Chapter 1
Kagome panted heavily as she sprinted through the nearly darkened forest, barely making out the trees and bushes speeding past as she ran. Her cold and numb fingers fumbled with her bow and arrow, trying to fit them together in a last attempt to save herself. The loud screeching of the demon chasing her was closing in and she quickened her pace. The moment she felt the arrow fall into place, she held it tight and glanced behind her again. Its eyes were the only things visible, a deep, glowing yellow, and it was gaining fast. Dodging more trees, she found herself in a small clearing covered in dead leaves. She breathed deeply, her mouth dry as she gulped in more oxygen. Now that she had stopped, she felt her legs cramping up and her sides filled with an aching pain.
But not more than ten seconds had passed and the horrifying creature burst through the thicket. For a moment, Kagome had forgotten what she was doing, for the sight of it filled her with a new terror. The clouds had shifted, allowing the half-full moon to shine its small silver light onto the scene. The demon, along with its golden eyes, had rows of razor sharp fangs. The claws on its feet and hands were at least ten inches long each, gleaming dangerously in the moonlight. Its scaly body stretched to fifteen feet long and towered over her immensely, making her feel more vulnerable, if possible. And to add to her fright, the demon's mouth dripped with a potent saliva that burned anything it touched to ashes.
Kagome planted her feet firmly to the ground, her fear partly fading. She couldn't run anymore, so she had to defeat it. Aiming her arrow straight at the creature's heart, she pulled back the end, making the string as taut as possible. She released it… and stumbled back. The monster had let loose and ear-splitting shriek, making her jump. The arrow shot forth, piercing it in its shoulder. The arrow glowed brightly and a loud hissing came from where it struck. In an instant, the shoulder began to rot away and the arm of the demon slammed to the ground and disintegrated. By that time, Kagome had fit her bow with another sacred arrow, aiming once again for her original mark. She released it once more, but never hit it the target.
Fast as lightning, the demon rushed toward her, raised its remaining arm and bringing it down in a huge swiping motion. Its range was so wide that Kagome had nowhere to run. She was caught up in the attack and thrown wildly into a dead tree. The sacred arrow flew up past the trees into the sky, beyond her sight. She fell to the ground, with nothing but dirt to catch her fall. It was all she could do to keep from screaming from the pain, as she felt one of her ribs splinter inside her. She clutched her broken rib clumsily, feeling the damage. Right below it was a large gash where one of the demons sharp talons had sliced through her, doubling her pain. Kagome could barely breath from the excruciating feeling. If she kept quiet, maybe the demon wouldn't find her…
However, even that small wish couldn't be fulfilled, because the demon could smell the copper tang of her blood. Uprooting the tree in one movement, the demon spotted her lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. It slammed its hand down upon her, pinning her rigidly. Kagome couldn't hold it in any longer. She cried out loud, tears streaming down her dirt-covered face. The demon growled low, baring its teeth as if it were smiling at her pain. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the final blow to come.
'Miroku…Sango…Shippo…Inuyasha…' she thought, each of their friendly faces coming into view in her clouded mind. She would never see them again, never speak with them again. She didn't want that…she wanted to live!
'Someone…help me…I've got to live…I can't die…' Two more of her bones broke and she heard the ground sizzle. The creature's saliva was oozing all around her. Death was so near…she wanted it to be over with. The scene was becoming hazy and black, tunnel vision closing in. Salvaging the last breath she had, she screamed with all her might.
"Help me…someone!" The demon cocked its head, wondering about her sudden outburst. Kagome felt the last of her strength leave her, letting her body go limp beneath the giant hand. Before slipping into eternal darkness, she heard an enormous squelching sound above her, something hot and wet covering her body. The massive pressure on her body was instantly lifted, the cool night air blowing gently upon her…a feeling she would never forget. Her eyes cracked open and she saw another smaller figure above her. It too was dark, with bright eyes glowing…
Crimson red…
