Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”399Please respect copyright.PENANAgC6qXngofA
399Please respect copyright.PENANAAusfQ4oWRq
399Please respect copyright.PENANAE06hV8eqjY
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?
399Please respect copyright.PENANAHhcE1UBREe
399Please respect copyright.PENANAwdfaYgt3Xl
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAvitVuGhMC1
399Please respect copyright.PENANAfCbcAVCryr
Alyson: “Na-”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAxJjs5eF5vA
399Please respect copyright.PENANAXwgZxz2LCg
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAgFgl64QOaK
399Please respect copyright.PENANAC42ttT3OzZ
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAgYyndBENbr
399Please respect copyright.PENANA3Dgps0yDNV
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAFYgnN4iH8z
399Please respect copyright.PENANAMOEqQiTg06
Nell: “…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAzNlU3sGzPh
No…399Please respect copyright.PENANA2M1SirKphl
399Please respect copyright.PENANAbM499aWY8Z
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAdixCuFsEyJ
399Please respect copyright.PENANAhE9dPOjpFy
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANA8upMN2MhXT
399Please respect copyright.PENANA80ZBr7cIj5
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAPhgdv5XYpy
399Please respect copyright.PENANAaq7PSExQDD
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAEmiYEMK3mb
399Please respect copyright.PENANAzHOtfLFu6M
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAPpEVBDUQPL
399Please respect copyright.PENANAE0V8FQ1Ld8
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9G0MZeQohj
399Please respect copyright.PENANAJMYtKc71zB
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAhQEBHfttTn
399Please respect copyright.PENANAzCrC8RIPFA
Nell: “No!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAe3MYA6dRnk
399Please respect copyright.PENANAKhRUZMEBYZ
Alyson: “!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAgZXFxNfOJF
399Please respect copyright.PENANABrxJ1HZw1y
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAUAtgeYbRRc
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9TgQIqkTPY
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAqcHz0DtGxD
399Please respect copyright.PENANA3bogrtBp5x
Nell: “…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAbmXaNYfgir
399Please respect copyright.PENANAVl9UoAbgii
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAbv8PBe5lgI
399Please respect copyright.PENANARDgryEl1wt
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAbHlk7jamXN
399Please respect copyright.PENANAY2CjNtGc2F
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANA3Q697yOI91
399Please respect copyright.PENANAIFnPxhwvOX
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
399Please respect copyright.PENANApxHDQY6vCB
399Please respect copyright.PENANAfTJo8noUaj
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAsnRkGKxlDi
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9qOOnbZqip
Nell: “No…not you too.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAIGsk60QdMh
399Please respect copyright.PENANAutxgNbCKaw
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAyzoTdGHe6Q
399Please respect copyright.PENANANDhL6q3tNV
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAvN6qGEzwQB
399Please respect copyright.PENANAGwtyDo2YLZ
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAyj3QyyD5ex
399Please respect copyright.PENANARE2B4ksY0Y
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAuXKKmBHUdx
399Please respect copyright.PENANAX3tIzLQdPI
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANANHGLOoAWle
399Please respect copyright.PENANAXYpPMDUuin
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAdhalBr2q5K
399Please respect copyright.PENANAAOX9JDrbZ3
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAY6RF2reuFO
399Please respect copyright.PENANAS81R6lW2nR
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAwrL1Pgc1Gz
399Please respect copyright.PENANA1ym0iImWHW
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAr5HHMnnyoi
399Please respect copyright.PENANAy7PI5G7F3F
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAbhYO8Lxprx
399Please respect copyright.PENANAILYofglDt5
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAriBIZr8TAe
399Please respect copyright.PENANAH7ODX3DkJ9
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…
399Please respect copyright.PENANAJbu1PKSh5f
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]399Please respect copyright.PENANAMzhlt0KV03
399Please respect copyright.PENANAB8O1ZoTqEZ
Mat: “Are you okay?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAvrhduzRth5
399Please respect copyright.PENANAO7lQ52LPmw
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANALK8wsZTgrJ
399Please respect copyright.PENANA4tiet3uyfl
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAdVsoT6W3g3
399Please respect copyright.PENANAfiCGnhpIA0
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9UyT9PPv7T
399Please respect copyright.PENANAJS9GNDiQup
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAZgSiDGbn0Z
399Please respect copyright.PENANAJngru0TBv7
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAeoLypDDO0z
399Please respect copyright.PENANAECtPF3w0Qy
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAMO5vQJSlWB
399Please respect copyright.PENANAe7MW6e0Aoz
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAPRbODrXynt
399Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4ZHczc7c6
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAhNc1wZ4ZQD
399Please respect copyright.PENANA09tAcbxcNe
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAOrJB2yfpd9
399Please respect copyright.PENANAXsEkQ7DNLk
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAd7v2Rh9s09
399Please respect copyright.PENANAosR6pSekuV
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAhwRTxtX4lC
399Please respect copyright.PENANAFI4D3J7IGi
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAV0jrPjjL1F
399Please respect copyright.PENANAQshzFRTTYM
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAebh6RVTEOl
399Please respect copyright.PENANATvDpHJhmom
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANA3xP9KljMTN
399Please respect copyright.PENANA7UMXHmANeu
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANARFaA3wicSW
399Please respect copyright.PENANANUvhgXIJHT
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAAWTKZwafRO
399Please respect copyright.PENANAHXksZ5wur5
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANACeuLbdohqF
399Please respect copyright.PENANA15Jn17Idac
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAKZsA72q2hd
399Please respect copyright.PENANAxFScR5Y1IA
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAKDDy468pcL
399Please respect copyright.PENANAwnY5gJtKpr
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.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA2x3PgmN9pI
399Please respect copyright.PENANAp2rU7jl6mS
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….
399Please respect copyright.PENANAPEKsZXQywp
Anthony: “Let none survive.”399Please respect copyright.PENANAvUIRCLvZ05
399Please respect copyright.PENANAlHEK1RTysG
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
399Please respect copyright.PENANArYhR9U1e5o
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAnaVg9Gepsq
399Please respect copyright.PENANAHX0lC1FUG3
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAziVGz6gK9n
399Please respect copyright.PENANAMl3OPaVAXU
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAl1r2nRsd5H
399Please respect copyright.PENANAlbQtjxKCkQ
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
399Please respect copyright.PENANASjtfILT3a3
*SCREAM*399Please respect copyright.PENANAGoWIFjDbBP
399Please respect copyright.PENANAxQCzLh5C2M
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
399Please respect copyright.PENANALzcko4fARy
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9ziUFiGb6F
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAYntFJ1uJPZ
399Please respect copyright.PENANAs6QpZec4iD
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
399Please respect copyright.PENANA33khYjIoHV
399Please respect copyright.PENANARTe84MUCCH
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
399Please respect copyright.PENANANGV2bYhgiM
399Please respect copyright.PENANAvnZ8tnSJyX
???: “Alyson!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAHFEyFh879D
399Please respect copyright.PENANAojqXUgzxkP
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAePRRrc6kUs
399Please respect copyright.PENANA1l7DyskBJb
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAr0UmQozESc
399Please respect copyright.PENANAmcjDOzI7Zu
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAv7x56b4A15
399Please respect copyright.PENANASYKiRdWaNn
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9DEeXIQ4qt
399Please respect copyright.PENANAjF7W6LpbXW
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAdEpLp9GP2M
399Please respect copyright.PENANAIgON8dzFes
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
399Please respect copyright.PENANAf2IqYiDtK9
399Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6tYjhcKnY
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA7VjMSmBtFX
!!399Please respect copyright.PENANA1PbdBKsMWv
399Please respect copyright.PENANAHDoPeAOIlr
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANA6zeBE3QGh4
399Please respect copyright.PENANAZwAgJ5feRl
Are we the last ones?
399Please respect copyright.PENANAG1gmoB22Lx
399Please respect copyright.PENANAMGbpDc1GZl
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.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAUGCeL6A80r
399Please respect copyright.PENANA7lWWPmwvPU
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA4p5k8W3TQB
399Please respect copyright.PENANAGvDcnOL7B4
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAqIN0ZOXG34
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9DWZ6F6ZYn
Deanna: “AHHH!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAp8s40omuL0
399Please respect copyright.PENANAuotRaqKgF2
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.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANALkbX5o2oNZ
399Please respect copyright.PENANAcRwlkjGldw
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAcThKk6nAPR
399Please respect copyright.PENANAuq9xgSJYGz
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAKz4g0pBsS3
399Please respect copyright.PENANAE2jcVuLXgt
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAmsaiswsExQ
399Please respect copyright.PENANADKuxwwPN4g
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAc4EAgH3DQa
399Please respect copyright.PENANAWDhBPIKS0i
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA9d98T8t6Nz
399Please respect copyright.PENANAy8l1y8lg0v
Anthony: “!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANALiZF5veq61
399Please respect copyright.PENANAc9QnZYFZgE
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.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAbFh4ieCPkH
399Please respect copyright.PENANASFcWqrl6be
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAya1jLSowi5
399Please respect copyright.PENANAUhBlES3IzV
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAFmnwqbyPo1
399Please respect copyright.PENANAm4mJEBqCWc
Deanna: “Alyson…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAUG83sojUBI
?399Please respect copyright.PENANAGBWd3PHRVU
399Please respect copyright.PENANA4I9Bokrm5P
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?
399Please respect copyright.PENANADCxfgKK8yE
399Please respect copyright.PENANAuij45SkYsz
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAKPod39V3dX
399Please respect copyright.PENANA5BNBFryaAx
Deanna: “…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANADjzHUVNYBR
399Please respect copyright.PENANApbdszH2UHG
Alyson: “W-Why?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAoPr8Dx8zjZ
399Please respect copyright.PENANAVtWhJGqqB3
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAAB7bk05sBt
399Please respect copyright.PENANANgotzZWsOw
Alyson: “Deanna…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANANSsJKNvJ02
399Please respect copyright.PENANAOb1lsPrNbO
Anthony: *Sigh*
399Please respect copyright.PENANA68pmF3VruI
399Please respect copyright.PENANABjlWobx1xN
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANANSMFxZd1TH
399Please respect copyright.PENANAWiyCzSTa67
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAujeO56D9OB
!!!399Please respect copyright.PENANAaFem7l7hCP
399Please respect copyright.PENANAcO9jlYClmI
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAQwwgU6MySM
399Please respect copyright.PENANACrQtizO7dH
Anthony: “King…”
399Please respect copyright.PENANACRryHnLLFM
399Please respect copyright.PENANAY00B3N67h3
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAp70G0wvKbZ
399Please respect copyright.PENANABewJkn5Zwx
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA39tQSLDHnb
399Please respect copyright.PENANA8GahriIFko
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAHHgpHZQni1
399Please respect copyright.PENANA79Mnxa0gmN
Anthony: “…Begone.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAtfw2orzixf
399Please respect copyright.PENANAqcOUJji149
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.
399Please respect copyright.PENANA0PyMrzsBVZ
399Please respect copyright.PENANAqMgxxB2aze
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
399Please respect copyright.PENANAuwJni8IDCZ
399Please respect copyright.PENANA3Usvvo6s2J
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAZHy2DXTSPv
399Please respect copyright.PENANA7zLgiZVlWp
Anthony: “!!”
399Please respect copyright.PENANAoWAPD98nad
399Please respect copyright.PENANAXs65SUSxlb
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
399Please respect copyright.PENANA7ob74Gh6xI
399Please respect copyright.PENANA5lY62BjhCH
She?
399Please respect copyright.PENANAT62zIwyjkh
399Please respect copyright.PENANA46jh8ZYev2
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns216.73.216.65da2