Yasa's Necklace

Staring up the mountain path I was starting to rethink my life choices. It wasn't that the path was particularly difficult but the snow just wouldn't stop. Even a couple of inches worth of snow could make the easiest path turn deadly. But it's not like I have anywhere to go so I start pushing forward. According to the locals I talked to at the last village there should be an abandoned church somewhere up this path. It would be a good place to make a base camp. I walk slowly testing each step to make sure I'm not just going to drop off into god knows where.

This all started for one simple reason. Treasure. Now however it has become so much more. Pride and a determination to see this through to the end for the people who I have lost along the way. When I started this seemingly simple task sixty-five hundred miles ago there were five of us. Myself, two hired hands, and two business partners who I had worked with for a long time. The hired hands left when I got to this snowy land. They said I hadn't paid them enough for dealing with snow and apparently the promise of the money from the treasure wasn't enough to keep them.

My partners however are a different story. One lost his life when our boat capsized only two miles away from shore. The other one died in a plane crash we had coming here. Now that I think about it maybe that's why the hired hands actually left. There had been a lot of accidents on this trip. Three car crashes, the boat capsizing, and the plane crash. We've been attacked at least five times by untrusting and greedy locals of different lands. Really wish my desire to see this through wasn't so strong. But it was and I had no intention of quitting.

My partner who died in the boat accident was named Pulp. Apparently his parents didn't like him very much. The one who passed in the plane crash was named George. We have a ritual before we leave on any trip where there is the chance we could die. We would sit around and tell stories while drinking. It was our way to come together and have our time so that if one of us died we didn't feel the need to mourn till after the mission was done. At the end of the night we would always have one more toast and say our motto "Fortune doesn't pay for those who aren't brave." We had come up with it when we first started working together and it had stuck with us ever since.

The snow had finally stopped so that was good. However I still hadn't found that church. I looked down at my wrist to check my watch only to remember that it had been broken in the plane crash. So I looked back behind me trying to get a gauge of the time from the sun. I had maybe two hours left before night came so I needed to pick up the pace. I started walking faster keeping my eyes on the horizon scanning for any sign of a building.

The path was becoming stepper every hundred feet or so and my legs were getting sore. I took a quick look back at the sun again. I had hopefully an hour at this point and I was starting to get a little worried. Still no sign of a building and the temperature was dropping rapidly already. I came over a small ridge and finally saw a building. Couldn't tell what it was yet but that didn't matter. It was a building and that's all I needed for now. I pushed myself harder now the sighting of the building gave me the extra boost I needed.

As I reached the building the sun was dipping below the horizon. The locals hadn't lied to me. It really was a random abandoned church up on this mountain. A rather large one at that. I pushed open the doors expecting them to be difficult but they swung open with little effort. As I stepped in I was taken aback by the condition of the church. It looked like there could still be services being held here every week. A thin layer of dust rested on the pews but it had already been knocked off just by me opening the doors. I closed the doors sending the church into darkness. Hurriedly I dropped my bag reaching inside to find a flashlight praying that it wasn't broken.

I hadn't really stopped to check my supplies after the plane crash. I took the time to bury my friend who had passed and said goodbye to the hired hands. After that I had started moving and just hadn't really stopped. That was three days ago now and this was going to be my first real rest since then. I found the flashlight pulling it out and flicking it on to be greeted with a brilliant stream of light that illuminates the church for me. "Thank god for that at least." I mutter to myself as I pick up my bag walking further into the church. Up at the front is an altar to some deity I was unfamiliar with. It looked like a man but it's face was definitely not a man's. It was more of a beast with large sharp teeth being shown in a toothy grin and it's eyes looked quite cunning. For what looked like a bronze statue it was incredibly lifelike, enough so that I decided to give it a wide berth.

I made my place for the evening back towards the entrance of the church not wanting to look at the statue. Given the state of the church I decided I wouldn't be breaking anything down for firewood. So that meant no fire for me tonight. But the inside of the church was a good bit warmer than outside and it didn't seem to have any drafts so I should be okay. I rummaged through my bag finding a can of fruit and some jerky to gnaw on. I also went ahead and pulled out my thermal blanket to wrap up and start holding in heat now before it got any colder. I finished my food and curled myself into a corner. When I finally cut the flashlight it was pitch dark in the church and yet it still felt like that statue could somehow see me. I fell asleep eventually though I never stopped feeling uneasy.

I woke up to light streaming in through the windows of the church. The first rays of the sun hit me like a lightning bolt. I sat straight up from my slightly leaned position that I had managed to achieve in the corner. My whole body was stiff but at least I wasn't frozen like I expected to be. I stood up stretching myself deciding to forgo food for now but I definitely needed some water. As I packed my thermal blanket up I pulled out my canteen draining it. I would have to see if I could stuff it with snow once I went outside. I decided to actually look around the church now that I had some light to see by.

I went and inspected the pews to see if there was anything special or unique to them. On the end pieces were carved representations of the same deity that inhabited the altar. With that I decided to go inspect the altar. I hadn't looked at it since waking up because I didn't like starting my day off with something that ugly. When I did I was shocked at what I saw. Laying on the altar was a dead wolf. I walked closer to inspect it when I noticed there was blood on the statue all over its mouth. It hadn't fully dried yet so it must have happened shortly before I woke up. Though how anyone had walked into the church while I was sleeping and done this I had no idea. The wolf's throat had been gouged out as if bitten out. The statue also had blood on its hands as if it had been what killed the wolf. But that was even crazier than someone sneaking in with it.

There were doors to the left and right of the altar. I picked the left one and with trepidation opened it only to find a bathroom. I breathed a sigh of relief and closed it going to the right door now. I tried to open it only to find that it was locked. I stood there and debated for a moment about whether or not to try and pick the lock. I decided I needed to know what was behind door number two so I headed back to my bag and pull out my lockpicking kit. As I pull the various tools I'll need from the kit I get the distinct impression that I'm being watched. Taking a deep breath I just continue on with my business looking around as I walk, acting like I'm admiring the building. I see no one before I get to the door so I start working on the lock.

Two minutes later and the door is open though I'm wishing it wasn't. Inside of the room is another altar to the same deity. This one is far more primal though. The appearance of this statue looks the same but the body seems to be covered with actual hair. As if someone had skinned an animal and dressed the statue with it. It also had blood across its mouth and hands that seemed at least partially fresh and there was some sort of wild pig in front of the altar. I tried not to gag as I closed the door, "What the hell? Who did this and how?" Heading back over to my bag I figured it was time to leave this place. I'd already wasted more time than I should have.

Everything packed and bag on my shoulders I had for the door. Pushing it open I'm startled when I see one of the locals who had told me about the church. We look at each other for a moment before he speaks, "I see you found the church. I do hope Yasa didn't bother you. He can be quite noisy when he goes and hunts."

I look at the man confused, "Yasa? Who is that? I didn't see anyone here last night." The man points behind me at the statue. I look back, "Ah no he didn't wake me. Are you telling me he comes to life at night and goes to hunt?"

The man laughed. A full bodied laugh not in mockery but simple amusement, "Yasa is always alive. But yes at night he goes to hunt. Even God must eat and during the winter we don't have enough food of our own to bring him so he hunts. Yasa does not mind though. He likes the heat from the blood of a fresh kill."

Nodding, I made my way past the man and started heading back up the trail. I take a moment to stuff some snow into my canteen, "Understood. Well let him know thank you for letting me use the church. I hope I didn't disturb him."

The man nodded back, "I will. Though do not be out come nighttime or Yasa may hunt you too."

I took a look towards the sun. It wasn't that high up yet so I hadn't lost too much time. I looked back up the path realizing that the mountain walls were slowly closing in and soon I would be in a narrow ravine of the mountain. That was a good thing though. That meant I was getting closer to where the treasure was supposed to be. At the end of the ravine there was supposed to be about a fifty foot climb and then a temple. In the temple resided a large gold pendant that brought the wearer good fortune and immunity to the elements whatever that meant. Hopefully it didn't belong to Yasa. If he really was alive then he might get angry at me for stealing his treasures. I pushed the thought out of my head and I kept walking.

A few hours later I'm standing in front of a fifty foot sheer wall of mountain. Thankfully my boots were made for climbing and I had a couple of handpicks to help me climb up. Though this was going to be harder than I thought. This wall was really almost a flat surface with very little handholds. I tested the handpick to see how much force I would need to puncture the rock and actually get a good grip. The pick goes in easily enough. I looked up and sighed, "Only fifty feet. I can do this. And it's too late to turn back anyways."

The climb takes what feels like forever though probably was still an hour. My arms were on fire and I couldn't feel my hands anymore. But I was up here now and there was a temple just like there was supposed to be. As I walked up to the temple two men stepped out from the temple. Both were visibly armed carrying spears out in front of them that were pointed at me. They stepped down the stairs of the temple while maintaining their attack position, "Who are you that comes to the temple of Yasa?"

I groaned internally. No one had mentioned any guards. I slowly brought my hands up, "Whoa there. I've just come to pay my respects to Yasa. I already prayed at the altar of the church and the caretaker told me that if I could make the journey I should come here. So let's lower the spears so I can go see Yasa. That's all I want to do."

The two men looked at each other. I could see them having a conversation without once saying a word. My fate is being decided right now. I kept my face as still as possible trying not to betray the fear that was welling up in me. Finally the guards lowered their spears and nodded at me, "You carry the mark of Yasa. You may go in. Though, know now that if you touch any of Yasa's treasure he will devour you whole."

I nodded and bowed, "Thank you. I understand." With that I walked inside. As I stepped in I was surprised by how warm it was inside the temple even though there was no flame that I could see. I looked around the small temple at all the various treasures that adorned the temple. There were various trinkets, weapons, and jewelry scattered all over the temple. It seemed random at first but the longer I looked I saw a pattern within the madness. In the middle of the back wall was another statue of Yasa, this one seemed to be made of stone. Somehow it was even more lifelike than the bronze statue. There were dried patches of blood all over the statue but especially the mouth and hands. But most importantly the pendant was around its neck, in all of its golden splendor.

I slowly walked up to the statue keeping an ear out for the guards. I knelt before it and tried to think of a prayer but none came to mind. I could almost feel Yasa's eyes on me in disapproval and anger. I stood up and started to reach for the necklace when I heard two gunshots ring out. Suddenly the doors flew open. I turned to see my former partner Pulp standing in front of me with a gun drawn on me, "Fortune doesn't pay for those who aren't brave. Now move out of the way. That necklace is mine."

I put my hands up walking forward, "Hey Pulp. I thought you were dead. You never surfaced after the boat capsized. We made a grave for you and everything. What happened?"

Pulp just stared at me, "Really? That's what you're going with? You couldn't even come up with a better story than that. You and George left me there to die. You didn't even search for me. You just went on your merry way happy you had more money to your name. Speaking of George, where is he?"

I sighed, "He's dead too. Plane crash coming into the country. Had to bury him as well. That's when the hired hands left. I've made the last leg of this journey on my own. I was just about to grab the treasure. But listen, you want it, you take it. I can grab some of this other crap and I'll be fine. You're the man with the gun so you call the shots. No pun intended."

Pulp stared at me thinking hard. He always had this tic when he was thinking where his left eye would constantly flutter. He always told us it was neurological damage from when he got shot in the head early in his criminal career. Finally he shrugged, "Alright you've got a deal only because of how far back we go. But after today if I see your face again while I'm in the middle of a heist I'll kill you on the spot."

Nodding, I stepped out of his way, my hands still up in the air, "Be my guest then." I looked over at the statue realizing that the face had changed. Yasa's mouth was open now and there was what looked like fresh blood dripping out of it.

Pulp walked over to the statue smirking, "The weird things people do with their deities. Paint it with blood so it looks like a real killer. Savages am I right?" He reached up for the necklace. As his hands touched it the statue came to life, its hands wrapping tight around Pulp. Pulp started to scream but was cut short when Yasa leaned forward and tore open Pulp's throat bathing Yasa in his blood. Yasa dropped the now lifeless body and went back to the stance it was in before.

I stood there in shock, my hands still up in the air. I eventually remember to lower my hands. I bowed my head in prayer for Pulp. My pride was satisfied. I had made it here and I could have gotten the necklace minus the part where I would die doing so. With that I bowed to Yasa, "Thank you. Your land is beautiful. I promise I'll never be back." I turned and walked out of the temple thinking about how it might be time to look for a new line of work.

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