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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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNl9BiGlI8
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhx9xnUC62
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm02iHlUSa
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd491A7Yekh
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRkU4h7sry
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“Why are we here?” I asked.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3pPEHVNKu
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPIk8v3gJG
“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.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4ufCmeYgr
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mxXgkSUd0
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNAM5D3zkU
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHxzOMEyjy
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfR0qLIAL0
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4g7exUdLD
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRlPgx0Vyb
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOcWPdN7JU
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE1ceab6hG
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKk0ZcvCIy
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.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m7gXfOV7T
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz3y5K1F62
“It’s okay,” I said.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYwXTUmLvn
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjlmJXK72d
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFPBpA78RY
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6ELrLWmIv
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyNjN2C5Nq
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdtHUv0SBY
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVExFZfsRv
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HtBSYiFtr
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DT9X1MDhI
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5nhtBAkdT
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGm64I5wCg
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAv4GzL2SR
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv3iPk87uE
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn76LXindl
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrnJeFWRol
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg1KTBNsAm
I wish I could make them go away.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncLfcloTCC
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Nothing happened.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1TQD0KCQx
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoDkBmFHRY
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCQkR7BkaU
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5YkIUjCDc
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPBbJW14SV
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LQkLVE4fZ
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPr4RWQKQf
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1qnCLx01r
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroI7VIdT8R
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBOrjoQFlQ
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLiF2pzkBt
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCK5qi7iEr
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wd2DVJvRz
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4wmwxBxUU
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo9lBWrvDm
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Opo1Xwccq
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoFusgnuY7
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzYqHu4374
“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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EXd1iGw4v
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpGK8or36S
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ix8hOsgq
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2PBzZVC9e
“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.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaIyYSbdNR
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DYPsDinvX
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pm2xp0Itb
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3avb2kgzw
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldEAgRhxY5
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7hjNFInOe
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.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CmZlW1DLC
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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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5q5Lnag8w
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbX70jzssV
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96viRlp9P2
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50dfie7u7x
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuj0mHAIQu
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2k5XzaKE5
“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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORSVUxvrC9
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzizNs1M7Q
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPWFZeUEer
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6EbjrDa93
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjCgpQj5jt
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvowv0Ngqi1
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDDEN87GTE
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wdYFojrO
“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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9Cp4WRkNW
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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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF74aepHzzw
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o4yW7IQwZ
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCeeHFxzl5
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd70E8KvUS
“Leave her. She deserves this.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqoLtO19kI
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU71nLq6gO2
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgENKXyDx4
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc3CTXLEnv
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEYvH2ZEZI
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5HOsLJFql
So I closed my eyes.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL383vtiJe
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Stay awake, a voice told me.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtdsebPkpA
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiQWoj90Gu
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRPd8NyH6w
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCDLNODs7Y
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFttX1Wn7vP
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZp6A3HFMr
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzMBK8PXup
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToE29wfkyH
Luke.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNAr3QN59y
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgHxaC9MZR
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60i4ig8HEd
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso0hnbEyfZ
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO9IDJNn9d
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5bE8jqyGR
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPywLJ4Q96
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldZFqqCWGt
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVtDNcH14h
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlAMpIdfPc
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuddGH0Vr2J
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7kYXDadYc
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8MYKy4tTd
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurdvXBJ5j3
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL0Kzw7mmS
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWt7gr0Fi7
“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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHF1k9nUCN
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYjQPQQkay
I knew what I had to do.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCr7LxTjiP
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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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl0E3hbx5d
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBel1jJ0CG8
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwayevBgmXI
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMySVqUMkbb
“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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWnvNsbpEG
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFcY8LS6Sl
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCGfo9B1uS
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWqUqUxbMi
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHR4tfYVQY
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJsvTJdO4e
More blood.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ674xXakO3b
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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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuJ6TAz4FH
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28lnBV6Yze
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJlDvAL2d7
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RoHBz9X0H
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaYlAx9zru
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAhEjWyYJM
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgUuS26iTL
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXRgHEo2gY
“Caplan, come here!”608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1EC1pk2lQ
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdElrHZuMmp
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M9xulviAI
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODaj0ImLyf
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczrkcBFnjz
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgmRewHFRU
Your wish has been granted.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpraqEpDXi
