CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – FORGIVENESS

Rebecca whirled around to find Father Matthews standing there, a knowing smile on his face. "Oh! Father Matthews," she stammered. "I was just... admiring the craftsmanship." The priest nodded, his eyes twinkling. "Indeed. That door has quite a history. It leads to an old passageway that runs beneath the cathedral. Used to be quite useful in times of trouble." Rebecca's mind raced with the possibilities this information presented. A secret passageway? Could this be her ticket to freedom? Keeping her voice casual, she asked, "Really? That's fascinating. Does anyone use it now?" Father Matthews chuckled. "Oh, it's been sealed up for years. Safety concerns, you know. But it's a nice little piece of history." Rebecca's heart sank at his words, but she managed a smile. "Yes, it certainly is. Thank you for sharing that, Father." As Father Matthews moved away, Rebecca's mind was already formulating a new plan. If she could find a way to unseal that passageway... Over the next few weeks