You take a deep breath and clamber onto the edge of the roof. The walkway is not very long – it is possible for a very athletic person to make a running jump to reach the other side, but in these conditions it would be risky. Not that you are any confident of being able to perform such a stunt in the first place. Even crawling across the walkway feels hazardous enough to you: the only reason you are even considering it in the first place is because the deserted rooftop is making your skin crawl. It is not a good enough reason to be betting your life on a dangerous crossing – you are aware of that – but you have a feeling that the sooner you get a move on, the better.
You move your limbs slowly, searching for footholds and handholds as you lower yourself down the side of the building. The wind is strong but as long as you keep yourself plastered to the rough, cold wall it is still manageable for you. There are only two floors for you to descend; but clambering cautiously, it takes you what feels like ages to reach the top of the walkway. You feel a bout of relief once your feet reach a more solid place to stand on. Goosebumps are raised all over your skin from the cold wind and you tremble, huddling for a while to catch your breath.
Now for the crossing.
Getting down on your hands and knees, you begin to crawl across the glass roof. You can see the carpeted walkway below you. There is no one there at the moment... which is probably a good thing. You continue moving cautiously, one limb at a time. Falling at this time would be rather unfortunate. The fog has begun to condense on the surface of the glass, making it somewhat slippery.
The moment you clear the shadow of the previous building, a powerful gust of wind buffets you.
Caught by surprise, you feel yourself beginning to slide off the walkway. You scrabble desperately at the smooth surface of the glass, but your fingers do nothing more than squeak against it, finding no purchase. The flow of air is too strong for you to resist, and you are blown off the top.
You fall.
***
As you fall, the thought going through your mind is:
A. Ah, that’s right. A gap between two buildings generates stronger airflow, doesn’t it? Given the already precarious wind conditions and the slippery surface…
B. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck-
C. There’s the ground coming up. I wonder if it’ll be friends with me?
D. Oh no, not again.
***
And the rest, after a sudden, wet thud, is dead silence.
---DEAD END---
