I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgtN4lpLna
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j0LEIcvmj
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa58EX3GxJH
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxeTaXLLYq
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7TaSjjn7T
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkUAAAS7nS
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUWg7KW44Q
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyogU1zsvV6
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj0hJCpGbv
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGgwXKjv4y
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hO74kvNeT
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu18JvjXmoa
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9E9f9P348
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ33mhjxoog
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Iy4snihY
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDkyyTlwYb
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJqRglHJ0A
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OVMhjSqpF
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oifJhZH47
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROndUkoAb7
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAkdUQAK29
But there’s one upside. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUZm9lLjLT
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPo30YiOdj
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY4RpdLxms
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd4bLesxjV
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRrOcRuWV4
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cF9Aodu87
I’ll-
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4EbEGrtL1
*Knock*322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHpWLa2C8f
*Knock*
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UKbmG09WW
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGOAnsF3MA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC84Kv8JNP
*Door Open*322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8Vpt2joXH
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx25cay3011
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlRQUrEZ5c
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRAc8WUhH8
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTe7PN139G
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXJSsFIRr8
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh2UgqV0g1
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCTYXRckIM
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyLyorGk8U
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HTVrATNBe
Nao: “Mom…”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki73zXfhLP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxOg7u8jay
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uaRbFJuZR
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPIUvwvYSo
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.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6psKg7TLz
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AQrgOd14i
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yKpEC7NCU
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWD9j7MM0H
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.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMuvRtauwO
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB7Ubhbm9U
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.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zn5ZHwYgW
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xPPyN9J3U
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRDRE7EA7g
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeTxfvPZQs
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOheiMN2ZU
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrmVS0YtP7
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJEmjafBrJ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH46E96rw7A
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.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl53X2YqHTp
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sJPu6nhDD
Points: 0322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c3b36xrAz
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyrZ0fwbMy
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvqCjwPYWY
Strength: 27322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnIy85hyHl
Endurance: 31.5322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOvIBQra9B
Intelligence: 23.5322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni4K6p2nT6
Charisma: 21.5322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXKLrjuk1N
Agility: 20.5322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYBpXxdFLY
Magic: 29322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cF8XPCfan
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJi77A5kAS
Spells:
Scan [Active]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzcvjmZaQZ
Minor Illusion [Active]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX6sdb4GZr
Shape Shift [Active]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUtr9jckEG
Magic Shield [Active]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6MhXHxqoO
