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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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Qb1eBrD4
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxXeg56wG3
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSjPfZ0d8f
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGV5hHfmam
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCdkFf6BWV
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“Why are we here?” I asked.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh8JqU4SeV
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJLiT60Myk
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf4aQ36V3T
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I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdjbTC0ukg
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxRc8YO1QE
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu4rtTPRTz
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbu19DQPnL
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWRjqVPZLY
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8AYPo8KUz
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQI1StSkiP
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIGeyfcaPf
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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAve3GAVkqI
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicyrTgZrxp
“It’s okay,” I said.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv19MeSsk6U
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPI5BmITJL
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbrjaSVaB5
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsEdbqJFQp
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HwMc1agwi
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTqknDrZoK
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcObwZbQDaj
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s81bD6dZO
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjVCGUL76z
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDp7QP699R
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFA3fqCiJy
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAehKpSwgSg
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOmObUJgBH
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrlHoPf0QS
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLePdExkkyY
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKblDOEbJCE
I wish I could make them go away.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUOa7cxNai
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Nothing happened.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhtmwNoByH
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZx3OGCSFL
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmL2Cbjw96
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DFKePItON
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobp2AqkRSv
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FoIPtHzpJ
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY3kgaSYt1
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjDeBAgXk2
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXse0LfFNq
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyVCgLeMcP
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zDqyz8Psj
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51V7kSlG4S
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1KuFZTwmR
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sZSma3t9l
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6DXFPPrN5
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJSenYBEXx
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71higMg06g
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlIF1EJmDY
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrM9ldYq4o
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCSWY7SjRK
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDDTOq4At0
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHiXsO8zhu
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgUfbDxxbU
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwtNeLERTd
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUgqbMvymE
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIeIb00O8Q
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0k99aA0CL
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn7CU6ab9v
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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrNeFaiKgQ
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqaKUuSLpG
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaq966f0Qi
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjspTH9HeX
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFzgggqP6w
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX5NzSNuXE
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7bVFaxblD
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8b8yOXiEu
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ6LVQBATY
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cTHxweGov
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwL04KvIBh
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXadkEvEPjt
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2x7wq0Bkg
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvpAIdXVgs
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kHSQU5F8W
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm2wN1xN1U
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmky9m1BSRR
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jIyGkpgLm
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeOUrVjFD3
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkijBQvTXT
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bk5JLwmwv
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“Leave her. She deserves this.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLEpzuYIfO
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNTcEl3Jnj
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTPqwTvRTI
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiCAjzIbjR
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrE5rIVUK7
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10sVXojZFC
So I closed my eyes.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9hFLIt2Ru
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Stay awake, a voice told me.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUad5dqr43f
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87HAnOSRLT
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5K9PB2NTZ
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCXTftehHf
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8cAVEoy3h
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSM7eLVCbf
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAX3aByhno
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ6Dw8PdG0
Luke.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL28H1riEMR
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qufv5l4iw
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qjvAQj5aR
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFo1VSu409
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFtuaIfcXL
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0NkM6YuG0
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Oku0rgIK6
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDu9lKtoyX
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lS4izTkZe
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi5JCzOtHv
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0S4CEYhYr
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaFWWu0BJ5
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3m1QSOwbY
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbraKWUxJ5R
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA6BOxxDZE
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9x8Ield7P
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIw5eFiXrR
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I knew what I had to do.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHVhjECuuv
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp4afYK2Lm
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVjEAMkOng
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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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhpG1EnY7Q
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKEHPbEjl5
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJFAhFXuCB
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEl1GXKJJn
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhciImwmSw
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6xGI8YLqh
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOkm2Xu09A
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqjKuBOJyD
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5RiQIKH3G
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimDW1d8Ojk
More blood.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwhvQmlWTl
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfykcosBpr
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HprchWmlE
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHDRg7rdzh
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmpYCZ8eqG
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw9ZyI23tV
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw6Ftm5C4M
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IFneJDVMu
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlak6O1rNN1
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxorys3fiLG
“Caplan, come here!”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWAYRbpsiQ
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcmVsP3Ihn
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeALUl5asJ
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI0gWWFH2f
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheskp1gjsq
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2WOGsKwMl
Your wish has been granted.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLumLWPuV7f
