I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSc6N9JgCn
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdiIZginIA
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIapKH72DK
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakZrHgibfh
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00KE3a5rKB
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM96FNdyip0
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qh9zOALwS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLPEnzkneC
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxpPdR08AW
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGIdTGgOBc
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv13xvUOKQJ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lo5L9YbdZ
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdSNFeikzA
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZRHlnNs9j
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H0HHw1NSA
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOM1SXCPKQ
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupELVskuNW
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSunQpXVazR
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQbJTW601Y
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN39S7csxJ0
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7A24Whn46
But there’s one upside. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwYO7lLwup
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjMJMwnmFD
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN29mGJsPw
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrw55pGAUz
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ8dA7bfum
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWWTq0aiNG
I’ll-
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFVNszuShe
*Knock*292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepvOWDygae
*Knock*
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbMvhFJM9b
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SPp2RXKWV
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO6A9CpQF8
*Door Open*292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp27IkFR8bg
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO8qLh3DTb
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc602sPDBxJ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWUwAepUua
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vwniC1W5D
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6Yljybf1f
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLaQR2ms2n
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWkohdwO4s
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ARDs5KK2l
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw9aOgFNGy
Nao: “Mom…”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD55VbfURtu
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl51S9XHpXO
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oqs3lYepO
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9P9X05KaW
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.”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHrpD8FoRm
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qBxD6fq3U
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n4isz4vwv
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgS5yWAjvI
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.”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WyMtxtrBp
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OzuHRnT2e
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.”
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDB0z6poE0
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjI9nUSmOW
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBCu1faHg9
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfGhBmU8Fq
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
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292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FKPIzIL96
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yAmYOxQi2
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXUHrRETzd
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.
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnDiEVw83p
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dVMr5UvWB
Points: 0292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoLsafmzKi
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcmiL8qKpn
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1H3bx2fYR
Strength: 27292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qUCKAdQNf
Endurance: 31.5292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMyXy7b47w
Intelligence: 23.5292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzSy2Tx6qu
Charisma: 21.5292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpckG2PhCxM
Agility: 20.5292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMFyGtIVcb
Magic: 29292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI41dRSV0D
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MeDYQlVuX
Spells:
Scan [Active]292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOkCy4GNlc
Minor Illusion [Active]292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93BPKtqZ3T
Shape Shift [Active]292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5uq4yXRgu
Magic Shield [Active]292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TpqMt5hNA
