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𝐓he rain specks her skin and makes it cold upon impact. It draws shivers down her spine as she's thoroughly soaked, glistening in the yellow light of the lampposts. Although the days are still comfortable in temperature, the autumn nights show no mercy.
"You rollin, Pope?" JJ questions, peaking over the edge of the rooftop like the three by his side.
The mentioned raises his telephoto — which he'd been very persistent about is, in fact, not just a camera. He keeps it aligned with the half-constructed building across the street, catching every movement coming from the two men inside it. "Yeah. Yeah, I see 'em... Ward just handled Gavin something. I think it's a duffle bag."
The blond looks to his right, finding Pope, Kiara, then Marlowe on the other end. "Guys, I think this is a payoff."
Pope nods slowly, still looking through his ancient device. "Gavin doesn't look happy about something. It looks like he's yelling at Ward."
"Why?" Kiara squints.
"I don't know, but he sure looks mad. Woah, woah... they're fighting. He's kicking the shit out of Gavin now."
Marlowe turns in her crouched-down position, frowning deeply at the boy. "Fighting over what?"
"I don't know- I'm trying to see."
"They're really goin' at it," JJ comments, narrowing his eyes at the scene in the distance.
"Holy shit," Pope breathes out. "Ward's got a gun."
The brunette shares an anxious look with the girl on her left.
"I bet that's the murder weapon," the blond terminates.
Marlowe nods carefully. "Most lik-"
A loud bang cuts her off, rattling their bones to their core. Instincts overtake them. They duck behind the low brick wall on the edge of the rooftop, their backs to the scene. Another one rings out, and they sink lower, a heart-wavering flinch flashing throughout all four.
The brunette blinks, dread consuming every cell. Her entire body trembles, lungs heaving for oxygen, intaking droplets of rain in the process. The coughs, sniffs. Runs a hand through her hair. "No, no, no, no."
"That did not just happen," Kiara cries at her side. "That did not just..."
"Pope..." JJ pants. "Tell me you just got that."
"Enough to put this asshole away for life," the boy speaks bitterly, going back into position. "I think the gun just went down the drain. He's looking for it."
"Get down," Marlowe grits, reaching over Kiara in order to tug Pope back down to cover.
"I think we should go right now, while he's distracted," JJ breathes heavily, not failing to catch the distress in Marlowe's voice as she urged the boy to retreat. "You have enough right?"
