If I only could...

They look so small. It gives them the illusion of insignificance, a veneer of normality. Looking down at them it seems that there is a parade, or...a block party.

Dumb ass, of course you'd be the guest of honor for that block party if you went down there. Well maybe not the guest of honor, but at least main course. Looking back towards the rooftop. Its starting to swelter. Maybe I could take another dip in the swimming pool. Yeah that sounds like a good idea. But before I do that, check the door locks again. Better safe than sorry, right? As much as I have to do it, to at least assuage my paranoia. I HATE doing it. Checking the locks that is. The power went out a few weeks back and that stairwell is goddamned dark.

Check gear, double check gear. Who am I fucking kidding. Its a goddamned flashlight on a now silent cellphone and a baseball bat. Before I unlock the push bar I look at the cellphone screen. She's smiling at me like an angel. Allie, my Allie. My chest aches a bit and my eyes begins to feel hot and glassy. Squinting hard against the mental reel that rips through my mind I push into the stairwell. Yeah, its dark, and silent. At least the silence is a good sign. As I start to creep down the stairs I begin to feel better. It doesn't take long to reach the next floor's fire exit. The door is locked and the paper I taped over the window is still there.

As I come back up the stairs I wonder why the hell I wasted my time. Dropping everything on the lounger I strip down to nothing and slip into the pool. An hour passes easily before I get out. Fingers and toes all pruney. I flop down on the other chair and close my eyes.

I'm not sure how long I'm out. What sounds like fireworks bring me around. Wait... jumping up I run to the edge of the roof again. Down below I see a small group of people, maybe 3 or 4 running down the street. They stop briefly to fire their guns, and then keep running. No down turn down that street... they turn a corner and go out of view. I listen to the gunfire for another few moments, then nothing. Then I hear a woman scream. Its long and high pitched and full of terror. It echoes off the surrounding buildings. I close my eyes and slump to the concrete. The road was blockaded when this all broke out. They ran right into a dead end. If I only could of warned them.