589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyVEMKFj63
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms4WcD2nSg
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGj2H3Cum4
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPESekCraK
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtzSzflxSA
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhjvjs0aia
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyesWLI02QQ
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMoi1E0TlO
“Why are we here?” I asked.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaQwfuQC3r
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs4wZgu97f
“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.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDVu248BtK
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN6mkBZJB7
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo27n2lNWL
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBucpWCek1
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2eZnjFDhH
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs8DRDuN5z
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tOJ27MeRj
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza0qaG3v4c
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq22XP0tFPd
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jGsIemMYJ
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.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmOf2QJ1vk
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY6x4MhPJS
“It’s okay,” I said.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt4n8VY3xk
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvSPg4cKnP
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i4xwfpBTe
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOFs88PtRo
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ332f5i7xBM
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MV2THKtAi
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam8lp1xJqr
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXTJiJINrV
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHTzNmpGj7
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0BtMtin72
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH4NaAuR8c
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpFDyvkOO3
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ttf4zNUbn
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtzvEBCW2G
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKZ4UcksXc
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM3f6zCxnH
I wish I could make them go away.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s5hnP7Sev
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4wdcjoybb
Nothing happened.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsdk28H9jx
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwnmz6PFTQ
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpJkl6Egjy
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGuzRXHjLs
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETcR9eeGVC
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcsckHNdQl
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRwncRfQUZ
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWXDLtbmQj
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnYaU67TQY
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZtxD7xMFg
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr5gMso69S
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqjN9ssc8a
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Isr3R6cO2
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZRxCsqvta
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOajbO60P5
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFXJgkk5wl
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TZalkM2L2
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccyXSrsxmL
“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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSNDIO4aRY
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEfQxCbfaq
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCL2DKjx7Y
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAG8GZjsnP
“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.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W3eHNRq2d
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTXE8VhP5Q
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRfDqkFUia
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPPrjljPQf
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghhClTEQRN
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehYxLCzDpP
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.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDfXsTEFP2
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETkVTwN45c
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53pziCQ17U
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j1MsaMeG0
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmfA8gTfHw
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqwQeAWBjs
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegCcGBvNk4
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ2zGbLWd4
“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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6xgk0ZAbc
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsntFjTAog
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNVkDMfX1N
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJcEx8QBBm
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqp06YAIsS
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBTfcpVDYE
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QQNbIDN5S
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3sMh7obvr
“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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlFfJvlHjh
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEsNj3NmmL
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8y9B6kF2h
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT39GWmFITI
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6zPWzUsdO
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlMzX5FLFx
“Leave her. She deserves this.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbHzrDemsT
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYxgGminCl
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbe29tfZ8b
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ASuxKiYwi
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKzf6ErKIj
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0bXjs2snd
So I closed my eyes.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01GrQIqtKY
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKONcTChCs9
Stay awake, a voice told me.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIApwig3J0
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfiXz6j5u4
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9JMdIgYOC
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgOLAJoknV
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXIrAEcwsR
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeYoSeRGnP
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SzpGLQ3XZ
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVfXPGtIx5
Luke.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQRBQzak22
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp1iK48MKF
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKNFQGe3rC
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUAtKvWLl7
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtWfXBoIIj
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN8jRgP8C8
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHti4gSLzD8
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn2RjHwd5p
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIkXbh46va
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUsqYGAqFs
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoIzcgyNIj
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BjAmuLFmC
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4waXgHRnlN
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0nTInpzBF
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK6aR6xF5S
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhzJ1jkJ60
“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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7At6qzavDE
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pcRmDbJ7N
I knew what I had to do.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK5FEKXEz5
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKpSwXBmDM
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s0xosJxty
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MHhfWE52g
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLboO7djjK5
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8slMDEdkA
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqzhhdu0mg
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv642pvXSp
“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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFDKSLs0MP
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix0BstNyCt
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbdhIwJGcc
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpuFQWOwws
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd97PaCE210
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4PdtMDY5i
More blood.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFymmTnRQD
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETlurJugDu
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XkmyZMFS9
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cqxuh9rq4
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVC0F1pvMC
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQOnEI4m9u
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BlFUpzbq6
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TliCHZF9t
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzzm8nPjWp
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8d59cqJ82
“Caplan, come here!”589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdjVIMWfzL
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnsoB7CrZ3
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tAIfMVWPC
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeopzq0LiUA
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvenrZzVUS
589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NLoJt1CC6
Your wish has been granted.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SZFPGDGMi
