I Believe in you - A GWH Story

I Believe in You - Chapter 4

The main entrance of the temple was shaped like a snake's huge gaping maw, which didn't help counter the growing sensation of uneasiness at all. The insides were kind of scary as well; they were ample and very dark, and the wide hall lined with snake statues and pillars went in very deep. Lib and Darreek couldn't see the end of it due to the lack of light, even though it was daytime, but Amaya could, thanks to her affinity to the night. A large altar with an even larger statue of the deity stood on the other side of the vast space; even without the disconcerting feeling the woman had ever since the war council, the stone representation of Moon Snake made her tremble in fright. Once it was within her companions' eyesights, it produced the same emotion in them.

"Creepy. Whoever built this place got that right, at least. It's sort of mandatory for any ancient, mysterious god." Lib muttered.

"I know we're focused on the snake, but we shouldn't forget our mission." Amaya reminded them, mostly trying to get a grip on herself.

"Right. Let's split up and scout around." Darreek suggested. "We should get a good idea of the layout of the temple so we can plan our defenses."

"Yes, let's." The team leader agreed.

As soon as she said it, both she and the demon quickly moved in opposite directions to some stairwells on the side walls. They were clearly trying to avoid getting close to the statue. If they had felt the need to abort the mission just by being outside the temple, being inside was even worse. As long as they didn't disturb it, it didn't matter if they never found out the truth of what secrets lay hidden in this place.

"Guys?" Lib called out, a bit worried. "You're really just gonna leave me here with the statue all by myself?"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, another hiss, this time a lot louder, echoed throughout the dark hall. The Muician yelped and took a big leap backwards, while both Amaya and Darreek grabbed their heads in pain, as the sound rebounded inside their skulls, resonating at a much deeper level than a normal person. It was as if their souls themselves had been rattled by that dreadful, nightmarish, vibration.

"What do we have here?" An ethereal, otherworldly, drawn-out voice followed the hiss, seemingly coming from everywhere at the same time. Frightened, Lib scurried backwards even more, thinking it was the statue itself that was speaking. "If it isn't Night Crow and Bright Crow... together. Things are proceeding normally, I see... Heh hehheh."

"Night Crow...?" Amaya whispered.

"Bright Crow...?" Darreek muttered.

As with Moon Snake, more names that seemed way too familiar to be mere coincidences. Names that beckoned them to converge on the temple. What in the world was going on?

"Uh, I think there's been a misunderstanding!" The alien cried out, trying to talk to the spirit. "We really didn't want to disturb you, and these aren't the people you're expecting! We actually just want to-"

"Oh, but they are who I'm expecting, little mortal." The voice cut Lib off. "They've just forgotten it."

Amaya stepped back into the middle of the great hall, taking a position beside her friend. Darreek followed suit a few seconds afterwards, reuniting the three once more. Strength in numbers made them all feel safer.

"Moon Snake." The goddess said to the statue, attempting to hold a firm tone. She had hoped to avoid confronting the uncomfortable sensation the temple gave her, but there was no turning back now that the thing was awake. She had to be brave, and answers were in order. "Who are you? And what do you mean, we're expected?"