Falling Ashes

Chapter 9

"Neo. Neo... Neo!"

The short yellow little bald man groaned, slowly opening his eyes. When his vision cleared, in front of him was Nacey herself. Cortex bolted up in surprise.

"Nance," he asked, stunned.

"Neo, thank God you're okay," Nacey answered, hugging her younger brother.

Cortex was so stunned since he hadn't had a hug from his sister in the longest time. He relaxed and hugged her back. But that's when he felt something a bit...odd. He pulled back and looked at his hands. He wasn't wearing his gloves. All he saw was the yellow skin he had. He looked down at himself as he was wearing an old fashion brown suit, a white undershirt, a brown tie, and brown loafers. He looked in the mirror and saw that the 'N' on his forehead was gone. Like it never existed.

He looked at himself and asked, "What happened to my clothes? Why am I here? Where is everyone?"

Nacey grabbed him by the shoulders gently and answered, "Neo. I'm just as confused as you are. You and Nina just appeared in my home just as I was about to leave for the island."

Cortex perked up as he questioned, "Wait, Nina's here?"

Just then, the two siblings heard a scream, alerting the both of them.

Nacey cringed a bit and stated, "Oh dear, I don't think that was a good sign..."

The two siblings rushed to where Nina was and there, before their eyes was a girl standing in front of a full length mirror. She had yellow skin like Cortex, long brown hair, brown eyes, wearing a short sleeved pink dress, white caprice, pink and white slippers.

Cortex asked, "Who is that, Nance?"

Nacey started to answer, "I think that's..."

The girl answered, "Uncle Neo, it's me, Nina!"

Cortex looked stunned, looking at his niece as he breathed, "Nina?"

Nacey stated, "Nina..."

Nina nodded as she asked, "Uncle Neo, what happened to me? What happened to you?!"

Cortex couldn't answer. He was too busy looking at his beautiful niece and was absolutely stunned. She was completely back to normal, just like him. What happened to them? That was a good question. All he could remember was Velo surrounding him and the others with a red light of some sort. That's when he realized something.

"Oh my gosh, Crash," he shouted.

"He wasn't with you," Nacey stated.

"No but he was with us before we ended up here," Nina replied.

Cortex wiped out his cell phone and frantically checked his contacts. N. Gin was there, Nina was there, Nacey was there, Jasmine was there... Where was Crash? Scrolling back up to the 'C' section, Cortex saw one entry. The one he needed: Crash Bandicoot. Cortex slid the green key into place as the phone started to ring. And ring. But there was no answer.

"Damn it," Cortex cursed, putting his phone away.

"Aren't you going to try John and Pete," Nina offered.

"Who in the world are they," Nacey asked.

"Long story," Cortex answered, now looking for Pete's entry.

When he finally found it, he slid the green key into place, hoping that he would at least get Pete.

"Cortex?"

That was Pete and Cortex felt relieved to hear a familiar voice.

He asked, "Pete, where are you?"

Pete answered, "Would you believe John and I are back home?"

Cortex stated, "Yes cause Nina and I are home too..."

Pete started to say, "You mean..."

Cortex replied, "Yes, we're in London..."

As he talked to Pete, he saw how happy Nina and Nacey were to be back together. 'Who am I to tear that apart,' he thought, finally deciding. He hung up on Pete, powering down his cell phone - gaining both the girls attention.

Nacey asked, "Neo?"

Nina added, "I thought you were worried about the others."

Cortex stated, "You know what...I'm not that worried anymore."

With that, he headed out the door, leaving them puzzling.

...

A few minutes later, Cortex had gone to the retirement home where Stacy was. As he entered, he saw his mother in bed. He cleared his throat and Stacy looked up. She gasped in surprise, wondering if this was her youngest son finally coming home after all of these years.

Stacy stammered, "N - Neo?"

Cortex stated, "Hello, Mom..."

With that, he went over to her and hugged her gently, trying not to cry. Stacy returned it, also trying not to cry. Her little boy was finally home. The two of them just held each other and cried until there were no tears left. Stacy had pulled Cortex onto her lap, holding him like she used to.

Stacy asked, "When did you come home?"

Cortex questioned, sniffling, "When did you get sick?"

Stacy answered, "Not really sick, my dear. Though your sister Jasmine thinks otherwise."

Cortex stated, smiling a bit, "No need to tell me that twice."

Stacy smiled a bit herself as she replied, "You didn't answer my question yet."

Cortex responded, "Oh Mom...I have been home for hours and I don't know how or why. All I know is...I'm back and no one is going to split up this family again."

Stacy coughed away from him as she told him, "I wouldn't be too sure."

Cortex perked up at this and asked, "Mom, are you okay?"

Stacy answered, "Oh yes. Just a tickle in my throat."

Cortex frowned as he stated, "Mom. I'm a scientist, a doctor, and most importantly - your son. I think I have a right to know."

Stacy smiled a tad and replied, "Sweetie...I have lung cancer."

Cortex's eyes widen as he blurted out, "I thought you said that you weren't sick!"

Stacy replied, "I didn't want you to worry."

He whined, "Oh Mom..."

Cortex started to cry, hugging his mom as he felt awful. And all Stacy did was comfort her son.

...

Wishmaker1028: Just when you thought it wasn't going to get sad... Please read and review. And always think outside of the box.