Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”264Please respect copyright.PENANAF3B89AvbnX
264Please respect copyright.PENANA22oFj5uDz1
264Please respect copyright.PENANANUVzW8RbCP
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?
264Please respect copyright.PENANAx0EMhS4m0y
264Please respect copyright.PENANAdZq0oD7jtp
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA5psbQVffjp
264Please respect copyright.PENANA6keoErwpuU
Alyson: “Na-”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAG0zNIolcCx
264Please respect copyright.PENANAYFQisxnmH5
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAdTsRARIadB
264Please respect copyright.PENANATZ3plB5zyv
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAEEBjKLjblO
264Please respect copyright.PENANAQP5IhT8q6b
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAmTEAXFJHbe
264Please respect copyright.PENANAltdordjgOe
Nell: “…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAEQ4rRQWsFO
No…264Please respect copyright.PENANAmtDcY7BP1S
264Please respect copyright.PENANAwpJ3fowgGP
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANASQnDLR1Dt6
264Please respect copyright.PENANAehXGfyMaai
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAilkboHbaMZ
264Please respect copyright.PENANAxIf4aSKXlZ
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAnsRZERl7Dg
264Please respect copyright.PENANApaOST3rdvq
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAOZW30Xo26C
264Please respect copyright.PENANAFpbO6uy3ZQ
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAYeYxo5rtvL
264Please respect copyright.PENANA1Q35HG9bFb
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA5cGNq28tIt
264Please respect copyright.PENANAHsyOaxPJSX
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
264Please respect copyright.PENANARVWs6ZicO6
264Please respect copyright.PENANAfaVpCMqYei
Nell: “No!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANANR0eEGsdeZ
264Please respect copyright.PENANATAR3XJ5jNG
Alyson: “!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAvXISnChwOD
264Please respect copyright.PENANA7l1hk0kRep
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAGH4mHifZlM
264Please respect copyright.PENANAhjGIYeM686
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANACpqF0PQifn
264Please respect copyright.PENANAV58EUbBJf7
Nell: “…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAZWuPpfboCX
264Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1UUuCrDpF
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANABj4QjrqNzW
264Please respect copyright.PENANAbZt74rGfNX
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAEZeBHVUTau
264Please respect copyright.PENANAV94JWLbQkw
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANANGvOcdl8I4
264Please respect copyright.PENANAKHbI08bsxX
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
264Please respect copyright.PENANAXhUTAvniXY
264Please respect copyright.PENANAYNgCD7deb4
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANArrAZAv18FX
264Please respect copyright.PENANAZppmRZIONJ
Nell: “No…not you too.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAYDMapUAGLu
264Please respect copyright.PENANAoqV0D3MbHZ
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAFhVYAZgmxe
264Please respect copyright.PENANADKBa31H7GR
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAOvXBF9vpBJ
264Please respect copyright.PENANA7BtLc9e9E0
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANADi7QKEjIJS
264Please respect copyright.PENANAhM7Y3xLW42
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAwvbGc10qIA
264Please respect copyright.PENANAK9iuJLOMAu
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAM9BpCBNwfo
264Please respect copyright.PENANA68uZYtC0JV
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAMqzKYai0YM
264Please respect copyright.PENANAZIXkNbn7Yg
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA8stQbvZ9KZ
264Please respect copyright.PENANARIhGaJ9RAU
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAmgD9CYe7Iw
264Please respect copyright.PENANA6gp3pLLFCq
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAAPi2IZ3HEx
264Please respect copyright.PENANAyB0cypnEMT
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAdXg59ogeL3
264Please respect copyright.PENANAOfa7zLUuEP
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAS2DOBAzO2y
264Please respect copyright.PENANAnHLPqq4LUo
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…
264Please respect copyright.PENANAvHxAn7jIQs
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]264Please respect copyright.PENANAg6tYQoO2dP
264Please respect copyright.PENANAckdyx56lsf
Mat: “Are you okay?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAVHYOk7s6sH
264Please respect copyright.PENANAVsfF7lZXAh
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANATl2v7CcJ6N
264Please respect copyright.PENANAhjdoiiCbee
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANArwcg7qnnsq
264Please respect copyright.PENANAe96jrCx4N2
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAxEuWKda3rx
264Please respect copyright.PENANAA5MOXWRNkQ
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANArD7uyKIp9A
264Please respect copyright.PENANA96oPmCBukb
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAKDF6WNRyNg
264Please respect copyright.PENANA0bBuYIMZu1
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAnLHqQnx6Wn
264Please respect copyright.PENANAFPEqDj1apI
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAgXRp7Pg9Xc
264Please respect copyright.PENANAikodHKLgWM
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAZCvL6WB2nG
264Please respect copyright.PENANAqrawutrIjd
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAJYzdtVAAQ0
264Please respect copyright.PENANArQHXmYZdXL
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAUzFc4bCjbx
264Please respect copyright.PENANAUeU6HNm9QQ
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAC9bA55Am8g
264Please respect copyright.PENANAQFZPi7fkB9
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAIdD4gxruIj
264Please respect copyright.PENANAT5dmHwUTr7
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAMfyRunc1DX
264Please respect copyright.PENANA0jjBwPKajw
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANACm9CwublVo
264Please respect copyright.PENANAo91zIucuib
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA0Srj0EDg0J
264Please respect copyright.PENANABAczJD7nHR
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
264Please respect copyright.PENANA5wmhDWfHtD
264Please respect copyright.PENANALmulfoUOTQ
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3zZLho1Hg
264Please respect copyright.PENANAVAz1YwYuig
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAndf9x0nU0k
264Please respect copyright.PENANAyUmtE8hSdZ
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAuqKDvwvqEW
264Please respect copyright.PENANA6WFOBYYwBt
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.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAIchshursRF
264Please respect copyright.PENANAu8m2Rsw3H1
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….
264Please respect copyright.PENANAv8ivCi66ex
Anthony: “Let none survive.”264Please respect copyright.PENANA3cmviYhQzL
264Please respect copyright.PENANAts8Txp85JS
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
264Please respect copyright.PENANAuP0GKZPtnV
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANA2DOOcvyxd8
264Please respect copyright.PENANAle1AEXrruf
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAX9OncLKhZW
264Please respect copyright.PENANAk9MyqbEB4F
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAcekbnYPFjM
264Please respect copyright.PENANAaSCSN1F37W
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA14ETSZz1aJ
*SCREAM*264Please respect copyright.PENANA7KD9xtZZ3l
264Please respect copyright.PENANASjdNNRv0LS
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAhjeyR8PQkr
264Please respect copyright.PENANAy8aOKWceVL
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAU4yIR6301G
264Please respect copyright.PENANAWdPq9mVytB
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAATPiCtbRiK
264Please respect copyright.PENANAesIFtC1GDZ
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
264Please respect copyright.PENANASv5m2pvfux
264Please respect copyright.PENANAYFyGt1yUO9
???: “Alyson!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAage9Kzut2H
264Please respect copyright.PENANA9KwOoMe9Wf
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAUASpUpXAg8
264Please respect copyright.PENANAjnykjd4d8b
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANADOem7nrC8P
264Please respect copyright.PENANAhZS4BzICHV
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAVqSMAHnuTG
264Please respect copyright.PENANAsI02FyVNAE
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANARhZBkGCfvo
264Please respect copyright.PENANANcqxMoXPR5
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAywj1BZKm5q
264Please respect copyright.PENANAd5NaH1rfWx
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
264Please respect copyright.PENANAmAiMPPzLQA
264Please respect copyright.PENANAjUMvOnukkc
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAQF48TOt0EL
!!264Please respect copyright.PENANAHZ72lhpmHK
264Please respect copyright.PENANAxAcUxpaqdt
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAVdmAdD73g1
264Please respect copyright.PENANApMckXTxO1a
Are we the last ones?
264Please respect copyright.PENANA94VnPUeu2z
264Please respect copyright.PENANAV7x4ruiCTG
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.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAawnml6clJA
264Please respect copyright.PENANAoLyQBtqIUR
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAfDQOLZ0jbu
264Please respect copyright.PENANAc3wqMVqwsa
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAuNpJdsPMve
264Please respect copyright.PENANAgZlItqmOHV
Deanna: “AHHH!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAXuJglYeyY0
264Please respect copyright.PENANA7tVuueuqJP
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.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAKbiHtartuY
264Please respect copyright.PENANAcJ8jqCICDF
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAtmWQD7uvLM
264Please respect copyright.PENANALsNz7FCZQr
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA3A7qcHQbjO
264Please respect copyright.PENANAOoO9fVvoLn
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAC3sZfhkNXO
264Please respect copyright.PENANAGT9MziZZZD
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAix23hZwtNv
264Please respect copyright.PENANAkrIOLnnTlM
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANA11GXMV5vp3
264Please respect copyright.PENANAfto5PhXM36
Anthony: “!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAYzejMOx1Bh
264Please respect copyright.PENANAiU7hPm1Lur
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.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANACETpQfAC5V
264Please respect copyright.PENANAVZiT20hVcC
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAv5LmUF8Spc
264Please respect copyright.PENANAO17c094PIl
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAGa6g9t2OMa
264Please respect copyright.PENANA7s0dRHOeBx
Deanna: “Alyson…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAdWyoPNKMKg
?264Please respect copyright.PENANAx4wfHCuCpa
264Please respect copyright.PENANANDx8u3mSEd
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?
264Please respect copyright.PENANA6itARAxbOx
264Please respect copyright.PENANAgGaqisNJX6
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANABnPpZYRkHW
264Please respect copyright.PENANAgVajUqXWh7
Deanna: “…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAfYKrw4Lhq9
264Please respect copyright.PENANA5DZEUNsqMA
Alyson: “W-Why?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAV6N3dkb3ce
264Please respect copyright.PENANAzp8ZUILKpk
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAjvAH0h7RwF
264Please respect copyright.PENANAxI4rm5aRMf
Alyson: “Deanna…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAPC1Y7e3pOM
264Please respect copyright.PENANAxd9lttGWvD
Anthony: *Sigh*
264Please respect copyright.PENANAOFg8P38SKA
264Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9gqs04ykd
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAs0a16ugAeJ
264Please respect copyright.PENANA8JboCfBXDZ
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANABXA3hcXdyk
!!!264Please respect copyright.PENANAVzoLcpyzhm
264Please respect copyright.PENANAOOOrhXvkxw
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAgOw4s32qWS
264Please respect copyright.PENANASva6DcJdp8
Anthony: “King…”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAzXGWS3AO60
264Please respect copyright.PENANA5t99Pwlwbc
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANACnzGciyfgb
264Please respect copyright.PENANAm4RTOVomVU
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAGfwLWFfSjX
264Please respect copyright.PENANAH6SwYYJfP1
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAMTOTSegnog
264Please respect copyright.PENANAI5l7DDsDtq
Anthony: “…Begone.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAP9kCKEM8xG
264Please respect copyright.PENANAAXQ1OqRf6b
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.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAdo9lAu99bp
264Please respect copyright.PENANAtfGd1hQ4yt
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
264Please respect copyright.PENANAf4XDbR24S4
264Please respect copyright.PENANAk0BwivQxKn
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAimhgPkb8xn
264Please respect copyright.PENANAIr7qRwUDkE
Anthony: “!!”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAGgtqyhGNot
264Please respect copyright.PENANAhfjuSq8VUl
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
264Please respect copyright.PENANAaQYnaUIOyq
264Please respect copyright.PENANA3s3Qa8TyyA
She?
264Please respect copyright.PENANA4nWIkSwznI
264Please respect copyright.PENANAxaCa5xAMxX
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns 15.158.61.18da2