[ WP ] Write the third episode of non-existant series . Make us curious about what happened before episode 3 , and what happens after .

Catherine sat at her desk, looking out the bedroom window above it at the vast expanse of brown fields and dying grass far below her. A light snow had begun to fall over the sullen landscape, dotting the dark fields with bright spots of white. 
 
 Any ordinary girl would have been crying, but crying was not Catherine's nature. She sat looking out over the countryside, as stiff and frozen as the glaciers beyond the plains on the horizon. 
 
 *It's useless. I'll never get my powers to awaken. Kristina was only fourteen when she first awakened hers. I'm twenty years of age now, with nothing to show for it. Soon, even my lineage will come into question. * 
 
 Without warning, Rickford burst into the room. 
 
 `` Catherine, you have to come quickly!'' He was gasping for breath, and his eyes were wide with panic. `` It's them, the foreigners. They're here for your family!'' 
 
 Catherine spun around in her chair, knocking it to the ground in violence. 
 
 `` What.'' Her gaze was piercing as she stared down the young, pale guard standing at the entrance to her room. `` And the guards? Surely our defenses are strong enough to stop them?'' 
 
 `` Either dead or fleeing for their lives,'' Rickford panted. `` The palace has been overrun.'' 
 
 `` Impossible.'' Catherine walked over to the entrance. `` It would take an army to take down the palace. I've been looking out across the field for the last hour. Nobody has been coming.'' 
 
 Rickford leaned in close to whisper into Catherine's ear. `` Commander Watson is saying he thinks it was an inside job. A guard mutiny.'' 
 
 Catherine's face boiled over with anger. `` It was Drake's unit. He's been plotting my demise for years. That foreigner had no business standing guard in my castle. I'll have his head for this.'' 
 
 Rickford nodded solemnly. `` We can deal with him later. Right now your safety is my top priority.'' 
 
 The two figures fled down the spiral staircase to the landing below. Catherine's breath was coming in short gasps. 
 
 *How could this happen? Is my family allright? Kristina lives on the top floor, did she make it out okay? * 
 
 The duo fled down a narrow side hall and approached a small wooden door. Rickford turned to Catherine, his face suddenly filled with sorrow. 
 
 `` Catherine, before we go any further, I just want you to know that I've always loved you. It pains me that I could never be with you, and I'm sorry about all this.'' 
 
 Catherine looked at him, confused by the timing of his confession. `` Rickford, Now it not the time for this! None of this is your fault! We're making this out alive and we can discuss this later.'' 
 
 `` No, it is the time,'' Rickford continued. `` I always loved you, but your sister... she... she's awful.'' His expression darkened. `` That witch will destroy this country. Sometimes, you must but bury passions in the name of the country you serve.'' 
 
 Before Catherine could respond, Rickford pushed open the door. Inside was a room, dimly lit by a pair of torches hung from the wall. Through the darkness, she could make out four to five figures, shrouded in shadow. 
 
 `` Who is it?'' Commander Watson's gravelly voice barked. 
 
 `` It's me,'' Rickford answered. `` And I've brought her.'' 
 
 Catherine turned to Rickford, bewildered. `` What's going on here Rickford?'' 
 
 Rickford did n't answer, but grabbed her arm forcefully. Catherine felt her stomach drop. 
 
 `` I'm sorry,'' he said replied again. `` For the country.'' 
 
 `` Good work son,'' Watson answered. `` Shoot her, and quickly. Then go fetch the queen and do the same.'' 
 
 `` Yes sir,'' Rickford answered, tears welling up in his eyes. His gun was already out, and trained on Catherine. 
 
 `` WAIT,'' Catherine screamed. `` Rickford please! If you love me, then stop this madness!'' 
 
 Rickford said nothing. The barrel of his gun trembled as he leveled it with Catherine's head. This all felt like a nightmare. She had known Rickford since he was a child, how could he do this? None of that mattered now. There was nothing she could do, except shut her eyes tightly, and wait for the inevitable. 
 
 As she did so, she started to feel something warm well up from the inside of her stomach. 
 
 *Fire, * she realized. At once, she felt a faint glimmer of excitement. *So this is what it feels like to become awakened. * 
 
 She opened her eyes. Rickford, still trembling, gasped. Her eyes were bright and glowing like embers. 
 
 `` No, I'm sorry Rickford. Sorry, for you.'' 
 
 Watson realized what was about to happen, a second too late. `` SHE HAS THE GIFT TOO. SHOOT HER N-'' 
 
 He was cut off as an orange blast rocked the room, blossoming from Catherine's chest like a flower in spring. Rickford and the other guards were thrown backward by a fiery shockwave, and lay crumpled in pile in the corner of the small room. 
 
 Catherine sprang up from the ground and threw open the door, running back out the way that she came. 
 
 Another guard was were waiting for her at the entrance. 
 
 `` Where do you think your going?'' he asked, as he raised his gun to face her. `` I knew Rickford did n't have the guts to finish you off, that useless pimply faced greenhorn.'' He spat on the ground at his name. `` Not a problem for me. I've been waiting a long time for this.'' 
 
 Frantically, Catherine tried to channel more fire, but to no avail. The first blast of fire had drained her completely. 
 
 *This is the end, * she thought. 
 
 A shot rang out across the corridor. Catherine looked down at herself, expecting to see blood. Miraculously, she was fine. She turned back to the guard, as he fell to the floor, lifeless. 
 
 Drake the Foreigner was standing behind him, the barrel of his firearm still smoking. He holstered his rifle as Catherine looked back at him in shock. 
 
 `` Princess, upper command of the Palace Guard has been compromised. They have conspired to kill you and your family. It is now my sole duty to ensure your protection. Please follow me if you value your life.'' 
 
 *** 
 
 Edit: Thanks everyone for reading! I do n't want to make any promises, but if I do continue this prompt I'll do it on my subreddit ( /r/ghost_write_the_whip ), really just depends on how busy I am and when inspiration hits. 
 
 Edit 2: [ Here's Part 4 ( well, *really* part 2 )! ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/ghost_write_the_whip/comments/5bk1ne/catherines_awakening_ch_4_part_2_of_wp_write_the/ )
