Unlikely Goddess

Chapter Two:

The High Priestess of Yin!

            "Where am I..?" Marium struggled to sit up and take in her surroundings. The room spun for a few moments, then rested easily into focus. Surprise and horror filled her expression.

            She was in a temple, an old one, by the looks of it. And there was a thick, frightening fog that enveloped the sacred enclosure. To her right, Kimberly was looking around with a terrified expression, and to her left, Sarah was gazing at the fog with interest, but the same feeling of horror was emanating from her as well.

            "Oh, Marium! You're awake! Thank you! I was getting worried about you." Kimberly exclaimed, huddling next to the short haired girl. Sarah nodded.

            "We took a nasty fall and landed on this hard floor. I was afraid you might've gotten really hurt." she admitted, placing a reassuring hand on Marium's. Marium rubbed her own head and stood up, wobbling.

            The room was in ruins, fresh carcasses were scattered across the floor, surrounded by dark, wet puddles of crimson liquid. Marium knew in an instant what the liquid was. "Omigod…"

            Kimberly and Sarah gasped and doubled over at the brutality of the scene. The people had been murdered by something evil… truly evil…

            "The renegade Jinjus... did this." a weary voice spoke from the shadows. The girls screamed and whirled around to face a young man that was covered in dirt and blood. He stood tall, even with all his wounds, and didn't even limp as he walked toward the three. "We… should have- seen them coming… Priestess Yin... please.. please save our world of magic. It's the only one left.. I beg you."

            He collapsed just as he reached Marium. She cried out and caught him before he could hit the ground. Her knees buckled under the weight and she quickly set him down. "I'm not your priestess! I can't do anything! This must be a dream."

            The man coughed and a trickle of blood spilled from his lips. Kimberly and Sarah turned away and vomited as the stench and display finally got to them. Marium's lips trembled as she realized this wasn't a dream. "Priestess…? Yes, the look in your eyes… You are the High Priestess of Yin. The Jinjus are still here. You must run. Escape to the Forest of Magic, you'll find comrades there… and the rest will come. In time. Priestess, place your blessing on me before I leave."

            Marium gazed at the man helplessly, then placed her hands on his forehead. "May your god smile down on you and take you to the eternal place where all men must go. Rest peacefully and without shame."

            Kimberly suddenly let out a high pitched cry and Marium looked up. Sarah was in the grip of a terrifying, dark creature. It's fangs dripped with blood and its long, razor-sharp claws were caked with filth. The thing's body was rotting with decay, and Marium knew this was a "Jinju".

            "Sarah!!!" Kimberly leapt at the monster, and suddenly, she was in the claws of another one, equally as ugly. "Marium! Run, don't get caught for us! Only you can change this! I can feel it! Go!"

            "KIMBERLY! SARAH!!! NO!" Tears were streaming down Marium's cheeks as she watched the two monsters all but devour her best friends. And there she was. Helpless. So she did as Kimberly commanded. She turned on her heel and ran.

            She sprinted long and fast. Her spirit wished to be free of this evil, to be clear and clean again. But she'd let her two friends be killed. There was nothing she could do…

            Marium reached the Forest of Magic and didn't stop there. She ran deep into the woods until her legs and lungs couldn't hold out any longer. Her vision blurred and her legs gave way. A young man wearing a heavy cloak was standing in the forest, almost right next to her. Why hadn't she noticed him before?

            She gave in to the blackness that was threatening her sight, and felt two arms support her. The last thing she could remember was the sensation of being carried off.