Chereads / Death Upon the Dead / Chapter 31 - Found him

Chapter 31 - Found him

"I want to visit the cathedral on Gabriel Street to investigate further on this case," Xerxes handed Sam the folder for the Vanished Choirboy's case.

Sam took the folder and read it thoroughly, not leaving a single detail out. He looked up at Xerxes after memorizing it all by heart. "You want me to accompany you to the cathedral, Sergeant?" he asked with anticipation in his light brown eyes.

"Yes," Xerxes said, glancing at his stopwatch. It was past 9. The cathedral should be open right now. "What day is it today?"

"It's Monday today, Sergeant," Sam spoke with certainty.

"Good. It shouldn't be crowded either. Let's go. Wear a coat and gloves; it's cold outside."

***

The morning wind carried the crisp, fresh scent of rain, with the cobblestone streets glistening under the warm sunlight. Xerxes adjusted his hat against the glare as he strode purposefully down the street, his polished boots clicking rhythmically against the stones. Sam followed close behind, his eyes darting between shopkeepers sweeping their stoops and carriages rattling past.

"What are you doing? Come closer and lead the way," Xerxes commanded. He didn't actually know where street Gabriel was.

"Yes, Sergeant!" Sam energetically replied, running ahead of him.

As they turned onto Gabriel Street, the cathedral came into full view, its towering spire piercing the bright sky. Sunlight caught the stained-glass windows, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that spilled onto the street below. The sight made Sam pause, his notebook momentarily forgotten in his hand.

The cathedral's Gothic facade gleamed in the sunlight, its intricate stonework casting sharp shadows against the worn bricks. Gargoyles perched high above seemed to stare down with unblinking eyes, their details more pronounced in the bright light. The iron gates creaked faintly as Xerxes pushed them open, and they entered the small courtyard.

The courtyard was simple but serene, with stone benches and a few overgrown shrubs framing a weathered statue of an angel. The faint murmur of a fountain added a sense of calm, though Sam's excitement was palpable as he trailed behind Xerxes.

The transition from the sunny courtyard to the dim, cool interior was striking. The cathedral's high vaulted ceiling stretched above them, supported by rows of towering stone columns. The stained-glass windows, vibrant and alive with sunlight, painted the nave in rich hues of ruby, emerald, and gold.

Their footsteps echoed softly on the polished stone floor as they approached the altar, where a priest was arranging a cluster of fresh flowers. The man turned at their approach, his expression curious but calm.

"We're here to examine the crypt," Xerxes stated.

The priest hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The crypt is rarely disturbed," he said, his voice low but firm.

"It won't be a disturbance," Xerxes replied evenly. "We'll investigate peacefully."

After a moment of quiet consideration, the priest nodded and gestured for them to follow.

A side door near the altar led to a spiral staircase carved into the stone. The descent was lit by shafts of sunlight filtering through narrow slits in the walls, illuminating specks of dust in the air. The earthy scent of the crypt grew stronger with each step, mingling with the faint tang of damp stone.

Sam's voice broke the silence. "Do you think we'll find anything down here?"

Xerxes glanced back briefly, his expression unreadable. "Even if we don't, we need to investigate it before confirming that the boy isn't in here."

The priest ahead coughed demurely to stop their discussion.

The crypt was a wide chamber with rows of stone sarcophagi, each adorned with faded carvings of crosses, names, and dates. A faint golden light spilled through narrow openings near the ceiling, softening the room's otherwise somber atmosphere.

Candles burned in iron sconces along the walls, their flames steady despite the faint draft. A section of the floor showed signs of disturbance—a patch of dirt slightly raised and out of place among the tightly packed stones.

Xerxes crouched by the anomaly, running a gloved hand over the uneven surface. Sam, clutching his notebook, hesitated before kneeling beside him.

"What do you think it is?" Sam asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and unease.

Xerxes straightened, his gaze fixed on the disturbed earth. "Dig whatever is in there."

The priest stood at the side, watching their every move. Xerxes also stood off to the side, letting Sam do all the hard work. He was starting to like the guy.

Sam had come prepared. He quickly removed a small spade from his satchel, its handle worn but sturdy. The faint scraping of metal against dirt echoed in the still chamber as he began to dig carefully at the disturbed patch of earth.

After a few moments, the spade struck something solid with a dull thunk. Sam paused, brushing away the loose soil with his hands. What emerged was the edge of a wooden box, its surface darkened and brittle from years beneath the earth.

Xerxes crouched beside him, peering closer. "It's too small to be a coffin," he murmured.

Sam tugged the square box free, placing it gently on the crypt floor. Its hinges were rusted, but the lock, oddly enough, was newer—polished and intact.

"Someone must have recently buried it," Sam remarked, showing the new lock on the box to Xerxes.

"Who else has been down here in the past few days?" Xerxes faced the priest in the corner.

"You shouldn't be down here any longer," the priest said, his voice trembling slightly. "This place... it's meant for rest, not disturbance."

"We just found a box from the ground, and you're saying we just leave?" Xerxes raised a brow, amused. He turned to Sam. "Can you break the lock?"

Sam pulled out a lever from his satchel. "No, but I can open it." His voice was confident, so Xerxes let him do his thing. Before long, the padlock on the box clicked open.

Xerxes gently pushed Sam aside and lifted the lid of the wooden box. Inside, there was the cramped, naked body of a boy, curled up like dried red peppers left outside to dry. It seemed like the boy had starved to death.