I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
277Please respect copyright.PENANARFcGDgzxqm
277Please respect copyright.PENANAbhCh1iNYSn
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAb0qNgndOgG
277Please respect copyright.PENANAQtNgYdE51p
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAFWGllwLRvS
277Please respect copyright.PENANAThibMD08Am
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANA9azAFysKlY
277Please respect copyright.PENANAcp5gWkAQuS
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAv6lab3THv8
277Please respect copyright.PENANAT9AffFFbvs
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAgJ1QPd861q
277Please respect copyright.PENANAXJ58WnUrhG
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ku7GBqFbA
277Please respect copyright.PENANA61lt8e36XE
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAntSAa4UGFa
277Please respect copyright.PENANAj6E2JjSYry
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAALkIgdM6GM
277Please respect copyright.PENANAXn4fwYtpkJ
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANA8u8FedpYKy
277Please respect copyright.PENANAKujCX4Omsl
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAhipJR8wLG0
But there’s one upside. 277Please respect copyright.PENANAYmYRxoTInM
277Please respect copyright.PENANAI98kL9IxEH
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAuVFA73qena
277Please respect copyright.PENANAq0hJaebBNT
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAy2ZRL3BpOT
277Please respect copyright.PENANAdw1gz3HaC1
I’ll-
277Please respect copyright.PENANAiqRzbZna7n
*Knock*277Please respect copyright.PENANALjafWExRzp
*Knock*
277Please respect copyright.PENANAyMuAhGjRWN
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 277Please respect copyright.PENANAVlAJibEgLQ
277Please respect copyright.PENANAe9eGZz5f6l
*Door Open*277Please respect copyright.PENANAJcgMK9RjGA
277Please respect copyright.PENANAjbIwIAWBos
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAhSw2xT58Hr
277Please respect copyright.PENANAIr92RqlPxE
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAPTkA6liBmK
277Please respect copyright.PENANAQGEKP1FK8r
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAs1sVFKJdW7
277Please respect copyright.PENANA9dAOheb6vg
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAdqrp22wafZ
277Please respect copyright.PENANAUSxa3PSIU3
Nao: “Mom…”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAHH0hHOJWsp
277Please respect copyright.PENANAKdvbymQYqx
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAeWENhCMlhi
277Please respect copyright.PENANAeaKMr2gGSt
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.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAPBQL0KEx4k
277Please respect copyright.PENANAooS7yIp6Vy
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAJn7Z6j1y0O
277Please respect copyright.PENANADW9XaMWrET
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.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAziMyYk2jVC
277Please respect copyright.PENANAa7zXTMHxTZ
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.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAiVbA60GCmx
277Please respect copyright.PENANAphy8eoYfHW
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
277Please respect copyright.PENANATossXDtrQe
277Please respect copyright.PENANAB2EC0VkOgh
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
277Please respect copyright.PENANAODH0QQMvZ4
277Please respect copyright.PENANAxrexaZZWF7
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAXUtyuhmIrl
277Please respect copyright.PENANAP00wXmYBVC
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.
277Please respect copyright.PENANAzh7NlUhsKv
277Please respect copyright.PENANAjlHZtaqStS
Points: 0277Please respect copyright.PENANA2fTKYZcwZF
277Please respect copyright.PENANA5mYMcCFOkW
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2277Please respect copyright.PENANAU8SBw4ijHD
Strength: 27277Please respect copyright.PENANAjLN9hGCWbh
Endurance: 31.5277Please respect copyright.PENANA4oJTx3nJl7
Intelligence: 23.5277Please respect copyright.PENANA29oKtYHe5L
Charisma: 21.5277Please respect copyright.PENANAxqhPMIuNf0
Agility: 20.5277Please respect copyright.PENANAXqr6idsg6L
Magic: 29277Please respect copyright.PENANAgXAFbXPz8K
277Please respect copyright.PENANAFKiuAuh0ls
Spells:
Scan [Active]277Please respect copyright.PENANAoL3zNnY8OD
Minor Illusion [Active]277Please respect copyright.PENANABVTsHRRPnE
Shape Shift [Active]277Please respect copyright.PENANAWBW1Q6nYms
Magic Shield [Active]277Please respect copyright.PENANAKXfXQK88CF