Sisters of Mercy Convent
Ground Zero
August
"Damn!" I whispered, attempting to turn the stubborn handle.
Sinéad produced a skeleton key from her pocket. "Let's try this." She inserted it, and with a subtle click, the door yielded, unveiling the horrors within.
The dungeon's air was putrid, thick with the scent of death.
"This is terrible!" Sinéad whispered, her voice hoarse. "The church was meant to be a sanctuary."
My voice tremed. "Do you think this place ever provided safety? Father Anthony wasn't who he appeared to be."
We descended cautiously down the windy staircase, and the scene that unfolded was nightmarish. Dozens of children lay lifeless, their innocence stolen.
"They were all sacrifices." I explained, my voice heavy. "And this was just the beginning."
Sinéad's curiosity drew her to a freezer. "Be careful." I warned. Not knowing what was in there.
She opened it, and her scream pierced the air, sending shivers down my spine.
I did not want to investigate.
I scanned the room and located a desk. Inside a drawer, I found the crucial documents—proof that said Sinéad Ferguson, did this and Father Bianchi and Sister Vega were none the wiser.
Another document, explained chilling details of the harvesting of organs, including one, from a child, and where the parts were planned to go. Backstories, confessions, police logs. It was all planned out.
"I'm sorry." I said, showing her the papers.
Sinéad's despair was obvious. As I heard a commotion at the entrance. I called no one, so I was a bit caught off guard.
Sinéad remained frozen, and overwhelmed.
As I climbed the stairs, I collided with a man, his green eyes tired. "Are you okay sweetheart ?" He asked, his voice deep and soothing.
"We found something terrible," I managed.
The man presented himself as Dean. He and his father, John were undercover officers just finishing another case, when they heard some bangarang over the radio.
(So someone had called them)
"Hello officers. I'm Sheva, and down there is Sister Sinéad but she's a hot mess at the moment."
"Always the most morally right people, who do the most immoral things. What a coincidence." Dean looked toward his father.
"Who is this? John asked.
"I'm Sheva... and.." Dean cut me off.
"I think she found what we were sent to look for," Dean replied.
John approached. He was dark-haired with sad eyes but still handsome. Like father like son huh.
(Delicious.)
"Show us what you found." He asked.
"Follow me, but brace yourself; these stairs are a bit wonky."
"I'd follow you anywhere." Dean muttered playfully under his breath.
His father, I imagined rolling his eyes and being so done with Dean.
As we descended down, Sinéad finally gathered her strength, approaching the officers, she explained the situation, handing over more incriminating papers. Their expressions shifted from shock to confusion, as they processed the gravity of what lay before them.
