I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAY7BllRlYvV
146Please respect copyright.PENANAHLmsqSt7ED
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANATFeiRYBjIX
146Please respect copyright.PENANAXDVH71jSJK
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAeK24e8NKxL
146Please respect copyright.PENANAYcua3Bvz4a
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAFzbQ8Xd6wg
146Please respect copyright.PENANAA16AOat7Gl
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAgyl0lNSukZ
146Please respect copyright.PENANAIzHy5tHecH
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAChxbjHhusJ
146Please respect copyright.PENANAm1wwJok5Tm
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANA25hW4fKHG4
146Please respect copyright.PENANALEKjN1sO5m
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAUExbJ4bazf
146Please respect copyright.PENANAeWrKtfphMo
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAts5j3DM21s
146Please respect copyright.PENANACcitbdL5d4
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAT6x9BPQvZD
146Please respect copyright.PENANABdTCS9tVlH
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANARIZr3I50Ta
But there’s one upside. 146Please respect copyright.PENANABjMkiPi4cJ
146Please respect copyright.PENANAIySHVJmArL
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANA6T5w91PkFX
146Please respect copyright.PENANAQiXp7HHabN
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANA3O4zutpwic
146Please respect copyright.PENANAYR56Uanwag
I’ll-
146Please respect copyright.PENANA4JEHlrrTHp
*Knock*146Please respect copyright.PENANAobTttrrCgK
*Knock*
146Please respect copyright.PENANAlhMWzt8wGb
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAAiJAbnSPrs
146Please respect copyright.PENANA5jEkcBLYKQ
*Door Open*146Please respect copyright.PENANAgwjqlW9GpE
146Please respect copyright.PENANAJYJGcqW2cQ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAIqcTVexwn0
146Please respect copyright.PENANA6J2kFg3QTR
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAr8pUeoltp5
146Please respect copyright.PENANAU2jnV7LVOE
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAz6MEP7saA4
146Please respect copyright.PENANAB4ayt4fwJL
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAFKbnuVrKeX
146Please respect copyright.PENANA0gBsO7b9u8
Nao: “Mom…”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAEO8hKmzqD4
146Please respect copyright.PENANAc5XjcGo3ZL
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAiH5NglknVb
146Please respect copyright.PENANA8r98CyYKDs
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.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAvDxw4luvij
146Please respect copyright.PENANARR7Nq2wgt0
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANATvde4xPfVl
146Please respect copyright.PENANAUrywqxL4Ll
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.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAubQoBQXIZa
146Please respect copyright.PENANAQdYhZeYOMs
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.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAejyHbZd7o8
146Please respect copyright.PENANAX74FzabpUV
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2zFoCpvNo
146Please respect copyright.PENANAa4czbUkqr6
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANA0xiWYZ7inu
146Please respect copyright.PENANAMehFkgfBKl
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAV7xdMzYzom
146Please respect copyright.PENANADTYFJbwxzw
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.
146Please respect copyright.PENANAyArOk5xi9K
146Please respect copyright.PENANAwukrsXFa65
Points: 0146Please respect copyright.PENANATJnor8SFl1
146Please respect copyright.PENANAeH3kfoRE9E
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2146Please respect copyright.PENANA99KpPV8L1U
Strength: 27146Please respect copyright.PENANAdcNkiLqLBa
Endurance: 31.5146Please respect copyright.PENANA10FDhgOpDG
Intelligence: 23.5146Please respect copyright.PENANAqufRcfRxCb
Charisma: 21.5146Please respect copyright.PENANAqXIN0gknOW
Agility: 20.5146Please respect copyright.PENANAOUwprwheYh
Magic: 29146Please respect copyright.PENANAzOnOlMVD2W
146Please respect copyright.PENANA0lrQrAbGDC
Spells:
Scan [Active]146Please respect copyright.PENANAptwthOi5k5
Minor Illusion [Active]146Please respect copyright.PENANAIvo207heTz
Shape Shift [Active]146Please respect copyright.PENANAz7PGzIdUxB
Magic Shield [Active]146Please respect copyright.PENANA1I69sX0KsU