CHAPTER 6 — The Priest's Final Sacrifice
The basement lights flickered.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the empty church above.
Emily grabbed Lily's hand.
"Is there another way out?"
Father Thomas nodded.
"There is."
He led them toward a hidden stone tunnel beneath the church, built more than a century earlier.
As they hurried through the darkness, the old priest suddenly stopped.
"I can't go with you."
Emily stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
"If I disappear too, they'll chase you forever."
He reached into his pocket and handed Emily a small silver key engraved with the number 17.
"It opens a safety deposit box at First National Bank."
"What's inside?"
"The proof."
Emily frowned.
"What proof?"
"The names."
"The politicians."
"The judges."
"The billionaires."
"The entire network that destroyed your family."
Before Emily could answer—
BOOM!
The church's front doors exploded open.
Voices echoed through the sanctuary.
"Search every room!"
"They're still here!"
Father Thomas smiled sadly.
"They'll believe I betrayed you."
Emily grabbed his arm.
"Come with us!"
The old priest gently shook his head.
"My time ended years ago."
He kissed Lily's forehead.
"Your father would be proud of you."
Then he closed the iron gate behind them and locked it from the outside.
Emily pounded on the bars.
"No! Father Thomas!"
He looked at her one last time.
"Go."
Footsteps thundered toward him.
Emily heard shouting.
Then a single gunshot echoed through the tunnel.
Lily screamed.
Emily covered her sister's ears as tears streamed down her face.
The tunnel shook with the sound of chaos behind them.
Minutes later, they emerged into the freezing forest beyond the church.
Emily collapsed against a tree, clutching Lily tightly.
They had escaped.
Or so they thought.
Far away, inside a black SUV...
A silver-haired woman watched them through binoculars.
She smiled.
Then she whispered words that froze the blood of everyone in the vehicle.
"Don't kill Emily."
The driver looked confused.
"Why not?"
The woman smiled even wider.
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"Because she's my daughter..."
"...and she still has no idea I'm alive."
