Awesome Force 5: The Battle for Joshua @^()wley! Part 2: Heavyweight and Still Undisputed

 
     Sylvia came walking up the steps to her home with Babcia in New Mitten. Her hands were full with all the supplies she would need for finals. Her Art History II teacher, required her class to write a paper on the evolution of squares through art. Her 2-Dimensional Studio teacher, wanted the class to finish a drawing of the most 2-Dimensional person that each student knew. Her Issues in Artmaking teacher required a paper be written describing the effect of banning red dye 2 on art. Her 3-D studio teacher wanted a 3-D work of your favorite Pokemon. Her Rhetoric and Writing 2 teacher wanted a paper about themes of Where's Waldo?.

    That sure was a heavy workload with only 10 days to complete all assignments, but Sylvia was ready to rock and roll. She placed her supplies on the top of the stairs and unlocked the door. Scooping up the bags, she moved forward, placed them down again, and opened the second door. She picked everything up, stepped in, kicked the door shut behind her, and made a dash for her bedroom. She dropped her things on the floor and looked towards her chinchilla in the cage.
   
    Onyx was hanging back in the shadows, which Sylvia knew meant that there was company. She turned around in time to see Sophie standing in the door. "Hi Sylvia, what's up?"

    Sylvia smiled and waved back answering, "Hi, not much. Just got all my stuff for finals."

    Sophie entered and began to chit-chat for a while before letting Sylvia know that a boy had been around asking about her. Sylvia's heart began to race as she asked who it was. Sophie told her it was some weird boy named Josh. Sylvia was trying to hide how excited she really was, but playing it cool said, "Oh, yeah. That guy. He's nice."

    At that point she stopped listening and began to think about Josh. He sure was dreamy with his dark eyes. The way is hair parted in the middle and fell to the sides was like cascading chocolate. Even vegans enjoyed chocolate given it was the real deal, and not tainted by milk or milk derived products.

    Sophie was busy was talking while looking at her phone, so she couldn't see that Sylvia wasn't paying attention. When she mentioned upon Josh's arrival that she thought he had brought a black octopus with him Sylvia never heard. She simply looked up and said, "Oh, that's weird."

    Sophie left and Sylvia turned back to Onyx who had finally come forward from the darkness. Sylvia opened the cage and pulled Onyx out. The female chinchilla jumped up onto Sylvia's shoulder. "What's the word, Legkilla'?" she asked.

    Sylvia laughed. "Why do you call me Legkilla?" Onxy glared deep into Sylvia's eyes and responded, "Why do you call me Chinchilla?" Syvlia went on to explain that Onyx was a chinchilla. Onyx didn't like this, she thought it was stupid word to call an animal. Not stupider than hoooman, like what Sylvia was, but pretty close.

    The two started to talk about Josh. Sylvia spilled the beans about how she liked him, but with all her schoolwork she just didn't have time for much of a social life. It had been several weeks since she got to hang out with the gang at I.M.O.Q. Her big plan was to have an end of the school year party there, but first she had to pass her finals.

    Only now there was this other thing. Josh was getting pretty serious about wanting to ask Sylvia out from what Onyx was saying. She was hoping it would wait until the next 10 days were over, but Sylvia knew that with boys you couldn't count on having the time you need. She was just hoping that he wouldn't do something stupid.

    The next town over from New Mitten was Cumberlin. That's where Sylvia's cousin Adam lived. Josh pulled up in his car in front of a white house. Inside he hoped to find Adam and convince him to give up his Czaskorek.

    The driveway was empty except for a green pickup truck. Josh hoped this meant someone was home. As he rang the doorway he stood in the sunshine and felt the warm air leaving drops of sweat on him. No one answered the door. He rang again, even beginning to pound on the door and windows he could reach. Still, no one answered.

    He made his way down the walkway to the driveway. He saw a fence that came up only a few feet, so he hopped it to the backyard. No one was out back, but he noticed the back door was open. His way in was barred only by a screen door. He walked over to it and began to knock. No one answered, but Josh could've sworn he heard someone whisper "Ky".

    He called out some more before grabbing the handle for the door, and pulling. It opened and he entered into a small hallway with walls that were green from the ground up to halfway, then became white up to the ceiling. It was dark but the air conditioner was on leaving the room cold. He called out some more but nobody responded.

    Turning to his right he saw a flight of six steps leading to a door. He climbed them slowly, then knocked calling out. Still no one answered, so he turned the knob and pushed the door open. He stepped through and found himself in a kitchen. He could see a dining room straight ahead. Shutting the door he saw a living room to his left as well as the front door. Again he called out, but no answer. He again thought he heard a voice whisper, but this time it said "Ay".

    Josh turned to his left as he stepped through to the living room. That's where he swore he heard the whisper. Again he called out without an answer. He flipped the switch and saw another flight of six steps. He made his way up and found himself in a corrider with five doors shut. There was a knock on the door straight ahead which caused him to jump. He called out again, but all he heard in return was the whispering voice say, "Gah".

    He moved forward and threw the door open. It was pitch black. He felt along the walls until he reached a window. There was a Roman blind covering it, so he fumbled around until he found the cord pulling it up. The sun illuminated the room and he saw a bed with a figure sleeping under the covers. He couldn't risk waking whomever it was sleeping, but maybe he could find the Czaskorek, take it, and settle up his debt later.

    As he looked around the room he couldn't find it. There were several items strewn about but none of them amounted to a ring. That's when he thought that it might be on the figure slepping, if it was Adam.

    He approached the bed and made his way to the left side. He pulled back the cover, and underneath he saw a man sleeping. His face was covered in a beard that looked soft and full. It was the finest fur he had ever seen. A sudden urge took him, forcing him to pet the beard. He then leaned over and slowly made to sniff the beard. He wanted to nibble on it for just a bit, but that's when he saw the Czaskorek on the middle finger of Adam's left hand.

    Josh gently grabbed the hand and opened it. He slid the ring off and dropped the hand. He was about to turn and leave, but he couldn't stop thinking about that beard. Slowly, he leaned forward again. Just a nibble, that's all he needed and then he could go back about his business. He stopped just short of the beard, and took a deep breath in. As he exhaled with his mouth open the beard rustled. Adam groaned as he started to wake.

    Josh turned scared, and ran for the door. He jumped the six steps and stumbled. Unsure if he was being chased or not, he crawled for the front door. He fumbled with the lock before pulling it open. He threw the screen door open and got to his feet running for his car. Getting in was easy, but pulling out his keys and sticking them in the ignition proved more difficult. He never looked back once the engine started. He slammed the gas and drove off.

Awesome Force 6, The New 4: White Tombie Part 1-->

<--Awesome Force 4: The Battle for Joshua @^()wley! Part 1: The Scientist

Awesome Force 4: The Battle for Joshua @^()wley! Part 1: The Scientist

     Josh stood outside the two story house in New Mitten where Sylvia had moved with her grandmother while she attended the University of Smartford. He was nervous just thinking how the girl who had caught his eye lived in this home. This was where she ate her Vegan cereal. Where she drank her Arizona beverages. Where she created amazing works of art. He could not have been more nervous and excited had he stood at the dawn of time itself.

    His long brown hair parted in the middle, and his beard was groomed to follow the line of his jaw. His legs, on the other hand, had turned to noodles. He was afraid with his first step he would fall to a pile of fool upon the driveway. That's when the back door opened and Sylvia's sister Sophie stood staring down at him.

    "Are you coming in or not? I have things to do today." Sophie wasn't sure why she was helping this boy. He didn't look fit in her eyes to date Sylvia. More importantly, all this business was keeping her from her own boyfriend.

    Josh moved up the steps and waved while saying, "Hi. Thanks again for doing this. I just-"

    "Don't mention it. Let's make this quick". Sophie turned her back quickly on Josh and walked off into the first floor apartment. "Close the door behind you."

    Josh turned around making sure the door shut, but with a gentle motion so as not to upset Sylvia's grandmother. He then moved forward through the inner door and shut it as well. When he turned around the old woman stood looking at him with squinted eyes and a hunched back. She had a cane in her hand.

    "Hello," she said and then turned to Sophie continuing in a language Josh didn't understand. "(Ask him to sit down. What's his name?)"

    Sophie relayed the information and Josh followed the gesture of Babcia's hand and sat in a chair. She joined him by sitting to his right while Sophie took a place to his left. He looked up at the courier cabinet filled with glasses, cups, saucers, vases, and projects which Sylvia must have made for her grandmother.

    "Hello, my name is Josh."
  
    Sophie translated for Babcia who just shrugged as she said, "Oh," For Babcia, Josh's name was foreign and she wasn't sure how to pronounce it. Nonetheless, she asked Sophie to ask him again if he would like anything to drink.

    Josh was thirsty, but he was too nervous to simply accept. When he was offered cookies, he again passed. At this point Babcia and Josh found themselves staring at each other. Sophie was on her phone texting her boyfriend. Josh cleared his throat.

    Babcia went on to ask what Josh did. He replied saying he was going to school and worked at the bookstore where he studied. Babcia was curious as to what he was studying. Josh answered with some combination of Biology and the Martial Arts. Sophie was unsure how to describe this, so she turned and in one word said "Doctor".

    Babcia was thrilled to be meeting such an intelligent and determined young man. She smiled at Josh and said, "Oh, that's nice". Josh was happy, things seemed to be going well.

    Next followed the questions, such as how he knew Sylvia? Where did he live? What do his parents do? Was he Catholic and did he go to church? What she could do to help him? At last it was time.

    Josh asked and Sophie translated that he would like to ask Sylvia out. First, he thought it would be prudent to give Sylvia a gift or some token of good faith. He wasn't sure what to give her.

    After almost a half hour, all they had determined between the three of them was how Sylvia was most busy with finals on the way. She was working at her job and completing homework all the time. Come to think of it, Sylvia could use some more time.

    At this point Babcia went on to tell the tale of Czaskorek. Before Christianity found it's way to the country of Babcia's birth Skaska, long before she was ever born, in the annals of antiquity, there was a pagan religion known as Dazh. According to Dazh, when the seasons were first born they tugged at their blanket known as time.

    Three weavers of time were created to keep the blanket intact. One would fix the wear of what was already created, one would crease the wrinkles of what was before it, and the third was constantly stitching new sections. In this way all was even across the seasons from the hours of day to the hours of night.

    Like the worst of siblings, the seasons began to squabble. Summer wanted the sun to be its crown and reign of glory. Winter preferred the moon. Spring and Fall grew tired of the other two bickering, and sought to put an end to this. Yet, when they tried to stop they were only thrust aside by their bigger, and stronger siblings.

    As Fall and Spring sat crying over their woes, an ugly old woman with the legs of a chicken came out from the woods and asked them why they were crying. When they finished telling their story, she offered to help them. She promised to make them a ring which could be used to stop time, or let it flow faster, depending on what the wearer would like.

    Fall and Spring were so excited they agreed to let her help them. She pulled out a mortar and pestle, pinched the air before her with two fingers, and was able to remove a slither of sun's ray. She placed this in her mortar and pestle and began to crush it up. Once it  turned to powder she spit into it, molded the paste around her finger, and thrust her hand into the air.

    The two seasons watched as the sun grew larger, and the old woman thrust her hand deep into it. When she pulled it out, the ring Czaskorek was complete. She gave it over to the seasons and told them to present it wisely to which sibling they thought would be more responsible.
  
    They did so, giving it first to Summer. Summer was so excited to have this ring which it put it on slowing down the days so the sun may shine long, and the winds may be warm. It would speed through the nights for the next day to come quicker. Overjoyed, Spring and Fall believed the bickering was done. Of course, this did not sit well with Winter.

     One night when Summer fell asleep, Winter stole the ring and hid it. As time went on, and Summer decided to go off and find the ring, Winter put it on speeding through the days, and lengthening the nights. So are the mechanisms of why we have the change in daylight hours between summer and winter. When Summer learns of Winter's treachery, it comes back and steals the ring away again. In this way the seasons constantly change, with Spring and Fall trying to clean up the mess left when the fighting resumes.

    Of course we know none of this is true now, but then again neither is the existence of Baba Jaga. That's the name of the old woman who forged them the ring to begin with. Still, from time to time you can find a ring being sold as a souvenir by the name Czaskorek. As a matter of fact, Babcia was pretty sure Sylvia's cousin Adam had just a ring like it.

    Josh was determined to find a Czaskorek for Sylvia, but he didn't know how. He thanked both Sophie and Babcia for their help, and realizing  Sylvia could come home at any moment decided it was time to leave.

    In his car, Josh pulled up the internet on his phone and tried to see if he could purchase a Czaskorek. His search turned up nothing, but eagerness was taking him over. He had to get one of these rings. There was only one thing to do. He was determined to get the one Adam had. With a start of the engine, Josh was off to find where Sylvia's cousin lived.

 

Awesome Force 5: The Battle for Joshua @^()wley! Part 2: Heavyweight and Still Undisputed --> 

 

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