Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”328Please respect copyright.PENANAUP4YZfLtHo
328Please respect copyright.PENANA039JoknUIW
328Please respect copyright.PENANAXd5eBWCCJr
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?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnsvSy2TZuD
328Please respect copyright.PENANAG5PuqVJlBI
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANArEyDoY0YqY
328Please respect copyright.PENANAkwyD0EWvSd
Alyson: “Na-”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAq1eVI7Y5gG
328Please respect copyright.PENANA0Gko8VQ829
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQLmm9R5Gwx
328Please respect copyright.PENANAJuV2qVjv1E
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA8zSXnoGBMK
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYf3QNnAmDi
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAoDmBWg0zkR
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUyziZ21oqN
Nell: “…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPlLPMyOJ1Q
No…328Please respect copyright.PENANA3fYRg0V31L
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2enKkVnMyK
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAWdXJoTnCbB
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMmC1bkORMr
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnWhegS18ui
328Please respect copyright.PENANAu0Ixr7XF2U
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
328Please respect copyright.PENANASAFz8Chqt0
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHI1BhxYefC
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYNj4Y9PTGT
328Please respect copyright.PENANARvAmVcrzrI
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZj5Ruf277a
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuZsklgB1G7
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA9wj3sQGO34
328Please respect copyright.PENANA0Rx8LdGS9c
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAJjnCDkxpXT
328Please respect copyright.PENANAmk3HKWzDuX
Nell: “No!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQjU3PE2cut
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnSAnwsUi58
Alyson: “!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZuBmJ4j2lp
328Please respect copyright.PENANApMdubQmMTy
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUU233Mubg3
328Please respect copyright.PENANAj48l1c5onp
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYhBhzjjXpf
328Please respect copyright.PENANAvRzoEUEijC
Nell: “…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANArvYghPoeCk
328Please respect copyright.PENANADTvlyct18w
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAOkXma25SMb
328Please respect copyright.PENANAraqax4Mwxc
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQn1hlAoY6h
328Please respect copyright.PENANAvhCnKxQ5W2
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAngomVgG007
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5GeK4mX4vp
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwTK0vnIF12
328Please respect copyright.PENANAh2UAFOhKK1
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANABpcYpWDlp7
328Please respect copyright.PENANAp0lWxOWP1A
Nell: “No…not you too.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANATD3SJ0dtWY
328Please respect copyright.PENANAV4u3fabHj9
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANALsfmS2kwMl
328Please respect copyright.PENANALAdy8XHx5T
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANADBEE4BBqM1
328Please respect copyright.PENANA4e8gfAfxJd
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAeBVLyyu5ZZ
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfSzacm6QkW
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMPUnbLyoTr
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbkFe16Rvlk
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAqdsl6HK57h
328Please respect copyright.PENANAOKzNaYKPEX
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAaa0zo4xcKf
328Please respect copyright.PENANADyk9t0BgUU
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA6VoU8DNqV8
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfBhRcYBIcr
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAkrdbM2PkXv
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuuxpJYokX0
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwuF4Pvhq6t
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuAjyfokFOz
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAEP585PZBKO
328Please respect copyright.PENANAl4EvnMNAv1
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHtCiW1d8gq
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiLk5Hzwg2E
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…
328Please respect copyright.PENANAO6j1q6FOhv
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]328Please respect copyright.PENANAxB6x6BLdFL
328Please respect copyright.PENANAohn2WIvCTc
Mat: “Are you okay?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVjtHCHS5Fk
328Please respect copyright.PENANADfEetndiAm
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAibeFBOmpFU
328Please respect copyright.PENANAWfO7tbwxpI
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAcNLx0tW6vs
328Please respect copyright.PENANADStSPjpBoy
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA152viETKZw
328Please respect copyright.PENANAtfwfXg0OPK
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAXtq1nB50vd
328Please respect copyright.PENANAsiUDEpdVi7
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZMUpJRuD9
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbWDh0svAi0
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5EDpDUvQo2
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiskLhQhdqX
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANASoyVPymqqC
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxsbe65uhio
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA4NH7LLHXzc
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxNNBf3eNMo
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAsz8cg8ZZu2
328Please respect copyright.PENANASfWa20A6Mv
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAi9HDSMQHLy
328Please respect copyright.PENANA8LdYav8NRC
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA17VI5KI8Sr
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYEAKbe5Yi5
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANALcvWZUM9b1
328Please respect copyright.PENANAIvwjABkt9u
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQHXKuHwmPP
328Please respect copyright.PENANA8GsLqLJZEL
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAEY0BSx4Sm8
328Please respect copyright.PENANArgaGxY4pbj
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxWKgeVSK0I
328Please respect copyright.PENANAlmYaDdrCLQ
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdR8YbsyU42
328Please respect copyright.PENANAh36deqDcdk
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANANw9glFT17V
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1S5yxXHLQ
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAjWe6RJyc5n
328Please respect copyright.PENANA0iHsURMeUU
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAf3Jt5DCzvv
328Please respect copyright.PENANACSs5HVkciV
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAN1QYVZxpx5
328Please respect copyright.PENANAV2iGzgliIR
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….
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiaVOymkmdb
Anthony: “Let none survive.”328Please respect copyright.PENANAOYWOnjM8uY
328Please respect copyright.PENANAsZ5LaY5oXb
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
328Please respect copyright.PENANAyJfyi2x4xk
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANABZfExXPPmI
328Please respect copyright.PENANAzU3pnX9I5R
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGZFkWRYQtS
328Please respect copyright.PENANArKVeUNhT45
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAEFbKr7Hujr
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGzF4Ii6oAs
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMiOUuo15am
*SCREAM*328Please respect copyright.PENANAETOKgEuTIr
328Please respect copyright.PENANA6D1YLrx380
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAazJCOt1dR1
328Please respect copyright.PENANANnwYGSjSus
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfA5u8uzO8B
328Please respect copyright.PENANA32xNdRQMnt
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA60vIGpa9Gz
328Please respect copyright.PENANAjh1hruQiw8
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAX4kULEjVcr
328Please respect copyright.PENANAI0m5vHj3uY
???: “Alyson!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAFmOImEKTz0
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5vGxNqHgYe
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAXVRmxy2nQ8
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdA6xmO4ga7
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwFgLYkpUf4
328Please respect copyright.PENANAf4NEq1gHgX
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfMMix8jY5b
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQlsqh5lcGc
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPeDzDVclT6
328Please respect copyright.PENANA4WGt0Rpg1L
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANACISZDr0Dkb
328Please respect copyright.PENANAm2RZL7AaHC
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAyVPjNdkyIY
328Please respect copyright.PENANAtSvMReL2F1
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAjEZaYVyvg4
!!328Please respect copyright.PENANAFgyJdwjECk
328Please respect copyright.PENANA7RUZdrX92X
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1FkJDYehbh
328Please respect copyright.PENANAexMDoRBvIS
Are we the last ones?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMIiDWhi08X
328Please respect copyright.PENANACCBMi0IY4a
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUHzvMgZxzi
328Please respect copyright.PENANAywZVlt917N
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAI5jFX0PqtP
328Please respect copyright.PENANAzmSRLXazQC
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
328Please respect copyright.PENANApBcsHt5zcZ
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZFIIXUrzU0
Deanna: “AHHH!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbpWnMIjaXd
328Please respect copyright.PENANAICl4OasZE0
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHm7lP7tEmz
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1ivcjQjbtU
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVPPgoDnge8
328Please respect copyright.PENANAtjtuOnNn0G
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5eDqwBTPfI
328Please respect copyright.PENANAU6p39QtC98
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAkm0FOZbkry
328Please respect copyright.PENANAILdrLjhZoF
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2RDgPdGtBi
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUhEuNvkvkx
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAtFzdPUozr3
328Please respect copyright.PENANAKgpNWeSaNG
Anthony: “!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZACo2NLNt5
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiFvkQE6akI
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANADb3Gk7yubR
328Please respect copyright.PENANAgJHtqSO9Bk
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANACYw9ZQ4tGt
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuOrLx2gjip
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAS8FvSp1yRY
328Please respect copyright.PENANAcpjZMbpmIJ
Deanna: “Alyson…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAFGQgDmhjkk
?328Please respect copyright.PENANAJUbYxGodxF
328Please respect copyright.PENANAKNMeArjlLw
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?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYLo7YSs1SU
328Please respect copyright.PENANAea2zXJVpMr
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAhyE3HyGdAx
328Please respect copyright.PENANAaNXazC52D5
Deanna: “…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANANy8pzt4jXv
328Please respect copyright.PENANAqowxekV9o3
Alyson: “W-Why?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAOG019EZalz
328Please respect copyright.PENANAvX21M08mvC
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA33mWcL30yD
328Please respect copyright.PENANAjrn9TITXQ7
Alyson: “Deanna…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuv0x0fDMIu
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPvbtdnjKER
Anthony: *Sigh*
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHr2BwoI8mr
328Please respect copyright.PENANA3yQHaytEPe
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1wBa40VHsw
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2xM5JDLegE
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA38BHFWtjEv
!!!328Please respect copyright.PENANA3k9xIQiQIG
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5mxIEAK7bB
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiCDOtisbqC
328Please respect copyright.PENANAf6g9YQmXEl
Anthony: “King…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxUJOnUYJhy
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdLeavUnGB3
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA3AaFDgZeux
328Please respect copyright.PENANAFNSApfVraL
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAI82lLmQ3kJ
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMHRrHSqOcb
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAT5hlnUkCxW
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwYz8zP1rUt
Anthony: “…Begone.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA6L7xlxYC5k
328Please respect copyright.PENANAw43JCmPO7S
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAmpfTawfIHb
328Please respect copyright.PENANAvXH9Q0lXIE
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAhC7H1ud52K
328Please respect copyright.PENANAe7JJ6EpzLf
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2sg6oHeVMV
328Please respect copyright.PENANAEl8MvlcsbV
Anthony: “!!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA7ME5chUeEl
328Please respect copyright.PENANAw7yXfr9wHI
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAXRhss2rJom
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHJmcXNNRxN
She?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuaLW2gi55D
328Please respect copyright.PENANAitRtkCnErw
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns3.141.164.124da2