Go through the back

Katarina cursed under her breath and turned towards Eobard.

"Locked," she hissed. " Lets go around the back, the gate is usually open."

The waist height gate was ajar when the pair made their way around the house. They could have climbed over it anyway, there was usually little need to keep anything out in Pinehurst other than the odd fox looking for an easy meal. They made their way through the small backyard where there were gardens full of root vegetables and even some flowers.

The backdoor of the house was also wide open and Katarina could see mud tracks leading into the house.

Mother would not be pleased with that.

It was a small comfort to think of her mum sweeping the floor muttering about keeping the house clean. Katarina feared the worst.

As quietly as they could, they made their way into the house, passing through the cozy kitchen where the dining chairs had been knocked over. There was no sign of anybody though.

Katarina navigated her way through the darkness, her intimate knowledge of her own house guiding them towards the stairs. Her parent's bedroom was the largest room, upstairs and away from the rest of the house.

She gasped when she rounded the corner though. Her father was sitting on the floor, elbows on the step behind him, obviously to keep himself upright. His bearded face was covered in sweat, droplets beading on the tip of his nose. It was hard to make out in the darkness but his grey shirt had been darkened by blood, seeping outwards from a long knife that had been stabbed just underneath his ribs. His eyes were closed.

Katarina rushed forward, forgetting about Eobard for the moment. She was about to cry out when a warm hand enveloped her mouth, muffling her voice.

"Shhh... They could still be here. Panicking won't help."

Katarina turned and stared into Eobard's pale blue eyes. The corners of his eyelids were crinkled, and the white of his eyes glistened with moisture despite the darkness. Slowly his hand came away from her mouth and she lurched forward towards her father, unable to keep her emotions in check for the moment.

When she reached him, she was relieved to see his chest rising and falling, albeit not steadily. His eyes shot open when she got close and he reached for the hammer at his side, he was slow though, and his hand missed the handle, closing on nothing.

Katarina stooped down into a crouch and rested her hand on top of his. Seeing him still concerned for his own safety was a comforting sign. That comfort quickly fled though as she studied his wounds up close. There were multiple bruises on his face and arms. His right foot seemed bent at an odd angle, not to mention the knife jutting out of his ribs.

Her vision started to blue as she felt tears forming and a long forgotten feeling rose within her. She was always a strong girl, she hadn't cried since she was a little kid. But now her throat felt constricted, and she breathed through her nose heavily as she struggled to keep it together.

"Kat, I don't think I'll make it. Killed three of the little bastards but I took a bea-" he coughed as he rasped out the words and spittle flew out of his mouth accompanied by droplets of blood. "Big one stabbed me. Went upstairs. Your mother... Save her."

"Please father. Don't say that. I'll get Mother Negwin. It'll all be ok." Anger began to boil up in Katarina but she was still careful when she embraced him gingerly, avoiding the would in his chest.

"If you have time. Chest. At the foot of the bed. Open it. I made somet-" he coughed again. "For you. Kitten."

Tears flowed freely down her face now. She had asked him never to call her that nickname again. She felt a familiar rough and calloused hand reach up and wipe away the tears.

Her father chuckled a little, that same chuckle she would often hear when he thought of a stupid joke.

"Give him hell," and he winked at her before he lay back and closed his eyes.