Elaine followed in Rio’s footsteps, moving cautiously but with growing confidence as they crossed from roof to roof. Each rooftop presented a new challenge—some were sloped, others flat, while a few were cluttered with debris that required careful navigation. Despite the varying sizes and shapes of the roofs, Elaine found herself adapting quickly, her fear slowly giving way to determination. The jumps and climbs that once seemed daunting now felt like obstacles she could conquer.
Together, Rio and Elaine moved across the rooftops of the neighboring houses, deliberately staying above the chaos below. The streets were a war zone, and from their elevated position, Elaine could see the desperate situation of the evacuees. People were running in all directions, trying to escape the relentless pursuit of the infected. Fights broke out as some tried to fend off the attackers, but the infected were ferocious, their singular focus on spreading the virus driving them to violence.
Elaine’s heart tightened as she witnessed the horror unfolding beneath her. The lines between the healthy and the infected were blurred—people who had just been bitten or beaten were still moving, still fighting, but their time was running out. She couldn’t tell who was safe and who was moments away from turning. The confusion and terror in the streets were overwhelming, but Elaine knew she couldn’t afford to hesitate. She had to keep moving.
"Keep your eyes on the path," Rio called back to her, his voice firm but gentle. He knew what she was seeing, and he knew it could paralyze her if she let it.
Elaine tore her gaze away from the streets and focused on Rio’s back, her lifeline in this nightmare. He led them with a clear sense of purpose, guiding them through a maze of rooftops that kept them one step ahead of the danger below. She matched his pace, her movements becoming more fluid as they traversed the urban landscape. The fear that had gripped her earlier was still there, but it was now tempered by a growing resolve.
As they crossed into a new neighborhood, the rooftops became more treacherous, with gaps that required longer jumps and walls that needed scaling. But Elaine was undeterred. Every successful leap and climb brought a surge of confidence, and she began to trust her own instincts, relying less on Rio and more on herself.
Below them, the streets continued to writhe with chaos, but up here, on the roofs, they had a fleeting sense of control, a fragile sanctuary from the horrors below. With each new roof they crossed, they were leaving behind one danger and stepping into the unknown, always moving closer to their goal: Sumulong Highway.
Breaking into empty houses when necessary, they found brief moments of respite, using the interiors to regain their strength before returning to the roofs. The houses were eerie, abandoned in haste, with belongings left behind that told stories of lives interrupted. But Rio and Elaine couldn’t dwell on these ghosts of the past—they had to stay focused on the present, on surviving.
As they neared Sumulong Highway, the rooftops became a blur of jumps, climbs, and narrow escapes. Elaine’s muscles burned with exertion, but she pushed on, the fear of what lay behind driving her forward. Rio remained a steady presence, always a few steps ahead, always looking back to make sure she was still with him.
Together, they moved through the city like shadows, avoiding the streets below, leaving behind the chaos and inching closer to safety. The journey was far from over, but with each step, they were one roof closer to escaping the nightmare that had taken over their world.
...
At one point, they reached a gap between two rooftops that seemed impossibly wide, the distance so intimidating it made Elaine’s stomach churn. Rio, as usual, was the first to leap, stepping backward to build momentum. He sprinted forward, muscles coiled like a spring, before launching himself into the air with practiced ease. He landed on the opposite roof without a hitch, barely even needing to balance himself as he straightened up.
Elaine stared at the gap, her heart hammering in her chest. It felt like the ground below was pulling her in, the dizzying height making her knees weak.
"Jump over! You can do it!" Rio called from the other side, his voice steady, but not forceful. He had an uncanny way of making even the most dangerous situations seem manageable. For him, maybe.
Elaine, however, wasn’t feeling the same confidence. "Rio, fuck! I’m not as agile as you—you know that!" Her voice trembled as she backed away from the edge. The mere thought of throwing herself over that void made her legs feel like jelly.
"Here’s a tip: distance yourself from the edge, run, and create momentum before you jump," Rio instructed, trying to keep things simple. "And remember, there’s no respawn in real life. Staying calm works all the time."
Elaine groaned, exasperated, her fear bubbling into frustration. "I swear, if I fall and die, I’ll haunt you as a ghost—or worse, an infected!" Her voice was sharp, but beneath it, there was an edge of terror she couldn’t hide.
She took a few deep breaths, stepping back further from the edge as Rio had told her, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside her. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to stop, to turn back, but she couldn’t. There was no turning back now. She had to trust him—trust herself.
Her heart pounded in her throat as she sprinted toward the edge. The world seemed to blur, her focus narrowing to the other side of the gap. She pushed off with all her strength, screaming as she launched herself into the air.
For a fleeting second, it felt like flying. But as soon as her feet touched the opposite roof, she knew something was wrong. Her foot caught the edge awkwardly, and she skidded, the rough surface scraping her skin as she lost her balance.
"Shit—!" Rio’s voice cut through the air, panic threading into it. He’d seen the moment she faltered, and in an instant, he threw his backpack aside and dashed forward.
Elaine’s stomach dropped as her body slid closer to the edge. Her breath caught in her throat, her fingers clawing for anything to hold onto. But there was nothing. She slipped, her body tilting forward as she fell, her arms flailing until her hand finally caught the very edge of the roof. Her fingers barely latched on, pain shooting through her arm as her weight dangled precariously.
"Rio!" she gasped, terror gripping her like a vice. The world seemed to shrink around her, and all she could see was the three-story fall below, the unforgiving concrete waiting to claim her. Her body shook, and panic surged through her veins, her mind racing with the horrific possibility of death. "I don’t want to die!" she cried, her voice breaking, the words tumbling out in a frantic whisper. "Please... please bring me up!"
"Elaine! Hey, don’t look down!" Rio’s voice was calm, though his face betrayed the urgency of the situation. He knelt at the edge, reaching down and grabbing her arm with both hands, his muscles straining as he held her weight. "Hold on! You’ve got this!"
Elaine’s breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving as she clung to his arm with a desperation she hadn’t known she possessed. Every muscle in her body screamed in agony, her grip on the ledge starting to slip. "I can’t—"
"Yes, you can!" Rio’s voice cut through her panic, fierce and unwavering. "Just... just look at me. Focus on me."
She forced her gaze upward, locking eyes with him, her breath shaking as she tried to block out the overwhelming fear. His face was tight with concentration, but in his eyes, she saw something steady, something she could cling to.
"Come on," Rio urged, his grip tightening. "Try to bring yourself up, just a little, and I’ll pull you the rest of the way."
Her whole body trembled, but she nodded, more out of instinct than actual belief. She dug her foot against the wall, trying to push herself up, her arms burning as she fought to lift herself. Every inch felt like an eternity, her muscles screaming with the effort, but Rio didn’t let go—he didn’t even waver. With each agonizing second, they moved together, his strength pulling her up while she fought to climb.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, she felt the solid surface of the roof beneath her hands. With one last surge of effort, Rio yanked her up the rest of the way, and she collapsed onto the roof, her body trembling from exertion.
But in her haste to scramble up, she lost her balance again, her momentum carrying her forward—straight into Rio.
"Ah—!" The impact knocked the wind out of her, and they both tumbled to the ground, Elaine landing hard on top of him. The air left her lungs in a gasp, the rough concrete scraping against her arms as she fell awkwardly against Rio’s chest.
For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of their labored breathing, hearts pounding in unison as they lay there, both stunned by the sudden collapse.
...
In their exhaustion, neither of them realized just how intimately they had collapsed onto the roof. Elaine lay sprawled on top of Rio, her shallow breaths brushing against his ear as she tried to steady herself. Rio, equally spent, found his face buried near the curve of her neck, the warmth of her skin just beneath her hair sending unexpected jolts through his senses. For a moment, the chaos below—the screams, the sound of shuffling feet, and the distant crashes—faded into the background. All that was left was the beating of their hearts, chest to chest, their bodies pressed together under the dark, indifferent sky.
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Elaine’s breath hitched, the overwhelming reality of what had just happened catching up to her. Her chest tightened, and she could no longer hold back the tears. The weight of nearly falling to her death, of teetering on the edge of oblivion, became too much. A sob escaped her lips as her body trembled, and she buried her face against Rio’s shoulder, the flood of emotion taking over.
Rio froze, unsure of what to do. He could feel the wetness of her tears soaking through his shirt, the subtle shakes of her body against his. Awkwardness crept up his spine as he realized their position, but something deeper urged him to act. Slowly, tentatively, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a gentle embrace. His touch was careful, uncertain, but he hoped it would soothe her without crossing any lines.
Elaine’s sniffling slowed, but the vulnerability lingered in the air. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm such a deadweight… I’m not cut out for this. I’m really not fit for any of this." She wiped at her tear-streaked cheeks, her glasses fogging slightly from her tears. "You’d probably be farther along if I wasn’t dragging you down, if I hadn’t come at all."
"Hey, don’t say that." Rio’s voice was soft but firm, his grip on her tightening just a little. "You tried your best. That jump wasn’t easy, even for me. We’re both pushing ourselves to the limit—because we have to, if we’re going to survive."
"I know, but..." Elaine's voice wavered. "I know we just met tonight, but I already trust you. I’m glad… I’m glad I have someone like you pushing me forward. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you."
Rio’s chest tightened, her words stirring something in him. "Having you around is better than being alone," he admitted quietly. "If you weren’t there earlier, that infected might’ve gotten me. You’ve already helped more than you think."
Elaine’s eyes welled up again, but this time, it wasn’t from fear or despair. Rio’s words wrapped around her like a warm blanket, and without thinking, she hugged him back, her arms sliding around his body as she pressed closer. She could feel the solid beat of his heart, the rise and fall of his chest beneath hers. And in that moment, amidst the chaos, she found a strange sense of comfort in their shared warmth.
Rio stiffened as Elaine’s embrace tightened, his face now buried in her neck, strands of her dark hair brushing against his cheek. Her scent—something faint, a mixture of sweat and something uniquely hers—filled his senses. It was strangely calming, making his heart skip a beat despite the danger that loomed around them. His grip on her was hesitant at first, but then he allowed himself to relax into the moment.
Elaine, for her part, was caught off guard by the intimacy of their position. She could feel Rio’s breath against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. It wasn’t unpleasant, though. In fact, it felt... nice. Surprising herself, she muttered quietly, "You smell… bad."
Rio blinked, momentarily thrown off. "I, uh... I haven’t had a shower since this afternoon." His voice was sheepish, and he cleared his throat, feeling a tinge of embarrassment creep in.
Elaine chuckled softly, her laughter light but genuine. "Maybe not as bad as my dirty apartment," she quipped, feeling a small sense of relief from the tension. "I didn’t realize hugging someone could feel this... comforting. It’s been a while since I’ve had one."
For a moment, they just lay there, holding onto each other while the world below burned. The chaos continued unabated—shouts, screams, and the shuffle of feet against pavement—but up here, with their bodies pressed together, there was a strange peace. Their breaths synchronized, shallow and warm, brushing against each other's skin, sweat trickling down in the still night air.
After what felt like an eternity, Rio finally broke the silence, his voice a little awkward. "Uh, hey, can we… get up now? I’m starting to feel numb, and you’re kinda heavy."
Elaine pulled back, her cheeks flushing as she pushed her glasses up her nose. "Rude," she shot back, though the edge in her voice was softened by a playful smirk. "I’m skinny, you know. I barely get to eat as it is."
Rio chuckled as he sat up, stretching his arms overhead. "Yeah, well, all that adrenaline can weigh a person down." He stood, brushing off his pants before grabbing his backpack. "We should get moving."
Elaine watched him for a moment, still sitting on the roof, feeling the lingering warmth from where they had been pressed together. She hesitated, chewing on her lip before calling out, "Rio?"
He paused, turning his head but not fully looking back. "Yeah?"
She looked down at her hands, feeling a little shy. "Thanks… for not letting me fall."
Rio’s lips curled into a small, lopsided smile. "It’s nothing," he replied. "We’re like a party in an RPG, right? I’ll always have your back. Just make sure you do the same for me if I get into trouble." He winced as the words left his mouth, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Ugh, what am I saying? RPG this, RPG that. I must sound so cheesy right now." He laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
Elaine couldn’t help but smile. "No, it’s not cheesy at all," she said softly, getting to her feet and following after him. "It actually helps... thinking of this like a game. It makes everything a little less terrifying."
"I guess," Rio mumbled. "But I don’t want to sound like I’m trying too hard. You know, talking about video games just to—"
"Rio," Elaine interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. "I don’t mind. "It’s nice, really." She hesitated before adding, "And I don’t mind talking to you about anything, actually. It’s just… nice to talk to someone who gets it. I’m usually just talking to my online friends in voice channels, you know?" she continued, her voice quieter now. "Or replying to the chat during streams, talking to myself. It’s not like I have real conversations. Talking like this… it’s been a while." She swallowed hard, her nerves getting the better of her. "I’m kind of awkward with people. Always have been. And men... I’ve had bad experiences with them. But with you, I feel like I can say what I want, and I don’t have to think twice about it."
Rio glanced back at her, his expression softening. "I’m... glad you feel that way," he said, his tone carrying a softness that matched the vulnerability she’d just shared. "I don’t really talk much either. But... it's fun talking to you."
And as they continued walking, side by side, Elaine realized that maybe—just maybe—they were starting to find something deeper than just survival.
----------------------------------------
The two continued their journey across the rooftops, finally reaching the edge of the last house along Katipunan Street. It was a dead end, and beyond lay the sprawling highway—a scene of utter devastation. Elaine’s heart clenched as she gazed down at the chaotic mess below: cars piled up in accidents, others stuck in an immovable line of traffic. People were running in all directions, some fleeing in panic while others, maddened by desperation, lashed out violently. It was exactly as Rio had described, yet seeing it with her own eyes felt surreal, like something out of a nightmare.
Her thoughts drifted to the Halili family, who had left hours ago on their motorcycle. She couldn’t help but imagine them trapped somewhere in that traffic, unable to escape. A traffic jam like that… there was no way to push forward unless they abandoned their vehicle and continued on foot. The image made her feel helpless, a knot of worry tightening in her chest.
"This is a dead end." Rio crouched by the roof’s edge, scanning the chaos below. His voice was calm, but Elaine could hear the strain behind it. "We’ll have to go down and travel by the highway for a bit. There’s no other way."
Elaine stood behind him, biting her lip as she took in the scene. "Rio… do you really think we can make it to the next city?" Her voice wavered. The sight of the highway sent a cold shiver down her spine. "It looks… so much worse down there. It's dangerous."
Rio didn’t answer immediately. He stared at the highway, his brow furrowed, clearly weighing their options. The truth was, he didn’t know. He couldn’t guarantee anything—not their safety, not their survival. And now, with Elaine trusting him completely, the weight of that responsibility felt crushing. The infected were increasing in number, spreading faster than anyone could have predicted. The streets had been bad, but the highway was another level of danger altogether. It was a sea of chaos, filled with the desperate and the infected, a place where one wrong move could be fatal.
"I’m not sure," Rio finally admitted, his voice heavy with the burden of uncertainty. "Honestly, I don’t know if we’ll be safe. I’ve been unsure this whole time." He glanced back at her, his eyes softening. "But I do know one thing—we have to keep moving. We stick together and take it one step at a time. That’s all we can do right now."
Elaine nodded, though her heart still raced with anxiety. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but Rio’s calm, determined tone gave her a sliver of hope. Even in the face of the unknown, they had each other. For now, that had to be enough.
"Let’s rest for a bit before we go down," Rio suggested, swinging his backpack in front of him and pulling out a water bottle. He drank a few gulps, leaving enough for Elaine. Knowing how exhausting it had been for her to cross the rooftops, he passed the bottle over. "Here, drink. You must be thirsty."
Elaine took the bottle, her fingers brushing against his as she did. She hesitated for a second, her mind playing tricks on her. Her eyes traced the rim of the bottle, looking for the spot where Rio had just drunk. She shook the thought away, embarrassed that such a trivial thing crossed her mind at a time like this. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back and drank deeply, the cool water sliding down her throat, refreshing her after the intense physical strain. She finished the last drop and handed it back to Rio with a quiet "thanks."
As Rio packed the empty bottle away, Elaine’s gaze drifted upward. The night sky, once clear and serene, was now filled with plumes of black smoke rising from the burning buildings and wrecked vehicles below. The air was thick with heat, the distant fires casting an eerie glow across the horizon. A hot, dry wind blew across the rooftop, carrying the stench of smoke and decay with it. Somewhere in the distance, the relentless buzz of helicopter rotors cut through the oppressive air.
"Look! Helicopters!" Elaine’s voice broke through the silence as she spotted several flying overhead, their lights slicing through the darkness. Her eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. "Hey! Over here!" she shouted, waving her arms frantically, jumping as if they could somehow see her from such a distance.
Rio remained still, his expression unreadable as he watched the helicopters soar past. "Don’t bother," he said quietly, his voice tinged with a bitter edge. "No one’s coming to help us. They made that clear on the news—there won’t be any rescue missions until the outbreak calms down."
Elaine’s heart sank at his words. The harsh reality of their situation came crashing down again. They were truly on their own. All that talk about quarantine zones and rescue efforts felt like a distant fantasy now, a promise that would likely come too late for those who needed it most.
"So… it’s just us, then?" Elaine asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rio nodded, standing up and dusting off his pants. "Yeah," he said, his tone more resigned than before. "We’re on our own." He looked down at her, offering a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "But we’ve made it this far, haven’t we?"
Elaine met his gaze, her chest tightening as a mix of fear and determination swirled inside her.