A seed of displeasure had been planted in Kasiya's heart. She grew to despise the man she'd once called father. The strong willed, intelligent, driven individual she'd once looked up to was now gone; replaced by a fat tub of useless flesh that did nothing but drain their resources. She often wondered what he would do when there were no more valuables to sell and no more slaves to profit from. The question wouldn't linger long, however, for she'd soon be given an answer that would alter the course of her life for an eternity.
It was either the sound or the smell that pulled her from her slumber. The room was pitch black and a rancid odor invaded her nostrils. She could feel the presence of another beside her bed, watching her and waiting patiently to make a move. Perhaps they assumed her to still be asleep. Without making a sound her left arm began to drift across the silk sheets, slowly reaching for the ornate dagger which rested upon the stand next to her bed. It was of little use, for the predator whom watched her like a hawk noticed in an instant and descended upon her swiftly. A fat, meaty hand clamped over her mouth to muffle her screams and the weight of his form crushed her into the mattress.
Beautiful as she was there was no denying the danger of trifling with such a creature, for just prior to his assault her hand had grasped the dagger. Without much of a struggle she began plunging the blade into the meaty side of her assailant's body. Over and over she thrust the blade until her skin was warm with blood and she felt the weight of his form go limp. After a momentary struggle she eased herself out from beneath him, bloody and still panting to catch her breath. Outside her room the hall was dark, and she heard footsteps approach before the sound of her father's familiar voice cut through the quiet."Is it done? Have you caught her? I certainly hope you didn't damage her too much. She's not worth as much damaged, you see."
Her thoughts were a jumbled mess of confusion and horror. Her father was behind this botched attempt? In a split second she made a decision. Without reply she padded over to the door, flung it open completely and offered him the same fate as his now deceased employee. Painted in blood and still dressed in her stained nightgown she made her way out of the house and into the unforgiving heat of the desert night. Through the sands she ran, gasping and panting from the sheer heat and lack of available water. She knew she'd be to blame when the bodies were discovered. There was no going back now.
The patch of fog that appeared seemed to swirl around her, conforming to her body, trapping her inside until it became so dense that she couldn't see anything. She stopped to catch her breath, and into a heap she collapsed. She was a sticky mess of blood and sweat and longed for food and drink. When she woke the world around her was unfamiliar. The grass was thick and wet and she was surrounded by varying trees, some dead and twisted and others growing full and lush. The one constant that remained, however, was the thick fog that made it difficult to navigate.
Her mother had woven tales of The Mists when Kasiya was a child, but until now she'd been under the impression that they were just that - tales. The longer she traveled the more real those stories became. She encountered beasts and creatures only her mind would've been able to conjure. At times she hid and during other confrontations she ran. She drank dirty swamp water and picked meat off of whatever bones she could find. Her form became gaunt and her skin paled from the lack of sunlight. She had no concept of day or night and lost track of time. Perhaps her belief that He had protected her kept her going. His devotion was as true as her own and she knew that somehow she'd survive.
