{Book One in the Sketch Survivors Trilogy}
Lint Corp has recognized Samuel Lawrence, or Soal, as a true Un-Character after the events of the original Sketch Trilogy. But they must escort him to the Sketch Facility, far south in Venezuela, in order...
After a few minutes of the Pod flying down the dark tunnel, windows showed themselves on all sides of the tunnel but the floor, revealing the decrepit landscape around. Many sights were on both sides- on his left, a bright yet hopeless sunrise enveloped the coastline's brown grass in yellow light from the side. The view on that side was also dominated by the same cross of towering metal Soal had first arrived in. How did he know that? He didn't know, but Gulley would soon tell him.
On his right, the yellow-and-brown mix of clouds and factory smoke mixed together as the rest of the "Lint Corp N. South" Facility showed itself in a sickening combination of browns, blacks and grays. It seemed to stretch forever into the Venezuelan landscape.
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"Lawrence," Gulley finally made eye contact, "All this, the whole Facility, was designed by one architect- his name was Oxley Smith. That's why we named that landmark, the one which defines the Facility to the north, Smith's Cross. Each and every Un-Character arrives here at Smith's Cross- but through underground tunnels, they make it to the main Facility. Smith also carved in these grim words at the base of our destination... look ahead."
Sure enough, looming in front of the glass tunnel was the Articulian Facility- where all the Articuluses were being held. Two huge and hauntingly clear words were carved onto the visible side of the next Facility: Not Anymore. Soal pondered over its meaning. It seemed to define the meaninglessness of humanity's existence since the climate change went out of control. It could also represent Soal's trust in Gulley, or Lint Corp in general.
When the glass tunnel ended, Gulley spoke no more, and the darkness returned. Even after that, they came to an identical room to the room in which they had boarded the Bridge Pod. Now they were officially in the Articulian Facility. Where he would meet with the First Brigade, and they would enter their first Sketch in search of Articulus: Ruce Range.
Gulley recited the same words: "Emases nepo," and the Articulus gates closed once more. Then he proceeded off of the Pod and into the hallways, Soal following swiftly after. They were both in one great hurry.
After a few minutes of traversing the Smith's strange concrete building, and similar corridors to the ones in the other Facility; they came across the main area. "Don't worry... their magic is well contained within their cells," Gulley remarked. Soal turned his head, but it was all for naught. He already knew what was going on.
The corridor, after sloping up a steep bit, became dark and black with the evil of villains, and Soal shivered as he looked into the insane eyes of the prisoners within the cells. They all varied in size, along with their cells. Some were back down to human size, and some were giant creatures. A slight few were empty. And Soal knew the terrible fate Un-Characters and the Sketch Worlds had suffered to bring these people and creatures here.
"So it's true after all," Soal gasped as he followed Gulley through the corridor, staring at all the Articuluses he had found. He saw ninjas, and creepy businessmen, Godzillas of creatures, and even a black blob of nothing. All of them were looking at him, some gripping the bars of their impenetrable cells to sneer at the member of the kind which went so valiantly against them.
"Of course it's true," Gulley kept his brisk pace. "We didn't make you fear Articulus for nothing. These are the ones which won their wars. They were very confused at first, wondering why we were just other Un-Characters. They truly loathe us now, though there is nothing they can do to escape. But they knew about us all along, didn't they?"
"Mine did," Soal gulped, and froze in terror to spot another huge cell with his very own Articulus's face glaring at him from the shadows, his familiar gloppy black substance dripping upwards and his evil, gleaming red eyes watching. When he opened his mouth to chuckle, the glowing green maw was still half-connected to the other jaw.
It all faded into nothing when he was jolted out of his daze by Gulley's voice. "It's just an illusion. Quicken your pace."
Soal kept his eyes on that cell for as long as he was able before he caught up with the man in the frock coat, resuming their trip to where the First Brigade was gathering.
