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Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 3
SpiderGirl re-entered the theater area and saw that it was still full of the green mist, she saw Peterson nearby, as well as three young men, including Trent, talking to her.
“I tried going in there,” Trent said. “But it was disorienting.”
“He clearly rigged this,” Peterson said. “But your sister could be gone by now.”
“I’ll find her,” SpiderGirl said as she came over. “They can’t have gone far, even if they’re in the drains.”
“Quickly,” Peterson said.
SpiderGirl nodded and dashed off.
“We may need to interrupt the power,” Dafoanairi said. “But the power box is out the back. It will take a while to either go around the block or over the building.”
“The latter can be quick,” the Enigma said.
“Or we could try the basement,” Dafoanairi said. “There are two entrances, but there’s a lot of props down there.”
“Lead the way.”
Backstage, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon met up. “What’s the situation?” the latter asked.
“There’s an illusion of green mist in there, like at the bridge,” SpiderGirl answered. “And Jane has already been abducted, but he could still be here or nearby.”
“Then we have to get out there and make sure he doesn’t enter the drains again.”
“Got it.”
They then ran out back.
The emerged from the Historia and looked around the parking lot quickly. The found a manhole. “It doesn’t look like it has been used,” SpiderGirl said.
“Probably one on the street,” Ninja Talon suggested.
SpiderGirl nodded and shot a web to the roof of the theatre. “Let’s go.”
Shortly after SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon had swung away, the Enigma and Dafoanairi emerged from one of the back doors. “It’s over here,” Dafoanairi said. She then went over and opened the power box.
“What are you waiting for?”
“I’m going to turn it off and then off again. That should stop the illusions.”
“Should?” the Enigma asked.
“It might not, but we have to try. When I turn it back on, we’ll rush back in.”
“Ready.”
Dafoanairi then switched off the power.
SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon swung down in front of the Historia and looked around. “There it is!” Ninja Talon said.
They ran to the spot and saw that the manhole cover had been displaced. “Right!” SpiderGirl said.
“Right after you,” Ninja Talon said. They then went down into the stormwater system.
Dafoanairi turned the power back on after ten seconds. “That should do it,” she said.
“I’ll go first, just in case,” the Enigma said.
Dafoanairi nodded.
The power went out and there was darkness.
“More brownouts?” Trent asked.
“No, someone switched off the power,” Peterson said. “Probably as a way to disrupt the illusions.”
“Probably,” Jesse said.
“No, if it was a brownout, it would have been different,” Nick said.
The power returned, showing that the theatre was now devoid of illusions filling it.
“It seems most of the people fled,” Peterson said.
“Probably a good thing,” Dafoanairi said as she and the Enigma entered from backstage.
“True,” Peterson said. “But it will make things more complicated to solve.”
SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon searched a short way along the drain before returning to the area near the Historia. “Any idea where they went?” the latter asked.
“No idea, let’s return to the theatre and try to deal with the situation,” SpiderGirl said.
“Sure, but they might ask where we are.”
“But without arousing suspicion, especially from Peterson.”
“I’ll say that I saw myself going somewhere,” Ninja Talon said. “And you can say the same for either of us.”
“That will work,” SpiderGirl said as she shot a web up through the manhole.
“The Enigma!” SpiderGirl said as she and Ninja Talon came to one of the doors.
“I’ll go in,” Ninja Talon said.
“Right,” SpiderGirl said. “And I’ll be back as, myself.”
Ninja Talon nodded and entered the theater.
“We need to search the Historia again,” Peterson said.
“But SpiderGirl and I saw a displaced manhole cover,” Ninja Talon said as she entered.
“And where is SpiderGirl?” the Enigma asked. “Not that I would have confronted her right now.”
“Where do you think?” Ninja Talon asked.
Dafoanairi sighed. “We need to work together on this, like at the solarium.”
“True,” the Enigma said.
“So, we search?” Peterson asked.
“Wait,” Trent said. “Janie’s still gone, and SpiderGirl is on her own.”
“I wouldn’t recommend chasing after your sister all half cocked,” Peterson said. “Take one of the vigilantes with you.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Jesse said.
“Maybe,” Trent considered.
“But there’s another elephant not in the room,” Claire Dafoe said.
“Which is?” Peterson asked, although she had some idea.
“Any idea where the Morgendorffers have gone?” Claire asked.
She glanced at Dafoanairi, but said nothing.
Quinn entered the theater after having changed from SpiderGirl on the roof. She heard Ms. Dafoe ask her question. “I’m here, but I haven’t seen Daria.” She saw that Dafoanairi was there. ‘Or maybe she is here.’
“Maybe she already went off after Janie,” Trent said.
“Right, one group searches the Historia. The other goes after Jane and her abductor. I’ll call it in,” Peterson said.
“You haven’t yet?” Ninja Talon asked.
“It was chaotic and it only has been several minutes,” Peterson said. She went off to the side.
“We need to look at how Beck has modified the building too,” Quinn said.
“Special effects,” Trent murmured. “It’s probably just the projectors, right?”
“Probably. But that’s not my area,” Quinn said.
‘We need to find Jane, but we also need to know if the building isn’t booby trapped,’ Dafoanairi thought. ‘But who’s going after Jane and Beck, if it is Beck?’
“Who can cover the most ground?” Ninja Talon asked. “I have a grapple gun.”
“I could join you,” the Enigma said. “But I could possibly find traps here, if there are any.”
“I think that would be the better idea,” Dafoanairi said. “Join Peterson on her search. While I go with Ninja Talon and Trent.”
“That makes sense,” the Enigma said.
“Let’s go then,” Ninja Talon said. She exchanged a quick look with Quinn, who gave a nearly imperceptible nod of agreement. Not that she needed it.
“Two vigilantes are better than one, even if they don’t have powers,” Trent said. He lead the way out of the theater.
“We’ll start backstage,” Peterson said.
“Then we’ll work our way forwards,” Quinn said.
“Good idea,” Claire said.
Trent, Jesse, Nick, Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi emerged from the Historia. “So, you said there was a manhole cover loose?” Trent asked.
“Yes, he may have taken her through the stormwater system to the creek, as he did with the WSBC critic,” Ninja Talon answered.
“If we’re quick, we might be able to get there before he does,” Trent said, as he headed towards the Tank.
“It might be better to go without a vehicle,” Dafoanairi said.
“We can get close to the creek faster,” Jesse pointed out.
“Then let’s go.”
Ninja Talon didn’t like the van the band called ‘the Tank’ at all. “What are those smells?” she asked.
“You don’t want to know,” Trent said as he started the engine. “Besides, you should be used to weird stuff.”
“I don’t peek into windows as part of what I do, you know,” Ninja Talon said.
“Good, but that’s not what I meant,” Trent said.
“People to get up to stuff when they’re out, and there’s a lot of stuff I have seen as my secret identity, so I can guess,” Ninja Talon said.
Trent pulled out into the street. “You know, I have written a song about you and SpiderGirl.”
“I don’t think now’s the time,” Dafoanairi said.
“Right, Janie, we’re coming,” Trent said.
Back in the theater, they had found that there were projectors backstage that were running. ‘Nothing is running on them now,’ Peterson said.
“Some of the actors are still in the dressing rooms,” the Enigma said.
“So, your powers work at short range?” Quinn asked.
“They do,” the Enigma said simply, trying not to let her resentment towards Quinn show. “How do you know?”
“Daria told me, duh!”
‘Of course she would,’ the Enigma thought.
They found Veronica, Tania, Cindy and Jennifer in one room. Tania and Cindy were talking. “…We need to go out there,” Tania said.
“The illusions are gone,” Quinn said, to Tania.
“Good, but what about Jane?” Tania asked.
“She was taken,” the Enigma said.
“Is that the fourth vigilante?” Veronica asked.
“It obviously is,” Cindy said.
“Yes, call me the Enigma, if you want.”
“I’d keep it yourself,” Quinn said.
“Let me say that,” the Enigma said.
‘Oops,’ Quinn thought. “Sorry.”
“Sure,” Cindy said. “I won’t say anything about it online.”
“But what about Jane?” Tania asked again.
“Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi are searching for her,” Quinn answered.
“What about SpiderGirl?” Veronica asked.
“She’s somewhere,” Peterson said. “Now we need to find the other actors.”
“I saw Brittany run out somewhere,” Cindy said.
‘I hope no connection would be made,’ Quinn thought as she glanced at Peterson.
‘I’ll follow up on Brittany later,’ Xanthe thought. ‘If she left, she should be safe.’
“There are the other dressing rooms,” Quinn said.
“Good point,” Peterson said. “The backstage area is safe, but we’re not sure about the theater room itself, or the adjacent rooms.”
“We’ll come with you,” Tania declared.
“You can,” Quinn said. “Safety in numbers, right?”
“That’s right,” Peterson said.
The Tank parked close to the Creek and everyone got out. “So, he had a boat waiting when you and SpiderGirl followed from WSBC?” Dafoanairi asked.
“That’s right,” Ninja Talon answered.
“We’ll have to be careful,” Trent said.
“I can fire a zip line into a tree and lower us down,” Ninja Talon said.
“Not much light, but it will have to do,” Dafoanairi commented.
Back at the Historia, the group found most of the male actors in one of the other dressing rooms. “Let’s see,” Quinn said, as she read from the cast sheet. “Elias, Corey, Wolfgang and Ted.”
“Yes,” Elias Howarth said. “Is that mist gone? Tom wanted to go into it.”
“And where is this Tom?” Peterson asked.
“He came back,” Elias said, “but then he went out back to go home. So, he’s gone.”
Peterson sighed. “Another thing, but many people left.”
“But what about Jane?” Corey asked.
“She was taken,” Quinn answered.
“We have to continue searching the rest of the building,” Peterson said.
“Of course,” Quinn said.
Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi rappelled down the creek bank to the stormwater outlet. Ninja Talon shone a flashlight around it. “Looks like we’re too late,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Dafoanairi asked.
“The boat was quite close yesterday.”
“Then we have to go back.”
“Yes, this was a wild goose chase,” Ninja Talon said.
Trent waited for the two vigilantes to return.
“What if something happened to them?” Jesse asked.
“I’m sure they can handle themselves,” Trent responded.
“But Dafoanairi is new.”
“Ninja Talon wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
It wasn’t too long before they returned. “I’m afraid that we were too late,” Dafoanairi reported.
Trent was more anxious. He didn’t know what he would do without Jane.
“Oh,” Jesse said.
“We need to head back to the theater,” Trent said.
“Sure,” Ninja Talon said.
Back at the Historia, Peterson, Quinn, the Enigma and Ted checked over the lobby. “All clear. No traps and the Illusions are gone on the ground level,” Peterson said.
“Now the basement,” Quinn said.
“Dafoanairi and I went through there earlier,” the Enigma said quietly. “There were no traps.”
“Right,” Quinn said. ‘What is up with her? She’s not as boisterous as when we fought the Goblin.’
“That leaves the upper levels, the box seats and the roof access.” Peterson said.
“Yes,” Quinn said. ‘Daria isn’t here. It’s more likely that Dafoanairi is her, but I won’t ask. Neither her nor Brit.’
Trent, Jesse and Nick then entered. Quinn saw Ninja Talon rappelling over the building.
‘We’ll catch up later,’ she thought. “Did you find anything?”
“No, it was too late. They got to the creek before they got there,” Trent said.
Dafoanairi entered the Historia through a side door into the bookstore before changing to the ordinary Daria. She then went to the lobby.
“Daria! Where have you been?” Quinn said.
“I tried to give chase to Jane’s abductor,” Daria answered. “He moved too quickly. What happened here?”
“There are no booby traps that we could find,” Peterson said.
“That’s good,” Daria responded.
“But what will happen now?” Ted asked.
“The show will go on,” Daria said. She looked to Quinn.
“It will,” Quinn said. “Because we don’t want whoever is behind this to win. Teens are just as capable running a theater as adults.”
“Exactly,” Daria said. “Besides, it’s what Jane would want.”
“The show must go on, as they say,” Ted added.
“But what now?” Trent asked.
“We’ll keep searching,” Peterson said.
Mrs. Rowe emerged from the café. “I have got a call from Brittany. She said that she’s alright after running from the illusions in the theater.”
“That answers that,” Peterson said.
‘That’s one way to deflect attention, Brit,’ Quinn thought. “But we also need to clean up the theater.”
“And find another special effects person,” Daria said.
“At this short notice?” Quinn asked. “I’ll see if any of the previous applicants are still available in the morning.”
“That would be for the best,” Daria said. “Although we could probably go without one.”
“I’ll go,” Peterson said. “Try to organise a search for Jane.”
‘I’ll catch up with Brit at the usual early hour, or maybe a little earlier,’ Quinn decided.
They soon all left to go home.
Daria left with the Enigma, who soon changed to the usual Sandi. “Complicated,” the latter said.
“Working with Quinn?” Daria asked.
Sandi nodded. “I still don’t think I knew her.”
“Oh, you knew her. The way she wanted to present herself.”
“I don’t want to argue with you about it.”
“Fair enough,” Daria said.
“You know, I think I’ll take the risk and try to search for Jane.”
“But you don’t know she’s still in Lawndale.”
“True, but I probably would regret not trying,” Sandi said. “Usually I have an energy drink, but I can make do without one.”
“Usually?”
“The last time I did it was in the solarium, but that was quite close range.”
“That’s how you knew where the power switch was; because you searched for Sam or one of us?” Daria asked.
“For Sam, yes. But anyway.”
Daria could tell Sandi was hesitating. “We could get one from a convenience store.”
“Good idea.”
They soon bought a couple of energy drinks and snacks from a convenience store on Grandstaff Drive, close to the Griffin’s. They then crossed the road to a small park.
“Here?” Daria asked.
Sandi nodded, sat down, and downed her energy drink. “Findu mann sem heiter: Jane Peyton Lane!”
Sandi’s concern manifested into a field that Daria could barely see. ‘Does this happen all the time, or only sometimes?’
Sandi’s perception spread outwards as it usually did. However, Jane was no longer in Lawndale proper, and unconscious besides. So, she ended up perceiving the whole town and some of the surrounding countryside. She then collapsed.
“Sandi!” Daria said.
“Jane not found,” Sandi murmured with fatigue in her voice and clutching her head. “Get me home. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not sure.”
“My mentor parent will know what to do.”
“You can tell me which one it is,” Daria said as she took Sandi in her arms. ‘This is going to be difficult. At least it’s not far to her place.’
“I tried going in there,” Trent said. “But it was disorienting.”
“He clearly rigged this,” Peterson said. “But your sister could be gone by now.”
“I’ll find her,” SpiderGirl said as she came over. “They can’t have gone far, even if they’re in the drains.”
“Quickly,” Peterson said.
SpiderGirl nodded and dashed off.
“We may need to interrupt the power,” Dafoanairi said. “But the power box is out the back. It will take a while to either go around the block or over the building.”
“The latter can be quick,” the Enigma said.
“Or we could try the basement,” Dafoanairi said. “There are two entrances, but there’s a lot of props down there.”
“Lead the way.”
Backstage, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon met up. “What’s the situation?” the latter asked.
“There’s an illusion of green mist in there, like at the bridge,” SpiderGirl answered. “And Jane has already been abducted, but he could still be here or nearby.”
“Then we have to get out there and make sure he doesn’t enter the drains again.”
“Got it.”
They then ran out back.
The emerged from the Historia and looked around the parking lot quickly. The found a manhole. “It doesn’t look like it has been used,” SpiderGirl said.
“Probably one on the street,” Ninja Talon suggested.
SpiderGirl nodded and shot a web to the roof of the theatre. “Let’s go.”
Shortly after SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon had swung away, the Enigma and Dafoanairi emerged from one of the back doors. “It’s over here,” Dafoanairi said. She then went over and opened the power box.
“What are you waiting for?”
“I’m going to turn it off and then off again. That should stop the illusions.”
“Should?” the Enigma asked.
“It might not, but we have to try. When I turn it back on, we’ll rush back in.”
“Ready.”
Dafoanairi then switched off the power.
SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon swung down in front of the Historia and looked around. “There it is!” Ninja Talon said.
They ran to the spot and saw that the manhole cover had been displaced. “Right!” SpiderGirl said.
“Right after you,” Ninja Talon said. They then went down into the stormwater system.
Dafoanairi turned the power back on after ten seconds. “That should do it,” she said.
“I’ll go first, just in case,” the Enigma said.
Dafoanairi nodded.
The power went out and there was darkness.
“More brownouts?” Trent asked.
“No, someone switched off the power,” Peterson said. “Probably as a way to disrupt the illusions.”
“Probably,” Jesse said.
“No, if it was a brownout, it would have been different,” Nick said.
The power returned, showing that the theatre was now devoid of illusions filling it.
“It seems most of the people fled,” Peterson said.
“Probably a good thing,” Dafoanairi said as she and the Enigma entered from backstage.
“True,” Peterson said. “But it will make things more complicated to solve.”
SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon searched a short way along the drain before returning to the area near the Historia. “Any idea where they went?” the latter asked.
“No idea, let’s return to the theatre and try to deal with the situation,” SpiderGirl said.
“Sure, but they might ask where we are.”
“But without arousing suspicion, especially from Peterson.”
“I’ll say that I saw myself going somewhere,” Ninja Talon said. “And you can say the same for either of us.”
“That will work,” SpiderGirl said as she shot a web up through the manhole.
“The Enigma!” SpiderGirl said as she and Ninja Talon came to one of the doors.
“I’ll go in,” Ninja Talon said.
“Right,” SpiderGirl said. “And I’ll be back as, myself.”
Ninja Talon nodded and entered the theater.
“We need to search the Historia again,” Peterson said.
“But SpiderGirl and I saw a displaced manhole cover,” Ninja Talon said as she entered.
“And where is SpiderGirl?” the Enigma asked. “Not that I would have confronted her right now.”
“Where do you think?” Ninja Talon asked.
Dafoanairi sighed. “We need to work together on this, like at the solarium.”
“True,” the Enigma said.
“So, we search?” Peterson asked.
“Wait,” Trent said. “Janie’s still gone, and SpiderGirl is on her own.”
“I wouldn’t recommend chasing after your sister all half cocked,” Peterson said. “Take one of the vigilantes with you.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Jesse said.
“Maybe,” Trent considered.
“But there’s another elephant not in the room,” Claire Dafoe said.
“Which is?” Peterson asked, although she had some idea.
“Any idea where the Morgendorffers have gone?” Claire asked.
She glanced at Dafoanairi, but said nothing.
Quinn entered the theater after having changed from SpiderGirl on the roof. She heard Ms. Dafoe ask her question. “I’m here, but I haven’t seen Daria.” She saw that Dafoanairi was there. ‘Or maybe she is here.’
“Maybe she already went off after Janie,” Trent said.
“Right, one group searches the Historia. The other goes after Jane and her abductor. I’ll call it in,” Peterson said.
“You haven’t yet?” Ninja Talon asked.
“It was chaotic and it only has been several minutes,” Peterson said. She went off to the side.
“We need to look at how Beck has modified the building too,” Quinn said.
“Special effects,” Trent murmured. “It’s probably just the projectors, right?”
“Probably. But that’s not my area,” Quinn said.
‘We need to find Jane, but we also need to know if the building isn’t booby trapped,’ Dafoanairi thought. ‘But who’s going after Jane and Beck, if it is Beck?’
“Who can cover the most ground?” Ninja Talon asked. “I have a grapple gun.”
“I could join you,” the Enigma said. “But I could possibly find traps here, if there are any.”
“I think that would be the better idea,” Dafoanairi said. “Join Peterson on her search. While I go with Ninja Talon and Trent.”
“That makes sense,” the Enigma said.
“Let’s go then,” Ninja Talon said. She exchanged a quick look with Quinn, who gave a nearly imperceptible nod of agreement. Not that she needed it.
“Two vigilantes are better than one, even if they don’t have powers,” Trent said. He lead the way out of the theater.
“We’ll start backstage,” Peterson said.
“Then we’ll work our way forwards,” Quinn said.
“Good idea,” Claire said.
Trent, Jesse, Nick, Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi emerged from the Historia. “So, you said there was a manhole cover loose?” Trent asked.
“Yes, he may have taken her through the stormwater system to the creek, as he did with the WSBC critic,” Ninja Talon answered.
“If we’re quick, we might be able to get there before he does,” Trent said, as he headed towards the Tank.
“It might be better to go without a vehicle,” Dafoanairi said.
“We can get close to the creek faster,” Jesse pointed out.
“Then let’s go.”
Ninja Talon didn’t like the van the band called ‘the Tank’ at all. “What are those smells?” she asked.
“You don’t want to know,” Trent said as he started the engine. “Besides, you should be used to weird stuff.”
“I don’t peek into windows as part of what I do, you know,” Ninja Talon said.
“Good, but that’s not what I meant,” Trent said.
“People to get up to stuff when they’re out, and there’s a lot of stuff I have seen as my secret identity, so I can guess,” Ninja Talon said.
Trent pulled out into the street. “You know, I have written a song about you and SpiderGirl.”
“I don’t think now’s the time,” Dafoanairi said.
“Right, Janie, we’re coming,” Trent said.
Back in the theater, they had found that there were projectors backstage that were running. ‘Nothing is running on them now,’ Peterson said.
“Some of the actors are still in the dressing rooms,” the Enigma said.
“So, your powers work at short range?” Quinn asked.
“They do,” the Enigma said simply, trying not to let her resentment towards Quinn show. “How do you know?”
“Daria told me, duh!”
‘Of course she would,’ the Enigma thought.
They found Veronica, Tania, Cindy and Jennifer in one room. Tania and Cindy were talking. “…We need to go out there,” Tania said.
“The illusions are gone,” Quinn said, to Tania.
“Good, but what about Jane?” Tania asked.
“She was taken,” the Enigma said.
“Is that the fourth vigilante?” Veronica asked.
“It obviously is,” Cindy said.
“Yes, call me the Enigma, if you want.”
“I’d keep it yourself,” Quinn said.
“Let me say that,” the Enigma said.
‘Oops,’ Quinn thought. “Sorry.”
“Sure,” Cindy said. “I won’t say anything about it online.”
“But what about Jane?” Tania asked again.
“Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi are searching for her,” Quinn answered.
“What about SpiderGirl?” Veronica asked.
“She’s somewhere,” Peterson said. “Now we need to find the other actors.”
“I saw Brittany run out somewhere,” Cindy said.
‘I hope no connection would be made,’ Quinn thought as she glanced at Peterson.
‘I’ll follow up on Brittany later,’ Xanthe thought. ‘If she left, she should be safe.’
“There are the other dressing rooms,” Quinn said.
“Good point,” Peterson said. “The backstage area is safe, but we’re not sure about the theater room itself, or the adjacent rooms.”
“We’ll come with you,” Tania declared.
“You can,” Quinn said. “Safety in numbers, right?”
“That’s right,” Peterson said.
The Tank parked close to the Creek and everyone got out. “So, he had a boat waiting when you and SpiderGirl followed from WSBC?” Dafoanairi asked.
“That’s right,” Ninja Talon answered.
“We’ll have to be careful,” Trent said.
“I can fire a zip line into a tree and lower us down,” Ninja Talon said.
“Not much light, but it will have to do,” Dafoanairi commented.
Back at the Historia, the group found most of the male actors in one of the other dressing rooms. “Let’s see,” Quinn said, as she read from the cast sheet. “Elias, Corey, Wolfgang and Ted.”
“Yes,” Elias Howarth said. “Is that mist gone? Tom wanted to go into it.”
“And where is this Tom?” Peterson asked.
“He came back,” Elias said, “but then he went out back to go home. So, he’s gone.”
Peterson sighed. “Another thing, but many people left.”
“But what about Jane?” Corey asked.
“She was taken,” Quinn answered.
“We have to continue searching the rest of the building,” Peterson said.
“Of course,” Quinn said.
Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi rappelled down the creek bank to the stormwater outlet. Ninja Talon shone a flashlight around it. “Looks like we’re too late,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Dafoanairi asked.
“The boat was quite close yesterday.”
“Then we have to go back.”
“Yes, this was a wild goose chase,” Ninja Talon said.
Trent waited for the two vigilantes to return.
“What if something happened to them?” Jesse asked.
“I’m sure they can handle themselves,” Trent responded.
“But Dafoanairi is new.”
“Ninja Talon wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
It wasn’t too long before they returned. “I’m afraid that we were too late,” Dafoanairi reported.
Trent was more anxious. He didn’t know what he would do without Jane.
“Oh,” Jesse said.
“We need to head back to the theater,” Trent said.
“Sure,” Ninja Talon said.
Back at the Historia, Peterson, Quinn, the Enigma and Ted checked over the lobby. “All clear. No traps and the Illusions are gone on the ground level,” Peterson said.
“Now the basement,” Quinn said.
“Dafoanairi and I went through there earlier,” the Enigma said quietly. “There were no traps.”
“Right,” Quinn said. ‘What is up with her? She’s not as boisterous as when we fought the Goblin.’
“That leaves the upper levels, the box seats and the roof access.” Peterson said.
“Yes,” Quinn said. ‘Daria isn’t here. It’s more likely that Dafoanairi is her, but I won’t ask. Neither her nor Brit.’
Trent, Jesse and Nick then entered. Quinn saw Ninja Talon rappelling over the building.
‘We’ll catch up later,’ she thought. “Did you find anything?”
“No, it was too late. They got to the creek before they got there,” Trent said.
Dafoanairi entered the Historia through a side door into the bookstore before changing to the ordinary Daria. She then went to the lobby.
“Daria! Where have you been?” Quinn said.
“I tried to give chase to Jane’s abductor,” Daria answered. “He moved too quickly. What happened here?”
“There are no booby traps that we could find,” Peterson said.
“That’s good,” Daria responded.
“But what will happen now?” Ted asked.
“The show will go on,” Daria said. She looked to Quinn.
“It will,” Quinn said. “Because we don’t want whoever is behind this to win. Teens are just as capable running a theater as adults.”
“Exactly,” Daria said. “Besides, it’s what Jane would want.”
“The show must go on, as they say,” Ted added.
“But what now?” Trent asked.
“We’ll keep searching,” Peterson said.
Mrs. Rowe emerged from the café. “I have got a call from Brittany. She said that she’s alright after running from the illusions in the theater.”
“That answers that,” Peterson said.
‘That’s one way to deflect attention, Brit,’ Quinn thought. “But we also need to clean up the theater.”
“And find another special effects person,” Daria said.
“At this short notice?” Quinn asked. “I’ll see if any of the previous applicants are still available in the morning.”
“That would be for the best,” Daria said. “Although we could probably go without one.”
“I’ll go,” Peterson said. “Try to organise a search for Jane.”
‘I’ll catch up with Brit at the usual early hour, or maybe a little earlier,’ Quinn decided.
They soon all left to go home.
Daria left with the Enigma, who soon changed to the usual Sandi. “Complicated,” the latter said.
“Working with Quinn?” Daria asked.
Sandi nodded. “I still don’t think I knew her.”
“Oh, you knew her. The way she wanted to present herself.”
“I don’t want to argue with you about it.”
“Fair enough,” Daria said.
“You know, I think I’ll take the risk and try to search for Jane.”
“But you don’t know she’s still in Lawndale.”
“True, but I probably would regret not trying,” Sandi said. “Usually I have an energy drink, but I can make do without one.”
“Usually?”
“The last time I did it was in the solarium, but that was quite close range.”
“That’s how you knew where the power switch was; because you searched for Sam or one of us?” Daria asked.
“For Sam, yes. But anyway.”
Daria could tell Sandi was hesitating. “We could get one from a convenience store.”
“Good idea.”
They soon bought a couple of energy drinks and snacks from a convenience store on Grandstaff Drive, close to the Griffin’s. They then crossed the road to a small park.
“Here?” Daria asked.
Sandi nodded, sat down, and downed her energy drink. “Findu mann sem heiter: Jane Peyton Lane!”
Sandi’s concern manifested into a field that Daria could barely see. ‘Does this happen all the time, or only sometimes?’
Sandi’s perception spread outwards as it usually did. However, Jane was no longer in Lawndale proper, and unconscious besides. So, she ended up perceiving the whole town and some of the surrounding countryside. She then collapsed.
“Sandi!” Daria said.
“Jane not found,” Sandi murmured with fatigue in her voice and clutching her head. “Get me home. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not sure.”
“My mentor parent will know what to do.”
“You can tell me which one it is,” Daria said as she took Sandi in her arms. ‘This is going to be difficult. At least it’s not far to her place.’