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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDe29aOKXA
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcknQP3xRoA
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz3KLGmtU5
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“Why are we here?” I asked.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT1gOSFN6D
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“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.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2WqhT1Z3D
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I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzqg4QvTMj
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9cYdpjezv
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9l1L2cz8H
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“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkksWoAarm
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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.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlOCrSOhjI
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“It’s okay,” I said.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP0iNtsszz
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I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeERI9bxlUp
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf0NJ1sw9u
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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg6FgOVqwL
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Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxsrB0UMfB
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGJ250GwX0
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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnjvK6KyQn
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“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLptNudYyA3
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“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs39G1Xu86
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2TIBcPoaX
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I wish I could make them go away.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmj2aRoc84
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Nothing happened.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QXsIiXAQS
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I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDEjFfTDKV
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“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxEJ6t45wq
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I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG041HlfF1
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He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rKZHjYmex
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBIFwqG0MT
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“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXGl7WM7R0
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I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE53oiqeAl
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“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKA6a8tyMT
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“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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEevbZKSfO
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYC061gxic
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“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.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb99qpjH8ik
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I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcVOBKqSE0
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“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4Y17y2oJQ
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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.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluggNkBQeG
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He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv0zIIWLqn
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllENIzl1ub
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sdtlhHghK
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“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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA7FFaDUdy
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRiRqblD2U
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“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODCpVFQhnP
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zNBCJVPU3
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“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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlANJ7ideZ
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK8G00Ug9c
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WZdjOh2qj
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“Leave her. She deserves this.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OjRMI2FgB
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGKT3jSVyA
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ddbPN1zTo
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So I closed my eyes.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVcf2WOCP6
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Stay awake, a voice told me.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90Zc2YVFr1
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeNQafNX7O
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“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUo9H7m7m1
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Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzqAhp6l1P
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdpxO1l7Wo
Luke.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur1SbM0UW2
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUA8cd8wzP
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“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP0dfiZn1B
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzSWJVYsWv
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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aJQzSz9Yy
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“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWGYOhcTTW
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Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LImpPwMEU
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“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTzBpPQFGP
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdTl8xIgXZ
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6EyKPXTrk
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“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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4JExFqj4h
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I knew what I had to do.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGk1zBrWjH
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC51tDdAKb
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5PY80iTIC
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“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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAG3yEP0sO
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“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv8VbQY6AG
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He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YpcWneFN4
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More blood.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1tpNOy5fL
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Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEbzB3pqKf
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“Where are the bodies?” he asked.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0YeT0WGdZ
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The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFGkYt1NIn
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkOzaQvWOU
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ2GehN9mY
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG9MjRXwvB
“Caplan, come here!”615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRvBjQ20r4
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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.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MjRZgeg9V
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWO6qcy9sk
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YWCwjsCb3
615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZZfmCIPIi
Your wish has been granted.615Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMcRRmWDzS
