Chasing Kate

Chapter 34. A Fighter.

-Before-

I watched as the sun gleamed off Kate-Anna's cheek bones as it cast is way behind the hills.

I held her just a little longer and reminisced about being with her, in all forms.

She is the breath of fresh air I needed.
I am taking back by her beauty. I would never know what I done to deserve such an incredible human being.

With the sun gone, the wind almost chilled me to the bone and I hurried as I gathered all of our supplies and headed toward the truck.

I drove back to Kate's and we stayed cuddled on the couch for quite some time.

When I expected her to be ready for sleep, I nudged her to tell her I was going to run home to grab some clothes , so we could pick up Rhett together in the morning from my parents.

She nodded and smiled back at me as if tucked her in a blanket that was displayed on the back of her couch.

"I'll wait for you." She said, yawning.

"Sleep baby. I'll be back." I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

***********

I tossed my keys onto the table and kicked my shoes off. I padded my way down the hall to my room and grabbed out a pair of sweat pants and laid out a pair of jeans and a grey shirt to take to Kate's.

I decided to shower here and after my shower I laid down on my bed, swiping through the photos I took of our evening.

I lingered on a photo of Kate, and closed my eyes to live in the moment I took the photo.

Before I knew it, I was over taken with slumber and I fell asleep.

****************

I hear my phone ring and I mentally glance at the clock that reads 3:34 am.

Who could be calling at this hour?

I put my phone to my ear and that's when my heart starts to panic.

A screaming voice ridden with panic on the other line. I drop my phone and stumble out of bed.

I throw on a shirt and a pair of boots and in 3 minutes flat I'm pulling out of my apartment complex.

My heart is racing. I'm so terrified, my hands are sweating, my stomach is in knots.

I push my car to it's limit as I speed down the road. I reach my destination and my cars tires screech against the pavement.

I jumped out, not even noticing I left my car running. I make my way up the side walk and open the door.

I am paralyzed when I look around to all of Kate's things scattered across the floor. Shards of glass found a home on her hardwood floor, her kitchen table rested on it's side and chairs were left in splinters. Her tv stand was against the adjacent wall that it was before I had left. I scanned the room for her in a panic but she wasn't on the couch.

I ran down the hall and checked the bathroom, God Damnit! She isn't here.

"Kate!" I screamed as I made my way into her room.

Her clothes were tossed out of her closet, strung around the room. Her mirror was busted and I noticed holes placed in the Sheetrock of her room.

"Kate!" I hollered desperately. My head beating out of my chest.

I searched in her closet, in the kitchen and bathroom. She clearly wasn't in there.

"Katie?" I asked into the silence and I heard a shuffle.