…Wake Up…
…Nao…
…Arthur…
…Alphon…
…Wake Up…
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My eyes explode open and I feel fire boiling my flesh causing me to scream in agony. Blood pours out of my mouth and my lungs burst open only to reform again.
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This pain is…too much. Why am I going through this? What is happening? Instantly, I feel bugs slithering on my legs and arms, holding me down. Forcing me into the flames.
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I fight back, struggle, and push away the bugs but their grip on me tightens. Not again, I don’t want to die again.
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“Nao!”
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*Door flings open*
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“What happened?!”
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“Sorry, he’s just having a really bad nightmare.”
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More bugs crawl into my mouth eating up the blood flooding it. No, please don’t crawl in there! NO!
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“Let me through!”
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No! Not another one! Get bac-
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“Nao, wake up! Please honey, wake up.”
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Nao: “Huh?”
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Another bug consumes my form but it’s…warm. My body cools and the flames subside. The skin that was torn and burnt returns. My vision clears and I see bodies without faces.
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My eyes slide over to the girl hovering at the door with concern covering her face. For some reason, I feel something from this warmth and the girl. Their faces return and I try to breathe air that’s strangely not filled with smoke.
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Nao: “Where…am I?”
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“You’re home, whatever happened in that dream is over. You’re okay.”
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Dream?
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!!
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I return the hug and sigh in relief.
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Nao: “I am okay now, thank you…mom.”
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Nell: “Are you sure? I never seen you like this before?”
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Nao: “I’m sure. It was…just a dream.”
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Nell: “…Can everyone give me a minute with Nao.”
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Everyone leaves with worry still on their faces. Now I’m all alone with my mother, sitting on the bed soaked with my sweat.
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Nell: “Nao, do you want to talk about the dream?”
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Nao: “I…can’t remember it.”
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Nell: “I see…maybe it’s for the best. Do you want me to stay with you?”
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Nao: “…Yes please.”
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I embraced the warmth once again and held onto it for dear life. We stayed like that for a while before the silence was broken once again.
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Nell: “If there’s anything bothering you, at home or at school, please tell me. It won’t inconvenience me or this home.”
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Nao: “…I’ll tell you, I promise.”
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Nell: “Good, I’ll cook you and Alyson some food. Take as much time as you need to collect yourself.”
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And so the warmth leaves me in this cold room with the only light coming from the window overhead.
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I sit there in silence for an unknown amount of time. I…just sat there, staring at the wall. Eventually, I collected enough of my pieces to leave the room.
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Standing outside, leaning against the wall in front of me, was Alyson.
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Alyson: “Are you…okay?”
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Nao: “Yeah, thanks for caring.”
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Alyson: “…I want you to know, you’re off the Black List. I won’t be responsible if you…”
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Alyson: “I’m going out, I hope you’re better by the time I get back.”
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She left before I could say anything in response to her strange brand of….affection?
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I go downstairs to see the group looking with worry. They crowd me, asking me questions I have no answers to.
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That pain and…whatever happened before, that wasn’t all due to increasing my stats…right?
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Anthony: “Maybe we should postpone our plans for a while.”
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Nao: “No, I’m good. I can do it. Alyson will leave after eating breakfast which will give me an opportunity to see her outside the house.”
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Anthony: “…I guess. Fine, we’ll see you later today for the magic items.”
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Nao: “Oh yeah….got it.”
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The group said their goodbyes and left our home. I went to the kitchen to eat my first meal of the day with mom. Alyson seems to have taken her food to go so it was just mom and me.
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We said nothing but that was okay. Just being near her was putting me back together. I thanked her for the food and went into the bathroom. Time to find my ideal form for Alyson.
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I look into the mirror and Nao stares back. I breathe in and out, thinking of what to change myself into. Someone else, someone not Nao. The answer came easily and so I closed my eyes.
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The next time I opened them, someone else stared back. Tall, handsome with a clean shave, well built, and a different facial structure. This person looked nothing like me but the form…it felt right.
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Even the size of my clothes seem to change to fit my new body. I don’t know how exactly this spell changes my clothes too but I don’t question it. It’s too convenient to be suspicious.
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I regretfully revert back and leave the bathroom. I still need to leave here as Nao, as me. I’ll transform somewhere safe and try to find Alyson at her usual hideouts.
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I go to my room and grab the best clothes I can. They have to be nice but generic enough to not give anything away. The best I could find was a form-fitting black t-shirt and jeans. I go downstairs and to the front door while hoping this is enough.
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Nell: “Where are you going Nao?”
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Nao: “I’m going to the bookstore, I need something to relax my mind.”
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Nell: “O-Of course, I’ll see you later. Right, Nao?”
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Nao: “Don’t worry mom, I will be back. You won’t stay here alone for long.”
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I open the front door and head towards the local cafe. It’s a humble little store with white round tables out front. Alyson may be queen but she doesn’t really have friends. Too busy studying to care about such things.
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This is one of those spots she goes to relax while working on school work or just studying. Luckily, I picked right. She sitting at the middle table drinking a smoothie while studying.
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I stay out of sight and sneak into the store bathroom. I find an empty stall and close my eyes once again.
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*Breathe In*
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*Breathe Out*
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I exit the bathroom a new man with clothes really fitting my muscular build. I stride out of the bathroom with confidence that only builds with the glances I get.
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The girl at the counter and some with boyfriends take in my body. Yes, this is what I wanted. I soak in their attention and go back outside towards Alyson.
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Nao: “Hey, is this seat taken?”
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Alyson: “…No.”
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I ignore her dismissive glare and set down with a casual smile. Now, let’s see what’s in that head sis.
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Mind reading.
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Alyson: (Great, another try hard desperate to get with me. At least this one is cute.)
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At least I’m cute, it’s a start.
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Nao: “So what are you working on?”
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Alyson: “Paperwork that doesn’t really concern you.”
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Nao: “Ouch, I can see that I’m not the first guy to hit on you. So I won’t, I’m new in town and just looking for a friend.”
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Alyson: “And out of everyone, you choose me to be your first friend?”
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Nao: “Yeah, you’re the most interesting person I’ve seen so far. A pretty girl hard at work, that I assume is school-related, on a Saturday. As soon as I saw that I thought, this girl has a story to tell.”
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Nao: “Besides, I like hard workers. They’re the ones that can go the distance in life.”
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Alyson: “…Okay, you got my attention. My name is Alyson, what’s yours?”
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Nao: “Hm….my name is….Alphon. Nice to meet you Alyson, I hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”
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