Rise Of A New Heart

Chapter 23: What Lies Beneath

As the pirates reached the enormous church, there wasn't a soul around it.

"How do we get in?" Penguin asked

Sachi shrugged, "Front door?"

While sticking to the shadows the group quietly made their way to the large door, crafted from wood and cast iron. After an affirmative nod from his captain, Bepo grasped the handle in his paw and pulled..... Nothing. He jiggled it slightly, still nothing. Enyo quirked a smile.

"Huh, I guess the house of god isn't always open."

All of a sudden, a metal lock clacked, and the pirates became invisible in the shadows of the building, silent as the grave.

"I must say, the turnout for the daily mass is getting weaker and weaker."

"I couldn't agree more sister. I worry for the wayward souls of this accursed island."

A pair of nuns left the building from a side door and conversed as they walked off down the road.

"Did they lock it?" Enyo asked. ( -.- )

"I don't think so." Penguin said, sneaking up to the door, he tested the handle.

"It's open."

"Be on your guard, this could be a trap." Law cautioned, electing to go first should that be the case.

Enyo entered after Penguin and Sachi, letting loose a small snicker, "morons." She muttered as she crossed the threshold, followed by Bepo.

"They fell for it." A voice whispered among the bushes.

"I couldn't agree more sister."

[snickers] "Morons"

...

Despite their best efforts, the pirate's footsteps echoed as they scoured the massive structure, they searched high and low but the place was deserted. Enyo slowly wandered the transept, analysing the effigies and visuals that adorned its walls, when something caught her eye. She approached an angelic figure nestled high within an alcove, just out of reach. A veil hid most of her features, but her slender arms opened for embrace. She wore a gold diadem atop her shrouded head and with one foot gently forward, like she was about to step right off of her base. The steely haired woman scrutinised the heavenly sculpture, then her eye wandered lower, to the white marble wainscotting beneath it.

"I've found something!"

The rest of the group converged on Enyo's position.

"What is it?" Law said.

"This panel, its not like the others."

Penguin looked around at the rest of the plain, white rock. "How? It all looks exactly the same?"

"I know, that's what's weird." The woman said, approaching the small gilt fence that guarded the area.

"This one." The woman wrapped her knuckles on the wall as she stepped over the railing, earning a light tapping sound from the stone. "Is marble."

"But this..."

She knocked on the suspicious wall piece, and a deep, hollow tone came from the material.

"Isn't"

A self-pleased smiled made its way to Enyo's face as her captain stepped over the railing to inspect the false panel. He knocked again, striking the same sound that suggested emptiness lay behind. he placed his tanned palm onto the wall and felt around. With a moderate push, the panel swung inwards, revealing a passageway that led into pitch black. The pirates exchanged looks before they switched on their torches, and headed into the gloom.