The Shelter

I follow the man, mostly through back alleys, for a few minutes. I'm grateful that we stay off the main roads, as that's where Gustav is likely searching for me. Fortunately, in this part of the city even the back alleys are of cobblestone, so it's not too uncomfortable for me to walk barefoot.

A few minutes later, we reach our destination. It's a small, unassuming building with no signs or markings indicating that it's a women's shelter. As I walk through the entryway, another white-garbed monk offers me a rather threadbare blanket, which I take and wrap around my shoulders, more for modesty than any warmth it provides. The monk who escorted me here turns to me and says "The others will care for you now, sister. I must go out to recover more lost sheep and bring them back to the path." He then heads back out into the night.

The building isn't too large, consisting of the entryway and a single large room, dominated by a large fireplace on the far wall. There's a long table, where the girls probably take their meals, and a couple of makeshift cots, for the monks I assume. The women seem to sleep on mats or piled up blankets that have been laid on the floor. It dosen't look all that comfortable, but with no other alternative I'm sure these women are happy to have it.

Besides the monk at the entryway, there's one other in the main room, sitting by the fire tending a pot of stew of some kind, and occasionally flipping the pages of a large tome. I count six women, not including myself. At this time of night, all are sleeping save one, who is sitting at the table with an uneaten bowl of soup in front of her, staring blankly ahead. She looks even younger than I do, and I'm only 22.

I stifle a yawn. I only got a couple of hours of sleep, and I could use some more. But I'm also too preoccupied with worry to want to go to bed right now. I expected to hear at least some sermonizing on the evils of prostitution, but that dosen't seem to be in the offing, at least not yet.

1. I try to fall asleep, or at least lie down and pretend to sleep, thus keeping to myself.
2. I try talking to one of the monks to learn more about the shelter and their order
3. I try talking to the girl at the table. She looks as though she could use a friend to talk to.

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