69

After what felt like hours, but was probably only minutes, Matilda stood up from the ledge, brushing her hands against her jeans. “Come on,” she said, offering Damien a hand as she hopped down to the solid rooftop. “Let’s get out of here.”

He took her hand, her warmth lingering as they made their way back through the stairwell and down to the street. The city still buzzed with life as they walked side by side, the neon lights flashing, casting colorful reflections on the wet pavement from a recent drizzle.

As they left the noise of the rooftop behind, the atmosphere shifted. It wasn’t tense, but something quieter lingered between them now, a silent understanding from the shared view they’d had. They didn’t speak much as they moved through the streets, their footsteps falling into an easy rhythm.

Eventually, they reached Damien’s neighborhood—a quieter, more residential part of Riverdale, tucked away from the city’s chaos. His place was a modest, modern apartment complex, built with sl