The Ever War: Chapter 1

Ok. Due to a request I am posting this story here as well as on my deviantart account. Beck you better read this!!

A hand flew out of the covers and slapped at the clock on his desk. A boy, hair disheveled from sleep, wearily opened his eyes. With a grown, he threw back the covers and sat up.

"Josh! Time to get up!" his mother called. He rubbed a hand across his eyes and headed for the bathroom. After a long hot shower, shaving, brushing his teeth, and rubbing a hand through his hair, he dressed and headed downstairs.

His mother had just set the table for breakfast. She glanced at him and smiled. "Good morning."

"Morning mom." he said as he sat down. It had been just him and his mom for many years now. His father, James Evans, had disappeared several years ago. He was presumed dead, but Marilyn Evans, Josh's mother, never spoke of him.

"Did you study for your Chemistry test?" Marilyn asked, placing her son's breakfast before him.

Josh rolled his eyes. "Yes mom. I studied for both it and my History test."

She took a sip of her coffee and smiled. "Good." Josh ate in silence, his mother lost in her thoughts. She was often like that. Not that she was mental or anything, but every now and then her eyes would simply glaze over and she seemed to be listening to something. Almost as though someone was whispering in her ear. He took his plate to the sink, then picked up his lunch. His mother stirred from her thoughts. She smiled. "Have a good day, dearest. Don't forget to pick up Sarah and the others. She'd never forgive you if you forgot her."

Josh chuckled. "As if she lets me forget her? I've already got three texts from her." He said, checking his phone. He heard his mother's chuckle as he grabbed his keys and headed out.

As a senior at the local high school, he was the only one in his group of friends that had a license. And a car for that matter. He drove the few blocks to Sarah's house. They had been best friends since preschool, and recently, there seemed to be something more between them. She hopped in, destroying his train of thought. She smiled, her long dark hair falling down her shoulders. "Good morning."

"Morning." Josh said, heading to Franky's house. Franky, her full name was Francine, was another old friend of theirs. Lucklily, Franky lived right next to there last friend, Mark. Mark had just recently joined their group, and his twin sister, Mary, joined them every now and then. Today was one of those days.

"Hey guys!" Josh said as they all piled in. Mary grunted and put in her headphones, turning up the volume and laying her head back. Mark blinked sleepily before muttering, "Morning."

Franky, on the other hand, was overly perky like always. "Good morning lovers." she winked.

Sarah turned several shades of red. "We are not lovers!!"

Franky laughed and turned to Josh. "So, set a date yet?"

Josh looked in the rearview mirror at her. "Ha ha. You know, I could make you ride the bus."

Franky grimaced at the thought. "Ugh!! You would subject me to such torture? Having to put up with all the jocks and drama queens?"

Josh laughed and rolled his eyes. "And you wonder why they pick on you."

"Anywho, so, you guys all free Saturday afternoon? I was thinking of another trip to the mall." Franky said.

"Sure, I'm game." Mary said. Mark nodded.

"Sorry, I've already got plans." Josh said.

"Yeah, I'm busy then." Sarah said.

Franky's eyes widened and she giggled. "Oh uh-uh! You guys did not set up a date Saturday!!"

Sarah blushed like mad. "It's just lunch and a movie!!"

"HA! That's where it all starts!!" Franky giggled. Her eyes glazed over. "You two are perfect for each other!! You guys grew up together and everything!!"

Josh laughed as he pulled into the parking lot. As the girls and the twins walked to the building, Franky going on and on, Josh hung back a bit. He'd had a strange feeling all morning, a weird kind of...pull. He shrugged it off and headed inside. The day seemed to fly by. At lunch, he and his friends chatted and laughed as usual. Chemistry wasn't that bad. The test was actually easier than he thought. But as the day wore on and History approached, Josh began to feel slightly ill. There was a slight buzzing in his head, and he felt dizzy. He almost doubled over as his stomach clenched. His dominant hand, his right, tingled and itched. "Excuse me." he said as he ran from the room. He ran to the bathroom and locked himself in the back stall. The buzzing in his head increased to a torrent of whispers. His hand burned like it was on fire. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he clutched his hand to him. There was a final surge, like a red-hot branding iron, and the pain and the buzzing vanished. His breath coming in ragged gasps, he raised his hand...and stared.

There, in the very palm, was a mark. He stared at it in utter shock. The mark looked like a pair of wings sprouting from an ancient looking sword. The bottom tips were elongated and swirled around each other, all the way down his wrist. It glowed with a golden light.

Brushing off the shock, he got up and left the bathroom. He stepped back into the classroom. He gave a nervous smile and shrugged. His teacher raised and eyebrow and handed him the test. Josh took his usual seat, ignoring Sarah's concerned glance. He had been unsure of several of the facts and details, but now...the answers just seemed to come to him. Much to everyone's, and especially his, he was the first one finished. As it was the last class of the day, he left the room and waited at the car like usual. And that was when he heard it. The whisper that changed everything: "Follow the Ever Road."