I stepped onto the rooftop, heart hammering like a drum solo gone rogue. The city sprawled beneath me, a labyrinth of neon reflections, mist curling between the buildings, and the occasional honk or shout echoing up from the streets below. My shoes squeaked on the wet concrete. Great. Just what I needed. Slippery, wet rooftop… heart racing… and Ethan Drake dangerously close behind me. Sparks, literally and metaphorically.
System alert: Task Start – Rooftop Challenge. Reward: 700 points + mystery bonus.
I swallowed. "Okay… okay… breathe… no panicking… just… not die." Easier said than done. My jacket clung to my arms, slightly damp from rain. I tugged it tighter, almost tripping on the uneven surface. Classic Zara.
Ethan leaned casually against the ledge, smirk teasing, as if the world—and me—were his personal playground. "Relax. Or don't. Makes no difference to me," he said, voice low and teasing. Sparks literally danced between us again. I glanced at my phone—Romance Meter +2. My chest betrayed me.
The first challenge was clear: a series of glowing panels spread across the rooftop, each flickering with symbols. Step on the wrong one? Likely instant humiliation—or worse, system punishment. I swallowed hard, toes already tingling nervously.
"Ready to ruin your dignity?" Ethan asked, smirk still in place. My brain short-circuited.
"Uh… yes… no… maybe?" I muttered, eyes darting between panels. My backpack shifted awkwardly, pulling at my shoulder. Of course, right then my shoes slipped slightly on a puddle. Sparks jumped. Heart skipped. Brain fried.
Harper's voice echoed faintly from somewhere below—or maybe it was my imagination. My palms were sweaty, fingers trembling. Why did every rooftop feel like a death trap designed by the universe specifically for me?
Ethan extended a hand, brushing against mine. Sparks. My stomach somersaulted. "You're panicking," he teased, eyes glinting. I blinked. "I… am not…" Classic lie. Heart hammering. Inner chaos.
System alert: Task Progress – 25%.
I shuffled forward carefully, almost face-planting on the next panel. Ethan grabbed my elbow. Sparks. Again. My cheeks flamed. "Stop… stop… I'm fine!" My voice cracked. Classic flustered me.
A gust of wind swept across the rooftop, tossing my hair across my face. I blinked, trying to see clearly, mist curling around the glowing panels. One wrong step… I could almost feel my dignity evaporating.
Ethan's hand hovered near mine again, teasingly. "Careful… these panels bite back." Sparks jumped between our fingers. Heart attack. Brain meltdown.
I mumbled to myself, "Why does the system always make me look like an idiot… with him… every time?" Inner monologue chaotic. My shoes slipped slightly again. Sparks. Panic.
I noticed something I hadn't before: tiny holographic runes floating above each panel. They pulsed faintly. Maybe they were hints? Maybe traps? I couldn't tell. My stomach flipped.
"Step on this one," Ethan murmured, voice low, smirk teasing. I glanced at him, suspicious. "Why should I trust you?"
He shrugged, eyes glinting. "Because if you don't, we might both die… or at least embarrass ourselves in front of the city." Sparks. Heart betrayal. Inner chaos.
I gulped. "Right… totally logical…" My voice cracked. Classic flustered me. I took a tentative step forward. Foot landed on a glowing panel. Sparks shot up. Heart attack. Brain fried. System buzzed. Task Progress: 50%.
"See? Not so bad," Ethan said, brushing fingers near mine again. Sparks. Cheeks red. Inner meltdown.
I shuffled across panels carefully, each step a small victory. Mist swirled around us, puddles reflecting neon, sparks dancing faintly with every movement. Inner monologue: "This is insane. I'm insane. But… maybe… kind of enjoying this chaos?" Classic Zara, of course.
System alert: Task Progress – 75%. Reward: Minor system boost unlocked. Romance Meter +3.
Then came the last panel. Slightly larger. Pulsing ominously. I froze. My brain screamed. My hands shook. Sweat trickled down my spine. "Nope. Not happening. Absolutely… nope."
Ethan leaned closer, smirk teasing, fingers brushing mine once again. Sparks. Brain fried. Chest betrayed me. "You've got this… maybe," he whispered.
I blinked. Heart racing. Took a deep breath. Stepped forward. Foot touched the final panel. Sparks shot upward like tiny fireworks. The rooftop shimmered, holographic symbols swirling around us. Task Complete. Reward: 700 points + mystery bonus unlocked. Romance Meter +5.
I yanked out my phone, blinking at the glowing system notification. Sparks. Embers. Heart racing. Chaos. And… Ethan's smirk. Heart attack imminent.
I tried to breathe normally. Failed. Shoes slippery. Jacket clinging. Hair messy. Fingers sticky from… I don't even know what. Inner meltdown. Classic Zara.
Ethan leaned close, brushing my fingers again. Sparks. Inner chaos. Heat. Heart betrayal. "So… survived your first rooftop?" He teased.
"I… maybe… barely… survived," I muttered, voice cracking slightly. Heart hammering. Inner meltdown.
System alert: Next Task Unlocked – Midnight Chase. Reward: 1,000 points + mystery.
I blinked at the rooftop, mist curling, puddles reflecting neon lights, sparks still faintly jumping between us. Midnight Chase? Alone in the city with… Ethan? Heart attack imminent. Brain fried.
I muttered under my breath, "Why does the system hate me… and yet make me… kind of… want this?" Classic inner chaos.
I took a hesitant step toward the ledge, glancing down at the dizzying drop below. My shoes squeaked. My stomach lurched. "Nope. Nope. Nope," I muttered repeatedly. A tiny gust of wind tugged my hair across my face. Mist stung my cheeks. My jacket clung tighter.
Ethan smirked, dangerously close, sparks flicking between our hands again. "Relax. Or freak out. Either works." He tilted his head, teasing. My cheeks flamed. I muttered, "Definitely freaking out."
System alert: Task Hint – Midnight Chase involves speed, agility, and surviving unexpected chaos. Reward: Unknown.
I stumbled slightly over a puddle, grabbed the edge of a railing to steady myself. Sparks jumped again, literally from our fingertips. My heart hammered. Brain short-circuited. Inner meltdown intensifying.
I caught a glimpse of the city below—cars blurred into streaks, streetlights flickering, neon signs pulsing. Somehow, it all looked magical, chaotic… and terrifying. My stomach twisted, but part of me… couldn't look away.
Midnight Chase begins. Heart racing. Palms sweaty. Brain fried. Sparks flying. The rooftop looms ahead… and I'm terrified, exhilarated, and completely unprepared.