I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LQNsgowNB
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6W5rQ0skr
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgsYMCnmJz
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ7oAShShG
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDdSX1h9oS
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzg9FhOFsF
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K8Gl7GdYj
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1O14MYBAy
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JEUHcSqy2
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zv2sIyw7V
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX96WemzPL
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Zvbtjsru
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUKZHNqs9j
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2zcnWUZEm
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI59gnomKQ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf3BK7poAU
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkua7FGrzn
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvb1INV7EK
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHutiFy81A
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYyM9LDxgR
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlNOxETMQ7
But there’s one upside. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqo4LNCT5n
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iOlYsWSMV
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1LpuuqdMH
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2lhk7HU16
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns1hVBDWSr
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2fAiV4oER
I’ll-
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdLJKH03KE
*Knock*346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0GLREwyHu
*Knock*
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJbTv93Lrs
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxWBvtcugp
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L1znQI0NZ
*Door Open*346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKzsxUW5as
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLT51wwSfx
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb4IfKyidA
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VVRaCvXjC
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0f6RJp9yo
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHygVPsf8yw
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZUapOE9Vh
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxMs3YuX9q
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUrmHldLOk
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuXybxie0u
Nao: “Mom…”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyapdkYc6R
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xaxxoFjGh
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoA43LXgb8
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7APM9tKni
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.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyrH2CuCCe
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwiUelhGbk
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wu1iPUdbO
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK8pOSsroU
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.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUbvf6u6oP
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmRg0y4VDc
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.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N67ApYmlv
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJNRDFsl2T
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWxn2ywase
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRIunwhrdK
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jRwDnbAV6
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpL9n4izhP
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRJi6D4qgt
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAroOMdFL5t
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.
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA5kmgOaXr
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h98ZpDULp
Points: 0346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVICq6V8zTN
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOii0FLFlI
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLJij7ynvQ
Strength: 27346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf4Qm5kyfI
Endurance: 31.5346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUYvQMUtlm
Intelligence: 23.5346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAcHVuuZLs
Charisma: 21.5346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIwODsFCfn
Agility: 20.5346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX78gXf2YcD
Magic: 29346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmZLPv2kyu
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MYKIzsGVq
Spells:
Scan [Active]346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgpfOYgflD
Minor Illusion [Active]346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmALhSsF79H
Shape Shift [Active]346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pt252xdWu
Magic Shield [Active]346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XMtvyxzNK
