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.482Please respect copyright.PENANAW0ZMuB5JtS
482Please respect copyright.PENANAKaTxTCjXpN
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAzPjTtepZar
482Please respect copyright.PENANA5LQZZ9LZeK
Nao: “What happens now?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAIma3YrQXVC
482Please respect copyright.PENANAZZNKOHAjxP
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAhtSNDW0Svm
!482Please respect copyright.PENANAa9eDvUG4yF
482Please respect copyright.PENANAsPd3RRbVHl
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAiHbZMv2cHR
482Please respect copyright.PENANAFIjYVCaPaI
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAlAS8ny0YbG
482Please respect copyright.PENANAC2lgDsGIjb
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtBlSzYAUKn
482Please respect copyright.PENANAqJcrgUPwJ7
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAUu29JkLYcp
482Please respect copyright.PENANAxo9UX6bmUn
Alyson: “…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAKimO1gAZLt
482Please respect copyright.PENANAeWHxt337Mh
Nao: “…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAvyi1NEPV0j
482Please respect copyright.PENANAcncJdwLa0G
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtd276TDdPe
482Please respect copyright.PENANAAcIgvm6x0M
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAOb7xGwYi6r
482Please respect copyright.PENANANWMJgXpyIx
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAC7UUG95BqF
482Please respect copyright.PENANAr9c79aRzuO
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA44F9eSptKJ
482Please respect copyright.PENANAmc7MUUfmCk
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAh3sFpCVEQc
482Please respect copyright.PENANAusLUzjN9gf
Nao: “…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAIdTBlVtGEq
482Please respect copyright.PENANAnVKZ40hCyi
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-”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA63LI33P511
482Please respect copyright.PENANAoSkXKA3YKs
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANArBbBKPKQrI
482Please respect copyright.PENANAcGC0O5yPj6
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAvxn9eMofWV
482Please respect copyright.PENANA9jerMNgXjJ
Nao: “What’s with you?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAWv29Ypsa0B
482Please respect copyright.PENANApZ9URUnV9x
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAxOkcaNaB7r
482Please respect copyright.PENANAfkbAPtAutx
Nao: “!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAE8OuhpG2Gl
482Please respect copyright.PENANAFcxuojqqEL
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA5uSqsr0Q1J
482Please respect copyright.PENANAyc99zvVgmN
Nao: “…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAMhDLiZkwa7
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”482Please respect copyright.PENANA7HukDreh1h
482Please respect copyright.PENANAdRNvgzwiQ2
Tch.482Please respect copyright.PENANAWz42DU9NPQ
482Please respect copyright.PENANATibufdkWgR
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAEWv2JEQsCW
482Please respect copyright.PENANAfXSl2U55en
Alyson: “!!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAgrrjNtuqj4
482Please respect copyright.PENANAKvfQhg34Ds
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.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAXoOXi5bwgw
482Please respect copyright.PENANAmtPqu7bmOf
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAC3sMHgAWWc
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAsNFdYMQIed
482Please respect copyright.PENANAxcjThM9UvB
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAJVNv3N6FDs
482Please respect copyright.PENANArNqMLKapnB
*Sigh*
482Please respect copyright.PENANAdypGsvw7sK
482Please respect copyright.PENANAY1RtX9qMw6
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”482Please respect copyright.PENANAkibAWvhxk8
482Please respect copyright.PENANAHALGZiqoJR
Arc?482Please respect copyright.PENANAWfu8aWYAYq
482Please respect copyright.PENANA8M1rB1qzri
Arc: “Yes?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAueuSDCS2eY
482Please respect copyright.PENANAc9XmhsDpxP
How’s my body?
482Please respect copyright.PENANAm0bhsJRkyb
482Please respect copyright.PENANALEL1vHmHbm
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAEhDdzTLFBB
*Ding*482Please respect copyright.PENANAyEeLPOYFv5
482Please respect copyright.PENANAFGO7YH1UsQ
Points: 6482Please respect copyright.PENANAFcwXyI2hCr
482Please respect copyright.PENANACmLkPRHjWe
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANASNlov6CyEV
482Please respect copyright.PENANA144F2f6Xwb
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtb0k4QUSGd
482Please respect copyright.PENANAxU5AzVmoOZ
*Door open*
482Please respect copyright.PENANAL61ok5lGRo
482Please respect copyright.PENANAsSEVZuTTtz
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?
482Please respect copyright.PENANA8fbsOFJ4kc
482Please respect copyright.PENANApucjhmZXEZ
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA3MOYk5xNvj
482Please respect copyright.PENANAqGJrgKJNZE
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAJuoD5DJX9I
482Please respect copyright.PENANAWDwMSyazcr
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANARvgh8h40ua
482Please respect copyright.PENANARt144zVlZg
Nell: “You promised…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAIj2bWrmmYN
482Please respect copyright.PENANA3j5rs3e6EE
Nao: “Mom I-”
482Please respect copyright.PENANACJ5ks2Mla5
482Please respect copyright.PENANAFz84b20hFA
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAAgu4GfZBRD
482Please respect copyright.PENANA9q4BCntDYm
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA7sosqc8e40
482Please respect copyright.PENANAzD4HT9hVaj
Nao: “But-”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAhSyJw4bvJP
482Please respect copyright.PENANAii11RmpEHw
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAJYbAZMGMhn
482Please respect copyright.PENANA5baRgG5CbP
Nao: “!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAnzYlpBZmIi
482Please respect copyright.PENANAQnDuVxCYtF
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAhGvt6S0lxq
482Please respect copyright.PENANAZEtLWZZ5Tq
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANArwJZ3XatTi
482Please respect copyright.PENANAv3HQUzcceL
Nao: “!!”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAwB4NymaWmO
482Please respect copyright.PENANAVAxx1yB06j
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.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAq46qD5O3cx
482Please respect copyright.PENANA5g4mgyKeEd
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAwBu3JewJfT
482Please respect copyright.PENANAPCGMYy97cg
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
482Please respect copyright.PENANAPuhEqKVXt3
482Please respect copyright.PENANAPgyKaWJjPq
What am I becoming?
482Please respect copyright.PENANAu3pwKrkUbr
482Please respect copyright.PENANAa5FTDPhTiY
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAWcc7Y6XIbg
482Please respect copyright.PENANA5c88c11CZx
W-What?
482Please respect copyright.PENANA8HpiUuqqtq
482Please respect copyright.PENANAm29pUKVmwU
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAuWRnx9omjl
482Please respect copyright.PENANAARB7PdTWfj
Nao: “R-Really?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAFEgdiZl8C8
482Please respect copyright.PENANAScJIusDvUe
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAB5tN6BNp5V
482Please respect copyright.PENANAyxLr9dCLYr
Nao: “What do you mean?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtCMuMpwKbv
482Please respect copyright.PENANAMf9fkM7XXW
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.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAVntJftyhkS
482Please respect copyright.PENANATzZZ33GeMl
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.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANADgVuSU12dL
482Please respect copyright.PENANAGwXcNZ4aV2
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAMoTneGtHw1
482Please respect copyright.PENANAQGBeBWyDA9
Nao: “*Nod*”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA5IDv8G3DmS
482Please respect copyright.PENANAq1Yo1Xlx2G
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAUK2YDY6is4
482Please respect copyright.PENANAvnuvAQKZwT
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
482Please respect copyright.PENANARhfUCHyUAj
482Please respect copyright.PENANAbjaMJFhnUM
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAsopdLXq3Vp
482Please respect copyright.PENANAHPz4GWl59I
Nao: “Mom I…”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAgjBA7BIe7y
482Please respect copyright.PENANAdTUqJbwSYU
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAYIr0TpfcN7
482Please respect copyright.PENANAzfcP2GQ8A7
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANArnLCU24rX2
482Please respect copyright.PENANA1yATUEi64R
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAB2hwi7KFmz
482Please respect copyright.PENANAbS8es7O3ml
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtwkFEwrc2a
482Please respect copyright.PENANAK5i1Ki7jGl
Nao: “I-”
482Please respect copyright.PENANABVyqdwgDi5
482Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8Uw9d8o4F
Nell: “Promise me.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAm5eM7xxED3
482Please respect copyright.PENANAjXW24kkpug
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtppaKRdoLv
482Please respect copyright.PENANAHEI8IVJsmN
Arc: “What are you doing?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAyBjYpVcZIU
482Please respect copyright.PENANAqkBErDgrSU
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAEX6dUsz011
482Please respect copyright.PENANAcMPmLQwLLD
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAhL884VOZzR
482Please respect copyright.PENANAJNxpp2CuTR
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAmzTQwPnOpa
482Please respect copyright.PENANATl0QCw62eC
Nell: “O-Okay.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAn0dcDZXRI5
482Please respect copyright.PENANAjuy00SgJzI
*Curtains close*
482Please respect copyright.PENANAl4pNBHgTay
482Please respect copyright.PENANALgQX3s0dca
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAVTVazMdwqp
482Please respect copyright.PENANAoHFV3zDMp1
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAVgVfQMvSEP
482Please respect copyright.PENANAqPLkZMS2Sm
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAf8GU3Xk8qO
482Please respect copyright.PENANAcdGt09c6io
Nell: “I…need some time.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAdK9kL32xyV
482Please respect copyright.PENANAAvcLGBOULV
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAWpvmucYDYT
482Please respect copyright.PENANA3ELfSDrpU0
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAo8r6mQRg0o
482Please respect copyright.PENANA06e1hy36Cn
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
482Please respect copyright.PENANANXRBtYlKVm
482Please respect copyright.PENANAb8FYZxmoTb
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAfpxuEkhaO3
482Please respect copyright.PENANAV7Vgvd9nyg
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANA0VHVUPfBdJ
482Please respect copyright.PENANA9I3WtsoxMs
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAElgZ4k65KV
*Ring*482Please respect copyright.PENANAMAGN6qG8YG
482Please respect copyright.PENANADk6fp6Qs2S
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.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAgl6tNoUbia
482Please respect copyright.PENANAXWFUWs188o
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAcCCql38iqk
482Please respect copyright.PENANA1E1BiAQ2pN
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA13v3P6mY4j
482Please respect copyright.PENANAQXse0dl4oK
…Are you serious?
482Please respect copyright.PENANAp9NE2CINkA
482Please respect copyright.PENANAYDWG7YmKnm
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAOP0Cia6D42
482Please respect copyright.PENANAuhLtOgmBq0
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANApdnQakcLIA
482Please respect copyright.PENANAbvtElzQMmx
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAW2CvlgE3A6
482Please respect copyright.PENANAZzRYp5XF85
Nao: “Happy to help
482Please respect copyright.PENANAyIyMwDb1ov
482Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6MynMEYs5
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAWslOGCnfTK
482Please respect copyright.PENANAcdXLDHcqDT
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAYDY9az5U1L
482Please respect copyright.PENANAtWftoWiFgx
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANA902VRCEg9U
482Please respect copyright.PENANAImLrF3bbqY
Nao: “…Same.”
482Please respect copyright.PENANAbPWKOKptTx
482Please respect copyright.PENANA1Tp2Jv9l8o
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
482Please respect copyright.PENANAM8lhuDo0od
482Please respect copyright.PENANAINUyQHf9T3
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.482Please respect copyright.PENANAI5KgR8YM0a