8 – Holl

gray stone, its bell tower had long since stopped ringing. Locals whispered about the crypts benea

led down a side stairwell. Moss-covered steps descende

around," Lang muttered

ion said, grippi

ng the walls. "They used to hold their first meetings down here. Before t

d statues and murals marked the corridor-faded depictions of saints twisted in

od at its center, still stained dark with old blood. Around it were symbols-burn

ltar. "Looks like someon

. Footprints. Scratche

till using

ft hum began-me

Zion's arm.

Metal shutters rolled

in," Lang said,

me the c

rged. Robed, silent. Ten... twenty... maybe more. Th

know who you are. We have p

from the altar.

know what sile

s the

wasn't

n full ceremonial robes stepped o

f Ral

s hear

d. "Zion. You should'

acked. "You were suppos

m people like you. People who don't under

e only balance you care

ch," Raleigh snapped. "Y

un c

d his weapo

aid. "I'm not going to watch y

filled th

altar. Toward the history. Th

ngth. But it's weakness. An

ash grenade dro

oo

ulled Lyra behind a pillar. Screams. Scuffling feet. An es

ey

ss behind t

weren't

see fear

back down

f we d

es will sti

rot under the

ng had t

I looked in

ise to be safe if an

king straight into

e betrayal I re

rang

s neck sayi

uld you

you betra

and this is how

against every

the

cou

ied ou

aded into

see myself star

to fall like a whisper o

ening of t

He stopp

the m

e end of the

all that wa

run into the

to go a

e answer t

rd He could

blem was he

now what th

was

rdered

d in my

after