Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

Hansel & Gretel

The room was several square feet, with walls made from red bricks dulled by tangled cobwebs. A mist of fine plaster dust was turned to glittering fire under the beam of Agnes’ torch. But the bright fog didn’t distract them from the bold, red and gothic lettering painted upon the back wall. The text stood out despite the gossamer veneer.

In this place

Guilt forges the script

Making way

For the Cryptic Crypt

A bird in hand

Owes much to fate

Pulling open long locked gates

‘Come on up here and take a look at this, young Lucas,’ Agnes said next to Dennis. The big man held the flashlight rock-steady so that the lettering on the wall was washed in creamy yellow.

Lucas came to stand with them, his face scrunched with fascination.

‘Look at that symbol underneath the writing,’ Elmo said quietly. But they had all already seen it; etched upon the old, dusty brickwork, a white eagle, wings frozen in flight, clutching in its talons an iconic symbol of evi