"Where are we going?" Will demanded, indignant now that it appeared they had nowhere to run.
"Next building."
"What?"
Dak didn't answer. Instead, he sprinted across the rooftop and stopped abruptly at the edge. The lip of the building was shin high. He looked down at the deadly drop, knowing that a mistake here would be the end. He'd been in worse spots before.
He knew the death squad downstairs were entering the apartment. Every second counted.
Will skidded to a stop next to Dak and looked down, then over at the next building. "You're gonna jump?"
"No choice," Dak said. He had no time to argue. Instead, he took a few steps back, trotted to the edge, and planted his left foot on the flat top. He launched himself through the air, easily clearing the distance.
Will watched as Dak landed on the rooftop below, hitting the surface with a thud. The second his boots struck the roof, Dak's legs crumpled, and he rolled to his feet.
Dak turned and looked back up at Will, motioning his friend to hurry.
Will stepped back and copied Dak's move, leaping over the gap like an Olympic long-jumper to the next rooftop. Midway through the air, Dak heard a noise just over his right shoulder and instinctively dove to his side.
The access door to the rooftop burst open and a man in a black mask and tactical gear stepped out, military-grade rifle in hand. He raised the weapon, aiming it at Will as he struck the ground and rolled forward.
The gunman's finger tensed, ready to fire.
Dak sprung from behind him and kicked the hand guard an inch in front of the man's left hand. The muted pop escaped the suppressor on the end of the barrel and fired the bullet harmlessly into the sky.
The guard reacted, but slowly, both out of confusion and fear. He started to turn, but it was too late. Dak grabbed the weapon, ejected the magazine from the rifle, and head-butted the gunman in the nose. The man staggered back for a second, loosening his grip on the weapon. It dangled from the strap over his shoulder, and Dak used the moment to pull the charging handle. The last of the live rounds ejected onto the ground.
Dak tilted his body at the hip, and kicked the man in the chest, driving him back through the open door and into the stairwell.
Will had recovered from his landing and aimed his pistol at the gunman, but Dak stepped in the way and held up a hand.
"Don't shoot him," Dak said.
"What?" Will’s bewilderment boiled over and seeped out of his eyes. "Why not?"
Dak slammed the door shut and motioned to a metal-handled broom leaning against the access portal's exterior wall.
"Give me that, quick," Dak barked, keeping his right foot wedged against the closed access door.
Will grabbed the broom and passed it to his friend.
He didn't have time to ask another question. Dak took the handle and threaded it through the latch and a lamp post hanging to the side of the door. When the gunman recovered and tried to get through, the door would be barred shut.
"Come on," Dak said.
He started toward the far wall. Will followed, but called after him. "Dude, you realize there's no way we can jump to that next building.”
Dak knew he was right, and the realization was only confirmed when he reached the edge. A courtyard below separated the two buildings. After that, there were no other structures for a full block. A park sprawled beyond the next apartment complex.
"The hit squad," Dak said, "are they on the roof yet?"
Will glanced back at his building. "No, not yet."
"Good. Come on."
Dak ran to the back corner of the rooftop where a set of cables ran down over the edge.
"What are you doing?" Will pleaded.
"How many times are you going to ask me that?"
"As many as it takes for you to tell me exactly how you're planning to get us out of this mess."
"Fine," Dak said. "Watch." He grabbed the cluster of cables and flung his legs over the ledge. "We're rappelling down."
"What?"
"Stop saying that and grab the cables." Dak's eyes flashed to a row of rooftop water heaters. "They won't see us if we hurry."
A second later, he was gone.
Will leaned over the edge and saw his friend rapidly walking his way down the exterior wall. The building was shorter than his, but only by one story, and the fall from here would still be deadly.
He looked back over his shoulder and saw the access door shuddering at a steady cadence as the man inside tried to break through. Then Will saw the door to his apartment building burst open. He ducked down and grabbed the cables, then crawled over to the edge.
Will eased himself over the side of the building as he whispered a quiet prayer that the wires would hold. He doubted they were intended to carry the weight of two grown men, but he had no choice.
Will lowered his feet until he felt the hard wall, and then, hand-over-hand, began walking his way down the building.
He'd been rappelling before, but with a harness, handbrake, and other safety gear. Here, if he slipped or lost his grip, he'd fall.
Down below, Dak neared the bottom. Their combined weight and uncoordinated movements caused the cords to vibrate and shake in his hands. He didn't know how long the wires would hold.
When he reached the second floor, he quickened his pace, almost to a backward, straight down jog. A few feet below the top of the first floor, he took one more big step and then let go.
Dak hit the ground with a thud. He'd underestimated the drop, and the jarred landing sent a dull pain through his knees and hips. He'd be fine. He knew that. His eyes lifted to Will who had just passed the top of the second floor.
Dak felt a pounding sense of urgency. He looked around the empty
