Rory stretched luxuriously.  Dean was once again absent, and Lorelai was fighting Michelle into giving her tomorrow off.  Rory opened her eyes, and screamed.  A girl in black was hanging on her ceiling.  The girl looked up, or down, as you might say, since she was upside down.  "Oh?  You're awake.  This is good.  Can't let anyone hurt the little princess."

Rory shivered, but forced a smile.  "Who are you, and why are you hanging from my ceiling?"  The girl smiled.  "Surely Jess has put you on edge, so I'll excuse your questions.  You can call me Kat."

Rory's fake smile slipped away as the true one came on.  "Really?  Aren't you being paranoid, not telling me your real name?"  Kat's eyes shifted to the window.  She said, "No, but I'm never too careful.  Jess calls me careless, so I'm not careful enough, Lorelai Gilmore.  But be extra careful.  Jess is right, something doesn't add up in Stars Hollow.  I'm sad school's out for you, it's a lot safer at an institution."

By the time Rory thought of a retort, Kat had shoved her off the bed, and onto the ground.  "Shut up!" she hissed, holding her down.  Kat's eyes were closed, and her ears seemed to be moving.  Rory waited fearfully.  Kat could intend to kill her, and heard someone coming.

15 minutes passed before Kat let her prisoner up.  "He's gone.  Thanks for staying quiet.  He'll assume you left to go to the diner, or whatever else he's figured out of your habits."  Rory glared at Kat.  "Give me one reason to trust you!" 

Kat pulled a chain off her neck, and it showed a young photo of Rory's father, Christopher.  Rory stood still, more out of shock than fear.  A few minutes later, she whispered, "Who gave that to you?"  Kat smirked, knowing that Rory's eyes were glued to the locket.  "Your darling father.  When your enemy got cocky, and decided to brag about bringing you down, he got scared.  Well, Lorelai Gilmore, are you scared yet?"

Rory's eyes instantly attached themselves to the tassles on the rug Kat was standing on.  She felt a cool metallic string come across the back of her neck.  She shuddered, feeling Kat was going to pull it tight, even now.

Recognition came across when she saw the rusted locket hanging below her eyes.  She looked up, and Kat was smiling sadly at her.  "When will you trust me, Lorelai Gilmore?" Rory hugged whoever Kat was, taking her by surprise.  "Now.  I've got to trust someone, but I want answers.  Who is he, and why does he want me?  I don't want to walk into a trap unprepared."

Kat smiled.  "There.  I saw him, just for a minute.  You are Chris's kid.  Unfortunately, if I told you anything now, he might overhear us.  Maybe when you agree to show Katarina Shleck around school tomorrow, we can squeeze in a small bit of info.  But he's guarding this town like a hawk."

Rory grinned back.  "You talk like dad is your best friend or something.  You can't be much older than me."  Kat grinned.  Of course not.  I'm just extremely talented.  Not surprisingly, your dad had the same questions, except they were concerned.  Who would want a fourteen year old guarding their daughter, who's almost three years older?"

Rory's jaw dropped.  "You are not 14."  Kat grinned.  "Get used to it, kid.  You may be older, but I have more smarts in this business than you ever will."  Rory rolled her eyes.  Despite all the fear this girl was installing in her, she was still someone Rory could act as being a little sister to her, even though she was starting to act like what Lorelei would tell her real mothers were like. (Rory always replied that she was better than real mothers, but that's besides the point.)

A/N: I know you're now trying to decide if Kat's friend or foe, but I won't tell you that.  I'm failing miserably in my attempt to stay away from fics that don't have enough reviews, but this one only had ones asking for more, so here's some until I get enough to qualify for the real second chapter.