Italy... Sicily... 1960s...
– Isabella! Isabella!
Hearing that familiar voice, I dove back into the water and stayed under until my lungs burned for air. Most likely, Sister Maria was peering down from the cliff, searching for me.
Well, let her look!
Heaven help her!
Finally bursting to the surface, I gasped for breath and glanced upward.
She’s gone! Good riddance.
I’m not sure how long I floated on the waves of the still-warm, dark sea, but by the time I scrambled over the rocks onto the smooth cliff, the sun was nearly dipping below the horizon. Its red rays gently caressed my skin.
Could it really be that soon I’ll finally be free?
Will I stop seeing the black habits of the nuns and at last get a glimpse of the real world?
Though... sometimes, something gnaws at me...
Is it my conscience... or doubt? Maybe I should become a nun, as Sister Alice keeps suggesting?
Why not? No need to worry about anything—just pray, work... people bring offerings.
But the thought of spending the rest of my life in a cramped, stone-carved cell, fingering a rosary and reciting prayers, terrified me to my core.
No! There has to be more to life! I’m still too young!
And besides, if the world beyond the convent walls doesn’t suit me, I can always come back.
The sun slipped swiftly below the horizon, and I hadn’t even dried off yet!
Hurriedly pulling on my long, black dress, I grimaced at the rough fabric sticking unpleasantly to my damp skin.
Well, as long as the sisters don’t notice.
Truth be told, I wasn’t supposed to swim here. Even though this beach is completely wild, anything could happen—at least that’s what the abbess kept lecturing me about.
Still, in all the times I’ve come here, I’ve never once run into anyone.
I was nearly down the narrow, rocky path when I heard a strange noise. It sounded like... like the growl of an engine... and then...
Then, something like a screech... or even a squeal. The kind you hear when someone slams on the brakes. And who would know better than me? Nuns aren’t exactly the best drivers in the world.
But where on earth could a car be coming from?
The convent is miles away from the city—heck, even from the nearest village!
Dying of curiosity, I leaned forward just enough to stay hidden while still getting a peek at what was happening.
In the middle of the dry, sun-scorched earth stood a car.
A big, black one. The doors swung open, and two brutes—there’s no other word for them—jumped out at the same time, kicking up a cloud of dust.
One of them circled around to the back of the car and popped the trunk, while the other joined him.
I craned my neck to get a better look, and when I saw it, I recoiled in horror, clapping a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming.
A body!
They pulled a body out of the trunk!
“Holy Mother of God!” I instinctively made the sign of the cross.
What in heaven’s name is going on?!