528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxD4VPv9jN
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVIfquFVuu
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88zS6aybbf
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1lx3KUUmk
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzluAEMZUWo
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI2o8DVtAw
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN2r7cUCWJ
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“Why are we here?” I asked.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEQALSOlI4
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5F972Kaap
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ3yiWZg60
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuNEzl23S3
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylkYR1euev
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtrjvymWxc
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQayE3RpLV
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxbihr0Jhq
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkGDiQHqE6
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQNFcJECLK
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLQTrW5b50
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaEYrOxb71
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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkivL1qSkiG
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0G7hgHEVe
“It’s okay,” I said.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxrdCHRqba
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVJJ5bhQJg
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTH5n2snGa
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv9DubNz2V
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAWtSw1BcI
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH6OhP7Ydu
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoYjWWMiNb
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCs85mK9PU
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkEJS0uy4U
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZZ28Cow2s
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SrL855xdp
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBB0VVBdW4G
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fIUWWtZrE
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6eHH8BTwO
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxcXafzIz6
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOhWKpQb0c
I wish I could make them go away.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro4UjcvTJl
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZA1EifaVD
Nothing happened.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjaDv9rYT7
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmUjvqdKQ4
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp2URC7pAY
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSzMLiQTWS
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUpLLD0psV
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYskMJ8hU4
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gH34Naurq
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXnc6Af1rq
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoaNl36dKz
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25LtRUeyiP
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaZ7EBwI8d
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYptT92aH5
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndq6spoabZ
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8TEun5c52
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FEj65a29q
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwA7LmuOnH
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD0YgfZKME
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHMcqarLla
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsPA4weZ48
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7MXxOcskV
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvwPrKSGMA
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNLYRP43NR
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfRe9X2gqV
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs7DRplxdp
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVneMHIHaN
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF5pF2lyJZ
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yAzr0v5O7
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qnmx8tvmI
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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZxKrHzDHl
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hRfHUI1lH
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAEzBpJ0cX
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvxGjzQSFQ
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdg9qHv6TD
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfu3ipcy9V
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiPgW8jp5Q
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchZKoheLqL
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtazuBsCqlS
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhZdpNBqFs
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJblz66lY5S
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCre1Y8hIWk
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Pa3Gu7L5e
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzCpCUcsc4
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t5HiApt7B
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOYw2RFuAU
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLyzcNMKyc
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuWxE7nBlF
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxHbE8hUKQ
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBkbHIRnGr
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu69EKgblqq
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LZWJ5ZJPB
“Leave her. She deserves this.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS5WgURx3E
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6QaSdoyp4
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5HVJk9Uv7
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22xZCdZVfX
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n5y6M3YJD
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawJnRuwlgz
So I closed my eyes.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn9Gj0BBTS
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Stay awake, a voice told me.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Epp3rrbO
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeWEQ7q88Z
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpp3kSUGaS
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJx8u3XGar
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIHdMdAgTr
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRy3WgYU1H
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ylL6jjvat
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelTkjQR3oc
Luke.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceccqq8Hza
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqjEWKHAyh
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb0DuygSqu
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTgmWmDHbS
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjghpdveau
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlHq0W5MuN
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh67revkwY
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5CSti2iml
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5CUk0bNMf
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdx4pdLKu9
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMsWZiE9zf
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0jHlQeHW3
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTmrC1VAPJ
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofWUOOMk46
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkxx1UeeAN
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MRIlezxUk
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0xQlpROlk
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I knew what I had to do.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v3yQ8zJZH
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528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHsMkcTP60
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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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyu2XuAGuk
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeWClgBJzt
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK4Un0FU6D
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx4ZGHYXm8
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAHMCkwAXG
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqg1V4Z9ip
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2gGKvxz12
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl3EAErKey
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8V0NSkRX0
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP7Q3uV4Dy
More blood.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUH8kgLxtx
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVUvdFPC9T
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMpPX8PbGr
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLoYBzoNsh
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQTCdKXMmI
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1sD3IxIRy
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73fkHYIxXO
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAalYzSuP8
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImKJsUFUhd
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh0R7FTBke
“Caplan, come here!”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCceXJhK7r
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLbTHLCXcn
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eKiuwgK2w
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBPnqjMLKa
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX9G8BOi3C
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuaiGqLX0M
Your wish has been granted.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9AhdAkAyU
