Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAoNtfQRRlzs
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzfNo8x4mNM
346Please respect copyright.PENANAvpju5Esl26
Nell repeats that through tears but I can’t help but stare down the barrel of those guns. Magic? Murder? It’s all too much to take. What’s even real anymore?
346Please respect copyright.PENANA4HzoLMNIo0
346Please respect copyright.PENANAkDCVRtgLha
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFzLKPHDPnA
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ka007DKd8
Alyson: “Na-”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAOnEYceBcaF
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUHVWdrOk3U
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA52IIyplrjB
346Please respect copyright.PENANAV3Pmjre4eR
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAICprmBeZyz
346Please respect copyright.PENANArXQn8o6SVo
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA6yEFfrTtEM
346Please respect copyright.PENANAYMvTMncGNt
Nell: “…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANArPY3QbmGi3
No…346Please respect copyright.PENANA4k3C33t0F3
346Please respect copyright.PENANAdy1IjPYNA0
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ9mo2VitZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAqrHhwNeSYF
I-I’m too scared to move. I couldn’t do anything as Sever dragged Nao out of my life. With a slam of the door, everything starts to settle.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAvRTlFYaXki
346Please respect copyright.PENANAGOcAFInCSj
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
346Please respect copyright.PENANApcqU2FLHOF
346Please respect copyright.PENANATpy90R6DwS
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAWA8Mb2RQZR
346Please respect copyright.PENANAZahsiBsYE1
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA8V83WUAga3
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2ueUZ7kSyQ
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANACPOqK8m5GT
346Please respect copyright.PENANAULimigAH7K
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9BgPwpQ3G
346Please respect copyright.PENANAZgJkGm0mlh
Nell: “No!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANASsYxXc7S4s
346Please respect copyright.PENANAbxeSyTXcEn
Alyson: “!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAg9Y4HJbiTz
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmh44cMNXuB
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAE2Sun8408b
346Please respect copyright.PENANAPqRmgM4ZCJ
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA10J9BqMz4e
346Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZhCC8wBGL
Nell: “…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANADIFhiWuVpy
346Please respect copyright.PENANAtsI5jityJa
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAYLwVjA2cQl
346Please respect copyright.PENANAS2hkHkmRla
For the next 10 minutes, the lights grew dim and the air thickened. What Nell told me seemed so ridiculous but…it’s all true. Nao killed Anton and he can use magic.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAtOghPcbYKQ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUa9OpdcJ1i
So many things go through my mind. What this means for his success. How does this effects his ability to succeed? But that is not important because I realize just how much I messed up.
346Please respect copyright.PENANADIs1zjLNyf
346Please respect copyright.PENANA9nNinupRhD
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
346Please respect copyright.PENANAbVzPkCxYAf
346Please respect copyright.PENANAi1JrVEUBJC
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA87xTItK3R7
346Please respect copyright.PENANAo77Q1aE5HP
Nell: “No…not you too.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAliJs8jrG0j
346Please respect copyright.PENANADlnDW6rl5v
I told mom about my actions at school and my queen status. I hate to see the warmth in her eyes fade away. But I…need to tell her the truth. I ran away from telling her how I behave for too long.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAO3yLAxwLII
346Please respect copyright.PENANABZxcqupRZV
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAtlYM2ebxi5
346Please respect copyright.PENANASlUfnagG7s
Tears flood my eyes. Everything hits me and I collapse into her arms. Cold but accepting. I plead for forgiveness in her arms and she answers by stroking my hair.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7aH8C9Hqf7
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQpxfp7WFUA
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUjbzMKcCrd
346Please respect copyright.PENANANcq4FElnij
And she’s left with me. A daughter she shouldn’t have adopted in the first place. If only, I didn’t take Lilly’s place…no…stole her place.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAsKBI93UbqY
346Please respect copyright.PENANAVh536vuPuf
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQYc0Bftd4f
346Please respect copyright.PENANAfhbQDQ3Qo6
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAWXuYsjBYcl
346Please respect copyright.PENANAiSRCGtC2CP
Yes…it’s only fair. We stayed in each other embrace for several minutes before dragging ourselves to bed. I couldn’t get much sleep at night. I tossed and turned, thinking about what might be happening to Nao.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA98cNbClNk6
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUz2FbEZVIP
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAcZiz0P4J4S
346Please respect copyright.PENANALY580v9cIS
And what about Nao’s friends? How will they take the news, especially coming from me? Is becoming queen and achieving success worth it if my family won’t be there.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAl08z7R7IaH
346Please respect copyright.PENANAoqvHYOUkvt
In the morning, we go about our morning routine without Nao. We try our best to keep appearances just in case we’re still being watched. But a tear here, a wounded glance there. We couldn’t keep it all inside.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7gZwPTS4nK
346Please respect copyright.PENANAp0fvlDuTG2
I drag my body to school and feign ignorance as best as I can. Going through the motions as if nothing happen. That’s until the sky started to turn purple…
346Please respect copyright.PENANAxQwwryTidp
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]346Please respect copyright.PENANAri170q6fGd
346Please respect copyright.PENANAqwAHR8AbGt
Mat: “Are you okay?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAg6pPrvrJcQ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAdGcfeJH43H
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA90wVf8QIUE
346Please respect copyright.PENANAoOpB1LjV50
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzC78NvqwVh
346Please respect copyright.PENANAn7c4Yxgyhd
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAGW1tU7OWCK
346Please respect copyright.PENANABeJV99LIV1
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAU2vVfsaWab
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhrJ4k2jeM0
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAHpizdhU6RA
346Please respect copyright.PENANAu9CpG10rrl
The inevitable happens as they lead us to a secluded area. Nao can’t protect us and he wouldn’t even if he could. He will leave me like so many others when they ascend to become stars.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAxAXMyt0Ucf
346Please respect copyright.PENANAS80YfUCN3f
I ignore the screams of pain and the bully’s incoherent ramblings. I ball up a fist and grin. I won the bet. No one changes and nothing will get better. Not until I make it.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAGFzc0ai9T1
346Please respect copyright.PENANAythrK8Mwje
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAaECjcD43IR
346Please respect copyright.PENANAnqwgC4OPiB
A gold ring emblazoned with ancient words and engraved with a purple gem appears on my ring finger. Everything goes quiet and my environment disappears.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAoPLxvdyeQG
346Please respect copyright.PENANAMYGCn9dhcC
I push myself off as new clothes adorn my body. Something I instinctively know to be a groom’s attire. But it’s vastly different, more like a cross between mage robes and kingly armor.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA4t9AWN3wne
346Please respect copyright.PENANAq7kIghHHsL
The world returns tomorrow and beneath me are my friends. In front of me are the bullies. Once filled with wrath and assurance that they would get away with this, now look at them. Fear and confusion contort their faces beautifully.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAtUfUwxn5tu
346Please respect copyright.PENANAlaC1jRcyi2
Thinking that aiming for the body will hide our scars from Nao. Thinking that we were so scared that we wouldn’t tell our friend what happened.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA20I0ZFiC05
346Please respect copyright.PENANA44wb1SYTRx
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAwCUQjQkSyH
346Please respect copyright.PENANAPTlMkF2lBE
But unlike Nao, I won’t waste time. With a wave of my hand, they disappear in a burst of smoke. Turned to ash by the storm summoned by my new ally.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA8bLXl7Z7yZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAlFwezYdUkj
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFpu9sRbreN
346Please respect copyright.PENANARobqcQDjcR
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAwQIOwp1lub
346Please respect copyright.PENANATxLcekdw4k
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhhJcSMjZVJ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAXjXhLwbNri
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
346Please respect copyright.PENANARuEBkIWhwZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFs4p44h75X
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAwQkJrjWTkq
346Please respect copyright.PENANAWn5oFr9uIS
Anthony: “Don’t be scared guys. I’ll do what Nao couldn’t. By the end of the day, no one will do this to us ever again.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANASn1J67YsLr
346Please respect copyright.PENANA6oCjYi47C3
I ignore their pleas for answers and walk to the front of the school. I stare up at our new purple sky, crackling with lightning.
The bullies…
The bystanders…
The incompetent teachers…
The king….
The queen….
346Please respect copyright.PENANAkMpFPkqWCB
Anthony: “Let none survive.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAaUIYCFCnAD
346Please respect copyright.PENANAusK2iWuEXD
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
346Please respect copyright.PENANAwK2PUfzLm3
Thunder and lightning rage outside. What was just a normal day turns into a dark hellscape in the sky. Even the teachers stop what they’re doing to stare into the void.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmXpZvVmj8V
346Please respect copyright.PENANA0YpSULfilv
Mumbling and questions start leaking around the class. But given what I know, I’m pretty sure that it has something to do with magic.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAdkzxyEUZq4
346Please respect copyright.PENANAY5zdrJ6qQN
But it’s not Nao…he wouldn’t do this. Based on what Nell said, he feels horrible for what he did. This…that in the sky…is way worse.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA5DKMlGg4YY
346Please respect copyright.PENANANHi6CnsQKR
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzkKlQEAVxC
*SCREAM*346Please respect copyright.PENANA3Te6PmvXVp
346Please respect copyright.PENANAJhR0uqfKzl
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA3zfl1N4v8u
346Please respect copyright.PENANAbPA9jVhzsT
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANArX6zzueLdt
346Please respect copyright.PENANAYrKM2QSGK1
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzL2LKMui8v
346Please respect copyright.PENANA3sBTiRotJD
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
346Please respect copyright.PENANAjklqq9VXIC
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUeptlciA2X
???: “Alyson!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA8pCNJeEYFY
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmYERFeyRPD
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEnvGetAZSw
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2OmGYxEdna
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANASrlppfmP9Z
346Please respect copyright.PENANAfSOsbPDFpM
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2YY1k58J0
346Please respect copyright.PENANAx6nUZEz7n3
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA16KpxE4CJK
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2jbm6zsdka
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzoCnIm5dJK
346Please respect copyright.PENANAq2gukL7sDS
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzy2BrHREQE
346Please respect copyright.PENANA1dz2yPYO3i
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmq4y5vU35s
!!346Please respect copyright.PENANA80vciWqjp9
346Please respect copyright.PENANANASLYm8Vjw
His voice sends instant chills down my spine. But what makes it worse is that…it’s silent. The smell is still stronger than ever but the screams…they’re gone.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAXB3zok2yds
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2uE45yKVDV
Are we the last ones?
346Please respect copyright.PENANAa2doNHvhrI
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFPipiEVyUA
Anthony: “I don’t even need Nao’s mind reading to tell what you’re thinking. I’m sure there are more hiding but I want to kill you first.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAuxJY9B5yOi
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2AOQyCLiri
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAjI20egw8rc
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7nTcKBoIh3
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
346Please respect copyright.PENANATSpNpJ6zif
346Please respect copyright.PENANAyPKHPJ1BIQ
Deanna: “AHHH!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA4d5YkLgILK
346Please respect copyright.PENANAyGlhL9jcQv
Anthony: “You have a lot of nerve to ask that question. Be quiet and wait your turn. I’ll be sure to take my time with you. You deserve at least that much for your past crimes. Being blind is a good start.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAdukmExS2A3
346Please respect copyright.PENANA9WZqWK5DPX
Deanna is holding her eyes and screaming her heart out. Tears begin to leak out from her hands as everyone else starts to cry out. The cacophony of madness is deafening but despite it all, I can still hear Anthony’s next words.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAccZzzdCsZR
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEE6iCeugdc
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhDeWiXRo1g
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2GQwVRDVw0
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAuk83mhpjyJ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQx9i4ExY2D
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhgaDRPdP8f
346Please respect copyright.PENANAVqUGT1N4Hv
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7PmDLlFv1R
346Please respect copyright.PENANA8dDdiWBrMK
Anthony: “!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAfAGahP9QSf
346Please respect copyright.PENANAc3D4VyFOhe
Anthony: “…No, you’re just lying to get out of this. There’s no way Nao would let that happen. Even if it did happen, I’ll be sure to save him after you’re dead.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmYEEqhRmyx
346Please respect copyright.PENANAylBStJMmqy
He gathers a ball of lightning and prepares to throw it. This is it huh…all of it was for nothing? Everything I did for my success? Everything I did to Nao? It doesn’t mean anything in the end.
346Please respect copyright.PENANA8jpgl47V5M
346Please respect copyright.PENANACBt74VAjOZ
I can’t even shed a tear or scream. The insanity of what’s going on is overloading my mind beyond the point of crashing. I’m….long past that.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAkFR5r5jSSo
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEHwxfPWFYh
Deanna: “Alyson…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANA4sOzrDSBte
?346Please respect copyright.PENANAooM7fuDniF
346Please respect copyright.PENANApzbmmaporZ
Deanna touches around until she finds me. She then covers my head and cradles me in her arms. Is she…shielding me? Why go so far?
346Please respect copyright.PENANAgYLvhO2n3U
346Please respect copyright.PENANARBZtCzBNyK
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAIMFiBGJgnS
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUtYwBwBYUE
Deanna: “…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFelcdXnEos
346Please respect copyright.PENANATuB32DNOWt
Alyson: “W-Why?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAh1tu9zMp4K
346Please respect copyright.PENANAig8YoDd75U
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhxhd5CCeno
346Please respect copyright.PENANAGdVKHYu6PB
Alyson: “Deanna…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQTpGC8u5AX
346Please respect copyright.PENANAMTNqHoJIfA
Anthony: *Sigh*
346Please respect copyright.PENANAL3OfXS7hAm
346Please respect copyright.PENANA9CpfzJWzcX
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAbntjbQYOJf
346Please respect copyright.PENANAti1qK92m0G
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAiIzYThvXT0
!!!346Please respect copyright.PENANAGAy4MXheYF
346Please respect copyright.PENANAnHvdMbd97M
Everyone turns to the one who dared to sound so relaxed in this situation. I felt relief for the first time today and it came from such an unlikely place.
346Please respect copyright.PENANADLrbMfdKGY
346Please respect copyright.PENANANwtfd6kdBh
Anthony: “King…”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAiOovE3Tb58
346Please respect copyright.PENANAxIaUAE8upK
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAygW9gCqH47
346Please respect copyright.PENANA19TzWRNXR4
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAIpkxV9APgg
346Please respect copyright.PENANALzH8MWmu5D
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAWp8zPvo8bm
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhfCFp8V6vH
Anthony: “…Begone.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAkibM8Auw4W
346Please respect copyright.PENANA5HctAtv3Lz
Instantly, a large pillar of electrifying destruction erupts from where Trevor stood. Everyone looks away from the blinding light but there’s something strange…why are there no screams.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAqqHVzZHdil
346Please respect copyright.PENANAKwSWIEghzq
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
346Please respect copyright.PENANAdjDXu3tMvJ
346Please respect copyright.PENANANaFl6bw2sC
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAeWWi3MxTw8
346Please respect copyright.PENANAVu1DqHXx96
Anthony: “!!”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAc9MUO4hqPm
346Please respect copyright.PENANAXelfd4nMdq
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFksWtB2Ts6
346Please respect copyright.PENANAawB4l61ZgJ
She?
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhli6U4PbRp
346Please respect copyright.PENANAXRMfWoZc6Z
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns216.73.216.8da2