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Nine

Tree Boy ran across the roof and I followed closely behind.

He got to the edge and made a leap. I got to the edge and froze.

There was a good three feet between the roofs.

"I'm not jumping that." I say.

"Fine. See you never." Tree Boy waves and runs over a few more roofs. He eventually disappears around a corner.

"Tree Boy!" I yell. "Tree boy! Come here now!"

I clutch my fists and glance down again as my stomach flips over and over.

"Ugh." I feel sick. But I swear I can hear footsteps so I jump.

I make it before I realize I'm in the air and grin to myself.

This was fun.

I jump over several roofs and try to remember where Tree Boy went.

I found a corner and jump again but my sneaker trips over the edge.

I fall forward and my hands clutch the other side. I'm looking down and my vision is obscured by my brown curls.

I hear the footsteps getting closer and hang limply.

Strong hands grip my wrists and pull me up.

It's not Tree Boy.

I pull away but the person holds on.

"What're you doing on my roof?" A scratchy voice demands.

Scratchy voices laughing joyfully. They swear and tell crude jokes. We huddle in a corner and pray to ourselves, wondering if we will ever be saved.

Suddenly I'm on the ground and softer hands are holding mine.

"Are you ok?" Still not Tree Boy.

The voice sounds feminine and helps me up.

"Yeah I'm fine." I rub my head.

"What're you doing up here? You don't look like a Roof Runner."

Excuse me but, what?! What the frick frack is a Roof Runner.

"Um I'm looking for a boy. I think his name is like Billy-" I explain.

"Oh Billy? Really? Girl you could do so much better. Follow me. He shares my roof with some other kids. I'm Nine by the way." Nine says.

"Nine?"

"Yep. Like the number."

And despite the warning bells in my head and the sick feeling in my stomach I follow Nine.