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.432Please respect copyright.PENANA1MuyjxH4Ef
432Please respect copyright.PENANAPDFSEkhBwZ
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAl446SumBV9
432Please respect copyright.PENANAvsXUWCaO9Z
Nao: “What happens now?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAb8WXGSBjDf
432Please respect copyright.PENANAk1EfjIMlWo
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA3C0dooMCUy
!432Please respect copyright.PENANAG2ihsD9z6x
432Please respect copyright.PENANAedUOLC5XxI
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAT9xEUw95ww
432Please respect copyright.PENANAnCg0lMr4zq
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAzGYw7vEMjy
432Please respect copyright.PENANA9aaWGiBfDE
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA4jVxSrckGl
432Please respect copyright.PENANAHRJCVMyoRm
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA2yrWTqicEM
432Please respect copyright.PENANA9yYDFXhoZb
Alyson: “…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA72zGDtpBre
432Please respect copyright.PENANAv4QAU44UFr
Nao: “…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAQwcTe0jaPq
432Please respect copyright.PENANATD9s0fqdrV
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAZCXzBG9Mpz
432Please respect copyright.PENANAWcmv27o0ao
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAehmOk4jIDv
432Please respect copyright.PENANAYh7TfWT0Rx
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAjUkhHGieMi
432Please respect copyright.PENANA2B27eGTNRw
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAFjLvI19B7y
432Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ4SuLFCJP
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAD1EUyRpWFB
432Please respect copyright.PENANAh8E5CmEFka
Nao: “…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA39lUIPPqbF
432Please respect copyright.PENANAXIM4YxtOiY
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-”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAlWMACzTDov
432Please respect copyright.PENANA2y3UCkvciH
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAhL3awDmFTl
432Please respect copyright.PENANAzh1ZT2Eb9e
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
432Please respect copyright.PENANA7wxToy7bhP
432Please respect copyright.PENANAD8X4WKd4Ga
Nao: “What’s with you?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANALc74r84Wkr
432Please respect copyright.PENANAY6jMUHn8oo
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAMC6Jt4VUTC
432Please respect copyright.PENANAumN2PG4x1N
Nao: “!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAHduO0ZpOgj
432Please respect copyright.PENANAoAOW64nvwL
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA5m4ILcpTLS
432Please respect copyright.PENANAvhYYQ7Z1NS
Nao: “…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA0e8l2WtITe
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”432Please respect copyright.PENANACiUnz6ffK9
432Please respect copyright.PENANAnFChSJqUi1
Tch.432Please respect copyright.PENANAgaSkQ4SHPw
432Please respect copyright.PENANA5mndcEwKop
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAVkklTeoTi7
432Please respect copyright.PENANAaZeMqP99YX
Alyson: “!!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANANjqQvPqsOB
432Please respect copyright.PENANAeilB3bhwsl
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.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANANy0OzDcaFr
432Please respect copyright.PENANAsblD7zSRmB
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANALS7NkOISvK
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAAPjTkhIWBb
432Please respect copyright.PENANAY2wf7omPod
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA81cPjezeLQ
432Please respect copyright.PENANAkG76olmcUV
*Sigh*
432Please respect copyright.PENANAVCliJwrYEy
432Please respect copyright.PENANAwn1yhdqRc1
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”432Please respect copyright.PENANAf7JNOiRfg8
432Please respect copyright.PENANAfIa0YL9UUR
Arc?432Please respect copyright.PENANAymF5iqfXmx
432Please respect copyright.PENANA1EqRRfqbc9
Arc: “Yes?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAoQyWJwmADL
432Please respect copyright.PENANAlyJvTux1cw
How’s my body?
432Please respect copyright.PENANAPyZgPkJ9WE
432Please respect copyright.PENANAGhlLFgzskr
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA3e27gDZ4ez
*Ding*432Please respect copyright.PENANAvKyr0AZckS
432Please respect copyright.PENANALyXe7nChl8
Points: 6432Please respect copyright.PENANA57sVfSiG3o
432Please respect copyright.PENANAbXuQNY8QDD
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAzIs3H3W7sk
432Please respect copyright.PENANAwNYcezmm22
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
432Please respect copyright.PENANA2w1wrpJI1C
432Please respect copyright.PENANAeWXGAKygPb
*Door open*
432Please respect copyright.PENANACSjtk82Wph
432Please respect copyright.PENANABzyCVD78FY
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?
432Please respect copyright.PENANABqR5yO8BDB
432Please respect copyright.PENANAwZEiO7Rokr
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAxzSQO7vSM3
432Please respect copyright.PENANATbcv2FMbWH
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAlQksNHRzsr
432Please respect copyright.PENANAHOsoVWdXPs
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0ovGdURJw
432Please respect copyright.PENANArpxxHXF1K8
Nell: “You promised…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAsGGqKqNJbW
432Please respect copyright.PENANA2sJgu8IlKs
Nao: “Mom I-”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAl0wfC6NQBD
432Please respect copyright.PENANAZbcXEhtd73
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANA9AHdsQ2sq7
432Please respect copyright.PENANA5DavsFjXO6
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAajGIjbTdP1
432Please respect copyright.PENANAMMWP302nNp
Nao: “But-”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA58tqn4O5mT
432Please respect copyright.PENANAfVAPETfJHh
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAY7lVWEFuzr
432Please respect copyright.PENANA8lOSZgsR80
Nao: “!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAQlaNF59IKS
432Please respect copyright.PENANApPfJMGH9gx
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAtBG6rCoDyH
432Please respect copyright.PENANAgKAhiaKY5h
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAJxTUfny7MN
432Please respect copyright.PENANAwGT1JydKCX
Nao: “!!”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4hI8G4Kg7
432Please respect copyright.PENANArU25ikWBWj
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.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAbKkkFoD03t
432Please respect copyright.PENANAFmCVTHqWv1
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAhBwmFYqzRV
432Please respect copyright.PENANAel6gcSuCVz
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
432Please respect copyright.PENANAqmevGIMAKP
432Please respect copyright.PENANAmORRRwqP89
What am I becoming?
432Please respect copyright.PENANAqed1mwll1X
432Please respect copyright.PENANAvSDZolbHwa
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAuaS2wzZVN0
432Please respect copyright.PENANALDMQdLCd5z
W-What?
432Please respect copyright.PENANAf4AzCDnxO3
432Please respect copyright.PENANAacZEKhsUFy
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAXnFp6QgS9W
432Please respect copyright.PENANA8XRKK4PwpQ
Nao: “R-Really?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANApGN8wtEjun
432Please respect copyright.PENANAbR3TitMfyY
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAkDTeuSFRZq
432Please respect copyright.PENANAFGxpE93scI
Nao: “What do you mean?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAXYRL6eIwol
432Please respect copyright.PENANAjzMaEDghkt
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.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANARRZKQP9FBY
432Please respect copyright.PENANAYKWGMVV7Vh
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.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAsSJ26PrwM3
432Please respect copyright.PENANAWMM9cyETmt
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0uqavk0MK
432Please respect copyright.PENANADaAhX4j0Dn
Nao: “*Nod*”
432Please respect copyright.PENANACJgfPxwtal
432Please respect copyright.PENANAGrm0ZQuIZf
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAsUVKSimfpw
432Please respect copyright.PENANAroCE697koA
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAPRimaLghas
432Please respect copyright.PENANApPONDCj2Oa
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAb9fzatDLyu
432Please respect copyright.PENANAZtOJvUBqLe
Nao: “Mom I…”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAmjyElA1AsD
432Please respect copyright.PENANAPQwPegoeTb
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
432Please respect copyright.PENANA0Qe8vXSdKT
432Please respect copyright.PENANAfB0R2Dm6fi
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAkqEY8HujeJ
432Please respect copyright.PENANAopz3sO4kNV
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAylTXa5ZjN3
432Please respect copyright.PENANAxlUCmTN9UD
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANADqKkwcJ9es
432Please respect copyright.PENANAWcdjpb5Ci3
Nao: “I-”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAKStlvS2IU2
432Please respect copyright.PENANA7alm9ZsCxd
Nell: “Promise me.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAtwLS1IZQ0A
432Please respect copyright.PENANA0q1CNfE7O2
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA3a8DoYiJ3z
432Please respect copyright.PENANA67Mkc91DHr
Arc: “What are you doing?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA05QxHxm9Ib
432Please respect copyright.PENANAMfjLBEPhjC
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANASKnbRut85m
432Please respect copyright.PENANAgHDVuudlgb
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAP0DkbB8R9v
432Please respect copyright.PENANADHNwptisGs
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAk0k7BlQjfs
432Please respect copyright.PENANApUntswAvmk
Nell: “O-Okay.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAMLuxvsfIia
432Please respect copyright.PENANA3q63R1nrUS
*Curtains close*
432Please respect copyright.PENANAn2snUvyAXR
432Please respect copyright.PENANAZWttI2RyHu
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANATyQWUKVRXF
432Please respect copyright.PENANAYsdUDSG7G4
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAh3I2Y4ldBN
432Please respect copyright.PENANA5HyPnhisOC
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANA6wQndJtFQv
432Please respect copyright.PENANAfsMFuoRcIZ
Nell: “I…need some time.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAgS42xqwSgi
432Please respect copyright.PENANAMnz9ybTPoh
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
432Please respect copyright.PENANApbPtVuZSLh
432Please respect copyright.PENANASFPNyFFSkI
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAhWpiabCwCw
432Please respect copyright.PENANAkQsqOL5npf
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAbdovYCIVU1
432Please respect copyright.PENANAv3za7qSleT
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAEQC8jAaLS9
432Please respect copyright.PENANAas4aeJjLU2
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANA8oK14c3mPF
432Please respect copyright.PENANAeXM15oi5yR
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAR4idYHttJc
*Ring*432Please respect copyright.PENANADueGhK7JxO
432Please respect copyright.PENANA5dCsyP1jpT
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.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAoEAe30bpbT
432Please respect copyright.PENANAR9rIhmbJ8v
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAJLyhcK9wrD
432Please respect copyright.PENANAxAvVTB0CCf
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAD9GigIOvQR
432Please respect copyright.PENANAIstEeHylbQ
…Are you serious?
432Please respect copyright.PENANAbSzmuDQtbp
432Please respect copyright.PENANAqTWJSX3w3y
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAbALmknaKg2
432Please respect copyright.PENANAVEWI1Srxr8
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANA9JehzZGj7D
432Please respect copyright.PENANABNUS3eRS37
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAHMrjhkEjWL
432Please respect copyright.PENANA3iQTO7Wudp
Nao: “Happy to help
432Please respect copyright.PENANAsK6yRih7BO
432Please respect copyright.PENANAv7f2eT91WZ
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAwwS4euhgFo
432Please respect copyright.PENANABWddY82jYe
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAi1m6pilSUT
432Please respect copyright.PENANACWB4ZgGWjj
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAdcI9PTyRoM
432Please respect copyright.PENANABivIbbd9zl
Nao: “…Same.”
432Please respect copyright.PENANAZqWvKVNRp1
432Please respect copyright.PENANAxLEj7o6gae
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
432Please respect copyright.PENANAy5YYD356DS
432Please respect copyright.PENANAb34fpDnEVR
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.432Please respect copyright.PENANApHe5iH1GvB