I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzgrxmUBJb
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9gCkR0mpk
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoZY4xwR5H
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd81txGrm7p
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5In3N9uPD
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWD8xwLTy9
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IQSITiJ6V
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfjclChsoB
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5gbOdwYjC
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbYoOhg583
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIUqezlfeH
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtReI9r27t
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8H7lq2Vcw
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lq968nfsp
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgQI8JXh5c
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW6GLQV2sN
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac1GrE9UvL
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5XdcvY8mb
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7xMp0l6qo
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu80kokv4YG
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY6hMxYz2O
But there’s one upside. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZJa7KjC1M
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjF7uYWc0C
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVWDqeSczs
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CCKp6Nl2Y
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iYsAViYzY
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vmXhYokOR
I’ll-
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yEy7hG2G1
*Knock*409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA9V8LmmTs
*Knock*
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAZg5Jory9
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURQKobnYnp
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefvthzDcb7
*Door Open*409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7sLny6LIZ
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaVU07tNpQ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJasSw44hyS
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI4QHUxwu0
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDINQF7uBsq
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z2vLgHzOk
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxZZAQ8qZD
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBGDa0Hy03
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL4uOnB8pl
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK3nML3ANO
Nao: “Mom…”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPLKWT3Wi6
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV4gF6KQFe
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ0DJlGJAs
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy0uSheWcA
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.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNTCZzhtGO
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzm40UtFqp
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkGv2HGPoQ
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pfGwYrSvN
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.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjeFwAeu0M
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLKes0hk3L
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.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov9bhzDLoo
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNWn3sEsOB
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12xB9BjdTx
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPYGGHN8o8
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsE0rk5lJ6Y
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAf6PrdICP
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TTUpr6JHP
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekjnBKsE0X
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.
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cocJsxnhK
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfs6uVMSj7
Points: 0409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwS8YQhGOY
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyqsG7YAfl
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6kPk757Ty
Strength: 27409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxraL6lhD24
Endurance: 31.5409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyF6yjYJjM
Intelligence: 23.5409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU6cYKMjvv
Charisma: 21.5409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoGeYII1qJ
Agility: 20.5409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMBEyPItGd
Magic: 29409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yjGyyKYv3
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrfOb9AsGh
Spells:
Scan [Active]409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhMnblCdnw
Minor Illusion [Active]409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdh1FLxQf5
Shape Shift [Active]409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIinbBNE9Vr
Magic Shield [Active]409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS53E2DnTR5
