*****
Belinda shook her head in bewilderment.
"So no one knows if his bones are actually here in the cathedral? If the other grave proved to be false, why
don’t they excavate this one to see if there’s someone buried here?"
With a laugh, Tommy sang softly: "Moral of the story be, Dem bones gonna rise again. Don't leave your cores
for the Lord to see. Dem bones gonna rise again."
He took her arm once more and they moved away from the tombs.
"I think I’ve had enough talk about Thomas for one night," he said in a low voice close to Belinda’s
ear, "and I don’t know about you, but I find it a bit chilly down here. How’d you like to warm me up?"
The light from the torch was suddenly extinguished and Belinda felt Tommy’s arm slide around her waist.
She tried to push him away, but he tightened his grip.
"Tommy, let go. Grow up."
His face was close to hers.
"Come on, Belinda, you know you want to. Don’t tell me you really fancy that cold fish twerp that hangs
around you."
His lips sought hers and he forced a kiss on her.
Belinda struggled and broke free, grabbing the torch as she did. She hit out and struck him on the head. He
gave a yelp and as the torch flew from her hand Belinda heard it clatter to the floor and roll away. Fear and panic rose in
her chest. In the total dark she could see nothing but she turned in an effort to get away from Tommy and started to run.
With a thud, she ran straight into one of the huge pillars and screamed in fright. The impact stunned her
and took her breath away. She heard Tommy hoarsely calling her name but he seemed a distance away so steeling herself she
pressed forward in the dark, holding her hands before her to prevent running into another obstacle.
After what seemed an eternity she saw a pale light in the distance. The steps. If she could reach them
she would be safe as she could escape up to the nave. The light increased a little as she neared the steps. As she reached
the bottom one, she looked up and froze. The eerie figure of a man was silhouetted against the faint light. He was descending
towards her. Frozen to the spot she watched in terror as the figure grew closer and closer.