They dragged her back through the tunnels.
Catalina didn't fight, her body felt empty, and hollowed out, like something vital had been ripped away and all that remained was skin and bone.
Gabriel walked beside her, his small hand gripped tight by one of the guards. He didn't look at her, didn't make a sound, just stared straight ahead with those dark, knowing eyes.
The chapel came into view. Early morning light filtered through the broken windows, turning everything gray and lifeless.
Miguel lay near the altar.
Catalina's breath caught. She tried to run to him, but the guards held her back.
"Papa!" Her voice cracked. "Papa, no!"
He was still breathing. She could see his chest rising and falling, shallow and labored. Blood pooled beneath him, dark and spreading. His eyes were closed
