Corruption

Tightly closing her eyes, somehow the deafening sounds of battle faded away as the communion with Erena began...

Annette awoke in an infinitely expanding space, illuminated with weak blue lights that fought against the heavy darkness of the void. Taking a few steps on the plane of nothingness, like an ever-expanding floor of glass, the Priestess looked around for her missing deity. Lost for what to do next, she was about to call out for Erena, until she appeared before her, materialising from the empty space. Her feminine form was made up of pure light, however it too was faded. It wasn't a graceful entrance, as the Goddess visibly struggled to enter the communion. She pushed her way through against unseen forces. Successfully gaining entry, she stood up tall before Annette. While much smaller than the statue they had prayed at, she was still about a foot taller than the Priestess. Erena smiled meekly before softly speaking...

"Oh Annette... My dear Priestess..."

Annette reflexively smiled up at her, albeit weakly. She couldn't ever bring herself to say it, but deep within her she felt... estranged to the Goddess. While she was undoubtedly linked with Erena, it was clear from even the environment they found themselves in that the link had taken it's toll throughout the night. Over the Goddess' shoulder, she could see distant lights fading away as the darkness approached ever closer.

"My sweet disciple... I see all too well the chaos you find yourself in. I can help you, but you need to devote yourself to me... heart and soul. The divine cannot interfere with the mortal world directly, but through our believers."

"These vile creatures unleashed upon your town attack the very bonds that connect us. By poisoning these bonds, they leave you ****..."

"You have also been inflicted with this poison, Annette. Our bond is breaking."

Words failed her as she closed her eyes in shame, the Priestess finally processed the truth she had been suppressing. The view of the village women being roughly fucked in the streets, the acts she performed on the blind zombie, even the slimy rot-filled cloak she wrapped around her body. Each of these experiences wore away at her faith, even her humanity as she found her resistance eroding and being replaced with a depraved tinge of excitement. It didn't make sense to her at all. It was all so revolting and offensive to every sense she had, but the taboo nature of it all... the indecency... the sick perversion. All of it made her heart flutter.

"Annette. We do not have much time."

Opening her eyes once again showed the extent of the rapid decay. There were only enough blue lights to illuminate the two of them from the now-suffocating darkness. Where it had once been silent, there were now the sounds of straining... splitting... cracking...

Her thoughts quickly refocused on Victor's smile... Rosie's stories from work... her friends across the village and the brave men fighting right now to save it.

The wonderful people in her life deserved the right choice.

"Now, Annette! Take my hand and focus those thoughts!"

The communion was breaking around her. Shadows lapped at her form as she followed her deities' command, raising her hand towards the Goddess' own. Fighting the poison in her soul, the woman had chosen her humanity over her lust. Favouring the lives her friends and fellow villagers over the selfish, unspeakable desires within her heart.

But before their fingers made contact...

*Kssshhhhk*

"NO! ANNETTEEEE!"

Suddenly the floor shattered, plunging Annette into the endless darkness beneath as the Goddess and her echoing scream were consumed by the growing shadows. The Priestess shrieked as she fell for what seemed like minutes. Emerging from the darkness beneath her, canopies of rot collided with Annette as she plunged through the sticky semi-solid surfaces. Filth splattered over her as the frequency of the putrid nets increased, showering her in a green-ish brown ichor.

Annette winced to protect her eyes from the repulsive fluids before opening them again...

She found herself flat on her back at the base of the statue. The Priestess was surrounded by glowing purple eyes, showering her in thick yellow spittle that rained profusely from the feral mouths. Trails of azure light rose up from her body, as if fleeing her corrupting heart.

Annette was now living in a glimpse of the future quietly whispered to her. A disgustingly twisted vision that had shattered the Priestess' last chance at salvation.