Sinful Purity (Sinful Series) Read Online Free Page B

return. Yet we all knew we had to. Sometimes I thought it was just me, but it seemed the walk home always took just a minute longer. Everyone’s steps seemed a little slower and shorter than upon leaving MIQ.
    “Here we are, back at the clink,” Kelly would announce. It was no secret she hated the orphanage and likened it to a prison. She was always coming up with a new and clever way to say jail. Sometimes it was the pen, poke, pokey, reformatory, juvie, detention center, concentration camp, rock, penal complex, cult camp, and my favorite, the POW (penitentiary of worship).
    Upon entering the gates one day Kelly screamed, “Hello, Shawshank, where’s my redemption?” Everyone burst into laughter.
    “Wow. That’s a new one, Keebler. You’re really on today.”
    “Yeah, I think that’s a keeper.”
    Just then Mother Superior made her way up the walk and into the schoolyard. “You’d better mind yourself, Mary Kelly, or we won’t be allowing your brother to visit next week,” Sister Christine warned through a deep, permanently pressed scowl, so carved into her face that we were sure she looked like that even in her sleep.
    “Really, honestly, Mother? Is it true? Is he coming?”
    “Yes, Mary Kelly. As long as you are respectful and well behaved all week, your brother will be here next Saturday to spend the afternoon with you.”
    “Hell, yeah!” Kelly screamed. Mother Superior glowered. “Sorry, Sister, it slipped. Last time, I promise. I’ll be an angel if you let me see Brett.” Kelly made a gesture like she was crossing her heart.
    “Well, I seriously doubt that. But do try, child. Do try,” Mother Superior remarked, motioning for the other sisters to follow her into MIQ’s front entrance.
    As soon as Sister Christine left, Kelly couldn’t contain herself. “Oh, wow. Wow! Do you know what this means? Jail break!” she exalted.
    “It’s not like you’re escaping, Keebler. You will have to come back sometime. And that’s if the sisters even allow you to leave.”
    “I know, I know. But there’s still a chance I get out of here for at least a few hours. Back to civilization! Civilization, baby.” Kelly danced around, grabbing my arms and twirling me in circles.
    I had never seen Kelly so happy. She usually perked up a little on Wednesdays when we went to church, although she viewed the trip as more of a convict’s work release program than an actual spiritual outing. Nevertheless, she was always pleased to be on the other side of the gates.
    Kelly didn’t mind adoption day, either, unlike me. To her it was an occasion to meet new people. Any chance to talk to “outsiders” was a welcome one to her. She loved telling the unsuspecting families about “lock down,” as she called it. To her we were always on lock down, another one of her prison analogies.
    Knowing that Brett was coming to visit made me very excited also. I had never met him before, but he always sent such nice things. I had talked to him on the phone a couple of times when Kelly put me on so I could thank him for the books and other contraband he’d sent. He seemed niceand Kelly adored him. Plus I never had any visitors, so this was my way of living vicariously.
    For the first time since I’d come to Mary Immaculate Queen, I looked around. I mean I really looked at it. I could see why Kelly thought it was a prison. It did look like one, albeit very historical and gothic. The building itself was gray, very gray. In fact, everything was gray: the front façade, the concrete, and the large statue of the Virgin Mary that stood to the left of the double doors marking the entrance. Even the bell tower and the two small planters that ringed the only trees in the yard were gray. The only things more depressing than the monochromatic surroundings were the large, oppressive black gates. They had to be at least twenty feet tall, forged out of spiraling wrought iron. The gates gave way to the menacing fence of the same design that