Mary clutched her rosary in her hand, that tied around her neck. She prayed a few Hail Mary's under her breath, as the door led to a smaller stairwell that winded down in darkness. However, there was a small bit of light from the candles that lined each wall and step. The took a breath, and slowly climbed down the stairs. She felt as though with each step the took, the air grew tighter and tighter. It felt like she was the only person in the world. That was, however, until she reached the bottom. She pulled down her uniform skirt, and tore at the collar of her button down. What had she just stumbled upon? She wondered. She stepped into a room, lined with different hallways, and pathways. It almost looked like a gothic, underground tunnel. Dark cobblestone lined the rooms, with torches that spread the smallest bit of light. The air was cold and damp.
Mary felt someone whisk past her, and she quickly shot her head around. Desperately searching for who was inside with her, she spun around, her eyes searching for an answer. She jumped as she felt a tap on her shoulder, and screamed loudly. She sprinted down the hallway, desperately searching for someone or something to help her get out. But, it was no use. It felt like a maze, the winding hallways and walls that held her captive underneath the church. She stopped cold in her tracks. A scratching sound echoed through the halls. She turned around, and saw a small figure crouched on the ground. Her eyes widened in fear, as she snatched a torch from the wall, and shone it in the corner. She screamed again. But this time, it was a scream she hadn't heard in years. A scream that had only escaped her lungs one other time. The scream from the fire. In front of her, sat a human-like creature, who's eyes were sunken into their skull, and the skin slowly was melting from its mouth. It's hair had been halfway burned away, leaving most of their scalp bloody and exposed. But it's eyes were void and un-human. It's smile made her blood run cold. The smile looked as though it had been carved onto it's own face, as it stretched from one corner of an ear to another. It's body was bony and skinny, and it's spine poked through the pale skin.
Mary slapped her hand over her mouth. She watched the creature simply stare at her, the bone-chilling grin spread across it's face. She backed away slowly. That was, until it began to drop to the floor, and crawl towards her, a small, manic growl escaping from it's jaws.
"What the fuck." she muttered.
That was when she took off and ran as fast as she could down the hallway. She felt like her legs were on fire, but she didn't care. She ran until she slammed right into something. Stunned, she backed up, and finally felt a breath of relief. Father was standing in front of her, his robe on, and his mouth ajar.
"What on earth are you doing down here?" He asked, a stern expression on his face.
"I- I just was trying to bring the cleaning supplies down and- what on earth was that back there?!" She yelled.
A loud screech echoed through the halls. Suddenly, Father looked concerned.
"Come with me."
He grabbed her hand and quickly walked up a new flight of stairs. This led to an overhead door, and he handed her his torch, and used both hands to press up, and open them back up to the real world. He slipped out, and then helped her climb up as well. She tried to make sense of where they were. They'd made it all the way out to the Church Cemetery. The air felt normal again, and she tried to convey what had just happened to her.
"Father, what-"
"Mary, there are evil things in this world. We've always known that. But evil things exist in those rooms. It's been my job to preserve it and protect it from hurting anyone. You mustn't tell anyone what you've seen. Giving it any sort of recognition could allow it to escape." He was deathly serious.
"I don't understand."
"That thing down there, is one of the many evil things that lie underneath this church. Everytime I am called to cleanse things, I take the evil back with me, and keep it here. It is cleansed everyday, and kept away from the world where it can hurt people."
She backed up slowly, trying to process what she'd seen.
"Sister, promise me you won't tell anyone."
"I promise." She replied.