The chamber groaned.
Stone cracked above them, dust falling like ash into the stale air.
Elena's heart pounded as she faced Mayor Bellini.
"No more lies," she said, her voice steady despite everything.
Bellini took a slow step forward.
"You think exposing me will change anything?" he asked. "This town was built on silence."
Daniel moved beside Elena.
"Not anymore."
Bellini's eyes flicked to the notebook in Elena's hand.
"And that?" he said quietly. "You think a few pages will bring everything down?"
Elena tightened her grip.
"It's not just pages. It's truth."
A loud crack echoed overhead.
Part of the ceiling shifted dangerously.
Time was slipping.
Bellini's voice dropped.
"Give it to me."
Elena didn't move.
"No."
Silence.
Then—
Bellini lunged forward.
Everything happened at once.
Daniel stepped between them, pushing Elena back.
"Run!" he shouted.
But Elena didn't run.
She couldn't.
The ground beneath them trembled violently.
A massive crack split across the chamber ceiling.
Rocks began to fall.
Bellini stumbled slightly, losing his balance.
For the first time—
Fear flashed across his face.
Daniel grabbed Elena's arm.
"We have to go—NOW!"
Another section of the ceiling collapsed behind them, blocking part of the tunnel.
Dust filled the air, choking and blinding.
Isabella shouted, "This way!"
She pointed toward the narrow passage Daniel had seen earlier.
The hidden exit.
Elena hesitated for just a second—
And in that moment, Bellini recovered.
He reached for her again.
"Give it to me!" he shouted.
Elena stepped back, holding the notebook close.
"No."
The ground shook harder.
Then—
The final crack split the chamber.
The ceiling gave way.
A deafening crash filled the tunnel as stone collapsed between them.
Elena was thrown backward.
Daniel pulled her up just in time.
"Move!" he yelled.
They ran toward the narrow passage.
Behind them—
The chamber disappeared under falling stone.
Bellini's voice echoed once—
Then vanished beneath the collapse.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Final.
They didn't stop running.
Not until they saw light ahead.
Real light.
Daylight.
They stumbled out of the tunnel onto the hillside, collapsing onto the wet earth once more.
Elena gasped for air, clutching the notebook tightly.
Daniel lay beside her, breathing hard.
Isabella stood behind them, staring back at the hidden entrance.
The tunnels had fallen silent.
Completely.
Elena slowly sat up.
"It's over…" she whispered.
Daniel looked at her.
"No," he said quietly.
"It's just beginning."
Elena looked down at the notebook in her hands.
Lucia's truth.
Untouched.
Unburied.
For the first time in forty years—
The secret of Seravalle had survived.
And now—
It was finally going to be heard.