The catacombs beneath the monastery were a familiar place for Dean. As a child he had dragged his friends down there on many occasions in search of adventure, imaginary treasure and the like. Everything had seemed so much bigger back then and the underground tunnels had felt like they had gone on forever. Once, they managed to make it all the way to the Cathedral backrooms, something that got them in no small amount of trouble with Methaeus.
They had stumbled upon the catacombs after climbing through a small hole in the yard which had served as a primitive window for the underground halls. Of course they were now much too big to fit into that tiny space. The only option left was to use a proper entrance.
If there was a way into certain restricted areas then Rosetta, who had lived and worked at the monastery her whole life, would have the keys or at least know where they were kept.
After searching for a little while longer, Dean returned to the guest house and made his way to Rosetta's room. The crying from earlier could no longer be heard which he took as a good sign. However, as he approached he heard something else. A muffled voice could be heard from the other side.
Dean knew it was rude to pry, but he really needed to talk to her. He decided he would listen just long enough to confirm that there wasn't anything wrong. Perhaps Maria had actually shown up and was happily chatting with Rosetta. He placed his ear next to the door.
"...She can do anything, and I'm here too. Let's just take it easy for now and if she asks for our help we can do something then."
It was Rosetta's voice. Was she encouraging someone? Dean couldn't hear any response.
"I know! When this is all over, let's make those chicken skewers you like, we can eat them with Maria!"
Again, Rosetta spoke and no response could be heard. Could she be using a phone?
Feeling a rush of hope, Dean knocked on the door.
"Rosetta? It's me, can you open the door?"
A yelp of surprise and something falling to the floor could be heard from the other side. After a brief silence, Rosetta spoke up.
"Dean? Could you wait, please?"
Rosetta's voice was tense and on the edge of panic. What followed was a rush of sounds, including stamping footsteps, crashes and screeches of drawers being opened and closed rapidly.
"It sounds like a construction site in there." Dean muttered under his breath.
Eventually, the door opened slightly, revealing a disheveled looking Rosetta. She took a moment before catching her breath and, without stepping out of her room, she spoke.
"What do you want?"
"Um, was I interrupting something? Sounded like you were on the phone?"
"What, you heard that?" Rosetta almost shrieked.
"Sorry, I know it's none of my business, but a phone would be really helpful right now. Could I borrow it when you're done?"
Rosetta glared at him. She tried to speak but cut herself off twice before getting a full word out.
"I don't have a phone," she forced out. "Please, can you pretend you didn't hear anything?"
Her face was red, and she avoided eye contact, choosing to look at her shoes instead.
Dean frowned. If she had a phone, then they could finally call for help. Did she have any reason to hide it? He had to try to convince her, but he didn't want to force his way into her room.
"Look, I think we should try to contact the outside. Oscar and the others don't want to for some reason, but if we call the police, we can put an end to all this. Look, I just really need your help."
Rosetta looked up at him. Letting her guard down, she inadvertently opened the door to her room a little further.
"You need my help?"
Dean could see into her room now. He scanned quickly for a phone but couldn't see one. In fact, to put things kindly, her room was a catastrophe. Clothes and various objects were strewn about in a chaotic fashion, and the air coming from the room felt stuffy. He had assumed all that running about had been her cleaning, but the reality was quite the opposite.
"I can't doing nothing while a killer is wandering about. I don't understand how everybody here is fine with sitting around just because Oscar told them to. So please be honest, Rose. Do you have a phone?"
Rosetta didn't budge. She shook her head once again.
"I told you, I don't have a phone."
Dean fought against the frustration which was quickly turning to anger. He felt so close if only he could have a proper look inside her room.
"If that's the case, then help me get into the catacombs so I can look for one in the cathedral." He said finally, giving up on the idea of entering her room.
Rosetta's eyes narrowed
"That place again." Rosetta said with a huff of impatience.
"Look, Oscar and Methaeus are hiding something. They've got to have access to a phone or computer. Don't you think it's weird that a bigwig politician could be so easily cut off from the outside in his own home?"
If he had really been cut off, Dean suspected he'd be in much more of a panic, but the fact that the man acted like everything was going according to plan set alarm bells off in his head.
"It's not my place to ask questions." Rosetta muttered, breaking eye contact and looking away.
"Rose, I need to get into the restricted areas of the cathedral."
"You won't find what you're looking for and, in the worst case, you'll be caught. What's the point?" She asked, eyes sharpening with anger.
"I just want to find out the truth. I can't trust Oscar and Methaeus at their word."
"Why?" Rosetta asked again, her voice shaking.
"What? I just said..."
"No, why are you trying so hard? You're usually so lazy, just wanting to mess around or drink! Why are you suddenly running around like you're on a mission?"
Rosetta's voice seeped with desperation and a little anger.
"Why am I the weird one here?" He asked, laughing in disbelief. "Somebody's been killed, Rose. I'm not going to wait around until the next victim is found. We need to act now!"
He may have lost Addi, which was enough for him to feel like giving up on life itself. If he were to lose anyone else, well. He wouldn't know what he'd do.
"If you're so worried about being killed, why don't you just leave?"
"Forgetting the bloody blizzard outside, I can't. Not without the rest of you."
Dean had considered just packing his bag and leaving. Despite the bad weather, the road out of the Monastery was large enough for cars to pass. It was impossible to get lost, and the closest town was reachable in a day on foot. If he could get there and raise the alarm before anyone else was hurt, he wouldn't have to worry about convincing the others to join him. However, he didn't believe everyone would be safe after being left to their own devices for an entire day. He needed to be here to watch over them.
"Deciding things by yourself again." Rosetta muttered under her breath.
He paused and looked Rosetta straight in the eye, and for the first time she looked back. He knew what he had to say. It was manipulative, even cruel, but waiting would get them nothing but an early grave.
"Ok. I'll put off the whole escaping thing, but I think finding Maria and a way to contact the outside would be the best thing to do. Please help me. You're the only one I can depend on now."
Rosetta hesitated, her eyes widening a little. She looked back into her room and then looked at Dean.
"You really think I can help you?" She asked coldly.
"Yes, I haven't been here in years, while you have. As a servant, you have access to places people like me don't. You're the only one who can help me now."
Rosetta's expression tensed as she fell into deep thought. After a moment she smiled and looked away slightly.
"Of course, you need someone like me to keep you out of trouble. Your desperate face is a pain to look at, so I suppose I'll help."
Rosetta stepped out of the hallway, taking one last look at her disaster of a bedroom before closing the door behind her. She then began walking towards the entrance hall.
"Um, are you sure you want to go out like that?" Dean asked.
"Like what?" She asked.
Dean hesitated. Rosetta still looked a little worse for wear. Her hair was all over the place, and her shirt was crumpled with a couple of buttons undone. Also, she seemed to be missing one stocking on her right leg.
"If you need some time to fix your hair or change clothes, I don't mind." He blurted.
Rosetta reached up to her hair and looked down at her clothes at the same time. She bit her lip and shook her head.
"It's fine."
"But..."
"I said it's fine!" Rosetta hissed.
Feeling like he had said too much, Dean quietly followed her down the hall. He noticed her trying discreetly to fix herself up the best she could as she walked.
They were making their way down the stairs of the main hall when a thought occurred to him.
"Isn't there a chance you'll get fired if you were caught helping me sneak into the cathedral?"
He tried to sound it like a casual question. If he could get her fired, then getting her to leave would probably become much easier.
Rosetta sniffed.
"They wouldn't let me go that easily." She muttered.
"Pretty sure that's against certain labor laws." Dean said.
"I've been here as long as I can remember." Rosetta said as if that explained everything. "We're not regular employees here. We don't even have a legal contract."
Dean knew that the orphans who grew up here had it rough. However, it was only dawning on him now that things might be much more complicated than he thought. What were Oscar and Methaeus thinking?
"Well, thanks for helping." Dean said.
"It's not just about helping you. I also want to find Maria."
"Then couldn't you have gone alone at any time?"
"I could but...I."
Rosetta's voice faltered a little, her newfound confidence disappearing for a moment in a brief cloud of self-loathing.
"I couldn't do it by myself." She finished quietly.
Dean nodded and chose not to say anything else. By now they were out in the courtyard, and people were walking all around.
Rosetta didn't approach the cathedral's main entranceway. Instead, she walked past it and down a small alleyway between the cathedral and the rundown chapel.
The dark and dank path was littered on either side with various garden tools and bags of construction material.
"You remember the maintenance entrance, right?" Rosetta asked. "Nobody should be there around now."
They approached a wider area at the end of the alley that resembled a yard. A lone shed of corrugated iron sat nestled against the wall of the cathedral's transept. A padlock kept the door closed, but Rosetta quickly unlocked it with a key.
The interior of the shed was just as shoddy as the exterior. Dean felt cold water droplets fall on his head from above, and something crunched and crackled beneath his feet. He didn't look down to check what it was. Dust and cobwebs covered every inch of the place.
"This way." Rosetta whispered, making her way to the far corner of the room.
Walking further inside, Dean spotted some stairs leading further down into the dark.
"Feels like we're infiltrating an enemy base," Dean whispered, feeling a twinge of childlike excitement.
"What?" Rosetta asked, looking at him in confusion.
"Nothing."
At that moment, a particular memory came to him. He saw a group of seven young children running down the stairs and into the darkness. A younger version of himself was leading them.
"Come on, everyone, I'm sure the witch is hiding down here!"
Dean blinked hard and dispelled the old memory as soon as it materialized.
A set of torches sat on a table near the stairs. Rosetta gave one to Dean and took one for herself before they both headed down. The basement below was much the same as the room above, albeit with a metal door at the far end.
"Here we are," Rosetta said. "We should try to stay hidden after this. They won't appreciate us breaking in."
Dean nodded and bit his lip. He considered grabbing a nearby shovel to use as a weapon, but thinking it would only slow him down, he decided against it.
"You don't have to come any further if you don't want to." Dean said.
"Don't you start with that. You won't be getting rid of me that easily after dragging me here."
Rosetta walked towards the keypad near the door and pressed some keys, unlocking the door. Dean noticed that her breathing had become tense and labored. Noticing his look of concern, she spoke.
"Don't worry, just some bad memories. I'm going in no matter what you say, so keep quiet."
She pushed the door open, and a bright white light flowed in from the other side. A corridor lit by fluorescent lights appeared before them. While the lights were modern, the floor and walls were simple, smoothed out natural stone.
"You haven't been to the catacombs in a long time." Rosetta said. "They're quite large, so you'll get lost without me. Stay close."
There was only one door at the opposite end of the corridor, and the two made their way towards it. Opening it slightly, Rosetta peeked through before opening the door fully and stepping in.
"If we keep going this way, we'll reach the cathedral's basement. There're some offices there and stairs that lead to some living quarters on the second and third floors. That's where Addi used to sleep." Rosetta said.
Ancient alcoves and carved statues lined their path as they continued on their way. As they reached a crossing in the hallways, Dean looked to his right and stopped. Despite what Rosetta said, he had a good memory of the catacombs. He'd never forget this particular area, and it was one of the places he wanted to search before moving on.
"Wait, let me take a look down here." Dean said.
Rosetta didn't respond. She was looking in the opposite direction as if refusing to acknowledge the other path.
"Rose?" he asked.
"I don't think you should. Let's just continue on." She said in a hurry.
Despite Rosetta's words, Dean stood still.
"Dean, don't... I can't."
"I'm just going to have a quick look. You can stay here."
Rosetta didn't reply and merely stood rooted to the spot. Dean walked down the small hallway, his footsteps and dripping water echoing in his ears. It felt as though the temperature had dropped a few degrees as he made his way further into the darkness.
Large hollows on either side of the corridor appeared out of the shadows. He shone his torch towards them as he walked by. Rusty iron bars blocked entry into these small rooms. The first pair on either side were empty aside for some rags and wooden barrels. He continued on, peering into each cell as he went. Most resembled the first pair. However, some had more unsettling contents. Chains, racks and various medieval mechanisms he could only assume were used for torture sat silently rotting away in the damp. He tried to ignore the dark stains on the wood as he passed by.
He realized he was gripping the torch a bit too tightly and relaxed his grip. He was about to give up when a heavy wooden door appeared out of the darkness ahead of him at the very end of the passage. The door had a small opening blocked by bars, and through that gap he heard something. A melody. Somebody was half humming, half singing behind the door. He crept closer.
Dean strained his ears as the singing once again returned to a humming sound and then back to singing.
"Where, oh where have you gone..."
"Hello?" Dean asked.
He couldn't bring himself to believe that they still threw people down here.
The singing stopped, and silence answered his call.
"Are you ok in there?"
No response. Whoever was inside had gone dead silent. Even after a few more calls, there was no response. The voice had been feminine. Despite his reservations, he couldn't help but feel a surge of hope that Addi might be the one behind the door.
"I'm going to try opening the door. Hold on a sec, and stand back!"
He looked at the door. It didn't look like it would easily let anyone in or out. Deciding to try his luck, Dean placed his hands on the iron door and pushed. There was some resistance as the hinges creaked and wood groaned, but to his surprise, the door opened.
"Well, that was lucky." He muttered to himself. He had assumed the door would be locked.
As he stepped into the cell, the prisoner began to scream. So horrible was the sound that Dean winced and took a step back. Chains were being slammed against the wall. Dean wondered if it was possible for a human to make such a sound. Summoning up his courage, he raised his torch to the far end of the room.
There, arms tied to the wall and forced into a half-standing position, was a person. Their clothes were a tattered mess of brown and black cloth while long dark hair spilled over their face, covering half their body. Scars of various shapes and sizes covered their limbs. They thrashed this way and that, shaking their head from side to side, screaming and sobbing all the while.
Dean slowly approached the girl, completely unsure as to what to do. He wondered why Rosetta hadn't come running at the sound.
"Hey, it's ok." He whispered, raising his hands in a calming gesture.
He had no idea why he said those useless words. He felt like he had to say something, anything to calm her down. To his surprise, however, the girl slowly began to quieten and eventually raised her head to look at him.
Large, round blue eyes framed by a long fringe stared at him and widened, her cracked lips parting in a gape.
"Dean..." She croaked.
The girl, or young woman rather, was skinny to the point of near-starvation. He could see painful welts that oozed blood around her wrists where the cuffs had chafed away at the skin.
"Please, please." She begged.
Dean rushed over and grabbed the iron chains. They didn't budge.
"Guess that's why the door didn't need to be locked." Dean said.
"Please."
"Yes, I'll help you, I promise." He looked around frantically. "Do you know what they did with the keys?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, please stop it." Came the incoherent response.
Cursing, Dean took a step back.
"Just wait here. I'll be back."
He turned and ran out the cell, the cries of the young woman echoing behind him.
"No! Don't leave me again, please!! I'm sorry!"
It didn't take him long to reach the place where Rosetta stood waiting. She stared at him without any expression.
"You didn't know they kept a person down here, did you?" Dean asked in anger. He hoped she would answer in the negative. He didn't want to think ill of his friend.
Rosetta didn't respond.
"Hey, what's with you? Why's there a person down there? Rose?"
"She's nothing but a sinner." She said in a monotone voice.
"What?"
"She's being punished."
"What did she do?"
Rosetta didn't answer, causing Dean to curse.
"Tell me, where are the keys to her shackles?"
"You're going to release it?"
"I am. And don't call her 'it'"
Rosetta regarded him silently for a moment. Just what the hell had gotten into her? She sounded calm and cruel. Those were words he thought he'd never associate with Rosetta. Before long, she looked down the hallway opposite the one with the cells.
"The keys are on the wall in a room down that way." She said again, in monotone.
Dean practically bolted down the hallway. It ended rather abruptly in a small room furnished with somewhat modern chairs and tables. After a brief look around, he found a keyring hanging from a hook on the wall. Not stopping to wonder why security was so lax, he made his way back. He passed by Rosetta and made his way back to the cell.
The girl was weeping softly. When she noticed his return, she looked up with a hopeful expression.
"Please."
"Don't worry, I'm getting you out." He said.
He tried a bunch of keys until finally, her cuffs snapped open. With that, she fell into his arms, half sobbing, half laughing.
"Thank you, thank you, Dean." She cried.
Dean held her. She smelled awful, and her hair resembled a pile of straw in texture, rough and unpleasant. He didn't back away. He held her until she was ready to move. After a while, she pulled away slightly and managed to stand on her own.
"Are you feeling sick in any way? What about your injuries?" Dean asked, looking closely at her. The girl shook her head.
"I don't know, I... think I can walk at least."
Dean looked back towards the outside.
"Well, there's no point standing here. We need to get you some proper treatment." He said, looking at the wounds on her wrist.
Addi wasn't here. Even so, he could take some comfort in the fact that he had freed a person from this awful place.
Taking her by the hand, he led her outside the cell and back to Rosetta, who was still standing there. She looked at the pair as they approached. The black-haired girl cowered slightly but didn't resist as Dean brought her in front of Rosetta.
Rosetta looked away, refusing to acknowledge the girls presence.
"Hey what's your problem?" Dean asked
Rosetta gave him an unsettling look.
"Playing the hero again." She said. Her words leaked venom.
"Am I the crazy one here? Locking someone is a place like that... How can anyone bring themselves to do something like that?"
"It must be nice, seeing the world like you do." Rosetta whispered.
Both the young woman and Rosetta refused to look at each other, and Dean was forced to stand awkwardly between the two.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Dean asked.
"Nothing at all." Rosetta replied evenly. "I just want to get away from this place. Come on."
Without waiting for a reply, Rosetta began walking away.
"Wait, shouldn't we head back and take care of her injuries?"
Rosetta stopped walking and turned back to look at him.
"No, we'd be better off finishing what we came here to do. If we're caught sneaking around, all of us might end up in those cells."
"Now wait just a minute, I..."
"It's ok." the young woman said. "It sounds like it's important, so don't worry about me."
Dean looked back at her, and then again at Rosetta as she walked away.
"Shit." He muttered. "Can you hold up a little longer?" He asked her.
She nodded.
With that, the two followed Rosetta who had grown worryingly distant. This was not like her at all. Rosetta usually went completely silent around people she disliked or feared. She never spoke with cold hearted malice like she was doing now.
With little to do besides following Rosetta, Dean decided to ask about something that had been bugging him.
"How do you know my name?" Dean asked.
"Everyone in this place knows you." She said simply.
"What? So someone else told you my name?"
The girl nodded but said no more on the subject.
"Well, what's your name then?"
"I'm Cait."
"Sorry we have to drag you around like this, Cait. Why were you in there, anyway?" Dean asked.
Cait took a while to answer. She continued to walk with her head slightly hanging down.
"I did some bad things." She whispered.
"Can you elaborate, maybe tell me who put you in there?"
Cait hesitated before she shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes. She wasn't very talkative, but Dean supposed that was to be expected, given her recent treatment. He decided to leave her be for the time being and focus on staying quiet. As they walked, Cait kept her distance from Rosetta while eyeing her wearily. Rosetta herself seemed not to notice and slowly returned to her usual jittery self.
"That's the entrance to the cathedral basement up ahead." Rosetta whispered. "We'll probably come across people once we get inside, so be extra quiet."
Dean saw a modern metal door, which looked out of place in the cave-like catacombs. Rosetta unlocked it, and they went inside. The rough cut stone of the catacombs was replaced with the smooth granite and marble of the cathedral. They were in a simple hallway that ended in a T-shaped junction at the far end. Wooden doorways lined the sides at regular intervals.
"If we're going to Oscar's office, we'll need to head upstairs, this way." Rosetta whispered.
After a short time, they began to hear voices echoing from further down the hallway. Two men were talking, their voices gradually fading from around the corner. Luckily, they were walking in the opposite direction. Dean and Rosetta peaked around a corner and glimpsed the two men as they walked away.
"...saw him talking with some of the younger lads too, dunno what he's planning but..."
Dean could overhear their conversation slightly, but what they were holding surprised him all the more. Each man carried a large assault rifle slung over his shoulder.
"Why the hell do they have guns?" Dean hissed in Rosetta's ear.
She shook her head, looking as shocked as he probably did.
"I don't know. I've never seen something like this. I...I've been here many times but,"
The two men stopped at one of the many doors and stepped inside.
"Let's go while it's clear." Dean said.
Dean hurried down the hallway but soon noticed that only Cait was following him. He looked back over his shoulder. Rosetta was rooted to the spot, gripping the walls tightly and wheezing.
"Hey, Rosetta. Come on, we need to hurry here."
"But, they had guns. What if they shoot us? I didn't think..."
Dean lowered himself so that he was making eye contact with Rosetta.
"You knew those men, right?" He asked.
She nodded.
"You're allowed to be here, right?."
She was a staff member and had access to most places in the monastery.
Again, she nodded.
"Then I doubt they'd shoot you straight away. This isn't exactly a war zone, and the vast majority of people often think twice before killing someone in cold blood."
His explanation, while not completely calming her down, seemed to give Rosetta the strength to move again.
He nodded at Cait, who was still keeping her distance, and they set off once again.
The group made it to the next floor without encountering anyone else. The two men aside, the place seemed rather empty. Dean continued to look over his shoulder at Cait, who was following them at a distance.
Just as he was beginning to relax, a door opened right in front of them. Rosetta gasped. Dean frantically looked for a hiding spot, but the hallway was completely empty. They wouldn't be able to avoid getting caught so Dean prepared himself to tackle whoever was on the other side. Hopefully, he'd avoid getting shot in the process.
"Rose?"
Standing there, face peeking out from behind the door, was Maria.
"And Dean? What the heck are you guys doing here?"
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed both of them by the shoulders and with surprising strength, yanked them into the room. She hadn't noticed Cait who was left outside by herself. Dean immediately went out the door again and peeked outside. Cait was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey what are you doing, idiot? Close the door." Maria snapped.
Dean hesitated for a moment but did as instructed. He hoped Cait had found a place to hide.
They seemed to be in a small utility room. There were two washing machines and a dryer but little else.
"Maria, you're ok!" Rosetta said, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.
Maria seemed less than enthused to see both of them.
"You both need to leave this place. Now." She said stiffly.
"Why?" Rosetta asked, taking a step back upon hearing Maria's unfriendly tone.
"Because shit's about to take a turn for the worse, and I honestly don't think you can handle it, Rose."
"Then let's get out of here together!" Rosetta shouted.
"No, I have things to do here."
"Well, then we can help."
"No!"
Maria practically screamed, causing Rosetta to gasp in surprise.
"You were always like this, Rose getting your useless ass in the way of everything. You won't be of any help. You'll be nothing but a hindrance, like always!"
Rosetta didn't have the strength to reply. Her mouth quivered, but that was all. Dean stood in front of her and shot a glare at Maria.
"Maria, what the hell's gotten into you?" Dean asked loudly.
Maria glared at him for a moment, brimming with hostility.
"Addi is dead, and those bastards killed her." Maria hissed.
"Who? Who killed her, Oscar, Nicolas?"
"Everyone! Everyone in this messed up town killed her, and I did too!"
"What, that's not..."
"Shut up and get out. If I see you again, I'll have them send you back to the cells." Maria said, her voice growing calm but no less aggressive.
Tears were now freely streaming down Rosetta's face.
"Maria I..."
"Addi's death was also your fault. So leave now before you make even more of a mess, Rose." Maria finished coldly.
Rosetta ran. Not caring about the noise she made, she yanked open the door and fled.
"What the fuck's wrong with you, Maria?" Dean asked.
Ever since he'd stepped into the Cathedral, everyone had lost their minds. Was he the only sane one here?
Maria walked past him on her way out.
"Had to make sure she wouldn't come back. I don't want her to get wrapped up in this mess."
"And destroy any semblance of happiness she has left? Just what are you planning?"
"Nothing that involves you, Dean. Don't follow me, or I'll have to break your legs."
Maria closed the door behind her, and Dean was left on his own.
Remembering Cait, he left the room and looked to his left and to his right.
Maria was making her way upstairs, but he couldn't see anyone else in the hallway. At least it didn't seem like she'd been caught.
Rosetta had also disappeared completely. He could only hope she was making her way back the way they came and wouldn't run into those armed men. Dean turned towards the stairs. He still had to get into Oscar's office.
A door down the hallway opened, but this time he was ready and ran for one of the other nearby rooms. However, when he looked out from behind the door, Cait was standing in the middle of the hallway looking around.
Dean stepped out.
"Over here." He said, waving.
She smiled brightly and hurried over to him.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
She nodded.
"Sorry about disappearing like that. Are you ok to go on a little further? The place I want to go is close."
"I don't mind at all." Cait said with a smile.
They slowly climbed the stairs and hid behind a bust of some long-dead abbot. The hallways were once again deserted, but Dean could see a pair of large wooden doors at the far end of the hallway.
"That's gotta be our room." Dean said.
At that moment, the twin doors opened, and Oscar stepped out. He wore his usual suit and seemed to be going somewhere with a purpose. He stormed past them without noticing their presence.
Dean waited for a few seconds before dashing down the empty hallway towards the doors. He reached out and quietly opened them.
The room was empty. Breathing a sigh of relief, he stepped inside along with Cait. The room was rather open, with a large desk at the opposite end. Bookshelves and filing cabinets lined the walls, and large paintings gave the room a rich feel. On the desk were a pile of documents in a folder and, sitting off to the side, was a phone.
Not wasting any time, Dean made for the phone and picked it up. The sounds he heard indicated that the phone was indeed connected.
"Yes!" Dean yelled in excitement.
He knew they'd been lying about being completely cut off. He had been right all along.
He quickly dialed the emergency number, accidentally hitting the wrong numbers as he dialed. He tried again, slower this time, and waited.
"We're sorry, the phone number you have dialed is not in use..."
"What?"
Had he dialed it wrong? Not likely. The emergency number only consisted of three numbers. He tried again but was met with the same message. He cursed and pulled out his smartphone. While it was out of service, he had various numbers saved.
He tried calling his workplace, his father and a couple of friends, but in the end the same message appeared again and again.
"What the hell is wrong with this thing?" He snapped.
"I don't think there are any other phones outside this place." Cait said quietly.
"Well, that's what the messaging machine said, but that's impossible. It has to be some sort of bug or something, right?"
Cait bit her lower lip.
"I'm not sure, sorry."
"No, don't be, I'm not angry at you," Dean said, doing his best to calm himself down.
His plan to phone the outside world was a bust. If there was some higher power up there like the Goddess, they clearly didn't want him contacting the outside world.
He looked around some more. There was no computer or laptop in the room either. He checked the drawers and cabinets but only found records of various types. Nothing of use. He returned to the desk and noticed the pile of documents laid out on top of it.
"Fuck it." He said, taking the documents.
He didn't know if he took them because he actually thought there might be some useful information in them or if he just did it out of spite after not having found what he was looking for.
"Let's go." He said to Cait, who had been waiting patiently.
"Sorry you didn't find what you were looking for, Dean." She said.
Her expression was crestfallen. He felt himself relax and let out a small chuckle.
"It was probably a lost cause from the get go. Still, don't give me that look. It doesn't matter to you if I get what I want as long as you make it out of here, right?"
"That's not true at all. You did this to help other people, right? Of course it matters to me."
Dean looked at her for a moment, wondering what he should make of this mysterious prisoner. She was much too supportive for someone she'd just met, and that was going without mentioning her recent trauma. There was something not quite right here, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
As they left the room, he noticed Cait walking very close to him. Well, considering how they locked her up, it was only natural she'd feel afraid.
They continued down the corridor towards the stairs. As they approached, they heard voices coming from below.
"Why did you make me wait here for so long?"
"Sorry, Nick. Just had to make sure nobody would interrupt. I'm ever so sorry!"
"Hey, get off me!"
Dean's eyes widened. That was Nicolas and Maria. Maria's voice was almost a full octave higher than usual, and the choice of words made him shiver. He took a step towards the stairs, but a hand grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.
"They're already lost. If you go out now, you'll probably die." Cait said.
With strength unbecoming of her appearance, she pulled him into one of the side rooms and closed the door. The room was dark, and he couldn't see anything. He could only feel Cait's arm holding him close. He could hear muffled voices from outside.
"So this is where you wanted to show me? This better be worth the trouble."
"It is! Come on, let's go in, hurry!"
Dean heard a door close and then silence.
Slowly, Cait opened the door and looked around.
"They're in Oscar's office. Come on, we got to get out of here now."
Dragging him by the hand, Cait rushed down the stairs.
Dean's thoughts were a jumbled mess. The pair that had just entered Oscar's office sounded nothing like the friends he remembered. Was it because he hadn't seen them in ten years? Dean wasn't so sure. They had seemed their usual selves before the festival.
"Hey what did you mean when you said they were too far gone?" He asked.
Silence.
"Cait?"
She bit her lip and shut her eyes tightly. Before Dean could question her further, the sound of people talking reached his ears.
"Dammit, we have to go." He said, taking her hand and walking in the opposite direction and back down into the catacombs.
Thinking about everything he saw in the cathedral, from the armed guards to Maria and Nicolas caused a knot in his stomach. Walking back to the guest house, he couldn't help feeling that the ill-fortune which began at the festival was far from over.