Chapter 52: BROTHERS IN THE CLIMB.
Johnquis and Savier fell right back into their old game, the same stupid races they’d pulled back in training, acting like boys for a moment, just catching up their own way.
"One!"
Water sprayed as Savier slid backward, searching for hold. His eyes wild like a hyena on the scent of fresh meat.
"Two!"
Johnquis loosened his shoulders, thumb tapping the release on his waist hook, chain glinting in the moonlight that streamed through the ragged roof.
"Three!"
They launched — Savier lunged straight for the rusted stairwell, pounding over twisted steel. He used the broken rail like monkey bars, swinging hand-over-hand across gaps where entire steps had rotted away. A moment later, he kicked off the beam like a springboard, grapple hook whining as he fired it up to the next level.
Johnquis didn’t bother with the stairs. He didn’t waste a single motion.
Left foot, right hand, his hook clipped free from the belt in one fluid movement. He sprinted straight for a toppled bus. His feet hit the hood, cape flaring out behind him as he used the bus roof for a running leap. Hook snapping up to a hanging maintenance girder.
His boots slammed the wall, knees bending just right to absorb the impact before he rebounded up. He cleared the busted concrete ledge in two strides, landing light on a half-collapsed walkway. Climbing like he’d done this a thousand times in his sleep.
Savier glanced down and swore. Johnquis was already ahead, silhouette slipping between rusted beams.