** ** 

“You have the voice of an angel, Mary.” Curt Terwilliger reached out to touch the young woman’s shoulder.  “I could listen to you sing forever.”

The girl known as Mary smiled back at him, bobbing a curtsey.  “Thank you, Pastor Terwilliger.  I do so enjoy singing and listening to music.  The organ is beautiful this time of year, playing the classic Christmas carols.  The choir blends so beautifully with it, as if everyone sang with one voice.”

Pastor Terwilliger laughed.  “They’ve all worked hard this year to make tomorrow’s Christmas Eve service something special, my dear.  And you, young lady, will be one of the highlights.  The Lord has surely blessed you.”

Mary blushed slightly and shrugged.  “If I sing well it is because He granted me the ability, Pastor.  But for now, I heard that there was a lovely old costume for Mary down in one of the old choir rooms; I think I’ll go down there and see if I can find it.  If it’s as beautiful as it sounds it might be just the thing for tomorrow night.  I’m sure I can get it cleaned in time.”

Terwilliger paused for a moment.  “If you go down, Mary, you might want to bring one of the others with you.  I’m sure Mrs. Hampton would go with you if you wished.  I’d feel better if you weren’t alone – it’s very easy to get lost down in those old tunnels and rooms.”

“The Lord is my guide, Pastor,” Mary admonished lightly.  “With Him at my back I can be assured of my safety.  I’ve been down before.”

“I’m certain all children who attended this church explored those old rooms at one time or another, Pastor,” Mary winked at him.  “I shall consider it another adventure.”

Shaking his head and laughing, Terwilliger gave in gracefully and nodded. “Off with you then.  I’ll be in my office; please do stop by when you go so that I can lock up afterward.  Stay safe, Mary.”

Mary nodded obediently and wandered away from the music minister of the Dovespring Holy Communion Church.  She made her way sedately through the sanctuary and walked down the flights of steps that would lead her to, if her memory served correctly, the choir room previously used by choirs of the church.  When the church decided to abandon the old rooms in the foundation underneath the church the room was abandoned with them; yet they always held a mystery to the children who attended.  It often became a dare, to go exploring, to come back with a small treasure as a sign of passage.

Mary smiled sweetly as she remembered her own wanderings – not from childish taunts but from the desire to explore the unknown.  Down there she felt closer to the Lord than ever – as if He guided her steps.  She had a spot in one of the rooms that had a window still uncovered by any building above where the sun would shine just so and allow her to read quietly.  She missed those days of young childhood.  Almost graduated high school now, she would be off to college soon.

As she stepped into the hallway that led eventually to the old choir room, Mary stopped and looked around.  She reached around through the air until she found the old pullcord to the overhead light.  The room lit up though the bulb was weak enough that the light it cast didn’t rid the room entirely of shadows.

Mary paused a few moments later as she thought she heard something.

“…quiet!” a voice hissed.  “Someone’s down here.”

Mary froze in place and waited, holding her breath.  She knew she heard a voice but…it was quiet again.  Perhaps she imagined it?

Mary cautiously continued into the choir room and found the boxes of old junk discarded down here years ago.  She started to search and paused again a few minutes later.

“…just go,” she heard.  Mary looked around again, half afraid she was hearing things.  Just what she’d need.

“…room,” was the next word she heard.  And “Hardy.”  She heard that word too.  Or was it hearty?  Or hardy?  Whatever it was, Mary wasn’t sure she wanted to stay down here any longer.

Mary quietly pulled the cord to the light again and used the shallow light from above the stairs to make her way back up to the church vestibule.  She paused for a moment and considered her next actions.  If someone was down there when they shouldn’t be…perhaps she should tell Pastor Terwilliger?

Mary knocked on his door and went inside when he beckoned her.

“Did you find it?” he asked solicitously.

“No sir,” Mary admitted.  “I…think I heard voices down there.  Someone was talking.”

Terwilliger looked up at her from his paperwork.  “Now, Mary, it’s easy to mistake sounds of old pipes and things for voices, you know that.  I doubt seriously there is anyone down there at all.  Why don’t you go home and get some rest.  You must be tired after such a long rehearsal.”

Mary stared at him for a moment before nodding.  “Perhaps you’re right,” she said.  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Mary pulled on her heavy coat and left the old church…