Chapter XXXV: Passage
Liz and Wyn exchange quick glances as they sit on a bench near the Colegio's courtyard. The weight of what they are about to do lingers between them. Liz unlocks her phone and types a message to Adrian.
Liz:Hey, are you still busy today?
A few seconds later, her phone vibrates with a response.
Adrian:Not anymore. Why?
Wyn:We need you. Meet us at the sacristy. We need someone to buy us time.
Adrian:Understood. I'm on my way.
The dismissal bell rings, signaling the end of the school day. Without hesitation, Liz and Wyn make their way toward the sacristy. They take the discreet path leading from the Colegio's gate to the Cathedral, keeping their heads low to avoid drawing attention. Adrian, meanwhile, walks through the passageway near the Retablo Mayor, his casual steps masking his intent.
As Adrian nears the sacristy, he spots a few servers standing around, chatting. He walks up to them with an easy grin.
Adrian:Hey guys, did you hear what happened in the main hall? Apparently, Father Rodrigo misplaced an important relic.
The servers, curious, exchange glances.
Server 1:Seriously? What relic?
Adrian:I don't know, but I heard him talking about it near the confessionals. You might want to check it out before he gets mad.
The servers hesitate for a moment but then rush off toward the main hall, giving Adrian just enough time to send a quick message to Liz and Wyn.
Adrian:All clear. Move now.
Liz and Wyn slip inside the sacristy unnoticed. The silence inside is eerie, broken only by the sound of their breathing. They reach a wooden door near the tombs of the Archbishops, its keyhole shaped like a heart.
Wyn:This has to be it. But how do we open it?
Liz furrows her brows, deep in thought. Then, she glances down at her pendant—the heart-shaped one she and Wyn had found days ago.
Liz:It's worth a try.
She unclasps the necklace, takes a deep breath, and presses the pendant gently against the keyhole. A soft click echoes through the quiet hallway. Suddenly, a mechanical clock embedded in the door whirs to life. Gears shift, metal grinds, and the door slowly creaks open.
Liz's fingers tremble as she pulls out her phone and texts Adrian.
Liz:We're in.
Inside, the room is shrouded in darkness. A damp, musky scent lingers in the air.
Wyn:Light switch. There has to be one.
Liz's fingers fumble against the stone wall until she finds a small switch. With a flick, dim yellow light floods the space. Their eyes widen as they take in the sight before them.
The walls are lined with different images of the Blessed Virgin Mary—each framed in gold, silver, and wood, their painted eyes gazing solemnly at the room's visitors. The sheer number of them is overwhelming, some familiar, others unknown. Liz and Wyn step forward in awe, their footsteps barely making a sound against the ancient stone floor.
At the end of the hall, standing atop a marble pedestal, is an image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación y Correa—The Our Lady of Charity.
Wyn:She's missing something…
Liz looks closer and realizes it—the Virgin lacks a crown.
Without hesitation, she reaches into her bag and pulls out the delicate golden crown they had found earlier. She carefully places it atop the Virgin's head. A soft click resonates through the room. Liz and Wyn exchange glances as a small hatch at the base of the statue swings open.
Inside the compartment, a notebook, a candle, and a crucifix rest on a velvet cloth.
Liz:What is all this?
Wyn:Someone hid these things for a reason.
Liz carefully picks up the notebook, running her fingers over its worn leather cover. It feels ancient, filled with a history neither of them yet understands.
Meanwhile, Wyn wanders further down the hall, running her hand across the walls. Then, something odd catches her eye.
Wyn:Liz… this wall doesn't feel right.
Liz looks up from the notebook and walks over. Wyn presses her hand against the stone surface. It wobbles slightly.
Wyn:It's fake.
Liz's heart pounds as she watches Wyn push against the wall. Slowly, it gives way—revealing another hidden passage.
Liz and Wyn descend the hidden passageway, the air thick with dust and the scent of aged stone. The walls, carved from ancient rock, bear signs of time, their surfaces rough and uneven. The dim lighting from their flashlights casts eerie shadows, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere. Every step echoes through the narrow corridor, the weight of history pressing against them.
Wyn shudders, hugging herself.
"Liz, this place gives me the creeps. Aren't you scared?"
Liz turns to her, her expression calm.
"Fear is natural, but we can't let it control us. If we believe in the purpose of our journey, then we should have faith. Faith will carry us through the unknown."
Wyn swallows hard but nods.
"Alright... I'll try."
They continue their cautious journey until a faint glow catches Liz's attention. At the end of the corridor stands an image of a nun, her expression serene yet mysterious. The dim light flickers against her features, making her appear almost lifelike.
Wyn lets out a terrified gasp and collapses to the ground.
"G-Ghost!"
Liz kneels beside her, shaking her gently.
"Wyn, wake up! It's not a ghost. It's just an image!"
After a few moments, Wyn's eyes flutter open.
"That was terrifying..."
Liz helps her up, then examines the statue closely. Recognition dawns upon her as memories flood her mind. She recalls the time she visited Bennett's home and saw a similar image among his treasured religious artifacts.
A flashback unfolds—Bennett standing before a display of saints, his voice calm and certain as he shares their names and stories.
"St. Paul, St. Dominic de Guzman, St. Roch, St. Isidore... and the two Assisis." He pauses, pointing at the figure of a nun.
"One of them is St. Clare of Assisi. She holds a monstrance because of her deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. The other is St. Francis of Assisi."
Liz snaps back to the present, realization lighting her eyes.
"This is St. Clare of Assisi!"
Without hesitation, she retrieves the monstrance from her bag and carefully places it into the image's open hands. The moment the sacred object touches the statue, a soft click echoes through the chamber. Suddenly, a small flash drive tumbles from the folds of the image's delantal (apron), landing at Liz's feet.
She picks it up, barely having a moment to examine it before another sound startles them. A low creaking noise reverberates through the passageway as another hidden door swings open, revealing an even darker corridor. From within, an eerie sound—whispers? Shuffling footsteps?—drifts toward them.
Wyn grabs Liz's arm in terror.
"Nope! We are NOT going in there!"
Liz doesn't argue. The foreboding presence within the darkened passageway is enough to send their instincts into overdrive. Without hesitation, they sprint back through the narrow corridor, retracing their steps as fast as they can. Their breath comes in gasps, hearts pounding wildly in their chests. They don't stop running until they burst through the sacristy door, back into the sanctuary of the cathedral.
Panting, Wyn leans against a pillar.
"Never... doing that... again."
Liz clutches the items tightly, her mind reeling.
"We got what we needed. Let's go home."
Later that night, Liz lies in bed, the day's events replaying in her mind. The notebook, the candle, the crucifix, and now the flash drive—each item carries a mystery waiting to be unraveled. She clutches them close, exhaustion weighing heavily on her.
As sleep overtakes her, she finds herself once again in Bennett's room within the dreamscape.
Bennett stands before her, his eyes filled with excitement.
"You found them."
Liz nods, but the moment she sees him, her emotions overflow. Without thinking, she rushes forward, pushing him onto the bed as she wraps her arms around him tightly.
"I missed you so much!"
Bennett doesn't resist. Instead, he returns the embrace, his grip firm, his warmth real. He places a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I missed you too. This side of you… it's what I've always loved."
Liz looks up at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Bennett gazes at her fondly.
"Ever since that shopping spree, you've been… different. It blinded you. You became so wrapped up in things that didn't matter. But deep down, I always knew the real you—the one who cares, who loves, who is capable of so much kindness. I kept hoping you'd come back to that."
Liz's eyes well with tears.
"I'm so sorry... for everything. For the way I treated you before. I didn't see it then, but I see it now."
Bennett wipes away her tears, smiling softly.
"And I appreciate that. You've changed, Liz. For the better. And that means more to me than anything."
They stay like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other's presence, their emotions unspoken yet deeply understood.
Finally, Bennett pulls back slightly, his expression turning serious.
"Now, you have all the items. Interpret them wisely, Liz. The answers are there—you just have to look closely."
Liz nods, determination setting in.
"I will. I promise."
As the dream fades, Liz clutches the knowledge close to her heart, ready to uncover the truth hidden within the relics.