Chapter 2322

Francel did not know how much time had passed. He had fallen asleep but still had not seen Smiley return. Rubbing his eyes, Francel wandered around the gang's hideout, searching for her. To his surprise, not only was Smiley missing, but all the members of the Stick Gang were nowhere to be found. The large room was completely empty, and the surrounding darkness made Francel uneasy. Remembering Pine's odd behavior that afternoon, Francel began to worry that something bad had happened to his brothers and Smiley. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He quickly bolted out the door and ran toward the route Smiley always took to school. It was a bit of a distance, and by the time Francel reached the area near the school, there was still no sign of her. It was strange—compared to the Northern Territory, the nightlife in the Western and Southern Territories was much livelier, often lasting until dawn. Especially in Grenford, where the Western and Southern Territories met,