This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.414Please respect copyright.PENANAkJEhERd4QB
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I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
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Nao: “What happens now?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfOirXDD9ri
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Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZvF9BrJJ83
!414Please respect copyright.PENANAieN6ZyfeKe
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJvpIKIEniL
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAaZqVGHQaLx
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmMVubz8sHW
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA1Eb4m3U4D5
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Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfCUjGIQ6cW
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzPkWvufttf
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAHiNpi3RJ1c
414Please respect copyright.PENANAlDBI1gUPD6
Alyson: “…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAPC1vaMXgtB
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxgfUvW5IgO
Nao: “…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAKIvYmVGZeU
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdL5ONXwOTP
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANASzDDaIFs1n
414Please respect copyright.PENANAwz4xxTLM9h
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAjcbynHZSqq
414Please respect copyright.PENANArbCECm8PqD
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAjWKQjaOrjl
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Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA691SFdrmWp
414Please respect copyright.PENANAslg1qHMmN5
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAUe1MMCjs23
414Please respect copyright.PENANAAanns4peHZ
Nao: “…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzY1LfPvLpl
414Please respect copyright.PENANAl49WiI9DUd
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA1K20BzMBJJ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAeWmYigbN4e
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4aZBgNv0l
414Please respect copyright.PENANAYJj9fnBAlz
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
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Nao: “What’s with you?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZv2LYwwlqV
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Alyson: “That’s my question!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAkByat3pGNR
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Nao: “!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZxuOclgnEf
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Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAIdHLpo0qQe
414Please respect copyright.PENANAAcKsmKbrp1
Nao: “…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAFMhN5HxJrP
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”414Please respect copyright.PENANAdfADfDb45Z
414Please respect copyright.PENANAIg2xC2XZlX
Tch.414Please respect copyright.PENANA1fTvu30UcT
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Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAeT0YC4eZy1
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Alyson: “!!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAuaCmyZ7RmE
414Please respect copyright.PENANAeK8yDTs9zZ
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7Wjp3M6ezU
414Please respect copyright.PENANAz7A1QxuFsS
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA5hDolyjKMV
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
414Please respect copyright.PENANArRWULFK7Ro
414Please respect copyright.PENANAEMN40G0YSJ
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
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*Sigh*
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Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”414Please respect copyright.PENANAWgh8afK0Vl
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Arc?414Please respect copyright.PENANAXDQm37PRII
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Arc: “Yes?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA8RvAHUbf1K
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxQ11elwLn5
How’s my body?
414Please respect copyright.PENANA9xYpQbHhOE
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Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAcimocFCQHP
*Ding*414Please respect copyright.PENANAAfBTnare3Z
414Please respect copyright.PENANAVXAICy1XGt
Points: 6414Please respect copyright.PENANA48m10T2mY1
414Please respect copyright.PENANAPjMzEWQVx2
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAMMVsIpftuT
414Please respect copyright.PENANAomck2Dca5J
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
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*Door open*
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I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
414Please respect copyright.PENANAqFSLUbGaVn
414Please respect copyright.PENANAHbpQe4pkF2
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdK0fMfhSs1
414Please respect copyright.PENANAKH95YkFr9A
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvbZiStjWre
414Please respect copyright.PENANAPo7P6fqOlb
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAD0nclCNoul
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Nell: “You promised…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA42zOIC0ejU
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Nao: “Mom I-”
414Please respect copyright.PENANArAeUaBT1CG
414Please respect copyright.PENANAtMCwQFn5jj
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAWEB7ISXYO4
414Please respect copyright.PENANAU7GYPvNsvX
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAWZIU6p8q5x
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Nao: “But-”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAUVe1p98Y3j
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Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
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Nao: “!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA5xzhnZ9dyl
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Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAHDO8WlsY0x
414Please respect copyright.PENANAEAicCsX1Pu
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANANlMtSO3Tvq
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Nao: “!!”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAu3D1ChmrRf
414Please respect copyright.PENANAqgyrJhxi3j
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAEphgEFCDGS
414Please respect copyright.PENANANiJROx5Ovx
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdfrdy3yH5F
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I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
414Please respect copyright.PENANAd2S8otZhMt
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What am I becoming?
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Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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W-What?
414Please respect copyright.PENANAeTv22u4c4z
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Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAwStlzgzlqq
414Please respect copyright.PENANATCHFXd0zIJ
Nao: “R-Really?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAkHmtq3tnsZ
414Please respect copyright.PENANA6deo3QuSxC
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA8S1KWG2dOx
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Nao: “What do you mean?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANATXUJCOQitI
414Please respect copyright.PENANA3aRlkP1BOe
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAWlTbfwdnPT
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmvzzPNLDNL
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAhKxS3b2N2Y
414Please respect copyright.PENANAlehSzqY3ep
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANADjsOLt3nql
414Please respect copyright.PENANAjJAyZ5vLIj
Nao: “*Nod*”
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Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
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Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAOdBZLQ3AyS
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Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAV9ScuBOKjx
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Nao: “Mom I…”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7akws7go0L
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I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAMMMJVQxEGu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAhh7gMqyG7q
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZlcUGh5O3W
414Please respect copyright.PENANAXbRsdwp9Ki
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzmu37zMiEK
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Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfAZvruFrB4
414Please respect copyright.PENANAsLhVDauboz
Nao: “I-”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAIyrVkbiOpB
414Please respect copyright.PENANA1Gv0wNrJoe
Nell: “Promise me.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7d6hhoCl2s
414Please respect copyright.PENANAOhAlhnkKYa
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAYfY2xxPbwH
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxEr0kpuUAC
Arc: “What are you doing?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxEuqbMp9s8
414Please respect copyright.PENANAD2Su1QmROe
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAambmSxTxWz
414Please respect copyright.PENANAMdIZKVrIoQ
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAH8pbCZ1nlh
414Please respect copyright.PENANArctKxhJF74
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA9MddRzWQCd
414Please respect copyright.PENANAsWSQM8nUHR
Nell: “O-Okay.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAlQA3u5GBZC
414Please respect copyright.PENANAhYPh0Bi11I
*Curtains close*
414Please respect copyright.PENANAArHA4XuEFJ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAaykhhd1VE4
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA784Enp87Iu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAON73O3OCO5
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANATXwH2hEwoC
414Please respect copyright.PENANA3k2ttlL2h2
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAVrZwN0rPPe
414Please respect copyright.PENANAyKZnQkju1Z
Nell: “I…need some time.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAOIPgAicYL8
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdUSEhLCwTD
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7gSntdNHPG
414Please respect copyright.PENANA159nNNEUyu
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAPhcD4VvTfA
414Please respect copyright.PENANAABYN0dbHCS
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA0oDgaZORAy
414Please respect copyright.PENANAg4mpeqVB9g
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
414Please respect copyright.PENANATzonJLaWRa
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In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA5XJ8bJimAh
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I just wanted to sleep it all away.
414Please respect copyright.PENANARXDDhW0kUY
*Ring*414Please respect copyright.PENANAij92VJ7HJe
414Please respect copyright.PENANAgTSqUgtEmc
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAc7TZCZt2eM
414Please respect copyright.PENANArofruINx6h
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAjmy27Eag2A
414Please respect copyright.PENANAFRjM1SpXH7
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAgxJVMbcIcY
414Please respect copyright.PENANAuxZgFOw5PT
…Are you serious?
414Please respect copyright.PENANAC2GvWi9tWs
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Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzYC8Z0pL3I
414Please respect copyright.PENANALZNWNjn23L
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7LSjtBF2Dp
414Please respect copyright.PENANAez64thv5PP
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAh7oxNsqvuK
414Please respect copyright.PENANAoXqtdowEq5
Nao: “Happy to help
414Please respect copyright.PENANApinW4A0aRe
414Please respect copyright.PENANAelm9LZvhY2
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAt1FWvIDjLC
414Please respect copyright.PENANAgg6waj64T0
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAr83DcOuzVk
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmWppr8ZvD6
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAKaSjNqmZdR
414Please respect copyright.PENANA2eP5vMpEz8
Nao: “…Same.”
414Please respect copyright.PENANAL6QLmdKtMY
414Please respect copyright.PENANAc1mL4PF6fI
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAnTeHIDK8K1
414Please respect copyright.PENANAqec0LJWazI
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.414Please respect copyright.PENANAYZAb2o4BbJ