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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtToeZ4ToY
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNyeLS3oMu
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oKFzMETHU
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“Why are we here?” I asked.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWHdlyXKmt
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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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3wzavTjfB
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I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv6qTrB6KT
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdwwN61gOu
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJqzR4LHCV
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkjDmuvRJO
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEVQnxoZjA
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoNcIlHaKC
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9HsWSW4nT
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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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdVgqTiBKT
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“It’s okay,” I said.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczT7NmtYwb
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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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviIMnKhlxg
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoTiLt8nSp
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2LmM3wOoY
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexQ5k3zEfP
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrvV8mjhfU
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih82qBSKa7
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vr1j7M6zb
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmECt2Tj3Oh
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuM0MfD1Kd
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“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC67Q4G7nI
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy1WUonafa
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I wish I could make them go away.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrwzGoWB7S
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Nothing happened.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wsgBQHgvS
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11ya2BGGGh
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLMe3FV3A7
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xm3td4yFt
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiasBNNekJH
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoajMKSMaBI
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He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAkKd3SVc8
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84F3ItTD2r
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIadrQ5j60N
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczoPLt5a91
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF8SyxyTKn
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FTOhS60ve
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“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVCTJd55Yl
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt5KCO277z
“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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjq4x69x8J
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9zWQnKk2L
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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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxMRpTv9qs
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I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z77KFKkWP
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“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSDsJUbQiq
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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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP6ddRhke7
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bUpXcqTt7
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTMNtFTK63
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV3I5GBEkk
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuohOJDbSle
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVV5CIQak1
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlFOM2dvX9
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpkBTScuuX
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“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlyNuZ32rz
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH3omlbbHT
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSH4YFudOv
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi054cERFTH
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIR0wlDoHO
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAVViZSTzo
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“Leave her. She deserves this.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77bQzdDBlu
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCIVwUhRKJ
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKsUAxk8Bt
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So I closed my eyes.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB85daoQiFX
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Stay awake, a voice told me.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf4HlmcPb7
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8A5OB4lZV
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“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuPWNSGfK8
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODQ8TpVWDg
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4iuk2e5k2
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuACKTN6VC
Luke.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3mbCy1xYr
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjkNBv6sgi
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS2fHCmJ2k
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK1aJMLYPI
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEpZSR0Tpc
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nZKhgSgUw
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlkGGOBI0T
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcccFvwj7Sa
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Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4etwTqSkjQ
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6m0P2GmnF
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYZ7ZxrZfh
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIDMQjLsfA
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMKBpmB2Ky
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtM6le83EA
“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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvw7SPkwWG
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I knew what I had to do.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfbjbPtmit
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTlQ3QtqD6
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPxV6bwvaZ
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ863zisCcdC
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjrZFdapsq
“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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq60EMBjuG
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“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLlYjUOXwx
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE3wUDy7Dk
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More blood.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwdhe9TZBJ
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AoQU6ImSf
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“Where are the bodies?” he asked.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkVwnfb59E
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The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtihZPaSxr
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ4EGdljYn
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD30d4sIEEn
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3C4wvqET4
“Caplan, come here!”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuSVmMCE17
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89wkVrNzlB
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKphvH3Pp30
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfU3ZemM2B
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeznnqTGJkq
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWG66dYeq5
Your wish has been granted.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKhkmYIFLL
