Kaitlin Maye- Chapter 1

Kaitlin sat slumped in her dark and gloomy flat beside the plaza. Tears still streamed down her face as she recalled the day's events. A bunch of kids had jeered and thrown cans, rocks and anything else they could get their hands on at her and her patrol; She'd accidentally shot a dog who was just running up to greet her; The little boy she'd helped yesterday glared at her as she waved at him.
What would it take
For things to be quiet,
Quiet like the snow.
Kaitlin whispered along with her half-broken iPod. The screen was cracked, and the once-shiny cover was filthy and dull.
"Wow. Look at me now, guys. This is just depressing." Kaitlin murmured to herself, sitting up straight and tapping the grimy 'next' button.
I have died every day waiting for you,
Darling don't be afraid,
I have loved you for a thousand years,
I'll love you for a thousand more.
'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri filled her ears. She sighed, both sadly and contentedly. This was the song she'd given to herself and Edilio when she thought she had a chance. Sad memories of him swarmed in her head, threatening to engulf her with loneliness. Then a gentle, calming sensation washed over her, sweeping away the sadness, loneliness and bitter tears that had gathered in her eyes. They were all replaced by warmth, the warmth of a cold fire.
Wait… w-what? A cold fire? No… not now. Please..!
A cruel voice whispered in Kaitlin's ear, and she pulled out both earbuds.
"Now, that's not a very nice way to welcome a guest now, is it?" The voice said, dripping with sarcasm, and Kaitlin could've sworn she felt warm breath tickle her cheek.
"You're not real, so there's no point in being polite." Kaitlin said gently, absolute terror gripping her like icy tendrils… like an icy whip-hand. Her heart pumped at the same time, and the terror was tinged with longing.
Drake laughed, his voice as cold as Kaitlin's fear. "I'm real all right. But don't worry, I won't hurt you… yet." A horrible sensation of the tip of Drake's whip stroked her cheek. Glancing down, she stared at the spot where tentacle touched skin.
There was nothing there.
"W-where are you?" Kaitlin's calm exterior melted instantly. These 'visions' , if you could call them that, had never seemed so real. Last time, there'd just been a whisper of breath and the cold fire.
Now this was almost real.
The cold, cruel laugh echoed around the room, and Kaitlin's voice rose to a screech.
"What do you want?"
"When the sun sets three days from now, be sure to lock yourself in your house, little Katie. If you want to live." Drake's voice dissolved into laughter, then faded completely.
Wow, She thought. A prophecy? From Drake? Then, a little flower of hope grew in her mind. Drake wants to keep me alive…

"Katie. Hello? Anyone there?" A knock on her front door made Kaitlin leap up off the faded sofa.
"Katie!" It was Alex's voice. She was the closest thing Kaitlin had to a friend, apart from Amy. They shared most of everything… apart from the obvious. Kaitlin had never openly admitted her feelings for Drake, let alone the 'visions'.
Kaitlin stood up stiffly and stretched. She had assumed that after the day's work yesterday, she'd merely fallen asleep and dreamed that vision. It was the most logical explanation, and her mind grasped at the slim chance that she might not be totally insane after all. Mostly.
Kaitlin changed quickly into a clean t-shirt and torn jeans, throwing her long-coat on after her shotgun.
"Took you long enough." Alex said exasperatedly when Kaitlin finally opened the door. She smiled, though.
"Sorry, I needed sleep. Dr-" Kaitlin stopped herself just in time. "Uh, I couldn't sleep, it was dr-draughty." It wasn't a complete lie; her flat had always been quite cold.
"Ugh. You need a new house." She glanced disgustedly over Kaitlin's left shoulder into the dark building. "Now come on, dawn patrol." Alex only just managed to stifle a yawn, and Kaitlin realised for the first time that the sun was only just rising.
"Caine's got us on dawn patrols now?" Kaitlin shrieked. "I mean, what tool would get up this early just to cause trouble, or kill Caine?"
Alex sighed in annoyance. "I don't know, but as members of the King's Army, Caine's word is law."
"But at this hour?" Amy came around the corner of Kaitlin's flat, yawning widely. Amy was once one of the only remaining people in Perdido Beach who wanted to stay, but opposed Caine. She used to be a real nuisance, until the three became friends. Even though she was still the prime suspect in most cases of vandalism against Caine. One of her better pieces of work was on the back outer wall of Kaitlin's flat. It was of a chibi Caine wearing a crown and looking adorable. The caption read; 'Long live King Fail'
"Y'know, sometimes I wish Drake was still around. He'd teach Caine a lesson." Kaitlin said cautiously, ready to take it back, waiting to see her friends' reactions.
Alex and Amy both burst out laughing. "Yeah, he'd solve all our problems. Maybe even cause a few, if we're lucky." Alex joked.
"I know, right?" Amy clutched her side, unable to breathe, she was laughing so hard.
"I love that psychopath…" Kaitlin smirked. Just as she'd feared, both girls stopped laughing and looked at Kaitlin, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.
"Joking!" Kaitlin cried, fear flooding her heart. Had she gone too far?
Her friends still seemed uneasy, but made an obvious change of subject.
"So… you reckon Jackson's at it again today?" Amy grinned.
"Most definitely. You should keep that boy of yours under control, Amy. We might be forced to arrest him." Alex said seriously. They all went silent, then exploded into laughter again, and began walking off.
At the Town Hall, Amy broke away as the rest of Kaitlin's patrol came over. "See you guys at my place later?" She mouthed at the other two girls. They nodded, then Amy climbed up and over a wall and vanished.