Richard hurried across the stone floor of the cathedral to the altar. Suddenly, soldiers rushed into the cathedral. He raced behind the altar, searching for a door, a passageway, anything to escape. He couldn’t find a doorway. Had Father Stephen lied to trap him for the bishop?
“There! There!” The soldiers raced up the center aisle.
Grimacing, Richard desperately scanned the wall behind the altar. He stepped back, turning to search the room for another way out. That was when he noticed the hallway off to the side. He rushed toward it…
…only to be greeted by more guards. He was trapped.
Mercy’s heart pounded. Where could she run to escape the soldiers? She had to escape! She moved to the opposite side of the farmer’s house, searching for a tree or brush that would offer her cover.
“This way!”
The soldiers were coming closer. They couldn’t catch her! She had to be free to find Kit! There was no cover across the farmlands. If she ran, they would see her. No cover on the road. She turned the corner, pressing herself up against the wall of the house.
“Go around. I’ll go this way.”
No, Mercy thought. She would not let them find her. She stumbled over a branch. She reached down to grasp it, preparing to use it as a weapon. A hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist. Startled, she jumped back.
Mercy saw Thomas tucked under a bush near the bottom of the house. It appeared he was beneath the house. He pressed a finger to his lips and signaled for her to come with him. He moved the bush aside and Mercy quickly slid down to where he was.
Darkness engulfed her.
Thomas pushed the bush back into place. Together, they huddled beneath the house, behind the bush in the quiet dark, watching. It was only a few moments later that footsteps sounded and the light from between the branches of the bush was broken by shadows.
Mercy pulled back, hoping the soldiers wouldn’t find them in the hole.
“Where did she go?”
“Into the house.” The guards moved away. There was a pounding that sounded further away.
Thomas took Mercy’s hand and led her deeper beneath the house, into the darkness. It wasn’t a hole. It was some sort of tunnel. Mercy had to crawl as she followed Thomas. She couldn’t stand because the passageway was too small. Thomas crawled beside her. The small tunnel seemed to go on forever. She thought she heard other rustlings behind her. She was grateful that Thomas was with her. But where was he taking her? It had to be better than being caught by the bishop’s soldiers.
Thomas moved in front of her as the passageway narrowed. Pebbles and small rocks were scattered in the dirt of the passageway. Mercy’s palms and knees repeatedly fell on them as she crawled forward. She ignored the pinch of pain and continued after Thomas. Her hands brushed over dirt. She adjusted her skirt repeatedly so she wouldn’t trip over it. “Thomas,” she whispered.
“Shhh,” Thomas answered quietly, quickly.
The darkness was complete, surrounding her in nothingness. Panic ate away at the borders of her sanity as her mind began to play tricks on her. She felt something slide over her hand, and she yanked it back. She heard the soft rumble of dirt collapsing and hurried after Thomas. Where were they going? What if she lost him? Would she stumble around in the darkness forever? She pushed the swelling terror aside. At least the soldiers wouldn’t find her. But would she survive?
The air was stale and heavy. She took a deep breath and got a mouthful of dust. She coughed hard.
In front of her, Thomas paused until her fit of coughing stopped. “We’re almost there,” he whispered. “Put one of your hands over your mouth.”
Mercy did as he directed, but it didn’t help much because she had to use it to crawl forward. They moved quietly then. Mercy followed him, knowing the end would be coming soon. The tunnel was longer than the farmhouse and she wondered where the end would be. Or maybe it was her mind wishing to be free of the confinement. What if the cave collapsed? What if they were trapped? Shivers of anxiety and dread danced across her back. Just as she thought she could take no more, just as the fear was about to take over, she saw a light ahead. At first, she thought it was a reflection or a play of her mind. But as they neared, the light increased. She saw that the tunnel, and yes, that was what she was in, opened ahead. She had never been so grateful to see light before. A wave of fresh air moved over her like a wave. She inhaled deeply and let out a little sigh.
Thomas paused to look back at her.
Now she knew why he looked so dirty. He crawled around in these caves. “I’m alright,” she admitted with gratitude.
He moved forward until he fell from the opening, his body disappearing before her. Then, he reappeared, standing.
When Mercy came to the opening, Thomas held a hand out to help her. A small cave opened before her. It was an enclosed cave with small animal bones and blankets and debris scattered about on the floor. Two other holes just like the one she crawled out through were on the cave wall. Escape routes, she guessed. This was his home. This was why no one could ever find him.
She took Thomas’s hand and he helped her out of the tunnel. When her feet touched the floor, she dusted off her dress and mumbled a thank you to Thomas. Three other boys stood huddled together near one of the holes, eyeing Mercy with distrust. They were just as dusty as Thomas and wore ragged clothing. They seemed to be around the same age as Thomas.
Her gaze moved over the boys. One looked as though he was going to dive into the hole and scurry away at any moment. These were the other boys Father Stephen spoke about. She grinned, greeting them, “Good day.”
None of them replied.
She glanced at Thomas. “Thank you for your help.”
