Chapter 32

You can do this, Penelope, she told herself while her entire body was trembling, both from the cold and the fear of getting caught.

In the dead of night, the nunnery lay shrouded in silence, the only sound being the distant hoot of an owl. Penelope, her heart pounding and her senses on high alert, crept through the dimly lit corridors, moving as quietly as she could. She had waited hours for this moment, for the other nuns to retire to their quarters, the hallways to be empty, and the convent to succumb to sleep.

Every step was measured, every creak of the ancient floorboards beneath her feet sending a jolt of fear through her.

She had to make it out. She had to find James and let him know what happened.

The cold, unyielding walls seemed to close in on her as she edged closer to her destination: the main door leading outside.

Penelope paused at a corner, peeking around it to ensure that there was no one there. Seeing no one, she continued, her fingers trailing lightly along the stone walls to keep her balance as her entire body was shivering. Her breath was shallow, her movements careful, avoiding any sudden noise that might alert the convent's inhabitants.

The layout of the nunnery was etched in her mind from the last time she had been there. She knew when the nuns were patrolling the corridors and when they would be silent. She reached the main corridor, the grand wooden door looming ahead. Freedom was so close she could almost taste the fresh night air and feel the cold breeze on her skin.

With cautious but deliberate movements, she approached the door. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the heavy iron latch. Just as she was about to lift it, a hand clamped down on her shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going, child?" a stern voice demanded.

Penelope spun around, her heart sinking as she faced none other than Mother Superior, her eyes cold and unyielding. Sister Hannah, one of the elder nuns, and Ciara, the oblate she had met on her first day at the convent, stood behind her, looking concerned but resolute, sharing in Mother Superior's beliefs.

"I… I need to leave," Penelope stammered, trying to summon the courage to plead her case.

"The only thing you need to do, child, is atone for your sins," Mother Superior spoke harshly, lifting her finger and pointing it at Penelope.

Immediately, the two sisters grabbed her on both sides, leading her deeper back into the belly of the nunnery.

"No, no, let me go!" Penelope shouted, trying to fight them off, but the two sisters were obviously used to such outbursts, their grip tight and their will to keep her subdued relentless.

Penelope's heart pounded in her chest as she was dragged through the cold, dimly lit corridors of the nunnery. The nuns remained on either side, their grips ironclad on her arms as she struggled against them without much success. The echoing sound of their footsteps on the stone floor reverberated around her, heightening her sense of dread.

"Please, you don't understand!" Penelope continued, her throat in pain from all the shouting, but she had to make herself heard. "I don't belong here! There's been a terrible mistake!"

The stern-faced Mother Superior led the way, turning to her for a moment to respond. "Silence, child. You must accept your penance. Rebellion will only worsen your punishment."

Penelope's mind raced in an effort to comprehend how she had ended up in this nightmare. The memory of Vanessa's deceitful smile and the sensation of being shoved into the carriage flashed before her eyes. She was instantly overcome by anger and desperation.

"I'm not here of my own accord!" she exclaimed again. "I was taken against my will! I don't belong here!"

Ciara cast a sympathetic glance but she remained silent. She obviously knew better than to speak against Mother Superior's orders. However, Penelope could see that the young woman understood her plight, and she latched onto this small hint of compassion like a drowning man would grab onto a straw that might save his life.

"Ciara, please…" Penelope turned to the woman, desperation oozing out of her every breath. "You must believe me. I need to get back to my husband; he is probably worried sick about me, not knowing where I am."

Ciara seemed to hesitate for a moment, her expression changing with each passing moment. But Mother Superior wouldn't allow that. Her voice cut through the air like a whip, harsh and unyielding.

"Ciara! Do not be swayed by this one's manipulation. She is here to atone for her sins, and we will ensure that she does so."

They continued down a narrow, winding passage, the air growing colder and more oppressive with each step. Finally, they reached a heavy wooden door, bound with iron. Mother Superior reached into the pocket of her robe, extracted a large, ancient key, and unlocked the door with a loud, echoing click.

The door creaked open to reveal a small, dimly lit cell. The walls were nothing but bare stone, and the only furnishings were a rough wooden cot and small, crucifix-adorned table. There was nothing else. No hope, either. The room felt suffocatingly small, the air heavy with dampness and the faint scent of incense.

"No, please!" Penelope cried upon seeing where they intended to lock her up. A new source of strength surged inside of her, renewing her struggles, but it was all in vain. "You can't lock me up in here!"

Ignoring her pleas, the nuns forced her into the cell. Mother Superior's voice was cold and final as she stood in the doorway, preventing Penelope from leaving. "You will remain here in solitary confinement until you learn to submit to God's will."

Penelope's heart raced as she was shoved deeper into the cell, the door slamming shut behind her with a resounding thud. She threw herself against the door, banging her fists against the unyielding wood.

"Let me out! Let me out!" she shouted again and again. "You can't do this to me!"

Mother Superior's stern voice was heard from the other side. "Reflect on your transgressions, child. Only through repentance will you find salvation."

The sound of their footsteps receded, leaving Penelope alone in the oppressive silence. She sank to the floor, her body trembling with fear and anger. The reality of her situation pressed down on her like the heaviest of burdens. She was trapped, far away from anyone who might help her. The thought of being alone and forgotten in this cold, dark cell filled her with an unfathomable sense of hopelessness.

Tired and worn out, she lay on the small cot, feeling her body rebel against the discomfort. Once again, that flicker of determination she had while she still thought she could escape this wretched place was gone. She was left feeling utterly defeated. The darkness of the cell seemed to seep into her very soul, and the silence was deafening.

She closed her eyes, thinking of James, of his smile, his touch, and the warmth of his presence. The memory of their last conversation, how she accused him of things that weren't true, filled her with a deep ache. She knew now that this was all her sister's doing. She was trying to break them apart, and Penelope had walked right into her trap, choosing to believe in Vanessa's lies instead of her own husband.

Exhaustion overtook her. Despite the hardness of the cot and the chill in the air, Penelope's body craved rest. Her mind craved the same. She needed a moment when she was blissfully unaware of the horror she had found herself in. She fought against the pull of sleep, but it was a losing battle. Her eyelids dropped, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

She had no idea how long she had been asleep. It could have been a few minutes, but at the same time, it could have been several hours. Penelope had completely lost track of time. The sound of a key turning in the lock jolted her awake. Her heart leaped with a mix of hope and fear.

The heavy door creaked open, and Ciara appeared, carrying a wooden tray with a small piece of bread and a cup of water. Her eyes, filled with that same sympathy from before, met Penelope's as she approached.

"Here," Ciara said softly, placing the tray on the table. "I brought you some food. You need to keep your strength up."

Penelope pushed herself up to a sitting position, her body protesting in pain from the cold and unforgiving cot. She looked at Ciara, gratitude mingling with desperation in her eyes. She was not hungry at all.

"Thank you," she said as if every word caused her great physical discomfort to pronounce. "But please… you have to help me. I don't belong here. I've been taken against my will."

Ciara glanced around nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her habit. They both knew that someone might overhear them at any moment. But Penelope was desperate for help.

"I… I want to help you, truly," Ciara managed to muster. "But Mother Superior is very strict; you know that yourself. If she finds out I've spoken to you like this, I will be punished."

Penelope was torn. She didn't want to be the reason for another girl being punished in this cruel manner, but desperation won over. She reached out and grasped Ciara by the hand, her grip weak but determined. "Please, Ciara. You know this isn't right. I'm not meant to be here. My husband didn't send me here. He doesn't even know where I am. I need to reach him somehow, get back to him. Can't you do something to help me, please? Anything?"

Tears welled up in Ciara's eyes as she looked at Penelope, torn between compassion and fear. "I… I'm afraid, Penelope," she admitted, her voice on the verge of breaking. "You know how much power Mother Superior has here. If I help you and we get caught, it will be terrible for us both."

Penelope's heart sank although she knew that Ciara was right. Still, a small sliver of hope burned brightly inside of her, refusing to be extinguished. "But… what if you could get a message to my husband? Or tell someone outside the nunnery what has happened to me? Please, Ciara. You might be my only chance."

The torch light burned bright from the corridor, shaping Ciara's silhouette, making her appear to be a beacon of hope in dreary darkness. She bit her lip, her gaze darting towards the door as if expecting Mother Superior to appear at any moment. "I… I don't know," she whispered. "It is too dangerous. But… I will think about it. I promise."

Penelope nodded, squeezing her hand in a conspiratorial manner. "Thank you, Ciara. Your kindness means more to me than you could ever imagine."

With one final, conflicted look, Ciara gently pulled away from Penelope, standing up. "I… I have to go before someone notices me," she said, her voice a whisper. "Please, Penelope. Eat the bread and drink the water. I know it is not much, and nourishment is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but you need to keep your strength up. And don't lose hope."

Penelope watched as Ciara slipped out of the cell, the door closing behind with a soft thud. The lock clicked into place, and Penelope was alone once again. She reached for the bread and water; her hands barely had enough strength to grip anything. It wasn't much, and Ciara was right. Food and drink were the last things on her mind right now.

Still, she nibbled on the bread, thinking of Ciara's words. The young nun's fear was palpable, but so was her compassion. In the darkness of her cell, Penelope held onto the hope that Ciara might find the courage to help somehow or at least, to get word to someone who could. If only Penelope could send word to James, she was certain that he would come for her. He would save her.

She finished the bread and drank the water, leaning back against the wall. She had to stay strong. She couldn't give in to despair.

There was a way out of this nightmare. She just hadn't found it yet.