“It’s just a prank bro.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAskfVvhrnNA
“Don’t you think you pushed a bit far back there?”449Please respect copyright.PENANA4Vuxv638ZC
449Please respect copyright.PENANA9DrIYNsOHx
“No way, you just don’t know the joys of a good prank yet.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAFH6TcjsdBv
“Maybe…”449Please respect copyright.PENANAghoVbz30ot
449Please respect copyright.PENANAfNcGgZsLFm
Me and my best friend Will walked down the street from school to our homes. He just got done with detention after pranking our homeroom teacher with something…obscene.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAEOH1NbdjKh
“Come on, we’re not in kindergarten anymore. I had to up my game and it’s time for you to get your feet wet too. Like how I got my-”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAyOeKeCKAk0
“I get it, don’t remind me of what you did.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAWFgZaWfcJO
“Man, the look on her face when I told her. Hahaha, I’ll never let her live that down. Detention is worth it.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANA51Xq7EObZt
I shake my head at Will’s laughter. Still, I always respect how he lived his life. Maybe, I can have that freedom and courage too…449Please respect copyright.PENANAxBvtgfCko3
449Please respect copyright.PENANAbT2edLmtWC
“Would you look at that, I think I’ve come up with the perfect initiation for you.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAl6ZwRQe7Ar
449Please respect copyright.PENANAJxEQm1ullI
Will points to the nearby police station. The newly built police station.
449Please respect copyright.PENANADhEfygI00s
“Look at those blue jackets coming into our neighborhood like they own the place. I think it’s time for a little fun, would do them some good.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAnzXUg7Rp6A
449Please respect copyright.PENANALll5XjsacM
“You can’t mean-”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAsmqnxIEwCh
“Relax Tim, it’s just a normal prank call. Every prankster has done this at least once.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAdEb3BMfWBE
“O-Oh, okay. I thought-”449Please respect copyright.PENANA4dZVMZSglz
449Please respect copyright.PENANAgn47qRuYNK
“I’m not going to ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAOg63UZnpM7
“I don’t know…”449Please respect copyright.PENANA4C3v1BVUiI
449Please respect copyright.PENANAcqcGvhKaW7
“Here’s a little incentive.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6iwH5k3CS
449Please respect copyright.PENANATbboEqmX87
“!!”449Please respect copyright.PENANA7IlNt3BUnh
449Please respect copyright.PENANA9mO2ARpNWt
“This is your allowance?!”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAKwqm3vCrrW
“Just half of it for now.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAlr3b6Lf74t
449Please respect copyright.PENANAquOZCBmCaG
“But why?”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAV1NtksiIPl
“Because you’re best friend and I can’t wait to have you next to me on my next prank. I have faith that you will succeed. After that, you get the rest of it.”449Please respect copyright.PENANALvTC7N0ALV
449Please respect copyright.PENANAWoD8BsPKp3
Will beams me a warm smile that blows away all my doubts. I couldn’t help but smile too. He really is a great friend.449Please respect copyright.PENANAzj4Gvj3QTu
449Please respect copyright.PENANAINBy9SYj7I
“Okay, I won’t let you down. What should I prank call them about.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANA6B8Djl2qsS
“I don’t know, it’s up to you. Oh! How about telling them that your parents have been replaced by monsters and they’re coming to get you. You sometimes complain about how your parents are on you to succeed, this is a great way to get back at them.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAahittx94o8
449Please respect copyright.PENANAfNhZhNjTou
“Y-Your right!”449Please respect copyright.PENANAOHDxcW9CaK
449Please respect copyright.PENANA7kOvTRIeUQ
“Yeah, two pranks for the price of one!”449Please respect copyright.PENANA1755MNQLgt
449Please respect copyright.PENANA0HPQYZgWzQ
“Okay, I will do it. Tomorrow, I’ll be a prankster just like you.”449Please respect copyright.PENANA9rfcFf5og1
449Please respect copyright.PENANARSZkOqKKVG
“That’s the spirit.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANADmYiELKLse
We came to the intersection while talking, almost passed it. My house is to the left and he’s on the right.449Please respect copyright.PENANANnv4xroEPJ
449Please respect copyright.PENANAIEWDicFwsc
“See you tomorrow Will.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAfMYA3OdeDW
449Please respect copyright.PENANASJK4WPNwpX
“Yeah, good luck on the prank call.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAfMMFWVhzz2
449Please respect copyright.PENANAt4dj1XDn06
I wave to my best friend and breath in some of his courage. Time to do something I can be proud of.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAOJfqoVlWDU
After a couple of minutes, I make it to my home in the area. Surrounded by hundreds of other identical wooden squares painted white. I walk through the front door and lay my book bag on the ground.449Please respect copyright.PENANA33OWv3Rrve
449Please respect copyright.PENANAN8IZhjqhnz
“I’m home!”449Please respect copyright.PENANAPIk0lWhiwm
449Please respect copyright.PENANA3iMYwVJQ6f
…449Please respect copyright.PENANAIqab9VqwJZ
449Please respect copyright.PENANAv5Mt9r0jHH
“Of course, my mistake.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAej1ETJ6pLS
449Please respect copyright.PENANA4yG5yD7fa6
They’re never home to greet me anymore. I pick my stuff up and drag myself to my room.449Please respect copyright.PENANAx0iuuZYNnF
449Please respect copyright.PENANAoBFrWJJf9A
I throw my book bag onto my makeshift bed on the floor. I remember all the times they promised to make life better for us, only for them to waste the money on stupid stuff. I work so hard at school like they demand and for what!? I can’t even sleep on a proper mattress.
449Please respect copyright.PENANATtHMWXrAOd
No more. Time to give them a small taste of their own medicine. I pick up my phone and dial 991. 449Please respect copyright.PENANAWULP7mi9OL
449Please respect copyright.PENANAEcy0ahAVQp
At every ring, my heart pounds faster but I can’t stop now. I breathe in and out, preparing to put on the show of a lifetime. Will is going to be so proud of me.449Please respect copyright.PENANAuXVEUdN41o
449Please respect copyright.PENANAGuGf2vxLDY
“911, what’s your emergency.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAUG7ZUIx2So
449Please respect copyright.PENANA7UXtrq1A72
“M-Mom….D-Dad, they-”449Please respect copyright.PENANALmncLZjWdu
449Please respect copyright.PENANAtbtxgCzvyH
I try my best to sound like I’m crying, throwing some sniffing for good measure.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAPysqfKxjcM
“Calm down, what happened?”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAw6oP2UKPT3
“I don’t know…one day they were fine and the next they were…different. Last night I saw them…doing things to animal meat and weird things in their bedroom.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAMkagChTHDq
“I…think they might be monsters in disguise. I’m scared, they might know I’m trying to get help. Please come quick!”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAuyAbZuPHdS
“….”449Please respect copyright.PENANAJPIVSHB6tL
449Please respect copyright.PENANAeZRO8z9WdP
A long silence engulfed the room. Darn it, I guess the gig is up. They didn’t even laugh, whatever. Time to end it I guess.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAETKPu8qReL
“Got yo-”449Please respect copyright.PENANA1p5LKFw2mK
449Please respect copyright.PENANAWOMlkBb1UR
“What’s your address?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAJ98IwJWlgp
449Please respect copyright.PENANAdJp4nQTeyw
“E-Excuse me?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAudhfvqz6Hj
449Please respect copyright.PENANA2oFU1wucpT
“Your address kid, where do you live!”449Please respect copyright.PENANAEINLV5EZ81
449Please respect copyright.PENANA6skTtEmLlQ
“Um, countertop road…5th house from the intersection.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANA9UDWNaM2xW
“Okay, we’ll be there as soon as we can. Lock the door and stay put.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAfeVQOwRTjn
The call ended and I’m left alone in confusion. Did they…counter prank me? What’s Will going to think?449Please respect copyright.PENANA5AzqRbup9t
449Please respect copyright.PENANATqhVL7v0N6
I guess I failed…figures. I put my phone down and flop on the bed. Should’ve expected that, I can’t be like Will.449Please respect copyright.PENANAoByQSza9UW
449Please respect copyright.PENANA6N8kVM78GQ
*Crash*449Please respect copyright.PENANAXdxWN39d6u
449Please respect copyright.PENANAzLh7CtwzcE
What the?! Was that the windo-
449Please respect copyright.PENANAxDDorVkssZ
*BOOM*449Please respect copyright.PENANA2XCBP9jWTa
449Please respect copyright.PENANAP5EyPVNwtS
A large foot came crashing through my door causing it to land across the room.449Please respect copyright.PENANAwFpLDoa9hc
449Please respect copyright.PENANAb7ur1ihtAY
The large foot belongs to a large man, at least 6 feet tall. He, along with 5 other men, come through the door and surround me. They’re all…heavily armed and covered in black armor. Are they a SWAT team?
449Please respect copyright.PENANAalghNwLAm1
They turn their backs to me and aim at the windows and doors. The closest one to me whispers.449Please respect copyright.PENANA7RzoFZJcb6
449Please respect copyright.PENANAs4Kyk1d0RD
“Here they come.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAyUFWWiZjMY
Did I really prank call a SWAT team and…win?449Please respect copyright.PENANAVWNDJJcwO7
449Please respect copyright.PENANA2Sr2FwA1Ca
Did they believe me? You got to be kidding me. I chuckle a little bit inside. Mom and dad will be so shocked to see this.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAoNwvoCnHH5
I-Is this what courage feels like? It feels so-449Please respect copyright.PENANAcyY5STSIe0
449Please respect copyright.PENANAtN1dC7vajs
*Knock* *Knock*449Please respect copyright.PENANAB57LxMDlrv
449Please respect copyright.PENANApMwSCZeXUw
All guns lock onto the door and my heart races with excitement. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces. As Will said, getting grounded is worth this.449Please respect copyright.PENANAtFzWdVnKVM
449Please respect copyright.PENANAcowPkPbh1Y
I try to sneak past them so I can get a good look.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAreZcdHUfIE
“Kid, stay back.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAq9yZl76PU9
449Please respect copyright.PENANAkGcf68j5EA
Oh man, I guess-449Please respect copyright.PENANAbBIBkXAJ9b
449Please respect copyright.PENANAcePZyx6mAo
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*449Please respect copyright.PENANATgjfGE1yDE
449Please respect copyright.PENANAIf0KnTA8FP
“What the hell are doing?!!”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAZcK5VIhy09
“Sorry sir, this is my first time.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAbdMLyXGxuv
449Please respect copyright.PENANAGqVGeSaKRP
“Only shoot when you see them, you fool!”449Please respect copyright.PENANAAsEhV3SE3t
449Please respect copyright.PENANAK04GwjVURJ
W-What…
449Please respect copyright.PENANAnlqnwIORsv
“You two check it out, we’ll protect the kid.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAdFcDvsLCb1
j-just…
449Please respect copyright.PENANAOy57fiwrAN
“Got it.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANApqWVbqKVju
h-happened?
449Please respect copyright.PENANAO2WIKSuPG9
“Sir, I think you better come and see this.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAwUTFmvQCsD
“What is it?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAKsNbActKvn
449Please respect copyright.PENANA81oYjdnAIm
…449Please respect copyright.PENANAp8rJ3501cP
449Please respect copyright.PENANA1unZVRrtaJ
“My god…their blood is red.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAlR3NuVbWDu
“Did we just-”449Please respect copyright.PENANARnjuxVZMtN
449Please respect copyright.PENANA8rUqGzgonS
“Why the fuck didn’t you verify the call!!?”449Please respect copyright.PENANA11BiUuueWw
449Please respect copyright.PENANANJ9SZNtLqZ
“I-I didn’t think we get a prank call this soon and he…was so specific…”
449Please respect copyright.PENANA0Lf9KXKoBz
“Clean this mess up, burn it down and call the cover-up team.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAiVtAqdP31m
*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*
449Please respect copyright.PENANAXMnW8p9JHC
“Kid?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAzn8k2RwxqB
449Please respect copyright.PENANAhYFKYFBoVo
….449Please respect copyright.PENANAgezsEOfZgt
449Please respect copyright.PENANAgUDWLb0Yph
“Kid?”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAXhjYj3gLoL
….449Please respect copyright.PENANAU7oc5h6Iyr
449Please respect copyright.PENANANukMFBaY8D
“KID!!”449Please respect copyright.PENANAWpDovSc3ju
449Please respect copyright.PENANAqUEKKXOfrg
“W-what…have…I….done?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAEGeoNZvEeM
449Please respect copyright.PENANAZdZAoeNK0m
“…You no longer exist, you’ll get a new name and life. We’ll send you to an orphanage. Forget about what happened today and try to…live again.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAD9X4YC9kkv
449Please respect copyright.PENANArA9zijrQtw
The man grabs my arm. I let him drag me away.449Please respect copyright.PENANAdgQF8wE09n
449Please respect copyright.PENANADxexJLzeqT
Across my room. Across the hallway. Across the…
449Please respect copyright.PENANAiyxOuPwDRD
Finally, across the door. As much I try to not look, something catches my eye, something beyond the red.449Please respect copyright.PENANAr8YNDDAgrx
449Please respect copyright.PENANAeP6woHWkMF
Was that…a new mattress?449Please respect copyright.PENANAA0VNcA91lt
449Please respect copyright.PENANAclbbDURZNS
Before the implications of what that means crushes me, the solider pushes me into a black car. We soon drive away to my new life and in the rearview, my house begins to burn.449Please respect copyright.PENANAWvlfOlFdkn
449Please respect copyright.PENANA56vpiJ2Lki
Then it all hits me at once, I break.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAAjVTNNpwR5
[3 months later]449Please respect copyright.PENANAfWtvUNZdma
449Please respect copyright.PENANAA4WUpjKsK2
A new face and one less kid in the orphanage. I’ve been here for 3 months and I’m starting to lose what’s left of my mind.449Please respect copyright.PENANA295aHFj3kg
449Please respect copyright.PENANAQYoDQ19RzH
They keep staring at me, the caregivers with those dead eyes. The kids I like to watch play are just gone. But no parents came to pick them up.449Please respect copyright.PENANAcIvvuOzPB6
449Please respect copyright.PENANAokJn7QIxLs
Maybe it’s just my paranoia, I’m supposed to live a new life. 449Please respect copyright.PENANAKicViULXBT
449Please respect copyright.PENANANguhhPHgYH
“Okay kids, time to go to bed.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANA7xkwTUKpum
The new head caregiver called out to everyone in the living room playing. There were some grunts of displeasure but the ones that stood out were the ones that said nothing.449Please respect copyright.PENANAVKf2u4U4UA
449Please respect copyright.PENANAMCdS6aqCLM
They just got up and went back to their room with no emotion. I could have sworn one shouldn’t be here.449Please respect copyright.PENANAqlg7qv2CqR
449Please respect copyright.PENANAQax3aXdnch
“Stop staring at us, creep!”449Please respect copyright.PENANAdsvVJKPIPe
449Please respect copyright.PENANAJEuqOSuVNj
One of the girls calls out to me and snaps me out of my mind.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAZCCk8kFcWI
“I-I-I-I’m sorry.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANA7De9ftWV1O
“And stop stuttering! I can’t wait for some nice family to take me away from here. I’m tired of being ogled.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAkMiuEKGdoz
449Please respect copyright.PENANAMJQmKFzTRI
The others around her nod their head audibly. I can’t help but agree with her, I want to leave too. But do I deserve it?449Please respect copyright.PENANADBfZTPeAhB
449Please respect copyright.PENANAEXIYKu42Ka
The head caregiver comes by to hurry us along for the night.449Please respect copyright.PENANAUajqluODCC
449Please respect copyright.PENANAJeS9zmP1oU
“Don’t worry, I know you’ll find a home soon.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAjhJ0om1IoA
449Please respect copyright.PENANAwiLqxGrSFP
Did she…lick her lips?449Please respect copyright.PENANA0JXlXvFHo6
449Please respect copyright.PENANAmX5Htv6J0F
“I hope so, any place is better than near this weirdo.”449Please respect copyright.PENANACmN02Ht5mH
449Please respect copyright.PENANAUuWaEKRFxp
“Enough of picking on Tim, you never know he might be next to go. Hurry to bed now.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAJyWPbqBEtA
We nod and go to our rooms for the night. I open the door and I’m greeted by the same old brown square room. Single bed, lamp, and book.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAi4j6BoVjZ1
I get into the covers and try to sleep. But I can’t. 449Please respect copyright.PENANAEf3r2gZ5lC
449Please respect copyright.PENANA61OaBiwStC
My mind drifts back to everything weird about this place. At first, everything was like a normal orphanage but slowly things began to feel out of place. Like that new basement they had renovated last month.
449Please respect copyright.PENANAPNwv1Znf4C
My mind raced at the possibilities of what could be going on.449Please respect copyright.PENANAGNZ4LFlcnG
449Please respect copyright.PENANAPCFjt4vOvr
Drug dealing, kidnapping, cultists but one thing keeps popping up.
449Please respect copyright.PENANA315oz8kCRz
“Monsters.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAquqU6EGRtA
449Please respect copyright.PENANAKhIDAtkmcV
My mind slithers back to…the incident. Those soldiers really thought there were monsters. I think back to the head caregiver and the dead eyes of some kids. What if…
449Please respect copyright.PENANARjtzQDP7aP
I have no choice, I have to try. I sneak out of my room and go to the phone in the living room. I dial 911.
449Please respect copyright.PENANA66S4UDG3fL
It rings louder than I expected. I close my eyes and pray that It will stop soon.449Please respect copyright.PENANA3hzeC20S5H
449Please respect copyright.PENANA85PZ9SJbz7
“911, what’s your emergency.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAH9pQssquiK
449Please respect copyright.PENANA0ALf1RbxxB
“Hello, I’m in at the orphanage at silvervine street and I need help.”449Please respect copyright.PENANA7k0TzVLM85
449Please respect copyright.PENANAC2bOPqrJv2
“What’s the problem?”449Please respect copyright.PENANA8VTelSUBXg
449Please respect copyright.PENANApFIYhPxxQi
“It’s hard to explain but there are these new caregivers at the orphanage that act off. The kids have started to disappear too and then there’s that basement.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAjx7HpxcUAX
449Please respect copyright.PENANAeIoDdzmexE
“I think…the orphanage is run by monsters and the kids are being used for…something. I don’t know, please just….help me.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAIKCsCcXFPn
449Please respect copyright.PENANAnwhofkDfyh
“…”449Please respect copyright.PENANAPa3ArRBh5V
449Please respect copyright.PENANAEHVk3wRvS2
“…Is this Tim?”
449Please respect copyright.PENANASCMXEKSIfU
“Y-Yes?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAUXg4YdTN5D
449Please respect copyright.PENANA87C4euY19v
“…Did you seriously prank call us again?”449Please respect copyright.PENANADcXCJH1Sbb
449Please respect copyright.PENANAQhf9f1nxk9
“What? No.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAQEyGqXD5bU
449Please respect copyright.PENANA65mjtgK21E
“We heard about what you did. You have no idea how hard it was to cover up the mess you made. The innocent lives lost!
449Please respect copyright.PENANATUzwqhiHKj
“I-”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ2cJLHAyA
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
449Please respect copyright.PENANAvMSUaCqzHz
And just like that, the call ended. I put the phone down and fight the urge to cry. I can’t make any more noi-
449Please respect copyright.PENANA176WkeVWvt
“Tim.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAKpfK2yE3X4
449Please respect copyright.PENANARzVUqoQf8b
!!!449Please respect copyright.PENANAHULDGLG9hQ
449Please respect copyright.PENANAEIk4NWukZ6
I twist my body around to see another new caretaker. She had short brown hair and a nursing outfit. Her face, however, is hidden by the room's shadow.449Please respect copyright.PENANA5SAvxbnwRf
449Please respect copyright.PENANAVtbCZOomHH
“It’s time.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAULqKh2iEn9
449Please respect copyright.PENANAG2umB8MInT
She offered her hand to me, beckoning me to my final destination. Maybe…this is what I deserve for what I’ve done.
449Please respect copyright.PENANArpRfmgXQ9B
Despite my survival instincts telling me not to, I forced my body to take her hand. It was unnaturally cold and wet. But I didn’t care, not anymore. What could I do anyway?
449Please respect copyright.PENANApyPF9piSdU
She leads me down the darker-than-normal hallway all the way to the basement stairs. We stopped at the top and started down into the gaping maw of the abyss.
449Please respect copyright.PENANA4PFl2Wky2G
“Are you ready?”449Please respect copyright.PENANAnkEZv5IvRf
449Please respect copyright.PENANAScQktFn9S3
Why she would ask me that? I’ve been ready since that day, I just didn’t want to accept it.449Please respect copyright.PENANALLppEGMA0U
449Please respect copyright.PENANA7eHNhsItWh
“Yes.”449Please respect copyright.PENANAOjXGvTH9xn
449Please respect copyright.PENANAZJGbPBHL5Y
The descent begins, I become one with the icky black and accept my fate.
449Please respect copyright.PENANA6SRAq1WDIz
I’m sorry Will, Mom, Dad…for everything.449Please respect copyright.PENANA1Pe57F15sR