KATE

chapter 6

Part 6: The Aftermath

POV: Kate

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the cold.

It bit at my skin, sharp and relentless, sending shivers down my spine. My fingers twitched against the dirt, and the smell hit me next—metallic and thick, clogging my nose and coating the back of my throat.

Blood.

The memory of Emily hit me like a fist to the chest, and I sat up too fast. My head spun, the world tilting and blurring around me.

“Emily,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

I forced myself to look around. The forest was bathed in gray light, the first hints of dawn creeping through the trees. The ground was soaked, dark and wet, and the bodies—God, the bodies—were everywhere.

I covered my mouth with my hand, choking on bile. I’d seen blood before. It wasn’t uncommon in the orphanage when fights broke out or when punishment went too far. But this… this was different.

They were torn apart. Limbs twisted at odd angles, clothes shredded, faces frozen in expressions of terror. Blood stained the earth, the rocks, even the trees.

The guards. The dogs.

All of them were dead.

My stomach churned, and I doubled over, retching until there was nothing left. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to push the nausea down, but it wouldn’t go away.

I couldn’t remember.

The last thing I remembered was holding Emily, her blood soaking my hands. I remembered screaming her name, the weight of her body in my arms. I remembered pain, fire tearing through me, and then…

Nothing.

Blackness.

Now, here I was, surrounded by death, my hands and arms stained with blood that wasn’t mine.

“Emily,” I whispered again, my voice trembling.

I turned, scanning the riverbank until I saw her. She was still there, lying where I’d left her, half-submerged in the water. Her face was pale, peaceful, her lips curved into the faintest smile.

I stumbled toward her on shaking legs, dropping to my knees beside her. My hands reached out, hovering over her like I was afraid to touch her.

“Emily, I’m so sorry,” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks. “I’m so, so sorry.”

I couldn’t protect her.

She was the strong one, the smart one, the one who always kept me safe. And when it mattered most, I’d failed her.

“I don’t know what happened,” I said, my voice cracking. “I don’t know what I did, but… but I’ll make it right. I’ll fix this, Emily. I swear.”

But how could I?

The blood on my hands felt like a brand, a reminder that whatever had happened last night, I’d been part of it. I didn’t know how, and I didn’t know why, but deep down, I knew this was my fault.

The sun was higher now, its light washing over the c*****e in the clearing. I couldn’t stand to look at it anymore.

Emily deserved better than this.

I found a spot near the edge of the trees, where the ground was softer. I didn’t have anything to dig with, so I used my hands. The earth was cold and damp, clinging to my skin as I scraped and clawed at it.

My fingers bled, the dirt mixing with the blood that was already there, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

I don’t know how long it took. By the time the grave was ready, my arms were trembling, my chest heaving with exhaustion.

I went back to the river and knelt beside Emily.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered again, my tears dripping onto her cheek. “I wish I could’ve done more. I wish I could’ve saved you.”

Carefully, I lifted her into my arms. Her body was cold now, stiff and fragile, and it took everything I had not to break down again.

I carried her to the grave and laid her down gently, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

“You always said we’d make it out together,” I said, my voice shaking. “I just wish… I wish you could’ve told me what your dream was. I wanted to hear it. I wanted to see you live it.”

The weight in my chest was crushing me, but I forced myself to keep going.

“I’ll keep my promise,” I said. “I’ll survive. I’ll keep going. But I’ll never forgive them for what they did to us. Never.”

I filled in the grave slowly, the sound of dirt hitting her body making my stomach twist. When it was done, I placed a small stone at the head, marking the spot.

“Goodbye, Emily.”