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Chapter 16 by jealco

Wait here? Or follow one of the other vents?

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With limited options, you choose to head for the roof. From there, you can find a way off the far side, away from the convoy, and make your way into the city without any trouble.

The trek through the vents in the dark is rather arduous, especially as you're trying to avoid making any noise. Any little sound echoes through the vents, clear as day, and you don't need your pursuers figuring out where you're at. At least they aren't inclined to following you, since you have a rather clear first-shot advantage.

After what seems to be hours, you find yourself in a section of vent that seems like an oven, the metal around you hot on your arms and soles. You must be on the roof. There's just one problem: the vent system is enclosed. However, there's a split in the top and side of the vent, where it seems something slashed through it. Sunlight streams through the gash, and you can see where the vent bent inwards.

You place your hand beneath the ragged edge of the vent, and push with all your might. The metal resists at first, then groans loudly as it bends upwards. You immediately stop, hoping no one is on the roof, but hear nothing that suggests anyone is there. You play this little game for about a half an hour, before you've finally made enough of an opening to toss your pack through, then squeeze through yourself.

Finally, you emerge from the cramped confines of the vent into the cooler air of late afternoon, the sun warm against your exposed torso. A slight breeze blows, enough to cool your sweat-slicked skin as you scan the roof for people, but find none. Confident the roof is clear, you finally step out of the vent onto the sun-warmed concrete roof, and take a brief moment to revel in the open space around you.

You only allow yourself a brief respite, though, before pulling your boots and shirt out of your pack, and hastily dressing again. Finally decent, you work your way over to the edge of the roof, and peek over it. Sure enough, the convoy is still there, heavily-armed men guarding it. You watch as another woman is shoved onto one of the buses at gunpoint, and cringe.

Can you really leave them to their fate? From what you've seen and heard, letting the convoy leave is consigning them to a life of hell far worse than just surviving this damned city. On the other hand, with just a handgun and a knife for weaponry, and no vehicle of your own, is there really anything you can do?

Find a way to deal with the convoy? Or save your own skin?

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