A second chance

Scars

The trio staggered out of an alleyway, Damien and Thaila supporting Jin, who appeared weak and pale. "We're resting tonight," Damien declared firmly as they navigated through a bustling city. "There's a demigod-friendly hotel about two blocks up on Cliffview," Jin uttered weakly, motioning to the left before dropping her head. "I forgot she knows the locations of safe places for demigods because of her tunnels or whatever power," Damien muttered as they dragged the unconscious Jin.

"The Crescent Wood Hotel," Thaila huffed as they looked around and stepped inside, where they were greeted by a well-dressed, friendly-looking woman.

"Welcomeee," the woman exclaimed with a bubbly voice, hiding a trace of a southern accent. "I'm Asmoth." Jin raised her head weakly, "Quick to live, mercy to the fallen." "Oh my gods! My lady, hurry, hurry. We need to get her to a room right now!" Asmoth exclaimed, leaping over the desk and snatching Jin away from the demigods, rushing down the hallway. "Hurry! Follow!" Asmoth beckoned. Thaila and Damien followed and watched in amazement as Asmoth transformed from a pretty middle-aged woman to a skeleton draped in a cloak.

The skeletal figure burst into a room, laid Jin on the bed, and began chanting while holding a piece of dried fruit.

Thaila and Damien rushed in, seeing Jin lying motionless. Asmoth recoiled and inspected Jin's body. "She needs rest, but her body must be protected. Jin's mind is elsewhere, and I fear her body may attract monsters if we aren't careful," Asmoth cautioned, eyeing the demigods. "One of you, come with me. Her body will be drawing monsters from all over. Another stays with her," she instructed, and Thaila trailed after Asmoth.

Sighing, Damien settled into a chair beside the bed.

In her dream, Jin witnessed a blonde-haired boy leading an army of monsters toward a staircase. "Come on!" he commanded, and the vision shifted, showing the boy exiting another staircase. Jin recognized it was close to where they were. "They are close!" Luke warned as a hellhound sniffed the air.

Jin jolted awake, her eyes scanning the empty room. Snatching fresh clothes, she retreated to the bathroom. Stripping away her shirt and undergarments, she confronted her reflection in the mirror.

Her black eyes felt like voids, her disheveled hair framing a pallid face where veins prominently bulged. As she traced the scars etched across her body, memories surged. A haunting voice echoed, "WEAKkk," resonating with fury, branding her a traitor.

"I'm sorry, mother," Jin muttered, fixated on her reflection, where her mortal mother loomed, laughing with a taunting edge. "Jin, lately, you've been NOTHING BUT WEAK," the voice mocked, encircling Jin's neck. "Shut up! I'm not weak. I'M THE STRONGEST DEMIGOD THERE IS!" Jin retorted, her voice wavering.

"I-I don't know what else I am. I've killed thousands of monsters, done worse," Jin whimpered, tears tracing her face. "That is what I tried to tell you, but no-" Jin shattered the mirror with her fist, silencing the haunting voice, revealing her tear-streaked face. "Damn, it's not fair," she muttered, composing herself before leaving for the lobby.

"Finally," Thaila exhaled as Jin arrived in the lobby. "Master, are you rested?" Asmoth asked, bowing. "Rise, and yes, thanks to you," Jin replied, her tone somber. "Luke's close, an army of monsters in my dream. We must overcome them to reach the Labyrinth," she explained, striding forward.

Damien observed Jin's weary gait, his expression hardening as he followed her. Thaila left a gold coin on the desk before trailing behind them, acknowledging Jin's evident mental exhaustion.

---

Flashback:

"One will rise, and one will fall. From the dark blue, a monster shall rise to live out a vow from another's demise. These are our words to you," three old women uttered while seated on a bench in a parking lot, as a baby cried. "She deserves a life," the woman holding the baby retorted. "Demi gods dont get happy endings."