Chapter 17: Ashes to Ashes
It was Ella who stood before the Senate hearing.
Wearing the same white blouse she wore the day she first walked into the parish office as a sophomore.
“I’m not here to destroy the Church,” she began.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcULh0rkVMQ
“I’m here because I was destroyed by it, and I will not be quiet anymore.”
They tried to corner her.
Why now?8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMXctEmtSk
What if you’re lying?8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZVDsTdvP4
Don’t you fear God?
But she didn't shake.
Because sitting quietly in the crowd, under a cap and hoodie, was Clark—filming every word, streaming it to thousands.
Because Ely had given her one final message, buried in the footnotes of his last confession:
“If they silence me, let the ashes fall on their robes. Truth is fire. It will not die.”
By the next morning, a Church-owned university had been set ablaze.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0wEUgDD9d
No casualties.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPccJKc5pAl
Only the chapel.
Burned to its skeleton.
Inside the altar was a note written in Latin:
ns216.73.216.203da2“Et Veritas liberabit vos.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP6hAaorYQ
(And the truth shall set you free.)
