I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF74aR3uZl
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSEAA00Ywr
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikRugR2Igv
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g852kFM5Q
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSfE6F2pF5
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4lHT5HtwV
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfGaJL2iot
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf2aP8HpiO
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAy6VBG38Y
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAOSRpIL75
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xiHmUaAZG
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOKs1DXk2b
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n0eZzFBVr
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGX01OXC21
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjblQKcCC9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw6Mxs7PT8
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDckKncdJTM
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnBH9CD5TU
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryjpDjSXUx
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNfRv8bWdK
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0OxHSppyA
But there’s one upside. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI2Cggc2fC
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2gh7Ah0Ar
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKQsIP8CLg
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUXZJk8jf1
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6EFZOSgRT
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PsFvpDJ87
I’ll-
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMI0ZOYWse
*Knock*422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm6MC6f0BE
*Knock*
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLQrpIABLM
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcQHftlQNU
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCe5adeKND
*Door Open*422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlf7QRauf9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawMC8JjBfJ
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb5R8esxD4
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbwvsr2xKg
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ1L3vO4w1
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwOMkjcbQK
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkg6tHVpvN
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm79Za4Mkz
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoVrp3bPwp
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2UV9Ts49O
Nao: “Mom…”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaZzkrW4Fx
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEa24hEtjO
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW32cAbrax
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H3Gq7rz35
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.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcdq04pF0n
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPAGcgiOKK
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr34v71PCB
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkyQTYERf5
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.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL9Px1C0Sx
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI5vtJwDYj
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.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshbkWqtk7q
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI4ZogMZWr
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwHKRTzqM9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM1jyzZUAm
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqazLujNGci
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodckZfhu5F
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wknCHHLBV
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0xElSH21B
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.
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk43BbDnRdQ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeAgBwwECe
Points: 0422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZubdmYS6dn
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTTjynQqR7
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22MwuCSn9O
Strength: 27422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt71q0Xr3lE
Endurance: 31.5422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVo8XpcP6R
Intelligence: 23.5422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0hSMmIcB0
Charisma: 21.5422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6Qpt3qejC
Agility: 20.5422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Eueb9HecT
Magic: 29422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXNtVRam84
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX157gFQEyq
Spells:
Scan [Active]422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQeXd9COTr
Minor Illusion [Active]422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77nqRlzAUK
Shape Shift [Active]422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYt9EsCu6q
Magic Shield [Active]422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpkLSkQlee
and then Add to home screen.