Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”299Please respect copyright.PENANAyPt6FC4Vub
299Please respect copyright.PENANARmWqdK51nL
299Please respect copyright.PENANANG2XVpIfj6
Nell repeats that through tears but I can’t help but stare down the barrel of those guns. Magic? Murder? It’s all too much to take. What’s even real anymore?
299Please respect copyright.PENANA3yIZdlnKOH
299Please respect copyright.PENANAKrSk0qt5MJ
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAOxFVHjZNh2
299Please respect copyright.PENANA2rpJCdWfv5
Alyson: “Na-”
299Please respect copyright.PENANANleS1II5pB
299Please respect copyright.PENANAibQOoPxv21
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAI29GFHwNUM
299Please respect copyright.PENANAumHJtQIU1j
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAC8d50soEsp
299Please respect copyright.PENANAGEvgq5EmBl
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA1C5GrE7mvZ
299Please respect copyright.PENANA0DNZphtmbY
Nell: “…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAgFxg3m5IJe
No…299Please respect copyright.PENANANShdG7zAiU
299Please respect copyright.PENANAvZGeLLckKk
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAKS7hLWWM49
299Please respect copyright.PENANAcpLtksawa0
I-I’m too scared to move. I couldn’t do anything as Sever dragged Nao out of my life. With a slam of the door, everything starts to settle.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAosw7bGQtag
299Please respect copyright.PENANAK0bMi78lGt
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
299Please respect copyright.PENANA8BTRz1e2q0
299Please respect copyright.PENANArsRlFIyOqW
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA9cUeJPP5qp
299Please respect copyright.PENANAcWlrytyXXU
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAAZVg1YnjPq
299Please respect copyright.PENANAVZXaGa3NBW
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA2YiD9rNfkj
299Please respect copyright.PENANAgZcbBtzU0R
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA6QHpIzbRPu
299Please respect copyright.PENANAlbs2ajoUM4
Nell: “No!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA9N0zhhbMzm
299Please respect copyright.PENANAcQFwwZLF4T
Alyson: “!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAAaz4BtQLhp
299Please respect copyright.PENANAtANYcnnyjA
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAP3DHliv2ge
299Please respect copyright.PENANACaypLAG2vf
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANALGAcxstnGS
299Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ7wDmKsd3
Nell: “…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAwUemOQ6GxM
299Please respect copyright.PENANAA9cq2zzQJk
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAePsEsri368
299Please respect copyright.PENANANg1cbnldG8
For the next 10 minutes, the lights grew dim and the air thickened. What Nell told me seemed so ridiculous but…it’s all true. Nao killed Anton and he can use magic.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAwyxnIRSprz
299Please respect copyright.PENANAXCgkWMOBRC
So many things go through my mind. What this means for his success. How does this effects his ability to succeed? But that is not important because I realize just how much I messed up.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAfey96MTaO0
299Please respect copyright.PENANAroG9qDugU8
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
299Please respect copyright.PENANALYqzDQGy06
299Please respect copyright.PENANAHwgpTS24bV
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAUZKMwdGt5j
299Please respect copyright.PENANAzQbV7gEPx2
Nell: “No…not you too.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAgHk9FpFfpb
299Please respect copyright.PENANAcEeU2mP7nj
I told mom about my actions at school and my queen status. I hate to see the warmth in her eyes fade away. But I…need to tell her the truth. I ran away from telling her how I behave for too long.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAs6yDFiMxQ9
299Please respect copyright.PENANAbqlnrTmuDL
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANATIW21Hi2nB
299Please respect copyright.PENANAzaxHMAA906
Tears flood my eyes. Everything hits me and I collapse into her arms. Cold but accepting. I plead for forgiveness in her arms and she answers by stroking my hair.
299Please respect copyright.PENANApCe23QbUF5
299Please respect copyright.PENANA8qlEHGLjv7
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAKfH2K6wLQX
299Please respect copyright.PENANAOtU2dTFjLj
And she’s left with me. A daughter she shouldn’t have adopted in the first place. If only, I didn’t take Lilly’s place…no…stole her place.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAgYWmnDhbe8
299Please respect copyright.PENANAvyb7G2PXwv
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANATOKpyRc4Uh
299Please respect copyright.PENANAAO2f63gYnq
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA6Zg9PHTcag
299Please respect copyright.PENANAUhkD6I6s0M
Yes…it’s only fair. We stayed in each other embrace for several minutes before dragging ourselves to bed. I couldn’t get much sleep at night. I tossed and turned, thinking about what might be happening to Nao.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAu7bGYsp9ZL
299Please respect copyright.PENANA1VzqAHyTOA
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAMeCKdHfzw1
299Please respect copyright.PENANAHe5T8L4QLB
And what about Nao’s friends? How will they take the news, especially coming from me? Is becoming queen and achieving success worth it if my family won’t be there.
299Please respect copyright.PENANA6h3Ae38JfO
299Please respect copyright.PENANAlvGMIKv1SF
In the morning, we go about our morning routine without Nao. We try our best to keep appearances just in case we’re still being watched. But a tear here, a wounded glance there. We couldn’t keep it all inside.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAmi9OGb9SaM
299Please respect copyright.PENANAIh3pYNqJ4s
I drag my body to school and feign ignorance as best as I can. Going through the motions as if nothing happen. That’s until the sky started to turn purple…
299Please respect copyright.PENANA2hX6heUJiB
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]299Please respect copyright.PENANAYV4XB0vldv
299Please respect copyright.PENANAHMCgC9NFdi
Mat: “Are you okay?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAUrLtevgphk
299Please respect copyright.PENANAeiI4t47ZYI
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA7nxHakOb6u
299Please respect copyright.PENANAEJvDDe6gT2
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANASDhHS8giJv
299Please respect copyright.PENANAzEugoZn3tb
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAKPKVIfS94S
299Please respect copyright.PENANA9uNry9V9su
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAy0KpAJvMup
299Please respect copyright.PENANAq3Rn9RuJTO
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAQhfNisKvg4
299Please respect copyright.PENANAhkkfuaMHW6
The inevitable happens as they lead us to a secluded area. Nao can’t protect us and he wouldn’t even if he could. He will leave me like so many others when they ascend to become stars.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAlk0U8DgSV5
299Please respect copyright.PENANAFmxblcxNtg
I ignore the screams of pain and the bully’s incoherent ramblings. I ball up a fist and grin. I won the bet. No one changes and nothing will get better. Not until I make it.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAA8pX5NhOa3
299Please respect copyright.PENANA8bUag72edb
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAEUHlJuBtBS
299Please respect copyright.PENANAZPvorM1RmE
A gold ring emblazoned with ancient words and engraved with a purple gem appears on my ring finger. Everything goes quiet and my environment disappears.
299Please respect copyright.PENANA9oZYcSPokL
299Please respect copyright.PENANA538ALA9tF1
I push myself off as new clothes adorn my body. Something I instinctively know to be a groom’s attire. But it’s vastly different, more like a cross between mage robes and kingly armor.
299Please respect copyright.PENANARjn8mkH0fQ
299Please respect copyright.PENANABoYLDaMzCQ
The world returns tomorrow and beneath me are my friends. In front of me are the bullies. Once filled with wrath and assurance that they would get away with this, now look at them. Fear and confusion contort their faces beautifully.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAZbOhL3iRBF
299Please respect copyright.PENANAyqGxipyz9A
Thinking that aiming for the body will hide our scars from Nao. Thinking that we were so scared that we wouldn’t tell our friend what happened.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAXwxzDnzXCV
299Please respect copyright.PENANAjlqj5dfflq
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAE4S9aIXK1I
299Please respect copyright.PENANAFlvvavytoh
But unlike Nao, I won’t waste time. With a wave of my hand, they disappear in a burst of smoke. Turned to ash by the storm summoned by my new ally.
299Please respect copyright.PENANA6qVQ0P4cHt
299Please respect copyright.PENANAL0B1tqVyZl
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA1sl8l1aY0k
299Please respect copyright.PENANAT3xVVpkLTE
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAXTVM8sirIb
299Please respect copyright.PENANADR2zK72dwi
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAY1OFpqLpMi
299Please respect copyright.PENANAt1D4iiP1sL
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAWAIin75EmX
299Please respect copyright.PENANAC3oDKpT071
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANApXPp38l0ng
299Please respect copyright.PENANAuIQxcd1FRG
Anthony: “Don’t be scared guys. I’ll do what Nao couldn’t. By the end of the day, no one will do this to us ever again.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAFsiNxRlBql
299Please respect copyright.PENANA7dcKmLg18Z
I ignore their pleas for answers and walk to the front of the school. I stare up at our new purple sky, crackling with lightning.
The bullies…
The bystanders…
The incompetent teachers…
The king….
The queen….
299Please respect copyright.PENANAdrVgUQ14bc
Anthony: “Let none survive.”299Please respect copyright.PENANABYaO7Xhcyf
299Please respect copyright.PENANAfEdWpUyWS9
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
299Please respect copyright.PENANAehP55X5zrV
Thunder and lightning rage outside. What was just a normal day turns into a dark hellscape in the sky. Even the teachers stop what they’re doing to stare into the void.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAqbhB7iqTZS
299Please respect copyright.PENANAzRCQmFJNAc
Mumbling and questions start leaking around the class. But given what I know, I’m pretty sure that it has something to do with magic.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAdbKAgcr8XK
299Please respect copyright.PENANAWGztrfOnSA
But it’s not Nao…he wouldn’t do this. Based on what Nell said, he feels horrible for what he did. This…that in the sky…is way worse.
299Please respect copyright.PENANA3GxpW99bt4
299Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ6TUxubSs
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
299Please respect copyright.PENANACp2cfnh6c6
*SCREAM*299Please respect copyright.PENANA3M8vabPfEl
299Please respect copyright.PENANAktHQf26l6n
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ6Iii9LTc
299Please respect copyright.PENANAf3HM2Gx7W1
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAYuu0TXSelC
299Please respect copyright.PENANAZXHjE9qlQg
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAdtcY2W1i1T
299Please respect copyright.PENANArz4XL5M54x
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
299Please respect copyright.PENANARdge0tEItr
299Please respect copyright.PENANAexH3tJFyOn
???: “Alyson!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ9qtEwer9
299Please respect copyright.PENANApt5n5wDvVu
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAoA5g7hy6LS
299Please respect copyright.PENANAubvPVbeX8S
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAU9SsH8eHjU
299Please respect copyright.PENANATYzpzRcKtv
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAJfdQj1e3NK
299Please respect copyright.PENANAmnGen9bZJv
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANATHFJ9uybaU
299Please respect copyright.PENANAhVA3shcgXq
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA7WPNXX3KGL
299Please respect copyright.PENANAAcI6mlQHIt
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
299Please respect copyright.PENANAGR0egXeVjj
299Please respect copyright.PENANAiW98p8WLmq
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAjKU7KcV5Ls
!!299Please respect copyright.PENANADUp62E2XlA
299Please respect copyright.PENANA1HZz8uFn49
His voice sends instant chills down my spine. But what makes it worse is that…it’s silent. The smell is still stronger than ever but the screams…they’re gone.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAxyA04EcugX
299Please respect copyright.PENANACBfB7zKZHc
Are we the last ones?
299Please respect copyright.PENANAg6Q98yNmbb
299Please respect copyright.PENANADnYvQbPRhM
Anthony: “I don’t even need Nao’s mind reading to tell what you’re thinking. I’m sure there are more hiding but I want to kill you first.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAqK0GIfLHJz
299Please respect copyright.PENANAyS7BhbzFMu
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA1t4pOjpFlu
299Please respect copyright.PENANAQahnUrvdgY
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAK4vIhb2BJ1
299Please respect copyright.PENANAJsF4t8kEXa
Deanna: “AHHH!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAGqhqGyRxue
299Please respect copyright.PENANAKWXUhcxYTV
Anthony: “You have a lot of nerve to ask that question. Be quiet and wait your turn. I’ll be sure to take my time with you. You deserve at least that much for your past crimes. Being blind is a good start.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAiL61QUUxn5
299Please respect copyright.PENANA10CkjjcT67
Deanna is holding her eyes and screaming her heart out. Tears begin to leak out from her hands as everyone else starts to cry out. The cacophony of madness is deafening but despite it all, I can still hear Anthony’s next words.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAiaKraXNv8w
299Please respect copyright.PENANA60CYQMF229
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAaCUvBrMUYT
299Please respect copyright.PENANAMvYBDF0jER
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAGm5WxUr0S9
299Please respect copyright.PENANA39qojN3GkA
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAsYWnEm3gx5
299Please respect copyright.PENANAtUcXl0NiAR
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAiFK2CCkNvs
299Please respect copyright.PENANAhTJw7i6EQN
Anthony: “!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAVkXG6uXWYQ
299Please respect copyright.PENANAI6h9W28CYD
Anthony: “…No, you’re just lying to get out of this. There’s no way Nao would let that happen. Even if it did happen, I’ll be sure to save him after you’re dead.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAmXXdvkgi3A
299Please respect copyright.PENANAvdRHz39LKp
He gathers a ball of lightning and prepares to throw it. This is it huh…all of it was for nothing? Everything I did for my success? Everything I did to Nao? It doesn’t mean anything in the end.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAD8DvV1Czfc
299Please respect copyright.PENANAG6zOrUcbIp
I can’t even shed a tear or scream. The insanity of what’s going on is overloading my mind beyond the point of crashing. I’m….long past that.
299Please respect copyright.PENANATkLLKU2vgl
299Please respect copyright.PENANAIKa3OxRy81
Deanna: “Alyson…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAITxT9gCI3n
?299Please respect copyright.PENANApNwmbrS0uI
299Please respect copyright.PENANAcL6xpV54G1
Deanna touches around until she finds me. She then covers my head and cradles me in her arms. Is she…shielding me? Why go so far?
299Please respect copyright.PENANABVYVjGW6DY
299Please respect copyright.PENANAAqVvkL0bxU
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAzrAcw7M3Ac
299Please respect copyright.PENANA09Cnz87Bc4
Deanna: “…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA2n4ijFBSaU
299Please respect copyright.PENANAKxMpiBV05d
Alyson: “W-Why?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA2fhvoox8V5
299Please respect copyright.PENANA2y1y1H0ITW
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANARFQxBRwfVc
299Please respect copyright.PENANAK1kk71LyQX
Alyson: “Deanna…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANA19GxIhOP1O
299Please respect copyright.PENANAwT1sxe6s5c
Anthony: *Sigh*
299Please respect copyright.PENANAirXJEKH2cS
299Please respect copyright.PENANAWVcgzQbJ5T
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANATZ29zfFsaC
299Please respect copyright.PENANA8fVdKhslbx
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAI8FL7XW9gW
!!!299Please respect copyright.PENANAV8qyCDi5ZC
299Please respect copyright.PENANAvCrqgeeHUX
Everyone turns to the one who dared to sound so relaxed in this situation. I felt relief for the first time today and it came from such an unlikely place.
299Please respect copyright.PENANAI4VhEgcM4m
299Please respect copyright.PENANAybxUQ6FJvy
Anthony: “King…”
299Please respect copyright.PENANACFl23PyohR
299Please respect copyright.PENANAA0czRi61A6
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAJIGBeNMbQE
299Please respect copyright.PENANAFrogJcbleN
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAr6GVPGhOOG
299Please respect copyright.PENANAGbtUTUggI1
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAgO4lAfTwV1
299Please respect copyright.PENANAuw8eRpanZX
Anthony: “…Begone.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAYchZuoejhF
299Please respect copyright.PENANAuhz79a72Wm
Instantly, a large pillar of electrifying destruction erupts from where Trevor stood. Everyone looks away from the blinding light but there’s something strange…why are there no screams.
299Please respect copyright.PENANA51kjwDmyHi
299Please respect copyright.PENANAAO9knaTHry
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
299Please respect copyright.PENANADoA9aRhg5R
299Please respect copyright.PENANAtfMe9DSzVR
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAeoMszF8pCD
299Please respect copyright.PENANAy0SKFO7bHW
Anthony: “!!”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAzKdupFvwJB
299Please respect copyright.PENANAYagOeqbKDp
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
299Please respect copyright.PENANAfin7eeOH3b
299Please respect copyright.PENANAARa9b6fjaB
She?
299Please respect copyright.PENANAUsNK8g8gY2
299Please respect copyright.PENANAdcLL9dfiKN
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns3.144.108.246da2