It was a cool, windy night, and the leaves rustled in the trees as we passed by them. When we reached the gravel road we both sighed with relief. The road was empty of all familiar vehicles.
I showed Alexander the door I'd used to enter the factoryand we quickly snuck in.
The empty, hollow factoryrooms were just as I'd seenthem a few hours earlier.
I illuminated the way with my flashlight, though Alexander could make out objects better than I could in the dark depths of the factory.
We descended the rickety staircase and I led the way down the narrow, dark, and dank hallway until we reached the last two opposing doors.
"It's this one," I said. I reached for the door knob, but like the last time, it fell off in my hand.
Alexander's face grew serious. "Hurry!"
My hand shook as I stuck the knob back in its groove and tried to wind it so the latch would catch.
Alexander anxiously tapped his monster boots on the cement floor. The sound echoed, causing me to be more nervous thanIalreadywas. Finally, the knob caught the latchand we were inside Jagger's office.
I raced to the desk. The rolled-up blueprints were inthe same positionI'd left them. Iquicklytook off the rubber band and unrolled them.
"Here." I showed Alexander the second set.
Alexander peered at the plans. These drawings weren't as big as the Crypt's blueprints were.
"It looks like another club," I said, using what I'd learned byexamining the Crypt's plans withAlexander.
"Yes . . ." he said. "Here's a small bar, a mainstage, and a game room."
"The Covenant . . ." I said. "This room has to be the one Jagger's planning as the vampire club. It's underground and secluded, just like the Dungeonis at the CoffinClub. He said it himself-- mortals above, vampires below."
Alexander shook his head, frustrated bywhat we'd just discovered.
"What's this?" Iasked. Ipointed to a small unmarked boxdrawnopposite the mainstage.
Alexander and I froze when we heard noises coming from upstairs.
I could barely breathe.
"We've got to go," he said, replacing the Crypt blueprints ontop of the ones for the Covenant. WhileAlexander headed for the doorway, I rolled them back up, being careful not to damage them in any way. I bound them with the rubber band and set them back into their original position.
Now that we'd accomplished the sneaking inpart, we'd have to accomplishthe harder part--sneaking out.
Alexander hung by the doorway as I grabbed my backpack and fumbled with my flashlight.
I could hear noises above us getting closer, and I did my best not to panic.
I tried to recover and tiptoed to the door, trying to avoid flashing the beam inAlexander's face. The light shook as I made my way between the desk and the filing cabinets. Suddenly my face banged hard into something.
"Are youokay?"Alexander whispered.
I felt the large metal object infront of me. It was cool to the touchand felt smooth. I'd walked into one of the filing cabinets.
"Are youokay?"Alexander asked again.
I was too embarrassed and shocked to feel any pain. I shined the beam on the floor as I continued toward the doorway.
"What's that?"Alexander whispered.
"What's what?" Iwondered. "Ididn't hear anything."