I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaj96yluJU
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG3J854HkE
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rawDym49G
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dhMMM5HIc
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIMXRHEBmF
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltPl4nD6BR
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHiUQslKJU
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAjb62o3ID
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudDLX5QSM2
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hmAD8kUs2
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbdypwDlcT
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zKonI1c0I
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Lxz2F3zvV
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWGLeGDOHq
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVErTv0tPk
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqBKGXRUqd
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtwY7UuJ0h
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBehNiEd9K
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8N9Z663oy
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23w6oXQIN5
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHGMVjbC5T
But there’s one upside. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ81trEyuMh
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri38QJIIZm
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB7Z4q8j3p
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDGhpRLYsk
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmcSKgsLUj
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXTN79qTxK
I’ll-
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLXeGzzKVm
*Knock*318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv2exgETBI
*Knock*
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDU9JnYuYJ
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT664ldUZe
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdmn8TJviV
*Door Open*318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVsefjDoYU
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgYYA3sW00
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJQX8IVXps
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ko1q2F7Is
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxqXvPEH1z
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM5bR0N1IV
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCbgHu5Gnx
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8pX4fyMXg
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3zpGhU9Pf
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1WPJmYS1Y
Nao: “Mom…”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEd4ExfnM6
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8FWdHboNe
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc861JP2Hz
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP2m9nHTIf
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.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6pXaIeD1E
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAQR6OSH0i
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8bVw2q3cW
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e9DGNc1XK
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.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeudEGGls1
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1ciHaZH0D
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.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vtaJYzTxV
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATZEZqAR67
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kiCVLV0RL
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpLLjhAIFC
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak9jw5SiGu
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsElcfmE4x
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP76Hlwy20
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlNmfZgipo
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.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqcFBrbG2T
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gi4Klw16H
Points: 0318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy5Nnpn9FL
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW1bzALNn6
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoiC4B9sEM
Strength: 27318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w6dl7DDCC
Endurance: 31.5318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpX3ehTJtR
Intelligence: 23.5318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZxOh2cNdV
Charisma: 21.5318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8seLikEqm4
Agility: 20.5318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzsSWBD69a
Magic: 29318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVAw417AFu
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4dufWC6jj
Spells:
Scan [Active]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzHCcTf1df
Minor Illusion [Active]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xccb0ndjD
Shape Shift [Active]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYS72CINgV
Magic Shield [Active]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqALQamO7H
