Creating Hope

Ch. 2

Neah walked for a good hour before finding a place to open a door to the Ark. He slowly and hesitantly stepped through and looked around. It almost seemed abandoned. He sighed and started to make his way to the large white building in the middle, where the Noah should be. As he walked, a small, purple butterfly was suddenly flying toward him quickly. It hit his chest harshly, then fell to the ground in a daze. Neah looked down at the butterfly in surprise. "Teez...?" He murmured.

The butterfly instantly turned into a very small boy with black hair and purple eyes. It was one of Tyki's special Teez that could turn human. This particular one had been Neah's friend before he died. The boy smiled up at him happily. "Welcome back, Nee!" He exclaimed. Neah smiled slightly and lifted the boy onto his shoulders. "Hey, Teez. Everyone in the main room?" He asked.

Teez suddenly seemed sad. "Well.. You better see everyone for yourself..." He squeaks. Neah suddenly became strangely concerned. He wasn't supposed to care for anyone, but... Road had been his closest friend. Was she still alive? What about Tyki? Cyril? He couldn't help but wonder as he walked through the doors of the main building.

Neah looked around only to see two people; Wisely and Tyki. He felt slightly relieved as he walked over. Wisely was asleep on the couch, in a fairly odd position, and Tyki was sitting in a chair, writing furiously. He looked up with a gentle smile as Neah walked over. "Welcome back. Although I apologize for the reunion being at this time." Tyki said, his voice hoarse. The older Noah stood on shaky legs, the paper falling from his lap. He frowned in frustration. Neah leaned down and picked up the paper, handing it back to Tyki, who gladly accepted it and set it on he table. Neah glanced at it. It was just a bunch of random scribbled handwriting he couldn't even read...

Tyki smiled softly. "I'm afraid I won't be able to explain a whole lot. My throat is aching quite horribly." He said in barely more than a whisper. "But everyone else is pretty much upstairs. Adam is in his room again. Toraido is probably in the library. And Road is either in her room or with Toraido. And then Cyril is resting in his room. He hasn't been feeling well." He said.

Neah nodded, taking this time to notice that Tyki's golden eyes were quite foggy. He blinked in confusion, but started to walk up the stairs with Teez on his shoulders. He decided to check the library first. It was closer, and possibly where Toraido and Road would be. He slowly opened the door and peeked inside. He heard a male's soft voice, but the gentle tone it held didn't fit the person talking. Toraido.

Neah stepped all the way inside to see the dark haired man sitting on the couch with.. Road curled up next to him as he quietly talked with her. They both looked up as he walked in. Toraido glared for a moment, then hesitantly nodded in welcome. Road's eyes brightened happily. She stood, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around him in a right hug. He looked a bit shocked, then put an arm around her. "Hey, you alright?" He asked, seeing she looked sad.

Road's eyes dimmed again and she didn't respond. Didn't even make a single sound. She simply squeezed him once, tightly, then released him and walked out of the room. Teez leaped off of Neah's shoulders to follow. Neah watched them for a moment then walked over to Toraido, who nodded again. "Sorry. She can't speak." He said.

Neah slowly sat down on the couch next to him. "Care to explain what's going on then?" He asked. "You seem to be the only one not completely out of it." He said with a sigh.

Toraido folds his arms across his chest. "We lost the war. Simple as that." He said. Neah raised an eyebrow, knowing there had to be more. "At least... That's what in wish I could say. I am the only one actually partially ok, so I've been the one to take care of everyone. Even though.. There are only six of us now... Seven, since you're back." He said.

Neah blinks in surprise. Only six were left? He started to count in his head. Tyki... Wisely... Teez.. Road, and Toraido. Then Tyki had said something about Adam and Cyril.

Wait.

That would make seven. Neah looks confused. "Wait... When I talked to Tyki downstairs, he said Adam and Cyril were still here." He said.

Toraido sighed, laying his head back. "Tyki is one of the most out of it besides Adam. Yes, Adam is still here. But Cyril is dead. He committed suicide two months ago. Tricia was killed in the war and it was too much for him." He explained.

Neah nods in understanding. Tricia had been Cyril's wife. "Then... What about Road and Wisely? What were their reactions?" He asked. Adopted or not, they were still his children.

Toraido nodded slightly. "Wisely didn't react much. I don't think he really knew how to. If you wanna know what's going on in Road's head, you've gotta ask Wisely. Because she's not going to tell you. But.. She was the first one to find Cyril's body. It's one of the reasons why she lost the ability to talk. Emotional trauma. But I'm sure there's more to the story than what I know. You can go talk to her. Just be gentle. Otherwise, she'll freak, hide, and not come out again." He said warningly. "And Adam? He's locked himself away in his room. He doesn't come out."

Neah sighed and stood up, deciding the next thing he should do was check on Road and Teez. "Thanks, Torai." He said, using the nickname he knew the other hated. But Toraido simply smirked. "See you later, Nee." He said mockingly. "By the way, I'm going to make supper soon. Make sure Road and Teez come." He said. Neah nodded and walked out with a slight wave.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair to make his way to Road's room to finally get some answers.

Alright! Sorry for the short chapter. The next will be a bit longer. I'm on a long car trip and we still have many hours to go, so chapter three may even be up later today!