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The Virgin Tiffany Reisz 14040K 2023-09-03

"The door locks from the inside," Kyrie said "Nobody from out there can come in unless someone in here unlocks the door for them But maybe that’s happened Maybe someone from inside the abbey had someone outside the abbey they wanted to see"

"Why do they have a door back here? We’re not allowed to leave the abbey without permission"

"It was for the workers who built the oratory They cordoned off this area while they built it They didn’t want big burly construction workers troh the back door of the chapel They never sealed off the door, though"

"Lock it," Elle said

"But--"

"Do it"

Kyrie shut the door i?" She looked at Elle in confusion

"I don’t want anyone co for no reason she could or would name

"Who would coet back to the abbey," Elle said, taking a step away fro"

"You’re a bad liar," Kyrie said, taking Elle’s hand "You don’t really think he’d break in here, do you?"

"No," Elle said "But I ht break out"

Kyrie looked up at her sharply, hurt in her eyes

"You want to leave?" Kyrie asked

"No Yes"

"Which is it?"

Elle shook her head "I don’t know"

"Yes, you do"

When Elle looked Kyrie in the eyes, she saw fear there Her gut instinct was to take it away This girl was hers to protect and to cherish Do a Dominant was harder than she’d anticipated

"Elle, please You’re kind of freakinghonesty "But I don’t want to leave you"

"I see" Kyrie let go of Elle’s hand and returned to the blanket on the floor She pulled her legs in tight to her chest