Katherine Walker, know to her friends as Kat, walked down a street late one night, wearing nothing more than her nightgown. The night was oddly chilly and she was shivering because of it. Her arms and shoulders were covered with bruises and her stomach was swollen with the child she was carrying. She walked down the street, the only sound to be heard was that of her broken sobs. As she walked, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. More importantly, she heard the click of a familiar cane.
Step, step, click. Step, step, click. Step, step, click.
Kat closed her eyes, hear breath caught in her throat. She stopped walking and hoped that he would pass her by. The sound got louder as he got closer to her.
"Kate?" A deep voice asked. Kat swallowed and turned around.
"Shadowman," she replied. Facilier looked down at her, his eyes never really leaving her bruises. Kat looked up at her, noticing the concern in his eyes.
"Kate..." he started.
"Leave me alone," she said, cutting him off.
"I just want to help, chere," Facilier replied. Kate glared at him.
"Yes," she snapped. "You're quite the gentleman. That's really the only thin' Mama Odie did right by you, wasn't it." She turned around and started to walk away.
"Katherine," Facilier said sternly, stopping her in her tracks. He had never called her that in all the years she's known him and she for some reason she found it disarming.
"It's fine," she said. "everythin's fine."
"I know he beats y'all," Facilier replied. Kat closed her eyes and choked down a sob.
"Please," she said. "You'll just make it worse."
"Y'all know that ain't true," Facilier said. There was a moment of silence before Facilier spoke again. "You can't go back home."
"I don't have anywhere else," Kat said with a sob. Facilier slipped off his coat and paced it around her shoulders.
"You can come with me," he said. Kat nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. Facilier placed his arm around her and helped her back to the emporium.