I walk out of the gym carrying my mother. Police, newsmen, and students fill my vision.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JJaVCxwaE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXhV1Bd1PE
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUdPEDL8Me
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgv1olcVXH
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbA3as89g2
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04TXD3SHWE
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbrmVBNj8b
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn9PjdrVPj
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4qFVd4WIx
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAPSdOgsuT
Why? Why does the sun shine so brightly? Of all days.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOHYuOvB5M
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z2pfHOk7U
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzg0CGkDpp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSkM4oc8oL
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbprmF1VMIh
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bRcCr9rUB
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ea4kKJxxA
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMtEkImaaa
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ptQXaYaUy
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslts4cLVIe
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AjWCNO6VW
But there’s one upside. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZm7ej2jKt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8AAWwyxYr
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSnflATXiO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ85ZqeLD5I
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrRcrhSAUF
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOGfAI9luP
I’ll-
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJDwdaizwF
*Knock*421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaVKcg85E8
*Knock*
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdBLJDkLyF
I’m pulled out of the whirlpool inside my mind and go to the door. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonAAYdhBBn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBvmpnKCoa
*Door Open*421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l08emVmpE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xuJhYmc1d
Nao: “Hey Alyson.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZRbMrsT7M
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebKJTPMinv
Alyson: “…This is for you. I…just read mine and I…need some time.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFXbOZCoZK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN5PbTZH81
She hands me a letter addressed to me. Alyson closes the door but I can still hear her quietly sobbing.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBSyFKZKfQ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwetLeSB55h
I open the envelope and immediately know what it is.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bG7csbN4b
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FWLzbqd1x
Nao: “Mom…”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67lV5JCLl0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMuuZAECva
I sit down on my bed and begin reading.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvEGuDcwaC
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBxgPHOk2N
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.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJGluw8M3j
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KHOPsvg1G
Nell: “Alyson might seem all put together but I know she’ll need her brother when she starts to struggle.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG17qewA04
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTaXYpz7rF
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.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSrA8sGq7d
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko09eEMB7Q
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.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNTrx5ZEbo
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuVbbNrJtc
Tears fall onto the paper as I finish her last words.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1jpYALVLd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfj9nlaq4B
Nao: “I’ll try mom…I’ll try.”
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtFE0nTrCZ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sT2L3lIaF
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbgRBALH0o
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhXE8eMs1G
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.
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsI1jwaC2o
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUK3XeTppE
Points: 0421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hw0WompwI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzY9ldx8wV
Nao’s Current Stats and Spells:
Level: 2421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dZ8j7PJ1i
Strength: 27421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFxuIDHQi2
Endurance: 31.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB6yjHg6eK
Intelligence: 23.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7oVS7600v
Charisma: 21.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpXFWhrc50
Agility: 20.5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg6FXQKWfA
Magic: 29421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcji8jvLvM
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44ikDvc6vC
Spells:
Scan [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqHEPdrx7c
Minor Illusion [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwPqnaXVbV
Shape Shift [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSqnYCwGLo
Magic Shield [Active]421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Aw37Ku1zR
然後按「加至主畫面」