The Ever War: Chapter 1.5

Josh woke up with Sarah curled up next to him. She had been so upset that he had held her for hours before she finally passed out, and when he had tried to move, she had clung to him and cried out.

He sat up and slowly slipped out of her grasp. She moaned softly and rolled over, her breathing still soft and peaceful. He walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. He looked at his reflection. It was the face of a stranger stared back at him. In place of a smiling high school student stood a man who had seen death.

He stood in the shower allowing the warm water to wash over him. He stared down at his hand, at the sword embedded in his palm. His hand trembled. That sword. That sword had killed. He had killed. True it was in self defense, and he briefly wondered if Waiths were even alive. But he had still killed. They had screamed and shrieked as the sword sliced through them. He realized that tears mixed with the water.

After an hour, he exited the shower, dried himself off, and dressed. He left the shower to find Sarah sitting up on the bed, hugging her knees. She looked at him with tear filled eyes. Josh sat down next to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"How are you doing?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

A sad smile played at his lips. "I've been better."

Tears leaked from her eyes again. "They were after me."

Josh nodded. "Yeah, they were. But I won't let them have you." She looked up at him. "You're all I have now."

She frowned. "What about your father?"

His eyes darkened and he looked away. "What about him? I barely even remember him. The last time I saw him was back when I was five. That was thirteen years ago, Sarah."

"Do you think he can help us?"

"My mom seemed to think so." He trembled at the memory of her last words. Soft arms wrapped around him from behind.

"I'm so sorry, Josh. I'm so sorry." She wept. He twisted around, and they held each other for a long time.

When they finally parted, Josh brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "You should go freshen up. We need to head out soon." She nodded, her tears dried up. She kissed his cheek and went into the bathroom. He heard the shower turn on, and he laid back on the bed. Emotions ran through him and threatened to drown him, but he took deep breaths and tried to clear his mind. As he did so, he brushed against the part of his mind that seemed to have awakened. It felt strange, almost alien, but it wasn't threatening.

He suddenly felt he wasn't alone. He looked about and found himself in some sort of ancient looking chamber. A man walked into the room and froze. "Josh?"

Josh's eyes widened. "Dad?"

James Evans walked up to the son he hadn't seen in so many years. "What are you doing here?"

"Where is this?" He asked, gazing about him.

"This is the entrance to the Ever Road. But why are you here?" His father asked. Josh raised his right hand, palm outwards. His father's eyes widened. "The Mark of the Wandering!! That's why Sophie told us to watch over you!"

"Sophie? Is she the Sage?" Josh asked.

James' face fell. "She was. She was slain a month ago. And Jerard was killed two days ago." He frowned in thought. "You have some knowledge. Your mother always did love telling you stories." His face fell even further. "It pained me greatly when she passed."

"Sarah and I are on our way to you." Josh said, his face stoic.

"Sarah? Sarah Carson?" His eyes widened in realization. "She's the new Sage!"

Josh nodded. His father studied him a long time. "You've used the sword, haven't you? You summoned the Sacred Blade, Solaris. Get here as fast as I can. You already know where to go. See you soon."

Josh's eyes snapped open, and he sat up on the bed. Sarah walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair. She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I think...I think I just spoke with my father." he answered.

"What?!" she exclaimed. "Your father was here?"

Josh shook his head. "No, he wasn't here. It was...it was more like in my mind. Like we spoke telepathically or something. He already knows about mom."

"And what of me?" she asked. Josh nodded. "Yeah, I told him. Apparently, the Marks are passed on only when the current bearer dies."

Sarah closed her eyes. "So the last Sage died a month ago..."

"...and the previous Wanderer was killed two days ago when I received mine." Josh finished.

"And the Shield was passed along yesterday." she said softly.

"Let's go." Josh said. Sarah nodded, a new light shining in her eyes.