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BRITNEY
Am I terrified of going to prison?
Not really.
But I am embarrassed. Perhaps a better word is ashamed.
I put everyone in danger for selfish reasons, and even if everything works out, I will forever be stained by my act of defiance.
I decide not to say goodbye to the other Kept, opting to spend time with Maisy instead. Since she was taken in, she’s lost so much of her childish nature, and I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing.
She doesn’t smile as much, and there’s a stoic nature to her. Instead of acting younger, she’s grown past her years.
After we finish lunch, I tell her the bad news.
“I’m going to have to go into the Keep’s holding for thirty days.”
Her brow furrows. “What’s that?”
“It’s like a jail.”
She cocks her head to the side, smiling mischievously. “What did you do?”
“I, ah, ran away from the Keep.”
“Oh…” Her jaw goes slack. “Like you ran away from the Chapel Street house?”
“Maze, I never ran from Chapel Street. Things were…complicated. I swear, I wanted to bring you here, but I was scared.”
“Scared of what?” Her expression is sour, and suddenly, it clicks in me.
She resents me.
Little does she know I could destroy her innocence right now. This very instant. All it would take is the truth. I could tell her what father did and what the Keep is all about. I could tell her what Alistair did to father. That he could still be alive right now. Suffering.
But I would never do those things because I love her, and if she has to hate me to be okay, I’m fine with that.
“When I got separated from father, it was the Keep that saved me, but for a long time, I didn’t trust them.”
“Bullshit! Alistair’s your boyfriend.”
“He is, but he wasn’t always. You came after things got better.”
“Got better? You’re not making any sense. Alistair would never hurt you. None of the men would here.”
Bless her heart.
“I love it here, now, but I didn’t always. I couldn’t bring you to the Keep until I was sure it was a good place for you.”
“If it’s so good, why did you run away and leave me behind again?”
Shit…
“I never left you behind. Or at least I didn’t do it intentionally. I love it here, but I needed to find Alistair, and Cole wasn’t too happy with me doing so. I love you Maze, and I promise that in time, things will start to make sense. I haven’t always done the right thing, but I’ve always tried to do right by you.”
“What was it like outside?”
