S a l e t é I I

XXII - Cerveau - Dix

They got more than a few looks from those around them as they made their way up the sloping path together, both the size of their team and its composition probably intriguing or confusing the locals. Such reactions were a little imposing at first, such a feeling dropping away almost as soon as it had arisen, Cassia noticing that nobody paid particular attention to her like she had thought they might. 

Did she blend in? Did she really look as if she belonged in their group now? Had her image as a girl from the hillside faded entirely?

She told herself that such an image really wasn't important, and that it didn't matter in her current situation at all. Still, she couldn't stop it from unsettling her slightly. It might not have changed anything now, but... 

It sounded silly, but.... It mattered to her.

She took some solace from something that Monet had told her in the past - looks were temporary. Once she was home, she could be tidied up nicely, and then...

Was she being superficial...?

As they approached the final incline that the long road had to offer, a structure further ahead was starting to come into view, its form somewhat higher than the others that stood near or around it. She immediately suspected it of being their target, recalling what the girls had told her after their first outing there - a long sort of building, only one floor, covering quite a bit of ground to compensate. Her suspicions were confirmed, and she didn't need to ask if they'd found the right place, as she decided for herself that she'd been correct.

The main complex of the new sector was indeed a building that consisted of an impressive length, spanning an area that could have held many Lower Merveille style homes. Whilst it was of a greater professionalism - genuine, organised construction at work - it wasn't exactly the best-looking structure, a cold sort of practicality hanging over the place. The walls were wrought of grey stone, not unlike the warehouses their hideout was surrounded by, though with a finer touch to it than the factory that Chief's tribe occupied. Black, metal supports were built into these walls in various places, joining up with a strong looking metal roof that hung over the sides of the complex to an extent, creating a sheltered area that ran around its body.

A large set of durable, double doors served as the main entrance, both of them cast from new, shiny steel. There were a few windows, and Cassia was taken aback when she saw that they actually consisted of glass panes, the first she'd seen during her time in Lower Merveille that weren't broken or cracked in some way. Lights were clearly on within, and every now and then she would catch a glimpse of various figures walking by, though they were still too far off to make out a great number of details.

Like the factory she'd come to know, the complex was surrounded by a perimeter wall, only this one was wholly intact and free of imperfections due to its recency. Metal adornments were arranged in a criss-cross pattern along its top, and whilst they weren't sharp or dangerous looking, they were more than enough to make the thought of climbing over an impractical one. The gates that served as the proper way in were tall and wide, jet black in colour, equally pristine and free of chips or scrapes. They were also fixed in an open position, bolts keeping them in place, making entrance possible to seemingly anyone. There were no guards, or anything else of that sort.

The yard inside, before the main entrance to the building itself, was populated by various containers, the majority of which were shorter yet also stockier than the older numbers in their warehouse. Some were being inspected by people, presumably workers, some were being filled with items that were being wheeled out from the building and others were being unloaded, their contents being lifted inside. She heard it before she saw it - someone even went by on a small forklift, the sight of a vehicle, however small, strange in Cassia's eyes.

There were a few other buildings separate from the main structure. A smaller building, resembling a little tower of sorts, was present to the far-left hand side of the grounds as they approached, consisting of two floors. To the right-hand side were a few sheds, one larger than the other two, both of them possessing a similar feel to the central complex. 

The sight of it all had already led Cassia to one conclusion - this surely wasn't all some sort of scam, considering all of the resources that must have gone into getting the place as a whole up and running.

The grounds weren't fully illuminated. Small, deceptively good lamps were mounted on the building's metal supports, casting pools of light that felt warm in contrast to the building itself. A few more of these were present on the outbuildings, whilst the lighting indoors looked ideal, the glow visible through the windows essentially providing visibility to the outside areas on its own in places.

Unlike the factory, there was nothing in the way of chimneys or smokestacks, the place instantly possessing a cleaner sort of feel to it through that alone, even if the factory had been dead for many years. As they approached the gates, Cassia was surprised yet again, this time by the lack of any sort of insignia or logos across the grounds. There was a sign mounted on the outside wall to the right of those gates, and that featured the Brisbois name in the faded style she'd seen elsewhere, which she couldn't see anywhere else.

There were a few groups of people going in and out via the same entrance, some of them wearing the uniform like outfit she'd seen before and some of them evidently wearing their own clothes, their appearances distinguishing them as residents of the underground. 

She and her friends didn't enter immediately. Instead, they stood to the side of the way into the yard next to the sign for one final, quick discussion.

"Chief, you gonna lead the way?" Spears asked, his escort complete for the time being, his hands back in his pockets as he turned to the other boy.

"I can do. Monet, do you want to head up with me? I can do all the talking if you like."

"I will speak on behalf of my girls." She replied, as calm as ever, her posture still holding that air of class. Cassia and Uliana were equally sure of her capabilities, neither doubting that she would express herself and their plight without issue. The look on Chief's face said that he'd just heard the answer he'd entirely expected, a touch of his own pride present in the small smirk that followed.

"Can we really just walk in? It feels kind of weird..." Uliana asked as she peered around the end of the wall, through the open gates, and seeing her leaning on the side of caution was a little unusual for Cassie, even if she was glad to witness it.

"Everyone else is doing it." Spears replied, taking a quick look around.

"The boss fellow did say that anyone was welcome." Chief added, Cassia recalling the gathering she'd witnessed with her companions. 

"Well... If you're so sure, you lead the way." Uliana said, giving Chief a poke to the chest, earning a sly gaze from the boy.

"You're not scared, are you?"

"No! I just don't want to get in trouble. I am careful, believe it or not." She replied, narrowing her eyes at him, the boy only finding such a reaction endearing.

"We won't know anything for sure until we're in there, and we've come all this way." Shipshape said, determination in his voice, and it was ultimately a sentiment that the group shared.

"Come on then."

With that, Chief rounded the corner, Monet still close behind, the older girl moving to his side once they were through the gates. 

Spears followed just behind them, with the three younger members of the group tagging along behind him, making sure to stick together. Uliana really didn't seem frightened in any kind of way, merely nervous in a natural fashion, the disposition one that Shipshape appeared to understand. Cassie kept her own eyes peeled, getting her first proper look around at the inside of the grounds, where she could see that some of those box like storage units also held the Brisbois name.

The heavy, double doors leading into the complex itself were also open, the light within almost ushering them inside, the sound of machinery in use easily rippling across the air and out into the yard. 

Whirring, grinding, a rush of sparks, all of it marked the place as a hub of activity.

Cassia took one last moment to collect herself, making sure that she appeared as confident as possible before she followed the others through those doors.