The city lights glimmered like distant stars, but for us, they offered no comfort—only the harsh reminder of hunters closing in from every direction. We crouched behind a rusted HVAC unit atop a deserted rooftop, fog curling around our ankles, the streets below alive with shadows and movement.
Travis's fingers intertwined with mine, knuckles white. "You know," he whispered, voice low but teasing, "I always wanted a dramatic night on a rooftop. Didn't think it'd involve near-death experiences."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a small laugh. "You really don't know when to stop joking, do you?"
"Never," he said, leaning close so his lips brushed my ear. "It's a gift. And possibly a curse. But you like it."
I smirked despite the tension. "Maybe."
The hunters were organized, patient, circling the building below. One of them carried a device—the rumored weapon, sleek, metallic, ominous. I recognized it immediately from the whispers we'd heard: a prototype capable of killing vampires effortlessly.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath.
Travis pressed close, warm against me. "Shit," he echoed. "But we've handled worse, remember? Teamwork. Improvisation. Adrenaline-fueled genius."
I couldn't help the smile despite the fear. His confidence was infectious, grounding me even as my stomach twisted in knots.
We needed a plan. The weapon gave hunters an edge we couldn't afford to ignore.
"Distract, then flank," Travis murmured. "You create a diversion, I handle the flanking. Quick, clean, chaotic."
I nodded, knife in hand. My heart pounded. Every step could be our last. Every breath a countdown.
I kicked a loose pipe off the roof, clanging loudly. Sparks flew as it bounced across the concrete, drawing the hunters' attention.
"Perfect!" Travis whispered, grinning despite the danger. "Now."
He sprang into action, agile and precise, moving along the edge of the roof, flipping and sliding to confuse the hunters. My pulse raced as I followed, creating chaos with broken tiles and debris.
One hunter fired the weapon, a sharp metallic scream echoing through the night. I barely ducked, heart hammering. Travis's hand found mine, pulling me behind a concrete barrier.
"You okay?" he shouted, voice urgent, teasing stripped away.
I nodded, chest heaving. "Yeah. You?"
He smirked briefly, brushing hair from my forehead. "Still alive. But it's getting close."
The hunters regrouped below, circling, ready to strike. Their coordination was terrifying—methodical, calculated. I felt the fear rising, curling in my stomach, but Travis's presence was grounding. Every touch, every whispered word, every brush of his fingers reminded me why we fought, why we survived.
He pressed a finger to my lips. "Focus. On me. Always on me."
I nodded, letting his voice anchor me.
We moved again, darting across the rooftop, improvising, using shadows and fog as cover. Travis's hand brushed my back as we leapt across gaps, his touch intimate in a way that made adrenaline and desire blend into a dangerous cocktail.
Finally, we reached the edge, overlooking an adjacent building. There was a fire escape—a chance to escape the rooftop's deadly perimeter—but it was risky. The hunters had them covered.
Travis glanced at me, eyes softening. "Ready for some theatrics?"
I swallowed hard. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We made the jump. Landing in a pile of debris, we rolled to absorb the impact. My breath came in ragged gasps, heart hammering. Travis pressed close, hand lingering on my back. "Alive. Together. See? Drama works."
I let myself smile briefly, though fear still coiled in my stomach.
Then, a metallic hum cut through the fog—the weapon. One hunter aimed directly at us, testing its range. I froze.
Travis grabbed me, eyes locking with mine. "Stay close. Whatever happens… I've got you."
I nodded, chest tight. "Don't die on me, okay?"
He smirked briefly, brushing his lips to mine in a fleeting kiss. "Not today. Maybe tomorrow."
But the hunter fired. The weapon discharged, a metallic scream slicing the air. Travis pushed me behind him instinctively. The projectile struck him directly, sending a jolt of force through his body.
I screamed, heart dropping. He staggered, face pale, eyes wide.
"Travis!" I shouted, grabbing him, hands shaking.
He pressed a finger to my lips, even as his knees buckled. "Silver… alive… always… together…"
The world spun around us—hunters closing in, fog thickening, adrenaline surging. I held him, knife ready, knowing that if I faltered for even a second, he could be lost.
He smiled weakly, brushing my hair from my face. "Go… survive… find… me…"
My stomach dropped. "No! I won't—"
Another blast from the weapon sent sparks flying, forcing me to dive for cover, pulling him with me. His arm grazed mine, warm but weakening. I could feel the heat fading, his strength ebbing under the weapon's unnatural power.
"Travis… stay with me," I whispered, gripping his hand. "I need you. We survive together."
He smiled faintly, lips brushing mine in a ghost of a kiss. "Always… alive… together…"
The hunters were closing in. Every route blocked. Every shadow hiding potential death.
And I realized, with a cold, sinking certainty, that this time, we might not both make it.