I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA42VbigSFK1
128Please respect copyright.PENANAGgjQH2P4sR
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5Oig7huJRN
128Please respect copyright.PENANAI8ELeX9xhP
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAjw857ilQVC
128Please respect copyright.PENANA6SLYe5sgEX
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAu7qgvscM0g
128Please respect copyright.PENANAqARjeAm7Pg
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANArvkjrYVhRk
128Please respect copyright.PENANA1KvUvTMqn6
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAMJnHrEZ6PQ
128Please respect copyright.PENANAn10Wj5IUmB
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANArLl5prKPHd
128Please respect copyright.PENANAAFN0LrbSj0
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA4s5MBCF4kY
128Please respect copyright.PENANAcOlYMyLfQz
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANABUJscCWdKD
128Please respect copyright.PENANAS3VBecxPay
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAQlIt8uQsgo
128Please respect copyright.PENANAIem4WifJde
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAQk34bsDiuF
But there’s one upside. 128Please respect copyright.PENANA9iWbS8IPGF
128Please respect copyright.PENANAiv8QzaEy82
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAoYKEU6Nqe2
128Please respect copyright.PENANAZYYIxVyYbJ
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAsHK3AlFsDD
128Please respect copyright.PENANAiP8ePaEeum
I’ll-
128Please respect copyright.PENANAuD8T3x4cg8
*Knock*128Please respect copyright.PENANANhyWnZBf2U
*Knock*
128Please respect copyright.PENANABIzU8LYWTk
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 128Please respect copyright.PENANANnIlO7L9qe
128Please respect copyright.PENANAqLcehhxv0Z
*Door Open*128Please respect copyright.PENANA3Y2zvZuU9Y
128Please respect copyright.PENANANo97bBSbCQ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANAhjr9W3JvKG
128Please respect copyright.PENANAWDrVGXqXKz
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANALMcoRSBnv7
128Please respect copyright.PENANAZoAyGUoCza
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA6ACueRXZ9W
128Please respect copyright.PENANA3o7g1r3YPL
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAXrVnsvGTRL
128Please respect copyright.PENANAgFmEMxbFXw
Nao: “Mom…”
128Please respect copyright.PENANABEh4oWVy7M
128Please respect copyright.PENANAXGIF34QX1x
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAxBRJMr4oHM
128Please respect copyright.PENANAROGdF7c9EW
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.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANAy9ECaLP0U3
128Please respect copyright.PENANALk3VnVVkMQ
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANApGj7nnrAql
128Please respect copyright.PENANA6qzHgUlWEW
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.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANA4lKqi1GYC7
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5xnsf73CRL
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.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANAS9PqsjWAzP
128Please respect copyright.PENANAUGyrIn72z1
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
128Please respect copyright.PENANATmFCM90pS8
128Please respect copyright.PENANAmdyHBNy9hD
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
128Please respect copyright.PENANAfxJaNlGSzi
128Please respect copyright.PENANAXA0Ozk1VVh
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAC1CIMcFMMA
128Please respect copyright.PENANAuClHRLUXi7
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAdargIVhxFr
128Please respect copyright.PENANAWTxImvYNv4
Points: 0128Please respect copyright.PENANAuTcXO6EzEY
128Please respect copyright.PENANAFyeLg05im7
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2128Please respect copyright.PENANA7nnnBxKXtl
Strength: 27128Please respect copyright.PENANANqcBcGhuHR
Endurance: 31.5128Please respect copyright.PENANAY4Wq7w2MyI
Intelligence: 23.5128Please respect copyright.PENANALZWbn9Uqga
Charisma: 21.5128Please respect copyright.PENANAgalCf3hvnV
Agility: 20.5128Please respect copyright.PENANAxrGICkjiTe
Magic: 29128Please respect copyright.PENANAiXuF9QLE6w
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5DuIOAcziF
Spells:
Scan [Active]128Please respect copyright.PENANAmgHjHk9r9W
Minor Illusion [Active]128Please respect copyright.PENANAulUrIev5IR
Shape Shift [Active]128Please respect copyright.PENANAIB4N07d3m4
Magic Shield [Active]128Please respect copyright.PENANAbtGHSXLiOu