Josh

》》》

The Sun has set. I look out the window at the black sky and streetlights, something I was very use to driving to and from uncle's house, listening to Aerosmith. It's by total luck that Steven Tyler's voice sings on the radio. Everything almost seems normal, and I reach out for my moms hand, but I grab air.

"What's his address again?" Mitch asks, bringing me out of my daydream.

"2170 Skyview Avenue." I answer.

We drive for a few more minutes, and the area becomes more and more familiar.

And then we stop at our white-brick house. A pain jabs my heart.

"I'll be back," I quickly undo my seatbelt and open my door, stepping out.

I may had heard Mitch say not to take long, but I'm too emotional too care. I stride toward the house, and through the main window I see Uncle walk into the living room. His burly body strolls to my 1 year-old cousin, Alexandria.

He mouths words to her, and I can guess exactly what he says.

"You should be excited Alexandria, any minute now your cousin and aunt will walk through that door, and chill with us for a long time!" His deep hoarse voice would impose to his daughter.

Alexandria would make some cute baby sound. I rush up to the door, knowing I can live with them still, Kahua could definitely chase off both Mitch and Damian, monster hunter or not. My hand grasps the door knob, and I can't wait, but mysteriously I do.

"Just can't" a voice sounds from behind. A familiar and deep one. I slowly turn, and he stands there.

"What the hell are you dong here," I spit. "Clotho."
I hate this dude, I utterly hate him. (And I don't hate people.)

My hand turns the doorknob, but the door, but the door won't open.

"Mitch!" I holler "get this punk out of here!"

"Same as last time Josh," Clotho says, "no one will hear you no matter how loud you scream, you can't affect them in any way."

I grunt. "Fine, what do you want with me?"

Clotho clears his throat, and begins to speak.

"I know exactly what you're thinking,"

"Stalker." I say.

"If that was an insult it was ineffective," Clotho counters. "In fact you can call me the ultimate stalker, Just because I need to make sure all events unfold as planned. That involves looking at people,"

"Okay, I don't care," I sigh. "What do you want?"

"I want you to know you can't go in there," He says.

Great. Now the "person" who caused the death of many including my own mother is prohibiting me from my remaining family. This should not be happening, I just want to be left alone.

"Why do you do this stuff to me?" I ask. A little shower has began to rain down. I am really wishing Kahua would open the door and see that jerk and cave his face in.

"Compared to some other people you have it pretty light," Clotho explains "You aren't normal Josh don't expect an easy life,"

"Why can't I just live peacefully what did I do to not earn it? When did I choose to be 'special'?" I say. I turn toward the door and start to bang against it, trying to shove it open. Clotho let's me do this for a while. "Let me in there! Unfreeze time or whatever the heck is!"

"Stop," A second voice soothes me. It is manly, benevolent, and familiar. I obey. I almost fear turning around, but I do.

A second man stands next to Clotho. He has a long coat and grey beard. He carries crutches and has long black pants. "You can't do anything to anything Josh,"

"Who are you?" I stutter. He can't be who I think it is.

"Poseidon, King of the sea, and some other things too, " He says "A.K.A,"

Yeah he's who I thought it was.

"Your father."

"N-no W-way," I stutter, shocked.

"Yeah whether you like it or not," Poseidon says "you're very lucky Josh, most of my children don't really get to meet me, especially in this stage. "

"Can you tell this jerk to unfreeze time?" I say after a moment, motioning toward Clotho.

"I would if you could stroll in there and say hi to everyone, but you can't, only because they won't take you to the Gathering but the Venetor will, because I told them to," he explains.

"What the heck is the Gathering? " I ask.

"You'll see," poseidon says.

The rain comes down hard, and so Poseidon raises his hand and it stops.

"Why does it have to be so complicated?" I ask.

"You know you wouldn't just tell Kahua about mom. He'd end up trying to beat us all up." He says "You may not think it, but he would fail."

"I don't know..." Kahua is a big and strong man, starting tackle for Stanford in his time.

Poseidon shakes his head.

"think about Josh," Poseidon says. "He and Alexandria are your only family left, you want to protect him not be with them and expose them. Doing that would mean much danger,"

"But how?" I ask.

"Remember mom?" He points out.

And then it strikes me. Mom died because she was next to me at the wrong moment at the wrong time. It might be as simple as being in the way when something is trying to kill me.

I look into Uncle's window, and see him watching Dora with Alexandria. He snuggles her and kisses her. I don't want anything to happen to both of them.

I look back at my dad and Clotho, but they have disappeared. The rain starts to pour down again. I start to walk back , but step on a pen and paper, perfectly untouched by the rain.

Oh I know. I pick up the paper and write;

Kahua Kai,
I don't know how to break it to ya, but I guess you have to know. Your sister Kassidy Kai is dead. On April 3rd, her ship was found mysteriously wrecked at sea. Her and Josh will not be knocking on your door anytime soon. I don't know if I will ever see you again, hopefully though. Maybe someday.
Signed,
Josh Kai.

I leave the note on the doormat and ring the doorbell, and slowly walk to the car. The door opens, and I hear a deep hardy voice call,

"Hello?!" I stop. "Who's there?"

I turn around, and see my uncle, Alexandria reaching up, holding his pinkie.

"Josh?" He is surprised. My eyes start to tear up, and I turn and speedwalk into the car as Kahua calls to me.

"Go" I say as I sit down in the car seat.

"You s-" Mitch starts

"Go!" I command. Mitch starts to drive away, my uncle chasing us. I start to cry as I watch him shrink and fade in the shadows of the street. We turn and then my eyes get too watery and my vision sucks.

I wipe my eyes with my jacket, and I hear Jenna try to comfort me.

"Josh," She whispers. I feel something on my hand, and realize Jenna is holding my hand.

She doesn't let go.