The supple foliage crunched each time it connected with Kate's bare feet. The sound at times muffled by the cracking of fallen sticks giving way beneath her weight. She steadied Emma whose weak frame stumbled beside her. They endeavored to distance themselves from the derelict house which had become their prison. Relief washed over Kate, as they were now concealed in the assembly of trees. A wooded area seemed without end, but knew that she needed to reach help and soon. Emma's condition was declining at an accelerated rate. Their advancement into the woods halted when Emma slipped from Kate's support and toppled to the cold earth.
"...Emma." Kate breathed, her eyes inundated with concern as she dropped to her knees beside the dwindling woman.
"Emma please..."
"Kate, I... I'm so cold." Emma shivered as she struggled against the impulse to nod off.
"We're so close. Please, Emma... Don't give up!" Kate pleaded in a voice hoarse with exhaustion as she shook her icy frame.
Her attempts to lift Emma to her feet were futile; she was weak from starvation and Emma was nothing more than dead weight. Kate refused to allow their circumstances deter her, she would not watch Emma die. Kate's scoured over what their next move would be, should Emma be unable to go on. Kate's thoughts shifted when she noticed a slight protrusion on Emma's lower abdomen. One she hadn't noticed before. Kate moved to raise the semi-conscious woman's shirt to examine her injuries.
"Emma, hold still, please. I need to check the extent of your injuries." Kate informed her, gasping when the bare skin of her belly became exposed. The bruising was deep and dark, an unmistakable sign of internal bleeding. Tears coated Kate's eyes, the fresh emotion prompting her to become dizzy and convulse in a wrenching dry heave. Fighting to regain her composure she approached Emma again.
"Oh Emma... what have they done to you." Kate wept, jumping when Emma stirred.
"W... Wyatt." She mumbled as tears rolled down the sides of her face. "I... I'm so sorry."
Panic hit Kate when the snapping of a twig resonated in the distance. Someone was nearby – likely Tyson closing in on them. Mustering everything she had, Kate dragged Emma to hiding place. Once satisfied with Emma's concealment, she lingered in the stillness, anticipating the approaching figure. It wasn't until now that she took notice of her unprotected feet and their bleak disrepair. Kate bit back the emotion constricting her throat while she contemplated her next move. But her thoughts dissolved by Emma's gradual return to consciousness.
"Kate... "
"I'm still here, Emma. I'm not going anywhere." Kate assured in a soothing voice.
"But you have to." Emma voice wasn't the only thing pleading.
"No... I can't. I won't." Kate countered holding true to her mulish.
"Why are you fighting this, Kate?! I'm not going to make it and I've made my peace with that." Emma snapped.
"Because I couldn't live with that version of myself. I have to try to save you!"
"You don't get it – This isn't just about you anymore." A discouraged laugh escaped Emma. "My husband – the love of my life is dead, all hopes of children together gone. My future is cold, empty, but yours, Kate – yours still holds the promise that mine once did."
"What – What are you saying?" Kate had a strong suspicion where the conversation was going, but didn't want to believe it.
"Kelly discovered something... a vulnerability that Ty was eager to exploit. He relished in how it would destroy your already tormented husband. You were still sedated and they hadn't realized that I'd come to... "
Kate felt the blood drain from her face and extremities, the urge to vomit assaulting her with more force than ever before. With nothing in her stomach she dry heaved, immobilized by its painful and consuming succession. She endeavored to gain control of her body, nervous that she was drawing attention to their alcove amid the trees. Over the past few days she'd had her suspicions, but Wyatt's murder beckoned before they could reach fruition.
"No…" She pleaded, her expression filled with dejection.
"I'm so sorry that you had to find out this way." Emma uttered apologetic.
"You've been protecting me - and the reminiscing with Jerry, that was a distraction." Guilt washed over Kate as the weight of Emma's actions struck her.
"You would have insisted on the same, detective and I know that."
A part of Kate now wished that she'd met Emma under different circumstances, happier ones. She had a feeling that they may have been good friends. The bitter reality returned to the foreground as frantic footsteps and panting caught up to them. Kate peered beyond the cluster of trees with caution, terror seizing her at the sight before her. Kelly Nieman was still alive and agitated beyond anything Kate had ever seen. Unrestrained indicated that Jerry Tyson had accompanied her in pursuit of the missing women – but where was he?
Kate's inquiry received an answer when head connected c with the tree's uneven bark. Before she could attempt to pull herself to her feet, Jerry Tyson grabbed tight a fistful of her hair and heaved her to her feet.
"You think you're so clever, Kate. Don't think that you have eluded what I've had planned for you all along, I know your secret." Tyson growled with disdain, pressing the blade of a hunting knife to Kate's lower abdomen.
Kelly came into view dragging a weak Emma. Delight adorned her face as she thrust her to the ground at Kate's feet. Kate still clung to the hope that her plan had worked, that this wouldn't be the way that she nor Emma would meet her demise.
"Well, it would seem that you two have become quite the friends." Kelly scoffed.
"Go to hell, Nieman." Emma retorted, her face half buried in the foliage.
"Kate, I want you to witness this with the knowledge that you didn't stop it. That you couldn't stop it. You've failed, detective."
Kelly pinned Emma to the ground with a foot planted on the center of her back then reached into her pocket to remove a handgun. She lowered her hand, her aim fixed on the back of Emma's neck. The echo of gunfire piercing the air startled Kate. Surprised to see Kelly Nieman's frame collapse to a patch of earth beside Emma. She knew the shot hadn't come from Tyson because one arm held Kate close to him while the other secured the knife against her belly.
Tyson pivoted upon hearing the shooter approach, it was evident that he planned to use Kate as his leverage. Kate felt the surge of butterflies in her stomach as she saw Castle standing before her. Her backup piece steady in his hand, void of hesitation.
"Let her go, Tyson. It's over. You've lost." Castle snarled.
"No, Castle...it's not over. Not yet." Tyson mused tightening his grip on Kate. She could feel the blade digging into her flesh. Her confusion peaked when Castle gave a subtle nod.
"Oh, but it is, Ty." Emma replied, crashing a large rock into the side of his head, compelling him to release his hold on Kate.
He pivoted the blade as he fell, the sharp steel catching Emma's arm. She fought her way to the abandoned knife, but failed to secure it before Tyson could. "There's no going back, Emm. I'm sorry." He choked, then turned the blade on her. A bullet pierced his head before he could follow through. Emma turned to see Kate with the smoking gun before she succumbed to the darkness.