The message came at dusk.
Folded into the lining of a prayer cloth.
Seraphina didn't notice it at first—not until her fingers brushed against the stiffness hidden beneath the fabric.
Her pulse quickened instantly.
Carefully, she slipped it free, keeping her movements subtle, her expression unchanged.
No one noticed.
No one ever did.
She didn't open it immediately.
Not here.
Not in the open.
Instead, she carried it with her, her mind already racing, already anticipating what it might contain.
By the time she reached her room, the tension in her chest had grown unbearable.
She locked the door.
Drew the curtains.
And opened the letter.
Her eyes scanned the coded symbols quickly, instinctively translating each line.
Then—
She froze.
A name.
Not just instructions this time.
A person.
"Matteo Virelli."
The letters that followed were sharp. Direct. Final.
"He holds the item."
"He is within the sanctuary."
"Find him before he moves."
Seraphina's breath hitched.
Within the sanctuary.
Meaning—
He was here.
Inside the church.
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
A mafia courier.
Or worse—
An enforcer.
And he was hiding in plain sight.
"…So it's not buried," she whispered slowly. "…It's moving."
Which meant the clues before?
A distraction.
Or a test.
Her mind spun rapidly.
A man like that wouldn't stand out easily.
He'd blend.
Watch.
Wait.
And strike only when necessary.
A chill ran down her spine.
Because if he was here—
Then the church was no longer safe.
"You're searching for someone."
Seraphina turned sharply.
Adrian stood at the doorway of the library, his presence quiet—but his gaze sharp.
There was no point denying it now.
"…Yes," she admitted.
Silence stretched between them.
"…Inside the church?" he asked.
She nodded slowly.
Adrian exhaled, running a hand over his face before stepping fully inside.
"…Then I'm helping you."
"No—"
"You don't get to refuse this one," he interrupted calmly. "Not when whatever you've brought here is already inside these walls."
Seraphina hesitated.
Then… slowly—
She gave in.
"…Fine."
The Search Begins
They started with the obvious.
The priests.
Each one approached casually, engaged in light conversation, observed without suspicion.
But Adrian knew them all.
Their habits.
Their rhythms.
None of them were strangers.
None of them were him.
Then came the workers.
Gardeners.
Kitchen staff.
Maintenance men.
Seraphina watched carefully—too carefully—her eyes scanning posture, tone, subtle movements.
Adrian noticed it.
"You're not just looking for a face," he said quietly as they walked the corridor.
"No," she replied. "…I'm looking for behavior."
He glanced at her.
"…And what kind of behavior gives him away?"
She paused.
"…The kind that doesn't belong here."
*******
The Congregation
By late afternoon, they moved among the common visitors.
Travelers seeking shelter.
Pilgrims passing through.
Devout worshippers kneeling in prayer.
Anyone could be him.
And that was the problem.
Seraphina felt it now—
The paranoia creeping in.
Every glance felt suspicious.
Every movement felt calculated.
"Do you see him?" Adrian murmured.
She shook her head slightly.
"…No."
But her voice lacked certainty.
Tension Builds
Hours passed.
The sun dipped lower.
The church grew quieter.
And still—
Nothing.
No Matteo Virelli.
No sign of the item.
No trace of anything out of place.
It didn't make sense.
"He's here," Seraphina said softly, frustration creeping into her voice. "He has to be."
Adrian leaned against one of the stone pillars, watching her carefully.
"Or he was," he replied.
She stilled.
"…No," she said immediately. "The message was recent."
"Then he's hiding well," Adrian said. "…Or he doesn't want to be found."
Silence fell.
Seraphina clenched her fists slightly.
Because she knew something Adrian didn't.
Men like Matteo Virelli didn't just hide.
They waited.
*******
Night settled over the church.
The halls emptied.
The candles dimmed.
And still—
They found nothing.
Seraphina stood in the center of the chapel, her gaze sweeping across the empty space.
Every shadow felt heavier now.
Every corner darker.
"…We searched everywhere," Adrian said quietly.
"…Not everywhere," she replied under her breath.
He looked at her.
"…What does that mean?"
She didn't answer.
Because the truth had begun to settle in.
If they couldn't find him—
Then it meant only one thing.
He had already found them.
And they are been watched