I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnZcRvzOEi
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu4t2u9VsA
I ignore their questions, camera flashes, and stares. I move through the crowd with my friends and last family member close behind. Tallow is sent to the hospital and Anthony goes to jail.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WCOAIQdJV
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqtOGCsuwP
My world is crumbling, so why is the sky so clear and serene? The days start to blur together after that moment. All of it grieving, all of it ignoring the press and preparing for the funeral.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhLJj6pJKA
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tNRo8Gdp9
The presence of magic is now known to the whole world, but how could I care. My world is the one that matters and it’s shattered.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET4VEAM8hU
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJBS59HTzu
The only thing I can remember is her coffin being lowered into the ground. The only thing I could feel are the tears dripping off my face. The only thing could hear was Alyson’s sorrow contrasted with the cicadas.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgjsf6OPAt
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTxD8T7ony
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUxpOdRZ2v
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fVeIO6TrV
We return from the funeral and open the door to a broken home. Without mom taking care of us…what do we do? What happens to me and Alyson? These questions haunt our minds as we drift off to sleep for that night.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMCh9RtsHJ
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13ZTmiTQ8M
Answers arrive soon after we wake up. Since I’m going to become 18 soon, I won’t be separated from my sister. But someone has to pay for everything and thankfully, Nell’s colleagues from work help Alyson to get a job in sales.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l8N4ZUOkv
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiDXJ247iy
She drops out of school and her position as queen. But this didn’t seem to upset her, she only looked at me before agreeing. I couldn’t read her emotions but I could help carry the burden. I’ll get a part-time job and help pay rent. Anything to keep us together.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ0NSU4TIF
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl3OSYtxQF
As for school, I don’t have to go for some time. Most of the school body is dead and a large stone wall was made in honor of what happened.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy1d3wlBoP
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqxLNdPbop
Finally, there’s me. The cause of everything, all because I wanted to escape and change myself. Well now look, things have changed and they’re for the worse. I’ve escaped into a hell of my own making.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29IApVphf1
But there’s one upside. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIHoxUxf4z
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFfIs2A68p
I grasp that fucking ring in my hand and squeeze. I’ll survive this nightmare if it means I get to make this bitch suffer and eventually…die.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ul14fOahr
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRH53hqJYp
But to do that, I need to become more powerful. To protect Alyson from everything, I’ll need to become more powerful. I won’t let anything happen to her or my friends.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEWjJ1TLOV
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtd1BbG7Ar
I’ll-
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDcBug4rfO
*Knock*388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dbx2CRzIw
*Knock*
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQIXvyRLpc
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWkeDSFjtD
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ4fNRACi4
*Door Open*388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrV4FE2pBO
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQb5eyiF15
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCGV3NTHUF
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvtsVf5D2k
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fpwURAE53
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J08Z13uhz
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAJOFqMxJR
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiVrZl60wR
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yysmpwI3E
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShO72VhO4Z
Nao: “Mom…”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeeDgCV4Pn
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5U4BTlJ1f
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1VYhBY3w2
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFZPSgBtfp
Nell: “Nao, if you’re reading this that means I’m gone. I’m sorry if I left you too early but I want you to know that it’s okay. Don’t blame yourself or sink into despair. You have a life to live and a sister to look after.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsMyObPyh2
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4NNCr3st2
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkoKtqUUWp
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0yRhPtnOV
Nell: “I always wanted you kids to be happy. Regardless of your success or what other people might think of you, I wanted you to find happiness. I know it’s possible for you both.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTui9tIpcdO
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB91uWMVHhg
Nell: “So grief but not forever. You survived your father so you will survive me. Be happy and do good Nao. Don’t let my loss lead you down a path that would separate us forever. Goodbye, see when you come home.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkFRJU36qt
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod394J0OEd
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXL6AVmHXJ
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOnrxQOoPW
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfpnRX9Asf
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPjpwlEsco
I put the letter away in a safe place in my room and think about what I’m going to do now. Protecting Alyson, paying the bills, doing good, it all starts with one thing.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACls85Vrkr
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ110LV8KxGW
My path ahead is set. Many thorns and shadows lay across it but I have to keep moving forward. I must become stronger…and not just me.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5qMMh3xt0
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylYtKU2s37
Points: 0388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcdXZVuk6b
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C7ZTLkBF3
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JJwFxiZBb
Strength: 27388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKePWuDqZg
Endurance: 31.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEibJUlYdK
Intelligence: 23.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWjAPu3huN
Charisma: 21.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1xvdoDQhC
Agility: 20.5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9rJS1vu9f
Magic: 29388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5qg6fn8cf
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsy02ESpwS
Spells:
Scan [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm6pMfD0KR
Minor Illusion [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWz44ObetX
Shape Shift [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXYu0MF6sy
Magic Shield [Active]388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXO2kbWr7H
