I looked at the drone whirring over the edge. I had to think quickly. What should I use to get down?

There are balconies on floors one and three…

Bingo!

I’ll just climb onto the third floor and use the balcony to get into someone’s apartment. I mean… it’s a zombie apocalypse right?

This can’t be considered breaking and entering if the world is basically broken already.

Cough that logic doesn’t make sense but still! I don’t think anyone is here.

But how would I get across the street?

Putting a hand to my chin I started to tap the side of my cheek. Listing all the options in my head, I heard the whirring of the drone come back from over the edge.

Snap.

That’s it!

“Kayla, can you scout the third floor balconies to see if any doors are open?”

The other side was quiet for a moment before moving back over the edge without a word. I quickly brought out the shop and used the credits I just earned, hesitantly on a lengthy rope!

As the brown bristled rope appeared on my hand, I was very surprised when I felt how sturdy the rope felt. Is this an excellent grade?

“Room at the end has an open screen. Climb down from the corner of the roof.”

She said quickly as if the opportunity could be gone at any moment.

The drone then whirred towards the corner and turned towards me. Then whirred back over. It leveled itself with my hands that carried the rope then came back up to eye level.

“Where did you get that rope?”

Ah shit!

Where did I get this rope? Um, um. What can I tell her?!

She would definitely not believe me if I told her I could make stuff out of thin air. Even though we are now living in a world with zombies, she could probably science her way for that.

But a system shop that speaks inside my head and recreates real life objects for invisible currency made by killing zombies and doing quests? Fuck no she ain’t believing that!

“Ah! Um, from over there!” I yelled, pointing over to the side of the door to the building that was covered in shade.

The drone whirred closer to me as if the little science nerd was doing it herself.

“Alright, that’s convenient, nice. Hurry up and tie yourself up.” She said before driving the drone back over.

I let out a sigh of relief then walked over to the edge.

I leaned over the side to see that there were only a couple of visible zombies standing around at the bottom. Moving around on the street. However, the balcony was completely empty! And most importantly, it was open!

Let’s just hope there’s nothing waiting inside…

I tied the rope over my waist and double knotted the other end around some piece of stuck out pipe or whatever you call those oddly shaped grey things that are usually on roofs. Vents?

As soon as I was ready to go, I suddenly felt a nauseating feeling. I peered over the ledge one more time and realized to myself… I’m fucking suicidal!

“Holy shit I’m going to die!”

“Relax, the third floor is not that far.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Would you like to be the one about to walk down the side of a building with only a rope as a precaution?!”

“... haven’t you done these in one of your games before? Uhh the one with the italian guy or something who became an assassin and jumped from building to building? Plus I’ve seen those parkour videos, you dumb idiot guys do this all the time.”

“I- it’s hopeless. Talking to you is fucking hopeless. I’m hanging up!”

I clicked on the end call and took a deep inhale that utilized my diaphragm. Then let out a loud exhale. I saw this in a youtube video once where this would help the person relax enough that they would be able to sleep. Of course i have tried this out before and found no luck but hey, maybe insomnia is just too difficult to help with a bit of relaxation.

But going down a building? No problem at all! This will totally relax me. Right? Please say right.

I placed one foot on the ledge and brought myself up. Then I placed both feet on the ledge and couldn’t restrain myself to not look down. When I saw the ground below me suddenly seem like a one thousand meter death fall, I broke into a cold sweat and swallowed a lump in my throat.

It’s not that far. It’s not that far. It’s not that far.

Oh god, why did I have to be afraid of heights. Even as a child and when my friend would go to amusement parks, I would actively try to avoid riding roller coasters or anything that had to do with me turning around with my head parallel to the floor. I’m sorry if I do not want to be on a giant elevator that bounces up and down that goes all the way up to space so we can be splattered onto the ground!

If those field trips weren’t mandatory, I would rather spend my time grinding some MMO like Genshin impact.

I looked straight forward and cautiously shifted my feet to face the roof instead of towards the other side so I can place my feet on the wall like I’m a spy from Mission Impossible.

I tucked my phone in my pocket and just went for broke! I held on tightly to the rope and started walking down the side. However… my dumbassb apparently didn’t take physics in highschool because my phone started to shift inside my pocket.

I felt it moving but in no way am I removing a single way from this rope!

I felt the phone slide out my pocket and I turned my head to see it falling down.

“Fucking shit! God, I’m stupid.”

I heard the drone whir next to me. I could feel the judging and laughing eyes of the person staring at me from behind that drone. I rolled my eyes and continued my way down the wall.

This rope felt incredibly sturdy and at least gave me some form of security. I got closer to the third floor and would have to shift my body since the screen door was slid to the side.

The drone whirred down then started behaving strangely. It came back to me and started moving in… circles? Is it running out of battery?

It continued on behaving strangely so I assumed that it was just the nerd telling me to hurry the fuck up. Excuse me ma’am would you like to scale this wall?

I swallowed the lump in my throat once more and shifted my body up so I could land on the balcony. The drop was barely two feet but for some reason I felt like the drop would be longer you know? Maybe it’s because of my fear, I don’t know.

Sigh, can I go back to playing games please.

Getting my footing on the sweet, sweet ground, the drone continued to whir up and down in front of me. I tilted my head and raised my eyebrow. What the hell does she want?

When the drone got out the way, I could see a zombie in the shadows of the room with yellow eyes peering out.

Holy fuck nuts!

The zombie seemed to have heard the drone and I because it started riding the wind towards me.

I felt my life flash before my eyes as I grabbed onto the rope and for some reason kicked my feet forward as if a wall would magically appear in front of me.

I’m losing my god damn mind!

I turned around and jumped off the balcony!

I held on tightly to the rope and swung in the air. Swinging forward from momentum, I knew very well that I would boomerang back to where I came from. Now this! I could remember. Let’s call this moment something in my book of life.

Called the swing to death!

However as I close my eyes, I heard the zombie grunt then heard a crunching sound.

Splat!

I peeked one eye open and found myself hovering over the balcony once more. I placed my feet down, confused as to where the rotting corpse of the devil went.

Wait… don’t tell me.

I turned my head around and looked over the balcony. On the ground being swarmed by a few occupying zombies was a deformed body plastered onto the sidewalk.

However, I didn’t feel safe just yet. Turning back around, I crept through the apartment with the stealth of a neighborhood stray cat that steals food off a bowl on a porch.

Apartments on the first and third floor are bigger than the usual by containing more rooms so there is more to check. I reached into my bag and grasped onto the small bat.

Not wanting to get close to the washroom, I turned the knob and pushed it open with the knob.

Empty.

I crept up to the bedroom and did the same thing. When the door opened I waved the bar up and down and even tapped the door a little, ready to smash whatever came hurtling my way.

Nothing.

Phew… I’m alone.

I fell onto my ass then scratched the back of my head.

Now what?