kate without head

[Gui]

Can someone explain to me why after we took the "voice" cassette tape and played at the mystery video club, we walked upstairs and found Kate with her own head in her hands?? what is the meaning (both kate and brian do not say anything the only dialogue that appears between the two is "...")

[Count von Bunnyhopven]

I would also like to know this.

[❤Toxic❤]

Maybe meaning in reference to Witch, Brain should cut off head of Domori, and on party Brain regurgitate the scene with Kate

[john america]

It's just a little prank, 3head. also i typed this at like 4am, so idk if it's going to make sense

As mentioned in another comment, it pretty conspicuously foreshadows the events at the end of the party. And, interestingly, this scene is only accessible when playing the tape, listening to the voice. Putting aside who is singing, the lyrics of the song (from "The White Witch..." to "...share the tale of blood and hell" give us the image of Domori, scorned, cursing her family and the company dependent on her cooperation. When the singer switches to first person, they seem to be singing as someone watching this happen. The lines, "I heard a voice cry / In search of a new light / Maybe an old lie", in combination with the preceding verse about Domori, seem to describe Domori's lamentations over the pain she feels after Rei's (perceived) betrayal.

We hear this song, "Voice" (of who?), playing, and we see Kate, decapitated, surrounded by paperwork. There's a lot to dissect here beyond just foreshadowing, I think. For one, between Kate and Brian there is a veritable mountain of papers, likely referencing the fourth floor and Kate's duties making and delivering copies. Through Mr. Toad's deliberate malintent, Kate is sent with a task to deliver copies deep in the poison fog, dangerously close to the source of the poison (among other hazards). Kate's duties, essentially, lead her unknowingly on a quest toward death and danger. Thus we could reasonably surmise a connection between the mountain of papers and the company, perhaps representative. The fact that it is impassable, as well, could be indicative of the nature of the company, drawing people in - or, perhaps, it is impassable, but it was Kate who stacked it around herself, creating this situation in part through her own will. Kate, during this surreal sequence, is still alive, and just stares across at Brian. From the perspective of Brian, what would he be feeling here? Before him, his crush, headless with her head staring from her hands, completely out of his reach. He can only witness, he can only watch. Maybe this sequence, beyond just being about Kate, is about Brian, and this bleak feeling of impending doom. Remember, this cassette is only found after saving Kate from the Dot Matrix. She almost died there, before Brian flushed out the "witch's cauldron." It could be a moment where he spaces out, and finds him self facing this image of doom and loss.

And, if we were to parse this yet another way, we'd have to look at the party, the witch hunter reveal, and the obviously stated connection (during the party) of cutting the witch's head off. We hear this song about the witch and her scorn, her pain and her cries, and we see here before us a decapitated Kate. Oddly, in this eerie moment, we're given this scene where we understand the witch's pain, and understand the stakes for Brian. Perhaps the two are an intentional juxtaposition, through their disparity creating meaning for the story. Brian, driven in his quest to kill the witch to precisely stop this scene of a headless Kate. And the witch, not merely just a malicious, background entity, but a creature wronged and hurt. It could be a moment of reflection for Brian, or for us. From the micromanagement of resources and dodging baddies to what the reasons are for everyone to act the way they do.

As a quick side note, I think it's interesting the Kate is shown to us visually, and rather than on screen text, we get a voice singing in our ear. It's reminiscent of the witch's whispers in our ears. Kinda cool, leans into that juxtaposition a bit by retreading the ground of female voice in ear = witch. I haven't played the DLC paths yet (just bought the game, unintentionally did the normal route), so I'm probably missing some insights. I also don't know exactly who is singing, or if it matters. Maybe it's Kate singing, somehow. I also realize I'm necroposting but this question was interesting to think about.