Within the fabled village walls, the boundaries had been clearly marked. For Chastity, the confusion occurred one day while she was walking close to the edge. She peered through the tall grass and spotted a beautiful beast staring at her with soft velvet eyes. She was barely aware of overstepping the boundaries as she went to him. The beast, in his own magical way, communicated to her in the language of no words.

That evening, she sat at the kitchen table.

"You're home late today," said Mother, spooning vegetables into her bowl.

"Actually, Mother, I was out walking by the edge."

The serving spoon clattered to the floor as Mother put her hands to her mouth.

"My dear, you must never. Thank goodness your father is not home to hear this. Do you have any idea what lies on the other side?"

"All I know, Mother, is that I encountered the most beautiful beast. He was."

"I don't want to hear anymore, Chastity. That's enough." She picked up the serving spoon and banged it on the table.

"Why ever are you so upset, Mother?"

"You have reached your womanhood, Chastity. You are taking great risks by overstepping the boundaries. You must never do it again. Mention none of this to your father."

Chastity considered the beast's gentle nature as she did her homework. Just she was finishing, Father walked in: "Chastity, you're still up?"

"Yes, Father. I was about to retire." She closed her books.

Father followed her to the bedroom, where he removed four ropes from the dresser.

"Lie down, Chastity. I'll tie you in."

He started with her ankles, as always.

"Father, is this truly necessary?"

He stared at her blankly: "Of course, Chastity. We do this for your safety."

He held her wrists firmly to the bedposts while securing the ropes.

"Ouch!" she gasped.

"Tighter is better." He grimaced. His hair was tousled and sweat beaded his forehead.

"Father, don't you trust me?"

"This has nothing to do with trust."

"What if I wanted to turn over in my sleep?"

"Whoever has been putting such obscene ideas into your head, Chastity? Luxuries and debaucheries lead to acts of evil."

"Of course, Father."

"Must I get the whip to remind you?"

"No Father, you should tighten my ankle knots. They are far too loose."

"That's my girl." Father's face relaxed into a smile. He lightly kissed her cheek before shoving a rag into her mouth. "Hush now, Chastity, and no snoring. I do so hate it when you do that." 

That night, she dreamed of wild beasts performing savage acts. In the morning, Father untied her and removed her gag: "Sleep well?" 

"Oh, yes. I'm ready for breakfast." She croaked.

His eyebrows creased: "Why Chastity, you had dinner yesterday. You must not over-indulge. Greedy practices lead to evil acts." He stepped toward the closet.

"Father, there is no need of the whip. Truly, I had only a spoonful of vegetables last night and..."

"There will be no breakfast, Chastity. You can have lunch at school."

"Certainly, Father."

After he left, she put on her school uniform, which consisted of a prickly homespun dress that had become much too short for her. She dared not ask for another. Greed was a sin, as was eating, and sleeping comfortably and many other things that felt good, she supposed. As Chastity collected her school books, Mother turned from her place at the kitchen table:

"Focus on your school work, Chastity. Do not forget our conversation of last night."

"Naturally, Mother."

"I shall sit here and wait for you to return home."

"Good day then, Mother. I should be back in six hours."

Mother's eyes were fixed on the clock as she left.

She had barely closed the front door when the image of the beast cut sharply into her thoughts, and she began walking in the wrong direction, roaming close and closer still to the edge. She told herself she was not looking for him, until she spotted him peering at her from between the long blades of grass. His velvet eyes implored her, and again, she thought nothing of crossing the boundary. She lay on a soft mound of earth and lifted the hem of her short brown dress that composed her strict school uniform.

"Is this what you want?" She asked.

The beast's eyes bored into hers. His shadow fell over her as he communicated to her in the language of no words. She sighed in forbidden pleasure before closing her eyes and crying. For now she understood with perfect clarity that life within the village walls was nothing more than the shadow of a lie. 

# # #

"I'm not hungry for dinner tonight, Mother."

"Good, because there is none."

"Perhaps I shall be hungry for breakfast."

"There will be none of that either."

Chastity looked closely at Mother, who she now saw had been crying. That made two of them. Mother crossed her arms:

"You will go elsewhere in the morrow."

"Is that so?" Chastity crossed her own arms in turn.

"The surveillance team has spied you overstepping the boundaries."

"And I suppose you were the one who alerted them, Mother."

"I am no longer your mother. Your placement here was an honor, Chastity. Your last mother was nothing but a. well anyway, it is true what they say: The apple never falls far from the tree."

"I thought they said never to take a bite from the forbidden apple."

"You know perfectly well what I mean." The person who had formerly been Mother spat.

Chastity stared at her evenly. "What really happened to my last mother? I was told she had taken ill, and was well cared for by nuns at the hospice."

"Nuns!" Mother spat. "Who are you to talk of nuns?"

"Never mind, I shouldn't have asked you. But I'd like to know, now that you are done with me, will some other poor, lonely waif replace me here?" 

"I am quite done with lonely waifs, thank you very much." Mother's hands trembled.

"You hate me, don't you?"

"I have never overstepped the boundaries, Chastity. I cannot say the same for you."

# # #

Father prodded her with his cane down the winding village lanes. Her feet churned up dust that choked her parched throat.

"Shame, Shame." Some villagers threw stones; others spat. One brazen soul walked up and raked fingernails across her face. She focused on the boundary, beyond which were tall blades of grass, between which, the beast peered at her. Something stirred within her at the thought that she might never again see the beautiful creature. Her entire being recoiled at the idea of spending the rest of her life living within the shadow of a lie.

"Ye who stand before me," the ruling Lord boomed, "have dared to overstep the boundaries."

She stared at the tall man wearing a purple cloak with blood-red lining.

"And now your punishment," He turned toward a figure in the shadows:

"Take her to the dungeons."

A young guard appeared to lead her away in shackles. As they were descending the steep dungeon steps, he turned to her:

"You have brought much sorrow upon yourself, fair maiden."

She did not answer. Her eyes were distant.

"The dungeon will be a living death for you," he continued.

"In our world, we must either live by a lie or die by the truth," she said.

"Have you have made your decision, then?"

"It was never mine to make." She sighed.

They had reached the lower landing. The guard led her by lantern down a narrow passageway carved out of live rock. He removed a large key from his belt and unlocked a heavy iron door.

"Fair maiden, I am under orders to lock you herein, where you will dine on moldy bread crust and stale water until the end of your days." Tears filled his eyes.

"Do not cry for me, guard boy." Chastity leaned against the sweating stone wall.

"The rats are large, fair maiden. They will feast on your bare flesh."

"In the face of my suffering, I will hold close to my heart the truth that I learned beyond the boundaries that enclose this hideous place."

"And what is the truth?" He stepped closer to her.

"Remove these shackles and I will show you."

"Anything, fair maiden." His eyes glittered in the darkness as he stepped even closer. She felt his hot breath on her neck as he inserted a key and the shackles fell from her.

She stretched her limbs: "Remove your clothing, guard boy. The time has come to reveal the naked truth."

"Very well, fair maiden." He complied.

She, in turn, threw off her old brown dress, grown so absurdly short, and lay on the mossy stone floor. And there in the darkness of the dank dungeon walls, amidst the smell of decay, his shadow fell over her, and they communicated in the language of no words.

"I see what you mean, Fair Maiden," the young guard said afterwards. "The truth changes everything."

He kissed her and fell into a deep sleep beside her. Chastity jumped up and donned his uniform, securing his belt around her waist. It repelled her to wear it, weighed down as it was with keys that opened into chambers of death. She, Chastity, had chosen to live. She made a mental not to dispose of the belt as soon as she had safely crossed the boundary.

# # #

From the distance, Chastity could see the crumbling village walls, within which the sins had multiplied by many over the years. Soon, the boundaries would break down altogether. She turned to the beast:

"I have never thanked you, my loved one, for showing me the truth."

The beast, not understanding the language of words, nuzzled his head into her lap. She spoke softly now:

"You are exactly as you were the day I first laid eyes on you, as pure and flawless as falling snow."

With tears in her eyes, she looked out to the fabled village, and compassion swelled within her for all those who were relegated to living their lives within the shadow of a lie.

The End

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