I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVXSCTyuMS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq796gb5PN
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFkquSF6IW
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRXaJGpfDb
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGQrgTiW0p
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvzm8mC6lv
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAZVSKGKST
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDXr7pLJmG
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TNVu0P6b5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PyrrgidKH
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEJPyPkQSV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkzhNeKKXk
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONJkFXOhma
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuePsW1Xh6x
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM65x3l1AQt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDOIFAcwgO
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08awZ6CtA2
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN9DUXKROe
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADfAHH31yf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwHtdsGEGU
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBixsSIRQDT
But there’s one upside. 320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xY2FRo4Zm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7dfo9D9La
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG2RA9EP3p
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdDeWk96Vu
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9nEAhu2fl
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzPrnC1wZq
I’ll-
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGIlk1k5Ma
*Knock*320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Khp9Ba6oW
*Knock*
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmEpPxZFOD
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWGYivyF4Q
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWLcfxvUbj
*Door Open*320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mEeRIHdXp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHjw4Rv0jJ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXxcmjpL8X
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4ef8TXzgH
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oMMWRnqOK
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39zsUaG4FR
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYM981lfos
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIPhrFjrWk
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqxm7XJMiR
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW7waKJ35w
Nao: “Mom…”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzD1brPOFv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SUB1E1HUD
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjWstnDrH3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HHqYD98qB
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.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCCVLt044x
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VYorYtKOA
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5sdapKGFB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnojtfV6Cy
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.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1tprf96zd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN84Xl8i7O
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.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqT0o55KYo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH7QZRTaNZ
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL6WNuLLyB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLOpuxUAZH
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnHpUMLH04
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtvdvi63cK
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsjEMUEQk9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKv5muoDsI
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.
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsry9pj7PS4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7mj7a1uCB
Points: 0320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QGDo65j2p
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpIWR6KnmI
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TMfu41Uf1
Strength: 27320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ2guTzsTn
Endurance: 31.5320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrfRn6dFm4
Intelligence: 23.5320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87VQDuRHtR
Charisma: 21.5320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm6JEfq96R
Agility: 20.5320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tsd9vHYHL
Magic: 29320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvekaOjDfF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK86FldxOqL
Spells:
Scan [Active]320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkTIxZgZwZ
Minor Illusion [Active]320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn4Usa1TUr
Shape Shift [Active]320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRJWvfSqwR
Magic Shield [Active]320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLxxyNUOe1
