I'd been working on this story for years before arriving in Paris.

This trip was meant to be the culmination of nearly a decade of exhaustive research and interviews.

All of it leading here.

Everything I'd discovered up until now told me without a doubt that I would find the secret

ceremony chambers of the Illuminati here, in the ancient catacombs beneath Paris France.

To come straight back up, it's normal, everybody gets this feeling?

Just give it five or ten minutes. It will pass. That is, if you're serious about this?

Oh, trust me Jacques, I'm dead serious. Nothing is going to stop me from getting this story.

I said, climbing down the ladder into the sewers. My guide followed after me quickly,

replacing the sewer grade above us with the pry bar. I surveyed the stone walled tunnel and saw

a rat scurry past my feet, trying not to overreact. I backed away as it ran past.

Jacques saw all this and smiled. His teeth yellow with nicotine stains.

Com, brave journalist. This way to the catacombs. We're not even in the eclipse yet.

If you're already getting scared, maybe this journey isn't for you.

Taking a moment to tuck my pants into my socks, I stood up straight and looked him in the eye.

Show me the way, Jacques. I'm right behind you.

He began to lead me deeper into the underground. His flashlight beam bouncing up and down with his

strides. After traversing dozens of tunnels leading to a winding staircase, this staircase

descended to lower and lower levels, going down for what felt like miles. After a while,

the stairs ended and we were walking down long limestone corridors again.

The stone tunnels became narrower, the ceilings lower, creating a sense of claustrophobic

unease which was difficult to shake. The stones which made up the walls and floor were beginning

...