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