Smother another failure...

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R: So, another writing assignment. We'll see how this one goes.

F: The door warped with the force of the assault from the interior. A small dent appeared on the outside in the shape of a human fist. Another thud rang out followed with the soft whine of the steel of the door stretching to form. Another thud rang out and this time the door swung open wide, bathing the rooftop in fluorescent lighting and the scream of sirens. Three figures dressed in full body suits rushed out of the exit and began to make their way across the rooftop, making sure to look over their shoulders to see if they had been caught yet. The pitter-patter of soft soled shoes echoed across the concrete rooftops and shot off into the night sky. Stray bits of debris skittered away from each footfall as the three sprinted across the open area. As they sped past an open skylight, the crimson goggles they each wore glared briefly. Muscles outlined by the neoprene bodysuits flexed and relaxed with each long stride, seeming to flow with the ease of water in a small stream, but could not belie the urgency of the dashing figures. They approached the far edge of the high rise, lined off with a retaining wall highlighted with luminescent yellow paint. But they dared not stop there, so far above the deserted streets below. Feet found their way atop the safety wall in midstride, and then the rush of hidden hydraulics fired from below the layer of foam rubber.

Each figure launched their bodies out into the crisp night air, arms rigid against their sides as they rocketed towards the opposing rooftop. They lowered their chins at the approach and crossed their arms above their heads, rolling on the moment of impact and were back on their feet almost as quickly as they had touched. The three continued the ballet of foolishness across the city. This newfound technology was much more than any of the three had expected when they had uncovered its development. Each new rooftop was regarded with as much thought as each flower passed by while on a drive: it is acknowledged but never noticed. A line was cut through the city, the streets below opening up as if the mouths of voracious beasts, gaping wide as the trio passed overhead, hoping a mistake would be made and a meal would be granted. But their feet worked as precision machines, matching each step with an unnerving balance, disregarding any obstacle in their path. Should the next roof be too high to descend to, they leapt anyways, catching hold on unseen nooks and crannies, and propelling their bodies to the top as deftly as spiders.

The group eventually lighted upon another unremarkable rooftop, huddling together behind a large air conditioning unit, seemingly unfazed by the cacophony of the machine as it shot cool, stale air into the building below. They turned to each other, their round, red eyes glittering with each movement. An unheard conversation carried on as their unseen eyes met and untold plans were made. Hands were shook as they rose, each turning casually to take in the eerie sight of the city, its dead lights beckoning to no one in particular. Swaying lazily, they walked to the north side of the building, hands placed carelessly on the familiar concrete partition. The sound of smaller hydraulic locks careened off the buildings across the street, and the shortest of the three removed the facemask of its suit. A soft sigh was let out as the breeze from the street carried up the smell of dust to the nostrils that had been trapped behind the filters and instruments integrated into the bodice. A young, beautiful face appeared as the hand pulled the mask down. Her light skin stood out in stark contrast to the grey concrete surroundings to the weathered concrete that the entire city seemed to be molded from. The suit framed her face as if it were a picture too large for a locket, a small white oval of beauty. Her face softened for a moment and seemed completely detached and out of place. She took in a long, lasting breath, and breathed out, a small smile spreading from her lips, across her cheeks, but never quite making it to the darkness of her eyes.

Over the rushing sound of the air conditioning unit, a steady, hammering bass tone came to be heard. Louder and louder, the rhythmic throbbing began to resonate in their chests. The face disappeared back under the featureless mask and the three began to run towards the south edge of the building with a terrified urgency. However, there would be no muscles relaxing in their stride on this part of their trek. As they closed in on their escape route, the spotlight crested the edge of the roof, the red eyes of their goggles shifting instantaneously to black. The black helicopter swooped up as if a hawk, nondescript aside from the white block lettering that spelled out U.S. D.I.A. The speakers of the helicopter rang out with orders of submission, accusations of treason and the threat of death.

The three scattered across the rooftop, each rushing off in a different direction. As she was about to vault from the roof, she chanced a look over her shoulder, only to see one of her group explode from the gunfire, the gun on the front of the helicopter screaming and casting the rooftop in a bright shade of yellow and a mist of red. She found her eyes locked onto the shredded body, hanging in the air as if pinned up by a sadistic hand. The chin of her mask stretched down frantically, but no scream could escape into the night. The side of the building swallowed up her vision and the realization dawned on her moments too late that her muscles had locked in fear. She clawed and scraped against the concrete that rushed above her head, and fought against the force pulling her down to the silent, unoccupied street.