Today was supposed to be a good day. We got our magic weapons, Nao’s getting more powerful and project heartbreak seems to be going well.
But of course, I underestimated these creatures. Of course, they would retaliate after Nao dealt with them. I knew I should have brought my shotgun.
“What’s this Polly? You going to shoot us with your toy gun?”
Mat: “Back up dude, I warning you.”
Mat is in front of us with his magic gun aimed at our oppressors. Despite everything, he’s shaking like a leaf and can’t pull the trigger. I hold back the urge to rip the gun out of his hands and do it myself. But…Mat has to be the one to do this, to face his fears.
I have faith in him.
“Or what? You going to pellet us with Styrofoam?”
Mat: “Why wouldn’t you just leave us alone?!”
“Because someone has to pay the price for what Nao did to us. Lucky you!”
*Punch*
Mat: “Gah!”
Valo & Tallow: “Mat!”
“How was that fatty.”
Valo: “Heal.”
*Heal*
Anthony: “No you idiot, don’t waste it on a single punch!”
Valo: “But-”
Anthony: “Fuck it, I’ll do it myself.”
I rush to the gun but get a kick to the face for my troubles.
“No you don’t, we’re not done. I have a lot of stress to get rid of.”
Worthless….
But Mat is not the only one. The bullies descend upon us and I can do nothing to stop them. We fall back on instinct and just try to cover our heads. Doesn’t do much, we still bleed.
Why can’t I be more like Nao? What makes him so different? Oh yeah, of course…luck…
*Kick*
Valo: “Stop already! You’re going too far!”
“Shut up!”
*Kick*
Valo: “GAH!!”
Anthony: “You bastards, leave my friends alo-”
*Punch*
Anthony: “Guh…”
“Would you look at this?”
“Napoleon number 2 wants to get rebellious now?”
“Stay down. We have enough time for all of you.”
They unleash a barrage of brutal kicks and punches upon us for minutes…or was it hours. No matter how much we begged or screamed, it only made them hit harder.
Eventually, only I could stay conscious long enough to see Nao arrive. Even now, he’s the one to come and save us. What use are we? Do we even deserve freedom if we can’t earn it ourselves?
As I see Nao torture those bullies and do what I failed to, I can think of only one thing.
Is he even one of us anymore? He’s taller, more handsome, and can fight evenly with the King.
No…what am I thinking? He’s a friend, our hero, and my inspiration. Those eyes…I want those eyes.
I know he won’t abandon us, eventually…we will have our vengeance.
No…I place the old photo back in my drawer. It’s all in the past.I get ready for school and go downstairs to see Nell cooking. Nell: “Good morning honey.”Alyson: “Good morning Nell. How’s…work?”Nell: “You don’t have to worry about it. We get by and I can handle it.”Alyson: “Why don’t you tell Nao? If all three of us-”Nell: “I’m not blind, I know that there’s something going on with Nao. I don’t know what it is but won’t burden him with this too. I didn’t want to do that to you either but…*smile* you just don’t take no for an answer.”Alyson: “Don’t worry Nell, when I graduate at the top I can help out.”Nell: “You shouldn’t burden yourself Alyson. You should focus on what you want to do with your life, we’ll be fine.”Alyson: “That won’t last forever and besides…it’s the least I can do.”Nell: “Will you…stay for breakfast.”Alyson: “No I…okay.”She beams a tired smile and I return the gesture as best I can. We eat a quick meal together, just the two of us. I don’t know why I don
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.I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head. Nao: “What happens now?”Alyson: “So you’re awake.”!I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed. Nao: “What are you doing here.”Alyson: “Is that a problem?”Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”Alyson: “…”Nao: “…”Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”Nao: “…”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-”Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes. Nao: “What’s with you?”Aly
*Knock**Knock**Door Open*Alyson: “Come in.”I follow Alyson to her room and to the bed. Despite my hesitation, Alyson pulled me to sit with her. A few minutes passed with no words flowing. Only an awkward silence filled the air. Only Alyson would have the strength to break that silence.Alyson: “Your less…animated than usual. Did you have a bad day too?”Nao: “…You can say that.”Alyson: “Do want to talk about it?”Nao: “I came here for you so lets start there.”Alyson: “…Fine, I’ll go first.”Alyson: *Sigh*Alyson: “My brother got into a fight today, a really bad one. It’s partly my fault but I wish he wouldn’t put himself in these situations.”Nao: “You’re fault?”Alyson: “I shouldn’t have put him on the black list at the time. I was mad and…scared of Nao’s aggressive sudden improvement.”Nao: “That’s a…bad thing?”Alyson: “Not entirely but doing that is only going to hurt in the long run. What he’s trying is just not possible.”Why does she keep saying that!Nao: “Why do you say
It’s been 2 days since Nao left school but he left a noticeable impact. Trevor, has been training for the rematch, bullies are a bit scared to approach us, and most importantly…Mat: “Man, Alyson has been out of it these days. Her test scores have taken a nose dive.”Anthony: “Nao is still helping us even while suspended.”Velo: “Yeah, he even infused a shield spell onto this ring I got from a cereal box.”Tallow: “But she’s still among the top 20 students in the school both athletically and academically.”Anthony: “It’s enough, soon someone is going to challenge her place as queen.” Mat: “And when Nao comes back, he’ll take the position of King. After what you told us he was fighting evenly with him. I’m sure after a month of training, he’ll be way stronger.”Anthony: “…We’ll see.”I still remember when we went to see Nao yesterday. The focus, the new power, and improved body…he’s even taller now…Anthony: “Hey guys, do you want to try exercising.”Everyone: “No way.”Mat: “Look at
Tonight, Hillview is getting lucky with a meteor shower. Couples of Hillview, be sure to take advantage of this to-”I change the channel. Why does everything remind me of him? Now I know what Nao felt like back he was rejected for the first time. I shouldn’t have made fun of him, this feels terrible. I look at my phone and the desire to call him consumes me again. No, I’ve called enough. At this point, I’m probably coming off as a stalker. I lost my chance at a love life.Look at me, I can’t even gather the strength to go to school early anymore. But I still have to go. I leave my room and go to the bathroom. At least, I try to but Nao is still inside taking a bath.*Knock**Knock*Alyson: “I still have to go to school Nao, get out already.” *Bathroom door opens*!!Nao: “H-Hey Alyson.”Holy….he…actually looks…hot? How did he get so tall and…well built? I actually have to look up a bit.Nao: “Are you…blushing?”Alyson: “N-No! Your growth spurt just caught me off guard. Out of the w
I say goodbye to my friends and head back to my room. Nao: “Well, that’s all my points gone. Hey Arc, am I ready for virtual reality training level 0?”Arc: “No.”Nao: “Wow, that’s…ridiculous.”Arc: “The function was designed for mages who have transcended peak human levels.”Nao: “I’m…really working up to that point huh? When you say it like that I have to ask what’s even the point of power like that.”Arc: “Don’t remember the shadows?”My heart rate spikes as my mind touches the edges of that memory. Nao: “Y-Yes…but why are they even here? I wish things can go back to normal…kind of.”*Knock**Knock* I go to the door and open it to see Alyson standing at the entrance. She looks a bit…shy.Alyson: “Nao.”Nao: “Alyson.”Alyson: “I can’t be your friend. We’re too different and I don’t expect you to keep this successful run. You should stop before you hurt yourself and disappoint us all.”Nao: “Did you come here to just make me mad?”Alyson: “But! I can be and should’ve been your sis
Nell: “It will be okay….it will be okay.”Nell repeats that through tears but I can’t help but stare down the barrel of those guns. Magic? Murder? It’s all too much to take. What’s even real anymore?Sever: “We got it, move out.”Alyson: “Na-”I try to get up but the rifles move to freeze me in place. Nell: “What are you going to do to my son?”Sever: “…You don’t need to know.”Nell: “…”No…Sever: “Be sure to go to school tomorrow Alyson. We need everything to move as usual. Low suspicion and all that.”I-I’m too scared to move. I couldn’t do anything as Sever dragged Nao out of my life. With a slam of the door, everything starts to settle. A day that was supposed to heal us is instead one where we’re damaged beyond repair. And it’s not even over yet.Alyson: “N-Nell, I need to know what you meant by Nao being a mage.”She’s still holding me in her arms and shaking trying to hold back a flood of tears.Nell: “Alyson…I’ll try to explain. But I don’t know what good it will do….Nao is
…Where…am I? Arc: “Ah, you’re finally awake.”What’s happening? Did the spells stay active? Why am I tied up on this super uncomfortable chair?Arc: “Yes the spell is still active. We’re currently at some kind of warehouse.”Hopefully, it’s not too far from home. *Door Open*Arc: “Keep appearance. Don’t let them know you’re awake yet.”I do what Arc says and keep my head down. I can’t see anything but I can hear it.Sever: “That’s what he said. Maybe you’re just incompetent. I knew keeping alive for something like this would come in handy. If we did what you suggested we would have no leads.”I can feel it too. There’s a movement in the edges of my vision, the shadows shift and squirm in the background.They’re speaking but I can’t understand a word they’re saying. I try to block it out but every time I try, I feel blood flowing out my ears. As if they want me to listen. Fear begins to build inside my throat. The nightmares, the all-consuming void, and burning skin. Breathe.I ste