Joshua sat leaning in his seat at the kitchen table. His head was hanging over the back of the chair, and his mouth was slightly opened as he concentrated on his balancing act. He brought his left hand up, and ran it through his light blonde hair, at the same time kicking his foot a little further out from the table, losing his balance.
"WHOA!" Joshua yelled as he fell backward onto the floor. He landed on his back still sitting in the chair. Ewan ran into the room with a concerned look on his face.
"What was all the racket?" He asked looking around, then spotting Joshua on the floor. "Are you alright Joshua?" He asked.
"I'm jake." He said with an embraced smile, rolling off the tipped chair and sitting up rubbing his head. "Heh heh…" He gave Ewan another reassuring smile.
Ewan looked to the table where the typewriter sat, and next to it, a great big pile of typed paper. "Well now, Sister Naomi was right. You have gotten very far." He commented while helping Joshua up.
"Yeah, I have over 2000 pages and I'm no where near done. I really hope you like it when I am. I want to publish it and everything. I drew more pictures too. Unfortunately right now I have no idea what to type…I think I'll go for a walk." Joshua said grabbing his spring jacket.
"Alright, just don't go too far. I'm going to be making dinner soon." Ewan called to him as Joshua headed out.
Sister Naomi washed the hallways floor with a mop, every once and a while stopping to talk to other sisters, as well as scolding the elder for looking at her bottom. Being an exorcist was hard work. And she wasn't even considering the assignments. She was thinking about all the chores she had all around headquarters.
Whipping her brow, Naomi removed her habit, revealing short brown hair. Standing there for a few minutes, she caught her breath, taking a break. A loud bang came and she looked up to see Sister Azmaria come rushing through one of the doors.
"Azmaria? What's wrong?" Naomi questioned.
"I need to speak to Sister Kate right away!" She squeaked as she ran past her toward the office.
"SISTER KATE?" Azmaria yelled as she burst into the office. Sister Kate stood up looking appalled at Azmaria's manners.
"Azmaria…what is it?" She asked.
(Four hours ago)
Azmaria walked along the dark where house entrance. She held her gun tight, looking around for any sign of demonic activity. Everything was frighteningly quiet. Azmaria swallowed hard.
"I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE! SHOW YOURSELF!" She called out. As soon as she did, something came flying in her direction. She dodged it and looked up. It was a spiritual energy in the form of an orb. It crashed into the brick wall making a big hole.
Soon after, another orb followed. Azmaria was able to shoot it and made it explode before it reached her. Behind the explosion a nasty looking demon swooped out. He had one horn at the center of his head and was ten times Azmaria's size. He had wings and looked like a giant bat with a body. He roared loudly as he did an aerial dive toward Azmaria.
Azmaria shot at the demon. The demon swooped up and landed on one of the metal beams placed horizontally all across the building, just under the ceiling. Azmaria looked up at it. It waved its tail at her.
"What does the Order of Magdalene have any business doing here?" The demon growled.
"Isn't it obvious?" Azmaria asked shooting at it again. It dodged the holy bullets and landed on the ground in front of her with a loud boom. Azmaria dove behind a big barrel.
The demon looked at the barrel and smacked it away with his tail. Azmaria received a blow from the tail as well and was flung across the room, a great big tear through the middle of her outfit. Azmaria held her stomach in pain, but stood up. She looked for her gun. She had dropped it when she was hit and it was still near the barrel.
"Come now, it is your turn to be judged." The demon spoke with a smile. Azmaria ran toward the gun. The demon took flight, chasing her, and inching closer and closer with every step she took.
The Sister dove and took the gun on her hand, and flipped herself over on her back, firing three shots in mid air.
The first shot was blocked by the demons right arm. The next was blocked by his tail. The third was successful and hit the Demons single horn on his head. The demon roared in pain and fell to the ground.
Azmaria slowly stood up, holding her gun ready, and walked over to the demon. As she stood right above it, she noticed it was still breathing. It slowly opened its eyes and smiled. "The Alpha and The Omega shall come to judge everyone…beware….the end…is near…" And with that final message, the demon turned to ash.
Azmaria quickly spread holy water around the area and said a prayer. She had forgotten all about her wound and hurried back to the order where she could tell Sister Kate of what she had heard.
(Present)
"Well….Sister Azmaria…is this exactly what you have heard?" Sister Kate asked.
"Yes ma'am." She responded nodding her head.
"Well I must take this into consideration…I will get in touch with other orders…perhaps we shall schedule a meeting…in the meantime, I want you to get that wound looked at." Sister Kate said looking at Azmaria's stomach.
"Yes Ma'am." Azmaria replied. She walked out of the office and closed the door.
"Azmaria…is that really true?" Naomi asked standing on the other side of the door. Azmaria turned around. "Yes…that is what I heard."
"Do you think…he was telling the truth?" Naomi asked putting her habit back on.
"I don't know…" Azmaria said. The two girls stood there for a moment until Naomi spoke again. "You should really go and get that fixed." She said looking at Azmaria's stomach.
"I guess your right." Azmaria said. She waved and walked away, holding her stomach.
The next day, Naomi awoke to the sun shining on her gentle face. She opened her eyes and sat up. She went to her closet and dressed in her usually attire. Remembering what had happened yesterday, she decided to go to Azmaria's room and check on her. When she had arrived, Azmaria was not in her bed. Naomi looked out the window, and could see Azmaria In the grave yard, a little further back. Naomi decided t head out and see how she was doing.
"Azmaria…you should be resting…" Naomi said catching up to her. Azmaria placed a rose on a grave.
"I don't need rest. I'm alright really. I thought I should at least visit Rosette and chrono if I couldn't do anything else." She replied. She sat down next to the grave. "If I sat around and didn't do anything I would be breaking a promise to Rosette. I promised her I would be strong just like her. Sitting around and feeling sorry for myself isn't being strong at all."
"Well then I guess your right." Naomi said with a smile.
"Aren't you going over to Father….um Ewan's house?" Azmaria asked.
"Yes, actually I'm heading over there right now." Naomi said. She stood up. "I guess I will see you later…be careful ok?" She asked as she headed toward the gate.
On arrival at the house, Sister Naomi spotted Joshua outside sitting on the porch steps. It looked like he was drawing again. Joshua looked up and saw Naomi get out of the auto mobile and headed toward Joshua.
"Hey, Naomi! Wanna see the new picture I drew?" He asked standing up.
"Sure." She replied with a smile. Joshua handed her his sketch book and she looked on.
It was another picture of Rosette, Chrono, and himself. This time they were in a cave, standing next to a coffin. "That's really good…is that in the story too?" She asked. "No…I just came up with that now…maybe I will add it in my story." He said.
"I think you should." Naomi said. She headed inside and saw Ewan washing some dishes. "I'll finish those for you." Naomi said walking over. "You could head out now." She said with a smile.
"Thank you very much Sister Naomi…so what happened now?" Ewan asked turning off the water.
"What do you mean?" Naomi asked looking at him confused.
"The tone in your voice…something happened." Ewan stated.
"Boy your good." Naomi said with a sweat drop. Ewan raised an eyebrow.
"Azmaria went on a mission last night. The demon she fought talked about 'The Alpha and The Omega' and how 'He' was going to come again to judge us." Naomi said looking down.
"And a demon spoke of this?" Ewan asked. Naomi nodded. "That's …very interesting…"
"So will you come back?" Naomi blurted out without even thinking. Ewan gave her another look. "I will be back around eight Sister Naomi." He said. He grabbed his jacket and stepped out of the house.
"I'll be back, Joshua…make sure Sister Naomi doesn't burn the house down." He said with a sigh, but jokingly.
Joshua looked up with a smile. "Okay!" He laughed. Naomi stepped back outside. "What's so funny?" She asked as she watched the attractive man walk toward his Model T.
"He thinks your going to burn the house down." Joshua said in a matter of fact tone with a smile.
"Oh he does, does he?" She laughed. "We'll I guess I'll show him." She said walking back inside. Joshua followed.
Naomi finished the dishes and whipped her hands off. Joshua was back at the table typing his story. "Hey Naomi, how old are you?" He asked looking down at the keys.
"I'll be eighteen in six months." She replied putting the dishes away. "That's my age." He replied. "How is Sister Azmaria?" He asked.
"Well actually… She just came back from an assignment and she was hurt a little."
"Was it the bad people?" Joshua asked. Naomi nodded. "hay Joshua…would you like to go visit her? I'm sure you would make her feel better." She said.
"I would love to Naomi!" Joshua said. he stood up and grabbed his jacket, running outside. "Whoa wait for me Joshua!" Naomi laughed as she ran back outside.
Naomi saw Joshua a few feet away picking some flowers from the edge of the woods. Naomi walked over to the car and waited for him. They both got in and she started it up. "I got some flowers for her too." Joshua said. "I'm sure she will like those a lot." Naomi replied.
The two arrived at the order and got out of the car. Naomi took Joshua up to see Azmaria. They met in the dinning hall, where he gave her flowers.
"Oh Joshua, they are so beautiful!" Azmaria said smelling them. "Thank you so much!"
Joshua smiled.
"Sister Naomi, Sister Kate wishes to speak with you." Came a familiar voice. "Oh ok Alex." Naomi replied. "I'll be right back…" Naomi said leaving them.
Joshua looked around with his bright blue eyes sparkling. "I could remember all this…" He said to Azmaria. She looked at him.
The day I was brought here after…what ever it was…I could remember…being brought here…and…taken from here…by a girl with short brown hair…she called me…Lord Joshua…and she was going to bring me back…to a man…I cannot remember his name…that's as far back as I could remember…" Joshua said looking back to Azmaria. "You know what happened Azmaria?" Joshua asked.
"I…I do…" She said looking down. "Why cant… you tell me?" He asked. "I'm so confused…and maybe if someone told me…I could remember…" Joshua replied.
"You will remember…just don't stress yourself worrying about it…how is your novel coming?" Azmaria asked.
"Good…" Joshua looked down. Azmaria knew him not remembering anything really bothers him, but everyone is under strict instructions not to tell him anything. Azmaria held her stomach and flinched. The pain was still there, although it was lessening.
"Are you alright Azmaria? If I was there, I would have protected you." He said.
"That's very brave of you Joshua." She said with a smile.
"Do you think…I could be in the order?" Joshua asked looking at Azmaria. She smiled.
"I believe on day you will be."
Joshua smiled. "I can't wait... although I know Ewan doesn't want me to." He replied.
"Even though he thinks that, he knows that one day you will join. He just doesn't want you to get hurt… He has faith in you…he's just afraid to take that leap." Azmaria said. "Don't worry." She added with a smile. Joshua smiled back.
Sister Naomi…do you think I will ever remember?
I think so.
What is so bad about my past that no one will tell me?
If we tell you, you will never remember on your own
It's not fair! Everyone has my memories but me!
Join us next time for the third chapter to Chrono Crusade: Joshua's Crusade, Attempted Memories