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No other cars are co toward the network of buildings, I run to the first one Heavy wooden doors stand open, and a bright green vine clirey tiles are broken and bits of wood are scattered across the floor Graffiti covers the walls in bold red and blue symbols

Continuing on toward the s, I pass another open door Inside are ts of peith a wide passage down the center ending at an altar A cross is suspended in front of a large, stained-glassThe glass is aping black mouth

The scrape of aback, I duck under what appears to be the re my best not to make a sound

Shuffling of feet echoes in the passage to h the debris of what appears to be an abandoned church or convent

“If I catch you, I’ll throw the full weight of the law against you!” He shouts in my direction, but I don’t ”

He shuffles on a fewback further intoplace I hear hi new in these parts”

Leaning against the open doorway, he pulls a pipe out of his pocket and taps it on his wrist “Only thing worse than vandals is all the damn immortals lurkin’ around here” He lifts the pipe to eye-level and peers into the bowl “Have to light a fire to get rid of the smell”

He continues in my direction, and I’m pretty sure he knows I’uy is h I can’t tell what kind in his human form His comment puzzles me Shifters are not i

Cautiously, I step toward the light, peering out at the crusty old caretaker His back is to me, but I see his ing me

“I’ll be getting back to the fire now Have to ets too late Make sure no vagrants are hanging about the place”

I watch as he shuffles down the lane and out of sight It’s the lucky break I need, and I take off following the tree line back to Doris’s house for clothes

Digging

Koa

I’m back at what I no is the St Dyhty years, and the old man is the caretaker for the ceuy, but I’m certain he has the answers I seek

Walking up the lane in my human for is a massive brick structure with arched entryways and detailed scrollwork along the s and balconies