543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LL3qcmViO
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfif0S7O7Kc
He drove us to the abandoned house. When we got out, I looked around. The house sat in the middle of the woods. If that wasn’t creepy enough, it was literally falling apart right in front of us. It looked dangerous.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij8y6ruIDD
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtRGYHlVWY
Luke had invited me to a party. He knew I hated parties, but I went anyway. And then, on the way, he told me he wanted to show me something. So here we were, standing in front of this morbid looking, broken thing.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsziPPs20JM
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqydk71a6Bg
The air was cold, so I pulled my jacket tighter around me. I saw Luke glance at me, and he almost moved toward me, but I stopped him.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK1YAzpZ8K
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthNRzlYeG5
“Why are we here?” I asked.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2m0N5BCWQ
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEwHyt7m6q
“My friend said there was something amazing inside,” Luke said excitedly. “I don’t really know what it is, because what could be in there? It’s a shithole.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALuRmkmRlR
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wWJ8fnauL
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnzJwS5ggN
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEHsILE7JI
Luke grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me into the house. It was one story and it looked like kids had been coming here and using things to break it down faster, like it was infected and needed to be dealt with.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4jKjmT401
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UjlV7Ydl0
I moved toward one of the closed doors, expecting it to be locked, or have spider webs all over it. Once I opened it, I could smell something so strong that it made my stomach twist.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi899xzTaY
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c0qyUB2od
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77hRXRUAvl
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOubKq9z151
Luke came up behind me, his face screwed up in revulsion. “I have no idea.” He squeezed his brown eyes shut and shook his head. “It’s disgusting. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have brought you here.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFY6TfajvV
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZJAo7HOJY
“It’s okay,” I said.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLf6oPxi9j
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6atSUVjUu3
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMs5Bz7xNw
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyareLxkWjc
I followed his voice, and it wasn’t that far away, only in another part of the house. It looked like an old game room. But there was only one thing in it, and it was pushed in the corner, a sheet over it.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFnjr1LwKN
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac5gzwCdnY
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9NjC4kT2Y
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFt4aTJAbk
It was a large, fortune-telling wishing machine booth. The woman inside the glass had a head decoration that looked like little coins, and little stars dangled from them. She was bent over a crystal ball, her eyes looking ominously at anyone who passed her. She wanted them to succumb and make a wish.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnSSp5UfMg
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngx7ZXGrDT
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlG6ip2PGT
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0n8r0wEaT
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuugStOtunn
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii54OgiTan
But, even as I said it, I was thinking of something. I know if I made the wish in front of Luke, he’d just think I was insane.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyMtbjJPvA
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f8jPVkJFM
I wish I could make them go away.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtX8qyQPhY
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI0X8cxhmI
Nothing happened.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hdv6NDUu2
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaIDaCc3he
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZnlFJjDAS
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR3pvDd1Tk
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWQ613Y0sH
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThnOtETgKh
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iJCYT1GCr
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmMz61JSiw
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPndvsBWuA
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xDdy1Bz71
I walked away from him and back outside. I waited by the car until he came back. I didn’t really speak much until we got to the party. It was a Halloween party. People in costumes were everywhere, and as I got out of the car, some girls shot me glares.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ7Zt3YEy3
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbW83Xtoxe
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmprkvEVQCT
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IfrQqyVGN
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1haobAFIb
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gDsysDy16
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelSRhq6TGL
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7SUahhwo9
“They took too many shots at you,” a voice said from behind me. I was going to turn around and tear their face off, but then I realized their comment was toward Miranda.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdQI9bzQYT
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4C9uzfhZp
The boy stepped around me and turned to gaze at my face. His black hair was slightly curly, and his eyes were the greenest I’d ever seen. He smiled, and then returned his attention to the girls.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GYZXve3Ao
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQa0p4Apvl
“It’s a shame that such pretty girls have to be such bitches,” he told them. “Lily, you should realize how much it hurts to be called ugly. Trevor told me about what happened last year. And Miranda, well, I really have no idea what your issue is.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2d1i4x22m
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kFRo4Pifc
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeRv3Zskac
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihaWU6pnZL
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvXUTi5fAz
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDguUXsxqa
I glanced at Trevor, who was dressed as Dracula and chugging a beer. I looked back at Saxon. “I didn’t think he’d even have a nice relative.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQKq8uJmlg
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJu4w66IGG
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTkyl5wkG4
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6PdNl9pbO
I smiled and when he asked if he could get me a drink, I said I would do it. I got into the house quickly, looking for Luke the whole time. When I didn’t see him, I headed to the kitchen. Before I got there, however, someone blocked my path.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNF2IGHlay
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTlmkzeAUz
It was Lily. She sneered at me, gripped my wrist, and pulled me I into the bathroom. Miranda was there with two other girls I didn’t know. I jerked away from Lily and headed toward the door. One of the girls, who was much bigger than me, blocked it.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODGQFX0QbY
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z4mpBrkB2
“You know, I didn’t know you were a slut, too.” Lily smiled, wrapped her hands in my hair, and slammed my face into the wall.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5y1CBnyN6
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU4DqDOR5T
It hurt, but I didn’t make a noise, because I knew with bullies it’s what they wanted. Instead I turned around, flexed my jaw, and glared at her.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodjiWl8Db8
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49XbknTqWA
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9cGsE5up0
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRWL1cMBjb
Lily nodded to the other girls and they gripped my arms. Then Miranda’s fist collided with my nose. Blood poured down my face, into my mouth, and onto the floor. Stupidly, I spit some into her face.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPchW5ltnR
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac0s45uSt4
“You’re sleeping with Saxon,” Lily snapped. “It’s bullshit that you just met him.” When she slapped me, my head actually snapped to the side.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG1u6aNEIC
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQTbhdkx5O
Someone was trying to get into the room, but Miranda placed a chair under the knob and leaned it back. I didn’t understand why there was a chair in the bathroom, at least not a first.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr7AzoF7TL
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbODIcT3Tf
But as Lily pummeled me, and I took every hit, I realized they had this planned. When my knees buckled and I started to sink onto the floor, I heard someone speak.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1cT79bBKQ
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY4b9j9Y7l
“Leave her. She deserves this.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrevUmjMxb
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6SSCsUQz6
I don’t know how long I was on the floor for, but when I opened my eyes, I was in darkness. There was no movement, so I assumed they left. I tried to sit up, and when I couldn’t, I just laid on the tiles, aching.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHTxBHerf1
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs29ikK6sg6
Suddenly, the lights came on, blinding me. Then someone screamed and dropped down next to me. They were saying something, but I couldn’t really focus on the words. Their hands were soft, and they made me want to sleep.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64wCZKn6hX
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNJXcEEUWi
So I closed my eyes.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVRXeG3R9G
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqfi2WaBqa
Stay awake, a voice told me.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP25fDcmPry
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWWnqfd8q4
But I was so tired. Before I knew what was happening, I was floating. That felt nice. When it stopped, I wondered why. Then I knew. I had died. They had beaten me to death.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneQ28q589d
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdG0EIkdRe
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3gpSLvUrN
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBF1tn3VZw
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9VQj65QPc
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28qnHg94v5
Luke.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0gBrwiRCe
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwonhCUBpy
I groaned and sat up, bringing my hands up to my face. “Who are you?” I asked to the stranger. I didn’t want to open my eyes.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV4XIv23kM
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlGcEyP9wq
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQF9bLc3iE
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFZaqwUlLl
I opened my eyes and was grateful to see his green ones. I was slowly getting strength back. So much so that I was able to sit up. I was in a bedroom, probably somewhere upstairs, away from people.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvboTa5aRWJ
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpkspjpSDK
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdz7lASQGc
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglLrihWGhs
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7yoEwbjME
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf19LGSggm
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiWKYubQP4
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy9Vt12MEr
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm3xszx8IQ
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRFfKkEo9v
“It’s okay,” I said, realization dawning on me. “I’ll fix everything.” I stood up, and without a word to him, left the room.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz1D5T6fj1
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToNKTFrhSs
I knew what I had to do.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmSbxvaUuI
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NrN0kCIvl
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ613PXMWqTh
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM6eqek3ZQ
Sirens wailed. Three or four parked on the lawn. Doors slammed and several of the occupants of the cars rushed over. All of the officers had their guns drawn. Two, a female and male, entered the house. There were no lights on, so they used their flashlights.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLPqhgZUk9
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCHqxy5E7q
They didn’t have to look far, because sitting on the couch was a girl. She had a knife in her hand, and it was covered in blood. But the worst part? The absolute worst part was that the blood was not hers.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9xMitEpiq
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNItcB4DZDj
“What happened here? Miss, can you hear me?” The male officer asked, crouching down. He placed his hand on the coffee table to his left to balance him and keep the flashlight on the girl’s face, which was blank.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcnc042Klz
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQXKXwIOa7
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64X26QIM6O
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTsoESsjls
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT6mHmvIbT
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyQ8itYLjw
More blood.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMmtEzF6NO
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1iNaF6Nxi
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wLqAjNIPD
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAon4wa0wp0
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNDU3IuYz7
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XEMeqYlX3
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxN9d4V5CU
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiBCgVtki0
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5ux1lPvpu
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cQhrnUAbi
“Caplan, come here!”543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSo7QnvQJr
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXs2UiPJKwF
The female officer approached them, and she knelt down on the girls other side. She reached with a glove-covered hand and dug through the girl’s pocket for identification. She found something else instead.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss700vZKap
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xzbng8SqW
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFhSmMPtHt
543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNBzS3npRu
Your wish has been granted.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPBFVjSC57
