While Ariel drove towards the Northside, Treen and Sheridon sat in the backseat discussing the Awakers, Newberrys, and the conversation she’d overheard between Lance and Mr. Wellbay. After she’d told him that Tsara was involved somehow, Sheridon glared out the window and cussed quietly. Later, he turned to Treen to say that his trust in Tsara had spiraled downward every since she lied to him about her trip to Mallyview. Whatever faith he had left in her had just slammed to the ground.
“Stop by Ding Palace,” Sheridon grumbled. “I’m gonna sort this out with Tsara right now.”
“Sheridon, relax.” said Treen. “We can’t let her know that we’re on to her.”
“I’d like to tell her off for messin’ up our relationship like this,” said Russell, from the front seat. Ariel chuckled.
Treen rubbed her earring while she whispered what Russell had just said: “Messing-up-our-relationship. Russell, did you smoke or drink a Pavaloo at Tsara’s apartment?”
“No — only at Ding Palace.”
“Was Tsara working?”
“Yeah, for a while I guess, but she left. Why?”
“The police took your fingerprints from a can of Pavaloo and an ashtray inside the Newberrys’ home. Sheridon said that Tsara was in Mallyview just after the explosion — ”
“She set me up!” Russell shouted. “It appears so,” said Treen.
“I can’t believe this,” Sheridon mumbled.
“Maybe this’ll cheer y’all up,” said Ariel, glancing down at the laptop that Russell had almost dropped. “We’re gettin’ close to Lance’s car.”
“Turn left after you pass that burned out school bus,” said Sheridon, pointing up ahead. “I’ll show you where to stash the Hummer.”
Unlike most of Grevelton, the Northside had bright streetlights and looked surprisingly clean. The area looked like a charcoal sketch, with the streets, walls, and buildings all several shades of gray and free of trash and graffiti. The “run down” streets of the Northside that Sheridon had described had been cleaned up.
Sheridon directed them off the main road and into the woods, where the Humvee squished over a muddy trail. Ariel drove several more yards then stopped near a gothic iron gate, the creepy heart-shaped design hanging between tall, rocky walls.
“Oh man,” Russell groaned, staring between the bars at the distant headstones, which looked spookier in the moonlight. “Why’d you pick a cemetery to park in?” He closed his eyes and threw himself backward against his seat.
“Are you afraid of cemeteries?” Treen asked. “No, I ain’t afraid.”
“Good, then get out and push that gate open,” said Sheridon.
“Naw man, you’d better do it,” said Russell, “I gotta keep an eye on this Tail Tracker thing.” Sheridon chuckled then opened the door. He hopped out and headed over to the gate.
A mound of wet leaves kept Sheridon from pushing the gate doors completely apart. He squeezed through the crack, kicked away the stack, then motioned Ariel through.
“Follow this trail all the way to the back,” said Sheridon hopping inside again.
“Come on man, nobody’s comin’ in here,” said Russell, staring at the passing silhouettes of the spider-like trees, that sagged above battered headstones. “Why we have to park so far from the gate?”
Sheridon chuckled, his body bouncing as the Humvee crossed the bumpy surface. “Don’t worry Russ, we’re gonna crawl out of a hole in the back wall.”
Once they’d reached the wall, Ariel maneuvered the Humvee backwards against it, realizing that if they had to run, it’d be much easier to drive straight out. Sheridon took another look at the Tail Tracker map, then assured Treen that he knew where Lance’s car was parked.
After Ariel had put on his backpack, everyone walked over to the jagged exit. Russell examined the strange opening that they were about to climb through; “Looks like someone fired a cannon through here,” he said touching the jagged stones.
“Yes it does,” Treen said, “And it looks like the cannonball ricocheted off all these headstones because almost all of them are broken. I wonder what really happened.”
“Rumor’s got it that the Awakers used to have some kinda death battles up in here,” said Sheridon.
“Death battles?” said Treen.
“Yeah, to see who was toughest. Heard they fought ‘til someone’s head got ripped off.”
“But that don’t explain all this busted rock,” said Russell, ”Unless they were fightin’ with sledgehammers.”
“I heard they tore this place up with their bare hands — including that hole in the wall.”
“Yeah right,” said Russell, chuckling.
“Russell, are you forgetting that we saw an Awaker fall from a fourth floor window and walk away?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Sheridon. I shouldn’t be laughin’. Guess it was different, since I saw that guy fall with my own eyes.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to believe in what you don’t see,” said Sheridon, who then poked his head through the hole and scanned the area. “All clear.” Then, creepy as it sounds, Sheridon stuck his leg through the gap, then wiggled the rest of body out of the graveyard.
Ariel climbed through last then joined the others out in the street. Coincidentally, they were all wearing black leather jackets and could’ve easily passed for a small Grevelton street gang. Sheridon zipped up, put on his gloves, then led their sprint into darkness.
Although he hadn’t been on the Northside for sometime, Sheridon still knew the area. He led them down blocks of maze like Thinnys, which offered plenty of dumpsters and staircases to hide behind if necessary.
However, so far they had no reason to hide. They hadn’t seen a single car or person since they’d arrived in the area. Sheridon continued down a long Thinny, which he said would lead them directly to Lance’s car and the mysterious factory.
They jogged out of the alley, following Sheridon across the street into a playground where they ran the length of the basketball court. They stopped to catch their breath beneath the backboard and Sheridon bent down to wheeze out the good news.
“Down the hill, look between them trees. That’s the place. Might be a factory now, but it used to be Grevelton City College.”
“Have you been inside that building?” asked Treen.
“Yeah. Used to be a student. Could’ve made more out of myself but I messed that up.”
She leaned down to him and whispered, “I think your doing fine.” She then stepped from the court to the mud, gripping a branch to keep from sliding down the embankment. She glanced up at the hoop and shook her head, wondering how many kids might’ve tumbled downhill after a fast moving lay-up.
Branch to branch, Treen slid further down for a better look at the building. Still, too many pines blocked her view. “We’ll have to get much closer,” she murmured.
She signaled the others to follow then continued downward. Her warning about the trees and slippery sludge didn’t help; Sheridon fell twice and Russell cussed when a branch poked his forehead.
Treen reached the bottom with little worry of being seen; pines, mist, boulders and thick foliage shielded everyone from the factory, now just across the street. Even from her bad angle, she could see three people in dark clothes and hats talking near the well-lit entryway.
Kneeling behind a pine, Ariel had removed his backpack and pulled out a pair of binoculars. He took a close up view of the battered two level structure, which stood surrounded by scaffolding, cement mixers, and numerous cans of paint. He marveled at the large, armed guards who talked while scanning the area.
“Look at the size of those goons,” said Ariel, before handing Treen the binoculars. Ten seconds later, she snatched them away from her eyes.
“I don’t believe it. Tobora is standing over there.”
“Why’s an Awaker hangin’ around a Blue Neptune factory?” asked Russell.
“That’s what we’re going to find out,” said Treen.
“There’s a door at the back of the building that leads to the basement,” said Sheridon.
“There were classes held in the basement?” asked Treen.
“Yeah, I-I guess you could say that. My girlfriend and me had like, human relations classes...”
“I see,” said Treen, grinning, “Well, lead the way.”
They maneuvered diagonally, away from the guards and across the slanted surface of the woods. When they’d reached the end of the building, Sheridon stopped.
“Y’all ready?”
They nodded. Sheridon exhaled then bolted out of the woods, jetting across the street with the others right behind him.
Behind the factory, Sheridon jogged straight for the concrete stairs that led to the basement. He paused only to say “Wait here,” then trotted down into the darkness of the stairwell. The others had stopped near the rail along the steps to wait, but it wasn’t long before Sheridon came chugging right back up.
“That old wooden door is now a thick piece of steel,” he said, panting.
“Any other way in?” asked Ariel. “Only where Tobora’s standin’.”
As the wind picked up, Treen heard a fluttering noise the sound of wavering trash bags. She stepped back and stared up at the building; she noticed the flimsy coverings of the shattered, second floor windows. “I think I’ve found our way in.”
Nobody had to ask where the newly discovered entry was. Treen continued to stare up, and everyone else just followed her eyes. However, there was still a big question.
“How the heck we gonna get up there?” asked Russell, “There ain’t no scaffolding on this side.”