A/N: This is here mostly to get me to Beta, though I really do have a thing this goes to. It's the very short prologue.
The girl ran through the forest as fast ass she could. When she turned the last bend, she stopped. Her house was gone. All that was left was smoldering timbers, stray patches of fire, and destroyed keepsakes. She started to scream, but a boy grabbed her from behind.
"Hush, Kaylie! They might still be here! You know that as well as I do!"
"Let go of me, Jack!" She was crying. "Where's mother?!"
Jack hesitated. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. "She's not here."
"What do you mean? Where is she? Where is she?!" She was almost yelling as tears streamed down her cheeks.
The boy looked down at his feet. "She died, Kaylie."
"No! No, she can't be dead! She can't be!" she sobbed. If he hadn't been holding onto her, she would have fallen.
He stroked her hair, fighting his own tears. "You stay here. I'll get Robin."
"No! Don't leave me! Please, Jack! Promise you won't ever leave me!" She was absolutely traumatized. She held him tighter.
He winced and tried to loosen her grip a bit. "Don't worry. I won't, I promise."