The Ever War: Chapter 1.7

"Josh, it's getting dark." Sarah said softly. She was exhausted, her magic spent after healing herself. Josh nodded, weariness showing in his eyes. He was tired. She reached up and caressed his cheek. "You need some rest as well."

"We need to keep moving. Wherever it is we're supposed to be, it's close." he said, his voice stoic. A smile played at her lips.

"You need to rest, my Wanderer. You aren't used to so much power. You're spent. I need you to be at your best." she said.

"She is right, Josh. You are tired. Listen to her. As the Sage, she knows what she is talking about." the whisper came. Sarah smiled and laid her head on his chest. "Even the whisper says you need to rest."

He frowned. "How'd you know I heard it?"

She chuckled. "You had that distant look in your eye, just like your mother used to have. That's probably what she was listening to."

"You know, it's not really so much of a real voice." Josh said after a while.

"In a way, it is, but it...it isn't in your head, you know?" Sarah tried to explain.

"More like the wind." Josh answered. "As though the wind were speaking to you."

"Maybe it is?" she yawned. Josh looked down at her; she was almost asleep in his arms. He found shelter beneath a group of trees that created a natural cave of sorts. It had plenty of room, but was comfortable. Sarah curled up in the leaves. She looked up at him sleepily. "Aren't you going to lie down?"

Josh shook his head. "We need to be cautious." She frowned at him.

"You are exhausted. You might as well sleep. I know you, Josh. We're new at this, and we're both completely wiped. We need sleep." She beckoned him over With a sigh, he went over to her and laid down next to her. She curled up against him, and he put an arm around her. Within seconds, her breathing deepened, and he knew she was asleep.

As tired as he was, sleep still evaded him. It remained elusive, like some creature he was trying to hunt. His thoughts went back over everything that happened. He brushed a strand of hair out of the sleeping girl's face. She stirred slightly and put her arm about him in her sleep. Making her comfortable against him, he let himself drift back into his memories.

His mind went back over everything in shocking detail. The forming of his Mark. Sarah's revelation of her own Mark. The attack at the mall. The burning of his childhood home. The death of his mother. His flight from town. Holding a weeping Sarah as she cried for all her worth. Waking up with her in his arms. The car ride. The Dark Dragon. His own flight. The cleansing.

And he frowned. Back at the mall, he had seen something. Just before the Waiths had appeared. It was a girl. She had looked familiar; he thought she went to his school. But the way she had looked at him; that's what hit him now. Her look had been so...strange. She had looked at him as if she knew what was about to happen. What had already happened. She had looked at so...sorrowful. And her eyes had said that she had seen countless sorrow.

He felt himself fading and let it go. Whoever she was, he didn't know, and he probably would never know. He held Sarah closer to him as he slipped into the sleep he so badly needed.

Sarah stirred as light struck her eyelids. She squinted and blinked. And blushed when she realized where she was. His face was mere inches away. They had been dating for some time; heck, they had had feelings for years. But they had never kissed. Blood flooded her cheeks, staining them a new crimson. She felt herself leaning closer, her eyes closing. Her lips softly grazed his, and she felt a jolt shoot through her. Like her heart had just beat for the first time. Then he kissed back and everything else vanished. It was just them, just this moment.

After an eternity, they finally parted. They sat on opposite sides of their leafy cave, facing each other. They smiled. The smile turned to a chuckle. The chuckle turned to a laugh. The laugh turned into an embrace. They just held each other tightly before letting go.

"I love you, Josh." Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He kissed her again. "And I love you." He held her close and kissed her deeply before releasing her. "You ready to head out?"

She laughed. "Yeah. I...I haven't felt this...alive since...since ever!"

"Me neither." He smiled. Together, they climbed out of their little den, into the bright sun. "You are close, now. The Road is not much farther." "The Road is not much farther." he said.

Sarah frowned, then her eyes lit up. "Can you feel it?"

Josh's eyes widened. "Feel it? I can practically see it!!"

"What?" Sarah asked. Josh turned to her.

"I can see it now. It's like...it's like a road of light!" He exclaimed. She nodded. "Where's it going?"

He pointed. "That way." As they walked, light seemed to swirl about them. Josh looked about. Wherever this was, he didn't think it was any part of Earth. There was a serene beauty all around. Plants and vegetation surrounded them, and Josh could swear that the very wind carried some sort of celestial music. He brushed aside the vegetation and gaped at the sight. Sarah came up beside him and stared.

"A temple?" they both asked. Josh frowned and stepped forward, Sarah right behind him. "Where are we?" she asked. "You are between the between. The place that touches the worlds."