Part 4
It was the night following Buffy's strange encounter. A decision had been made on a plan of action. The Scooby gang had blown off a second night of celebrations at the Bronze to tend to some more Hellmouthy matters. They had driven to the tomb's location in Oz's van. It was a tight fit with all of the Dingo's music equipment. Giles stretched his back every so often trying to ele the onset of cramp. Willow had called shotgun not surprisingly. Buffy and Xander seemed fine. Buffy being so nubile from general Slayer exercises and Xander lived in a cramped basement under his parent's house and was used to a tight squeeze.
The group skulked along a chain link fence. They hugged it almost like it provided some sort of cover for their approach. The reality was that their stealth factor was in no way affected by clinging to the see-through barrier. It just seemed like the appropriate thing to do.
Xander wore his camouflage. The mish-mash of greens blended naturally with the rustic browns of the excavation site, or so he thought. Still, he had had them ever since that Halloween fiasco and wearing them seemed to bring back memories of his magic induced manliness. He inched his way along the perimeter following the other's.
Oz took up the rear strolling casually with his hands embedded in his pockets his green army surplus carryall slung over his shoulder. He looked around with a familiar confused/inquisitive look before he spoke up.
"Uh guys. Why are we sneaking around? There's no security."
The gang stopped, looked at each other and slowly straightened themselves. Then they continued along the fence. They eventually reached the gates. A pair of chain linked frames just like that rest of the fencing but hinged at either end. They spanned the dirt track that led into the compound. The wide tire tracks were still visible from when days before heavy-duty dumpsters and other construction vehicles had trundled their way back and forth from the area. It was noisy as hell then but now it fell into a deafening silence.
"O dear." Giles said.
His remark was in response to the padlocked gates. Buffy stepped forward and grasped the lock in both hands. She pulled hard and soon wrenched the pin from the locking mechanism. The gates squealed open piercing the night. No one came running to investigate as the gang moved in tentatively. Upon the realisation that there really was no security they all relaxed somewhat. "This is a bit weird." Willow said. "I mean, you'd think that between the construction company and the archaeologists that there would be at least a night watchman or something." Buffy agreed. She didn't like it. Giles tried belay anyone's rising fears. "Well that is to our advantage Willow. At least we know we won't be disturbed."
They moved hurriedly now through the rubble of old buildings, mounds of earth and craters. They came to a clearing bathed in the glow of the floodlights set up by the excavation team. They focused on the side of a dug away section of a large mound. Set into its face was the entrance to the tomb. It was a plain and unassuming solid rock doorway. The edges had been etched out carefully by the archaeological team and supported with wooden slats. It was also small and narrow, just big enough for a person to move through. Xander peered into the passage.
"Looks like it's gonna' be a tight squeeze the whole way down. It's dark too."
"Good job we brought these."
Oz reached into his bag and pulled out three battery-powered torches and handed them out. Giles searched into the darkness with his. Even with the high powered lights the darkness within the tomb was overpowering and they couldn't see in very far. "Okay" Buffy stood at the doorway. "I'll go first, but everybody stay together." Willow turned to Buffy "Can we hurry this up this place gives me the wiggins." Buffy knew what she meant. The place was Creepcity. "Don't worry Will. We'll be out of here soon." She turned into the doorway and walked down the passageway.