Unlikely Goddess: Marium's Quest

Author's Note: This is the newly revamped Chapter One of Unlikely Goddess. Enjoy!

Chapter One:

Summoned to save a Magical world

            “Mom, I’m home.” Marium called, walking through the door. She noted that her siblings were all absent, and her dad was gone on a business trip. Her mom was in the kitchen, baking cookies for her. “Smells great!”

            Marium’s mom glanced out of the kitchen door and smiled at her daughter. “I hope it does, these are for your end-of-school party tonight!”

            Sobering immediately, Marium set her backpack down by the door, and walked into the kitchen. She sat down at the table. “I’m not having one.”

            “What? But you’re out of school! You should be happy. Just a few weeks ago you were about to burst with happiness. What’s wrong?” her mom inquired, sitting next to Marium at the table.

            She shook her head to her mom, and there was a silence. The cat-shaped clock on the wall ticked off the seconds as all was quiet. Suddenly, the green phone on the wall, which rested underneath the cat-clock, might I add, gave a ring to let them know someone was calling. Her mom got up and answered it. “Oh, hello Mother. How’d you get to a phone?”

            “They let you go on good behavior. I see.” Marium muffled her laugh, her grandma was the greatest. She was supposed to stay in an old-folk’s home, but Marium knew she wasn’t crazy. Just… eccentric. And she told the most beautiful story-book love stories. “You want to talk to Marium? Hold on.”

            Her mother held out the phone for her, and Marium jumped up to talk. Smiling as she raised the mouthpiece to her cheek. “Hi Grandma!”

            “Hello, dear. So you’ve gotten through another year of school. What grade are you going into, honey?” her grandmother’s voice was raspy from overuse. She loved to talk, as much as she could.

            Marium laughed, happiness flooding into her. “Don’t tell me you’re getting senile already. I’ve just gotten out of 9th grade.”

            “Ah, you’re a big-bad junior now, huh lovely?”

            “Sophomore, Grannie.” She corrected her grandma, swallowing a laugh.

            Sighing in exasperation, Marium heard her curse under her breath. “Yes, yes, I knew that. You planning on staying home tonight? It’s the summer solstice, you remember that story I told you about what happened to me one year on this day?”

            “Grannie, you’ve told me millions of stories. Which one?”

            “The one about the squirrel boy with green hair.” Grannie said, dreamily. Marium grinned.

            “Yes, I remember that one. One of the better ones, might I add.”

            “Now, don’t get snappish with me, honey,” her grandma paused to cough, hard, then continued, “Be careful. Lock your windows, close your vents. Anything that lets air in from the outside. Unless you want to go on a wild adventure, that is.”

            “Oh GRANNIE.” Marium sighed, chuckling. “It’s that kind of talk that got you put in the home, you know. I believe you, but Mom… you know how she is about all that magic hocus-pocus stuff.”

            “Don’t worry, dear, it skips every generation. Your mother is normal.” Her voice went flat at the new conversation. “Have fun tonight with your friends, don’t go outside, okay?”

            “Alright, Grannie. Love you.” Marium hung up the phone, and looked at her mom. “What? We weren’t talking about anything, promise.”

 

Later that afternoon…

            "You really should call some people over and have a party." Marium's cheerful mother suggested once more. Marium thought for a moment, then nodded, giving in to her mother’s nagging.

            "I suppose. Maybe something fun will happen. I'll give Kimberly and Sarah a ring and see if they want to have a sleep over. Thanks, Mom." she said, and hopped over to the telephone to dial in the numbers.

 

            Half an hour later, two identical girls appeared at Marium's door, smiling. They were her best friends, Kimberly and Sarah, the Decker twins. Marium light-heartedly open the front door and let them inside.

            "Hi, Marium!" the twins cheered, hugging Marium simultaneously. Marium laughed, her red irises shining with happiness.

            "Hi Kimberly, Sarah! Are you two hungry? The food just got here, and my mom went out for movies." she commented, as the two dropped their bags and raced to the kitchen. "I guess that's a yes!"

            They were all comfortably reclining on the dining room chairs when Marium heard the first voice. It sounded shaky with nervousness.

            "High Priestess, you must hurry and revive your goddess. You must save..."

            "What..?" Marium inquired, glancing at Sarah. "Did you just say something?"

            Sarah smiled and giggled. "No, silly! I didn't say a word!"

            "Are you sure? Then it must've been the T.V. Did I leave it on? Oh well," the three continued their feast.

 

            Marium's mother returned with some movies a little later than anticipated, and went straight to her room after designating a bedtime for the girls. "Good night, Mother. Sleep well, okay?"

            Mrs. Tomo disappeared into her room and the girls plopped down on the couches in the living room. Marium popped the first movie into the VCR and sat back. None noticed the windows ajar, nor did they pay attention to open air conditioning vents.

            It wasn't long before all three girls were out cold. An eerie, white fog wafted into the room from the air vents and brought an image to the minds of the three. The picture was white, slightly hazy, yet still sent a sickening chill down their spines.

            "PRIESTESS! HELP US!"

            "Oh no! The Jinjus are here! Run!"

            "Priestess, the people here are your responsiblity! Call on the goddess's power! Before it's too late! Return here and save us all!"

            Marium fidgeted in her sleep, her stomach in a knot, and drenched with a cold sweat. Nausea swept over her as she moaned, "Help you? I'm not a…"

            The living room was filled with a bright flare and the three girls were gone, pulled into a magical abyss by invisible hands. The fog spread out and dissipated as the room remained empty.