This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.434Please respect copyright.PENANA222UTT99ng
434Please respect copyright.PENANAH37oA0Vd3H
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAbzFAj8Hn07
434Please respect copyright.PENANAAajndPNOAt
Nao: “What happens now?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAQEd9asXFhv
434Please respect copyright.PENANAsTVWWbs2Zy
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAqtKwaqbaBJ
!434Please respect copyright.PENANACCzq5FRCrE
434Please respect copyright.PENANAizi3lRqY9P
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAGo5KnOQKYU
434Please respect copyright.PENANA1Is1pLugGO
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAhD5GzkFBz3
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkogdISshbH
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAk9BstqXdwa
434Please respect copyright.PENANAbX5U4YzsdG
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAupEyoj0whc
434Please respect copyright.PENANAELK8o4oFxI
Alyson: “…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAr6BcxolrB6
434Please respect copyright.PENANAYatepT8cDr
Nao: “…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAjUKveXbyA5
434Please respect copyright.PENANAHBf2KGJDeT
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA4ktAdndkPQ
434Please respect copyright.PENANAfWONOA809t
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAVRSjPrT9lY
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkteLuUxS0f
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAsKVJeXvkBL
434Please respect copyright.PENANA4A7D7BJXuD
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANArIQljJgnLp
434Please respect copyright.PENANAueK93Cf06s
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAcxcXxgLwMA
434Please respect copyright.PENANAmwmNTLs3mI
Nao: “…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAczVRJAJtVC
434Please respect copyright.PENANAo7JnOmb3sc
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA34PIN5WELw
434Please respect copyright.PENANAlsKimBeCvl
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAtxpE0bWTRQ
434Please respect copyright.PENANA8NFOicuWJb
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkjWWKPss8t
434Please respect copyright.PENANA3fuf5eIJ1T
Nao: “What’s with you?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANArbQzkldBwD
434Please respect copyright.PENANArJuksP0Bj0
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANARQ5v6rBQ5k
434Please respect copyright.PENANAyIjUhuYLlQ
Nao: “!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAQIChjgFY7Y
434Please respect copyright.PENANAHwMgKAiJP2
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAOyPYpHz466
434Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZuMO6kjla
Nao: “…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAD2Qff41GwZ
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”434Please respect copyright.PENANA44nyOs4HPN
434Please respect copyright.PENANAgCv2nKyJIm
Tch.434Please respect copyright.PENANA4WK4ND7q2M
434Please respect copyright.PENANAaf8oxPYnNh
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAIE1iDgojAO
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnhaMfQvbaQ
Alyson: “!!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAdsaRp4jZ74
434Please respect copyright.PENANAGMLXoDOIgQ
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAHZcGZjNS15
434Please respect copyright.PENANA3ptHEPDGAe
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAtRcbayscLz
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAivjdz9Qmj8
434Please respect copyright.PENANAdZ2giWCR0J
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANArnMU0tLic6
434Please respect copyright.PENANADSeYk5QQGD
*Sigh*
434Please respect copyright.PENANA4j0iXnHgxq
434Please respect copyright.PENANAlRGabvERZF
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”434Please respect copyright.PENANA0FlN47t0op
434Please respect copyright.PENANANRmb22yxxV
Arc?434Please respect copyright.PENANA70vjBNxUjQ
434Please respect copyright.PENANALNEMVcwh3f
Arc: “Yes?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnZHODcvL0B
434Please respect copyright.PENANAHrDKvV1yNo
How’s my body?
434Please respect copyright.PENANA4OYSZcQ128
434Please respect copyright.PENANAAaMz4rKbfs
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA70vzo4fLVw
*Ding*434Please respect copyright.PENANAjIY6GPFvMv
434Please respect copyright.PENANAeuypJVi4DR
Points: 6434Please respect copyright.PENANA7T9imtzk6t
434Please respect copyright.PENANA7PPqwajkbT
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAYWrMPbyDKC
434Please respect copyright.PENANAWgSxuggAy3
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAs9SVuN5GU4
434Please respect copyright.PENANAhzAmeM2xbz
*Door open*
434Please respect copyright.PENANA30apOKUuRd
434Please respect copyright.PENANAfbC0VZIrfy
I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
434Please respect copyright.PENANA3djrl81z76
434Please respect copyright.PENANATpDxoINZWF
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAJgjt9L6nQw
434Please respect copyright.PENANANAPghR7Ptw
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ciiq6VNsS
434Please respect copyright.PENANAwKlPBf240e
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAqVmpWUkzvc
434Please respect copyright.PENANAulTCpT9iSQ
Nell: “You promised…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA3FsXY3Shqv
434Please respect copyright.PENANARLlSZ44JWk
Nao: “Mom I-”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAvscg8efoJ5
434Please respect copyright.PENANAfeRqmhAiol
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAecap45sXlz
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnWXLlHugiN
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANArp4kM7qNIT
434Please respect copyright.PENANAiXXQoISL4B
Nao: “But-”
434Please respect copyright.PENANACvWJHHDb16
434Please respect copyright.PENANAeO2InXJxr8
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAFMnrDmP8w3
434Please respect copyright.PENANAaVtQhvH2j1
Nao: “!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA3KS8KShsVX
434Please respect copyright.PENANAmsuHw8gtS0
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAMelYIaKuVe
434Please respect copyright.PENANAhGnJPdf4mG
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAgfTBoss5jc
434Please respect copyright.PENANAj9KWd2O0sv
Nao: “!!”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkhdsIMPuLv
434Please respect copyright.PENANA0v4WGSpcQc
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAby3gkO80PF
434Please respect copyright.PENANAvTFdEUl315
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAc86D0Oa0Rd
434Please respect copyright.PENANAHTOl4yRO80
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
434Please respect copyright.PENANAAJn72OmCZB
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkWsWGTs8SC
What am I becoming?
434Please respect copyright.PENANAi9r2HTAZs6
434Please respect copyright.PENANAMCGsbyE7x9
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAbTUiEu2ZgK
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnYjtbVJley
W-What?
434Please respect copyright.PENANAzovcene0uP
434Please respect copyright.PENANAo77pnHLLNR
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAbLOvubgBHA
434Please respect copyright.PENANAotnZohmlyk
Nao: “R-Really?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAmegmnUznjh
434Please respect copyright.PENANAbDlU11QIeE
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAeccvuJ4l8M
434Please respect copyright.PENANAf8xHlKS2ws
Nao: “What do you mean?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAdjiePGyE09
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnKnLBK3XKr
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAKXqGGBweIq
434Please respect copyright.PENANAn1NxFKa7vI
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5pnsZCYJjY
434Please respect copyright.PENANAuljkjfjKxV
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAw0Xe1uOMSp
434Please respect copyright.PENANAJkbrcIxWK1
Nao: “*Nod*”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAVoszWdZDQd
434Please respect copyright.PENANAWXQgIw4hPP
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAP10Qy3gIL5
434Please respect copyright.PENANA8CONyQQ7Nm
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAKonGSBS87T
434Please respect copyright.PENANAk95ubbAfLc
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAhcGzu5Bo3z
434Please respect copyright.PENANAy4i38CyIG1
Nao: “Mom I…”
434Please respect copyright.PENANABsk6XmzcW4
434Please respect copyright.PENANA1rjW9H01tg
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnDvmrvcfzG
434Please respect copyright.PENANA6pbLTJXd3y
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAU7VxZY4Lru
434Please respect copyright.PENANAEiW2cLlVdC
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAYFy06h2BLQ
434Please respect copyright.PENANAWyaCxBiyP6
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5vV0PTABAF
434Please respect copyright.PENANARuB6824PZb
Nao: “I-”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAl0LEBMeq7J
434Please respect copyright.PENANAscalUTJ9i6
Nell: “Promise me.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAAw7pCikHwn
434Please respect copyright.PENANA4X2YkAuw8v
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAY7otZx4Zu1
434Please respect copyright.PENANALTxKFaZSX9
Arc: “What are you doing?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANADlocg4lhNs
434Please respect copyright.PENANAO15pq1D6fw
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAV6MV9xVM4H
434Please respect copyright.PENANAVF0huPDOWK
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAinkr7oG3S7
434Please respect copyright.PENANAWtHaeHOfuB
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAM1XYb4POOw
434Please respect copyright.PENANARAr5O91S3t
Nell: “O-Okay.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAnQOdKq0QDH
434Please respect copyright.PENANAsrfh3mNsCl
*Curtains close*
434Please respect copyright.PENANA1TZYA4BF2Q
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5KStNErqu7
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
434Please respect copyright.PENANALifMzMZdN0
434Please respect copyright.PENANArHREu0IxHZ
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANA9lIk5pXzRP
434Please respect copyright.PENANArLDDo78XlT
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAZTmbvgCLOc
434Please respect copyright.PENANA7Mza8dtiyb
Nell: “I…need some time.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAoz3tQr1GD4
434Please respect copyright.PENANAzU8ONyjkyV
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAWWgY8JHfG2
434Please respect copyright.PENANAqH52ifJABQ
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAT5Zc8w9LX2
434Please respect copyright.PENANAspdRAwKphU
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAg7rIUtXbS3
434Please respect copyright.PENANA7oCaA9c8Fe
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAD6LCHaSx31
434Please respect copyright.PENANA4TE7vfacGO
In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAT1ObxoSRbc
434Please respect copyright.PENANArmfSWtnthL
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
434Please respect copyright.PENANAo7sZceXmxf
*Ring*434Please respect copyright.PENANA4GO4l5rUl0
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5YscsdSq3m
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
434Please respect copyright.PENANALUoAvdC7nF
434Please respect copyright.PENANAe0eYV8Bdx4
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
434Please respect copyright.PENANABERDwgGO9A
434Please respect copyright.PENANAcIG3gjRAIK
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAZRC4LqpDf8
434Please respect copyright.PENANAdoKINaU88a
…Are you serious?
434Please respect copyright.PENANAL1EgPe9Qq2
434Please respect copyright.PENANAOdmUuDrNdA
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAcyHQKzcgt0
434Please respect copyright.PENANAKQapU08Cno
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAASiE9g9d0y
434Please respect copyright.PENANAhvJ8xM531m
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5Is6vyQsFe
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkFDxL79iAo
Nao: “Happy to help
434Please respect copyright.PENANAy6EUIQN0bv
434Please respect copyright.PENANAFeIiHmvC9K
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAyEnu0HitYy
434Please respect copyright.PENANAFL6A6fGpJs
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAXX93dMqED8
434Please respect copyright.PENANAfXzbryl4W0
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANAFZGwgd7ww6
434Please respect copyright.PENANAA8fYJx3EW7
Nao: “…Same.”
434Please respect copyright.PENANASJf2cmqgxk
434Please respect copyright.PENANAkVR11hRHWa
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
434Please respect copyright.PENANA5hMHv7TPCD
434Please respect copyright.PENANAbBvV48wQa5
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.434Please respect copyright.PENANAoFqAjkSTiB