Tales of the First

Sienna just nodded grimly. “You’re sure there are no cameras here?”

“None,” Wendy said. “Martin checked before we set up here.” She led Sienna through a broken door into what would have once been the shop floor of the factory. Now it was a vast empty space full only of leaves and other detritus blown in through the broken windows. There was a surprising lack of graffiti or other vandalism but some signs that the homeless used it for shelter at night. She commented on this and Wendy nodded.

“They do, but they ignore us using the place too as long as we don't disturb them. We leave them some food and stuff as well which helps. I just wish I could do more.” She pointed to a rucksack full of sandwiches and cartons of fruit juice leaning against one wall. “Which Martin has dealt with today. Come on.” She headed to an intact door at one ends of the factory which she pushed open to reveal a flight of stairs. “Down here.”

Sienna followed Wendy into the stairwell. Wendy turned and closed the door behind them, bolting it shut with two large metal bolts before heading down the stairs. They ended up in what Sienna suspected had once been a back up generator room. It was a fairly small room compared to the vast space upstairs and had no windows. It would have been dark but for the lightbulb powered by the generator in the corner and completely stark but for the brightly coloured rugs on the floor and the swathes of batik fabric hanging on the walls.