I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFrAN9AbJO
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJmKBZwyvs
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMBVouINMo
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspVGRVhEnU
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPUaoblRxc
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQe0sXAATF
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBwjf97WFB
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl25sZMTmr6
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u5uuJVt6N
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTDl7fZ1Kz
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNraAKByW7
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8LuZk1PLv
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0w8NS9wu9
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjfY3b7CEt
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG6trwOJ3C
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd86uIWrI9
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOrKoTGVZ3
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgI5hbcf5Y
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc8bUHVsY2
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Ol7H1GXx
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nHAPikpVE
But there’s one upside. 414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaC0dhTKDA
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiYMDXswPZ
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk0neOt5v5
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNm1FrIBot
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKcjCmthW0
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OLckJfBpL
I’ll-
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAcJkFuH7w
*Knock*414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Uemh4kj7
*Knock*
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCEbHnn4k0
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaU1S8zejJ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhd3ULWrht
*Door Open*414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kQNTbFbWu
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxicvm4juJ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamnF9PFVZu
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRf4ABbZw6
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8vuFa16Cd
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5sgLSI5B6
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdVRjUIcjO
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5CEzkGzFl
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUALADUg1E
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ4j7UPRRP
Nao: “Mom…”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIgIDoNOlZ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU6wv7Yik0
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lv1uP1gor
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ4UUa08d4
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.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtMo6Kwjly
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDpGLzHGq5
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8fzndiiG9
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Xt2hLHx0
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.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2fQOSxhGt
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleWIokanm5
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.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cynn7UwVJ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZU0zOd9Lb
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARjdZ9dk9D
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pip1LapWZ
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwsGp09fMH
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uuRJKVDyR
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeXmw2iVr2
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCHrbl4fS6
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.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuobgjbxzjJ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvvTGZCUF2
Points: 0414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8xFZzN8oH
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcYJWpaqaz
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRMNUsWaHQ
Strength: 27414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVYXtIUvpf
Endurance: 31.5414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV3cfJoWTn
Intelligence: 23.5414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOz0AbiKCS
Charisma: 21.5414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeXHH5cMBZ
Agility: 20.5414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xzIrLSDT5
Magic: 29414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4iAQXQ6ai
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58flUy2O9R
Spells:
Scan [Active]414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32ShTk81oA
Minor Illusion [Active]414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQIX5bmRLg
Shape Shift [Active]414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoio3zCcq3V
Magic Shield [Active]414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgmomVXdQS
