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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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6yoUBDTgR
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveWoCvnXUO
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYCU6NxSo4
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVlKiyschw
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrdUEUHbSW
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL1kQikwDO
“Why are we here?” I asked.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oAheFtuNd
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQMq9mrUml
“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.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6xX2DuCga
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEUX2TLnfe
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95TkmggaDi
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJM2cmHRDan
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnXIdOSnci
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAAp4QbzZC
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6g9N2FgfH
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQnov4BPkc
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v15zlw3R6
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37xEdEDLxt
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.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpVLW1dLsQ
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAsQPDOkKP
“It’s okay,” I said.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHGOFBCB03
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZBbEExwyk
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvQ4oQS7Tf
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCSaKOoNgm
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KwAjsrPL0
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunbzw66tuw
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmfhY6NhBl
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzk3GVUfEK
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkRl5Se6rj
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlWdQ4xRUx
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnPa6cPpgl
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRKL54IYVG
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrzgh9sXof
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCp4Wvlnlb
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVyRNVH47V
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bF1dMlxwP
I wish I could make them go away.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yDywQ2LWO
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcqG7zK37T
Nothing happened.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTF2PHgtl6
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuU891Sjdm
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW8G15aWvj
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweQn3QDDQu
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkiMt7eDRA
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHVOWggmj3
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMbNRM3rQ8
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvy9MmLBFi
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFa3NYoKuW
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7N4zUGAhc
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZPcqMSSJ9
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjU8Hg3ndI
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFxls8ouEX
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DTY0GSbli
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUqUrSCh76
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCgsNo20gJ
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMtzSowvO1
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oLQ5Q7gA9
“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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4emIuM5Xm
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjRLjaWhqI
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBzYeNXajX
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrdnJU2QJ4
“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.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK36mhvWIp0
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94ztzew3jz
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWFUhANeYo
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG6hrMlaZm
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq9AlzQe5m
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjJGoXBn8u
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.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOLVCYUzFg
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaokVv6dsi
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kZOGNeKCz
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfqUMDoyVa
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW93V96puXM
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkiGyOXdLm
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySzkxN5D8S
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTHPNuO7i5
“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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yyYqbVWzb
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqDUrEkBsO
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaAjv3eYI0
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrz1y0fBVS
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSo0gGSuoS
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAdLCSwzJw
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZtAz24bau
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZydEt5enO8
“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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpuoal50hw
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYB5eQQacz
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTYmsxTco1
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44Z9fNEeyO
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JuEy9QLBJ
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0q5vo8Zua
“Leave her. She deserves this.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczozxTjsZF
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpcxC6bi2h
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjP9LUJkvN
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTdjhoZlFF
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02F0OhZsRJ
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MfUqeS3cL
So I closed my eyes.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfnyXuFX6N
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vFww6t2Pz
Stay awake, a voice told me.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeF1TBhLm4
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXAdJteF9Q
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg0HzrZsFb
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtibWR84ba0
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ40s2lLwGz
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvfNgFNg3t
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UqaztyiXY
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUU03xh4Ee
Luke.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiIWMYQ8dk
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9hCH4R3ey
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOR1t1QpHF
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgkhYzbi51
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNIB3iv3i7
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqczHZDvQ62
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPIGE5I7AB
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3udb32mVT
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa1Xx5IJrl
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RNFAD54rH
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlnRHqZ0t2
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdQ23DkK6l
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lhZGaSKYP
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTuRRyBf0v
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFFTMGDmrp
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskzO8onKHQ
“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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqULVnf7Q04
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqOb2BrrPc
I knew what I had to do.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14nu38Lly9
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImUVgLqYdi
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKozrdavVT
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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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz1EeWKUys
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWjGDTkJmX
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCzWMDLAFq
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2PzQ1ooah
“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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh47BMuXvdV
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G4tfIzx6S
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQkJWSiORo
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg14h2bxr9
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqaoOdZude
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdVOb7cIXD
More blood.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCevfrYigBg
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wbHgNRRFY
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvWgCmaLge
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t2zcWH9aa
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hfYaNvjuA
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKeTOvvs50
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiIRa83rJn
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNaEgwqyIZ
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94YHuEE0qf
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0vthhjizp
“Caplan, come here!”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerJ61WA6Wv
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aa346aaTq
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeeeZ99ufG
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDOUlD67sA
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXirETKs8tG
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zTLUs4Xpy
Your wish has been granted.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX4bu3mcEA
