Ashwin Oswin and the Gauntlet of Gold

Chapter 01 | The Thirteenth Birthday - 2nd Rough draft

EVERYONE has their demons, the incomprehensible darkness which fills the holes of our perspectives. They are the catalyst that fuels the expansion of our ever-progressing society. No one will ever believe the death of an adolescent would have saved that freedom. Probably nobody who wasn't there would ever believe it. This is the tale of that preteen, an Ashwin Oswin. Her story would have to start on her thirteenth birthday. An unlucky number to bear.

Waking up in the correct thrum of the morning, She dried her face with a plaid sleepwear sleeve. The sun was shining, bursting through the opened curtains. Our heroine was laid face-up staring at the ceiling, seeming to look through its material. Reaching over she picked up a picture frame enclosing a moment of two people. A mother and a little girl. It was taken at a merry go round with the picture being slightly blurry. Ash rubbed her thumb against the encasing trying to capture the memory within her mind. It was seeming to fall apart like glass. She couldn't even remember her mother's favorite food.

As to not be late for school, especially on this special day, Ash got up and changed into her usual style. A plaid overshirt and jeans. It was comfortable and functional how she liked life to be. She took a breath and imagined a locked box making sure to lock all her feelings inside. Heading downstairs having her hand on the ornate wooden banister. Quickly, Ash ate a bowl of cereal and halfway through a mammoth yowl came from the entryway. An imperceptible smile came through a corner of her mouth. Gulping the rest down, She placed her bowl into the sink and rushed to the door. Making sure she grabbed her satchel hanging from a dinosaur replica, she opened the mahogany entrance showing splayed on her porch was her best friend in the world. Craig Miller, nerd, and friend. It would be the words engraved on his gravestone.

Holding out his hand in the universal sign of help me get up. She stepped on his foot and pulled his hand causing him to come upright. Once fully standing he smiled widely engulfing most of his face, "Happy Birthday, Ash!"

In response to his happiness, she smiled letting go of her heart for just a minute. A sign of weakness, but to her, it was a sign of trust in the most loyal friend. "Thanks, Craigsley. So how was your morning?"

"I had a good morning Ash. My mom had a new promotion at the hospital.." In the middle of his sentence, his eyes seemed to spark with remembrance, "Oh..wait a minute, I have your birthday present." Craig's hands began digging into his backpack with renewed vigor. Once they stilled, he pulled out his hand holding a parcel wrapped with packaging paper.

Gently grabbing it from her best friend's open arms, She tore through the fragile wall keeping her from knowing the present. It was revealed to be a leather-bound journal with a frayed red ribbon reminisced of old tomes uncovering dark secrets and spells from Wiccan folklore. However, it was blank for the writer to take their path, Ash's destiny.

After a swift inspection of the quality, "Thanks again, Craigster. You didn't have to get me a gift." It was thoughtful. Craig did know her ever since the beginning of middle school so it wasn't surprising but it was nice.

"I'm glad you liked it. I couldn't decide so I got my mom to help me choose.", rubbing his neck he adorned a semi-guilty expression. He was the only person to understand her. So it didn't matter of the little things, even though her apathetic side said he couldn't care about a monster like her. A monster didn't deserve friends. Shaking her head slightly to clear the pesky thoughts, "I appreciate the thought and that what matters. Also, your mother has good taste."

"Ya she does, so how will you celebrate? You said your dad was busy deciphering a new relic?", he raised one eyebrow questioningly.

Nodding in approval of his inquisitiveness, "Yup, at his last excavation Dad discovered an ancient scroll and his employers want to know what it says. So I'm going to have to wait for my celebration. You can come and celebrate with us tomorrow."