I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9yjwbZscB
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmVoabTAu
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f5yvIGThH
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9zSVXCnj2
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaG4qzTInZ
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwk5VnHX4a
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWjjPzw5e5
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiQX0Sff0u
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA1NXCap9h
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAxRtXHSua
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ04b4SiKrx
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NTPJBhJ2y
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwDJCsqxPJ
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ5SITZAOB
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EfVZS0JSf
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5canFIkOh
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqtV8nJiUJ
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrRxb1AMaX
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uyykAf7Gg
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAapI436U5p
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoR3mzOr6x
But there’s one upside. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYsAo5eEsM
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eihZIP0M0
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWP6A3nDKA
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmJKPNY2Vs
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVMDVt7azW
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcRrKRUHk1
I’ll-
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB5FmkP7jn
*Knock*345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGUaijso6m
*Knock*
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPVGToUJDh
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMt52vKbjN
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaXa7rT3zH
*Door Open*345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL1LkdXc7M
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9izeOIKvZ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5biZf6Burm
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlNI2ZFZGO
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGn9GwoDcO
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1gp1QkpEZ
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsXdUoAoIN
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDhMfq9py1
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCfHCXfAFy
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyu78eOCuZ
Nao: “Mom…”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiZUS5fLFf
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrPVVlRdGQ
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuDFbZtSoY
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbmpX2TJRv
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.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O3Bk7Hsug
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1FQQJkN7M
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29sHWwwdsj
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGdK7xciSO
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.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQygap2z2qK
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM8gkHphlt
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.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaQTdewj6k
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmcbBjvLDB
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1sktXs1r6
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG4xnyaZFO
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5X8NkAv1P
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Syt45CZhQ
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nEodiKxnp
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgoZl3c0Tm
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.
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE2IoPwnkL
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i7EaJi5b2
Points: 0345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4h2dySQ81
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCWSYjmRor
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuQtihranZ
Strength: 27345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1Uw8ZJWXf
Endurance: 31.5345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9C8bHNlJo
Intelligence: 23.5345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rlW2890bx
Charisma: 21.5345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwC7ZikJtN
Agility: 20.5345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdfcV30ThZ
Magic: 29345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFCTSJo4FE
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pmw78MyJf
Spells:
Scan [Active]345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HA8RvoQza
Minor Illusion [Active]345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVJC8ygfCM
Shape Shift [Active]345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrRv3eIOYy
Magic Shield [Active]345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn1PsgXfA4
