Eliza and Theresa looked at each other and for some reason, even though Eliza knew that what they were doing could be considered blasphemy, and even though she was irritated with Theresa beyond all measure, all she wanted to do was laugh.
It’s just my nerves, Eliza told herself. I’m not a bad Christian for being here. If God didn’t want me to be an adventurer, he wouldn’t have built me this way.
“I see no other way out,” Theresa said, turning in place.
Catherine brought the lamp over and lit it from a candle, and Eliza unfurled the map once more. “It doesn’t make sense,” Eliza said. “There’s a drawing of a set of stairs on the west wall of the office.”
All three girls turned around to face the west wall and were met with an imposing bookcase full of Bibles and other religious works. Had they come all this way for nothing? Had it indeed been nothing but a grand hoax?
“Let’s get out of here,” Alice whined. “Please. Let’s just go.”
Eliza moved around to the side of the bookcase and ran her hand along the corner between case and wall. Her fingertips found something metallic and grooved.
“Girls, you’ll never believe what I’ve just found,” she said. Her mouth was dry as she tried to swallow.
Catherine peeked around the bookcase, shining the lantern at the wall. Sure enough, three huge brass hinges were affixed to the bookcase and the wall.
“Does it open?” Theresa asked breathlessly.
“Let’s see!” Eliza replied.
Catherine placed the lantern on the desk, and the three of them tugged at the opposite side of the bookcase. When Eliza first felt it give, she let out a gasp of surprise. Slowly the bookcase swung free, revealing a small white door set into the wall. Sitting in its keyhole was a large brass key, with a purple ribbon dangling from it.
Full Circle
“This is just like Journey to the Center of the Earth,” Eliza said breathily, tingling from head to toe. She instantly thought of Harrison and wished for a brief moment that he could see her right then. But then she realized he’d be seeing Theresa, too, and she quickly banished him from her thoughts.
As Theresa went to open the door, Alice let out another pained wail and leaned against the doorway between the office and the chapel.
“Are you sure about this?” Catherine asked, her eyes concerned.
“We can’t stop now,” Theresa said, as though it was the most obvious argument in the world.
“She’s right,” Eliza confirmed. “We’re so close.”
“Wait,” Catherine said. Both Theresa and Eliza looked at her, exasperated. “I don’t mean to be the dull one,” Catherine continued. “I just want to make sure we’re not doing something we’re going to regret.”
Theresa reached for Catherine’s hand. “I don’t mean to offend you, Catherine, but if you live your entire life wondering what you’re going to regret later, you’ll never truly live it.”
Eliza blinked, surprised to agree so wholeheartedly with Theresa’s words. Catherine appeared taken aback as well. She knit her brow for a moment and then nodded, her chin set with determination.
“All right, then,” she said firmly. “No regrets.”
“Let me get another candle,” Eliza said. She turned and removed one from a sconce on the wall, then held the wick against Theresa’s flame to light it. “All right,” she said with her face newly aglow. “Go ahead.”
Theresa reached out and turned the key. It let out a reverberating click that brought forth another wail from Alice. Theresa tried the knob, and the door swung open easily, soundlessly. Cold air rushed up from the dank depths below, taking the breath right out of Eliza’s lungs. Eliza held her candle aloft, and Theresa and Catherine followed suit.
“What is it?” Alice whined tremulously. “What did you find?”
“It’s a staircase,” Eliza replied. “Just like the map said.”
“A staircase?” Alice managed to pry herself away from the door and join the others. She peered down into the darkness. The winding staircase disappeared around a bend after only five steps. “No,” she said. “No, no, no. You can’t be thinking
of going down there. All you’re going to find down there is death and damnation, you realize that, don’t you? That staircase was not meant to be found!”
Eliza clenched her teeth. “Let’s go.”
She took the first step onto the top stair, which moaned beneath her weight. Catherine stayed close behind her and Theresa brought up the rear as they continued down the winding stairs. All three flames seemed to wax and wane as they went, disorienting Eliza. Each time the light started to dim, she clutched Catherine more tightly, terrified of falling.