…Wake Up…
…Nao…
…Arthur…
…Alphon…
…Wake Up…
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdfsioLNTK
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRAEAgCVuU
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9FNyfmAJY
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1teE1jCY1T
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbC2ECedMu
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKwnP91Ypk
I fight back, struggle, and push away the bugs but their grip on me tightens. Not again, I don’t want to die again.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCEm9yQJNU
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPI8mRL3bq
“Nao!”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AZYrnYCKP
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyYqOZfOlO
*Door flings open*
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnrrrkwbJN
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc3QlEcKHQ
“What happened?!”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFgpMrZrYL
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBYDQF6BgK
“Sorry, he’s just having a really bad nightmare.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LyZ4MQgTs
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmukovponGv
More bugs crawl into my mouth eating up the blood flooding it. No, please don’t crawl in there! NO!
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXxLe8ry0o
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7uft065LE
“Let me through!”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EbQwmrzKL
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfSaeW6bic
No! Not another one! Get bac-
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDSopgeLmo
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9RWYpvE5a
“Nao, wake up! Please honey, wake up.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlP4t3YNMC
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw8FTwdPHw
Nao: “Huh?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM28SYHh3HM
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xvtI1CjN3
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R9d2XTeFX
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D4lQdw7Ag
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GlTq8Vk8c
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE2PmTmHdX
Nao: “Where…am I?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZAT2zEKEL
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffKGYIGls9
“You’re home, whatever happened in that dream is over. You’re okay.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVM02VLD6X
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC4F6Aup7W
Dream?
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTF8ZmdDXu
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9Ue8WDC4Q
!!
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpbgsdEpYH
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK2QVkIYJX
I return the hug and sigh in relief.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ86BExxcDx
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXJj67OrTV
Nao: “I am okay now, thank you…mom.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNMfUzHSwj
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTetAiNTHL
Nell: “Are you sure? I never seen you like this before?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNiaWPNivI
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg91ISU94l3
Nao: “I’m sure. It was…just a dream.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAepSSgqvW
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLBXsRvLJg
Nell: “…Can everyone give me a minute with Nao.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWXnplWPOS
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hrmQiIJS8
Everyone leaves with worry still on their faces. Now I’m all alone with my mother, sitting on the bed soaked with my sweat.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IiU2DsOOI
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RPJP15eXv
Nell: “Nao, do you want to talk about the dream?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkwsS8uwWy
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vrgzxZWoZ
Nao: “I…can’t remember it.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyOArpoMJ5
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55gVPqkUlM
Nell: “I see…maybe it’s for the best. Do you want me to stay with you?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI8srDCBOe
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4D84KEJPl
Nao: “…Yes please.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa2995fEsd
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn2afLvYPV
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD4eABuKCU
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscDvoZYHrh
Nell: “If there’s anything bothering you, at home or at school, please tell me. It won’t inconvenience me or this home.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaS9Z4iLEA
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ577CT43Kz9
Nao: “…I’ll tell you, I promise.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lZ0pkfXhF
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5BELeclYr
Nell: “Good, I’ll cook you and Alyson some food. Take as much time as you need to collect yourself.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrucIailkGc
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzeR7s2gsb
And so the warmth leaves me in this cold room with the only light coming from the window overhead.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeb0adKUsM
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgz99OXqgK
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qzX3K74bi
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG12WMD4ss
Standing outside, leaning against the wall in front of me, was Alyson.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdahoZXWwOu
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHmoOx5ae4
Alyson: “Are you…okay?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzMp35h3rQ
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXcaj0rR6E
Nao: “Yeah, thanks for caring.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmsxpp8CMG
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8zIvPomju
Alyson: “…I want you to know, you’re off the Black List. I won’t be responsible if you…”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPew3I2uw4Z
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j91nG6CF3
Alyson: “I’m going out, I hope you’re better by the time I get back.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygWMkaSz0l
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFItaliNrZ
She left before I could say anything in response to her strange brand of….affection?
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUHyfHppvk
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3U48h28Xg
I go downstairs to see the group looking with worry. They crowd me, asking me questions I have no answers to.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kJqAoULkd
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgmO45u82Q
That pain and…whatever happened before, that wasn’t all due to increasing my stats…right?
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOCyUeF9bR
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94g6Ba57zY
Anthony: “Maybe we should postpone our plans for a while.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AGzAZKzBK
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4H4uMJcCN
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.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMNe9unkLB
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQA7GxkOQl
Anthony: “…I guess. Fine, we’ll see you later today for the magic items.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrifRxS1pzk
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0ha1ueefV
Nao: “Oh yeah….got it.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y2nrDoivF
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeR8SYmTy7O
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1PpIVuyg5
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUWebPzsm9
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxFydIpEA4
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT2xsGvI7P
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLDGCuYE0F
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLgIJCNbZx
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vPDNPQS3q
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHrYK4nngg
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX1fo0lVHU
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEr7r7FOvO
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS1KiH1nW7
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cwZw7zr7Z
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdURBcvy0L
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf2vewGIBY
Nell: “Where are you going Nao?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGfSztw9Sp
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTja88e8mo1
Nao: “I’m going to the bookstore, I need something to relax my mind.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL38rsKJnT
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2wk8zxTlL
Nell: “O-Of course, I’ll see you later. Right, Nao?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL1AtCyUu0
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujDbai4PuO
Nao: “Don’t worry mom, I will be back. You won’t stay here alone for long.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEBRMa0Gol
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml37SmFdKD
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFDFm4pew1
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetwG65Fapi
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Nzu5645k
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHQIvBH39e
I stay out of sight and sneak into the store bathroom. I find an empty stall and close my eyes once again.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeQaG5qOCx
*Breathe In*
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXN0MPxidV
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPeXFvACLn
*Breathe Out*
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy2eIGdUQN
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gNtd7xd8j
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bil4eHQLn
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR8Doqp3VP
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.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtmL0a9BFw
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo2zNOQ6ZR
Nao: “Hey, is this seat taken?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FMiHCP07w
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSM0bsDiy1
Alyson: “…No.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPgIR9MgGj
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmaRsh5FyO
I ignore her dismissive glare and set down with a casual smile. Now, let’s see what’s in that head sis.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETEK1JOtwf
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMWEu4sBsh
Mind reading.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuC1UpfQp7
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3iJNtOlu7
Alyson: (Great, another try hard desperate to get with me. At least this one is cute.)
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTz4WitgvG
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPHtIvxVsj
At least I’m cute, it’s a start.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW95erWAJ5Y
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz3H73W7DW
Nao: “So what are you working on?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQjhRn43kT
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrZi0xjLCa
Alyson: “Paperwork that doesn’t really concern you.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DyQCZ0PuI
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBn3CTH2o3
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.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1BLSpMEA1
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4tIL4f28H
Alyson: “And out of everyone, you choose me to be your first friend?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHYnVqLfy3
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguJlAhYaRv
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.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7ZYINFqhV
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb61koA2zF
Nao: “Besides, I like hard workers. They’re the ones that can go the distance in life.”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz25IxG1tQZ
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWxzIZBM4I
Alyson: “…Okay, you got my attention. My name is Alyson, what’s yours?”
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hGRzkPj2B
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoaxnQuDoH
Nao: “Hm….my name is….Alphon. Nice to meet you Alyson, I hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”
ns216.73.216.25da2
