Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”302Please respect copyright.PENANAL0EeGdooBC
302Please respect copyright.PENANAGnEcuaoXHo
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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?
302Please respect copyright.PENANAlgMSmgaRNy
302Please respect copyright.PENANAq7HlYkRD7K
Sever: “We got it, move out.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANApV1lmd0FgU
302Please respect copyright.PENANAc7Sho335ov
Alyson: “Na-”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAyVDb3TMZ1D
302Please respect copyright.PENANAyjf5zZRiAa
I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAbsepMKnLIX
302Please respect copyright.PENANAJJBign1VdB
Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAAppti5Cxfm
302Please respect copyright.PENANA81F49LfoPr
Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAXhNcIF5t3W
302Please respect copyright.PENANA9cOzsOrGKv
Nell: “…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAnXsgoniFWZ
No…302Please respect copyright.PENANALj4wtQ5WBy
302Please respect copyright.PENANAyUUly1pOiu
Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA9PIWiUUJea
302Please respect copyright.PENANAeJyeHcaFAy
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWkBGtSorKU
302Please respect copyright.PENANAZWau91wmkX
A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAuBx5Xo1b0e
302Please respect copyright.PENANARRzPfTQUyl
Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANANh4SiOpqnW
302Please respect copyright.PENANAYvmpQFapvV
She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAtYErDg5WS2
302Please respect copyright.PENANAwvaVHTnpAz
Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is gone.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAk5Ri4USiZ7
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWiN0gnCBVV
Alyson: “Not yet, maybe I-”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAHe4FypfAEq
302Please respect copyright.PENANAJSBJNrxtUf
Nell: “No!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWTztHFLhj3
302Please respect copyright.PENANAHYxM5NT99m
Alyson: “!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAxYCqbqzDI6
302Please respect copyright.PENANA7ak98nKDHt
Nell: “I’m already on verge of breaking…don’t make me lose you too…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAKnCJcrpAtz
302Please respect copyright.PENANAwxWUG462zF
Alyson: “So you telling me to leave Nao to those…monsters?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANApyk6SOfIpp
302Please respect copyright.PENANA7UqYehGipU
Nell: “…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAd4dfJ6dVLD
302Please respect copyright.PENANAcibowkcl64
Alyson: “…Let’s drop it for now. Please, just tell me everything.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAH1UguHBII1
302Please respect copyright.PENANAQPVvDZdsYM
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANASDJoUhVsSe
302Please respect copyright.PENANA3Gb4qnDWFN
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWWxw1ggmiX
302Please respect copyright.PENANA0dlAhFry0W
I’m the one that sent Anton to Nao…
302Please respect copyright.PENANAM846CbMSZM
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWlu6KzCnex
Alyson: “Nell…I have a confession to make.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWcJoOmt66A
302Please respect copyright.PENANArIAFCHTAna
Nell: “No…not you too.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAfQQkHDlble
302Please respect copyright.PENANAevTWNG5Ity
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAcPVdkft5xB
302Please respect copyright.PENANAIREBWFUNT6
Alyson: “I-I’m so…so sorry.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAa5WB12Q9i2
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWFohOA4n30
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA48i9QwfZ3g
302Please respect copyright.PENANACf2uOm7OJv
Nell: “W-We’ve all made mistakes. If only I wasn’t blind to it. No…I lost my only son.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAFRVsuwNYPS
302Please respect copyright.PENANA7ijC3ScSdM
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA1iNyn99vKN
302Please respect copyright.PENANAE34Myl0jH9
Alyson: “What…do we do now?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAczd1z64AXH
302Please respect copyright.PENANAfQ90CY7Q2W
Nell: “I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, we will make up for this for the rest of our lives.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAoU8cxeQUNC
302Please respect copyright.PENANALUUQF2Lvh9
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1aIwa32AC
302Please respect copyright.PENANAIfK3g9G3Qj
But more than that, voices from my past haunt my thoughts. Whispering perspectives that only deepen my guilt.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAwRSboFfiDv
302Please respect copyright.PENANAcwptpfO23c
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAf8xfUXhbmK
302Please respect copyright.PENANAxSh07pT6NL
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAkVVkRuGaHo
302Please respect copyright.PENANAPxiUJ9bXyv
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…
302Please respect copyright.PENANAAmjA9EHSQE
[Switch Perspective: Anthony]302Please respect copyright.PENANA8t0dz3ABah
302Please respect copyright.PENANA3E3yCXMJ5w
Mat: “Are you okay?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAQnbV6qojw8
302Please respect copyright.PENANA6zMCwiWJpd
Anthony: “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a bit worried that we’ll get bullied because of yesterday.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAQOdxpynbms
302Please respect copyright.PENANAqvUOuZpryS
Velo: “Don’t worry, Nao scared them away. As he said, we won.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAqZjJAVMEl7
302Please respect copyright.PENANA2bK5SeOWln
Mat: “Besides, it’s the beginning of the day who wou-”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAhLbxhKGaTu
302Please respect copyright.PENANAGVDCZE6cGD
“Yeah guys, we want to show you something.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ym37RclXb
302Please respect copyright.PENANAhqlY3DtADg
Their faces darken at the realization of what’s about to happen. But me…I crack a smile.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAOQgr29D8pz
302Please respect copyright.PENANAuO6C4S4WqD
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAtyYURuRx6s
302Please respect copyright.PENANAg2aPSndPrC
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAYX8BGN2Oui
302Please respect copyright.PENANAIvjKlEk90V
“So let it be written. My new owner and husband.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAsUTCSNyBgK
302Please respect copyright.PENANAabq8aX0mH0
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAEwrMLnnlym
302Please respect copyright.PENANAjZ43nrWKiG
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANATkafGXFBKX
302Please respect copyright.PENANAldeS2GwaOp
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA8PUdbqWFmH
302Please respect copyright.PENANAEDbOo1aKHf
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA0Huj57NV4s
302Please respect copyright.PENANAZDTMBFi8GW
Well, no more. That time is over. As I look into their eyes filled with fear, I wonder if this is what Nao felt.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAKcZBo5xNyn
302Please respect copyright.PENANA14mu99BFlG
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAoLBLXaPkGg
302Please respect copyright.PENANAp18mMGuDhT
“Come my husband, let us once again burn another world. Another blood bath for our promised wedding day.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAVmyR7XMsKP
302Please respect copyright.PENANAkxHHz4Rkc0
I’ll be what you want me to be. As long as I can have my vengeance.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA4tdn0BEAq0
302Please respect copyright.PENANAGQk9g5DD6P
Mat: “A-Anthony…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAbaTTTTK3my
302Please respect copyright.PENANAYmQYW8U5Un
Oh, I almost forgot. My friends lay beaten and broken behind me.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAcvmZ9pKAJh
302Please respect copyright.PENANAExUXKytY3y
“Ignore them love. I’ll keep the end of my deal. We’ll spare them but no one else may live.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2S1WvQPfI
302Please respect copyright.PENANAhJMJkqM9vg
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.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAu3gvD1Cb8E
302Please respect copyright.PENANAobg67wAsZa
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….
302Please respect copyright.PENANAusNGHwQM5w
Anthony: “Let none survive.”302Please respect copyright.PENANAngXCnEHW8s
302Please respect copyright.PENANAp2lPzEFJFj
[Switch Perspective: Alyson]
302Please respect copyright.PENANACe2i4zFvAn
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAOwzWMCrsX0
302Please respect copyright.PENANAyGf3W110Ch
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAOIatEWXHzP
302Please respect copyright.PENANAmiPEZWYJee
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAg5fJE7aZ4C
302Please respect copyright.PENANAOrSLGP0CKg
“Okay everyone, calm down. It must be-”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAuzshdW44Gu
*SCREAM*302Please respect copyright.PENANALYWO7y8zZb
302Please respect copyright.PENANAavSNNj5Kns
Outside we can hear blood-chilling screams and thunder. But what drove us to madness was the smell of ashes.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAUjsBJ5lHDF
302Please respect copyright.PENANAppd4wkEgLM
“Everyone stay here and hide under your desks. I’ll go and see what’s happening.”
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302Please respect copyright.PENANANL70YPki7G
The teacher leaves the room and disappears into the darkness of the hallway. The noises didn’t stop and the smell only got worse.
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I’m…scared stiff. Am I…going to die?
302Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ6t72xx2B
302Please respect copyright.PENANA9rUlzqUEYY
???: “Alyson!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAIlKOwzDRBb
302Please respect copyright.PENANAkvOec8VHzg
A voice wakes me up from my dark thoughts. I watch the door fly open and a girl rush inside.
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302Please respect copyright.PENANAFztYIcPg4m
Deanna: “Alyson hide!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAtE2XnhmGzn
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She runs to me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA9sfznPURyc
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Alyson: “Deanna? What’s happening?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAJa7Ow8X5oL
302Please respect copyright.PENANAljPTW7ErKU
Deanna: “No time to explain but I’m sure you and Trevor are Anthony’s main targets.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA2QWeEjoUOZ
302Please respect copyright.PENANApr9hQzVZ78
Anthony? H-He’s the one doing all of this?
302Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ly0AqKZDr
302Please respect copyright.PENANAHEPoDyiAJt
Anthony: “You’re not wrong.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAk7J3HHjMqX
!!302Please respect copyright.PENANAnDGiibx0Vo
302Please respect copyright.PENANA0LmBNCGPgI
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAZIGatBvGGC
302Please respect copyright.PENANATe1jD1ohmP
Are we the last ones?
302Please respect copyright.PENANAyDproU5LXz
302Please respect copyright.PENANAC4MZ84UQs3
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.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAm9GtL8mU7z
302Please respect copyright.PENANASNBmwdxMHn
Deanna: “W-Why are you doing this?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAC2Uxl4cYnF
302Please respect copyright.PENANAKUzuSc5pbX
Purple lightning strikes right in front of Deanna’s eyes.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAUa1YunfZ1W
302Please respect copyright.PENANAc9432663kn
Deanna: “AHHH!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANACswXHYHTT7
302Please respect copyright.PENANAfLhtVUkxnA
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.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANARfnvNABdSo
302Please respect copyright.PENANAkBxJq56Gah
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAtJVihSXEwF
302Please respect copyright.PENANAKtQrb8vzEW
Anthony: “As for Alyson. You may be Nao’s sister, but you’re still a part of the problem. He’ll forgive me eventually.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA1MBgmc2rN4
302Please respect copyright.PENANABdqx5FxHBw
Alyson: “If you still care about Nao then save him!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAeXx9n70vvU
302Please respect copyright.PENANARhFZf8etbg
Anthony: “Save him? What do you mean?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAC7rom98dA5
302Please respect copyright.PENANAZB6Whm22t3
Alyson: “Sever and his men took him last night. They were searching for that magic book.”
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302Please respect copyright.PENANA6enNaoTjnU
Anthony: “!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAa28OIkNezy
302Please respect copyright.PENANAacItlUDNzZ
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.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANANEXwvkX6Qd
302Please respect copyright.PENANAkewBRlWTOJ
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAvCdVGLkGr7
302Please respect copyright.PENANALBEGlSNGfN
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAiWHD8P6NqE
302Please respect copyright.PENANAUxk731mnnM
Deanna: “Alyson…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAhgl0Vz3K2W
?302Please respect copyright.PENANAjHgOIzSsja
302Please respect copyright.PENANA5oWh32tzIs
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?
302Please respect copyright.PENANAaW5YH5W3ce
302Please respect copyright.PENANA9c1aq98Uup
Anthony: “Tch, don’t pretend bitch. You haven’t changed.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANARD1TKHX3AR
302Please respect copyright.PENANAYhUk7p34QG
Deanna: “…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAioz8PCUr38
302Please respect copyright.PENANALfUKyBiMH9
Alyson: “W-Why?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAUJI04eky56
302Please respect copyright.PENANAGbEqt8zuxz
Deanna: “Because you inspired me to be better, this is the least I can do.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAC1ocDVgNl0
302Please respect copyright.PENANAoH5T326X0N
Alyson: “Deanna…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANADIhIRC3XJR
302Please respect copyright.PENANAT077GfCsOi
Anthony: *Sigh*
302Please respect copyright.PENANAQq0vAPgnIM
302Please respect copyright.PENANARxj9lgwCZJ
Anthony: “Fine, I’ll roast you both.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAFHlzN6p1S3
302Please respect copyright.PENANAYtQEeYBfCz
???: “Wow, and I thought the bullies here were evil.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA3SCBgB7Ow4
!!!302Please respect copyright.PENANAlYjeVr4wXg
302Please respect copyright.PENANAWHcxwwaF2x
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAnr6sBZ8bIO
302Please respect copyright.PENANA8gcENJJOjd
Anthony: “King…”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAG0n40g11S8
302Please respect copyright.PENANAIlucM1SCbi
Trevor: “I was right, you would be a good warm-up. Maybe even the main attraction.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA71KJ8PKIXc
302Please respect copyright.PENANAPhozSFgYRF
Anthony: “How can you…be calm right now?”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAIaf5t9pe2N
302Please respect copyright.PENANAD37o56k7hC
Trevor: “I’m not calm…I’m excited. Who would have thought magic existed, this is the fight I was looking for!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAXk4tiWQNd4
302Please respect copyright.PENANAf1UTsp5neP
Anthony: “…Begone.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAJyOOg0tCjD
302Please respect copyright.PENANASFT8VYgwrJ
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.
302Please respect copyright.PENANAbpOqvKXm4B
302Please respect copyright.PENANA29nni3zgpA
When the smoke and lightning clear, Trevor appears unscathed.
302Please respect copyright.PENANA3nm9AbwXmn
302Please respect copyright.PENANABrX1povFAr
Trevor: “I hope that’s not all you got.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANA7L3SB3ivdM
302Please respect copyright.PENANAN3Vdf4OWjI
Anthony: “!!”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAu0Bh3T6Knj
302Please respect copyright.PENANAtuO6tBgset
Anthony: “…I see. Well, that’s not fair. But, she doesn’t mind the challenge.”
302Please respect copyright.PENANAmBHy9Bw0tX
302Please respect copyright.PENANAI6KwxhI4wR
She?
302Please respect copyright.PENANA6pE8zmF4m5
302Please respect copyright.PENANA48ut2SrCTK
Trevor: “Still got more? Then bring it on!”
ns18.116.100.166da2