This alley wasn’t straight, and it was darker than usual, despite the hour. Tall, cramped buildings were squashed in next to each other, creating a crooked path. The buildings leaned over the narrow passage, crowding out the light as if they were jealously guarding the darkness. CeeCee took a wary step in and was hit by a rank wave of smell. She gagged and staggered back. Garbage was scattered as far as she could see—rags, rotting food, rusty appliances—before a jutting wall cut off her line of sight, twisting the alley in another direction. The walls were smeared with refuse and who knew what else, thick enough that giant mushrooms as big as her head were growing out of them. They looked slimy and pale in the dim light. It was disgusting, but the twins had said this was the direction to find the Queen. She wasn’t sure if the Queen was an actual ruler of the alleys or just another weird character, but she was taking all the tips she could get from now on. In her experience, people who threw parties usually had some influence or at least knew a lot of people. It was strange how friendly…