Chapter 2. Asia and Noah mounted up and rode back to Asia’s barn, where they gave each horse a fresh stall with food and water. Asia ran to her house to let her mother know where they were going then ran back out with Noah to grab their bikes. “Do you want to go fishing later?” Asia’s voice pierced the silence. Noah turned with a sly smile on his face. She knew what was coming. “Well…” he said, as if in great angst over such a choice. “I’d have to check my schedule… I’m a very busy man as you know, but I think I could fit you sometime this afternoon… maybe.” He added in a businesslike tone with his signature teasing smirk. Asia attempted to keep a straight face and think of a comeback, but to no avail. She broke down and started giggling, so naturally, she instead slapped him and ran ahead of him to her bike. Noah followed, and they set off for the city of Newport Ohio. Asia felt rather proud of herself for having cheered her friend up and taking his mind off of the death of his father. She rarely saw him as his old self, and so the few times when he was care-free and broke out of the cage that had aged him beyond his years, were of great significance to Asia and she didn’t take them for granted. They spend the majority of the afternoon having a great time going from shop to shop. They rode down to the waterfront shops on the river and tied their bikes to a large oak tree. They got ice cream from a local shop they loved and then went for a walk. As they rounded a corner to head to the beach, Asia accidentally ran full on into a tall businessman. She backed away opening her mouth to apologize but happened to glance down, and to her horror, she saw that she had smashed her half-eaten ice cream cone on the man’s crisp ironed, white button up shirt. He was a tall, kind looking man with deep brown, compelling eyes, curly brown hair, and a firmly set jawline. By now Noah had come to stand next to and slightly in front of Asia, as if to protect her. “Oh my goodness!!!” she exclaimed, “I’m so sorry!!! I didn’t see you there. Oh I feel so terrible” she gasped for words to express how embarrassed she felt. He just glanced calmly at his destroyed shirt, then looked back up with warm eyes to the two of them. “Hello, Asia! I’m Azarael” He offered a kind smile and stuck out his hand to Asia. ‘What an odd name?’ Asia thought as she smiled and began to shake his hand, when Noah shoved his own hand in front of her and took the man’s hand instead. “Noah, Sir.” he stated matter-of-factly as he studied the man with a steely gaze. Asia sood in awe and half fear of this man, who seemed to know way more than he let on, but didn’t seem like the type to be a stalker. When she held his gaze, she knew he was kind. “I’m so sorry about what I did… I can save and get you a new shirt. I feel so terrible…” Asia made a feeble effort to make up for her mess, but the man named Azarael cut her off by holding his hand out as if to say ‘stop’. “No need. Everything is perfectly alright.” he said. “And besides, I can get another shirt anywhere.” He added with a smile as he shrugged. “Ah,” Asia shook herself from her trance. “Are you sure??” she questioned. “Sure as I’ll ever be. Now, I’ve been looking for people to take this survey I’m doing for my work. Would you be willing to be the first to take it for me??” Asia opened her mouth to answer but Noah cut her off.
“Yes, but quickly please, we need to get going.” The man seemed to understand and proceeded with his first question. “ Do you believe there is a God?” he asked in a businesslike manner. ‘What an odd question to ask…’ Asia wondered. Definitely not. Religion was a crutch for weak people who couldn’t handle the realities of life… wasn’t it? “No.” Noah stated impatiently. “Why not?” the man probed gently but compellingly, “Because. People make up god’s for themselves to make themselves feel better.” Noah said, sounding a bit too short. Asia fully expected the man to be offended and angry from Noah’s harsh answer, but she saw only a deep sadness enter the man’s countenance. “Then what do you believe happens after a person dies?” He questioned further. “Nothing.” Noah snapped. Asia felt sure he was ready to hit the man and run. Everyone she knew, knew not to push Noah too far over the edge or he would snap. “So, you think there’s no hope after death? No hope of anything more? No hope of seeing lost loved ones? Jesus died over two thousand years ago on the cross so that you could have eternal life and be saved. Without God, we will spend an eternity in hell.” He stated with great passion. But that was it, Asia knew. He had pushed Noah too far. She dared a glance over at her friend and could see the hurt in his eyes change to fury as he clenched his fists. The man opened his mouth to speak again but Noah cut him off before he started. “I think YOU’RE crazy!!!” He shot back and stormed off. Asia offered a feeble smile to this kind man. “Do you really believe what you said?” she dared to let herself ask the question. “With all my heart and soul.” the man stated warmly. “I know it as sure as your standing right in front of me,” He said as if it were plain as the nose on her face. But how could you ever be so sure of something you can’t see? She thought. “Asia, you can’t see the wind but you know it’s there because you see its effects. I’ll be praying for you.” he said. Yeah sure... whatever that means. She was starting to get a bit irritated. “Well… I suppose I should go after him.” she said. The man gave a sad smile and a slight nod. She took off to find Noah. Noah’s bike was gone so she assumed he went home. She headed for home and when she got there, she saw his horse was gone with fresh prints heading out toward their spot on the bluff where they always went when they needed to think. She mounted Railynne and headed out to find her friend. The previously warm and sunny day had changed into a cloudy evening. The wind was picking up as she neared the clearing. She slowed to a halt and dismounted her horse. She tied up Railynne and headed towards the clearing. In the distance she could see a small figure curled up on the bluff. As she came closer, she began to hear deep, heart wrenching sobs and could see Noah’s shoulders shaking and his hands covering his face as he mourned yet another year without his dad. Her heart ached for her lifelong friend. It was all she could do to keep from breaking down and sobbing as well. Asia slowly crept up and sat down next to Noah. He didn’t even seem to notice her at first. After a few agonizingly long minutes he took a deep breath and looked up at Asia through red eyes from crying. She could see the terrible hurt in his eyes. “Why?” was all he could offer in words. He slowly shook his head and began to sob again. She gently laid her hand on his back and tried to offer what comfort she could. “I don’t know, Noah. I truly don’t know.” was all she could say. “I’ve been thinking of what that man we met today… Azarael, said… What if what he said is true?” she offered. But knew right away she said the wrong thing, for the deep hurt in his eyes changed to rage. “What about him?” He shot back. “Well, I’ve been thinking about it and he did make some good points…” she dared to say. “No! He didn’t make any sense! I’ve heard these people before. All they do is judge everyone else for everything they do because it makes them feel better about themselves.” “I’m sorry… well, do you still want to go fishing?” she tried one more time to cheer him up. “No! Not right now we’re not!” He shouted at her. “Alright.” she whispered sadly, “Let me know if you want to talk or anything.” she added as she started away. ‘I wonder if what that man said is true?’ she thought. ‘I don’t know about Aziel, but I’m going to find out the truth.’ She made up her mind as she broke into a run back to her horse. The Official Studio: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/27374034/projects/ Next Chapter: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/419399400 Prologue: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/419336630
