled.
"You're right, Michael." His voice was eerily calm. *"She was a whore!"
"Michael, it's okay—please stop! You can go first!" Paulie's voice cracked with desperation.
Michael turned away, his shoulders rigid as he marched toward the rope. Ramsey and Paulie exchanged a glance full of silent dread as Michael crouched to inspect the knot.
Then—a single footstep behind him.
Before Michael could react, a violent shove sent him lurching forward. For one horrifying second, his hands clawed at empty air as the rooftop vanished beneath him.
Time seemed to stop as realization struck—he was falling.
His head snapped up just in time to see Furio's face, twisted into a pure evil grin, watching him fall to the ground.
Then came the screams fo help.
Not just Michael's—though his howls of terror split the air first—but the ravenous shrieks of the infected as they swarmed him. The sound of tearing flesh, wet snapping, and gurgling cries rose up from below in a symphony of horror.
And then—silence.
Every person on the rooftop stood frozen. Lili's hands covered her mouth, her eyes wide with primal terror. Ramsey had gone deathly pale. Paulie's crossbow hung limp in his shock-loosened grip.
Furio turned slowly, his movements unnaturally jerky, like a marionette on tangled strings. He spread his arms wide—a mockery of a welcoming embrace—his smile stretching too far across his face.
"Go on, Paulie!" he chirped, voice dripping with false cheer.
"Everything is okay...
Its your turn!."