Closed doors
Albert and Dalia walked crosscurrent against the constant flow of people who was pouring from the neighborhooding streets towards the cathedral. They realized that it would be difficult to sneak in without anyone noticing, even amidst the chaos. Therefore, Albert decided to use his powers once again, he was worried that Marla would notice them, however, she still didn’t know what he could do, so, maybe, its use would go unnoticed. He hoped it would, and focused on making themselves invisible to anyone looking at their direction.
-Now!- he muttered to Dalia.
She put the key inside the keylock and tried to open the door. It was locked, as all the other doors from the cathedral.
-It doesn’t work.- she said with a shadow of hysteria on her voice.
-Let me try.- Albert replied taking the key.
It was true, it wouldn’t turn. He knew Marla wanted him inside, so there had to be some way for him to get in. Albert didn’t want to expose himself so early by using his powers, what could he do? While thinking, he brushed the keyhole absentmindedly with his knuckles, the door opened softly.
-How did you do it?
-I didn’t, Marla wants me in, and that is it. The problem is that she knows that we are inside, and where we are, but we don’t know where she is. This is going to be dangerous, Dalia. I will understand if you decide to stay outside.
Once more, Dalia was tempted to confess, but would he trust her if she told him? He needed a friend now, not truth.
-I will come, we are in this together, until the end.- she said, strangely reassured.
-Yes, we will need to go to the right, there is a hidden staircase behind a statue.
The church was uncannily silent, void of murmurs, footsteps, and chants since everyone was locked outside. Albert tried to step as softly as he could to avoid the echo. He found the staircase and slipped in rapidly. They climbed the stairs in tension, listening carefully for any strange noise.
-Now, what?
-If we go to the right we will go towards the altar, which is going to leave us more exposed, if we go to the left we will head to the main gates direction, where we could have a better view of it all.
-Are there any hidden passages in that direction? I don’t want to have any surprise.
Dalia took out her mobile phone and checked the plans.
-None, but there are a couple of staircases that go up to the towers.- she said finally.
-Good, we need to keep as close to the walls as possible.
They headed towards the main front slowly and silently. More than once they were startled by the normal sounds of the old building, possibly some mice running through the stones. The light entered through the windows blinding them, making them be very careful looking only at the floor ahead of them. When they finally arrived at the left end of the cathedral, they found that it also had a perfect hiding spot, a humongous organ. They ran crouching towards the instrument and lay on the floor next to it catching their breath.
-We are going to find a way we can look down without Marla seeing us. That is if she is actually downstairs.- said Albert.
-What if she is not?
-Then we will have to find a way to find her before she finds us. But I think she will be, she likes to show off, if she is hidden somewhere she won’t be able to do so. She is downstairs.- he reassured his friend.
They stood up, the organ had lots of different ornaments that left small holes which could well serve to see what was happening on the main ground. They put their eyes on the holes and saw an enormous pile, made with what looked like benches, in front of the altar, it was surrounded by thousands of red candles, of the sort that people lighted at the different chapels. There was a dark form lying on top of it that looked human, so it was probably Myriam. If it was her she wasn’t moving, either asleep or passed out. After paying more attention they saw another shape, dressed in red, sitting on the bottom of the pile, that was Marla, for sure. Albert squatted down fast, urging Dalia to do the same.
-We need a way down, to surprise her.
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