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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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssgtsVOcy0
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h7IGJuMdJ
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYubx7SUPa
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25WgylaIeE
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRX1WJXW0a
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9actxuPQV
“Why are we here?” I asked.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5rFUdQpgQ
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ELT0Lqo2L
“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.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALFG3sqxbq
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3gyd4jkca
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyYJeWfCao
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApRQlTsrcg
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZvO8tMpV6
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmdzL7gcdB
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUtdsmXtN5
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqHDEiHXgj
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HsrkMLQOu
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUos0E2Oqa
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.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFfXdBKWbW
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVagrbRH4zc
“It’s okay,” I said.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJq1wLeGHi
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCNFaXTjTs
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWADhHNKMO
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4t8R6JbdO
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHTTAXDe7O
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhkSAdT4bp
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZPNcvouo4
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu4Ebg86Xo
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZwrzOS2TJ
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcecXf4kHa
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoOl2J5mrt
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRkDdSEdx2
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP24Lw0UIe
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPRg6D0YbL
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0lwWoG6UF
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1mnVUvAcl
I wish I could make them go away.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWaE142qqn
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt8JMKQIu8
Nothing happened.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdS3febf64
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00Zy3CihrY
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBpLTrzmkm
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG5aVsdx3L
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3qSi7BDPx
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQssxvNx76
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4pc359sa0
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMuPISKcrA
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLMX03w5bR
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tqkEhOIpf
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0P6II51nE
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQa3K3LXeU
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGmCV6sUAu
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjMGqg3Yd1
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lpJsTwAMC
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdKAyVOIi7
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfEJmNgFU5
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH9aGfpbj0
“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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tTXls8pJf
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60PjA9swnD
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVGAMM8IGt
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV2mzQDaXr
“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.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgZbjQ9FN6
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU87KmxbrC
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBxoevM3dt
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPf7NeQkz5
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vRFGQmDtz
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5eB7lt8ut
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.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRB2Wy9LXr
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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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tiTCJQuap
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGNh5TlcPs
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT2dqE7AoC
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCkaI21R0p
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo8p0L72xQ
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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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPbleshQRM
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fOvBY7kQV
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG3QDc6ZTS
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod9D5TTNUT
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf7YXXrPwT
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0qZW0QplH
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60eEXyGBHf
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA28HO5x0i3
“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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9zIdp5INg
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpAM9iPQGs
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTfPUqRHLK
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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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18wLH46amF
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf6cBQS4FC
“Leave her. She deserves this.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyY6nPkvGd
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnJbcealuA
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB58tr0ijA4
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxMyzKqfWs
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalesuDUEuR
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqw2j0yFWU
So I closed my eyes.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxfU8klRIY
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Stay awake, a voice told me.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtzySPkwNH
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh1uOENlM5
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GZBlbnUmt
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡannBKEVf3z
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGIBxHDq9U
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoSVYdlhsj
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv761fhaX8
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOmDBDJGHu
Luke.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUbhY1BVD7
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosla7Jg3LS
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXK4kcz4wN
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uRNBulRWw
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYf8Bjdnlg
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYv2uf9EA2
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunsQPjASFq
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22A6KmOfYs
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpapmMxtMjT
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKM0n08Zab
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu5JCN5FWW
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvNqhHQRrl
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXclHWcG077
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9Gid9AlZ2
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycyKUEZgOS
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjc0nzwD9o
“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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPHYYRQUqI
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrtkH8e6nI
I knew what I had to do.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMKFQWZnX9
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622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgCORVvwkb
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8URklcmQW2
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYhu9Lg5FS
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNdRjkgwWm
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxMfIABoCH
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoVpb3F2ry
“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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hlEFMimnA
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ01nOIkbF
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH1450JG94
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmGQ7PNopz
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukJWVVaFaA
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lgYb5s3fA
More blood.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFoqJ86Dwt
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOQYtRevSh
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX8H2O6GEb
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsjf7jY3Hx
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv2qTj7dWz
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhq6SMLWAP
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9vGjjc0qY
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeZlfYHqSv
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6it3Gu6rR
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUjSMrqhzQ
“Caplan, come here!”622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93xpaKfwFv
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbEllMgS2F
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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy56LvpvSTP
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfORyMT8uLE
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbYEB98gA3
622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUeZE5SKPx
Your wish has been granted.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI2Y7g72eC
