It was 3 p.m., and the tension on the rooftop was palpable. The group huddled in the northwest corner, their eyes darting between Jason, who stood poised at the center of the roof, and the shuddering metal door that separated them from the horde of zombies below. The door rattled violently under the relentless assault, the growls and snarls of the undead echoing through the building. The gunshots Vincent had fired earlier had stirred the entire block into a frenzy, drawing every zombie within earshot to their location. The stairwells were now packed with the ravenous creatures, their hunger more insatiable than ever.

  Jason stood about twenty meters from the northern edge of the roof, his body coiled like a spring. He stretched his legs and arms one last time, crouched low, one foot braced behind him. Thirty seconds had passed since Vincent’s gunshots had sealed their fate. If Jason failed, there would be no second chances.

  Before he began his run, Jason glanced at the group. His face was expressionless, but his mind raced. If Vincent hadn’t fired those shots, Jason’s jump would have been a gamble for his own life and the slim hope of escape for the others. But now, with the zombies closing in, his failure would mean death for everyone. The pressure was immense, but it was also a motivator. Among the group were people he cared about—his aunt Laura, his friend Christine, the girl he’d just begun to admire, Kelly, and the others who had become like family in this nightmare. He owed it to them to try.

  For himself, and all of them.

  Jason took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto the mark Vincent had made near the roof's edge. It was a guide to ensure he didn’t misjudge his jump. The group watched in silence, their breaths held, their hearts pounding. All eyes were on Jason. In this moment, he was their only hope.

  “God, help me,” Jason whispered, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Then, with a burst of speed, he launched himself forward. His feet pounded against the rooftop as he sprinted toward the edge, his body leaning forward, every muscle straining. The twenty meters felt like an eternity, but in reality, it took him just over three seconds.

  One second…

  Two seconds…

  Three seconds…

  The group’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point. They watched, frozen, as Jason reached the edge of the roof. His leading foot hit the mark, half of it already hanging over the void. With a powerful push, he leaped.

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  For a moment, it looked like he might make it. But then, reality set in. Jason’s jump was strong, but his trajectory was too low. Instead of clearing the gap, he was going to slam into the side of the opposite building and plummet to his death.

  “Oh God!” Laura cried out, her hands flying to her mouth. Others turned away, unable to watch.

  But then—*thud*—a sound of impact. A brief silence followed.

  “Damn, that hurts…” Jason’s voice groaned.

  “Jason! Climb up! Now!” Vincent shouted, his voice cutting through the tension.

  Those who had closed their eyes opened them again, their faces lighting up with hope. Jason was alive, his hands gripping the edge of the opposite rooftop, his body dangling precariously over the abyss. Just as Vincent had predicted, Jason hadn’t relied solely on his legs—he’d used his arms to grab the edge, a move straight out of his parkour training.

  “Thank God!” Laura sobbed, clutching Old Mike for support.

  Jason wasted no time. With a grunt, he pulled himself up, his muscles straining as he hoisted his body onto the rooftop. He rolled onto his back, breathing heavily, then sat up and flashed a triumphant grin at the group. “Made it!” he called out, though his arms were already showing signs of strain.

  On the other side, the zombies were still battering the rooftop door, which was now visibly warping under the pressure. It wouldn’t hold much longer.

  “Quick, get the ladders!” Vincent barked, urgency in his voice. The group scrambled to the edge as Jason retrieved two metal ladders from the opposite rooftop. He positioned the first one, letting it fall across the gap at a 45-degree angle. Robby stepped forward, planting his foot on the ladder to keep it steady.

  Christine was the first to cross, crawling on all fours to distribute her weight. Manny followed close behind. The ladders could only support two people at a time, so they moved quickly. Once they were safely across, Jason set up the second ladder.

  Laura went next, but Kelly froze, her fear of heights paralyzing her. She clung to Strong John, refusing to let go. Seeing this, Vincent signaled to Jason, and the two men adjusted the ladders, placing them side by side to create a wider, more stable path.

  “John, carry her across!” Vincent ordered. Strong John nodded, hoisting Kelly onto his back. He moved swiftly, his military training evident in his precise movements. Despite his age, he crossed the gap with ease, delivering Kelly safely to the other side.

  By now, the rooftop door had given way, and the first zombies were spilling onto the roof. They moved quickly, their decaying bodies driven by an unrelenting hunger.

  “Mike, you’re next!” Vincent said, gesturing for Robby to follow. The two men crossed the ladders together, their movements steady despite the chaos unfolding behind them.

  Vincent was the last to go. He moved calmly, his eyes scanning the rooftop as the zombies closed in. The fastest of them was just seconds away, but Vincent had timed it perfectly. As he stepped onto the ladder, the first zombies reached the edge, their outstretched arms grasping at empty air.

  By the time Vincent reached the other side, the zombies were piling up at the edge of the roof. The sheer weight of the horde pushed the front rows over the edge, sending them plummeting to the ground below. It was a macabre sight, zombies raining down like grotesque hail, their bodies breaking upon impact.

  Vincent stood at the edge of the opposite rooftop, watching the chaos unfold. Then, with a smirk, he raised his pistol and fired two shots into the air.

  “Just giving them a little encouragement,” he said dryly, as the zombies below writhed and roared in response.