The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 300

Like almost everyone here, her heart rate was steady. Julia was the exception, leading her to suspect the younger acolytes were elsewhere within The Tower.

“We can accommodate your request,” Walter said. “We had our guest quarters readied.”

“Readied?” Julia confirmed.

“They are prepared every day,” Clara answered to help diffuse the situation. “Sheets washed, the rooms cleaned and dusted.”

Since hunters never knew when someone might return to The Tower, a wing of guest accommodations were always kept ready.

“Precisely,” Walter replied. “Agnes—(will you please escort them?)

“I know the way,” Clara said. “I spent more than my fair share of time preparing the rooms.”A statement that confirmed Clara was once a troublemaker. Walter smiled, while Adam remained oblivious. I’m not the only one that got into trouble while here.

a cinematic photograph of a young girl, around 12-14 years old, with a solemn expression, wearing a traditional nun's habit, complete with a white coif and a long, flowing black robe, kneeling on the hardwood floor, intently scrubbing the worn planks with a worn wooden brush, surrounded by a small puddle of soapy water, and a ceramic soap dish nearby, set against the rustic backdrop of a dimly lit, early 20th-century bedroom, devoid of any windows, with rough-hewn, reddish-brown brick walls that seem to absorb the faint, diffused light, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation, shot in a warm, muted colors and soft focus, emphasizing the girl's dedication to her humble task.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.