I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
388Please respect copyright.PENANA9a2YIMeJYB
388Please respect copyright.PENANAxsJH12Jtyh
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.PENANAIDTns7dxhU
388Please respect copyright.PENANAh3JEW3yLu5
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.PENANALHmEslhnyf
388Please respect copyright.PENANAJm3YtY1yQ4
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.PENANAbjYAe5w6pM
388Please respect copyright.PENANAoos1oWwG5p
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.PENANAqHDEIvdcPT
388Please respect copyright.PENANAMIHrMbBi5y
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
388Please respect copyright.PENANAS8cZrNm7GI
388Please respect copyright.PENANAcVoUuTBVjo
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.PENANAkKPeREr7kF
388Please respect copyright.PENANA2HEyyG4VvF
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.PENANAI3uzHGi3dT
388Please respect copyright.PENANAzmHNHuPIMM
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.PENANAvcnrLVWu7X
388Please respect copyright.PENANAq9ahcklxyO
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.PENANADpTIjFSmzM
388Please respect copyright.PENANA7kqFxykbp6
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.PENANAWQXSPfyAnB
But there’s one upside. 388Please respect copyright.PENANAHtKsfsWj89
388Please respect copyright.PENANAT08rc5yGAE
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.PENANAkXTx8n7hm4
388Please respect copyright.PENANA6EICLcPVrl
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.PENANAi9w09so4IJ
388Please respect copyright.PENANAydqiOANMVA
I’ll-
388Please respect copyright.PENANALoGQGvqkH8
*Knock*388Please respect copyright.PENANABC3Fr98wfg
*Knock*
388Please respect copyright.PENANAgPQOF4o7Xw
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 388Please respect copyright.PENANAEHzTzf90wv
388Please respect copyright.PENANAwN5aRhR9S5
*Door Open*388Please respect copyright.PENANAeDHSzh9CSS
388Please respect copyright.PENANAYDUIB3fYPI
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
388Please respect copyright.PENANA9NrkNsr04V
388Please respect copyright.PENANAQklqmI0fJl
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
388Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZRpSB1mdv
388Please respect copyright.PENANAquchzZgY1X
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
388Please respect copyright.PENANAKZXrZKONeq
388Please respect copyright.PENANAkLbXtnnnNo
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
388Please respect copyright.PENANAqYk0E9L45C
388Please respect copyright.PENANAhCxLW0cd6b
Nao: “Mom…”
388Please respect copyright.PENANAgUXPEpMo4x
388Please respect copyright.PENANAwxR4mJkm2W
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
388Please respect copyright.PENANAFFPLXu7lFA
388Please respect copyright.PENANA0LdYk9nQIU
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.PENANAlm6JGpE18J
388Please respect copyright.PENANA2fC80no50R
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
388Please respect copyright.PENANApj9INEihGc
388Please respect copyright.PENANAlf25dmvTVE
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.PENANAv86zcbLkGv
388Please respect copyright.PENANAJOCm2OhNgf
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.PENANAFRTqlU3gEX
388Please respect copyright.PENANAta9Puo0io2
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
388Please respect copyright.PENANAEd1WyTWEtt
388Please respect copyright.PENANAjikuN8sn6n
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
388Please respect copyright.PENANA0M4XnaedK6
388Please respect copyright.PENANAMPNujEU8dI
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.PENANA4Y5ziHgNqa
388Please respect copyright.PENANAHDBL6B9UJy
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.PENANApxwYfEeDT5
388Please respect copyright.PENANAXWeB7tam0I
Points: 0388Please respect copyright.PENANAL6gdIu6bsa
388Please respect copyright.PENANAFWJoYYKSCz
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2388Please respect copyright.PENANA6onEt6kXa9
Strength: 27388Please respect copyright.PENANAhwyTbct2jS
Endurance: 31.5388Please respect copyright.PENANAdVNP16DDBy
Intelligence: 23.5388Please respect copyright.PENANApq1yHzey7g
Charisma: 21.5388Please respect copyright.PENANAuia7jY0Sj7
Agility: 20.5388Please respect copyright.PENANAEgHQnl17ac
Magic: 29388Please respect copyright.PENANA9F2f2lf1AK
388Please respect copyright.PENANAKY7Ztw4Nbq
Spells:
Scan [Active]388Please respect copyright.PENANAijlsaAxqs5
Minor Illusion [Active]388Please respect copyright.PENANAN7CFvbLGl9
Shape Shift [Active]388Please respect copyright.PENANAcW3VkVJFdw
Magic Shield [Active]388Please respect copyright.PENANAfpPSDk4GHT