Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”349Please respect copyright.PENANALUZ9ubWa7t
349Please respect copyright.PENANAO6PQPQmetd
349Please respect copyright.PENANAHkMubMw7Oo
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?
349Please respect copyright.PENANAodzuTxXlDn
349Please respect copyright.PENANAt2He2BtZk1
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAu0wmnqXtEw
349Please respect copyright.PENANAKnIy2hZOuj
Alyson: “Na-”
349Please respect copyright.PENANANa1hFfztZT
349Please respect copyright.PENANAyYVrWxenOc
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAIaOxGop7Nm
349Please respect copyright.PENANAW3MNmUuQSn
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAboh0ZxCuJf
349Please respect copyright.PENANAVJRY5zljEt
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAaldX1adZP8
349Please respect copyright.PENANAxoNzKKUaVe
Nell: “…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAfEubLVLqX7
No…349Please respect copyright.PENANAp5Ga7wXS5p
349Please respect copyright.PENANA836xkkJQWg
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAsaMWFQT0ry
349Please respect copyright.PENANAoqzRPpk31N
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANA3CdkFwjA40
349Please respect copyright.PENANAD3cTKWksgW
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAXwoAtWQQCR
349Please respect copyright.PENANAYPjiZUZEDS
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAIK9CSGKGBq
349Please respect copyright.PENANAXvMAnzN6YD
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAPCK2PZ2plA
349Please respect copyright.PENANACCbN9NeXlF
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAMuL3bokU73
349Please respect copyright.PENANArenfqvBACT
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
349Please respect copyright.PENANANiiBsuviiF
349Please respect copyright.PENANADyPN86T8Ek
Nell: “No!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA9e0SWdBsPG
349Please respect copyright.PENANASG9IqILtjx
Alyson: “!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANADXstSFBAxk
349Please respect copyright.PENANABY0V26B5vi
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANANxEdO3RrGr
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbkhtZXIT19
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANARwDLegC9YA
349Please respect copyright.PENANAJRkR50O30E
Nell: “…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAX9bOcQH3kz
349Please respect copyright.PENANAWvKUMkNPN6
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAGMd8O7dJMX
349Please respect copyright.PENANAy3Zr0lHUc1
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAjGUMbkt88g
349Please respect copyright.PENANATY0ktUH1EM
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAWyZD66K1N2
349Please respect copyright.PENANA0FkV3Dxz30
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
349Please respect copyright.PENANAHswXKhDcpY
349Please respect copyright.PENANAWUDc8BjULd
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANApdinF7syDO
349Please respect copyright.PENANA2jAGn8Pvot
Nell: “No…not you too.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA9ibjseWICp
349Please respect copyright.PENANAUlR2GOxC32
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANA7bATHbT5ZB
349Please respect copyright.PENANAXMrTOQ8dcW
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANALU7LHatKI0
349Please respect copyright.PENANABT1T57Go6T
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOU0ajy4mhc
349Please respect copyright.PENANAGhQdrWhZ8O
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAnmDTdsG4bP
349Please respect copyright.PENANAxJrgBPpP4L
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAcWdEpteBsw
349Please respect copyright.PENANAGdQ471HQL8
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOPz1qbMNbJ
349Please respect copyright.PENANAZVTsu2i6nB
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA2KPEABsjSF
349Please respect copyright.PENANAmJBSGpH0jk
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANA92H9I91v62
349Please respect copyright.PENANAQM249uKJiY
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5TFlvM9CP
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOu9193bif6
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAHeGMHDE8l5
349Please respect copyright.PENANAzMGAWX3HnX
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAI5nIO1RBA0
349Please respect copyright.PENANAdLjLDRMbcf
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…
349Please respect copyright.PENANADZDEqv92iI
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]349Please respect copyright.PENANAHGJxmyF3ro
349Please respect copyright.PENANASWHfGX5Zpc
Mat: “Are you okay?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA0ncTpG1Tn4
349Please respect copyright.PENANAfCig92rj33
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA5Kc58GTWyC
349Please respect copyright.PENANAPkWuf97Kgm
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAX9TpKrzyYo
349Please respect copyright.PENANAH0t8ulFQ9v
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
349Please respect copyright.PENANASpxcH6BxYC
349Please respect copyright.PENANA0oq2uP0rrO
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAgxyCFk8fZN
349Please respect copyright.PENANASQUCMxQ1FC
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAhwrBg4MzpF
349Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ocn1zV0l1
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANATGDxG1wtTb
349Please respect copyright.PENANA6DRnnDGHlF
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAf00SWxymN2
349Please respect copyright.PENANAetS9lNgkBF
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAqzedBp3dJa
349Please respect copyright.PENANA8kxiFtZVAZ
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANABiHd608VUb
349Please respect copyright.PENANAJYX6dFI68U
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANATEEinXSGvi
349Please respect copyright.PENANAHrI18Dv0G0
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAb8gd26dMiC
349Please respect copyright.PENANATzUKM0h61v
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAT32XzWambc
349Please respect copyright.PENANAIMNorvWe4T
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAZIuszZFAsl
349Please respect copyright.PENANAeR9WKoRHf2
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAiRGSZQpLcc
349Please respect copyright.PENANAtImUi9m4PD
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAdasuYdBNN9
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOs2fVMsjab
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAqccDY9PiLl
349Please respect copyright.PENANAECVMq1hb5n
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANATeWOIKdbYE
349Please respect copyright.PENANASroAL2d80x
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAvZdHljcO1L
349Please respect copyright.PENANA1WUPETZUGE
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZVYvNOxvp
349Please respect copyright.PENANA8BrKFoQ00E
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.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA0cGnO0DdDv
349Please respect copyright.PENANAlbHvncuI6S
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….
349Please respect copyright.PENANANkpGdh7SkZ
Anthony: “Let none survive.”349Please respect copyright.PENANA2PUOnMiblf
349Please respect copyright.PENANAoV7TZD5smM
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
349Please respect copyright.PENANAF1n2p1wimO
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAaERptI9BmD
349Please respect copyright.PENANAnyDGAgqfmc
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAZfX3DZwaEp
349Please respect copyright.PENANA90rBYMfjnx
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANA42wbs918N2
349Please respect copyright.PENANA59nTaZnelD
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA8HzXPVxu9D
*SCREAM*349Please respect copyright.PENANA2f4grYKYGr
349Please respect copyright.PENANAkyI3BHs8In
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAMRunMd7027
349Please respect copyright.PENANAmKywu9ybvB
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAm5wFzDLSAh
349Please respect copyright.PENANAVU9W4i1khd
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
349Please respect copyright.PENANArBAHpk9iUt
349Please respect copyright.PENANAYuX9Bw5i9K
I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
349Please respect copyright.PENANAuZ7x5idxH5
349Please respect copyright.PENANAwLknPN5gLm
???: “Alyson!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA7Q8IklSzir
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbhhCpgEDeA
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAHndqtMqZNh
349Please respect copyright.PENANAGQiIEm3ncZ
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAtKcyNuGMrp
349Please respect copyright.PENANAYhOV4su5I5
She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAdfokmgS3yL
349Please respect copyright.PENANAfvY2xOXuQ4
Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAEaRomXbZNa
349Please respect copyright.PENANAdnHXMXsZb9
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAeBjeZ3mg3g
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbloMI5bCR0
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
349Please respect copyright.PENANA0jobnJDQKB
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbFpWD1OiVA
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbM6f8am92L
!!349Please respect copyright.PENANAtLLtYSY7GT
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOOQVsPQGpf
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAD0p1TAUAUJ
349Please respect copyright.PENANAsbL4wmwxKF
Are we the last ones?
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOEiJaNUacg
349Please respect copyright.PENANA06vL5bWkMT
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.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAvw5g9ma0R5
349Please respect copyright.PENANAtZHPnIdHSG
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAiv3yrjzB8j
349Please respect copyright.PENANAQzPW8QUYBs
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAkg78pN1RiY
349Please respect copyright.PENANA27PjH0aO2J
Deanna: “AHHH!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAyXAuuksKNz
349Please respect copyright.PENANARPKy5Q90d4
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.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA80HUx0tA3w
349Please respect copyright.PENANAD67OKER7Md
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAMz2E8F9qwY
349Please respect copyright.PENANAWXFjooCrg5
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANATmmjzYzQS9
349Please respect copyright.PENANAmpYyzzJUzz
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAQFmjin0A1C
349Please respect copyright.PENANA75Vg2C07UB
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAYusKvDV4Qn
349Please respect copyright.PENANA249BM8QJ8X
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAGdauAiyBUU
349Please respect copyright.PENANAgpdfflaQHx
Anthony: “!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAqoSwKgtQRA
349Please respect copyright.PENANAZ05o8EW3sZ
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.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAeXmC5VqcnU
349Please respect copyright.PENANAFrb9oSNNcL
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANA5KttYyJ7A4
349Please respect copyright.PENANAQi0MV8KF9u
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAmmcvzMn7mL
349Please respect copyright.PENANAON2Wmtajto
Deanna: “Alyson…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAd5tm6l9fWH
?349Please respect copyright.PENANAFnm9nsxvRN
349Please respect copyright.PENANAakwxF03sAg
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?
349Please respect copyright.PENANA9oOAa3mqEd
349Please respect copyright.PENANAk6DAn5j2fP
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAHprCMRUS2u
349Please respect copyright.PENANA86CRVtFkkt
Deanna: “…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANArEw4PP7ANR
349Please respect copyright.PENANANsHT9GooVc
Alyson: “W-Why?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANA4E01DHVivc
349Please respect copyright.PENANAPGZHfm1ED6
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAfSsPsqSq8V
349Please respect copyright.PENANADGZ3VPM7Rr
Alyson: “Deanna…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAA1bsyN5oQ3
349Please respect copyright.PENANAXw9HKL8AZf
Anthony: *Sigh*
349Please respect copyright.PENANABRhlsFCQWN
349Please respect copyright.PENANAe9xXjiqDfW
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAunZJFSFPPP
349Please respect copyright.PENANAvrJiJMYq8w
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAxMw4D4HS1a
!!!349Please respect copyright.PENANAPUfH5iKUdJ
349Please respect copyright.PENANAaJV2x8uz40
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbissjwXwJH
349Please respect copyright.PENANA7Z7JzE7NmE
Anthony: “King…”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAGxQvX0ReJN
349Please respect copyright.PENANAv63H325UGJ
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAWY4gjVYb0Z
349Please respect copyright.PENANA3UL9RdM8qc
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
349Please respect copyright.PENANACMfgyeSiO0
349Please respect copyright.PENANANjeA70arpW
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAyPL5EFKzM1
349Please respect copyright.PENANAsPfdwyTiPc
Anthony: “…Begone.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAxP7Laa4Knu
349Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ16O0OctK
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.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAvmn5TvnZO9
349Please respect copyright.PENANAZQgtJFbeXd
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
349Please respect copyright.PENANAwU8SQ1iF7i
349Please respect copyright.PENANAw3nuA4Yj7C
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAbMEPhw31j7
349Please respect copyright.PENANAWnEuBeVIW7
Anthony: “!!”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAEjJgAPhdfi
349Please respect copyright.PENANA5CGrbat5lR
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
349Please respect copyright.PENANAfhLZQDS7e2
349Please respect copyright.PENANArEjTxS3psJ
She?
349Please respect copyright.PENANAOlI6SAJbcl
349Please respect copyright.PENANAuvZNU352YP
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns216.73.216.76da2