When Maeve stood upright, she was two stories tall. She could not squeeze into any house even slightly shorter than that, let alone find a way through its doorway. Plenty of buildings could hold her, but most were impossible to enter.
The Factory's towering workshops, for instance-the Factory Guard knew she was Maeve, but the workers did not. Besides, if she appeared so conspicuously, even if she escaped Theresia's purification, she would not escape the Night Watch Bureau.
So Maeve and Simon thought for a while, only to discover, to their dismay, that the only place they could reach in time and actually enter seemed to be the church at the center of the Hearthfire District.
"The church?!" Maeve was stunned by Simon's bold idea.
Ever since becoming a monster, Maeve had thought only about hiding from people's eyes. She had never expected Simon to suggest taking shelter in a church. "Yes, that's the only place. It's the only place we can reach in time," Simon said anxiously.
"But won't we clash with the priests inside?" Maeve's face was full of worry. "After all, looking like this, I'll definitely be attacked on sight."
"Don't worry. I'll think of something. Let's hurry over first."
The two headed for the church together. Elliot had specifically designed its location to provide easy access to anywhere in the Hearthfire District, allowing the Machine Priests to arrive promptly.
Simon motioned for Maeve to hide herself, then hurried forward and knocked on the church door.
He intended to lure away as many of the priests inside as possible. If that failed, he would simply have Maeve charge in.
The Steam Angel Theresia's attack would descend before long. This was their last way out.
As Simon waited anxiously, the church door slowly opened.
He looked up and