Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter Ten

Scale Number: 1

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Some yards away from the cabin's small covered front porch, down the grassy incline was the clean water of a trickling creek; on the rocky edge of the small landmark, Cat was sitting with her knees hugged to her chest. Her bare toes dipping in and out of the chilled water, it was nearly ice at this point in the evening. But she didn't care, her mind was so far gone in her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed the change in temperature. The sun had begun its descent something ago, leaving a crispness in the air that covered her exposed skin in goose bumps.

Two nights ago she would never have imagined she would be in a place like this, not when she was living a normal life. Well as normal as someone so traumatized could live. Even at home, she only went outside to get to and from her car, or to take care of her birds.

Her birds. She sighed heavily, knowing they would be okay on their own for a couple of days. With a place to hide at night, and access to both food and water, the only thing to worry about were wild dogs. Predators that might want to kill her chickens.

Although apparently there could be predators after her too.

The sound of tires on the loose gravel tore her from her thoughts, but didn't tear her eyes away from the moving water in front of her. She hugged her knees tighter when the engine died and the sound of a door slammed reached her. She was thankful that she was just out of sight, in case it was someone she didn't know.

It could have been anyone, although only one person was supposed to know where she was. And his rules specifically prohibited her from leaving the small living area when he wasn't with her. Listening as heavy footfalls made the short trip to the wooden steps that left to the front door.

"Caterina?" Officer Kal's deep voice carried out to her as he entered the little building.

She didn't respond, knowing she could have called out to let him know she was just out over the hill in the tall grass, only to keep quiet instead. He started calling out for her as he walked further into the cabin, searching for her in both rooms. Hearing him curse loudly, before calling for her a final time, this time it was clear it was from outside. Probably from the edge of the porch as he scanned the large surrounding area for her.

"I told you before," she spoke loud enough that he could hear her, "It's just Cat."

Only her mother used to call her by her full name, and only when she was disappointed in her. Which had been all the time, since she was a hard woman to please. The vile vain woman made her hate the name she'd gotten from her father's mother, the only thing she had left besides the farm.

The thick boots he always seemed to be wearing stomped all the way down to her, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" His long strides bring him to her side in a matter of seconds, "You're supposed to be hiding."

"Last I checked there was no one out here to hide from," she hadn't been in Heart before, but it was full of trees and scarce of other houses.

Wrapping his fingers around her arm was like fire licking the side of an ice cube, all but burning her. There was a rumble in his throat, probably a sign of his growing irritation with her, "You're freezing."

"Sounds like you just want to find things to complain about."

He just shot her a look, pulling her up, at first allowing her to walk on her own, until he noticed the slight limp from her feet being half frozen. In one fleeting movement, Kal scooped her up into a bridal hold, carrying her back to the house. He'd left the door wide open, kicking it closed behind them.

Walking over to the only chair in the main open area, located next to the roaring fireplace that warmed the entire place. Placing her down, surprisingly gentle before snatching the blanket off the back and draping it over her. "Until this is over with, you aren't supposed to go outside, that was one of the very few rules I gave you." He didn't stay there to lecture her, instead he walked back toward the kitchen. "Did you eat already?"