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
