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The Narrows: IV

"Probably just some workers downstairs. Now, who's going to be the first one to draw blood? I'll take Xavier for +100," you joke.

"Oh, fuck off, Josiah. I'd like to see you try and whip one of these stones harder than me."

"Talk, talk, talk, Xavier," you retort, flashing him a grin.

Grabbing one of the stones from the pile in your left hand, you approach the edge of the roof. Before you hurl the stone clutched in your right hand, you take one last long look at Matlock and Xavier beside you.

Immediately, chaos ensues in the crowd of golden Colors below. The middle-aged man you struck brutally in the collarbone collapses to the ground, writhing in-pain. Xavier and Matlock's targets similarly fall to the ground upon impact, shrieking hysterically and shielding their faces.

The crowd begins scanning the row of shops below you, before a woman holding an infant points at you and shouts something inaudible. "Time to move," you tell Matlock and Xavier, before sending one last stone flying.

You turn and race toward the ceiling exit, with Xavier and Matlock nipping at your heels.

"Go, go, go!" Matlock commands. "They're coming!"

As you reach the linoleum landing from the ladder, you heard muffled footsteps on the stairwell. You look around the landing wildly, desperate to find a fire escape or window from which to exit. Locating a small side window ajar, you peer outside into the deserted alleyway. Not too bad of a drop, you note to yourself.

At once, Matlock crashes from the ladder with a resounding thud, landing on his side. Cursing in-pain, Xavier helps him to his feet as you beckon them toward the window.

"Forget it—stairs, now!" Xavier shouts. Right as you turn back toward the stairs to begin your escape, you hear footsteps echo.

 

A cohort of at least ten golden Colors emerges on the stairwell. Nearly all of them wield shivs or their own stones in-hand. You freeze dead in your tracks.

"Boys weren't expecting us, I suppose?" cracks one of the golden Colors. "We could say the same thing," she laughs as the group edges up the stairwell toward you.

Matlock finally speaks. "Shivs, huh? Who's to say we don't have our own blades here, too?" he sneers.

"If you really had a shiv, you would've used it already." she fires back.

"You really want to take that risk? It's a bold move."

"I'd say we feel confident with it," she says, as the crowd howls with laughter behind her. Immediately, they advance toward you, moving with a speed you didn't think possible for such a large group. Clenching your fists, you meet them in the center of the room and swing aggressively at the sea of golden Colors.

One of your punches lands right as a golden Color shoves a shiv into your gut. Collapsing to the ground, you cackle menacingly as they continue plunging their blades deep into your flesh.

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