444Please respect copyright.PENANAsoH8imKbFE
444Please respect copyright.PENANA59RUXNnvoN
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAvdOEAQFt9V
444Please respect copyright.PENANAhsggYtjR0J
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA4dKxkYICo1
444Please respect copyright.PENANAoxVzGqW1is
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAFBa3PK02yf
444Please respect copyright.PENANAydohGDVLcH
“Why are we here?” I asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANA37bVPcbznS
444Please respect copyright.PENANAIMXMLkEHmL
“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.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAZhiUHgkYSp
444Please respect copyright.PENANAgDacQ1xeKd
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAu1w90CqFO9
444Please respect copyright.PENANA0rUe4Fdph7
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAV3joFNZZGJ
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9tnSahed1R
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANASPKTAB0OSX
444Please respect copyright.PENANAnXLjcJwnuR
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.444Please respect copyright.PENANA3KgHzgOzwZ
444Please respect copyright.PENANAtG3tPeGMuH
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.”444Please respect copyright.PENANASpsGq35ql9
444Please respect copyright.PENANAMXd15Tq1a5
“It’s okay,” I said.444Please respect copyright.PENANA9RvjSmuaKv
444Please respect copyright.PENANADtfvvUQiRK
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAhaUCgd6z2p
444Please respect copyright.PENANAsYhVF8p7N0
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA3JL7rhzAY0
444Please respect copyright.PENANAii1JT5St8W
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.444Please respect copyright.PENANADUnVNid1PB
444Please respect copyright.PENANAlUAnZn9SPp
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAHainkODzog
444Please respect copyright.PENANA6i0FKq2BTB
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.444Please respect copyright.PENANAVdCSr2NxII
444Please respect copyright.PENANAdFXYLvKglv
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAD3mnjfM1mu
444Please respect copyright.PENANAYCuM5r7n3s
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAAhwVelNfDr
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxNAXTwfPYI
I wish I could make them go away.444Please respect copyright.PENANAMRUvxar2rV
444Please respect copyright.PENANAfxnHIuN6sA
Nothing happened.444Please respect copyright.PENANAzSQMRMXuDj
444Please respect copyright.PENANAP7ltKo4Tg5
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.444Please respect copyright.PENANAnEllnWQPs3
444Please respect copyright.PENANA1fh1k98REv
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”444Please respect copyright.PENANAAl115QjEzT
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9vA043H9HR
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAGoSwuv4vhd
444Please respect copyright.PENANAN58dfidWqQ
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAFb8RLhFiey
444Please respect copyright.PENANAsW8rM8FPvG
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAT6o0j8msAy
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcC2vnGjCrn
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAQgqsbWwkzx
444Please respect copyright.PENANALOCP4uTbpW
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.444Please respect copyright.PENANAtZzFfWA8f3
444Please respect copyright.PENANA32ME5MDR1j
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.444Please respect copyright.PENANAE38xpBd96p
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjrkLlW1sJo
“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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAnRP2oVdfPY
444Please respect copyright.PENANA8cA1D6fVmb
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA7POYjMdy0J
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUxyK1PDKSq
“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.”444Please respect copyright.PENANATTEqNoH4bW
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxrV2PI71Rl
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.444Please respect copyright.PENANAt3MvXXSDyN
444Please respect copyright.PENANAyDxzn3MEqS
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAY01K2zKQPI
444Please respect copyright.PENANAgwV7IFD7Ji
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.”444Please respect copyright.PENANA3MXWYiBZ0h
444Please respect copyright.PENANArFQdqmeQ80
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAxtoXT4MPo9
444Please respect copyright.PENANAz3kLnHDPxM
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAXCQpuqk1xM
444Please respect copyright.PENANAKKoapxHYpU
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA1no9ufjTTL
444Please respect copyright.PENANAVQ9sxyk7De
“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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAwtnWle8Ir4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAQexHG16b61
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA4pvdtPmTym
444Please respect copyright.PENANA40lDOAicPv
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAaQkY1hw7a2
444Please respect copyright.PENANASad3SWluxj
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA6g0yq8jzXY
444Please respect copyright.PENANAPugTrlTATx
“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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAPLBGYXQuFb
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOpDixj5pE8
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAE0Tqls1Gov
444Please respect copyright.PENANAltgueQlPlT
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA8k7RJvWdpc
444Please respect copyright.PENANAA7GxqTPalX
“Leave her. She deserves this.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6MczTjLSw
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzYbRjerZLO
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAuQgTHDCsnd
444Please respect copyright.PENANAmBpvyYCcsJ
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA4JzYt52mu1
444Please respect copyright.PENANAvicTqjzVP8
So I closed my eyes.444Please respect copyright.PENANAFq2jHz9vgW
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcNbrISVjfR
Stay awake, a voice told me.444Please respect copyright.PENANAPUAUWOyCiy
444Please respect copyright.PENANAXmHdRL0Bso
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAWuT47AXAD9
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcetYrBGehu
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.444Please respect copyright.PENANAPMGTO18cxv
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxafmaceWXb
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”444Please respect copyright.PENANAWnyxVB69dk
444Please respect copyright.PENANA1En28fWElM
Luke.444Please respect copyright.PENANAja6d42SkxY
444Please respect copyright.PENANAA6HpaY0Y1T
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAppADCHWbgO
444Please respect copyright.PENANAZjE9KZkjJL
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”444Please respect copyright.PENANAVPBh2rKMOu
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxC25Ktzq86
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAacD83BnpaW
444Please respect copyright.PENANA2SrxQSO5L2
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.444Please respect copyright.PENANACTC0YtnZs7
444Please respect copyright.PENANACiZWxMCe5R
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”444Please respect copyright.PENANAcYg9BACKpu
444Please respect copyright.PENANAN9cJduXthC
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAwjgVHPQx6O
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7QUtT3xBxC
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAuNYV34ywim
444Please respect copyright.PENANATQY3c2AiKk
“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.444Please respect copyright.PENANA53apzdW0VR
444Please respect copyright.PENANA0TlpdkyGYY
I knew what I had to do.444Please respect copyright.PENANAbXfGboczIX
444Please respect copyright.PENANAEDkRVysEW9
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7fVnYINuhA
444Please respect copyright.PENANAdGnRGJ6y7B
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAtq5YXx78pO
444Please respect copyright.PENANA2tL3gf8C8B
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAOXODALd27g
444Please respect copyright.PENANADsj5rEJqVV
“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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAiijbaEbwCw
444Please respect copyright.PENANAldeJ26DbHq
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.444Please respect copyright.PENANAdWZobNRvkn
444Please respect copyright.PENANAtaj4EIOKTu
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.444Please respect copyright.PENANA3j7k996OEA
444Please respect copyright.PENANAiayg5RbkVO
More blood.444Please respect copyright.PENANAwYfedSVZT9
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9GmO9LU1Wg
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.444Please respect copyright.PENANAsHNGto0PJL
444Please respect copyright.PENANAZZv4sFQcGp
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAaB10tIQKle
444Please respect copyright.PENANAeEbbuxhsU5
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.444Please respect copyright.PENANAScQTgbycS0
444Please respect copyright.PENANAkkXiwAmYd9
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7HKRuTA6v
444Please respect copyright.PENANA0wu8A76v8u
“Caplan, come here!”444Please respect copyright.PENANASmNi4rsvep
444Please respect copyright.PENANAvt7HNOPLsA
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.444Please respect copyright.PENANAfbYCrXR60Q
444Please respect copyright.PENANAMqk0UfUVzr
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.444Please respect copyright.PENANAY89i6CYsBD
444Please respect copyright.PENANAoktjRuMnZK
Your wish has been granted.444Please respect copyright.PENANAG402slVUwF