598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYLZnW9m3g
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x5uE1Blom
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEtLE3M7z0
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1GreGOVHz
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9xnhWNYvT
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkrLx4L0CJ
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDraF2kN53
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPDpWJXmOx
“Why are we here?” I asked.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNtkfN31NM
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqjOsE0nrm
“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.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cUEhHjslS
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF9FP2QHB5
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYKvFzPZfi
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r2WGS8hMX
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjJSXU0zra
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMGMO7qVqE
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqppdIOas6J
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8BtclBWY7
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs94oCQ8b1
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL4OuDKP0x
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.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZdbUQCIXO
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJgKgecFoc
“It’s okay,” I said.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX1eeSC7JE
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU43SY0psXe
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdQcQQQhyx
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPm5GoyzLeD
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd5k426tlo
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU068BiOeh
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDNrzdXYZo
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz77aw1bhHF
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo6i2S9RGG
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNubkOQ79Xw
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg7uACvtmb
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJy9r0Gx5s
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HNZNRNVcF
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGbYdLdD55
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovGCZ43uhF
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7Giq0Ofct
I wish I could make them go away.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0SVZHahEV
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo5mXtrXnN
Nothing happened.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVMWt9u6j9
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6GQw6zdly
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jyD1Z95yf
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbAESQWEW7
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG3VHd7Yoz
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYfUbaLTTG
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas28RBC0Tr
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1Ubnx5n79
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc5fVSbpxf
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O67tWjgAK
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXHAiD8tW7
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz5ZEHSA6I
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5DlaRlsMK
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m6YZKPhxp
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BqPMnzbDz
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ8LpxRr75
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT3pAiJyiC
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZXDe2WJdO
“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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsbaOesCnc
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgvmWNM4uZ
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsLMRuY55S
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9dbgmI5he
“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.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQP51r7oMl
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8dwBgc2Mq
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MterE6Bib
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ974RpPq9TD
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzEEYf0tjr
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdzcoUit7E
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.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3uIJ1tHKc
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqXCzcn4Oi
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTQQVrBa2L
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqUKPltKzt
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq1Roql398
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iLnpRn3kp
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eoM5J0eke
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2kTJBGp0s
“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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBI5xzHRLt
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsUk1cIIwB
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN6Rjfe9hF
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHLu7DOQny
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWINDBgHqtV
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHmMIEX0ZI
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jwLDb9Tjx
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeo9Cd6d8s
“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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jxEpibjJW
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6oaijjsYV
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxar02JRBIX
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaWJDLB9HT
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgI9Sxej9I
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIaHogsIxb
“Leave her. She deserves this.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4elyf4Y72
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaTbFRFZST
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogcXG8Y6hu
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT2CsbygKR
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6fCrw9DcG
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vj4rJ8FkX
So I closed my eyes.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi6BWhjr3t
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenMZ9qS26s
Stay awake, a voice told me.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3TcNyZD46
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QluAgTqZY
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvzyFWxxpt
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkQ0sLeMyB
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UMdlI7PbZ
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsJoh4rzkZ
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7zdqf95o6
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0RPZBXKNp
Luke.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RuhWZOeza
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCIDHRx7Wu
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiQDnBsn1y
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtvYF4Zooz
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLhxONH2us
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwytehuZ63
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjOQsn4pYE
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PRfhtxHp7
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aKIV1uNXl
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70tm8pQBsh
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrweFf0k7V6
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhjdxgZ0V6
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbJHMGb4Ym
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYBsKnmpjd
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsFs54ynfh
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiJWCAst0r
“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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFaKdaD103
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTVthekncS
I knew what I had to do.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLOgHokj30
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw059HConHY
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jFvwQhfF8
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziRyiLrmZC
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZukVplueb
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW2p46D2pU
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ92cyyJkVQ
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSOR4hl91D
“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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkmXZu0DCA
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkbwVyduQg
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡligVa8rCIS
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzacMOdf2k4
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0CWkxOinP
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKUTD5Gypc
More blood.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHqHu9AZvu
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl1zgFy8aj
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E4SA17v8a
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YdnxsYSxX
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D7nd6O02V
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1cGZ1J25Z
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBsVyTmCma
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JLuiHJmtf
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOL3gikOV4
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSJiGtIpBy
“Caplan, come here!”598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzxJGxnYfa
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfVdWkQryF
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.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO0OwFINzw
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7ZBsMgJ15
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh9C2v5hux
598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWvkx4eyO4
Your wish has been granted.598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wpyj2naQq
