Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”308Please respect copyright.PENANAfGG4NXJciY
308Please respect copyright.PENANAdt16bvJfGx
308Please respect copyright.PENANAnTx9cAcPXa
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?
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQRse4bqCFz
308Please respect copyright.PENANAtc7HoIdOVn
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYjHo8BqJdc
308Please respect copyright.PENANAtxRgso75HA
Alyson: “Na-”
308Please respect copyright.PENANATOdEMh2Ek7
308Please respect copyright.PENANA7KbPdNbALb
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
308Please respect copyright.PENANATp1R7Huwjr
308Please respect copyright.PENANA4G1PaidK8H
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAuH1nKHGV9a
308Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZqD2ICDcp
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA1P71S8j4lb
308Please respect copyright.PENANAZwSaVYLvVp
Nell: “…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAKn9rl2G1iB
No…308Please respect copyright.PENANAUTeLRupuPH
308Please respect copyright.PENANAGsTj6ZbplW
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgEPr8e7WpE
308Please respect copyright.PENANAddyPoPMfzB
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAuylCQ7XHBd
308Please respect copyright.PENANAhCXGjtC4wA
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAC9P4iybaM6
308Please respect copyright.PENANAyHQoSv4hCg
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAuhFLXHaqDg
308Please respect copyright.PENANAsRGYQtCtWI
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAuRehVFMl1a
308Please respect copyright.PENANAGSzkZNydyh
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANArc5y2b4NlQ
308Please respect copyright.PENANAiUjH42rvHx
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAB7WLRij5Wk
308Please respect copyright.PENANAKZNJsCDbnX
Nell: “No!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAE9gETGFg58
308Please respect copyright.PENANARKSVQVdFCm
Alyson: “!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA7TmKFNiake
308Please respect copyright.PENANAsMbd7xUmB4
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAeQAlT4PfrI
308Please respect copyright.PENANAwnKkNJXdqU
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAsHTUkTMC1X
308Please respect copyright.PENANAePZGlt14Cj
Nell: “…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAlxMfl7fwRw
308Please respect copyright.PENANAhMlxa382VT
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6SPn0hpR3P
308Please respect copyright.PENANAw5Q11NX19b
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAo3FoCE1jYv
308Please respect copyright.PENANA2x0sYnqcPy
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAo6CD6UUisd
308Please respect copyright.PENANArsNtFiGn2C
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
308Please respect copyright.PENANAOKS8xJZYDl
308Please respect copyright.PENANAM2vbeNhn6x
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANARxBo24vKUP
308Please respect copyright.PENANAbuwsRooj5H
Nell: “No…not you too.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAEUX6s5UevP
308Please respect copyright.PENANAtiSO9XyE3M
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAMlAizL43kZ
308Please respect copyright.PENANAvlxrOmVUvK
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANASqDFH9M8MB
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6OQ59qZ8hF
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAZPDFnGhUKP
308Please respect copyright.PENANAkE0Ej7WF77
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAJAUAhdAcjr
308Please respect copyright.PENANA1GLk4OyqMa
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfOZvWl5xkp
308Please respect copyright.PENANAiZ00nsdp6g
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAwKiTNjKOLB
308Please respect copyright.PENANAyJuzdXTC9N
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA9CaBIRUGlq
308Please respect copyright.PENANAdhcUS0i5lp
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANA41bbHIW8me
308Please respect copyright.PENANAekytrKnHpr
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAyGSVwCwQod
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQAQvEKLnyB
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAGYfXUXZloQ
308Please respect copyright.PENANAVjE3EgczGq
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYdotjjCEX8
308Please respect copyright.PENANAvc3NFjQAZi
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…
308Please respect copyright.PENANAcui6Y1SzaA
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]308Please respect copyright.PENANAkXFEyHQvx6
308Please respect copyright.PENANAyX1Y0XMxjt
Mat: “Are you okay?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAw3dvxdEoCr
308Please respect copyright.PENANAKFrbhOpRol
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAqViHhmO7Fy
308Please respect copyright.PENANAlTczHp2Kj8
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAsNO7PhSzMw
308Please respect copyright.PENANAjh8FVik5ba
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAMsYj27I3i6
308Please respect copyright.PENANADdl0OhcLZy
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAela1oHqCYp
308Please respect copyright.PENANACguRXp1wJn
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAGXlf54zviP
308Please respect copyright.PENANAq6X1de1bz8
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAFvMe6dPUv0
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQgVSAdQHnq
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAuGKcj2Ijdg
308Please respect copyright.PENANAffBflrSWM8
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA0I60twm8pn
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYoRYl8TS3D
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANA4juvzocTaX
308Please respect copyright.PENANAHt1JAZWAjM
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANALAQj5MpqpV
308Please respect copyright.PENANAmBIITINs9A
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAjjFlfpHstz
308Please respect copyright.PENANACvlWIAAZx1
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQjF1BYLXIW
308Please respect copyright.PENANAmruqm59bIp
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAlbdaNjY2Ui
308Please respect copyright.PENANAk6QYabOKe2
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAnuYZ0MRB1F
308Please respect copyright.PENANArQ9XlbApOH
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA76iXSa7Wdd
308Please respect copyright.PENANAdnZRLZEygr
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAVPwZvwF7ee
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfoNSSbT3Sj
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAOUjLqFwiMd
308Please respect copyright.PENANAUi8oaaWRoE
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
308Please respect copyright.PENANANdxfBEIqWB
308Please respect copyright.PENANA2xtlrgNytQ
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAe4HJ78VMvk
308Please respect copyright.PENANAqya8L2xqOH
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.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA3QWfwIS54z
308Please respect copyright.PENANAy1WSbtykph
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….
308Please respect copyright.PENANAHSHNe8Slif
Anthony: “Let none survive.”308Please respect copyright.PENANAhAf6KLI4qV
308Please respect copyright.PENANAvuITSCHM8r
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQMpNHlbOTM
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAeE0yfuHnyK
308Please respect copyright.PENANAZVkb7hcpZa
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAprXZwhQ3lb
308Please respect copyright.PENANAEAunakiybQ
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAAqZlxLV5zC
308Please respect copyright.PENANAaE8D73xQAn
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAx3Iq2fvwwp
*SCREAM*308Please respect copyright.PENANAwtMLdgUklm
308Please respect copyright.PENANAMOzrJCpw2m
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
308Please respect copyright.PENANANvrJqba6iU
308Please respect copyright.PENANABVyPwtN7yw
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA8nxsNJYqvK
308Please respect copyright.PENANADHcFS9vt3Q
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAshkV3R8Lai
308Please respect copyright.PENANAIi0cAThPCQ
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgyp4rNFxJT
308Please respect copyright.PENANAOrZlAZ8TD8
???: “Alyson!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAOFyWJTIcxm
308Please respect copyright.PENANAXG4cnMHvch
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAIRX07eFgYx
308Please respect copyright.PENANAkCmZd1PVaO
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAkDPHoRoRoM
308Please respect copyright.PENANAzXlX42zYWf
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAm8olSceeNp
308Please respect copyright.PENANAwQTHkdmWwJ
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAH9qkTywKpH
308Please respect copyright.PENANA7RJUw1LIXT
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAHUBM7bz8sG
308Please respect copyright.PENANATtZ6oHbHd9
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
308Please respect copyright.PENANAocFaxDP1pw
308Please respect copyright.PENANALHre2vhFps
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANApENyk6s7LD
!!308Please respect copyright.PENANAOgI6eweGQX
308Please respect copyright.PENANAIg3w6pJLFy
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfwZ5EGOJXZ
308Please respect copyright.PENANAtY6aSZLxET
Are we the last ones?
308Please respect copyright.PENANAu6u5RzfWKZ
308Please respect copyright.PENANAmCfmYDqNMl
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.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAFA8n9X6D0o
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgQNSGHDKE4
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA90xWxtjDHq
308Please respect copyright.PENANAFz7X2Nl18u
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
308Please respect copyright.PENANA8oSlL8ggsF
308Please respect copyright.PENANAHpKAtOrCII
Deanna: “AHHH!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAc0AkfYF7Gh
308Please respect copyright.PENANAvc9tgAOIV0
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.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAzRJAtvxfgZ
308Please respect copyright.PENANAvptQJC7iCp
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAhkH1jdjh8k
308Please respect copyright.PENANAcYDby0n8cM
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfE0u4jKKLt
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYUZcl8kXw1
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAmT2ZSA8GQP
308Please respect copyright.PENANArOn7b1jmHR
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAbaHyRmkuQN
308Please respect copyright.PENANAswRFmgQ8K3
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANArtQtjI8YAG
308Please respect copyright.PENANAs3Ou9yprns
Anthony: “!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAZL909OMp4F
308Please respect copyright.PENANA8qQ0VZjEZp
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.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAdjtBT4W5mC
308Please respect copyright.PENANAo7mTwuFzfT
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANApQarZaQUKB
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgiSwhdoPDE
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANA5gTpcgWWNH
308Please respect copyright.PENANArUuV3hqJUy
Deanna: “Alyson…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAHAp39Zczcr
?308Please respect copyright.PENANAUOatP7gmU7
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6fS0Q5zvN0
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?
308Please respect copyright.PENANAlOGKlZ3Can
308Please respect copyright.PENANAksvSaEVV8b
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYGbMn2P7c6
308Please respect copyright.PENANAFdnzTK1opd
Deanna: “…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANALB1TejWcYt
308Please respect copyright.PENANAxppgwvKemK
Alyson: “W-Why?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA8fgxKRRs28
308Please respect copyright.PENANAN9oXyUhkfy
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANABheu4SJnyL
308Please respect copyright.PENANAzg6XLHyKmW
Alyson: “Deanna…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6Jb5wLnA49
308Please respect copyright.PENANArU8NyIR9T9
Anthony: *Sigh*
308Please respect copyright.PENANAOl7WGQp5sj
308Please respect copyright.PENANA4XihH0jCwF
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAsdTomZGF93
308Please respect copyright.PENANA7zDtdJ7o2r
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAVwlqNAt9zo
!!!308Please respect copyright.PENANAlcCOH55PsB
308Please respect copyright.PENANAWJKO6E5L1T
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANA483PfPFVxY
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQyGdIwLfpe
Anthony: “King…”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAcavzDEYSFb
308Please respect copyright.PENANAIWYCUNymGr
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANA5yJWAT1w5t
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgNgFEFy4wb
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAcBgYy8IttV
308Please respect copyright.PENANATnJzo5ArXW
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAR2G18302TM
308Please respect copyright.PENANA4CJcFZkRfM
Anthony: “…Begone.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANABB8evIpsrv
308Please respect copyright.PENANA1CQtn6AuL8
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.
308Please respect copyright.PENANA1eO450304P
308Please respect copyright.PENANA0yxtNrOrah
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAJlKtrBSQ07
308Please respect copyright.PENANAJluuwjMRnF
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANACL8vhqFPOJ
308Please respect copyright.PENANA5JUWD7sfEm
Anthony: “!!”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAsqgs1o76co
308Please respect copyright.PENANAbTQVE4AiEq
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
308Please respect copyright.PENANAmgeZwj8czD
308Please respect copyright.PENANABtERgDtLwL
She?
308Please respect copyright.PENANAm4S5EoTiCR
308Please respect copyright.PENANAJo3lp0m1Kd
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns3.142.173.6da2