I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8ZrEI0770
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUkeQIbbuZ
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjZNu8VBo4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3UBoM52nK
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUheTP1D78
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4BqZ6KBpy
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeymSC06jGX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn79iu0simF
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXGcu16Nvf
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zfg0jTHAW
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQHe6XlW1H
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nJGEygsCV
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5j64oo8J9
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7qa4dUKkE
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u3233PQoX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0OG1amwBN
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl58iZfKZU5
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE146tIkk8h
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbxZg37om6
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXpZ5xipoq
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEo7Ku8FBu
But there’s one upside. 405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvBzFaHAw6
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpRKeWM4KO
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntHjyQyiMX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDSHYRB51Y
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM49xZwLfP
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlQGtlXx2o
I’ll-
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7Xm8tnCC
*Knock*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkYdJ66Fb6
*Knock*
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfoAE4ixYK
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HbRQNBNe2
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0eD4sX1oY
*Door Open*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlojWjlCct
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlNESwmfjN
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJiPxKJ3OV
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1k8Z4mpD8
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZBjhbQLuy
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WfJFfaJhK
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokxm7tVhSZ
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcorbiLP7E
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD6ca7RWsb
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwWpmXEoo9
Nao: “Mom…”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKid3NjCzLI
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSVu5jzH5A
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jJyL0QSAi
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkFdGA0kXc
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.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFFAT8fZ1j
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n4Jdd8qCp
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE1ZwN5fxw
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV2tXSlKO2
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.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6OGKddett
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fV5vmKBUS
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.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYrmuMWWnx
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcaUGzuZKD
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UdRjU789e
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneGsFSCP6Z
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFHx3VHxDz
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGTvKAHFCL
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBzjI8XudA
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrKnkeiKNY
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.
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQNXRPQwC5
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHHltTVGMj
Points: 0405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxusIMtIbZ
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk2bfEMXgd
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cxJuwGAxW
Strength: 27405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki6miDwe6o
Endurance: 31.5405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QLGC2R3PP
Intelligence: 23.5405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVTphbXCtE
Charisma: 21.5405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzph0HYZFm
Agility: 20.5405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh6BY7W8sJ
Magic: 29405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhNLxRiPVB
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPpzFRi4FG
Spells:
Scan [Active]405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHBUtjjFiv
Minor Illusion [Active]405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6QNkeaMJn
Shape Shift [Active]405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbdzJmel4L
Magic Shield [Active]405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2dB4VaMbr
