It had been difficult to find in the mist, but Harry was sure he'd found the source of the sound. The ringing had stopped a few minutes ago, but this church had to be housing that bell. The outside of the building was not remarkable, a little sad even. The brickwork was dull; the stained glass windows were broken or boarded up. Only the grand scale of the edifice, in this small suburban setting, gave the church a sense of greatness.
He pushed past the gigantic warped doors and stood by a pew. The wooden seating looked as if it had dried out and begun to disintegrate in the arid heat of the summer. Now, in this sudden and unexpected snow, it was as cold and damp as he was. The temperature was low inside, he felt no warmer. Harry shivered. His gaze was drawn to the huge stone columns leading to the high vaulted ceiling. He noticed a heavy wooden cross with a pale Christ upon it.
Underneath the image of the crucifixion stood an old woman, wearing a dark moth-eaten dress with a veil of tired lace. At least she appeared to be old, but her green eyes shone fiercely from the dark circles and wrinkles that they had sunken into. Her feet were bare.
She stood with her hands at her side and watched him in anticipation, as if she'd been waiting for him.
"Were you ringing that bell?" asked Harry.
"I've been expecting you. It was foretold by gyromancy." she croaked.
"What are you talking about?"
"I knew you'd come. You want the girl right?"
"The girl? You're talking about Cheryl!"
"I see everything."
"If you know something...tell me what's going on!"
She did not answer.
"My friend is hurt, my daughter is missing. Please help me."
Harry stepped towards her.
"Stay back! Nothing is to be gained from floundering about at random." she hissed, "You must follow the path. The path of the hermit concealed by Flauros."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Here."
She produced a small pyramid shaped object and placed it on the altar.
"The flauros, a cage of peace. It can break through the walls of darkness and counteract the wrath of the underworld. This will help you."
She walked away from the altar. As he picked up the pyramid, a recognizable pain began to build in Harry's temples.
"Wait, don't go yet. My daughter..."
He could hear distant sirens, like the ones in his dreams. His head was pounding harder with each pulsating burst of pain. As his vision blurred, he could see the old lady watching him collapse.