Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”298Please respect copyright.PENANAARAAgZMVFl
298Please respect copyright.PENANACESYsImwr9
298Please respect copyright.PENANAQXnDkjnbNL
Nell repeats that through tears but I can’t help but stare down the barrel of those guns. Magic? Murder? It’s all too much to take. What’s even real anymore?
298Please respect copyright.PENANA2alnsgtb9J
298Please respect copyright.PENANAaLppe239rr
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANARET1U1tJra
298Please respect copyright.PENANAxGUDnsDskM
Alyson: “Na-”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAwKXdSiqQZp
298Please respect copyright.PENANAikqeOiwNZO
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAYXdenctO0N
298Please respect copyright.PENANAWnxEE8eZDF
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAdQXRJkyLyZ
298Please respect copyright.PENANAs6mqmY6JmG
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAmie8aUYNM3
298Please respect copyright.PENANAg3pPObJvF0
Nell: “…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAuYMFJ4ZV8D
No…298Please respect copyright.PENANAJJK7qi7Av5
298Please respect copyright.PENANAyXpbgnIoo9
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAfP0DzSd8O1
298Please respect copyright.PENANAjVoC3eyzyA
I-I’m too scared to move. I couldn’t do anything as Sever dragged Nao out of my life. With a slam of the door, everything starts to settle.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAhh366HLw4l
298Please respect copyright.PENANAOC4n9dFdHj
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
298Please respect copyright.PENANA25KxMYVfTv
298Please respect copyright.PENANAIqf681cYnx
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANATwQqeQQo0O
298Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3sdoMKY3V
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
298Please respect copyright.PENANACxMsAtDDEF
298Please respect copyright.PENANA6KtRN2ZjZm
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAVhjkIBSae1
298Please respect copyright.PENANAwOTDeALHsW
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAyrt2WDviSz
298Please respect copyright.PENANA115LMY6zNQ
Nell: “No!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAinBNMYmcP0
298Please respect copyright.PENANAeRBCGghCca
Alyson: “!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAdUWs95SHpR
298Please respect copyright.PENANAffU2v3Ey3Q
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANADbK7SZ2uEW
298Please respect copyright.PENANAfDaNyBEx1n
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANApzZXrkD3Q0
298Please respect copyright.PENANAK29Yn5JjjJ
Nell: “…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA6GwO6spKLn
298Please respect copyright.PENANACnNjIVzhti
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANASiX5O7hl7h
298Please respect copyright.PENANAZpomibV3sk
For the next 10 minutes, the lights grew dim and the air thickened. What Nell told me seemed so ridiculous but…it’s all true. Nao killed Anton and he can use magic.
298Please respect copyright.PENANABXHXl5EzcR
298Please respect copyright.PENANAFlhN3tynqG
So many things go through my mind. What this means for his success. How does this effects his ability to succeed? But that is not important because I realize just how much I messed up.
298Please respect copyright.PENANA6ySWhRYNe3
298Please respect copyright.PENANAAGr02I4pF2
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
298Please respect copyright.PENANAGbYmQZt8tG
298Please respect copyright.PENANA3PLaCqu8iE
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAJvW11QuQKZ
298Please respect copyright.PENANA0tvPJgpbxb
Nell: “No…not you too.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA3LQFt1MEbk
298Please respect copyright.PENANATf2snvSqCz
I told mom about my actions at school and my queen status. I hate to see the warmth in her eyes fade away. But I…need to tell her the truth. I ran away from telling her how I behave for too long.
298Please respect copyright.PENANARx4bONYmTu
298Please respect copyright.PENANAHcDnhHHMy0
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA62xxxeNe60
298Please respect copyright.PENANAN3BBXqav6g
Tears flood my eyes. Everything hits me and I collapse into her arms. Cold but accepting. I plead for forgiveness in her arms and she answers by stroking my hair.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAwuzcm4FlwJ
298Please respect copyright.PENANAY8W1SYd43M
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANATV8QJcDNh5
298Please respect copyright.PENANAbm0LpZPiZv
And she’s left with me. A daughter she shouldn’t have adopted in the first place. If only, I didn’t take Lilly’s place…no…stole her place.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAYRaCI1PQ9Q
298Please respect copyright.PENANAKZJWG0UMKY
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA30EcQbksn1
298Please respect copyright.PENANAXuZCsow6dZ
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA0oM4v3heGd
298Please respect copyright.PENANA30sa6D1zsX
Yes…it’s only fair. We stayed in each other embrace for several minutes before dragging ourselves to bed. I couldn’t get much sleep at night. I tossed and turned, thinking about what might be happening to Nao.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAQByKrxtTcR
298Please respect copyright.PENANAPlwewjtbtf
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAV5pXtbdw37
298Please respect copyright.PENANASuJ6kTU0lZ
And what about Nao’s friends? How will they take the news, especially coming from me? Is becoming queen and achieving success worth it if my family won’t be there.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAn5d2WaJlmz
298Please respect copyright.PENANA7SW8cQDR9g
In the morning, we go about our morning routine without Nao. We try our best to keep appearances just in case we’re still being watched. But a tear here, a wounded glance there. We couldn’t keep it all inside.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAMz1hrw4rcc
298Please respect copyright.PENANA8sZqfSk8Zf
I drag my body to school and feign ignorance as best as I can. Going through the motions as if nothing happen. That’s until the sky started to turn purple…
298Please respect copyright.PENANA58b9ZqGnLG
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]298Please respect copyright.PENANARJfHNh5uXi
298Please respect copyright.PENANAo9NIShYzCv
Mat: “Are you okay?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAvVGn3mvEPP
298Please respect copyright.PENANA1aN0tQEAAP
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAt9lBPUjofb
298Please respect copyright.PENANAjqWnIuv1Iv
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA3ur2pCQzRl
298Please respect copyright.PENANADDF83VvgJQ
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAc4aY3GKXwO
298Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1STGanzzP
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA2i7MY7hEq3
298Please respect copyright.PENANAdY6QtZbCs4
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAe1ReHbbzEG
298Please respect copyright.PENANAdxBWf4VPBt
The inevitable happens as they lead us to a secluded area. Nao can’t protect us and he wouldn’t even if he could. He will leave me like so many others when they ascend to become stars.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAUTWGohV823
298Please respect copyright.PENANA6jYZvmOwPB
I ignore the screams of pain and the bully’s incoherent ramblings. I ball up a fist and grin. I won the bet. No one changes and nothing will get better. Not until I make it.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAmsxoqZQJyt
298Please respect copyright.PENANAeu8SRU142v
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAeh2wAqC1F0
298Please respect copyright.PENANA0yqZoe0B6i
A gold ring emblazoned with ancient words and engraved with a purple gem appears on my ring finger. Everything goes quiet and my environment disappears.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAdzOO66yB1t
298Please respect copyright.PENANA338QpvkhXo
I push myself off as new clothes adorn my body. Something I instinctively know to be a groom’s attire. But it’s vastly different, more like a cross between mage robes and kingly armor.
298Please respect copyright.PENANABFpwiCxfAY
298Please respect copyright.PENANAs8sVoedw2l
The world returns tomorrow and beneath me are my friends. In front of me are the bullies. Once filled with wrath and assurance that they would get away with this, now look at them. Fear and confusion contort their faces beautifully.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAx1nMRxYPYc
298Please respect copyright.PENANA4175DFdvJX
Thinking that aiming for the body will hide our scars from Nao. Thinking that we were so scared that we wouldn’t tell our friend what happened.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAQlL1RpKces
298Please respect copyright.PENANAG31auVWryc
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
298Please respect copyright.PENANACUODFbyxWp
298Please respect copyright.PENANAk6Nho3UFii
But unlike Nao, I won’t waste time. With a wave of my hand, they disappear in a burst of smoke. Turned to ash by the storm summoned by my new ally.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAyUxe4VkiRx
298Please respect copyright.PENANADHAdGNFSjo
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAGK9yCYfRYW
298Please respect copyright.PENANAE3OphRqYdH
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAhI5bqvIV1I
298Please respect copyright.PENANAnHE8QoJ4Sw
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAd3sMKRrmAd
298Please respect copyright.PENANAwziNpau9uq
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
298Please respect copyright.PENANABKphRFZudE
298Please respect copyright.PENANAR3nDueP7Pt
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAR4sE1Mcmu3
298Please respect copyright.PENANAzRTYchgfnM
Anthony: “Don’t be scared guys. I’ll do what Nao couldn’t. By the end of the day, no one will do this to us ever again.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAkuUAJXWzZJ
298Please respect copyright.PENANAnZvLVBFMGQ
I ignore their pleas for answers and walk to the front of the school. I stare up at our new purple sky, crackling with lightning.
The bullies…
The bystanders…
The incompetent teachers…
The king….
The queen….
298Please respect copyright.PENANAFOMRA0RfNH
Anthony: “Let none survive.”298Please respect copyright.PENANAd0N57kmXSW
298Please respect copyright.PENANAyaOkBjJFRc
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
298Please respect copyright.PENANA0kdhoPWbJf
Thunder and lightning rage outside. What was just a normal day turns into a dark hellscape in the sky. Even the teachers stop what they’re doing to stare into the void.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAFjT5gNOmFg
298Please respect copyright.PENANAcfdRvobzTC
Mumbling and questions start leaking around the class. But given what I know, I’m pretty sure that it has something to do with magic.
298Please respect copyright.PENANABFzZurLX6Y
298Please respect copyright.PENANAC5jyaqlG9C
But it’s not Nao…he wouldn’t do this. Based on what Nell said, he feels horrible for what he did. This…that in the sky…is way worse.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAPSwKKEPVk6
298Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8zv6yI5Op
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAxEdcGRxYWZ
*SCREAM*298Please respect copyright.PENANAdS6eL2EVOT
298Please respect copyright.PENANARqOlhIP1qZ
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
298Please respect copyright.PENANARy2RZhQnUk
298Please respect copyright.PENANA2dWHaXzli7
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAszOggplciz
298Please respect copyright.PENANA35vSqvfzET
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAxzunqeuRlT
298Please respect copyright.PENANAgciZilKV0E
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
298Please respect copyright.PENANA01kuSCvOp3
298Please respect copyright.PENANAPpD68JRF7Q
???: “Alyson!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAOmRTvPhI0y
298Please respect copyright.PENANAMDTViZrtTx
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
298Please respect copyright.PENANA5riGI4oCOw
298Please respect copyright.PENANAeHwWluJVpZ
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA4A0N4KwY6A
298Please respect copyright.PENANA0Y4HEmrHXf
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAzY35UUxocD
298Please respect copyright.PENANA8ODA4YeqDl
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA7CB7lNpI9j
298Please respect copyright.PENANAqsIwBVKbx1
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAeZvK7JVewP
298Please respect copyright.PENANAl4c8soyFfs
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
298Please respect copyright.PENANAc3y3sNjmpz
298Please respect copyright.PENANAcEkVtrzRfC
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA4BK2l7RoxF
!!298Please respect copyright.PENANACI16jIxmKo
298Please respect copyright.PENANAp5XAcA99UT
His voice sends instant chills down my spine. But what makes it worse is that…it’s silent. The smell is still stronger than ever but the screams…they’re gone.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAA3O2qL9QBa
298Please respect copyright.PENANACCnnUkGjqU
Are we the last ones?
298Please respect copyright.PENANAKf94iltGrR
298Please respect copyright.PENANAAzESCOsSrb
Anthony: “I don’t even need Nao’s mind reading to tell what you’re thinking. I’m sure there are more hiding but I want to kill you first.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAUypTnMkxYD
298Please respect copyright.PENANAgCOmXqz15r
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANArU3ALL9afM
298Please respect copyright.PENANASIBHUdxTkg
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAZC1t8YaZM3
298Please respect copyright.PENANAWhH2yoXFUQ
Deanna: “AHHH!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAM9GOGKcP3O
298Please respect copyright.PENANAnPJJIzzWo0
Anthony: “You have a lot of nerve to ask that question. Be quiet and wait your turn. I’ll be sure to take my time with you. You deserve at least that much for your past crimes. Being blind is a good start.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAe7vHWMKhni
298Please respect copyright.PENANArGZR8peyVK
Deanna is holding her eyes and screaming her heart out. Tears begin to leak out from her hands as everyone else starts to cry out. The cacophony of madness is deafening but despite it all, I can still hear Anthony’s next words.
298Please respect copyright.PENANADx7POlThsl
298Please respect copyright.PENANAUswpUVZQxz
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANARQvVOK2FrG
298Please respect copyright.PENANAJPmZtt00Rx
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA2IaCe8NOHF
298Please respect copyright.PENANANO94wj8DND
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA8wSt2fepOd
298Please respect copyright.PENANAU44ZQujsNs
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANARnJdrVd7NW
298Please respect copyright.PENANAoVnv0Q3gsn
Anthony: “!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAIKTbR7rW9M
298Please respect copyright.PENANAL2p1Pxlhxj
Anthony: “…No, you’re just lying to get out of this. There’s no way Nao would let that happen. Even if it did happen, I’ll be sure to save him after you’re dead.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAUy1IEQ0Ztx
298Please respect copyright.PENANAFdTnrnSWKw
He gathers a ball of lightning and prepares to throw it. This is it huh…all of it was for nothing? Everything I did for my success? Everything I did to Nao? It doesn’t mean anything in the end.
298Please respect copyright.PENANATaZJZQMKv7
298Please respect copyright.PENANAzSowMjSObe
I can’t even shed a tear or scream. The insanity of what’s going on is overloading my mind beyond the point of crashing. I’m….long past that.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAP2UqD5q71c
298Please respect copyright.PENANAmyq2LVGbl4
Deanna: “Alyson…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA1JYOAy9WW2
?298Please respect copyright.PENANAqN1zSTnhoS
298Please respect copyright.PENANA1E2CD5cBxP
Deanna touches around until she finds me. She then covers my head and cradles me in her arms. Is she…shielding me? Why go so far?
298Please respect copyright.PENANAKWRzm0wpJ6
298Please respect copyright.PENANAKxc7JC7DWs
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANASVpGAFPpHa
298Please respect copyright.PENANAsDy0QCN6ka
Deanna: “…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANANqxodAHoQZ
298Please respect copyright.PENANAjNvqcu1vkb
Alyson: “W-Why?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAIgFLugpKDe
298Please respect copyright.PENANArj8XyOwQ7r
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAseWg1ZDgp7
298Please respect copyright.PENANAKbIWjrU5D0
Alyson: “Deanna…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA2X49BXjdoc
298Please respect copyright.PENANAluWk57x4j5
Anthony: *Sigh*
298Please respect copyright.PENANASPhzSj0r6n
298Please respect copyright.PENANA7q9KBHO9mg
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA7HMLGyQz6I
298Please respect copyright.PENANAtfRf1d0BPq
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAU3MsSkteBl
!!!298Please respect copyright.PENANAk2JLbTySj9
298Please respect copyright.PENANAAVbBuCAiQt
Everyone turns to the one who dared to sound so relaxed in this situation. I felt relief for the first time today and it came from such an unlikely place.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAnx3uF9IDXi
298Please respect copyright.PENANA8htmqOqpQX
Anthony: “King…”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAshhLGgT7uu
298Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1b5KEKPK5
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAreb2FnTGQM
298Please respect copyright.PENANAYc3cy5Y022
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
298Please respect copyright.PENANASdn3XKhLBR
298Please respect copyright.PENANADiiMOyfklC
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA9oenGqeU43
298Please respect copyright.PENANAALiZhnVSfq
Anthony: “…Begone.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAZl8WAWRQuS
298Please respect copyright.PENANAYdFl3oHVYp
Instantly, a large pillar of electrifying destruction erupts from where Trevor stood. Everyone looks away from the blinding light but there’s something strange…why are there no screams.
298Please respect copyright.PENANAaQxT5FsICW
298Please respect copyright.PENANAJxTth5cdRN
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
298Please respect copyright.PENANA9295zAYomH
298Please respect copyright.PENANAGCjGQrGppo
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAxMYkscqWNE
298Please respect copyright.PENANAIAryzUYLQi
Anthony: “!!”
298Please respect copyright.PENANAW1KwiEbQyy
298Please respect copyright.PENANAV3cHTihkDI
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
298Please respect copyright.PENANA82g4ESE6Lt
298Please respect copyright.PENANAGLEQpMnTet
She?
298Please respect copyright.PENANAPxFfp9GW72
298Please respect copyright.PENANAgZ1MKMh6vK
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns18.116.69.198da2