She tangled in Esperanza's legs as the pair of them were hurried inside. Going to the floor, she'd scramble backward and away from the terror frothing outside. Only stopping when she felt her back meet the leather of a sofa and heard the gurgled cries of ...whatever that had all been grow dim from behind thick wood. She hadn't looked -not really- for fear of wasted seconds looking to catch glimpse of her pursuer leading to her death instead. She could've sworn she felt the breath of something; hot and putrid, on the back of her neck before an arm had grabbed hold and she was thrust into relative safety.<br/><br/>She went to swallow, was unable and instead took to look about the room with wide eyes and a pounding heart. It took her the better part of a moment to realize she'd dug her fingers so firmly into the flooring that they ached upon releasing. Uncertain she'd be able to stand just then -adrenaline pumping as it was- Kat resigned to take in the faces as she was able. Locked in fright and bewildered beyond comprehension, it wasn't exactly the best circumstances to make introductions. All the same, the pale woman who looked as though she'd topple at any second gave her the greatest pause. Smoothing a few errant strands of raven hair back with her palms, she'd wobble to her feet. With everyone catching their breath it was unfair of her to be so put-out by their silence.<br/><br/>This did nothing to stay the bile that crept into the back of her throat as she turned fierce eyes on whomever was closest and least vaguely responsible. A loud thump battered fruitlessly against the barricaded door, snapping her focus only for a moment.<br/><br/>"Wha-" her voice caught, attention hopelessly diverted to stay her trembling. "What was that?" Dark, mirrored eyes darted from face to face, looking for even the faintest hint of acquiescence toward blame. "Hm?" She neared Ismark; still gathering himself. With a shove none too gentle, she'd follow it up with another before he had much chance to answer. "None of you!?"<br/><br/>She felt a pang then. Sharp and intense that radiated from her gut and into her heart at the thought of this. How glibly she'd taken this path, nearly skipping through the desiccated outskirts of the region. Paying no mind to the ruin that acted as both sentry and warning for those too deaf or foolhardy to have not already heard the tales. And for what? A vague promise scrawled in expensive ink on thrice used parchment? The company of her own, mysterious duplicate and a dash of intrigue along the way? Her stomach knotted at the realization: that she hated herself for leaving the predictable -if not mildly irritating- life of what she bitterly called home.<br/><br/>And, too, at the realization that this, their predicament, all of it ...was<i>only </i>her fault.<br/><br/>Guilt flashed over her face as she couldn't help but glance toward Esperanza; alone. The echo of Xavier's death knell screamed still in the back of her mind. She couldn't fathom how loudly it must've sounded for her.