BROKEN INNOCENCE

th each step. Kira's heart raced, her mind struggling to process what she was hearing. She wa

(loudly) Is

chen, catching whoever was in there in the act. Instead, Mrs. Milah's voice acted like a warning bell. The moaning s

se voices. One deep and familiar, the other high-pitched and feminine, like Pastor Jonathan and Elizabeth. But before she

ted) Why would she give them

strange, eerie feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Instead of pressing the matter, Kir

acting as if nothing had happened. Kira's gaze darted between them, her unease growing. Something w

. Milah) Where have you been,

cern away with a smile,

taking care of a

izabeth, who caught her e

, where did you sneak off t

lizabeth's face made her skin crawl. She wanted to confront her, to ask what she

uffled. She wanted to leave, to escape whatever dark undercurrent was flowing through the gatherin

reach his eyes) Kira, you're not leaving ye

ay quietly, but now she was trapped. She fo

ly need to get home. I hav

faded, replaced by a fir

t's not every day we all

t tighten in her chest as she placed her bag back down, realizing she had no choi

omething darker. Some of the guests, clearly drunk, were groping at each other, their inhibitions long gone. Others w

en up and change into something mo

loose nightgown that Mrs. Milah had lent her. The soft fabric was comfortable against her skin, but it felt too r

s from her childhood. Kira's eyelids grew heavier with each passing minute, but she forced herself to listen, f

his voice casual) Milah, I'm

ilah, expecting her to get up, but Mrs. Milah simp

a whine) I'm too tired. Ki

s, she thought. Nothing more. She asked Mrs. Milah where the ingredients were kept and headed to the kitchen, her footsteps

to distract herself from the gnawing unease growing inside her. O

her voice tired) Kira, be a d

m. It's just noodles, she repeated to herself, trying to ignore the way her nightgown clung to her body, leaving little to

the door, her heart pounding in her chest. The door swung open, revealing Pastor Jonathan's figure silhouetted agains

ly, his voice smooth a

ith a soft click, and the sound of the lock turning echoed in her ears. She placed the tray on the side table, her mi

icking) What's happenin

a way that made her skin crawl. Kira tried to focus on anything bu

ed, and she fought the urge to flee. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking i

, almost a whisper) You look te

on her, and the weight of his gaze was unbearable. She wanted to scream

ing with Pastor Isa. His words echoed in her head, reminding her of the dangers of straying too f

Pastor Isa want to see me earlier? Coul

ppened tonight, nothing wo