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I had heard Cassandra and Helena talking about how strangely Mariaht that I could i the mystery that they had been unable to I hurried as quickly as I could down to the gardens while avoiding the few teuards ere out, but by the time I arrived, I orried that she would be too far ahead to catch without h the dark

Although I had always been intrigued by the mystique of the catacombs, I had never been inside of the inside was forbidden, though the entrances theuarded at that time, at least not within the temple compound itself The dark always scared h to keep me out

Fortunately, I found that the main halls of the catacombs were lit with oil lanterns, at least the halls closer to the surface I travelled through theh I couldn't help but stop periodically due to my fascination with the beautiful architecture all around me I was surprised to find that the catacoraves, but also elaborate, elegant toreat gated entrances

Some of these were accented by exquisite water features like fountains, canals, and even waterfalls, which I hadn't thought possible I had always been taught that the underground water systems for the city were kept entirely separate froed to integrate theant decorations

This was toheard as ave up, but then I spied her at the far end of a hallhere she disappeared into a set of stairs I trailed her down them and several more until she entered into a small tomb

With her reaching what appeared to be her final destination, I becao inside without revealing myself, and with how many twists and turns she had taken, I felt like I would be unable to get myself back to the surface without her help I was stuck, but I didn't want her knowing I was there For the first time in my life, I was truly afraid of ht her so far below the city in the shadow of night

At that instant, a sudden gust blew through the cataco an to quietly sob, but I could not raise my voice to call for help I felt utterly alone, even with Mariam somewhere nearby

After a e as possible and steadied my nerves so that I could attempt a return journey to the surface I stood up and triedmy way back up the first staircase, but in the hours that followed, I ress beyond that All the while, a hush on the air enco one that sunk all the way to my bones

I thought I was going to die, but after what seemed like an eternity, the flames miraculously returned to the lanterns in a sudden instant, as though they had never been out and the darkness had been nothing but a bad dreaot back to htmarish experience to anyone

The feeling throughout my whole body now is the same as it was in the dark of the cataco comes ofheart slowly cal to reveal itself to confir crazy I feel trapped down here, lost in ti it's been since I left the surface I was supposed to have a watch for this journey, one that once belonged to Helena, but it wasfrom my room when Mariam exiled me I have little doubt that she took it