…Wake Up…
…Nao…
…Arthur…
…Alphon…
…Wake Up…
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiT7PBz4iP
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGttNCMJJiX
My eyes explode open and I feel fire boiling my flesh causing me to scream in agony. Blood pours out of my mouth and my lungs burst open only to reform again.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ToJ0Tlc88
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPn3AVtAOW
This pain is…too much. Why am I going through this? What is happening? Instantly, I feel bugs slithering on my legs and arms, holding me down. Forcing me into the flames.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86UdhUl7t6
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvz4AYC1gk
I fight back, struggle, and push away the bugs but their grip on me tightens. Not again, I don’t want to die again.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWix70ldL4T
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazSDottyTT
“Nao!”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnloUj6H94
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigco8B9pk1
*Door flings open*
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlqqsFFfC9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHe5ewcD7d
“What happened?!”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01OFpy0m9a
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwLJsQE0hB
“Sorry, he’s just having a really bad nightmare.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlPQMRbt6J
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNTEeZ4Jcj
More bugs crawl into my mouth eating up the blood flooding it. No, please don’t crawl in there! NO!
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6XmwWGai9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdWoWz3xY8
“Let me through!”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthtK5H0Zfo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrBRXqsqF0
No! Not another one! Get bac-
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfWq1dUkiL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEapc2rieJG
“Nao, wake up! Please honey, wake up.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0afmRX1th
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRbiXcKLqg
Nao: “Huh?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSI1NpaMB4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupbTsjM1XJ
Another bug consumes my form but it’s…warm. My body cools and the flames subside. The skin that was torn and burnt returns. My vision clears and I see bodies without faces.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJNBfnjNFC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRHRHLNi9S
My eyes slide over to the girl hovering at the door with concern covering her face. For some reason, I feel something from this warmth and the girl. Their faces return and I try to breathe air that’s strangely not filled with smoke.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA39Z3VuTJQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMw93miEYV
Nao: “Where…am I?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50BZTN9G8P
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VUwCYwivS
“You’re home, whatever happened in that dream is over. You’re okay.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWJhlkdwFy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEv8Wp8NzQ
Dream?
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nfGiDcb6w
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbvLYCSMF5
!!
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXHLN4vJOQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ2st9K7Zj
I return the hug and sigh in relief.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja6V8HDBRP
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh018OMXoz
Nao: “I am okay now, thank you…mom.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJganRfmiSC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFiB5FtbrA
Nell: “Are you sure? I never seen you like this before?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvNPY8h21E
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQPc2pblAH
Nao: “I’m sure. It was…just a dream.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CyXqyZVbL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbitaNYUkO
Nell: “…Can everyone give me a minute with Nao.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoDQJXWNGH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEUpqMC3AI
Everyone leaves with worry still on their faces. Now I’m all alone with my mother, sitting on the bed soaked with my sweat.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MVkWaPTv3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrAg6AA8J6
Nell: “Nao, do you want to talk about the dream?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6InKgNMSdk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBNsJHXNa4
Nao: “I…can’t remember it.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtGzl39X2f
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVOz5wSvRm
Nell: “I see…maybe it’s for the best. Do you want me to stay with you?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS7xOJrhhZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTrfv36QtG
Nao: “…Yes please.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn06DG6cTl
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfwG4AjflD
I embraced the warmth once again and held onto it for dear life. We stayed like that for a while before the silence was broken once again.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgztYW653F
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9ULJZQaR8
Nell: “If there’s anything bothering you, at home or at school, please tell me. It won’t inconvenience me or this home.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vzGCHhBIk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFXDJkODRp
Nao: “…I’ll tell you, I promise.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2OIuFsRsf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH6TXkQHuF
Nell: “Good, I’ll cook you and Alyson some food. Take as much time as you need to collect yourself.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPEmMjKgSF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y0G23YU3b
And so the warmth leaves me in this cold room with the only light coming from the window overhead.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGo93lMx6Q
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FZxi3mbYh
I sit there in silence for an unknown amount of time. I…just sat there, staring at the wall. Eventually, I collected enough of my pieces to leave the room.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVwgNwZR0L
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWuW8yjwro
Standing outside, leaning against the wall in front of me, was Alyson.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqfKfit8H7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFgRgQt9gJ
Alyson: “Are you…okay?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6ZfhOebqX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9OMyovWaJ
Nao: “Yeah, thanks for caring.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUnHlhufN5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP6978upbT
Alyson: “…I want you to know, you’re off the Black List. I won’t be responsible if you…”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LiMrE8rqU
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkjD7ccQHb
Alyson: “I’m going out, I hope you’re better by the time I get back.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0JSWF9O3o
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgDrTVwnmJ
She left before I could say anything in response to her strange brand of….affection?
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscvsaVJIH9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEVQg1qy1W
I go downstairs to see the group looking with worry. They crowd me, asking me questions I have no answers to.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnezSSWVZAh
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45UtCA8D3O
That pain and…whatever happened before, that wasn’t all due to increasing my stats…right?
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYFGiGV9Bm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNFxtp4UHq
Anthony: “Maybe we should postpone our plans for a while.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi5qzL0S1w
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7OmOGt9Jp
Nao: “No, I’m good. I can do it. Alyson will leave after eating breakfast which will give me an opportunity to see her outside the house.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzDCAR3dGe
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YgBDLyndq
Anthony: “…I guess. Fine, we’ll see you later today for the magic items.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtES2cyEjl3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaqI37zheN
Nao: “Oh yeah….got it.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1NtDTQ8aa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiN6DJKVfr
The group said their goodbyes and left our home. I went to the kitchen to eat my first meal of the day with mom. Alyson seems to have taken her food to go so it was just mom and me.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOqAdKmt6r
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm00S1o36C8
We said nothing but that was okay. Just being near her was putting me back together. I thanked her for the food and went into the bathroom. Time to find my ideal form for Alyson.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPemGEH7Ws
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS4qNuhecw
I look into the mirror and Nao stares back. I breathe in and out, thinking of what to change myself into. Someone else, someone not Nao. The answer came easily and so I closed my eyes.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRykkYm483
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJMFs3NxJZ
The next time I opened them, someone else stared back. Tall, handsome with a clean shave, well built, and a different facial structure. This person looked nothing like me but the form…it felt right.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ojxzotLbm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTfMqjXhJ2
Even the size of my clothes seem to change to fit my new body. I don’t know how exactly this spell changes my clothes too but I don’t question it. It’s too convenient to be suspicious.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yxINuFGWm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVzKbWnOIE
I regretfully revert back and leave the bathroom. I still need to leave here as Nao, as me. I’ll transform somewhere safe and try to find Alyson at her usual hideouts.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEohYAZdyDv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupCqDPqtRL
I go to my room and grab the best clothes I can. They have to be nice but generic enough to not give anything away. The best I could find was a form-fitting black t-shirt and jeans. I go downstairs and to the front door while hoping this is enough.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7KLtblda1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HRpmq9gp3
Nell: “Where are you going Nao?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7t4QixhgI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wASaw2NzO
Nao: “I’m going to the bookstore, I need something to relax my mind.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKONH9PhpM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG6DJF47J4
Nell: “O-Of course, I’ll see you later. Right, Nao?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX17RoTgbcl
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPve1DRwmZS
Nao: “Don’t worry mom, I will be back. You won’t stay here alone for long.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRFrLDaRsD
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr9p67Kvep
I open the front door and head towards the local cafe. It’s a humble little store with white round tables out front. Alyson may be queen but she doesn’t really have friends. Too busy studying to care about such things.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRfbk4TzQi
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o1nxeVnDz
This is one of those spots she goes to relax while working on school work or just studying. Luckily, I picked right. She sitting at the middle table drinking a smoothie while studying.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nibTHDv1N
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj96tk8D9sB
I stay out of sight and sneak into the store bathroom. I find an empty stall and close my eyes once again.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5LOTmwdhq
*Breathe In*
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K20AbBFUa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdxv8I5k1h
*Breathe Out*
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwMYGojjqH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyBr4R7u2s
I exit the bathroom a new man with clothes really fitting my muscular build. I stride out of the bathroom with confidence that only builds with the glances I get.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbB3n2stNT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75o8qJ05cU
The girl at the counter and some with boyfriends take in my body. Yes, this is what I wanted. I soak in their attention and go back outside towards Alyson.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0C4LW1opf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a5AMK4FSf
Nao: “Hey, is this seat taken?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZufBb9xP2i
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3GF06D7gU
Alyson: “…No.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0EECfI4X7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wEVGV8Xbw
I ignore her dismissive glare and set down with a casual smile. Now, let’s see what’s in that head sis.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGJSe3dbTo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj0FdwsjgP
Mind reading.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4dXbSulV9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObFGhRfQjA
Alyson: (Great, another try hard desperate to get with me. At least this one is cute.)
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXJWMLdJDH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUsuWvjrDJ
At least I’m cute, it’s a start.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQuQKlL8dr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF3aP94MMw
Nao: “So what are you working on?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXb4Ob4bQt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgItmKAYJC
Alyson: “Paperwork that doesn’t really concern you.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UWVk3Mfbf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSidZcwYtkR
Nao: “Ouch, I can see that I’m not the first guy to hit on you. So I won’t, I’m new in town and just looking for a friend.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCfucm8yJY
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY3zM5bQMW
Alyson: “And out of everyone, you choose me to be your first friend?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIwmsHPKAC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg54gXyy2g
Nao: “Yeah, you’re the most interesting person I’ve seen so far. A pretty girl hard at work, that I assume is school-related, on a Saturday. As soon as I saw that I thought, this girl has a story to tell.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe1sm4WJH0
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajVV7ojJb6
Nao: “Besides, I like hard workers. They’re the ones that can go the distance in life.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvBdLJAWsU
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAdF69dWjL
Alyson: “…Okay, you got my attention. My name is Alyson, what’s yours?”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDaAq5ZUMG
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7lxcbIqtY
Nao: “Hm….my name is….Alphon. Nice to meet you Alyson, I hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”
ns18.224.32.173da2
