Fields of Crimson

Of Wolves and Killers Alike

She couldn't dream, perhaps it was because her state of unconsciousness had been forced upon her. Even if she had fallen asleep due to mere tiredness, she wouldn't have been able to dream, for what she had just witnessed was much too disturbing for any child to comprehend.
~Akhira felt a severe stinging on the side of her head, and reached to touch it as her vision cleared to see exactly where she was. Oh divines...
The blonde's eyes widened as she sat up in shock. She lay in a bed, a very very cold bed. From what she had experienced, a cold bed was no bed at all. Her fingertips itched at the fabric below her as her eyes wandered around the room. The walls were made of stone, and torches burned dimly in the corners. A bookshelf lined one of the walls, and only a few books seemed to live there. Small spiderwebs seemed to reside there now.
She took in a rigid breath as she turned to the side of the bed, placing her toes upon the ground at the side of the cot.
A large wooden door was the only thing that stood out, for a bright light glistened outside- she could see the line beneath the door. Not only that... But the sound of barking hounds could be heard in the distance. The yapping of the canines seemed to reverberate off of the walls. Akhira's worst fear had been lived as of this moment. Caves.
Her father had told her to stay away from the caves around the outskirts of the town. She wasn't mischievous when it came to what her father said, she knew very well that the caves were dangerous... Considering what had happened to others in her family.
Her family!
Now she was separated from her father, the only person in the world who gave her life meaning. It was sad to think that, as a young girl, but it was true. She straightened out her old dress before coming to her feet and walking towards the door. As she reached for the handle, the door burst open.
A terrible, dark, ferocious beast broke through the wooden barrier and launched itself at her. Her scream was the most deafening thing- but it seemed to have cut short.~

What a horrible nightmare that was...
Akhira's eyes finally opened to view the ceiling of the room in which she had been attacked. The iron ingot lay just to her side, and the dead man lay just a feet feet away and behind the counter. What? How could she still be here? She could not dream... Right? Well, nightmares do not count as dreams.
The poor girl sat up and felt hot tears flood her cheeks and nose. Who killed this man? And why did they hurt her too? The young girl was confused and scared as she tried to use the counter to pull herself to stand.