I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7F5nQtkK9F
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJg6StLT33f
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANACUyFZ9WwCz
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7MHto30qmt
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJana7eya3k
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYx9I35KEPA
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWojTzOHZNC
276Please respect copyright.PENANAa2D408epR6
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJBGmyIYOKL
276Please respect copyright.PENANAaC0kFkWqf6
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ac9AGlvKo
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6DJ36n7Dy0
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAM2fRcdqOHq
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0aa7HlX2Ah
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXwWxHXEBra
276Please respect copyright.PENANANHnONk1Hkp
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAISZriWFBkL
276Please respect copyright.PENANAHPCy9V5dKo
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANASvtedFmIjr
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUEijUWnkHo
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3cxbIuyhSS
But there’s one upside. 276Please respect copyright.PENANAWvIqFoM8Y4
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbHybmu2WZl
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2XmV2Xtxuz
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYTM8OFU1Ze
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqTBKIzZc0d
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYEFKXgAcp8
I’ll-
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3pAoVTdMfE
*Knock*276Please respect copyright.PENANA3M0rVuogvO
*Knock*
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhl7jvTbtzC
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 276Please respect copyright.PENANAEsVEMofB0v
276Please respect copyright.PENANAQvqSkqdpzT
*Door Open*276Please respect copyright.PENANAIsQkT8vmTF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUDQg6VoU0k
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANAq1h3wpDU4H
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFXPedY5NCn
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y2CSVUxw8
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFpzGzECGVP
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1PQGGB9zL
276Please respect copyright.PENANAR4zYU4sglW
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAPxbUVry7gX
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7RL7kKojYt
Nao: “Mom…”
276Please respect copyright.PENANAR9xe1phvqT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUTOduhGcrf
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
276Please respect copyright.PENANA065w2DOTTc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAX5UyspcRcE
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.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANAyzPr6P1fBP
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYkhkemea1R
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcK4wMMxfQT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAuOXnKdfdW1
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.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmsFFUxtEF7
276Please respect copyright.PENANADbUphKCh9E
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.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0t5rN79gii
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqqcOjDzKcB
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAyZTRV98bUK
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfiFFwKnvLf
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlxtpsUT3cB
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvuOToRjspA
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUd1Lw7aMLq
276Please respect copyright.PENANAeM6rPGQHbG
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.
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbae96TdohR
276Please respect copyright.PENANARmE2nBVcaE
Points: 0276Please respect copyright.PENANAcMH9ZUv3Xc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAkkMREFwf8E
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2276Please respect copyright.PENANAOVPkDxFGay
Strength: 27276Please respect copyright.PENANAip0vvPAD6k
Endurance: 31.5276Please respect copyright.PENANADcv0noZOqL
Intelligence: 23.5276Please respect copyright.PENANABI4wGxZuw5
Charisma: 21.5276Please respect copyright.PENANAYz3Fksh89s
Agility: 20.5276Please respect copyright.PENANAugoVxzeoni
Magic: 29276Please respect copyright.PENANA8H7sdv4mZ3
276Please respect copyright.PENANAo60xawHIua
Spells:
Scan [Active]276Please respect copyright.PENANA8wsHUcW5kx
Minor Illusion [Active]276Please respect copyright.PENANAjl6wXnSw92
Shape Shift [Active]276Please respect copyright.PENANA79dcal0fjx
Magic Shield [Active]276Please respect copyright.PENANAAZ659C5Hir