And just like that, Wayne was gone, and flames were engulfing the house she'd lived in for most of her life. It only took half a second, and then it was over, and she was speeding off towards the highway on her motorcycle, the wind blowing through her hair. She didn't glance back over her shoulder, not once, not even after she was a good distance away.
It was only when the tires of her bike hit the smooth black pavement of the dimly lit interstate that it really hit Kate. The reality sank in; she'd killed him. She'd set fire to the place she used to call home. She was going to be wanted for murder, and her mother was going to despise her for as long as she lived.
At that revelation, a new kind of fire sparked in Kate's chest. It was an awful kind of burning that was so hot, it was freezing, blue flames licking at her heart. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what emotion that had ignited the fire right then, as there were too many to sift through; but maybe, she thought, it was a combination of all of them.
But out everything she was feeling, remorse was nowhere to be found. She knew what had to be done to keep her mother safe, and she'd done it. She was protecting her, making sure that bastard would never lay another finger on her.
The fire inside her burned hotter, knowing that if she could do it all over again or if she could somehow reverse the damage done, she wouldn't change a thing.
Kate's legs are carrying her faster than she thought they could. She races through the jungle, getting chased by God knows what, only for her to come to screeching halt right in front of an old, dirty cabin. The moment she stops running, the sound of the monster disappears, and it seems that she is alone.
How long has this been here?
She takes a few steps toward the small run-down cottage, examining it closely. After she determines that the cottage had to have been abandoned close to fifty years prior, she bends down to look at the ground, looking for any footprints, finding none.
When she stands back up, she's ready to go inside, figuring the place is abandoned. She starts walking toward the small cabin when the entire thing goes up in a burning blaze. The intense heat is reaching her even from where she's standing. The entire cottage is on fire, red and orange flames shooting black clouds of smoke into the sky.
Kate stumbles backward into a tree, completely shocked by what just happened. There was no warning, just fire. It didn't gradually build up from anything, it was just there, like it appeared out of nowhere.
"Katherine."
The brunette's breath catches in her chest and she stops moving, paralyzed in fear. She knows that voice.
"Kate."
She's certain she's going insane, seeing things, hearing things. Then, to add insult to injury, there he is, standing in the doorway of the cabin that suddenly looked eerily familiar. He says her name once more and starts his descent down the steps.
Kate trips over something on the ground, sending her to the floor. All she can do is look up at the man approaching her, as she's completely frozen in fear.
"… W-Wayne?"