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.417Please respect copyright.PENANAdENt2iSeMh
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I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
417Please respect copyright.PENANALlbrXGC0Zx
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Nao: “What happens now?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAkg2p2RWzvS
417Please respect copyright.PENANA8Hnc0woAqz
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAf8orPfKrPb
!417Please respect copyright.PENANAIXUXp7V606
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I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAeznIxoYfWr
417Please respect copyright.PENANAMVkCYSknCU
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
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Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAgRMY86B2Ig
417Please respect copyright.PENANA2n6BdkslYS
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAMNB8cmASLT
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Alyson: “…”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA8wCqtd8S8w
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Nao: “…”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAFwgwsjFr9W
417Please respect copyright.PENANAFu2u0uxbW7
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAglT8qNro3p
417Please respect copyright.PENANAaasY6NNqkZ
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAMqjoyrmbfI
417Please respect copyright.PENANAE2dVE9Vf10
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAmsE7sKomK1
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Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAHfWKCMVgHQ
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Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAZA8ZLWfNpJ
417Please respect copyright.PENANAHbus2hcHkc
Nao: “…”
417Please respect copyright.PENANADXTp3x1o3M
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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-”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAlvIpnlZCd1
417Please respect copyright.PENANAmZSs3CmSqo
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAuNtrn2LHHl
417Please respect copyright.PENANAlxln3o0HUj
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAWhHkTITXgN
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Nao: “What’s with you?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAgzRXj8jiSF
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Alyson: “That’s my question!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAHdFj0YR1kG
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Nao: “!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAR1xsfFEpQv
417Please respect copyright.PENANAcOgeorUNko
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAD0AZdPBt9w
417Please respect copyright.PENANAYn2EGfL6iP
Nao: “…”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAvH060KlW0R
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”417Please respect copyright.PENANAGPE8dIzRhh
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Tch.417Please respect copyright.PENANAIOIwh3ueNt
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Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAjxKWgl8jy3
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Alyson: “!!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAD5JnMAPDPz
417Please respect copyright.PENANAfXwIUYVZLn
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.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA7buiaj0Pa1
417Please respect copyright.PENANAfAfdl7pMXx
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAoslrxNZh92
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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAbQlK3bInbS
417Please respect copyright.PENANAxP04BVefE8
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.”417Please respect copyright.PENANAwAewblLfKN
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Arc?417Please respect copyright.PENANAgEW7MYcPwk
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Arc: “Yes?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAuSOar37xHG
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How’s my body?
417Please respect copyright.PENANAnXz5vXcDzm
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Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAe1ynfmUfFd
*Ding*417Please respect copyright.PENANAje0lkTiCGs
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Points: 6417Please respect copyright.PENANA3izsC4niVU
417Please respect copyright.PENANAffj3FJnxR4
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA1DBQ6lKtdM
417Please respect copyright.PENANANHWNuGgpm8
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAtklqTqZk6d
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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?
417Please respect copyright.PENANAV9MoPVPhr2
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Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANABFczFHJw6A
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Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAxPt2mxErVO
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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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAlOo8pB5SF8
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Nell: “You promised…”
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Nao: “Mom I-”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA4FCv99NYnR
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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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAjeLeZY9LRg
417Please respect copyright.PENANANZoKC9ORWo
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAFS4XZm2l1k
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Nao: “But-”
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Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
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Nao: “!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAzP51YZQiDy
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Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANADlFTDtIfXJ
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Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ju1zG0Sez
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Nao: “!!”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAcYI8eukCV9
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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.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAi0jH2MDzqI
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Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAMdA9arTtJO
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I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
417Please respect copyright.PENANARGKCNPi8gv
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What am I becoming?
417Please respect copyright.PENANAkp5GPIgF6k
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Arc: “What’s necessary.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAmnOZT8NGPh
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W-What?
417Please respect copyright.PENANAMD8voRXPPP
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Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAOz4tSqGQp7
417Please respect copyright.PENANAY2KMw3z09V
Nao: “R-Really?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAem10iD8XQI
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Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAsCEXqfYLGa
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Nao: “What do you mean?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA0x7Txey5MD
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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.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAgMHOn2VeKu
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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.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA7AireUWnM3
417Please respect copyright.PENANAj7ks19QJnF
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAHdjO9HsNUL
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Nao: “*Nod*”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAnBrUqYiCyi
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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.
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Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
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Nao: “Mom I…”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAuErZ6pNphz
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I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAJAXWlMBaj6
417Please respect copyright.PENANA6AvR3BnmuQ
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA1izofF3p15
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We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAe4BN8cRONG
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Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
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Nao: “I-”
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417Please respect copyright.PENANA5mvN2MUXLh
Nell: “Promise me.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAx5wC7f788M
417Please respect copyright.PENANAEMpA90EKTV
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAkmSrgZGxVE
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Arc: “What are you doing?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA4fI6g5JfQY
417Please respect copyright.PENANANByZMyDZIG
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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAbdOH2oYQOW
417Please respect copyright.PENANAOzOg8w8kB2
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAeuiNZ0wNf3
417Please respect copyright.PENANA0zKpBzmqlm
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAZj5tLLgalx
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Nell: “O-Okay.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANA2600OXGHFG
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*Curtains close*
417Please respect copyright.PENANAH6wyZhN8X7
417Please respect copyright.PENANAgVX8L2AdrO
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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAUVR76xTXU5
417Please respect copyright.PENANAMNUoG1Wh7Q
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAW4jNW9QJts
417Please respect copyright.PENANAFnoT9Am8m4
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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAjMnEB6uGpK
417Please respect copyright.PENANAYfU57piGeN
Nell: “I…need some time.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAOZ4gjDiT4P
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Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAhRc5YA0A2s
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Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAQs2VSpHvf3
417Please respect copyright.PENANAuQ4Cu7WA2u
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAB8infOVAQt
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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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAYfZGMDFTUV
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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.
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I just wanted to sleep it all away.
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*Ring*417Please respect copyright.PENANASdxrIaLB25
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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.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAbKF35vALyQ
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I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
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Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAhmkX0OZ9bs
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…Are you serious?
417Please respect copyright.PENANArkyJGjqimh
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Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAKbhkh2l18U
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Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAGQqSYcqq3E
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I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
417Please respect copyright.PENANAY3PpUsWxew
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Nao: “Happy to help
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Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANABQBqO80jeY
417Please respect copyright.PENANAzXdcytKst4
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAOlsCFF9pv4
417Please respect copyright.PENANAUKL15qPdv9
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAtvuFR4VDN2
417Please respect copyright.PENANA4FcmqyZ68F
Nao: “…Same.”
417Please respect copyright.PENANAiAslWA9SJB
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I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
417Please respect copyright.PENANABbkpTKmvKp
417Please respect copyright.PENANA7RNVp0cXbD
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.417Please respect copyright.PENANAmL8CbZ2NF3