I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiVfpYdfXd
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqrQHs34ui
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANJWFYVR6o
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdydyVZ8Ngu
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluRzEb3SKh
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp8thQsSid
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VPWDbN8jl
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ383OB5HPyw
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgmxjLissv
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AJp55vEuH
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3ASB4znP5
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY6PKDigwt
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNiKbwQTay
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFnXe5joTi
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9pKspSTUM
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPZmtQvQ0e
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN00C1iqki5
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxfdpWNGHi
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcoU9IfoRv
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRHZfI4K2r
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhqtKwVOjQ
But there’s one upside. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYdwbl9IG
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkhqfHZNX3
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71TlXLOKef
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwlIAdFE2d
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5D7EPiEYx
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxDpQ5TRNd
I’ll-
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb7O7EnlVQ
*Knock*387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJocEAgBoC
*Knock*
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo45tcDlu3
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNPP0gQzhK
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj2Q5rROPa
*Door Open*387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xN2KbPl3Q
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQxnftX2YQ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8dGk0G5W4
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlD86ZPhqg
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJotYsj5Gs
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaetWTfFZN
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yKQot8JoM
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9s85rWeJV
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOAXuNr902
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2yPYqhDuo
Nao: “Mom…”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEMFGs8diH
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP9ommarNR
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hNeKCrTjg
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy64waVBhxY
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.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCdWzs2SFr
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pf9yERexh
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfVanAO157
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPVhEfI5iB
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.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWs5zOtpbw
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHDtW7XcMa
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.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoWvhnpcnW
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoNEf3LTCT
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hZcFrt8bI
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY1orJan4V
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EhDHSa4EE
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A1dydwfVL
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzuPbJxHFU
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6nCl42NRD
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.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo5efPQIQu
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvcXTdvAOX
Points: 0387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPbSFY8gEA
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoixV5o4gd
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46sZVNWhgU
Strength: 27387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3K3a4s4hJ
Endurance: 31.5387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4LaX3If6Q
Intelligence: 23.5387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYE5Ypsyj8
Charisma: 21.5387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tpu3azPqI
Agility: 20.5387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gergRzpK6
Magic: 29387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IEXCMLA39
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4KsJ7LReE
Spells:
Scan [Active]387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHLw4znjto
Minor Illusion [Active]387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43yZIFELmq
Shape Shift [Active]387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat5dffdnpc
Magic Shield [Active]387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50a78yWF19
