Kevin Vol. 1

Genesis

Chapter I: Birth

NORWAY, 1490

Through many hours of labor, the family's tenth child was finally born. The father, a strong manly man, spoke: "How do you feel, Rachel?"

Rachel, the man's wife, replied, "we've finally done it. She will accept us now." She looked down at the child resting in her arms. "My sweet Kevin," she spoke softly, "you will bring us great pride."

"Do you think the others will accept him?" asked her husband

"Nathan, my love," Rachel replied, "they must accept him for the sake of our family."

"We will begin our trek tomorrow at dawn," said Nathan, "I will inform the children, you should rest." With that, Nathan left the room.

Rachel gazed upon her newborn son, the tenth born of the Olsen family. "Sweet Kevin," Rachel began, "you'll be the best of all of us some day."

Back in the main room of the house, the journey ahead of the family had caused quite the commotion as Nathan and each of the nine children born before Kevin were busy with their preparations. Grabbing all the food they needed, as well as preparing the horses for the adventure ahead. Max, the eldest of the nine children, was tasked with ensuring the other children did their work properly and efficiently. Edward, the second born, organized each member of the family's bag for the journey. Ada, the third born, was tasked with salting the meat the family planned to bring. Victoria, the fourth born, gathered the meat that Ada had salted. Mia, the fifth born, gathered the family's bread for the journey. Owen, the sixth born, gathered the medicine. Nicole, the seventh born and Owen's twin, grabbed all the horse food needed. Mason, the eighth born, tended to the horses as they prepared for the journey. Marie, the ninth born, loaded the bags prepared by Edward onto the horses.

"Father?" Max asked. Max, a natural born leader, was always the subject of his sibling's admiration. Max always tended to be curious, which occasionally landed him in hot water.

"Not now, son," Nathan replied, already knowing what Max would ask, "your mother needs time to rest, and you need to focus on the journey ahead of our family."

"What will happen to us tomorrow?" Asked Max, much to Nathan's surprise.

"Tomorrow..." Nathan hesitated. He realized he had never truly prepared his children for what was about to become of them. "Tomorrow you all will become blessed in the eyes of greater beings. You just have to trust in your parents."

"I don't understand, father," said Max, "but I trust you to lead us in the right direction."

Nathan smiled, for he had raised his son well, "Good boy, now return to your preparations for the journey." As Max ran off, Nathan wondered to himself what would truly become of his children. As his mind wandered, he began to question the trustworthiness of the woman he had met so many times. Could she actually have found a way to cheat death? If she had found a way, how come she could not grant it to Nathan himself? Nathan caught himself thinking these and tried to compose himself. Unfortunately for him, Mia had spotted him while he was in his thoughts.

"What's the matter, father?" Asked Mia. Mia had always been difficult to read, given her intense mood swings from time to time. Quiet and composed at one moment, aggressive and irritable the next.

"Not to worry, Mia," replied Nathan, worried she may snap at him, "I was merely appreciating how we were blessed with such a large family."