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"I knohy," Bryson replied, looking intently at his screen "My dad’s taughtThis is patterned after a super-old systeo Why would Kaine do that?"

"To avoid suspicion," Michael said He glanced at his friends, but they were too busy to look up "If he had so really advanced and heavy, that’d justhe’s in the place that has the best-of-the-best ga It’s like the old hiding-in-plain-sight thing"

Sarah appeared doubtful "Seems too easy Another thirty ht or nine hours, and then be lucky if we got in after all that"

"Yeah, no doubt," Bryson said "You’d think he’d choose buff security over trying to trick people into just walking on by"

Michael shrugged "I don’t know Maybe I think what I said et in there and blow his --he’d helped trace the Tangent there hihtif they wasted anyto e

True to her word, thirty minutes later, Sarah turned off her NetScreen With a click of her EarCuff she let out a huge sigh "Okay I’m ready"

Bryson had shut down a fewold loops froh a tiny alley next to the building It’s unlocked and ready to welcoer to blow the place up And there aren’t any guards on-site, as far as I can tell"

Michael finished up just as his friend said those words "All the alarms are shut down" He clicked off his screen in triuht, that ay too easy Once we’re inside, we better be ready for whatever little booby traps he has for soht," Sarah said "I can’t see Kaine trusting anyone--gauard here I bet there are plenty of traps Who knohat’ll spring up once we’re in KillSio?" Bryson asked

Michael spoke quickly "Absolutely"

Sarah paused before giving her answer "One hundred percent"

"Then let’s get on it," Bryson said with a tight s when he said the alley leading to the back of the building in question was tiny Michael had to turn sideways, his chest and back brushing against the brick walls as he shuffled along He led the way, Sarah and Bryson right behind hi but a canyon of concrete in front and decades’ worth of trash at their feet,each step an adventure The sun barely penetrated the high cliffs squeezing theht feel

When they were about halfway to their goal, Michael paused and looked back "So far, so good Nothing’s ju," Sarah replied, "about Lifeblood Deep When they say they want to replicate the real world, they sure ine? Michael, you didn’t even knoas fake! I just can’t believe how a here is It’s like you have to follow the sa sound "Don’t jinx us If anyone’s going to break those rules, it’ll be Kaine I bet he’s just waiting for us to step through that back door, and then he’s going to throw everything that’s ever caused pain in the Sleep at us"

"Always looking on the bright side," Michael replied He turned away and continued down the alley, stepping over a dead rat, hoping Sarah didn’t see it It ended up being Bryson who squealed before he could stop hie Michael was surprised by how far back the building went--it looked so small froiant skyscrapers throwing off their perception

He steeled his breath, then leaned out from between the walls to take a look Another alley, this oneand the others beside it Michael heard cars and people in the distance, but this area was deserted, dark, and silent A sudden rush of wind sent the cover of a Dues creaked until it slowed to a stop again All was clear

"Co out into the wider alley Bryson took over fro, the one he said he’d been able to unlock It was a simple metal door with a silver latch for a handle Three cement steps, cracked and worn, led to the entrance Bryson pressed his back against the outer wall right next to the stairs, and Michael and Sarah lined up beside hies of the Lance in his shoulder bag, eager to use the thing

"Should we try to code in weapons?" Sarah asked "Who knohat’s waiting in there?"

"It won’t work," Michael said, and he knew that despite the suggestion, Sarah already knew they couldn’t They’d had a hard enough ti the to bring so else in "Use your fists and elbows, and if they shoot bullets, lasers, or bombs, duck"

"Thanks," Sarah responded "Helpful"

"Nothin’ to do but go in," Bryson said, his chest puffing up with deep breaths that he blew out far too noisily He gave a stiff nod to Michael and Sarah then pushed himself away from the wall and quickly moved toward the steps, ran up theht at the botto just a second before doing so It clicked and the door popped open

All three of the, ready to suck the lives out of the happened Michael leaned over to see a line of darkness where the door stood ajar With a pang in his heart, he rea had once told him, when he was a little boy