Reaching the summit of the
crates, Karl pointed off the opposite side. “You're going to have
to move
these boxes, Toby. There's a ventilation shaft we need to get to." "Are we all going to fit?” Toby asked.
Karl peered over the edge and thought carefully. “Maybe." "Maybe?” I echoed in dismay.
"It's all you've got, honey,” Karl said with a devious grin. “Otherwise, feel free to take your chances with the guards at the top of that service elevator. I'm sure you'll do fine." That's it. I'm going to smash him.
"Rose,” Toby said, slowly sensing my growing displeasure with his plan. “You may have to go alone." I closed my eyes for a moment and focused. Toby was right. After all, I could smoosh the little bugger when I got back. “All right."
As Karl kept a careful lookout, it only took Toby and I about five minutes to move the massive pile of crates. With his Werewolf and my vampiric strength, we easily picked them up to allow access to the ventilation shaft. The shaft, covered by a dark red grate, was just about four feet square. Karl would be able to easily maneuver through it, while I was going to have a bit more difficulty. Still, I knew I could make it.
Climbing inside, I discovered that the vent stretched out horizontally for almost seven feet before turning toward the upper levels. Composed of aluminum, it didn't look like it could hold my weight. Snaking my way in, I made the difficult turn up and lifted myself to my feet. Staring up the seemingly endless shaft, I braced my hands and back against the walls and began to inch my way up. Karl, using some arcane Goblin technique, seemed to skitter along the aluminum almost silently ahead of me. Occasionally stopping to check on my progress, he would drop a derogatory remark and continue on his way. I was really starting to hate that Goblin. Passing several connecting horizontal shafts, we finally arrived at our exit.
Karl, standing completely upright in the vent, was leaning against the side tapping his foot impatiently. “Took you long enough, suckhead. I thought you Vampires were supposed to be super fast." "It's four feet wide,” I argued. “Plus, I'm not a foot high freak like you." "Kiss my green ass,” Karl responded cheerfully. He turned and pointed down the shaft. “The detention area is directly ahead. We can drop down in the cell block and miss the guards altogether." I nodded. It was all sounding too easy. “What about alarms?" Karl shrugged.
"You don't know if there's alarms or not?” I asked in disbelief. “Isn't breaking and entering your specialty? Shouldn't you know this stuff?" "Look, I'm sure you were just as pleasant in life as you are dead, but could you cut me a little slack? I'm
these boxes, Toby. There's a ventilation shaft we need to get to." "Are we all going to fit?” Toby asked.
Karl peered over the edge and thought carefully. “Maybe." "Maybe?” I echoed in dismay.
"It's all you've got, honey,” Karl said with a devious grin. “Otherwise, feel free to take your chances with the guards at the top of that service elevator. I'm sure you'll do fine." That's it. I'm going to smash him.
"Rose,” Toby said, slowly sensing my growing displeasure with his plan. “You may have to go alone." I closed my eyes for a moment and focused. Toby was right. After all, I could smoosh the little bugger when I got back. “All right."
As Karl kept a careful lookout, it only took Toby and I about five minutes to move the massive pile of crates. With his Werewolf and my vampiric strength, we easily picked them up to allow access to the ventilation shaft. The shaft, covered by a dark red grate, was just about four feet square. Karl would be able to easily maneuver through it, while I was going to have a bit more difficulty. Still, I knew I could make it.
Climbing inside, I discovered that the vent stretched out horizontally for almost seven feet before turning toward the upper levels. Composed of aluminum, it didn't look like it could hold my weight. Snaking my way in, I made the difficult turn up and lifted myself to my feet. Staring up the seemingly endless shaft, I braced my hands and back against the walls and began to inch my way up. Karl, using some arcane Goblin technique, seemed to skitter along the aluminum almost silently ahead of me. Occasionally stopping to check on my progress, he would drop a derogatory remark and continue on his way. I was really starting to hate that Goblin. Passing several connecting horizontal shafts, we finally arrived at our exit.
Karl, standing completely upright in the vent, was leaning against the side tapping his foot impatiently. “Took you long enough, suckhead. I thought you Vampires were supposed to be super fast." "It's four feet wide,” I argued. “Plus, I'm not a foot high freak like you." "Kiss my green ass,” Karl responded cheerfully. He turned and pointed down the shaft. “The detention area is directly ahead. We can drop down in the cell block and miss the guards altogether." I nodded. It was all sounding too easy. “What about alarms?" Karl shrugged.
"You don't know if there's alarms or not?” I asked in disbelief. “Isn't breaking and entering your specialty? Shouldn't you know this stuff?" "Look, I'm sure you were just as pleasant in life as you are dead, but could you cut me a little slack? I'm