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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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImg7xguhPD
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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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92OgW3ENBE
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VROK4kr0C
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolpC870GV2
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“Why are we here?” I asked.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC2FETIKaA
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8erVt0eTUU
“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.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDCcIpI1bz
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIENdCYf9Kv
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSTc6KRwxv
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjDOTf8Bw8
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3XvpgjPFj
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ID7H9ABmb
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfm8ShPueW
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASIDbMcHxp
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvpzZXL9D4
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFiplA1Zvr
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.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWAYpZVfG1
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“It’s okay,” I said.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1esD7DvkYZ
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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.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Z6n7CMbY
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLnqxw4aOl
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqRu3gy0eA
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59koQCPL4c
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYb4rggLih
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqgGQltkcW
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR1jnsrd7a
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGTi9zwkjl
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tZfTM7Tzx
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“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH5jdu8gKg
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtINtYkxamV
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95AWhWJAK5
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LZGxF6ukR
I wish I could make them go away.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGGzUh0Nn8
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4rfyTT14M
Nothing happened.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y1HmgBy6H
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc6Ay7puoO
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUm8IWXidr
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyH1jKgXDm
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8Oh3xNzvF
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFQMZES2mY
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolt0Chzrs8
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He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejkQvqAFaP
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25jHmp090O
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkneMvwLdW
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9AJO7pAlL
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAgZ61XuUY
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28LZntv1q5
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaBE50dGgI
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAOU9aawMx
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj2nnaIBmi
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM1b1g6Y0l
“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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKZpTBO7h9
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEVfv6o4RK
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N1Q5F2lZq
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoBUJotpHr
“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.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a2o4PHc8s
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALpv2Hx5gj
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSN87CGWQe
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhDyxhiATM
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNEOP7LHyn
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnqKUd0CgE
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.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNpCwHLG5n
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT6hpO2bir
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIslt6PUxs
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr69CcifxuV
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv3d8pMUFp
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkad1gEJ8U
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqjUorj5Ve
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3kveEfSKV
“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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8txlMKBlH
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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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNcQOSrcWf
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8g7hWN9Vv
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0GvGtpJwG
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjxsyytiSq
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyom6PWspQ
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8rgmCXAXT
“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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtOgPTU2GL
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZybNOwH8JU
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2FD31mqA0
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAul5RnGrs
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVWbvXCACY
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4NaoNMHut
“Leave her. She deserves this.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEPEp5fCPU
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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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5qvM13abW
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IRxvGA7E6
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDpOIqEKS1
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9wnq5FGFj
So I closed my eyes.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoG7b9exsC
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Stay awake, a voice told me.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKes53Jlvj
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3CBIePhpw
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyNoFhsn61
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJBfhRfje8
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshUN6Kpf2s
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzU0MF2Bbb
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEEwKMQjSx
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGD4E34nrV
Luke.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarab3jOKvJ
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvSlS4cn62
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG1d44kNzS
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZeD3nlVOV
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn7kTMekza
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wNrufzok7
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjUOyTeQ04
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5qQHJOA5a
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM3dcsHf5u
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzjOKcqeGF
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWr7F6V3zo
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhumUrPqgSf
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeoWFjcAF1
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbpZb17HZu
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D88OnOE9Z
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBYVApxdGR
“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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRT2RUMkBJ
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I knew what I had to do.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zI6oeaD8C
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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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvVvbcQBJY
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09dPKhLg67
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHolUHWM5sg
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9kRmIUZtm
“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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD5v9qhRhs
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQwUnF4tnv
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf5TEhEaJt
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqHbZQ3pD4
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cyWx5QVX0
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More blood.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHlWXsTnAJ
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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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN5KBrezc5
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoIZBUl8zh
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLAiUCLd4J
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The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXfmtaktca
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCThea6WOim
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgut9ATl6t
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4XpQFg6S4
“Caplan, come here!”581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8SMvwUZZ8
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAvZJk8epr
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYED3rTLZvd
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNqEGpBI4M
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD8jT0Eqym
581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zlMqFtTIA
Your wish has been granted.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUTMC4XLd8
