The Monster and the Stones

Six

          The group approach the border of the Five Blocks which is marked by an old chain-link fence. It is open of course, as shops are still welcoming customers and guests inside. Sky had explained to Alex that the fence remained after the investigation of the historical fire that caused the start of this legacy. It was used to keep people out of the ash-riddled place that was prone to health hazards until it was cleaned up.

They trudge through the opening in the fence casually, but Alex is fascinated by it. The fence has clearly been here for a very long time, parts of it torn up, cut through, or fallen over completely, leaning against trees or other buildings. Some parts of the Five Blocks are particularly overgrown, shops that had been neglected or abandoned are covered in overgrowth and ivy. It is a chilling polar opposite from the main part of town, where walls are covered in colorful, welcoming paint. Maybe they are trying to make up for their shaky history. It was also very dark once they had walked a considerable distance into the Five Blocks. Then, Zach quickly pull out their flashlights and hands them out, Sky offers to share one with Alex to show her around. The group has made it clear that if you are not already very familiar with the area you could get lost. All the old, decomposing buildings look the same, there is only a line of buildings that look the same and they seem to be taken care of.

"We've been in here hundreds of times, so we will take you straight to the exciting stuff," Sky says cheerfully. They continue through the Five Blocks, walking through the dark streets. Alex is muddled by the Five Blocks, why would the city leave this place dark and rotting, especially when some of the buildings are still being used? It just doesn't make sense to her. The roads remain dirty, not so much riddled with potholes but, instead, growing grass between cracks in the pavement. It is very quiet in this part of town too. Northbrook is already a slow, quiet town during the day, but it is completely silent during the night excluding the usual passing car every once and a while. Alex is startled when Lukas finds a rock at his feet and starts kicking it down the street with them.

For the first few minutes it gets a bit boring, all the buildings they walk past do look the same, even the intersections with the blackened street signs, some have completely fallen off. There are no stop signs, obviously they had all been stolen; in fact there are generally no street signs to be seen except for the street tags on the tall light poles on the corners.

"Dude! Look at this huge stick!" The group pause and all point their flashlights on Lukas who pulls a large stick from plants next to the street. "It's my staff," he says playfully, clapping it against the pavement and posing like a mythical wizard. "Beware of the four douche bags who wander the Five Blocks! They leave no survivors..."

"You are such an idiot," Fleur banters, kicking Lukas's rock at him. He dodges it in the nick of time.

He swings his staff over his shoulder, and says "listen, we might need it, who knows! What if someone tries to jump us." He pulls it out again and holds it up as if he is sticking someone up with it. Zach chuckles.

"Yeah! Good idea, Lukas. While we have pepper spray you have a staff. I wonder which one works better, want to test?" Sky pulls pepper spray out of her pocket and aims it towards Lukas, who covers his face with his hands and his staff.

"No, no, no! Listen, you can doubt it all you want, but like- if I get separated from you guys and something happens..." He shrugs. Sky puts her pepper spray away and the group continue down the street.

They finally start to pass something that is different. A shop with lights in the windows. The group disregards it, but Alex is transfixed on it. What type of shops will be in the Five Blocks? Maybe some eerie antique shops? A medium? She peers into the window and sees a lot of junk inside, not necessarily antiques but used property, a pawnshop. Old posters and signs hung up on the walls, magazines and books piled up in corners, little figurines and statues lining shelves, records, CDs, old VHS tapes, old jewelry, baseball cards, old watches, bikes, baseball bats, gloves, and footballs signed by famous players. It wasn't what Alex was expecting, but she isn't too interested in it anymore. She catches up with her group and they continue on.

"We have got to show her the warehouse!" Zach says, suddenly excited.

"Of course we will," Sky reckons. "But I want to show her around, first. Our favorite spots."

"Favorite spots?" Alex says out loud accidently. What would be different in this area? So far everything has been the same except for a couple shops that are still open.

The group stop, and Sky takes a second to look at Alex curiously. "Ever been on the roof of a building?"

And then, within just ten minutes, Alex found herself on top of a building. Someone had snuck a utility ladder next to it, which became part of the building due to the ivy and other overgrowth pulling it against the building, making it very easy to reach the top. Just when Alex thought they were done, however, Zach leaps across the alley and on the top of another, shorter, building. Alex is alarmed, is this usual for them? Her thought is quickly answered as the others follow, one by one, Fleur, Lukas. Sky waits for Alex to go ahead of her.

Alex looks back at Sky, unsure about the situation. Sky gives her a little nod of encouragement. This doesn't exactly help, because Alex looks down at the drop between her and the bottom of the alley. The distance between the two buildings has to be about ten feet, and Alex was never very athletic. She takes a few steps back, heart beating fast, and 3, 2, 1... she runs and leaps off the building. She definitely gave it more power than necessary, because she nearly launched herself straight in Fleur, who had to step back and catch Alex with the help of Lukas and Zach. The feeling of her feel on the roof of the building and being supported by her four new friends makes Alex feel relieved.

Shortly following Alex is Sky, making the jump effortlessly, having done it many times she doesn't have the anxiety build up like Alex. She looks between them casually, then at the view of the bright town a couple of blocks south. It isn't much, the town is small, and especially smaller due to the Five Blocks that blend into the outskirts of the town like a shadow. The group sits on the roof, starting small casual conversations, gossiping about other people in town while Alex remains standing, enjoying the precious view, turning her attention from the lights in front of her to the tiny lights in the sky. She loves watching the stars, it brings her peace, and the view from the rooftop makes it much better than usual. Fleur notices Alex in her wonderland, "isn't it great?" she comments. "The night sky is the best part." Alex looks down at her and smiles. The rest of the group seem thrilled to see that Alex is enjoying herself.

She continues spinning around, taking in every angle and every view, until she sees something that stands out. A large warehouse, right in the middle of the Five Blocks. It is practically next to them, but with all the chaos of climbing buildings it wasn't noticeable at first. The warehouse has very pronounced scorch marks on its old metal walls, the windows look dark too, some even broken and boarded up. "Is that where the fire started?" Alex asks.
"Yeah! But they aren't sure how. The marks inside are, well..." She trails off suddenly, sounding unsure of herself. "Let's go check it out, huh?"

It was easier getting down from the building than it was to climb up. There was a dumpster next to the shorter building that they were able to carefully hang down to and then let go, dropping onto the dumpster without much of a fall. Then, once they gathered their bearings, they headed toward the warehouse.

The area surrounding the distinct building were also scorched, some were completely gone, reduced to rubble and ash. Alex notices that the group looks to become a little uneasy, everyone moving their flashlights around in different directions, scanning their surroundings. Alex remains quiet, nervous to ask questions and spook anyone about what they may be thinking. She hears Zach and Sky talking about homeless people and freaks in general who hang around the Five Blocks and call it their home.

Once they reach the warehouse, Alex notices that there is a barbed-wire fence that wraps around it, covered in "No Trespassing" signs. There are also boards that lean against the opposite side of the fence, making it difficult for people to tear their way through. She wonders if the group has their own secret entrance or way of getting in. Through a sewer? A ladder perhaps? She begins to keep her curiosity to herself and just observe what the group does. The group stops abruptly. Lukas turns around, facing away from the group, watching their backs while the other three bend down, sliding onto their backs, and scooting underneath a very shallow hold in the fence. Alex barely noticed it. One by one they went, Zach slides his bag under the fence for Sky and Fleur, and then motions to Alex that she is next. She carefully lowers herself to the ground, choosing to slip under the fence on her stomach. Fleur and Sky help her up and help brush off the streak of dust that she left on the front of her shirt. Then, Zach and finally Lukas slide under too, and they hurry into the building before they are seen by police.