Crash Ten Sanity

Chapter 3

That afternoon, Cortex and Cynthia were together again. The two had stopped for lunch at a local restaurant, laughing and talking up a storm. Cortex couldn't help staring at Cynthia. She was just so amazingly beautiful. He blushed but eventually snapped out of it, knowing that he had to say something before it got awkward.

Cortex admitted, "I haven't had this much fun since high school!"

Cynthia laughed as she stated, putting her hands underneath her head, "You have really surprised me, you know..."

Cortex perked up and asked, "What do you mean?"

Cynthia smiled as she answered, "Well, here you are, acting like a man that has left his best friend behind or something..." Cortex chuckled a bit nervously at that as she added, "But you have really impressed me by finally slowing down your crazy life."

Cortex blushed as he confessed, "Actually, you are right on two things, Cynthia. One - I did leave my best friend behind. And two: the reason I'm slowing down...is because of you."

Cynthia was the one to blush now but got curious and asked, "Wait, you did leave behind your best friend?"

Cortex shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he answered, "Yes...I did..."

'Please don't ask why,' he thought, pleading to God that she wouldn't ask.

However; luck was not on Cortex's side as Cynthia questioned, "Why?"

Cortex sighed as he thought, 'Crud. I better think of something quick.'

He thought a bit as he quickly explained, "In all honesty, I felt like I was doing everything wrong. Like I could do nothing right in our friendship..." As the sugar in his tea dissolved, making ripples, Cortex sniffled as the magic of guilt was really getting to him. He didn't want to lie to Cynthia but he had no choice. He added, "I left him behind to lead my own life. Away from making more mistakes that could endanger our friendship."

As Cortex hung his head, Cynthia took his hands into hers. Cortex looked up as she gave him a warm and loving smile.

She asked, "What was his name?"

Cortex paled but quickly lied, as he looked into her eyes, "I'm so used to calling him by his nickname. His nickname was Crash cause he crashed into so many things it was quite funny. He even made jokes about it from time to time."

Cynthia giggled at that as she stated, "Sounds like he was a fine friend. Too fine of a friend to leave behind."

Cortex replied, "Granted but he loves his home and I couldn't dare ask him to come here."

Cynthia asked, "Then why not go to him?"

Cortex paled again and quickly lied, "Oh, I don't know if I could. See, the last time I saw him, we were forced away by forces beyond our control."

Cynthia questioned, "Like you had to leave him behind?"

Cortex answered, "Yes...so technically its not my fault..."

Cynthia pointed out, "Granted but have you told him of what you are doing..."

Cortex stated, "I haven't really spoken to him. I did speak to Nicholas but not to Crash..."

Cynthia smiled as she replied, "Call him."

Cortex paled and asked, "Right now?"

Cynthia answered, "Yes! Right now. And put it on speaker."

Cortex took out his phone and nervously scrolled down to Crash's name. He nervously slid the green key into place as the phone started to ring, placing the call on speaker. Cynthia waited as Cortex got more nervous, praying that Crash wouldn't answer. He wouldn't know what to say. Luck seemed to be on Cortex's side as he got Crash's voice mail.

The voice mail said, in Crash's voice, "Hey, this is Crash Bandicoot. Sorry I can't get to the phone right now but leave your name and your number and I'll get right back to you."

Cynthia's eyes were wide as she looked at Cortex. But then again, everyone in the place did. They all knew that Crash Bandicoot was the one that saved them from Phoenix. They didn't expect one of their own to be best friends with him. Cortex immediately put his phone away, headed out the door, and paying for the meal.

...

Cortex slammed the door closed on his sister's house as he leaned up against the door, wondering if he was doing the right thing.

"Neo?"

The short little yellow bald man looked and saw his sister standing there.

Cortex answered, "Nance, I'm not in the mood. Cynthia just found out I know Crash, thee Crash Bandicoot. I didn't want her finding out. I feel so guilty about what happened with the whole Phoenix thing...that's why I wanted to stay. I still want to stay."

"That might not be an option," Nina stated, walking over to her uncle and mother.

Cortex perked up at this and asked, "What do you mean?"

Nina took a deep breath as she answered, "I've been seeing Victor and Maurtiz in flashes lately."

Cortex looked shocked and Nacey added, "It's true."

Cortex immediately hugged his niece and admitted, "I have too..."

Nina was surprised by this as she returned the hug, asking, "So what do we do?"

Nacey answered, "I think we all know what we have to do."

Cortex pulled out of his hug with Nina and stated, "And since my job doesn't really start until January, we can leave right away."

Nina smiled as she replied, "Great!"

Nacey responded, "Glad to have you back, Neo."

Cortex told her, "I never left. Just been feeling down." There's when they heard a knock at the door. He added, "Who could that be?" He opened the door and there was Cynthia. He breathed, "Cynthia?"

Cynthia stated, "Neo, I came to talk to you..."

Cortex replied, "Well, make it fast, we're...leaving."

Cynthia perked up at that as Cortex suddenly looked sad. He didn't want to break it off with the woman that he had feelings for but what else was he supposed to do? He and Nina were seeing Victor and Maurtiz in visions lately...

Cynthia repeated, "Leaving? But why? Because of what happened?"

Cortex stated, "Sorta." He sighed as he knew that he couldn't keep up this charade anymore. He added, "Truth of the matter is, I am the creator of Crash Bandicoot and I was Phoenix. But I had amnesia at that time so I didn't know what I was doing. Eventually, something happened with an alien emperor who sent us all home and freed me and my friends from the curse of evil. Apparently that curse is still real...and now we must return to the one place I swore that I would never tell another soul that it existed..." He paused, hoping that he wouldn't regret this later. He finished, "N. Sanity Isle."

Cynthia looked surprised. N. Sanity Isle really...existed?

...

Wishmaker1028: Hope Cortex knows what he's doing! And this entire story is in dedication for the 10th anniversary of Crash Twin Sanity! October 1, 2004, this amazing game came into our lives! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!